Placita Vieja Hotel Boutique Spa — Hotel in Santa Marta

We stayed at the Placita Vieja Hotel for six nights and enjoyed both the hotel and Santa Marta. What did we like about PVH? Location: in the heart of the entertainment district and two blocks from the Malecón de Bastidas. Plenty of solid dining options nearby--we heartily recommend Donde Chucho Gourmet, Restaurante LaMart, and Ouzo--and more bars than I could count. It was a short walk to a number of attractions. The staff is friendly and with a boost Google Translate, helpful. We loved the woman who cooked our breakfasts and tidied our room. It's my habit to tip housekeepers on a daily basis; I was happy to so at PVH. Speaking of breakfasts--they're very good. Wonderful fruit to start, as much coffee as we could drink, eggs to order and some Colombian specialties: arepas with eggs and cayeye. 4.. Our room--a "junior suite"--was comfortable with a fine air conditioner, ceiling fan and balcony. We could barely hear the noise from the plaza on which the hotel sits. That said, PVH isn't a luxury hotel as I would define one. 5.. We arrived by rental car from Cartagena on a Saturday night--not something I would do again--and were able to find a secured lot within a couple of blocks of PVH. 6.. I was mildly annoyed with paying 50,000 COP to replace a plastic key card, the same card a four or five star property would replace without charging. That said, it was...

I liked everything about this hotel. From the beginning the staff was courteous and hospitable way beyond our expectations. The crew works consistently the same shift at each individual’s hours so you get to know everyone. They’re all nice and friendly. At some point I asked if it was a family business due to their interaction, workflow, and smooth logistics. Excellent service all around. If you did not schedule a service, i.e, spa, mani/pedi, or even transportation to Barranquilla; they will go beyond their way to arrange it and make it happen. I left every morning to run errands and Elaine would bring breakfast to my husband without us even asking for it. Jesús is such a loving person, he is extremely attentive and will make you feel like a VIP! The lady at the kitchen, the young gentleman working the graveyard shift, and even the housekeeper (which refreshes your room every day, btw). Even though it’s a hotel, you will feel at a bed and breakfast. A home away from home! I love Colombians in general and Plazita Vieja Hotel is a fine representation of the reason why I’m in love with their culture. Your very own “Encanto” family in real life and the Hotel…your casita without “Bruno.” (Disney movie reference 😊) You will definitely...

Placitas Viejas is a total gem! Stop your search and book directly with the hotel right now. When I first arrived, as a woman traveling solo, I was greeted warmly by Eliana & Mario. Both were very helpful to me during my entire journey. |I stayed in the Cafe’ Junior suite. The room was on the third floor. If you are worried about luggage, there is an elevator. Upon arrival, Mario brought me to my room and shortly after delivered a cold drink to me. The breakfast is delicious & I had the option to get a traditional Colombian breakfast, which I did. Fresh fruit & juice served daily with the meal. Courtyard was magical and the pool was an oasis! The staff were all kind and greeted me by name. Plenty of restaurants in the area. The hotel is locked and staffed 24/7 & I felt incredibly safe. I can’t say enough good things about my experience! One tip is that your taxi cannot pull directly up to the hotel and so you will have a short walk to get to the hotel if dropped off by a taxi. Also, there is fun vibrant music that plays in the park until after midnight. I could hear the sounds from the room I was in, but my guess is some of the rooms may be quieter, but by no means a deal breaker, but something to be aware of if noise is a...