Medellin Reports

[QUOTE=IguanaSix;1884116]This interssts me. Thank you for the information. Sometimes I want the exercise of walking, sometimes the speed / convenience of a cab, and sometimes I'd like to this.

How is this bus marked? Does it also go down the hill back to the station along 10 a? Where would I catch it on the way down?[/QUOTE]It is a green bus with Metro across the front, I think at the top of the windshield. The cost is 1900 pesos. The bus route starts under the steps that lead to and from the Metro station. During the day and early evening there will be a few buses parked in that area. I don't know how late the buses operate, but I think not late. I don't know anything about the buses going down the hill to the station, haven't used them.

[QUOTE=MrEnternational;1884428]Here is my report from August. Click on it to see the pictures.[/QUOTE]They're looking for underaged girls from Venezuela or other countries, not gringos. That's why they came with human rights people. It happens near the border. They check everything including your I. D just in case.

[QUOTE=HarvestBoi;1884373]I just applied for a new passport and decided to spend the 40 bucks to get a passport card. My understanding is it's used by folks who go back and forth to Mexico / Canada frequently. Wondering if anybody has any experience with it as a substitute for a copy or the passport itself.[/QUOTE]The passport card is only good for land crossings into Canada and Mexico and travel by ship to other countries. It cannot be used for air travel.

Hello guys,

I did not see response to questions below. I am in a similar situation except I do not know Spanish (will probably rely on Google translate). I plan to stay near Parque Lleras.

Is it better to stay in apartments or hotel? Do they allow local guests and do they charge for it? Please advise.

Thanks,

Lappad

[QUOTE=EasyEase;1881266]Hi comrades,

I am flying to Medellin beginning of June, this is my first mongering trip to Medellin / Colombia and my 20+ mongering trip in general (worldwide).

Going through this forum has made many things clear to me, I still have 2 questions that have not been answered clear enough for me.

I've been learning Spanish since a month to be able to have a very basic conversation. I've been going through TripAdvisor as well to know more about the country.

I like to Party hard at strip clubs, bars and clubs. So drinking alcohol is always putting a person into some risks and as I am traveling alone, I want to make this trip as.

Safe as possible, therefor I have the following questions:

Lodging:

I prefer Apartments to Hotels and haven't booked anything yet. I guess Poblado or Lleras should be a good choice for me safety wise. On the other hand I've been.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=MrEnternational;1884428]Here is my report from August. Click on it to see the pictures.[/QUOTE]Got it, thanks. Was he asking for a copy of the Visa stamp you get when arriving?

Thanks,

El Mechanico

[QUOTE=LapPad;1885057]Hello guys,

I did not see response to questions below. I am in a similar situation except I do not know Spanish (will probably rely on Google translate). I plan to stay near Parque Lleras.

Is it better to stay in apartments or hotel? Do they allow local guests and do they charge for it? Please advise.

Thanks,

Lappad[/QUOTE]If you are resourceful and can wing it in a Latin American country, you can do an apartment. No one speaks English in Medellin. Otherwise, you might try the Mansion for a few days. The real value the Mansion provides is helping you get oriented, introducing you to some girls and casa tours.

[QUOTE=LapPad;1885057]Hello guys,

I did not see response to questions below. I am in a similar situation except I do not know Spanish (will probably rely on Google translate). I plan to stay near Parque Lleras.

Is it better to stay in apartments or hotel? Do they allow local guests and do they charge for it? Please advise.

Thanks,

Lappad[/QUOTE]Lappad,

I think staying in a apt vs hotel comes down to personal preference as they both have their pros & cons. I just returned from Medellin and stayed in a Poblado Rental condo a block away from Parque Lleras and it was a blast. The cons I would have compared to a hotel would be: no daily cleaning, no bellman / security, and you are pretty much alone outside of the help from the landlord you rented from.

Some hotels do charge for guest so you need to contact the hotel you are interested in to see if multiple guest are allowed and if they have a fee, this is where I think most apartment rentals have an advantage. Remember in an apartment, you are the security and if there are any issues you do not have a front desk or security guard to call to help you out.

I just returned Wednesday from Medellin and I do not speak but enough Spanish to get my point across while still using google translate. Parque Lleras is the perfect area for those with limited espanol as that's where most of the other gringos are and you will run into more Colombians who speak A little English in that area. If you have any other questions feel free shoot me a PM. I just got back so things are pretty fresh in my head.

Hey Surf. I know I can't use it to get into the country, was just wondering if the policia would accept it in lieu of the actual passport. Like many I don't like to carry the book around with me. Sounds like the safe answer is 'no'.

[QUOTE=Surfer500;1884683]The passport card is only good for land crossings into Canada and Mexico and travel by ship to other countries. It cannot be used for air travel.[/QUOTE]

Estebanh,

Aren't you the guy that was helping a young blind friend to relocate in Sosua DR and get chicas? I wonder how your friend did or is doing in Sosua. Did he buy a motoconcho? I figure he could drive in a moto in the DR even thought he's blind, nobody would have notice because Dominicans drive as if they blind. And since you mentioned that he was a martial artist and knew kunfu, he could kick some ass whenever he crashes into something or someone.

Cerebro.

[QUOTE=EstebanH;1885301]If you are resourceful and can wing it in a Latin American country, you can do an apartment. No one speaks English in Medellin. Otherwise, you might try the Mansion for a few days. The real value the Mansion provides is helping you get oriented, introducing you to some girls and casa tours.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Surfer500;1884683]The passport card is only good for land crossings into Canada and Mexico and travel by ship to other countries. It cannot be used for air travel.[/QUOTE]I have been to Colombia many time mostly to Cartagena but have made about 5 trips to Medellin. I never take my passport out with me I always leave it in my apartment I do try to take a copy of my passport with me but sometimes forget to. I think it depend on the officer who stops you. The police officers at the checkpoints will pat you down and make sure you do not have any drugs or weapons on you. When they ask for your passport just show them the copy if they ask why you do not have your passport just say it is in my apartment and I do not want to loose it. I have showed them my NC drivers license when I forgot my copy of my passport because it had a photo of me on it and that has always worked. Now one time I was in a club in Cartagena and the immigration officers came in and started checking everyone in there I had my copy of my passport. He ask me where my passport was and I told him it was in my apartment. He asked where I was staying I told him and said we can go get it if you want. He said no that a copy was OK but next time make sure when I enter the county to have them stamp the date of entry on the copy so they can see how many day I had been in the country.

So I think a copy with the date of entry stamped on it will be better than a passport card but the card should work also just to show who you are. But you will need a passport to enter the country.

I would also say just be nice answer the questions and do not get smart with the officers and you should not have any problems.

[QUOTE=Kick123;1884549]They're looking for underaged girls from Venezuela or other countries, not gringos. That's why they came with human rights people. It happens near the border. They check everything including your I. D just in case.[/QUOTE]Makes no sense at all. If they were looking for young VENEZUELAN GIRLS, why would they check 6 AMERICAN MEN who step out of 2 taxis? They never came inside of the casa. They were looking for overstayers.

El Mechanico, they did not want to see a copy of anything. They wanted to see the original documents that you entered the country with. This was a one off thing though. I still only carry my passport card when I am in the street. In my case they were able to call the hotel who could verify. If we were staying in an apartment then I have no idea how it would have played out.

[QUOTE=KingAmongKings;1878197]Hey guys,

My buddy is coming to Medellin next week. He said he bought a one way ticket because he is not sure when he will be heading back to the US. His airline said he could be denied entry into Colombia without a return ticket. Anybody experience this situation? Any advice will be much appreciated.[/QUOTE]This is a little late, but I have bought one way tickets to Colombia many times with no problem. But, I have never directly flew straight from the US. It is the people in the US that might actually follow rules that will give you the problem. I must have flown to Colombia without a departing ticket about 5 times. I always want to stay longer and longer and longer, so I just don't buy a departing ticket until I am ready to leave. I only had been asked about a departing ticket two times, I can't remember where the first one was. But about 6 months ago I went from Puerto Rico to the Dominican Republic and I only had a one way ticket. The assholes in Puerto Rico kept telling me I need a departing ticket or I can't go. I said I have a ticket, which was a lie. He wanted a specific airline itinerary number. Well, I used my phone and bought me a ticket on the spot, and gave him that info and I was good to go. This might be because Puerto Rico is using the US protocols and laws. Someone can be ready to buy a ticket with their phone if needed, or some flights let you change dates for cheap or free. You can try that.

I will say one problem I had flying in to Colombia. I flew in to Bogota from Mexico, and the immigration officer asked me where I came from and I said Mexico. Then he loudly said "Mexico?" Then he asked me many questions about that. And he asked me why do I keep coming to Colombia, then he asked me if I have a girlfriend and I said yes. He could see I go to Medellin a lot, so he asked me if my girlfriend was in Bogota or Medellin. I said I have a few girlfriends in Colombia. Then he let me pass. I then went to change some money at the airport so I could have some taxi money. And also went to the restroom before picking up my suitcase. I normally would not do that, but I did this time. Some guys were specifically waiting for me after I passed the customs part. And a uniformed guy who spoke English asked me how much cash did I have. It was about $4,000 US. And he said where is it? And I said in my wallet, and I showed him. And he asked me did I have some cash somewhere else. I said no. And he let me go. I might have been suspicious of being a cash smuggler or something. So, don't be looking too suspicious before seeing the customs officers.

[QUOTE=LapPad;1885057]Hello guys,
I am in a similar situation except I do not know Spanish (will probably rely on Google translate).

Thanks,
Lappad[/QUOTE]It really blows my mind when people come to a country and cannot even communicate with the people. I could understand it if for example if you were an English speaking person and going to for example Puerto Vallarta or Cancun, Mexico, because there are at least some people who understand the English language because of the American and Canadian tourism, but to go to a country like Colombia where very very few people have any knowledge of the English language, and not be able to communicate at all blows my mind away. Why not go to somewhere you can at least carry on a half ass conversation? It just makes no sense what so ever to me. If you want to visit a country that is not native to your language at least learn to speak the language in a conversational sense.

[QUOTE=Gagoo;1885569]This is a little late, but I have bought one way tickets to Colombia many times with no problem. But, I have never directly flew straight from the US. It is the people in the US that might actually follow rules that will give you the problem. I must have flown to Colombia without a departing ticket about 5 times. I always want to stay longer and longer and longer, so I just don't buy a departing ticket until I am ready to leave. I only had been asked about a departing ticket two times, I can't remember where the first one was. But about 6 months ago I went from Puerto Rico to the Dominican Republic and I only had a one way ticket. The assholes in Puerto Rico kept telling me I need a departing ticket or I can't go. I said I have a ticket, which was a lie. He wanted a specific airline itinerary number. Well, I used my phone and bought me a ticket on the spot, and gave him that info and I was good to go. This might be because Puerto Rico is using the US protocols and laws. [/QUOTE]It has nothing to do with the USA. It has everything to do with the laws of the country that you are entering. If the airline lets you through without an exiting ticket and that country's rules say you need to be out of the country by a certain date because of your type of visa, then they will be fined along with footing the bill of sending you back if need be. So they must verify that you will be leaving the country on a certain date by way of your ticket out. I am not sure if the DR or Colombia requires you to have an exiting ticket, but I can 100% tell you that the Philippines does no matter what country you are entering from. You will not step on that plane without showing them something. So it is not about being an asshole. The airline could give a shit about where you go or how long you are staying there. But what they do give a shit about is not being fined because they let you on the plane without the proper documents; in this case a ticket out of that country if that is what their rules dictate.

[QUOTE=JamesDandy;1877016] would be much better off, much happier if you reminded yourself it's South America. They straightened out the tab for you, so what's the big deal? It's hardly worth getting bent out of shape over, and for the record they have never tried that with me or any of my friends. If the old man was blowing you off, the woman wasn't much better and tried ripping you off, maybe it was your attitude that got you this type of service?[/QUOTE]You must be either used to getting ripped off or a special sort of stupid. I travel all over the world. Not one to put up with getting ripped off. My attitude was simple, I was done and ready to leave, and ready to pay my tab. Not ready to pay the gringo rate. They didn't straighten out shit. 'I' straightened it out by showing the time on the card.