Casa Colonial, Bogotá

Advantages: A five-star stay…
Disadvantages: …with just three-star facilities

...had dealings were both friendly and efficient. * Accommodation * The Casa San Blas has six suites and thirteen other guest rooms. Each is decorated in individual style based on a motif from traditional local art or textile design, although it has to be said that the theming is applied sparingly. Some of the furnishings - bedspreads for example - are disappointingly conventional, even bland. The hotel website talks about "handmade colonial furniture", and it seemed decently-designed, solid and comfortable enough, but really nothing extraordinary. We stayed three nights in total. For the first two (before going on to Machu Picchu), we were in a "suite apartment" on the top (third) floor, opening onto a terrace with a spectacular view across the rooftops of Cusco to the surrounding mountains... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: A unique and quaint hotel...
Disadvantages: Lacking a few mod-cons...

...as the foundation for the Cathedral of San Idelfonso (1556-1599), the oldest cathedral on the American continent ! The hotel is a short taxi ride away from the main bus station, from where we took a 50 mile bus ride to Uxmal, the next stop on our Yucatan tour... We booked our room here through Trailfinders, and as rates and availablity will vary, check on Expedia, or your favourite travel site, for current rates and book your self a bargain ! Hotel Casa del Balam Calle 60 Merida 97000 Mexico Overall, this is a lovely little, but luxurious hotel with an intimate colonial feel. Excellent quality service made our (short) stay here very pleasant, and I would certainly recommend anyone to stay here rather than some anonymous chain, like the Hyatt or similar. I hope this helps...... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Food, Shopping, People, Views
Disadvantages: Thieves

...Bogota has imporved over the years, once a place of chaotic traffic, bad roads and a general sense of disorganisation, it has changed immesly for the better. Transport - Buses and Taxis they are frequent and roughlty cost the same amount which ever you decide to take, For the buses you jump on where you want and then just let the driver know when you want to get off, there are no bus stops as such. there is also the new El Transmilenio - which is a giant bendy bus which gets around the city much faster. Shopping - Bogota is a great place to shop, you can buy typical colombian things, you can buy jewerelly from tradiational colombian pendents with pre colombian figures, to emeralds and dimonds. For clothes shopping i recommend a place called San Anderisto - IT sells fashionable clothes, along with Toys, Jewerelly, Bed Linen ect... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful