Help: Any Info on these Medellin Hotels?

Ok, I did my due diligence and googled medellin hotels and areas of Poblado, and read the postings here. So here are my findings, and if you can enlighten me as to my preferences of being able to walk to the action and a gymnasium in the area of Poblado (I can handle hills) I would appreciate the input. I have a list 4 hotels, but all can't be so conveniently located can they?

1) Hotel Belford - Some mentioned that you can walk to the nightlife using this hotel as a vantage. However, the rates published on the web are considerably more expensive than the other hotels in this list, and if that is the rate I doubt that I will be staying here despite any conveniences.

2) Dann Carlton - Seems to be a nice hotel, where members here have posted that it is close to most everything, but I am unsure if this means that walking to the area attractions is easily possible.

3) Hotel Plaza Rosa - Hunter has recommended this hotel enough for this to be currently my number one choice. But again, how can all of these hotels be so convenient? What are the selling points for this location?

4) Hotel Torre Poblado - I can't back trace the origin of this recommendation, but somehow it was on my list. All I know is the website (http://www.torrepoblado.com/ubicacion.swf) on carrera 42 between calle 9 and 10, across from Iglesia Poblado (church). Any information on the location and hotel would be appreciated.

In general a map of the area and the hotels, would have been helpful. I know about the Intercontinental, but am more intersted in knowing about the hotels on my short list.

Thanks in advance for any help given,

CM

By CosmoMartes on Jan 17, 2005, 23:06 in Friendly Talkzone.

crispeta says on Jan 17, 2005, 23:49:

Dann Carlton It is located close to El Parque Poblado and Lleres. I know two girls who work there also, so if you stay there ask for Luisa or Patrica. They are sisters who work there.

Hunter says on Jan 18, 2005, 04:36:

CosmosMartes My recomedation is just to go to one, book it for a day, then go and look at the others, do a bit of bartering and choose the best option for you.

Best value for money is the Hotel Plaza Rosa or Edifico Torre Poblado. The are both situated by the Body Tech gym, which is in the Viscaja mall.

They are also on the edge of the zona rosa which has about 200 restaurants, bars and discos.

The Dann Carlton is a very nice hotel, this is also situated on the edge of Zona Rosa, but also about 10 mins walk away is Oveido mall.

Hunter

Hunter says on Jan 18, 2005, 04:40:

MEDELLIN ACCOMDATION Here is a list of accomodation I have done up for somebody else this weekend as it happens:

Some business quote their prices in US dollars others in pesos.

1. Hotel Plaza Rosa

Carrera 32D No 9-17,
Zona Rosa,
El Poblado.

E-mail: info at plazarosa.com

tel 574 - 312 0005
fax 574 - 266 5252

Daily rates

Single room 107,400 pesos
Suite 142,000 pesos

This includes breakfast insurance and IVA.

Additional person charge 25,000 pesos

Nice rooms, especially the suites, a good value hotel.

2. Hotel Dann Carlton

Cra 43A No7-50,
El Poblado.

www.danncarlton.com

E-mail: hcarlton at danncarlton.com

tel 054 - 312 7220
fax 574 - 312 7323

Daily rates

Single room 159,000 pesos
Suite 299,000 pesos

These prices are supposed to be for two people, so hopefully no extra guest fee.

These prices include breakfast but do not include IVA (7%) and insurance 1,500 pesos.

A very nice hotel.

3. Hotel Park 10

Carrera 36B No. 11-12,
El Poblado,
Medellin.

www.hotelpark10.com.co

e-mail: reservas at hotelpark10.com.co

tel 574 - 266 8811
fax 574 - 266 6165

Daily rates 200,000 pesos

Additional person charge 40,000 pesos

Breakfast included.

These prices do not include IVA (7%) and insurance 1,500 pesos.

This looks like a very nice hotel, but not as good value as the Hotel Plaza Rosa or Dan Carlton.

4. Playboy Penthouse rooms & apts

Edficio Altos Del Parral,
Apt. 801, 1001 & 1002
Cra. 34 # 1 Sur 150,
Poblado,
Medellin.

http://www.playboy-penthouse.com/

Junior Suite $50
Suite $60
PH Suite $70
PH Master $90

All rooms include a full array of services and amenities, including breakfast, maid service, laundry, free high-speed internet and calls to USA or Canada, private pool, sauna, steam room, Jacuzzi, bar, etc. City tours, girl introductions, cell phone rentals, etc. are also available. Ask about discounts for long-term stays.

I recomend the playboy penthouse for newbies who are unsure of themselves in Medellin/Colombia, two Americans live at one of the apts and there are nearly always other foreigners there.

5. Torre Poblado apts

Edifico Torre Poblado,
Cra 42 No 9-28,
El Poblado,
Medellin.

http://www.torrepoblado.com/

Daily rates

Single room 110,000 pesos
Double room 120,000 pesos

Weekend Double room daily rates 80,000 pesos

Weekly rates

Single room 630,000 pesos
Double room 735,000 pesos

15 days

Single room 1,155,000 pesos
Double room 1,323,000 pesos

Monthly rates

Single room 1,900,000 pesos
Double room 2,250,000 pesos

These prices do not include IVA (7%) and hotel insurance of 1,500 pesos

Nice rooms at a good value.

All the accomadation above is situated in El Poblado neighbouhood of Medellin, which is the safest area of the City. They are nearly all within 5-10 mins walk of a large amount of restaurants and bars and several malls or a few minutes taxi ride to these locations will cost you 2,800 pesos.
There is cheaper accomodation to be found, but generally the neighbourhoods are not as good or safe.

One thing to note in Colombia regarding accomadtion is that it is always worth negiotating, it wil be hard to get the prices down on internet or phone, but when you are on the ground it becomes a lot easier. The only exceptions to the rule are certain times if year when there are large conventions going on like Colombian Moda in August.

There are two airports serving Medellin, the one in the City, as far as I am aware there are no international flights, just some internal ones, to get to the area of the the above accomodation will cost about 7,000 pesos.

The main airport is just outside Medellin in Rio Negro, there will be a line if taxis at the Rio Negro airport, it costs 40,000 pesos to get to El Poblado, the journey takes about 30 mins, on the way you will travel through some spectacular scenary.

Hunter

spigrimace says on Jan 18, 2005, 05:50:

Hotels in Medellin I personally like staying in Barrio Estadio. It's more down to earth, flat and less snobbish. There's a gym called Uro's in front of the stadium. "Are-hay" works the door there and is real nice. it costs $4500 pesos for a workout. It's a standard gym with 4 levels and lots of equipment and classes. If you want a snobbie gym, you can go to Forma Fitness which is on Colombia diagonal to the stadium. As for hotels, I stay at Estadio Real. I get an apartastudio for $65000/nite and includes breakfast but ask for that rate from Beatrice the Manager o Lina who is gorgeous. And ask for free internet otherwise they'll charge $3000/hr. The staff is very attentive. It's on Carrera 77c behind Obelisco. 4372696. It's not the Dann Carlton but you dont need that. Not all the taxis know this hotel. So just say you're going to Obelisco (because they all know that) and follow the street along the metro up about 7 blocks until you see the white pickets and make a right to the hotel. As you get more accustomed you can also get there easy from the 80 as it's near the metro station "floresta". I also like that its a 5 minute walk to the stadium where you can jog or catch a free aerobics class. On Sundays they close off the streets around the stadium and you can jog around the whole complex. It's real fun with lots of vendors and 1000's of people. I'm always the only gringo in that neighborhood but no one bothers me. The neighborhood reminds me a lot of Queens in NYC. As I said, down to earth. You'll have to take taxis everywhere and the hotel can call for you and note they'll note the license plate. The bars in Obelisco are a little dicey so I would only stop by for a beer or 2 maybe around happy hour but try the show at America which is like right next to that gym UROs. Its also down to earth.

I also suggest going to (Sabaneta? Envigado? I forget but its a 10-20 cab ride depending on where you are which will cost about $12000) but tell the driver "Alma LLanera", this restaurant has a show and the best meat for my tastebuds. I love the bbq pit. The taxis know these restaurants. ALso, one nite try the fonda at Mayorista? well Mayor-something, where you can see dancing horses and catch live music. Its litertally next door to Alma Llanera and the taxis all know it. But make a reservation for the fonda as its always packed on the weekends.
La Doctora is really far but has great meat in its restaurant and a good dance club if you like everyone on top of you and lots of 18 year olds.

If you want the coffee houses, there are a lot on the 33 near the 80. They're all good. There's one really good one I forget the name but it has these pinwheel things and hearts out front on the roof. The owners/wait staff are very flaming but it's real nice. SO if you're homophobic, bring a date.

The 33 can get a little rough at nite. I dont mean be totally scared, just dont go alone to the bars on it.

Otherwise do the typical gringo things like Mangos, Templo Antonia, Dinner at Plamitas has a great view but if you're in Las Palmas it's a bitch to get a cab off that hill so find a safe taxi that you can make a reservation to pick you up b4 you go out.

And if you need NFL, I'm the only place that has all the games. I'm in Belen on the 80 with the 28 next to the big Del Oeste with the yellow roof.

lpdiver says on Jan 18, 2005, 10:20:

Dann CArlton We stayed there on both of my trips to Medellin. About $70.00 per night. It included a vast breakfast bar with a chef for custom omelettes. A computer and office in the room and shoe shines apparently. At about half the costs we often stay at Cabo de la Vela. I always take taxis so location isn't as crucial to me.

"cook some rice!"

cremaster says on Jan 18, 2005, 14:50:

spigrimace I went looking for your bar the other day. And couldn´t find it. A found the Del Oeste, but no Champions sports bar.
Do you take it home with you, when you close for the night?

Patrick

daver says on Apr 23, 2005, 13:32:

Dann Carlton I stayed here on my wedding night. They put rose peddals on the bed and gave us a free bottle of champaign.

Its not a far walk from much, and the street is busy and well lit (Ave El Poblado).

Cabs are very easy to get, but the rush hour traffic is horrible in this area.

dwmte says on Apr 23, 2005, 16:35:

i'm from the old school... i love the intercontinental; i'm also familiar with the d.carlton. but i'll still take the ic any day. it's quiet, has everything and is private...no traffic. you can walk down the hill if you like or use taxi. i always taxied everywhere so it was just like haveing a driver. but if you want to cruise around and see the hotels. get a room at the intercontinental. you pass it on your way into town from the airport and spend the next day cruising around poblado and checking out the other hotels.

have a wonderful stay.

dw