Zalmedina

Colombia , Cartagena
CARTAGENA, Bocagrande Av. San Martín 5 - 52
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75 reviews shown

8/10

Excellent

17 Jul 2025

E Giancarlo

Liked the location.

6/10

Pleasant

03 Apr 2025

Edwar

The property is on the 2nd floor so you need to walk up the stairs. The elevator does not go all the way down to the 1st floor. So, you will need to carry your luggage up to the 2nd floor when checking in and out.
The location is convenient for shopping and dining.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

04 Feb 2025

Luz Elena

I want to express my gratitude to the entire work team at the Zalmedina hotel. My stay with my mother was really excellent, the kindness of all the employees including the cleaning lady. Everything was excellent, every day they cleaned our room, the breakfast was excellent and the hotel is in an excellent location close to the beach, restaurants and shopping places. Thanks to the entire team at the Zalmedina hotel.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

18 Dec 2024

Ferney De Jesus Sepulveda

Everything was so great

Leisure Self

2/10

Poor

17 Sep 2024

Sean

Never again

Rooms with balcony was very small, bathroom small. Toilet wouldn’t flush the first night. No 24hour maid service, you couldn’t get extra towels.every time you left your room the key would connected to the air conditioner. Room was always hot when you came back

Friends_and_family Friends

8/10

Excellent

14 Dec 2023

Mariya

I can only say great things about the service and the people who work at the hotel. English isn’t widely spoken but all employees are super kind. Breakfast comes in two plates which are served, includes cut fruits and cheese bread ham traditional cooked plantain. There was a watermelon juice once in our stay which was amazing.
Now I want to describe my experience in-front of the hotel , the employees of the two tour agencies were attacking us every time we go in and out till we booked a trip to check out baru. We booked the 4 island tour which I want to not recommend for people who don’t like speeds. The van that picked us up was very old and hardly could breath on there. The boat that takes you in the sea is old and fast and I was having hard time. But they won’t say that to you they just want you to book. I wish we had peace going in and out of the hotel but those agents try to sell you things every time
The location is good near the beach stores and restaurants.
Jeremy the young guy who works at the hotel was always helpful.

Partner

4/10

Poor

23 Nov 2023

Roger

Hotel is a lot older and uglier than the pictures. When I arrived elevator wasn’t working, so I had to carry my 3 bags for 7 flight of stairs.
Room smell humid. At night I would hear the street like of I was sleeping on it.
The hotel lobby is on a second floor, so you need to carry everything up to the second floor.
At the hotel entrance there are many tour operators harassing you to buy tours, they’re very insistent and every time you go in or out the hotel they’re in your face harassing you to buy. Terrible hotel, I don’t think I have a positive thing to say about my stay.

Business Self

8/10

Excellent

15 Jun 2023

Alejandro

everyone was very nice and service was quick

10/10

Exceptional

20 Feb 2023

Verified traveler

It was affordable, quiet, dispite being downtown and commercial avenue. Everything flowed nicely with the staff. B-fast was good. No complaints, will stay again and recommend

Self

6/10

Pleasant

04 Jan 2023

Randall

This property is located 1 block from the beach, and close to dinning/shopping. However, for the same price you can stay at much better properties in the same area. Renter beware! Research.

2/10

Poor

01 Nov 2022

Adedamola

Things don’t work right.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

03 Sep 2022

Ricardo

The hospitality is amazing, I strongly recommend this hotel

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

06 Aug 2022

Manuel Francisco

Propety was close to everything, small mercado next to it, and you can walk everywhere. You can also walk to la Torre or uber it.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

29 Jul 2022

Moses

Very friendly staff!

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

08 Jun 2022

Anabella

Excellent location at an affordable price. Excellent service and friendly staff.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

05 Apr 2022

Verified traveler

Hotel to keep coming back to.

I have been here a few times already. The staff has always been friendly and accomodating. Excellent hotel for value. Nice rooms and large bed. Shops, restaurants and beach all very close.

Friends_and_family Friends

6/10

Pleasant

31 Mar 2022

carlos

Desayuno limitado, se escucha mucho el ruido exterior, recepción se encuentra en un segundo piso.

Business Partner

10/10

Exceptional

26 Mar 2022

Ahmed

Nice hotel

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

22 Jan 2022

Eva

Excelente…. Great price , good food

Leisure Family

2/10

Poor

12 Dec 2021

osiris

Las especificaciones de la habitacion reservada, no fueron las misma suministradas por el hotel, la reserva se realizo por una xama king y una doble, al llegar al hotel me syministraron una sola cama king para tres personas.

6/10

Pleasant

06 Apr 2021

Verified traveler

La propiedad está ubicada en un buen punto, el inconveniente es que está la entrada en el segundo piso por escalera para el lobby, y en el primer piso está todo el tiempo lleno de vendedores de paseos y viajes, tratando de que cada vez de entrar o salir los huéspedes compren.
En referencia al servicio es relativamente bueno, el desayuno incluido es bueno y la atención del restaurante para el desayuno es muy buena. El servicio de aseo es muy bueno y puede ser utilizado diariamente.

Friends_and_family Partner

8/10

Excellent

22 Apr 2019

Verified traveler

Nice staff, rooms very clean. The hotel is in a good location.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

25 Nov 2018

Verified traveler

Excelent
Good service to be relaxed in the city ,,,,,, c

8/10

Excellent

11 Feb 2018

Julie

Cartagena

Zalmedina hotel is on a Great location
Free good breakfast
Good security
Daily cleaning
Highly recommended

8/10

Excellent

01 Feb 2018

John

Great Stay

Great stay. Complimentary breakfast was good. Staff was friendly. Area is great with things to do.

Family

6/10

Pleasant

03 Dec 2017

Brooks

Decent hotel

The hotel is located amongst a swath of travel agencies with people always in your face trying to hussle their trips etc. The actual hotel is pretty nice with very very nice staff IMHO. Very clean room but in the mornings I didn't have hot water. WiFi very fast and other than not liking the building it's located in the hotel is in my favorite part of cartagena and yes I would recommend it.

6/10

Pleasant

05 Nov 2017

David

Not matching high expectations

This hotel isn't really on the map in Cartagena. Ask any cabby to take you there, and they struggle. This is because the reception/front of the hotel is above some shops. This really isn't ideal, with people pouncing on you the second you arrive and leave every night to sell you a tour, a hat, a pair of sunglasses or something else.

The hotel just about passes as a 3-star hotel. The pictures are deceptive though, very well edited and shot to make it seem a lot nicer.

Speaking English is also a real struggle, which is fair enough in Cartagena and not unexpected. However, the staff were friendly and accommodating where they could be, not like the reviews some have claimed.

Breakfasts were okay. Coffee was awful but it was a well laid out buffet to help yourself. Usual deal of eggs, ham, cheese, cereals and breads.

The best thing is the air conditioning unit and the bedding, which ensures maximum comfort.

I can't say I'd stay here again given the expectations I had, but we had a comfortable enough stay I didn't complain. Can do better regarding first impressions, location (which is mislabelled on the map) and hotel layout.

Family

2/10

Poor

21 Nov 2016

maria

horrible horrible horrible horrible horrible

simply put, this place sucks. this hotel was horrible, the people nasty and unprofessional. the place was a dump

6/10

Pleasant

30 May 2016

Brunais

Good for the money..

I was tempted to cancel my reservation after I read the reviews of this hotel.. I had already paid for my reservation and was really upset to learn their no cancellation policy.. and then I was really surprised to find out that Expedia supported and enforced their policy when I called them over the phone. My overall experience at the Zalmedina was \"okay\". This is NOT a 4 STAR hotel.. Maybe a 3 Star on my standards..The hotel is conveniently located across the street from a fairly new Casino, plenty of restaurants and shops near by, and plenty of taxis all times of the day/ night which made it very easy to get around town. Taxi ride from the airport to hotel more less $20 thousand pesos = $7 dollars more less and $7 thousand pesos = more less $3 dollars to go to the Walled city.. inexpensive. Our room was clean and the staff were very pleasant and willing to help. There is no working elevator on the first floor which for us wasn't a big issue but could be for someone who is not willing to carry their luggage up the stairs.. the mattress was nice but the double bed was combined by two single beds and we found ourselves in the middle of the night being split apart as the beds came apart. There was a complimentary breakfast which was okay.. nothing to rave about.. your ordinary breads, fresh fruits, scrambled eggs.. The room could also use a dresser/ night stand to place our belongings. other than that it was clean, comfortable and I would stay there again if I needed to

10/10

Exceptional

23 Mar 2016

Nathan

Thumbs up---a wonderful staff!!

Fantastic staff, perfect location. I would absolutely stay here again!!:)

8/10

Excellent

17 Feb 2016

AUDLEY

Cartagena

I had planned to stay one night but ended up staying three nights. The staff was very friendly and went above and beyond to assist us. I would return.

Partner

2/10

Poor

14 Feb 2016

sor

Didn't get to stay at this hotel!!! Want my $ back

First of all, the map on Expedia show us a different location to where the hotel was. No knowing the city we headed to where the map posted us to go. We walked for almost an hr and got to a place where there was nothing (only a park) we then backtracked and stop at a hotel close by and asked the lady at the desk. She had no idea about the hotel but I had the phone number on Expedia so she called them to ask where they were located. She got hanged up. She then tried again and again. Finally, the desk girl told her where they were. It was farther than our starting point. So, we took a cab there. Once we got there they told us the hotel was on the second floor ( there is not elevator to go up there) I was exhausted. We grab our luggage and headed up. The girl at the desk was on her cellphone and ignored is completely for like 10-15 minutes then I approached her and said \"we are checking in, could you help\" and ugly look that's what I got as a reply. She put her phone down and ask for my reservation. I gave it to her and she seen something I hadn't notice (my room was a double bed room but for only one person) I had no idea I had booked like that. She said for the extra person I had to pay $80,000 pesos. I refused to do so and asked if there was a bit of a deal as it was a honest mistake. Her off course said \"no\" I asked if there was a manager or anybody I could talk to. She said \"no\" I then asked her to helped me cancel my stay and she said \"I can't do that, you need to.........

2/10

Poor

04 Jan 2016

Alexandra

Thieves and Liars!

We checked in on Dec 29 and upon checkin advised there was an error in the reservation and we were staying until jan 3 checkout. Jorge assured us they had so many rooms available and there was no issue. proceeded to pay for the entire stay until the end. every morning we reconfirmed this info. On Jan 2 around 3 pm I returned to the room only to find it was not made up. I asked the front desk ( Jorge) why the room wasn't cleaned yet and he said because you are checking out.
As you can imagine the conversation went in circles and I got vey upset as I was told that we had to leave immediately. After a long argument and much yelling with the general manager, Carolina and the front desk Jorge , they threatened to call the police on us. We immediately packed and left in fear! 3 girls in Colombia and luckily we speak the language.

We then found out that they sold our paid room to locals!!!!!!! They got bribed because there were no rooms available in all of Cartagena and decided to kick out the 3 female tourists knowing we wouldn't be able to fight back.

In the end we found a room at the occidental and instead of paying 200usd per night were forced to pay 995usd for one night. They also agreed to pay our taxi to our new hotel and then when they found out the price gave us 1/3 of the price. Thieves, liars and disgusting management!!!!!!!!! they must be denounced...

Family

6/10

Pleasant

03 Jan 2016

Dave

Fine for overnight, but not longer term

The staff was excellent and friendly, but like so many places in Cartagena, the room and its associated bathroom were very small.

8/10

Excellent

16 Nov 2015

omer

Nice hotel but wrong area with ugly beach

Nice and clean hotel with decent breakfast and friendly staff. On the busy street but it was fine. It is not hotels fault that the beach is ugly and filthy. I would recommend the hotel but if I ever come back I would stay in old city.

8/10

Excellent

24 Mar 2015

Stella

Hotel is located one block from the beach, in a very busy street. You can find restaurants, shops, supermarkets nearby, and even a brand new shopping mall just accross the Hotel.
Rooms are modern and clean, with free WI-FI, mini bar but no refrigerator. A liitle noisy sometimes from the busy traffic on San Martin Avenue.
I needed help to set up the AC, but once done, it worked perfectly.
Breakfast was included buffet style, with a good variety of food, juices and fruits, including scrambled eggs. Located on 3rd floor.
I received excellent customer service and personalized attention from all the staff, specially from the General Manager, who introduced herself and offered great advice about things to do in the city.
I travelled alone and felt safe. Good value at a very good rate.

6/10

Pleasant

07 Jan 2015

andrew

Mas o menos - So so

Decent, good location.
Lack of hot water for a few days. Hotel is very basic. Priced a little high for the level of service but maybe they charged more because it was a holiday.

4/10

Poor

30 Nov 2014

Verified traveler

Convenient and Priced right

Don't expect anything special or impressive when you walk into the hotel. The best part of our stay was the convenient location and the price. Worth it for the low price but not a luxery hotel to spend a lot of time in.

4/10

Poor

04 Nov 2014

Daniel

not a relaxing night in Cartagena

No very good. most definitely not a four star hotel. we arrived about 8pm and had to carry our bags to the second flor where the reception is located as the elevator is locked for the first floor. the room was very noisy which is understandable because of the hotels location in a very comercial street but for a 4 star you would think they would put antinoise windows as we were also disturbed by the wind and rain. finally the worst part was the we asked for a king size bed and it turns out it was two single beds pushed together that separated by themselves and we ended up sleeping in one single bed. also the fact that the shower had a curtain was kind of disconserting when all hotels now days have slidding doors. seem out dated.

Partner

2/10

Poor

26 Oct 2014

Verified traveler

BAD

VERY BAD. Hostess was rude. There was a fight because apparently a guest´s room was robed. The AC was not working well. Very noisy in the night.

2/10

Poor

24 Jun 2014

Poor experience

We stayed at this hotel only 2 nights and checked out early. Staff was uncooperative and unprofessional. Our safety and security were at risk while staying there. NOT worth the price

2/10

Poor

27 May 2014

Verified traveler

No water for an entire day. Dirty bathroom and towels just for starters.

10/10

Exceptional

21 Mar 2014

Natalia

Great location

The hotel was perfectly located. I say perfectly because we were just seconds away from restaurants, souvenir shops, shopping, currency exchange, etc. It's located on a busy street so cabs are constantly passing by...super cheap, by the way; a cab ride to the Walled city (La Ciudad Amurallada) was only about 4-5 pesos ($2-3 dollars). The beach was also only 2 blocks away. The hotel serves a free hot breakfast; a mix of American styled buffet foods and traditional Colombian breakfast foods. The staff was also very attentive and friendly. The only problem we had was that the water was not hot but lukewarm, but I feel this was simply a recurring theme everywhere we went in the country. Overall it was a great and relaxing experience! I would definitely come back again.

8/10

Excellent

16 Mar 2014

Cindy

take a taxie or bus

the streets are not marked and there are no numbers, when by it 3 times before finding. After finding Hotel was completely happy. City noise but that is to be expected. Great Coffee! Great Staff! Safe location, downtown

6/10

Pleasant

29 Mar 2025

JOSE

Habitaciones muy viejas y olor a humedad

Leisure Family

8/10

Excellent

03 Feb 2025

Carlos

Estuve en la séptima planta y todavía se escuchaba el ruido de la calle.
Por lo demás todo bien.

6/10

Pleasant

18 Jan 2025

Jorge

Ofrecen Parqueadero y no había tocó pagar adicional en otro lado 80 mil pesos

Business

10/10

Exceptional

07 Jul 2024

Luis

Zalmedina excelente ubicacion

Excelente ubicación en Bocagrande Cartagena. Zona segura.

Business

10/10

Exceptional

19 Mar 2024

ANA

Excelente servicio

Excelente la atención, la limpieza al máximo, volvería a este hotel. Se los recomiendo.

Partner

4/10

Poor

16 Jul 2023

Norma Graciela

La pileta de natación no existe
El desayuno es malo
Lo único bueno es el personal que siempre fue amable a pesar de las limitaciones del edificio y servicios.

Business

10/10

Exceptional

12 Apr 2023

Kirina

Excelente

8/10

Excellent

28 Feb 2023

Jorge

Las instalaciones ya son un poco antiguas y si requiere mantenimiento, por ejemplo el elevador, y algunos aspectos como las puertas de los baños y lavamanos cuesta que se vaya el agua..
El desayuno no esta mal, pero 5 días comiéndo huevos con jamón y una rodaja de jamón, si aburre un poco, quizás pudiesen ser un poco más creativo como repito no esta mal.. peeroo..!
El personal en su mayoría es amable y uno que otro como el como el joven de las noches de recepción, que días es amable y otros no..
Pero en general está bien.

Leisure Family_with_children

8/10

Excellent

26 Aug 2022

Carlos

El personal muy amable

Leisure Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

31 Jul 2022

Victor

Excelente ubicacion.

Excelente ubicacion en una zona muy concurrida a tan solo 100 metros de la playa en Bocagrande. Variedad de comida muy cerca. A solo 10 minutos en taxi de la ciudad amurallada.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

29 Jul 2022

Elizabeth Lourdes

Buen hotel

Hotel seguro y adecuado para descansar, ubicado en un buen lugar. Desayuno agradable y amable atención.

Friends_and_family Friends

4/10

Poor

20 Jul 2022

David

Las intalaciones estan bastante abandonadas y deteriorado

Partner

8/10

Excellent

16 Jul 2022

Esmeralda

Hotel aceptable

Leisure Partner

6/10

Pleasant

16 Jun 2022

Verified traveler

Regular

Las habitaciones muy pequeñas, el desayuno muy regular, no hay bar, no hay piscina, ninguna comodidad adicional

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

23 Dec 2021

Rubén

Todo muy bueno, recomendable.

Friends_and_family Family

8/10

Excellent

09 Dec 2021

juan David

No había toallas

Business

10/10

Exceptional

04 Nov 2021

CECILIA LILIANA ARBULU

Buena ubicación, la habitación muy confortable

Leisure Family

6/10

Pleasant

28 Feb 2020

alberto dario

Fuera de la realidad...

No me gusto para nada....totalmente fuera de la realidad...se salva solamente el desayuno...no ire jamas...

Friends_and_family Family

4/10

Poor

09 Jan 2020

Alejandra

Precio mayor en hoteles.com que en el hotel direct

Me sorprendió enterarme que el precio del hotel era más barato en walk in que lo pague en hoteles.com
El hotel está viejo y no tiene un gran mantenimiento. Me pareció caro para lo que era

8/10

Excellent

07 Sep 2019

JAIME

Buena relación costo beneficio

Buena relación costo beneficio

6/10

Pleasant

16 Aug 2019

Verified traveler

Hotel funciona desde el segundo piso y para acceder hay que timbrar y esperar que te manden el ascensor!!! Personal de recepción poco calificado. Relacion precio calidad muy mala.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

04 Jul 2019

Carolina

Nos sorprendió gratamente.

Excelente estancia, el servicio es excelente, el desayuno muy completo, habitaciones muy cómodas y aseo impecable. La recepción queda en el segundo piso. La ubicación es excelente, a una calle de la playa y cerca de restaurantes y centros comerciales. Sector muy seguro. Volveremos.

Family

8/10

Excellent

25 Jun 2019

Gabriel Alberto

Buen servicio

Buen hotel, estancia normal, atención del personal muy atentos.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

03 May 2019

claudia

BUENA UBICACION BUEN SERVICIO

MUY BUENA UBICACION APESAR QUE ES UN HOTEL VIEJO PERO ES ASEADO Y LA HABITACION ESTA BIEN PARA EL COSTO, EL PERSONAL DEL HOTEL MUY SERVICIAL Y ATENTO

Family

6/10

Pleasant

11 Mar 2019

Verified traveler

Instalações do quarto boas, mas tirando isso, zona do café suja, com a presença de pássaros (inclusive pombas) dentro e comendo a comida dos hóspedes. A entrada do hotel é tomada de pessoas desagradáveis insistentes e irritantes. Passam o tempo todo te oferecendo pacotes de viagem, passeios, etc. Ficam atiradas (para não dizer deitadas) na escada de acesso ao hotel.

Leisure Family_with_children

8/10

Excellent

07 Mar 2019

Elba

En.general bien

El.personal muy atento, solo que dos dias no tuvimos agua caliente , pero despues me.lo solucionaron, el resto bien

Family

2/10

Poor

13 Feb 2019

RMVIAGENS

Reservamos o hotel para nossos clientes que não gostaram por que:
As portas dos quartos não fecham ou abrem seguramente, incluive em uma das saidas a cliente nao pode trocar de roupa por que nao conseguiram abrir p quarto.
No cafe voam vários pombos, que defecam nas mesas
Os quartos não são bem limpos
O cafe da manha e bem fraco
E o pior, ligamos 03 vezes e falamos direto com a gerencia que disse que conversaria com nossos passageiros e não os fizeram.
enfim, nos não trabalharemos mais com esse hotel.
Péssimo atendimento em todos os aspectos.

Leisure Family

8/10

Excellent

11 Jan 2019

Verified traveler

Me gustó que es céntrico en Bocagrande, a una cuadra de la playa y frente a un mall, cerca tienes resturantes y tiendas.
No me gustó, la infraestructura es algo vieja pero para el precio está bien pagado!!

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

25 Jan 2018

silvia

Agradable,muy buena ubicacion,gente amable

Muy agradable,la ubicacion es muy buena,el personal al servicio de todo,desayuno muy bueno

10/10

Exceptional

24 Jan 2018

Izidoro

Muito bem localizado