Medellin Reports

[QUOTE=Napalm;1653158]So, to the older gringo gentleman in Centro Commercial Hollywood today buying sneakers for the 6 barrio girls and their mom, I salute your style sir. Backpack full of condoms, a bottle of water and some wet wipes. All of them calling you amor and papi. Good on you my friend I hope I can roll like that when I am your age. I just hope you are careful and don't fall victim to any ladrones or worse yet end up going for a paseo milionario.

I say that with the best of intentions. I hope you have your shit wired tight, because I can pretty much guarantee you drew the attention of the wrong types of folk today. Also, I hope you got to bang all 6 of those girls at once!

Salud, dinero & amor amigo![/QUOTE]He rally had a backpack full of Condoms and wetwipes? LOL you saw it? Hahaha, man how does one meet 6 bario girls that arent pros? I was thinking about getting off at one of the metrocable stops and wandering around one of those barrios, trying to meet girls like I did in high school at the mall. But my spanish is limited.

Gentlemen,

Planning first trip. Little espanol. Looking to book at Mansion. Have read 148 pages (RTFF) but am unclear when the next rainy season begins. Read in one report that Oct was a bad time (fewer girls available /$50 rooms). Is March considered one of the rainy months, like October cause if I'm going to pay for the services they offer I want it to be the high season.

Thank you

[QUOTE=MrAdventure;1653832]Gentlemen,

Planning first trip. Little espanol. Looking to book at Mansion. Have read 148 pages (RTFF) but am unclear when the next rainy season begins. Read in one report that Oct was a bad time (fewer girls available /$50 rooms). Is March considered one of the rainy months, like October cause if I'm going to pay for the services they offer I want it to be the high season.

Thank you[/QUOTE]It's between dry season and rainy season. However it can rain any month in MDE and you can have beautiful weather any month. I've been a couple times in April (historically wetter than March) and it's been absolutely perfect. I generally like to do my trips between November and April because that's when the weather sucks where I live. But if I didn't live in this near-Arctic climate (Chicago), I'd visit MDE any time of year.

You should be fine and have a great time.

[QUOTE=Raju1;1653417]I was thinking about getting off at one of the metrocable stops and wandering around one of those barrios, trying to meet girls like I did in high school at the mall. But my spanish is limited.[/QUOTE]Yea, you could wander aimlessly through a hood like that and hope to not get robbed but are there places that girls work before they hit el centro or la moyorista? Maybe you could get a real bargain and bang them in a roofless hut and give the people in the metrocable a good view.

[QUOTE=SlamCity7777;1652662]Hey man,

I hear you on this cab fare thing but it's not that bad you know? It ain't like they ain't showing up or worse stealing your (our) stuff, shake downs, ect. A few extra pesos? $5? Who cares? Also what you give for cab fare is what you give. They just got to take it you know? Unless it's part of the deal.

Bello is far out and if you have a girl on the clock for a date from 4-7 ish. She going to be late because that Bello-Mede / Poblado run is going to be nothing but traffic! 20-30 with out traffic and over an hour in hora de pico. Be aware and plan accordingly.[/QUOTE]It's not really about the money, but it's just that it's shady and the principal of it. The best thing to do is to take taxi distance pricing out of the equation and just negotiate an all inclusive price.

The Colombian peso this morning 2,338/ US $. The dollar is gaining against the peso daily. The Colombian economy is surprisingly dependent on oil prices. Add to that a central bank that is a little stubborn and that is where you end up. Have fun. More fun!

[QUOTE=Stones;1654155]The Colombian peso this morning 2,338/ US $. The dollar is gaining against the peso daily. The Colombian economy is surprisingly dependent on oil prices. Add to that a central bank that is a little stubborn and that is where you end up. Have fun. More fun![/QUOTE]That is so freaking awesome!! I have pretty much everything packed and planned for my trip next week. One of my dates is taking me to a club of some sort called Dulce Jesus mio? Anyone ever heard of it. Its supposed to be some sort of dance show and bunch of local stuff. I know the cost of bottle and cover will run approx 200 k not a big deal. Just wondering if anyone has any advice before going.

[QUOTE=Stones;1654155]The Colombian peso this morning 2,338/ US $. The dollar is gaining against the peso daily. The Colombian economy is surprisingly dependent on oil prices. Add to that a central bank that is a little stubborn and that is where you end up. Have fun. More fun![/QUOTE]Where do we find this exchange rate in Medellin?

[QUOTE=Combo;1653881]It's between dry season and rainy season. However it can rain any month in MDE and you can have beautiful weather any month. I've been a couple times in April (historically wetter than March) and it's been absolutely perfect. I generally like to do my trips between November and April because that's when the weather sucks where I live. But if I didn't live in this near-Arctic climate (Chicago), I'd visit MDE any time of year.

You should be fine and have a great time.[/QUOTE]Thanks, emailed the hotel but no response. Found this link last night in a kindle book I bought:

[URL]http://www.weather-and-climate.com/average-monthly-Rainfall-Temperature-Sunshine-fahrenheit[/URL], Medellin, Colombia.

Copied from the site, also has charts, graphs.

What's the best time to travel to Medellin in Colombia? Here are some facts:

On average, the temperatures are always high.

Most rainfall (rainy season) is seen in March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October and November.

On average, the warmest month is July.

On average, the coolest month is May.

October is the wettest month.

January is the driest month.

[QUOTE=Stones;1654155]The Colombian peso this morning 2,338/ US $. The dollar is gaining against the peso daily. The Colombian economy is surprisingly dependent on oil prices. Add to that a central bank that is a little stubborn and that is where you end up. Have fun. More fun![/QUOTE]Not sure the CB is stubborn. Going back several months, they wanted the Colombian Peso to weaken. The unexpected plunge in oil prices seems to be accomplishing that goal for them (maybe a bit more than they wanted?

[QUOTE=NCal2014;1654614]Where do we find this exchange rate in Medellin?[/QUOTE]At the ATM.

[QUOTE=NCal2014;1654614]Where do we find this exchange rate in Medellin?[/QUOTE]Google. You can use Google Finance or you can enter in the Google search box, "1 USD to COP".

This will give you the market rate. At this very second, Google reports 1 USD = 2347.50 COP.

If you want to know what exchange rate the ATM will give you with your VISA ATM debit card, then use this VISA web site: [URL]http://usa.visa.com/personal/card-benefits/travel/exchange-rate-calculator.jsp[/URL].

You will need to find out from your particular bank the fee they charge for foreign conversions (usually around 1-3%, with most around 3% USAA is only 1%. Only a few banks around which offer 0%. The Charles Schwab High Yield Investor Checking Account offers free online checking with a free VISA debit card with 0% foreign transaction fees. Takes about 6 weeks to set up online though (open account, sign signature card and mail in, wait until sig card is processed, link accounts for funding, fund account, wait for VISA debit card to arrive). Can be done a little quicker if diligent but start at least 6 weeks before your trip to be on the safe side. Why waste money on foreign transaction fees?

[QUOTE=UltraHappy;1654671]Google. You can use Google Finance or you can enter in the Google search box, "1 USD to COP".

This will give you the market rate. At this very second, Google reports 1 USD = 2347.50 COP.

If you want to know what exchange rate the ATM will give you with your VISA ATM debit card, then use this VISA web site: [URL]http://usa.visa.com/personal/card-benefits/travel/exchange-rate-calculator.jsp[/URL].

You will need to find out from your particular bank the fee they charge for foreign conversions (usually around 1-3%, with most around 3% USAA is only 1%. Only a few banks around which offer 0%. The Charles Schwab High Yield Investor Checking Account offers free online checking with a free VISA debit card with 0% foreign transaction fees. Takes about 6 weeks to set up online though (open account, sign signature card and mail in, wait until sig card is processed, link accounts for funding, fund account, wait for VISA debit card to arrive). Can be done a little quicker if diligent but start at least 6 weeks before your trip to be on the safe side. Why waste money on foreign transaction fees?[/QUOTE]TD Bank also does not charge international fees or ATM fees with minimum account balance of $2500, and you can open an account at a branch in about 15 minutes and walk out with your new Visa card.

[QUOTE=NCal2014;1654613]That is so freaking awesome!! I have pretty much everything packed and planned for my trip next week. One of my dates is taking me to a club of some sort called Dulce Jesus mio? Anyone ever heard of it. Its supposed to be some sort of dance show and bunch of local stuff. I know the cost of bottle and cover will run approx 200 k not a big deal. Just wondering if anyone has any advice before going.[/QUOTE]Not sure of your experience level in Colombia or international traveling.

Just from your post about your date, and her taking you to a place with a 200 k cover, etc.

Keep your eyes open that these 'dates' are not just girls taking advantage of the 'rich gringo', maybe bringing her cousin (boyfriend) along, as well as other friends so you can be the financer.

Of course I don't know if that's the case here, just keep your eyes open.

That stuff does happen. Been there, done that.

Have fun.

[QUOTE=Ricker;1654732]Not sure of your experience level in Colombia or international traveling.

Just from your post about your date, and her taking you to a place with a 200 k cover, etc.

Keep your eyes open that these 'dates' are not just girls taking advantage of the 'rich gringo', maybe bringing her cousin (boyfriend) along, as well as other friends so you can be the financer.

Of course I don't know if that's the case here, just keep your eyes open.

That stuff does happen. Been there, done that.

Have fun.[/QUOTE]He said cover and drinks were 200 k. That is reasonable.