W Bogota This ultra-contemporary tower hotel opened in 2014 and looms over the Santa Barbara business district. Celebrating Bogota’s mythical links with the fictitious El Dorado, public spaces glow with bold golden art and sculpture. Rooms are funky and spacious and there’s an excellent spa. From £214 per night.
marriott.com
its in-town branch Andres DC) combines fun, dancing and great food in an effervescent Colombian manner; branches of Lima’s Astrid y Gaston and Rafael are also found in the city.
Becoming a business hub Behind the vivacious veneer, the city has some way to go to establish itself as a premier business hub. “Bogota has gone through a couple of difficult mayoral
administrations, involving corruption scandals and a lack of efficiency in public finance,” says Juan Guillermo Moncada, a researcher at Bogota-based think tank Instituto de Ciencia Política (ICP). “It faces transit and public transport challenges, and
security problems as well. Nevertheless, Bogota has positioned itself as a major Latin American capital for its strategic geographical position and diverse population. “It’s an attractive city not only to Colombians but
to other Latin American travellers, who come seeking improved job opportunities, better quality of life and education, knowing that Bogota’s universities are the best in Colombia and among the best in Latin America.” Transport is a major bugbear at national level. Unlike
most other Latin American nations, Colombia’s economy is not totally centralised. More than ten cities have populations in excess of 500,000 inhabitants. Medellin is known for its textile, pharmaceutical (ironic jokes probably unwelcome) and service industries. Barranquilla is another industrial hub – and chief Caribbean port. Cartagena de Indias, a sultry colonial jewel on the same coast, is the tourism honeypot. Te three cities of Armenia, Pereira and Manizales constitute the “Coffee Triangle”. While the even distribution of population and
economic power is largely a positive, connecting up the cities of South America’s fourth-largest nation remains a challenge. Bogota lies atop a 2,640m (8,600 feet) plateau known as the sabana (savannah), bordered by the eastern Andean cordillera (chain of mountain ranges). Two CONTINUED ON PAGE 89
busin e s s t r a ve lle r . c o m
Four Seasons Hotel Casa Medina In a characterful 1946 building (below top) in the buzzing Zona G, this boutique-style property has elegant rooms with beamed ceilings, hand- carved wooden furnishings and fireplaces. The financial district and myriad food options are close by. From around £256 per night.
fourseasons.com/bogotacm
BOG Opened in 2012 in trendy Zona T in the La Cabrera district – which comes alive after office hours – this is one of the city’s few truly upscale boutique properties. Design is minimalist, and the atmosphere is somewhat corporate – but a big draw is the rooftop swimming pool. From £130 per night.
boghotel.com
Hotel de la Opera If you want to be base yourself in historic La Candelaria, this very good-value hotel – housed in a Republican-style landmark building – has lofty, graciously appointed rooms overlooking the pedestrianised streets below. There’s good Italian food served here, with hearty traditional eateries nearby just off the plaza. From £93 per night.
hotelopera.com.co
Sofitel Bogota Victoria Regia Contemporary, comfortable and filled with light, the name of this Accor property (left) honours the Amazonian giant waterlily. It has a good informal French restaurant and bar and is five minutes’ walk from dining hub Parque 93. From £125 a night.
sofitel.com
S E P TEMBE R 2 0 18
45
WHERE TO STAY
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108
