For the end of 2020, we’ve decided to set off far from Europe to make do as if nothing had happened in this period riddled by the COVID-19 pandemic… it’ll be Colombia, with an itinerary split between Bogotá, the capital, and Cartagena, a coastal city in the north of the country.
For our first two nights in Bogotà, we set our sights on a classic, the Four Points by Sheraton, located in the chic El Chico district to the north of the capital.
Booking and arrival
The reservation was made via the Marriott Bonvoy app. Bogotá offers a number of Bonvoy partner hotels, with a fairly wide price range. The Four Points was a natural choice, not only because of its price (our hotel in Cartagena was much more expensive), but also because of the good value for money offered by this chain.
We arrive in the middle of the evening, around 8pm. The Four Points Bogota is located in the El Chico district, home to most business hotels and chains (Best Western, Novotel), close to embassies and the local headquarters of foreign businesses.
The lobby is small but welcoming, with a huge Christmas tree.
Arrival goes smoothly: an additional form must be completed to certify non-positivity to COVID-19 and the absence of symptoms. However, no upgrades were offered, even though rooms in higher categories were available that evening. Not great for a Platinum member!
Room
We take possession of our room on the 6th floor, overlooking the city. The room is a standard size, but some aspects of cleanliness need to be reviewed (litter behind the bed). The bathroom is clean, but to our great regret does not offer a bathtub, which we would have hoped to enjoy after reading the hotel’s amenities, as we are both big fans of baths.
The views from the room are unobstructed over the whole city, with glimpses of the mountains surrounding Bogotá.
Food options
We had the opportunity to visit the hotel’s restaurant, both for lunch and dinner, as well as for breakfast, included in the rate.
Breakfast is, as in most hotels during this COVID-19 period, served at the seat by a waiter who comes to take the order. It’s a funny thing, given the staff’s lack of proficiency in English and our rusty to non-existent Spanish. Breakfast consists of continental classics (fruit, eggs, bread) and a few local specialties (rice and offal soup). On the second day, waffles were available. Original.
Four Points are generally renowned for their value-for-money restaurants: there’s no exception here. We went to the restaurant on the first evening, having arrived too late to enjoy Bogotá’s outdoor restaurants. In fact, they were closing early by order of the municipality due to measures linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. We start with a few cocktails, including a salty Margarita and a Moscow Mule with a strong ginger taste…
… ending with a shrimp bisque for me, and fried squid for my traveling companion. The dishes were of very good quality, costing no more than 5 euros each.
On the day of our departure, we return to the hotel restaurant, convinced by its good quality, for a final snack of beer and pork wontons.
Bottom line
An unpretentious hotel, but offering very decent rooms for no more than $40 a night at the time of this end-of-year stay. It’s located in a strategic area of Bogotá, a chic neighborhood full of restaurants and close to major thoroughfares leading to various parts of the city. The staff are very friendly, despite the fact that some of them are not fluent in English (but on the other hand, it’s up to the traveler to adapt!).
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