Cartagena Reports

[Treeshark]

I bought my Avianca tickets tonight thru Expedia.com. Cost was $461 total including $20 shipping charge to paper tickets and $5 fee to expedia.

I used http://www.tripadvisor.com to do a search for the tickets. If you have not tried them before, I would suggest that you try a search to see what they are like. I also tried a search with flycheapabroad.com. That was a real joke. Told them that I wanted direct flight. They refused to offer me a ticket with direct flight from Mia to CTG and back. I could fly MIA to BOG to CTG down and direct back or direct down and thru BOG coming back. But direct both ways no way.

My Avianca flight 35 leaves at 2: 10 PM so would like to arrive at the Avianca counter at 10: 30-11: 00 AM. That may seem like it is too early but I have found that it is usually much faster if you are a bit early. Last trip took me about 10 minutes for check in. Get there later and it can take 45-60 minutes. I find that stressful. This is my vacation and I want as little stress as possible. No way will I try to get to MIA on Wednesday. Will fly to MIA on Tuesday and spend the night.

Oh, I am flying into CTG on Wednesday 8/30 and will fly back on Wednesday 9/20 Just for the fun of it I checked with Expedia on hotels for my first 3 nights. For 2 people of course. Low price was Hotel Da Pietro at $78 a night. Monterrey Hotel was $99. I have stayed there and I think it is nice. Next to Convention center. Hotel Casa La Fe was $105. Capilla Del Mar Hotel was $105. Decameron Cartagena All Inclusive was $112 the first 2 nights and $102 for Friday. Must have a weekend special. Now that I have firm dates, I can start to make my plans. Wednesday 8/30 think I will go to Tripleterria about 10: 30-11: 00PM. So if anyone wants to meet me that is where I will be. :-)

[AddictedToWomen]

The connection I usually make allows 1.5hrs exactly, and I find this allows very little room for error/food/etc.. so plan accordingly.

Once you've got your luggage checked you can probably overshoot departure if you end up get held up by those sons and daughters of National Socialists in security. If your luggage is loaded it (usually) takes forever to find it and get it off, and they have to do that before than can depart. You *probably* have at least 15 minutes, and if you can get word to them you're having your prostate tickled by a rubber glove rather than getting drunk in some bar somewhere, and will be along forthwith, they *might* happily hold a bit for you rather than go rummaging around for your stuff.

[AddictedToWomen]

Avianca asks that you be at the airport 3 hours prior to international departures. I have never needed close to that much time, but I'm always there at least 3 hours in advance.

I need two legs to get to MIA. Thus I always spend the night at the Holiday Inn Express near the airport. Then do the MIA-CTG leg the next day.

Likewise I always plan on 3, or more if I can. AV checkin makes glaciers look fast, and if you want a half-decent seat, its advised.

But if you end up running late, don't sweat it. Half the Colombians won't turn up until an hour before.

[AddictedToWomen]

2) If you go to the parade, be ready to get hit with Water balloons, Ink ballons, shaving creme and other projectiles... I learned the hard way and got hit right in the chest with an ink balloon, staining my #5 reggie bush jersey. I got pissed and grabbed the guy who threw it and had to be restrained from beating the shit out of them. One guy explained to me very apologetically that it was custom, but understood my anger. I then said " fuck it", and then went and bought 3 cans of the silly string and a huge soaker and got right into the fray. Only bad thing is my novia got sprayed in the face, and we had to wash her eyes out. It stung her like hell...

This kind of shit really pisses me off about Colombia. We had similar, though not so damaging problems during the Cavalgata (sp?) in Cali. Too many drunkards behaving stupidly is a recipe for disaster. And a real problem if you're there to take photos. Maybe I should invest in a waterproof case? :D

[Papipapi]

Since it sounds like towels would be problem at ATL1201 , I could bring some extra towels with me or buy some extra ones down there.

BTW, you can buy towels on the main street where they have the flee market for about $2-3 each. Beside the hotdog shop called "Dogger".

[Tom 33]

Avianca asks that you be at the airport 3 hours prior to international departures. I have never needed close to that much time, but I'm always there at least 3 hours in advance.

I need two legs to get to MIA. Thus I always spend the night at the Holiday Inn Express near the airport. Then do the MIA-CTG leg the next day.

[Xion149]

The flight goes on Wed. and Sun. Other trips are added for busier times. I generally go on Wed. because it is cheaper for me to get to MIA mid-week.

I'm a fan of the midweek flight as well, here are the numbers and times, which as far as I know remain static:

Wed. AVIANCA 0035 Miami DEP 13:10 MD8 Cartagena ARR 15:50
Wed. AVIANCA 0034 Cartagena DEP 09:10 M83 Miami ARR 11:55

Assuming a 7 day trip with between 1 and 2 months notice, this should be like $450; prices fluctuate wildly closer to departure date. With 30 days notice you can likely fly anywhere in the states to MIA for $200 RT. On flight legs in and out of CTG, be sure to allow 1.5hrs at least for connection to the next leg. MIA is a small airport and easy to navigate, but the customs officials are NOT. Nothing like a romantic date with a rubber glove AND missing your flight on top of that. The connection I usually make allows 1.5hrs exactly, and I find this allows very little room for error/food/etc.. so plan accordingly.

[Tom 33]

The flight goes on Wed. and Sun. Other trips are added for busier times. I generally go on Wed. because it is cheaper for me to get to MIA mid-week.

[Mr Matto]

As I recall they only do this like 3 days a week. Anyone remember which days??

From Miami to Cartagena? Everyday.

From Cartagena to Miami, Wednesdays and Sundays.

Unless things just changed in the last few months..

[Treeshark]

Since my last trip to Medellin was much less then what I had hoped, I have decided to return to good old Cartagena. It has been about a year and half since I have been there. I have been visiting the "Playground" of South America for about 7 years or so. so I am not a newby at this.

I will buy my airline tickets in the next few days. First ticket will be a roundtrip Avianca flight from Miami (MIA) to Cartagena (CTG). I want the 2 hour and 45 minute direct flight from MIA to CTG. Do not want the one that goes thru Bogota. As I recall they only do this like 3 days a week. Anyone remember which days?? When I was looking before, the best deal I could find was about $445 total on Expedia. Any suggestions for other places to look or travel agents to contact?

Where to stay that first night?? I have a hotel I like but I do not remember the name. It is across the street from the country club. I will not bother to even try to make a reservation. I figure the odds are 99% that they will find a room for me. I have tipped the staff well in the past and I am sure that they will be thrilled to have me stay with them again. If you go to http://www.zepelion.com/apartamentos/index.htm you can see the hotel in that top picture. See the swimming pool at the bottom about 1/4 of the way from the right. That is the pool at the country club. The red to the northeast are tennis courts. The black thing to the northwest is the country club building. A little more to the northwest are the top 2 or 3 floors of the hotel and is yellowish white. It is a nice hotel. Has AC, cable TV, a pool in the back, free breakfast, and HOT WATER. Also a restaurant in the bottom and you can charge your meals and drinks to your room. Also a bar. I rent the room for 2 people and have never had any problems with bringing chicas back, in fact I normally rent TWO room side by side so I have some place to put my extra chicas. As I recall rooms are about $50 a night.

I also went to http://www.zepelion.com/apartamentos/index.htm and contacted Juan about renting an apartment from him. I have known Juan for years and he is a great guy. I have met Mery a couple of times and seems like a sweetheart but have not rented from her yet.

I am thinking about renting ATL1201 thru Juan. I have never stayed in that building but have looked at apartments there before. I am thinking about renting for 3 nights to start with. That will give me a chance to see if I like the place or not. Someone else mentioned in their report that they had stayed there and seemed to like it. This trip is for fun and I do not mind spoiling myself a bit with where I stay. CTG is HOT and HUMID and I want a place where I can be comfortable since I will be spending a lot of my time in my apartment during the day.

I will try to write reports as I go along so you can see how the Treeshark does his Cartagena vacations.

[MJG Dogs]

Tom

thanks for the picture of my negrita princess. she looks better even in person..

[Tom 33]

I have always stayed away, but I have been told that they like to throw shit as well. I don't mean figurative shit. It's the real stuff. Be thankful that it was only ink.

I just happen to have one of Miss Choco as well.

[MJG Dogs]

she is hot. But Miss Choco, who was the runner-up was smokin hot.......

Now for you guys going to CTG, during miss colombia a few things to know:

1) There are hot looking chicas everywhere, however many of them are not working girls, so use some smarts when approaching them. But oh my, all shapes and colors....

2) If you go to the parade, be ready to get hit with Water balloons, Ink ballons, shaving creme and other projectiles... I learned the hard way and got hit right in the chest with an ink balloon, staining my #5 reggie bush jersey. I got pissed and grabbed the guy who threw it and had to be restrained from beating the shit out of them. One guy explained to me very apologetically that it was custom, but understood my anger. I then said " fuck it", and then went and bought 3 cans of the silly string and a huge soaker and got right into the fray. Only bad thing is my novia got sprayed in the face, and we had to wash her eyes out. It stung her like hell...

3) The Boat parade was even crazier. Not recommended unless you want all out war on the high seas. I was surprised no boat capsized or sank.I saw shit that I could not believe. That time I just had to listen to a drunkin colombian ***** about me and my friend calling us "rich gringos", "putas" etc... Now, this time I kept my cool and let the buffoon carry on. Then the Colombian coast guard boards our boat and makes us pull up to a dock. It turns out our boat did not have a permit, or was overcrowded. Now, I am starting to get nervous, thinking of a colombian jail, having my blue eyes harvested ( a rumor about this happening to a guy in rural colombia), but after about a 45 miunte delay. The captain of the Coastguard points to me, my friend and our novias and says to me in English
"you can go, the boat will be released soon" After that, No more boat pararde for me....

Advice: Make sure if you go to the boat parade, get there early and get a ticket on one of the bigger boats... Our boat was a pirated boat... Live and learn.

make sure you have reservations in November, the place is packed..

[Tom 33]

Miss Colombia

[Tom 33]

Medellin's entry to the Miss Colombia contest last year.