Bogota Reports

[QUOTE=Cachorro]Yep, you walk out front of the airport terminal, cross the two first lanes where taxis are waiting. After you've crossed, set back a little you'll see the last of these parallel lanes. Look at the left hand side (the direction traffic is entering from). You'll see a small bus stand and buses passing regularly, destined for all parts of the city.

For the historical centre you want the bus "Germania" which costs about 1100 pesos. Tell the bus guy you want to get off close to Centro. It will let you out at around 7th and cll 20. This is not a great area, you should immediately transfer into a taxi, keeping a close eye on your bags. For Zona Rosa there is another bus I'm sure, don't know exactly which one.[/QUOTE]

Thank you, Cachorro.

"This is not a great area, you should immediately transfer into a taxi, keeping a close eye on your bags."

Why is it not a good idea? Theft of my bags or robbery? I plan on traveling with a single backpack. One bag, strapped to my back.

Would that be safer?

Taxis are cheap.

From the airportr to calle 100 which is north of the zona rosa is only $7. 00 US. Why screw around with busses. Just make sure the taxi has a meter and a rate card that you can see.

Mel

[QUOTE=Pico1972]Don't worry, Bogota is safe. I am currently here on vacation from the US. I started in Cartagena and I am now in Bogota. Total time here is Colombia will be one week. There is alot of exagerated information on the web and travel books on how dangerous it is out here. Ignore all the BS. This is a very safe city and country. There is alot of police presence out here. You are going to love it out here.[/QUOTE]


Yes you'll love it!

Don't be a dummy though. It can be safe enough, but always keep up your guard.

The experienced guy knows that it's when you let your guard down, trouble finds you.

Have fun!

[QUOTE=Monger#77]Thank you, Cachorro.

"This is not a great area, you should immediately transfer into a taxi, keeping a close eye on your bags."

Why is it not a good idea? Theft of my bags or robbery? I plan on traveling with a single backpack. One bag, strapped to my back.

Would that be safer?[/QUOTE]
Just a reminder to pay attention to what's happening around you.

I've done that bus trip from the airport a couple times. I feel OK but the other people on the bus give me warnings when they see me getting off there with my bags (usually later at night in my previous trips). As a foreign looking guy walking around with luggage, you stand out as a possible target.

That section of town has pickpockets working and the occasional mugging. While I would never walk 20 blocks with my luggage in that part of Bogota, I am comfortable standing there a few seconds and then jumping into a taxi.

I wouldn't recommend Barrio Sante Fe at night by yourself for the uninitiated. Too easy a target.

Bogota has plenty of security (police/military) around, but that doesn't translate exactly into safety. Keep your guard up at all times for pickpokets, and petty criminals, at the least. Be vigilant with taxis. You should be fine solo in Zona Rosa and Parque 93. Venturing down to Chapinero and/or Sante Fe at night, all bets are off, security or not.

[QUOTE=Phunluv]Will be in Bogota this Saturday for about a week. I've got mostly non-pro action lined up, but if someone's interested in teaming up for safety reasons to check out the evening action in Sante Fe, I might go for that. Have heard/read too many scary stories about this city, so I seriously doubt I'll do any solo exploration in the nighttime, unless it's one of the well known "upscale" places.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Monger#77]I plan on traveling with a single backpack. One bag, strapped to my back.

Would that be safer?[/QUOTE]

No, bad idea, there is no easier way to spot a tourist as a backpack, take a regular discrete bag instead. Never walk around with luggage, you are an easy target. The rule is as soon as you arrive in a city, jump into the first taxi to bring you at a safe hotel and leave everything in it, especially your valuable in a safetybox. After, you dress as anyone else in the street without anything else in your pocket than cash money and photocopy of passport.

I dunno if I'd describe Bogota as 'safe' ... there are more dangerous cities on Earth, and by far, but you still have to watch your back there.

The ZR and the 93 have MORE robberies than Santa Fe, or just about any other neighborhood in the city.

[url]http://www.laneros.com/showthread.php?t=95559[/url] if you can read Spanish..

PLEASE don't give out misinformation on this site by going off half-cocked.

The best rate I found in this city is $1950 Colombianos for $1 US. I found this rate at the hotel I stayed at - la Boehme in the Zona Rosa. It is in front of the Andino Plaza. I am not sure if they will exchange money with non-hotel guests. Take your passport just in case they ask for ID. The exchange rate in Cartagena was $1600 CO/$1 US.

I just got back. Bogota was great!!

A long time ago I used to live in a decent residence near Calle 37, Carrera 15. I'm curious as to the character of the area now?

Regards,

It's mostly Estrato 4, back in the 60s? 70s? or before it used to be 6 and very frou-frou. Now it's much more bohemian. Great restaurants, the houses are still beautiful, it's REASONABLY safe.

When I first decided I was going to move to BOG I wanted to live in that area, there or Galerias. But my gf wasn't wild about it, and I decided on my own as well that I just didn't want another house or old apartment with shit always breaking, not to mention buying pre-construction is SUCH a good deal down there with prices going up and up.

[QUOTE=Ironicwry]I read in a couple of pages here about a high end club called Lorimai in Bogota. Does anyone know its exact name or address. Would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Jerry[/QUOTE]It's actually "La Forty-Nine" although Colombians of course mangle their english so it sounds like "lorinai". For some reason, using english words for clubs, bars, and other stores has become very common in Colombia, especially Bogota.

As you can probably guess from the name, it's on Calle 49 and Carrera 13. This is a MUST in your Bog itinerary, I even had a nice chicken soup at 4 in the morning and I really felt like the people who work here were looking out for me, although you are expected to tip even the cleaning lady who prepares the room, so bring some small bills as well. If you need to take some money out of an ATM, club security will accompany you but you'll have to tip them as well. However, you can even pay by credit card although the girls of course, prefer cash.

The rooms were okay, but I didn't like the fact there was only one small towel for me and the girl, no toilet paper, no hot water. Still, you should check it out at least once if only to admire the eye candy, of which there is plenty.

One last warning: Cra 13 is dangerous after dark (actually you can say that of most of Bog) so be sure to take a taxi right to the door and leave the same way. And calling for one is safer than hailing one down. You can ask security at the club to get you a "taxista de confianza" (a driver you can trust).

There are two clubs right next to each other. It's worth taking a minute to read my post that I wrote last time around about how to tell them apart.

[QUOTE=Bango Cheito]It's mostly Estrato 4, back in the 60s? 70s? or before it used to be 6 and very frou-frou. Now it's much more bohemian. Great restaurants, the houses are still beautiful, it's REASONABLY safe. [/QUOTE]

Interesting -it had already started to decline circa 1970. Rojas Pinilla (ex-dictator) lived just around the corner. El Campo was on the edge of town and more upmarket.

Thanks

Phun, good advice, I haven't been there yet but I'll make a point of going someday. Next time the gf and I go out it will be to a bona fide swingers club though :P, maybe the time after that. And yes that area is definitely really high in robberies, you have to be extra careful there.

Dust, I heard they had that famous murder of a famous journalist there some years back, after that, they put the law where all the people on motorcycles had to wear those faggy vests with their license plate #'s on them.

Where is the best place to exchange us dollars for pesos?

Thanks

Mel