Zalmedina Hotel

Arriving at Zalmedina Hotel for the first time can be confusing. The hotel’s sign is set off the street, and is easy to miss if you’re not looking for it. To make things more difficult, the hotel is located above a shopping center, so guests must walk into the shopping center and proceed up a flight of stairs to the second floor, where the hotel lobby is located. Zalmedina’s lobby is a small, square room with a simple front desk and a lounge area. Sleek white and red furniture add a modern flair to the space, along with chrome arc lamps and frosted glass windows. There aren’t any on-site amenities that entice people to stay around the hotel during the day, so the atmosphere is generally quiet. The majority of guests at Zalmedina are Colombian business travelers, but there are a few families and couples as well. Kids are welcome, but there’s not much for them to do here. Families with children might prefer Hotel Playa across the street, which has a pool and is closer to the beach.  

Zalmedina Hotel is located in Bocagrande, Cartagena’s modern, Miami-like neighborhood with beautiful beaches and a vibrant nightlife scene. The hotel sits on the bustling Avenida San Martin (Carrera 2), one block from the beach, and within walking distance of shops, bars, restaurants, malls, and casinos. The only downside to this location is the nightly street noise, which might disturb light sleepers. Zalmedina is about a 10-minute drive from Cartagena’s historic walled city, and about a 20-minute drive from Rafael Nunez International Airport. 

For a budget-friendly hotel, rooms at Zalmedina are surprisingly stylish. White walls and white tile floors give rooms a bright, airy feeling, which is further enhanced by large windows that let in lots of natural light. Beds are dressed in white duvets, but red throws and plum colored accent pillows add a splash of color. Sleek glass work spaces and dark wood armoires are rooms’ only furniture pieces — beds lack headboards and there aren’t any bedside tables, which can be inconvenient. Rooms are equipped with air conditioners, wall-mounted flat screen TVs, full-length mirrors, and mini-fridges. Some have tiny balconies that overlook bustling Avenida San Martin. Bathrooms are tight on space, with barely enough room for a sink, toilet, and shower stall. While tiny, bathrooms are modern, with vessel sinks and granite counters. And, best of all, showers have hot water. 

All rooms at Zalmedina feature the same decor and amenities; their only difference is the number of beds. Most rooms have one king-size bed, but rooms with two or three twin size beds are also available. Rooms with three beds are tight on space, but are suited for families or friends traveling together. Guests will probably notice some wear and tear throughout the rooms, like scuff marks on the walls, chipped furniture, and broken door locks, but the property is spotlessly clean and clearly well cared for overall. During our visit, painters were busy refurbishing hallways and touching up stairwells. 

Zalmedina tries to market itself as a business hotel, and thus, has two on-site conference rooms. The conference rooms are bright, modern spaces with stylish furnishings and audio-visual equipment. During our visit, we noticed that the majority of guests were, in fact, business travelers who were making use of the on-site conference spaces. 

In addition to the conference rooms, Zalmedina offers free breakfast and Wi-Fi. Breakfast is served buffet style on the hotel’s covered third-floor terrace. Each morning, the staff prepares a hearty spread of eggs, bread, cheese, fresh fruit, coffee, tea, and juice. Wi-Fi is free for all guests, and works well throughout the hotel.