General Info

[SlamCity7777]

I guess if you choose anything that is US it automatically calculates "Gringo" prices in. I've been looking to see where to travel too while in South America based in Medellin and prices were outrageous. When I switced it to spanish, the prices dropped 50% on average.

This is actually very common in South America. I know that Taca and LAN Peru also pull this move.

[SBeach25]

Careful gents. I just went on the Avianca website looking for tickets for my girl in Barranquilla to come see me in Bogota in a couple of weeks. The site was set to United States. It gave me a price back of $128 each way. I was thinking that I have never paid anything like that for a ticket inside of Colombia. My research on San Andres has given me those kinds of prices, but never anything in the mainland. So I checked a far off date in February and it gave me the same prices. Then, I cleared my cache and went to the site again and set it on Colombia and it gave me a price of 87,000 pesos ($45) each way. What made me look to begin with is that I am requiring her to buy her own ticket. She told me the price was 290,000 pesos roundtrip through despegar.com.

I guess if you choose anything that is US it automatically calculates "Gringo" prices in. I've been looking to see where to travel too while in south america based in Medellin and prices were outrages when I switced it to spanish, the prices dropped 50% on average.

[Mr Enternational]

Careful gents. I just went on the Avianca website looking for tickets for my girl in Barranquilla to come see me in Bogota in a couple of weeks. The site was set to United States. It gave me a price back of $128 each way. I was thinking that I have never paid anything like that for a ticket inside of Colombia. My research on San Andres has given me those kinds of prices, but never anything in the mainland. So I checked a far off date in February and it gave me the same prices. Then, I cleared my cache and went to the site again and set it on Colombia and it gave me a price of 87,000 pesos ($45) each way. What made me look to begin with is that I am requiring her to buy her own ticket. She told me the price was 290,000 pesos roundtrip through despegar.com.

[Rogerrules]

Great fares if anybody is on the fence about visiting from the NYC area.

[Razor77]

Medellin Colombia is next on my list to visit but right off the bat and even without the visit, the crime rate or there at of crime disqualifies it instantly as a retirement destination.

PI. Cebu only, good value, can be done.

But CM trumps all. Not contest.

How many times have you visited Colombia? What parts? What crime stats are you making this based on? From the time you come out of the airport you see police everywhere. In Medellin at every metro stop there is a police officer. Driving, walking, standing, and if they could you would see them in helicopters hovering. Colombia has become a very safe place. You have boasted quite a bit on the Colombian threads without being there to base opinions. In Barranquilla you would see police checkpoints on nice days looking for various things. At the beaches you have police, centro you might even see soldiers. You sir are misinformed and obviously basing your opinion on the 80's cartel days.

You wrote on December 16th that you are a newbie to Colombia. Since posting your newbie comments all you do is talk about antelopes and a lot of nonsense comparing Colombia to Asia or wherever you come from. What's the purpose of your trip? If you don't like Colombia then why go? Where is your posting history for Cebu and all other places you ventured?

[Mr Enternational]

Have any of you guys ever gone scuba diving anywhere in Columbia in addition to the usual monger activities?

As Lmarcone said, the diving is in Taganga. I dove with Aquantis. I stayed in El Rodadero and took a taxi in the mornings over the mountains, through Santa Marta, over more mountains and into Taganga. Then in the afternoons I took the bus back, stopping to explore Santa Marta. The diving there is nothing to write home about. The P4P was scarce. There were a couple of girls on the beach in El Rodadero, but I think that has pretty much dried up. Also, in Santa Marta proper there were a few spots where I got short time. Search the Santa Marta thread for my reports and others that are more up to date.

[Lmarcone]

Taganga, near Santa Marta is the SCUBA capitol of the country, but I hear there are great diving opportunities in San Andres island.

Have any of you guys ever gone scuba diving anywhere in Columbia in addition to the usual monger activities?

[Exoticspirit]

Have any of you guys ever gone scuba diving anywhere in Columbia in addition to the usual monger activities?

[World Travel 69]

Have you been to Argentina?

You will not get bored there. They are many retirees in B. A.

I have not been to Chiang Mai, but the others I have been to.

I am considering retirement next year at age 54. Having visited several places in the world, I am giving some consideration to 3 places. Angeles city PI, Chiang Mai Thailand, or Medellin Colombia.

Having visited all 3 places several times in the past, and upon drawing up lists as to the merits of each location, I have one concern I would like to ask a Retired person in similar circumstance.

I would like to know your long term thoughts of living in a place that you have only visited on vacation, as compared to long term retirement living. More to the point.

1. In AC / Medellin for example, are you still going out hitting the bars 3 plus nights a week. 1 year into retirement?

2. Do most Expats end up hitting the Bars early in Retirement and then settling down with a steady GF after a few months?

3. Does what seem like a great place for vacation turn out to be a very boring place after a few months?

In essence, does the appeal of the "monger scene" lose its luster after you live there.

Additional data. Do not consider monthly budget as a factor when responding. Also. My plan is to always rent in all locations.

Not looking so much on Opine on location. But sage advice I. E. Short vacation vs long term reality.

[ZipGun6]

I am considering retirement next year at age 54. Having visited several places in the world, I am giving some consideration to 3 places. Angeles city PI, Chiang Mai Thailand, or Medellin Colombia.

Having visited all 3 places several times in the past, and upon drawing up lists as to the merits of each location, I have one concern I would like to ask a Retired person in similar circumstance.

I would like to know your long term thoughts of living in a place that you have only visited on vacation, as compared to long term retirement living. More to the point.

1. In AC / Medellin for example, are you still going out hitting the bars 3 plus nights a week. 1 year into retirement?

2. Do most Expats end up hitting the Bars early in Retirement and then settling down with a steady GF after a few months?

3. Does what seem like a great place for vacation turn out to be a very boring place after a few months?

In essence, does the appeal of the "monger scene" lose its luster after you live there.

Additional data. Do not consider monthly budget as a factor when responding. Also. My plan is to always rent in all locations.

Not looking so much on Opine on location. But sage advice I. E. Short vacation vs long term reality.

[BlancoVikingo]

The limit for tourist VISA is 180 days during a 12 month period.

Here is an agency that I can recommend; http://tlicolombia.com/

I think they can help you out.

[TuDueno]

Well, do you believe that US migration agents are willing to talk if someboby violates the rules?

Do not enter Colombia if you have been here 180 days per year without a visa.

Reports from the Medellin Mansion say some of their guests have been turned away at the airport. So it is not just me, their new computerized system counts everything. The Migracion agents did not want to talk, and it seems the eviction process at the airport was so rapid that they must have been doing it regularly.

[BlancoVikingo]

You can get a student visa and take some classes and get a paper from the institute. First you apply at Migraciones in Bogota or in Medellin, there is an agency, TIC recommended by the student coordinator on UPB in Medellin. I got a student visa, with that it was no problem staying in Colombia 6 months. Cost about 300k COP. Or you can choose other forms of visa, that you have a certain amount of money, etc, a business etc. I think the Colombian embassy in the US can help you with that, or give you advice how to do it when arrived in Colombia.

[Jonesie]

Sorry to hear of your troubles. Did they say how long you had to stay out?

I arrived in Medellin airport from LAX through Panama on COPA this morning. The migration agent told me I was over the 180 days per year staying in Colombia. They sent me and my luggage on the next COPA flight to Panama. I have been doing this for years, and it is possible that toward the end of the year I exceed the maximum allowed numbers of days, but usually they don't bother to count. I don't know if their new computer system detected this, or if I was unlucky and got a picky migration agent who decided to count the days. They did not want to talk.

[Headache]

Do not enter Colombia if you have been here 180 days per year without a visa.

Reports from the Medellin Mansion say some of their guests have been turned away at the airport. So it is not just me, their new computerized system counts everything. The Migracion agents did not want to talk, and it seems the eviction process at the airport was so rapid that they must have been doing it regularly.

I arrived in Medellin airport from LAX through Panama on COPA this morning. The migration agent told me I was over the 180 days per year staying in Colombia. They sent me and my luggage on the next COPA flight to Panama. I have been doing this for years, and it is possible that toward the end of the year I exceed the maximum allowed numbers of days, but usually they don't bother to count. I don't know if their new computer system detected this, or if I was unlucky and got a picky migration agent who decided to count the days. They did not want to talk.