Hotel La Gran Via

Someone mentioned that people here are trying their best, and I would agree. The property is very dated and in need of some serious repair. Our room for three was very spacious, which was the highlight, but overall the hotel feels like it has seen better days. It also had more of an Airbnb or apartment feel than a traditional hotel. I booked at the last minute, and it felt overpriced for what it offered, although that may be typical for Cartagena. The room layout was odd, from the placement of sockets to the position of the TV. There was a fridge and kitchen area, but no hot water or any utensils which deafeted the purpose. I asked for a kettle, but they didn't have one. We also requested a hairdryer, but the one they had did not work. The WiFi never worked during our stay, so do not expect a reliable connection. Breakfast was below average, and the instant coffee had an unusual taste. The buffet, however, was very good but expensive for what it was. The best aspect of the hotel is its location and the breakfast staff, who were extremely helpful. If you are staying for just a few days, it may be fine, but personally, I would not choose to stay here again.

the a/c was not working, let the staff know over night. Did not fix it or even offer to change my room big let down

Loved the views from the room.

This property is a catfish! We booked because of the overall good ratings and images of the property. When we arrived our jaws dropped it was nothing like it seemed online, the vibe is very depressing as you enter there was no one there to greet us. As we walked to the receptionist there was one person and she knew nothing of how to check someone in. She finally contacted someone and they checked us in just to be told it would be another 20 to 30 minutes before our room was ready, that’s when I really started to worry. Mind you we are frequent travelers and are fully aware that things can come up which is fully understandable. But we had traveled all morning we were tired and we had booked in advance. Finally the key manager led us up to our room and I was excited to see the ocean view from our window as shown in the picture reservation. Very disappointed to see it was facing a dumpster site with no view, then to make matters worse I inspect the room and the shower is right next to the bed, and only a glass door to the commode. No privacy at all whatsoever. The room was so hot we ran the ac never cooled down, honestly not big enough for the room size. We ended up moving the mattress to the middle of the room to get some air. We decided to check out the next day and find something more accommodating, this was not it! I kindly requested to please be refunded for the days that were not used which were 5 days and of course I was denied. Im sorry but this hotel is deceitful.

El personal es muy amable y los cuartos están cómodos, pero tuve una mala experiencia con el paquete “todo incluido” que reservé a través de Expedia. Las bebidas alcohólicas solo están disponibles en el bar de la piscina y en un horario limitado, de 11:00 a.m. a 6:00 p.m., lo cual me parece poco razonable. Además, el paquete no incluye bebidas como refrescos (sodas), lo que fue una gran decepción. En cuanto a la comida, las opciones son muy limitadas y las porciones bastante pequeñas. Durante la cena, el servicio es tipo buffet, pero si quieres más comida, solo te ofrecen acompañamientos, lo cual me parece absurdo. En resumen, no recomiendo pagar por el plan de todo incluido, ya que no vale la pena.

The staff and hotel were great. I had a great time

I visit Cartagena often and stay here only. It’s a great hotel with a fantastic staff. People like Carlos(restaurant manager) make everyone feel like family. Thanks to all of the hotel staff!!!

The view of the property so beautiful and the front desk very nice, so clean, everything close restaurant and shopping area and of course the beach at just 10 min walking but some of the kitchen staff special girls not nice make feel like they are paying for my food whispering with others when my family try to eat in peace.

The hotel is just like the pictures! The rooms are very spacious and bright! Giant windows let in an amazing view, as well as the pool views. It’s just like I imagined. Downfall is the All Inclusive option. It is not what you’d expect if you ever enjoyed an all inclusive resort. Here they Will Not accommodate early check in or out or even give you drinks and food early or late. They don’t provide drinks for the fridge. You can get drinks at breakfast or from ONLY 11-6pm by the pool. Drinks are in a 8 oz cup. The buffet is the smallest I’ve ever seen with local Colombian food-we were able to eat there most of the time- Personally not a great selection. But there’s a store at the end of the street where we bought drinks for our room. There are plenty of great restaurants within walking distance as well. I would do this hotel without All Inclusive and enjoy town. Love the big windows but the sunlight woke us up at 5:30am every morning as well as Taxis start circling and honking at 6:30am- luckily we didn’t want to sleep in on vacation. At check out they made us wait in the lobby while they checked r loom. It took 20 mins. Luckily we weren’t rushing for the airport yet.

Great breakfast . The view from the pool is amazing . Rooms are very large and good beds

Nice place

The hotel room was very spacious, clean, simple. The woman at the front desk was a little stand-off ish but the rest of the staff was very accommodating. The bellhop and assistant manager were very helpful. The pool is much smaller than it appears in the images. The food was ok, not many options and a little bland. There are a lot of nice restaurants in the area with great affordable meals.

Front desk Staff and room very good

I don't even know where to begin with this property. when I checked into my hotel, I did not have hot water for a full day. It wasn't fixed until the next day. When I asked for my room to be cleaned while I was at breakfast, I returned to find two maids in my room. One of them questioned me about makeup stains on the bath towels and pillow, which were from my mascara. They spent the next 15 minutes inspecting the sheets and bath towels. I left the room and came back, I found a letter stating that I would need to pay for the bath towels and sheets because of the stains. When it was time to checkout, the hotel employees prevented my shuttle to the airport, from leaving their property. They demanded $100 USD for the stained sheets and towels, which I refused to pay, as I believe that guests naturally get sheets and towels dirty in a hotel. I ended up arguing with the hotel staff for 30 minutes, and by that point, I was already late for my flight. I had to book an Uber outside the hotel, even though I had already paid for the shuttle service. This place is fraudulent and seems to take advantage of its guests never stay at the hotel!!!!!!

Right from the beginning bad communication. We contracted several times the hotel to confirm booking and payment and no clear answer was given. We were charged double for the room. Recepción service no good at all, again bad communication between departments. We talked with Carlos Andres, Quality Manager and no change at all. Breakfast was cold most of the time. Broken sofa and bathroom faucet and nothing was done. Roaches in the bedroom, we have pictures. The room is big with good views but the rest, especially the service was bad. One that we were out, we got one text message from the Manager asking for the issues. Too late, damage was done.

The room we booked for was not given to us until we spoke to frontdesk. The staff are very friendly and helpful

TV was out of service, no tv with Wiffi , the wiffi in the hotel was not good signal . No iron , no hair dryer ,

Buen lugar, seguro y economico

Great locations,but the property seem to be old. I would not stay in this property any more because they don't allowing visitors. They charge $30 per visitors

Stay away from this dump. Bad management. And thet have the nerve to charge for DIRTY TOWELS!!!STAY AWAY

It was close to the beach.

We stay here every time in Cartagena. The staff here are amazing people. Great prices and close to the beach.

The staff was amazing most especially Rafael our bartender at the pool bar, he made our stay in Cartagena in general more enjoyable. The room was also very spacious, will definitely be staying again.

The room was spacious but lacked amenities, no microwave , no iron in the room, blowdryer, hand soap, cover sheets on the bed were thin with no blankets . The pool area was quite disappointing as well. On the upside the staff are very friendly and helpful and the hotel clean.

I liked everything

Staff were extremely unfriendly and unhelpful. Charged us for a small hand towel that was “not clean”. Bathroom/shower was right beside bed and no door for shower.

No recomiendo este lugar ,muy mal servicio quieren cobrar por todo ,cuando fueron a recojer la toalla estaba un poco humeda y nos cobraron porque estaba asi ,compramos una limonada y estaba mala,pague dos veces los impuestos del lugar

Very professional

The one negative aspect of my stay was the room. The picture on app does not really match reality. The room is spacious, but windows are so dirty and stained that there is practically no view. Door handle very obsolete. The sink in the bathroom gives off a bad smell. This room definitely needs an upgrade.

The room was very spacious and had a great view. The staff were all very accommodating and friendly.

It was quite an experience, wonderful staff and it was convenient to go anywhere, like the beach or mall

The service of the workers was top tier, the rooms are spacious, breakfast was always delicious my favorite was the fresh papaya, watermelon and the little pastries I could eat all day with the coffee and fresh juices were amazing. I would definitely stay here again.

Property was clean and centrally located so that was good. My problem is I paid for all inclusive but upon checking in at the property I was given guidelines stating I can only drink from 11am to 6pm anything outside of that I would be charged. Then the food in their dining room is not buffet as they advertised there is someone holding your plate and giving you portions not much option either. You have to declare that you want lunch or they won’t prepare anything for you. Dinner is suppose to be from 6:30pm to 9pm but we went for dinner one night at exactly 8:30pm and everything was cleared and packed away no food in sight. The worst part was asking for a bottle of coke at the bar and was told I have to pay for it because that was not included in the all inclusive package I purchased. I was shocked! Not even as much as a bottle of water in your room in fact the mini fridge as unplugged. The staff was friendly and tried their best but all in all would not recommend anyone paying for all inclusive just a property to sleep but there are lots of great restaurants in and around the area.

I stay here often when I’m in Cartagena. The people are always nice and welcoming. The location is perfect for the beach and restaurants. Just a short cab ride to anything else around. Great hotel for the price and the staff is amazing.

Me encantó todo desayuno empleados la limpieza la atención de todo el personal y saludo desde Canadá su amigo Julio

Property is under construction. Staff at breakfast were very courteous and kind. Close walking distance to food and shops.

Good

Everything was broken

Excellent staff

Nice hotel and friendly staff

Everyone was very accommodating a the breakfast was good only thing I would say is make sure you get a room with good air conditioning preferably a lower floor . The medium ranges price room is what you want it has plenty of space is clean

Good Staff

Just adequate. The room was in super poor condition. Missing tiles, no handle for the bathroom sink, folding chair for the desk. No couch. The pool is nice in that it’s in the sun and has good views and wasn’t crowded. The WiFi was questionable at best and didn’t support video calls in the room or lobby.

The hotel has a very nice view, the breaksfast is great and has plenty of options

I was three days with no television. The air conditioner not working properly, and they charged me for a stain in the towel, which was caused by makeup.

The breakfast could be better

No se ve como la foto desde q llegas se ve súper diferente las personas no todas pero algunos no son amables te cobran si ensucias las toallas nunca había oído q si ensucias las toallas te las cobren nunca cambian las fundas de la cama se ve q están en reparación algunos lugares

Really dirty uncomfortable room with poor facilities

It was a great experience. very good service and comfortable, spacious rooms.

There was no phone in the room. When I checked in, what I reserved, was not what was received as part of my package. The agreement they wanted me to sign was in Spanish and didn’t provide me with one in English or explain what it said. There weren’t any comforters or big blankets on the bed, just a top sheet, and the room was freezing. The checkout process was odd. We were locked in, until someone went upstairs to check the room out before we left for our flight. The water pressure was amazing though, it was clean and the restaurant staff were great!

A Regrettable Experience - Not Recommended We booked an "all-inclusive" stay through Expedia for nine days, but the experience was disappointing. The hotel was in poor condition—our room had a broken door handle, faulty air conditioning, stained bed covers, a rusty fridge, and a TV that didn't work. Housekeeping only made the beds and replenished toilet paper, leaving the shower uncleaned. The "all-inclusive" plan had unreasonable restrictions. Drinks were limited to mojitos, Cuba Libre, piña colada, or beer, and we were charged for items that should have been included. The food was repetitive, lacked variety, and wasn’t buffet-style. Breakfast service ended earlier than stated, and snacks were pre-selected, with poor quality. Dinner service had cracked glasses and bent cutlery, while staff were generally unhelpful. Other issues included moldy pool showers, unbearable loud music, a strong sewage smell near the lobby, and excessive street noise. A request for birthday decorations went unanswered. The only positives were the hotel's location, the friendly pool bartender, and a pleasant welcome. Overall, the experience was disappointing, and we do not recommend this hotel.

We made our reservation through Expedia under the "all-inclusive" plan. We traveled as a couple for nine days. Here are our observations: Nothing looks like the pictures; the building is deteriorated and in poor condition. The number on our room door was already faded. The door handle was broken, making it very difficult to open or close as it wobbled in all directions. There were two greasy stovetop burners, but no kitchen utensils to use them. The cabinet doors were falling off. The air conditioning did not cool the room properly. The room layout was not ideal, as the sink was next to the bed, and the water pressure caused splashing. The small fridge in the room was rusted and yellow. The TV did not turn on; we had to call for assistance. However, its wiring and position posed a risk of a short circuit or serious accident. The pillows were hard, and the bed covers were stained with visible yellow marks. There were no blankets; you had to request them separately. Otherwise, you only had the bed covers. The safe did not work at all. We called for support, and when the guy arrived, he tested all the keys, but none worked. He told us they would replace it, but no one ever came back or followed up. There was no bath mat outside the shower, so I slipped and fell twice.(Im bruised now) There was not a single hairdryer. The shower was never cleaned; housekeeping only made the beds and replenished toilet paper. The "All-Inclusive" Plan Does Not Work as Expected It has "restrictions" that make no sense. We were charged for two shots of "aguardiente" that were supposed to be included. At the reception, they simply said it was a "different brand" and therefore not covered, even though I asked for the ones included in my plan. The only "unlimited" drink options were mojitos, Cuba Libre, piña colada, or beer—no other options. If you wanted something else, you had to pay for it. The food was the worst—minimal to no variety and completely tasteless. The only options were chicken or pork, chicken or fish, fish or pork—nothing else. Starters were repeated daily, and it was not even a buffet. They served whatever they wanted and in the portions they decided. Twice, we requested salads after being told they were available, but we never received them. At the reception, we were told breakfast was available until 9:30 AM. One day, we arrived at 8:15 AM, only to find they were already closing, leaving us with very few options. The "snack" service was only from 4 PM to 5 PM, and you couldn't choose what you wanted, they served whatever they decided. On the first day, we were given a microwaved sandwich, probably made from breakfast leftovers, because it tasted awful. At that time, we were the only ones with the "all-inclusive" plan. Later, more guests arrived under the same package, and the snacks changed but again,they decided what to give you, leaving you with no options,the quality and variety remained poor. One night at dinner, we were served a cracked glass that no one noticed until we pointed it out. Additionally, the cutlery was bent or had open edges. The restaurant staff was not particularly friendly. If you want coffee or water after 6 PM, you have to pay for it because free drinks are only available from 11 AM to 6 PM. The showers in the pool area were moldy and poorly maintained. The music at the pool area was incredibly loud, making it impossible to have a conversation. The smell from the parking lot and lobby entrance was strong, like sewage, giving a terrible first impression. Street noise could be heard since 6AM. Before arriving, I sent an email to reservations requesting information/assistance on how to arrange decorations and extra wine for my boyfriend’s 30th birthday (as they advertise this service on their website), but I never received a response. As a result, I couldn't arrange the surprise on time. The Only Positive Aspects: The location is within walking distance of the beach, restaurants, casinos, markets, and other attractions. Sair, the bartender at the pool, was very kind and attentive. The welcome upon arrival at the hotel was pleasant.

The people here are excellent at making your stay enjoyable.

Very clean , staff were very polite and helpful. Hotel is close to the beach it's a walking distance of 3 blocks. Breakfast restaurant very pleasant. Staff were overall helpful and courteous. I recommend hotel to people that are looking to go for small walks places are nearby.

Amazing & beautiful property. Also would like to point out that the manager of the hotel seems like an amazing person. I seen him helping an older lady make her coffee which was very nice. Food was good , drinks were good. We will be back again!

Good hotel beautiful view

The check in very slowly, no many variety food and drink,is not ALL INCLUSIVE, you still need pay for same drink or food.

Check in and check out was fast and easy. The staff were friendly and helpful. It could use a coffee pot in the room.

Excellent overall

I love the location, staff and the breakfast! Nice hotel

picture is very deceiving! It was very dirty & not maintained. Pictures might of taken when they first open. Pool is very very small. Pillows were super hard & Maud service only made the bed. No fresh towels and shower was never cleaned. Breakfast was disappointing. Everything tasted like its been over cooked & reheated few times. Door handle was loose so I wasn't sure if door was lock properly. Microwave was barely hanging on the wall.

The staff was great, but the rooms are mediocre. Location is in a good area with rooftop pool, but pillows were hard and they could do something more in the way of decorating and comfortable bedding. Outdated and breakfast was just OK

They need to explain better how to get your room cleaned. They’re not changing your sheets automatically everyday.

The hotel was conveniently located in the heart of the city, making it easy to explore shops and restaurants. The staff was friendly and helpful, and I enjoyed the all-inclusive package. However, the cleanliness of the room was disappointing, with hair found in various areas. The dinner buffet offered a limited selection that wasn't to my taste. Overall, the hotel served its purpose for a short stay, but improvements in cleanliness and dining options would enhance the experience.

nice place, small pool, all inclusive is "ok." drinks end at 6pm and limited selection. checkin for me took 45 minutes.. they were overwhelmed. the room was nice and view was nice.

La Gran Via offered me a relaxing atmosphere on arriving Cartagena. The view was exceptional. The beach vibe and the coastal feel was quite immersive. The staff are quite friendly, courteous, and did address any concerns I had during my stay. The hotel was quite clean and well maintained and the breakfast had a lot of excellent options, adding a delightful culinary experience to the stay. In all - I will be visiting again as I enjoyed my stay here

I've been to Cartagena twice this year and have stayed here both times. I like the hotel and employees. Its convenient and safe. Next door to a hospital also. Good food nearby and just blocks from the beach.

The all inclusive option is a little different because it is limited but even when paying for drinks after hours the prices were very reasonable. The food was decent and the room had a wonderful view.

Super disappointed. Got the full all inclusive. EVERY time I went to the bar there was no one there. So I didn’t get a single drink of alcohol during my stay. The food was ok but kept being recycled/ what we had for dinner, we had for lunch the next day too until it was all gone. The room was nice and the staff were lovely, but don’t do the semi or all inclusive because it’s absolutely not worth it.

The room are very big love it alot of space but My only problem is the sink in the bedroom they need to clean them better. Not that clean

Nice staff

Okay

Colombia is one of those places that grabs you by the collar and doesn’t let go. You land expecting a colorful escape, and you end up finding something much deeper. This place? Worth every damn penny. The people here work hard—harder than most—to make sure every traveler walks away with a piece of their soul. You feel it in the streets, in the smiles, in the way they welcome you like you're family. Respect that. They’ve earned it. It’s not just a vacation; it’s a reminder of the beauty that happens when people truly care about sharing their world with you.

The staff was pretty good and pretty helpful as far as needs. You just have to remind them to make sure the hot water is on but other then that the stay was not bad at all

very good everything perfect

Great staff. There was a nice selection of food to choose from. I wish the drink package was longer so you can have an alcoholic beverage at dinner.

Everyone there was very friendly. Food was good and place was clean at all times.

It's a nice place to stay in Cartagena, near most places, and very quiet and safe.

For the price the hotel is good and the location is great. Breakfast has a nice variety to start your day and friendly helpful staff all around. The pool area was not suitable for many persons at one time due to not enough umbrellas for protection from the sun. (1) umbrella. The pillows were very hard and stiff.

1st 3 days no hot water. No wash clothes, breakfast was absolutely disgusting, no ice or hard to get ice. Front desk staff pleasant

Excellent location, very spacious rooms

NA,

The big room with view are nice. The smaller rooms with no view are not so nice.

The first day there was a little hiccups with the booking but after that everything was great . Ooo if ur single and happen to find a hook up b aware that they charge for someone to go up to ur room if if they r not spending the ni

The staff was great and very helpful. The property had everything I needed. No gym but close to running/walking path and the beach.

The hotel has a very nice view from the outside of the rooms, but the bed is hard as a rock and very uncomfortable. They should change all those beds. You don't sleep well.

The room that we stayed in for 5 days had a beautiful view, very spacious, and a nice shower. Staff was very nice but we did have to wait 1 hour after check in before the room was ready for us. The breakfast buffet was lack luster, I would recommend eating out if that is an option for you. A bit outdated but overall a good stay.

Primer hotel que llegó y no tiene plancha en el cuarto con su mesa, mi esposo y yo necesitábamos una plancha urgente xq íbamos a una boda y me la prestaron 2 horas antes de la hora q teníamos que salir y estaba rota, se le salía el agua !!! Y también vimos una cucharada en el baño, no nos gustó mucho el lugar.

Overall 3/5 stars. Pros: Friendly staff. Hotel is near stores and restaurants. Cons: Rooms a little outdated. Shower is right in front of the bed. No door or wall to separated it from the sleeping area. Didn’t like that the cleaning lady would come knocking on your door to ask for money.

This was by far the most enjoyable hotel I have ever stayed at in a foreign country. The service was top-notch and the hotel was very clean. The room was superb and very spacious and don’t let me even start talking about the incredible view.

The property is very old and many things dont work. The air conditioner, the fridge and the bathroom were in terrible conditions!! The staff was okay. Definitely DO NOT stay if you’re looking for something comfortable.

Nice location in walking Distance to ⛱️ Beaches shopping Restaurants ect.Also close to tour pick up for Private Island tour.I went it was a nice tour for couples

I love the Gran vía hotel

Food was really bad and very little. Is not a buffet and you can not take what you want only what they offer you .

This is not an all inclusive property like we used to visit in Punta Cana o Jamaica, this is an all inclusive with limits, breakfast, lunch, an snack and dinner with unlimited selected drinks since 11 am to 6:30 pm, after that you have to pay for drinks (alcoholic or not) they have a coffee machine in the lobby and you have to pay for the coffee at anytime, it is not a complain only to letting know that you will have this inconvenient, but we have a very good week, and the staff was wonderful

The room service food was disgusting and they wanted to charge me another 35.000 pesos just to bring it to my room,the half board dinner they served was nasty too,no effort in making the food taste with quality, and so basic, i had diarrhea and got a little sick from the dinner food they served.the tv in my room didn't even have a remote wich is just crazy to me, im so glad i brought my fire stick from the states to i can utilize the tv,one more thing, its 2024 why are they giving me a pair of keys for my room instead of a card room key,please eventually upgrade that.its a hassle to carry that large key when i leave the hotel

This property was well kept and clean. They did their best to facilitate us as Spanish isn’t our first language. The day staff is very friendly and also helped us in booking the excursions.The staff is kind and courteous, breakfast menu was very unique and often tasted great. Shout out to the staff. Excellent . Would definitely recommend.

My stay at La Gran Via was great. I had a nice room on the 9th floor that was very spacious. The hotel is walking distance from a 24/7 drug store and plenty of restaurants. The staff were friendly and really helpful. Please note that they will charge you for towels that are really dirty. I took a towel on a mud excursion and was charged for it - but I expected it from other reviews!

walkable to a lot of location. very safe and quite. the room was big for just a queen size bed. that I really like

The staff was very helpful considering I didn’t speak Spanish. I got great recommendations for restaurants and everyone was very nice and accommodating.