Cartagena Reports

[Concarne]

Ngp...this sounds intriguing: is this place an island that is non-developed? If so is it worth visiting in terms of it being relaxed and at least having 1 or 2 pretty beaches were one may chill for the day?

Any places to stay or is it local homes?

Other than the beach and possibly some diving...other diversions such as waterfalls, hiking?

Thanks mate.

[Ngp477]

Some of the small children and up to 16 walk around without clothes or in underwear because of the heat. older girls wear see thru t-shirts without bras.

I am sure the legal aged ones would take a poke for 5k pesos. Probably their mama would rent them out for 4K an give you some privacy in their home. May want a shower first.

[Brubaker]

"Some of the inhabitants were walking around without clothes"

Are we talking women here?

[Ngp477]

just came back from a launch ride to Terra Bomba, about 7 minutes from the Hilton. More adventure than a trip to Isla Rosario and NO VENDORS!

Some of the inhabitants were walking around without clothes, others in their underwear. Because I was with my lady, I did not inquire about sex, but I would guess it is pretty cheap. Most of the inhabitant sit around their partially finished cement block homes watching the day go by. There is one small store on the island and a couple of churches. One girl came up to me as if she had never seen a white person before, and tried to touch my arm. The ripe scent drew me away quickly. A guide took us to Playa Linda about 25 minutes away, I gave him 3,000 tip. I guess Playa Linda is a generic name on most every island.

You negotiate with the launch owners and all their friends over the cost of the boat ride. Cost is about 20,000 pesos round trip. We went with one launch guy over there, he wanted to charge 20,000 pesos and was to come back to pick us up in an hour. I was to pay him 20,000 on the way back for both ways. When he did not come back we waited an extra 15 minutes, he never showed, and then went back with another launch guy for only 8,000 pesos. May never see the first guy.

[Brubaker]

Thats true! Finding an apartment is easy in Cartagena. There are plenty of adequate one bedroom apartments for 80-100k. You can find one in 2 minutes.

[Under100Pesos]

Ngp477 is corect,just by walking into the edificios(apartment buildings) you can eliminate the middle man,or woman.your choice,your money.

Other than finding chicas,finding an apartment is the second easiest thing in Cartagena.If you have any doubts go to the middle of Laguito in the daytime,step out of the taxi with your suitcase and yell"apartamentos".Be ready for a tout stampede.I would not suggest using one of these individuals.

I used one when i first starting going there and i did find a nice apartment.The problem was that whenever i went outside somehow he would appear and ask for the dreaded propina(tip).Whatever you give them will not be enough.also, they get a kick back from the owner of the apartment for bringing you to them.This will not stop them from asking for a tip,again and again.

Again, by just walking around and asking the rental offices or front desk you can get the best deals.Hope this helps!

[Team Stream]

2k's a buck (though GWB is doing his best to make sure its more every day). I used to fight over the small change, now I just don't bother: if they're honest with me, I give em a tip; if they wanna screw me, they loose.

These guys *do* work for next to nothing: be nice to 'em.

I agree with you that 2k is a dollar, but it is obvious that I'm a tourist that they will try take advantage of me. The example being that going to Laguito from the airport at night. The taxi guy said 13k (normally 12k). I didn't feel like arguing with him at 1130pm so I said okay.

I don't want to add the precedence that tourists/gringos = easy target to ripoff. I want to basically let them know that I know that I may look like a tourist, but I am not easy to rip off. It is just the principle.

I have a rule that if the taxi guy asks for a tip, I'm not giving him one (automatically). He is asking me becomes he knows that I'm a tourists. I don't think he would dare ask a Colombian guy for a tip. Basically I don't trust any taxi drivers in any country, and (like NGY477 said) one needs to be always on guard.

And yes, I know that I'm bargaining of a couple of mil pesos and I'm blowing 100k on a girl at LDV, but then I'm not paying 200-300k as the girls ask for sometimes. I'll pay the "reasonable" going rate for an LDV girl (thus the research on ISG) and I'll also pay the "reasonable" going rate for a taxi/hotel/whatever.

[Ngp477]

Please note that I have nothing bad to say about Mery, it is the gringo owners that set the price, expecting gringo customers to pay that fee per night.

I have also rented from www.cartagenaapartments.com and had a good exerience with them. No problems bringing in a different girl everynight. Of course I am not loud and do not have real wild parties, only parties for 2. You pay in advance by paypal and should bring your receipt with you to get properly credited for your deposit. One of the girls with their company speaks perfect English, I cannot recall her name, but after you reserve the aparmtent on the internet you should call the number on the website and speak English, they will transfer your call to this girl right away and you can schedule a checkin time at the aparmtent lobby where you are staying 45 minutes after your flight is scheduled to come in. They will meet you at 11pm in the night, as they did for me.

You can save by renting from an administrator who normally rents to Colombians, and they have rental offices in almost every apartment of Laguito. Especially during slow season, prices are about half what you would pay with Mery. If you are in Cart for a week or more it does add up!

[Ngp477]

Addicted to women --

The average taxi driver earns about $400 a month, double the normal wage for Colombia. Of course many of them work 12-14 hours a day, by choice. Usually they get 2 or 3 days off a month, without pay, which is required by the city laws on a rotation basis from the last number of their license plate. It is their business and after they pay the daily rental fee of about $20 they are free to drive it as long as they like. The owner also must pay for health insurance for the driver. If they can overcharge a couple of thousand pesos on each trip it will add up, 100% as profit in their pocket, and alot of drivers in Cartegena try to overcharge, especially gringos at night from clubs. If you are nice to them they will think of some way to overcharge you. Its best to be on guard. They are not your friend, and will try to overcharge you if they can. They have no loyalty to you whatsoever.

Only pay the minimum and ask what it is before getting in the cab. Often if you stop at an ATM or make another stop on the way they will try to charge you double the minimum, or charge you for wait time. Ask before you get in.

How do I know? I own several taxis in Medellin. Colombians would die for a taxi job and would not prejudice their opportunity by robbing an american or getting in trouble with the law, but overcharging small amounts, YES.

The city regulates the number of taxis on the streets so there are not too many or too few. IT IS complicated to buy a taxi, but not impossible.

[Tom 33]

Actually it happens a little more often than that. The Presidential elections will be held on May 28. Same deal. No alcohol sales from midnight Friday through midnight Monday.

[Mangera]

I always walk a couple of blocks from the airport and then hail one of many cabs. I say 7 mill pesos, Laguito. Sometimes they counter 8 mil but usually they accept.

On the way to the airport I never say airport. I always say Crespo circa airopuerto. 7 mil. If you say Crespo, the part of Cartagena where the airport is, they will charge you local prices, not tourist prices.

I save a couple bucks for the girls. I had a nice girl from LDV for 50,000 pesos. BBBJ and CIM but no actual intercourse. I renegotiated with her when she would not do my favorite position (secret). Either 50,000 or get the fuck out.

I also stay in apartments, not hotels. Now I am staying in Tocagua, half a block from LDV, an ocean front remodeled, for 70,000 pesos, about $30 a night. It is low season, so you do not need a reservation. There is a small cafe below the building, ask for Susie for an ocean view and she will rent to you. She speaks some English. You can also rent in this building for $50 a night from www.cartagenaapartments.com

I used to rent from Mery Salence, but Susie will rent for about half Mery´s price, at Colombiano prices. Mery charges gringo prices and adds on her fee of about $15 a night.

Then I go to the Hilton and use their gym and pool all day. Never have I been questioned. Use the gringo factor to your advantage, if you can.

I also get alot of free airline tickets from using credit cards, frequent flier miles and bumps. If you book the direct flight to and from Cart. it is almost guaranteed the flight on return will be overbooked and you can be rerouted thru Bogota in a couple hours and receive a free international Avianca ticket.

I have not bought a ticket now for my last 2 trips and have another free American Airlines ticket next month from credit card purchases. I am in construction and charge all the materials and services I can on my A.A. card.

Cheers!

I have stayed a couple of times in the Tocagua building. Susie is very nice and all. But make sure you check the apartment carefully before making any payment. In the first apartment I stayed in, the kitchen was infested with roaches, I mean just unfreaken believable. I made the mistake of paying upfront since a buddy of mine refered her to me.

When traveling abroad, it is normal to encounter a few flying friends here and there, but Jesus, it sucks to be worried about a roach on the wall right over the head of the gal you are pounding, getting ready to make a nose dive right into the action.

Second visit, I checked things out carefully, and all was good(different apartment). So I would visit Tocagua again, and rent from Susie again, but check things out carefully, for example, open oven door, kitchen cabinets, and check out bathrooms.

Don't know if I will be back anytime soon to Cartagena, from what I have read in the last couple of months, prices are getting out of hand. Good luck to all.

[AddictedToWomen]

I hear you.

I turned down the cutest ever little black chick in Bogotá cause she wanted 200k. And late on a quiet mid-week night.

Sad. :(

Thats exactly my point. Guys have been paying sky rocket prices and in resulting the prices have been upped tremendously. Granted I have only been to Colombia twice once in Medellin and once in Bogota. When I was there 8 years ago you would bag a 10++ easy for the prices I have quoted. I have longed to go back since I divorced my colombian wife and this year is my year. I shall be mongering in those neck of the woods again. I am by no way on a 10 dollar budget guy when I go. But guys need to realize you are paying these broads salarys of heart surgeons for crying outloud.

[AddictedToWomen]

2k's a buck (though GWB is doing his best to make sure its more every day). I used to fight over the small change, now I just don't bother: if they're honest with me, I give em a tip; if they wanna screw me, they loose.

These guys *do* work for next to nothing: be nice to 'em.

I agree with you regarding the taxi rate. After I figured out that the going rate is 10-12k at night, I was getting into the Cartagena Bus "Terminal," which is really far away from Laguito (it seemed like a 20 min taxi ride) at 1am. I walked out into the line of waiting taxis, and I asked if they would go to Laguito for 10 mil. Most of the taxi guys reponded with 12k, and I would just go on to the next guy. Shortly thereafter, a taxi guy I approached early ran up to me and agreed to 10k (he mentioned to the other taxi guys that he was heading in that direction anyways).

[Mastorr]

Hi,

After reading this address www.cartagenaapartments.com, anybody have an experience to rent one ?.

In the General Conditions speaks about the guest policy and I don't know if is the same policy than if you are in hotel.

Thanks,

"The maximum number of guests for each apartment must not be exceeded. Parties may not be held in apartments, and guests are expected to be thoughtfully of their neighbours. Any violation of these rules may lead to eviction. "

[Zippy]

Just an FYI that Mery charges 15% of the rent to manage her apts. and I usually pay USD $50-75 per night for her apts (depending on the season, availability, etc.). The vast majority are all completely remodeled and in quality buildings. Plus, Mery is ALWAYS there should something not work, etc. which I know from experience most Colombians will not. Juan is good in this way also.