Hotel Casa Don Luis by Faranda Boutique, a member of Radisson Individuals

We were a family of four with two teenagers and would definitely return to Don Luis. The hotel is beautiful and tucked into the old town, with a peaceful feel, a nice roof terrace, and a small pool that’s lovely for sunset cocktails. Staff were helpful throughout. Breakfast had a good mix of local and international choices, and lunch at the Italian restaurant was exceptional.

Breakfast changed each day and had lots to choose from. Our room was clean and comfortable, though its location made it feel less luxurious than the others. It was right beside the restaurant, elevator, and stairs on the first floor, so I wondered if it was meant as a staff back room 😅. Still, the room itself was very nice, so that may just be my impression. I loved exploring the hotel. Every corner brought together historic, rustic features with elegant decorations and plants, and the whole place is beautiful. The one real drawback was sharing a wall with the restaurant. We could hear people and music until 11:30pm, even though it closes at 10:30, and had to ask the front desk to turn the music off. Since we stayed up later, it didn't bother us too much.

The lobby and shared spaces are beautiful, and the location is good. Breakfast was adequate with enough choices, but it was basic and repetitive, probably fine for a short visit and less so for a longer stay. We chose and paid for a Premium Room for five nights because the listing descriptions and photos showed a larger, brighter room. It was the longest stop on our trip, and after a long journey to Cartagena with lots of luggage, we wanted room to relax. Instead, we got a smaller room that matched the King Room type. It was nicely decorated, but very dark, with a tiny window, and several spots leaked constantly, not only when it rained. Reception offered an “upgrade” the following day, which was frustrating since we'd already booked and paid for a better category. The language barrier made it hard to explain the problem, and tired from our journey, we stayed in the room we'd been given.

A heads up if you're doing makeup, the room lighting is dim because of the grown and sexy vibe, so maybe bring a makeup light. My best friend and I had an amazing stay celebrating her birthday. The property is beautiful and laid out well, with a European feel. Food options were great, and being able to order room service from the Italian restaurant downstairs was a big plus. The complimentary breakfast was delicious, and we also enjoyed the weekend sushi speakeasy. Service made the trip especially memorable. Juan Carlos helped us each morning at breakfast, and Eduardo at reception were knowledgeable, attentive, kind, and went above and beyond. Seeing their smiles when we came downstairs got each day off to a great start. We'll definitely be back soon.