Cartagena Reports

[QUOTE=Steve 99]Thanks for the casa updates Andres. Excellent info for my trip in 2 weeks.

Questions:

I see you went by the bull ring. Did you get any info on if they have any events in the next 4 weeks? Bull Fights or something else.

Are you going to Tayorana Park?? Sounds like a no because you don't have the fever card. Did you get any more info on how to get there etc???

Make sure to shell out just once for a 10. Why not.[/QUOTE]

Steve:

I don't pay much attention to bull fights, so I cannot tell.

As of Tayrona, I went to 3 agencies to ask for prices. I was flabbergasted by the lack of professionalism these agencies were run with. Some of them didn't know the prices for lodging there despite advertising the trip, some forgot to tell me that I had to buy transportation to Santa Marta on my own. Scary. They seemed to not have an organized package to go there.

Prices are COP 130-250K for a night in a cabin (COP 15K for a hammock), plus COP 80K for a round trip van ticket to Santa Marta from Cartagena, plus COP 21K to be admitted to the park, plus several COP 20-30K fees for horse riding, guided walks, food, etc. The whole experience would have costed between COP 300-350K for 2 days. Private doctors in CTG apply the vaccine on the same day you purchase the stay there.

Since I hadn't brought sneakers nor any apparel for outdoors (just beach and night clothes), I felt that I may risk some money and be unable to visit the place properly.

English is my second language. What does "shell out just once for a 10" mean?

Hope this helps,

Andres

"shell out just once for a 10" means: pay a lot of money for a top-flight beautiful woman..

Not good advice- my experience tells me that the super hot LDV chicas are mercenaries that provide so-so or poor service.

Go to a casa, find a 7 or an 8, just oof the bus and you may have the best time of all of them.

just my opinion...

Andres wrote:

Private doctors in CTG apply the vaccine on the same day you purchase the stay there.

They will give you the card, but you are not ptotected until 10 days after the injection. Do not bring clothing you do not want to get muddy. The cabins are really called ecohabs, round shelters that are very spartan.

Yesterday, I visited several clubs by 11 PM.

CHICA LINDA: This time, there was a COP 10K admission fee. It seems that after a given hour they charge for admission. No wonder why, since inside the club was packed with guys eager to see the stage performances. Between performances, guys dance with their "dates" on a dancing area at the left of the saloon.

I saw most of the girls from the previous visit, but most of them taken. Left the place.

Just for your info, the cab wanted to charge me COP 20K from Bocagrande to Lamparo (very far away, indeed). I said no way, it should be COP 12K and we agreed finally on COP 15K.

VENUS and CASA DEL MARINO: Both places barely had girls, since groups of guys took most of the ladies for the night long. Too bad.

PLEYCLUB: Arrived by 1:15 AM. It was packed of guys, and less ladies than my previous visit. Most of the guys came there to drool with the stripteases, since I didn't saw much movement to and from the rooms area.

A girl from Pereira called Catalina approached me. She behaved very friendly, since there was some kind of chemistry between us. This girl is petite, with a well formed body and average of everything (boobs, butt, etc). As of her, she was working there for just a week and wanted to leave the city due to the unbearable humid heat. Back to business, she allowed for BBBJ, so I hinted that this may be a very good session. Paid the COP 150K and went to the room.

One of the best BBBJTC I ever had. The rooms were very clean, although no water on that particular room.

Hope this helps,

Andres

I come tomorrow back North. I spent a total of 8 days in Cali and 8 days in Cartagena.

My perception is that Cali is a much better place for staying long-term and meeting non-pros. Cartagena, on the contrary, provides more high-quality P4P options and similar number of non-pros but it is a less convenient place to live long-term.

Even though Cartagena has a very romantic and genuine Old Town, most of the "livable" city (that is, the neighborhoods such as Bocagrande, Laguito and Castillo Grande where foreign guys would rent a place) is too much oriented towards the tourist, and IMHO the atmosphere of "taking advantage of the tourist" and the shallow Summer vacation culture permeates everywhere. Cali, despite not having beaches and being very dirty, looks like a "real" city with industries and commerce, and many more options in terms of food, entertainment and such.

Touts, despite not being as annoying as I expected, are always there trying to sell stuff, and the really nice beaches are located far from the city (Islas del Rosario are more of a group of resort areas than long beaches with sand to walk, so after 2 visits it gets old). Also, Cartagena is more expensive than Cali.

To that you have to add the very hot and humid weather. At least on this season, I find really disturbing the Cartagena weather, forcing me to take 2-3 showers per day. This makes uncomfotable to walk around the city.

Maybe Tom and other people may elaborate on what kept them attracted to Cartagena in order to live there long-term.

Also, take into consideration that I stayed at an hotel in Cali and at an apartment in Cartagena. I found the building (Marina del Rey) a little bit run down (everything worked and the services were acceptable, but looked old and torn down a bit). My impression may have been different if I stayed at a similar place in Cali.

Unlike you expect to spend some time searching for non-pros or semi-pros or deal with SWs around Laguito, chances are you will end up paying COP 100-150K for a girl. With some exceptions, most of the places I visited charged that for short term.

As of non-pros, dating sites such as ussp.match.com and [url]www.cybercupido.com[/url] provided me with more alternatives than the ones I could handle in 2 weeks.

Hope this helps,

Andres

LJG Dogswrote:

"hell out just once for a 10" means: pay a lot of money for a top-flight beautiful woman..

Not good advice- my experience tells me that the super hot LDV chicas are mercenaries that provide so-so or poor service.

Go to a casa, find a 7 or an 8, just oof the bus and you may have the best time of all of them.

just my opinion..."

I disagree!

Depends on your play. LDV has semi pros, part timers. At rent time many come in(1st of month). If you're looking for quick take out, what he says is true. But there are many gems to be had for a date style experiance. There is group of vamps there, they usually congrigate at the part of the bar that extends closest to the dance floor. NOT best pickens there! But I have met many a good night in LDV, dined, gone to Giro Mato, Mr. Babilla, or Tu candela. Yes, paid for drinks and liquid refreashments(additional cost) BUT, the choise is GFE or takeout. You deciede what you want. Perhaps Beutifull take out sex, no friendship is better had at casas. But I've never been to one in CTG!!! And not tempted. Maybe I don't know the casas. But I know I'm paying less! And having a ball.

My advice: decide for yourself!

Belmont

That last report makes no sense at all.

I believe you're trying to dispute MJ Dogs advice of not paying top price for a 10 cause the service is usually poor and that a great GFE may be found from a 7 or 8.

Well he (MJ Dogs) makes sense to me ... his advice is good.

Of course ... everyone is always going to decide for themselves in the end.

[QUOTE=Andres]I come tomorrow back North. I spent a total of 8 days in Cali and 8 days in Cartagena.

Andres[/QUOTE]Andres,

Great reports again. I see you mention BA in your reports.

Care to do a compare in contrast between Cartagena and Buenos Aires??

What are the strengths of each as well as weaknesses?

Not looking to start any controversey with your comments just an honest take on the two places.

A very nice place for dinner with your chica in downtown Cartagena:

La Cocina de Carmela

Calle del Santísimo (starts from the upper corner of Parque Fernández de Madrid)
Opened about 10 days ago (actually while I was in Cartagena). Very good and creative Colombian food. Max. 15 € for a three-courses dinner, including 2 glasses of wine. Frienly (and good-looking) service. A very good bargain in expensive Cartagena.

Rather small: you should be there rather early.

I will be staying in Cartagena with my Girlfriend from Aug 30 - sept 4th.
Should I book Juan venturas place for $70 night or should I stay at the Decameron for $112 all inclusive?
How hard is it to eat/drink $42 for two daily?
Im looking for something resonably priced since I will be comming from cali for a couple of days.

[QUOTE=Luis The Great]I will be staying in Cartagena with my Girlfriend from Aug 30 - sept 4th.
Should I book Juan venturas place for $70 night or should I stay at the Decameron for $112 all inclusive?
How hard is it to eat/drink $42 for two daily?
Im looking for something resonably priced since I will be comming from cali for a couple of days.[/QUOTE]You can also consider Mery's apartments, some of the apartments are found on [url]http://www.colombiarental.com/[/url] The apartments are in Laguito and Boca Grande.

[QUOTE=Dogman2]You can also consider Mery's apartments, some of the apartments are found on [url]http://www.colombiarental.com/[/url] The apartments are in Laguito and Boca Grande.[/QUOTE]


What is the price rage of those apartments?

[QUOTE=Luis The Great]I will be staying in Cartagena with my Girlfriend from Aug 30 - sept 4th.
Should I book Juan venturas place for $70 night or should I stay at the Decameron for $112 all inclusive?
How hard is it to eat/drink $42 for two daily?
Im looking for something resonably priced since I will be comming from cali for a couple of days.[/QUOTE]

The food at the Decameron is very good. If you drink a lot and like higher-priced food, you can easily go through $42 per day. However, there are reasonably-priced good restaurants all over CTG.

I personally would not stay at the Decameron because there are so many good restaurants to sample. The eye candy while dining al fresco is a great part of the experience.

Both Mery and Juan charge about the same, $50 per night for one and $70 per night for two. Juan has some premium places that can cost more/accomodate more people. Mery might have some premiums as well.

Here is a report form a recent trip to Cartagena (back in March). I am actually heading back for a couple of weeks, which brought me back to the forum and hence the report. It’s been a while so I will try my best to note the details.

Rented the penthouse. Nice enough place and ok price. I would recommend.

Casas: I got a cab on a Saturday afternoon (around 5 pm) and asked him to take me to the Casa de marineros (I think that’s what it’s called)). The gate was closed. I asked the cabbie to head back and instead he got out and banged on the gate (which was chained shut by the way). After a while a not-so-friendly-looking man came and opened the gate. I asked if they were open. He said yes. Took me to the bar area. Looked dead. I was the only one there. Slowly girls started coming one by one. After about 10 minutes there were three of them (4 or 5s). I thanked the guy and told him I would be back later. He suggested I come back after 7:30. Once outside, I took one last look inside and saw a young stunner (not much older hat 18 and a 9). Before I could speak the gate was shut in my face. I thought about knocking at the gate and decided against it. I still regret that decision.

The waiting cab driver took me to a half dozen other casas without me even asking for it. They seemed the types that mainly catered to locals. Nothing beyond a mere 5 at best. I passed. Got back to the apartment. Either 12,000 or 23,000 COP for the RT ride; I don’t remember which.

LDV: Went there the first night. Still too early at 9 pm and it wasn’t open. Walked around a bit and came back around 10 pm. Still not open. Sat on a bench next to a couple of girls (a 5 and a 8). Started chatting until about midnight and we went inside. Bought a round and asked 23 year old Alejandra (the 8), who incidentally was either new to the game or playing the amateur part very well, to go to the apartment with me. Price was never discussed. I don’t look for GFE (really, I don’t) and don’t do TLN either. However, this one seemingly spontaneously turned into both. She stayed until around 8 am said that she had to go pick up her 2 year-old from her mother’s place. Good. Paid her 100,000, and she was very happy.

On my last night went back to LDV. Around midnight this time. Alejandra and her friend Maria were there. Sat with Alejandra who clung to me like a 2 year-old to her mother and wouldn’t let go. I told her I wouldn’t be taking her out that night. She didn’t seem to mind or care. The ratio was 5 to 1, so that’s probably why. I paid for her drink and headed out. Coming down the stairs, I ran into this gorgeous blond (I don’t remember her name), 8.5 and 25. We started chatting right there on the stairs and I asked her to go to my apartment with me, to which she obviously gladly agreed. I wanted to take a cab and she suggested we walk. While walking I asked how much did she want. She came back with how much you want to pay me. I said ‘cien dollares’. I know, I know, but I was thinking 100,000 pesos and it came out cien dollares. She smiled. It was only later when we were parting and after she reminded me what I had told her that I realized my mis-speak. In any event, we come to the apartment and let me tell you that unlike Alejandra, this one was a true professional (in a very good way). She put on a great show (part stage dance, part private dance, part modeling, etc.) and actually asked me to take pictures of her! I did not have a camera with me on this trip. A true PSE and excellent conversation. Around 3 am as she is leaving, I count my money and realize that I only have about 85,000 pesos ( I had American money but only $100 bills). When I told her that I was short by 15k, she reminded me what I had offered her. After a few seconds, I realized what had happened and explained that I had made a mistake and that I had really meant 100,000 pesos. She was obviously disappointed, but given the circumstances, she was extremely understanding and actually nice about it! She left happy and with a big smile. I had a big one too. In retrospect, she was probably worth even the $100 (no, no, not that I would have paid here that). I remember this one for some time.

Street: I walked a lot during this trip, and so I ran into and talked to a few street girls. Asking prices were generally a lot higher that what they should have been. So I passed.

Overall a great trip. I am now wondering how other Colombian cities like Bogota, Cali and Medellin compare to it.

Digits

Digits,
Sounds like a good trip. It's surprising that you told a working girl you would pay her 100 dollars, then after the deed you told her you only had 35 dollars(equivalent), and yet she was happy.