Medellin Reports

[Nounce]

... I found many guys selling sims on CR 70 next to SP but they can not recharge. ...

Actually, they will point you the place to recharge probably just across the street. The SIM is 5 K from them. Or just go to the Ganas store show them the SIM you just bought to recharge. This process although easy but maybe a little more complicated for the first timer. That is why I asked your method.

My comment about getting money is because you seem to not have the flexibility with how you can get COP from your post

[BootyBandit84]

"One thing guys need to mention more often at this forum is that San Peter now had a very busy, American-run bar right next to reception. SP is now as good as Hotel M."

I never stayed at San Peter. But the presence of the bar seems interesting. Can I meet or pick up the chicas from there? Can anyone elaborate on that, please?

I was in San Peter two weeks ago. Yes the bar is nice and the food is good. The owner is a great guy and its overall a fun hangout place if you want to be around some fellow Americans. With that said, I was there 4 or five nights over my stay and the only women I saw there were the bartenders. Not once did I see any girls hanging out looking for fun. Maybe it was just an off week but I doubt it because t was the same on my last trip. Great place, but not a place to pick up girls.

[Plan77]

Maybe you can share info how you get the sim card to help others. Most people just withdraw COP from ATM.

Exchanging money and getting sim is easy actually. Take a 5 K taxi ride from SP to Unicentro Mall. The claro store is right in front. One has to pay 7 K for the sim to a guy who will set it up. Recharge is another 7 K, paid to cashier. Takes 10 minutes or so overall. I found many guys selling sims on CR 70 next to SP but they can not recharge. There is a valucell shop across SP on cr 70 but it opens a bit late and closes before 8 PM.

Plenty of cambios to change money on 2nd floor. But obviously it is better to just with draw from ATM. There is a cambio near SP, towards estadio on CR 70. Just next to subway restaurant.

[Nounce]

... The problem was that I could not walk to unicentro mall without a working phone. And I could not order uber because of no wifi.

Maybe you can share info how you get the sim card to help others. Most people just withdraw COP from ATM.

Like Mr E mentioned, I don't remember being able to get early check-in. I personally will drop my luggage and walk or take Metro to Plaza Botero to spend the day there just sightseeing. There is a WOM store with staff speaking English next to the white church that you can get a SIM card from as well. You probably can even pay by card. Card is also accepted by the outdoor museum cafe.

[Mtndew704]

Hi all,

First time in Medellin and reading all the reports, it sounds like Gusto and La Isla are safe-ish bets as far quality goes. I like 'you get what you see' option, but I'm more of a fan of partying at home, so is there an option of taking a girl out of there for a few hours for an additional fee? Maybe there are other places where this is an option and offering similar quality?

Many thanks.

Just grab their numbers and hit them up the next day, you are already paying a premium just for simply meeting them at gustos or La Isla.

[Mtndew704]

What are the best p4 p casas near San Peter Apartment in Laureles besides Zandalay and New Life? Or are there any other must see p4 p casa's near by that are also must see.

Luna Lunera is in Laureles, was 150 k / hour last time I was there.

[HoustonTxJake]

Geishas. Near el estadio.

Never heard of Geishas, what is the address?

Entergy is a good casa near the stadium.

[Knowledge]

I hope this is going to devolve into a war of scary links. Mr. Moderator, please get us back on topic.

Oh ya. Latin America is dangerous if you are in a drug bar in a cartel warzone. Course some places are even more dangerous https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/texas-...ting-1.6464315.

[MtbGuy07]

Hey all,

Been lurking for quite some time and thanks to all of your tips I decided to take a quick trip to Medellin! I'll be there Jun 2 - 6 staying in Orange Suites. It'll be my first time and I'm doing mostly the FB route, though would be cool to hit up the casas. Would be cool to meet up with you more experienced guys while there. I'm fluent in Spanish BTW. Thanks for sharing so much info on here!

I'm wondering about buying a 'throw away'/ prepaid phone while down there so I don't have to worry about carrying around my new expensive smartphone around. I imagine there are stores that sell them. Anyone know of any? Thanks again for all the info!

[Knowledge]

I think knowledge of Spanish is over emphasized quite a bit on this website. Yes it is of course helpful but not indispensable. That said, I agree 100% that no one should, or has to, get themselves in a situation where they are desperate to find someone who speaks English to hold their dick for them.

You don't speak the native language, didn't plan your finances, and you were in a developing country where Internet and Wifi is known to be spotty.

I guess if you were getting mad at yourself, then it would make more sense but still a nonproductive strategy.

Attitudes like yours don't help the image these people already have about Gringos.

[Knowledge]

There is a lower cost Centro style casa just next door to Energy. It is to the right of Energy if you are facing Energy. I don't remember if there is a bell or you have to knock but I do remember it takes a bit of time for them to answer the door.

Fantasy Energy is close (Cra. 74 #101-49). Zandalay and New Life are downtown.

[Knowledge]

Great advice but it doesn't work for everyone. Guys who are here for a handful of days at a time need on the spot action. A week can evaporate quickly if you get caught up in a bad cycle of waiting around to get ghosted a couple of times.

Simple. Go to Gustos see what you like, get their whatsapp numbers and hit them up next day early afternoon for a date. Yes you can pay a fee and take them out of la Isla or fase dos.

[PseudoGene]

"One thing guys need to mention more often at this forum is that San Peter now had a very busy, American-run bar right next to reception. SP is now as good as Hotel M."

I never stayed at San Peter. But the presence of the bar seems interesting. Can I meet or pick up the chicas from there? Can anyone elaborate on that, please?

[Knowledge]

The takeaway from your helpful post is make basic preparations to avoid situations where you are helpless. On this website there are piles and piles of information about how to hit the ground running in Medellin or any other location. The inner workings of the various gringo punter clubhouses shouldn't matter. Unless you are unlucky enough to be dealing with an inattentive or unscrupulous owner. It's not a military operation but it's also not a bad idea to have some contingency planning in place (E. G. Understand how to use ATMs and whether and how much your home bank allow it, as Zeos said, understand whether you will have phone service on arrival and what to do if you don't). This comes up constantly on this website so in the interest of helping guys I will mention that I don't know of any international airport where you can't buy a local SIM card. Pyongyang might be an exception. In Medellin, there is free WIFI throughout the airport. Everybody rolls differently but when I travel to places where I don't speak the language I make a point of preparing so I don't have rely on someone who does.

SP is not really a hotel, as units all have individual owners. So if you arrive early it is your particular room that would have to be ready, not just any room. The staff working there work on behalf of the owners and manage security, and services guests require. I found that the gal at the desk spoke some English, but that might vary depending on who is working. I also am not especially observant on that as I start in Spanish usually and when my Spanish is better than the other person's English I usually stick to Spanish. In Medellin this is almost always.

Good to hear the bar is back up and running. Has had a few iterations of owners / managers.

Wifi in the building is from individual unit owners, so I'm not surprised they don't have one they can give you before you check in.

I understand how frustrating it can be to arrive in a place, have no access to wifi or cell network, yet need that to contact an airbnb host or taxi or whatever. I now check before I leave whether my home cell carrier has any options for roaming in the country I am arriving in, and use that until I can get a local SIM.

[Zeos1]

I wish I knew it earlier but Joe was my guardian angel on day 1 when I really found myself in a pickle. I arrived at san peters at 11 am and of course room was not ready despite having been told that it might be available. The lady at reception didn't speak a word of English.

There was no WIFI.

It was my first hour in Colombia.

I had only 10 K pesos left.

I was really pissed off and getting angry just when I heard Joe speak English to another guy staying at SP. The bar opens at 3 PM but I managed to talk to Joe just as he entered the bar door. He was very kind and happy to help come into his bar, let me use bar wifi and introduced me to a vennie who spoke excellent English. Within a minute I was fully back in business, he told me where to get the pesos from, how to get the sim and answered my other questions.

A great conversationalist.

One thing guys need to mention more often at this forum is that San Peter now had a very busy, American run bar right next to reception. SP is now as good as Hotel M.

SP is not really a hotel, as units all have individual owners. So if you arrive early it is your particular room that would have to be ready, not just any room. The staff working there work on behalf of the owners and manage security, and services guests require. I found that the gal at the desk spoke some English, but that might vary depending on who is working. I also am not especially observant on that as I start in Spanish usually and when my Spanish is better than the other person's English I usually stick to Spanish. In Medellin this is almost always.

Good to hear the bar is back up and running. Has had a few iterations of owners / managers.

Wifi in the building is from individual unit owners, so I'm not surprised they don't have one they can give you before you check in.

I understand how frustrating it can be to arrive in a place, have no access to wifi or cell network, yet need that to contact an airbnb host or taxi or whatever. I now check before I leave whether my home cell carrier has any options for roaming in the country I am arriving in, and use that until I can get a local SIM.