Medellin Reports

[Ecchi]

Where would you stay for the best mongering experience? AirBnB or Hotel? Which one? I am visiting Aug 17th onward.

If you're not familiar with the scene. I suggest a WG friendly hotel where they'll check the girl's ID. This is one of the way to keep you safe.

[Yusk1984]

I've had good experiences in Airbnbs. Make it clear when you book the airbnb that you have girlfriends and they will visit you. Make sure the host is ok with that before booking. Keep it discreet as possible and quiet. No parties. Don't mess it up for the rest of us. Some may make it clear no more than two at a time in the room at a time and some might ask you to book for 2 guests. They will also remind you that the ladies must have ID and be of legal age.

Thanks Gmoney. I am mature, discreet and love quietness. I am thinking of getting a hotel for 2 days or 3 just to familiarize myself with the place then get airbnb for the rest of the days.

[Ecchi]

This can't be real. LOL.

Good luck with that. I will look for you on the evening news. Sheesh.

I'm not sure international travel is a good idea for everybody.

Typical profile of the tourists who gets their organ removed, raped, murdered, fall into human trafficking rink. The tourists that naively think that the world operates on the same value as their countries (usually Western European or North American). Where human lives actually is worth more than a $100 USD. You repeatedly see documentary or shows like The Serpent that preyed on these hippy-ish fools who think that the locals will happily joined their kumbaya camp fire (when the locals don't even know WTF is kumbaya). Just saw one episode of The Serpent where he offed that hippy chick on her way to Tibet to be a nun but want her one last wild night of 'fun'. And I had to stop because it upsets me how dumb people can be.

Me. I'm overly cautious and cynical. But if you truly understand how LE in.a lot of these countries operate or have a chance to sit at the seat of power...you too would be cynical AF. Those drugs you got...likely what the cops skimmed from the bust on ppl outside of their network that didn't pay a toll fee...I partied with nieces of Chief of Police (won't say which country)...and the best drugs were all for the taking...and those were all skimmed off their "bust". And my overly cautiousness kept me in one piece all these years of mongering in sometimes not the best location. For a lot of fellow mongers here. You know as well as I do that most of these third world and developing countries scammers see us as a walking ATM regardless of our real financial status. And that a bullet to someone can cost more or less $100 USD. And the hope of getting justice is more likely are of those 2 tourists that got raped/killed in Koh Tao, Thailand...Burmese migrant worker scapegoat. More often than not, the perpetrators wear the uniform or have cousin/friends that wear one.

My last trip to LatAm. I kept my Rolex at home and wear only my Fitbit. I checked with locals about areas that are safe before I even make my hotel booking. And only then in the aforementioned areas. And only after I get the same info from more than one source just to be sure. So no. You won't see me getting drunk or doing drugs in places where the cops can shake you down or I end up in a biopic like Broken Down Palace. I don't even pull street walkers. Never feel the need to do that because those are usually the bottom end of the scale. There are other safer ways to get better quality WG everywhere...sure you pay a bit more...but hey...I'm cool with that. I personally don't feel too much sympathy for those victims because they have every resource on hand to be avoid their situation. But they chose to be arrogant and think they're an exception to the rule. We all say what we say but some people just want reaffirmation to their questions as opposed to contrarian answer based on empirical evidences.

Even with all my experience and intel. All the mishaps can still happen to me. And I'm always reticence of this fact. For me it's just reducing the probability as much as I possibly can. So if you're a newbie reading this...pls see what I wrote as a note of caution and monger in ways to keep yourself safe.

[BlackThought]

I will use up all 180 days of my tourista vista in 2021. For 2022, I am pretty sure I will be changing visas to allow more time, but there are many options. Medellin is my new home away from home.

Living the dream! Where did you monger prior to MDE? I'm guessing you're fluent in Spanish if you're spending that much time in MDE.

[BlackThought]

Is Colombia one of those countries where you do the 180 days, fly back to another country, and then can spend 180 more days in Colombia? Or is it a hard 180 days per year?

Great question. Like I know a lot of foreigners in Philippines would just fly to a nearby country for a day and return to renew their visa.

[BlackThought]

Cmon guys. I know this isn't for everyone. But I'm young and up for a little adventure. When I arrive in a new city 9/10 I haven't decided where I'm going to sleep or how long I'm staying, it has always worked out fine. I have used couchsurfing and stayed with people in random towns in Mexico, I made this proposal to multiple women and while there were others that accepted I ended up blocking them when I realized something was off / fishy or they simply lived in bad conditions.

I already videochatted with her and her place is in a good neighborhood (she has a good king size bed, air conditioner, modern furniture). I already found her facebook and like I said she looks completely normal, no major alarm bells going on. I already told her I'm sending her info to a friend and that we are meeting in a public place first.

I think best plan for me is booking 2 nights in a hotel and see where it goes. Worst case scenario (not taking into account kidnapping or anything extreme like that which is unlikely) I can just leave and go to Cartagena or Medellin. Best case scenario I'm living in a comfortable place to chill for a month for cheap. Is it really any riskier than doing drugs / alcohol and picking up street walkers? Only time I ever had a problem was mongering and it was with the police in Mexico City.

You may not have much, but what if they hold you hostage for ransom from family members? MDE is a pretty cheap place to monger, if you're on a tight budget, just stick with centro where many mongers are scoring 30 k rates. If 30 k ($8 usd) is too much to you, maybe you should find a new hobby.

[Surfer500]

What ATM are you using?

Always Scotia no others.

[GMoney582]

I'm making an ATM run today, the exchange rate is around 3,914 and a good time to stock up on Pesos in my opinion.

What ATM are you using?

[GMoney582]

Great information.

I'm curious if having had Covid previously is still means one does not need to reenter the US.

And I have not been paying attention, is a negative test required to enter Colombia?

If you have tested positive in the last 90 days you do not need an negative covid test. You need to present your positive CoVId test and a letter from a doctor that you are clear to travel to the US.

[GMoney582]

Where would you stay for the best mongering experience? AirBnB or Hotel? Which one? I am visiting Aug 17th onward.

I've had good experiences in Airbnbs. Make it clear when you book the airbnb that you have girlfriends and they will visit you. Make sure the host is ok with that before booking. Keep it discreet as possible and quiet. No parties. Don't mess it up for the rest of us. Some may make it clear no more than two at a time in the room at a time and some might ask you to book for 2 guests. They will also remind you that the ladies must have ID and be of legal age.

[GMoney582]

Is Colombia one of those countries where you do the 180 days, fly back to another country, and then can spend 180 more days in Colombia? Or is it a hard 180 days per year?

Something like this. I'm a citizen but a ISG buddy of mine had to do this. Not sure if its 180 or 90. I'm pretty sure you can't stay a year like this.

[Vewdew]

Great information.

I'm curious if having had Covid previously is still means one does not need to reenter the US.

And I have not been paying attention, is a negative test required to enter Colombia?

To enter Colombia you don't need a PCR test.

[Chicafan]

Just wanted to save people some time who are trying to get their test done before returning to the US.

After a few searches from the lab testing PDF that other member provided here, Laboratorio Medico de Referencia SAS - +57 304-538-1428 was by far the most responsive and the easiest to deal with in terms of scheduling someone to come to your apartment (or hotel) for your COVID testing.

Everything is done via Whatsapp texting. It's all in Spanish, but you can just pop out of WhatsApp and paste the conversation in the Google Translate app to follow along with what they are telling you. Do not expect them to reply instantly though: it may take them 30 minutes to an hour to reply to you (or more), but they always reply and since they have the chat history, they are well aware of what you've talked with them about previously.

You have to schedule the in-home visit with them one day before you want the test done: so if you wanted to be tested on a Thursday, they will tell you to contact them on Wednesday. I highly recommend you contact them first thing in the morning if you want testing done the next day.

They also had the best payment options:

*Efectivo (you can pay in pesos).

*Credit card (they bring the card machine with them).

Other labs want you to do an electronic transfer, which means you have to find one of those kiosks with a teller, give them the lab bank transfer details, and make the payment a day before you want the test in order to confirm your appointment. That's too much work!

You also have to make sure the testing is done within 3 days of your flight. So if your flight is on a Tuesday, you cannot get tested on a Saturday (outside of the 3-day testing range required). You would have to wait until Monday (they are closed on Sundays and holidays).

I got the Antigen test (Antigeno) and it was 140 k pesos with results via email in 3 to 4 hours after testing. The in-home visit fee (el servicio a domicilio) was 25 k pesos: so 165 k pesos total.

They also had the best time window for the lab tech to arrive at your place: 6:30 am to 9:30 am. And they actually showed up within that time window (not late).

Another lab gave a window of 6:30 am to 6:30 pm, which is ridiculous!

You don't have to leave a tip, but I gave the lady lab tech a 10 k peso note just because they made the entire process so damn easy compared to other labs, and for the fact that they come to you, were the most responsive, and had multiple payment options.

This information is specific to those staying in El Poblado. You will need to ask them if they service your sector where you are staying.

You will need to provide them:

*Your full name.

*Passport number.

*Date of birth.

*Email address (to receive your test results).

*Name of the Barrio you are in (like El Poblado).

*Exact direction of your residence.

*Phone number (use the same number you use to talk to them via WhatsApp chat).

Hope this helps!

Great information.

I'm curious if having had Covid previously is still means one does not need to reenter the US.

And I have not been paying attention, is a negative test required to enter Colombia?

[Yusk1984]

Where would you stay for the best mongering experience? AirBnB or Hotel? Which one? I am visiting Aug 17th onward.

[Elvis 2008]

I will use up all 180 days of my tourista vista in 2021. For 2022, I am pretty sure I will be changing visas to allow more time, but there are many options. Medellin is my new home away from home.

Is Colombia one of those countries where you do the 180 days, fly back to another country, and then can spend 180 more days in Colombia? Or is it a hard 180 days per year?