I have not been paid by any entity in any way (financially, benefits) to write this Ermita Hotel Cartagena review. Any airport, airline, lounge, hotel, and or loyalty program policies may have changed since then.

The Ermita Hotel Cartagena is the only Marriott Bonvoy option available in Cartagena, Colombia. Ermita is a Tribute Portfolio hotel, a great boutique hotel that, although located outside the walled city and touristy areas, offers incredible charm and comfort for its guests.

Quick Take: Ermita Cartagena Review

Category	Rating (Out of 10)
Room Quality	✅ 8/10
Dining	✅ 9/10
Service	✅ 10/10
Location	🫤 5/10
Worth the Cost/Points	✅ 8/10

The Ermita Hotel Cartagena is a lovely boutique hotel that offers guests plenty of amenities, and a very comfortable stay.

Hotel Info

Hotel Name: Ermita Hotel, Tribute Portfolio
Location: El Cabrero/Playa Marbella
Brand/Chain: Marriott Bonvoy
Nights Stayed: 3 nights
Room Type: Two Queen Beds
Cost: $692.11 USD (Total)
Status: Marriott Bonvoy Titanium

Ermita Hotel Overview

The Ermita Hotel has 98 rooms across 3 floors. It is located in the El Cabrero district of Cartagena, and is across the street from Playa Marbella. It is an oxoHotel, which franchises several Marriott Bonvoy brands in Colombia, including Fairfield Inn, Courtyard, Residence Inn, etc.

Arrival & Check-In

The lobby was very nice, with the immediate sense that you’ve entered into an upscale living room.

Upon providing my passport to the staff, they recognized my Titanium Elite status. I cannot remember if I had been upgraded, but I ultimately loved the room regardless. Additionally, I was informed that I was eligible for complimentary breakfast for two thanks to my status, which was available from 6:30AM to 10:30AM daily.

Room & Features

My stay was in room 236, which featured two queen beds in a spacious room.

The room was very clean and polished, and I really couldn’t get over how spacious it felt. There were two benches, one in front of each bed, which was perfect for getting dressed or placing luggage on top of.

In front of the beds was the desk area, which featured a nice lamp, the TV, a minibar, and another bench area that definitely doubled as a luggage rack.

On the other side of the desk area is the restroom, which featured a walk-in shower, large vanity, and a closet area.

Inside the closet, you could find a safe, an ironing board, an iron, laundry services, and drawers for storage.

The walk-in shower was nice, with nice tiling adorning the wall and a curiously placed window with blinds. Water pressure was fine, not fantastic, but acceptable.

As is the case across most, if not all, Marriott Bonvoy hotels, high-speed Wi-Fi is complimentary for all Marriott Bonvoy Gold members and higher. To access the Wi-Fi at this hotel, you’ll need an access code which is provided to you at check-in.

Lastly, housekeeping will swing by daily, but if you need service, they’re available between 9AM-5PM daily.

Dining & Room Service

The Ermita Cartagena has two restaurants on the premises: Restaurante Señora Ayda and Restaurante Mecedores. They also have a rooftop bar called Oasis and a café and bar called La Biblioteca Bar.

Restaurante Señora Ayda

Restaurante Señora Ayda is their main restaurant, which offers a mix of Lebanese and other Mediterranean-inspired dishes. The restaurant is open daily from 12:00PM to 10:30PM for lunch and dinner. The hotel recommends smart-casual attire.

Restaurante Mecedores

Restaurante Mecedores is your more traditional hotel restaurant, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner from 6:30AM to 10:00PM. Here, you’ll find the extensive breakfast buffet from 6:30AM to 10:30AM, and on the Sunday I was visiting, they had a brunch buffet, but that was not complimentary.

There were breads, cereals, a toaster, and fruits available. While I didn’t take a picture of the fruit bar, it is expansive and impressive, with someone at the station cutting fresh fruit up and serving it to you.

There were also yogurts, a drink station with juices and water, and cold cuts offered. If you’d like coffee, you can ask the staff.

Hot food items were available, including scrambled eggs, beef stew, plantains, and soup. If you haven’t traveled through Latin America, you’ll find that a lot of these breakfast buffets have what we’d consider in the U.S. to be “heavier” dishes, but they work well with what’s offered.

Furthermore, there are made-to-order items included in the buffet breakfast, which include eggs any way, pancakes, or their “signature” dishes, which come in a cast iron dish.

Oasis Rooftop Bar

Upstairs you’ll find the Oasis Rooftop bar, which is open daily from 10:30AM to 11:00PM. 

Finally, downstairs, you can find La Biblioteca bar, which doubles as a coffee shop in the day and a bar at night. It is open from 10:30AM to 11:00PM daily.

Room Service

Room service is available from 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM, but I unfortunately forgot to take a picture of the menu. I did order a burger one night, and it was solid.

Ermita Cartagena Amenities & Facilities

Fitness Center

The fitness center features a variety of cardio machines and free weights. Pretty small space, but fine for a beachside hotel.

Pool

The hotel also features a rooftop pool, open from 8:00AM to 8:00PM.

Laundry Services

Laundry services are available at the hotel from Monday to Saturday, with clothes being returned in 24 hours. If you need express service, it is available from 9:00AM to 5:00PM and incurs a 50 percent additional surcharge. Express service gets delivered in four hours.

Complimentary Shuttle Service

The Ermita Cartagena offers a complimentary shuttle service to Bocagrande, the Historic Center, or transportation to the airport. Shuttles are available from 7:30AM to 7:30PM, and operate on a reservation basis. To reserve, you’ll have to use WhatsApp. Given that I was moving around at different hours, I did not take advantage of this service. But if I visit again, I’ll definitely take advantage of the service to the historic center.

Benessere Spa

The hotel features an on-site spa, named the Benessere Spa, which offers a range of services. To make a reservation, you’ll have to use WhatsApp or call. The spa is open from 8:30AM to 7:00PM daily. You can see the services they offer here:

Ermita Cartagena Value & Redemption

I booked the Ermita Cartagena Hotel for $692 USD for a three-night stay. That’s pretty hefty in my book, but I can confidently say that this is an upscale hotel that lives up to the price. They’re very attentive with service, they have great facilities on property, and try to close the gap on their location by offering shuttle services. That said, it is currently the only Marriott Bonvoy property in Cartagena, which is frustrating as it really is the only option for Bonvoy members. There are plenty of non-Bonvoy options in the city, and if you’re not married to the program like me, you should definitely give those hotels a try.

Final Verdict: Ermita Cartagena

The Ermita Cartagena is a great beachside boutique hotel that offers upscale lodging for guests in this coastal city. They really feel like a gem, despite the price, offering fantastic services and amenities. I was very comfortable and happy with my stay here, and wouldn’t hesitate to book them again. They are the best (and only) Marriott Bonvoy hotel in the city, and outshine many hotels back in the U.S.

Overall Rating: 8/10

Have you had a chance to stay at the Ermita Cartagena? Let me know your thoughts on Instagram, Threads, or Twitter!

As always, Live Life One Trip at a Time!

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