Cartagena Reports

Hello, everybody!

It's my first time visiting in Cartagena and I just what to know how safe it is? For example take a girl home with you, will she steel from you? Can you go around in the night just bar hopping safely? Is it alot of gangs around trying to rob you?

Where is the best place to meet the hottest chicks? LDV?

Is it easy to take several girls home to make a party? Would they want too or would they want alot of money for that? We are a couple of dudes going. Sorry for tons of questions but I'm so eager to go and have a good time!

Diggler,

PM me for info.

[QUOTE=Diggler08]Hello, everybody!

It's my first time visiting in Cartagena and I just what to know how safe it is? For example take a girl home with you, will she steel from you? Can you go around in the night just bar hopping safely? Is it alot of gangs around trying to rob you?

Where is the best place to meet the hottest chicks? LDV?

Is it easy to take several girls home to make a party? Would they want too or would they want alot of money for that? We are a couple of dudes going. Sorry for tons of questions but I'm so eager to go and have a good time![/QUOTE]A lot of buildings limit you to one girl per bedroom in your apartment. Condo associations have their doormen enforce this.

Need to find out building policy in advance if you want to enjoy multi-girl parties.

Hi brethren,

First time in Cartagena for short time. Arriving on a Sunday afternoon-is it dead in Cartagena as in much of South America on Sunday?

Any advice (broad question I know.).

Thanks

Muktar

[QUOTE=Cubfan1963]Diggler,

PM me for info.[/QUOTE]Sorry I don´t think I can.

I'm not a fully member.

[blue]===============================================

Hi Diggler08,

Are you suggesting that a sophisticated world traveler such as yourself can not afford a $20 subscription to support this forum and all the work I do to keep it maintained.

A forum subscription is less than 40 cents a week. That's less than the price of a newspaper.

Thanks,

Jackson[/blue]

Diggler,

I'm the original cheap fucker. But when it comes to mongering don't be cheap. Pay up the 20 bones. You will be glad you did. You will probably spend a couple grand on your trip anyway. Think of the $20 as an insurance policy for mongering.

Don't forget when you return to post a trip report so all can learn.

[QUOTE=Diggler08]Sorry I don´t think I can.

I'm not a fully member.

[blue]===============================================

Hi Diggler08,

Are you suggesting that a sophisticated world traveler such as yourself can not afford a $20 subscription to support this forum and all the work I do to keep it maintained.

A forum subscription is less than 40 cents a week. That's less than the price of a newspaper.

Thanks,

Jackson[/blue][/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Bologna]Does anyone know if this is possible/do-able with the services there and which VOIP would accommodate telephone needs .. which are minimal but necessary from time to time.

My objective is to just go, and not have my company know I am there and be able to conduct business as usual.[/QUOTE]Broadband in Cartagena should now be good enough to do what you want to do. It's a one year minimum contract to get cable or DSL installed, and will take some lead time and contacts to get set up. Or just rent one of the higher end apartments at the beginning - one that has broadband included.

All cell companies now have 3G modem offerings. While they are not stable enough to be your primary option, this may be of interest as a backup or roaming option. Une is probably the best. There is a booth in Caribe Plaza mall where you can sign up instantly and walk away with USB modem in hand.

A SkypeIn phone number and voicemail is one solution that will work for your calling needs. Get hold of a good quality headset (Plantronics or similar) before you travel.

Cartagena is not the easiest place to work. The ever present humidity can sap your energy and leave you lethargic.

I'm thinking of a visit to Colombia once again. Logistics dictate that I fly into Cartagena from the US, but I actually want to go to Medellin. What is the safest and least expensive way to do that, and is land travel between Cartagena and Medellin a reasonable alternative?

Last time I was in Colombia, traveling between, or venturing to the outskirts of the major population centers, it was considered considerably dangerous due to the para military groups. But, this was several years ago.

I was just wondering if things have improved sufficiently that you can now take land transportation between the cities, perhaps during the daylight hours, and be relatively safe.

Don't know about that logic. I am flying into Medellin next week and departing from Cartagena a couple of weeks later. You do have to route your trip through Panama City from the US. Continental partners with AeroRepublica for that purpose. American flies to MDE too but don't know if I would want to stoop that low. Haha

Everything I have read suggests thats it's quite safe outside the cities. BTW: A bus ride would take forever between those cities. Fly instead as there are plenty of airlines who fly that route and it's inexpensive.

[QUOTE=La Parca]I'm thinking of a visit to Colombia once again. Logistics dictate that I fly into Cartagena from the US, but I actually want to go to Medellin. What is the safest and least expensive way to do that, and is land travel between Cartagena and Medellin a reasonable alternative?

Last time I was in Colombia, traveling between, or venturing to the outskirts of the major population centers, it was considered considerably dangerous due to the para military groups. But, this was several years ago.

I was just wondering if things have improved sufficiently that you can now take land transportation between the cities, perhaps during the daylight hours, and be relatively safe.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Cachorro]Broadband in Cartagena should now be good enough to do what you want to do. It's a one year minimum contract to get cable or DSL installed, and will take some lead time and contacts to get set up. Or just rent one of the higher end apartments at the beginning - one that has broadband included. [...]

Cartagena is not the easiest place to work. The ever present humidity can sap your energy and leave you lethargic.[/QUOTE]Thanks Cachorro. Sounds like it may be do-able. I just want to rent an apt. with internet access, I don't want to stay long enough to sign contracts. After four months or so I'm ready to leave anyway. I do remember needing a letter addressed to me ( or signature from another resident ) in order to get the contract going too..

I know it's not easy working there. After a few weeks the humidity etc.. isn't the biggest problem though. The hardest thing for me was I always feel like I'm missing something being locked inside all day. That, and chicas calling during the day and I need to stay focused on work.

I think I'll take a short vacation there and give it a dry run. Thanks for the updated info.

[QUOTE=La Parca]I'm thinking of a visit to Colombia once again. Logistics dictate that I fly into Cartagena from the US, but I actually want to go to Medellin. What is the safest and least expensive way to do that, and is land travel between Cartagena and Medellin a reasonable alternative?[/QUOTE]Check out Avianca. If you call them to book your reservations they sometimes give you a free R/T ticket anywhere Avianca flies within Colombia with your original ticket. Good for the duration of your stay. You have to call though, you can't get this offer if you book online.

I don't know when/why/how they offer this but every time I have booked a ticket into CTG with Avianca I have been given this extra R/T ticket. You'll also have to tell them the dates you plan to use it beforehand, before you actually purchase the tickets.

Cartagena on Sunday beach is packed by far best day.

VOIP no problem, relize there is a Internet cafe in La Guito with several cheap International phones.

Medellin don't understand plenty of cheap flights from Spirit and Avianca.

Relize you can fly to Medellin from CTG on a pass for 100 bucks or take bus but it takes 12hours and is safe.

Cartagena yes is safe; no gangs other than chics.

Yes, the LDV is the place to go for best looking chics same ones as Electra later.

Hope I covered enough for you guys.

[QUOTE=La Parca]I'm thinking of a visit to Colombia once again. Logistics dictate that I fly into Cartagena from the US, but I actually want to go to Medellin. What is the safest and least expensive way to do that, and is land travel between Cartagena and Medellin a reasonable alternative?

Last time I was in Colombia, traveling between, or venturing to the outskirts of the major population centers, it was considered considerably dangerous due to the para military groups. But, this was several years ago.

I was just wondering if things have improved sufficiently that you can now take land transportation between the cities, perhaps during the daylight hours, and be relatively safe.[/QUOTE]I know what you are talking about. I want to go to MDE in October as I am worried that the rains are going to kill the mood in CTG. I was looking up flights and for me it was cheaper and quicker to get to CTG from stateside. during my research I found one way flights from CTG to MDE for $180 USD. A bit expensive but clearly the way to go if you want to do both cities or just suck it up and go directly to MDE. A year from now you won't miss the couple of hundred that you had to pay extra to get to MDE.

A couple hundred?

With which airline?

Go to Aires or Aerorepublica.

It should be much less.

[QUOTE=Vitrea]I know what you are talking about. I want to go to MDE in October as I am worried that the rains are going to kill the mood in CTG. I was looking up flights and for me it was cheaper and quicker to get to CTG from stateside. during my research I found one way flights from CTG to MDE for $180 USD. A bit expensive but clearly the way to go if you want to do both cities or just suck it up and go directly to MDE. A year from now you won't miss the couple of hundred that you had to pay extra to get to MDE.[/QUOTE]

[quote=bologna]i used to live in ctg years ago (2004 ) and rented an apt with a telephone line and i subscribed to the local isp enred for internet access. it was slow dial-up and constantly dropped connections.

i'm wondering how good the internet connection is these days, the supposed "broad-band" in the apartments.

i am employed by a company now but work from home. what i want to do is move to ctg ( for a while ) and set up shop there. good broadband is a must, i'm guessing 1mb download speed would suffice.

along with the internet connection i am going to need some sort of reliable telephone source .. voip ( skype, vonage, etc.. ). one with a local number in the states so i can be called by co-workers.

does anyone know if this is possible/do-able with the services there and which voip would accommodate telephone needs .. which are minimal but necessary from time to time.

my objective is to just go, and not have my company know i am there and be able to conduct business as usual.[/quote]mr bologna,

i have a nice 1 bedroom apartment that i can rent by the day, month. good internet, newley remolded, good airconditioning and more. it is in laguito, on the beach and includes hotel style daily maid service.

prices start at 70,000 pesos a day. if you want more info let me know or you can call me at 305 407-9218

i am headed out on a road trip for a week so i may be slow in getting back to you ths week.

martin