Bogota Reports

[BKKguru]

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Looking for Airbnb's in Bogota is seriously frustrating. None I have checked have heating, they have many customer complaints that their places were freezing in the morning / at night. But when I've asked them about a heater they come back with endless crap 'We are in the tropics / we don't use heating in Bogota / I will give you lots of blankets' !? I'm not paying 400 for a week to freeze my ass off on the equator!!

Based on previous reports, it is futile to look for apartments with heat. You have two options:

(1) You can dress in layers at night i.e. sweat shirt over Thermal T-shirt etc. The downside is you will have to pack extra clothes.
(2) Buy a electric blanket. It is not that bulky. It will be easier to carry if you do not open the new package. You can carry in a shopping bag, as part of your carry-on.

Electric voltage in Colombia is 110 V (same as USA). You may need a power plug adapter if you are coming from another country.
I prefer option # 2. You can use the dial control to make it warmer or cooler depending on the temperature in your room.

Looking forward to reading your trip report. Good Luck!

~BKKguru.

[Mr Enternational]

Looking for Airbnb's in Bogota is seriously frustrating. None I have checked have heating, they have many customer complaints that their places were freezing in the morning / at night. But when I've asked them about a heater they come back with endless crap 'We are in the tropics / we don't use heating in Bogota / I will give you lots of blankets' !? I'm not paying 400 for a week to freeze my ass off on the equator!!

As far as I know, the only place you are going to find climate control around here is an American hotel like Marriott. I have seen it in no other house, hotel, or business.

Think I will stay in a hotel for the first few nights to get my bearings, probably in Chapinero, though the IBIS Museo looks tempting as it's so close to Santa Fe. Who has experience of walking there from the IBIS in the daytime, it's not far but whatever route I check looks dodgy. Can it be done safely?

My hotel is located between Ibis and Santa Fe and as I have said 100 times, I have walked back and forth at all hours of the day and night without a problem. I am a Black American guy from the ghetto though. So YMMV.

[YippieKayay]

If you want a warm place in Colombia try the coast like Cartagena.

The only time I am in Bogota is either during a layover or a few days to visit friends. The climate never agrees with me.

[JjBee62]

I've finally booked my flight to come in a fortnight to Colombia for a month. Think I will stay in a hotel for the first few nights to get my bearings, probably in Chapinero, though the IBIS Museo looks tempting as it's so close to Santa Fe. Who has experience of walking there from the IBIS in the daytime, it's not far but whatever route I check looks dodgy. Can it be done safely?

Looking for Airbnb's in Bogota is seriously frustrating. None I have checked have heating, they have many customer complaints that their places were freezing in the morning / at night. But when I've asked them about a heater they come back with endless crap 'We are in the tropics / we don't use heating in Bogota / I will give you lots of blankets' !? I'm not paying 400 for a week to freeze my ass off on the equator!!

Heating isn't common in Bogota. Electricity is expensive and the people are adapted to the climate. Unless you're going during the rainy season, it's not as bad as it might seem. Because of the altitude, the temperature rises quickly if the sun is shining. If your room has Eastern exposure, by the time you're ready to get out of bed, the room will be toasty. However, if you get 2 or 3 days of solid rain, it's going to suck.

The walk from Ibis to Santa Fe is fine.

[PirateMorgan]

There are NO PLACES with heaters in Bogota. Bogota is at 8000 ft. And yes it gets down into the 50's at night. Try a blanket as you will need it and costs $10 . Or two chicas. And stop complaining.

[Coupe66]

I've finally booked my flight to come in a fortnight to Colombia for a month. Think I will stay in a hotel for the first few nights to get my bearings, probably in Chapinero, though the IBIS Museo looks tempting as it's so close to Santa Fe. Who has experience of walking there from the IBIS in the daytime, it's not far but whatever route I check looks dodgy. Can it be done safely?

Looking for Airbnb's in Bogota is seriously frustrating. None I have checked have heating, they have many customer complaints that their places were freezing in the morning / at night. But when I've asked them about a heater they come back with endless crap 'We are in the tropics / we don't use heating in Bogota / I will give you lots of blankets' !? I'm not paying € 400 for a week to freeze my ass off on the equator!!

[Mr Enternational]

I went down to Santa Fe tonight about 10 and WOW. What the Venezuelans have done for that place I can not even describe. I thought it was Friday night the way that place was rocking. I walked passed La Piscina (other side of the street though with La Piscina being on my left) and got to the corner and posted up there. What the fuck. I looked to my right and right next to me was a guy with his back to the wall and the police had him surrounded. I was too late to see what had actually happened, but there was another guy with a jacket and backpack on pacing angrily as if maybe the guy had done something to him. And there was a big ass crowd around, looking on from both sides of the street. Even more police came and pulled up on the sidewalk on their motorcycle. How the hell did I just walk right into the middle of this? I am standing there listening but they really were not saying anything. Eventually they just told the guy to get ass away from there and soon the crowd dispersed leaving nothing but the sweet sight of some fine ass Venezuelans.

I stayed in my spot for a while and two drunk guys came over fucking with the women and dapping me up saying how there were some fine ass women out tonight. I ran up in California and saw a couple that I would take but I wanted to explore first, so I just did one round with the waiter following me then I walked out. I posted up on the wall on the other side of California and there was a wall of chicks all lined up at the curb. Traffic was stopping to get a glimpse of them. And there was no way in hell that all of them were at least 18.

Woooo. I saw the chick that I wanted. She was on the far left end wearing jeans and sneakers with a backpack purse. I was still surveying the area and turned to look to the right. When I looked back to the left she had disappeared. Huh? I was sad as a mf. But 2 minutes later she showed back up and I went right over to her. I asked her if she had to go study (because of the backpack). She thought I said something else though and answered that she was from Venezuela. I repeated the question. She then answered that she was there working. I asked her how much she wanted and she said 50. I said what about the room? She said she would take care of it out of the 50. Let's Go!

We walked down to the next block to a room on the opposite side of the street. I gave her the 50 and she handed it to the attendant. I guess they will give her her part later. We went into the room and she was Hot and Ready like a Little Caesar's pizza. She had a small pussy hole, but she put on quite a show. I was a satisfied customer. I asked her if I could take pictures and she said not of her face. I told her I wanted to take pictures of her dressed though. She said okay. We got dressed then there was a knock on the door. I asked her how much time we were supposed to get and she said 15 minutes. I thanked her and left.

I headed up to one of the stores to buy some snacks and drinks for my room. Then I headed into Troya. That shit was empty! I walked straight to the bar and saw a Heineken on the wall, so I asked for one of those. He went and got it and came back about to open it and I asked how much. He said 20. I said fuck that. Give me a Club Colombia instead. It was 8,000. I don't know why I ordered that shit. I don't even drink beer. I took 2 sips and my belly was full. There must have been 5 other guys in there besides me and 7 chicks that I counted. I sat there watching the show and finished the beer. Then I left and walked around and eventually hit another chick before walking back to my hotel about 12:30.

Although I am agnostic, I ended up thanking god for 2 things tonight:

One is poverty and the other is that I am not in it! So that I am able to partake in the fruit that it brings.

[Mr Enternational]

Do ATMs in Colombia have English language option?

If I recall correctly the last 3 ATMs that I used in Medellin, Cartagena, and Barranquilla did have an English option.

[XBoyX]

Do ATMs in Colombia have English language option?

[The Tall Man]

SA = Seeking Arrangements = seeking.com.

I'm not sure what it takes to get banned from the site.

Recently I got an amusing message from a 19 yo in Bogota:

"Hello, I am looking for an educated man, I am selling my anal virginity, if you are interested Send me a message".

Last time I checked she wasn't banned.

That is funny as shit "selling my anal virginity", how is a guy to know he is the first dick in her ass?

The Tall Man.

[GreenBud]

Even places like Unilago and the surrounding area, you can use your card there but they will tell you right away they will charge you 5-6% more. Many restaurants have the same policy.

All the restaurants I've been to in Colombia did not charge extra for using credit cards. Supermarkets don't charge extra either. In Colombia, the credit card never leaves your sight. They will bring out a portable chip reader. Many small mom and pop places will try to charge extra for credit cards; I believe most mom and pop eating establishments in Colombia do not accept credit cards.

You might have gotten confused with the 3.5% extra charge if they select US dollar as the currency instead of COP, or the 10% they automatically add for gratuity in upscale restaurants.

If your credit card doesn't charge you the foreign transaction fee or any other bogus fees, and if you are paying off the credit card every month, and if the merchant doesn't charge extra, then the credit card is the best way to use your money (Non cash advance transactions, of course, which should be obvious). Your exchange rate with the credit card is usually slightly better or sometimes the same compared to the non-black market cash exchange rate, everywhere in the world. Plus you have the credit card points which normally gives you back between 1% to 2%.

[Sean EZ]

SA = Seeking Arrangements = seeking.com.

I'm not sure what it takes to get banned from the site.

Recently I got an amusing message from a 19 yo in Bogota:

"Hello, I am looking for an educated man, I am selling my anal virginity, if you are interested Send me a message".

Last time I checked she wasn't banned.

But if you report her she will be banned. Lots of girls in UK got banned that I know of, for little or no reason. Plenty of articles about it on Reddit.

[Arcangel]

Yeap. Exito is for rich Colombians and foreigners. Nobody money-minded shops at Exito. They are marked up like crazy to begin with, which proves my point.

Even places like Unilago and the surrounding area, you can use your card there but they will tell you right away they will charge you 5-6% more. Many restaurants have the same policy.

I disagree. Exito is like Walmart, they have a big selection of food, clothes and non-food, all at fair prices. I am money-minded and I shop there. The upmarket supermarket is Carulla, standard supermarkets are Olympica and Ara. At all these places, and at all the upmarket restaurants you can pay by card, and many Colombians do. I'm pretty sure the price remains the same, but I always prefer cash.

Of course, Colombians without money don't shop there, but anybody on a salary will happily go to Exito.

Pussy House even accepts cards but they have a 10% surcharge.

That may well be true, but I wouldn't care.

Cash is almost always the best bet in Colombia.

Exactly!

[Arcangel]

I am sorry to ask stupid question, but what is SA.

SA = Seeking Arrangements = seeking.com.

I'm not sure what it takes to get banned from the site.

Recently I got an amusing message from a 19 yo in Bogota:

"Hello, I am looking for an educated man, I am selling my anal virginity, if you are interested Send me a message".

Last time I checked she wasn't banned.

[Tasss]

Do NOT bring USD or any other hard currency into Colombia! Colombia is trying to get RID of all the excess foreign currency floating around.

You're right about them trying to get rid of foreign currency but I have to disagree about not bringing any USD into the country, especially to Bogota. The Venezuelans working in SF / Mileroticos / Photoprepagos seem to prefer USD over COP. You can get some interesting deals done with the Venezuelans working girls by offering USD or a USD+COP combo. Colombianas obviously prefer their own currency.