Medellin Reports

[Old Parr]

I thought the purpose of trip advisor was to help the traveler decide where to stay and not to help or hinder the business of a hotel. I have seen plenty of posts on ta saying the hotel was full of hookers and old guys. Certain people may read that and decide it is not the place for them BEFORE booking the hotel. It beats getting there with your family and finding out too late. Then there are others who will think it is just the type of place they are looking for. Everyone will not be pleased with every aspect of every hotel. So trip advisor lays out other travelers' observations so we can decide if the place is for us before wasting our time and money. Nothing wrong with posting the truth.

Good point, but at the same time very few "internationally known hotels" and I am speaking about Holiday Inns, Hyatts, Sheratons in the world are "filled" with hookers, and in this discussion we are talking about a Holiday Inn.

[Mr Adventure]

I thought the purpose of trip advisor was to help the traveler decide where to stay and not to help or hinder the business of a hotel. I have seen plenty of posts on ta saying the hotel was full of hookers and old guys. Certain people may read that and decide it is not the place for them BEFORE booking the hotel. It beats getting there with your family and finding out too late. Then there are others who will think it is just the type of place they are looking for. Everyone will not be pleased with every aspect of every hotel. So trip advisor lays out other travelers' observations so we can decide if the place is for us before wasting our time and money. Nothing wrong with posting the truth.

Which brings up an open question for anyone. If I am staying say 6 nites, but plan to have a guest only 2 nights, do I make the res for 2 people for the whole stay?

[Mr Adventure]

I was referring to North American families and women. Yes, no different than in Venezuela where wealthy couples, families, singles both Latin and European stay harmoniously in the same hotel. This was the Vela resort in El Yaque, 2005, where they clearly listed an extra $20/ night for guest. Things are handled as discretely as possible. My point is that Latin families are aware of prostitution, and while many despise it, it is tolerated.

Agree, very noteworthy info, think the practice is more common than we realize, but info about which ones are, is scarce. Which is another reason I like to see info from more than one source.

From ISG.

My point is to discourage people to do that again, in order to not hinder further the business of a presumably good hotel (oriented to all travelers, who may bring or not guests to their room).

While I think your intentions are good, this is where it becomes a free speech issue. Maybe if instead of saying "chica friendly" we say some a bit more subtle, like "If some of you single guys are lucky enough to meet your possible future fiance while visiting, you can bring her back, just register as 2 persons".

[Mr Enternational]

I thought the purpose of trip advisor was to help the traveler decide where to stay and not to help or hinder the business of a hotel. I have seen plenty of posts on ta saying the hotel was full of hookers and old guys. Certain people may read that and decide it is not the place for them BEFORE booking the hotel. It beats getting there with your family and finding out too late. Then there are others who will think it is just the type of place they are looking for. Everyone will not be pleased with every aspect of every hotel. So trip advisor lays out other travelers' observations so we can decide if the place is for us before wasting our time and money. Nothing wrong with posting the truth.

[Old Parr]

From ISG.

One thing is to post HERE that a hotel is chica friendly (everyone gives kudos for the useful hint), another to post that information on Trip Advisor or any other web site, which is used by a "general public" to get to know the reputation of a hotel before considering to book it or another.

No? Also Colombian families do travel for tourism or business. Many Colombians go to Medellin for tourism or business too. And some bring families or girlfriends with them (yep "llevan lenha al monte")

My point is to discourage people to do that again, in order to not hinder further the business of a presumably good hotel (oriented to all travelers, who may bring or not guests to their room).

Do you think that the management would be proud to inform everyone that they are "chica friendly" Do you see that written on the hotel web site?

Yes, I assume the hotel is NOT primarily oriented to the single male travelers with our hobby.

While Colombia offers one of the best varieties worldwide of "love motels" (see my previous post about Ibiza, for example, or "Chimba de hotel"), bringing guests to good hotels is not common. As made evident by the post we are talking about, the fact that a hotel is chica friendly is noteworthy information, because it's not common.
Most hotels which want to keep a good reputation simply reject guests, or apply very high fees (Sheraton applies +100k COP fee, when the single pays around 200k)

You are a voice of reason / common sense, which many on here obviously do not have. Kudos to you once again Black Page for telling it like it is. You are one of the few who continually post about reality, and are not afraid to check others at the door when it is appropriate.

[Black Page]

If he didn't post that info then how would any of us guys know?

From ISG.

One thing is to post HERE that a hotel is chica friendly (everyone gives kudos for the useful hint), another to post that information on Trip Advisor or any other web site, which is used by a "general public" to get to know the reputation of a hotel before considering to book it or another.

Don't think there's a whole lot of families or single women looking at MDE for a vacation, (most families and women still gasp in horror at the mention of travel to Colombia), but who knows.

No? Also Colombian families do travel for tourism or business. Many Colombians go to Medellin for tourism or business too. And some bring families or girlfriends with them (yep "llevan lenha al monte")

Not sure what your point was, or even if there is one, or if it's just criticism because you disagree with the OP?

My point is to discourage people to do that again, in order to not hinder further the business of a presumably good hotel (oriented to all travelers, who may bring or not guests to their room).

Do you think that the management would be proud to inform everyone that they are "chica friendly" Do you see that written on the hotel web site?
Yes, I assume the hotel is NOT primarily oriented to the single male travelers with our hobby.

While Colombia offers one of the best varieties worldwide of "love motels" (see my previous post about Ibiza, for example, or "Chimba de hotel"), bringing guests to good hotels is not common. As made evident by the post we are talking about, the fact that a hotel is chica friendly is noteworthy information, because it's not common.
Most hotels which want to keep a good reputation simply reject guests, or apply very high fees (Sheraton applies +100k COP fee, when the single pays around 200k)

[Mr Adventure]

I am not sure the management of the hotel appreciated your review.

Now, when a family or a woman checks TripAdvisor looking for a decent hotel in town, they might understand that the hotel is a den of working girls and single men with questionable morality and attitudes. The hotel might lose customers for your review. I am surprised they did not ask TA to remove your review as "derogatory".

I give you another example. If you check the web site of the "Mansion", you will NEVER see any hint to anything related to this forum or special guests. And of course it must be like that!

Seriously doubt that with all the other reviews on TA, that folks will get the impression "that the hotel is a den of working girls and single men with questionable morality and attitudes. ".

Might have also gained some customers like myself and others here who asked. If he didn't post that info then how would any of us guys know? Don't think there's a whole lot of families or single women looking at MDE for a vacation,(most families and women still gasp in horror at the mention of travel to Colombia), but who knows. I have seen similar reviews from other people regarding hotels being chica friendly in other tourist hotspots.

Regarding the mansion, the topic has been closed but a brief search revealed this:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic...epartment.html

Not sure what your point was, or even if there is one, or if it's just criticism because you disagree with the OP?

[SBeach25]

Just searching flights from MIA to MDE after 12/2/2015. Round trip was $153. Has anyone used this airline? I usually use either Avianca or Jet Blue, but for that price I definitely need to consider changing my airline.

I used them traveling to Santa Marta and back. Yes, the prices are very decent and the experience was not that bad. However, I cannot say what the cost would be or the service about changing flights as I did not have the need to. Overall, a cheap trip and decent trip.

[Dcfan77]

What club were you partying at?

So it wasn't the 300k that they were offended by. (I would never be concerned about offending a hooker by the way. If selling ass and sucking dicks for a living does not offend them, then is it really possible for me to?) Many guys lose sight of the real world by dealing in this fantasy world so often. Especially the guys who only get laid by going to a country where their money goes longer. They get the mentality that every woman in the poorer countries that we monger in are hookers and you must pay them for pleasure. If you would have gotten the girls back to the apartment and things had popped off and you had written about it, well most posters would have sworn that could not happen for free and wanted to hang you for not giving money to the poor women. But despite what the monger crowd thinks, most women are not out for money, . Some just want to have a good time the same as you do. That is why I will never offer money to ANY woman who I do not know as a known hooker. I guess you found that out the hard way by jumping the gun.

It seems they definitely KNOW now.

Thanks for the great report. I learned a lot from it and it will definitely be of use to me when I'm back down there in January.

.

[SlamCity7777]

Just searching flights from MIA to MDE after 12/2/2015. Round trip was $153. Has anyone used this airline? I usually use either Avianca or Jet Blue, but for that price I definitely need to consider changing my airline.

When you buy the ticket there are upcharges on top of upcharges. Carry on $25 like a back pack and I think a wheely bag is like $100! If it's just you and nothing else go ofr it. If you need to bring stuff like clothing, toothbrush, shoes. That base price climbs and climbs.

[Dcfan77]

It's Spanish from Spain.

She said "vale" which is a word that usually the Spanish use.

She was speaking Spanish. But from where I don't know.

.

[Pipe Layer99]

What kind of freak shit is this? Can anyone pickup on the accent?
http://www.worldstaruncut.com/uncut/88501

She was speaking Spanish. But from where I don't know.

[Old Parr]

I am not sure the management of the hotel appreciated your review.

Now, when a family or a woman checks TripAdvisor looking for a decent hotel in town, they might understand that the hotel is a den of working girls and single men with questionable morality and attitudes. The hotel might lose customers for your review. I am surprised they did not ask TA to remove your review as "derogatory".

I give you another example. If you check the web site of the "Mansion", you will NEVER see any hint to anything related to this forum or special guests. And of course it must be like that!

Black Page, you have to realize some people do not use their heads.

[Old Parr]

Just searching flights from MIA to MDE after 12/2/2015. Round trip was $153. Has anyone used this airline? I usually use either Avianca or Jet Blue, but for that price I definitely need to consider changing my airline.

Have you ever thought of using the "search function" that is offered on this forum? It is very easy to use, in your case you simply enter in "Viva Colombia" in the search bar. It is a amazing feature, try it you may like it. SMFH.

[Quagmire1974]

I am not sure the management of the hotel appreciated your review.

Now, when a family or a woman checks TripAdvisor looking for a decent hotel in town, they might understand that the hotel is a den of working girls and single men with questionable morality and attitudes. The hotel might lose customers for your review. I am surprised they did not ask TA to remove your review as "derogatory".

I give you another example. If you check the web site of the "Mansion", you will NEVER see any hint to anything related to this forum or special guests. And of course it must be like that!

I don't think the management of Sites has a problem with my review at all, Black Page, as I've rated the hotel Excellent on TripAdvisor. And apparently, TripAdvisor members don't have a problem with my review, either, as I've already received 4 "Helpful Votes" and had someone here on ISG specifically tell me that they booked a couple of weeks at Sites due to my detailed review.

And why would anyone think that Sites is "a den of working girls and single men with questionable morality and attitudes" based on what I wrote? My review is 15 paragraphs long, and I discuss everything, from transfers to breakfast to room quality to payment options. And in only one paragraph do I mention that the hotel is chica friendly, which apparently the hotel is perfectly fine and experienced with, as the 7,500 COP and 100,000 COP fees were stated to me by the receptionist, Julian. And incidentally, Julian also stated that the guests at Sites are overwhelmingly American, I think the number he stated was 90 percent. So I don't think Sites is going to lose many customers, if any at all, anytime soon.

This is the internet, a wonderful medium for exchanging information. We can either be honest and openly share information and be well-informed for our mutual benefit, or we can be silent, stick out heads in the sand, and have to settle for the same ol' hotel (Mansion) and the same ol' chicas periodically advertised by pimps in the Medellin Reports thread here on ISG. I'm happily a member of the former group, and not the latter.