Review: Hilton Cartagena Hotel

I've stayed in hilton cartagena last year in 5 rooms. The room you got is a standart room, not even in the executive tower. As I was a gold member last year they gave me a HUGE room in the executive tower, with a very large bathroom and a small living room. Did they say the room was an upgrade?
Since I became diamond with Hilton I got no good upgrades what so ever

Your article brought back pleasant memories from when my husband and I stayed there for 2 weeks, 5 years ago for a work thing. It looks like it hasn't changed a bit.

You need to listen to your commenters more. When you posted about your trip in advance the unanimous consensus was to not stay in the Hilton and to stay in the old town instead. Even the Sofitel is kind of bland compared to some of the non chain boutique hotels.

The Hilton is in Laguito, adjacent to Bocagrande. It's not the walled city, but it's a good location in it's own right, often preferred by knowledgable visitors over the somewhat over-touristed and generally very expensive ciudad amurallada.

There are lots of restaurants in Bocagrande, as this is ground zero in Cartagena for Colombian tourists on vacation. I recommend the area for anyone who wants to hang out with a local Colombian crowd, rather than the cruise ship and tour package tourists from North America and Europe you will find in over-abundance inside the walls.

When DCS stayed there, he got the Presidential Suite.

The whole place looks ugly to be honest.
Hiltons are a mixed bag. I hope the Sofitel was much better.

From what I remember, I was pretty impressed with the place and enjoyed the beach there. But then again, the last time I stayed there was in 1982--well before the cruise ship circuit, when there were not that many tourists there and you really couldn't survive there without knowing Spanish (fortunately my travel companion spoke it). And, Ben, before you were you?

I stayed there for 4 nights in April as a Diamond. My view was "City View"-- they added on a "Club Tower" but I believe all of that tower faces the city, not the ocean. So you need to decide if you prefer a huge room and huge bathroom, a very nice room, vs. Oceanview standard sized hotel room.
I found the Exec Lounge to be quite acceptable-- fantastic view, very quiet (yes, almost funeral home like as you describe it-- but that also meant quiet and relaxing). Server offered wine very consistently-- I had to turn down 3rd or 4th (!) glass of wine a few times.
Rates for early April were $82 a night on a 30% promo flash sale.
And using it just as a hotel to stay at before going to your Sofitel, so you missed the pool and gym? Yikes. These are the reasons to stay at the Hilton. One of the best and biggest pools I've seen at a city hotel. Decent waiters too.
Gym is quite good, not amazing but a very good "real" gym with plenty of equipment. Tennis courts are excellent and even playing with the tennis pro with a lesson is very reasonable. Totally recommend the leisure activities at the Hilton Cartagena.
As a Diamond I did get free breakfast at the restaurant in April. Did you confirm that you have to pay? In fact, the agent in the lounge recommended the downstairs restaurant as having better choice, so I ate there most mornings. On my last day I did eat in the lounge and it was fine but nothing special.

Hey Lucky,
Your trip report and travel style is definitely different with Ford in tow, and I mean that in a good way. I find that I'm more open to other experiences and/or rates with Susan or an associate accompanying me. I would never have considered Colombia before reading this review, and will do so now. Cheers - Jimmy

Yes, there's no way you should have paid for the breakfast in the restaurant. It's your right as a gold or diamond member. You got duped!

I feel your pain with the bizarrely long check-in times outside of the US...We just stayed at the Hilton in Rio and 15-20 minutes was with the staff hustling!

http://www.flyfamilyfly.com/hotel-review-hilton-rio-de-janeiro/