La Paz Hotels with Swimming Pools

On the first night I was in a 4 bed dorm and I was woken up at 4 am by the receptionist and a security guard. They got me out of bed and made me show my room key and guest card, as apparently in their system the room should be empty. Well, I was in the right room and I was taken out of bed without any need, apparently the receptionist registered me on room 307 and gave me the keys of 407. It was very unpleasant and I had a terrible sleep after that. I wonder why they couldn't wait until later to settle the matter. So I went to the reception to negotiate some kind of compensation for the unpleasant situation they had put me through, I suggested a complimentary breakfast (it costs about U$4.50). But they basically replied that they didn't care about the situation and that I could complain wherever I wanted. Selina is not a cheap hostel, so you're expected to at least be treated well, which was not the case. Before this happened, I would easily give it five stars, as it is comfortable, safe, clean. But the way they treated me wasn't fair, they treated me like I was doing something wrong, when in fact it was their mistake. Second night the private room smelled cigarette, I also let reception know but nothing was made. There were some dishes from a previous guest at the door and they stayed there until my check out. Both nights were very noisy. During check out I had to request the refund of the 35bs key deposit they charged me when checking in, but they said it wasn't registered on the system (again another ”system” mistake), so I had to insist I paid, very uncomfortable situation once more. It seems Selina La Paz needs to improve its management. The whole situation will definitely make me think twice about staying at another Selina.

We stayed at a number of quality hotels on our trip through Brazil and Bolivia and this property was clearly the best. This hotel definitely deserves the great reviews and ratings it has received on the various hotel websites. Landing in La Paz is not easy. The altitude of 13,000 feet at the airport hits you almost immediately. After taking an airport cab to the hotel (about 40-60 minutes away), we arrived at the hotel located in the Zona Sur neighborhood of the city which is about 2,000 feet lower than the airport and almost 1000 feet lower than the city center. While the hotel is located away from the city center (about 40-60 minute taxi cab ride away depending on the traffic), it is much lower and therefore a bit better for those susceptible to altitude sickness. And the neighborhood is much nicer, cleaner and far more upscale than most of the city. The hotel ensures its guests comfort and safety. They even have oxygen tanks near the elevator for those with altitude sickness. A pharmacy is across the street which sells Sorochi tablets for altitude sickness. And as you enter the lobby of the hotel, there is always a pot of hot water available for making Mate de coca, a drink traditionally used to address altitude sickness. And for those still a bit dizzy and tired, the hotel offers some great massages downstairs near the pool and jacuzzi. The hotel is just 3 short blocks away from the green station of the newly installed Teleferico, an 11 color coded system of cable cars that transport people above the city. The views are absolutely specatular, particularly at night. The system is easy to use. Payment is made per line at any station. It is cheap, safe and clean. We took a scenic ride around the city and it took us about 2-3 hours which included stops to eat and drink at the stations along the way. Although there are not many restaurants nearby, the hotel has a very good restaurant which provides buffet breakfasts for guests. We noticed at night that prominent locals frequent the restaurant for dinner where local dishes including llama (preferred cooked well done) and trucha (local trout with meat like salmon) are served. We liked both. The service is five star. No question about it. The desk clerk, Josue, is an example of the fine personnel that this organization has hired and trained. Professional, caring and above all friendly, they made our stay on our 2 week tour of this corner of South America a real pleasure.