Hotel Bantu by Faranda Boutique

The breakfast is simple, though you can order eggs. My room was huge, with a separate bathroom and an open-air shower, which was a surprise. Each room seems different, and the air conditioning is in the rooms, not the restaurant or breakfast area. The hotel combines several historic buildings, so the inside can feel like a maze. It’s a secure, very nice place on a quiet, short street in the heart of Cartagena. I’d recommend it to visitors.

The room mix-up was disappointing: we booked and paid for a king bed, but were given two doubles. Before arriving, we also tried to ask about the services, but one hotel contact sent us to another, who directed us right back. We never got a response from anyone. For a hotel of this quality, that was a letdown. The place itself is gorgeous, clean, and clearly well cared for, and the staff we met in person were friendly and very helpful. Its beauty helped make up for the communication problem, but we’d hoped to give it five stars.

The rooms need a proper deep clean. Dust and dirt were left in corners, the toilet seat was broken, and the shower head was coated with calcium. Breakfast was disappointing for a hotel like this, with little care in either the food quality or presentation, even though there was enough choice. Mosquitoes bit us every morning in the breakfast area, though we had none elsewhere in town. The pool areas also looked neglected, with old umbrellas, bins placed haphazardly, and no nice plants or cushions on the lounge chairs. Most staff were basically friendly, but some seemed too unmotivated to smile, which didn’t make us feel welcome. There are good points: Hotel Bantu is centrally located on a relatively quiet street, has a charming colonial atmosphere, and offers two pools, including one on the rooftop. Still, the management keeps the place from reaching its potential, and I’m not sure I’d recommend it. There may be better value at this price.

The hotel is peaceful despite being just a two-minute walk from the action in the old town. The staff were helpful and really nice, and there’s a pool downstairs as well as one on the roof, though we didn’t get a chance to use either. Check-in starts at 3 pm, and the later 1 pm checkout was handy. It can take a bit of searching to find the place.