Cartagena Reports

[Trojan22]

I'm not sure why everyone is freting over transportation, look I don't speak a lick of spanish and I over paid, anywhere I was going it was 8000. Thats literal pennies, I didn't ask before and was fine paying it every time. If you speak spanish you could probably get it for 6000 but who cares. Uber is not common there and I would assume its more expensive. Cartagena is plenty safe just be smart.

Who's "freting" over it? If you're referring to me since I brought up the topic, I'm pretty certain there's not any tone of tension or worry in my post. It was simply curiosity as stated in the post. Others have kept discussing it because right now, there's nothing else to talk about since most people aren't in CTG during the holidays.

[Zeos1]

Thanks. This may be a silly question but do you know if there are legitimate apps that can be used for taxis in Colombia in a similar manner as Uber was used?

Easy Or Easy taxi. Used it in Medellin a couple of years back. Worked great.

[Mojo Bandit]

I'm not sure why everyone is freting over transportation, look I don't speak a lick of spanish and I over paid, anywhere I was going it was 8000. Thats literal pennies, I didn't ask before and was fine paying it every time. If you speak spanish you could probably get it for 6000 but who cares. Uber is not common there and I would assume its more expensive. Cartagena is plenty safe just be smart.

I also agree that taxis are not an issue in Cartagena, I used Uber in Medellin for convenience sometimes but Cartagena and Medellin are different. Taxis are cheap and in Cartagena and I could care less if I am getting ripped off for chump change. As others have stated they are also everywhere to be found, I have posted this photo as evidence before, this is in Laguito.

[YippieKayay]

I'm not sure why everyone is freting over transportation, look I don't speak a lick of spanish and I over paid, anywhere I was going it was 8000. Thats literal pennies, I didn't ask before and was fine paying it every time. If you speak spanish you could probably get it for 6000 but who cares. Uber is not common there and I would assume its more expensive. Cartagena is plenty safe just be smart.

Agreed using Uber in Cartagena is a hassle. Taxis are everywhere and I've never had an issue. All the prices are fixed between zones.

[DeepXliv]

I'm not sure why everyone is freting over transportation, look I don't speak a lick of spanish and I over paid, anywhere I was going it was 8000. Thats literal pennies, I didn't ask before and was fine paying it every time. If you speak spanish you could probably get it for 6000 but who cares. Uber is not common there and I would assume its more expensive. Cartagena is plenty safe just be smart.

[JjBee62]

Thanks. This may be a silly question but do you know if there are legitimate apps that can be used for taxis in Colombia in a similar manner as Uber was used?

There's Easy Taxi and Tappsi that I know of. I'm not sure how widely they are used in Cartagena.

[Mojo Bandit]

I'm not sure Uber being banned is going to have a significant effect on taxi rates. At least in Bogota and Medellin, taxis outnumbered Uber by a huge amount, probably at least 15 - 1. Taxi rates, once again, at least in Bogota and Medellin are set by the city, not by the drivers. Uber was also never technically legal in Colombia. Before they were operating in a gray area, not legal, not illegal. That's one of the reasons why they always insist you sit in the front.

When I had a chica pick me up at the airport in Rionegro, in July, we were immediately pulled over and she was questioned for 10 minutes because they thought she was an Uber driver.

I'd be really surprised if the cities immediately raise taxi rates by a significant amount. Of course there will always be taxistas trying to hit you with the gringo rates, but you'll probably only see a small increase.

Here's a link that contains a link to the official taxi rates. Familiarize yourself with the rates you need and bypass the drivers who are charging too much.

https://www.cartagenaexplorer.com/co...gena-colombia/

Curious to know how the Uber ban has affected cab fares from someone who's visited after the ban went into effect.

I know some Spanish but not a fluent speaker so using Uber and having the destination already entered on the app before pick up was pretty sweet when I visited Medellin.

To say the same thing in different language; Since taxi rates are set by a regulating body, these rates are not subject to market forces so Uber never had any effect on taxi rates. I don't think Uber is going to go away quietly anyway. Uber has a history of operating illegally now and apologizing later (paying the fines). Here is an article that suggests the whole situation is political and may blow over. The current government is very business friendly but due to recent unrest has given in to the taxi unions to prevent them from striking.

https://www.financecolombia.com/colo...es-to-operate/

Here is an article about a service that is currently only operating in Bogota but probably will expand to other cities in the next few years, it is something to watch for since it will make Taxis more honest and safe.

https://www.contxto.com/en/colombia/...g-cab-drivers/

[PerkinWarbeck]

What happens when they have a male doorman but a female receptionist registering people and enforcing the rules? Yes, I've had a couple of run ins with the "Nurse Ratchet" types. Luckily the building had visitor rules that didn't stop the chica from being registered. The receptionist just gave the chica a colonoscopy when checking her ID.

I have never stayed in Bocagrande / Laguito and have never seen this, but in buildings in Centro, there is typically only one person: the guy who signs the chicas in and checks cédulas.

[Black Page]

Thanks. This may be a silly question but do you know if there are legitimate apps that can be used for taxis in Colombia in a similar manner as Uber was used?

What is the need of such an app in a country where taxi are ubiquitous and so cheap? Even most serious language problems should not be a barrier to state the name of the destination and check the correct price before leaving.

In Cartagena, at any hour of the day and time, I am literally surrounded by yellow cars offering a ride, and the price of a ride between Bocagrande and Centro is less than 2. 50 USD. In most European countries this is cheaper than a city bus ticket!

[Trojan22]

I'm not sure Uber being banned is going to have a significant effect on taxi rates. At least in Bogota and Medellin, taxis outnumbered Uber by a huge amount, probably at least 15 - 1. Taxi rates, once again, at least in Bogota and Medellin are set by the city, not by the drivers. Uber was also never technically legal in Colombia. Before they were operating in a gray area, not legal, not illegal. That's one of the reasons why they always insist you sit in the front.

When I had a chica pick me up at the airport in Rionegro, in July, we were immediately pulled over and she was questioned for 10 minutes because they thought she was an Uber driver.

I'd be really surprised if the cities immediately raise taxi rates by a significant amount. Of course there will always be taxistas trying to hit you with the gringo rates, but you'll probably only see a small increase.

Here's a link that contains a link to the official taxi rates. Familiarize yourself with the rates you need and bypass the drivers who are charging too much.

https://www.cartagenaexplorer.com/co...gena-colombia/

Thanks. This may be a silly question but do you know if there are legitimate apps that can be used for taxis in Colombia in a similar manner as Uber was used?

[YippieKayay]

Long story short, build even the smallest rapport with the doorman and slip him some cash. They will gladly turn the other way.

What happens when they have a male doorman but a female receptionist registering people and enforcing the rules? Yes, I've had a couple of run ins with the "Nurse Ratchet" types. Luckily the building had visitor rules that didn't stop the chica from being registered. The receptionist just gave the chica a colonoscopy when checking her ID.

[JjBee62]

Curious to know how the Uber ban has affected cab fares from someone who's visited after the ban went into effect.

I know some Spanish but not a fluent speaker so using Uber and having the destination already entered on the app before pick up was pretty sweet when I visited Medellin.

I'm not sure Uber being banned is going to have a significant effect on taxi rates. At least in Bogota and Medellin, taxis outnumbered Uber by a huge amount, probably at least 15 - 1. Taxi rates, once again, at least in Bogota and Medellin are set by the city, not by the drivers. Uber was also never technically legal in Colombia. Before they were operating in a gray area, not legal, not illegal. That's one of the reasons why they always insist you sit in the front.

When I had a chica pick me up at the airport in Rionegro, in July, we were immediately pulled over and she was questioned for 10 minutes because they thought she was an Uber driver.

I'd be really surprised if the cities immediately raise taxi rates by a significant amount. Of course there will always be taxistas trying to hit you with the gringo rates, but you'll probably only see a small increase.

Here's a link that contains a link to the official taxi rates. Familiarize yourself with the rates you need and bypass the drivers who are charging too much.

https://www.cartagenaexplorer.com/co...gena-colombia/

[Trojan22]

Curious to know how the Uber ban has affected cab fares from someone who's visited after the ban went into effect.

I know some Spanish but not a fluent speaker so using Uber and having the destination already entered on the app before pick up was pretty sweet when I visited Medellin.

[Questner]

Is Mery Salence is still in rental business? I rented from her in the past too, just can't recall what has been since.

[PerkinWarbeck]

From what I've experienced in my 6 times to Cartagena, there is no truly hard and fast no guest policy for AirBnB. The doormen do not make very much money and can be easily bribed. When I stayed in a building in El Centro that my AirBnB host told me was specifically not guest friendly, I slipped each of the door men who worked there 50 k cop each, and they didn't ask to register any girl I brought back. I had chicas running in and out of a nice building for the duration of each of my stays (typically 1 month).

Long story short, build even the smallest rapport with the doorman and slip him some cash. They will gladly turn the other way.