General Info

[QUOTE=Vics Picks]A lot has been said lately about safety in Colombia. Mostly newbes a little to lazy to read the board. I want to bring up a point on this issue that I think is being overlooked a bit. To me the number one saftey issue in So. America is getting run over on the street by the most agressive drivers I have ever seen. I walk a lot so maybe it is more apparent to me than maybe you other guys. Just the other day I looked both ways and the coast was clear to cross a street in BAQ. No sooner did I step in the street came a car around the corner. Still plenty of time for me to cross, but this Bastard steped on the gas and aimed right for me. I had to really hustle to just make it to the other side of the street. This has happened to me many time over here.

Yes sure there are bad guys to worry about, but IMHO the most pressing danger here is walking across the street. No kidding, I really mean this.[/QUOTE]Good point. I never ever walk across the street,I run across even if there are no cars in sight. When they see an obvious gringo like me it turns into a sport for them.

[QUOTE=AddictedToWomen]I would add:

# Have the hotel empty the mini bar on arrival, especially if you are planning to invite anyone back. Visit the local supermarket to stock up at a reasonable price.[/QUOTE]I just had a Chica have fun with my mini bar.

Maybe in the back of my mind I made this list up so other guys would add to it and I would pick up good intel.

I'm making plans to go to Columbia for the first time, I'm American and my Canadian friend will me meet there. We don't know more than a few dozen Spanish words.

Of course part of the trip is find girls and otherwise have fun and we want to be and feel safe. We are looking at about an 8 or 9 day trip. Would we be better off going to Cartagena or Medellin? And why? Are they about the same prices for food, drinks and ladies?

Is a bus trip or plane trip to each other reasonable?

Thanks for any info.

[QUOTE=Playing The Game]Cartagena is at least twice as expensive as Medellin for accomodations, food, entertainment, and girls. It is far and away the most expensive city in Colombia. You can plan on spending a minimum of $250.00 dollars a day not counting the cost of your accomodations if you want to party on the beach and in the bars each day/night.

I suggest you go to Medellin and stay at the Casa Blanca (Mansion or El Castillo), or stay at Franks Place, or possibly Parceros Penthouse where you will be able to communicate with many others in similar situations as you, and be around others who know the lay of the land.[/QUOTE]Thanks for the info, I'll look into staying at those places. And do some more research.

[QUOTE=Vics Picks]I just had a Chica have fun with my mini bar.

Maybe in the back of my mind I made this list up so other guys would add to it and I would pick up good intel.[/QUOTE]Vic,

You forgot to mention the monger "doosh bag" . Never leave your hotel without it.

Contents:

Alcohol Wipes
Listerine strips (enough for two)
Condoms
Hand lotion
Mouth Wash
Gum
* Pen and Paper (can't stress this enough)
A city map
Roll on fragrance oil
Smokes/ Lighter

I would add to this almond oil, best lubrication on the planet!

[QUOTE=Artisttyp]Vic,

You forgot to mention the monger "doosh bag" . Never leave your hotel without it.

Contents:

Alcohol Wipes
Listerine strips (enough for two)
Condoms
Hand lotion
Mouth Wash
Gum
* Pen and Paper (can't stress this enough)
A city map
Roll on fragrance oil
Smokes/ Lighter[/QUOTE]

Hi Guys,

Just got back in to Bucuramanga and looking for any current info. Going to be here for a week para gliding and would like to have some fun and prefer casa as my spanish is pretty bad.

in San Gil if you go do stay at Hotel Victoria. Stayed there last year and again this week. Great rates and nice people

last year the suite with fully stocked bar, AC, cable and dvd ect $40mil

This week took a private without AC but had nice small room with cable ect $20mil a night. It's less then the back packers are paying in some of the dorms there. i figure they don't need to know. Why screw it up for the rest of us.

Was talking with a local friend yesterday and he told me they just opened up a new casa bar just out of down. it's across the river hang a left and one kick out of town. Taxi should be able to get you there. I had also been told before there where a few casa's out that way along the river.

Happy hunting,

Sky

Just reading thru the last cpl weeks of Post.

Want to confirm I was also just told by a local and an expat I know living here that things are a little hot between Cali and the Border of Ecuador.

They both said by NO MEANS travel at Night at this time in those areas.

Happy hunting,

Sky

[QUOTE=Vics Picks]I just had a Chica have fun with my mini bar.[/QUOTE]That'll cost ya more that the fucking!

[QUOTE=Gagoo]I'm making plans to go to Columbia for the first time, I'm American and my Canadian friend will me meet there. We don't know more than a few dozen Spanish words.

Of course part of the trip is find girls and otherwise have fun and we want to be and feel safe. We are looking at about an 8 or 9 day trip. Would we be better off going to Cartagena or Medellin? And why? Are they about the same prices for food, drinks and ladies?

Is a bus trip or plane trip to each other reasonable?

Thanks for any info.[/QUOTE]I'm not trying to deter you from visiting Colombia, but you may want to delay your visit until you've enchanced you language skills at the very least. I've been to 6 different cities in the country and I am in love with the chicas, culture, cuisine, and music of the country. I am Colombia's biggest fan, but I am fully aware of risks I take with every visit. While me and my two traveling buddies always take precautions (dress down, no jewelry, minimal English when on the streets at night, etc.), even the most savy and street smart traveler can find himself in a dangerous situation in this country. Anyone who says the country is safe is either not well informed or is seriously over confident. My last trip I met an expat who was robbed at gunpoint in Parque Lleras at 7pm on a busy street. One of my good friends from grad. School, a Paisita that studied in the USA, told me that most of the people in her family have been robbed. Her dad travels with a bodyguard in an armored car at all times. She told me I was crazy when I told her I go to El Centro and she cussed me out for telling her I was going to Comuna 13. Granted her family has money, but when rateros see gringos. They see plata. If you're speaking English you might as well be a wealthy Colombian businessman.

I would highly recommend that you visit the DR, Costa Rica or even Lima prior to Colombia. Speaking only a few dozen words of Spanish is not going to get it done in MDE, Cali or BAQ. You would probably be ok in CTG, but I would definitely recommend getting some experience in another LA destination first if you already haven't done so. If you decide to go. Do not under any circumstances take a bus between MDE and CTG. Any Colombian that can afford to pay for the flight will fly. Aires has very reasonable flights between the two cities, but you will have to do a BOG stop over. I have traveled by bus, but only along the coast from CTG to BAQ and Santa Marta. The trip was incident free, but extremely eye opening as to the severity of the poverty in Colombia once you head east of the Rio Magdalena in BAQ. I'm from Detroit. I don't scare easily, but Colombia is not a place to take lightly.

[QUOTE=Artisttyp]Vic,

You forgot to mention the monger "doosh bag" . Never leave your hotel without it.

Contents:

Alcohol Wipes
Listerine strips (enough for two)
Condoms
Hand lotion
Mouth Wash
Gum
* Pen and Paper (can't stress this enough)
A city map
Roll on fragrance oil
Smokes/ Lighter[/QUOTE]Aha, the alcohol wipes. You may have to explain that one to some of our newer friends.

[QUOTE=Blackknight]I'm not trying to deter you from visiting Colombia, but you may want to delay your visit until you've enchanced you language skills at the very least. I've been to 6 different cities in the country and I am in love with the chicas, culture, cuisine, and music of the country. I am Colombia's biggest fan, but I am fully aware of risks I take with every visit. While me and my two traveling buddies always take precautions (dress down, no jewelry, minimal English when on the streets at night, etc.), even the most savy and street smart traveler can find himself in a dangerous situation in this country. Anyone who says the country is safe is either not well informed or is seriously over confident. My last trip I met an expat who was robbed at gunpoint in Parque Lleras at 7pm on a busy street. One of my good friends from grad. School, a Paisita that studied in the USA, told me that most of the people in her family have been robbed. Her dad travels with a bodyguard in an armored car at all times. She told me I was crazy when I told her I go to El Centro and she cussed me out for telling her I was going to Comuna 13. Granted her family has money, but when rateros see gringos. They see plata. If you're speaking English you might as well be a wealthy Colombian businessman.

I would highly recommend that you visit the DR, Costa Rica or even Lima prior to Colombia. Speaking only a few dozen words of Spanish is not going to get it done in MDE, Cali or BAQ. You would probably be ok in CTG, but I would definitely recommend getting some experience in another LA destination first if you already haven't done so. If you decide to go. Do not under any circumstances take a bus between MDE and CTG. Any Colombian that can afford to pay for the flight will fly. Aires has very reasonable flights between the two cities, but you will have to do a BOG stop over. I have traveled by bus, but only along the coast from CTG to BAQ and Santa Marta. The trip was incident free, but extremely eye opening as to the severity of the poverty in Colombia once you head east of the Rio Magdalena in BAQ. I'm from Detroit. I don't scare easily, but Colombia is not a place to take lightly.[/QUOTE]Gagoo,

Not true. Spanish is useful, but not necessary. Go to a gringo hotel. Mansion, Frank's, Parcero's, etc. The owners are more than willing to take you around. The gringos who patron them are also more than willing to wing for a newbie. Going by bus from MDE to CTG is doable but not advisable for your first time. It's 14+ hours I think. Also, it depends on your route. Some places you don't want to pass through. You won't know what they are until you get there and talk to some locals.

This is not true at all. I Live from age 0 to 11 in Medellin from age 11 to 20 in USA now I live back in Colombia for almost 6 years and I have never been Robbed here in Colombia. My advise any country you go just keep the low profile.

[QUOTE=Blackknight]I'm not trying to deter you from visiting Colombia, but you may want to delay your visit until you've enchanced you language skills at the very least. I've been to 6 different cities in the country and I am in love with the chicas, culture, cuisine, and music of the country. I am Colombia's biggest fan, but I am fully aware of risks I take with every visit. While me and my two traveling buddies always take precautions (dress down, no jewelry, minimal English when on the streets at night, etc.), even the most savy and street smart traveler can find himself in a dangerous situation in this country. Anyone who says the country is safe is either not well informed or is seriously over confident. My last trip I met an expat who was robbed at gunpoint in Parque Lleras at 7pm on a busy street. One of my good friends from grad. School, a Paisita that studied in the USA, told me that most of the people in her family have been robbed. Her dad travels with a bodyguard in an armored car at all times. She told me I was crazy when I told her I go to El Centro and she cussed me out for telling her I was going to Comuna 13. Granted her family has money, but when rateros see gringos. They see plata. If you're speaking English you might as well be a wealthy Colombian businessman.

I would highly recommend that you visit the DR, Costa Rica or even Lima prior to Colombia. Speaking only a few dozen words of Spanish is not going to get it done in MDE, Cali or BAQ. You would probably be ok in CTG, but I would definitely recommend getting some experience in another LA destination first if you already haven't done so. If you decide to go. Do not under any circumstances take a bus between MDE and CTG. Any Colombian that can afford to pay for the flight will fly. Aires has very reasonable flights between the two cities, but you will have to do a BOG stop over. I have traveled by bus, but only along the coast from CTG to BAQ and Santa Marta. The trip was incident free, but extremely eye opening as to the severity of the poverty in Colombia once you head east of the Rio Magdalena in BAQ. I'm from Detroit. I don't scare easily, but Colombia is not a place to take lightly.[/QUOTE]

Hi guys,

I thought I would share my brief impressions of the 2 weeks I spent in Colombia in January.

I went there speaking 0 Spanish really. Spent 4 nights in Bogota banged 3 non pros.

Spent 5 nights in Cartagena. Banged 3 non pros, and had several other dates and other women lined up but didn't pan out. Mostly due to my lack of Spanish.

Spent 4 nights in Medellin, fell in love with the city and a wonderful woman there and I plan another visit soon. I did a few things I consider smart. I stayed close to home after 10 at night. I didn't talk to any Colombian men other than the ones working at my apartment building.

I kept to myself, stayed away from chicas that seemed like trouble and had the time of my life.

Now keep in mind I read almost every post here from the past 2 years before I went, so I had some idea of what not top do and where to avoid.

I also was aware that anything could happen at any time.

Looking forward to my next trip!

[QUOTE=Paisapimp]This is not true at all. I Live from age 0 to 11 in Medellin from age 11 to 20 in USA now I live back in Colombia for almost 6 years and I have never been Robbed here in Colombia. my advise any country you go just keep the low profile.[/QUOTE]I never said that everyone gets robbed. I've personally have never been robbed or threatened in Colombia. I merely stated that a good friend, a MDE native, has told me that nearly all of her immediate family has been robbed at some point in the city. I have no reason to believe that she would lie to me about this. The safety situation has improved significantly from the 90s, so maybe her view of her own city is clouded by the past. But nonetheless I am conveying what I've been told and what I have seen. I think anyone posting asking for help should be informed of the negatives and positives. I think it is completely unfair to newbies to just gloss over the very legitimate safety issues. Let people make informed decisions.

Staying at the Mansion and hanging out with other gringos would certainly mitigate the language issue, but personally I never understood why anyone would leave gringolandia on a trip just to meet other gringos and do fish in a barrel mongering. Just my opinion.