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During my recent trip to Bogota to research LGBT tourism and gay travel for Passport Magazine, I rented a two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment in the Chapinero district for a few nights, using Airbnb. This is a review of what you can get for just over $51 a night on Airbnb in Bogota, Colombia.
THE AMBIANCE: This Airbnb apartment in Bogota is located in a high-rise building, with a 24-hour doorman service. Rising above the busy avenue called Carrera 7, the apartment is in the heart of the Chapinero district, a noteworthy area for unique Colombian designer shopping and independent restaurants. Chapinero also happens to be the heart of the city’s gay nightlife action, with lots of gay bars, nightclubs and cafes within walking distance.
THE APARTMENT: I stayed in apartment 1102, a nicely laid out place with two bedrooms and two full bathrooms. The apartment is noteworthy for its ample natural light and cheery décor, which includes two bright-red Eames rocking chairs, a vibrant yellow dining counter, and modern paintings. The apartment is also decorated with quite a few of the owners’ personal items, including photographs, books and CDs.
The kitchen has all the usual necessities, including a microwave, oven, stove, full-size refrigerator and also a washing machine for clothes. The bedrooms are an ample size; I slept in the master bedroom, which faces the street and has a walk-through closet, which leads to a bathroom with a shower (the other bathroom has a shower too). Each bedroom has a large TV with cable channels.
Also important: The WiFi was free and was consistently strong; unlike some Airbnb apartments, I never had any problem with the connection.
A big selling point for LGBT travelers is this apartment’s location in Chapinero, the gay nightlife hub for the entire city. Staying here, you’re within a 10-minute walk of probably a dozen gay bars and clubs (including Theatrón, which is undoubtedly the largest permanent LGBT nightclub in the western hemisphere). Chapinero’s independent culinary and retail scene — which tends toward hip, gourmet independent restaurants and boutiques that stock clothing and accessories by Colombian designers — is another selling point.
BEST FOR: Budget-conscious travelers looking for a central location. The price is somewhat better than what you’d pay for most apartments in this part of Bogota with this much space, and the two bedrooms and two bathrooms make it ideal for couples and friends traveling together, while the proximity to the majority of Bogota’s gay nightlife makes it great for LGBT travelers.
Sоurсе: latinflyer.com
