Akela Gaira Hotel

ACOGEDOR , FAMILIAR UN LUGAR PARA DESCANSAR Y CONECTARSE CON LA NATURALEZA, UN ATARDECER ESPECTACULAR Y CUENTA CON GRANDES PERSONAS EN LA ATENCIÓN , VOLVERÍA A VENIR , TANTO ME GUSTO EL HOTEL QUE DECIDI QUEDARME UNA NOCHE MAS , Y ME AYUDARON OFRECIENDO UN BUEN PRECIO Y MEJOR UBICACION EN LA MONTAÑA

PROS: The hotel building and pool area are pretty.  The room was clean. The bathroom had a long counter with two sinks, and a shower with a rainfall shower head. There was a small balcony. The hotel had two separate deck areas - both with gorgeous views of the hills, El Rodadero city, and Rodadero Beach. The staff was very friendly and the breakfast was good. CONS: The reason this hotel has gorgeous views is because it is perched up in the hills above Rodadero, a good...20 minute taxi ride away. I had to ask a few different drivers to find someone willing to take me up the steep dirt road to the hotel. There is nothing in walking distance. You will need to taxi to town for food. The room does not have a fridge. *There IS a kitchen near the reception area, but I don't know if guests can use the fridge.  The room itself was very basic.  A bed, night stand, and wall shelves. Concrete floor. No hot water. Wi-Fi did not work. Something was being fixed at the hotel and the water was turned off around 5pm, and it was never turned back on.  Santa Marta is bloody hot. The A/C blew humid warm air, so it was about 83° in the room. The bathroom area was even hotter.  I went to the pool to cool down. The water was too warm and the deck was very hot. The hotel isn't responsible for the weather or pool temp, but there was no way to comfortably cool down. The waterfall feature was not turned on, and the bar area was unattended. If everything had been working properly, it would have been a nice stay despite its isolated location. But A/C and water are necessities in Santa Marta. I find it puzzling that no refund or discount was offered.