Hotel OR Suites

The hotel itself was only so-so for what it cost, maybe two stars. More seriously, the front desk gave strangers from the street my personal details, including when I was checking out. It got bad enough that the police had to step in.

That elevator door-close button actually worked, which ended up being the funniest part of our stay. We were there for one night during Carnival in Barranquilla in February 2020 and paid $250 USD. Carnival explains some of the markup, but these rooms shouldn't cost more than $50 at most, especially since locals pay less. A very basic breakfast was included. The room felt cramped and had no windows, apart from a broken bathroom window that wouldn't close. It looked plain and small, with no particular style. The entrance door couldn't open all the way because a shelf had been pushed into the corner. There were only sheets and pillows on the beds, no blankets. Service was mediocre at best. The manager seemed openly disdainful of Americans, and even asking for a second key for the two of us got a disapproving look. When she did handle a request, it took ages; she didn't seem in any rush to help guests. If they're charging first-world prices, they need to provide first-world service. With other places to choose from, I'd look elsewhere, especially before leaving a booking until the last minute.

The bed and sheets were clean and new, so at least those were okay. But after booking at the last minute for Carnaval de Barranquilla, when most nice hotels were over 500 per night, we paid 250 for what felt like a motel room. The place wasn't prepared to provide basic services: we got just one roll of toilet paper on the counter on the first day, and no other essentials. Service was awful, though I blame management rather than the employees. It has potential, but a lot needs to change. I won't stay there again.

Yisley at the front desk was wonderful. She knew how to make me feel safe and welcome, and made Barranquilla feel like the place to be.