Hostel la Antigua Capsula

The capsule itself wasn't in great shape. There was gunk around the mattress, and the plug socket sat high up and felt unstable. My adaptor kept falling out, and the drop hurt. The hot tub was gross too, with brown bubbles appearing when they turned on the jets. There's also a dog wandering around freely, with no warning, which isn't great if you're uncomfortable around dogs. The room arrangements were a mess. Although I'd booked months ahead, they overbooked and moved me, and nobody could say when it would happen. At the dorm they said every locker was full, so I had to leave my bags on the floor and check again at 3. There was nobody around then. When I came back at 7, it took nearly an hour to get a locker cleared because they'd let someone keep their things there until midnight despite checking out. Other people in the dorm said this happened often, and they had to sleep with their bags. Probably one of the worst hostels I've stayed in.

Our hostess was superb and helped with anything we needed, including an excellent breakfast made with love. The double bed may feel very cozy if you're European sized, so make sure you're sharing with good friends.

Duvis was really friendly, and her breakfast was the highlight of my stay. It came with my fare and was served from 8 to 10 AM. There are tables, chairs, and outlets in reception, handy for relaxing or getting some work done. Just know there's no guest kitchen if you want to cook. I spent two nights in the 8-bed dorm. It was clean and good value, with AC, large lockers, and an en-suite bathroom, plus another bathroom in the corridor. Each comfortable bed had a sliding privacy door, a reading light, and a power socket. For Cartagena, where prices can be steep, this hostel offers very good value.

The location was the best part, and the service was great. Breakfast was included every day and delicious, and the beds were much more comfortable than most I've tried in Colombia. It has A/C and isn't bad for the price. The room was a little strange, with artificial turf on the floor, a sliding door, and a tiny lock. Dog poop on the upper patio near the little Eiffel Tower was unappealing.