Medellin Reports

[QUOTE=Cali Hentai;1521337]Good to know. Looks like there is $1. 50 charge on top of the mins. And noway to do it over the internet so you have to actually go to a MoneyGram location to put mins. On your Colombian cell phone. Lucky for me there is a location two blocks from my house that will do it.[/QUOTE]I went to the MoneyGram site, but there appears to be no Claro Colombia. Other South or Central America countries, but no Colombia. I see a Comcel Colombia which was my provider before Claro took them over.

I also see they recharge thru a service knows as EZTOP. Anyone have direct experience with EZTOP?

[QUOTE=Cali Hentai;1521337]Good to know. Looks like there is $1. 50 charge on top of the mins. And noway to do it over the internet so you have to actually go to a MoneyGram location to put mins. On your Colombian cell phone. Lucky for me there is a location two blocks from my house that will do it.[/QUOTE]I use ezetop. Com to load up. It's quick and easy. There's a small charge starting at $0.88 on top of the mins.

[QUOTE=LookingToSwing4; 1521525]I went to the MoneyGram site, but there appears to be no Claro Colombia. Other South or Central America countries, but no Colombia. I see a Comcel Colombia which was my provider before Claro took them over.

I also see they recharge thru a service knows as EZTOP. Anyone have direct experience with EZTOP?[/QUOTE]EZTOP works. That's about it. I have used them to add $ to my SIMs and to others'. I have not used them in over 2 years.

Note. There are fees and an FX screw the customer rate. They employ verified by VISA and are carful with Credit cards so the credit card types they accept are far and few.

For an out of towner who really wants immediate cellphone access on landing:

1.) EZTOP before.

2.) If you are a frequent traveler buy a prepaid card (the providers who still have them or you can buy the prepaid card but it is a receipt, not a scratch off) and add the minutes as you are exiting the plane.

Your COL cell number may expire / be recycled and administered to someone else if it is inactive for too long. So you may be topping off someone else's phone!

[QUOTE=LookingToSwing4;1521522]Never paid much attention to the taxis upon arrival as my drivers have always been waiting for me by the time I retrieved my bags. Are these on international arrival level? Are these airport only taxis? Since I do not know what a gypsy cab is, I am curious to know why the white taxis are better choices and safe.[/QUOTE]White cabs are vetted, licensed cabs, a gypsy cab is an unlicensed cab.

[QUOTE=LookingToSwing4;1521522]Never paid much attention to the taxis upon arrival as my drivers have always been waiting for me by the time I retrieved my bags. Are these on international arrival level? Are these airport only taxis? Since I do not know what a gypsy cab is, I am curious to know why the white taxis are better choices and safe.[/QUOTE]The white taxis are not licensed for tours, hotel use, and chrge a set fee. They do not have meters. Yellow taxis are metered taxis except to a / p, some other locations. The safest way is one of the many private car / drivers that have set fees. I guess writing the tag # down has some value, not sure what. 14 years, many taxis, pick one that is in good shape, make arrangements with a known

Driver.

[QUOTE=LookingToSwing4; 1521525]I went to the MoneyGram site, but there appears to be no Claro Colombia. Other South or Central America countries, but no Colombia. I see a Comcel Colombia which was my provider before Claro took them over.

I also see they recharge thru a service knows as EZTOP. Anyone have direct experience with EZTOP?[/QUOTE]Go to this link: [url]http://www.moneygram.com/MGICorp/campaigns/mobilerecharge_en[/url]

Select Colombia and Claro is listed as one of the carriers.

[QUOTE=LocoGringo; 1521592]The white taxis are not licensed for tours, hotel use, and chrge a set fee. They do not have meters. Yellow taxis are metered taxis except to a / p, some other locations. The safest way is one of the many private car / drivers that have set fees. I guess writing the tag # down has some value, not sure what. 14 years, many taxis, pick one that is in good shape, make arrangements with a known

Driver.[/QUOTE]Thanks. As I mentioned in my original post, I always hire a trusted and private driver to / fro the airport. Given some recent posts, I was just looking for a back-up plan if my driver was a no-show. Never happened to me, but I have friends who it has happened to. I was not sure what the value of writing down the tag # was either if it was not given to someone who could follow-up on your behalf if you did not reach your destination. Thanks.

[QUOTE=Sailor Jim; 1521550]EZTOP works. That's about it. I have used them to add $ to my SIMs and to others'. I have not used them in over 2 years.

Note. There are fees and an FX screw the customer rate. They employ verified by VISA and are carful with Credit cards so the credit card types they accept are far and few.

For an out of towner who really wants immediate cellphone access on landing:

1.) EZTOP before.

2.) If you are a frequent traveler buy a prepaid card (the providers who still have them or you can buy the prepaid card but it is a receipt, not a scratch off) and add the minutes as you are exiting the plane.

Your COL cell number may expire / be recycled and administered to someone else if it is inactive for too long. So you may be topping off someone else's phone![/QUOTE]Thanks. Have visited regularly enough that I have had the same number for 2. 5 years. But my minutes always expire between trips. But I do like the idea of the prepaid card that I could purchase before I depart for use with my next visit. As long as these are not activated, they do not expire within a few months?

[QUOTE=LookingToSwing4;1521700]Thanks. Have visited regularly enough that I have had the same number for 2. 5 years. But my minutes always expire between trips. But I do like the idea of the prepaid card that I could purchase before I depart for use with my next visit. As long as these are not activated, they do not expire within a few months?[/QUOTE]I used to do that before but fewer and fewer places are selling the card and most refill online for you. I prefer to top it off monthly online now so I can make sure I keep my number and the minutes don't expire.

[QUOTE=LookingToSwing4;1521700]Thanks. Have visited regularly enough that I have had the same number for 2. 5 years. But my minutes always expire between trips. But I do like the idea of the prepaid card that I could purchase before I depart for use with my next visit. As long as these are not activated, they do not expire within a few months?[/QUOTE]Thanks for the tips about adding credits via moneygram. I do like dude said before. Have a girl you like / know / trust (yeah right!) put 5K in so you can hit the ground running.

Also it might be a good idea to move this to the phone topic so if anybody searches for it they can find it under the right topic.

Not trying to be a forum 50. Just a suggestion.

Hey guys!

This is my first report. I've been following this forum for quite some time now. It has helped me out a lot along the way. I felt like it was time to do my part and add some info to help you guys out. I been traveling to Colombia for about a decade now. I always use a company called Orbitel. They have a website where you can add minutes to any cellphone number in most of South America. I believe the minimum is ten dollars tho. But it is immediate.

Good luck

Guys,

Does anyone know which stop to get off of on the metro to be nearest the cCsa Centro area?

Moneygram charges $1.50 and eztopup charges too?

I have used uniontelecard for years. No fees and they have a 10% coupon code to boot (It's on the purchase screen). $6 minimum but I don't remember how much they make off the conversion rates.

[QUOTE=MikeKelimir; 1521916]Guys,

Does anyone know which stop to get off of on the metro to be nearest the cCsa Centro area?[/QUOTE]The parque Berras stop will get you close. You then just walk directly away from the metro and find your way to the left if you want to find New Life for example. The street numbers will ascend as you head to the left and toward the mountains. Hope this helps. I was a little disoriented the first time.

I am headed to la piscina in estadio this weekend. Anyone who has had experience with this, please pm me or post. My other experiences in the swing community in the US have been very mixed with most of the women way past their prime, kinda like me. I am taking a lovely black woman with me and I am a bit concerned about racism, as there seems to be some, although maybe more regarding class. One of the guys at the mansion said he went with a chica and had a great time.

I will report after we go there.

Anyone who is interested in putting together a group thing, please pm me. I am in Colombia until mid March.