Hotels in Cali

tomtom33 says on Jul 8, 2005, 18:52:

Never been? Looking for hotels and safety? Try Poblado in Medellin or Cartagena.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

caslug says on Jul 8, 2005, 18:57:

recommend you.. do a search of the site using google.. There's lots of thread on hotel in Cali. You want to stay near Avienda sexta, someone posted a comphrensive list once. I've been to cali and will return around the same time, you can PM if you have questions.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

mhw310 says on Jul 9, 2005, 09:13:

cali in cali, i have stayed at the intercontinental hotel and casa de afredez. both are closed to sexta. i prefer casa de afredez because the room are so much nicer and the hotel is quieter but it does not have a pool. the rates are about $60-80 per night.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

flaleo says on Jul 9, 2005, 20:03:

do you mean the alferez?

it's an accor/sofitel hotel - see www.accorhotels.com.

the sheraton 4points is in this group level, i like it the best of these three. strong a/c, breakfast included, free airport roundtrip shuttle transportation, free in-room internet (fair bandwidth), new beddings...

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Gomezman5 says on Jul 9, 2005, 21:30:

Intercontinental....definitely your best bet. When you are talking hotels in Cali. Safety and sscurity should be your number one priority. And when it comes to that, the Intercontinental can't be beat.

First, it is an International chain of first class proportions. The standards of the Intercontinental is very high. Secondly, it has quite a bit of securiy. A majority of the foreign nationals from major corporations and other important types stay there. If for no other reason because Inteercontinental is a name you can rely upon.

It is also close to the night life while not in the middle of it. I think that is your best bet. You can get info at their web site and you can reserve your room there as well.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

juanalejo says on Jul 10, 2005, 06:56:

Dann Carlton For me the Dann Carlton is the best hotel in Cali, located in central Cali also, but better service and better rooms.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

flaleo says on Jul 10, 2005, 10:01:

IC safe? IMO the IC is the least safe of your options among nice/top hotels - not the most safe!

Not that I am saying Colombia is dangerous or not for the visitor... but of the potential dangers, let's list them, let's identify the types of risks... is the fear of petty and street crime type danger? Or is the fear of kidnapping or more organized crime? Or terror type danger like bombings?

If it is the latter two, then the IC is not the safest, but probably the most dangerous. For example, if there would be a bombing at a hotel, the IC is a higher probability target than most any other I'd guess. As for kidnapping or even organized robbings, if someone is looking for high-worth 'targets', then I'd guess they might focus on guests of the IC before any other hotel.

I just think if one is going to make safety their first concern, then the safer approach in Colombia to remain below the radar, not staying at the single most expensive and luxurious hotel in town.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Gomezman5 says on Jul 10, 2005, 12:30:

Intercontinental unsafe,,,,you are kidding I can't agree Flaleo. When is the last time you were there? I was there last October, and they do bomb searchs of cars before they enter can go on the drive way. The have lots of internal security as well as policia nacional in the lobby. When you leave the elevators, you need a key to open the doors to enter the hall where the rooms are or you will not even be able to get near the rooms.

As far as your assertion that you want to be low keyed, what are you saying? Look, nobody target the hotel when they want to kidnap someone or vicimize a person. They target the PERSON. Hence, if there is any danger to your life or property, you will have as high of degree of safely in the Intercontinental as you will will at any other hotel in
Cali. Important people stay at the IC because it is almost impossible to be victimized in that hotel...It just never happens.

Oddly enough, my favorite hotel is the Aristi. It is not in a safe part of the central area and it is a bit old. But the rooms are really cool. The hotel is really a historic showcase. The rooms are huge. And the rooms have higher ceilings than any hotel I have ever been too. The bathrooms are also quite large. It's old and it's seen it's days, but a kind of like the antique aspect of the place. The huge staircase, with the thick brass railing is also kind of cool too. But, and this is my point, if someone wanted to kidnap you or rob you, they have one or two guys working "security" to protect you. Ja Ja. Anyone could get to your room without a problem. If that is your version of low keyed ....I will take a pass.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

flaleo says on Jul 10, 2005, 15:03:

To answer your quetion, I'm there nearly every month.
And sure the person is targeted, and the IC has a lot of rich people visiting.

Go read my words again... I NEVER SAID THE IC IS UNSAFE. I wrote that it was less safe and the most dangerous of the three 4* chain hotels I had listed, and for the crime risks other than street crime type incidents.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Gomezman5 says on Jul 10, 2005, 15:17:

Flaleo The word "Danger" and Intercontinental don't belong in the same sentence. When the Colombian consulate in Chicago, often reccomend that people who travel to Colombia for visit should stay at the IC. Recently the The vice counsel for Mexico in Chicago stayed there. If it that is where political dignataries from other countries stay, then it must be one of the safest, if not the safest in Cali. They are in the best postion to know because before they travel, they check with the Colombian consulate to see what they reccomend. I know this because the vice counsel of Mexico told me as much. So if the Colombian consulate is sending the vice counsel general of Mexico there, than that says it all.

When you travel to Cali, where do you stay Flaleo?

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Peter Miami says on Jul 10, 2005, 19:42:

Gomezman5 is Right on Flaleo you have no idea what you are talking about. The Intercontinental Hotel is the safest hotel in all of Cali and the Best. Before I went for the first time three years ago I spoke with Colombians and I research with travel agent and other people over 90% of the people I spoke with told me to stay at the Intercontinental Hotel. I go to Cali three to five times a year I always stay there.

Every car that goes in is check all around the car the bottom carriage, the trunk is open and checked. The security and police come to your car or taxi every time anyone gets to the front area outside the door. There are usually 4 to 6 guards walking and coming up to cars or taxis arriving. Outside the front door are 2 to 3 guards, in the lobby there are about three more, in front of the elevators there is 1 or 2 more guards, at every passage way in the lobby there are more guards. This is not counting the hotel employees that are all through out the lobby, counter, font door and roaming around. Any one that is not recognized is stopped and asked for ID I have seen this happen. I have been there since December five time and I will be their in August again.

I do not believe you have every stayed there. If you like other hotel because of the price that is alright but no hotel in Cali compare with the Intercontinental Hotel. My security and luxury is worth a little more if it is available.


Peter Miami

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Gomezman5 says on Jul 10, 2005, 20:07:

Peter Miami I did not want to say that, but you are right. I don't think he ever stayed at the IC, or even visited the place, because if he had, he would have noticed the degree of security that is there. Flaleo makes some good posts, but he is either completely confusing his hotels, or he is just talking without having any knowledge about what he is saying. I know of no other hotel in Cali that even comes close to the security of the Intercontinental. I think some Colombians here just say it to boost their own local hotels like the Dann. The Dann is a good hotel too, but I know it does not have the security that the IC has. You see, Intercontinental has a world wide reputtation. They know about the security problems in Cali and they cannot afford to have an incident because it would wreck their business world wide. If the Dann has a problem, so what? The Dann is in Colombia. End of story. The IC is one of the largest if not the largest chain of luxury hotels in the world, so it is imperative that they take all the security precautions that they can. I remember when I went out clubing one night with some friends, and when they drove me back to the hotel, they refused to open the gate that lets you up that long drive way until I was able to show my ID card showing that I was in fact a guess at the hotel. It was late, I was drunk, (of course) and I had the card burried in my pocket, but security was adamant, no ID and the card could not get in.

I checked with my friend at one of Cali's biggest travel agencies, she told me the same thing..IC is the place to go...for both luxury and security--with emphasis on security

0 funny, 0 helpful.

flaleo says on Jul 11, 2005, 07:08:

I have not stayed there in about a year. I have visited the hotel in nearly every month in the last year (to meet people).

Yes, it is the safest vs. street crime type incidents. No one will make it to your hotel room. The lobby is safe. The check every car entering as your write. Only pre-approved taxi's a waiting in their driveway.

But this is not the safety area my post address. This is the most high profile hotel in the city. ALL the dignitaries and richest people stay there. Thus, if you want to be low key (for safety reasons I have listed) then it is not the safest place to stay - and the fact that it's recommeded as you write, and well used as you write is the exact reason not to stay there (conditional that this is the fear one has!).

While cautious, I'm am not in constant fear of kidnapping nor some other form of crime where I am targeting in a planned/conspired manner. But, if this was a fear I wished to guard against, clearly, staying at the IC is not the best option.

As for the question, recently I've used the Alferez, 4points, Plaza las Americas (temporarily closed for remodeling) and someone's apartment. I'm a big Starwood user, so the 4points is my current favorite (and the free airport transport and free internet save me over 100,000 pesos when compared to another option). Once PlA reopens, if there is no additional construction nextdoor, I'll likely immediately return as the no where beats the size and furnishings of their all-suite rooms IMO.

I'll agree with you, if cost is no issue and and one is looking to guard against petty crime and street crime, then the IC is the best choice. If one has opinion that street crime is not the issue, but has fear of other more premeditaded crimes and/or cost is an issue, then the IC IMO has a few other choices that outrank it.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

michaelz says on Jul 11, 2005, 07:37:

reviews please I like the Casa del Alferez too, but their prices seem to have gone up.

Has anyone stayed at either the Obelisco or the Torre de Cali? If so, how about a review?

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Gomezman5 says on Jul 11, 2005, 08:33:

Flaleo.....look I think you have gone full circle already The guy who started this thread wrote a total of three lines. That is it. He wanted info on a hotel in Cali that is:

1. Near night life
2. SAFE

Ok, that said, the IC is the best place there is. You come on here with all kinds of nonsense about it being the 4th most dangerous. Your earlier posts clearly gave the impression that it was not a safe place. May I remind you of them:

ONE POST
"I wrote that it was less safe and the most dangerous of the three 4* chain hotels I had listed, and for the crime risks other than street crime type incidents."



ANOTHER POST
"For example, if there would be a bombing at a hotel, the IC is a higher probability target than most any other I'd guess. As for kidnapping or even organized robbings, if someone is looking for high-worth 'targets', then I'd guess they might focus on guests of the IC before any other hotel."

Those two posts are utterly rediculous. To suggest in any way that the IC is unsafe is a bunch of bunk. The IC is the safest hotel, and if you really have been there and to some of the others, you would have never posted the above two phrases.

Now you say it's the safest. So you have gone full circle. You have gone from saying it's the "4th most dangerouos" to saying it is the safest. If that is not a contrdiction, I don't know what is. Look, when you are on the street, no hotel is safe. Safety of a hotel is defined in two ways. First, its location and second how secure is it internally. Using both as a criteria, nothing beats the IC. Case closed

0 funny, 0 helpful.

flaleo says on Jul 11, 2005, 11:46:

The poster only asked for "safe" - he didn't specify safe from what.

If it's safe from street crime, or something similar, then the IC is fine.

If the issue is safety from a bomb, organized terror, or kidnapping, then staying at the IC makes you a target IMO. You are labeled as weathy staying there, more so than staying at the Alferez, 4points, Radison, etc. Dignitaries stay there. If this is the poster's concern, than IC is not that safest, and IMO is the least safe regarding this fear amongst the hotels listed.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Peter Miami says on Jul 11, 2005, 19:06:

What drugs is flaleo on? He could have been asking is the bathroom safe from germs also but I do not think that is what he was asking. I am C.P.A. I make six figures a year that is way above average and I am not rich and I do not think there are Colombians with my financial statements out side the hotel waiting for me. I do not think there are too many rich people here if any.

metalink1974;

I hope you did the search I told you and found it where I have wrote about the IC hotel and how your are close to "Avenida Sexta" full of bar, and some smaller clubs. There is other clubs close by like "Juamchito" this is an area with a lot of clubs with different music from salsa, merengue, vallenato, hip hop, trance/electronic, house and more. Send me a PM and I will find it and send you a list.

Good luck,


Peter Miami

0 funny, 0 helpful.

gabriel says on Jul 15, 2005, 02:25:

Agree that the inter is the best and safest in cali...last year when I stayed with my wife, I saw alot of security in the hotel, in its sorroundings and also in the general area near the river, alot of police or military dress in plane clothes.

Also the Dann is in the same area as the inter, less than a couple of minutes away walking "about a block or two away", they do bomb checks, a ton of security, really can't go wrong with either.

One question that I have is, has anyone stayed at the royal pacific? just wondering how does it compare.


Yerba mala nunca muere....

Yerba mala nunca muere....

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Angel_Gabriel says on Jul 17, 2005, 20:39:

Have only been to Cali once & stood at the Sheraton (four points) at 18 & 4th. My experience, it is safe & somewhat private, quiet area although I wouldn't walk from the sexta (just two blocks away I think) at night back to the hotel. Also located about 10-13 blocks from chipichape, short walk during the day. Caslug mentioned a while ago the apartahotel which I checked it out. I say if you got the ladies visiting, then this seems like discreet safe place & is rather clean with TV, phone, bathroom & living room to warm it up. Good luck amigo!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

bogota says on Jul 17, 2005, 20:59:

Cali finca or apartments www.ColombiaLodgingResources.com

0 funny, 0 helpful.

flaleo says on Jul 19, 2005, 06:26:

Royal Pacific IMO has the nicest rooms (furnishings, linens, etc) in Cali. It is now a Radisson. You can cut thru a mini commercial mall and be across the street from Unicentro.

I walk from 4points to Sexta all the time, at all hours. Street crime is not a huge risk in that area (no more so than Manhattan or London, certainly less than Rio or LA)... and it's only two blocks.

Both of these hotels give you a lower profile than IC.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Cel says on Oct 9, 2005, 10:50:

Hotels in Cali Anyone traveling to Cali should check out Cali Plaza; (Some information here copied from Cali Plaza website: www.CaliPlaza.com. Cali Plaza is an Apartment/Condominium building with Rental Suites. It is American Owned and one of the most convenient locations in Cali:
Over 50 Restaurants, Bars, and Discotecs within walking distance. 3 ATM’s within 1/2 block. Travel Agencies, Grocery and Convenience Stores, and Laundries nearby. Almost everything you need within walking distance. Cali Plaza is ideally located in the middle of the Tourist and Entertainment District of Sixth Avenue in Cali, Colombia S.A. ...also located a few blocks from Downtown and Business District. (Check out their photo section at CaliPlaza.com and you can view the rooms and see the convenience of their location.)

Most everyone visiting Cali, visits Sixth Avenue; ... Staying in the middle of this area is convenient, plus saves time and money spent on transportation.

Cali Plaza Administrator and Owner both speak English, therefore many Americans hang out there. ... For any of you wanting marriage visas or information, Gonzalo Services is located in Cali Plaza. They do more visas in Cali, than anyone else.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

creamontop says on Oct 10, 2005, 15:30:

cut crap safety from hotel is not everything. What sence does it make to pay twice the amount for a hotelbed when you know you will walk on the street the next morning and could get raped ?

Be streetwise. And no matter what hotel you sleep, you will always get the benefit of your knowledge.

but if you behave like an idiot, no place on earth is secure for you. You will pay the price for your ignorance. No matter where, no matter when.

Be smart.... you are not an embassador or a council lodging in the IC. You get out of your "bunker" hotel room, they can get you. You dont have bodyguards so... use comon sense. A good "secure" hotel maybe gives some kind of protection, anyhow when they want you, they will get you, on their territory : The street, a side alley, the pub, the nightclub,.... or are you going to spend your holidays completely inside your bunker hotel room ? I dont think so..... :-)

yo me puse tengo un guayabo ahora, yo seguro hace cuando estoy en Colombia

0 funny, 0 helpful.

arthur brode says on Apr 25, 2008, 23:29:

www.calirentals.net

http://www.calirentals.net/

0 funny, 0 helpful.