Cartagena Reports

No safer and LESS "convenient" in my opinion, but to each their own. The Del Caribe is the closest 5 star hotel to the Hilton but they have a repuitation as not being very chica friendly. Las Velas is even closer BUT it is 2 star (despite their sign claiming 4 Star). Those are the only hOtels I know of in Laguito itself.

Only Hotel I've stayed at (I MUCH prefer apartments as do almost all experienced Cartagena vistors) was the Almirante which was very nice (4 Star) in Bocagrande which is about a mile or so from Laguito. The traffic to Laguito is HORRENDOUS during the big week and I often exited cabs and walked the rest of the way.

I can walk, alone, at any time of the day or night in Laguito, Boca Grande, Castillo Grande, or Centro. Safety is not really an issue in all of Cartagena. You may want to cab in the Getsemane area between 10pm and 4am.

That, of course, doesn't mean you can be stupid. Don't drink too much. Don't touch drugs. Don't wear any jewelry. Don't carry any more money than you need that day. Leave your passport in your apt./hotel.

Apartments are as safe. Every one that I know has 24-hour security. And they are much more convenient.

If you want to stay close to the action at LDV then Las Velas is your choice. Also a nice, safe neighborhood with cheap and good restaurants (I can recommend if needed), conv. stores etc. You will also see many women walking around this area both during the day and early evening hours.

For upper level accommodations, take the Almirante. Also safe area in Bocagrande with many restaurants (one HIGHLY recommendable for a date), one blk from la playa and about 15 minute walk to LDV. I walked that area numerous times both day and night. A few min. from Almirante is the supermarket for necessities. Both areas you will feel safe to walk, patronize businesses and more. The touts will bother you but as I said countless times, do not stop, chat or in any way show interest in their items unless you want to.

There is also the Hotel Caribe across the st. from the beach and between those 2 hotels but can't speak for their friendliness. It does look nice from the outside. I met a latin American on my flight whom stayed there and I assure you he was a hunter.

Wish I could be there in November.

But just to re-check.

As a first time visit, is that week actually a time to try and go if your chica hunting?

Or would I be better avoiding that week for a quiter one.
Does it mean that the pros will be busier and worn out, are are the people just there for the contest, and not hunters.

Is the Almirante chica friendly?

I read some earlier posts saying it was poor with broken a/c.

So is the caribe a definate no chica, or just not easy?

Almirante was fairly strict about checking hotel keys to ghet into room, but I brought a chica from BAQ so never tested if bringing in different chicas would be an issue. I thought Hotel quality (including AC) was fine. If you are worried about quality at Almirante, forget Las Velas entirely as it is beneath your standards.

There is another hotel called the 'Charleston Cartegena' which is in the historic town.
Is the historic town near to LDV?
If the traffic is that bad I had better stay near LDV.
I don't mind walking if it's safe.

The Caribe has rooms but you say it is not chica friendly?

Any clues where this playboy club is?

guys,

was in cartagena last year october and stayed there for nearly 4 weeks.
in bocagrande (especialy barrio el laguito) you can rent tons of appartments for peanut money.
i rented mine for about € 15,- a day (with current us $ that is about 18 bucks).
the furniture was very new and looked nice.
the shower only had cold water; well that actualy is more warm then cold in cartagena;-)

backdraws were that the tv not had cable so i only could watch 2 colombian channals via antenna.
the lady who owned the place promised me several times to fix this but she never did!
anyway i don't give a damn about tv when i am on holiday. but if you can not stay without cnn you might want to be more picky about your appartement.

just step in the many appartment buildings. there are always app. for rent. just ask at the guard or anyone who lives inside. if you rent a appartment be prepared to give your fingerprint on the contract!

what was for me very negative is that the barrio is very noisy!! everyday untill deep in the night there is a party going on somewere. besides that indeed the traffic is like crazy. traffic jams at 22.00 are quite normal!

positive things are: lots of internet cafees (allthough more expensive then in the centre or outskirts), all kinds of restaurants,beach nearby and lots of chicas!!!

traveling to larger shopping malls (castelliana fe) take about 10 min with a taxi and about 30 min with a bus (with is cheap!!)
please be carefull if you take a bus after dark!!!

if you found (or allready have) your amiga islas del rosario is a must do thing!!!
i stayed a night there and it was very very nice,quite and very romantic.
please bring your girl...because here are no hookers!!!
the boattrip to that place is with a speedy "lancia"and takes about 2 hours. on the way back you will stay 2-3 hours at "playa negro". at this place i met very nasty and persistend streetvendors!!!! be warned! they will hassle you all the time. stay polite and say "no gracias, senor/senora". if you buy something get ready for the other 23 vendors coming your way...lol

learn your spanish;as i found out that in most travel agencies they do not speak one word english!!

booking tours to islas del rosarios will not be any problem. just go to 2-3 agencies and make your pick.(there is a price diffrence so look out not to get cheated)


johan.

Johan,

You stopped at playa blanca on the way home. It is so named for the white sand beaches.

TM,

The "historic town" is also known as Centro. It is not close to LDV. But it's only a 10-15 minute cab ride. The Charleston is a neat place but probably not chica friendly. The Caribe probably is not either.

The Pleyboy is out in the barrios. Any cab driver knows where it is.

Guys,

here are some pics from the beach,the pool and a very lovely sunset from Islas del Rosario.

enjoy.

Johan

ok only could post one pic...here is the sunset at islas del Rosario.

Johan

And here a pic of the very colonial center of Cartagena.


Johan

Guys,
after being there for nearly 4 weeks I can only say that there are pretty women availeble in Caratgena.
HOWEVER if you want to have better luck and higher ratio goodlooking women (and hookers aswell) do NOT come to cartagena.
IMHO in Cali,Medellin and also Bogota the numbers of realy pretty women OUTNUMBER the goodlooking women in Cartagena by far. I spoke with 2-3 Cartageneros and they also confirm me that calenas and women from medellin are considered more pretty then the ones in cartagena!
Barranquilla is more or less the same as Cartagena regarding looks from women. But BQ is a very modern industrial city with a large port. It has no real old heart like Cartagena. Besides that I heard the beach is a rather shitty place with lots of polution.

However,imho Cartagena is one of the "savest" cities in Colombia. Not the cheapest,but the savest. And if you like the BEACHLIFE (like me) cartagena IS THE place to be:-)

Take care while you there and have fun.

Johan

Has anyone visited or knowledge of Palmira. I know its geographical location. I am emailing with a woman whom invited me to her home after only 3 emails and 2 photos. My ex-novia introduced her 3 children within 24 hrs. of our first encounter. Colombian women don't waste time.

While in CTG in July, I met a couple of Americans staying in the old historic city. They thought their hotel was ok. However, its about 3 miles to Laguito and LDV. Take a taxi costing 3000 P. I walked from Laguito to the historic city during the day. Because of the heat I would suggest a taxi at night and it's safer. At the traffic circle outside of the historic city heading towards Bocagrande, I saw SWs on several occasions after 11 P.M.

"The Walled, Historic City" has CTG's best restaurants IMHO. Great for taking a date but be prepared to spend equivalent of US$65-100. for a 2 course dinner with wine for 2. You can also dine much cheaper if desired. This area also has some of the cheapest lunch restaurants. I paid for a 2 course lunch 7000 P. Another place, only 5000 P. The historic city is full of spectacular architecture. Walk the streets during the daytime hours around lunchtime until mid-afternoon for great sightseeing, both the female type and tourist type.

The historic city is also great at night with lots of young people walking, dining, visiting bars, discos, outdoor cafes for meetings etc.

If you stay in Bocagrande, there are plenty of good restaurants with reasonable Colombian prices.

I visited Castellana shopping mall and was not impressed compared to American and European malls. For CTG, it's a generous 6. From Laguito to Castellana Mall, the normal taxi fare is 12000 P. taking about 20 min. through interesting, local neighborhoods.
ENJOY.

I have been in Medellin and Guarne. I would be very careful about going to Periera. But you might be okay if your chica comes to the airport to get you. I was stopped by the police in Guarne because I am a Gringo. Don't think they have seen many of us. They were nice enough, though.

CTG is the most expensive city in Colombia, but I never came close to paying that much for dinner in Centro. How many bottles of wine did you have? I would say in most top restaurants you'd pay $50 for dinner and drinks for two.

Chicas from all over the country come to CTG to hook up with tourists. They don't like their own men.

Indeed in the old historic city there are many fancier ("trendy") restaurants are rip offs.
Once I paid for a large pizza about 14 us $..!! which I think is heavely overpriced for such a pizza. (keep in mind that an average wages in Cartagena is NOT more then 150 bucks a month)
Stay away from the chinese restaurants. They are even more expensive then in my own country!!!
I paid with me and my girl about 40 bucks for a normal chinese dinner!!! Again I think this is overpriced.
A few days later we eat chinese in a barrio called las Caracoles...and there we eat more and even better for 11 bucks;-)

There are many cheap fastfood chains specialised on chicken! (pollo) For about 5-6 bucks you have a decent meal(french fries,chicken and vegetables) with a soda. Service is great,save (mostly guards at present) and clean.
As far as I know there is only ONE MD...and it isn't booming!
I didn't see a Burgerking.
In Casteliana there are many many little restaurants. Great pick...against very reasonable pricing:-)
For me this mall was new. As we do not have such malls in Holland. One thing anoyed me: much little kids running and screaming arround untill very late at night:-(

If you want to eat much at very low prices you can also eat at Carulla,Vivero and/or the larger Olimpica shops. Best time to get there is between 11.00 and 15.00...after that you might get unlucky because there is nothing left! Also a great change to meet colombianas;-)

Tip: try the paisa food (from medellin) it's great!! I loved it:-) There are a zillion restaurants in CTG with paisa food served.
IMHO the Colombian food is far better then what I eat in Brasil or in DR. Only the peruvian kitchen is as vast and good as the colombian,maybe even slighty better;but that's a personal choice.

Johan