2007 Medellin Reports

[Sandman0011]

Where you are staying is in a very upscale area of Medellin and should be no problem.

Stay out of Centro at night and you should be fine.

You might want to consider hiring a taxi (known and trusted) to take you around at night. Cost you around $10USD per hour but very reassuring for a 1st timer.

Enjoy your visit.

Hello Gents,

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I have been to Colombia before but not Medellin. I have a scheduled trip in September (Business/pleasure) staying at the InterCont. Hotel. Should I be concerned? I'm a little apprehensive now after reading these stories. Is it safe to venture out at night in this area? Where is Centro in relation the Poblado neighborhood?

Sorry for my naivity I just want to have safety in check.

AM

[Malodr]

The area you are in is decently safe. You shouldn't have any problems at all during the day. Not sure what mongering spots are close by but you can get to most things in a taxi within 15-45 mins.

Just out curiosity, are you traveling to from Australia to Colombia just to monger? Seems like an awfully long/expensive ways to go just for some latina snatch -- Thailand is down the block from you! lol

He stated it was a business trip as well, the best kind of trip, free.

[Bonhead]

Thanks for the reply Malodr,

As far as walking around is the area safe where I'm staying? Any Mongering spots close by?

The area you are in is decently safe. You shouldn't have any problems at all during the day. Not sure what mongering spots are close by but you can get to most things in a taxi within 15-45 mins.

Just out curiosity, are you traveling to from Australia to Colombia just to monger? Seems like an awfully long/expensive ways to go just for some latina snatch -- Thailand is down the block from you! lol

[Aussie Mate]

Thanks for the reply Malodr,

As far as walking around is the area safe where I'm staying? Any Mongering spots close by?

[Malodr]

Hello Gents,

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I have been to Colombia before but not Medellin. I have a scheduled trip in September (Business/pleasure) staying at the InterCont. Hotel. Should I be concerned? I'm a little apprehensive now after reading these stories. Is it safe to venture out at night in this area? Where is Centro in relation the Poblado neighborhood?

Sorry for my naivity I just want to have safety in check.

AM

You are in a 5 star Hotel as I was in Mexico City. The hotel has drivers that they use and I used one in Mexico City and all was good.


Just use your head. There are 40 MPs and if you go, have the driver sit and wait.

[Aussie Mate]

Hello Gents,

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I have been to Colombia before but not Medellin. I have a scheduled trip in September (Business/pleasure) staying at the InterCont. Hotel. Should I be concerned? I'm a little apprehensive now after reading these stories. Is it safe to venture out at night in this area? Where is Centro in relation the Poblado neighborhood?

Sorry for my naivity I just want to have safety in check.

AM

[Malodr]

It's sad to see something like this happen to anyone.
I was in Colombia for 11 days, few days in Cartagena, Medellin and the rest in Cali. Taxi safety issue is all over Colombia and would like to say few things I did to stay safe. I had a driver that drove my Chicas family around in Cali where safety is at worst. When I was in Public area and had to take a taxi, I used the public taxi stations at the malls or where the taxis have hubs. If you pay attention, there is a person at these hubs who flags the taxis for the rider and writes the taxi's number and gives a receipt.

Either hire a driver from your hotel or if you have trust worthy friends, let them get you one while you are there. Even Colombians are using this method to stay safe. Don't think that by calling for taxi is safer. Rouge taxis use same radios and can pick the call from dispatcher.

If a taxi does not have their permit on the front windshield (usually on lower right of the windshield), don't take it. This is a result of not passing the annual taxi inspection, as the driver may use other means to make money.

T.man

I already made one trip there and have the numbers of three very good taxi guys. Hopefully I will add a few more to my list on my next trip.

Great posts from Hoofy and Tallis, thanks.

[Scooby1]

[AXIS

There are about two dozen taxi companies with Taxi Stands interspersed throughout Medellin and the adjoining cities. All taxis use meters which when cleared will display the STANDARD MINIMUM FARE. As you get in the cab, check and make sure that the meter has been cleared and shows the minimum fare. If not, remind the driver to clear the meter. If you find a driver that you are comfortable with, and you want to repeat the experience, ask for his/her business card. Get the cards from 3 or so drivers. Put their numbers and names in your cell. Now, it's almost like having your own private chuffers!

Personal Safety When Using Taxis No matter the city or country your in. Remain alert & use common sense.

1. Its best if you or a friend phones the taxi company direct. Or, have the hotel where you are staying, phone. The taxi company will tell you the number of the taxi that they will dispatch to pick you up. When the taxi arrives, compare the numbers for a match. If the numbers are not the same, wave the driver on. DO NOT GET IN THE CAB. Call for another.

2. Be more alert when you hail a cab from the street, especially if you are near a bank, disco, bar, nightclub, expensive store, high end shopping center, etc. Or when it's past 10 p. M.

This Taxi company is very safe, its the only one I use whenever I go to Medellin. It was recomended by the hotel, they always used the meter & I never thought I was getting gouged. .

BELLO TAXI Medellin:

444 9999

Http: //www.bellotax.com. Co

It's better not to hail taxis in the street. Especially in Medellin, many taxi drivers were criminals or assassins before, who invested their money in their own car. Many of them may have connections to local kidnapping gangs. So call a taxi company and they'll send one along. Bello is the one that was recommended to me they are very reliable & safe & they will always give you a taxi number when you call. Write it down and match it up to the one that comes and gets you.

444 9999

[Talisman]

It's sad to see something like this happen to anyone.
I was in Colombia for 11 days, few days in Cartagena, Medellin and the rest in Cali. Taxi safety issue is all over Colombia and would like to say few things I did to stay safe. I had a driver that drove my Chicas family around in Cali where safety is at worst. When I was in Public area and had to take a taxi, I used the public taxi stations at the malls or where the taxis have hubs. If you pay attention, there is a person at these hubs who flags the taxis for the rider and writes the taxi's number and gives a receipt.

Either hire a driver from your hotel or if you have trust worthy friends, let them get you one while you are there. Even Colombians are using this method to stay safe. Don't think that by calling for taxi is safer. Rouge taxis use same radios and can pick the call from dispatcher.

If a taxi does not have their permit on the front windshield (usually on lower right of the windshield), don't take it. This is a result of not passing the annual taxi inspection, as the driver may use other means to make money.

T.man

[Hoof Hunter]

I know this may be out of order and sound bad ,but maybe the FARC need to do some more shit to keep people away.I know there is a price on an America head right now($30000).

Superboy

Been trying to stay out of the fray on the MDE board, but you've drawn me in. I gotta call bullshit on that $30,000 number. Makes zero sense, when in fact anyone, Colombian or other, can be marked for death for as little as COP50.000 to COP1.000.000. Basically, $20USD to $500USD.

If $30,000 were in any way a realistic number, MANY more Americans would have already been kidnapped and delivered to FARC, esp. in Medellin, Cali, Bogota, and Bucaramanga. You kidding me? It's a no brainer, esp. in Medellin where enterprising minds belie the culture there. Business, never personal.

RE: the guy who got jumped and beaten and robbed. Sorry to hear about it, BUT methinks, people have gotten way too comfortable in Medellin. It's not Costa Rica nor Sosua nor Boca Chica. When you look around Centro after dark, how many Colombians of decent ilk and common sense do you see out and about? Very few. Why is that? It's not fucking safe.

Yet, here comes Mr. Tourist, Mr. Gringo Tourist at that, who loses his freaking mind behind chasing ass, and forgets exactly where that ass-chasing is taken place. You might get away with that in Raleigh, Durham, or Charlotte. But in Colombia, catching a cab off the street in shady neighborhoods, in Centro, you're really just asking for it.

It doesn't matter how big you are, 6'3", 250 lbs. 3 dudes half your size with guns will win everytime, esp. since one of them will be more than willing to pull the trigger. That's how they've been operating for a long time. Up to you as to how much in material possessions that you think your life is worth fighting over. When it's all said and done, they'll still get them.

We are already seen as walking moneybags. For heaven's sake, make better decisions to keep the target off your back as much as possible. Get the fuck out of Centro before 8, or hire a trusted taxi for the duration of your stay down there. I mean, dude was walking around with $550 USD, yet going cheap on his own security?

In my mind, in Medellin, it was really only a matter of time.

[Phunluv]

Regarding taxi drivers:

It's well known there are many crooked taxi drivers out there. Some are even ex-FARC or ex-para. The guy is lucky he didn't have a "paseo millonario" happen to him where they take you by gunpoint to various ATMs and max out your daily withdrawal allowances.

I assume this fellow is at least smart enough to not carry credit cards when he's out mongering! I only take a card with me early in the day, when I know I'm about to take out money or go shopping; I promptly return to the place I'm staying once I'm done, before going out again into the city cardless.

It's important to call for a taxi after 8:00 PM, absolutely if you're alone and it's after 7 or 8. I prefer to hit the casas during the day, but my last trip to MDE, I went to Cassandra's the day I arrived during the evening. I went alone, but I've been there before during daylight hours so I was familiar with the street layout, and I'm on good terms with the owner Lilliana. In fact, as a courtesy, she called the taxi for me once I was done.

I personally would never check out these casas for the first time alone at night. I'd feel much more secure making the first visit during daylight hours and try to get on speaking first-name terms with the lady who introduces the lineup. From what I hear, Centro is okay during the day but very iffy at night, without even getting into the taxi issue.

[Tom 33]

I know there is a price on an America head right now($30000).

Is that USD or COP?

[Enigma84]

Sultan,

I personally dont think the local government will allow it to be come a major mongering destinastion.

What is happening is the economy is going through the roof and with tourism / business increasing, also many Colombians who have lived overseas and are also coming back to open business and live here, it means that every thing will go up in price, thats a fact and thats life.

The value of the peso to the dollar and other currencies is really a good indercation of the economy of a country and that just in the last year, things are more expensive for say the americians.

Property prices have doubled and trebled (in the right areas) in the last year.

Medellin might not have a beach but it has the best year round weather that I know of which will appeal to alot of people.

We here at the Mansion are finding more people are coming to Medellin for business / tourism and at night like to play around.

Blow up like Rio, no, I think not, for a start, the people are different.

Aussie Greg.

AussieGreg I have to disagree slightly. The government doesn't have much power to stop anything.

Superboy I don't think that is going to happen. Medellin is AUC territory not FARC. And I doubt they give a damn.

[Superboy1]

a

Medellin is way too difficult for mongering, and dangerous. Plus Spanish is a must for an enjoyable adventure. Not for the faint of heart with all the danger, beatings and robberies, plus all the other things you never hear about.

I just got back from Costa Rica. It is completely effortless mongering in a safe environment. Most of the Ticas speak enough English for an enjoyable encounter. Everyone should go there or stay in the Dominincan Republic.

Ya but look what happean to Cuba!!! , no longer worth going there anymore. I have a bad feeling Medellin will be the same in about 5years time beach or no beach. Maybe worth looking for some Gems in some other part of south america.
I know this may be out of order and sound bad ,but maybe the FARC need to do some more shit to keep people away.I know there is a price on an America head right now($30000).

Superboy

[Dickhead]

NOw now I regularly carry out at least 800,000 when i go to the nightclubs. Tips, Fuck you miney etc... so its not that fishy

What is "fuck you" money? Sounds like an interesting concept.