Medellín is becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination in the 2020’s. But owing to the city’s violent history and Colombia’s decades-long civil war hotel construction is not equal to demand at the current time. When searching hotels online you’ll find a small handful of properties operating under global brands, a number of smaller, local hotels, and plenty of vacation rentals which have come into the market to fill the void. The Ibis Medellín is in the heart of the city, and at only around $60 on Expedia offers travelers the assurance of quality and full staffing a global brand can provide.
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Ibis Medellín Location
The El Poblado area about 3 miles south of the city’s center is the most desirable part of the city in which to stay, particularly for first time visitors. The Ibis Medellín is at the northern edge of El Poblado, but well removed from the bar and party scene in the heart of the area around Parqúe Lleras. Nevertheless a 5 minute, $2 Uber ride will have you in the heart of the action whenever you wish. It’s very central and a great starting point to explore any corner of the city. It’s also in the zone that organized tour companies designate for hotel pickup. If you’re planning an excursion the tour operator can pick you up right in the lobby.
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Ibis Medellín’s location is outstanding. It’s very close to the river, which means it’s on some of the only flat ground in a very mountainous city. It’s very walkable and there is enough variety of cafes and restaurants in the immediate vicinity to provide variety. There’s a grocery store about a ten minute walk away and the Metro is about the same distance. A dollar store provides sundries and the Medellín Museum of Modern Art along with a world-class food hall lend the neighborhood some cachet.
This is a very mixed-use area with a number of apartment towers, office buildings, and some light industrial lots like auto dealerships. Anyone should feel safe walking alone here at all hours day and night.
Hotel Property
The Ibis Medellín is very clean and modern and gives the impression of being a much more expensive hotel than it is from the outside and in the lobby. A large lobby space is a mixture of lounge area, co-working space, front desk and bar that works quite well for all those functions. Large windows keep the place bright and are ideal for keeping an eye out for your Uber driver from the comfort of one of their armchairs.
Staff is friendly and the front desk speaks moderate English. There is no pool, gym, parking or other amenities, which is a function of keeping prices low at this budget brand.
The restaurant is a beautiful space with a nice outdoor seating area on the second floor that anyone would enjoy in the cool Medellín climate. Unfortunately the food is not the best. I do not recommend including the breakfast in your room rate. I sampled the breakfast buffet one morning and it was thoroughly underwhelming, particularly the bad coffee. At $10 US it’s affordable, but it’s also one of the most expensive meals you can find in this city and you’ll be much better off with the nearby cafes and restaurants or even street foods.
Ibis Medellín Guest Rooms
Accor’s Ibis brand is known for their prefab room designs and the Ibis Medellín is no exception. In fact, this room is identical to the one I stayed in during my visit to Cartagena. It’s a design that works very well for solo travelers and is serviceable for couples on shorter stays. A couple might find the room slightly small and feel a little cramped sharing the bathroom But the room is a decent size and everything you need is here.
The Ibis Medellín’s beds are comfortable. Unfortunately there are no English language channels on the television. Practica su Español.
Housekeeping came through and made up the room daily. All the rooms in this hotel are going to feature fairly nice views with the surrounding towers and mountains visible from everywhere. It’s clear that the windows haven’t been washed in some years but owing to the building’s design it would be a big job to undertake.
Selecting a Medellín Hotel
It can be overwhelming to pick a hotel in a city this size. First time visitors should definitely narrow their search to El Poblado and Laureles. You can expect any hotel in these areas to be clean and safe. But when you really look closely at online photos you will notice some funny things about Medellín hotel rooms. Why is there a bathtub in the bedroom? Does this room actually have a window? Am I going to get stuck in twin beds? El Poblado in particular is a hotspot for younger people on group trips and many of the rooms there are in hostels or are hotel rooms set up with this type of traveler in mind.
Having the assurance of quality and staffing of a worldwide brand at some of the most competitive rates in the city makes the Ibis Medellín a no-brainer. I would definitely stay again and if you’re a couple or solo traveler you should book with confidence online and enjoy your stay in Medellín.
