Hotel Parque 97

The streets get pretty busy, and the hotel corridors could use some updating. Still, it's a nice hotel in a good location, with good service and a fair price for the amenities.

The walkable location was useful, but plenty of hotels offer that same advantage at this price with more up-to-date amenities. After a week here, I wouldn't come back. The facilities feel dated, and I was surprised there was no AC in a city as modern as Bogotá, especially when many other hotels have it. Maybe that wasn't a problem before global warming, but it's something to keep in mind. The staff could use more training too, which stood out to me because people in Bogotá are usually so service-oriented. I've stayed at several other places in the city, and this one doesn't feel like a four-star hotel. There are many alternatives at the same price, including larger chains like Hilton.

The neighborhood felt very safe, with a small park nearby. Two pizza places are less than 100 meters away, and there's an express Exito by the park. For more restaurants, shopping, or currency exchange, I walked across the surrounding streets. Going north toward Calle 100 is the shortest walk to several restaurants and Carulla. The pedestrian bridges east toward Carrera 15 lead to lots of options, including restaurants, Western Union, shops, cafes such as Azahar Cafe and Cafe Amor Perfecto, and Parque 93. For what I paid, the service was worth six stars to me, the room five, and the location four. Everyone was helpful, from reception and the door staff to the buffet team and room cleaners. They made an effort to help me feel welcome. Special thanks to the breakfast helper, who was friendly and efficient, brought me an Americano from the cafe bar, and cleared dishes promptly. On my last day, he greeted me with a smile. Breakfast runs from 6 to 9 am and had plenty of tasty choices. There was hot soup daily, a couple of items changed each day, and they could make an omelet on request. Near reception, free water with fruit zest was nice to have after a long walk. My room was luxurious and very clean, with a TV, safe, fridge, minibar, and coffee machine. The bed was especially comfortable, and there were five pillows, including both firm and soft ones. A table and chairs by the window faced the park. Hot water came quickly, and there were several towels. The two things to consider are the weak Wi-Fi, though I still managed two virtual Toastmasters meetings with my club in Canada without issues, and how cold the room was. I like cold weather and I'm from Canada, but I still felt chilly, so bring winter clothes.

Hotel Parque 97 has gone downhill, and based on my stay, I wouldn't call it a four-star hotel or a suitable choice for tourists. One major problem involved my checkout on March 28, 2025. I had a long-term booking with only about 15% of the bill left to pay, but manager Edna Angarita demanded the balance a day early. I wanted to avoid excessive point-of-payment fees, so I needed to wait a day to use another payment method. She refused the extra day and blocked me from my room, medication, passport, personal belongings, and business travel equipment. I felt my privacy, freedom of movement, and health were violated. The card terminal also gave me no way to choose a currency, leaving me with a surcharge of about 25%. Redeban told me this was due to the hotel's settings. The advertised 24-hour business centre isn't what I expected. It's a tiny eighth-floor room with two desks and two tables, but no computers, printer, scanner, or paper. The gym is similarly scaled down, with poor ventilation and only bare equipment. Wi-Fi was weak too. There's just one restaurant. The staff were very kind, but service ended at 10 pm and room service at 9:45 pm. That felt too early, especially with few dining options within walking distance.