Bogota Reports

[Nick]

The Sofitel in Bogota is a very nice Hotel.

[Peter Solano]

In the past, I've stayed at the Chile Inn, which is on 82nd St right near La Boheme, I believe. It costs about 105,000 pesos per night. It's a nice simple hotel, nothing fancy, but clean and comfortable. It's close to Chapinero, which I like, and a bit away from the more touristy areas, which I also like. But on this trip I'm going with a friend and he wants to stay in a fancier hotel. He wants to stay in either the Don Carlton or the Dan something else, both five-star hotels. One costs 140,000 pesos plus tax without breakfast and the other is 190,000 pesos plus tax with breakfast. Basically, they both cost almost $100 a night with two breakfasts. This seems to me incredibly exorbitant for a weekend in a Third World country.

I keep asking people if there is a hotels.com kind of web site for Colombia. I search in English and in Spanish but all of the web sites that I find are very expensive. Does anyone know of a good web site that had really good deals? Does anyone know of a Colombian travel agent with an e-mail address who offers really good package deals?

WE Colombians do not appreciate this THIRD WORLD COUNTRY label some of you give us.And think that because we are a third world Country (if we really are) Everything HAS to be cheap, the Hotels, women etc.

I am a bit off in 5 Star Hotel prices in the US, but I am sure it is more than $100/night, so that should not surprise you.Here you get what you pay for.
Also that COL$190.000 comes to about $88 at COL$2140 to $1 Exchange rate.Peter Solano.

[Peter Solano]

Anyone like to make some comparisons of these 2 places? I like lighter georgeous women..

I can give you my COLOMBIAN point of view, PAISAS ( girls from Medellin ) are much prettier, and they have this sexi accent that drives me wild.Bogota,don`t get me wrong, has pretty women too, and also where I live in Barranquilla, they are sexier than Bogota`s women, but to me I would rate Cali and Medellin women as No. 1 and Barranquilla as no. 2. I hope this helps. Peter Solano.

[AddictedToWomen]

I used to stay in the Dann Carlton when I wanted something really nice, and the Dann Norte when I wanted something a bit cheaper, but the last few times I've had no end of problems with the Norte: when the dollar is rising they want to fix the price in dollars and when its falling in pesos. So you can agree a price with them in advance only to discover that that was the price in (they pick a currency) on (pick a date) and now needs to be "corrected".

Personally, I've had my fill of run-ins with the f*ckers, and I'm looking elsewhere. Maybe one of the apartasuites?

[Hoof Hunter]

Did you try this already? http://www.laguiahotelera.com/guia_hotelera/home.aspx

[I Jags]

Anyone like to make some comparisons of these 2 places? I like lighter georgeous women..

[Cuba Tourist]

In the past, I've stayed at the Chile Inn, which is on 82nd St right near La Boheme, I believe. It costs about 105,000 pesos per night. It's a nice simple hotel, nothing fancy, but clean and comfortable. It's close to Chapinero, which I like, and a bit away from the more touristy areas, which I also like. But on this trip I'm going with a friend and he wants to stay in a fancier hotel. He wants to stay in either the Don Carlton or the Dan something else, both five-star hotels. One costs 140,000 pesos plus tax without breakfast and the other is 190,000 pesos plus tax with breakfast. Basically, they both cost almost $100 a night with two breakfasts. This seems to me incredibly exorbitant for a weekend in a Third World country.

I keep asking people if there is a hotels.com kind of web site for Colombia. I search in English and in Spanish but all of the web sites that I find are very expensive. Does anyone know of a good web site that had really good deals? Does anyone know of a Colombian travel agent with an e-mail address who offers really good package deals?

[Adimondo]

Thank you for the detailed and amazing report! It's exactly my style of reporting. Details are most important. You've combined an informative report with excellent pics. They should declare you senior member. You are an example for the other members. Keep the good work going on!

[Full Throttle]

Not a true trip report, but a quick observation.

Went downtown for the first time the other night. Went by the area by the parque nacional, but didn't park until arriving in the Zona Rosa.

What a great area. I know I was within yards of establishments that I need to see and report on one day, but, for this Thursday night, I really enjoyed the local atmosphere. Beautiful people filled every establishment, particularly a small dance-oriented joint my guide directed me to. Great "Happy Hours," too. I don't know what the drink was, but it was free.

Also, a nice Irish pub. Not the one with a shamrock out front, but a two-story, indoor-outdoor pub that specializes in a 110 ounce cylinder they deliver to your table. It has a tap near the bottom and looks SO good. The beer was delicious.

So, the crime is way down, the girls are beautiful, the prices are somewhat higher than historic averages, but there is a lot of fun to be had.

Hope to see some of you guys down there. I usually go to Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires, Santiago and San Jose for work/pleasure, but will have some quick visits to Bogota, as well.

FT

[Surfer]

Like Sao Paolo or other big cities that many flee on weekends, La 49 MIGHT be better midwek (I went three times and believe each was midweek, but am not certain). Cachorro I, too, MUCH prefer Medellin (and Cali) to BOG, but I was merely trying to help the guy out with another option not already on his list. The escorts from El Tiempo seemed a better option, and I had fun down in Centro clubs (but I went in the afternoon and with a trusted taxista). NOT an area for a solo gringo to cruise at night.

Suerte compadre

[Cachorro]

Surfer, I remember your good reviews on here, so I was kind of puzzled when I actually checked out La 49. I arrived at around midnight, stayed plenty of time. There were only 2 strip shows over the course of a few hours, neither was really hot or a great looking girl.

My friends also had a similar lacklustre experience. We both went on different Friday nights -- maybe that wasn't a good night to go?

I admit I had been spoiled for quality, like at La Isla in Medellin, and picking up Colombian freelancers in general.

I have to say that when you arrive by taxi you'll have no choice but to go inside, as there's a melee of about 10 touts getting you to enter. There's a copycat "Whiskeria" two doors down, and each place's touts are jostling for position to try and shepherd you into their place. La 49 is the one on your right hand side as you face the doorways to enter.

[Surfer]

written about it several times on older threads here. Nice quality chicas, but NOT a neighborhood to go wandering around at night (hop out of your taxi and go DIRECTLY inside). Less gringos than "upscale" Zona Norte clubs (the Triangle around Casanovas).

[Young & Restless]

Hi everyone,

I’m trying to finalize my list of places to go in Bogotá. Unfortunately, I won’t have much time there (2-nights total) and under the circumstances, I would rather start out by going to some of the higher-end clubs/bars in Bogotá since my time is so limited. Here are some places that I’ve read about that sound interesting, but please let me know if I have left off a “must visit place” or if you have other recommendations. I have also made a similar post in the Cartagena section, if you want to take a look at my checklist for that city too:


massage parlors:
Cleopatra Club
Barby's

Bars/Clubs:
Casanova
Juan Pablo/Zhivago Bar
Lancaster

Thanks in advance,

Y & R

[Ferolga777]

Thecatsmeow88

That's a solid report.

Thank you.

ferolga

[TheCatsMeow88]

Try www.clasifica.com. It worked for me and the girls I talked to )Nicolle & Daniela) were motivated.

The Cat