Stay Report: ibis Medellin (Medellin, Colombia - August 2019)

Trip Report: ibis Medellin
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I was going to be in Medellin for one night and basically needed a clean place to just rest for the night.  I looked and found the ibis Medellin - I have stayed at ibis' before (see review here) and know that they provide a basic room at a low cost but usually in locations that are convenient and close to where I want to be - so given that I decided to book the hotel.  It was very easy to book the hotel through the website and manage the reservation through the app.  The hotel is located about a 20-30 minute walk to the city center and about a 45-minute car ride from the airport.  In most locations, ibis' do not provide hotel shuttle but sometimes partner with airport transportation - in this you chose your own method to get to and from the airport.  24-hours prior to my arrival, I received an email indicating I could 'check-in online to save time' and so I went through the process and checked in but nothing happened and I had to check-in again at the hotel.  

The lobby of the hotel was compact, as are most ibis' lobby's.  As you entered the door, in front were the elevators while to the left were the check-in desks and then the restaurant/bar.  In front of the check-in desks was a small waiting area as well as trolleys to help in transporting your luggage.  Check-in at the hotel was very quick and convenient - I was given my key as well as an explanation of the hotel amenities which included complimentary wifi, no room service but a bar and a kitchen in the lobby, and breakfast also available in the lobby.  Most of these are standard amenities in ibis hotels so I was familiar with them and proceeded to the room.  The elevators are located in the middle with rooms on either side - my room was 817 all way down the end of the right hallway.

  

The room itself was a basic and standard ibis room - small but comfortable.  As you opened the door, there was a wall to the right and an entryway the led into the room.  As you stepped into the room, the bed was against the left hand wall and along the right wall was the TV and below that a little space for the restaurant menu and do not disturb sign.  On other side of the bed were mini-nightstands, and the nightstand on the right side of the bed continued into a mini-seating area/storage area.  This ran into the wall and above it, against the wall, was another counter that faced the window - this counter contained additional storage space as well as the telephone.  The storage space connected to the open closet and in front of the closet were open shelves - on the top shelf was a safe.  The room was compact but you had enough room to move around and overall it was comfortable for one or two nights.  The bed was also a standard ibis bed with minimal sheets and a duvet - again it was comfortable for one or two nights and comfortable given the price you are paying, but it would not be my choice for a long term stay.

The bathroom was also a standard ibis bathroom - compact and contained the basics.  There was a sink, a toilet, a walk-in shower, and towels.  I will say this bathroom and specifically the shower was more spacious than some of the other ibis I have stayed at - and the shower was more of a rain shower so that was a nice touch.  Bathroom amenities include hand washing dispenser next to the sink and a body wash/hair wash dispenser in the shower, two towels (not the highest thread count but workable), a shower cap, and two plastic cups.  Again, it was a standard and compact ibis bathroom but it contained the basics and served its purpose.  I would say I prefer the body wash they provide in Europe as it seems to be of higher quality and it has a better smell.

The best part of the ibis experience is the complimentary wifi.  The wifi speeds are strong, you can connect many devices, and you can stream youtube videos as well as check email and social media.  The free and fast wifi is one the best reasons to choose ibis.  Overall, it was a standard stay at the ibis.  If you are expecting a 5-star experience than the ibis hotel/brand is not for you but if you are expecting a decent and clean room and free/fast wifi at a low price than you will be satisfied at the ibis.