General Info

[Mtndew704]

Hey all,

Wanted to hear some thoughts. I'm thinking about visiting Colombia later this year, my first solo vacation in south america. I'm not SPECIFICALLY going for hobbying, but ideally it would be nice to find a woman (or women) I can hang with for extended company.

I'm in my late 30's, in decent shape. My Spanish isn't great but its good enough that I can understand 80%, and I can speak enough to hold basic conversation and get the idea across for whatever I want to say. Ideal vacation for me would involve being on the water, doing ocean activities like snorkeling and booze cruising. A little bit of nightlife / clubbing / dancing. I'm not big on visiting historical sites. I don't want to be among too many tourists if possible. I know this is very open-ended, but it would be cool to do a once-in-a-lifetime activity of some sort while on vacation (for example another idea was whale-shark diving in the Yucatan before I settled on Colombia).

What's the best place in Colombia for this? Cartagena seems like the most likely option, but I'm wondering if there's a better place that's less touristy, and more unique, while not being so far out in the boonies that its going to be dangerous, stressful, no infrastructure.

Also the potential trip wouldn't be super long. Maybe only about a week. What would be the best way to go about finding some attractive arm candy for the trip to keep me company for most of the time? Is there a way to go about that at all? Seems most of the posts are about short term 1-2 hours, or at most 1 night stay. Is this even a good idea to try to do this? Might cause drama when its time for me to leave. How would I find vet them before I show up, to make sure they're not weird, or going to try to rob me?

You should check out Santa Marta or san andreas island.

[RubberDuckyBos]

Hey all,

Wanted to hear some thoughts. I'm thinking about visiting Colombia later this year, my first solo vacation in south america. I'm not SPECIFICALLY going for hobbying, but ideally it would be nice to find a woman (or women) I can hang with for extended company.

I'm in my late 30's, in decent shape. My Spanish isn't great but its good enough that I can understand 80%, and I can speak enough to hold basic conversation and get the idea across for whatever I want to say. Ideal vacation for me would involve being on the water, doing ocean activities like snorkeling and booze cruising. A little bit of nightlife / clubbing / dancing. I'm not big on visiting historical sites. I don't want to be among too many tourists if possible. I know this is very open-ended, but it would be cool to do a once-in-a-lifetime activity of some sort while on vacation (for example another idea was whale-shark diving in the Yucatan before I settled on Colombia).

What's the best place in Colombia for this? Cartagena seems like the most likely option, but I'm wondering if there's a better place that's less touristy, and more unique, while not being so far out in the boonies that its going to be dangerous, stressful, no infrastructure.

Also the potential trip wouldn't be super long. Maybe only about a week. What would be the best way to go about finding some attractive arm candy for the trip to keep me company for most of the time? Is there a way to go about that at all? Seems most of the posts are about short term 1-2 hours, or at most 1 night stay. Is this even a good idea to try to do this? Might cause drama when its time for me to leave. How would I find vet them before I show up, to make sure they're not weird, or going to try to rob me?

[John Gault]

What form? I flew in and out in May and July and didn't do the mig or any paper forms. Did I skip steps or do they no longer require?

They still want you to fill out the form online. I'm surprised you were able to enter the Country without doing the form online.

[JackTaggart]

In the past customs in Colombia was for me a real pain in the ass. Now with the form you have to fill out online that gives them all the info that they want to know such as all your personal info and where you will be staying. So now when you reach the person who stamps your passport there is no delay or questions. It is now a very speedy procedure. The funny thing is I always hated to fill out that form as it was always a hard task till I learned exactly how to fill it out. Of course it is my nature to complain so riddle me this. Why does Colombia make you fill out a form to leave the country?

What form? I flew in and out in May and July and didn't do the mig or any paper forms. Did I skip steps or do they no longer require?

[Mr Enternational]

Why does Colombia make you fill out a form to leave the country?

For one to know if you have overstayed. Many countries make you fill out a form to leave the country. Maybe you are just not thinking along those lines. When you enter you will fill a form out with 2 parts, but you keep the second part with you and turn it in when you leave. Before, people on visas to the USA would have to turn in the I94 form before they left. In many countries everything is becoming electronic with systems (airline & government) crossing each other so they are able to track it like that these days.

[John Gault]

In the past customs in Colombia was for me a real pain in the ass. Now with the form you have to fill out online that gives them all the info that they want to know such as all your personal info and where you will be staying. So now when you reach the person who stamps your passport there is no delay or questions. It is now a very speedy procedure. The funny thing is I always hated to fill out that form as it was always a hard task till I learned exactly how to fill it out. Of course it is my nature to complain so riddle me this. Why does Colombia make you fill out a form to leave the country?

[Mr Enternational]

It will be Colombia. Colombia entry and exit stamps all over my passport these days. I checked the CDC website, only Brazil is listed. Not sure about Colombia though, and I can't find any info about such requirements.

I think you are currently in SEA, did Immigration ask you for the Yellow Fever Vax card?

No. Only time I have ever been asked for it was in Australia. We got to the counter and the guy was processing us in and my buddy mouthed off to the guy that I had recently been to Africa. He asked which country. I told him and he looked at a list behind him. Then he said step aside. They asked for my card but I did not have it with me. They made me fill out some paperwork and told me to watch myself for any illness for the next how many ever hours. I do not think it is routinely asked for unless you are coming directly from a country where yellow fever is a problem.

[Ggekko2009]

It depends on which countries you have visited in the past whatever. It is not that they require it overall.

It will be Colombia. Colombia entry and exit stamps all over my passport these days. I checked the CDC website, only Brazil is listed. Not sure about Colombia though, and I can't find any info about such requirements.

I think you are currently in SEA, did Immigration ask you for the Yellow Fever Vax card?

[Mr Enternational]

Thanks for that reminder. Do you know if Philippine, Thailand and Indonesia also require the Yellow Fever vaccine proof?

It depends on which countries you have visited in the past whatever. It is not that they require it overall.

[Ggekko2009]

Actually, this rule has been in effect for at least 5 years. I remember flying to Sao Paulo from Medellin, and I was told about that rule. I just traveled to SEA recently, and Singapore required that vaccination for folks who had traveled to Colombia recently.

Thanks for that reminder. Do you know if Philippine, Thailand and Indonesia also require the Yellow Fever vaccine proof?

[Lefeu]

I found out couple of months ago, if you are flying into Colombia from Brazil, you are required to show a yellow fever vaccination card. You don't need yellow fever vac card flying into Brazil...

Actually, this rule has been in effect for at least 5 years. I remember flying to Sao Paulo from Medellin, and I was told about that rule. I just traveled to SEA recently, and Singapore required that vaccination for folks who had traveled to Colombia recently.

[GreenBud]

I found out couple of months ago, if you are flying into Colombia from Brazil, you are required to show a yellow fever vaccination card. You don't need yellow fever vac card flying into Brazil.

The Avianca clerk at Rio airport took pity on my despondent face, and she told me the "hack" flying on Avianca. Purchase a full fare, refundable ticket from Bogota to Quito, Ecuador (or anywhere else). Then she can put the 2 flights together, using Bogota as a layover. Then she doesn't need to see your vac card. Then when you are in Bogota, leave immigration. The small risk is if border agent ask to see your yellow fever vac card.

Then after you enter the baggage claim area, go and cancel your flight. It took me an hour to get my bags. Minor problem is that Avianca gave a flight voucher (good for 1 year) instead of a full refund.

[LatinaLover#1]

Today, 7 days later it's already up to 4,203.274 a great exchange rate. Now if only airfares would come down from the stratosphere.

[The Cane]

I am in Thailand using my Schwab check card. The daily limit is automatically set at $1000. I have a couple of large purchases to make so I called to see if the limit could be raised. I was able to raise it to $4000 for tomorrow only. She said that the limit resets everyday at 3 am EST. So if you took out $1000 today you would not be able to withdraw again until 3 am the next day.

All of this however is independent of the ATM you are using. So the lady said I would probably have to run around to different banks' ATMs to withdraw the money since each bank also sets a daily limit for your card.

I managed to get my maximum daily withdrawal limit permanently raised to $1,500 a few years ago.

[Mr Enternational]

I am in Thailand using my Schwab check card. The daily limit is automatically set at $1000. I have a couple of large purchases to make so I called to see if the limit could be raised. I was able to raise it to $4000 for tomorrow only. She said that the limit resets everyday at 3 am EST. So if you took out $1000 today you would not be able to withdraw again until 3 am the next day.

All of this however is independent of the ATM you are using. So the lady said I would probably have to run around to different banks' ATMs to withdraw the money since each bank also sets a daily limit for your card.