Hotel Laureles Loft

The front desk woman was friendly when I checked in late at night. I’d had a long flight, and after getting back from my first meal of the day I started noticing how different the room was from the pictures and from what it looked like when they showed it to me on FaceTime. The windows were like prison cell windows, with wooden planks blocking the light, and the TV in the corner was the only other light source. There was an unplastered hole in the wall and exposed electrical wires beside the bed, near the outlet. There wasn’t an outlet by the nightstand to charge my phone, or even a bedside lamp. The mini fridge was stocked, which was handy, but there was nowhere to hang clothes. I was there for a convention, so that was annoying. The bathroom was small, with toiletries on shelves outside the room because there was no counter space. The drawers were dirty, with yellow buildup in the corners. The furniture corners needed maintenance, and the walls needed paint to look less “ghetto.” When I tried to shower, the handle came off. The fixtures clearly haven’t been maintained. I asked to move rooms, but they said they couldn’t. I paid half in cash and the rest by card, but never got a receipt for the full payment. I only got proof after giving them my credit card, and I’m still waiting for a reservation confirmation email. It felt like they didn’t want to provide proof of the stay or payment. They also said there were absolutely no refunds. I asked to cancel the last two nights of my four night stay and they refused, saying they don’t refund any money. The towels weren’t just worn, they had holes, and no one offered replacements or any other solution. They only give you two towels, so if you want one on the floor to avoid slipping on the wet tile, you have to use one of those or ask for more. This was a two bed room for at least two people, too. I understand it’s a two star hotel with just the basics, but the room quality didn’t even meet that standard. I chose this room because it had AC; the rooms shown in the online pictures were cheaper but didn’t have it. Now I realize the tradeoff was being able to see out a window. Maybe they only have AC in these rooms because the windows don’t allow safe airflow. The area is nice and upper class, but the room wasn’t worth it unless you’re in a bind. I’ve stayed in motels in the USA with better quality. This isn’t what Colombian hotels are normally like.

It’s clean and well organized, with comfortable, clean beds and a modern bathroom that has hot and cold water. The price is excellent, especially for a hotel near places to go out. Restaurants are within walking distance, and Viva Laureles shopping center is nearby. If you need toothpaste, shampoo, soap or something similar, there’s an Exito store inside Viva Laureles. My room had a mini fridge but no microwave or safe. I felt fine leaving my belongings in the room. There’s no air conditioning, just a fan. It gets hot during the day, but the city cools at night and the fan was enough for me. There’s no elevator, so if you have bad knees, ask for a first floor room. My room had a living room on the first floor, with the bed and bathroom upstairs. A phone is provided in the room, and you can dial 9 if you need anything or have a question. The front desk is staffed 24/7.

We’ve found our new favorite hotel in Laureles, Medellin. The breakfast is fantastic, and it’s perfectly placed near loads of wonderful restaurants. We definitely recommend it and will be back next month.

For the price, it was fine, and the front desk was excellent. We needed to change rooms to stay an extra night, but the shower was broken and there was no hot water, towels, soap or shampoo. Check for those things before you settle in for the night.