General Info

Yes I also use Chase Bank credit / debit card quite regularly in many foriegn countries, including Colombia, without encountering any problems. Also believe you receive the best exchange rate using an ATM. Scotia Banks are my favorite as they seem to allow the highest withdrawal amounts and offer (like many ATMs) the option of USD or the local currency and english or espanol. If you haven't ever used your credit or debit cards in other countries it's a very good idea to call ahead and let Cust. Service know "not" to put a hold on your account.

The only problems I've encountered in traveling with debit cards is really self induced. The 1st problem is many of the ATMs in the countries I've visited have the older style machine where you insert the card and the machine holds onto it instead of simply swiping the card. So after a couple of cerveza's and much enthusiasm to get back into whatever action I've forgotten, once or twice, to wait until the machine spits the card back out and so the machine times out and swallows the card. Also, after many trips to the HDR in San Jose and losing money at the blackjack tables I've found their USD ATM, in the main lobby, never has any dollars to dispense. I wonder why, LOL?

[QUOTE=Amb832; 1302105]I called Chase bank to let them know I will be visiting Colombia so my card won't be cut off. The lady operator told me that because of some "government restrictions" for Colombia my card may not work in all locations. Just wondering has anyone had any issues using a chase debit / credit card?

Thanks.

AMB[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Amb832; 1302105]I called Chase bank to let them know I will be visiting Colombia so my card won't be cut off. The lady operator told me that because of some "government restrictions" for Colombia my card may not work in all locations. Just wondering has anyone had any issues using a chase debit / credit card?

Thanks.

AMB[/QUOTE]I have a Chase card and have used it many times in Colombia without any problems but now I rarely use a card. I used to withdraw my money as needed from ATM's and brought with me some cash as as a backup, now I do the opposite. I bring all my expected spending money in cash and separate it into three locations once my boots are on the ground, the safe, locked in my luggage and an obscure location within my room. The reason for not using the cards very often is too many reports of card cloning and too many people getting robbed after going to an ATM in Colombia. I am not suggesting that you do this, just stating what I do. The most important thing is not to rely on just one card for your cash needs, always bring enough cash to get you by for a few days and get you home in case your cards don't work or get stolen as you will not be able to get them replaced overnight like you could in the USA.

[QUOTE=MiamiHeatLuver;1302034]But on a serious note I'm still on the waiting list to hang out with this guy just in the hopes of trying to pick up some of his table scrap women! One day si dios quire, one day! .[/QUOTE]Hey Heat, I think it's Brazil where you want to acompañarme someday.

I think you've got Colombia down, however, Brazil is a new world, most especially away from the touristy areas.

You've probably got some amigos (as) Brasileiros there in Miami, practice some Portuguese if you get the chance.

Ate logo meu amigo, jeje.

[QUOTE=Amb832;1302105]The lady operator told me that because of some "government restrictions" for Colombia my card may not work in all locations.[/QUOTE]I'm not sure about any "government restrictions," but some ATM will only work with secure chip credit cards. I had this problem at an ATM in Bogota. My credit card was rejected by the ATM. I began to panic until I noticed a small sign on the ATM. Since my Spanish isn't all that great, the sign used the word "chip" so it dawned on me that it had to refer to a secure chip credit card. I walked around until I found another bank ATM and my credit card worked.

[QUOTE=Ricker; 1302577]Hey Heat, I think it's Brazil where you want to acompañarme someday.

I think you've got Colombia down, however, Brazil is a new world, most especially away from the touristy areas.

You've probably got some amigos (as) Brasileiros there in Miami, practice some Portuguese if you get the chance.

Ate logo meu amigo, jeje.[/QUOTE]I have had Colombia down for a while bro, I'm not really into to the Brasileiras bro but more due to the fact. I'm not a big fan of traveling ling distances just to monger. I know its a whole new can of never endingunexplored worms and I know I will enjoy it to the fullest, just maybe not yet? But in the future?

I do have my Brazilian friends here and they have pushed me to go and even offered my places to stay in Rio, Sao Paolo and Recife!

As far as Portuguese goes, common bro I already have the important lingo. Gustoso, carallo, buseta, garotas. 4x4, boom boom, thats enough for now? No? Jejejejejeje LOL

Ronin, what kind of diet are you on to get the 6pack. Do you starve yourself or just workout alot.

Helpless,

A) I don't know you and don't understand your question? So it's probably fair to assume you didn't bother to read the story and / or related comments or you can't read and are only able to mentally manage looking at pictures. In either case, there's special help for people like you. Just try to keep your med's on schedule and eat a lot of soft foods.

B) Are you gay? Because that's about the fagg-iest question I've ever seen on a heterosexual forum thread. Yeah, it's prety much cowardly dikwads like you who bravely sit behind a computer keyboard and talk smack about other people (for no good reason) is partly the reason why I had never before had posted on this forum for the past couple of years. So who the fuk are you? Probably some fat azz, acne-faced dweeb who never had a girlfriend and never travels farther than from his mom's refrigerator and back to his mom's basement (where you keep your computer and an ample supply of puddin' cups, crayons and naked pictures of your mom and male cousins). So I get it now, you have no life and nothing valuable to offer a heterosexual forum so you make what only you think are witty comebacks to other poster's comments. Unfortunately, only to prove to the whole world wide web what an ignorant, worthless D' bag you really are.

[QUOTE=HelpRules;1303013]Ronin, what kind of diet are you on to get the 6pack. Do you starve yourself or just workout alot.[/QUOTE]

Yo Gents, My next trip to Medellin is for Sept. And plan on staying a few days at HPM but would also like to venture out into the real Medellin. I am interested in staying in El Centro and La Mayorista areas because I was impressed w / the talent in those 2 areas and I want more ethnic action I / e street venders, strip clubs and general grittiness the Poblado area lacks. I have heard a few good things about, The Nutibara Hotel in El Centro and the, Central Plaza in La Mayorista, also Hotel Alcaravan sounds OK. Any advice on 3 star accommodations in these areas of Medellin? It would be a treat to pay under $50 per night in a girl-friendly hotel. Thanks and cheers. S

[QUOTE=Ronin1; 1303292]Helpless,

A) I don't know you and don't understand your question? So it's probably fair to assume you didn't bother to read the story and / or related comments or you can't read and are only able to mentally manage looking at pictures. In either case, there's special help for people like you. Just try to keep your med's on schedule and eat a lot of soft foods.

B) Are you gay? Because that's about the fagg-iest question I've ever seen on a heterosexual forum thread. Yeah, it's prety much cowardly dikwads like you who bravely sit behind a computer keyboard and talk smack about other people (for no good reason) is partly the reason why I had never before had posted on this forum for the past couple of years. So who the fuk are you? Probably some fat azz, acne-faced dweeb who never had a girlfriend and never travels farther than from his mom's refrigerator and back to his mom's basement (where you keep your computer and an ample supply of puddin' cups, crayons and naked pictures of your mom and male cousins). So I get it now, you have no life and nothing valuable to offer a heterosexual forum so you make what only you think are witty comebacks to other poster's comments. Unfortunately, only to prove to the whole world wide web what an ignorant, worthless D' bag you really are.[/QUOTE]Ronini don't even understand his post, it makes no sense. Weird guy that helpless.

[QUOTE=Socker;1303308]Yo Gents, My next trip to Medellin is for Sept. And plan on staying a few days at HPM but would also like to venture out into the real Medellin. I am interested in staying in El Centro and La Mayorista areas because I was impressed w / the talent in those 2 areas and I want more ethnic action I / e street venders, strip clubs and general grittiness the Poblado area lacks. I have heard a few good things about, The Nutibara Hotel in El Centro and the, Central Plaza in La Mayorista, also Hotel Alcaravan sounds OK. Any advice on 3 star accommodations in these areas of Medellin? It would be a treat to pay under $50 per night in a girl-friendly hotel. Thanks and cheers. S[/QUOTE]I've stayed at the Nutibara Hotel a few times. Always liked the place. Good staff, friendly people. Nothing fancy for a 3 star hotel for around $60. There's a pool, sauna, and steam room. This is a faded glory hotel that was in its prime in the 40s and 50s in the old days.

But I love the location, right in the middle of Medellin.

The Central Plaza is a little far from the actions. Macedonia Plaza is a good hotel just one block away from the main street, quiet but close enough to the actions. BTW there are some good (small) restaurants close to the supermarkets in the Mayorista market area.

[QUOTE=Socker;1303308]Yo Gents, My next trip to Medellin is for Sept. And plan on staying a few days at HPM but would also like to venture out into the real Medellin. I am interested in staying in El Centro and La Mayorista areas because I was impressed w / the talent in those 2 areas and I want more ethnic action I / e street venders, strip clubs and general grittiness the Poblado area lacks. I have heard a few good things about, The Nutibara Hotel in El Centro and the, Central Plaza in La Mayorista, also Hotel Alcaravan sounds OK. Any advice on 3 star accommodations in these areas of Medellin? It would be a treat to pay under $50 per night in a girl-friendly hotel. Thanks and cheers. S[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Matt Psyche;1303955]The Central Plaza is a little far from the actions. Macedonia Plaza is a good hotel just one block away from the main street, quiet but close enough to the actions. BTW there are some good (small) restaurants close to the supermarkets in the Mayorista market area.[/QUOTE]thanks guys for the info. My only visit to La Mayorista was at night w / a buddy. At first it was a little intimidating but I quickly acclimated. The scene there seemed extremely small (the one block of bars and hotels) and at night I could not see much of the area. This next trip I will be on my own so I want to make sure I understand the pros and cons of the area. Is there anything to do (there) in the daytime. I assume there are ladies hanging around during the day It did not look like a place one could freely walk around at night. Is it safe to walk to and from the Metro at or to and from your hotel alone at night? I am street smart and just curious about what to expect.

I have also heard that El Centro can be dangerous at night so I'm wondering about the area between The Nutibara Hotel and the strip clubs. Should I cab it or walk it? From memory seems like a short distance.

Thanks again guys.

[QUOTE=Socker; 1304003]I have also heard that El Centro can be dangerous at night so I'm wondering about the area between The Nutibara Hotel and the strip clubs. Should I cab it or walk it? From memory seems like a short distance.

Thanks again guys.[/QUOTE]I have always walked that distance, from the hotel to the strip clubs. Its the equivalent of a block and a half. Yes, at night there are people laying on the sidewalks, beggars, street people and the homeless; but I was never bothered by them. I didn't find it to be that dangerous walking those gritty street.

Only a few druggies in Mayo in the daytime. There is nothing to do there. If you stay in Mayo, you would have to ride on metro for 20minutes to go to El Centro for casas (plus 10-15 minutes walk from hotel to Ayura station) in the day time. Instead, you may want to stay in El Centro and have fun at casas, strip clubs and street scenes in the daytime. In the night time, metro to Mayo and taxi back to your hotel in El Centro. It would save your time and money overall.

[QUOTE=Socker;1304003]This next trip I will be on my own so I want to make sure I understand the pros and cons of the area. Is there anything to do (there) in the daytime.[/QUOTE]