Akel House Hotel

I had a very enjoyable stay. The atmosphere was relaxing, and the property was comfortable, well maintained, and good value for the money. Alexander, Jose, Maria, and Liliana deserve a special thank-you. Their professional, warm hospitality and friendly service made the experience even nicer, and their recommendation stood out. I’d happily stay here again.

Breakfast is served on the rooftop, and there’s a pool, AC, and warm water. The WiFi worked well, too. The hotel is in a quiet part of Cartagena's old town, and it felt nice and safe. The staff were very friendly. Thanks for the stay, I’d come back anytime!

The old town location made it easy to get around, which is why we booked Akel House. Our room, though, was nothing like the one we’d booked online. It was small, had no windows, and the toilet was outside our door. We paid straight away to upgrade, and the first-floor room was bigger and had a balcony. That night the street noise was manageable until about 4:30 - 5:00am, then sleep was impossible. The Aircon was so noisy we couldn’t use it. Breakfast on the roof was bad too. The woman working there was rude and unhelpful, almost to the point of being a joke. We didn’t get what we ordered, and she seemed to treat the work like a chore. We were booked for three nights, but after seeing the manager, he gave us a cash refund for the next two and we found a much better hotel nearby. We booked this place based on the reviews and location. Bad idea. It was a very poor hotel experience.

The location is quite central, which is why this gets a 2 instead of a 1. Inside, though, everything feels old, the furniture is falling apart, and the pool isn’t inviting. I wouldn’t want to spend more time in the rooms than necessary to sleep. I left after one night and agreed with the staff on site that, for the remaining 3 nights, I’d only pay for one of the two rooms I’d booked. We settled it all, but afterward my card was still charged for every room and night, and the hotel staff wouldn’t discuss it anymore. My mistake for not getting written confirmation, but I expect better from a hotel. It is TOTALLY OVERPRICED for the service.