Fodor's Expert Review Alfiz Hotel

Airy public areas blending whitewashed walls and exposed original brickwork with a lush green minigarden in the middle are perfectly in tune with this ancient city’s style. The cool interiors of guest rooms, which are impeccably furnished with dark-wood antiques, complete the glance into the way the wealthy lived in Cartagena in colonial times. The building, lovingly restored over two years, is typical of early traders' homes, with the high-ceilinged first floor used for warehousing and the second floor as living quarters. Each of the eight rooms is carefully decorated to tell the story of a different era in the city's history, and many details, including the oversized brass showerheads and elaborate woodwork, were crafted by local artisans. The walls are well over a foot thick, keeping rooms cool and insulated from all but the most gentle reminders of salsa from the party in the streets outside.