Cartagena Reports

No flame taken. I'm sure Avianca flew MIA-CTG today, but did it fly non-stop, or did it stop in Bogota? That is the question :-)

SandRabbit is right. I was looking into other flights for my trip and checking Miami airport's online flight info yesterday (Thursday). It did show a flight arriving from Cartagena, apparently nonstop. Maybe Avianca recently increased the frequency of the route. Or it could just be for the holiday season. I do know that not many weeks ago it was only available on Wednesdays and maybe one other day.

Loved it, what a beautiful city. Found a most amazing shop off the Plaza Santa Domingo with marine related items. Had an awesome time, fell in love. I know I'm a sucker.

The people are great, very friendly. I always feel like I'm treated like a celebrity in these third world nations. Sure, the street vendors hustle hard but, hey, they are just trying to make a living. The first night out I went to the Playboy club, ok yes, the spelling was different. I had hit another club just a few doors down, both had gorgeous chicas. I have never been in a club with so many beautiful women in it as I found in the Playboy Club. I have have been to the Phillipines several times, Subic City in the days of her Glory, and to Mexico several times to some pretty good places, but this place was the best so far. This was in November and I couldn't get a price below a hundred dollars. This girl in the first club seemed to be pretty crazy about me, but said she couldn't get out of the club for less than 100 dollars U.S.. She had even given me her number and asked me to hook up with her the next day, but I never managed to have the time. She was actually a very good looking girl. I wound up paying $150 for this girl out of the Playboy Club who was incredibly beautiful. She was supposed to stay the whole night, but only let me have her twice, and complained when I asked for the second time, although she performed well both times. This girl was very clean and sweet and tight, but she held back from letting herself enjoy things too much. She seemed to like me and had approached me in the club as soon as I entered the place, but had some guilt thing going about enjoying the whole deal. I suspect she was pretty new to the business. With the alcohol buzz I worked her pretty hard and long both times. My Spanish isn't all that good, and had it been better I probably could have negotiated the situation better. I never actually negotiated the deal through her. I was also fairly buzzed and it was very late and I was very tired having just arrived. I highly reccomend that you learn a little Spanish. I have been learning Spanish for about a year and know just enough to get by. I had forgotten to take notes from the forum, and didn't have the information about LVD, or I probably would have went there as I stayed in Larguita.

I rented an apartement for $70 a night, which was a two bedroom looking out over the Caribbean just a block from the Hilton. Cruising the area I actually met Mery by chance who I see mentioned on the forum and got her card. In the future I will book through her for a single for $50 a night. Next time I go I will bring my own set of sheets. The room was nice but the sheets were terrible. Due to events I wound up staying at two different apartments and both apartments had terrible sheets, although otherwise they were decent apartments.

Before going I had exchanged email with several girls from an international dating web site. This paid off enormously, the second girl on the list I hooked up with, I really hit it off with and had a great romantic adventure. I plan on going back to see her in the Spring.

I flew in through Bogata, which I never want to do again. I reccomend that anyone going to Cartagenia avoid this deal, because you wind up spending a twelve hour layover which also means a cab ride into town, a hotel stay, and a cab ride back to the airport which adds around a $100 US to your flight cost effectively, not to mention being very exhausting as well as time consuming.

If I hadn't hooked up so quickly for the whole week, I don't think I would have had any problems finding non-pro action. There were lots of beautiful young women who were definately forward and flirtatious, which I did not find in Mexico, but I did find in the Phillipines. I'm 43, but I keep myself in good shape, dress fairly nice, and am good enough looking to get plenty of attention from the twenty year olds here in the states, if that is any guide. I suspect if you are decent looking, take decent care of yourself, dress decently, and show some class, it's not all that hard for a guy in his forties or fifties to hook up with a non-pro in Cartagenia. Oh yeah, and at least try to hablo pocito Espanol. Compra una translator, lo trabajo bien, especiales para romantica encountras. Yo hablo gringo Espanol. Especially learn your numbers in Spanish.

I identified the apartment building better now, it is next to McDonalds on Cra 2 and about Clle 9 above Davivendos money exchange/bank.

I also noticed that 4 Colombian girls rented the apartment next to mine for 100,000 pesos a night, about $40 and it was a 2 Br. I think I was a sucker to pay $50 a night for a 1 Br apartment, but that was what the cab driver told me was the rent. I assume he received $5 or so for steering me to the apartments. Nonetheless it made a lot of sense to stay at the apartment and avoid the hotel security problem for bringing a girl back to the room.

While I recommend this apartment building, I strongly suggest that you try for a lower price, like 100K pesos a night or less.

Todays non stop left CTG about 8:33am & arrived in MIA 11:14am or so, then left MIA back to CTG around 12:44pm & arrived cerca 3:20pm per Avianca's colombian website.......funny thing the US version shows the "scheduled" flights @ 11:00am CTG-MIA & MIA-CTG 15:15 the rabbit

NPaul,

I stayed in the same apartment next McDonald back in June(low season) got it for 100k/night for 2 bedroom. Had the whole place to myself, a taxi driver show me the place. But during high season it will more. I forgot what they told me the price was for high. Apartment next to LDV were $120k/night.

Just checked this thru their email link to me earlier this week: Is this crazy & confusing or just me?? Dec available dates 28th(tues) & 30th(thurs); Jan dates 1-4, 6, 9-12, 16, 19, 23, 26, 30; Feb dates 2, 6, 9, 16, 20, 23, 25th(fri) What is so special about Friday the 25th of Feb? I thought I saw last week that March 01 (tues) & 02 (wed) were available, but now its doesn't show those?

Good work SandRabbit! Props to you, something must have changed recently.
My last call to Avianca I was told they only fly non-stop on Wednesdays and Sundays. Mahku is probably right, could be the season or something.
Will be checking it out though, gives me a lot more options :-)

Bukek. Great first report. I have to echo your comments about learning Spanish.

This time I had a great fun. I met up with this cool dude from NYC who was on his first voyage and accompanied him a little bit. It was funny seeing him with these chicas who pretty much wrapped him around their finger.. (but in a nice way!).

For me, most of the chicas know me pretty well, since it was like my fourth or fifth trip over there this year. It was nice to have a 'good' rep from LDV even though there are a few putas there that hate me. I got it free one night from this fox who just liked hanging out with me. She said "Sometimes I work sometimes I go for fun" I guess that night was just for fun. In the morning she wouldn't take anything but taxi money and something for food (20,000 pesos). She came over the night before I left and screwed me four times and I did her friend as well. I really enjoyed being with the chicas and would hang out for hours just rapping and talking.

I met these two chicas from Medellin that were relatively new to the area. Mostly because they were pumping me for info where they could work besides LDV. Two really fun hotties, and the blonde knew every freaking Linkin Park lyric on this video CD I had. Couldn't speak a word but knew all the words to 'falling'. A total hottie and we spent the afternoon rapping, slamming rum, etc. The chicas got out of their suits and were hanging around nude. Just a blast and they were totally cool. Send me an email if you're going over and as I found their phone number last night (pretty much were in LDV when I left).

I spent a LOT of time on the beach and finally had it out with the biggest annoying tout on the beach. Tony. I think this guy needs someone to get in his face like I did. Stupid fucker. I had kept avoiding him but he'd always seek me out like a laser-guided asshole. The final straw was when I sat down at one of his competitors and he comes up yelling how I fucked him (for choosing someone else). I got up and told him we were going to have this out now because I was not going to have this a-hole in my face every-time I was at the beach. I personally don't like confrontations and take no pleasure in it but this guy is a bully and nice doesn't work with bullies. As expected when confronted by someone that isn't scared of him he backed down quickly. He also offered me the 'real prices' instead of his usual rip off prices. I told him when I wanted to do business with him I'd talk to him. Otherwise leave me alone. He then wanted to be my 'buddy' (I'm still trying to figure out which was worse).

Will this have any lasting effect? Who knows? I met one of his competitors and this guy knew from the jump. He was very accurate and kind of nice that I didn't have a big azz hassle at the end of the day. His name is Tony but that won't do you any good, because the first Tony got so much gringo business that there are at least three other Tonys I know of. Tony is the Ray's Pizza in the Cartagena beach scene.

Here are some beach prices. If you're paying higher, you are getting ripped.

Beer (aquilar) 1.5 mil a bottle
Water 1.0 mil bottle, little bags are about 300p
Fruit small plate 4 large plate 5

I can't remember more, but you don't have to. If they're overcharging you for one thing, they will overcharge you for another. Asking the price is Gringo for saying "Tell me what you think I'll pay". I usually only confirm the price in advance.

There are plenty of chicas and I met this luscious piece of brown chocolate on the beach. Just gorgeous and I was talking to two likelies when I saw her. I made eye contact and she licked her lips. Then she strategically walked off and waited while I broke it off with these two chicas. Damn. Just perfect bod for 60k (I coulda had it for 40k but I gave her a tip afterwards).

Overall I find the beach really fun for a low-key way of meeting chicas. I never use a tout btw which works out better for me. Don't pay any money to dumb ass touts for chicas you met yourself! Believe it or not I had a guy try that with me my second trip there. LOL.

Just an aside. There are a lot of chicas living locally in Laquito. Really fun to get to know them, ring them up and they are over at your apt. Fun for daytime diversion! :)

About Playboy.

This is one of those places that has some of the hottest chicas and they know it. IMHO the other casas don't hold a candle to this place although I will submit on any given night you might find a cutie in others like Internationale, Hospadeje, Manila house, etc. etc. (sorry I'm butchering the spelling, I'm sure) but every time I'm disapointed by the selection. Only once did that happen at Playboy (out of four total times).

Their take-out fee is outrageous and I've heard that Colombians get it for 80. One dude told me 60k. I have never been able to get that and I've tried hard. I have finally accepted this is what it is going to cost me -- 100k.

The chicas will negotiate although now it seems like they are all starting at 200k for all night. I can still get them down to 150. Never tried for less. Doesn't seem fair when it is the house fee that burns you. I've had three great chicas and one dud. They are really green for the most part and I don't know how they recruit them but I know I've had students just by the way they write and talk. This is a place where there is no shame in going over the time with the manager. Some chicas will tell you they have to be back early in the morn. Bullshit. If there's a rule, it's laxly enforced! If a chica makes too much a squawk about the time she's history anyways. I like to hear a chica purr the magic words "Whenever you want Papi".

It should be understood that all night is two times. I get all that shit out of the way ahead of time in a place like this and after that it's totally cool. Most of the chicas change in a very short period of time as I can attest. The weekends suck mostly b/c the Colombian dude quotient rises rapidly and I'd prefer to be there more on my own. If you are going there to pick up a chick and leave you can neg in advance with the cab for a free ride back home because they are going to get their cut regardless.

Because it's so far I only hit it once or twice. I didn't take out anything from there this trip, but was sorely tempted. There are chicas that are just as good looking as the Playboy chicas in the usual venues at a cheaper price. Good for a change of pace though.

I agree with Poohbah, the girls all try for at least 150K from gringos regardless where you get them from. Only exception is streetwalkers who will go for 80,000 for short time.

I met a tall blond chica named Vanessa from LDV and she was fun to dance with. From there we went to Tu Candela (sp?) with another girl. There Vanessa tried to negotiate a price with me of 200K for the night. I went as high as 120K and then said Goodbye. All the other clubs in the downtown old city had girls who wanted 150K from gringos. It must be a conspiracy!

Do the girls have a board like we do where they compare prices?

No dude, you're talking about a very small area/venue. There are basically about 5 or 6 clubs I know about. Many of the chicas go trolling, some first to Trip, others first to LDV. Most congregate at Giromato if they are coked up, want to dance, or still need dough (or all three!). So all of them talk. The chicks I get offers from cheaper are those that need the money quickly, those that really like you (it does count more here than Thailand IMHO), how much you know etc.

150 for all night is tops I am going to pay but I will not have every chick go for it. A hundred is what I usually pay ST average. I don't go with the skrunkles and at least swing for the fences with the hotties.

We could divide up the weeks in proportion to who kicks in the most money. Might be like a timeshare, you decide how much of the year you want.

If you are interested, please send me a PM. I might want 4 weeks a year, but not Christmas to New Year's. The holiday weeks would have to be at a premium. NPaul.

Quote: Asking the price is Gringo for saying "Tell me what you think I'll pay".

Truer words were never spoken :-)
Hate to hear how the prices have gone up so much in less than a year.
It was 100k for all night last time I was there. Will be there in early Feb.

Poobah, check your Private Messages...

They are so cute and fun, I had to post a photo of them.