Hotel InterContinental Cartagena, an IHG Hotel

I loved the people and the attention given to us by the staff and even those outside the resort. The quality of food was very good and the overall atmosphere was very good. I speak little Spanish, but it does go a long way. I am in Colombia, not America, so I forced myself to learn the language with the help of Google Translate. However, the Colombia’s there made the effort to speak English and made the effort of going above and beyond. I will certainly visit IHG Intercontinental again with my family, as I have made many friends at the hotel with the staff. The staff were kind, but Incan understand why some visitors would call them “unfriendly”. Many tourists come from all over the country and I have seen how “some” Americans would speak to the staff and it really disappointed me. I have seen a lot of Europeans their, as well. Also speaking to the natives very harshly. Kindness goes a very long way, and it’s free. Sometimes, better than a tip. The staff there do things with kindness as I noticed. If you’re wondering to go or not, I’d say do it.

At the IHG, there’s a beach but it’s run by vendors that overwhelm you with items. It becomes bothersome after a while, but that’s how they make their money. Colombia, Cartagena is beautiful but you will notice poverty in some locations and even in front of the hotel. Like everywhere in most countries, but even though you see the poverty, you’ll see happy faces. I added pictures of some of the vendors grouping together trying to sell some merchandise on the beach.

The hotel was just superb! Very clean and the staff hospitable and very helpful especially the guys on street level helping translate to the taxi drivers. The pool area is beautiful. Room was beautiful and comfortable! Housekeeping did a great job every day. Location was perfect as well. Alot of good restaurants and shopping around it. All walking distance. Not a far drove from walled city. And I love the touchless elevator button!!!

I wish there was a fan in the bathroom. And could use more waiters in the pool area or have them more attentive. Had to wait and flag them down for a drink every time.

Staff members were very kind. The bedroom was comfortable and really clean. The beach is just across the street and didn't get too busy. Breakfast was good. Room service and cocktails were great. The location is good as well. There's a mall right next to the hotel, which was quite convenient, and there were always drivers in front of the hotel, which was great to get to the airport in time and for a reasonable fare.

They didn't have a cafe in the hotel, and they told us in the reception that we could have coffee in the restaurant. But, because it was Christmas, the restaurant was preparing for a special event and we couldn't have coffee there, which is understandable, but they shouldn't have pointed us there from the reception knowing that was the case. Room service is available 24/7, but after 10pm it wasn't possible to order cocktails because the bar was closed. The club lounge was nice and the food there was pretty good. But it's advertised as a quiet place to read and work. However, it gets pretty noisy at different times, with families with small children going there to eat. And the space itself seems like it's meant to eat, rather than read, work and relax.

Coffee break, happy hour & breakfast. The pool was nice too.

There was construction at the pool area. The hotel’s recommendation of the 5 Island Rosario Island tour (through Maple Leaf Tours) was a disaster. The tour company hosts that they have paired up with were extremely unprofessional. Our tour host, Miguel, was drunk & performed lewd acts with the girls on the boat. The boat operators were consuming alcohol in coffee cups & rode the boat so rough that I had to tell him to slow it down. This was not a peaceful island tour, it was a raunchy, loud, cheap & a degrading atmosphere.

Hotel was clean with good facilities. Food was good. All the staff were friendly and helpful. It was easy to travel into the Historic City with a 15 minute taxi ride coding US$5. And we had no problem with any taxi. Uber is not good because private cars are not allowed into the old city. We simply asked the drive how much and that was the fixed price. No one tired to cheat us.

It was a shame that they were working on the patio at the pool which meant there was less room for sitting in the shade.

in our experience, you definitely get the 5-star treatment by staying at this hotel - from the modern rooms to great options for spa treatment and the great breakfast buffet (included with our rate), we definitely enjoyed every bit of our stay and actually enjoyed more the hotel than Cartagena itself :) - we also had room service from their restaurants and although we felt it was overpriced, the food was actually good

We expected to have part of the beach across from the hotel blocked off for hotel-only users (the pictures the hotel advertises certainly misleads you to think so as this is quite a common practice in other Caribbean locations and specially all-inclusive type resorts) - not the case here so you are on your own when you go to the beach and is left to have to rent your own umbrella and chairs (I hear prices go from 30K Colombian pesos and up)

The staff were lovely. , the location was great. The breakfast was lovely The pool was good.

Had housekeeping issues one would not expect in a hotel of this calibre. Bulb in bedside light not working, safe not cleared for use from previous guest, air conditioning not working properly, took two visits to correct, plug in sink not operational, our keys didn't work and it took 4 visits to front desk to resolve it. Then on our first morning we had workmen at our 12th floor window just as we were getting up, no warning. Then again on the second morning. I did go to reception and we were given access to lounge as recompense for this. And the hotel paid for our taxi to the airport when I told the manager I would be putting this review up.

Room was spacious, front desk staff was friendly and helpful, specially Cindy. The spa offers good massages. Quick room service. Property is located right across the street from the beach.

Bathroom was not very clean, you could see hair on the floor from past guest. Windows were dirty, refrigerator was too small. The restaurant staff is horrible, they don’t tend to guests, you have to get up and look for them to ask for drinks and any special orders. Erika had a bad attitude and we had to chase her down just to get a drink. Right outside the hotel there is always random people selling you stuff and they don’t back off easy. The street on the side is dark and unsafe at night, tons of prostitutes on all corners.

Where do I start? This place is AMAZING! The hotel itself is beautiful. Our suite was huge and came with complimentary ropes and slippers (which my husband couldn't fit, but that's ok! Lol). The staff was very nice and kept our room clean with fresh towels and linen everyday. The beach is directly across the street but if that's not your thing, the pool at the hotel is a great option as well to relax! The location was great, the food at the hotel was also very good and cheap! They also offer 24 hour room service. If you're interested in eating elsewhere, it's PLENTY of restaurants on the strip close by along with other stores to purchase souvenirs. This hotel also has a shopping mall adjacent to it with a tour company to help you with different excursions you may want to do. We opted for a tour of the old city which was great(4 hours) and dinner on a boat which was also pretty cool(3 hours). Overall, our experience in Columbia was absolutely amazing and when we return this will be our hotel of choice!

There was absolutely NOTHING we didn't like about our stay!

The staff @ breakfast Location is the best in the city Food is amazing The chef cant do more to please all of us Breakfast was so good Pool super fun and comes to life @ 8pm Music all the time DJ Shopping centre and taxis in the same building super handy The tastings of different breads every morning The flavours of fruits loads of care My room has the best view Feel secure and safe

People trying to sell you stuff every 2 min. Reception is nice but they are not half as kind as the restaurant and bar people