Medellin Reports

[Gabacho]

To each their own. But I find it a hassle. After spending the better part of the day getting to Medellin, the last thing on my mind is saving $20 some dollars. You mentioned the bus but didn't mention the cost of the cab after getting dropped off. Why hassle with your luggage. Where else can you get door to door service at $20 or $24 ?

Makes no sense to me. Unless your budget is extremely tight and living on paycheck to paycheck in the states.

Actually the bus now drops off at Exposiciones and then you can hop on the metro for $3280 COP. And not necessarily people on a paycheck to paycheck budget could just be people who don't want to waste money. And usually when I arrive at MDE I'm just coming from Bogota not having spent my whole day on planes. Anyways to each his own.

[IamLookin]

To each their own. But I find it a hassle. After spending the better part of the day getting to Medellin, the last thing on my mind is saving $20 some dollars. You mentioned the bus but didn't mention the cost of the cab after getting dropped off. Why hassle with your luggage. Where else can you get door to door service at $20 or $24 ?

Makes no sense to me. Unless your budget is extremely tight and living on paycheck to paycheck in the states.

Yeah actually I was just thinking the difference is way more than $10 usd. The bus is currently $15'500 COP or $3.93 usd and the White Taxis are $110'000 COP or $27.92 usd, using an exchange rate of 1:3940. So the difference is $24 each way.

[Knowledge]

I remember once taking a shared taxi (colectivo) for only slightly more than the cost of the bus.

It cost 110 mil for a white cab. That is the equivalent of $26 US dollars. After traveling so far to arrive at the promised land why worry about a few dollars?

A white cab is fast and efficient and they will drive you to your door. If saving 10 dollars is that important then maybe you are better staying home.
I agree with you MoonShot.

[Knowledge]

Yes, it is situational. Anytime I get off a flight here and the bus line is long, I immediately default to uber or didi.

I think what you are saying is that it is situational. I was in another city last month and the bus from the airport was 2 hours. I arrived at 8 AM and took Uber to a cafe to wait until 11:30 AM check in time. If I were in Medellin, I would just take the bus. I am not in a rush to go to a cafe or some place to wait. There are so many people taking bus, now all these people are being classified as cheap. Does that even make sense?

It's better for people just to provide information and let the person make the informed decision, instead of making decision for other people that one knows nothing about and proceed to start a debate.

[Knowledge]

You captured the various driving scenarios very well. It breaks my heart when I see handicapped and very old people having to deal with the way the city bus drivers run their routes.

AFAIK the 'bad rep' gringos are getting is for the opposite -- overspending and gentrification.

They do like to squeeze their 'bobos', that's for sure (and who doesn't like clueless customer paying premium for nothing). Of course nobody respects an idiot / push-over so great treatment shouldn't be expected.

As for bus vs taxi, so many pointless comments, bus cost X, taxi Z, the OP can make his own decision, everybody knows taxi is the most convenient, I don't get why some posters feel obliged to chip in with their name calling.

And it's not only about the money, bus can be more interesting ride and the city buses can be like rollercoaster -- mixing with locals, massive celling poster / paint of Jesus Christ / Holy Mary over your head, blasting reaggeaton, roaring engine smoking up, holding on to your seat while the driver is putting pedal to the metal taking corners and then braking sharply. Ariport bus is usually a more smooth ride though. Airport taxi the most boring ride. But to be fair, many city taxistas do drive like maniacs, barely passing obstacles and people at high speed, which, when sitting in front can be fun too. The moto taxi can be fun as well, but I value my skin too much, it will be taken off like butter in no time after the contact with the ground, even at the relatively low speed (I do like my bones and brain too (I use it on occasion)).

[Gabacho]

Thing about it is that the people that have done it know that it is no hassle. And it saves more than $10. Actually saves about $50 round trip.

Yeah actually I was just thinking the difference is way more than $10 usd. The bus is currently $15'500 COP or $3.93 usd and the White Taxis are $110'000 COP or $27.92 usd, using an exchange rate of 1:3940. So the difference is $24 each way.

[MoonShot]

It can be fun to use public transportation in the city and a sense of accomplishment when you were able to do so to go to a location that you want to visit. I always use the Metro to go to El Centro or some sightseeing places. If you go to Parque Arvi, the cable cars to get up there give you a good experience and there is a sense of accomplishment that you were able to get there by public transportation.

My point is that from the airport I am tired especially after that our long line for immigration that you may experience. I just want to get to the hotel as quickly as possible. That white cab for 110 mil set fee is a no hassle experience that will get you to your hotel safely without any issues. From point A to point and no worries about the tax driver trying to rip you off.

I am in Medellin now and everything seems fine. I have not been drugged or robbed yet but my trip is not finished so there is still time for an incident.

The usual precautions mentioned here will make your trip a little safer. Stay in a place with security and not an Airbnb with no security. Don't drink with the girls and be careful about threesomes with two girls that you do not know. It is just harder to keep an eye on two girls at the same time.

Now I have read a lot of stories about guys on motorcycles robbing people. That has not happened to me but I am aware of my circumstances. I am cautious about when I take out my phone and do not carry my wallet in a place that is easy to be pickpocketed.

I think if you just take these types of common sense precautions, there is a lower probability of bad things happening. Yeah the same time as I mentioned, Colombia is a more dangerous country than some other mongering countries such as Thailand, Costa Rica or the Philippines. I have friends who say I am not risking death for pussy and they will never come to Colombia. I don't think that is a bad decision at all because you definitely can go to safer countries than Colombia.

But if you take extra precautions, Colombia can be a fun place.

[JohnnieCash]

No wonder gringos get a bad rap in MDE.

AFAIK the 'bad rep' gringos are getting is for the opposite -- overspending and gentrification.

I'm sure the chicas just hate dealing with these cheap Charlies.

They do like to squeeze their 'bobos', that's for sure (and who doesn't like clueless customer paying premium for nothing). Of course nobody respects an idiot / push-over so great treatment shouldn't be expected.

As for bus vs taxi, so many pointless comments, bus cost X, taxi Z, the OP can make his own decision, everybody knows taxi is the most convenient, I don't get why some posters feel obliged to chip in with their name calling.

And it's not only about the money, bus can be more interesting ride and the city buses can be like rollercoaster -- mixing with locals, massive celling poster / paint of Jesus Christ / Holy Mary over your head, blasting reaggeaton, roaring engine smoking up, holding on to your seat while the driver is putting pedal to the metal taking corners and then braking sharply. Ariport bus is usually a more smooth ride though. Airport taxi the most boring ride. But to be fair, many city taxistas do drive like maniacs, barely passing obstacles and people at high speed, which, when sitting in front can be fun too. The moto taxi can be fun as well, but I value my skin too much, it will be taken off like butter in no time after the contact with the ground, even at the relatively low speed (I do like my bones and brain too (I use it on occasion)).

[Mr Enternational]

Unreal that some mongers are so cheap that they would go through all the hassle of a bus and then a taxi with luggage to save $10 after traveling so far. No wonder gringos get a bad rap in MDE. I'm sure the chicas just hate dealing with these cheap Charlies. Just splurge a little and spend the $26 and start your vacation.

Thing about it is that the people that have done it know that it is no hassle. And it saves more than $10. Actually saves about $50 round trip.

I have a very reliable, trustworthy driver who I have used for airport pickup and dropoff on all of my 3 recent trips. 120 mil but I usually give him 140 mil for the convenience and helpfulness.

The rides from the airport to where I stay in both Barranquilla and Cali are roughly the same distance as the distance from the Rio Negro airport to either Laureles or downtown and it costs me 20,000 pesos for Indriver. In Medellin it probably takes me 5 minutes more on the bus than it does in a taxi and apparently from this report costs more than 100,000 pesos less.

[Nounce]

I probably would take the bus if I were visiting for vacation. The extra 15 to 45 minutes you can save by using a taxi would be more of a consideration.

I think what you are saying is that it is situational. I was in another city last month and the bus from the airport was 2 hours. I arrived at 8 AM and took Uber to a cafe to wait until 11:30 AM check in time. If I were in Medellin, I would just take the bus. I am not in a rush to go to a cafe or some place to wait. There are so many people taking bus, now all these people are being classified as cheap. Does that even make sense?

It's better for people just to provide information and let the person make the informed decision, instead of making decision for other people that one knows nothing about and proceed to start a debate.

[AmorPorFavor]

It cost 110 mil for a white cab. That is the equivalent of $26 US dollars. After traveling so far to arrive at the promised land why worry about a few dollars?

A white cab is fast and efficient and they will drive you to your door. If saving 10 dollars is that important then maybe you are better staying home.
I agree with you MoonShot.

Unreal that some mongers are so cheap that they would go through all the hassle of a bus and then a taxi with luggage to save $10 after traveling so far. No wonder gringos get a bad rap in MDE. I'm sure the chicas just hate dealing with these cheap Charlies. Just splurge a little and spend the $26 and start your vacation.

[Kbdb2488]

I have a very reliable, trustworthy driver who I have used for airport pickup and dropoff on all of my 3 recent trips. He will also do tours and general rides around the city but because Uber is so dirt cheap I only hire him for airport transfers. English fluent, he lived in Miami for years, always takes me to exchange money away from the airport close to my airbnbs in Laureles. Much better rate, don't ever exchange money at the airport. 120 mil but I usually give him 140 mil for the convenience and helpfulness. He can help with entertainment options like women or extra curricular activities if you need. Message me for his number if you like. I don't get any cut haha just trying to help a good guy. Always reliable, understands and waits if immigration is taking a long time.

[IamLookin]

It cost 110 mil for a white cab. That is the equivalent of $26 US dollars. After traveling so far to arrive at the promised land why worry about a few dollars?

A white cab is fast and efficient and they will drive you to your door. If saving 10 dollars is that important then maybe you are better staying home.
I agree with you MoonShot.

That is definitely a lot of posts about taking public transportation from the airport to save money. If you want to save money you should go all the way. See girls at the casas or El Centro streets only. Stay at a hostel since you won't be bringing girls back. Eat at small local places only.

But if you really want to save money, stay home, watch porn and masturbate. You can save hundreds if not thousands of dollars that way.

[Gabacho]

That is definitely a lot of posts about taking public transportation from the airport to save money. If you want to save money you should go all the way. See girls at the casas or El Centro streets only. Stay at a hostel since you won't be bringing girls back. Eat at small local places only.

But if you really want to save money, stay home, watch porn and masturbate. You can save hundreds if not thousands of dollars that way.

I think the whole point is about making the money stretch further so he can stay in Colombia for a longer period of time.

[Gabacho]

I don't click youtube links. Is one of them the Mexican discovered disoriented and laid out in Bello this week?

Yea it was, him and another one both Mexican nationals both scoped. Apparently they had been at a club in Provenza where it happened (they had wristbands from the club). Then the dude woke up in the street somewhere in Bello missing his belongings.