FIRENZE LOFTS LAURELES MEDELLIN ANTIOQUIA COLOMBIA

PERFECT BOUTIQUE HOTEL WITH FULL KITCHEN NEAR TRANSIT

My suggestions on things to do while staying at Firenze Lofts:

Take a waterfall tour of nearby Barbosa.

Ride a bus from Terminal Norte to the upscale colonial town of Retiro -- then catch a ride to Tequendamita waterfall.

Walk to all the restaurants and dessert shops of Premier Parque Laureles and Segundo Parque Laureles.

Go to the historic center for the world class Museo Antioquia traditional art museum.

Check out Botero Plaza outside it.

Walk among the thousands of street vendors and mom and pop clothing shops.

Catch live music at El Club Del Jazz -- Colombia's only jazz club.

Take a rideshare home, as the emerging area is sketchy after dark.

Eat bandeja paisa at Hacienda Junin downtown.

Support homeless cats with a gourmet pizza at Gatelier near the Floresta Metro Train station.

FIRENZE LOFTS LAURELES MEDELLIN ANTIOQUIA COLOMBIA

PERFECT BOUTIQUE HOTEL WITH FULL KITCHEN NEAR TRANSIT

Firenze Lofts’ free breakfast is at a property a block away.

As it is served 7:30 a.m.-10 a.m., I was unable to take my meal there due to travel plans at dawn.

I contacted the property through WhatsApp, and it had a breakfast meal tucked into my room’s full-sized fridge the night before.

When I rose well before 6 a.m., I could re-heat it on the stove or in the microwave, along with the juice from the restaurant and coffee in the room.

The staff speaks limited English (I speak pretty good Spanish) so the WhatsApp was a perfect communications means, because staff could feed my requests and questions into a translate app.

All of my requests, including no maid service, were honored.

I walked to a half dozen excellent restaurants in the wonderful and safe Laureles neighborhood.

FIRENZE LOFTS LAURELES MEDELLIN ANTIOQUIA COLOMBIA

PERFECT BOUTIQUE HOTEL WITH FULL KITCHEN NEAR TRANSIT

Firenze Lofts is in Laureles -- an upper middle class area that is super flat and walkable -- compared to other areas of hilly Medellin.

They always try to steer anglos to Poblado.

I think this location is 10 times nicer and more authentic.

I loved walking less than 15 minutes to the inexpensive elevated Metro train.

One electronic card can be used for the trains, trams, gondola cars to the upper hills and endless city buses.

Firenze Lofts is in a green, leafy area next to a small waterway.

The staff is amazing at this hotel.

I asked quite a few questions before I arrived – including my standard request of getting a room farthest from the elevator (because people are noisy coming off of them, even at upscale properties) and it was honored.

FIRENZE LOFTS LAURELES MEDELLIN ANTIOQUIA COLOMBIA

PERFECT BOUTIQUE HOTEL WITH FULL KITCHEN NEAR TRANSIT

Firenze Lofts’ only small drawback is the unit available when I booked comes with two twin beds -- and they cannot bring in a full-sized bed.

As I travel solo, I am used to a king or queen bed -- not a pair of twins. A twin bed is somewhat small for a grown-up.

But the property more than made up for it with a well-equipped room with tons of outlets, lighting options and a powerful AC unit.

FIRENZE LOFTS LAURELES MEDELLIN ANTIOQUIA COLOMBIA

PERFECT BOUTIQUE HOTEL WITH FULL KITCHEN NEAR TRANSIT

The Firenze Lofts kitchen is bigger and more modern than what I have in my full-sized house.

Same goes for the bathroom -- clean, modern, spacious with plenty of hot water in the big shower.

The elevator works fine and I never heard any noise from guests.

The unit comes with a large, private balcony.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FIRENZE LOFTS LAURELES MEDELLIN ANTIOQUIA COLOMBIA

PERFECT BOUTIQUE HOTEL WITH FULL KITCHEN NEAR TRANSIT

Firenze Lofts is exactly what I want in a property -- small enough to get personal service, but large enough to a super professional staff.

It is one of the greatest price points for quality returned -- that I have ever experienced.

The units are the size of a studio apartment.

The staff is on duty 24 hours and each team member works hard to ensure that you have a tranquil and comfortable stay.

THUMBS UP TO MARRIOTT’S BRAND OF HIP URBAN HOTEL

REVIEW OF THE MOXY EAST VILLAGE

I stayed five nights for an incredibly low price at the Moxy East Village Hotel in New York.

It’s at a perfect location near Union Square transit + East Village/Lower East side dining, shopping and vibe.  

I slept soundly in a super quiet room.

I can't believe the punk rock-themed hotel -- with a popular rooftop bar and loud music at a nightclub and outdoor dining venue on same block immediately next to property -- was so tranquil and sound proofed. Bravo. 

Room small, but I only needed it for sleep.

Bed was super comfortable.

Had blackout drapes but I enjoyed wall of windows on NYC so much, I left the blinds up. 

Shower is great. No flooding. 

Sink vanity featured lots of room for storage.

I love the pegs on the wall -- I stored a dozen things on them.

Plus, there is under bed storage and locker-like storage above the flat screen TV.

The staff great and the rooftop was a cool amenity for a June visit.

The restaurant looked amazing, but didn't eat at it. 

The little outdoor space on main level was super chill and great for summer. 

Great room design -- everything I needed in less than 200 SF.

The free breakfast in the hip, rock n roll space off the lobby service is great.

I know it is difficult, especially with packaging boxes for the masses, but I wish there were a few more healthy breakfast options -- granola, cereal, more fresh fruit. 

I used to free mini fridge that I requested for storing berries, oat milk, cereal to have healthier options.

Wish wheelchair users didn't have to use an elevator every time they go from street to lobby.

It's good that there is an elevator, but it sucks that in a brand-new building, people with disabilities are segregated from the majority using the steps - and vulnerable if the equipment breaks down.

The safe was not big enough to store my expensive camera. Gotta fix that.

Overall, a grade of A…and I’m hard to please.