TRYP by Wyndham Bogotá Usaquén

The location made it easy to explore the best parts of Bogota, and the team deserves credit for the service. The rooms were clean. The security guard was great with our bags and helped us get taxis, while the front desk staff answered questions and helped from check-in through check-out.

The location was a big reason I chose this basic hotel in Usaquen: it’s within walking distance of Mercado de Las Pulgas, and the rate was reasonable. Breakfast was included upstairs. It was a simple spread of eggs, bread, soup, juice, cereal, and similar items, but I appreciated the view. We also had coffee and dessert there one night, which was pretty good. The hotel is environmentally friendly, though the hallways stayed dark until you stepped into them, which felt odd and potentially unsafe. We had two rooms. Mine was extremely cramped, with the table right in front of the bed, but my in law’s room had a bit more space and the hotel was able to move us. Both rooms had an odd cigarette and damp smell, though it was less strong in the second one. The shower door in mine wouldn’t close all the way, and I couldn’t hang my towel back on the rack without stepping into the shower. The toilet walls didn’t reach the ceiling, so there wasn’t much privacy and people could hear you. It’s a reasonable option if you want to stay farther north in Bogota. You can walk to the church and plaza, where people sell crafts.

Usaquen is the hotel’s strongest point. Clinics, restaurants, and shopping centers are easy to reach, the staff are hospitable, and the place is clean. Breakfast was good, though more variety would help. We also had dinner at the restaurant one night and were pleasantly surprised by the presentation and taste. The bed, though, was hard as cement. After five nights I felt exhausted during the day and could use a chiropractor. Bring your own towel if you have sensitive skin, since the one provided felt like sandpaper. There were no mats by the toilet or shower, so I had to put a towel on the floor to avoid slipping or stepping onto cold tiles. The toilet paper holder was broken, and noisy neighbors can make the room loud. For hot water, turn the faucet to cold, and vice versa. There’s no TV service for English-speaking guests. I could see returning for one night, maybe two, but for a longer stay I’d choose another hotel.

The first room’s air conditioning didn’t work, and there was no light in the shower. I changed rooms on the second day, and everything worked there. The showers had good hot water and the internet was good. There was a coffee maker in the room but no coffee, so I had to bring some from the restaurant. The restaurant was out of some menu items.