Bogota Reports

[Trim1]

Never accept the rate. You decline that and it automatically gives you the interbank exchange rate. You must have hit cancel or something, otherwise it goes through normally. I think all the rates are the same, except when they offer you a rate it means they are trying to rip you off.

Thanks! My withdrawals failed because I entered the wrong account type. I had forgotten that my Schwab account is a checking account, not a saving account. I went back to the Davivienda ATM and tried again. It offered me a rate of 3562. I declined, then received cash at a rate of 3887.

[Sun08]

Can anyone tell me where I can get a good exchange rate withdrawing from an ATM with a Schwab card? I tried a Davienda ATM inside an Olimpica in Chapinero and it offered me a rate around 3500 pesos per dollar. Yahoo Finance shows 3838 peso per dollar, so I declined and the transaction did not go through. Next I tried a Servibanca ATM. It indicated that there would be a fee of 16.000 pesos. I accepted since Schwab reimburses fees, but then it offered a rate of around 3600 pesos per dollar, so I hesitated and the transaction did not go through.

Some banks play this stupid game and during the ATM transaction you are asked for Currency Conversion. Always select 'no' or you will get a very bad exchange rate. Recently I used ATM at NovaScotia bank and did not see it asking for it so that is a good option. I did see this currency conversion at Servibanca ATM. Personally I stay away from ATM banks that prompt for this conversion. It is a scam.

[Woodman09]

I was out in Santa Fe from 7 to 11. Streets were pretty fair--Not bad.

Went to Venus, Troya, Atonis and Fiebre, Texas, and California-.

I love that I can walk into clubs and just walk out if I feel like it and there is no cover. I read on MDE board they are paying covers to clubs-.

Venus was not as good as last week, about 12 girls some pretty hot and no sex show-- I suppose because it was not as busy?

Troya had about 30+ girls 10+ were above average a few really super hot.

Fiebre had about 20+ girls, 10+ above average -- a few super hot.

Atonis had about 20+ girls many average 8 were above average+.

California was not really busy but we were there early.

Texas had about 10 girls it was early-- pretty average. They were saying that there was going to be a sex show but as I said the quality was not so much.

Police Sweep / Inspection-- There was a team of cops going from club to club checking IDs. First time I ever have experienced that. We were in Fiebre and they came in asked for IDs. The guy I was with had only a photo of passport on phone which the cop said was not sufficient but let off with that. You should at least have a paper copy which usually is sufficient.

There was a squad of machine gun toting soldiers as I was walking out.

All in all I would say that SF is still a great place for those who give it a chance.

[Woodman09]

Never accept the rate. You decline that and it automatically gives you the interbank exchange rate. You must have hit cancel or something, otherwise it goes through normally. I think all the rates are the same, except when they offer you a rate it means they are trying to rip you off.

The ATM screen gives you a choice to 'Decline Conversion' I suppose this a trick to make gringos think they will cancel the transaction if they decline? Why else? Yes the transaction goes through-.

But Recently I have been taking out 3.9 Million pesos a day for business and I have used several banks-- I ran the numbers the other day on a few different banks on the rates-.

BanColombia is consistently skimming 200 pesos Per Dollar while the others were giving me the full rate from the day before-- I had not been using BanCol because they have a 600 mil per trans and others are much higher but I had to use them a couple of days for convenience-- I noticed a bit of a difference on my bank statement so I ran numbers. And I did do transactions at BanCol and Colpatria the same day and it was a 200 peso PD difference-- I had Bancol WDs on 2 different days that I checked-.

Here are the max amounts per transaction on a few banks;.

Davivienda gives 2 million pesos at 1 time-- Caja Social gives up to 1. 9 million, Pinchicha gives up to 1 million and Colpatria gives 900 mil.

[World Travel 69]

This map may help.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?h...960000003&z=15

This might Help.

Walked in Chapinero at night, no problems; however, west of Transmilenio should not be an area to walk aimlessly at night. Anyway, I responded to a choice between two options.

.

[Mr Enternational]

Can anyone tell me where I can get a good exchange rate withdrawing from an ATM with a Schwab card? I tried a Davienda ATM inside an Olimpica in Chapinero and it offered me a rate around 3500 pesos per dollar. Yahoo Finance shows 3838 peso per dollar, so I declined and the transaction did not go through.

Never accept the rate. You decline that and it automatically gives you the interbank exchange rate. You must have hit cancel or something, otherwise it goes through normally. I think all the rates are the same, except when they offer you a rate it means they are trying to rip you off.

[TalkYes]

Thanks Zeos and JJBee62 for the info.

And Elvis if you see this, or whoever else I might have pissed off a while back with my stance against raw dogging ams right after pros, I want to say my bad. The risk is a choice between the two consenting adults involved and I was acting a bit sanctimonious.

[Trim1]

Can anyone tell me where I can get a good exchange rate withdrawing from an ATM with a Schwab card? I tried a Davienda ATM inside an Olimpica in Chapinero and it offered me a rate around 3500 pesos per dollar. Yahoo Finance shows 3838 peso per dollar, so I declined and the transaction did not go through. Next I tried a Servibanca ATM. It indicated that there would be a fee of 16.000 pesos. I accepted since Schwab reimburses fees, but then it offered a rate of around 3600 pesos per dollar, so I hesitated and the transaction did not go through.

[KewDude]

Ok to write me.

Tried to PM you as well. Your mailbox is full again. You are a popular man, LOL.

[Zeos1]

Oh man it seems like a nightmare. Even fully vaccinated people require a test result that is less than 72 hours of your direct flight back to Canada. But doesn't it take up to 3 days to even get test results? Or more for the CRP tests required for travel? Isn't that cutting it pretty close, even with a direct flight? Can I ask where did you get your test, and was it expensive? And how long did it take to get your results? I'd appreciate information from anyone with some insight to offer. Imagine paying hundreds of dollars for a test that isn't ready in time and then not being allowed on your flight. Seems like the Canadian government is trying to defer people from travelling by just burying it's citizens in layers of bureaucracy.

Someone please give me some hope.

It has to be a PCR test. So go somewhere to get a PCR test with a 24 hour turn around. That applies to everyone entering Canada, vaccinations or not. I was in Costa Rica not Colombia, but had no problem getting a PCR test, with 24 hour turnaround.

Then, when you get to your destination in Canada you will be required to take a test at the airport. Also a PCR test.

If you are vaccinated, both doses, more than 15 days since your second shot, then you can skip the quarantine requirement and go home. You may be asked to take another PCR test on day 8 after your arrival, but my understanding is that this is optional if you are fully vaccinated.

[Questner]

I have always liked Chapinero. Good, safe area that is central to Santa Fe to the South and Parque Virrey to the North.

Walked in Chapinero at night, no problems; however, west of Transmilenio should not be an area to walk aimlessly at night. Anyway, I responded to a choice between two options.

[JjBee62]

Oh man it seems like a nightmare. Even fully vaccinated people require a test result that is less than 72 hours of your direct flight back to Canada. But doesn't it take up to 3 days to even get test results? Or more for the CRP tests required for travel? Isn't that cutting it pretty close, even with a direct flight? Can I ask where did you get your test, and was it expensive? And how long did it take to get your results? I'd appreciate information from anyone with some insight to offer. Imagine paying hundreds of dollars for a test that isn't ready in time and then not being allowed on your flight. Seems like the Canadian government is trying to defer people from travelling by just burying it's citizens in layers of bureaucracy.

Someone please give me some hope.

Why would you pay hundreds of dollars for a test? There are 2 testing locations right at the Bogota airport which charge 140 k which is about $45 Canadian. Test results in an hour for the antigen test. If Canada requires the PCR test you can get results in less than 24 hours.

If you don't want to use the airport testing center (protip: number 2 is much less busy than number 1), there are many labs which will provide PCR results in under 24 hours. They will even come to your hotel to test you. I can't imagine any test in Colombia now costing More than $70 Canadian or taking longer than 24 hours.

[Yossarian]

North (Mezzanine) is much better area to live and set dates. You can always bring them to motels as Colombians do. I would book an apartment for 2 weeks. Of course mine is only an opinion. Santa Fe is a hit them and run away area. Usaquen, area near Andino Mall. Better areas of the city by all means.

I have always liked Chapinero. Good, safe area that is central to Santa Fe to the South and Parque Virrey to the North.

[Yossarian]

The spice. My gal freaks out if anything Mexican is spicy hot.

I taste the food before hand to see if something is too spicy but sometimes there is something mild and I say it is okay and she tries it and even says then it is too hot.

I can believe that. Colombian food for the most part is quite bland, especially compared to Mexican food.

[LatinaLover#1]

Hola LL,

Trying to PM you but your inbox is full.

Ok to write me.