Ayenda 1315 Candiac

The accommodation was just what I needed as a solo traveler. The front desk staff was great!

Excelente servicio y comodidad

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beds

Excellent location, close to a shopping mall, and the carnival. Excellent wifi, good breakfast, clean room. Although the staff don't speak English (and I don't speak much Spanish) we comunicated via Google translate. The only downside was that it was right in the middle of carnival celebrations, with very loud music most nights, and the road cordoned off several days, as the bar next door had events in the street, but I haven't marked the hotel down for this, because it's probably not like that outside of carnival! On the plus side we were given free wristbands to join the parties next door. The price was high for carnival, but all hotels in Baranquilla put their prices up for carnival.

Great location. Right next to La Troja. Clean rooms. Great staff, friendly and helpful. Adequate breakfast to start the day. Waiter takes your order.

The only thing I didn’t like was during the check in process. Otherwise I would have left a 10. I can’t tell if it’s an honest mistake, or if staff are instructed to do this to unsuspecting tourists so the hotel can make more money, or if an individual staff person is trying to give themselves an extra cash bonus by secretly pocketing the money. Generally speaking there is a tax called IVA (we know as VAT) that is charged to all Colombian tourists, however to promote tourism, foreigners are exempt from paying this tax. Upon check in the receptionist asked for my identification. I gave her my passport. Clearly she knows I’m a foreigner. Afterwards she tells me although I prepaid the lodging, I still owe this tax, which for my stay was about 200k pesos or currently around $40. I tell her, as a foreigner I am exempt from paying this tax. She accepts that and gives me the room key. I wonder how many foreign tourists pay that tax without knowing the rule, and who is profiting .. the hotel or the staff person?

The breakfast room was bright and cheery as were the ladies running the operation. The breakfast was a fruit cup, a small omelet, and toast with GOOD coffee. The ladies were among the highlights of the stay. The location was convenient. They held my baggage for me when I checked out and returned for it later. The bellman was extraordinary. He was like a movie. He is just everywhere. You'd turn and he was there. He and I laughed a lot. No one at the hotel spoke English. I have a translation device. And can usually mime my way along with the little Spanish I know through any situation.

I booked a 225 sq ft room with a terrace. I was given a room that had a bed with 18 inches of walking space around the bed, no terrace. No window even. I am good at space estimation. My guess is 115 sq ft. My new best friend the Bellman was wiping the dust from areas in the room. I refused the room. The woman at the front desk was intolerable. I calmly but firmly held my ground. They both knew I was steaming. She says there is a terrace. Go to the end of the hall. OK, a three-foot wide step outside space for the entire floor. I laughed. The bellman kept holding up a key to 301. She kept shaking her head no. The bellman indicated he'd have me in 301 shortly. While she was on the phone with her manager telling him about the ugly American I am certain, the Bellman took me up to room 301. It was larger. Had a jacuzzi tub, which I didn't need. A fridge. And a WINDOW! I said muchas gracias, hande him a large tip. .I ignored the fact the towels were wet and later I remedied that. I went into the bathroom and realized that you couldn't close the door without completely jamming yourself into one corner. The ceiling above the shower was moldy. Then looked at the fridge which was shoved into the closet and a built-in was constructed to create a counter. But that meant the room to hang clothes was 24 inches long. I laughed again. When I went to collect my checked baggage when I was departing, I had some incidentals to pay for. Most places just charge you. They acted like I was attempting to not pay. It was rude of them and embarrassing to me. They had my credit card. Just charge it. That took ten minutes while a taxi was waiting. Oh yes, don't count on a wake-up call or anything but a frigid cold shower. Once I got thru the rather lovely but 22-year-old Gestapo lady at the front desk I navigated the hotel just fine. Oh, and yes, no one speaks English. So be prepared.