Medellin Reports

[Knowledge]

I use a dual SIM phone too for the past 15 years. It's a real dual SIM phone (the kind that accepts two physical SIM cards) not an iphone. There are several iphone workarounds. You will be OK, no worries.

I agree on many of your points. My concern is, I guess, if I could buy a new phone in MDE (assuming it was stolen) and activate my T-Mobile e-SIM. I think I could be ok, as I was in Panama and was able to get customer service to help me fix some things. I use a dual-SIM so that DiDi, Rappi, putas, etc. Don't have my personal cell phone number. It also helps with being able to make / receive local calls when necessary. Maybe I'm over-thinking it. Hopefully, no report to follow! Thanks to all for the responses.

[PolloNegro]

I agree on many of your points. My concern is, I guess, if I could buy a new phone in MDE (assuming it was stolen) and activate my T-Mobile e-SIM. I think I could be ok, as I was in Panama and was able to get customer service to help me fix some things. I use a dual-SIM so that DiDi, Rappi, putas, etc. Don't have my personal cell phone number. It also helps with being able to make / receive local calls when necessary. Maybe I'm over-thinking it. Hopefully, no report to follow! Thanks to all for the responses.

And maybe AT & T and GoogleFi will allow you to remove the SIM card and put it into a international phone and it work. The one service that I know for a fact will not work after a phone crashes or breaks, is SPRINT. Thank God that T-Mobile has bought Sprint and those problems no longer occur. With T-mobile's Magenta Max plan, which is much cheaper than SPINT's best plan was, allows me to use whatsapp exclusively without ever being charged a fee due to unlimited data. The last time I was in Medellin, I did not worry about running out of data and looking for a store to top up my data, I just used my T-Mobile phone and that was it. As for burner phones, as long as the phone is unlocked and it comes from Metro-TMobile-ATandT-Cricket and the phone is older than 6 months old, you can have the phone unlocked and it will function in Medellin without a problem. As a matter of fact all American phones that function on a 4 G level, function much faster in Medellin than many of the phones you will buy in Medellin as most Colombian phones still function on a 3 G network. So if spending about $125 for a burner phone is too much, then good luck. You can always play tag with girls on facebook via computer, but if you can't leave your location with your main phone, and you do not want your main number exposed to a home life you have back where ever, you have to make some sacrifice. Nothing is complicated in Colombia other than buying property, cars, or trying to get services in your name. Everything else is very tolerable if you know what you want and you already have a game plan before arriving. Pollo Negro is out!

[Lou32]

I did a search of the forum and looked in a couple of other places off the forum but I can't find a lot of info about Edificio Portalegre II in Laureles. Anyone stay there and have any experiences about the place they could share?

[SlapShot10]

Slapshot you can likely afford to replace a lost or stolen phone. No amount of money will replace your foreign phone number but a spare SIM card will. My two part advice is back up your phone content and keep it simple by using the same phone you use in Mexico, North America or wherever else; part two is get a spare SIM card so you can activate your phone number on it via the Internet or by calling your provider. It's a personal choice but I decided years ago I would not sweat material things I can easily replace. I'm not completely reckless. I don't carry my life savings in a backpack while I'm crawling around Centro. I used to use a generic phone cover so my fancy phone doesn't stick out. Now that I have one of those multi lens phones I keep that covered with my hand the rare times I use it out in an open public setting in Centro. When it's in your pocket a stick up guy is not going to make a distinction between a cheapo Opera Mall knockoff or a US $1300 Samsung S21. For me the convenience of my phone is worth more to me than $1,300. I know it's counterintuitive coming from a Centro rat who rarely breaks the 50 K COP barrier chica plus room included but it is how I roll.

I agree on many of your points. My concern is, I guess, if I could buy a new phone in MDE (assuming it was stolen) and activate my T-Mobile e-SIM. I think I could be ok, as I was in Panama and was able to get customer service to help me fix some things. I use a dual-SIM so that DiDi, Rappi, putas, etc. Don't have my personal cell phone number. It also helps with being able to make / receive local calls when necessary. Maybe I'm over-thinking it. Hopefully, no report to follow! Thanks to all for the responses.

[Knowledge]

I like Miraflores for authentic Peruvian food. There are so many restaurants it's hard to go wrong.

I'm so fucking excited to be going back! I've added about 100 WA contacts from SA in the last 2 months, since leaving. Looking forward to newbies & repeats, alike!

I'm kind of writing-off my first week, as it's just filler until I move into my long-term apartment. I'm considering staying in Envigado, just for a change of pace. Anyone stayed there and have a recommendation as to any smaller pockets that are good areas to be, or any specific apartments? I'd prefer to be by La Calle de la Buena Mesa (CL 30 Sur). Any restaurant or bar recommendations in the immediate area?

[SlapShot10]

No more weekend lockdowns on the horizon, only a curfew midnight to 5 AM according to the news.

Medellin is wide open, and I think people are getting burned out on all the protests.

So with that being said, right now is a good time to be in Medellin.

Just read that Medellin curfew and lockdowns all go away June 8. I'm not certain about pico and cedula for shopping. Midnight curfew will continue this week.

I'm so fucking excited to be going back! I've added about 100 WA contacts from SA in the last 2 months, since leaving. Looking forward to newbies & repeats, alike!

I'm kind of writing-off my first week, as it's just filler until I move into my long-term apartment. I'm considering staying in Envigado, just for a change of pace. Anyone stayed there and have a recommendation as to any smaller pockets that are good areas to be, or any specific apartments? I'd prefer to be by La Calle de la Buena Mesa (CL 30 Sur). Any restaurant or bar recommendations in the immediate area?

[SankarShetty]

No more weekend lockdowns on the horizon, only a curfew midnight to 5 AM according to the news.

Medellin is wide open, and I think people are getting burned out on all the protests.

So with that being said, right now is a good time to be in Medellin.

You guys should not change your Medellin visit outlook at the drop of the hat. Who is going to pay for my non refundable ticket and other costs I sunk in to cancelled trip, you or JohnnyO.

Just kidding! LOL.

[Knowledge]

Slapshot you can likely afford to replace a lost or stolen phone. No amount of money will replace your foreign phone number but a spare SIM card will. My two part advice is back up your phone content and keep it simple by using the same phone you use in Mexico, North America or wherever else; part two is get a spare SIM card so you can activate your phone number on it via the Internet or by calling your provider. It's a personal choice but I decided years ago I would not sweat material things I can easily replace. I'm not completely reckless. I don't carry my life savings in a backpack while I'm crawling around Centro. I used to use a generic phone cover so my fancy phone doesn't stick out. Now that I have one of those multi lens phones I keep that covered with my hand the rare times I use it out in an open public setting in Centro. When it's in your pocket a stick up guy is not going to make a distinction between a cheapo Opera Mall knockoff or a US $1300 Samsung S21. For me the convenience of my phone is worth more to me than $1,300. I know it's counterintuitive coming from a Centro rat who rarely breaks the 50 K COP barrier chica plus room included but it is how I roll.

Well I missed you in Puerto Vallarta and was there about ten days ago. Some things to consider about staying in Medellin longer than 180 days in a year. Technically speaking you become a tax resident after being in Colombia more than 180 days in a year, but I don't know if there is an exception for students.

Perhaps where your getting your student visa can shed some light on this, and something you should check into. The Colombian IRS called DIAN is getting more and more sophisticated, and there are several expat's living in Colombia who don't file Colombian taxes and could be in for quite a shock sometime in the future, so just something to check into.

As far as a burner phone, meaning not a smart phone, if that's what your talking about I recommend a Nokia. Lots of knockoffs but the real ones have a long battery life and are about $ 25 USD. But you can also get a smart phone for as low as 200,000 Pesos and it might be a better route for you as you can get data for like 2,000 Pesos a day. As far as Whatsapp on two different phones with different numbers, I tried that as I have two American cell numbers here, and they wouldn't allow it. My American cells stay inside my place, and I only go out with my burner phone.

[Knowledge]

I haven't noticed pico / cedula enforcement. Maybe I shop at places that are too down market.

Just read that Medellin curfew and lockdowns all go away June 8. I'm not certain about pico and cedula for shopping. Midnight curfew will continue this week.

[Paulie97]

I have been watching the State Departments Travel Alerts for 4 years now and Colombia has been at Level 4 the entire time. I agree, it is very good advice right now due to the protests and the lockdown.

El Mechanico.

I'm sure I've seen it at Level 3 a number of times during that time frame.

[LatinaLover#1]

I have been watching the State Departments Travel Alerts for 4 years now and Colombia has been at Level 4 the entire time. I agree, it is very good advice right now due to the protests and the lockdown.

El Mechanico.

With State dept. Alerts is they always err on the conservative side and are overly cautious. I have been traveling to Colombia for over 10 years, many times a year and have never had a problem. However, I don't go to Buenaventura or the Dariand Gap or El Bronx when it was notorious for drugs and crime. Or the dangerous areas of the south. That being said I would not recommend a rookie to visit Colombia in this time of unrest with another large outbreak of Covid. When these issues subside, go and enjoy.

[El Mechanico]

Travel Advisory 4 = stay away, good advice at this point IMO.

I have been watching the State Departments Travel Alerts for 4 years now and Colombia has been at Level 4 the entire time. I agree, it is very good advice right now due to the protests and the lockdown.

El Mechanico.

[JjBee62]

Well since not being at ground zero since last Wednesday, I decided to make a visit and deposit a load!

I left San Geronimo in the morning and arrived at the Northern Bus Terminal around noon, hopped in a cab to Poblado. Upon entering the on-ramp to the Autopista, it was like a parking lot and the driver said it wasn't good with the protesting wherever the fuck it was so he had to back up off the on ramp and I had him take me to the METRO to travel to Poblado. Finally got home, unpacked, made some calls and left at 3:30 PM for ground zero on the METRO. I got off at the Parque Berrio station and while walking down the stairs at ground level I saw three pretty girls, two of which were chatting, and another one talking with a guy. I walked a bit and turned around to watch them and suspected they were working but didn't want to butt in to their conversations. Anyways, I headed to the Veracruz Church and started making laps around the backide of the Church, the side of the Museum and back to the Church. Lots of girls out all over the place with a sprinkling of some very pretty ones, along with all the dumpy ones. It was impressive as to how many girls were out walking around and working, I think about as good as it gets for a Monday afternoon. While walking along side the Museum to the backstreet behind the Church there was a taller older woman, around thirty that I chatted with. She stuck out wearing a white dress and I had never seen her before so I stopped to chat with her. She said she had only been in Medellin for two weeks and was a bit aggressive, and I was interested, as I like thin taller girls most of the time but just couldn't pull the trigger at that moment. So out of curiosity I asked her how much and she said 30 K and I told her no thanks I was going to walk around some more and then she said how much was I willing to pay her. I told her what she quoted was okay, but that I just wasn't ready. She smiled at my response and was very polite about it all when I left. I went around the corner and thought, maybe I should of pulled her, and if it wasn't a good session, what the fuck, pay her and go pull another one. What struck me about her was how she didn't get pissed off about not being pulled and how polite she was. So after leaving and about ten minutes later I decided to pull her, and of course she was nowhere to be found. Oh well, that's how it goes a lot of times in El Centro..

Just read that Medellin curfew and lockdowns all go away June 8. I'm not certain about pico and cedula for shopping. Midnight curfew will continue this week.

[PVMonger]

You can enter the US with that letter and a positive test (both within the last 90 days), but I don't think that will do you any good trying to enter Colombia. I think you have to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival.

As for getting the vaccine after you have had Covid, many doctors advise against that. They say the antibodies your body produces are more powerful than the vaccine.

This sounds suspiciously like trump's "many people have told me".

[Surfer500]

No more weekend lockdowns on the horizon, only a curfew midnight to 5 AM according to the news.

Medellin is wide open, and I think people are getting burned out on all the protests.

So with that being said, right now is a good time to be in Medellin.