On my previous trips to Bogota I stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn at El Dorado Airport due to its proximity to the course venue. The hotel is on a busy multilane thoroughfare, and when I once suggested that I might go out for a walk after dinner, the Colombians nearly had a coronary and tried to convince me that this was not kind of place where gringos could just step out and go for a walk safely. So, this time I’m trying something new, I’ll be staying at the Hilton Bogota in the centre of the city.

Location

The Hilton Bogota sits at the bottom of a hill range covered in lush green vegetation. From the airport to the hotel takes about thirty minutes in good traffic. In the vicinity are several of the international hotel chains and shops. I don’t think it’s really ever quiet anywhere in Bogota, but the hotel’s location is definitely more pleasant than out at the Garden Inn.

Check-In

I arrive at the hotel just after nine in the evening. The young lady makes quick work of checking me in. In Colombia it’s common practice that they charge the amount due to the credit card upon check-in. There’s also a form to complete to confirm that I am a non-resident of Colombia and therefore entitled to being exempted from having to pay VAT on my stay.

The lobby area is fairly small. Other than that, though, it’s very clean in that typical, easily recognisable Hilton style. The lady at reception tells me that they’re in the middle of upgrading and refurbishing the property.

Standard Room with King Bed

I’ve booked a standard room with King bed on the twelfth floor. The room is spacious and comfortable. While it shows that the hotel has old bones, it is clearly well maintained. The room is dominated by the large bed, which is firm and provides good support. The pillows are perhaps a bit stiff, which is convenient for reading in bed but not such much for sleeping – unless you want to wake up with a crick in the neck.

The room features a wide desk and a comfortable desk chair. The only problem is that the surface of the desk is covered in glass, which makes it near impossible to use a mouse properly. But that’s a minor thing.

The bedroom is separated from the bathroom by the walk-in wardrobe, which provides ample storage space. The bathroom itself is a good size and clean. I think here the building’s true age shows the most. The fixtures are all in perfect working condition, but the general design of the bathroom is a bit retro.

The bathroom has a combined shower and bath, with the overhead nozzle strangely located right in the middle above the bath, instead of to the side. Other than that, we have a good score on the Knight of Malta scale. There is no spillage at all, the temperature regulation is decent and the water pressure is acceptable. The cosmetics are by a brand I don’t know and have a nice, herby smell.

Amenities

This being Colombia, they probably would be mortally offended to have a plain old Nespresso machine in the room. Instead, there’s a machine that makes filter coffee and two sachets of ground Colombian coffee. Other than that, the minibar is empty and only filled on request. There are no bathrobes or slippers.

On the third day of my visit, I return to the room to find a little chocolate tart waiting for me. There isn’t a note attached to it, so I’m just assuming its because of my Hilton Honours status, which is a nice gesture.

In theory, the view from my room on the twelfth floor is quite good. The only problem is that the weather is rather atrocious throughout most my stay. It’s raining a lot, with low hanging clouds. It’s also rather fresh, which is hardly surprising given that Bogota sits at 2600 metres elevation.

Dining

The main restaurant at the Hilton Bogota is La Ventana. This is also where breakfast is served. The food here is great and features many local specialities with a modern twist. The breakfast buffet is extensive and very good. The staff at the restaurant are lovely. They’re attentive and really hard-working. I don’t actually speak Spanish, and not all of them speak English. Even so, we manage to communicate despite the language barrier, with some very entertaining outcomes.

Conclusion

The Hilton Bogota is a well managed property in the commercial heart of the city. The hotel feels comfortable and welcoming. The course I was giving here in Bogota took place at the Hilton, in one of the many meeting rooms on the first floor. The interaction with the sales team ahead of the visit was easy and efficient. And during the course the support provided by the staff was very good. Next time I visit Bogota for work, I think I will very likely stay at this hotel again.

Postscript

With this post I’m introducing a new font, font size, and colour scheme. I’m curious to hear from you all what you have to say about it. So, please feel free to comment and let me know what you think. Thank you!

– William