Hostal Lele Beach

The beach is beautiful, but the accommodation and service were unacceptable. We booked three nights at Nena and left for Cartagena after the first. There was no running water in our room, so we couldn’t shower or brush our teeth. The air conditioning stopped around 11 pm, and by morning the room had no power at all. It was over 90 degrees during our stay. Stray dogs and cats were all over the property, and animal feces right outside our door brought a huge number of flies. We asked at the front desk to cancel the remaining nights. The staff member said he needed to speak with his boss, which we understood, but after waiting a few hours and repeatedly hearing that the boss was “in a meeting,” we contacted Expedia. Their representative was very helpful and tried to reach the hotel. The front desk staff had been speaking English with us and had said his boss spoke English too, but when Expedia called, he suddenly claimed he didn’t speak English. The Expedia representative said the boss also claimed not to speak English, directly contradicting what we’d been told. A frustrating and disappointing experience. We absolutely don’t recommend staying here.

Getting to Playa Blanca was stressful, and once there we were met by locals who aggressively tried to make us sit and spend money at particular beach shacks. When we refused, the confrontation escalated and we were almost physically attacked simply for not going where they told us. The beach has poor infrastructure, and we saw no police or proper security. The beach club offered no guidance or safe way to arrive without harassment or extortion. It was a horrible and unsafe experience. We’ll never go back and don’t recommend it.

When my wife injured her toe stepping off the boat, with her foot caught between the boat and the dock, we went to the hotel for help. It was about 10:30 a.m. and nearby. There was no medical station, and the first-aid kit they gave us was nearly empty, without basic supplies for an emergency. The driver took us to a clinic, and I was charged 150,000 COP for the ride. We had a reservation for that day, but the medical emergency meant we couldn't stay. I contacted the hotel afterward and asked about a refund. They refused and showed no empathy. The customer service was extremely disappointing. They don't seem prepared for emergencies, and I wouldn't recommend staying here.

The front-line staff were kind, and I thought the food was good, but management still hasn't refunded the two nights we didn't use. I booked three nights and left after the first because the room and surroundings were in such poor shape. The bathroom was unsanitary, the water pressure was weak, and the air conditioning didn't respond. Large gaps around the doors let pests in repeatedly through the night. Outside, aggressive vendors, diesel fumes, and poor sanitation made the area uncomfortable too.