Viaggio 617 City Suites — Hotel in Bogota, Capital District

We traveled to Bogota for a friends wedding. We speak very little Spanish.||||The hotel looby is really cute, with lots of space to hang out and relax. Hotel is very clean and we felt safe. The front door remains locked and only opened by the front desk or a person at the door. Rooms were sizeable but beds really only meant for 2 people. We had to get 2 rooms for a family of 4. Our rooms had efficiency type kitchens with small refrigerators. Staff was very friendly and accomodating. Google translate was our friend and the staff was very helpful in working out communications. ||||The street this hotel is on was under construction and is a one way so made it difficult for ubers and cars to pick us up. The surrounding area was decent but not upscale. Mini-mart type store across the street is great for snacks, drinks, etc, with a larger grocery store 2 blocks in the opposite direction. Plan to take a taxi or uber to get to most places.||||You have to go to the Calico Cat Cafe. It is one block from the hotel and is super cute. You buy food, drinks etc for 10,000 pesos and you get 30 minutes upstairs playing with cats. ...

Great location, in an interesting part of town. The hotel is very well managed. Breakfast was included, and special request were easily handled. I very seldom get my eggs really over easy. There is an ATM just around the corner, 50 feet from the front entrance. They are happy to call a cab for you. Even though there are plenary of shops and a wide variety of restaurants close by. The local area is close to the colleges, with interesting architecture everywhere.||One very good local attraction is the Gold Museum. We also loved the Graffiti Tour. The tour was about 3 1/2 hours, very informative and I took about 100 pictures. The guide explains the art and political issues addressed by the graffiti. Graffiti is a part of accepted free speech in this city and culture.||Back to the hotel. There is neither AC or a heater in your room. So because this is a cold city, bring lots of warm clothes. You will not need them at the beach, but you will in Bogota.||Taxi's are best call by your restaurant or hotel, resulting in fewer problems with overcharging. Good taxi's have a chart with prices from location...

The disaster started as we checked in. They started asking me to pay. When we got to the room we discovered that we were given the standard double room instead of the twice as large loft. After complaining they told us that they didn't have the room we had reserved half year before. Later they offered us a refund of about 10%. The cleaning staff wake up the guests by endlessly chatting in the hallway from 7.45 in the morning. The breakfast buffet is poor indeed. They only gave one towel and the shower was broken. Only after I insisted, the fourth time I complained about that, that à staff member come with me in order that I show that it was broken did they acknowledge it. Rarely have I felt so cheated by a hotel. It's a pity since the rooms are nice. If they would educate the cleaning ladies to be quiet in the hallways, if their staff would be more kind and professional, it could be...