Bogota Reports

[HumanBeing1]

Actually there is no direct link between poverty and prostitution offer. For me the number one monger destination is Germany, while Switzerland, Austria or Holland are also good options, not exactly third world countries and one of the worst shoud be something between Mauritania, Afghanistan, Sudan or Pakistan, not exactly rich countries.

Exactly. Try mongering in the poorest latin American country, nicuragua. Not good.

[Coupe66]

Yes, that is where the kidnap taxis are, a us diplomat was murdered a few years back that way.

Also in La Candeleria tourists are hunted and there have been whole hostels robbed there in the past.

Are you talking about what happened in 1980, or a more recent incident?

[Coupe66]

I was at Bancolombia taking out $100 usd and the screen said "we can't process your transaction right now because of technical difficulties". No problem. They charged my account anyway but when that happens, it usually gets reimbursed in 5 minutes. It's been 4 days and still no reimbursement. I went to the Bancolombia bank that the ATM belonged to and they said they can't do anything about it and I have to talk with my bank. I talked to my bank and they said they will look into it and send me a letter with a decision in 14 Business days. I remember this happening to my cousin 2 years ago when he took out $400 usd in pesos Colombianos from another Colombian ATM and he waited too long to grab it and the ATM just ate back the money but still charged him the $400. He talked with his American bank and after a month, his bank only agreed to pay him back $200. Ever since then, my cousin no longer uses ATMS.

Did you go in when it happened or later? Once in Buenos Aires, the ATM said I had taken the amount (can't remember how much), but gave me nothing! I went straight into the bank, and was pretty full on with the staff there. The bank teller explained to me that noting would show up on my account. I wasn't convinced, so took me to the back of the ATM, where he accessed it's computer, printed out a massive list of transactions and showed me nothing had shown up for the amount I tried to take.

Similar with what happened to your cousin, once in the UK the bills came out sideways all twisted up from the machine, I was grabbing them and trying to prise them from the machine as fast as I could, but it closed before I could get them all! I was down hundreds of pounds. I spoke to the staff, they did a check of the ATM, real cash out VS requested amount out, saw the discrepancy, and I was reimbursed. You just have to get in there, tell them the story and insist, because they definitely have the tools to check exactly what happened. Sounds like Bancolombia are just fobbing you off, it's go nothing to do with your bank, the technical problem was with their machine!

[Coupe66]

About 15 years ago in a Medellin casa I was showering after the session and out of the blue decided to get out fully wet to look at my trousers (I had never done that before). I caught the chica rifling through my pockets, she screamed, LOL. Ever since then I never let the container of my wallet out of my sight even if I have to take my trousers or bag into the bathroom with me.

When visiting Casas / apartments etc, I ALWAYS take all my belongings into the bathroom with me and lock the door, Even if they say I don't have to as there's nobody else there, I just politely ignore them. I don't know what you expected to be honest, what happened doesn't surprise me at all. It's as bad as going to a bar / restaurant, leaving your belongings at your table and going to bathroom, expecting them to be there when you got back!

I remember a long time ago in the early 2000's I went to Sofia, Bulgaria when I was pretty young and naive. I took a woman I met who was standing outside into some cheap hotel they used, paid her, then she told me to go wash. When I came out of the bathroom she had disappeared. At first I was really surprised and a bit angry, but now looking back I was a complete sucker and was asking for it!

[Coupe66]

I couldn't conceive of worse advice!

1) the north is actually the MOST dangerous part of Bogot to be hanging out at, ESPECIALLY if you're solo. Thieves in Bogot go where the money is.

2) it's also the most boring and most expensive.

Honestly, if you want to stay north of 72, it's better to not even come here!

There are lot's of prepagados and apartment chicas in Chapinero & Usaquen I like the look of, so seems around Parque 93 where I reserved would be a good area to stay? So you're saying it's dangerous to walk around at night? Not planning to do that anyway. I can take the transmillenio or a cab downtown from there during the daytime to see the sights or visit Santa Fe. Are you just trying to make me paranoid maybe?

[Coupe66]

Warning, my friend who is from the states just got robbed. He was walking alone through Chapinero and then 3 guys approached him (1 of them had a knife) and asked him for his phone and then asked him for his wallet. He obliged and they let him go after. He said he ran 4 blocks up and told 2 policemen on a motorcycle and they went off but nothing happened. The bad luck with the ATM machine happened to me but my friend who was alone had it really bad! Stay Safe out there!

Please provide some more details, ie in what part of Chapinero? Its quite a big place. At what time of the day or night did this happen? How was he dressed, very touristy? Was he standing out too much?

[Woodman09]

I was at Bancolombia taking out $100 usd and the screen said "we can't process your transaction right now because of technical difficulties". No problem. They charged my account anyway but when that happens, it usually gets reimbursed in 5 minutes. It's been 4 days and still no reimbursement. I went to the Bancolombia bank that the ATM belonged to and they said they can't do anything about it and I have to talk with my bank. I talked to my bank and they said they will look into it and send me a letter with a decision in 14 Business days. I remember this happening to my cousin 2 years ago when he took out $400 usd in pesos Colombianos from another Colombian ATM and he waited too long to grab it and the ATM just ate back the money but still charged him the $400. He talked with his American bank and after a month, his bank only agreed to pay him back $200. Ever since then, my cousin no longer uses ATMS.

Schwab checking is free with Free ATM except if you go to Citi.

[Woodman09]

It's a stupid law, but calling in and inputing the IMEI to register the phone should take all of 2-3 minutes.

If your Spanish isn't good enough, get the person selling the SIMcard to help you. Slip them an extra 2000 or so for their trouble.

Also, if your phone is blocked in Colombia, it could very well be blocked in the US too, so be careful!

They do this for you at PanAmericano stores, there are representatives for TIGO, Virgen, Claro.

[Woodman09]

I couldn't conceive of worse advice!

1) the north is actually the MOST dangerous part of Bogot to be hanging out at, ESPECIALLY if you're solo. Thieves in Bogot go where the money is.

2) it's also the most boring and most expensive.

Honestly, if you want to stay north of 72, it's better to not even come here!

Yes, that is where the kidnap taxis are, a us diplomat was murdered a few years back that way.

Also in La Candeleria tourists are hunted and there have been whole hostels robbed there in the past.

[PirateMorgan]

I guess that is the reason there are no police in Beverly Hills Calif, Forest Hills NY, Fisherman's Wharf in S. F. Best to stay out of every nice place. Parque 93 in Bogota must be avoided then. I can't figure out why there are so many people on Carrera 15 and Carrera 11 walking around at all hours of the night. Guess its better to hide out on skid row. No one would think of looking for a rich gringo there.

Goofy ideas get goofy responses.

[IronQuinn]

Ok, so PolloNegro is telling us again that he doesn't understand casas.

There are no casas in SantaFe. The girls are independent and they take you to a hotel room where management doesn't care what goes on. If you want a safe casa experience in Bogota, go to Chapinero. It's better value, too, because you get a half hour for less than the quicky (knock on door after 10 mins) in SantaFe.

If a girl doesn't perform or does something stupid in a casa, she's quickly out of a job and has to go stand on the street in SantaFe.

PolloNegro, you're an expert in Veracruz in Medellin, well SantaFe is like that only much bigger.

Me, I've had no sessions in Veracruz and disappointing ones in SantaFe, so I wouldn't recommend these areas, but I accept that for other guys that's their sweet spot.

I absolutely agree about going to Chapinero. It's better all the way around. Better prices, service, and safer. There's so much focus on Santa Fe, but I don't know why anyone bothers.

[IronQuinn]

I was at Bancolombia taking out $100 usd and the screen said "we can't process your transaction right now because of technical difficulties". No problem. They charged my account anyway but when that happens, it usually gets reimbursed in 5 minutes. It's been 4 days and still no reimbursement. I went to the Bancolombia bank that the ATM belonged to and they said they can't do anything about it and I have to talk with my bank. I talked to my bank and they said they will look into it and send me a letter with a decision in 14 Business days. I remember this happening to my cousin 2 years ago when he took out $400 usd in pesos Colombianos from another Colombian ATM and he waited too long to grab it and the ATM just ate back the money but still charged him the $400. He talked with his American bank and after a month, his bank only agreed to pay him back $200. Ever since then, my cousin no longer uses ATMS.

When it comes to money in traveling abroad, estimate, and always bring everything you need with you. Change a little over in the airport, and the rest on the street. When you go out, take only what you need from the stash. I've done it this way for years, and never had to dick around with ATMs or banks.

[Bango Cheito]

My recommendation has always been, if you're concerned about being able to walk around the area, stay north of Calle 72. Generally between Carrera 7 and 15 is what I consider to be less scary for the novice visitor. For the particularly nervous types, I'd move that to north of Calle 85. This is from Jjbee. It is really good advice for anyone new around here. I live here and generally true for me too. North of 72 is just fine. Great advice so follow it. A cab to Santa Fe is no more than five dollars from carrera 15 and calle 100. Comfortable and safe. I don't use the Transmilenio. Just personal taste.

I couldn't conceive of worse advice!

1) the north is actually the MOST dangerous part of Bogotá to be hanging out at, ESPECIALLY if you're solo. Thieves in Bogotá go where the money is.

2) it's also the most boring and most expensive.

Honestly, if you want to stay north of 72, it's better to not even come here!

[Bango Cheito]

Why keep trying to reinvent the wheel and stick out like a sore thumb on top of that? Just go there and walk around like all the other normal people.

You could also bike in and park at the parking garage, entances on cra 16 and 16 a north of cll 23.

But yeah, don't cycle around, just walk.

[Bango Cheito]

I used to get a sim prepaid card from Tigo with something like 5 Gigs of data for 30-50 k (forgot the total amount). Then they started to do dumbshit like turn off my service because my phone wasn't certified (too new for Colombia). Now I just paid a flat fee for roaming internationally with my home provider.

Man, I wouldn't stay anywhere near Santa Fe. You're better off in North Bogota the entire time.

It's a stupid law, but calling in and inputing the IMEI to register the phone should take all of 2-3 minutes.

If your Spanish isn't good enough, get the person selling the SIMcard to help you. Slip them an extra 2000 or so for their trouble.

Also, if your phone is blocked in Colombia, it could very well be blocked in the US too, so be careful!