NOTEPAD No. 54

Question: I see you are currently in Cartagena. I am going soon – do you have any recommendations on where to stay?

Answer: I have stayed at a few different places and have loved each for various reasons! The La Passion Hotel is charming, rustic, and super relaxing. It is family run and has only a handful of rooms, making it feel very private. The staff is so incredibly warm and breakfast on the roof each morning was a highlight. If you can I would get a room with a balcony – perfect for evening crowd watching. Hotel Casa San Agustin is total luxury, complete with one of the most beautiful courtyard pools I have ever seen. While I adored my stay and the amazing service, it was quite pricey compared to other options. The Tcherassi Hotel + Spa is another recommendation of mine. It is a good balance of feeling intimate and authentic while also being convenient (in terms of amenities, service, etc). The roof pool scene is fantastic and features a large outdoor bar and seating area with food from the incredible Tuk-Tuk restaurant. I also preferred the location of this hotel in comparison to the others – being just slightly more north in the old city made a big difference having less tourists and street noise.

“Nothing in life is to be feared; it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more so that we may fear less.” – Marie Curie