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Hi all,
That is my first post in this thread and it will be my first trip in Colombia.
Thanks to your advice, I will rent an apartment with Juan.
I will be there from february 17th to 28th.
I speak quite fluently spanish and for sure better than english. I am half spanish.
I will be glad to share a drink with some of you.
[QUOTE=Twetr]Headed to Cartagena in November for the first time. Didn't want to hastle with securing an apt, so was just gonna book a higher end hotel room. Are there any known to be chica friendly? Was thinking of staying around El Centro but I guess we could do Boca Grande as well.[/QUOTE]Read some of the recent posts and stay in an apartment. Sheeeshhhhh.
[QUOTE=Twetr]Headed to Cartagena in November for the first time. Didn't want to hastle with securing an apt, so was just gonna book a higher end hotel room. Are there any known to be chica friendly? Was thinking of staying around El Centro but I guess we could do Boca Grande as well.[/QUOTE]Dude; please don't spam EVERY topic with the same question.
As for your actual question I say Apt is the way to go. Hotels have EVERYBODY and ANYBODY in your business...search "Hotel" and you'll see that a bunch of people have had horror stories about all levels of hotels.
Good luck
[QUOTE=Twetr]Headed to Cartagena in November for the first time. Didn't want to hastle with securing an apt, so was just gonna book a higher end hotel room. Are there any known to be chica friendly? Was thinking of staying around El Centro but I guess we could do Boca Grande as well.[/QUOTE]Twetr:
Securing an apartment is easier than a hotel in CTG. Also a much better value and guaranteed Chica friendly. Consider Boca Grande or El Laguito.
Contact this guy for apartments you can't go wrong.
Juan ventura [email]ittscol@hotmail.com[/email]
My business? I don't understand. Anyway, sorry for that triple post. My problem is that I can only hang in CTG for 3 days. I had read a couple comments saying that it was difficult to secure an apt for such a short period of time, is that inaccurate?
[QUOTE=Twetr]My business? I don't understand. Anyway, sorry for that triple post. My problem is that I can only hang in CTG for 3 days. I had read a couple comments saying that it was difficult to secure an apt for such a short period of time, is that inaccurate?[/QUOTE]Not to jump on your case, but there are many posts on Apartments and Hotels. Seems like the same question every week. I found something really great, it is called Google and you just type in Cartegena Apartment (or Cartagena Hotels) and click on the results of your search. Lots of information, some apartments are even listed with nightly rates. Hotels even have pictures and reservation forms.
I write with TIC, but sometimes regulars see the same question routinely.
[QUOTE=Twetr]My business? I don't understand. Anyway, sorry for that triple post. My problem is that I can only hang in CTG for 3 days. I had read a couple comments saying that it was difficult to secure an apt for such a short period of time, is that inaccurate?[/QUOTE]I am going to CTG in two weeks and have an apartment through Juan for only two nights. So you should not have a problem.
That is the only email you need to know unless he is booked. It doesnt matteri if its 1 day or 50.
[QUOTE=Cubfan1963]Twetr:
Securing an apartment is easier than a hotel in CTG. Also a much better value and guaranteed Chica friendly. Consider Boca Grande or El Laguito.
Contact this guy for apartments you can't go wrong.
Juan ventura [email]ittscol@hotmail.com[/email][/QUOTE]
Guess I will be in CTG during the beginning of the Pageant the week of Nov 8th. Have any of you guys been in CTG during the event? Has anyone actually attended any of the events?
Appreciate the advise. Juan has the atl 1201 and the playa 301 available. Both seem nice. Anyone hqve any experience with those units or favorites?
stayed in 301 many times its nice, especiallly the large balcony over looking the ocean. Go with 301 playa mar
[QUOTE=Twetr]Appreciate the advise. Juan has the atl 1201 and the playa 301 available. Both seem nice. Anyone hqve any experience with those units or favorites?[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Twetr]Appreciate the advise. Juan has the atl 1201 and the playa 301 available. Both seem nice. Anyone hqve any experience with those units or favorites?[/QUOTE]Youcan is correct 301 is VERY nice. Recently rehabed and very modern with flat screen TV etc. My friends stayed there August. I was very jealous as I was in 902 and it was not as refined. I have 301 for my visit in a few weeks. I will leave something for you under the mattress.
Just got back from 3 weeks in CTG with a buddy, I'm not a big writer so I try to post some feedback when I get a chance. Right now I'm coping with serious pu**y withdrawal in the sex prison - damn it's hard, so I'm just going to say something about apartments.
As everyone mentioned forget hotels, though if you don't want to pay deposit upfront and rent without seeing, just book a night or two in a hotel and then you can go and see many places the next day. I saw some of Juan and Mery flats but they didn't have a 3 weeks continuous place available for us (and this was in low season Oct !? we wanted 2bed/2bath). Then we went around just asking at the receptions of buildings and some contacts I had from web, and soon saw nearly 10/15 flats. Negotiated the one we liked and moved in - no hassle. Though you need some Spanish I guess, AND a phone (get a SIM card from any shop, I got Movistar and found it VERY expensive, I heard Tigo is cheaper, don't know by how much. All have their own shop in Bocagrande.
. You can also just go to the guys in street corners who have phones for use in Bocagrande (have a sign says "Llamadas 150"), or even any store in Laguito, you can make a local/mobile call for 150-300 pesos per minute.
I think even booking in advance with Juan or Mery (both speak English) can't go much wrong. But make sure before you pay any more money when you arrive you check EVERYTHING in the flat, remember modem internet requires top-up (22k peso for a week) and it's slow. If something is not working, keep some money and say you pay when it's working properly. Clear up all fees for cleaning, towels etc. - try not to pay security deposit, to be returned later (we didn't). You might not see that again. Also they charge 5k-10k or something like that for registration at the reception (make sure you don't have to pay that for chicas - this could be a side-earner for receptionists, check and clear it right at the beginning with owner and receptionist present together.). These are general advise not particularly for Juan/Mery. I'm sure you have less issue with them as guys here use them all the time.
As for living in Bocagrande or Laguito there is not a big difference really, it's 5-10 minutes walk (more restaurant options in BG - we only ate there). The biggest issue is noise, no matter where you are, you are up at 7am because of unbelievable noise - all kind of noise that you can not imagine !?
For proximity, you want to be near Hollywood beach (5 minutes from Laguito/BG, though longer if staying further down BG). The beach is where Laguito/BG meet. That's where WG hang out. LDV is very near to there too. For everything else you need to taxi back and forth (5k day, 6K night fixed price to center or vice versa from either of these places.). We walked to BG from Laguito every night for dinner 8/9pm, no problem. Generally there are so much military and police in BG/Laguito/Center, I don't thing anyone dares to try anything.
For temporary hotel stay, worth mentioning small hotels in BG on the street parallel to San Martin (Cra 3) - note difference between Cra, Carrera, and Calle, I think it's Cra 4, and just before Olypmica supermarket, there are 5 or more hotels in a row (I never checked them or asked for prices, but saw a lot of Colombians stay there, so assume reasonable prices) . But we stayed in Estrela Oceania next to Hilton in Laguito for two nights (not sure if GF, never asked - we were two guys in a twin room, so no option for chicas really !?). It's a good price if you book on Expedia.co.uk, nice hotel too.
One last thing, we saw a real big variety of apartments and standards, pictures never tell you the whole story. So beware you can only be sure of a place until you see it. You might also be subject to bait & switch, so be prepared and complain in that case - get a discount if standard is not what you expect or should be.
[QUOTE=Uzinuzin]As everyone mentioned forget hotels, though if you don't want to pay deposit upfront and rent without seeing, just book a night or two in a hotel and then you can go and see many places the next day. I saw some of Juan and Mery flats but they didn't have a 3 weeks continuous place available for us (and this was in low season Oct !? we wanted 2bed/2bath). Then we went around just asking at the receptions of buildings and some contacts I had from web, and soon saw nearly 10/15 flats. Negotiated the one we liked and moved in - no hassle. Though you need some Spanish I guess, AND a .[/QUOTE]It's true that apartments are available, and in some of the newest buildings in front of the beach at Boca Grande. Just walk in asking to see something. Some awesome pads, and NEW. Looking at some of these buildings at night, you few lights. Empty units, absentee owners. Have been quoted some outrageous prices at times, though have gotten an excellent 3-br for $160 a night. Doorman dialed the owner in Miami, we talked, he gives us the keys and we hand over the cash, USD. Guest friendly, of course.
[QUOTE=Uzinuzin]Just got back from 3 weeks in CTG with a buddy, I'm not a big writer so I try to post some feedback when I get a chance. Right now I'm coping with serious pu**y withdrawal in the sex prison. Damn it's hard, so I'm just going to say something about apartments.
As everyone mentioned forget hotels, though if you don't want to pay deposit upfront and rent without seeing, just book a night or two in a hotel and then you can go and see many places the next day. I saw some of Juan and Mery flats but they didn't have a 3 weeks continuous place available for us (and this was in low season Oct! We wanted 2bed/2bath). Then we went around just asking at the receptions of buildings and some contacts I had from web, and soon saw nearly 10/15 flats. Negotiated the one we liked and moved in. No hassle. Though you need some Spanish I guess, AND a phone (get a SIM card from any shop, I got Movistar and found it VERY expensive, I heard Tigo is cheaper, don't know by how much. All have their own shop in Bocagrande.
. You can also just go to the guys in street corners who have phones for use in Bocagrande (have a sign says "Llamadas 150"), or even any store in Laguito, you can make a local/mobile call for 150-300 pesos per minute.
I think even booking in advance with Juan or Mery (both speak English) can't go much wrong. But make sure before you pay any more money when you arrive you check EVERYTHING in the flat, remember modem internet requires top-up (22k peso for a week) and it's slow. If something is not working, keep some money and say you pay when it's working properly. Clear up all fees for cleaning, towels etc.. Try not to pay security deposit, to be returned later (we didn't). You might not see that again. Also they charge 5k-10k or something like that for registration at the reception (make sure you don't have to pay that for chicas. This could be a side-earner for receptionists, check and clear it right at the beginning with owner and receptionist present together.). These are general advise not particularly for Juan/Mery. I'm sure you have less issue with them as guys here use them all the time.
As for living in Bocagrande or Laguito there is not a big difference really, it's 5-10 minutes walk (more restaurant options in BG. We only ate there). The biggest issue is noise, no matter where you are, you are up at 7am because of unbelievable noise. All kind of noise that you can not imagine!
For proximity, you want to be near Hollywood beach (5 minutes from Laguito/BG, though longer if staying further down BG). The beach is where Laguito/BG meet. That's where WG hang out. LDV is very near to there too. For everything else you need to taxi back and forth (5k day, 6K night fixed price to center or vice versa from either of these places.). We walked to BG from Laguito every night for dinner 8/9pm, no problem. Generally there are so much military and police in BG/Laguito/Center, I don't thing anyone dares to try anything.
For temporary hotel stay, worth mentioning small hotels in BG on the street parallel to San Martin (Cra 3). Note difference between Cra, Carrera, and Calle, I think it's Cra 4, and just before Olypmica supermarket, there are 5 or more hotels in a row (I never checked them or asked for prices, but saw a lot of Colombians stay there, so assume reasonable prices). But we stayed in Estrela Oceania next to Hilton in Laguito for two nights (not sure if GF, never asked. We were two guys in a twin room, so no option for chicas really!). It's a good price if you book on Expedia. Co. Uk, nice hotel too.
One last thing, we saw a real big variety of apartments and standards, pictures never tell you the whole story. So beware you can only be sure of a place until you see it. You might also be subject to bait & switch, so be prepared and complain in that case. Get a discount if standard is not what you expect or should be.[/QUOTE]I like how you operate. You simply made your own opportunity. Yes, dealing with Juan and Mery are probably the easy solution but not the only ones. You will probably find better values with your method and a little footwork. I hope if other guys try the is method that they report back with there new finds.