Staying at the Hotel Cartagena Plaza: The Best Beach Front Property in Cartagena

On my trip to Cartagena, I knew I wanted part of the vacation to be relaxing on the beach. Therefore, I chose to stay at the beachfront Hotel Cartagena Plaza. What sold me was the views from the rooftop and the price tag of $82 a night including all taxes and fees. 

The Hotel Cartagena Plaza exceeded my expectations and included even more things than I realized. The hotel room was a decent size, and we had the lowest tier of room. There was plenty of room for two people to spread out and relax in the room. The price of the hotel included breakfast and a ton of amenities.    

TripAdvisor is a great place to start your hotel search. Search for the best Cartagena hotels here!

Meals at the Hotel Cartagena Plaza

Breakfast

One of the best parts of staying at the Hotel Cartagena Plaza was their breakfast. Every morning we started out at the included buffet breakfast. This was one of the largest hotel buffet breakfasts I have ever seen! Not only did they have the traditional breakfast items like eggs, sausage, and fruit, there was a yogurt bar, cereal area, and an assortment of bread and muffins.

They also had a place for made-to-order omelets. They also had a juice bar where you could order a variety of fresh juice drinks. The menu is rotated daily. There was also an area with coffee, soda, and juices. I could not get over how amazing this buffet was. 

Lunch and Dinner

Although lunch and dinner were not included, the food at the hotel was inexpensive. Visitors could bill everything to their room. The pool had different complimentary snacks served throughout the day. Served from 10:30-11:30am were snow cones and crepes in the evening. Popcorn, fruit, and a few other snacks were available for most of the day. 

Activities and Amenities at the Hotel Cartagena Plaza

I was shocked at how many activities and amenities this hotel offered. I did not realize everything that was included when I booked the hotel. The hotel provides fresh beach towels for you each day. We just had to pick them up and return them to the pool area each time we wanted a fresh one. There was a hotel gym inside the hotel as well and the lobby has many comfy chairs to sit in and relax.

The Hotel Cartagena Plaza also offered a variety of activities to keep you busy throughout the day. There was a daily cooking class at 11:30am by the pool. On a bulletin board by the pool, there was a list of other daily activities. In front of the hotel, taxis were available to take you wherever you wanted to go.

The Beach

In front of the hotel was a section of the beach that was just for people who stay at the hotel. On the beach, an attendant would get you loungers and umbrellas that are included in your stay. Several employees also hung around that area in case guests needed anything else. 

Teacher Tip: There are many locals who will come up and try to sell you various goods on the beach. Tell them “No gracias,” and they should go away. If they keep bothering you, find a hotel employee to help get rid of them. 

Rooftop Pool at the Hotel Cartagena Plaza

One of the amenities of the hotel included a rooftop pool with loungers and cabanas, for use on a first come first serve basis. The pool was a decent size and the water temperature was nice. The rooftop pool overlooked the ocean, so it was a great place to watch the sunset. Next to the pool was a cafe, a bar, and oftentimes there was a snack vendor. The pool was a great place to relax throughout the day.

Overall, I would totally stay at the Hotel Cartagena Plaza again. It was inexpensive for a beachfront property that included so much. It was not too far from the Old Town Cartagena area, so there were still plenty of places to explore if you want a break from the beach. 

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