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Mexico City has a new international airport, NLU, with the old MEX, along with the very busy Cancun Int, are very good gateways for cheap nonstop flights to Central and South America cities:
Multi-city trip Economy $587.
Mon, Mar 25 VivaAerobus 3 HR 25 min TIJ–NLU Nonstop.
Mon, Mar 25 VivaAerobus 2 HR 15 min NLU–CUN Nonstop.
Thu, Apr 4 Wingo 3 HR 8 min CUN–MDE Nonstop.
Fri, Apr 12 Avianca 6 HR 25 min MDE–MEX 1 stop 1 HR 25 min SJO.
Fri, Apr 12 VivaAerobus 3 HR 50 min MEX–TIJ Nonstop.
[QUOTE=Huacho;2896210]This continues to puzzle me because Schwab refunds my ATM fees right away, not at the end of the month. I must know somebody or blow somebody.[/QUOTE]FWIW, I just went over my Schwab acct online. For the last several trips they refunded my ATM fees at the end of the month.
El Mechanico.
[QUOTE=Gabacho;2897133]This is extremely bad advice especially if you are showering alone while in the room with the girl, it is giving her the opportunity to go through your pockets while you are in the shower.
I suggest you shower at your house or hotel room beforehand. Never shower once with the girl unless if you are both showering at the same time and even then never let her get out of the shower before you do. Always keep an eye on her constantly.
It is much easier just to not shower. Most girls use baby wipes to clean themselves before and after sessions they call them paitos and this is much better than showering. And if the girl asks you to shower, this is a red flag because she wants to go thru your pockets. Just tell her you already just showered right before you left your place because you have a ducha elctrica and don't like to shower with cold water.[/QUOTE]It's not necessarily bad advice. It depends on your location. Street girls in Short time hotels, bad advice. Someplace like Energy, it's usually requested by the girl and she will often join you. In your hotel or apartment, or at a better love motel, it's a good idea to shower with the girl.
Of course there are guys who don't want the girls freshly washed.
Ok, this will be the last ATM post until I get foto evidence of the ATMs asking me if I am ok with the Transaction fee on my next trip.
I asked the question earlier and it was never answered, probably because it was buried in the middle of the post.
Here is the question again:
Why would anyone on the face of the planet accept the banks conversion rate?
El Mechanico.
I think there are two reasons it happens. One reason is ignorance about what conversion rate means and what better rate is available. The other reason is inattention. I once ripped myself off by accepting the conversion rate without meaning to accept it because I had been drinking. Drunk banking is not a good practice.
[QUOTE=ElMechanico;2897190]Ok, this will be the last ATM post until I get foto evidence of the ATMs asking me if I am ok with the Transaction fee on my next trip.
I asked the question earlier and it was never answered, probably because it was buried in the middle of the post.
Here is the question again:
Why would anyone on the face of the planet accept the banks conversion rate?
El Mechanico.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Nounce;2897153]There used to be a short time hotel by the park but it is gone after COVID. Memorize the route and knowing where you are going will help you with safety. This route has better landmark as reference point so it is easier to remember.
You can consider taking the street Cr 49 to the park, turn to CL 54. Don't go toward west if you don't know what you are doing. The middle and the east side of the park are better than the west side of the park.
There are many restaurants on Cr 49. You can pick a 2nd floor one and have lunch and people watch. There are also several well-known restaurants. One is Versalles which is an old school type of restaurant that is rare in Medellin but common in Buenos Aires that may be interesting to you.
There is an university on CL 56 before you reach New Life. There are many decent small local Colombian restaurants that you can try. You can have breakfast or lunch there if you want to experience some local life style and food.[/QUOTE]Yes I noticed some sort of university buildings in the same area as New Life so I figure that area would be safer. I plan to wizz by the Parque Botero area just long enough to gaze at the statues then walk at a good pace towards New Life area and back to the Metro. I do like the idea of stopping for late lunch after a session at New Life before heading back to the Metro.
For a visit to Energy, I see there's a short walk from the Metro around the stadium and it also looks pretty safe there. Maybe some eateries there too after a session or I might head back to the Metro to visit Comuna 13.
[QUOTE=ElMechanico;2897190]Ok, this will be the last ATM post until I get foto evidence of the ATMs asking me if I am ok with the Transaction fee on my next trip.
I asked the question earlier and it was never answered, probably because it was buried in the middle of the post.
Here is the question again:
Why would anyone on the face of the planet accept the banks conversion rate?
El Mechanico.[/QUOTE]Because just under 50% of the population is stupider than average.
[QUOTE=ElMechanico;2897190]Ok, this will be the last ATM post until I get foto evidence of the ATMs asking me if I am ok with the Transaction fee on my next trip.
I asked the question earlier and it was never answered, probably because it was buried in the middle of the post.
Here is the question again:
Why would anyone on the face of the planet accept the banks conversion rate?
El Mechanico.[/QUOTE]Because it is deceptively worded and it appears as if you need to say yes in order to get pesos. You don't get this option in American ATMs so if you are new to traveling overseas or using ATMs overseas, you may think that you need to say yes in order to get pesos from the ATM. Unless you did some research, you might think you need to say yes to conduct the transaction successfully.
[QUOTE=FlawlessZeal;2896020]Is there any good solution for getting change though? It is so frustrating to get mostly all big bills from the ATM and then when I try to pay for something I either get an exasperated look from the employee and they have to go see someone else in order to get change, or worse, they say they don't have that much change (nothing crazy, just a 50 k or 100 k bill).[/QUOTE]If you're using Schwab or Capital One or other card that refunds ATM fees then after your main withdrawal of 1 or 2 millions just make 1/2/3 withdrawals 80 K each. You'll receive 4/8/12 20 K bills.
If you're still using the card with ATM fees then just select other amount and enter 1,980,000 instead of 2,000,000 or 980,000 instead of 1,000,000 and you will get 4 20 K bills right away.
One more time reminder for new members. ALWAYS decline conversion at ATM!
[QUOTE=ElMechanico;2897190]
Why would anyone on the face of the planet accept the banks conversion rate?
El Mechanico.[/QUOTE]Because they are stupid and don't know any better? Or maybe they think the ATM will decline their transaction unless if they accept it?
I personally think it's just a lack of experience. Once you start coming down here more and more over the years you get used to everything and you know to decline the ATM conversion rate. However, a first time visitor who has never seen it before, maybe he wouldn't know to decline it because it's something he's never done before.
It's kinda like when you're buying an airplane ticket online and they ask you if you want all the bullshit extras like priority bording or travel insurance and you have to make sure you check no.
[QUOTE=Exoticspirit;2897196]Yes I noticed some sort of university buildings in the same area as New Life so I figure that area would be safer. I plan to wizz by the Parque Botero area just long enough to gaze at the statues then walk at a good pace towards New Life area and back to the Metro. I do like the idea of stopping for late lunch after a session at New Life before heading back to the Metro.
.[/QUOTE]That block can be grimy AF walking from Oriental. The usual homeless dudes lying around. Good luck with the Metro. I rarely take it since cabs are so inexpensive and the metro can get uncomfortably crowded and hot at times, especially during the workweek.
Anyone here or know anyone who is a non speaker and straight up got robbed? What do you even do if you are alone, no ID, phone, since all of your stuff was in a hotel room that you may or may not even have directions to anymore.
[QUOTE=Robotron;2897242]Anyone here or know anyone who is a non speaker and straight up got robbed? What do you even do if you are alone, no ID, phone, since all of your stuff was in a hotel room that you may or may not even have directions to anymore.[/QUOTE]First goal, don't be stupid and have that happen to you. Second goal, learn the literal basic concept of situational awareness. You should know where you are at all times and how to generally get back to your place if worse came to worst. There is no way they should be getting into your safe so you should never lose everything. But if you did have something really bad happen at your room, it's pretty simple.
Go to the front desk and tell them, they will bring the police. If you don't have a front desk or are away from your place, go to the police and mumble out what happened to you. They will understand very easily when Mr. Gringo cries about getting robbed. Get them to get you to the American embassy (or whatever nation you hail from). Prepare your excuses for your partner about how you got scoped when you "tried to help two 19-year-old Vennies who desperately begged you give them a place to stay because they had no money and needed a 'papi' to help them. " You would never do that in America, but you were just so moved by their plight and out of the kindness of your heart, you gave them a place to stay. Unfortunately, they betrayed your trust and violated your honor LOL. You'll have a lot of time to think up something even more whimsical than that.
[QUOTE=Huacho;2897208]Because just under 50% of the population is stupider than average.[/QUOTE]Definitely more than 50. I am surprised at how many seasoned travelers I know that do not have a currency conversion app on their phone. The other day my ex-girlfriend asked me about something I told her and she got offended when I told her to search on google. I guess most people have phones for only taking pictures and playing games.
[QUOTE=ElMechanico;2897190]Ok, this will be the last ATM post until I get foto evidence of the ATMs asking me if I am ok with the Transaction fee on my next trip.
I asked the question earlier and it was never answered, probably because it was buried in the middle of the post.
Here is the question again:
Why would anyone on the face of the planet accept the banks conversion rate?
El Mechanico.[/QUOTE]Because they don't know. Simple. Not stupid, not anything, just not informed. You have to know what your own bank is going to charge you in order to know whether what is offered is a better option or not, and I can guarantee that very few people actually know what they are being charged, hence they just don't know. Until someone tells them. Which this board does.