INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL CALI

My visit to Cali was brief. I arrived late in the evening and I went straight into the Intercontinental, which was managed by Estelar Hoteles. Nevertheless, I could still use my Intercontinental Priority Club card.

I got there and there wasn’t anyone at reception, so staff was only for me so checking in was really fast. The girl behind the counter was really helpful and indicated everything very well.
I got a floor on the 5th floor. As soon as I got in the room, I noticed the noise of a fan… and taking into consideration I had a terrible headache, I decided to go back to reception and get a nother room. I was also given another on the 5th floor, 529, and the noise was still there, but much more attenuated. It seemed that isolation was much better in this room.

The room was fairly big, but rather old fashioned. I guess Intercontinental had opened it, and for some reason, did not get the expected results, so… it was handed over to local group Estelar, who had done little renovation.

The bed was comfortable… and pillows were also available.

The living room area, as you can see from the picture, was also old fashioned. Wireless Internet was free of charge, but believe me, it was like a torture. Extremely slow that took you away from it… The Flat screen was a much relaxed option… Mainly, Colombian TV channels.

The bathroom is wide and so is the bath. Toiletries are still Intercontinental branded, but the philosophy is Estelar, that is, to pay for toothbrush, shaving kit… which I think is a bit mean.
As for the breakfast, I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed it, despite the fact, I had to ask what everything was and of course, I had to try it… and it was delicious, specially the typical arepa with melted cheese and the cheesy breads… Fruit was exceptional and so was the yogurt. There was a type of scrambled eggs with corn, with ham and some other I cannot remember, and specially, the typically dressed cook that was behind the counter who was ever so kind, informative and… got me to try everything…

It seems to be the best hotel in Cali... It may look like a modern hotel from outside... but it is clearly a very poor 5-star hotel and clearly under the Intercontinental standard.

Checking out was also easy.

INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL CALI
AVENIDA COLOMBIA #2-72,
P.O. BOX 7457
CALI
COLOMBIA
Front Desk: +57-2-8823225
Fax: +57-2-8939494

HOTEL ALMIRANTE CARTAGENA ESTELAR, IN CARTAGENA DE INDIAS

If you are ever visiting Colombia, make sure you visit Cartagena de Indias. It is a lovely city by the sea. We chose to stay in the Almirante Cartagena Estelar Hotel, which is in a safe area, Bocagrande, where many other hotels are.

The hotel is new, modern in the outside, and it seems it used an old building that is preserved inside. So far so good...

Checking in, was very slow. We were in a group and it took ages to go through the queue and the checking procedure, that even asked me to get my computer out to write down the serial number. It seems they may have had some problems in the past... Hence, security is very tight. You need to go up the stairs to the second floor to access the main lifts that will take you to the rooms. And you need to get past the security person, that will require you to identify yourself, before allowing you in the lift. The lift, however, requires you to put the room key in, so no one without a key would be allowed in.

The room (604) was big, but clrealy, old fashioned. The good thing was the views, as it over look the beach and gifted you with nice sunsets. The bed was big and comfortable, with a choice of pillows (two hard, two soft). The fridge, however, had to be plugged off as it was extremely noisy. The room itself could do with a better isolation, as you could hear clearly what was going on out in the street. And also, the general aircon or ventilation system was present as a soft constant noise.

Toilet was spartan. A wide bath with a fix shower. As for toiletries, it was rather complete. It even had a mouthwash, which is normally not there. On the contrary, a shaver, toothbrush and deodorant were included in the offer of the minibar, therefore, at a cost.

TV as also very old, (of course, not flat screen) and had a variety of TV channels. The hotel had a Gym and a pool too. Good thing: Free Wireless Internet connection for the duration of your stay, after requesting for user name and password.

Breakfast was so, so. It had a wide variety of things to choose from, mainly local dishes. The lady who did my omelette, tried hard... but in the end, it came out to be more like scrambled eggs. Fruit was delicious (mainly pineapple) and juices were really watered, therefore, hardly tasty. As for the coffee... I don't know whether to say this. Let's say the coffee was not Colombia standard. It was more like British coffee (with due respect). It was horrendous. Thank god, round the corner you had a Juan Valdes Coffee shop where the good coffee was available.

It is a very basic 5 star hotel... More like a 3-4 star hotel.

HOTEL ALMIRANTE CARTAGENA ESTELAR

Av.San Martín, Calle 6 Esquina

Bocagrande

Cartagena

Colombia

Tel: +57 (5) 6658811

Fax: +57 (5) 6658269

Central de Reservas en Bogotá: +57 (1) 608 8080 / +57 (1) 5931900

Toll Free Colombia :018000-978000

Toll Free Canadá y USA: 18665998703

E-Mail: reservas@hotelesestelar.com

FOUR POINTS BY SHERATON PANAMA

The Four Points Sheraton Panama is well located in the financial centre of Panama City. Checking in was a bit slow, as we were in a group and it was clearly short staffed, even with them expecting us and having part of the check in process prepared.

The room I got was on the 8th floor (801) and was quite big. Old fashioned furniture but clean. The big flat TV screen was the only new item in the room. There was also a living room area and a work table, but as you can see, all decorated with a rather clasical style.

Wireless Internet is available, at a fee, and it doesn't stand out for being extremely fast. It was free in the reception, which really annoys me. What sort of service is that for customers, specially to members of the Starwood preferred? Not that happy about that.

Being on the 8th floor and trying to get up or down in one of the 3 lifts was also rather slow. And I know it is for security reasons, but it is rather annoying to have to use the room card to be able to use the lift. Security? Maybe not so, as you could select any floor with one same card .

The queen bed was comfortable, with several pillows. Air con was extremely noisy, so, I switched it on only when I was not in. The room itself was quiet.

The bathroom area was divided into two. The sink area, without any door, and hosted the mini bar, fridge, coffee machine and hair dryer. Strange combination, as they had saved on an additional piece of furniture. Very strange for this hotel category.

Toiletries were available but very scarce. No shaving kit nor toothbrush. Also, no gown nor slippers. There were 3 sets of towels, that after the first night, became only two.

Breakfast was also weak. Fruit was excellent but little choice of savoury. Juice was natural, but highly watered. And omelettes were available, but just by chance I knew about it, as they were not publicised.

The Breakfast room is on the same level as the swimming pool. Rather small for a full hotel, but seems that no one uses it, at least at the times when I was in the hotel.


FOUR POINTS BY SHERATON PANAMA
Calle 53, Marbella y Ave 5A B Sur
Panama City, 832-0239
Panamá
Tel +507 (2) 65-3636

BARCELO SAN JOSE PALACIO

This is a nice hotel near the centre of San José. You can chose to get a hotel transfer from the airport or just make your own way by cab.

Checking in was rather slow too for the group. It's all the filling required that seems to slow it down.

The room I got was on the 1st floor (119) and was big, with living room area and two double beds. I didn't quite like the idea of open the doors outwards.

The beds were comfortable, and there was a choice of pillows. Wireless Internet was available at a fee, and a bit slow some times.

The bathroom had a complete set of toiletry goodies and a gown and slippers. Room floor with carpet and bed spreads, rather old fashioned.

Breakfast was good. Choice of bread, jams and marmalade (and peanut butter) as well as garlic tomato. Natural juice and impressive fruit. Really sweet. Many cheeses to choose from and also cooked things, as well as a choice of omelettes and fried eggs.

Even though the restaurant was big, there was a peak time in which it was very difficult to get a table, specially, after a flight cancellation from Iberia due to weather conditions, that brought a complete plane to the hotel. The following morning, the staff seemed to be overpowered by the excessive amount of people.

The swimming pool, at the back, recreated a little paradise lake, among bushes and palm trees. At the pool side, the Rancho restaurant offered food (same range as the room service) during the day. There was also a Japanese restaurant, that I could say I will not remember it as the best Japonese restaurant. Some bits were good, others, were really poor.

Checking out was easy and fast.

HOTEL SAN JOSÉ PALACIO
Residencial El Robledal,
La Uruca, 4581150
San José de Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Teléfono: 506 2220 20 34
Fax: 506 2220 20 36
E-mail: sanjosepalacio@barcelo.com