Lexum by Bernalo Hotels

The reception team at Lexum Hotel were welcoming, and the room looked like the pictures online. Breakfast was a letdown, both the food and the rude service. The location works if you're after nightlife, clubs and restaurants, but it's less suitable if you want to explore the city's art and culture. As a Colombian, I found partying in Medellin dangerous. We spent the weekend there, and the overall experience was just okay.

When it rained, water dripped from the ceiling in my room, and many mornings breakfast came without drinks. The place also felt unsafe to me, with drug dealers on the corner and a sense that a robbery or worse could happen. They charged 100,000 pesos to bring someone in, more than the nightly price for one person. I understand there may be a fee, but double that felt like taking advantage. It's a shame this is a Bernarlo Hotel.

I ended up here because something went wrong at my Airbnb and hadn't researched it much. My room was tiny, and the walls were so thin I could hear my neighbor's phone call as if I were part of it. The Wi-Fi wasn't great, and there was no hot water, so I had to take a cold shower. The night worker was a great guy, and the staff were amazing, so I can't fault them.

The hotel is central and well located, but we had a really disappointing family stay. I came with 10 people, including my 70year old mother, and nobody had warned us that the lift was broken. That made the stairs unsuitable for her and anyone who couldn't manage them easily. Noise from the licorera downstairs was unbelievably loud, even when there were no customers, and the windows did nothing to block it. The rooms are new, but the floors and rugs were very dirty, and there was an unpleasant smell when we walked in. We got no rest, and it didn't feel worth the money. The noise and lack of attention to detail were terrible. Looking at other reviews, it seems the owner hasn't acted on complaints or suggestions, and the lift still hasn't been fixed. Such a shame for a family holiday.