Medellin Reports

[QUOTE=Mel365]I use Citi Bank Gold checking account.

I get almost the bank to bank interchange rate at a cajero. Also City will give you a credit if you use another banks Cajero. The casas de cambio are ripoffs and the airport in Bogota is even worse. you lose between 15 and 20 percent.

Chase has n charge to use their cajero. They are all over Colombia. If you use a credit card they will charge you a foreign exchange fee.

wat really frosts my cake is, in St Martin I pay in dollars and they still charge me an exchange rate fee.

Ripoff number 2

Mel[/QUOTE]Keep in mind MOST banks will refund fees and have lower exchange fees if you have a "gold" or "platinum" account with them. Sadly, the ones that can afford to pay the extra fees are the ones that get all the perks.

[QUOTE=Escort King]You are charged a fee just like Travelex and is high 5-8 percent - use ATM and you get real rate.[/QUOTE]I did a study in Medellin I took 400, 000 pesos out of the same atm at the same time. I used 6 different atm cards from 6 different banks. The best were in this order TDBANK(best), UPSIDE card([url]www.Upsidecard.com[/url], prepaid debit card that I find to be the cheapest, and I can load from chase for free in 3 days time), Capital one, Citibank, Bank of america, and finally chase. There were no amazing differences in amounts between first and sixth but maybe like 3 dollars difference but still it's your 3 dollars. Times that over a entire week of pulling money out and you got dinner.

BB

[QUOTE=Bbrocs]I did a study in Medellin I took 400, 000 pesos out of the same atm at the same time. I used 6 different atm cards from 6 different banks. The best were in this order TDBANK(best), UPSIDE card([url]www.Upsidecard.com[/url], prepaid debit card that I find to be the cheapest, and I can load from chase for free in 3 days time), Capital one, Citibank, Bank of america, and finally chase. There were no amazing differences in amounts between first and sixth but maybe like 3 dollars difference but still it's your 3 dollars. Times that over a entire week of pulling money out and you got dinner.

BB[/QUOTE]Bbrocs,

Of all the bank cards you mention, only Citibank has it's own ATM's in Medellin. So aside from the exchange rate, I would think that not having to pay an ATM fee counts for something as well if using let's say a Citbank card at a Citbank ATM as oppsed to using it at a Banco Colombia.

Cheers,

Cubanut

PS. I think the Future of Mongering at least will be making it easier to pay the girls for services rendered.

[QUOTE=Mel365]Chase has n charge to use their cajero. They are all over Colombia.

Mel[/QUOTE]Can you name one in the centro?

I had no idea my bank was branching out into South America.

I've never seen one anywhere outside of the USA.

[QUOTE=Cubanut]Bbrocs,

Of all the bank cards you mention, only Citibank has it's own ATM's in Medellin. So aside from the exchange rate, I would think that not having to pay an ATM fee counts for something as well if using let's say a Citbank card at a Citbank ATM as oppsed to using it at a Banco Colombia.

Cheers,

Cubanut

PS. I think the Future of Mongering at least will be making it easier to pay the girls for services rendered.[/QUOTE]BTW, even if you have a Citibank account there are still ATM fees in Colombia. There are exceptions.

From the best info I found about international ATM fees:

[url]http://www.flyerguide.com/wiki/index.php/Credit/Debit/ATM_Cards_and_Foreign_Exchange[/url]

3% + $1.50 per transaction for all accounts except for Citigold, Private Bank, International Personal Banking and Global Executive Banking customers which pay 0%;

[QUOTE=Bbrocs]I did a study in Medellin I took 400, 000 pesos out of the same atm at the same time. I used 6 different atm cards from 6 different banks. The best were in this order TDBANK(best), UPSIDE card([url]www.Upsidecard.com[/url], prepaid debit card that I find to be the cheapest, and I can load from chase for free in 3 days time), Capital one, Citibank, Bank of america, and finally chase. There were no amazing differences in amounts between first and sixth but maybe like 3 dollars difference but still it's your 3 dollars. Times that over a entire week of pulling money out and you got dinner.

BB[/QUOTE]Good info, thanks.

I use the Capital One. You get the bank to bank exchange rate with no transaction fee.

Only hassle was first time using it finding which machines were linked, to successfully complete the transaction. Once that was established, absolutely no problems. Aside from a low max withdrawal (COP400,000), but never had a problem making multiple withdrawals.

[QUOTE=Cubanut]Bbrocs,

Of all the bank cards you mention, only Citibank has it's own ATM's in Medellin. So aside from the exchange rate, I would think that not having to pay an ATM fee counts for something as well if using let's say a Citbank card at a Citbank ATM as oppsed to using it at a Banco Colombia.

Cheers,

Cubanut

PS. I think the Future of Mongering at least will be making it easier to pay the girls for services rendered.[/QUOTE]That's thinking out of the box.

On second thought, maybe not!

Too many ways to go on this one.

I'll quit now.

All the best, Schwmm

[QUOTE=Schwmmr]Good info, thanks.

I use the Capital One. You get the bank to bank exchange rate with no transaction fee.

Only hassle was first time using it finding which machines were linked, to successfully complete the transaction. Once that was established, absolutely no problems. Aside from a low max withdrawal (COP400,000), but never had a problem making multiple withdrawals.[/QUOTE]Capital one charges 2.00 for using machines outside of network, citibank even at citibank ATM charges 3% unless as said before your citigold or other elite service. Best bang for the buck is TD bank, unless your citigold at a citi branch, and my location for that is San Diego mall, I miss the citibank ATM at blockbuster. Also with some of my cards my bank has no relation with bank if Colombia and will not work. Two examples of that are chase and bank if America.

[QUOTE=Schwmmr]Good info, thanks.

I use the Capital One. You get the bank to bank exchange rate with no transaction fee.

Only hassle was first time using it finding which machines were linked, to successfully complete the transaction. Once that was established, absolutely no problems. Aside from a low max withdrawal (COP400,000), but never had a problem making multiple withdrawals.[/QUOTE]I used Capital One too.. but they also charge $1.50 per transaction. That adds up.. Right now I'm using Charles Schwab. No exchange fee AND they refund ALL ATM fees (domestic and international). Pretty sweet actually, I withdraw from a stripclub ATM at home and they refunded their insane $5 fee.

BBVA Compass Bank out of Florida allows you to make ATM withdrawals from anywhere in the World without ATM Charges.

Frank Casio!

[QUOTE=Cubanut]Bbrocs,

Of all the bank cards you mention, only Citibank has it's own ATM's in Medellin. So aside from the exchange rate, I would think that not having to pay an ATM fee counts for something as well if using let's say a Citbank card at a Citbank ATM as oppsed to using it at a Banco Colombia.

Cheers,

Cubanut

PS. I think the Future of Mongering at least will be making it easier to pay the girls for services rendered.[/QUOTE]

Had my first Mayorista experience last night, and I loved it. Ran into a group of fellow gringos and watched the scene go by. I didn't partake but there are, as many people here have said, some gems to be had amongst the tubbies.

We took the metro/cable up to Santo Domingo today - Highly recommended, it's really a worthwhile trip.

On the way back we went to casa Energy. My last trip here there were only two girls working, but they seem to have gone through a change. There was a lineup of about 8 girls, maybe two 7's and the rest 8's and 9's. I could have done any one of them. I chose Mariana, a dark little spinner, and she did not disappoint. No GFE and covered bj, which unfortunately I'm finding to be the norm here, but great personality and great performance of the basics. She even went about 10 minutes over the hour time-limit. Highly recommended.

More later.

[QUOTE=Frank Casio]BBVA Compass Bank out of Florida allows you to make ATM withdrawals from anywhere in the World without ATM Charges.

Frank Casio![/QUOTE]Yes, I was hoping for the same thing.

My BBVA Compass ATM cards did not work at the BBVA ATMs in Poblado.

[QUOTE=Doc Bill]Had my first Mayorista experience last night, and I loved it. Ran into a group of fellow gringos and watched the scene go by. I didn't partake but there are, as many people here have said, some gems to be had amongst the tubbies.

We took the metro/cable up to Santo Domingo today - Highly recommended, it's really a worthwhile trip.

On the way back we went to casa Energy. My last trip here there were only two girls working, but they seem to have gone through a change. There was a lineup of about 8 girls, maybe two 7's and the rest 8's and 9's. I could have done any one of them. I chose Mariana, a dark little spinner, and she did not disappoint. No GFE and covered bj, which unfortunately I'm finding to be the norm here, but great personality and great performance of the basics. She even went about 10 minutes over the hour time-limit. Highly recommended.

More later.[/QUOTE]It was good to see you again last night. A long time since Santa Marta.

That chica you guys were sitting with I ended up spending some time with her after you guys left. I bought her some drinks and danced with her a little, but when at the table as I put my hand on her leg she pushed it away and told me she was no Puta. This got my attention so I thought I would spend a little time with her to see what she was about. Turns out after a while she brings out a jewlery display. I bought a 10K charm and then after a bit she starts to turn me on to her fat friend who was for sure a WG. As I then made my exit it hit me how hard these people have it. Here is a girl who spent hours working just to make a 10K sale.

As far as the coveted BBBJ in Mayorista in 95% of the time a tip must be offered to get the proper results. I think these girls like to gamble a bit as I offer no amount, just a promise. At first I would tip them 20K, but I soon learned that 10K was enough to made them smile.

that girl, vic, was ****. that's why she wouldn't (or couldn't, i should say) go into one of those hotels. she kept asking me for beer (guess she had enough money for food) and trying to get me to go to her house clear across town. i sensed trouble and left her in the dust. my personal rule is that if she doesn't look 20 i ask for i.d. but even that can be faked. ultimately i rely on my intuition.

that girl, vic, was ****. that's why she wouldn't (or couldn't, i should say) go into one of those hotels. she kept asking me for beer (guess she had enough money for food) and trying to get me to go to her house clear across town. i sensed trouble and left her in the dust. my personal rule is that if she doesn't look 20 i ask for i.d. but even that can be faked. ultimately i rely on my intuition.

by the way, vic, it was great to see you again too!