Cartagena Reports

[Hilltopper]

Wednesday night in Cartagena I visited 3 places and noticed 3 distinct styles........

Enjoyed the read and chuckled at the analogies. Well done!

[Hilltopper]

Yes. Bocagrande and the old city (centro) are safe. Just do not leave the old city walls at night and you'll be fine.

You will need to bring your own.

Go to Playa hollywood and ask for Jason. He'll set you up. He speaks English.

To El Papi, if you've paid Jackson the member fee, shoot a private message for Jayson's WhatsApp if you'd like to contact in advance of your arrival to receive info on boats available, etc.

Have fun!

[YippieKayay]

First all of thanks everyone for the tips and reviews provided!

I will be staying in Bocagrande. Is bocagrande safe to walk around?

Yes. Bocagrande and the old city (centro) are safe. Just do not leave the old city walls at night and you'll be fine.

Also nobody has mentiones the islands. I would liek to check isal baru out. Are there any girls there or do I need to bring my own?

You will need to bring your own.

I would like to go on a yatch party. Where can I find these things or events going on. Thanks in advance.

Go to Playa hollywood and ask for Jason. He'll set you up. He speaks English.

[ElPapi]

First all of thanks everyone for the tips and reviews provided!

I will be staying in Bocagrande. Is bocagrande safe to walk around?

Also nobody has mentiones the islands. I would liek to check isal baru out. Are there any girls there or do I need to bring my own?

I would like to go on a yatch party. Where can I find these things or events going on. Thanks in advance.

[Kyle Fox]

Yippie. Relax. These are all obviously places with working girls. I'm saying guys hanging out with their guy friends as they drink and girls hanging with their girl friends.

[YippieKayay]

Wednesday night in Cartagena I visited 3 places and noticed 3 distinct styles. I found "The Waltz" in La Dolce Vita. It was surprising busy tonight (both men and women in equal proportions). The attitude overall was kind of quiet and refined even though semi-loud dance music was playing. You walk in and you get starred at by most of the women you walk by. But they are sober smiles and glances. Most women are dressed quite well and the ages appear 24-34 (average). You sit, you buy a drink and watch the dancing. The action is very slow. Occasionally men go to women or women go to men but it is all a slow moving, laborious type of dance. Many people are just hanging out with their guy or girlfriends and drinking quietly. Few people really seem to be having fun and the wait staff seem quite serious (almost nervous). Drinks are expensive and I think this dampens the fun level. I watch a lot of guys come in, stay for maybe 1 drink and head out. I saw women from 5's to 9's. Majority I would rate around 7 to 7. 5 (on a scale of 1 10).

Are you being sarcastic? There are no girlfriends there. They are all hookers. As far as I know there's no special arrangement. Certain places, especially La Dulce Vida, allow hookers to hang out in them. I've seen normal couples walk in and then very quickly walk out.

But yeah its 100% hookers as far as I know. Staff have always been friendly to me.

Maybe the late hour and the "last chance" of Electra makes the smiles a bit more desperate and earnest, but hey. I enjoyed them all the same.

Most of them at that hour are coked out of their minds. Many hookers stop working before 2 am and leave, or wait around the plaza a bit more before going home.

She kept dancing next to the girl I was watching and I think she believed me to be watching her.

Are you being sarcastic? You're supposed to approach the hooker. Usually in Colombia they are timid and wait for you to make the first move.

Hookers in Cartagena, at night, will start in the Plaza and then make their way to whichever club they ply their trade from. Both Elektra and La Dulca Vida are known hooker bars.

[Kyle Fox]

Wednesday night in Cartagena I visited 3 places and noticed 3 distinct styles. I found "The Waltz" in La Dolce Vita. It was surprising busy tonight (both men and women in equal proportions). The attitude overall was kind of quiet and refined even though semi-loud dance music was playing. You walk in and you get starred at by most of the women you walk by. But they are sober smiles and glances. Most women are dressed quite well and the ages appear 24-34 (average). You sit, you buy a drink and watch the dancing. The action is very slow. Occasionally men go to women or women go to men but it is all a slow moving, laborious type of dance. Many people are just hanging out with their guy or girlfriends and drinking quietly. Few people really seem to be having fun and the wait staff seem quite serious (almost nervous). Drinks are expensive and I think this dampens the fun level. I watch a lot of guys come in, stay for maybe 1 drink and head out. I saw women from 5's to 9's. Majority I would rate around 7 to 7. 5 (on a scale of 1 – 10).

The Tango: Around 2:30 am I went into Electra. It has a narrow very dark hallway leading left for 30 feet and then you open the door to eardrum-pounding dance music. Turn off your hearing aids if you got them. The energy in this place is completely different. I do a figure loop around the club and circle through both halves of the place. I find a 70%-30% girl to guy ratio (looks are 5-9 on 1-10 scale). As I pass by and check out the women, nearly all of them are looking back at me, checking me out and most often I get a warm, well-lubricated smile back at me. Often they appear eager to talk, dance and reach out their arms or hands to signal welcome. Several say "Hola baby" and brush a hand against me (or try). The most striking difference is nearly everyone is having fun and is well-lubricated or on their way to being well-lubricated. The bartenders are generally dancing when not helping a customer. Some couples are making out and it lacks the stiffness I found in La Dolce Vita. On one side people are smoking because the roof if open. I loved the vibration and the energy. I didn't like the deafening music but I learned to live with it. The overall ages seemed younger maybe 20/21 – 30 on average. Drinks are cheaper, people are drinking more, women are openly approaching guys. I haven't seen so many "drunk smiles" for a long time. The kind when you know you are very likely to "get lucky" even in a normal bar. It did a lot for my confidence to be on the other end of those eager smiles. Maybe the late hour and the "last chance" of Electra makes the smiles a bit more desperate and earnest, but hey. I enjoyed them all the same. After being there for an hour or so I found myself loosening up and getting more in the party mode than in my normal "hunter mode. " I had my eye fixed on one petite and young looking chica with olive skin and these wonderful tight curls down a few inches below her shoulders. This happened to be the one shy girl in the place. I talked to her some and she perhaps was not in the game or very new to it. I decided to let her be as she had no interest or seemed to be uncomfortable talking to me. One other downside here is you might find an unwanted chica, giving you the "come hither" eyes and smiling and nearly stalking you. I had one such woman who never seemed to get the clue I had zero interest in her. She kept dancing next to the girl I was watching and I think she believed me to be watching her.

The Chess Game: Earlier in the night I walked around the main plaza of Torre Reloj. To me it was like a chess game. I stand here for a while, I go over there and sit on a bench. I watch the action, then get up and use the bathroom. Later maybe get something to drink, walk around the block and return. The other players of the game seem to be doing much the same. This night was relatively quiet compared to my pre-Christmas visit (although this is supposed to be the high season). Less tourists in the plaza as well. The players on this chess game don't seem to be having fun either. They are standing / waiting, to make their move and capture a piece from the game board. Overall the plaza quality varies greatly from low-end to high-end. The clubs tend to have more intermediate and high-end chicas (based on clothing and looks). When I'm home in the States I think "I wish I could be at the Torre Reloj tonight and select some young chica from the square. " When I'm here in Cartagena at the clock tower I think "I couldn't wait to be here and now that I'm here it is not as good as I expected. 90-95% of the chicas are not for me. I don't like standing around, don't want to sit down and have touts or ugly chicas start conversations with me" Funny how the grass is greener on the other side. Yet, I do want to be here. I love the hunt. I love the anticipation of what might be found in the next minute and the possibility I could encounter a special angel who makes it all worth while. Sometimes I feel like I'm sitting in a duck blind, gun loaded, decoys set. Sitting. Waiting. And waiting. And then there flies by something that grabs my attention. I aim, shoot and hope to bring home a trophy.

Tinder got me some matches but that has yielded no action so far. I find some women use Tinder as an advertising page. They list themselves as escort, masajista or dama de compania and provide their WhatsApp number right there. I suspect they don't bother matching back because they think you already have their number and can call if interested. I started taking down some numbers before I select them (after, you can't recall their info unless they match you). Also did my first ever Tinder "Boost" which basically puts you at the top of other peoples search queues for some period of time.

Happy Hunting.

[Jeff101]

I booked an Airbnb in Laguito near the Hilton from 2/27 to 3/7. Unfortunately, I don't have the time to monger like I once did. Should I set something up beforehand (or is Tinder the way to go nowadays? The AirBnB apt. Is asking for name (s) of who will be staying. Ideally, I have a girl come to my Airbnb for an hour at noon each day for 2-3 days in a row in the middle of my stay. Any suggestions would be helpful.

[Jeff101]

I'm planning a trip from 2/2- 3/7 2018. Can someone recommend a reliable escort service (or is Tinder the way to go nowadays?) that I can contact ahead of time. Ideally, I'd like to have the girl come to my apartment each day around noon for 3 or 4 days in the middle of my stay. I've arranged for an Airbnb in El Laguito. They're asking for the name (s) of who will be registering with me. Unfortunately, I don't have time to monger like I used to so I need someone there in a most timely manner. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

J.

[Germano123]

In contrast to him I have learned Spanish and I am speaking it quite well. So when you have a job for me in Cartagena, you can offer it to me. Hihihi, I am prepared.

[HumanBeing1]

Gents,

I am back in the good ol USA and miserable. I plan to come back but I am craving a different life. Preferably one spent in Cartagena.

I do fine here but hate the rat race. I have been looking into work from home gigs but nothing really meets my lifestyle needs.

This is s total Hail Mary but does anyone know of any work remotely ops or business opportunities that would enable me to enjoy life in the CTG? I have very limited Spanish skills but a work remotely gig could still work.

Sorry to be off topic but this is tugging at my soul.

Looking to move to Colombia and haven't been bothered to learn the language? You should start there.

[LeoAiolia]

OK guys.

I just got back from 10 days in Cartagena. I wanted to give the rundown of my trip.

First of all, I want to thank our fellow posters on this forum, Samcik, El Mechanico, YippieKayay, Hilltoper and Blackpage. Also, any other posters who have given out some solid advice. I was lurking on this site for quite some time and I gained a lot of information. Hopefully, I can repay the favor in kind.

As I have been to every city in Colombia, I decided to have my first extended stay in CTG. It was well worth it. The weather was extremely hot and humid. Even at 3 am, I was dripping with sweat. So if you are going, bring deodorant.

I stayed in Laguito at Juan's apartment. I would never stay in BocaGrande or Hollywood if you paid me. This place is quiet and they treated me like a king..

Thanks for the details. I am new to the site and will be traveling to Cartagena Feb 2-4 and have been in the info gathering phase. I keep coming across the name "Juan" as a good place to stay; where can I find more info on this?

I have already booked a room at the Intercontinental so it seems like my game plan will consist of going to Pley Club, Tinder and Dolce Vita but then I will probably need to find a temporary place since the Hotel will charge $75 USD to bring a "visitor."

[JohnDoe93]

Hey,

Going back in April, I know Morro city is out of the question for me since security got tighter and are really enforcing the no visitor rule. I hear the palmetto eliptic allows guest / girls up for maximum 20 k fee. A girl that works out in CTG has assumed me. I was thinking of getting a colonial house with pool in centro. I'm traveling with 2-4 buddies. Anyone have any other suggestions? Other buildings in Bocagrande / laguito that allow girls up? Even for a fee? I've heard some buildings will allow visits for a 10-30 k fee. I heard maybe the Poseidon buildings allows this? What about H2? Anyone stay there? I've heard good things but not sure about guest policy.

Los Morros (sector) - anyone stayed in this area? I read that it's quiet and a Little desolate with a dangerous feeling at night? Looking for a nice house or apartment with everything and allows visitors.

[YippieKayay]

Gents,

This is s total Hail Mary but does anyone know of any work remotely ops or business opportunities that would enable me to enjoy life in the CTG? I have very limited Spanish skills but a work remotely gig could still work.

Sorry to be off topic but this is tugging at my soul.

Why don't you visit every once and a while before making this decision. Also use this time to talk to a Colombian immigration lawyer. You are going to the tourist zone in Cartagena. Living elsewhere in Cartagena is different.

There are people who go down, start a blog, do things like day trade and sell merchandise online. I can't imagine doing crap like that to get by. I've seen at least one guy try to run an unsuccessful 'Move to Medellin' service before he decided to call it quits and move elsewhere. Some people have gone and invested in real estate. You could try that. Keep in mind CTG is tropical and many buildings end up with roach infestations.

This isn't really the forum for it so google elsewhere and see what other people have done.

I have a couple of lawyer friends down there. Running a business down there will require business relationships, a good understanding of how things get done in Colombia, and Spanish. Or you'll just be taken for a ride and go back home broke. I was looking at buying property in the Sierra Nevadas (chocolate farms) and I got quoted ridiculous prices. One of the lawyers inquired for me and was quoted much less. Just keep that in mind. Extranjero is an easy target.

Good luck.

[DarkSide99]

That is a great suggestion because now I can pick a place stateside and she wouldn't bat an eye. The call forwarding to vm is an excellent idea. I'll easily eat the cost for roaming.

Sincere thanks for the advice. I try to RTFF for most information and it's times like this where you need something more specific that really shows the value of this forum.

The only problem is you will now not if anyone has called you. The only way you would know is if they leave you a voicemail.