Hostal Caracoles

We only stayed one night, and I wish it had been longer. The hostel was quiet, on a quiet street, and the room had an AC, finally! The woman at reception was so kind when we arrived. She showed us around, pointed out where we could wash our clothes, and gave us a map with useful town information. She booked an airport cab for the next morning at the normal fare, and it even arrived earlier than planned. Since they knew we had an early flight, they served breakfast 15 minutes before the usual time. We could also print tickets for 500 COP per sheet. I’ve rarely felt as well treated in a hostel, almost like at a 5-star place. Highly recommended!

The staff were very friendly, and fixing the AC within a couple of hours after I reported it wasn’t working was great service. It’s a very basic place, though, and I stayed in a private room. One night, loud patio music really disturbed us. After we complained, it wasn’t a problem the next night. Good value and service for the money.

The rooms are okay for the price, and reception is friendly and easygoing. It feels safe, with the front door kept locked. The breakfast was the disappointing part: half an egg each, white toast, and two pieces of fruit. They don’t even serve juice or butter for the jam.

The rooms are very dark, with no proper lighting and no windows. There’s no hot water in the showers, though in Cartagena’s hot, humid weather that might not bother most people. On the plus side, the location is fairly handy, about a 10-minute walk from the old town and near popular nightlife spots like Havana Bar, with busy local markets all around. The door stays locked and someone always seems to be at reception, so it feels safe. There are enough shared showers, and breakfast is halfway decent. Since it’s included in the room price, I can’t complain.