Any Escorts in Cartagena?
Am staying at the Hilton in Cartanega, I understand it is not GF friendly, but would will try company anyways. I researched the Cartanega site, was unable to find Escort recommendations, are there any in Cartanega.
Cartagena Trip report: April 15-21 2009
This is my report to Cartagena Colombia from 4/15/09-4/21/09. Thanks to all the great info on this board as well as some helpful advice from another fellow monger, I was able to plan my first venture into Colombia. This report is geared towards anyone going to CTG for the first time, because most of you experts that have been to CTG many times may find this report basic and boring.
[b]Prelude[/b]
This is my third trip abroad for a vacation/mongering with my previous excursions to Panama. In Panama, I was able to get a feel for how far my Spanish would take me and after conversing (and playing) with some Colombianas, I decided it was time to venture into Colombia, with Cartagena being my first stop. After reading various posts, I thought this would be a good place to start and in getting a feel for safety and language issues in Colombia. Also, since I need some day time activities to fill the time (even if it is just sitting on the beach people watching), Cartagena fit the bill. I went Easter week and was afraid that it would be too crowded with Colombians who would be vacationing, but it turned out to be not so crowded and there was probably more of an influx of semi-pros into CTG from other parts of Colombia trying to make a few bucks during their "holiday" from the universities.
[b]Travel Logistics[/b]
I flew Avianca from Miami and it took about 2. 5 hrs. Good flight and I was impressed with the non US airlines. I would recommend sitting on the left side of the place to get a good view of Cartagena when arriving. Avianca is a code share partner with Delta and you can earn Skymiles points when flying Avianca (but I only found this out after and now am in the process of trying to get the miles on my account). Exiting the airplane in CTG is open air, meaning you actually deboard the plane outside of the airport building itself and then walk into the building. I’m only pointing this out to be prepared for the heat and humidity as soon as you deboard the plane, although at this time of the year (April), I didn’t think it was too bad.
Immigration and customs was easy on arrival and departure, but be prepared for complete hand search of all luggage on departure, whether checked or carry on.
Upon exiting the airport on arrival, I actually went back in on the departure side to try to withdraw cash (Colombian Pesos) from the ATMs, but my ATM card wouldn’t work on any of them. More on this later in the currency exchange section. So, I caught a taxi to the El Laugito after negotiating 12 mil pesos (12000) from the 15 mil asked by the driver. En route, I remembered that there were Citibank ATMs in CTG (from reading the various posts) and so I asked the taxi driver to take me to one. Apparently there are only 2 Citibank ATMs in CTG, and he took me to the in El Centro Citibank branch (Old City area) where my ATM card worked and I was able to get pesos. I voluntarily gave the driver 15 mil.
Taxis from El Laugito/Bocagrande to Old City ran about 5-7 mil each way. In fact, going from El Laugito to anywhere in Bocagrande ran about 5 mil. When getting a taxi, instead of asking "how much", I think the better strategy is to know what the going rate would be and then to just offer it. If the driver says otherwise, you can just wait for the next taxi, but keep in mind that a difference of 1 mil peso would be less than 50 cents (US). I just don’t want to have driver think that he is getting one over one me.
[b]Currency Exchange[/b]
The Colombian currency is the peso and in relation to the dollar, $1 was about 2300 pesos at the time I was going. This was much higher than last year about this time, but not the highest in the past 52 weeks (it got up to 2600). 1 mil is 1000 pesos. The question I had was whether to exchange currency before I got to CTG, once I got to CTG at the exchange places, or draw from the ATM. On reading the posts and advice from experienced mongers, I started a Capital One account because there were no fees associated with international ATM withdrawals and the exchange was the going exchange rate at the time. However, I found that the Capital One ATM would only work at the Citibank ATMs and there were only two of these (that I am aware of), neither near El Laugito. There was a Citibank ATM in El Centro at a Citibank branch. This one would allow you to withdraw at least 1 million pesos (maybe more). The other one near El Laugito was next to Block Buster video at Carerra Segundo and Calle Once (or Diez). This one would allow you to withdraw up to 700 mil pesos at a time. To get to both of these using a taxi and to get back to El Laugito it cost 10 mil pesos (about $4 USD), so what I saved in ATM fees, I paid in taxis to get to the only ATMS where my Capital One card would work. I tried using it in other ATMs, but no luck. Oh well.
[b]Lodging[/b]
I stayed at the Playa Mar Apartments booked through Juan Ventura ([url]http://www.venpro.net/fotosapartamentos/playa802. Htm)[/url]. It ran me $70/ nite, but I ran into someone else staying in Apt 602 and booked through someone else and got it for $30/nite. I saw his apartment and it looked just as good as mine. However, mine did have wireless internet in the room, which I really needed to keep up with some business in stateside. I’m not sure that paying the $40 extra per nite just for wireless internet was worth it. However, I will say that Juan Ventura is a class act and speaks good English. He checked on me via phone within 30 minutes of my arrival and then came by later in the evening. The apt did have a safe in it, air conditioning in living and bed rooms and a floor standing fan, but the bed wasn’t very comfortable. It also had a washer (air drying was necessary), refrigerator, iron and ironing board, television in living room and in the bedroom, CD player and DVD player in living room, and a clock radio in the bedroom. Two balconies look over the ocean and there is a nice breeze at night without the need for AC. A private beach is behind the building and can make for a nice swim before heading out mongering in the evenings. The building is near the Hilton, and is a little further down El Laguito, but still about a 15-20 minute walk to LDV and Hollywood Beach (see below). Also, this is the building that has the circular cement "bench" in front that others have posted about where chicas pass by. It is true that chicas pass by in the evenings, but it was mostly the same chicas every evening—although some were cute. There were no fees to take the girls into the apartments, but they needed to check IDs before they would allow a girl to go up.
[b]My Rating Scale[/b]
In a nutshell, I am attracted to the "girl next door" look with a nice ass and stomach and all natural (no silicone). So, my rating scale is based on this.
10’s: there are no "10s" on my rating scale (when I’m sober). 9’s: These are the "hot" chicks like you see on Victoria Secret’s and on Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue. You easily notice them out from across the room. 8’s: These are the "pretty" girls (minimal makeup) with nice bodies (all natural) including nice ass and breasts. You notice them when they walk by. 7’s: These are "attractive" girls (maybe a little bit more makeup) with a nice ass, but maybe lacking in breasts. I am an ass man, so a girl could be attractive, have a great ass, but very small breasts and still be a "7" on my scale. I am very generous with my "7" rating. These are the girls that are attractive when you start talking to them. You notice they may either have nice eyes, a nice smile, full lips, pretty hair etc. 6’s: These are the "not ugly" girls with a nice ass with or without nice breasts. These girls are doable (without alcohol) and I would have nothing to be ashamed about if anybody found out. 5’s or lower: I would never do sober, I would hope that no one ever found out and most likely I would just want a BJ.
[b]Chica Venues[/b]
LDV is the only disco in El Laugito (for mongering); the rest of the ones listed are in El Centro in the "Old City".
[u]La Dolce Vita (LDV)[/u]. The first night (Wednesday night) had an outstanding selection of girls all starting out asking for 200 mil for 1 hour. The average on this night was an "8" with several "9s" in the crowd. Talking to a few girls, there were many university students in CTG to try to make some money to pay for school. Subsequent nights the quality had diminished with more "7s", fewer "8s", and barely any "9s". LDV a disco full of free lancers and all girls in the place are available. No cover.
[u]Elektra[/u]- This is late night disco that the LDV girls go to (but not all) if they haven’t hooked up at LDV or even if they have, to try to make a little bit more money. No cover, all the doormen did try to charge a couple of gringos that were in front of me, an entrance fee. Good quality, but again, mostly freelancers from LDV. Closed at 4 on Wednesday nite and some people headed to Utopia (see below), but the rest of the nights, was open to 5 or 6am.
[u]Isis[/u]- I can’t tell if this a "strip" bar or just a bar. No cover, but there was at least 1 girl that got on stage and stripped. All the girls inside are working girls, asking 250 mil, but I think they have to pay a fine to leave with a customer. The quality was more in the "7" range on the nights I went.
[u]Queens[/u]- Same as above, but with lower quality on the 2 nites that I went. No cover. I didn’t inquire about prices.
[u]Bambu[/u]- Same as above, a few hotties in the "8" range. No cover. I liked this place. Beers were 10 mil and drinks for the girls were 15 mil (of which the girl gets to keep 5 mil as told to me by one of the girls). Girls ask 250-300 mil, part of which covers a fine to leave the bar/club. I went a few times. The manager is Jugo who seems to be a decent guy and he speaks English if you run into any issues at the club.
[u]Utopia[/u]- This must be a new club. I only went once on a Wednesday nite when Elektra closed early. Mostly free lancers, but I don’t think all are working girls.
[u]Tu Candela[/u]- This was bar/club where to locals go. Mostly couples and "regular" girls on the night I went. 10 mil entrance fee which includes a drink. Didn’t see many single girls interested in hooking up with a "gringo", although again I was there only 1 night and only for a short time.
[b]Tony Number 1[/b]
Of course reading so much about "Tony Number 1", I had to meet him. It didn’t take very long as I was walking along "Hollywood Beach" (BocaGrande Beach near Hotel Dann) for him to "introduce" himself. His area of the beach is next to Hotel Dann’s private beach area to the right when facing the water. Just walk back and forth a few times and he will find you. He speaks pretty good English, which I understand that he picked up just working the beach for so many years. He asked me if I heard about him on the "Internet", and I said "no" just to play dumb. He almost look disappointed. I think he feels like a celebrity being on the "Internet". Personally, I wasn’t bothered too much by him and he did hook me up with some of my better experiences while in CTG. He is a hustler and will want his money and will play dumb if you call him out on things. Overall, he’s pretty harmless. One chair was 3 mil pesos and the shade was 5 mil pesos for the whole day. Beers were 3 mil and, yes, he wanted you to buy him a beer every now and then. I don’t know how these amounts compare to other vendors on the beach or if I tried to negotiate a better amount. However, I do think that girls wanting to make some money seek him out because they know that guys will use his services. He can hook you up with girls that are on the beach, or he can call girls for you. However, be careful with the latter because you will end up paying for another chair for the girls to sit with you and then to feed or buy drinks for the girl. He gets 20 mil kick back from the girls (told to me by 3 different girls) if you take them with you. The girls will ask anywhere from 100-200 mil pesos, again plan on negotiating. Also, as warned by others, don’t give him your cell phone or let him know where you are staying, both mistakes which I made.
[b]Other Activities[/b]
I ventured out to Playa Boquilla, about a 30 minute taxi ride from El Laugito for 12 mil (if you can negotiate). I actually really liked this beach in comparison to Boca Grande beach. Much less crowded, hardly any vendors, great food, covered "shacks" with hammocks on the beach. There were some cuties on the beach, but not sure of availability. Definitely would recommend, but some Spanish is necessary because hardly anyone speaks English. You may get some "runners" on BocaGrande inviting you to great seafood at Playa Boquilla. Just know that if go with a runner, the prices will be padded to cover the runners "commission" for taking you there. A seafood feast was offered at 120 mil and negotiated down to 70 mil. I know that it was still too much and that I was covering the runners fee to bring me there, but I didn’t pay anything more to the runner. I will also tell you that this was the best meal I had while in CTG, authentic Colombian food with lobster, shrimp, cooked oysters, fried fish and squid, served with rice. By the way, if you come across a "Manuel" who sells fresh cooked crab with lemon juice (very tasty) on Boca Grande, he is a good guy and he is the runner that took me to Playa Boquilla. (The price he quotes you for the crab is 5-7 mil and is "per crab", not the whole container).
I liked the Playa Boquilla area so much that I would consider staying there on my next visit because I was told (and saw from the outside), that nice apartments could be had for about $15/nite (USD). With that low amount, even paying for taxi to and from Old City or El Laugito/Boca Grande, I would still come out better and have more for other activities.
[b]Miscellaneous[/b]
I read about police shakedown near the LDV area, but I didn’t experience it nor did I see anything going on. I felt completely safe in El Laugito, the Old City and in some way out of the way places I probably shouldn’t have been in where I went with a few other gringos. The food in El Laugito was ok, the food was better in the Old City and even better in Playa Boquilla. Although being fluent in Spanish isn’t necessary, as indicated by other posters, having some Spanish ability would be helpful in negotiating with the chicas and making the entire experience more enjoyable.
[b]Learning the Hard Way[/b]
Being relatively new to the mongering lifestyle, I am quickly realizing that what I most enjoy is feeling of being young and alive again, like I was in my 20’s (I’m 43 now). And although sex with beautiful women is the climax of these trips for me, I enjoy the "chase". This means flirting, buying, drinks, taking out to dinner, before having sex. I also prefer the discos/bars instead of massage parlors. However, I was burnt a couple of times on this trip (and my previous trips to Panama) that I am now only going to do the former (buy drinks/dinner) after I do the latter (have sex) and see if I click with a girl. On this trip I wined and dined a girl that I met through Tony (before I had sex with her) after we agreed on 200 mil for 3 hrs. Little did I know that I was on the clock while I was feeding her ass and buying her drinks and hadn’t even had sex yet. Other girls I was attracted to at the clubs who caught my attention, I would buy drinks for even before discussing price or services, hoping that they would be more open to negotiating and at least receptive to giving BBJs. Nope. More often than not, the prices never changed much, nor did being agreeable to BBJs if they were reluctant to do it in the first place. I know that this is probably a newbie mistake and that most experienced mongers would never do that, but this was learning point for me and I just wanted to pass it on to others who may enjoy the "chase". Make sure you agree on ALL details before taking a girl and only wine/dine after you have sex with her and only if she gave GFE like services.
[b]Summary[/b]
In comparison to Panama, the girls in Cartagena were at least 1 rating scale better overall (and I have a pretty tough rating scale). LDV had the best selection on this particular trip, but since CTG is a transient tourist town with chicas coming from other parts of Colombia to try to make some money in short time, the quality may vary at any given time and any given venue. It was difficult to negotiate lower prices (and word would spread of what you offer or settle on), but negotiating longer time or services (BBJs) seemed to work better. Don’t be surprised if a chica finishes a date with someone else and then comes back to the venue or a different venue to try to get another date. (I saw this personally with one of the hottest girls at LDV). If you see a girl you like, don’t think that she will be available later into the night or on another night. I’m still kicking myself for passing on some very hot chicks my first night at LDV, never to see them again. Everything needs to be detailed out as to what you want (time, services, etc.) before you take a chica. The girls have game too. They know how to play the sweet girl next door role, but they are strictly there for the money. I would recommend CTG as a destination for a "vacation" with various venues to visit at night for very beautiful Colombianas, and is a good way to get your feet wet for the first time in Colombia, especially with limited Spanish. I would go back in a heart beat, timing my trip with "holidays" for university students.
Next on the itinerary: Medellin!
[size=-2][b][u]EDITOR'S NOTE[/u]:[/b] [blue]I would suggest that the author or another Forum Member consider posting a link to this report in the Reports of Distinction thread. Please [url=http://www.internationalsexguide.info/forum/announcement-reportsofdistinction.php?]Click Here[/url] for more information.[/blue][/size]
Great report - more on ATMS
[QUOTE=Bijou]This is my report to Cartagena Colombia from 4/15/09-4/21/09.
Upon exiting the airport on arrival, I actually went back in on the departure side to try to withdraw cash (Colombian Pesos) from the ATMs, but my ATM card wouldn’t work on any of them. ... I asked the taxi driver to take me to one. Apparently there are only 2 Citibank ATMs in CTG, and he took me to the in El Centro Citibank branch (Old City area) where my ATM card worked and I was able to get pesos...
I found that the Capital One ATM would only work at the Citibank ATMs and there were only two of these (that I am aware of), neither near El Laugito. There was a Citibank ATM in El Centro at a Citibank branch. This one would allow you to withdraw at least 1 million pesos (maybe more). The other one near El Laugito was next to Block Buster video at Carerra Segundo and Calle Once (or Diez). This one would allow you to withdraw up to 700 mil pesos at a time. [/QUOTE]All good information. Great report on a first trip to Colombia (I have only had 2 trips, so can still think like a newbie).
I take several cards with me. Some cards only work in certain ATMs. And most ATMs WILL ONLY GIVE YOUR 300k or 400K pesos!! Citibank usually will give you a million pesos. So to get the same pesos from another machine costs 3 times the transaction fees. And the Citibank ATM accepted more of my cards.
Zing
