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Frequently mentioned in reviews: hotel (43) room (35) staff (17) Cartagena (17) breakfast (17) great (17) pool (14) rooms (12) good (11) Bantu (11)
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  • 5/5 Wim V. 1 year ago on Google
    The staff is super friendly and really makes a difference. A special token of appreciation for Herman. Rooms are OK, good airco, although a bit dark - but also quiet and with very good beds. Small swimming pool on the roof offers cooling during the day. Food is also very good. We stayed 1 night to start and 3 nights to end our 10 day holiday in and around Cartagena.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ivana H. 2 years ago on Google
    Very charming hotel! Situated in a old colonial style house, has a lot to offer, pool, jacuzzi, my favorite - swing in the courtyard:) People are warm and helpful, room cleaned every day, delicious breakfast. We were lucky to get upgrade from regular room to a suite without additional cost! The neighborhood the hotel is Situated in is my favorite in Cartagena, a bit off the too touristy Old town.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Sean T. 8 months ago on Google
    Hotel in the center of Cartagena. The room is nicely designed but extremely small, so there was no place to open the suitcases, so we had to open the suitcases on the bed and close them every time we needed something from the suitcase. At the same time, the bathroom is excessively large. On the first day, you will be greeted in your room with 2 small bottles of water - a "gift" from the hotel. When preparing the room for the next day, they will only make the bed and change the towels if necessary. You won't get a new shampoo or shower gel or body lotion and you won't get a new small bottle of "free" water either. The receptionist clearly explained that this small bottles of waters are "gift" as a "welcome drink" for the first day of our stay. We had dinner in the restaurant only the first night and would never go back again to have a dinner here. We didn't eat that bad anywhere in Colombia, for example, the restaurants on the remote beaches of Santa Marta had dishes that were much tastier than what we were served here. This explains why almost no one dines in the hotel restaurant. Unfortunately, we didn't know that until we tried it by ourselves. The waitress asked us how the food was(we left a good part of the food), and after we explained why the food was not good, she thanked us and said she just had to ask. OK, she asked and got a polite and reasoned answer as to why the food was almost inedible. Octopus hard as rubber, salad seasoned with a huge amount of acid, etc, etc... For a hotel of this category, I would expect better service. After almost 3 weeks in Colombia, exceptional kindness in all parts of Colombia, this hotel Bantu was what they say "the exception that proves the rule". Rude staff and bad service. The rule is that in Colombia the people are friendly and the food is very good, but this hotel turned out to be an exception to that rule. Surprising for a hotel of a relatively high category.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Cenk K. 2 years ago on Google
    Room was very special. Hotel building is extra ordinary. You can have good lunch as well as dinner. Breakfast is very good. Location is very central of old town. There is no parking area. If you have you own car or rental which is big problem. Closer parking area 15-20 minutes faraway from hotel by walking. On the top roof there is a very peaceful terrace and pool you may relax and get some rest. Breakfast 4/5 Room 5/5 Dinner 4/5 Staff 4/5 Location 5/5
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Ricardo Z. 1 year ago on Google
    Beautiful and charming hotel in the middle of “Ciudad Amurallada”. The location could not be better. Everything you expect and beyond, great stuff, amazing breakfast and lovely rooms. We have a little issue with our room due to a horrible humidity smell that was heard to get rid of.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 rich w. 9 months ago on Google
    The staff were very friendly and helpful and a few spoke English. We liked the authenticity of the hotel and the location. What we didn't like was no hot water to shower most days and nights. Our bathroom had no roof above the tub that didn't hold water and was open to the outside elements. So when it rained it rained where the tub was also the humidity never let anything dry. The breakfast selections weren't great, you could pick pre-made items or fresh made eggs or omelets. We never ate dinner here since we weren't impressed with the breakfast. We tried the bar one night and took 30 to 40 minutes to make the worst mojitos I've ever had. I think this place could be better with improved maintenance and upgrades. There was also a lack of consistency of items in each room. There were other hotels close to this one that were well maintained and if I return I would try one of these.

  • 5/5 Katie M. 1 year ago on Google
    We had the best stay at Bantu in Cartagena and plan to go back as soon as we can. The hotel was so beautiful, the staff was extremely welcoming, and it was in a great location for our trip. Very walkable to any destination for the day but also not on an overly crowded street. The entire staff was so kind and warm. The hotel is covered in beautiful flowers and the pool is a great place to spend a couple hours. The breakfast was delicious and was a great start to each day of our trip. Could not thank the hotel's team enough for their kindness and hospitality!

  • 1/5 Markus P. 7 months ago on Google
    Worst hotel in 3 weeks Colombia. On arrival, the reception first tried to convince us to take one suite for the three of us. After insisting on the fact, that we booked two suites (in Jan 23. Non refundable), we were told that we had to be relocated to another hotel, due to overbooking. After refusal from our side the reception was able to « find » two suites 30 mins later. All of this without any excuse and zero customer focus. Apart from breakfast with German, the service attitude of the Bantu is miserable. There is certainly better « value for money » in Cartagena, than this hotel.

  • 5/5 Javi Y. 6 months ago on Google
    Great experience. Totally recommend. Reception: we arrived early and the room wasn’t ready. We waited at an open place with trees and birds and had a beer and a drink. Service: staff was friendly, attentive, happy to help. The cleaning people, to the breakfast crew, waiter, everybody made the experience better. Room: great space in the room with place to hang clothes and store luggage. Air conditioning was strong (essencial for Cartagena). Bed and linens was great. There was a little fridge, also necessary in Cartagena. It rained strongly one they and we had a little flood. Restroom: it was amazing, the shower was in an open space, no ceiling, everything was new and clean. It was a different but nice experience. Breakfast: you can order dishes with eggs, vegetables, ham and cheese. They have great sauces and dips, and the juices are amazing. Also the Colombian Coffee is great. Pools: there are two pools and a jacuzzi so you can always chill alone or with a few people.

  • 4/5 Graham B. 7 months ago on Google
    The Bantu is a very comfortable way to spend spend your time in Cartagena, with proactive staff, stylish accommodation, good food and an inviting rooftop pool area. The hotel extends over multiple typical colonial merchants houses, with the main atrium shaded by an enormous mango tree. This gives the hotel a great sense of place - there's no mistaking it for a soulless chain hotel. Breakfast is served as a platter to share. All team members, whether at breakfast, on reception or at the pool, where very personable and were clearly interested in making a positive contribution to your stay. The rooftop is beautifully designed and was never very busy. You'd be better thinking of the pool as a plunge pool, as it is quite small and best suited to cooling off instead of really lounging around or swimming laps. The room was spacious and full of charming details, including signs to explain some of the quirks. All furnishings and amenities were high quality, working without fuss. Considering the age and layout of the hotel, there must be a huge variation in the quality of individual rooms. Although ours was large, for example, it barely had any daylight. The hotel stands directly adjacent one of Cartagena's main thoroughfares, so it is extremely easy to navigate around the city from here if you're exploring on foot. The downside is that you're also in the most cynical, over-commercialized, touristy part of town - so expect to be mobbed by street vendors every time you leave the hotel. The area nevertheless felt lively and safe until well into the night.

  • 5/5 mel b. 5 months ago on Google
    Great location. Walking distance to food, shopping and entertainment. Great looking hotel. There is a pool available and jacuzzi. Great continental style breakfast , lots of options. The staff is great ; very friendly and always ready to help in any way. The shower in my room had no ceiling. Interesting. It was fine except when it rained. Overall a great hotel with a great staff.

  • 4/5 Taylor H. 4 months ago on Google
    We stayed on the 2nd floor in a spacious room with 2 queen beds. The AC worked very well in the hotel room. The breakfast was a little limited but sufficient. The pool area is very nice despite no views. There was a bar on the rooftop but we never saw it being staffed. The sitting areas throughout the hotel were nice.

  • 5/5 Paul G. 4 months ago on Google
    Stayed here for three nights while we were touring around Cartagena. Hotel Bantu is a very cool spot with lovely decor and rooftop amenities. The pool was well maintained and we enjoyed lounging in the chairs during sunset. The stay included breakfast which was perfect for a quick bite before exploring town. The room was incredibly clean, comfortable, and spacious. Staff was helpful, friendly, and accommodating. One word of caution, we stayed on the first floor and the noise from the common area and maintenance closet was quite loud - we got woken up once or twice before 8am as staff was working or moving things around. I’d recommend requesting a room on the second floor to avoid this. Otherwise, would definitely recommend to a traveler!

  • 5/5 Jen H. 1 year ago on Google
    Wonderful and caring staff. Beautiful oasis of a property. As we are English speakers, the front desk assisted with obtaining reputable taxis. Kids loved the swing from the large mango tree in the courtyard. Relaxing and fun rooftop pool and lounge area. Walkable throughout the old town and to Getsamani neighbourhood. Wi-Fi throughout the site. Hot water and reliable power with good in-room air conditioning. Safe and comfortable for children. Breakfast was amazing: fruit, freshly squeezed juice, toast, made to order eggs, yogurt and muesli, pastries, coffee, tea. Excellent choice for a 4 night stay in Cartagena!

  • 5/5 Bruce M. 1 year ago on Google
    Hotel Bantu is delightful. I had a wonderful experience here, due to the nice, spacious rooms, its central location, and the helpful hotel staff. In particular, Fabian at the front desk, who speaks and writes English very well was extremely helpful. He in fact even helped me after I left the hotel with various tourist needed. When I come back to Cartagena, you won´t find me at one of those big, faceless impersonal hotels on the Boca Grande. Instead, you´ll find me at the Hotel Bantu.

  • 2/5 Eileen T. 1 year ago on Google
    Pros: location, decor, and the staff at the restaurant and housekeeping, breakfast presentation. They left a bottle of wine when they moved us into the room and a cake for my birthday. Cons: we came during a huge rainstorm (early November 2022) and our first room was leaking the second we got in. We were upgrade to a larger room and the leaks didn’t improve. There were 5 areas where the leaks were coming from (see photos) We woke up one morning to water all over our laptop. Also NO natural light in the 2 rooms we stayed in. We stayed there for 4 nights and just dealt with the leaks. Considering the high prices this hotel charged, there shouldn’t be any leaks!!!

  • 4/5 Chris 1 year ago on Google
    Spent 4 nights at Bantu and throughly enjoyed every second of it. I am in Cartagena often and know the town, its level of hospitality and the culture very well. This hotel definitely deserves 4/5 stars, if not 4.5 stars. Pros: -large, cool & well appointed room, as well as a massive bathroom -exceptionally clean -great service from the front desk staff to the breakfast workers. They went above and beyond -nice rooftop (the rooftop is very lonely though. They need a bar or strong lights or something). -small & private boutique hotel, centrally located, & safe Cons: -we stayed in the 2 bedroom (was traveling with family) however there is a window between the room & shower with see-through curtains. That’ needs to be fixed ASAP. That is more suited for a king room. -mosquitoes in the common areas and rooms. I would definitely return here.

  • 5/5 Kari H. 1 year ago on Google
    First time in Cartagena, therefore I read a lot of reviews in order to pick a hotel. This hotel had amazing reviews even compared to more expensive hotels in the area. I am glad I went with this one. German at breakfast was amazing, such a professional and nice guy overall. All the employees are so humble and caring. I have to highlight Fabian at front desk because he made our trip worth it. Every question and problem he resolved even when he wasn't there. He booked all three of our activities and everything was so smooth and easy. I highly recommend this hotel for the level of hospitality it offers its guest.

  • 2/5 Mauricio F. 2 years ago on Google
    I visit Cartagena with my wife every year, and this time was the first time we had a really bad experience with our hotel. We end up at Bantu Hotel by Faranda, because the room we originally booked at their sister Hotel Casa de la Factoria was no longer available, so instead of the large colonial king room the hotel we had reserved, the hotel tried to accommodate us in a very tiny room on the 4th floor, which to us was completely unacceptable. After a couple of hours complaining with the hotel staff, they relocated us to Hotel Bantu; however the room assigned to us was not what we would expect for a hotel of this category. Beware of room 106 on level 1, even though it is a large room, it is also dark, humid, and outdated; moreover, the room has a section with glass tiles that don't look safe at all, and it also features an open air tub at the bathroom, which seems dirty due to the humidity on the brick wall and the debris that falls from it. We had not choice but to take this room the night of our arrival, we were tire from the trip, frustrated from not being able to enjoy the room we originally booked at Casa la Factoria, and my wife, who is a nurse was tired a looking to rest from her night shift prior to the trip. We spent a couple of nights on that room until we got sick from breathing the humidity in the room. Finally, they moved us to a room that looked just like the one we booked in the first place. Unbelievable!! We have planned a peaceful and relaxing Thanksgiving Holiday in Cartagena, but the experience at these Faranda hotels manage to really ruin our vacations.

  • 4/5 Gavin T. 1 year ago on Google
    Great place to stay in the walled city, friendly and welcoming staff. Clean rooms and great location in the city.

  • 4/5 Mark S. 1 year ago on Google
    We stayed there twice, and got two rooms each time. Each room is unique. Pros: - The hotel has a lot of character, because it was built by combining two historic colonial mansions. - The employees are very nice and helpful. - The location is perfect, right in the middle of the historic walled city of Cartagena. - The air conditioning is quiet and works very well, which is great because Cartagena is usually hot and humid. Other notes: - The rooftop pool, while tiny (I estimate 5 meters) is a nice way to cool off on a hot day. - The breakfast is pretty good, but overpriced - you can get a better breakfast for less money by walking to a nearby restaurant. I recommend Epoca. Cons: - 3 of the 4 rooms were too dark. Each room has several lamps, but even with all the lamps turned on, the rooms were still too dark. The rooms have blackout curtains, which are nice for sleeping, but they are difficult to open and close, so we left them closed, adding to the darkness. - The wifi works very well in the lobby, and it worked well in 1 of the 4 rooms (the one closest to the lobby), but it was unusable in the other 3 rooms. Bantu is an expensive hotel by Colombian standards. At the prices they're charging, they should install better lighting and more wifi access points. But we still had a great stay there.

  • 5/5 Helena H. 2 years ago on Google
    This was such a wonderful hotel. Amazing breakfast and such a a kind, attentive staff. We stayed in the presidents suite that we were upgraded to with no extra cost. The hotel is beautifully decorated and in a great location. The pool and jacuzzi are also nice to relax in after a day of exploring. Would stay here again!


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