Medellin Reports

[Cm6363]

Pluses and Minuses of Brokerage Firm DEBIT Cards.

- Create a Second Account with a Separate, Unlinked Debit Card.

A number of brokerage firms offer debit cards with no foreign ATM fees charged to your account. In comparison, my bank does charge a fee for international withdrawal. At $2 - $5 per withdrawal, that's a big savings.

One warning though about brokerage debit cards. Unlike credit cards, you and not the institution are on the hook for theft or fraud. So I would recommend a second brokerage account with just enough cash for your needs while abroad. (You can always keep the account balance low and transfer more money to the account.) By creating this second account, if you debit card is stolen, or hopefully it is not the case that you are held up at an ATM and forced to keep making withdrawals, the thieves do not have access to your entire brokerage account assets.

The last step in this process is requesting a separate, unlinked debit card that only can withdraw from the second account. If the debit card is linked to both accounts, this defeats the purpose of creating a second account.

[Cm6363]

I've read and heard Laureles isn't as safe as it was pre-pandemic. I like the neighborhood because good restaurants and markets are within walking distance (without the hills of El Poblado). I'm typically not afraid anywhere I want to go in Colombia, but I know Bogota far better than Medellin. Any thoughts on the notion that Laureles is more dangerous now? Thanks.

[Marrowbone68]

This is funny. Charles Schwab is like a religion on this website. I won't respond to what reads like a product promotion brochure other than to say I stand by my post. My advice was to shop around. Anyone who doesn't want to do that can base their personal finance decisions on what is posted on a punter web site, good luck with that.

If you can't get schwab get starling, but schwab is better as they refund ATM fees. Zero margin and zero fees is as good as it gets (and it gets far worse). Srsly, if you know any better deals please let us all know, I'll apply immediately, I hate paying bank or any other fees.

[CageMonkey]

As of December 14, 2021 there will be new testing and vaccination requirements to enter Colombia. You will have to be a resident to get in if you don't have at least one documented vaccination. The health ministry's announcement released last night was characteristically wish washy about the testing requirement. If you are a tourist or business visitor, you must have at least one vaccination. You must also have a PCR test nor more than 72 hours old. The wishy washy part is whether the PCR test will also be required for people who have two or more vaccines. Let the re-interpretation, "should I still come" and live free or die debates begin.

If you have a layover before your connecting flight to MDE, you might be able to get tested at the airport. Miami does in the Central terminal I recall.

[Knowledge]

As of December 14, 2021 there will be new testing and vaccination requirements to enter Colombia. You will have to be a resident to get in if you don't have at least one documented vaccination. The health ministry's announcement released last night was characteristically wish washy about the testing requirement. If you are a tourist or business visitor, you must have at least one vaccination. You must also have a PCR test nor more than 72 hours old. The wishy washy part is whether the PCR test will also be required for people who have two or more vaccines. Let the re-interpretation, "should I still come" and live free or die debates begin.

[Knowledge]

This is funny. Charles Schwab is like a religion on this website. I won't respond to what reads like a product promotion brochure other than to say I stand by my post. My advice was to shop around. Anyone who doesn't want to do that can base their personal finance decisions on what is posted on a punter web site, good luck with that.

Really? Name a better option for US citizens. Schwab is completely fee free, has no minimum balance, refunds all ATM fees all over the world immediately (some posters say the fees back at the end of the month but I get them back immediately), pays competitive interest on cash balances, and has no sales commissions if you do want to invest. E-Trade refunds all ATM fees but turns around and charges a 1% "foreign transaction fee." Both Schwab and E-Trade do charge 1% on foreign purchases made with a debit card but there is never a reason to do that. Also, my CS card was compromised when I was in Bum Fuck, Honduras and they overnighted me a new card via DHL. I saw on the envelope it cost almost $115 US. You can lock and unlock the card on the website.

So anything better than Charles Schwab must be really, really good, so please let us know.

[ChuchoLoco]

Oh I see. Thanks. Forgive my ignorance, but this is the card you'd get stateside? Basically open a charles schwab account prior to travel?

Well I did it from USA on internet so I assume probably from anywhere but go to their website to find out more. Card was sent to my home and opening the account was easy enough. I have only made a couple deposits so I don't know much more but they have great customer service that can answer all your questions.

[Zeos1]

Hehe. I am sticking w my original suggestion. Treat people like human beings, and they are more likely to treat you like one. Try to understand their situation and the factors that guide their decisions.

I have a friend from USA that has a "GF" here. They are always arguing and finishing. He gets frustrated bcos he says he "gives her everything she could want" - he "takes care of her" when he is here, she has "all she wants". But the truth of the matter is that he does no such thing bcos he lacks all ability to understand her situation. She has a child and is young. She is a SW. She can take care of herself and her child already. So why should she sacrifice that? What happens if they finish? He is offering her no security, no future, nothing extra to what she has already. In fact, he is taking her best years when she could meet someone that is willing to secure her future. So she is actually wasting her time on him bcos he doesn't understand her needs or is willing to help her.

He is just too blinded to see things from her persepctive. He thinks she is a selfish bltch that just wants money. She is a nice girl. She is being reasonable. She is thinking of her future.

100% on this. The vast majority of the time we, the "boyfriend", have no idea of either the cost that the GF is facing, and how she is to live her life. If you want a GF here or in CR or anywhere similar and you want it exclusive, etc. Be prepared to be married basically. Otherwise give her the freedom to manage her future by not expecting her to be exclusive to you, etc.

[VasyaPetya]

Bro add me on your facebook, my faux profile is frank wright. I have a thousand FB girls. 90% are dimes. I will add you.

LOL there's about a thousand frank wrights man.

[VasyaPetya]

Title is the answer. Highly recommended debit card.

Oh I see. Thanks. Forgive my ignorance, but this is the card you'd get stateside? Basically open a charles schwab account prior to travel?

[Elvis 2008]

I am not suggesting anyone set up some poor needy Colombian chica for a tailspin by pulling the rug out from under her, and then sadistically watch her do a nosedive. I am suggesting as a test and with cause, you can tell a girl who you support, maybe only partially, maybe only slightly, that you will no longer be helping her, and her response can be very revealing. Ten seconds later you can return to baseline or whatever you choose.

References to wives confuse me because yes, these are girlfriends, emphasis on multiple and I am not pretending to be monogamous with any of them. And their need is genuine, this is not a culture specific to Play 4 Pay, this is Colombian culture and how 80% of these girls live.

Yeah, you really do not get it. Pulling money away from a woman is a john move. And if you feel the need to pull money to get clarity on a woman, let me help you out, she is a ho. Period. All you are really doing is asking her to be a better actress.

[SplareMe]

I live in Los Angeles and I have been enjoying the scene in Tijuana for over 30 years. Lot's of great options but you really never have to leave Hong Kong. The owners really get it. During the lockdown from Covid they almost doubled the size of the club by expanding into the adjacent properties. On a typical weekend night, there must be at least 150 girls. Also, I think because of the overall hit to the Mexican economy, there have never been more beautiful girls than right now. That said I'm ready for some new adventures and I am landing in Medellin the 3rd week of January. Would appreciate anyone that already knows the ropes there and will be there during that time to contact me.

[Osteoknot]

Taking Viagra cuts the risk of Alzheimer's by up to 69 percent?

I dunno, I did not do a deep dive and one of my ex-professional level critiques of the evidence but this is just too good to not throw it against the wall and see what sticks, jajajaja.

https://nypost.com/2021/12/06/taking...to-69-percent/

[MilkDog08]

How can you find the girls on facebook? Do you have some names to give me? I don't know any girl on facebook from Colombia.

In fact till now, I always monger in Thailand and Cambodia but it will me my first time in Colombia.

Bro add me on your facebook, my faux profile is frank wright. I have a thousand FB girls. 90% are dimes. I will add you.

[JustTK]

I am not suggesting anyone set up some poor needy Colombian chica for a tailspin by pulling the rug out from under her, and then sadistically watch her do a nosedive.
Unpredictably, for me at least, the focus became the one paragraph with my little acid test about telling the girl you will withhold support, that I considered to be tangential to my main points. I'll take the blame for the sucky writing, jajaja.

Hehe. I am sticking w my original suggestion. Treat people like human beings, and they are more likely to treat you like one. Try to understand their situation and the factors that guide their decisions.

I have a friend from USA that has a "GF" here. They are always arguing and finishing. He gets frustrated bcos he says he "gives her everything she could want" - he "takes care of her" when he is here, she has "all she wants". But the truth of the matter is that he does no such thing bcos he lacks all ability to understand her situation. She has a child and is young. She is a SW. She can take care of herself and her child already. So why should she sacrifice that? What happens if they finish? He is offering her no security, no future, nothing extra to what she has already. In fact, he is taking her best years when she could meet someone that is willing to secure her future. So she is actually wasting her time on him bcos he doesn't understand her needs or is willing to help her.

He is just too blinded to see things from her persepctive. He thinks she is a selfish bltch that just wants money. She is a nice girl. She is being reasonable. She is thinking of her future.