^Having family has got to be a big help! What was so expensive for us was the travel. Two months of hotel wasn't cheap! Being assigned to Bolívar wasn't helpful either. Of course, we got to spend 7 weeks in Cartagena!
We also stayed in "Hotel Caribe," a really nice place which treated us very well. Matter of fact, a few on the staff had tears in thier eyes when we left! They gave us a great rate as well. Compared to rates I've seen on the internet, I think we paid about 50% of the going rate!