LUXURY HOTELS IN SAN ANDRES??

DavidM says on Oct 22, 2007, 12:37:

Yeh, was just there. There are a number of all-inclusive Decameron Hotels on the Island. Staying at one entitles them the right to enjoy the facilities of any of the Decamerons on the Island. Great for old people who are into more of the packaged hotel experience.

There is what I am told a FIVE STAR hotel on the Island. My fiance's mother and brother were just there. It's located on the main walkway abutting the most popular beach area. It's painted white and for some reason I believe its name is something like White House. I'll speak to my fiance tonight and get back to you.

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Tinto (Moderator) says on Oct 22, 2007, 12:48:

Yeah, it's Hotel Casa Blanca. Haven't stayed there so can't comment on the rooms, but did peek at the courtyard with a pool. The whole place looks spotless and their adjoining restaurants, one kind of formal, one more casual/coffee shop, are good.

http://www.hotelcasablanca.net/english/welcome.htm

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expatriate says on Oct 22, 2007, 13:24:

We stayed in Hotel Casa Blanca for four nights as part of a package deal two years ago, flying from Cali. The rooms and beds are nice, the room is air conditioned, the pool is nice, the hotel is right near the shopping zone and across the street from the beach. You also get all meals included, plus snacks, and free drinks and cigarettes from something like 11 AM to 9 or 10 PM. There was a live show near the pool, at least one night a week. No complaints.

Five stars compared to a five star hotel in New York or Las Vegas with a huge marble lobby and convention space for thousands? No, but it is pleasant, in a convenient location, and no complaints from me.

On a side note, I enjoyed the time in the San Andres airport, waiting to go home. Many people were waiting for their flights still wearing beach clothing, and young boys were snapping each other with towels. Quite different from any other airport lounge I've been in.

If you are young, skilled, and intelligent, you might want to seriously consider leaving the US now, while you still can.

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wendell13 says on Oct 22, 2007, 16:07:

I just got back from San Andres last week. I had a good time. They closed that street in front of the beach and built a nice walking, promenade walkway. Very nice. The Casa Blanca is right in front of the walkway. It appeared as if it had been remodeled.

We stayed there 3 years ago. It was nice but definately not 5 star three years ago. Great food and good service.

Our hotel was Caribe Sol. Very nice but not on the beach

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Lisa Zee says on Oct 22, 2007, 22:43:

Hotel SUNRISE, It has an olympic size "floating swimming pool" unbelivebel!!!!.
I could not believe the contrast of most of the island SOOOOOO poor and then this incredible luxurious hotels. half of this Sunrise place is apartments and the others are hotel rooms. One of my relatives lives there.
And don`t forget to send them to "DONDE FRANCHESCA" restaurant, the best food in San Andres, en las playas de San Luis.

Feliz Navidad!

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Lisa Zee says on Oct 22, 2007, 22:52:

Sunrise Beach Hotel. Google it to see it.

Feliz Navidad!

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El Polo says on Oct 23, 2007, 09:48:

What is a good restaurants to go to in SAI?

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ColombianoGringo (Moderator) says on Oct 23, 2007, 10:04:

The Sunrise is nice, but I have heard a lot of bad comments from people that have stayed there. They apparently have had a lot of problems in some parts of the hotel with A/C and the plumbing. I spoke to one couple who told me that their room was flooded by a faulty A/C system and another couple who complained about the toilets backing up and emitting a foul stench. There were also a lot of bad reviews about these same issues on Tripadvisor and Yahoo Travel.

It seems like a really nice place that has not been maintained well. I was told by a Sunrise employee that it had been shut down for a long time and they were still working on fixing the building's problems.

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ColombianoGringo (Moderator) says on Oct 23, 2007, 10:07:

There is a good seafood place outside the centro area. I think it was called Rincon de la Langosta. Any taxi driver will know how to get there.

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El Polo says on Oct 23, 2007, 10:18:

Thanks CG

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ColombianoGringo (Moderator) says on Oct 23, 2007, 12:14:

BTW, we visited the Sunrise to see if we would like it for our next trip to SA and when we were given the tour, I noticed that the little beach area by the pool seems to have a lot of gas and oil in the water. They dock boats at the pier in the picture and they leak all kinds of crap into that water. Granted, it is ocean and the gunk will eventually wash out to sea, but it looked pretty nasty when we were there.

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Lisa Zee says on Oct 23, 2007, 14:55:

Thanks for posting that photo GB. I want to go back ASAP. The beaches in San Luis are beautiful!

Feliz Navidad!

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goin_south says on Oct 23, 2007, 16:49:

I think we all need to start petitioning the airlines for DIRECT FLIGHTS FROM THE STATES TO SAN ANDRES.

If I am correct, ... you have to go to Colombia, and then connect to San Andres, right?? Or, can you connect from any other countries? Mexico? Belize? Panama? No?

(yes, I'm fishing... for one last option before confirming/locking-in, my airfare for Cali in a few weeks)

Why Colombianitas? Personally... I just don't like pink areolar tissue.

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El Piloto says on Oct 23, 2007, 17:19:

You can connect through Panama. Here's Copa's flight schedule. Flights are nonstop on Embraer 190s:
CM202 PTY-ADZ 11:26-12:33
CM203 ADZ-PTY 13:17-14:20

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goin_south says on Oct 23, 2007, 21:51:

jus a lil hard to find, but the homepage for Copa Air is this:

http://www.copaair.com/homepage.aspx?lang=en

Why Colombianitas? Personally... I just don't like pink areolar tissue.

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