OSH Hotel Getsemani — Hotel in Cartagena

*Update to initial review:

After my initial review, the hotel responded privately via email. Rather than acknowledging the serious concerns we raised about profiling and discriminatory treatment, they suggested that we had “misinterpreted” their protocols. This is incredibly disappointing, especially considering that a staff member admitted during our stay that my being American and my wife being Colombian may have influenced the extra scrutiny we received.

They declined our refund request and instead offered us a discounted future stay or a free dinner, despite the fact that we clearly communicated that we had no intention of returning after what we experienced.

For a hotel that claims to be committed to inclusivity and guest satisfaction, their failure to take accountability and their passive response only reinforced our sense of being unwelcome. I urge others, especially international couples, to be cautious when considering this hotel.

My wife and I stayed at Osh Hotel Cartagena from May 8–11, 2025, to celebrate Mother’s Day with her family. What should have been a joyful and relaxing experience was completely overshadowed by discriminatory treatment and the hotel’s disturbing lack of accountability.

I am American, and my wife is Colombian. Throughout our stay, my wife was repeatedly questioned by staff about whether she was a registered guest—even when we were together, and after we both confirmed our room number multiple times. The insinuation was clear and offensive, and when we reported the issue, the hotel staff admitted that the questioning may have been influenced by the fact that I am a foreigner and my wife is local—an acknowledgment that left us shocked and hurt. It was embarrassing to day the least and left my wife feeling like she was being profiled and degraded throughout the entirety of our stay.

There were also issues with service: a long, disorganized check-in process, inflexible rules (including not allowing my brother-in-law to briefly accompany me to the room just to greet my wife), and technical problems with our room’s TV that took multiple calls to resolve.

While hotel staff apologized during our stay and offered to cover our airport transfer, I was told that my complaint had been escalated to management and that I would hear back regarding a refund. That was in mid-May. It is now July, and I have received no further communication, despite sending multiple follow-ups.

Discrimination based on race, nationality, or appearance is unacceptable—especially in hospitality. The lack of follow-through from Osh Hotel makes it clear they are not serious about addressing these issues. I would never return and cannot in good conscience recommend this...

My partner and I recently stayed at this hotel in Cartagena, and while there were many things we enjoyed, there was also an experience that left us deeply uncomfortable.

The Positives: The hotel is visually stunning — modern, sleek, and beautifully decorated. It has a distinctly hip and Instagrammable vibe that made it a joy to spend time in. The ambiance throughout the property feels curated with care, from the lobby to the rooftop.

At check-in, we were welcomed with a complimentary drink, which was a nice touch. Breakfast was a true standout — guests can order from an à la carte brunch menu, enjoy the buffet, or mix and match, all at no extra charge. Every option we tried was fresh and delicious.

The rooftop and pool area was another highlight, offering great views, a relaxing atmosphere, and tasty food and drinks. The hotel’s location in Getsemaní is excellent — walkable, lively, and close to everything you might want to explore.

The Negatives: Our room was quite small, and like other guests have mentioned, there was a slightly musty smell that lingered. Check-in was also frustrating — the hotel had mixed up our booking, and the resolution process was slow and impersonal. We waited quite a while, and disappointingly, there was no apology or acknowledgment of the inconvenience.

The Dealbreaker: What unfortunately overshadowed our stay was an extremely uncomfortable and, frankly, humiliating experience. On two separate nights, upon returning to the hotel after dinner, my partner and I were stopped by staff and asked whether we were both guests. The tone and repetition of the question strongly insinuated that I might be a sex worker. Despite our visible surprise and discomfort, the question was repeated — not once, but over two consecutive nights.

I’ve since read reviews from other women, who experienced similar treatment. Whether out of ignorance or implicit bias, it was incredibly inappropriate. As a paying guest, being made to feel scrutinized and judged was deeply unsettling.

If the hotel has concerns about security or unauthorized guests, they need to establish a clear, respectful policy communicated upfront — perhaps by issuing wristbands, as many hotels do or simply informing their guests during the check-in that such security checks are to be expected. But stopping and questioning guests at night without context, especially in a way that disproportionately affects women, is unacceptable.

Final Thoughts: This hotel has so much potential — beautiful design, great amenities, excellent location. But it also needs serious reflection on how it treats its guests, especially couples and women. Until that happens, I couldn’t comfortably recommend...

I rarely write negative reviews, but I felt compelled to share our experience at Osh Hotel due to the sheer number of issues we encountered—especially given the price of our two rooms. We left feeling completely ripped off and disappointed.

We specifically booked this hotel for its main pool, which turned out to be closed for all three days of our stay—during a busy tourist week, no less. The hotel gave zero notice of this closure before our arrival, and when we repeatedly asked about it, the staff gave inconsistent and even false answers about when it would reopen.

The closed pool was just one issue though.

The pool was closed for maintenance, which meant loud construction noises throughout the stay. On our final night, the noise continued until around midnight, making it difficult to sleep. I can only imagine how much worse it was for rooms closer to the work.

Some staff were very nice and helpful, but several were dismissive and unhelpful. Beyond ignoring the pool issue, they often treated us as if we didn’t belong, repeatedly reminding us that certain areas were “for hotel guests only”—despite the fact that we were clearly guests.

The rooms themselves were tiny—even by NYC standards—and absolutely not worth the price. In both rooms, the closet lights flickered constantly, keeping us awake for all four nights. Other reviews mention this issue, so it’s clearly a known problem they’ve chosen not to address.

The bathrooms were equally disappointing: our shower leaked heavily, the door handle fell off, and there were only enough towels for one per person, which was not enough. There were no tissues in the room, and the bath products provided were small and easy to run out of.

With the main pool closed, the smaller upstairs pool was overcrowded. Staff at the pool area seemed more interested in chatting with each other than assisting guests.

To top it off, the block the hotel is on is not well lit and feels unsafe at night—although the hotels proximity to certain areas is nice.

We stayed at another hotel in Bocagrande right after this, and it was a night-and-day difference. That hotel was cheaper, yet it far exceeded Osh in every way—friendly staff, larger rooms, peaceful ambiance, and no unpleasant surprises. It was shocking to realize how much better our experience could have been for less money.

While Osh has a nice lobby and pool design, aesthetics alone can’t make up for poor management, lack of guest care, and an unwillingness to resolve obvious issues. I wouldn’t recommend this hotel to anyone. Save your money and...