Casa India Catalina

This is one of those places that instantly gives you the feel of old Cartagena — beautiful wooden ceilings, colonial architecture, and a cozy atmosphere. It’s in a fantastic location, right in the middle of the historic center, which made it super easy to explore everything on foot. Our room (203) was big and had a cute little balcony overlooking the street. Just know that rooms facing the street can be a bit noisy at night (thanks to honking cars), but it wasn’t a dealbreaker. The double window setup helps block out most of the sound. Visually, the hotel looks even better in person than it does in the pictures online, which was a pleasant surprise. Unfortunately, the hotel was under renovation during our stay, and no one told us in advance. The pool was closed and there was noise which was a bit of a letdown. There’s no elevator, and the hotel has four floors, so pack light or ask for a lower room. We lucked out with the second floor. Now, the bed: it was made up of two mattresses pushed together, and you could definitely feel the gap. A topper would fix that easily. On the bright side, the sheets were super soft — almost satin-like, which felt really nice. A small but helpful touch would be a complimentary bottle of water in the room when guests arrive — just a little gesture that would go a long way, especially in Cartagena’s heat. Breakfast was alright, but not great. It’s a small menu, and you’re limited in what you can pick (see my picture). Also, there was no music playing, so all you could hear were the kitchen machines. A bit of background music would really help set the mood. Oh — and the toaster was broken, which no one mentioned, so I ended up eating plain bread our whole stay. The staff at the front desk were helpful and happy to organize tours, which was great. I must give special credit to Donovan, he was absolutely phenomenal — incredibly thoughtful and knowledgeable about the city. He gave us great recommendations and even followed up the next day to ask how it went, which really showed how much he cares. You can tell he’s a true professional, and I sincerely hope he’s recognized for the amazing job he does.