Hotel Bantu By Faranda Boutique, A Member Of Radisson Individuals

“Back again”

We have stayed here many times over the years even back when Tattoo the keel billed tucan was in residence and hoppng up on the breakfast table to share my toast. The staff remembered us even after many years passed and the hotel still has that nice family feel. From the made to order breakfast toa… more

We have stayed here many times over the years even back when Tattoo the keel billed tucan was in residence and hoppng up on the breakfast table to share my toast. The staff remembered us even after many years passed and the hotel still has that nice family feel. From the made to order breakfast toa splash in the roof top pool the place is filled with great memories fr us.

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“Nice base in Cartagena”

We really loved the hotel Bantu. The room was large, the hotel staff friendly and very helpful. They smiled like they genuinely liked working there. Nothing was too much trouble. They recommended some very good restaurants to us. We didn't have a bad meal the whole stay. And the location was perfec… more

We really loved the hotel Bantu. The room was large, the hotel staff friendly and very helpful. They smiled like they genuinely liked working there. Nothing was too much trouble. They recommended some very good restaurants to us. We didn't have a bad meal the whole stay. And the location was perfect for sight seeing and going out in the evening to eat. But although the old town feels reasonably safe daytime or evening, be aware that outside the walled city, is another matter. It is very rough out there. We were disappointed with the hotel for organising a trip for us to Playa Blanca and Playa Tranquila, about an hour away by bus. These are very basic beaches lacking running water and any good standard of facilities and they are best avoided, although the people the hotel organised it through tried their best to give us a good experience in difficult conditions. Not up to the standard we would have expected of a hotel otherwise providing a very good standard of service, which the Bantu does. The swimming pools at the hotel are both small but OK for a dip in the evening in quite pleasant surroundings. We would use the hotel again if we came back. The breakfasts are basic but perfectly OK. They will make you a decent omelette. And the Colombian coffee there is very good. Good coffee makes or breaks my holiday! And ignore all the internet rubbish about being followed around constantly by hawkers and rappers. It is no worse than Greece. A polite "no thank you" and they leave you alone. We almost cancelled our holiday reading about that and we are so glad we did not. The hotel has a security gate into the building which is manned all the time and you never feel unsafe there or in its surroundings. Yes you can dress up nicely, wear some jewellery and carry a nice bag when you go out in the evening. Just don't flaunt it and you will be fine.

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“Beware of Biting Insects”

Adequate breakfast with plenty of choices. Room was clean with plenty of space. The biggest problem were the biting insects in the room. They looked like small black smudges on the walls. When I realized that they were winged insects, I took a small amount of toilet tissue to kill them. My ank… more

Adequate breakfast with plenty of choices. Room was clean with plenty of space. The biggest problem were the biting insects in the room. They looked like small black smudges on the walls. When I realized that they were winged insects, I took a small amount of toilet tissue to kill them. My ankles and upper legs had bites the three nights that I was there. I got tired of scratching and applying corticosteroid cream.

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“Quirky boutique hotel but with a few issues.”

Quirky boutique hotel with a few issues. The good things were the hotel location, the quirky design and the staff were generally friendly and helpful. The main issue was that there was no hot water for 2 of the 3 nights we were there. Also, the sound insulation is poor so voices and footsteps trave… more

Quirky boutique hotel with a few issues. The good things were the hotel location, the quirky design and the staff were generally friendly and helpful. The main issue was that there was no hot water for 2 of the 3 nights we were there. Also, the sound insulation is poor so voices and footsteps travel easily from room to room. Furthermore, our room had a strange arrangement whereby people in the room above could look down into our bathroom! Very weird. Finally, we had booked a junior suite with pool view but it didn't feel like a suite and did not have a pool view - although the people in the room above had a bathroom view! If this was a budget hotel these issues would be acceptable but, at the price they charge, they are not acceptable.

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