Casa San Agustin: Top Luxury in Cartagena
My husband and I were in Cartagena, Colombia for the first couple of days of 2022.
I’m Colombian and this was my husband’s first time there, so of course we had to go to Cartagena and hit all the historic sites!
While I was there, I also went to a place that blew me away! Since I am a travel agent, I get to tour different hotels, it is part of the job. I am not kidding when I tell you that their service to me as an agent was phenomenal! Let me introduce you to Casa San Agustin, a Virtuoso partner in Cartagena.
Right from the start, they welcomed us in and seated us in the lobby where we waited for the manager to give us the tour. As we were waiting, they served us a refreshing drink that had hints of cucumber and mint. This act alone already made me feel like family.
Here’s why:
You guys might not know this, but the Atlantic coast of Colombia is very hot. When someone from the coast is visiting friends or family members, the first thing they give them is a drink. Either a “juguito” (juice) made from fresh, delicious, local fruits, or a “tintico” (a shot of espresso). We do this so that the guest can rest from the heat and feel more comfortable. Colombians are extremely hospitable and always want their guest to feel at home. With this gesture, the staff at San Agustin was telling me: “welcome home!”
Shortly after we were joined by the manager, who took us around the hotel and told us all about it!
Casa San Agustin has 31 different rooms, 20 guestrooms and 11 suites. Although all the rooms are similar, no room is exactly like the other. They are all unique. From the decorations, to the way the space is organized, each room has its differences. Each terrace within the rooms is also different, but all are bright and peaceful. The terraces are full of sunlight and comfort.
We were invited to see one of their Deluxe rooms, one Junior suite, one Premium suite, their Suite Prestige, and their Suite del Virrey. All the rooms were elegant, bright, and homey. Although some of the rooms had more space to host more guests than others, all of the rooms felt spacious, open, and comfortable. I did not see a single room that was disappointing. This is one of the things that stood out to me, how special each room was, they were all charming in their own way. For example, the Suite Prestige I saw had a lovely spiral staircase inside that led to the upstairs bedroom, while their premium suite had a stunning terrace.
Their Suite Prestige and Suite del Virrey are ideal for families. They are equipped with public spaces where families can enjoy time together, and private bedrooms/bathrooms. The Suite del Virrey even comes with a private outdoor jacuzzi with gorgeous views of the city!
One thing that I love about Cartagena is all the history, and the colonial architecture from the 17th century. San Agustin is in the heart of the walled city and its interior pays homage to the colonial history of its surroundings. The decorations around the hotel all preserve an authentic Colombian style, while also making you feel like you have stepped back in time.
In fact, their logo comes from one of the walls within the hotel. The hotel is made up of three houses from the colonial era. Within those three houses, there is a wall that is an old aqueduct that ran through the city during the Spanish colonial era. This is one of the most unique features of the hotel!
Another unique thing within the hotel is their library. At 5pm, the library serves tea and guests are invited to enjoy a cup of tea while relaxing in a space that holds another piece of history from the city. The mural inside the library belongs to one of the original walls of the city as well.
Casa San Agustin is a space full of unique and elegant touches, this reflects the way they see and treat their guests. For example, although all of the rooms are different, they all have the same amenities. The detail that is put into providing the same amenities to each room shows that the hotel sees each guest as important and wants to give all guests the same benefits. At the same time, making each room different shows that the hotel staff understands that each guest is special and different, and they want to give their guests a personalized experience.
The heart of Casa San Agustin is making each guest feel at home. Although I was not a guest, they made me feel exactly like that. If you are looking for a home away from home in Cartagena, Casa Dan Agustin is the place to go.
