General Info

[Foolish]

First time to the motherland, not my first with Colombianas or South America. Been catching up on the last 100 pages of the threads and been learning Spanish, but I have no fantasies of any literacy. Met a really nice woman from BOG while working years back, which spurred the idea of this trip. Have been to FKKland, Caribbean and local for the P2 P game. Have my emergency devices / cards / phones / sim cards / etc.

Have booked about 18 days mid-Jan, flights booked, plan is so far: weekdays beach / weekends big city. Was thinking of something like this:

Schedule:

Weekday CTG. Long weekend in MDE. Weekday Santa Marta. Long weekend in BOG. Back to CTG and then out.

Areas to stay:

CTG: Bocagrande / Getsemani.

MDE: Laureles / Provenza / M?

SMR: Grand Marina area.

Chicas: since first trip, might as well try everything.

CTG, will try some Seeking, otherwise, probably point and shoot Playa Hollywood (need to experience the endless touts) daytime, nightime in the triangle of clocktower / clubs (though not my favorite scene).

MDE: May try the M for a few days and then stay in apartments, will check out El Centro / clubs and have been adding FB like crazy.

BOG: find a guide and some check casa action / tinder / online.

Lots of stories to absorb, but realized planning works until you step onto the field.

Funny, will try this caveat: mongering is not the priority, but if it's good as I think it will be, should be interesting.

Any suggestions / changes / ideas would be great.

F.

[Muccells]

HSBC, eww. Did you watch the documentary on them? When they were taking money from terrorist group from the Middle East?? Again corporate greed and shadiness! Be of A and Wells Fargo are bad but that brings a whole new bad.

I had HSBC before I had Schwab. When I traveled around to other countries I would use their ATMs but they would still charge a fee. I would always have to call them after each trip to get the fees refunded.

[Balimassage]

Leaving Colombia today, I did not fill out the Check Mig on purpose. There were signs all over immigration with the qr code to fill it out but nobody said anything. Maybe it is something that only Colombians must do when leaving the country.

My friend didn't fill his out during his exit from CTG and the security guard asked for a bribe because he didn't have it. Of course he refused, and the guard let him thru. I've not been asked for it departing MDE or BOG.

So while it may be a requirement, it is enforced only sporadically.

It's (sort of) easy enough to complete on demand if they ask for it, so its not a big worry.

[Mr Enternational]

If you want to hear bad stories about banks watch documentary on Netflix called dirty money series. Wells Fargo and HSBC bank. Scandalous.

I had HSBC before I had Schwab. When I traveled around to other countries I would use their ATMs but they would still charge a fee. I would always have to call them after each trip to get the fees refunded.

[JjBee62]

Since I started traveling internationally I wanted to be able to use my ATM without any fees. There are a few cards / banks that that will cover fees on both sides. I heard Charles Schwab is one, First Republic is another I know of. You may have to have a certain amount in your account to start some of there accounts. I'm also tired of the big banks Wells Fargo and Bank of America!

If you want to hear bad stories about banks watch documentary on Netflix called dirty money series. Wells Fargo and HSBC bank. Scandalous.

Navy Federal Credit Union and some other credit unions offer the same thing, except it's limited to a certain amount they'll refund per month. For infrequent travelers it works out well.

[Muccells]

Since I started traveling internationally I wanted to be able to use my ATM without any fees. There are a few cards / banks that that will cover fees on both sides. I heard Charles Schwab is one, First Republic is another I know of. You may have to have a certain amount in your account to start some of there accounts. I'm also tired of the big banks Wells Fargo and Bank of America!

If you want to hear bad stories about banks watch documentary on Netflix called dirty money series. Wells Fargo and HSBC bank. Scandalous.

[JjBee62]

On Monday I did a test. I went to a Davivienda ATM. I have 2 checking accounts, different banks and each has different fees. I made consecutive withdrawals of 1,020,000 COP, one with each debit card.

Both banks charged my account $212.63, a rate of 4,797 COP per dollar. One of my banks charged a $1 fee which will be refunded at the end of the month. The other bank charged nearly $12 in fees, bringing the rate down to 4,553.

The difference isn't huge, but if you're budget conscious, over a few weeks you could easily lose a day's worth of your stay just through bank fees. It gets worse if the ATM has it's own fees.

If you're considering regular travel, finding a bank with no fees and reimbursement for outside fees is a good idea.

[LatinaLover#1]

https://fb.watch/hw764bp78t/

It helps if you can understand the language.

What makes it so funny is the thred of truth to it. Early in my trip career, decades ago, I was all about being the white knight wanting to save her from this plebeian life, she really loves me bla bla bla As the Elton John song goes, 'someone saved my life tonight' I woke up and realized once a hooker, always a hooker. They cross that line and they can never become an unhooker. When you hear mi amor eres mi vida baby cariño bla bla bla enjoy it, but don't believe. Information is power. Great post J bee.

[Huacho]

https://fb.watch/hw764bp78t/

It helps if you can understand the language.

Hilarious. Once in Buenos Aires I was pretending to be a Bulgarian with no English and very poor Spanish but I got busted by an actual Bulgarian. Another time while pretending not to speak English, I brought home a woman from Poland and she could not help but note that most of my books were in English. And dozens of times I have been on buses where everyone around me assumed I did not understand Spanish. It's interesting what you hear in those situations.

[JjBee62]

https://fb.watch/hw764bp78t/

It helps if you can understand the language.

[LatinaLover#1]

Going through this clusterfuck again for first time in almost a year.

Update: I was able to complete form pretty quick, which is good because this took like two hours last time.

Already received email of Confirmation of Pre-Registration.

Is that all I need?

As far os the check-mig yes, my last 2 trips to Bogota was in Sept and November and never bothered with the check-mig when leaving Colombia and no one even mentioned it. I did get asked for my vaccine card on the outbound and return trip. I'm booked for next month I'll bring my Vac card and do the Check-mig for my outbound but that's it.

[Combo]

Going through this clusterfuck again for first time in almost a year.

Update: I was able to complete form pretty quick, which is good because this took like two hours last time.

Already received email of Confirmation of Pre-Registration.

Is that all I need?

[Mtndew704]

I have never filled out Check Mig when leaving Colombia, only when entering. I think it is probably the opposite for Colombians.

I have never filled out when leaving Colombia either.

[ChuchoLoco]

I have never filled out Check Mig when leaving Colombia, only when entering. I think it is probably the opposite for Colombians.

Last January COPA would not check me in at the counter until I did the Mig when leaving Medellin. The girl helped me because I was having problems. Who knows why they required it because there was no forewarning when I did my online checkin. Seems rules change depending on what airline and who's working and who knows what other reasons. I don't think it's a problem if you don't do it since they will let you do it at the airport if they require it. Maybe things have changed since a year ago.

[ILikeButts]

Leaving Colombia today, I did not fill out the Check Mig on purpose. There were signs all over immigration with the qr code to fill it out but nobody said anything. Maybe it is something that only Colombians must do when leaving the country.

I have never filled out Check Mig when leaving Colombia, only when entering. I think it is probably the opposite for Colombians.