Medellin Reports

[SavePros321]

I'm curious what the typical girls' response is in Medellin to photos / filming.

The typical girls' response in Medellin will be the same as the typical girl's response anywhere else in the world. Some may let you film or photo them, so may not.

[RapChik]

Is this place couples friendly? Can me and GF hit a strip club or hire a hooker for a night?

Or is it a single men only destination?

Thank you

[Mr Enternational]

I will be traveling to Thailand next month and would be curious is the same will be found there?

You don't want to use a Thai ATM unless you have a card like Charles Schwab which reimburses the fees. A Thai ATM will hit you up for $6/withdrawal. As Bart said, bring newer series 50s and 100s. There are 3 money changers on every corner and most hotels exchange as well. If you come through Pattaya hit me up.

[JoBobTheClown]

I'm curious what the typical girls' response is in Medellin to photos / filming. I'm considering picking up either a decent camera or (due to the 29 minute recording limit on cameras) camcorder, both for touristy stuff and more. Private mementos.

What has been the girls' response to requests? I'm interested in for-my-eyes-only (sorry guys) records of the real fun. I see mostly images from before / after the action in various states of undress, but that could be the photographer protecting his privacy, so I can't tell. How do attitudes differ in, say, prepagos vs. Mansion girls vs. Casas vs. Clubs?

[Bart1]

Within minutes of each other I exchanged dollars at a cambio in Mall Oviedo (which in the past has always delivered one of the better exchange rates I have see around town) and then pulled significant cash out of a nearby bank ATM using my USA bank debit card (mastercharge endorsed).

It always takes a few days for all the fees / charges to fully appear on my bank statement. (mastercard currency conv. Fee + mastercard cross border fee).

When all is said and done (with all fees included) I received the following exchange rate on this date:

Oviedo Mall Cambio: 2,190 cop / usd.

ATM withdrawl (debit card) 2,344 cop / usd.

Keep in mind this is a debit card and not a credit card.

I have done this little experiment in the past and I believe when all ATM fees were included the rates were much more equal or maybe even a little better at the cambios, but things have obviously changed leaning to better rates at the ATM.

I will be traveling to Thailand next month and would be curious is the same will be found there?

I just returned from 3 weeks in Bangkok, I did not use ATMs as last year the USD $ cash rate for 50&100 notes, and TC rate was considerably better than ATM debits from a Canadian bank This year I took $USD and USD $ TC, s, I never carry TC. S in South America as you really get burned but not so in Thailand. Any note less than a 50 you get a poorer rate. Look up a few of my posting about "soapies" on the BKK site, too bad MDE does have the same 2 chicas in jacuzzi scrubbing your fingers, toes and other things, and the soapy body slides. The places have bars, restaurant and 150 or more chicas, Burmese, Lao, Cambodian, Thai. I just luv meeting people from different cultures. The facades on some of these places look like a casino entrance in vegas. These soapies are all 3 miles north of where all the farangs "foreigners" hangout like Soi Cowboy, Patpong and Nana. The "soapies" will be maybe 80% thai guys whereas in the former 3 places thai guys are not allowed to go, farangs only. Avoid any bar or club owned by an Arab or a Russian, there is a list of those on some BKK blog sites, and never go into a bar on the second floor in BKK. Back to my beloved paisas next week, God I luv Colombia.

[Ricker]

Hey guys,

Heading down for a month today. Anyone want to kick it. 30 yo blue eyed east coast gringo. I'm sort of against all the typical touristy BS but always down to hang with someone who has a good vibe and enjoys good company. See you guys later! Expect lots of details later!

Ohhh I love blue eyed gringos!! Lol, why would anyone of us care bout dat? Have fun!

[TroyBoy]

Within minutes of each other I exchanged dollars at a cambio in Mall Oviedo (which in the past has always delivered one of the better exchange rates I have see around town) and then pulled significant cash out of a nearby bank ATM using my USA bank debit card (mastercharge endorsed).

It always takes a few days for all the fees / charges to fully appear on my bank statement. (mastercard currency conv. Fee + mastercard cross border fee).

When all is said and done (with all fees included) I received the following exchange rate on this date:

Oviedo Mall Cambio: 2,190 cop / usd.

ATM withdrawl (debit card) 2,344 cop / usd.

Keep in mind this is a debit card and not a credit card.

I have done this little experiment in the past and I believe when all ATM fees were included the rates were much more equal or maybe even a little better at the cambios, but things have obviously changed leaning to better rates at the ATM. ----If one exchanges $1,000 usd this will amount to a difference of roughly 150,000 cop. A guy can have a lot of fun in Medellin with 150,000 cop. :-)

I will be traveling to Thailand next month and would be curious is the same will be found there?

ASIDE- on a recent past trip I noted that my debit card (which has no chip) would not work in many ATMs around Medellin. Almost all required a "chip". The ATMs on the wall as you enter west end of Mall Oviedo (nearest the cambios) do process cards without chip. Also the ATM at RIO casino in San Diego does as well. In centro I had real difficulty getting cash without a chip.

[BlueChange]

Hey guys,

Heading down for a month today. Anyone want to kick it. 30 yo blue eyed east coast gringo. I'm sort of against all the typical touristy BS but always down to hang with someone who has a good vibe and enjoys good company. See you guys later! Expect lots of details later!

[PeterSmith]

Can anyone recommend an escort agency that is reliable.

[Vegas Jeff]

I've never been to Fase II, although I've heard from some Colombian men that overall La Isla is better. I love La Isla because its a very large and roomy club, patrons aren't on top of one another. The restroom is very spacious and immaculately clean. My waiter was on top of things the times I was there, and always delivered drinks rapidly. I can't imagine any other club having better service.

They are very different places. La Isla looks and feels very much like a high-end strip club in the US (but with even more silicone). The staff are well-dressed and the restrooms are nicely done and you can spend a load of money buying bottles. Fase 2 looks and feels like a Old West Saloon with Hookers.

To clarify, I've been to both, it's just been awhile.

I preferred Fase II because while La Isla was much nicer inside, it also had way more of a hustle vibe to it. Drinks were expensive, girls didn't seem as friendly, etc.

Plus, I didn't really see a difference in quality of the girls.

Now it sounds like La Isla is significantly better for quality of girls, and I'm just wondering if the attitude of the girls and servers has gotten better as well.

To be honest I'd prefer to just go back to Fase II, but it's hard to pass up la isla if the chicks are really that much better right now.

Guys,

Nice descriptions. I can definitely identify with what each of you wrote.

I don't go to any of these places, currently, but have done all of these outlets at least a few times in the past. I have frequented Fase II more but it has been over a year since I was there last. I agree with the saloon feel and less hustle at Fase II.

[Member #4396]

They are very different places. La Isla looks and feels very much like a high-end strip club in the US (but with even more silicone). The staff are well-dressed and the restrooms are nicely done and you can spend a load of money buying bottles. Fase 2 looks and feels like a Old West Saloon with Hookers.

To clarify, I've been to both, it's just been awhile.

I preferred Fase II because while La Isla was much nicer inside, it also had way more of a hustle vibe to it. Drinks were expensive, girls didn't seem as friendly, etc.

Plus, I didn't really see a difference in quality of the girls.

Now it sounds like La Isla is significantly better for quality of girls, and I'm just wondering if the attitude of the girls and servers has gotten better as well.

To be honest I'd prefer to just go back to Fase II, but it's hard to pass up la isla if the chicks are really that much better right now.

[Combo]

Thanks. Good info.

Sounds like the girls are hotter, but would you say the service is comparable or better than at Fase II?

They are very different places. La Isla looks and feels very much like a high-end strip club in the US (but with even more silicone). The staff are well-dressed and the restrooms are nicely done and you can spend a load of money buying bottles. Fase 2 looks and feels like a Old West Saloon with Hookers.

[Old Parr]

Boys we were doing real good for a while now, but on track for another debate where no one will ever get the other side to change their way of thinking.

Myself I have not done a trip in a while, but lets get back to the meat, and potatoes of good intel from serious Mongers.

We are all waiting for you to post a trip report, so until then we will entertain ourselves with good discussions like we have been having. If this is a problem with you your trip report will be a great start!

[Bart1]

Boys we were doing real good for a while now, but on track for another debate where no one will ever get the other side to change their way of thinking.

Myself I have not done a trip in a while, but lets get back to the meat, and potatoes of good intel from serious Mongers.

Here are 2 serious subjects!

[ShooBree]

They don't? Bullshit they don't. I have been in many a "poor" Colombian household and have yet to see anyone starving. In most they eat three times / day. Just because they don't have an air conditioner, a BMW, or any of the other luxuries that you have in your 5 bedroom 4 bath home, does not mean they can't make ends meet or are unable to support a family. Bill Gates and Puff Daddy are probably saying the same things about the majority of us in this group as y'all are saying about the Colombianos.

Jeff knows his shit. You can't miss what you never had. And remember, there are still natives running around the jungles of Colombia and Brazil that have been raising families just fine for hundreds of years. Just because it's not done how you are used to it being done does not mean it can't be and isn't being done or is very difficult to do. Hookers are the same the world around. Lazy biotches. If everybody else can get a regular job, then guess what... Oh I still love them and am glad they are the lazy broads that they are, but that hooker sympathy shit is for suckers.

I do have a little sympathy, why? Because that's the kind of person I am and more importantly its cheap. In fact its free.

I respect them just like I respect other persons making a honest living. They are not doing anything wrong, illegal or harming anyone else. If I were to put myself above them it would reflect badly on me since I am a customer. Some people might say that they are young girls being corrupted by fat gringos. I haven't worked a day in my life for less then 18 dollars an hour so why would I be surprised that people don't feel like working for 90 cents an hour.

Regarding the people you have met, you really think that you are the first gringo stepping his foot into their house? Maybe you are, I don't know them. Just out of curiosity, how do you know that they are actually poor compared to the Colombian standard / definition?

http://colombiareports.co/colombias-...increase-2014/

"The agreement affects 54% of Colombians who earn the minimum wage or less. However, a total of 3. 4 million workers do not earn even one half of the minimum wage. ".

And the minimum salary is approx. 270 usd a month.

Regarding not being able to get by;.

"Despite its middle-income country status, 23 million Colombians are poor and 6 million live below the extreme poverty line. "

"below the extreme poverty line" = less then 1,25 usd / day.

http://www.wfp.org/countries/colombia