Decámeron Isleño Beach Resort Spa, San Andrés Isla, Colombia

The pool itself was very nice, but the rest of the amenities were disappointing. Food and drinks were poor quality with little variety, and there were no kid-friendly options at the bar. Guests can’t drink in the pool, which felt unnecessarily restrictive. We came as a large family with five rooms, and making dining plans was frustrating: reservations had to be made online at 8:00 AM, with each room booking separately, so coordinating as a group was difficult. Our stay felt disappointing from beginning to end. We arrived at 11:00 AM after traveling, but weren’t allowed wristbands to eat until 3:00 PM. The front desk staff were rude and unhelpful, and the outdated rooms were poorly maintained. Our toilet kept overflowing and wouldn’t flush properly. I wouldn’t recommend this hotel.

The old wing is where I stayed, and the room looked really rough: peeling paint, rust on the AC, paint marks on things that shouldn't have it. At least it had what I needed and a lovely balcony view, though the cloudy glass railing meant I had to stand up to see properly. The location is probably the best on San Andres for being so close to the water, and the boardwalk right outside is beautiful for a walk. Food was okay, nothing special. The drinks were another story. The margarita was the worst I've had, I took one sip, and the daiquiri and another cocktail weren't good either. They only had one beer across all the bars, which is pretty wild. For what I paid, I expected a lot more. I don't think I'd come back or recommend it. My stay was just okay.

Food was okay, but for the same price I could have stayed in an Airbnb or hostel with better food and maybe the same amount of alcohol. They say check-in is between 3 and 5, but apparently that means the room is supposed to be ready then, not that guests should arrive then. Early check-in gets you into the hotel, not into your room. We lost an entire afternoon waiting.

The few people who treated us well were the kind, attentive housekeeper, a couple of friendly bartenders, the older woman making eggs in the morning, and Manager Michael Soto, who did his best to help with internet. He got one bar of signal from the balcony and explained what was going on. They were exceptions, though, not the norm. We came from the United States to San Andrés for my wife's 50th birthday, hoping for a special family celebration with my mother-in-law and her sister. Friends and W Radio had said good things about Decameron Resorts, so we chose Decameron Isleño, thinking it was their best property. Instead, the stay was deeply disappointing, and we leave tomorrow eager to go home. The room they gave us was right by the pool, where loud music goes until 2 AM. At reception, the employee who checked us in was rude, didn't greet or acknowledge us at first, and made everything uncomfortable. We got no clear explanations. When I asked about Wi-Fi, that same employee answered with attitude, “There is no Wi-Fi.” The website says it is available throughout the property, but there is none in the rooms. My kids couldn't use their iPads, and this place isn't suitable for anyone working remotely or children who need internet. Staff generally seemed annoyed when asked for help, and most didn't greet us. Our toilet clogged four times. We reported it and waited a long time each time for a fix. We're careful with plumbing and don't flush anything inappropriate, but the problem kept coming back. There is just one main restaurant, the menu hardly changes, and items run out quickly, sometimes leaving no proper meal. The advertised à-la-carte restaurants at other properties were nearly impossible to reserve, always unavailable. This trip was supposed to be a lovely birthday celebration, but became a string of frustrations. The service, conditions, and whole experience fell below basic expectations, and my family didn't enjoy it. I hope they improve, but I can't recommend this resort.