Cartagena Reports

[QUOTE=Hioctane]That is true. But your best option is ALWAYS debit cards. It's crazy to do a cash advance from a credit card at home. Why would you want to do it overseas?[/QUOTE]
Try to spend a few hours in front an ATM overseas, look what foreign people does and compile a statistics. (Assuming you will be not arrested because of "suspicious behaviour")
You'll find that most foreigners use the VISA/MC credit card to withdraw (cash advance).

I have possible explanations for that:
1) most people believes that the debit card cannot work abroad;
2) most people did not understand the difference;
3) many debit cards are not enabled to work abroad.
I believe all the above may apply, depending on the case.

I tell you more. Me too, for years, I had to bring cash or using the credit card at ATMs, because my standard card, issued by my bank, was a "double function". That is, you have one single card and, when you put in the the reader, you select debit/credit.

That was presented as the most convenient thing by my bank employee. I naively agreed with him. The problem was that that double-function card, abroad, works only as CREDIT :mad: and this was presented as "normal" by my bank employee.

This is obviously not "normal" but very convenient for the bank.
When I realized the issue, I returned the card and I asked TWO separate cards: a credit VISA card and a Maestro debit card.

However, the Maestro debit card works everywhere in the world (or at least where MC is accepted), other debit cards do not.

I opened two Capone savings accounts over the internet obtaining two debit cards. I travelled to Medellin and was able to withdraw 700, 000 COP a day from each account, but only at a Citibank ATM machine. Bancolombia refused my debit card. Citibank charged me nothing and Capone charged me nothing. The exchange rate I got was good. Capone will allow you to open as many accounts as you want.

Started an everbank check acct. W atm card. No fee international, 1% fee from visa and the local bank fee.

About.com has an article rating this as great for travelers as they tested them from europe. No min. Bal either.

Let me know if you guys have a everbank!

GL

[QUOTE=Hioctane]That is true. But your best option is ALWAYS debit cards. It's crazy to do a cash advance from a credit card at home. Why would you want to do it overseas?

For debit cards:

If you are in the States, Paypal charges 1% + $1 per transaction. I recently found out that Capital One charges 0% + $1. 50 per transaction. If anyone has any experience with Capital One, please let me know. I am going to try using them on my next trip.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Black Page]Try to spend a few hours in front an ATM overseas, look what foreign people does and compile a statistics. (Assuming you will be not arrested because of "suspicious behaviour")

You'll find that most foreigners use the VISA/MC credit card to withdraw (cash advance).

I have possible explanations for that:

1) most people believes that the debit card cannot work abroad;
2) most people did not understand the difference;
3) many debit cards are not enabled to work abroad.
I believe all the above may apply, depending on the case.

I tell you more. Me too, for years, I had to bring cash or using the credit card at ATMs, because my standard card, issued by my bank, was a "double function". That is, you have one single card and, when you put in the the reader, you select debit/credit.

That was presented as the most convenient thing by my bank employee. I naively agreed with him. The problem was that that double-function card, abroad, works only as CREDIT :mad: and this was presented as "normal" by my bank employee.

This is obviously not "normal" but very convenient for the bank.
When I realized the issue, I returned the card and I asked TWO separate cards: a credit VISA card and a Maestro debit card.

However, the Maestro debit card works everywhere in the world (or at least where MC is accepted), other debit cards do not.[/QUOTE]All my debit cards have a Visa/Mastercard logo. That just means that it's accepted anywhere they accept Visa/MC. All the cards look the same except you see "debit" on it. Maybe you think they are using credit when they are really using debit. Yes. You should strictly get a debit to avoid all confusion. The extra charge for cash advance by credit is never worth it. Look for alternatives and save some money for the chicas!

Hey Fellas,

I'm planning a trip to Colombia and can't decided on Medellin or Cartagena. It will all boil down to which area provides the most opportunities for eco-tourism in and around the city, such as hiking, rafting, and zip-lines. The tour books provide scant info on this subject.

Can any of you guys provide any detailed info on this?

Thanks

[QUOTE=John York] I will call 611 and talk with AT&T and see what my options are, I might just end up getting a prepaid phone if that will be easiest.[/QUOTE]I would recommend just buying a cheap used cell phone, they sell them all over in the centro. Buy a SIM card and buy some prepaid minutes. The prepaid cards call be purchased for 10k (about $5 or 20k about $10). The SIM card was a few dollars and the was about 40k (about $20) for the phone Nokia.It's a great way to keep in touch with friends.

If you have an unlocked cell phone (either freq. GSM 850, 2 carriers or GSM 1900 1 carrier) Just take out your SIM card and leave it at home and buy a new SIM card there and prepaid minutes.

Does anyone have any info regarding owning a boat, say a 30 foot power boat, in Cartagena. Specifically anchoring at one of the marinas, and boat security, as well as costs and other downsides.

Thanks fellas, stay classy ISG.

Dear fellow mongers.

Does anybody have recent news of Alejandra, the girl depicted in these photos?
[post]760467[/post]
[post]760465[/post]

Time ago, I asked already to the Forum if anybody knew her
[post]785426[/post]

I met her again the last time I went to CTG (last Sept), but we only had a lunch together :) I met her the first time when she was just 18 and new to the scene, now she is a bit too much pro for my taste. :p

I will be back to CTG in a few months again. I wonder if she is still making money this easy way, or she finally left the scene. She is one of the most stunning girls I have ever saw, by the way.

I met her on the street my first day in CTG.

The camera loves her. My photos were posted approx. 5-6 years ago.

Yeah, is she still working?

Hi!

I´m going to CTG in oct and im wounder if any one has been there in october? How´s the chica sceen then? Is there a low season with chics? Is there any super hot chics there or what? Like pornstar style? I been in a club in chile that had like mtv hot chics. And the wheater is it a rainy in Oct?

THX

[QUOTE=Diggler08]Hi!

I´m going to CTG in oct and im wounder if any one has been there in october? How´s the chica sceen then? Is there a low season with chics? Is there any super hot chics there or what? Like pornstar style? I been in a club in chile that had like mtv hot chics. And the wheater is it a rainy in Oct?

THX[/QUOTE]November is packed with gorgeous women, due to the festivals surrounding the beauty pageant. Celeb TV reporters, models, actresses, fashion designers and wannabes for all the above categories, meet in CTG at this time of the year.

Take note that everything is extra, ridiculously expensive, and you have to be very affluent if you want to score with the top babes.

But if that's your take, and if you like super hot, porn star like babes; and don't mind competing for them with local guys (including the usual thugs) you should wait for a month and book for November (again: reservations must be made early).

DT

[QUOTE=Diggler08]Hi!

I´m going to CTG in oct and im wounder if any one has been there in october? How´s the chica sceen then? Is there a low season with chics? Is there any super hot chics there or what? Like pornstar style? I been in a club in chile that had like mtv hot chics. And the wheater is it a rainy in Oct?

THX[/QUOTE]I'd head back to Chile. We've recently been advised that all the chicas in Colombia are suddenly fat, dumpy and ugly :)

Good luck

[QUOTE=Nyc Expat]I met her on the street my first day in CTG.

The camera loves her. My photos were posted approx. 5-6 years ago.

Yeah, is she still working?[/QUOTE]OK NE. We just checked by PM. She is not the same girl.

(I like to share this info with all)

Ok guys i'll putt it this way.

I have like 2 weeks to spend in CTG in oct and I want to enjoy life (and pay for it), I'm 30 years old and looking pretty good (not to brag). Would you recomend me to stay in CTG or go to another place in south america. The best thing for me is to stay I CTG becuse I'm in the area. I been looking of some fotos in here and I'm not at all impressed by the girls on the pics. Please tell me I'm wrong and say that there are hotties in CTG also?. I don't know I have such a good picture in my head of the latin chicas but are they in CTG? Or where sould I go. As I said I been in chile at this club (very expansive) with like 20-25 girls that was sooo good looking like it was ridiculous. Ok it thosent have to be like that but I hope CTG can do better then these pictures in here.

Thanks for awnsers and sorry for my spelling.

[QUOTE=Diggler08]Hi!

I´m going to CTG in oct and im wounder if any one has been there in october? How´s the chica sceen then? Is there a low season with chics? Is there any super hot chics there or what? Like pornstar style? I been in a club in chile that had like mtv hot chics. And the wheater is it a rainy in Oct?

THX[/QUOTE]Seriously guys, how is the mongering scene in early October? Anything special or just the same as the rest of the year? I am seriously contemplating MDE or CTG in October. Should weather be a consideration for either of the cities?

Muchas gracias.

V