Arsenal Hotel — Hotel in Cartagena

I just spent a week in Cartagena at the formally named Allure Chocolat hotel, but now rebranded as Arsenal Hotel. New name, same excellent service.

The Arsenal Hotel is located in the popular and vibrant Getsemani area of Cartagena. A short walk to the Clock Tower and Walled City and more restaurants, bars, clubs and shipping than anyone can handle. When it comes to location, Arsenal Hotel is perfectly located.

The hotel has a rooftop bar and pool deck with beautiful views of the bay. I spent time at the pool daily, enjoying beers and good food from their poolside menu. Try the chicken wings or mini burgers. The bartenders on duty made sure a good variety of music was playing as well from American to Latin beats, always a good vibe.

The breakfast restaurant, located on the first floor, offers a small variety of self-serve fruits, yogurt, breads, etc. buffet-style. It may seem like a small variety, but don’t let that fool you. You can order eggs, bacon and more from one of the wonderful restaurant servers. I ordered an omelet and side of bacon 2 days, huevos rancheros another day and Huevos Pericos a couple of times. All made to order and delicious. Excellent chef! They serve delicious Colombian coffee as well.

If you are visiting from out of the country, be sure to ask at reception about scheduling your pre-flight Covid test. Alfonso was very helpful scheduling my test the day before my flight. The tester comes to the hotel and to your room to perform the test. I was charged 170,000 COP ($43) for my test. You must pay in cash. I received my results via WhatsApp in about 4 hours. During my stay I was so impressed by some of the staff I started writing down all of their names. The hotel staff here treat you like family and friends and it makes it easier to interact with them. Some spoke English very well, some the English was only enough to greet and answer basic questions, which was fine. I used the translator app on my phone a few times and that worked well. Many of the staff made such an impression on me and helped enhance my time at the hotel that I would like to mention them all now.

A special thank you to excellent reception and management staff Alfonso and Jesús. These guys always ready to answer questions and help with any topic with a positive and energetic attitude. Next, I would like to thank the beautiful and friendly bartenders Rosa María and Luz Marína. I looked forward to seeing them each day and enjoying their fun personalities by the pool (also in the breakfast restaurant in the morning). Finally, I would like to thank the very handsome men on the pool deck Juan Camilo and Jorge. Juan Camilo worked the afternoon/evening bartender shift and has a fun personality, along with an additive smile (when he lowered his mask). It was fun to hang out by the pool when he was on duty. Jorge works the pool deck keeping the area safe and clean and even though he doesn’t talk much, he was always friendly and helpful.

This hotel is now my go to hotel in Cartagena and I will be back to enjoy more time with my new friends in 2022. Please keep up the amazing work Arsenal Hotel team! I look forward to seeing all...

We recently stayed at this hotel, drawn in by its excellent location and promising views. While the view did not disappoint, unfortunately, most other aspects of our stay did.

From the moment we walked in, we felt uncomfortable. The lobby area was very echoey, which gave an unwelcoming atmosphere. Our room had a noticeable moist smell, and overall, the hotel felt quite run-down. It’s clear that it once had potential, but the lack of upkeep is evident. For the price we paid per night, we expected much better quality; instead, everything felt a bit cheap and not up to standard.

One of the biggest letdowns was the rooftop. We had looked forward to enjoying a drink there on a Saturday night, but to our disappointment, it was closed. Worse, we weren’t even allowed to simply sit and enjoy the view—they sent us away. This was frustrating, as the rooftop was a major selling point for us when booking.

The property was also misrepresented in the photos online. The pictures gave the impression that breakfast was served on the rooftop with a beautiful view, but in reality, breakfast was served on the ground floor. Additionally, the view from our room was nothing like what was advertised; our window faced a brick wall. The marketing of this hotel is highly misleading.

Breakfast was another weak point. The food was mediocre, and communication with the staff was difficult as they spoke very limited English. What really stood out (for the wrong reasons) was seeing other guests at the table next to us eating supermarket-bought food at the hotel’s breakfast area—something we’ve never encountered before at a supposedly high-end hotel. It spoke volumes about the quality of the breakfast on offer.

Sleep quality was also poor. The walls were paper-thin, and we could hear everything from the hallway and neighboring rooms. Every time someone passed by in the hallway, we woke up during the night, making it impossible to get a proper rest.

This is certainly not a five-star experience. The expectations we had based on the price and description were completely mismatched with reality. We have stayed in far better hotels for much less money. If you’re looking for a place to relax and enjoy your hotel experience, I would not recommend staying here. At best, it serves as just a place to sleep if you plan to spend all your time exploring the city.

Finally, we encountered an issue with the hotel’s flexible booking policy. Despite having a flexible change option, when we shortened our stay, they still charged us an extra night penalty. When checking out, we requested an invoice that showed this penalty, but instead, they only offered an invoice that falsely reflected double the nightly rate, without mentioning the penalty. They refused to put the actual penalty charge in writing, which we needed to submit to the booking website, whose stated policy was different. It all felt quite shady, bordering on fraudulent behavior.

In summary, while the location is great, the poor upkeep, misleading advertising, lack of comfort, noise issues, unhelpful policies, and overall low value for money make this a hotel we would not return to...

Let me save you some time, money, and confusion. This is not a 5-star hotel. I don’t know who handed out those stars, but I can only assume bribery or delusion was involved. This is, at best, a 3-star property with a 10-star scam strategy.

At first glance, the hotel gives “charming boutique” vibes. But very quickly, the cracks start to show. You are expected to tip for everything and I mean everything. Someone opens the front door you already pushed? Tip. Someone breathes in your direction? Tip. I started to feel like I was funding everyone’s vacation but my own.

And let’s talk about the checkout drama. They tried to charge us for minibar items we absolutely never touched. As in, the minibar was still fully stocked, but somehow we “took” something? Sure, Jan. But the real kicker, brace yourself, they charged us for a dirty pillowcase. Not damaged. Not missing. Just used. They didn’t even bother to wash it first. They took one look, said “Hmm, this looks like someone had a forehead,” and added it to our bill. That’s how deep the scam runs. You sleep? You pay.

Breakfast? An insult to mornings everywhere. Think crusty patties, eggs with the energy of a Monday afternoon, and more flies than actual food. I’ve seen better buffet setups at gas stations. One fly was so comfortable, I think it had its own room key.

But here’s what really sealed the deal: the constant arguments we heard between other guests and the front desk staff. Every single day someone was disputing a charge or calling out something shady. At first we thought, “Dang, rough crowd.” But by our last night, the lightbulb went off. They’re not being dramatic. This place is a low-key scam operation wrapped in white sheets and air freshener.

To be fair, two things did not disappoint. The room service food was surprisingly solid, and the rooftop bar serves top-tier piña coladas with a killer view. Honestly, the rooftop was the one place in the hotel that actually felt like a vacation.

But a few good cocktails don’t excuse the mess. So if you enjoy being accused of crimes you didn’t commit, charged for sleeping, and eating breakfast with a swarm of flies and suspicion, this hotel is for you. Otherwise, do yourself a favor and book literally anywhere else in Cartagena.

Trust me. Your head and your wallet...