“A great find, may they always have a vacancy for me”
I have stayed at the Hotel Casa Real twice and I will stay nowhere else in Bogotá as long as they have a vacancy. First, there is the location. It is on a quiet side street, but it is easily accessible to Carrera 11, Carrera 7, Calle 100, and so to the airport, downtown, Chapinero, and generally the main business areas. It is also three or four blocks from the restaurants and clubs of the Parque de la 93, and a short hop from Bogotá's premier nightlife area, the Zona Rosa.
The rooms are clean and well appointed. Once, during a week-long stay, a blind broke and they fixed it almost immediately. The beds are comfortable, the towels plush.
The staff are friendly, helpful, efficient, and professional.
Oh, and let's not forget the delicious breakfast buffet.
My only complaint refers to their wifi. The first time I was there (one year ago), coverage was spotty. This time, coverage and signal were excellent. The only problem was that the system seemed to be set up so neither of my devices (a netbook and an iPhone) could sign on automatically which was annoying.
Area recommendations
Bogotá is a large city and its traffic is nothing short of horrendous. The quickest way to get around is the Transmilenio (buses operating on exclusive lanes with few stops, as if they were trains), but its routes are generally not convenient for tourists or business travelers. Taxis are plentiful and cheap, but they are not immune to the traffic. For these reasons, I would recommend staying near the place where you will spend most of your time.
Generally, with the exception of La Cadelaria (and that's for the more adventurous visitor), I would avoid staying anywhere south of the Avda. 26, both because there isn't much to see and because many areas can be hazardous (though probably no more so than equivalent run down areas in US cities).
This said, there is much to do and see in Bogota. Much of this is reasonably accessible from Chico (roughly Calles 87 to 120 and Carreras 7 to Avenida Carrera 9--- not the same as Carrera 9) and Chapinero which is roughly immediately to the south.
Getting around
For visitors, the best way is by taxi. Taxis are plentiful and they are cheap. For the most part, they are safe, but it is safer to call one than to hail one on the street (there is an additional charge of COP 1000 pesos). Cabs have small meters that tick off some unexplained number which the driver should then compare to a table that assigns a fare. Tipping is not customary in Colombia, though drivers may expect it of tourists.
The next best way to get around is Bogota's Transmilenio. Think of it as a bus-light rail hybrid. The network is quite extensive, but it is not especially helpful to visitors. Generally, the Transmilenio is packed which also enhances the likelihood of being the victim of pick pockets if you are not careful. The regular buses are fine, but they stop just about anywhere (they may drop you off in the middle of a busy street) and the routes are often unclear
Personally, I avoid driving in Bogotá: the traffic jams make those of LA look amateurish and, much more importantly, the drivers regularly ignore all traffic laws with nearly complete impunity: mostly, traffic lights are observed, stop signs seem invisible as are one-way signs, every driver seems to think that he/she has the right of way --always.
Bogota has an extensive network of bicycle trails, but, when off these trails, cyclists should consult my comments about driving.
Bogota is a very interesting place to walk, but beware when crossing the street: see my comments on driving and buses.
What to pack
Make sure you pack for spring/fall like temperatures: despite its tropical latitude, Bogota's climate is more like Seattle's than say Aruba's. In general, Bogotanos dress fashionably. Shorts, by the way are a no-no for both men and women and not only because of the temperatures.
Dining
Bogotá counts many excellent restaurants and there is a movement to reimagine the more traditional local and regional dishes. Good restaurants can be found in many places, but the the hub for fine dining is the Zona Rosa (roughly, Carreras 11-15 and Calles 85-79). More creative and interesting restaurants can be found in the slowly reviving area of La Cadelaria, the city's oldest neighborhood. If you are in the older downtown, you should be able to find great places for a delicious, gigantic, and incredibly cheap lunch of sancocho or the local ajiaco (or mondongo, the Colombian equivalent of menudo).
