Hotel Boutique El Virrey

There was plenty of space in the rooms, the setting was nice, the showers had hot water, and breakfast was good. The staff were friendly, and the pool area was a relaxing spot. The wifi didn’t work well, though. We wanted to stay longer, but after two days without wifi we needed to connect with home. I also wasn’t sure why the bar didn’t serve cocktails when they were on the menu. More effort from some staff with daily sweeping and cleaning the deck tables and chairs could make this a five-star place. It was frustrating to see staff napping in the shade while chores still needed doing.

We first started visiting “El Virrey Hotel Boutique” in Honda, Tolima in 2016 (2021). The staff has changed since then, but the new team has treated us outstandingly. We usually ask for a ground-floor room so our kids can go straight to the pool, though we’ve stayed on the second floor when occupancy was high. The pools are kept clean: there are two round ones for small children and one for adults. The hotel is outside the town centre but still within city limits, so it’s quiet and away from city noise. The facilities are generally clean and tidy. Breakfast is included in the price, and during the pandemic the dining area was fitted with wood and glass partitions to maintain separation. Our rooms have been comfortable, with air conditioning that works well, small refrigerators, and safes for valuables. There’s a 40” TV with cable, but all the channels are in Spanish. The beds are comfortable, and some rooms have bunk beds. There aren’t any tables in the rooms. The bathroom in our room (103) had the hot and cold connections reversed. Hot water came out very hot for a while, then turned cold. We had to shut off the water and reopen it to get hot water again. The sink also kept leaking onto the floor. Parking is secure and indoors, but very limited, especially in high season. There’s room for only about 8 cars, which isn’t enough for the number of rooms. If people are leaving early, you may be asked in the morning to move your vehicle so they can get out. The staff are great and keen to help guests with whatever they need. Rocio, who was in charge of the kitchen and room cleaning, was great, as were Maritza, Sandra, and Sandra’s Daughter. I’d recommend more room maintenance and better cleaning, particularly in the bathrooms. Staff should be trained in proper cleaning methods and maintenance. Supervisors could inspect 10% of the rooms each day to catch cleanliness and maintenance problems. Guests should also be asked to remove their things from the two umbrella tables in the patio after using the pool. Some people leave swimsuits and towels there overnight, making the tables unavailable to other guests in the morning.

The rooms are spacious, with great bathrooms, and the pool is awesome. Breakfast is good, and the staff are really friendly. There’s also a nice game room with billiards and table tennis.

For a good price, you get a nice atmosphere, clean facilities, and excellent service. It’s hard to find a quality option in this town, and this is a pretty good one. The best offer in Honda.