Around the Hotel

The hotel is located on one of the main commercial streets, Rivera, running through the "Centro" (Downtown) area of Colonia. This neighborhood is real and works in blatant contrast to cobblestoned, lantern-lit fantasies just next door in Barrio Histórico. Here shall be found all forms and facets of daily local life: pharmacies, supermarkets, Cambios (currency exchange houses), and hardware stores. During daytime hours a distinctly busy functional vibe pervades with locals hurrying off to work seeming that another moped has been added to traffic but after 8:00 PM when shops have closed for the night until morning it has significantly quieted down.

It doesn't have the instant appeal of the old town, but this area is much more practical when it comes to all those handy services that the tourist zone lacks. You're just one block off Avenida General Flores, a wide and leafy main street where most restaurants can be found along with heladerías (ice cream shops) and souvenir stores. You've really caught a break here-you'll be able to walk over to Portón de Campo (the historic city gate) in about ten minutes for sunset, yet also reach a supermarket in two minutes to buy water and snacks at local, not tourist, prices.

This area is perfectly safe and that adds to one of the safest cities in South America-Colonia. Good lighting, streets well lit at night, and people walking add much more insurance for any pedestrian but because it is a commercial district this will probably be your view from the window as well either other buildings or street instead of Rio de la Plata. Yes, this is true if you want to take out cash buy a sim card find a pharmacy you are indeed best located without having to stumble over uneven cobblestones.