Be Lounge Hostel

Right in the heart of the city center, with cute shops and restaurants close by. The rooms were very clean, and the staff were incredibly kind and helpful. This hostel was amazing, thanks for looking after us and treating us so well. We’re big fans ;)

The garden patio made breakfast a treat, with plants all around and fruit, toast, and eggs included. We stayed about three nights at Be Lounge in Cartagena’s walled city, and really liked the hostel. Our eight-person mixed dorm was nice, with big lockers for belongings and hooks on the beds for drying things. There’s AC, though it can feel quite cold at night, and the only bedding provided was a sheet, no blanket. It wasn’t a party hostel while we were there, which suited us. One night, nearly everyone in the dorm was in bed by 9pm. There are just four shared bathrooms for most guests, though I believe private rooms have their own. The kitchen, filtered water, and upstairs sitting area were nice to have.

I’m really disappointed so far, and our stay isn’t even over. The room listed as a 10-bed dorm connects through an open doorway to another 10-bed dorm, so it feels like one space for about 20 people. There’s little room outside the dorm to relax, and the kitchen is small. The bathrooms are a long way from the rooms and weren’t very clean. They were always out of soap and often out of toilet paper, too. The Wi-Fi worked well, but when it was time to sleep and charge our phones, half the outlets in the room didn’t work. I can’t see why this place has such good ratings. I wasn’t impressed and would tell people to stay elsewhere.

The room has a nice rustic feel, and the staff are mostly helpful. There’s no hot water, although the cold water isn’t really cold. The patio has potential to become a cozy little bar.