Altio hotel

Wow, this place blew me away on my vacation in Colombia. It's so colonial and beautiful, and the staff are so kind. The rooms were clean and lovely, the breakfast delicious, and the location great. I'd give it ten stars if I could.

For the price, this isn't a bad hotel, but the staff aren't suited to the job. Under Colombian law, nonresidents, whether foreign visitors or Colombians, are exempt from the 19% tax. I've lived abroad for almost 15 years, so I don't reside in Colombia. Hotels usually check your passport stamp to confirm you're visiting, but immigration authorities also admit nationals using biometric identification, so some people no longer have a stamp. I showed them my foreign passport, American ID, plane tickets, and USA address. They still charged me the 19% tax because there was no stamp. I tried to explain it to the manager and ended up paying the amount, which wasn't much, but I don't think they treated me fairly. Every other hotel I've stayed at in Colombia has understood this straightforward situation. If you don't plan to remain in Colombia, you're visiting. You can show your foreign passport, IDs, address, and even tickets if you check MiG and don't have a passport stamp. I'd suggest the manager and staff learn the rules and work on their customer service, and treat guests fairly if they want loyal customers. If they can't follow these rules, they shouldn't stay in business.

I can't see how this is rated four stars. The sliding barn doors on the bedrooms made me feel unsafe, and the staff weren't friendly. When I asked for a towel, they said housekeeping had left for the day so they couldn't get one. Later I asked for salt, but the kitchen was locked. Breakfast was poor: you choose one of three flavored omelets, then get dried-out fruit with a spoonful of yogurt. They offer coffee or tea, with no juice. I came to Colombia to get my teeth done, so they're quite sensitive. Twice I asked for a straw and was told they didn't have any. I'm not that picky, but for a four-star hotel this was a huge disappointment. I wasted an afternoon changing hotels.

Breakfast is delicious and made fresh for you, and for a budget stay this is a cozy place worth trying. They returned my earbuds after I forgot them. The bathroom design really is as poor as other reviews say, and at night the sensor lights on the third-floor hallway switch on by themselves. Still, it's a great option if you're watching your budget.