Gran Hotel Medellín — Hotel in Medellín

Hotel is located in a nice area, in a few minutes walk from good restaurants and cafeterias. If you are new to the city, a couple of city landmarks (like museum of Antioquia) are in a close vicinity.||||At first check in process was very slow, it took about 40 minutes for 6 people, staff does not speak English, knowing a couple of key phrases in Spanish is beneficial. The second time we checked in this hotel, it was much faster. Hotel staff is friendly and helpful.||||Room was nice, light and clean. Beds are comfortable. There is no AC, but rooms are equipped with fan. Unfortunately, fan is in the corner and blows air on roughly half of the room. There is a minibar, but you have to request if you want to use it. Otherwise it is disconnected from power supply and locked, you can not use it as a fridge to store your own stuff.||||Bathroom is OK, with hot water. Taps are very noisy when you start a water flow, bathroom door was squeaking. One you enter the room you sign a paper that there are four towels for your use. As a guest from Europe I felt offended, but perhaps people steal towels very often? Shower area was clean, some soap was provided. There is also a hair dryer in the shower room, but it is very-very noisy!||||Breakfast was average and there is no buffet. You can ask for little extra food, but may receive also strange looks in return (not sure if we broke any hospitality rules that we did not know about). Coffee is awful. We also tried dinner at their restaurant and that was even worse them breakfast - tasteless and overpriced. Besides, waitress was confusing vegetarian food with meat-containing food and serving some complementary items late, when we have already finished our main dish. ||||Wi-fi is OK, but not surprisingly can be quiet slow.||||Check-out was fast, transport to and from airport can be arranged free of charge...

We were a group of 6 (3 rooms) and stayed 4 times in 2 weeks. First time, check-in was very very slow and took over an hour. Other check-ins was fast as they prepare the documents in advance of our arrival. Airport shuttle service was great and the hotel offered us one free pick-up and one drop-off. Staff was friendly and very helpful (except the restaurant staff!). Tried their level best to communicate to us in English. They took care of our luggage in the store room for a week and we really appreciate it. Bellhop service is also great. They carry all our luggage to our rooms with a smile :)

Breakfast - Disaster. They took long time to serve your food. It's not a buffet and you are not allowed to serve yourself as we used to everywhere. The staff is not friendly at all and I was very very uncomfortable with them. They through a serious look at us and DENIED bluntly when I asked a refill (I didn't know that it was not a buffet). Staff in the restaurant are very cold. I couldn't find drinking water on the table. You have to ask the staff. A la carte is below average. Service is pathetic. They mixed and served vegetarian soup with chicken and pork. And the whole dish doesn't come at one time. Coffee is very plain. We called it as "Coffee flavoured milk" Minibar - Yes, it does exist, but unplugged and LOCKED! LOL. Locker in the room is locked out. We can not use. Fan is funny and it's rotation is away from beds. Signing a paper for not taking hotel insurance is a bit uncomfortable and fishy! At the payment they are not charging our card for COP, but our card currency at their exchange rate. I would like VISA to do the conversion not the hotel. We tried, but can not convey it to the staff, so...

The service at this hotel was excellent, and they provided three nutritious and generous meals a day. The room and bathroom were also comfortable and clean. It was also nice and close to some great attractions, such as the Botero sculptures and the museum featuring his art--though it is not located in the best place for tourists. (El Poblado seemed to be the best place for tourists, but I was in Medellin for work.) The main problem is the noise: of traffic, of roadwork, of music in the restaurant when parties take place there, of the person being sick in the next door bathroom! My goodness--I was ultimately so impressed by all the noise that I felt moved to do a recording of it on my phone from my bed one sleepless night! Ear plugs and a pillow over my head were essential to a...