Sonesta Hotel Cartagena

We stayed in a private owners Airbnb here. It was great! Three bedrooms and two bathrooms with all nice views. As for the hotel. Fifteen minutes from the walled city. Easy taxi access. We tried their breakfast which is free for guests of the hotel but we had to pay because we were an Airbnb there. The food was okay. Omelette has zero seasoning or flavor.

We stayed for 4 nights, Thursday through to Monday. On the Friday our 1st full day there and when there were less people staying at the hotel there was adequate space around the pool and we were able to get a sun lounger without issue, also there was sufficient food available on the breakfast buffet, that all changed when the hotel guests and the people who own the apartments in the same complex arrived for the holiday weekend on Friday, we were unable to get a lounger and there was no breakfast available on the Sat, Sun and Monday. The price changed on check in (when you pay) vs checkout adding another 400.000 COP which we had to pay. Finishings and fixtures in the room were of low quality, splashes of paint all over the balcony floor and balcony furniture from a shoddy pant job, old pre smart style TVs, toilet roll holders hanging off, towel rails hanging off, just of low quality maintenance. The bar is limited to 4 cocktails only (Cuba Libre, Pina Colada, Margarita, Caipirinha) and won't make anything else even if they have the ingredients. The bar closes at 10PM every night, which is too early. Nice pools, bed and shower though and easy to get to the historical centre. Wouldn't return.

Horrible rooms falling apart. Stuff not working. We had a 3 night booking at this hotel. We checked out after the first night. It was horrendous. We went to the holiday inn next door which was perfect. We are still waiting for our refund of the two nights that we didn’t stay and it’s been two months already. Shocking !!