Cartagena Reports

I stopped by 3 Banderas a month ago, at the start of March. I was using a Lonely Planet Guide and checking out cheap places to stay in El Centro. My edition of the guide is three years old. From looking at that guide it seemed like you could get a room at 3 Banderas for $40. However, when I asked at the desk (which was nicely staffed with three girls, two of which giving my blue eyes a friendly vibe) a "small" room was running at $70.

I'm wondering what price you scored. When I priced it out in December I think a room was $55.

I was trying to find a cheap spot for a couple of nights, basically researching the cheapest possible place to stay in Cartagena where I could still be reasonably comfortable and secure. So, I walked out of 3 Banderas and kept looking for other options - based only on the price, it seemed like a nice place.

Anyway, I agree with Tom_33, but thought I would toss out this price information. My guess is the three girls do not staff the front desk after 11pm and whoever is there will help you in terms of getting girls through the door.

There are some $20 hotels in Bocogrande. These are located on Av San Martin. One street back from the main street in Bocogrande. Sometimes you'll find working girls live out of these hotels. They are not the best places to stay, but I have stayed in some of these places before and felt safe (your experience may be different), but I would not leave critical stuff in the rooms during the day; take a money-belt and a decoy wallet when you are walking around if you are thinking this sort of hotel would work for you.

Given your language situation, I suspect late at night you will feel safer in Bocogrande. There are also some more expensive options (~$70) on the main street in Bocogrande. These hotels are, in different degrees, girl-friendly - some places are indifferent, some will make you feel like a wayward child for dragging in a harlot, some may not care after a certain hour, some might tack on a fee if the girl is still with you in the AM.

But, after three nights in El Centro, you may feel comfortable there.

I think an apartment is, generally, good value, but as you know, it's hard to get a place like that for a short time.




[QUOTE=Dlmuxlow]I am heading to CTG this Friday (April 20) for 5 days. People not into the sex scene recommended that I stay in El Centro at Hotel 3 Banderas. I have since booked my first 3 nights there. I had never thought to ask whether a hotel is girl friendly and am beginning to doubt Hotel 3 Banderas is. Does anyone know?

It sounds from reading the posts that I should get an apartment or hotel in El Laguito for some of my stay. Can one get an apartment for just 2 nights and if so what kind of rates am I looking at? Also, I take it that El Laguito is very close to El Centro –a short cab, but not walking distance. I have downloaded maps of Cartagena, but don’t really get a sense where Bocagrande and El Laguito are in relations to El Centro.

Finally, I know really no Spanish (an idiot I took 3 years of French which has never been of much use). I suspect that most women in CTG will not speak any or much English. I take it that this will make it quite difficult in discussing any terms for one’s evening as well as the events of one’s evening. Will this be a big problem?

Any feedback is appreciated.[/QUOTE]

If Hotel 3 Banderas is really $70/night, forget that idea. I personally prefer the hotels on San Martin back side of Boca Grande. Cheap, no issue with chicas, central, and walking distance to the beach... I.e. 5 minutes.... not 30-45 minutes.

Re your question about walking from El Centro to Boca Grande/Laguito. As Tom pointed out, it can be done... it's a few miles away. But why would you want to walk it when you can cab it for the equivalant of about $2US, get there about 30 minutes faster, and not have to sweat your balls off. If you like the fresh air, might I suggest taking one of those horse buggys in the evening. I'd do anything before I made that walk... horse buggy, bike, cab, even the bus. It's just so hot and well after a day at the beach you want to walk back to Centro?

Maybe it's just me, but going to a city with a beach... i.e. Cartagena and staying in el Centro, as opposed to on the beach, is the equivalent of taking the kids to Disney World Orlando and staying in a camper an hour away from the front gate and walking to the attractions each day as opposed staying in/around Disney. It'd be one thing if it were to save money... but people here have already pointed you to a hotel in Boca Grande for 3 times less than what you are paying in Centro... so not sure the reason for wanting to stay in el Centro. For $70 you can get oceanfront apartments on the beach... actually more like $50-60. They are simple to find... just walk down the street and go building to building asking for vacancy. It's simple, it's a better location, it will save you money over that $70 3 Banderas, and it will be much more enjoyable IMO.

[QUOTE=Dlmuxlow]I am heading to CTG this Friday (April 20) for 5 days. People not into the sex scene recommended that I stay in El Centro at Hotel 3 Banderas. I have since booked my first 3 nights there. I had never thought to ask whether a hotel is girl friendly and am beginning to doubt Hotel 3 Banderas is. Does anyone know?

It sounds from reading the posts that I should get an apartment or hotel in El Laguito for some of my stay. Can one get an apartment for just 2 nights and if so what kind of rates am I looking at? Also, I take it that El Laguito is very close to El Centro –a short cab, but not walking distance. I have downloaded maps of Cartagena, but don’t really get a sense where Bocagrande and El Laguito are in relations to El Centro.

Finally, I know really no Spanish (an idiot I took 3 years of French which has never been of much use). I suspect that most women in CTG will not speak any or much English. I take it that this will make it quite difficult in discussing any terms for one’s evening as well as the events of one’s evening. Will this be a big problem?

Any feedback is appreciated.[/QUOTE]

Great summary, plus you forgot to mention walking amongst a group of drivers that won't even think about running your ass over.

It's hard to say which location is best without knowing what you want to do. If you just want to monger 24/7 then the Laguito apartment is your best bet.

Centro can be a nice change of pace... Laguito has nothing I really need to access, just a shit beach and lots of touts trying to scam a couple of bucks out of me.

If you do end up staying in Laguito, try and leave to visit the historical centre, it's worth it. Best appreciated between 5pm and 10pm, once the workers have left and the weather has cooled off. This is a good time to cruise for non-pro (or the shopping mall La Castellana between say 5pm and 8pm).

If you get stuck with a hotel that's not girl friendly, that need not put a dent in your mongering. Just take your girl to a motel like La Jaiba or La Cangreja in Crespo, where you pay by the hour and have everything you need for "sexy time".

If you are really having communication difficulties, you can show prices etc by keying into your cellphone. Remember to specify the time you want as part of the bargain (eg until 5am), otherwise it will be one shot and then out the door immediately.

Anyone now in Cartagena?

This girl is from Medellin and is working in LDV

If you are with her I would be interested to hear how she is.

She loves to party and dance and dress real sexy.

Good service with a smile.

Studly

I stayed at Torro Centura 403 beach front, air, hotwater, girl friendly, 24 hour security lets you in and out. I liked the beach there, got in the ocean every day, loved it. 50 bucks a night. The touts are a pain in the ass, just ignore them. Its 45 minutes to an hour walk from Laguito to Centro. Its a 5 minute walk to LDV. Go to [url]www.columbiarental.com[/url] or.net Micheal is the guys name and there are many pics of the beachfront units on his website. I stayed in tc403

Thank for all the great advice.

Hotel 3 Banderas is roughly 155kpesos/night. I now I feel like I am over paying, however, this being my first trip to Colombia and getting all the safety warnings I figured a hotel in the $50-$100 was worthwhile. I am all up for better deals, and so long as I can have safe and clean I am looking into your suggestions. I have already given Hotel 3 Banderas my credit card, but will see if I can lessen my stay there by a night or two to see if I can get an apartment for 3.

On an aside, the hotel was recommended to me by a Colombian alumnus from my college who lives in Bogotá. I looked him up in our online directory and sent him an e-mail. Given that I don’t know him, I didn’t want to mention that part of my interest in going to Cartagena was for the ladies. I expect that he thinks I am going there for the heritage and culture (which in truth is playing a large part). He thought I was a cheap for not wanting to stay at the Santa Clara while recommending to definitely stay away from Bocagrande as he termed the environment indistinguishable from Miami or Cancun.

From my investigation on this site, I realize the errors of my way and will work to correct them. I will follow up with Juan and colombiarental.net as you recommend.

I was never thinking of really walking the distance, but wasn’t sure if hotels were always prevalent and didn’t want to get stranded. I had heard that they are $2-5 dollars and definitely plan on taking them as I sweat easily in humid places.

I am really looking forward to my trip. From all your posts, I expect it to be great. My sex life has been in a six month frustrating dry spell and my birthday will occur while I am there. I can definitely use some "la dolce vida" to provide a skip to my step for getting me motivated for back here in the states.

On one last aside, I dive and don’t know if it is worth staying out on the islands for a night. Input on reasonable hotels ($50-$70) is appreciated. Also let me know if one can easily and more effectively dive from Cartagena. Also, any recommendations on a good priced and safe dive operation is appreciated.

Thanks again!

[QUOTE=Kit Karson]If you are discreet and arrive back at a hotel like a normal couple 90% of the hotels will ignore the situation.
[/QUOTE]
This is not quite correct. I don't have a good percentage, but it is much less than 90%. Over 75% of the tourist peso in CTG is spent by Colombian families. Colombian families frown upon our activities. And the hotels cater to the families. A fat, old guy like me with a hot 20-year-old really pisses them off.

Right. Unless you are reasonably young and look like you are Colombian you are not going to be able to pull this off. In my experience, generally most Colombians have some pretty well-defined boundaries about correct behavior and clear native prejudices - which they apply equally to themselves and foreigners.

I was getting into a cab with a hot Colombian 19-year-old a while back. She was dressed to pull in dollars and I'm old enough to be her dad. The driver blurts out "Where to? The Church?" It was pretty funny in the moment, but it sort of illustrates that everybody around you understands what is going down and there is a crisp idea of right and wrong working in the background.

Of course, there are normal gringo-Colombian couples in Cartagena. A few days later, the 19-year-old and I were having breakfast together at a restaurant. I didn't notice it until we sat down, but we were sitting next to a young gringo with his Colombian girlfriend and their respective parents. I was a bit uncomfortable - here I am with this guy, twice as old as him, and I'm hanging out with a girl who is hotter than his girl. I'm sure he picked up on that. I felt like I was contributing to the break-up of a marriage before it got off the ground. The girls mom gave me a look that could have sent me home in a box.

[QUOTE=Tom 33]This is not quite correct. I don't have a good percentage, but it is much less than 90%. Over 75% of the tourist peso in CTG is spent by Colombian families. Colombian families frown upon our activities. And the hotels cater to the families. A fat, old guy like me with a hot 20-year-old really pisses them off.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Jelly Donut]Right. Unless you are reasonably young and look like you are Colombian you are not going to be able to pull this off. In my experience, generally most Colombians have some pretty well-defined boundaries about correct behavior and clear native prejudices - which they apply equally to themselves and foreigners.

I was getting into a cab with a hot Colombian 19-year-old a while back. She was dressed to pull in dollars and I'm old enough to be her dad. The driver blurts out "Where to? The Church?" It was pretty funny in the moment, but it sort of illustrates that everybody around you understands what is going down and there is a crisp idea of right and wrong working in the background.

Of course, there are normal gringo-Colombian couples in Cartagena. A few days later, the 19-year-old and I were having breakfast together at a restaurant. I didn't notice it until we sat down, but we were sitting next to a young gringo with his Colombian girlfriend and their respective parents. I was a bit uncomfortable - here I am with this guy, twice as old as him, and I'm hanging out with a girl who is hotter than his girl. I'm sure he picked up on that. I felt like I was contributing to the break-up of a marriage before it got off the ground. The girls mom gave me a look that could have sent me home in a box.[/QUOTE]


I have seen that look in a lot of different countries... I usually shrug my shoulders and give them a huge grin.....

[QUOTE=Dlmuxlow]Thank for all the great advice.

On one last aside, I dive and don’t know if it is worth staying out on the islands for a night. Input on reasonable hotels ($50-$70) is appreciated. Also let me know if one can easily and more effectively dive from Cartagena. Also, any recommendations on a good priced and safe dive operation is appreciated.

Thanks again![/QUOTE]Try going to the Caribe Hotel and go through the reception to the stores behind the pool and there is a dive shop there that will take you out on either scuba or snorkelling. Fairly limited on deep dives but worth a one day trip

kk

Just returned from 24 days in Cartagena. It has changed a bit since I was last there 2 years ago. Everything costs like hell.
Will write up a report in the next day or two.

[QUOTE=Dlmuxlow]Thank for all the great advice.

Hotel 3 Banderas is roughly 155kpesos/night. I now I feel like I am over paying, however, this being my first trip to Colombia and getting all the safety warnings I figured a hotel in the $50-$100 was worthwhile.[/QUOTE]Apartments this time of year are easily obtainable at less than 100,000 per night ($45 or less). Laguito has plenty of them up and down the main drag starting at the Hilton and moving towards LDV. fyi: June is the next high season.

When are you arriving? I will be back there in Cartagena on the 4th of may for a week and then I'm off to Quito, Ecuador for a week and then I'll be back in Cartagena again for the summer.

Pay attention to the noise levels. It can be bad at night in some places. Get as high up as possible (above the 8th floor) or face the ocean. I learned this lesson the hard way my first trip.

David B.

What are the quality apartments going for in November.... for two weeks or a month

[QUOTE=Escort King]What are the quality apartments going for in November.... for two weeks or a month[/QUOTE]
The first 2 weeks of Nov. are the Miss Colombia contest. Prices are higher for this time. The last 2 weeks are low season. For one person, expect to pay US$50-60 per night in low season for quality places. During Miss Colombia you might look at US$75-90 per night.

Many apartments are 2 or more bedrooms. Look at 50% more for 2 people not counting chicas.