The massive InterContinental is fresh from a major renovation and is now the best resort-style hotel in the city. Up in the hills of Altos del Poblado, it’s certainly not front and center of the action, but it’s a stone’s throw from some of Medellín’s fancier restaurants and nightspots (and if you want peace and quiet and amenities galore, this is for you). Guest rooms have shed the nasty old carpets and now boast hardwood floors and appealing wooden furnishings. The hotel still has to work hard to offset the soulless architecture (the building is hardly a beauty), and with low ceilings and small bathrooms, standard rooms can feel claustrophobic. But what you get here is a terrific heated pool, a full-on gym, a spa, tennis courts, a kids’ playground, and an expansive daily breakfast buffet (not always included in rate, but worth paying a little extra for). The restaurant, Fogón de Piedra, serves excellent wood-oven pizza and decent grilled meat and fish dishes in a tropical poolside setting, and the service gets top marks for effort. Be sure to request a high-floor room overlooking the pool/city—the views are stunning, especially at night. At less than US$100 per night, it’s worth putting up with the odd glitch.