I'll start my review the same way that another recent reviewer did: We just came back from spending one week at Las Americas, from Dec 29th to Jan 5th. This was an all-inclusive package through Nolitours. Now I'll go a different direction.

Here are my main comments:
This isn't really an all inclusive resort oriented to North Americans.
It's really a high end Latin American-oriented resort connected to an even higher end Hotel Tower which is a lot like the Gansevoort in Miami (owned by the same company and with shared resources). The majority of the folks who are staying there are wealthy South Americans with their families who are paying for meals and drinks as they go and ordering from the menu. The meals at the restaurants off the menu are for the most part very good (versus the buffet which I'll talk about in a second) but are also very expensive ($10-$20 an entree). The drinks are the same as well, with bartenders who know how to make real drinks. They've now teamed up with the all-inclusive groups and they are wrestling now with how to integrate these two offers together for folks. So what does this mean. It means good and not so good things for people.

Good:
1. The food off the menu is far better than you will get in other all inclusives at the same price. We usually fed the kids at the buffet (breakfast and lunch were good, dinner was hit and miss). Adults ate at the buffet in the am and then ordered off the menu in one of the 4 restaurants for both lunch and dinner every day. If you ask for the spanish menu (and can read it) all the hidden gems are on it (for example the, "camerones et campionies al aji" is to die for good as is the "charasco de paraguano"). AND if you are ready to "upgrade" meals - there are some amazing meals to be had for a few bucks more (the Grill restaurant has an amazing Pargo and the Beachside restaurant has an amazing whole fish dish).
2. The location of this resort is amazing. It's close the city, with free shuttle service and it is on really the only good beach area close to cartagena. It's also right next to a set of beach bars (high end and low end) and you get the unique experience of being in historic Cartagena (which isn't a beach town) but also get the beach.
3. The kids club is great and has tons of activities for the kids all the time. Albeit you can't leave your kids there unattended unless they are very responsible as they don't check them in and out (very columbian but also a bit irritating). Some of the girls speak english and will babysit as well. Our kids fell in love with them.
4. You can use the resources of the Tower Hotel next door. This hotel is high end and has amazing facilities (rooftop adult only bar and pool), amazing gym, ground level multi-layer pool, sports bar, etc. Be warned that if you eat or drink here everything is charged to your room - but it's worth it to use the facilities.
5. It feels like you are in south america - it's vibrant, fun, active and very latin and there are very interesting people to meet (helped especially if you can speak spanish). Most of the all inclusive's we've been to are filled with english speaking north americans and could be anywhere. This is definitely south america amigos, verdad.
6. The drinks that are free are rum based drinks, beer, water, soft drinks and wine at dinner. It's a good list. Not everything but a good list which met most of our needs and great for the price we paid.
7. The old city of Cartagena is a vibrant, interesting historic location which is a must see and the hotel sends free shuttles there every day multiple times. Also, it's basically like $6 to catch a taxi there or back. Dinners, drinks and just walking around in the old town at night is an absolute must.

Not so good:
1. If you want a place that speaks english, is easy to figure out and is well organized for all-inclusive customers - this is not your resort. English speaking staff are really 1 in 4 here and the all-inclusive thing is a strange fit for most of the staff. If you can speak the basics in spanish, you will be just fine, but if not, you will likely find this all very frustrating.
2. If you are not careful, you will spend a lot more than you were thinking (mini-bar is extra, great menu items are extra and non-rum drinks are extra. I know a lot of people found this frustrating. We just found the loop-holes and had a great and reasonably priced time.
3. The buffets are hit and miss. Breakfast was great every day. Lunch was ok most days and good some. Dinner was hit and miss. Sometimes is was amazing but other times is was mediocre. Good news is that there is a menu you can ask for to order from every night (in english and spanish with the spanish one having better choices). You have to ask for it though and expect it to take a while. We would always allow for a good 30-45 minutes for any meal to arrive and would plan accordingly (go early, someone order, go for a swim or to the beach, then come back when you are ready). It's south america - chill out.
4. If you want white sand and crystal clear water - Cartagena is not your town and this is not your resort. Two major rivers empty to the sea here (which is why the city is here, btw) and they muddy up the ocean a bit. It's warm and nice and clean, but not crystal clear. You can take day trips to la isla de rosario or to playa blanca if you want that. If you want to do any tours, go next door to the tower and speak with the concierge (who speaks english). They will give you options that are much cheaper than the resort tour office (or nolitours). Not always easier (9we had to arrange our own taxis to starting points, etc,), but much cheaper.

We came as two families with 4 small children and we loved this place and would definitely come back, but we also spoke spanish, we ok figuring things out and spent a lot of time exploring around. If you are looking for an easy english speaking place to hang out and eat north american food and all the drinks you can take down, I would suggest the Mayan Riviera, Cuba or the Dominican.

We came on an all inclusive package frrom Nolitours like another reviewer. We had been there about eight years ago. We agree there were some growing pains which made the first few days unpleasant and if I had gone home then I would have given it a one star. However once they got things straightened out it was great. Be prepared for a beach more like the Great Lakes but still wide and nice. The ocean was warm but turbid. I went in every day and did not experience any rashes or infections.

Nolitours brochure said we could request the new section but trust me that didn't happen. The rooms are OK but not recently renovated. The mattress was better than Cuba but not the Hilton. The part was a large bathtub and a nice balcony with an amazing view and not just a hamock but also a table and chairs.

I loved this place and the historical city is amazing.

There were four a la carte restaurantes all inclusive available almost every day. The surcharge for lobster (three tails) was about $12!!!! All sur charge items were just $12.

Gvie the price and the variety of food and the availabilty of palapas chairs by the pool and on the beach, I gave this place a top flight rating. If you are looking for the Four Seasons, then go some where else so I can have this place to myself.

Las habitaciones tienen un vista del mar con un balcon. El balcon tiene un hamaca y una mesa y cuatro sillas. Las habitaciones no han sido renovada recientemente. El bano tiene una tina. El aire acondicionado es fuerte y bueno. Tenia una cama king size.

Hay muchas picinas y suficiente sillas de playa. Hay muchos palapas en la playa y silla tambien.

Las comidas y bebidas estan buenas. Hay cuatro restauarantes con menu a la carta abiertos casi todos los dias.

Me encanto este lugar. Si quieres el Four Seasons, este no es. Ve a otro lugar para que yo tenga este lugar para mi sola.

We just came back from spending one week at Las Americas, from Dec 29th to Jan 5th. This was an all-inclusive package through Nolitours. Upon arriving at the hotel, we were handed a list of what we "could have". This list was limited and not at all like an all-inclusive package elsewhere. There was much confusion among the staff as to what we were allowed to have or not. Our Nolitours rep, Rafael, was not in a position to help nor argue with the hotel on our behalf as his comprehension of our package was limited.
The hotel is lovely but not a 5 star. We requested two rooms as there were four of us. One room was perfect with a renovated bathroom. The second room assigned to us was unacceptable with a portable air-conditioning unit on the floor of the room and a despicable bathroom. We rejected that room and were shown to a better one but it still had faded and cracked tiles on the floor and a bathroom in need of a renovation.
The beach is beautiful and Cartagena is very close by to visit. The free shuttle bus is great. The security on the beach is exceptional and even though we did walk away from the hotel area, we felt very safe.
Here are the stressors which prevent me from recommending this destination to others:
-not knowing if you will be charged for something which is supposed to be included
-not knowing if you can order a la carte or not and what will be the outcome
-always being asked for your room number, signature, name etc.
-having to ask for a second glass of wine or water or coffee because the waiters never offer
Overall, the trip is what you make of it but, knowing now what we know, we will spend our vacation money elsewhere, where they know how to run an all-inclusive and make you feel welcomed.

We spent four days at Las Americas over the New Year holiday. We stayed in the older section, with the open air lobby, which gave it more of a resort-like feel. Enjoyed the daily breakfast, the many pools, and easy beach access, which you will not find easily in other Cartagena hotels. Liked the fact that we could go between the older and newer sections, as we enjoyed the new gym and the 10th floor pool for adults only. Being that my husband is Colombian, I never find troubles while traveling, with him speaking the language and bargaining with the locals. We talked to a few travelers who had some troubles with the all-inclusive, so we felt bad about their negative experience, but encouraged them to go outside the resort to get a feel for the city. Las Americas is a great get-away that gives you the conveniences you won't find as easily in the walled city of Cartagena.