General Info

[QUOTE=Hioctane]I've never been to Cali, but maybe it's more dangerous at night? In Medellin, I have yet to meet a girl that didn't want to go to dinner and dancing. They do flake though and are always tardy.

Medellin is more traveled, but aside from the gringo hot spots. Parque Lleras and Fase Dos. You're not going to see many gringos.[/QUOTE]Cali is a fun city too. Was actually my main hangout for a couple years and was the hot spot in Colombia for gringos before Medellin cleaned it's image and was discovered by gringos.

Plenty of chicas to meet and take out in Cali too, but as HILLTOPPER posted nicely a few posts back, it's best to make contacts and friendships before arriving (goes for any city you visit), otherwise you may be spinning wheels for a bit.

Building trust with non-pros generally takes time and patience.

I think lots of guys have the misconception that they'll simply arrive in Colombia and non-pro chicas will just jump at them.

Like I said, in reality it takes time, patience and of course some luck, at least for me anyway.

I like mixing it up with both the pros and non-pros. Keeps things fun and hopping. Just have to keep 'em seperate

Good luck! :)

I have planned a 16 day stay in Colombia, I was thinking along the lines of 2 days Bogota, 8 days Cartagena and 6 days Medellin. Any ideas from veterans on adjusting that?

Things are pretty dead on the Colombia forum lately. I am bored waiting for my next trip to MDE so I am going to mention some of my favorite places in Colombia and maybe that will drum up some interest.

In CTG. LDV and Isis I like. The venders, the heat and the high prices in general I don't like.

In Cali I like to get a good taxi driver to take me to all the Casa's that I would never find on my own. Also like all the different colors of the Chica's.

I don't like the heat and the city is a little to spread out for me.

In BAQ I like Siglo 21 and the hotel Continental, Also the Casino's have the best black jack rules I have ever seen. They let you surrender and also double down after you split aces. I don't like the heat and it is a little more expensive for P4P than MDE.

In Santa Marta The beach is way better than CTG. There is a great resturant on top of the mountain overlooking Rodadero Beach. It is called

Burukuka. I don't mind the heat since I spend a lot of time in the water. Parke Tarone (sic) is also great to C.

P4P is about the same prices as BAQ but not as good a selection of talent.

San Andres is great to take that one special Chica you really want to impress.

MDE has the best weather, Chica prices, and the Metro is also good. I rarely take a taxi once I am in place. My normal day there is Casa trips in the late afternoon, Strip clubs in Centro early evening, and Mayorista late night. I even grab a bite to eat in between all the action. As far as what I don't like, I guess the time when I have to go back to New Jersey.

I'm happy to report that the two boxes I shipped with Avianca Express arrived un-dinged, un-opened and un-damaged, about a week and a half after I left them off. If I had known about the dimensions restrictions, it would have been much cheaper.

I came down on a Pensionada Visa last April. It's now expired, and DAS in Pereira tells me that I have to go to the Minesterio de Relaciones Exteriores in Bogota to petetion for the next increment. Does anyone know what documents I need, or if there is a website I can download them from?

Thanks,

El Minetero

[QUOTE=Borisut]I have planned a 16 day stay in Colombia, I was thinking along the lines of 2 days Bogota, 8 days Cartagena and 6 days Medellin. Any ideas from veterans on adjusting that?[/QUOTE]Personally I would eliminate Bogota and do 6 days CTG and 10 days MDE,CTG is a whole helluva lot more expensive than MDE in case you didn't already know.

Spirit is considered a cheap flight, but God forbid you change your flight dates. Instead of the normal $100 change fee, basically you get a colonoscopy. My $500 flight is now just shy of $1, 000, for no good reason except a date change. I hope I don't have to change again!

[quote=chesrep001]spirit is considered a cheap flight, but god forbid you change your flight dates. instead of the normal $100 change fee, basically you get a colonoscopy. my $500 flight is now just shy of $1, 000, for no good reason except a date change. i hope i don't have to change again![/quote]starting aug. 1st they will be charging a fee for carry on luggage. for me it is really bad since i book the two flights that i need to get to colombia separate as it is usally cheaper that way.

[QUOTE=Borisut]I have planned a 16 day stay in Colombia, I was thinking along the lines of 2 days Bogota, 8 days Cartagena and 6 days Medellin. Any ideas from veterans on adjusting that?[/QUOTE]My suggestion is 3 days in Bogota, 5 days in Cartagena and 8 days in Medellin.

There's a few siteseeing places in Bogota, like taking the funicular to Montserrat etc. plus cases and the Santa Fe district.

I love 'old town' in Cartagena and the beach areas like Laguito, which are pretty safe. But the sexo scene is expensive.

Medellin has the good weather, clean water and a great Metro system. But the sexo scene is the best in So. America. Prices, availability, and variety is great.

[quote=chesrep001]spirit is considered a cheap flight, but god forbid you change your flight dates. instead of the normal $100 change fee, basically you get a colonoscopy. my $500 flight is now just shy of $1, 000, for no good reason except a date change. i hope i don't have to change again![/quote]i just did the fll. ctg rountrip and have booked another trip for next month. each time the fare was $40 each way, and with usa and col fees, the roundtrip ticket cost was around $230. i paid $19 each way for a checked bag, and $7 each way for a snack and drink. that's $282 for an international rountrip flight, of which only $132 went to spirit. what's not cheap about that?

i've flown spirit to colombia around 20 times, so of course there have been a couple of occasions that i've changed my flight dates. it was a $100 change fee, plus any fare differential. so i always made sure to catch the same fare sale to match the cost of the original ticket so that the only charge was the $100 change fee.

for me, spirit is great, but i always buy when they are having a sale-which is quite frequently. the most i've ever paid was just less than $400, and that included the additional cost of flying in a choice seat.

when you subtract out the gov't fees, etc., and just look at what spirit is charging, it would be hard not to concur that they are low-cost carrier.

i know there are different strokes for different folks, as a buddy of mine almost always pays more for his spirit flights. why? because he doesn't look for or wait on the fare sales. when he's ready to go, he gets online a books a ticket that day. me, i'm checking their site constantly for fare sales and only booking trips at those times. with as frequently as i go, i like saving the $100+ difference between a promotional price and a regular fare.

[QUOTE=Vics Picks]Starting Aug. 1st they will be charging a fee for carry on luggage. For me it is really bad since I book the two flights that I need to get to Colombia separate as it is usally cheaper that way.[/QUOTE]Hello, Vic,

I hope all is well your way. We've met before in CTG and I enjoyed the conversation and consider you one of the "good guys" I've met on my travels to Colombia.

I have a different take on Spirit's decision to start charging for carry-on baggage. I'm very happy that they are going to do such and hope it puts a major dent in the number of people who want to bring their "luggage" as a carry-on. Over the last 15+ years this whole carry-on thing has gotten way out of hand. I'm one of those travellers who still flys the old traditional way-you check your "luggage" and your only carry-on is either a briefcase or laptop (and a couple of bottle of tequila purchased at the duty-free store).

Boarding and de-planing times are out of hand due to the volume of people who bring their luggage as a carry-on. On-board safety for flight attendants has deterioted with the large size and sheer number of carry-ons. People are in the aisles cramin' and jamin' their luggage in, some aren't strong enough or tall enough to handle what they have. It's damn ridiculous what people want to bring as a carry-on. Hell, for a person like me who actually only brings a laptop bag on board along with a couple of bottles, if I don't board the plane early, I run the risk of there not being any overhead space due to all the people who don't check their "luggage".

The change was long overdue and is a result of abuse of the original carry-on system by passengers. I say "bravo" Spirit and hope that the other airlines follow. If a person wants the convenience of not having to wait for their "luggage" at the baggage carousel, then make them pay a premium for such a privilege. And make it more expensive that what a person pays who checks their luggage into the belly of the plane!

There won't be a charge for a true carry-on, such as a laptop, briefcase, purse, etc. Maybe now we can go back to having a little sanity in the boarding and de-planing process.

Brazil official urges more sex for better health

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Bandy

[QUOTE=Hilltopper]Hello, Vic,

I hope all is well your way. We've met before in CTG and I enjoyed the conversation and consider you one of the "good guys" I've met on my travels to Colombia.

I have a different take on Spirit's decision to start charging for carry-on baggage. I'm very happy that they are going to do such and hope it puts a major dent in the number of people who want to bring their "luggage" as a carry-on. Over the last 15+ years this whole carry-on thing has gotten way out of hand. I'm one of those travellers who still flys the old traditional way-you check your "luggage" and your only carry-on is either a briefcase or laptop (and a couple of bottle of tequila purchased at the duty-free store).

Boarding and de-planing times are out of hand due to the volume of people who bring their luggage as a carry-on. On-board safety for flight attendants has deterioted with the large size and sheer number of carry-ons. People are in the aisles cramin' and jamin' their luggage in, some aren't strong enough or tall enough to handle what they have. It's damn ridiculous what people want to bring as a carry-on. Hell, for a person like me who actually only brings a laptop bag on board along with a couple of bottles, if I don't board the plane early, I run the risk of there not being any overhead space due to all the people who don't check their "luggage".

The change was long overdue and is a result of abuse of the original carry-on system by passengers. I say "bravo" Spirit and hope that the other airlines follow. If a person wants the convenience of not having to wait for their "luggage" at the baggage carousel, then make them pay a premium for such a privilege. And make it more expensive that what a person pays who checks their luggage into the belly of the plane!

There won't be a charge for a true carry-on, such as a laptop, briefcase, purse, etc. Maybe now we can go back to having a little sanity in the boarding and de-planing process.[/QUOTE]I couldn't agree more, it's about time. I get so pissed at the idiots that put their suitcases in the overhead sideways two seconds after they tell you over the intercom to please put your wheeled suitcases in WHEELS FIRST so they can accomodate more luggage.

[QUOTE=Hilltopper]Hello, Vic,

I hope all is well your way. We've met before in CTG and I enjoyed the conversation and consider you one of the "good guys" I've met on my travels to Colombia.

I have a different take on Spirit's decision to start charging for carry-on baggage. I'm very happy that they are going to do such and hope it puts a major dent in the number of people who want to bring their "luggage" as a carry-on. Over the last 15+ years this whole carry-on thing has gotten way out of hand. I'm one of those travellers who still flys the old traditional way-you check your "luggage" and your only carry-on is either a briefcase or laptop (and a couple of bottle of tequila purchased at the duty-free store).

Boarding and de-planing times are out of hand due to the volume of people who bring their luggage as a carry-on. On-board safety for flight attendants has deterioted with the large size and sheer number of carry-ons. People are in the aisles cramin' and jamin' their luggage in, some aren't strong enough or tall enough to handle what they have. It's damn ridiculous what people want to bring as a carry-on. Hell, for a person like me who actually only brings a laptop bag on board along with a couple of bottles, if I don't board the plane early, I run the risk of there not being any overhead space due to all the people who don't check their "luggage".

The change was long overdue and is a result of abuse of the original carry-on system by passengers. I say "bravo" Spirit and hope that the other airlines follow. If a person wants the convenience of not having to wait for their "luggage" at the baggage carousel, then make them pay a premium for such a privilege. And make it more expensive that what a person pays who checks their luggage into the belly of the plane!

There won't be a charge for a true carry-on, such as a laptop, briefcase, purse, etc. Maybe now we can go back to having a little sanity in the boarding and de-planing process.[/QUOTE]The problem I have with this that this is that this is the equivalent of an additional tax. Because luggage of some kind is necessary for any trip.

If the true problem is abuse of carryon and not a case of the airline trying to nickle and dime you to try to make more money, there are alternate solutions:

1) Free check-in bag

2) Strictly enforce the size and weight of a carry-on.

I think this will make everyone happy rather than charging for both and using lower fares to deceive customers.

[QUOTE=Hioctane]The problem I have with this that this is that this is the equivalent of an additional tax. Because luggage of some kind is necessary for any trip.

If the true problem is abuse of carryon and not a case of the airline trying to nickle and dime you to try to make more money, there are alternate solutions:

1) Free check-in bag

2) Strictly enforce the size and weight of a carry-on.

I think this will make everyone happy rather than charging for both and using lower fares to deceive customers.[/QUOTE]With all due respect, I fail to see any deception by Spirit. For example, they have announced over 3 months in advance that they are going to start charging people for carry-on baggage, but that there is still no fee for a true carry-on personal item such as a laptop, briefcase, purse, etc. They've given the reasons for the change, how much they are going to charge, etc.

As someone who has flown them 20+ times to Colombia since they opened their first route in May of 2008, I can tell you with confidence that the reasons they've provided for making the change are not bogus.

I like the having the a la carte options and don't view it as nickling and diming me. If I want a drink or a snack, then I'm happy to pay for it as opposed to it being built into the fare price. If I want to check one or two bags, then I'll pay for it as I so choose. If I now want the convenience of not waiting at the baggage carousel for my luggage, I'll pay for that privilege by paying to have carry-on luggage instead of checking it into the belly of the plan.

With Spirit I have options and only pay for what I want and what suits my travel style. I like that.

Here's an actual example of my trip booked for May (FLL to CTG and back):

Fare: $40 each way

Non-airline gov't/sec fees: $141. 70 for roundtrip

1 checked bag: $19 each way

Add snack and beverage that I'll buy: $7 each way

Total cost: $273. 70, of which $132 goes to Spirit.

I get to make the choices I want and pay only for those choices. I get to customize the trip just for me based on my needs and wants. I end-up taking an international flight that includes a checked bag, a snack and a drink all for $132 charged by Spirit. I sure as hell don't feel nickled and dimed or deceived. It's all right there on their website for me to understand and make my choices-to tailor the trip just the way I like it.

If I want a big front seat, I will happily pay for it. If I want an exit row seat, I will happily pay for it, etc., etc. If I want to not pay for a choice seat and just show-up at the airport to request an aisle seat, then I'll check-in early to improve my chances.

However one cuts it, IMO, I still end-up with a helluva deal from Spirit to fly a direct flight to my favorite destination. $132 to the airline for a roundtrip, non-stop, international flight that includes a checked bag, a snack and a drink.

[QUOTE=Hilltopper]Here's an actual example of my trip booked for May (FLL to CTG and back):

Fare: $40 each way

Non-airline gov't/sec fees: $141. 70 for roundtrip

1 checked bag: $19 each way

Add snack and beverage that I'll buy: $7 each way

Total cost: $273. 70, of which $132 goes to Spirit.[/QUOTE]All I'm saying is. A virtually unavoidable charge should be tacked onto to the cost of the flight rather than pretending to be an option. I have no problem with charging for food. I also understand why they are doing this. Price of tickets are taxed. Addons are not.

It's like going to a movie theater that charges $5 while everyone else charges $9. When you get in the door, they say another $4 if you want a seat. Sure it's optional. But are you really going to stand for 2 hours?