Oz Hotel Collection

I could happily spend ages up on the roof by the pool. The view is lovely, the music is good, and both the food and drinks hit the spot. It's also a great place to catch the sunset. The hotel itself is beautiful, the rooms and shared areas are very clean, the staff are friendly, and the location is excellent. I love being here and will definitely come back to Cartagena.

The nice decor is the main reason I can give this place two stars. I spent my 30th birthday here and was deeply dissatisfied. Before arriving, I'd been at Ananda boutique Hotel in the walled city, which was amazing, and I regretted leaving it. The shower never got close to the temperature I was used to, so I kept jumping in and out and getting goosebumps. The elevators were so slow that we took the emergency stairs, even from the 15th floor. Most staff were rude, though the young woman who checked me in and the man who carried my luggage were kind. Service overall was poor. At checkout, they made me wait while someone inspected my room, without explaining why. Nothing was wrong, and I've never had this happen at other hotels in the US or elsewhere, including Ananda hotel boutique. It felt targeted. They also arranged a ride without asking me. When I asked the cost, they only then said it would be 5.000-7.000 Colombian pesos. The driver later demanded 40.000. I paid him $22, much more than quoted, and my own ride would have cost less.

We used the hotel as a base for exploring Cartagena, visiting the old town most days and taking an easy, cheap Uber to get there. The port was similarly accessible for boat trips. The neighborhood felt safe to walk around in the evenings, with plenty of restaurants and bars, and the public beach just a couple of blocks away. There was ample lobby space and great wifi, which made working remotely for a few days easy. I also used the gym, which seemed small for a hotel this size but did the job. The rooftop pool was a real treat, and we had lunch up there a few times. The ceviche and cocktails were delicious. Breakfast each morning was generous, with Colombian dishes, fruit, cheeses, bread, and even green juice. The place is brand new and we ended up having a great stay, despite going in unsure after seeing it was a new hotel. The staff were lovely, especially Alberto, who was friendly and helped us practice Spanish. Two lifts feel like too few for an 18-floor building. Sometimes we waited up to five minutes. The room bathrooms are on the small side, though I appreciated the vanity kits with toothbrushes, toothpaste, and other items. Good value for a stay while exploring Cartagena. For a day at a beach club, a Colombian guest recommended Blue Apple. It's a 20-minute speedboat ride from the port to a beautiful beach, and you can DM them on Instagram.

The staff were very accommodating, and we had an enjoyable stay for a reasonable price. We liked the view and pool, and got to use the gym too. I'd recommend it.