General Info

[QUOTE=Artful; 1166155]Hi.

Has anyone got any recommendations for inexpensive ways for this journey by air? Aviance are wanting $650, 000 which seems a bit pricey. Aires don't have direct flights any more, I think they may have had in the past but not now. Any suggestions appreciated.

A[/QUOTE]Is that the phone or internet price? Try walking into a travel agent or dedicated airline office and paying cash rather then online or on the phone. You will be for sure be stuck with gringo pricing on the phone or online. Like an additional 33 percent. Also last minute buying makes tickets very expensive. When all else fails? Catch a Boliviano Bus at night, wake up in MDE.

That price came from the internet and from an Avianca office at the airport. Will try a travel agent too. Thanks.

[QUOTE=MiamiHeatLuver;1166169]Is that the phone or internet price? Try walking into a travel agent or dedicated airline office and paying cash rather then online or on the phone. You will be for sure be stuck with gringo pricing on the phone or online. Like an additional 33. Also last minute buying makes tickets very expensive. When all else fails? Catch a Boliviano Bus at night, wake up in MDE.[/QUOTE]

I am asking about Cartagena to Medellin.

[QUOTE=Caliguy 2010;1166168]Where are you coming from? Spirit air and American. Expedia Orbitz also good picks.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Artful;1166171]I am asking about Cartagena to Medellin.[/QUOTE]Sorry my bad, thought it said ctg or Mde. Yeah Miamiheatlver is right catch the luxury bus and wake up in mde.

This sounds like it could be a fun excursion. Does anyone have more info on these buses? Where to find one? How much from MDE to CTG? To BOG? Level of comfort? Number of buses that drive off a cliff per year?

[QUOTE=MiamiHeatLuver;1166169]Is that the phone or internet price? Try walking into a travel agent or dedicated airline office and paying cash rather then online or on the phone. You will be for sure be stuck with gringo pricing on the phone or online. Like an additional 33 percent. Also last minute buying makes tickets very expensive. When all else fails? Catch a Boliviano Bus at night, wake up in MDE.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Artful; 1166155]Hi.

Has anyone got any recommendations for inexpensive ways for this journey by air? Aviance are wanting $650, 000 which seems a bit pricey. Aires don't have direct flights any more, I think they may have had in the past but not now. Any suggestions appreciated.

A[/QUOTE]Where are you getting this quote from? Online, Avianca's website. I've seen as low as 156k one way. People tell me the cheapest is to pay cash at the counter. I'm just wondering whether you buy it at the counter the day of the flight (right before) or a couple of days in advance. Any one know?

[QUOTE=Hasideas Tao;1166475] Number of buses that drive off a cliff per year?[/QUOTE]Maybe just yours, I wouldn't risk it! Hey, no pain no gain.

[QUOTE=Hasideas Tao;1166475]This sounds like it could be a fun excursion. Does anyone have more info on these buses? Where to find one? How much from MDE to CTG? To BOG? Level of comfort? Number of buses that drive off a cliff per year?[/QUOTE]It's BOLIVARIANO. And it takes about 8 hours. It's much more comfortable than your typical Greyhound, the seats recline quite a ways and you can sleep on them. I ususally take some Mareol as it totally gets rid of the motion sickness and helps you sleep.

[QUOTE=Hioctane;1166486]Where are you getting this quote from? Online, Avianca's website. I've seen as low as 156k one way. People tell me the cheapest is to pay cash at the counter. I'm just wondering whether you buy it at the counter the day of the flight (right before) or a couple of days in advance. Any one know?[/QUOTE]Last time I went from MDE to CTG it cost me about 160K one way. I bought it at the counter at one of the shopping stores about 5 days in advance. I have a Avianca card so I got miles for it.

Anyone coming to Medellin from July 29th-Aug 7th and wanting to get in on the fun of Feria de Las Flores will like this.

A buddy is coordinating a tent along the horse parade (eye candy beyond imagination) for up to about 100 people He can even arrange for you ride in the parade if you want to. I did last year and it was a blast.

Lastly, he has multiple chiva rides of about 4 hours duration. It is essentially a party bus full of people drinking and partying winding up at Mangos or some other disco to continue the festivities.

If interested, contact him directly (His gig, not mine).

Good guy and speaks English very well.

[email]curibe99@yahoo.com[/email]

[QUOTE=Yujin; 1146467]I'd also add.."don't get drunk or stone."

I somewhat enjoyed the Santa Fe area. I never went into the strip clubs. Instead, I'd frequent the many casas. It was an adventure walking down the different streets checking out the girls in the doorways. There were many gorditas wearing too much make-up, but sometimes there was a gem.

I normally went to Santa Fe around 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM, but I preferred to go there during the daylight hours. Sometimes I'd hang around near the Calle 22 TransMilenio station and watch the chicas arrive. If I saw someone that I'd like, I'd follow her to her casa. [/QUOTE]I would not recommend this place for a newbie as it is famous for being the most dangerous part of Bogota. I drove by the place in a cab in March. The driver couldn't wait to get out of there. I had never been there before. My buddies down there confirmed that, that is not the place to fuck around. There is a strip club in the international center. Get your rocks off for $10.

[QUOTE=Hillbilly69; 1160248]I have watched Spirit Fares since they launched, [ anyone notice no more Barraquilla flights? ], it seems about 10 days out to two weeks from the current time the fares are the cheapest.

Cartagena is about 525 from my destination two weeks from now, Medellin slightly higher. [/QUOTE]I just priced a RT Spirit ticket to CTG from FLL and it was over $600 now (before adding bag fees and reserving a seat). Man, for the past 3 years I've typically paid anywhere from $180 to $330 all-in. During 2008 and 2009 they offered great fares because they were building the route after starting it up in May 2008. During 2010 they had to keep their fares low to combat Aries low introductory fares when they entered the market.

I guess Aries couldn't turn a profit on the direct FLL to CTG route, because they canceled it quite awhile back. Sure wish Aries had stuck around longer with their direct service and low fare fight.

Well, guess it's best to use up the rest of the frequent flyer miles. I used up most of them for the Christmas trip I took 'cause I didn't want to pay those "high season" fares. Since I ain't too keen on these $600+ prices now, I'm going to need to use up pretty much what's left.

Those days of $200 to $300 RT all-in fares sure were nice and a feller could justify a short 4-day weekend trip, etc. With today's prices coming-in near $700 bucks after paying for bags and seats, they won't see me until I have the time to do a 10 to 14 day trip. Just can't see paying $700+ for a long weekend trip. Oh well, guess I better use up those miles before they expire.

Think I'll look into that new route Spirit just opened up with low fares-San Salvador, LOL. Anyone up for a newbie trip to San Salvador?

[QUOTE=Hilltopper; 1167292]I just priced a RT Spirit ticket to CTG from FLL and it was over $600 now (before adding bag fees and reserving a seat). Man, for the past 3 years I've typically paid anywhere from $180 to $330 all-in. During 2008 and 2009 they offered great fares because they were building the route after starting it up in May 2008. During 2010 they had to keep their fares low to combat Aries low introductory fares when they entered the market.

I guess Aries couldn't turn a profit on the direct FLL to CTG route, because they canceled it quite awhile back. Sure wish Aries had stuck around longer with their direct service and low fare fight.

Well, guess it's best to use up the rest of the frequent flyer miles. I used up most of them for the Christmas trip I took 'cause I didn't want to pay those "high season" fares. Since I ain't too keen on these $600+ prices now, I'm going to need to use up pretty much what's left.

Those days of $200 to $300 RT all-in fares sure were nice and a feller could justify a short 4-day weekend trip, etc. With today's prices coming-in near $700 bucks after paying for bags and seats, they won't see me until I have the time to do a 10 to 14 day trip. Just can't see paying $700+ for a long weekend trip. Oh well, guess I better use up those miles before they expire.

Think I'll look into that new route Spirit just opened up with low fares-San Salvador, LOL. Anyone up for a newbie trip to San Salvador? [/QUOTE]The next more reasonable flights on Spirit are after Labor day. What is starting to burn me up is we all know the fares went up when oil hit around $110 a barrel. Last I looked it was $94 a barrel, but those fucks won't lower the fares even a little. You hit the nail on the head as far as Aires was the key to keeping Spirit fares in line. I remember when they started charging for bags and even carry ons they siad it was going to keep theirs fares low. Yeah right.

If I have to wait till Sept. For a trip I may have to hang up as I won't touch a Gringa with a ten foot pole.

[QUOTE=John Gault; 1167308]The next more reasonable flights on Spirit are after Labor day. What is starting to burn me up is we all know the fares went up when oil hit around $110 a barrel. Last I looked it was $94 a barrel, but those fucks won't lower the fares even a little. You hit the nail on the head as far as Aires was the key to keeping Spirit fares in line. I remember when they started charging for bags and even carry ons they siad it was going to keep theirs fares low. Yeah right.

If I have to wait till Sept. For a trip I may have to hang up as I won't touch a Gringa with a ten foot pole. [/QUOTE]

I hear ya. I did go out to Sept and Oct and saw the better fares (still higher than we were able to get them for the past 3 years). I also saw where they backed off to only two days a week during those months (or maybe that was only Oct). Seems like in the past they always had at least 3 flights a week in Sept and Oct.

As you say, not sure I want to hold off until Sept or Oct either, LOL. Plus, did you notice that Spirit also changed their expiration policy for the FF miles? I figure I better go ahead and use them while I still have some left and that will get me there in Aug without having to pay the premium prices.

Hey, have you ever been to San Salvador or know anything about it? LOL.

So as I mentioned briefly in a previous post I was startig a small business in Colombia. I just had some money wired via western union. It is a complete rip off. The dollar is at 1780 approx. So if they sent 500 k I was maybe expecting 280 USD minus a fee. Instead I received 243 which means they sold me the dollar at 2075 k per dollar approx. What a rip off.