Bocagrande location gives direct access to the beach plus a 10–15 minute taxi to the UNESCO Walled City — Cartagena itself is the strongest activity this resort offers.
Cafe San Pedro restaurant in the Historic Old Town with resort transfers included is a distinctive all-inclusive perk.
Príncipe Galeotto on the 23rd floor has a genuinely impressive view — night dinner with Cartagena Bay and the illuminated Walled City in the backdrop is a real experience.
New children's water park (2024) has meaningfully improved the family proposition.
The all-inclusive price point is appropriate for Cartagena's cost-of-travel context — reasonable value relative to independent hotel and restaurant costs.
Cons
Elevators are a consistent complaint: slow, few, and inefficient for a multi-floor property — guests with mobility issues face real friction.
The main pool is too small for peak occupancy, particularly on weekends and during Colombian holiday periods.
Buffet food quality is broadly described as mediocre — plan to eat most dinners at the à la carte restaurants.
Language barrier: many staff primarily speak Spanish, and the guest population skews heavily Colombian — Google Translate is practically useful here.
Sandals Royal Barbados
Pros
The rooftop infinity pool is the Caribbean's first — an evening pool experience with ocean views that's unavailable at other Sandals properties
All-suite property means no standard rooms — every guest has suite-level accommodations
'Stay at One, Play at Two' with adjacent Sandals Barbados effectively doubles dining to 20+ restaurants and 10+ bars
15-minute transfer from Grantley Adams International Airport — one of the shortest Sandals arrivals in the Caribbean
Lovers Lanes bowling alley and craft beer bar are genuine novelties within the all-inclusive format
Cons
Maxwell Beach is a public beach — other hotel guests and persistent local vendors are present and regularly cited by guests
Summary
Sandals Royal Barbados has a higher guest rating, while Sandals Royal Barbados has more restaurants, while Decameron Cartagena is the larger property, while Sandals Royal Barbados has more dining venues, while Sandals Royal Barbados offers more activities.
