Cartagena Luxury

ColombianoGringo says on May 8, 2007, 08:21:

Las Americas? On a related note, how good is the Hotel Las Americas in Cartagena? I am waiting on a package quote from Aviatur. For that matter, does anyone have a good recommendation for a travel agent in Colombia with good package deals?

Thanks,
CG

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tomtom33 says on May 8, 2007, 08:38:

Santa Clara because I doubt that anyone would dispute it. They have tour guides just to see the place.

The Santa Teresa isn't bad either.

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Cerealkiller says on May 8, 2007, 08:50:

Santa Clara is by far the best one. The beds are sooo comfy, buffet breakfast is great, I pigged out like crazy hahaha, the staff is very friendly, its in the walled city which allows you to go everywhere by foot, and the spa is mmmmmm.
Colombiano Gringo, Las Americas I believe is a 5 star hotel, never been there as it isnt in the walled city (but thats just because thats where I like to hang around), ive heard is rather new and very very comfortable.

Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives -John Stuart Mill

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aztec says on May 8, 2007, 09:11:

darkangel305, If you have never been to Cartagena... ...do as tomtom33 suggests and stay at the Santa Clara. It is a luxury hotel located within the Walled City. Closer to every thing interesting.

Plus it is only a short taxi ride to the beach. Many of us would elect to stay at the hotel pool. There is a beautiful view from the pool area. Best of all, you will not be harassed all day long by the street vendors.

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juanalejo says on May 8, 2007, 09:54:

Cartagena The best hotels in Cartagena are Charleston Santa Teresa and Sofitel Santa Clara. Santa Clara rooms are small and bathrooms are tiny, but all rooms have balcony over looking the large pool area. If you have money you can stay at the Suites which are in the old building, they are two story rooms but only the west facing have a terrace. Santa Teresa rooms are much bigger and bathrooms are also bigger, but there are no balconies in the outward facing rooms. It is a smaller more intimate hotel and it is located closer to most of the action and the best restaurants in town. The roof top swimming pools is very nice. Both have a very nice SPA.

My favourite hotels though are the boutique hotels in town, there are several ones around, with fantastic rooms, fantastic service, they are not cheap though. Agua bed and breakfast is the most famous, great rooms, nice roof top pool and they also own a boutique in Baru island so you can combine your stay. The one in Baru is fantastic. Other ones that I really like are Quadrifolio near the Heredia Theatre, La Passion and La Casa del Arzobispado. La Passion caters for couples and their rooms are the best by far, the roof top pool is the best in town. All these boutique are 6-10 room hotels.

Other "5" star hotels like Las Americas, Hilton and Almirante are just large chain hotels, very resort like, but they are far from what I would consider luxury hotels. Out of those 3,Hilton is the only one that has remodelled the rooms recently with the latest trends in decor and technology.

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kentuckygreg says on May 8, 2007, 10:07:

I stayed at the Hotel Estalar Almirante in BocaGrande. Loved it and it's a reasonable price. If you want the best definitely Santa Clara first, Santa Teresa second, then I would put the Almirante in third.

Las Americas is kind of out of the way but I have heard it's decent. Definitely not luxury.

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Miguel_Clavo says on May 8, 2007, 10:42:

$$$ for Santa Clara, less $$ at the Charleston...... I prefer the Charleston, which is better located within the walled city...has lots to see and shopping as well....nice courtyard.....Santa Clara is in a dumpy plaza....but a nice hotel....Las Americas is about 10 minutes outside of the walled city, and was about a 10mil taxi ride to the walled city....Las Americas rates are cheaper than Charleston, and when rooms are full in the walled city, normally Las Americas has openings....Las America has nice bars, several pools, has it own beach area with service. They also try to keep the beach vendors out. Many times they have mini-concerts right on the beach there, which attract alot of eye candy....=)...For me, the Charleston is my first choice due to convenience and location, and Las Americas if Charleston is full.....

Just my opinion...

Miguel_Clavo =)..aka, DragonSlayer..2-0..Colombia es pasión!

"I would rather die living life, than to live a dying life."........ Oh, and my PM is always ON. Great Bumper Sticker: "Home of the Free, Because of the Brave"

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kentuckygreg says on May 8, 2007, 10:53:

Lots of eye candy...um that's everywhere in Cartagena. :)

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jctripp says on May 8, 2007, 13:37:

oh, the irony Does anyone see the irony in discussing luxury hotels on a website called Poor But Happy? I thought the rich stayed rich by being cheap. Maybe that's why we on this site are poor? Anyway, it's funny ;)

In any case, I like smaller hotels that have some personality and are off the beaten path. The hotels listed are sooo pretentious it hurts and Sofitel still feels like the convent it was. I found a little hotel in the old city called 3 Banderas that was quite charming and very reasonable. Here's the web site:

http://www.hotel3banderas.com/





Think global, act loco

RiColombia.com | Colombia Culture & Tourism Blog

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Paul_IRL says on May 8, 2007, 13:57:

Some of the worst service I have ever received ANYWHERE was in the Santa Clara (last August). I will never step foot inside the place again. We went to Las Americas for a day on their private beach and I regretted not booking in there (in fact I would have changed hotels were it not my last day in Cartagena). Sure, it is not as "pretty" as the Santa Clara, but the SC to my mind is pretentious, rude and over-priced.

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Mr. Hollywood says on May 8, 2007, 14:47:

Curious what happened? I'm curious to hear your bad experience. I've stayed at the SC several times and always had GREAT service. I know it only takes one bad egg to ruin the experience, though.

On the note of which rooms at the SC are best, I would actually stick with the "standard" rooms rather than the "deluxe" ones in the old part of the hotel. The old convent rooms seem pretty dark to me, whereas the new part of the hotel has good light and views. The exception is the one room in the old claustro that has a balcony off the back facing Gabo's house. It's pretty lovely.

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darkangel305 says on May 8, 2007, 14:57:

thanks i have a lot to research
its nice to see Cartagena has a lot of choices!

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curramberochris says on May 8, 2007, 15:00:

3 banderas I agree with jctripp, the 3 banderas is a nice quiet little place near las bòvedas.....not too expensive in the off season and there are a few bars and tiendas round there to drink in. I like to stay there if I want a bit of peace and quiet.

The santa teresa is a rip off, wouldn`t stay there unless someone else was paying and the breakfast isn`t even included!

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kentuckygreg says on May 9, 2007, 13:19:

What about the DeCameron in BocaGrande? Any good?

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aztec says on May 9, 2007, 18:38:

DeCameron http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g297476-d307529-Reviews-Decameron_Cartagena-Cartagena.html

Stayed there. Right on the beach. Package tour hotel. If you know what you are getting you will have no problem. Will not stay there again because there are better values somewhere else. And I don't mean cheaper.

If your life style is more to the country club then the Santa Clara or the Hilton. I have stayed at both as well as some of the boutique hotels in Cartagena.

Boutique hotels offer a unique flavor of the city and I recommend you check out several. The one we stayed at could never get the air conditioning working but it was a beautiful small hotel. Las Americas is not in the city proper.

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Mr. Hollywood says on May 9, 2007, 19:04:

Hotel Agua I've heard good things about Hotel Agua, speaking of boutique hotels.

http://www.hotelagua.com.co/home_english.html

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kentuckygreg says on May 10, 2007, 05:58:

What about security in the Decameron? When I stayed at the Hotel Estelar Almirante security was pretty tight which I liked. When you say "if you know what you are getting into" what do you mean? Does package tour mean free alcohol? (not like it matters anyway, Aguilla is less than a dollar) I assume free breakfast and lunch? Food any good? I found the food at most places average at best. The reason I ask is I am visiting a Colombiana June 1-6. She mentioned staying there. If it is a dump and has a ton of street/beach vendors heckling you on the premises I have no interest in that.

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aztec says on May 10, 2007, 08:21:

kentuckygreg, when we did the package... ...it meant food and non alcoholic drinks were included. The beach is across the street from the hotel. It is not a dump but it is a typical beach hotel with lots of people coming and going. The food was prepared for large number of participants so don't expect gourmet.

The pool, if I remember correctly, is on the top of the hotel with excellent views especially at night. You can purchase drinks there at a bar next to the pool.

Street vendors are not generally allowed inside the hotel lobby or any of their other facilities. There is no way to get away from the constant hassle from someone on the beach and streets trying to sell you something. They can be very aggressive. They will pounce on you as soon as you walk out the hotel entrance onto the street.

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kentuckygreg says on May 10, 2007, 09:57:

Oh I remember the vultures once you got on the beach.

I noticed this on their website...

" Unlimited domestic alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages & cigarettes" Prolly a crock.

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kentuckygreg says on May 10, 2007, 09:58:

Oh I remember the vultures once you got on the beach. should have a held up sign that said "NO GRACIAS" as many times as I said it.

I noticed this on their website...

" Unlimited domestic alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages & cigarettes" Prolly a crock.

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Mr. Hollywood says on May 10, 2007, 10:05:

All-inclusive I can't understand why anyone hoping to experience Cartagena as a city would stay in an all-inclusive. There are just WAY too many great little restaurants and bars in the city to hang out in a chain hotel eating bad buffett food and swigging pre-mixed Piña Coladas.

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kentuckygreg says on May 10, 2007, 13:51:

I looked at the Agua hotel. Priced a little high IMO. What other hotels people recommend that are not too expensive. (above $150 USD/night) Either in BocaGrande or in the old city?

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juanalejo says on May 10, 2007, 15:25:

Cheap hotels in the walled city. 3 Banderas is a nice, cheap hotel but in my opinion far from charming. Better hotels for little price are India Catalina and Casa del Curato.

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Gator says on May 10, 2007, 17:17:

3 Banderas ... by no stretch of the imagination meets the definition of Cartagena Luxury but it is charming and one of Mrs. Gator's favorites.

If you want real luxury with a capital L we can recommend, with out reservation, a small inn called Agua in the old city on Calle Ayos. We have stayed three times and it has everything including a roof-top pool. Only five or six suites but is makes the Santa Theresa et.al. look like a Motel Eight, well maybe a Raddison. You must book far in advance.

I will warn you it is very pricey. High season which is Easter and about to mid December to mid January you had better count on between $750/800.000 a night and the rest of the time between $550/600.00 a night. Breakfast of your choice is served in the room or by the pool.
The only sign is a small sign on the wall next to the typical wooden door you find in the old city. Once you go in inside you will not believe it. Understated elegance is the only description that fits.



Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

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aztec says on May 10, 2007, 17:34:

This might help! http://travel2.nytimes.com/2006/03/19/travel/19goingto.html

"WHERE TO STAY Most Colombian tourists stay in Bocagrande, a beach resort just south of Old Town that's lined with aging high-rise hotels and condos. But truth be told, the crowded beach there is less than alluring. Old Town, where everything is within walking distance, is more appealing." NYT's

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tomtom33 says on May 11, 2007, 06:21:

The Decameron does have unlimited cigarettes and alcohol. Of course, I neither drink nor smoke. The all-inclusive actually kills it for me. The food was good enough, but the charm of Cartagena can best be experienced by trying some of the many different restaurants. Note: the one and only time I stayed there was in Feb. of 2003.

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aztec says on May 11, 2007, 07:36:

Gator's recommendation is good enough for me. Haven't stayed at Agua but if it is that much better than Santa Theresa then the choice is easy to make.

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