Cartagena Reports

[QUOTE=Rumpus;1864159]Bocagrande is a large area (view boundaries via google). It stands to reason that the price varies depending on if you're at the end nearest El Centro or the end furthest (in other places, the meter would reflect this). Regardless, as I wrote, that's the price they were asking.
If you want to fight with some impoverished developing world taxi driver over 66 cents, go right ahead. Somebody's got to provide fresh fodder for "the Ugly American" stereotype.

I didn't say anything about beating the rate, I said it was "much better". As that phrase implies, the spread was greater than expected.
Also, my credit card (charging) gave me the same rate as the debit card (withdrawing). Actually better on the credit card once the ATM fee was factored in for the withdrawal.

Anyway my report is meant to be informational for mongers looking for fresh news, or visiting for the first time, or otherwise new to the city. Obviously people who've taken root in the dark corners of Bocagrande will already know what they need to know. Hopefully they contribute their intimate knowledge of the location rather than snipe about other reports.
[/QUOTE]Your report is informational, I did not argue that, and my comments were even more informational, aiming JUST at fixing some few details, to avoid that some newbie "visiting for the first time" could be misled.

1) Bocagrande-Centro is [b]6k[/b]. Period.
How many times did you visit Cartagena? It does not matter if Bocagrande is large or small. Don't lecture about taxi fares, since you have been there just once. No, it is not true that "the price varies depending on if you're at the end nearest El Centro or the end furthest". Yes, "in other places, the meter would reflect this", but not in Cartagena.
Now, once we know the fare is 6k, we are free to leave a tip (and I often do).
After midnight, they usually demand a surcharge (8k), which is probably not standard, but when one is with a girl, and the driver knows the guy is going to give her 200k or more, and he already spent 100k-200k on drinks, it is hard to be stingy.
The fact that taxi drivers around Hampton usually asked you more than 6k means that they know that the average tourist at Hampton is not aware of what are the regular fares. Nothing bad in that, but ISG is here on purpose to inform.

2) Again ATMs. It's surprising this topic comes back again and again.
Once more: yes, the exchange rate on a credit card is the same as on a debit card (not surprisingly: Maestro is the debit circuit of Mastercard). The difference is that, when one uses a [I]credit[/I] card, he has to pay [I]in addition[/I] 4% fee to the international credit circuit (Mastercard, Visa,...) which [I]advances[/I], that is [I]loans[/I], the money.
A bank can issue a credit card with some special conditions, but the international credit circuit (Mastercard, Visa) is the same and keeps its rules. So, no way to escape 4%. (easy to avoud this: just use the debit function of a card, avoiding the credit function).

[QUOTE=Hilltopper;1864144]To the best of my often clouded recollection, Arepas Pues is open around 12 hours a day. Opening at 5 or 6 pm and closing at 5 or 6 am. I'm going with 5 pm to 5 am. Nonetheless, a freshly made Arepa Mixta is well worth the visit, and be sure to add some of the sauce prior to taking each bite, LOL.[/QUOTE]LOL. Are you sure??

I admit that I sampled Arepas Pues ONLY in the time interval 0am-6am. So I understood it was open 24 h. Also, when I walk in front of it at daytime I did not have the feeling it was closed. You made me curious.
I cannot believe it's open only 12h from 6pm to 6am. It would be a well strange business model.

By the way, there is another place good for arepas, almost in front. I don't remember the name, but it's venezolano.

[QUOTE=BlackPage;1864299]LOL. Are you sure??

I admit that I sampled Arepas Pues ONLY in the time interval 0am-6am. So I understood it was open 24 h. Also, when I walk in front of it at daytime I did not have the feeling it was closed. You made me curious.
I cannot believe it's open only 12h from 6pm to 6am. It would be a well strange business model.

By the way, there is another place good for arepas, almost in front. I don't remember the name, but it's venezolano.[/QUOTE]Hilltopper is correct about the hours.

I am not sure of daytime hours but it's definitely open 4:30 am. I have taken girls there many times for bite to eat between clubs or after.

[QUOTE=BlackPage;1864299]LOL. Are you sure??
Q
I admit that I sampled Arepas Pues ONLY in the time interval 0am-6am. So I understood it was open 24 h. Also, when I walk in front of it at daytime I did not have the feeling it was closed. You made me curious.
I cannot believe it's open only 12h from 6pm to 6am. It would be a well strange business model.

By the way, there is another place good for arepas, almost in front. I don't remember the name, but it's venezolano.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=YouCan;1864876]I am not sure of daytime hours but it's definitely open 4:30 am. I have taken girls there many times for bite to eat between clubs or after.[/QUOTE]Wow! This was just posted by 2 other people and myself, including the person you are directing your post to. Reading comprehension is a good thing to have!

[QUOTE=OldParr;1864877]Wow! This was just posted by 2 other people and myself, including the person you are directing your post to. Reading comprehension is a good thing to have![/QUOTE]Is it in laguito near Juan's apts?

[QUOTE=BrotherP;1865070]Is it in laguito near Juan's apts?[/QUOTE]Bocagrande my friend and only a 7 minute walk or so from Playa Hollywood or LDV. When you are walking from Laguito just follow the sidewalk around and you will almost run directly into it. Everyone knows where this place is so just ask. The correct address is: Av. San Martin No. 4-90.

The arepa mixta with the sauce is something to die for as Hilltopper pointed out. It is definitely my favorite fast food place in Cartagena.

[QUOTE=OldParr;1865081]Bocagrande my friend and only a 7 minute walk or so from Playa Hollywood or LDV. When you are walking from Laguito just follow the sidewalk around and you will almost run directly into it. Everyone knows where this place is so just ask. The correct address is: Av. San Martin No. 4-90.
The arepa mixta with the sauce is something to die for as Hilltopper pointed out. It is definitely my favorite fast food place in Cartagena.[/QUOTE]I always propose my girls to stop at Arepas Pues before going to sleep (mostly after 4 am, because when I am in CTG I want to enjoy every hour of the nightlife).

This was in 2015, with 3 good girls at Arepas Pues at 5:30am looking forward to sleeping in my apartment (sorry I must hide the face, I hope nobody could recognize them). At that point, actually, it was not even clear [i]who[/i], [i]how many[/i] and even [i]for how much[/i] would have slept in my bed.
The decision came spontaneous after the arepas.

It's a good thing that non-hardcore girls often rent cheap apartments without aircon. This makes my apartment immediately attractive.

We ended up with one sleeping with me and the others in the living room till next morning 10 am. Of course, this was not the first time I met them (it's not a good idea to bring more than 1 girl to his apartment, if one does not fully trust them). It was also the beginning of a good friendship. We had 3somes but not 4somes. My last time in CTG I met again one of them and we keep in touch, even now that she stopped working.

PS: Note the different style of the chairs. When did they change?

It's time for me to contribute to this great community from which I learned so much. I just came back home from my 4 day trip to Cartagena and have a story to share which is probably going to be long. I rented thru AirBNB a nice condo next to the old city and planned to invite my favorite lady from Medellin which I met in the Mansion two months earlier. I told her that I pay airfare and 300 k for each day that she spends with me. I am not a guy who is looking for a girlfriend but I needed this for several reasons: a) to have a pussy available at any time, b) to practice my Spanish skills, c) to have a guide in Cartagena where I never been before, and finally d) to use her connections to pick up a girl once or twice for threesome.

As if expecting this, a few days before the trip, she texted me asking if I do not mind if she brings another chica - a very good friend of her. She sent me her pictures and assured that the chica is really good in bed and she is very excited to join both of us. We negotiated a bit on the money - I told her I am not going to pay double so we settled somewhere around 1. 5 in other words, "pay for one chica get another for half a price" .

The chicas arrived 5 hours after my flight so I had enough time to change money, to settle in the apartment and get some rest. Once they arrived we had a good threesome and went to the VIP Club which they wanted that night. I felt a bit weird appearing to be a sugar-daddy for two chicas around me but nobody seems to care much so the night was a blast. The girls were dancing thru the morning (I paid for their drinks but that was part of the deal) and we left the club by 7 in the morning.

Next day we wanted to go the Rosario Island but I made mistake I thought that if we go to the end of Lagito where a private boat can be rented we could get a good deal. Wrong. Instead, this was a place where you can find a bunch of crooked liars! First they wanted 600 k for a round trip. When we was about to leave the place, they quickly downed it to 300 k. But in reality they brought us to Blanco Playa which is much closer. My limited Spanish did not allow me to get the cheaters accountable so we spent the day at that beach. Our luck was that it was Monday so not many locals were there and the beach was actually not bad! To get back to Cartagena we decided to take taxi and it was another mistake it took as 2. 5 hours of sitting in the car because of horrible rush hour traffic. The girls took a nap at the back seat but I was restless watching awful driving manners of Cartagenians. That evening we went to Caribe Shopping mall to eat and watch a movie. Later we had another great fuck the girls were very thankful for me sponsoring their trip and provided the best service they can (at least this is what I think).

On the third day we went to Tu Candella and another club (I forgot) but ended up in VIP again because in our shared opinion this was the best club in Cartagena. I noticed a few good looking girls there but the number of good looking local guys were also significant so I am not sure that I would have a good chance to pick up a good girl there if I went there alone. By 4 am I was so tired that I told to my girls that I am going home and I expect them to get back in an hour or so. The girls promised but got back only next day by noon. They apparently went to Casa Benjamin to get some more drugs and stayed there for more time. To my credit, I expected that something like that eventually happens and immediately switched to my Plan be: I fired them and told to vacate my place by the evening. They apologized profusely but quickly found another place and left around 8 pm. I wasn't angry at all instead we separated with kisses and hugs and still are very good friends on Facebook. At the end of the day, I do not want to control their life they live this crazy high life for years paying for all goods with their pussies. I knew they eventually loosen up and quite frankly, by the third day, I myself already had enough of the same threesome and I wanted to spend my last day in Cartagena differently.

Around 3 pm of that day, I visited the Casa Rosario - what a shitty place! The manager wanted me to pay 200 k before even showing me any girls. When I refused, he started randomly pointing me at some ugly looking girls passing by and I was about to leave. Then suddenly, one of the girls, cute and young showed up and I decided to fuck her. She was around 7 not a stunner, but in that setting she was obviously winning a few points. I did not negotiate the money I paid the asking price to the manager but I decided to never go this place again. The rooms were filthy with almost non-existing AC. The sex was pretty good though but that was pretty much it. Did it happen to be my last sex in Cartagena, I would feel that my overall great experience got ruined at the end.

Fortunately, later that night, I went to the Torre de Reloj plaza around midnight and the place was busy - I easily counted more then a dozen girls (a few of them 7-8) so it proved what I heard about the place as a good place to pickup hookers.

I noticed an amazing 19 year old Maria a university student who were standing there right in the middle of the plaza, without any amigas. I was monitoring her for 10 minutes she was patiently waiting for a client but, unlike professional hookers, without glancing around and winking. When I finally approached her and introduced myself she smiled and says she wanted 200 k. Once in my place she got wet almost immediately as I start touching and kissing her and the fuck was so good that I asked her to stay overnight adding another 200 k. She was so passionate about sex which makes me to believe that she only recently came to this business to make some money to cover her tuition and living. This is one of those treasures that we got luck once in a while to discover. She has been texting me love messages for last three days so I am now thinking to take her to Cancun or at least to St. Andreas.

I love colombian chicas!

Great report! Sounds like you had a fantastic time! Tagreplacement0}.

[QUOTE=BlackPage;1865445]I always propose my girls to stop at Arepas Pues before going to sleep (mostly after 4 am, because when I am in CTG I want to enjoy every hour of the nightlife).

This was in 2015, with 3 good girls at Arepas Pues at 5:30am looking forward to sleeping in my apartment (sorry I must hide the face, I hope nobody could recognize them). At that point, actually, it was not even clear [i]who[/i], [i]how many[/i] and even [i]for how much[/i] would have slept in my bed.
The decision came spontaneous after the arepas.

It's a good thing that non-hardcore girls often rent cheap apartments without aircon. This makes my apartment immediately attractive.

We ended up with one sleeping with me and the others in the living room till next morning 10 am. Of course, this was not the first time I met them (it's not a good idea to bring more than 1 girl to his apartment, if one does not fully trust them). It was also the beginning of a good friendship. We had 3somes but not 4somes. My last time in CTG I met again one of them and we keep in touch, even now that she stopped working.

PS: Note the different style of the chairs. When did they change?[/QUOTE]Does anyone have a recommendation for a top of line seafood restaurant in Cartagena. I have been to Langosta more times than I can count, so now I am bored of the place.

Black Page clear out the messages in your inbox.

Hi,

I just realized I may be going to Cartagena in a month.

I've read about 10 pages and have some really dumb questions.

I'm in my 40's, have some mongering experience and I'm not too price sensitive:

1) who is Tony?

2) how safe is it to pick up girls in clubs and town squares? Any rip off / robbery concerns back in your hotel room?

3) any reputable escort agencies? Yeah I know the pics will be photoshopped a bit, the prices a little expensive too, but sometimes it's nice to be able to just dial up a hottie especially in the day time, without having to wonder around and / or risk rip offs.

4) I guess there are so many choices that I'm confused but is there a best 1-2 nightclubs for picking up pros? Again at these prices and only having 3-4 days there, I'm OK spending a bit more for hotties, especially if safe because then they can spend the night.

Thanks in advance for any answers.

[QUOTE=OldParr;1867517]Does anyone have a recommendation for a top of line seafood restaurant in Cartagena. I have been to Langosta more times than I can count, so now I am bored of the place.
Black Page clear out the messages in your inbox.[/QUOTE]
Cleared thanks! 200 messages from the inbox and outbox cleared. There was some good info, but old anyway.

I would recommend Cuzco, comida peruana, 1 block from Calle Baloco (the one with Quebracho and La Vitrola).

I made a search of some old posts of mine and here it is a compilation of paragraphs, edited and rearranged.

My choices in Cartagena:

1) CUZCO, comida peruana.
Excellent ambience and food. Seafood but not only seafood. Elegant. Classy. Superb food.
About what you cannot eat: the receptionist is a stunning girl with legs to die for (just her costenho accent is too heavy).
Also, I did not notice any evident gringo-puta couple holding hands romantically at the table (way too many in Vitrola, Quebracho or Juan del Mar). (I exclude myself, obviously, because I am not a gringo ahah).
Last time I went there 3 nights in a row.

2) Santisimo. Good and elegant. San Diego.

3 For late dinner: Juan del Mar. San Diego.
Always the same menu year after year, boring, but it closes at 12 am, so it's often my only choice if I go out at 10 pm. What's annoying is the music, too loud and trivial, it even impedes conversating. The owner is very famous in Colombia (soap operas?) So you see ladies lined up for a selfie with him. He plays his role well, so he keeps his smile on face at all times.

4) For steaks: Carbon de Palo in Bocagrande if I am late, Quebracho in Centro if I want the best steak. I just don't like the music, too strong for my taste.

5) For ceviches and cocteles: avoid Bocagrande, go straight to kiosks outside the wall at the right of Reloy (facing it, Av. Venezuela).

6) For lunch: La Mulata in Centro, or a small restaurant on the beach at Laguito which I do not name it (because I like it keeps small and patronized only by locals! Let the gringos gather only at Riquisimo: P).

It's a nice long report, but I cannot refrain from noticing an amazing amount of mistakes you did (well, "mistakes" from my perspective, of course; take it as a friendly opinion).

[QUOTE=Chinzano;1866529] planned to invite my favorite lady from Medellin which I met in the Mansion two months earlier. I told her that I pay airfare and 300 k for each day that she spends with me. I am not a guy who is looking for a girlfriend but I needed this for several reasons: a) to have a pussy available at any time, b) to practice my Spanish skills, c) to have a guide in Cartagena where I never been before, and finally d) to use her connections to pick up a girl once or twice for threesome.
[/QUOTE]That's the mother of all mistakes. Wrong strategy from beginning. Now you know, but come on, how could you think that was convenient??

A) and d) are particularly naif. If there is something which is not lacking in Cartagena is GIRLS! All shapes size and looks from 100 k (or less) to 300 k and much more for big spenders who do not care to spoil the market.

Even if you are in love with someone, don't take her to Cartagena, as you will be surrounded by other girls and you will regret to have no freedom.

[QUOTE=Chinzano;1866529]As if expecting this, a few days before the trip, she texted me asking if I do not mind if she brings another chica - a very good friend of her. She sent me her pictures and assured that the chica is really good in bed and she is very excited to join both of us. We negotiated a bit on the money - I told her I am not going to pay double so we settled somewhere around 1. 5 in other words, "pay for one chica get another for half a price" .
[/QUOTE]OMG they were giving five each other. The found someone who was paying her trip to Cartagena, where they planned to go to work well before, but they were just thinking "should we go by bus to save money or by plane?" Et voila: the gringo pays.

[QUOTE=Chinzano;1866529]
Next day we wanted to go the Rosario Island but I made mistake I thought that if we go to the end of Lagito where a private boat can be rented we could get a good deal. Wrong. Instead, this was a place where you can find a bunch of crooked liars! First they wanted 600 k for a round trip. When we was about to leave the place, they quickly downed it to 300 k. But in reality they brought us to Blanco Playa which is much closer. My limited Spanish did not allow me to get the cheaters accountable so we spent the day at that beach.
[/QUOTE]I feel sympathy for you. That's one more proof, if ever needed, that Cartagena is an ocean of sharks waiting for food.

[QUOTE=Chinzano;1866529]By 4 am I was so tired that I told to my girls that I am going home and I expect them to get back in an hour or so. The girls promised but got back only next day by noon. They apparently went to Casa Benjamin to get some more drugs and stayed there for more time.
[/QUOTE]OMG.

The situation is even worse that it looked at the beginning. Only VETERANS of Cartagena go to Casa Benjamin. Girls go there to take drugs. They even fuck for free with the Israelis, just because of the drug. When I hear that a girl goes / went to Casa Benjamin I find immediately an excuse to get rid of her.

[QUOTE=Chinzano;1866529]To my credit, I expected that something like that eventually happens and immediately switched to my Plan be: I fired them and told to vacate my place by the evening. They apologized profusely but quickly found another place and left around 8 pm.
I wanted to spend my last day in Cartagena differently.
[/QUOTE]My intepretation of your story is that your girls used you to have the trip paid, returned the favor with some fuck (not a big deal for them), then just waited for the first opportunity to be free and start doing what they planned since the beginning: work and make money.

[QUOTE=Chinzano;1866529]Fortunately, later that night, I went to the Torre de Reloj plaza around midnight and the place was busy - I easily counted more then a dozen girls (a few of them 7-8) so it proved what I heard about the place as a good place to pickup hookers.
I noticed an amazing 19 year old Maria a university student who were standing there right in the middle of the plaza, without any amigas.
[/QUOTE]Finally! At long last you learned. See how good Cartagena can be? Never plan in advance. Go and follow the wind.

EVery night a new surprise. Next time it will be a great trip for you!

But forget the idea to invite this girl to some other place.

Black Page, I have to admin, all your comments are accurate and right to the points. This was one of the reasons I posted my story - to hear good positive critiques from other fellas.
The girls definitely used me as a sponsor for their "business trip" to Cartagena. I kind of suspected and expected this their motivation but my calculation was that at the end I will "use" them more then they "use" me.

Interesting two additional details:
1. They even booked the returned ticket 5 days after mine. Which makes perfect sense as they needed more time to party and to make money.
2. On the second day, they went to Casa Benjamin to buy drugs when I was with them at Lagito. I waited in taxi for about 15 minute.

And you are absolutely right. One of the girls was a VETERAN. She can be seen partying in the Casa Benjamin all over the Facebook pictures and has tons of friends there.
As I mentioned, one of the reasons I planned my trip that way was that I wasn't familiar with Cartagena and wasn't sure what to expect especially on the first couple of days and especially because my trip was so short.
Now I know where and how to get the best girls there. I thought I needed to go to LDV but turned out that the Torre de Reloj has so many options (even on Tuesday) that I skipped LDV all together.
And you're right - if anything, Cartagena doesn't have shortage of girls of all shapes and colors.

Anyway, very good points, bro. Appreciate.