Charleston Santa Teresa Cartagena

The Charleston Santa Teresa occupies a former 17th-century cloister on the Plaza de Santa Teresa, inside the walled city. The building has colonial and 20th-century wings, and its courtyards, corridors and arcades are part of the experience; the MICHELIN Guide compares the atmosphere to a monastery and describes the style as contemporary classic and lively.

There are 86 rooms and suites, decorated in a colonial and Republican style. Michelin describes them as contemporary and somewhat conservative, with the emphasis on comfort: 600-thread-count linens and marble bathrooms. Room service runs 24 hours a day, and the hotel is wheelchair accessible.

The highlight is the rooftop. The pool there has 360-degree views over the domes of the old town and towards the sea, and La Terraza Rooftop bar shares the space. There is also a second outdoor pool, the Santa Teresa Spa with a beauty salon, a gym, steam rooms and a jacuzzi. For meals, Harry's Cartagena, run by the Bogotá chef Harry Sasson, who opened his first restaurant in 1995 and now focuses on Colombian ingredients, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, and there is also the Plaza Santa Teresa restaurant. Bicycles and a shuttle service are available, and the hotel is non-smoking apart from a designated area.

The Charleston suits travellers who want a large, full-service hotel with plenty of facilities inside the walls, including families who need space and couples who want the rooftop. Check-in is at 15:00 and check-out at 12:00, there is a 24-hour front desk and concierge, and luggage storage helps if you have a late flight. The airport is about 5 km away, a 10 to 15-minute drive, according to Michelin.

The location is one of the best in the old town for sightseeing. The Museo Naval del Caribe is on the same square, the Santuario de San Pedro Claver and the Museo de Arte Moderno are close by, and the Torre del Reloj, the Plaza de Bolívar and the walls are all within a few minutes' walk. In the evening, Harry's and the rooftop make it easy to stay in, while the restaurants and bars of the walled city and Getsemaní are close by.