Juan's first language was Catalan, and Mery's was Farsi.
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Juan's first language was Catalan, and Mery's was Farsi.
Thanx guys. There is an ocean view room on Mery's website for 60 usd/night, I guess, I will take that. She didn't ask me for the credit card info but reserved it, I guess, that's the way it is in Cartegena.
The spanish learning mp3s are killing me.
I'm borrowing my friend's electronic pocket translater..it's pretty handy and easy to use. I think he picked it up at Radio Shack. It even says the words for you in spanish so you can get the correct pronounciation. cool stuff.
Mery is great..she reserved a 2 bed for me but hasnt asked for any deposit yet. I need to confirm with her on this method.
C'mon June 2nd !!!!..I'm ready to hit CTG.
Far as I know neither Mery nor Juan takes credit cards. You pay cash up front. Also, you generally pay the maid directly for service. There is no tax to be paid on the rental.
TRAVEL FROM SAN JOSE TO CARTAGENA OR ISLA SAN ANDRES CHEAP!
If you want to see Costa Rica AND Colombia, here's a tip:
A Tico friend pointed me to
[url]www.destinostv.com[/url]
They often, but not always, have super-cheap charter flights and packages to Cartagena & Isla San Andres.
They charter a whle TACA jet a couple of times a week, and sell packages with hotel for much less than the airfare would cost you otherwise. The plane stops each way in Cartagena and Isla San Andres. You do pay airport tax coming and going CR and Colombia about $25 each. They also have some other interesting specials on the website to various destinations. Highly recommended. You have to pay with credit card or bank transfer, and you don't get your ticket til you get to the SJO airport, which made me nervous. But they have a stand right next to the TACA counter on days they do flights and everything went as smooth as butter. They handed me my boarding passes and vouchers. The "all-inclusive" hotel was right on the beach in San Andres, and had once been once, but was really run down (no hot water, phone broken) and the "all-inclusive" meant stale sandwiches and for some reason all you could drink OLD MILWAUKI beer, LOL, but heck it was virtually free. Isla San Andres is a beautiful tropical island which belongs to Colombia, very small, mostly black people who speak some English. No major action there, pretty much BYOG. VERY few gringos, mostly Colombians and Panamanians on vacation. completely safe they search the fuck out of you when you arrive to keep weapons off the island. Check it out.
I had couple of questions about Cartagena and I was hoping I could get some good feedbacks. I'm 24 years old, some people say I caught on too quick, but what can I say I love beautiful women. I have been to Bangkok couple of times and I finally was fortunate enough to experience DR and BM in Costa Rica this past winter. I was planning a trip to Cartagena, but I was warned by my travel agency that Cartagena could be dangerous and chaotic. Here are some of my questions.
1. I'm a Asian-American with a US passport. I heard US citizens don't need a visa to enter Colombia. Can someone tell me exactly how this works? Is it easy like going into Bangkok or San jose? Do the customs ask you questions if you travel alone from US to Colombia?
2. I was planning a trip by myself. Is it dangerous for me to travel alone?
3. I have met beautiful Colombians in my past trip to SJO. Mongering was quite easy and accessible, but how does Cartagena compare to the atmosphere of Thailand or Costa Rica.
4. BKK was more GFE oriented than sjo. How are the girls in Cartagena? Is greek and cim plentiful?
1. It works like going Costa Rica or Bangkok. You don't need a visa. Colombian immigration probably won't ask you anything. U.S. immigration may ask you why you went to Colombia. You could probably tell them you were there to bang a lot of hookers and they wouldn't care, but the perverts might make a point of looking through images on your digital camera or laptop. I'm shy and usually say something like visiting some girls I met on the internet.
2. In my opinion, it's not particularly dangerous. Certainly not as safe as Bangkok, and maybe about the same or a little worse than San Jose. You would want to use some common sense. Late at night stay away from deserted areas and stick to Laguito, Boca Grande, and Old City for example.
3. It's not as user friendly as SJO or BKK. Meaning that you don't have a ton of massage parlors, hooker bars, etc., with everyone speaking English. Cartagena is definitely not as easy or accessible to the non-Spanish speaker. Also, infrastructure isn't as well develop -- unless you're staying at the Santa Clara, you're going to know you're in a 3rd world country. That's not the case IMHO so much in San Jose, and certainly not in Bangkok. There are lots of touts in Cartagena, and most of the people are poor.
4. I'd put CTG and BKK at about the same level in terms of GFE, definitely much better than San Jose. But my Spanish is reasonably good -- that might make a difference. In terms of stunners, I'd give the edge to San Jose and Bangkok. You will find more 10's in the Blue Marlin in San Jose than anywhere in Cartagena, although the BM chicas are a lot more likely to have an attitude. The hooker bar in Cartagena with the most stunners is La Dolce Vita, IMHO. Some peope would disagree and say Pleboy. Anyway, there are probably 20+ places in Bangkok (e.g., Rainbow 2, Rainbow 4, Rachadapisek massage parlors) that would rank with the La Dolce Vita in terms of the number of stunners.
If you like old Spanish architecture, you'll love Cartagena, there's nothing like the old city. If your Spanish is poor or if you're looking for first world standards, you may be disappointed. If you're just going for the sex, SJO and BKK are better destinations, IMHO.
I wouldn't even mention SJO in the same breath as CTG. The chicas in CTG are hotter, much better performers, and cheaper. You can walk around anywhere in the tourist zone(Laguito, Bocagrande, Castillo Grande, and Centro) of CTG alone at any time of the day or night without worry. I wouldn't try that in SJO.
When I was on the plane to CTG from SJO for my first visit, I met a guy who told me that I'd never return to SJO. That was 3 1/2 years ago. He was right.
A buddy of mine with a Chinese father loves it in CTG. Of course his mother is Honduran. He does prefer Sao Paolo, though.
I'll agree they're cheaper. Try walking around in Torices or Getsemani at about 2:00 AM.
[QUOTE=Tiny 12]1. It works like going Costa Rica or Bangkok. You don't need a visa. Colombian immigration probably won't ask you anything. U.S. immigration may ask you why you went to Colombia. You could probably tell them you were there to bang a lot of hookers and they wouldn't care, but the perverts might make a point of looking through images on your digital camera or laptop. I'm shy and usually say something like visiting some girls I met on the internet.
2. In my opinion, it's not particularly dangerous. Certainly not as safe as Bangkok, and maybe about the same or a little worse than San Jose. You would want to use some common sense. Late at night stay away from deserted areas and stick to Laguito, Boca Grande, and Old City for example.
3. It's not as user friendly as SJO or BKK. Meaning that you don't have a ton of massage parlors, hooker bars, etc., with everyone speaking English. Cartagena is definitely not as easy or accessible to the non-Spanish speaker. Also, infrastructure isn't as well develop -- unless you're staying at the Santa Clara, you're going to know you're in a 3rd world country. That's not the case IMHO so much in San Jose, and certainly not in Bangkok. There are lots of touts in Cartagena, and most of the people are poor.
4. I'd put CTG and BKK at about the same level in terms of GFE, definitely much better than San Jose. But my Spanish is reasonably good -- that might make a difference. In terms of stunners, I'd give the edge to San Jose and Bangkok. You will find more 10's in the Blue Marlin in San Jose than anywhere in Cartagena, although the BM chicas are a lot more likely to have an attitude. The hooker bar in Cartagena with the most stunners is La Dolce Vita, IMHO. Some peope would disagree and say Pleboy. Anyway, there are probably 20+ places in Bangkok (e.g., Rainbow 2, Rainbow 4, Rachadapisek massage parlors) that would rank with the La Dolce Vita in terms of the number of stunners.
If you like old Spanish architecture, you'll love Cartagena, there's nothing like the old city. If your Spanish is poor or if you're looking for first world standards, you may be disappointed. If you're just going for the sex, SJO and BKK are better destinations, IMHO.[/QUOTE]
Most stunners in the Hotel del rey? Are you shitting Me??????
They are mostly retreads....
CTG has more hot chicas hands down.....
What can I say? I like implants. On a busy night I'd rank the top 5 in the Blue Marlin higher than the top 5 in LDV in terms of looks. This is partly because there are more women in Blue Marlin. You'll get no argument from me that cost and service on average are better in Cartagena. Although I've been with a couple of ice queens in Cartagena, and some really nice women in San Jose. And an hour with a woman in Zona Blue in San Jose, with the facilities, will run less than an hour with many of the women from LDV.
From where I live, it takes 5 hours to get to San Jose and 12 hours to get to Cartagena. And it costs more to go to Colombia. For people in the same boat that's another point in San Jose's favor.
[QUOTE=Tiny 12]What can I say? I like implants. On a busy night I'd rank the top 5 in the Blue Marlin higher than the top 5 in LDV in terms of looks. This is partly because there are more women in Blue Marlin. As a veteran of over 12 trips to San Jose I will probably leave it as that ...a dozen. IMHO Cartagena has much more going for it,,,,and SAFER too.The quality in the DEl Rey is great no doubt but the attitudes are not.LDV is the same quality wise but cheaper.Ctg has the beach and is cleaner.San Jose is fucking boring in the day.Personally I hope Americans stay scared....mule
you wrote: Personally I hope Americans stay scared....mule
So why do you then post that Cartagena is safer than San Jose? Why not agree with Tiny and write "Tiny is correct; no reason to go to Colombia when San Jose is SO much safer and easier to get to. Costa Rica ROCKS!".
In this case there is no harm so no foul. Cartagena is no secret Eden.
I am NOT singling you out mule. This post is more meant to cause people to THINK before posting. Say somebody discovers another place even better than Cartagena. While the natural inclination of most of us, myself included, is to share the knowledge, in hindsight I believe most ADVENTUROUS TYPES will realize that inclination is pure folly. Because the primary thing that makes a mongering venue special, lack of gringos willing to overpay, will no longer be the case once critical mass develops on this (or other public access) board.
I say this because I have really come to lament my contribution to the hyping of Cali. And now Cali has become MUCH more like Cartagena than I could have ever imagined. I thought that the lack of tourist attractions and English speakers, coupled with the bad reputation for violence, would be sufficient deterrent to the masses of gringo sex tourists who fantacize about Colombia. I was, sadly, wrong.
For the sport of finding lady companionship, Cart., hands down. I have been to both places at least 5 times each. The best looking babes in Blue Marlin are Colombian anyway, so why not just go to Colombia. They want to charge a 100 bucks for a quickie. Thats insane! I can afford it, but that would qualify me as being insane. I have also been to all the massage places too, nothing to write home about. Only gfe you might get are from some ticas, and I am latin, and you still have to work it to get gfe. I will say that Costa Rica has many things going for it if you are into adventurous physical activities and and hiking and so forth, as I am. Ticas and Ticos are also very friendly folks.
Now, even though Cartagena is not my favorite place to meet ladies in Colombia, its still worth visiting. The ladies, in my opinion, are way better looking than most ticas, and worse case scenerio are just as pretty. Just as there are many ladies from different parts of Colombia in San Jose, they also flock to Cartagena as well( Similiar to how many ladies from all over Brasil go to Rio to meet tourists). In Cartagena(LDV), there just as many babes that are cheaper, not cheap, but way cheaper than the Del Rey scene. Also, they are ten times more likely to give you a gfe( if thats your thing ) in Cartagena as compared to San Jose, in particular the Marlin Bar.
As for day activities, Cartagena is full of bitches, pardon me, beaches, even though they are nothing to get excited about, but its a place to hangout, get a tan, and meet a girly. San Jose does not have a beach. But again, SJ has way better sight seeing activities(Volcanoes, Craters, rainforest, etc.) than Cart. But no beaches.
As for safety, must becareful no matter where you go, but San Jose is more dangerous at night time as compared to Cart.
I enjoy both places for different reasons, and I will go back someday, but not anytime soon. I am busy learning about, and enjoying other destinations right now. My two cents worth. Have fun, stay safe, and never fall in love! :)
[QUOTE=Mangera]For the sport of finding lady companionship, Cart., hands down. I have been to both places at least 5 times each. The best looking babes in Blue Marlin are Colombian anyway, so why not just go to Colombia. They want to charge a 100 bucks for a quickie. Thats insane! I can afford it, but that would qualify me as being insane. I have also been to all the massage places too, nothing to write home about. Only gfe you might get are from some ticas, and I am latin, and you still have to work it to get gfe. I will say that Costa Rica has many things going for it if you are into adventurous physical activities and and hiking and so forth, as I am. Ticas and Ticos are also very friendly folks.
Now, even though Cartagena is not my favorite place to meet ladies in Colombia, its still worth visiting. The ladies, in my opinion, are way better looking than most ticas, and worse case scenerio are just as pretty. Just as there are many ladies from different parts of Colombia in San Jose, they also flock to Cartagena as well( Similiar to how many ladies from all over Brasil go to Rio to meet tourists). In Cartagena(LDV), there just as many babes that are cheaper, not cheap, but way cheaper than the Del Rey scene. Also, they are ten times more likely to give you a gfe( if thats your thing ) in Cartagena as compared to San Jose, in particular the Marlin Bar.
As for day activities, Cartagena is full of bitches, pardon me, beaches, even though they are nothing to get excited about, but its a place to hangout, get a tan, and meet a girly. San Jose does not have a beach. But again, SJ has way better sight seeing activities(Volcanoes, Craters, rainforest, etc.) than Cart. But no beaches.
As for safety, must becareful no matter where you go, but San Jose is more dangerous at night time as compared to Cart.
I enjoy both places for different reasons, and I will go back someday, but not anytime soon. I am busy learning about, and enjoying other destinations right now. My two cents worth. Have fun, stay safe, and never fall in love! :)[/QUOTE]
San Jose is 2 hrs away from the beach( jaco) which is a dump. an hour away by car from Paos volcano, where CTG is an hour and a half from santa marta which has very nice beaches. Colombians in my opinion are in some ways more honest than the ticos, whom deep down hate us. Form my experience working and living in CR., other than that you have hit all other points. well done.