Hotel Valmar — Hotel in Cartagena

When I booked this place, I chose to do so based on the review I saw on booking.com. I should have thought to check the review on here first. The other comments about the location being undesirable are completely correct.||||First, NONE of the taxi drivers I used knew where the place was. All of them had to call the hotel for directions or ask people on the streets to point them to the general direction. The cost of a taxi to Old Town Cartagena is about 12,000 pesos, and to the shopping plaza in Bocagrande should be 15,000. I had a few taxi drivers who tried to rip me off and tell me it's 25,000. Don't let them do that! The taxi fares add up, and the traffic most hours of the day is awful in Cartagena. It would definitely be worth it to pay $30 more a night to stay in a hostel in Bocagrande vs paying $20 a day in taxi fares to get around + having to endure 3-4 hours of sitting in traffic. I am not kidding, the traffic can be so horrible sometimes.||||Second, the hotel is in a run down neighborhood with vagrants all over the streets, some not even fully clothed. Then to the left of the hotel is what looks like a mini dumping ground/ landfill. Some of the taxi drivers even seemed uncomfortable driving through the streets, which were also unpaved and mostly gravel on this side of town.||||Third, the other reviewer is also correct that they do not accept credit cards for room payment. And of course there is no ATM or currency exchange anywhere near this sketchy part of town. So if you don't have cash with you, you might be SOL. The staff also doesn't really speak English... which made it difficult to check in and etc.||||The positives were: the rooms were fairly clean. The sheets had some slight stains on the very bottom... but I am a backpacker so didn't bother me that much. And I found a few hairs that were obviously not mine in the bathroom. The AC ran very cold, and they had a TV and mini fridge. The breakfast was included, and basic- just toast and eggs and fruit. They had nice living areas with kitchens and big couches and etc, but they didn't run the AC in those areas.||||The bed was not comfortable at all. I was sore when I woke up. There was also no hot water. I have stayed in $4/night hostels with no hot water which is fine- but this place cost $35+/night and advertises as a hotel... Should at least have hot water?||||The staff was very nice and helpful with arranging taxis. They had brochures for tours and the hop on hop off bus... Which you would have to pay a taxi to take you into town to even be able to hop on. I was only at this location for a day and a half (last day of my trip the hostel where I stayed lost all power, and I couldn't take the heat so came here for a room before flying out). Had to take taxis into town for everything that day... And one of the rides back took over 2 hours due to the traffic. ||||Overall, I think if the location of this hotel were more desirable it would be worth it to stay here. It would be worth it to spend more to stay in a part of town where there is walkable access to food and...

First of all, the information about facilities, that can be found on this hotel, is NOT correct!||We had to ask for new towels, since our room was not cleaned. (No daily cleaning) They do not accept credit cards, the gym is not a gym, but a storage for old, dirty furnitures, bikes etc. The "continental"/american breakfast is 2 toast and an egg. The cafe is non existent. Wifi signal was extremly poor, and only worked occasionally in common areas. The rooms seems cleaned at first, but take a look under the bed and in the closet... Remains from guests before us. The receptionist "welcoming" us, seemed extremly tired and fed up with his work. Rolling his eyes and sighed heavily when we asked for breakfast hours etc.||Drainers in the shower was stucked, so bathroom was overflooded. || It should also be advised that the location of this hotel is in Cartagenas poor district (ghetto) have that in mind, if you choose the hotel for the garden and sun deckview... It also leaves you with few options on activities night time. But you can always take a taxi down town.||We booked the room for 4 nights but left the second day. ||Im sure budget travellers find this hotel, a nice change for a run down hostel, but there is absolutely no reason i can recommend valmar to anyone!||I guess you get what you pay for, but once again, be aware of this 2 star hostel. And if you're planning on explore and see Cartagena, pick...

Hotel was pretty economic compared to the rest. Service was good,.. The cleaning not so good, but ok,.. They didn't have any phones on the rooms, internet connection was bad, kitchen had to be shared with other guests, but in general was fine. Mattress was poor, but I assume was fair to the price you pay. I had to stay there for over 3 weeks, so it was OK,.. The person in charge or owner was very kind, helpful and nice. The neighborhood was poor,.. But again, I guess it is fair for the price you pay which is very low sompared...