Panache
Level 2 Member
Just returned from a marvelous trip to Cartagena, Colombia a few days ago. Booked with cash way back in July before getting into the miles+points hobby. However, the flight with AV was nice, I always enjoy flying with non-US carriers as you get a (small) meal and a beer or glass of wine or two and you feel treated with some dignity. I now have enough United miles to repeat the trip again next winter.
Anyone considering a trip, it is highly recommended. Beautiful Spanish colonial old city, UNESCO world heritage site (I'll let the pictures speak for themselves, I could have added dozens more) and great restaurants and a variety of beautifully restored boutique hotels inside the colonial old city. The new part of the city has plenty of chain hotels for those who want to spend their CC points. I think in a place like that one is better off spending cash for the experience of staying in a non chain hotel, though.
Rosario Islands are a national park close by (30 miles by boat) (beaches in Cartagena proper are awful), with great snorkelling and scuba diving. Some small independently run lodges on the islands offer a lot of peace, just what the Doctor ordered! We stayed at a small hotel called Coralina Island (not actually on its own island, but a property on a bigger one) and while rustic (no hot water, electricity via generator that was turned off during the day) and somewhat spendy (all provisions, including water and fuel need to be ferried in), it was absolutely delightful. I
Anyone thinking of a trip to Cartagena or other parts in Colombia feel free to PM me with questions.
Anyone considering a trip, it is highly recommended. Beautiful Spanish colonial old city, UNESCO world heritage site (I'll let the pictures speak for themselves, I could have added dozens more) and great restaurants and a variety of beautifully restored boutique hotels inside the colonial old city. The new part of the city has plenty of chain hotels for those who want to spend their CC points. I think in a place like that one is better off spending cash for the experience of staying in a non chain hotel, though.
Rosario Islands are a national park close by (30 miles by boat) (beaches in Cartagena proper are awful), with great snorkelling and scuba diving. Some small independently run lodges on the islands offer a lot of peace, just what the Doctor ordered! We stayed at a small hotel called Coralina Island (not actually on its own island, but a property on a bigger one) and while rustic (no hot water, electricity via generator that was turned off during the day) and somewhat spendy (all provisions, including water and fuel need to be ferried in), it was absolutely delightful. I
Anyone thinking of a trip to Cartagena or other parts in Colombia feel free to PM me with questions.