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Staying at Selina Hostel in Medellin, Colombia

· Accommodations,Destinations,Colombia,Music Festival,Reviews

Staying at Selina - Medellín

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If I told you to imagine a hostel/hotel hybrid in exotic locales designed with the digital nomad, I'd be describing Selina. And they've got properties popping up all over Central and South America at a rapid speed.

From Mexico down to Argentina, Selina properties organize community-building parties, promote activities and sightseeing tours, and rent out co-working spaces to guests.

In addition to those amenities, Selina - Medellín set the stage for a world-class music industry conference and I got to attend the inaugural event.

Here’s my experience at Selina - Medellín for Selina SIMS!

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The front door of Selina hostel / hotel in Medellin, Colombia with two unidentified girls sitting at cafe table.
An open-air courtyard with string lights and a red vintage convertible next to a woman sitting at a bar with a young man.
Selfie in front of the Selina SIMS 2018 international music conference neon sight and cafe chalkboard

The Property

With the services of a high-end hotel, the vibe of a hostel, and the work spaces of any Fortune 500 office, Selina - Medellín has everything a digital nomad needs to live, and to live well.

You can choose from a variety of options, like a 20-bed dormitory with shared bathrooms, to a standard room with a desk, and even a double room apartment with kitchen and balcony.

If that's not enough, you don't have to go to far to enjoy a coffee shop, a yoga deck, a meditation room, a bar with a pool table, a movie room, a small recording studio or restaurant. Selina offers all of that within its walls.

I even browsed a tattoo parlor and natural soaps boutique on the way to my room!

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Natural hair black girl working on laptop in an outdoor courtyard with waiter walking next to a bar with people and a stage and posters in the background.
Graffiti, street art on concrete stairs next to trees in El Poblado park in Medellin, Colombia.
Large tree and Red brick building with umbrellas on a restaurant patio, la pizzeria, bonhomia in El Poblado in Medellin colombia

What To Expect

Selina - Medellín is in the center of the action and what Colombia is known for. Situated in the ultra hip bar and restaurant district of El Poblado, you are minutes away from all the best shopping, night spots, restaurants, and bars in the city.

Ask the front desk to help you send out your laundry or book your excursions. They'll help you reserve your spot on a local walking tour, street art tour, paragliding, and ATV excursion as well as the infamous Pablo Escobar tour.

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Selina International Music Summit

Conference speaker with microphone with people sitting around with a blue and yellow Selina SIMS poster, mirrorball, disco ball, and brick wall
4 men in front of a sound board and window in a music recording studio with electric guitars and a selina beanbag.
Black girl at recording studio soundboard sound board and midi keyboard with a monitor and speakers on the side

My stay at Selina wasn't all fun and games, it was music, too! I attended Selina SIMS, a conference that combined workshops & panels with networking opportunities and performances by Medellín's up-and-coming and veteran artists.

By day, panels discussed current global music industry topics and music executives met with musicians eager for guidance. And by night, the sounds and spirit of Medellín came alive as the artists showcased their craft.

A red vintage convertible with bright string lights and people surrounding an outdoor bar and stage and graffiti in the background
Bisou band performing on stage. A man, a woman with microphone, two guitarists, and drummer in green lights and Bisou on the screen.
DJ with hands up playing with red lights and a crowd
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To watch the bands, we hit 2 bars within walking distance of Selina or caught them on one of the 3 stages on the Selina Medellin property. "The Monasterio" was the biggest venue while the "Car Park" felt like the close quarters of a garagebands' practice space.

My favorite stage was set up next to the center bar in open-air courtyard called "The Playground". It was the perfect place to meet the bands and get to know the other delegates.

To our surprise, the local bands played an assortment of genres, from pop-infused and grunge and hip-hop inspired, to world music and electro-rock DJ sets.

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Black girl with yellow sweater with feet up in the back seat of a red vintage convertible in a courtyard

Overall

A combination of the Selina constructing the building and the naturally noisy city left no time to rest after the long nights of exploring. But who needs sleep in Colombia?! The hard-working staff made every attempt to show us a good time and make sure we were comfortable.

I felt cozy and safe, even in walking the streets of Medellín in the wee hours. I put those 6 years of Spanish to work. The people were lovely and inviting.

I'd love to spend another week uncovering the sights and the sounds of the city and surrounding towns, but Medellin was the perfect introduction to South America.

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Here's my Colombian television debut

talking about Selina SIMS!

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