No matter the time of day, the lobby at Hotel Dorado Plaza always seems chaotic. New arrivals wait hours to check in, porters haul luggage into storage closets, and guests sit around trying to connect to Wi-Fi while waiting for the impossibly slow elevators. It doesn’t help that the lobby’s aesthetics are less than appealing. Dark marble-like tiles cover every available wall surface and well worn sofas are haphazardly arranged in clusters. One thing that made us smile was the adorable screen saver of a fluffy puppy on one of the communal computers. 

The majority of guests at Hotel Dorado Plaza are Colombian, most of whom are families or couples. Most staff members do not speak English. If a multi-lingual staff is a necessity, we’d recommend the nearby Holiday Inn Express. 

Hotel Dorado Plaza is located in Bocagrande, Cartagena’s Miami-like neighborhood with lively beaches and a vibrant nightlife scene. The hotel is located towards the end of Avenida San Martin (Carrera 2), near the neighborhood of El Laguito. Dorado Plaza is across the street from the beach and is within walking distance of restaurants, bars, malls, and casinos. The hotel is about a 15-minute drive from Cartagena’s historic walled city, and about a 25-minute drive from Rafael Nunez International Airport. 

Rooms at Dorado Plaza are a mixed bag. Some look recently renovated, while others appear totally dated. There are tons of room types, but don’t let words like “superior” or “standard plus” fool you — most rooms feel tight on space and many have awkward layouts. Families or groups may appreciate that there are rooms available with three beds, however. Decor varies a bit from room to room, but most feature white walls and white tile floors. Beds are dressed in white sheets, and topped with chintzy bed runners. Some updated rooms have sleek gray headboards and chrome light fixtures, but finishes still look cheap. 

All rooms are equipped with flat-screen TVs, mini fridges, and air-conditioning. Updated bathrooms have modern fixtures, vessel sinks, and glass-enclosed shower stalls, but they’re tight on space. However, not all bathrooms are updated, so some have dated tile work and shower/tub combos. It should be noted that the hotel does not have hot water — a fairly common occurrence in Cartagena, especially at budget hotels. 

For an all-inclusive property, Hotel Dorado Plaza doesn’t have many services or amenities. All food and drinks are included in nightly rates, but there’s only one on-site restaurant and the food quality is poor. Dorado Plaza advertises daily activities, but many guests complain that they don’t run on schedule, if at all. And you can forget about connecting to Wi-Fi; the hotel’s connection is slow and only works in the lobby. The hotel’s one saving grace is its pool, which may not be the greatest pool we’ve ever seen, but is certainly the best part of Dorado Plaza. The pool is surrounded by a small patio, with cushioned lounge chairs and a wooden pergola to provide shade. The pool even has a mosaic-tile water feature, which helps to drown out street noise. Unfortunately the pool is usually crowded, which makes relaxing amid the masses a bit difficult.