For the first time visitor, it can be hard to get a read on a city like Bogota. It’s enormous. With many options including US brands coming in well under $100, you could be paralyzed by the large number of options available in the city. I selected the Holiday Inn Express Bogota Zona Financiera for a stay on points based on its location. But at around $80 a night on Expedia it’s also a very strong option for a cash stay. Let’s take a closer look.
Where’s the Money? This site may contain affiliate links. Many travel sites include such links to earn a commission at no cost to readers.
Holiday Inn Express Bogota Location
It’s generally believed that Zona G and Zona T are the safest and most upscale locations in the city. Looking at it on a map, the Holiday Inn Express Bogota Zona Financiera is very close to some of the world’s most exclusive hotel brands like the Four Seasons and JW Marriott. Bogota is fairly safe overall. But whatever your perception of crime you can be sure that they don’t just plunk down a Four Seasons in a bad neighborhood. Indeed, this area is full of panaderias, cafes, restaurants, and other amenities which are an easy walk from the Holiday Inn Express Bogota.
Historic homes (some might say mansions) and mid-century towers make up the architecture in the neighborhood, and several of the restaurants are quite upscale. The area is not entirely unlike Manhattan’s Upper West Side.
Property Overview
The Holiday Inn Express Bogota is located on a broad and busy avenue that’s one of the main arteries running parallel to the mountains. It’s a large property with another hotel located in the same building as well. In addition to the on-site restaurant there is an upscale steakhouse and an Arabian restaurant in the same property. The front desk staff speaks passable English.
Holiday Inn Express hotels are well known for their commitment to offering free breakfast to all guests. It’s a great feature when other hotels nearby are charging a considerable sum for breakfast. The breakfast buffet here is large, but mediocre. One morning it featured onion rings and hush puppies as an accompaniment to eggs. It’s as if AI tried to recreate an American breakfast with incomplete information. I’d have preferred the sort of breakfast served at this chain in the US, with the cinnamon rolls and the little cheese omelets.
SEARCH THE MAP: Find Rates in the perfect location at Hotels.com
A co-working space and small business center round out the first floor while a gym can be found on the second. There’s no pool but in the cool climate of Bogota most guests will not miss it.
Holiday Inn Express Bogota Guest Rooms
I actually had a chance to see three separate rooms in this hotel, including one suite. It was a true suite, not just a larger room with a couch. Unfortunately the reason I was able to see three rooms is that the air conditioning did not work on the whole fifth or sixth floor when I checked in. Even in Bogota’s mild climate guest rooms can reach above 80 without air conditioning. It was an unpleasant experience to deal with but was eventually straightened out. The fridge in my third room did not work but I was not going to push for a fourth room assignment.
All of the rooms I saw were very nice. Clean and modern. Very little evidence of wear and tear. Plenty of storage in each of them and lovely city views throughout the building. The beds are comfortable and rooms are made up daily. The TV is large and up to date but unfortunately hasn’t got any channels in English. Rooms here are suitable for all types of travelers.
Bottom Line on Bogota Hotels
One of the main selling points of a Holiday Inn Express is that you know exactly what you’re getting before you arrive. There were no surprises at this location in Bogota and for just $80 a night this hotel is a great choice anytime.
Bogota is not the easiest place to get around in. If you only want to spend a couple of days doing the main tourist attractions you may want to stay closer to Bolivar Square, four miles to the south. A cab ride from this hotel to the square is only around 12,000 COP, or $3. But in heavy traffic it can be a longer trip than you would expect of four miles.
If you’re traveling on business or you really value being in a clean and upscale area this hotel will suit you very well. Bogota is organized by numbered streets and avenues. Staying anywhere between calle 50 and calle 100 should suit most visitors just fine. Located at calle 67, the Holiday Inn Express Bogota is in something of a sweet spot. If you’re thinking of booking go ahead and pull the trigger on Expedia or TripAdvisor.
