Airport Money Exchange and Transport into town info- FYI
MONEY EXCHANGE: As you are exiting customs, even before you enter the general public area (where people are holding signs, waiting for arrival loved ones) there is a very rip off Cambio on the right. If you pass through the crowd of awaiting public and shoot up the stairway 50 yrds ahead there is another Cambio offering the exact same exchange rate as the best I was able to find in Poblado. I learned this my last trip and thus felt safe exchanging a significant amount of dollars, saving me the hassle of doing this the following morning. (1, 940 COP / USD) Cambios require a passport and not just photocopy. Later in my trip I tried in vain to exchange more $$ USD with photocopy-nada. This is another reason to do it at the airport as you have your passport with you.
TRANSPORT into city:
Outside the door (back down one flight at arrival level) I picked up a 8, 000 peso bus to San Diego district and then took another 8, 000 p taxi to Mansion- this is very simple and safe. There really is no need to have 70, 000 peso private car waiting for you.
What's best way to get taxi from San Diego district to Mansion?
Very useful info. Thanks for sharing. Hey after you took bus to San Diego district, How does that work getting / calling a taxi from there to take you to the Mansion? Are taxistas just sitting around bus station? & are they all pretty safe, honest taxistas? Appreciate it big time.
[QUOTE=TroyBoy; 1491369]MONEY EXCHANGE: As you are exiting customs, even before you enter the general public area (where people are holding signs, waiting for arrival loved ones) there is a very rip off Cambio on the right. If you pass through the crowd of awaiting public and shoot up the stairway 50 yrds ahead there is another Cambio offering the exact same exchange rate as the best I was able to find in Poblado. I learned this my last trip and thus felt safe exchanging a significant amount of dollars, saving me the hassle of doing this the following morning. (1, 940 COP / USD) Cambios require a passport and not just photocopy. Later in my trip I tried in vain to exchange more $$ USD with photocopy-nada. This is another reason to do it at the airport as you have your passport with you.
TRANSPORT into city:
Outside the door (back down one flight at arrival level) I picked up a 8, 000 peso bus to San Diego district and then took another 8, 000 p taxi to Mansion- this is very simple and safe. There really is no need to have 70, 000 peso private car waiting for you.[/QUOTE]
5 photos
Airport / Transport Safety- taxis from San Diego to Manision:
[QUOTE=SirAssAlot;1491389]Very useful info. Thanks for sharing. Hey after you took bus to San Diego district, How does that work getting / calling a taxi from there to take you to the Mansion? Are taxistas just sitting around bus station? & are they all pretty safe, honest taxistas? Appreciate it big time.[/QUOTE]The international airport is located about 45 minutes up into the mountains which that alone keeps the lowlife street scum away as opposed to what one may find in say Manila. I have always felt safe in all areas around the terminal. There is also a very strong narco-terrorist police presence. No one is likely to be screwing with you. These commuter buses into town are one of the main methods of transport. You will be riding next to typical middle class Colombiana. The fares are posted and no rip-off. Here are a few pictures from a previous trip of the bus you will look for. They seat about 18 and usually fill up and depart every 15 minutes. (these pics were 2010-fare is now 8, 000 cop not 6, 500)
There are two destinations these buses go to. If you are staying at the Mansion / Poblado you will want the bus that stops in district: SAN DIEGO All you need to do is ask the gentleman loading the bus: "Para en San Deigo?" and he will either nod yes or point you to the correct bus. Once I did get on the wrong bus and ended up somewhere near the Stadium I think. I just grabbed a taxi and took it to: "Poblado- cerca Mall Oviedo"
In San Diego district the bus will stop and a large % of the passengers will disembark. There will be about 8 taxis waiting to pick up people and take them to whatever destination they choose. Medellin taxis in general are just very honest. Here, however, is probably the most dangerous point in this transport process. There often are "helpers" trying to make a dollar carrying your bag to a taxi. I have never encountered anything like I did at the Manila bus terminal. Usually you can just say "no gracias" and they will not bother you. Then walk to the line of waiting taxis. Some common sense safety considerations:
1. No Bling jewelry. I wear a cheap watch with rubber wrist band and leave my good CITIZEN watch with gold band in my bag.
2. I do separate my money into 3-4 locations.
3. I take a careful look at the taxi driver just to get a 'feel' for his personality. I feel much better with an older gentleman than a young punk who speaks perfect English and calls me "friend"
4. I do not like to put all my bags in the trunk I try to keep everything in the back seat with me. If I do have to put a bag there I will still keep my smaller carry-on bag with vital items/$ in my hands. I have never had it happen to me, but I could see a taxi driver just pull away with ALL your belongings in the trunk after I get out of the back seat. This is something I always consider with any taxi, not just Medellin.
If you speak reasonable Spanish and have the directions / address of the Mansion you should have no problem. If you speak poor Spanish and have stayed at the Mansion before and understand how to get there once you are on Avenida Poblado- You should still have no problems. Just hop in a taxi and say: "Poblado porfavor-cerca Mall Olviedo"- he will then go down Avenida Poblado and then when you are near the Mansion you can just point where you need to go. He probably will NOT know "Mansion or Medellin Plaza 1". You will have to understand the crazy route by OFFICE DEPOT up the hill past HARD ROCK then left over to Loma Alejandrias. Another option would be for you to have a business care from Medellin Plaza 1 printed which clearly shows the directions.
If you have never been to Medellin before and do not speak any Spanish- spend the 70, 000 cop and have a car waiting for you. Get your bearing this trip and then next trip do as the locals do. If I have an early morning arrival I grab a cup of coffee and pastre and enjoy the ambiance of being in paradise- on the cheap.
