Hotel Caribe Cartagena by Faranda Grand

On this second stay at The hotel Caribe, the service has been nowhere near five star. I was asked for a $100 COP tip on a $191.000 Cop tab. The guy got upset that I didn’t leave a $25 tip for a $60 meal and said he’d bring back a bottle opener, but never did. I tried calling the front desk from my personal phone because the phone in our new room doesn’t work. They weren’t helpful, someone hung up on me, and when I called again nobody answered. I want people to know what to expect. The first visit was very pleasant. This time has been a nightmare. The first room had poor air conditioning, and they moved us to another room, which was actually the junior suite I’d paid for after they’d put us in a basic standard room. But now the phone in that room doesn’t work either. There seems to be something wrong with every room in this hotel.

The property is beautiful and lush, with lots of animals, and it was great having the beach club across the street for a quiet time by the water. We loved our stay at this fantastic hotel in a peaceful area. The rooms are a little dated and could use repairs, and the wifi was weak in many spots, especially in the rooms.

The staff were exceptional, and the gardens with birds were pleasant. There are two larger pools, some smaller ones, and jacuzzis, though they were often crowded. The buffet food was pleasant at times but nothing special, and sometimes just edible. Seems like in Colombia they don't know how to make bread and pastries. We stayed in the seven storey building, a bit away from the main action. There are three guest blocks: the main building, a renovated four storey building, and this seven storey one. Our room was spacious and clean, with a view of the pond and nice sunrises. The bathroom was spotlessly clean but needs updating. The beds were big, with firm mattresses and plenty of good quality pillows, so very comfortable. The AC worked efficiently and was easy to use, and the room was cleaned daily. It was a nice stay, though I’m not sure I’d come back. I might try a modern hotel next time.

The central area is beautiful and the people were very nice, though the service felt understaffed. The WiFi was almost nonexistent in our room and even in the lobby. This definitely isn't a five star hotel. On NYE, the pool and dining areas were booked for a paid event. That’s fine, but guests could have been given some decent extra attention. Instead, we were set up in a three star hotel dining room with a makeshift bar. With the premium we all paid to stay there over NYE and Jan. 1st, that felt pretty cheap. There were also salespeople by the pool entrance using scammy tactics to push their "club" offer.