El Tambo II

The street-facing rooms are really loud all night. Rooms overlooking the inner yard are quieter, though smaller and fitted with an old A/C system. The beds are comfortable and the rooms are large, with toiletries in the bathroom, but the shower takes ages to warm up and then gets almost scalding. There’s a water dispenser on the floors, and reception can keep your luggage. The breakfast buffet is decent and even has fresh waffles. I tried a lunch box once, but it was just a piece of fruit, a plain sandwich, and juice, so I wouldn’t recommend it. The restaurant serves dinner, though the choices are limited. There’s no bar, but the kitchen can bring drinks. Service was okay, though I’ve met more attentive staff elsewhere in the country.

My fiancée’s Avianca flight was canceled, and the airline arranged a single room here for her to spend the day, from 10 am to 9 pm, until her next flight. She was traveling alone and was already very upset and stressed. When we arrived, I wasn’t allowed to go upstairs with her. After I explained what had happened to the supervisor, she let me accompany her only to leave the luggage. I understand hotels have rules and responsibilities, but there was no empathy or care in how we were treated. They turned us away and closed the doors despite knowing how distressed my fiancée was. The supervisor wouldn’t cooperate, and I was asked to pay $30 just to go up, even though I wasn’t going to use any of the hotel’s amenities. That only added to our desperation. The room smelled of paint, and my fiancée felt even worse. Given what she’d just been through, the hotel should have made sure she was okay. We’re very disappointed with how this was handled, and hope the hotel will reconsider its policies and service. It takes heart and thoughtfulness to help guests feel welcome and comfortable. All the best to the El Tambo team. Please take this to heart and think about it.

The thick blankets were nice, and breakfast had lovely fresh fruit. You can hear the street noise, though.

It’s a pleasant, clean hotel in a good spot in Miraflores, with friendly staff, comfortable air-conditioned rooms across eight floors, and a decent breakfast. The rooms have a safe and hair dryer, but there’s no fridge or tea-making setup, and don’t expect many extras. One thing to know: the windows open fully and don’t lock.