General Info

[SavePros321]

Aug 14, 2013

Posted by Oliver Griffin

Senator Armando Benedetti of the coalition U Party introduced a bill on Tuesday to try and stop 'millionaires' rides, ' a criminal phenomenon in which a victim is drugged and made to empty bank accounts or ransack his home.

According to newspaper El Pais, Mr Benedetti said he has introduced the bill 'to increase the safety and quality of the overall taxi service. '

He went on to say that 'in the last two years, more than 200 people have been victims of the 'millionaire's ride' and so far this year there have been 35 reports of this crime in Bogota, according to police figures. '

The 'millionaire's ride' is a relatively – and unfortunately – regular occurrence, particularly in Bogota. As well as being recognized by Senator Benedetti as a major problem with taxis it is also discussed at length by several travel guides, such as Bradt, Lonely Planet and Wikitravel.

Bradt advises travellers 'don't get into a taxi if there is anyone else in the car and don't be tempted to hail a taxi off the street. '

Wikitravel says that concerning taxi rides 'the most dangerous is the very common 'Paseo Millonario' (Millionaire Ride) , in which the cab driver picks up his accomplices along the way and together they take your valuables, including money from your cards, forcing you to withdraw cash from ATMs until your withdrawal limit is reached. To add insult to injury, they can keep you past midnight and withdraw your daily limit a second time. '

Some of the measures suggested by the Senator are clearly a direct response to the specific patterns of these attacks. As has been noted when the attackers keep the victim to withdraw money after midnight, Mr Benedetti has suggested 'restricting the withdrawal from money' from ATMs between 10pm and 6am.

It is thought that one of the triggers for the proposed bill is the murder of Terry Watson, an American DEA agent who was killed after taking a taxi from the street in Bogota when leaving a pub.

MORE: Colombia Police Offer $26K Reward For Information On DEA Agent's Killers.

He has also called for taxi's to be fitted with mandatory GPS and panic buttons, with drivers and companies who are not complient being hit with heavy penalties. The new measures would see new drivers checked for criminal records in order to prevent previous offenders from having the chance to commit further offences.

MORE: Bogota taxi drivers to serve as Colombian capital's 'guardian angels'

It has also been suggested that a database, accessible by any citizen, would be set up with a profile of each taxi driver. The information supplied would include 'the name and number of the driver, photo, identification number, date of training, a company to which it belongs, the license number and vehicle driven company. ' Companies that fail to collect the information would be subject to heavy fines.

[Artisttyp]

I didn't know the smoking ban in the hotels was for the whole country of Colombia. Because at the Nutibara I never said anything to management and they never said to me. I just did my smoking thing. In Cali, the Plaza, Versailles and Windsor hotels never said anything to me about the ban. I didn't think it applied to Cali.

The Hotel Nevada kind of frowned when I mentioned if I could smoke, but didn't stop me. The walls are closing in on us smokers I know.

Maybe if I didn't mention it they wouldn't have known. However I don't try to hide pink elephants when booking a room for a month. Can I bring a guest back ? Can I smoke etc. ? It does no good IMO to hide anything. If they agree then it's cool if not move on.

With CRIPA valued at roughly $2 per gram. YOU B BUGGIN if you think a smoke free room would be of value to most young americans.

They probably started enforcing the ban more now or it goes in cycles just like it does in some other countries. One day yes the next no. But who wants to book for a month under those conditions? Not me. I travel to escape these kinds of rules.

I haven't thrown in the towel yet. I have until Sept 3 to figure it out or it's back to Tijuana for me.

[BayBoy]

The ban applies to the entire country according to the code violation they sent me. If you google it the same information will come up. Smoking in public enclosed places is ILLEGAL. I'm sure some hotels will let you do it discreetly but who what and where are they located? Are they in my budget and are they on a quiet street and are they affordable? Too many annoying details for someone that wants to party. This is something I need to research now before ever buying another airline ticket.

They just sent me another email this morning apologizing saying it isn't them it's the Govt. Isn't it always!

It's really annoying.

PS. Last time I stayed at the Nutibara they made me smoke on the balcony at the end of the hallway. The ashtray in my room was worthless.

I didn't know the smoking ban in the hotels was for the whole country of Colombia. Because at the Nutibara I never said anything to management and they never said to me. I just did my smoking thing. In Cali, the Plaza, Versailles and Windsor hotels never said anything to me about the ban. I didn't think it applied to Cali.

The Hotel Nevada kind of frowned when I mentioned if I could smoke, but didn't stop me. The walls are closing in on us smokers I know.

[South Am69]

Yes, I have stayed over 180 days with a student visa (now called TP-3 visa). All you need to do is register for Spanish classes at a university. I paid for 6 months of classes up front and received a year visa. If you look at the cancilleria website you can get a list of all the required documents (in Spanish). If applying in Bogota make sure to show up at lease an hour before they open unless you want to be there a long time. And a university is a great place to meet tons of chicas.

Has anyone here stayed beyond the 180 day per calendar year limit and had to apply for a visa? If so, any tips for a smooth and discrete process?

Peace

[Artisttyp]

I've stayed at the Nutibara Hotel in El Centro Medellin a number of times. They never made an issue with me about smoking, even though there's a 'No Smoking' sign on the door. In fact one time they had an ashtray in the room when I checked in.

I don't know if the ban applies to Cali, but I've smoked in every hotel I've stayed at there: Cali Plaza, Windsor, Nevada, Versailles etc.

The ban applies to the entire country according to the code violation they sent me. If you google it the same information will come up. Smoking in public enclosed places is ILLEGAL. I'm sure some hotels will let you do it discreetly but who what and where are they located? Are they in my budget and are they on a quiet street and are they affordable? Too many annoying details for someone that wants to party. This is something I need to research now before ever buying another airline ticket.

They just sent me another email this morning apologizing saying it isn't them it's the Govt. Isn't it always!

It's really annoying.

PS. Last time I stayed at the Nutibara they made me smoke on the balcony at the end of the hallway. The ashtray in my room was worthless.

[BayBoy]

Maybe on the balcony but unfortunately none of the hotels in my price range (in centro) have them. My hotel offered to let me smoke on the roof but that won't do me much good.

The apartments on airbnb. Com look interesting but I've read bad reviews about airbnb. Com.

The last time I was there they had already banned it in clubs but I was allowed to smoke in my room.

I've stayed at the Nutibara Hotel in El Centro Medellin a number of times. They never made an issue with me about smoking, even though there's a 'No Smoking' sign on the door. In fact one time they had an ashtray in the room when I checked in.

I don't know if the ban applies to Cali, but I've smoked in every hotel I've stayed at there: Cali Plaza, Windsor, Nevada, Versailles etc.

[Artisttyp]

I would think you can smoke in the lobby and in the balcony of your room if you have one. Most apartment listings say that.

Maybe on the balcony but unfortunately none of the hotels in my price range (in centro) have them. My hotel offered to let me smoke on the roof but that won't do me much good.

The apartments on airbnb. Com look interesting but I've read bad reviews about airbnb. Com.

The last time I was there they had already banned it in clubs but I was allowed to smoke in my room.

[SavePros321]

Any of you guys allowed to smoke in your hotel room or rental apartment?

I remember there being a smoking ban in clubs and restaurants on one of my trips but my hotel allowed me to smoke in my room. Now I received an email saying no smoking at all.

I can't imagine being in "cough" *Colombia and not being able to smoke.

It's probably for the best. Bbrocs rents out luxury apartments and I would hate to come in as the next guest with couch and bed sheets (or the entire place for that matter) smelling like an ashtray. Most apartments have balconies or an outside area to smoke. I don't have any info on Hotel room smoking policies. Probably you can at a Love Motel or something (just like you can smoke at a most Motels in the US).

[Almotu]

Any of you guys allowed to smoke in your hotel room or rental apartment?

I remember there being a smoking ban in clubs and restaurants on one of my trips but my hotel allowed me to smoke in my room. Now I received an email saying no smoking at all.

I can't imagine being in "cough" *Colombia and not being able to smoke.

I would think you can smoke in the lobby and in the balcony of your room if you have one. Most apartment listings say that.

[Artisttyp]

Any of you guys allowed to smoke in your hotel room or rental apartment?

I remember there being a smoking ban in clubs and restaurants on one of my trips but my hotel allowed me to smoke in my room. Now I received an email saying no smoking at all.

I can't imagine being in "cough" *Colombia and not being able to smoke.

[SavePros321]

I guess I will bring it through and get ready to do some fast talking. Hopefully I won't end up on an episode of "Locked Up Abroad". Although Colombia does have bi-weekly conjugal visits so it's not all bad.

Again, I'm positive you will not have any problems taking it to Colombia. Most people don't even know what a vaporizer is except the stoner purists among us ;)

If they happen to ask (I'm sure they won't) then you just tell them it is for tobacco. Since you said it was a grift for your friend then you absolutely don't have to worry about anyone asking you about it or someone finding residue on the way back since you are leaving the vaporizer in Colombia.

To cut down on any potential problems, I would not take a vaporizer that you've used before.

[Hasideas Tao]

Why take the risk? Stimulate your sense of adventure. I would bet 100 bucks you can buy any kind of smoking apparatus there while having a fun time in the process. I love asking new "friends" for help finding something.

It's a gift for a friend of mine down there. She coughs a lot whenever she smokes so I figure it would make for a nice gift (to share of course). No intention of bringing it back. Strangely, I never smoke and rarely drink in the USA not the same unless you are hanging out with a hot Paisas. I guess I will bring it through and get ready to do some fast talking. Hopefully I won't end up on an episode of "Locked Up Abroad". Although Colombia does have bi-weekly conjugal visits so it's not all bad.

[Hasideas Tao]

Has anyone here stayed beyond the 180 day per calendar year limit and had to apply for a visa? If so, any tips for a smooth and discrete process?

Peace

[Vmonger]

I would say if you bring it in, plan on not bringing it out. You don't want to get caught up with any agents on either side of the pond finding resedue on your vaporizor. Even if they do not find a "stash" in your bag, I could imagine that just from the residue it would turn out to be a very long interview with you.

It's a gift for a friend of mine down there. She coughs a lot whenever she smokes so I figure it would make for a nice gift (to share of course). No intention of bringing it back. Strangely, I never smoke and rarely drink in the USA not the same unless you are hanging out with a hot Paisas. I guess I will bring it through and get ready to do some fast talking. Hopefully I won't end up on an episode of "Locked Up Abroad". Although Colombia does have bi-weekly conjugal visits so it's not all bad.

[Artisttyp]

Has anyone ever brought a vaporizer into Medellin? I was considering bringing a DaVinci Ascent on my next trip. It would be brand new, unused and still in the original packaging so there would not be any residues. This vaporizer can be bought legally in the US in most States. It can be used to vaporize aromatic / herbal oils as well as nicotine oil. I am not sure of the legalities of vaporizers in the Medellin. I have been to public head shops that sold bongs, water pipes, grinders, rolling paper, etc so I would think a vaporizer would be ok as well. Not sure however and I have no idea where to look for an answer. I would not like to be surprised at the airport in Medellin.

Thanks in advance.

As long as you are ready to describe what it is (and does) in spanish to a customs officer when they check your bags I see no problem with it. I recently tried to pass off an onyx pipe as a coffee table chachka at the San Ysidro / Mexico border crossing and it didn't go over too well. Some people just don't appreciate good art!

Colombia should be easier though. I would assume they have a few less kilos passing through there compared to the SY crossing. After all SY is the busiest border crossing in the world.

Colombian authorities trained to notice drug paraphernalia NAH.