Uchuva beach house

We stayed at the resort hotel this time, after staying at Casablanca Santini on our last visit. Send Martini has several locations, and I'd happily recommend this one for a reasonably priced, peaceful stay in Santa Marta. It's a tranquil place to relax by the beach and enjoy the weather and ocean. The setting is lovely, just across the street from a nice beach. The staff were pleasant and helpful, and though the rooms are a little old, ours was clean and comfortable, with cable TV and decent WiFi. The food at the restaurant was tasty and reasonably priced. There are three pools, including one on the rooftop with a bar, plus a small, well-stocked convenience store selling snacks, drinks, liquor, beer, and other basics. A main grocery store is three blocks away, just off the main road. The hotel is about two miles from downtown Santa Marta by cab. There's also a shopping center less than a ten-minute walk away, with restaurants, coffee shops, and another major supermarket.

Really nice resort, with great views, food, and staff. It's about a ten-minute taxi ride from the airport and a ten-minute walk to the beach. Don't miss it.

The breakfast was very good, but the aggressive birds still haven't been dealt with. A higher barrier reaching the ceiling, a sign telling guests that feeding them makes the problem worse, and a curtain at the entrance might help. The place feels worn down and only gets basic maintenance. Our otherwise nice room had a tired mattress and bed, and the towels were more like what you'd get at a youth hostel than a “4 star resort.” I wouldn't bother with the beach club. I never saw anyone eating there. The rented sunshades are only in the farthest row of the spacious beach, right where the hassle from walking vendors is worst, though they were less aggressive than in Cartagena. The sky bar wasn't impressive either: no sea view from the bar, and only a partial one from the small pool. The restaurant also tries to impose the Yankee tipping system, which is unusual in Colombia. The surroundings are quite dusty, with several dirt streets.

The location was the one real plus, along with the guys who carried our bags. We were disappointed from the start: the place didn't look like the Booking photos, and when we said we wanted to cancel, the receptionist just told us to step aside. The reception staff didn't greet us warmly or offer good service. The rooms and pools were very average for the price. Breakfast was the same every day, and we hadn't expected birds to fly in and eat from our food. One staff member, Fidel, had a nasty attitude and wasn't helpful. When we asked for hot water for tea one night because we were sick, he said they'd run out and didn't look for another option. I wouldn't return or recommend it. If you can spend a little more on Hilton or Marriott, I'd highly recommend that. The staff should work on customer service, or they'll keep turning tourists away.