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[QUOTE=Carrib;2859600]Our plane arrived early back to the US, we must have been delayed 20 mins at the gate, We are trying to find someone with a key to the sky deck thing which connects u to the gate at least that was the explanation, when we finally got off the plane, there were at least 10 agents fully armed at the door[/QUOTE]Same thing happened on my flight from Bogota Monday. Well they could not get one of the security doors open. And there were like 10 Customs guys around as well.
[QUOTE=Haxagonus;2859617]...I was basically only getting matches with trans people and ugly girls. Those are the kinds of people that will report you....[/QUOTE]Does it take two to have a match?
[QUOTE=JjBee62;2859626]The airport exchange rate is terrible. Exchange rates in Medellin are decent, but not at the airport.
One of exchange places at the Bogota airport usually has a good rate.[/QUOTE]No money exchange place gives a reasonable rate, not in the MDE airport, not in the BOG airport, not in any city. Those places make money by ripping people off. Some of them are so bad they literally give you like 20% less than the actual exchange rate shown on Google. The only way to get a fair exchange rate is to use an ATM machine to withdraw pesos.
After arriving at the MDE airport and going thru migration and customs, he can use the escalator to go back up to the 2nd level and then head toward the salidas nacionales side of the terminal. Before he reaches the security check point there are several ATM machines there on the left hand side including Davivienda which doesn't charge any fees.
If arriving at the BOG airport there isn't a Davivienda but there are several other ATMs I believe bancolombia and banco de Bogotá or some other green one. Those ATMs will charge a fee but even with said fee he will still be getting a better exchange rate than using a money exchange kiosk. And always remember to decline the fee the ATM offers.
-Gabacho.
Don't trust the ATMs at the MDE airport. Twice I've had my Schwab card canceled mid-trip because of attempted fraud after I used the ATM at the airport. Since then I've made the habit of always keeping enough COP with me when I leave Colombia to get me back into town and to a more secure ATM when I return.
[QUOTE=Gabacho;2859721]No money exchange place gives a reasonable rate, not in the MDE airport, not in the BOG airport, not in any city. Those places make money by ripping people off.[/QUOTE]Actually some in Asia, Dominican Republic, and Peru do give more of a real rate. I do not know how they make money. But on the whole asking about a currency exchange place is like asking where should I get a horse and buggy to get from the airport to my hotel in Poblado. The people that still use the places in the States must be totally green at traveling. I can not believe those places are still open as big of a ripoff as they are. So if I give you $1, you will give me 80 cent worth of the other currency? Deal!
Something very annoying that you learn living here is there isn't much organized customer service. Colombia businesses and government are very good at presenting an image of organized procedures and regulations but the reality is you can ask five employees and officials a question and get five different answers. It's especially bad with the banks. My advice is to seek a second or third opinion until you find an informed and motivated employee. The answer you described sounds to me like an employee who said what she thought would get you to go away quickly. I'm sorry this has been such a pain in the neck but I'm confident you will be able to get it resolved.
[QUOTE=MrEnternational;2859540]Yes I went to a big mall Claro store with my phone, passport, SIM, and original packaging for it. That is where the lady told me I did not need to do anything except go to the cashier and purchase more credit.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Carrib;2859598]Most guys will here will tell you to RTFF (read the fucking forum) but I will try and answer your questions.
Have you considered Airbnb, they are readily available.[/QUOTE]I've been reading the forum a little obsessively.
I looked at AirBnB, but some say "no sex tourism" some say nothing, so I'm not sure if saying nothing means OK. Some say 24 security guards.
Thanks for the help.
[QUOTE=CatBert55;2859737]Don't trust the ATMs at the MDE airport. Twice I've had my Schwab card canceled mid-trip because of attempted fraud after I used the ATM at the airport. Since then I've made the habit of always keeping enough COP with me when I leave Colombia to get me back into town and to a more secure ATM when I return.[/QUOTE]Which exact ATM was it? I've used the Davivienda machines there as well as the BBVA on the bottom level (before they started charging 18 mil) and I've never had any fraud on my card. As easy way to avoid this would be to just lock your card on your app whenever you are not using it to withdraw.
[QUOTE=CBuilder;2859583]I just booked a flight to Medellin for the 17th. I read that hotel Dix is girl friendly but it seems to be booked. Does anyone have a recommendation for a hotel? Any other advice is welcome. I have been studying Spanish for 6 months but still suck. First time in Colombia, but lots of other experience.
BTW I am continuing on to BA. After 10 days in Medellin, but the Argentina forum is a ghost town. Back when I couldn't go it was an amazing forum, now that I'm going it's worthless. Is there website anyone recommends for BA?[/QUOTE]I'm actually headed to Medellin on the 17/18th and then on to Buenos Aires from there too. Maybe a 1 stop in Bogota since its the layover. Been reading the forums trying to get the lay of the land and will do some trip reports.
[QUOTE=Gabacho;2859721]No money exchange place gives a reasonable rate, not in the MDE airport, not in the BOG airport, not in any city. Those places make money by ripping people off. Some of them are so bad they literally give you like 20% less than the actual exchange rate shown on Google. The only way to get a fair exchange rate is to use an ATM machine to withdraw pesos.
After arriving at the MDE airport and going thru migration and customs, he can use the escalator to go back up to the 2nd level and then head toward the salidas nacionales side of the terminal. Before he reaches the security check point there are several ATM machines there on the left hand side including Davivienda which doesn't charge any fees.
If arriving at the BOG airport there isn't a Davivienda but there are several other ATMs I believe bancolombia and banco de Bogot or some other green one. Those ATMs will charge a fee but even with said fee he will still be getting a better exchange rate than using a money exchange kiosk. And always remember to decline the fee the ATM offers.
-Gabacho.[/QUOTE]I meant the exchange rate that the ATM offers*.
[QUOTE=CBuilder;2859583]I just booked a flight to Medellin for the 17th. I read that hotel Dix is girl friendly but it seems to be booked. Does anyone have a recommendation for a hotel? Any other advice is welcome. I have been studying Spanish for 6 months but still suck. First time in Colombia, but lots of other experience.
BTW I am continuing on to BA. After 10 days in Medellin, but the Argentina forum is a ghost town. Back when I couldn't go it was an amazing forum, now that I'm going it's worthless. Is there website anyone recommends for BA?[/QUOTE]Check the mansion ([URL]http://hotelmedellinplaza.com[/URL]), best place for your first time in town.
[QUOTE=CatBert55;2859737]Don't trust the ATMs at the MDE airport. Twice I've had my Schwab card canceled mid-trip because of attempted fraud after I used the ATM at the airport. Since then I've made the habit of always keeping enough COP with me when I leave Colombia to get me back into town and to a more secure ATM when I return.[/QUOTE]Haven't had your experience, but one tip for foreign travel with any card. Try to make your FIRST transaction a card insert with pin, NOT a 'tap to pay'. The higher security insert with pin will validate the card and you as being there (knowing the pin), thus marking you and the card as in-country. If your first transaction is a tap-to-pay (like buying a coffee before the ATM) then you may get flagged as potential fraud. Since they can only validate the card and not yourself, then a generated security call may not reach or ring you out-of-country (since you 'just' arrived, cell phone company may not be forwarding calls properly yet), and your card will get disabled. Using an ATM (even the one right by the exit) with your PIN will count as a card insert with pin. With this approach even my local credit union ATM card has worked reliably in Colombia and many other countries (including Morocco).
[QUOTE=CatBert55;2859737]Don't trust the ATMs at the MDE airport. Twice I've had my Schwab card canceled mid-trip because of attempted fraud after I used the ATM at the airport. Since then I've made the habit of always keeping enough COP with me when I leave Colombia to get me back into town and to a more secure ATM when I return.[/QUOTE]I have never had any issues with the ATMs at the MDE airport. I have used the ATMs upstairs at the airport on six separate occasions without an issue. Now, it may be the case that the boardmember had issues with his Schwab card but it may not be related to the ATMs at the airport. I also use Schwab. Works like a charm each and every time with no issues.
[QUOTE=Gabacho;2859721]After arriving at the MDE airport and going thru migration and customs, he can use the escalator to go back up to the 2nd level and then head toward the salidas nacionales side of the terminal. Before he reaches the security check point there are several ATM machines there on the left hand side including Davivienda which doesn't charge any fees.[/QUOTE]Excellent advise, I always forget about that Davivienda ATM on the 2nd floor. This will save you the extra $5 the ATM at the immigration exist charges as an additional fee. Goes without saying, always remember to DECLINE their conversion, let your own bank do the conversion.
[QUOTE=GeorgeCarta22;2859183]I've been following this forum for quite some time leading up to my trip and this has me pretty bummed out.
I've been wanting to just get a GF type for my couple days in medellin and seems like situation is pretty rough.
The last 50 pages of this sub I pretty much gathered.
- do facebook research connections before you go.
- tinder girls could be ok more potential for scolp.
- la isla is good for a quickie but over priced.
- loutron is hit or miss.
- parque lleras girls are mostly sub 7.
- and just never go to gustos.
- photo prepago? (not sure).
Is this basically the summary of medellin's current situation?[/QUOTE]I have visited Medellin six times. I have never been to the casas. I have never taken a El Centro or Poblado streetwalker. I have never taken a girl at Loutron, Gustos or La Isla. I have never used online prepago sites.
Yet I always have a good time in Medellin. I just focus on girls on Facebook and I have always been able to find young attractive girls for a reasonable fair price (per my standards). No reason to go elsewhere as far as I am concern.
Still it is not for everyone because it requires some time and effort prior to going on your trip. Usually I have girls ready to go on Facebook before I set foot in Medellin. To each his own.