Colombia Hotels

Other Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Fatima in Bogota La Candelaria: One of the best Hostels

by Gian59

In general Hostels in Bogota are cold buildings with cold bathroom and cold water shower. Need a few blankets for the night. This Fatima hostel was no different on that.
Bathroom were kept reasonable clean as, weekend were crowded a few small problems occurred.
Staff was the best ever but, never encounter any Colombian that was not nice to me. Even my pickpocket man. Breakfast was decent enough for me old man but, I seen staff accommodate for some little requests. The walk up to the hostel a bit hard the first day due to altitude.

Nice building and some good rooms set up.

Hotel near the historical center of Bogota: Hotel La Sabana - clean & affordable

by wavesport

Hotel La Sabana
Calle 23 #5
Bogotá, Colombia
Tel # 284-4830
281-4568
Cellular # 316-298-4732
la_sabana_hotel@hotmail.com
http://www.hotellasabana.com

I stayed at this hotel in March 2011 for four nights and again in April for four nights. The hotel was the "bookend" of my four-week Colombian trip. The room rate for a single was COP$93,000 (US$55) all taxes and fees included.

There were differences between the two single rooms during my stays. In my first stay, I was given a room on the second floor which was of comfortable size. On my second stay, I was given a ground floor room which was much smaller which could be uncomfortable for some. I'd recommend inspecting the room before checking in to make sure it isn't one of the smaller ground floor rooms. If you can afford it, the double rooms are larger.

Both rooms shared my only real complaint - the bathroom was small. The rooms also had no heat which wasn't a problem for me since I prefer to sleep cold. If you like to sleep hot, this might not be the hotel for you or else ask for more blankets.

The hotel has a website with an English language page and they responded promptly to confirm my reservation.

The hotel offers an airport transportation service for COP$25,000 (US$13.75). On my second stay, I used the airport taxi booth and the fare was COP$22,600 (US$12.43). The taxi driver got a little lost so luckily I knew where the hotel was located so I was able to give him directions. Based on this experience, I'd recommend using the hotel's airport transportation service.

The front hotel staff was very friendly and helpful, but no one spoke English so I was forced to practice my rusty Spanish. The manager or administrator does have some English language skills if communication is needed.

The room had cable TV, but the screen was "fuzzy." The bathroom had a hairdryer. The room also had a small refrigerator stocked with overpriced beverages. If you want to buy something to stock the refrigerator, there's a supermarket around the corner on Carrera 7.

The hotel has free Wi-Fi. The desk clerk will give you the password. They also have two desktop computers available in the lobby for use by their guests.

Free breakfast was included. I always had scrambled eggs, toast, orange juice and coffee because it's the only thing I knew for certain when ordering in Spanish.

The hotel does have a nice restaurant, but it closes at 8 pm. If you don't want to venture outside, you can take advantage of their room service.

The hotel is located north of La Candelaria, but within walking distance (at least for me) to Plaza de Bolívar.

Late checkout (4:00 pm) is allowed.

During the daytime, safety was never a concern for me. I also never felt so concerned that I couldn't venture out at night; however, common sense has to be used. If you're familiar and comfortable with the grittiness of the Centro areas of Latin American cities, you'll find the area of the hotel better than most of them.

About 2 blocks east, young adults are in the neighborhood because of a school. I'm not sure if it's part of the nearby Universidad de los Andes. The students are well-behaved so their presence in the neighborhood is positive.

From the hotel, if you walk about 4-5 blocks west on Calle 22, you'll find a TransMilenio bus station. It's fairly simple to use, but avoid the rush hour when the buses get ridiculously crowded. To get to Zona Rosa, I took # B13 to Calle 85. To return, I took # H13 from Calle 85 to Calle 22.

If you use Calle 22 after dark, I wouldn't go any further west than the TransMilenio bus station. If you do, you'll be entering an area of strip clubs, brothels, and street walkers of questionable gender. If you're coming from the airport, you'll drive through this area (Santa Fe).

This hotel is not wheelchair accessible. There are no elevators.

If you're a budget conscious traveler, I think this small hotel is worthy of consideration.

The ProAves El Dorado Reserve

by traveldave

The ProAves El Dorado Reserve provides visitors with comfortable rooms, three good meals per day, and other services to make their stay in a wild and out-of-the-way place as comfortable as possible.

The ProAves El Dorado Reserve was established in 2008 to protect 1,700 acres (688 hectares) of the critically important subtropical and montane forest habitat on the San Lorenzo Ridge, an outlyer of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. These mountains contain many endemic species of birds, animals, plants, insects, and other wildlife that are not found anywhere else in the world. In fact, in the forest right around the lodge, undescribed species of screech owl and night monkey were recently discovered.

Visitors can hike the several trails that wind through the jungle and around the grounds of the lodge, and relax and watch wildlife from covered lookout points. A popular place to keep watch is the compost heap, because normally hard-to-see black-fronted wood quail and Colombian brushfinches come out to eat discarded fruit, and at night it is possible to see armadillos and even crab-eating foxes searching for scraps.

The lodge's spacious rooms are located in several small buildings scattered about the grounds. The buildings are constructed of non-native pine that is being cleared from the reserve, and the interiors of the rooms have a rustic feel, as the pine is rough and untreated. Each room has two beds, electricity, and gas-heated showers. However, the water from the room's sink is not heated, and the gas stoves can be rather unpredictable, so hot water is not always available.

Every room has a large picture window, and some of the rooms also have a sliding glass door and a balcony overlooking the city of Santa Marta, the Caribbean Sea, and the Ciénega Grande de Santa Marta 6,234 feet (1,900 meters) below. For me, this was the highlight of the lodge, as I relaxed on the balcony watching the sun set over the sea. And at night, the stars were clear and bright, and the lights of Barranquilla were visible many miles away on the horizon.

The Sierra Nevada EcoCenter provides group dining in a building that is situated on a hillside above the level of the rooms, and also offers a spectacular view. The center provides free water to visitors who will be hiking the trails or driving up to the San Lorenzo Ridge. Maps of the area and of Colombia adorn the walls, and a book shelf has field guides to Colombian birds, animals, and other wildlife. There is also a small gift shop which offers T-shirts, hats, and other souvenirs. The money from sales benefits the reserve. In addition, the shop has some nice locally made jewelry which benefits some local women artisans who make the jewelry.

Casa Del Curato: Great staff, great location.

by EMGuero

Staff were extremely helpful with everything. The suites upstairs are not to be missed, rooms downstairs are small but the location of the hotel is still outstanding.

Built in what used to be a mansion, great location, outstanding lobby and view from roof.

The Hotel Minca

by traveldave

The Hotel Minca mainly caters to birdwatchers, nature enthusiasts, and eco-tourists. It recently opened, and during my stay in March 2011, some of the rooms were still undergoing renovation. The hotel is situated on spacious grounds containing many large trees and lush vegetation, and part of the veranda and the dining room overlook the Minca Valley and the jungle-clad peaks of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta beyond.

The hotel is housed in a charming and picturesque Spanish colonial building that was originally the hacienda of a coffee plantation. (Colombia is known worldwide for the quality of its coffee, and the first coffee grown in Colombia was in the Minca area. Locally grown coffee is widely considered to be some of the best in the world).

Sometime in the 1940s, the building became a convent, and at that time, multiple rooms which are now used as guest rooms, were added to house the nuns. However, the convent closed in the 1950s after a scandalous affair between the Mother Superior and a local priest shocked the conservative Roman Catholic village.

Because the Hotel Minca mainly caters to eco-tourists, the rooms are very basic, containing only a bed, a night stand, and a bathroom. However, the rooms are clean and airy. Local artists were employed to paint entire walls with colorful tropical scenes, animals, and designs.

A veranda encircles the section of the building containing the guest rooms, and a pleasant diversion is to sit on the veranda and watch hundreds of hummingbirds of several species that are attracted to the dozens of hummingbird feeders hung on the trees.

Guests eat at communal tables in the dining area, which overlooks the valley below, and also boasts its own set of hummingbird feeders, bringing these birds right up to the windows. Despite the fact that this is an eco-tourism hotel, the quality of the food is outstanding, and many of the dishes are comparable to what might be served in an upscale gourmet restaurant.

The Hotel Barranquilla Plaza

by traveldave

Located in Alto Prado, the most upscale neighborhood in Barranquilla, the Hotel Barranquilla Plaza caters mainly to foreign travelers and business people. It is in a highrise on a quiet side street on which are located many fine restaurants, night spots, and exclusive shops. The hotel's 176 rooms offer outstanding views over the highrises of Barranquilla, and rooms facing east also have a view of the distant Magdalena River and the even more distant Caribbean Sea.

Each room offers such modern amenities as air conditioning, cable television (with 64 channels), two telephones (one in the room and the other in the bathroom), broadband internet access, safety deposit box, hair dryer, and mini bar.

Guests can relax by the hotel's pool, which is surrounded by lush tropical vegetation, and which has an outdoor snack bar. Breakfast is included in the price of the room, and can be taken either in the dining area or outside under the trees in the pool area.

Other ameneties include a good restaurant, bar, fitness center, sauna and steam room, and business center.

La Casa Amarilla: the place to stay in Mompós

by richiecdisc

Though Mompós has many accommodation options, La Casa Amarilla seems to have completely taken over the backpackers' market. It's for good reason and is now perhaps a few notches above its original incarnation as well as a bit higher in prices quoted in the most recent guidebooks. Since we had so much success haggling over bus fares we figured we would do the same with the room when quoted 60,000 COP (20,000 more than in the guide!) for a double with private bath. They would not budge so I left Doreen in the common room and went to have a look around town. I found some very cheap places but they were really hovels and not the pleasant rooms we had envisioned on our swing through Colombia's Bayou region. I also found some places for 50000 COP that were very nice but much smaller than the room we'd been shown at La Casa. I went back with my tail between my legs to talk it over with my wife but by the time I'd returned, they had dropped the price to 50000 COP ($25) so we gladly took it without much deliberation.

The location is on the outskirts of town just slightly but right on the riverfront. The combination makes it a very quiet scenic spot. It is also next to the prettiest church in town so great for getting photos of it early in the morning. There is a convenient beer garden out front that makes your nightlife choice simple too. The building is well kept and colorful and the common areas have great murals that brighten it up quite a bit. The courtyard of the colonial building is charming and great for relaxing mid-day. There is a common kitchen open to all as well as a DVD player and collection in the living room. Overall, it was a very stylish affair.

Unique Qualities: Our room was very spacious with a comfortable, modern bed and nice nightstands with lamps. The private bath was again modern and had hot running water. The air-conditioning worked very well. In fact, with no blanket, it had to be put on very low while sleeping! It was however a great reprieve during the midday Mompós heat and we generally spent a few hours after lunch in there relaxing before heading back out for the afternoon photo shoot. They also had very modern rooms that had just been finished which were priced at 100000 COP ($50) which seemed very good quality if you are looking for a more upscale option.

Laguna del Avellanal: the reason for Colombian trip pays off

by richiecdisc

Laguna del Avellanal was indeed the jewel of the trek and we were rewarded with a surreal sunrise on the back of Piedra Negra, that glowed red despite its moniker. Getting there was another story. This was the day I started to truly wonder if we had bitten off more than we could chew with this trek. It seemed to go at a steady and steep angle the entire day and if it had mercifully stopped at Laguna de la Isla we might have been able to manage more than an exhausted sigh of relief on arrival. But no, there was another pass to cross and the drop to the lake was equally relentless, making the descent the evening before look like child's play. Despite our early start, we got there with barely enough time to set up camp and eat a hasty dinner before the temperatures dipped into the uncomfortably freezing range. I was out a few times that night to take a pee and saw stars so close I swore I could touch them and one particularly gleaming one that I deemed my recently passed away mother helping to guide us around a circuit that indeed always seemed a notch above our heads. While there was little in the way of any evening light, the morning proved more than compensatory with one of the best sunrises of the entire trek.

Surrounded by stunning peaks with great potential for dawn photo shoot.

Plantation House: one very nice hostel

by richiecdisc

As a general rule, we had steered clear of hostels when traveling around Colombia for the five weeks we had already been in the country. Though we had started out by staying in the country's most noted hostel, Bogota's Platypus, and did a brief stop at Mompos' Casa Amarilla, we had found budget hotels catering more to Colombians to be not only nicer but also better value. They were generally more quiet and with fewer backpackers, easier to keep to yourself when you wanted to. But as we headed to Salento, it was tough to avoid wanting to stay at The Plantation House. Reports were excellent and after a fun experience on La Ciudad Perdida group trek, we decided to give the hostel scene another go. We were glad we did as The Plantation House was everything it was said to be and provided us with a great place to stay as well take photos of what appeared to be a resident motmot!

The old wooden building has a lot of charm and is small enough to feel really cozy. There were times when it was a little noisy when we went to bed but it died down earlier enough to not be a real problem. We were going to bed pretty early to be fair. The people staying at the hostel were very friendly and a nice group that was easy to get along with. It didn't have the “can you top this” feeling you can get when sitting around with a group on this kind of circuit. The room was not very big but not overly cramped and was nicely if simply furnished. The communal baths were clean enough and featured tons of hot water. The kitchen was kept pretty clean too and a real plus was a fairly steady supply of fairly strong coffee that was free. There were nice places to sit on the veranda and this was the place's real plus as the grounds were quite lush with many birds. We spotted a gorgeous motmot both of our mornings there, who was a real poser too.

The owner is an English guy married to a Colombian woman and they have the cutest little girl who so obviously has her Daddy wrapped around her finger, very endearing. They do tours of their coffee plantation as well as organize things further afield but in no way are they pushy in “selling tours.” A really pleasant place to stay and can see why people wind up staying longer than planned.

We paid 37000 COP ($18.50) per night for our double room. You can definitely find cheaper in town but we felt it was a fair value room when taking in the overall ambiance.

Hospedaje Sol de La Villa: a well-deserved splurge

by richiecdisc

Hospedaje Sol de La Villa was perhaps the most expensive place we stayed while traveling around Colombia for two months. It was also likely the very nicest and after an arduous multi-day trek in El Cocuy National Park, much deserved. Many people utilize these types of places to get very good value rooms at prices well below what you would pay “back home” and there's certainly nothing wrong with that. We were however traveling for two months and paying this much for a room each night would have put us well out of our budget but for a couple nights and as a reward, it was a great splurge. We actually got here quite by accident as I more or less misread the map, holding it upside down so instead of going to one of the less expensive places first to see if it was good enough, I went to a more mid-range place. I guess sometime things happen for a reason and we did enjoy our stay here immensely and helped begin a more relaxed time for us in Colombia.

The large hotel has a nice open feeling with staff very friendly and accommodating. A couple open courtyard areas add a relaxed flair and make each part seem a bit smaller and more inviting. There are lots of plants and great natural light. You could hang out here for hours and enjoy every minute of it. Our room was spacious and very nicely furnished with a big comfy hand-woven wool blanket and warm lighting, a very nice departure from the more common neon lights that you get in most budget places in South America. Our window opened into one of the courtyards which during our mid-week visit was always empty. The attached bathroom was totally modern and after over a week of backpacking in the wilderness, was a great joy. It truly is nice to not have to put your shoes on to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night and great to come out of the shower and be able to lie in bed, all in one go. The shower was a glass-enclosure affair with very modern plumbing and an endless supply of hot water. Ah, luxury it was and very appreciated by my wife, how was in heaven these two days.

Breakfast was served off the lobby in a nice natural light area and consisted of very typical Colombian dishes like huevos pericos with warmly toasted arepas, orange juice, and a fair cup of coffee or hot chocolate. This was a great touch for us as we don't get rooms like this too often and to be able to slide back to the room after breakfast each morning was lovely.

My obviously dated guidebook had listed this place at 60,000 COP ($30) per night for a double but it had gone up to 80,000 COP by our January 2010 visit. Luckily, we came mid-week and had some bargaining power. When I said I was going to look around, the price was dropped to 70,000 as I was walking out. After looking around and seeing nothing nearly as nice for even that price, we decided to take it. It was a bit more than we wanted to pay but it was a very nice place and worthy splurge.

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Colombia Hotels

509 Hotels

Other Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Fatima in Bogota La Candelaria: One of the best Hostels

Hotel near the historical center of Bogota: Hotel La Sabana - clean & affordable

The ProAves El Dorado Reserve

Casa Del Curato: Great staff, great location.

The Hotel Minca

The Hotel Barranquilla Plaza

La Casa Amarilla: the place to stay in Mompós

Laguna del Avellanal: the reason for Colombian trip pays off

Plantation House: one very nice hostel

Hospedaje Sol de La Villa: a well-deserved splurge

Explore the World

Questions and Answers