Cartagena Reports

[Member #4244]

Whoa, just got my second police stop in Colombia. First was a few years ago in Medellin on a deserted street late at night. Easy to be lullled into complacency here in Cartagena as it is a safe tourist area. My buddy and I were passing the LDV / Exito complex on the corner of Hotel Dann when two police officer on a motorcycle came up the street from the El Muelle restaurant. It was about 6:30 pm.

Officer did a pat down of my shorts and reached very close to my groin. It was a male officer so the touch wasn't really welcomed.

He felt each pocket and got me to remove the contents one at a time. Had a key in my back pocket, a candy a couple of coins in my front. He actually sniffed the candy and gave it back, dropping one on the ground and he bent over to pick it up for me. In my front left pocket I pulled out a money clip with my credit and debit cards and about 20 mill. He turned it over several times to examine it. It's a money clip! What nefarious thing was he looking for? He never said a word throughout the whole search even when I asked if everything was ok but instead he drifted to his partner to look for any signal. My buddy said his officer did they same as if they were trying to agree what to do next.

My buddy thinks it was a shakedown attempt. Both police were male and in their early 20s. Why my buddy thinks this is that in other places such as Germany, he was stopped in the RLD, the police there was very polite and explained exactly why they stopped him. I. E. It's a place where crime exists, he was wearing a hoodie etc etc. Quite professional. Whereas tonight, he took out his money clip that also had money wrapped around it. After putting it back in his pocket and moving to other pockets, the officer asked him to take the money clip out again and wanted to see what credit cards were in it. Why does that matter? Neither of them asked to look at our I'd, though if he did, I had my driver's license as one of my cards in the clip. Perhaps their assessment that I was only carrying 20 mill and my buddy only had 70 mill on him and that we were in a well lit, well travelled area made them decide it was not worth it? True other recent posts talk about doing searches to keep the rift raft out, but we were dressed like anyone else. So were they only doing their job? If so, why all the interest in the money clips?

I have never had a negative experience or even a search in CTG however I have known the cops there to be dicks to others. I suspect they were just bored and harassing you. In Medellin the cops have always been polite to me, Santa Marta as well, all over really. I can't ever remember having contact with a Cartagena cop.

[Hilltopper]

Hi,

In early Dec I was in CTG for an overnight trip, while there I struck up a conversation with a working girl in the afternoon at the Exito across from the Dann. She was slim by Colombian standards, maybe mid twenties with light skin and blonde hair, spoke fairly good English. I was in a hurry and copied her number down wrong, this is probably a shot in the dark but if anyone knows her and can PM me her contact info or main hangout I would appreciate it.

I was there at the same time in Dec. Tony brought her and her morena friend from Bqlla to the carpa to talk to a fellow from Denmark who had stopped to chat and have a beer. Maybe Hillbilly will respond, or shoot him a PM, as he may have her number. If you don't get it before you arrive, go to Playa Hollywood and describe her to Tony; odds are he'll locate her for you, LOL.

[Hilltopper]

Whoa, just got my second police stop in Colombia. First was a few years ago in Medellin on a deserted street late at night. Easy to be lullled into complacency here in Cartagena as it is a safe tourist area. My buddy and I were passing the LDV / Exito complex on the corner of Hotel Dann when two police officer on a motorcycle came up the street from the El Muelle restaurant. It was about 6:30 pm.

Officer did a pat down of my shorts and reached very close to my groin. It was a male officer so the touch wasn't really welcomed.

He felt each pocket and got me to remove the contents one at a time. Had a key in my back pocket, a candy a couple of coins in my front. He actually sniffed the candy and gave it back, dropping one on the ground and he bent over to pick it up for me. In my front left pocket I pulled out a money clip with my credit and debit cards and about 20 mill. He turned it over several times to examine it. It's a money clip! What nefarious thing was he looking for? He never said a word throughout the whole search even when I asked if everything was ok but instead he drifted to his partner to look for any signal. My buddy said his officer did they same as if they were trying to agree what to do next.

My buddy thinks it was a shakedown attempt. Both police were male and in their early 20s. Why my buddy thinks this is that in other places such as Germany, he was stopped in the RLD, the police there was very polite and explained exactly why they stopped him. I. E. It's a place where crime exists, he was wearing a hoodie etc etc. Quite professional. Whereas tonight, he took out his money clip that also had money wrapped around it. After putting it back in his pocket and moving to other pockets, the officer asked him to take the money clip out again and wanted to see what credit cards were in it. Why does that matter? Neither of them asked to look at our I'd, though if he did, I had my driver's license as one of my cards in the clip. Perhaps their assessment that I was only carrying 20 mill and my buddy only had 70 mill on him and that we were in a well lit, well travelled area made them decide it was not worth it? True other recent posts talk about doing searches to keep the rift raft out, but we were dressed like anyone else. So were they only doing their job? If so, why all the interest in the money clips?

Black Page is correct, just a normal, routine police check in Laguito. The police there in Laguito are a positive thing; consider them to be on your side. I've been stopped and searched many times, including after just hitting up an ATM machine on my way back to Laguito in a Taxi. The result? No problems. Had me empty my pockets, had me hand them my money clip full of fresh pesos, everything was looked over and returned. No problemos.

All the times I've been stopped and searched, not once resulted in a problem, or my feeling like it was a shakedown. I will mention that I did recently end up giving a young one 10 mil on the beach so he'd let a group of 6 - 8 of us continue to shoot shots and carry-on after the sun had just gone down instead of telling us the beach was closed and best for us to go. After they continued to say we needed to leave and lingered longer than 5 minutes without relenting, a Colombian friend did pull me to the side and say give him 10 mil pesos. I inconspicuously found 10 mil pesos, two police relented, went away and the little party there on the beach continued.

Two other young police guys stopped to chat a little while later, but all they wanted to do was smile with us at the chicas and proudly display the little bit of English they could speak with a smile...tranquilo they were.

If you like to partake, my advice is don't ever carry it; never ever. Use delivery.

[Hilltopper]

I was there only once in December. My solution was: 1 drink for me. 1 drink for the girl I elected. Chat, sip, then I left, having set up a meeting with the girl at Reloy half hour later, for a night of fun at Mister Babilla etc.

Fuck the 100k minimum consumption policy!

When I was there on 3 different nights in December, no one mentioned anything about a minimum consumption policy, nor anything about buying a drink for a chica. Nor was anything said to another Gringo who was there during the same week. Granted, I'm going to drink a beer every 10 to 15 minutes or so naturally, and if I spot a chica that catches my fancy, I may ask her to buy her a drink or send over one of the waiters to have him ask her what she'd like. No one has ever mentioned anything about any type of drink policies, be it a waiter, bartender or working girl. Plus, why wouldn't I drink and spend money there? I am at a bar, bars serve drinks and bars are in business to make money. A bar doesn't make money, it goes out of business. I kinda like having the option of it being open when I'm in town, so I say why not enjoy some beers or a bottle while at the same time showing some appreciation for the business owner who's made an investment and taken the risk?

Black Page, I don't mean to pick on you, but can I play the the devil's advocate role here? Is it such a bad thing that a business is in business to show a profit? Is it a stretch to think that this so-called minimum consumption policy only comes into play on those occasions where it appears a guy makes it quite obvious that he doesn't intend to spend any coin? How do you propose that business owner pays his rent and keeps the lights on if we all say fuck them, I'm not buying anything here, I'm just going to find a girl and have her meet me down at the end of the steps and leave?

It's all good, and I certainly don't mean any offense, but I'd kinda like to see the place make a little money from serving alcohol and keep the music playing. Hell, go in there, get a bottle or 1/2 bottle and have some fun! Rumba!

Just an opposing view.

[PaylRider]

Hi,

In early Dec I was in CTG for an overnight trip, while there I struck up a conversation with a working girl in the afternoon at the Exito across from the Dann. She was slim by Colombian standards, maybe mid twenties with light skin and blonde hair, spoke fairly good English. I was in a hurry and copied her number down wrong, this is probably a shot in the dark but if anyone knows her and can PM me her contact info or main hangout I would appreciate it.

[Black Page]

What nefarious thing was he looking for?

Is it so hard to guess for you?

DRUG. They were looking if you have some small pill or white powder hidden somewhere.

Don't worry they will never take your money. They are just interested to keep clean the city. And yes, sometimes they catch some foreigner with white powder in the pockets.

[Always Randy]

Whoa, just got my second police stop in Colombia. First was a few years ago in Medellin on a deserted street late at night. Easy to be lullled into complacency here in Cartagena as it is a safe tourist area. My buddy and I were passing the LDV / Exito complex on the corner of Hotel Dann when two police officer on a motorcycle came up the street from the El Muelle restaurant. It was about 6:30 pm.

Officer did a pat down of my shorts and reached very close to my groin. It was a male officer so the touch wasn't really welcomed.

He felt each pocket and got me to remove the contents one at a time. Had a key in my back pocket, a candy a couple of coins in my front. He actually sniffed the candy and gave it back, dropping one on the ground and he bent over to pick it up for me. In my front left pocket I pulled out a money clip with my credit and debit cards and about 20 mill. He turned it over several times to examine it. It's a money clip! What nefarious thing was he looking for? He never said a word throughout the whole search even when I asked if everything was ok but instead he drifted to his partner to look for any signal. My buddy said his officer did they same as if they were trying to agree what to do next.

My buddy thinks it was a shakedown attempt. Both police were male and in their early 20s. Why my buddy thinks this is that in other places such as Germany, he was stopped in the RLD, the police there was very polite and explained exactly why they stopped him. I. E. It's a place where crime exists, he was wearing a hoodie etc etc. Quite professional. Whereas tonight, he took out his money clip that also had money wrapped around it. After putting it back in his pocket and moving to other pockets, the officer asked him to take the money clip out again and wanted to see what credit cards were in it. Why does that matter? Neither of them asked to look at our ID, though if he did, I had my driver's license as one of my cards in the clip. Perhaps their assessment that I was only carrying 20 mill and my buddy only had 70 mill on him and that we were in a well lit, well travelled area made them decide it was not worth it? True other recent posts talk about doing searches to keep the rift raft out, but we were dressed like anyone else. So were they only doing their job? If so, why all the interest in the money clips?

[Always Randy]

Leave first. Head down the stairs and have them follow you out a couple of minutes after.

Ya, did that a couple of times last year. All the girls were suggesting it so can't believe it would take long before LDV catches wind of this and send out spies. Although never seen any. Girls suggested this too but they were also so paranoid about getting banned from the place that I suggested we meet them up the street near Riquisimos restaurant.

[Black Page]

My question is this mininmum consumption BS that LDV is imposing. It was there last year too but seems more enforced this year. Confusion amongst the girls of what is required. Do they have to have guys buy them 3 drinks or one is good enough? Alejendra was fine with a ginger ale for 5k (enough on Thursday night) but the bartender said something to her on Friday and she switched to a whiskey for 18k. Even with that, her and her friend still thought that wasn't enough for them to leave.

How would LDV even keep track of how many drinks were bought for a girl anyways as they move around in the bar.

I was there only once in December. My solution was: 1 drink for me. 1 drink for the girl I elected. Chat, sip, then I left, having set up a meeting with the girl at Reloy half hour later, for a night of fun at Mister Babilla etc.

Fuck the 100k minimum consumption policy!

[Hioctane]

My question is this mininmum consumption BS that LDV is imposing. It was there last year too but seems more enforced this year. Confusion amongst the girls of what is required. Do they have to have guys buy them 3 drinks or one is good enough? Alejendra was fine with a ginger ale for 5k (enough on Thursday night) but the bartender said something to her on Friday and she switched to a whiskey for 18k. Even with that, her and her friend still thought that wasn't enough for them to leave.

How would LDV even keep track of how many drinks were bought for a girl anyways as they move around in the bar.

Leave first. Head down the stairs and have them follow you out a couple of minutes after.

[Always Randy]

Went to LDV Thursday night about midnight and it was a mecca of girls and few guys. Girl I had last year came over and we chatted, she showing me pictures of herself on her phone. Colombian girls like pictures of themselves! Last year, I remember while fingering her and she flipped over doggy style and masturbated herself to an orgasm. That's a memory that will stay with me. So I was keen to go with her again. Alejendra is a 25 year old student from Bogota and came down January 1st for their month long vacation. As I knew her and we kept in touch via Facebook, it felt awkward to bring up price. I used my calculator to show 150K cop for two hours. She wanted 200k but settled for 150k.

The memory this year is how she received a phone call in the middle of giving me a BBBJ. While the other person is yapping on, she leans over with phone in ear to continue sucking and only stopping to respond a few words then suck some more! LOL

My wingman went with a 24 year old, Valentina, who was firm on her price of 300k two hours or 500k for all night.

Friday night, at LDV the women were less out numbered but it was still a buyer's market.

Alejendra spotted me again, it was late, felt bad for her not earning any pesos tonight, so took her out again.

My question is this mininmum consumption BS that LDV is imposing. It was there last year too but seems more enforced this year. Confusion amongst the girls of what is required. Do they have to have guys buy them 3 drinks or one is good enough? Alejendra was fine with a ginger ale for 5k (enough on Thursday night) but the bartender said something to her on Friday and she switched to a whiskey for 18k. Even with that, her and her friend still thought that wasn't enough for them to leave.

How would LDV even keep track of how many drinks were bought for a girl anyways as they move around in the bar.

[Hilltopper]

does anyone know of restaurant / bar on the beach that is open at night. outdoors prefer if they had a fire that would be a plus.

thanks.

ss

the right spot for your taste may be el muelle, right there on the beach at the edge of el laguito. so add el muelle to the other two options given in the previous post.

[Hilltopper]

does anyone know of restaurant / bar on the beach that is open at night. outdoors prefer if they had a fire that would be a plus.

thanks.

ss

a fire you say; are you wanting to cook your own pot of sancocho de pescado?

all jokes aside, it depends on what type of ambiance and setting you desire. if you want formal and romantic and aren't on a tight budget, then you could do club de pesca on the bay. if you want to go barefoot, share a bottle around and not worry about looking unkempt, you could round up some locals, some plastic chairs, throw together a fire made from whatever you can find, and eat fresh fish and seafood with your fingers. just kinda depends.....on you and your vibe.

[PaylRider]

Try the Hampton in Boca Grande, many 2 or 3 star hotels are not a problem. Stay away from Hilton, Dann, although with only 1 guest they should be ok with cedula.

Many thanks LocoGringo, while this site is great for info, I find people jump subjects fast (like hotels to apartments) and things change so frequently its good to try to get the latest info, I am not being lazy by not researching.

[PaylRider]

Try reading some and all of the answers are there. Members aren't going to use their time give you all of the information when it is obvious that you don't want to spend any of yours doing your own research. If you ask a specific question you might get an answer but not one that demonstrates you don't want to put forth any effort

I have read all the posts and many are conflicting and jump from the original question (hotel) to apartments and then the whole topic switches to apartments, Since things change quickly in CTG, I am hoping to get some "current" information from people who frequent the place more than me.