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[QUOTE=YouCan;1875644]I always bring cash as back up. Love Mac machines for rate and never had problem. One time I dropped ATM card at store but luckily retraced my steps and got it back the next day. But I always bring a few thousand US case I get into a jam.[/QUOTE]I do the same exact thing, a couple grand in cash in case ATM issues and two ATM cards and always always enough cash for a quick exit to the airport in case shit goes down. Pacsafe keeps all my valuables secure.
I have been to Medellin many times in the last three years and never had a problem at the airport until my last trip.
Where I was asked a bunch of questions about why are you here so many times and contact info, is this to stop us.
From our hobby?
[QUOTE=Parchment10;1876288]I have been to Medellin many times in the last three years and never had a problem at the airport until my last trip.
Where I was asked a bunch of questions about why are you here so many times and contact info, is this to stop us.
From our hobby?[/QUOTE]Just be honest! Tell them Colombia has the most beautiful women and you are in love with their beautiful country! I got questioned by a Dominican customs woman about why I had so much baby oil and women's clothes. I told her the clothes were to get them to my room and the baby oil was for the sex after I got them there. She chuckled, waved me through, and said "thanks for being honest!
This is always one of the biggest questions when traveling. This ring especially true if you may bring a stranger (girl) back to your room.
How does one stash cash and passport?
If the hotel has a safe in the room or behind the counter I will only put a tiny fraction of my money in it. Just enough that may satisfy a thief to stop searching.
My wingman and I typically find hiding places in each others room then test each others hiding spots. I'll go to his room and he will ask me to find where he hid his money and vice versa. Same thing for passports.
Much of this of course depends on the place you're staying and your feeling about it. I will almost never walk the streets with my passport. Only a copy and maybe my DL.
That said I have begun to use more ATMs. I will find a few trusted ones early in the trip and hit them up. I have a capital one 360 account. They charge no transaction fees and it only has money on it for travel. This was if it gets stolen my regular account is relatively safe.
With using the ATM I obly carry a few hundred USD in case of emergency. Much easier to hide a card and a few hundred than a few thousand.
[QUOTE=Eszpresszo;1875862]Wow. Well I am glad to hear that I am not the only one who was paranoid about ATMs not working and carried cash instead. Your paygrade is a bit different from mine. I only carried a few hundred USD in case none of my cards worked (there was no way I was going to let any of the stateside "currency exchanges" rip me off for any amount of COP.).
So, if you don't mind me asking, what steps do you take to prevent theft? On my first (and only) visit I distributed my currency in three places: In an ordinary-looking leather belt with a secret stash pouch on the inside, some in my regular wallet, and the rest in a soft, neck wallet that I always tote abroad anyways, to keep my passport in. Luckily there were only brief minor detours in getting cash from ATMs, but I did bring enough to cover the minimum expenses for my stay. Without a safe in the hotel room, which is not a sure bet for security, I'd be nervous about carrying a few grand around. Advice for reducing risks or minimizing losses? I find myself thinking of Rob Schneider's stoner character on SNL, who was always contriving a "place to hide your weed".[/QUOTE]
I find this true to returning to US also. I have only been put thru extra customs check a couple of times and was just honest saying I go there to party and have a good time with the beautiful women, which is true and they appreciated the honesty instead of some bullshit.
[QUOTE=Rodeo9112;1876314]Just be honest! Tell them Colombia has the most beautiful women and you are in love with their beautiful country! I got questioned by a Dominican customs woman about why I had so much baby oil and women's clothes. I told her the clothes were to get them to my room and the baby oil was for the sex after I got them there. She chuckled, waved me through, and said "thanks for being honest![/QUOTE]
I do similar to other replies. In Cartagena I feel less worried then in Medellin where I take more precautions because I often stay in places with no doorman / front desk guy. So there's a lot more chance of a problem.
[QUOTE=Eszpresszo;1875862]Wow. Well I am glad to hear that I am not the only one who was paranoid about ATMs not working and carried cash instead. Your paygrade is a bit different from mine. I only carried a few hundred USD in case none of my cards worked (there was no way I was going to let any of the stateside "currency exchanges" rip me off for any amount of COP.).
So, if you don't mind me asking, what steps do you take to prevent theft? On my first (and only) visit I distributed my currency in three places: In an ordinary-looking leather belt with a secret stash pouch on the inside, some in my regular wallet, and the rest in a soft, neck wallet that I always tote abroad anyways, to keep my passport in. Luckily there were only brief minor detours in getting cash from ATMs, but I did bring enough to cover the minimum expenses for my stay. Without a safe in the hotel room, which is not a sure bet for security, I'd be nervous about carrying a few grand around. Advice for reducing risks or minimizing losses? I find myself thinking of Rob Schneider's stoner character on SNL, who was always contriving a "place to hide your weed".[/QUOTE]
Greetings,
Some friends and I will be in Medellin at the end of June and I have a few questions I couldn't find after reviewing reports:
Is there a "ground zero" neighborhood in Medellin that's central to all the mongering action? I know in Panama it's the Veneto, but how about here?
Generally speaking, does Hotel Security add a chica fee to your hotel bill? If so, what's the typical damage?
Do pharmacies provide items without prescriptions? I'm mostly talking Viagras or equal BTW.
Are tourists usually hounded with handouts, tourist trap scams, etc? In other words, will we be bombarded as we enter and exit hotels, bars, restaurants, etc? Just want an idea what to expect.
Is there any particular neighborhood or establishment that we should avoid at all costs? Usually every country has a least one or more spots that stand out amongst the rest as "stay out".
Lastly, how's the water and food quality generally speaking? I haven't read anything bad about either, but thought I'd ask people who visit often or live there.
Thank you all!
Last time or second to last time I visited Bogota (circa 2009), a Hooters' had opened in Zona Rosa. Is it still there? If so, any success landing any Hooters girls? I had a great time with a non-pro Hooters girl. I think she ended up leaving Colombia temporarily to help train at a new Hooters in Argentina.
Any assistance is appreciated!
[QUOTE=Rodeo9112;1881221]Last time or second to last time I visited Bogota (circa 2009), a Hooters' had opened in Zona Rosa. Is it still there? If so, any success landing any Hooters girls? I had a great time with a non-pro Hooters girl. I think she ended up leaving Colombia temporarily to help train at a new Hooters in Argentina.
Any assistance is appreciated![/QUOTE]It was still there 18 months ago. I just stopped in for one beer, but none of the girls working there were especially hot.
[QUOTE=JjBee62;1875483]There is a Citibank office in Bogota (or was. Someone mentioned something about Citibank closing S. A. Offices), not sure what services besides ATM usage they might offer.[/QUOTE]Correct. Citi's pulling out of retail banking in Colombia and Brazil.
[QUOTE=JjBee62;1881282]It was still there 18 months ago. I just stopped in for one beer, but none of the girls working there were especially hot.[/QUOTE]Agreed: their girls are like their food, uninspiring.
[QUOTE=TonyTigre;1879927]Greetings,
Some friends and I will be in Medellin at the end of June and I have a few questions I couldn't find after reviewing reports:
Is there a "ground zero" neighborhood in Medellin that's central to all the mongering action? I know in Panama it's the Veneto, but how about here?
Generally speaking, does Hotel Security add a chica fee to your hotel bill? If so, what's the typical damage?
Do pharmacies provide items without prescriptions? I'm mostly talking Viagras or equal BTW.
Are tourists usually hounded with handouts, tourist trap scams, etc? In other words, will we be bombarded as we enter and exit hotels, bars, restaurants, etc? Just want an idea what to expect.
Is there any particular neighborhood or establishment that we should avoid at all costs? Usually every country has a least one or more spots that stand out amongst the rest as "stay out".
Lastly, how's the water and food quality generally speaking? I haven't read anything bad about either, but thought I'd ask people who visit often or live there.
Thank you all![/QUOTE]I'll answer the questions that I have some knowledge of.
Medellin is not like many mongering cities. There is no place where the chicas are waiting for you to select them and take them to your hotel. Well, Mayorista is somewhat like that but generally the chicas are in the lower half of the grading scale. There are many casas (primarily daytime) in the downtown area that have a variety of chicas. Those are for in-house consumption. Some of the chicas will visit you during the hours they are not working at the casa. You need a session with them and discuss if they are available outside the casa. At night, there are strip clubs, but I have never been to one.
Usually, only the high-end hotels will add a chica fee, if they even allow chicas in your room. Some do not. Ask the hotel about their guest policy and any extra charges before making a reservation.
Almost all drugs are available without a prescription. The exception being any habit-forming drugs. Generic Viagra is very cheap. Less than fifty cents for a 50 MG pill.
There are very few hawkers handing out advertisements. In the downtown area, occasionally you will run into someone handing out business cards for a casa.
There are areas you should avoid, but I can't list them. Some of the local people have told me to avoid the area around the Prado metro stop. I know the areas that are safe and I stay in those areas. I have not encountered any problem walking in Poblado or Laureles, day or night; and in the downtown area during daylight. Always be aware of your surroundings and don't flash expensive items like jewelry, expensive watches, Iphones and Samsung Galaxys. The police there are your friends, treat them like a friend.
Generally speaking, the food and water are safe. I have had two bad experiences, one with water and one with food. Tap water is safe to drink. I should have known better the one bad experience with water. I checked into the apartment and there was very little water pressure. The manager of the apartment said there was a broken water line in the area. Without thinking, I filled a water pitcher and put it in the refrigerator. A day after drinking that water I had very bad stomach pains. Never vomited, but the pains lasted about a day and a half. The food, I am fairly sure was some chicken wings I ate at a restaurant in Laureles. They did not taste right. I think they were pre-cooked and then deep fried when ordered. Probably not refrigerated in between. For lunch, I eat traditional Colombian food and have never had a problem. The traditional food outside Parque Lleras is very cheap. About $3 for a complete lunch.
I have visited Medellin 21 times, almost 200 days there.
Sometimes art imitates life. If you are interested in enhancing your time in Colombia, it makes sense to understand the culture: what is important to these beautiful girls? I highly recommend a TV series of several years ago called. "Sin Senos no Hay Paraso. " "Without tits there is no paradise. " It's on Netflix.
In Spanish, of course, but with English subtitles.
Only good energy, amigos.
[QUOTE=LegalTender;1882147]Sometimes art imitates life. If you are interested in enhancing your time in Colombia, it makes sense to understand the culture: what is important to these beautiful girls? I highly recommend a TV series of several years ago called. "Sin Senos no Hay Paraso. " "Without tits there is no paradise. " It's on Netflix.
In Spanish, of course, but with English subtitles.
Only good energy, amigos.[/QUOTE]I just watched episode 1. Good show! Lots of pretty girls with hot bods; must've all been cast in Medellin!
Last year while I was in Bogota I used my Debit card which had no chip in a Citibank ATM and was able to get cash up to $500 US. I am reading here the Citibank is closed or closing in Colombia. Has anyone used a debit card with no chip recently in any other bank? What other banks allow more cask withdraw like 800 k+ colombian peso? Thanks.