I stayed in both areas and I prefer Laurelas because on "La Setenta" (70th) there are dozens of restaurants and at least 10 Hotels ranging in price from $35 - $200 a night. You can hop the train for 7o cents and be in Centro in 10 minutes. A taxi back is $3.

In Poblado there are many hotels but they seem to be $100 or more, so I have seen, but there are two Large malls with a few dozen places to eat as well. A taxi to centro is about $7 each way.

In Poblado there are at least two office complexes with food courts as well.


Poblado has Parque Llaras which has about 2 dozen restaurants but I have taken a taxi from both my hotels. You can walk there from the mansion in about 15 minutes but you will need a taxi to get there from Laurelas.


My point is, you need to try both areas and decide for yourself.

Some say taking a yellow taxi from the airport is nuts, but its price fixed at 48,000 to anywhere in Medellin.

You mentioned that you were staying in a hotel in Laureles for 133,000 for 2 people. That's about $78/night. Did that include the hotel occupancy taxes? Why not rent an apartment in Poblado, Patio Bonito for $75/night? Taxis from Poblado to the casas in Centro is less than 8K ($4.70) each way. But I am REALLY frugal and do take the #135 San Lucas bus 2400 R/T ($1.40) to Cra 46 and Calle 47 and hoof it the rest of the way.

I now stay at the Estaban which is about 100,000 per night for two people.