Medellin Reports

[Tomasb]

I found this advert on CL posting a few days ago under Colombia Vacation Rentals. Negative to say the least, any board members wish to comment?

Hi.

Yes it is true.

You now can choose from 6. Yes SIX. Vacant dusty apartments.

They all have the newest most modern electronics and furniture.

And that stuff is expensive down there.

The idea was to have some great places available for rent but it.

Seems every gringo and his dog had the same idea, so now there.

About a dozen of us gringos with about a dozen apartments each and we.

Are all trying to rent to the hapless gringo tourist who still.

Thinks that Medellin is still a cool place to hang out.

A few years ago it was but not anymore. Medellin is yesterday's flavor.

Maybe while Uribe was president, it was a real cool place but now.

That he is gone it has gotten just downright dangerous again.

Gringos being accosted and robbed on the streets and while casually strolling in parks.

Screwed with at every opportunity.

You don't think there is a huge police presence because it is safe do you?

You should hear some of the stories I could tell you about the apartment renovations.

Oh why did I ever get involved?

When I first visited Medellin I was a pretty wealthy guy with a net worth of almost two million dollars.

I spent a good chunk of that buying the apartments and now the expenses are eating me alive.

All I used to do was spend my time there with all my pretty girlfriends and it was nice.

Then I decided to get involved. Bought apartments.

Tried to start renting apartments to what are.

Essentially poor gringos who are trying to save 2 bucks a night.

What a pain in the butt.

Not to mention the monthly nut on the apartments is almost 3000 us dollars.

So anyway now I have 6 dusty vacant apartments in Medellin waiting.

For renters and I am sitting here in snowy New York freezing my butt off.

How did this happen?

Anyone want to rent (or buy) 6 vacant dusty apartments in Medellin?

[Questner]

Which airline should one use for cheap flights to mde

From Montreal?

I'd be interested in hearing from other canadians.

Thanks for any info given.

Check out seasonal Air Transat to CTG or Spiritair from Plattsburg (PBG).

[Kdogg21]

Which airline should one use for cheap flights to mde

From Montreal?

I'd be interested in hearing from other canadians.

Thanks for any info given.

Try using Kayak, I have been doing that, all flights will be through the US. Air canada flies direct Toronto to Bogotá 3 times a week, the flight is expensive, but with aeroplan miles has been the best deal for me to get there. Then I book Avianca separate. It is the only Direct flight from canada to Colombia. A few charters do have seasonal flights to Cartagena and San andres

[Justafool]

It gives me an hour to grab and go on booze and perfume. I do not recommend the buying electornics at the airport duty free. In Target, I paid $180 with tax for a DSD XL anniversary addition, one that the duty free in Panama was selling for $225.

AVIANCA is really getting expensive! For my May trip, for several months, I was waiting for airfare for the direct AVIANCA flight from JFK to MDE to come down. Instead the airfare went over $700. In fact, even with other airlines it is in mid to high $600's. Then I found a reasonable fare ($465) via Copa Airlines through VAYAMA (

www.vayama.com

). There is one stop at the Panama City. The same flight through Orbitz and others as well as Copa Airlines websites are close to $700. The $465 includes a $40 credit as "Wecome to 2011". Never dealt with Vayama before. But I already received the electronic ticket. So looks like they are legit. It is hard to believe that there is over $200 price difference for the same flight through other airline travel sites.

Bandy

[Mackin]

Hey Bandy, See you in may. I am one of the guys who was there last year when you were there. I just tried AA from Detroit and they want $388. 00. One way. Then get to add on Med to Miami plus add Miami to Det. If you book round trip they want 262 each way. Last year was 149. 00 each way on a round trip. With taxes was low 300. 00 for Miami to Med. All this to say about 150. 00 more this year.

Kind of got you by the balls, don't they. PM me if you want to know who I am.

[Ouzo 12]

Which airline should one use for cheap flights to mde

From Montreal?

I'd be interested in hearing from other canadians.

Thanks for any info given.

[Bandy]

AVIANCA is really getting expensive! For my May trip, for several months, I was waiting for airfare for the direct AVIANCA flight from JFK to MDE to come down. Instead the airfare went over $700. In fact, even with other airlines it is in mid to high $600's. Then I found a reasonable fare ($465) via Copa Airlines through VAYAMA (www.vayama.com). There is one stop at the Panama City. The same flight through Orbitz and others as well as Copa Airlines websites are close to $700. The $465 includes a $40 credit as "Wecome to 2011". Never dealt with Vayama before. But I already received the electronic ticket. So looks like they are legit. It is hard to believe that there is over $200 price difference for the same flight through other airline travel sites.

Bandy

[Rodeo9112]

I do searches to include Avianca, Copa and AA to get the best price. The most convienent of the three is Copa, them AA, lastly Avianca because of the flight arrival and departure times in Colombia. All three have at times been the cheapest and all three I have amassed free trips to Colombia. As for the Avianca credit card policy, I do not see it be that much of a difference in price between booking from the different companies other than you are not paying the same taxes (which a Colombian citizen or resident will still need to pay at the airports). I have logged in on Avianca and paid with my US credit card even though the policy does not allow. The computer (at that time) did not know my card was a foreign account. Try doing it from the Colombia sight and ignore the warning but look around you might find a better price and not have to stress about revelutionizing the companies policies.

I also found that you can get really cheap rates on Avianca if you wait till the last minute (I. E. Week before) to buy a ticket online. Now, I don't know if it was because I was in country and purchasing from a Colombian IP address in COP, but, the roundtrip between Bogota (where I was) and Medellin was right around $100 USD. This was the case when I made my first trip to Medellin (from Bogota) at the last minute after hearing all the wonderful things about "Medallo"! Just my. 02cents.

Rodeo

[Manizales911]

Simple, find a Colombian person you can "trust" and have them buy the ticket for you and you pay them back. Which is what I do if I'm not in the country myself where I can walk into an Avianca store. This price gouging has been going on for a few years now.

This is what I do also. The problem is most people don't have someone in Colombia that they can trust.

[MiamiHeatLuver]

Well, feel free to bar "Colombians" and write "people" instead then, 'cause the same rule applies to just about all people IMO, and EXPECIALLY the ones you are related to by blood or relationship.

Sure you can lump every kind of person and citizenship in here to an extent, but this is the Colombian forum isn't it? I speak from in depth experience.

[John Gault]

Well, feel free to bar "Colombians" and write "people" instead then, 'cause the same rule applies to just about all people IMO, and EXPECIALLY the ones you are related to by blood or relationship.

I don't borrow and I don't lend. I espesially don't lend.

When your broke, your a joke.

[LittleTruths]

Sure its a daunting task, but it can be done. Of the 100's of Colombians I know, I can count the ones I would trust with any amount of money on one hand and that's INCLUDING my girl's family LOL. Never loan a Colombian money unless you can afford to not see it again. That's a golden Colombian rule to live by.

Well, feel free to bar "Colombians" and write "people" instead then, 'cause the same rule applies to just about all people IMO, and EXPECIALLY the ones you are related to by blood or relationship.

[Member #4394]

I think "presta me" does not mean "lend me" in effect in latin world as our "you have a second?" does not really mean just a second.

Sure its a daunting task, but it can be done. Of the 100's of Colombians I know, I can count the ones I would trust with any amount of money on one hand and that's INCLUDING my girl's family LOL. Never loan a Colombian money unless you can afford to not see it again. That's a golden Colombian rule to live by.

[MiamiHeatLuver]

Yeah, right."Simply" find one. Coudln't help laughing. Still looking for a Colombian I can trust.

Enjoy the life!

PaisaLover.

Colombian Girlfriends without the Strings Attached

Sure its a daunting task, but it can be done. Of the 100's of Colombians I know, I can count the ones I would trust with any amount of money on one hand and that's INCLUDING my girl's family LOL. Never loan a Colombian money unless you can afford to not see it again. That's a golden Colombian rule to live by.

[Paisalover]

Simple, find a Colombian person you can "trust..."

Yeah, right."Simply" find one. Coudln't help laughing. Still looking for a Colombian I can trust.

Enjoy the life!

PaisaLover.

Colombian Girlfriends without the Strings Attached