Cartagena Reports

tomtom
Sorry to hear it. I ate there numerous times in July. Great food reasonably priced.

Another cab driver hanging around Laguito is named Julio. Friendly but no english. I was told he is trust worthy regarding transport. He drove me to the mall, the airport etc. Some cabbies are decent trying to earn a living while others try to rip you off if possible. Always best to have 3000 P for the short rides. Some try to take advantage when they make change from 10000 P. Many do not accept 20000 P because of counterfeits.

Hola mates,

I am writing this report from the internet cafe at Avenida 2, Calle 5 in downtown Cartagena. I am here on a 10 day holiday with board member "Fantasy" and so far happy I made the trip.

Accomodations have been a problem. This is apparently the "high" season (or at least for conventions) because most hotels are full. We stayed one night at the Hotel Las Velas which is the process of being remodeled. The location is great, the rooms are nice but with the ongoing construction enjoying ourselves there would prove to be a big problem. They now want $47 per night with $14 additional for a guest. Prices could well increase after the renovation is completed.

We then checked into the Hotel Almirante which is gorgeous. It is 5 star and with "Fantasys" working his magic at the front desk when we arrived the price for this elegant hotel shrunk to $90 per night. It is offered at $140.

Last night LDV was swamped with women of all shapes and sizes. When I made my selection and hit the exit (at around 1:30 am) there were over 70 women in attendance.

Im very sleepy, tackling this town is hard work! More reports to follow.
Cheers,
FORD

I shall be there from 11-17 Nov.

Ford:

The Almirante web site seems to say $211 per room except during the period I am there.

Can you perhaps get an idea of their best rate for that period?

Is it chica friendly, double bed?

Thanks

Hi Surfer,

I think the LDV girl started out quoting around 125K for all night. I got her for 80K, but I had to beg her to go with me for less than she quoted.

It was a sight to see, and you all would have been proud of me...

I gave her a real pityful sob story. I told her I didn't have any money, and that I wanted to see her, but I was a poor gringo. I told her how I had been looking at her and admiring her beauty all night. I told her I was shy, and worried that she would not go with me because I had very little money.

She must have bought my story. Maybe she felt sorry for me, or was worried that it was getting late. Afterall, she was still standing there in LDV, and maybe she thought that she may not make any money that night, or...as I prefer to think of it, she was HOT for ME :-)...who knows, but off we went at the 80K price.

You would imagine that an LDV girl would be too much of a pro, and a little too mechanical, so initially my expectations were not that great. But, she started to soften up as the night progressed.

I remember she was sleeping peacefully, and the sun had just started to come up. I was already awake, and lying peacefully watching her sleep and admiring her beauty. Then, she must have sensed me looking at her because she slowly opened her eyes, smiled, and with this really "loving" look in her eyes, reached out and started running her hands through my hair.

She must have liked me because it seemed that lust had been replaced by a hint of amor. I wish I could have seen her again, but I got so busy that I just didn't have any time left to find her again. I think I could have turned her into a good LT GFE given a little more time.

Regarding Alex, the taxi driver, he came very highly recommended by Mery. Mery's exact words to me about Alex were, "I trust him completely." That meant a lot to me, and I used him almost exclusively.

I am sure Alex makes commission on everything, and I was anticipating it. It didn't [url=http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord140][CodeWord140][/url] me off that he was trying that little ploy because everybody has to eat, and Alex has a family to support. But, I'm like everybody else. I don't mind spending more for reliable service, but I just didn't see the merit in spending more on gifts to finance a commission.

Don't get me wrong, I don't wish to overpay by too much even for preferred service, but just a little more is fine in exchange for reliability. Alex was always very punctual, reasonable in price, and always a gentleman. The cab fare he charged seemed to always be around the going rate, so I don't think his fares and/or hourly rates are any more than the other taxis charge.

I've never paid over 80K in LDV. Let me tell you that the guys are in charge there, but don't know it. Most girls will go there several nights without being taken out. If they look at their options, 80K or 0, they'll take the 80K. But, there are some important steps. First, speak spanish. If you don't speak good spanish she may hold out for more. Get a rapport with her. Be charming, treat her like a person and not a hooker. If she is attracted to you, she'll want to go with you and money is less of an issue. I've had girls go with me for nothing. The will all start at 150K or more, but will settle for much less. Especially if you laugh at them when they say 150K. I laugh then say that I'll pay 80K, no more. If they say no (which they haven't yet), there are many more options.

Those are RIDICULOUS prices for Almirante; book through a Colombian travel agent and you'll get a much better rate. $47 +14 guest fee at Las Velas? Ridiculous. I know the peso has appreciated about 10% but these rates are ridiculously higher than just a few months ago.

Then again, apartments are so much of a better deal in CTG than hotels . . . .

Surf,

TM is talking about Miss Colombia time. Generally rates are doubled then.

80 K is not unreasonable at LDV at all. The other posters are correct there are tons of girls sitting around with nothing to do, many are going home alone and with an empty purse. They start out at about 140K but will be willing to bargain at bargain and bargain.


Apartments are a much better deal but ALL were full when we arrived. Not available for 10 nights only 4 or 5 and then we would have to move. Many conventions in town.

Almirante has one HUGE advantage over all other accomodations however - the contestants for the preliminary rounds for the Miss Colombia pagaent are all staying at the Almirante this week!! We have suites on floor 11 they are in suites on floor 12! Easily 100 gorgeous women! The eye candy around the pool is ´OFF the FRIGIN´ METER!´

Some things you just cant put a price tag on!

Cheers,
FORD

BTW,

One more thought as board member chido said speaking Spanish is of course very important!

My Spanish is strong and I wouldn´t be having even 10% of the fun I´m having without it.

Cheers.

All is well in Cartagena.

I just dismissed my two day novia. Now back to the pool to join Ford and on with the hunt. we have discovered a total of 11 casas. No need to visit ldv every night anymore. I hope ford posts the pictures of the girl he had on monday night. She was an 11.5 minimum. There is hope for this guy yet. Tommorrow we are having a group picture with the 23 finalists from Miss Colombia pageant. They are practicing all week for the upcoming contest. Ford has over 75 photos of them in g- strings at the pool. I have had the culo of the new Miss Colombia within ten inches of my face yesterday.

Ford,

I will be in Cartagena next week, getting in on Monday afternoon and I already have reservations at the Almirante which is where I always stay. Do you know if the reinas will still be there next week? If the preliminaries are over before next week, why don't you talk a couple dozen of them into staying on an extra week? I'll be your friend forever!

Go to the Traje del Baño competition at the Hilton on Saturday night (11/13 I believe) and you can take pictures of the culos from 10 inches away. Really I was SO close last year I needed a wide angle lens!

Get tickets IUN ADVANCE! I was VERY lucky to scalp a ticket and I stayed out there awhile and saw NO sellers AT ALL: I only got in because some family brought a baby who was denied entry so they sold me her ticket.

Also, to get CLOSE for photography avoid the pool and go in the garden area just past the gate where the pasarella (runway) begins.

Well I am back from 10 days in Cartagena and am still recovering from the flights. I will post more info incl. my thought and opinions when I get more time. I am too busy, developing my next trip to Central America next month. :)

Almirante Hotel was awesome! 5 stars and myself and Fantasy negotiated between us, (with credit card exchange rates) about $85 per night on average, for suites!

A "typical" afternoon around the Almirante pool.

Shout out to Travelman!

Dude, your killin' me! (lol) I sent you a lengthy pm answering your question to me and it said your pm box is full so it deleted it.

Delete some mesages and I'll write it again. I think if all your outgoing and incoming pm's add up to 99 its full (or something like that)
FORD

FORD

I have now. Didn't have that many messages though. Strange.