Ananda Hotel Boutique

Ananda Hotel Boutique lives in a two-story colonial building dating back to the 17th century and once inhabited by Don Antonio de Arevalo, the Spanish engineer in charge of building Cartagena's famous city walls. The hotel retains the arches, sloped ceilings, and courtyards of the original structure, but the public spaces and rooms are mostly contemporary when it comes to style. You'll see dark woods and colorful flowers in the lobby, and check-in takes place seated at the reception desk, establishing a nice upmarket vibe right away (the welcome drink doesn't hurt, either). Guests cool off in the secluded courtyard pool or up on the roof, which has awesome sunset views. There's also destination dining on-site, with Carmen attracting a mix of other travelers and hotel guests. The hotel draws mostly couples to its upscale rooms, good-quality breakfast, and central location in the historic district. With its pool and high number of spacious suites, the Ananda isn't necessarily a bad option for families with kids. 

Ananda Hotel Boutique sits right on picture-pretty Calle del Cuartel, in the heart of Cartagena's charming walled city. Numerous shops, restaurants, and bars are in every direction, and Teatro Heredia theater is less than a two-minute stroll from the hotel. The Baluarte de Santo Domingo fortification on the sea is less than a five-minute walk, as are Plaza Santo Domingo and the 16th-century Iglesia de Santo Domingo, the oldest church in the city. The 17th-century Cathedral of Cartagena and the fascinating Zenu Gold Museum are both less than five minutes on foot as well. The Torre del Reloj Publico (Public Clock Tower) is the main entrance to the old city -- it's a five-minute walk. Several attractions are just a bit more than five minutes by walking. These include Aduana Square, the Museum of Modern Art, the Palace of the Inquisition historical museum, and the Church of Saint Peter Claver, a 17th-century Spanish Jesuit priest and missionary. The Cartagena Convention Center is a little over 10 minutes on foot. Just east of the convention center is the trendy Getsemani neighborhood with its arts scene, nightclubs, and hip bars and restaurants. The Castillo San Felipe de Barajas is about a 15-minute drive or 20-minute walk away. It offers superb sea and city views from its hilltop location. Expect a 15-minute drive to Rafael Nunez International Airport.

The spacious rooms and suites at Ananda Hotel Boutique have an minimalist boutique aesthetic, with high-quality furnishings, dark woods, largely bare walls, and fine Colombian decorative objects like baskets and vases. It's a warm brown-and-white color palette, with colorful decorative throws on the all-white bedding to perk it up a bit. Some rooms have accents like four-poster beds or sloped ceilings with wooden beams. Charming balconies -- some overlooking the street -- are a nice extra in some rooms. Suites have sitting areas, and some suites are on two levels, with the lower level featuring the sitting room and the mezzanine level containing the bedroom. The 23 rooms and suites all come with air-conditioning, free bottled water, minibars, free Wi-Fi, and flat-screen TVs with English-language channels and DVD players. Unfortunately, coffeemakers are missing. Bathrooms are spacious and stylish, and feature rainfall showers with teak shower decks. Some have bathtubs or jetted tubs, and all come with hairdryers, make-up mirrors, and premium bath products. Rooms and public spaces at the hotel are all non-smoking. 

Despite its small stature, this hotel has a number of solid features. The courtyard swimming pool has a secluded, quiet vibe. It's rarely crowded, and one end is shallow enough for wading children. The pool and deck get good direct sun, but the sun loungers can also be moved to a heavily shaded area. The rooftop hot tub offers good views of the city from its adjacent deck (particularly at sunset). The hotel serves an excellent breakfast of tropical fruits, breads, granola, coffee, and juice, plus cooked-to-order items like pancakes, arepas, and eggs Benedict. Its restaurant, Carmen, also draws plenty of visitors from other hotels for its local-fusion cuisine -- in fact, it's one of the city's most popular restaurants. A massage room, meeting room, 24-hour front desk, concierge service, and airport transfers can all be arranged (fees apply for some). Nearby public parking is available for a fee.