General Info

[QUOTE=SBTiger;2238032]Thanks.

All sounds fine:

Airport cab 70 k (24 $) - assuming it is flat rate, and these take cash only. So will have to use ATM at Airport, shouldn't be an issue. There is some mention of shared taxis. Is that a practical option?

Distance to airport is indicated as 10-12 miles, so 24 $ is not exactly cheap, but whatever..[/QUOTE]It's closer to 30 miles to the airport. The trip takes about 45 minutes. Outside of the airport there's a big sign with taxi rates to all the nearby cities. Unless you want to sit and wait for 3 other passengers, just to save a few dollars, the shared taxis aren't worth it. Ask the taxi driver how much, before you get in the taxi. If he quotes more than 5 k over the posted rate, go to the next one.

The minimum local taxi charge is 5400. The meter starts at 3300. Chances are, most trips will be under 15 k.

Colombian currency:

Coins- 50,100, 200,500,:1000.

Bills- 1000,2000, 5000,10000, 20000,50000, 100000.

Although not sure how many 100 k notes are in circulation. Break 50 k bills whenever you can. Use smaller bills for taxis and smaller restaurants.

SIM.

About a block away from Hotel Poblado Plaza is KTronix, an electronic store. You should be able to get a Claro SIM there. If you need to add data many small stores can do it. Just look for a sign that says Recarga Claro. All they need is your phone number.

If I remember correctly Bancocolombia has a 15 k fee.

[QUOTE=JjBee62;2238092]It's closer to 30 miles to the airport. The trip takes about 45 minutes. Outside of the airport there's a big sign with taxi rates to all the nearby cities. Unless you want to sit and wait for 3 other passengers, just to save a few dollars, the shared taxis aren't worth it. Ask the taxi driver how much, before you get in the taxi. If he quotes more than 5 k over the posted rate, go to the next one.

The minimum local taxi charge is 5400. The meter starts at 3300. Chances are, most trips will be under 15 k.

Colombian currency:

Coins- 50,100, 200,500,:1000.

Bills- 1000,2000, 5000,10000, 20000,50000, 100000.

Although not sure how many 100 k notes are in circulation. Break 50 k bills whenever you can. Use smaller bills for taxis and smaller restaurants.

SIM.

About a block away from Hotel Poblado Plaza is KTronix, an electronic store. You should be able to get a Claro SIM there. If you need to add data many small stores can do it. Just look for a sign that says Recarga Claro. All they need is your phone number.

If I remember correctly Bancocolombia has a 15 k fee.[/QUOTE]Thanks All, got these essential logistics.

Now need the plan for the main business. Lot of work left. Thanks.

[QUOTE=FunLuvr;2238067]Shared taxis from the airport is not a viable option. You have to wait for two or three other people to share the ride with. Another option is the bus. It will take you to Medellin for 9,500. Then you can get a taxi to Poblado from the bus stop for about 10,000. If you decide to take the bus, ask which bus goes to San Diego. Travel time to / from the airport is 45 minutes to an hour, depending on traffic. So 70,000 is not bad because that includes the toll.

Bill denominations are 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 K. There are few 1 K bills because they are being replaced by a coin. Try to get small bills. From the ATM's, you don't have a choice. You will get mostly 50 K bills. Taxi drivers and local restaurants will probably not have change for a 50. In and around Medellin, most ATM's are attached to a bank. After getting the 50's from the ATM, go inside the bank and change some of the 50's for smaller bills. Most restaurants around Parque Lleras can give you change from a 50.

The minutes / data you get with the sim card will probably not last a week. You can recharge it for any amount you want. Claro is probably the largest carrier, but any of them are good.[/QUOTE]Pro tip:

If you're going to Poblado, catch the bus to San Diego Mall, cut through the mall to Avenida Poblado, hop on a yellow bus heading south for 2100 pesos. If you're staying within a block of Avenida Poblado, it will get you practically to your front door.

Unless you're pulling a lot of luggage.

Prepago is the generic, reasonably polite term for prostitute. It's also the specific word used for an escort.

Really enjoyed my trip to Medellin.

Thanks to everyone on the forum for all the advice included on the forum.

Would love to return but only if I spoke Spanish. It's not too much problem with the girls but mostly everywhere else e. G shopping, ordering food etc.

The people are lovely and try their best to help but I felt ignorant.

The women are amazing, I've been to Thailand over 10 times and the Colombian women blow them out of the water although I still prefer Thailand due to the language and fact everything is in your face, especially Pattaya.

Really glad I came here though and hope to return in the future.

Hello all,

I'm looking for airbnb or apartments that have super fast internet. Looking in Laureles or Poblado but prefer laureles. I'm going to be playin semi pro videogames when I'm not *****shagging or eating. Thanks.

[QUOTE=JeraldoRivera;2238660]Hello all,

I'm looking for airbnb or apartments that have super fast internet. Looking in Laureles or Poblado but prefer laureles. I'm going to be playin semi pro videogames when I'm not *****shagging or eating. Thanks.[/QUOTE]Look up Medellin Scooter Rentals online and send a message to Jenson. If it's currently empty he's got a 3 br place in Laureles with a dedicated fiber optic line. 2 routers with a solid signal throughout the apartment.

It won't be your cheapest option, but you're unlikely to find anything with comparable internet. After fighting for months with 1.5-3 Mbps speeds in Medellin, I know how unreliable the standard internet can be.

Since its been brought up before in our discussions:

[URL]https://thecitypaperbogota.com/news/colombias-duque-scraps-personal-dose-as-part-of-anti-drug-policy/20808[/URL]

Cops can now put cuffs on you for a small amount of grass or any other controlled substance you are carrying.

[QUOTE=JjBee62;2238788]Look up Medellin Scooter Rentals online and send a message to Jenson. If it's currently empty he's got a 3 br place in Laureles with a dedicated fiber optic line. 2 routers with a solid signal throughout the apartment.

It won't be your cheapest option, but you're unlikely to find anything with comparable internet. After fighting for months with 1.5-3 Mbps speeds in Medellin, I know how unreliable the standard internet can be.[/QUOTE]Thanks for the intel. I have msg 20+ airbnb in both laurales and poblado and the internet situation in mde is definitely crap. Its mostly 10 mb down and 2 up on a shared WiFi only. I've found 2 or 3 that actually have modems and dedicated lines to their apartment and they are emphatically visitor friendly. I got some hilarious responses from some jokers when I asked if I can have visitors.

Booked for a couple of days in EL Pobalado Plaza, next booking is up. Incidentally I cant find any English speaking person at this hotel- trying to make a change to booking - impossible.

Any recommended hotels in Laureles area- decent 3* chica friendly etc (the usual).

How is Hotel Laureles Plaza. Has very good reviews but is quite cheap.

Thanks much,

[QUOTE=YippieKayay;2239282]Since its been brought up before in our discussions:

[URL]https://thecitypaperbogota.com/news/colombias-duque-scraps-personal-dose-as-part-of-anti-drug-policy/20808[/URL]

Cops can now put cuffs on you for a small amount of grass or any other controlled substance you are carrying.[/QUOTE]I'm sure they can put the cuffs on anybody they want, but the article doesn't say so.

[QUOTE=SBTiger;2240440]Booked for a couple of days in EL Pobalado Plaza, next booking is up. Incidentally I cant find any English speaking person at this hotel- trying to make a change to booking - impossible.

Any recommended hotels in Laureles area- decent 3* chica friendly etc (the usual).

How is Hotel Laureles Plaza. Has very good reviews but is quite cheap.

Thanks much,[/QUOTE]If you are looking for people who speak English, you are in the wrong country. Somehow, being in the hospitality industry doesn't require any foreign language skills in Colombia. Colombia is a nation of monoglots.

[QUOTE=Nordico;2240485]I'm sure they can put the cuffs on anybody they want, but the article doesn't say so.[/QUOTE]It does in the very first two sentences:

"and a major policy decision since taking office on August 7, President Iváand Duque reversed the Constitutional Court's 1994 ruling (C-221) that decriminalized the possession of limited amounts of illicit drugs. The so-called "dosis personal" allowed individuals to have in their possession a maximum quantity of 20 grams of marijuana, 5 grams of hashish, 1 gram of cocaine and 2 grams of methaqualone without facing criminal charges if stopped by the police."

Am I missing something?

[QUOTE=YippieKayay;2240605]It does in the very first two sentences:

"and a major policy decision since taking office on August 7, President Ivand Duque reversed the Constitutional Court's 1994 ruling (C-221) that decriminalized the possession of limited amounts of illicit drugs. The so-called "dosis personal" allowed individuals to have in their possession a maximum quantity of 20 grams of marijuana, 5 grams of hashish, 1 gram of cocaine and 2 grams of methaqualone without facing criminal charges if stopped by the police. ".

Am I missing something?[/QUOTE]I realize this is not the US but can president reverse constitutional court ruling?

[QUOTE=HBoy54;2240611]I realize this is not the US but can president reverse constitutional court ruling?[/QUOTE]No he cannot and he didn't do that. What he did was, he signed the amended law called "Codigo Nacional de Policia why Convivencia". You can find the original from 2016 here [URL]https://www.policia.gov.co/sites/default/files/ley-1801-codigo-nacional-policia-convivencia.pdf[/URL].

The 120 pages long document stipulates how the people should behave in public places and what corrective actions the police should take, if necessary. The new degree gives the police the right to search you, seize and destroy your drugs, even if the amount is within the legal limits. Violating this law is a misdemeanor and not a felony with a fine up to COP 208,000. If you carry a certificate from your doctor that you are a drug addict, they have to give you your drugs back. What you do in a private place like your home is none of their business. Of course, like YippieKayay has said many times, the police may abuse their power and take you handcuffed to the local jail.