Nacar Hotel Cartagena, Curio Collection by Hilton

The internet was mostly reliable. In about six days there was one brief outage, fixed within 5-10 minutes. The rooftop pool is nice and has a bar, though there are only around 6-8 day beds and they're hard to get, so arrive early if you want one. The rest of the seating is mostly ordinary chairs, and I don't recall seeing loungers. A few things to keep in mind: the buffet breakfast is about $20 USD, which felt high. The hotel's main entrance gets closed after a certain hour, so you need to knock for someone to let you in, though the security guard is almost always nearby. There's no bidet or bumgun in the bathroom, which surprised me since it's quite common in Colombia. Many staff don't speak English well, which I expected less of at this price and rating. I enjoyed my stay and would consider coming back. I booked one of the biggest rooms, so I can't speak to the standard rooms.

Hotel Nacar is right in the heart of the Walled City, within easy walking distance of restaurants, shops and historic sites. The location is hard to beat, yet the hotel still felt peaceful and relaxing. The building is beautifully designed, bringing modern comfort together with historic charm. Our room was spacious and spotless, with a comfortable bed and thoughtful amenities. Everyone on staff was warm, professional and attentive, and helped with recommendations, reservations and transport. The rooftop pool and bar were a lovely place to unwind after exploring Cartagena, with beautiful views and a great atmosphere. Breakfast was delicious and the service was excellent. Hotel Nacar exceeded my expectations. It's a wonderful mix of luxury, comfort and Cartagena character, and I'd absolutely stay again and recommend it to anyone visiting.

The hotel sits right in the Ciudad Anurallada, near restaurants, shops and a mall, and the rooms are spacious and modern. Our AC had an issue, but it was fixed quickly. The gym was decent, with good equipment. Breakfast was good too, with okay buffet and made-to-order choices and attentive service. Reception staff helped when we had questions, but didn't offer the special attention I'd expect at a hotel of this class, like greeting us warmly, smiling or checking whether everything was alright. Renovations were happening during our stay, so parts of the hotel weren't accessible, including the second pool shown in the photos on Google or their website. For Cartagena's high prices, it didn't feel like good value, though the hotel itself is very nice and in a prime location.

Nelly's customer service was wonderful. She was kind, attentive and greeted me with a welcoming smile. The other staff were nice too, though they didn't smile much, so it was harder to tell how approachable they were. Service in general was hit or miss. My standard room was spacious and I loved the design. The bed was comfortable, the hot water worked, the AC was perfect, and I appreciated the toiletries. The clock didn't work, and I wish the full-length mirror were somewhere I could stand back and see all of myself. My room was near the nighttime entertainment, which could be an issue if you're a light sleeper. The gym had everything you could think of for a good workout, but some ventilation would help, like a small fan or AC. Breakfast was decent, with lots of fruit, yogurt, pastries and the usual eggs, sausage and potatoes. The scrambled eggs were too wet for me. I wish they included traditional Colombian breakfast foods, and allowed guests to book without breakfast so they could try the delicious places nearby. I felt safe here, and the location was perfect for activities, shopping and walking to historic sites. I also want to say something about language. When I travel somewhere with another language, I don't expect people to speak English. I try to learn basic words or phrases and get by. Travel is about cultural exposure and immersion. It makes me disappointed and sad when people expect everyone to speak English. We're guests in their country, and I think we can try harder and expect less 😊 I like trying different places, but if I couldn't find somewhere else, I'd stay here again. I'd recommend it for a first stay :)