Bogota Reports

[Mr Enternational]

Had my Schwab Investor checking since they launched it in 2022, and was primarily offered if you had an actual brokerage / investor account which I have also. So that may make a difference.

Maybe you mean they launched it in 2002. I have had mine at least 10 years, when HSBC started going haywire.

[Gabacho]

Prob cause Schwab has different cards, or diff rates and fees based on when you signed up. Had my Schwab Investor checking since they launched it in 2022, and was primarily offered if you had an actual brokerage / investor account which I have also. So that may make a difference.

No foreign transaction fees themselves, and they reimburse me 100% of ATM fees Worldwide.

Fidelity also offers 100% reimbursement of ATM fees worldwide. I've saved like $600 usd so far from using them. They reimbursed all my ATM fees in Thailand and Philippines. I found out that in Indonesia there are no ATM fees here at all. It's like how Colombia used to be, like every ATM here is a Pre-2023 Davivienda LOL. Everything super cheap too. It's like early 2000's Colombia prices and I won't even mention the super megabrothel called Classic that I discovered. But if you guys are interested hop over to the Jakarta thread to read my reports there.

Gabacho.

[MaddTraveler]

What is this 50% rebate you're talking about? I've always heard here that Schwab reimbursed ATM fees fully.

Prob cause Schwab has different cards, or diff rates and fees based on when you signed up. Had my Schwab Investor checking since they launched it in 2022, and was primarily offered if you had an actual brokerage / investor account which I have also. So that may make a difference.

No foreign transaction fees themselves, and they reimburse me 100% of ATM fees Worldwide.

[Black Page]

but the receipt will not show you the conversion rate. I'll need to wait until the withdrawal reflects on my online banking.

The pleasure of seeing immediately how much money will be detracted from your account costs some 10%. Is it worth?

Incidentally, any decent card allows you to see online the amounts paid or just blocked.

[MaddTraveler]

I had just finished getting my hair cut at the barber shop near the Monaco Building in the South Stroll and was walking up to Calle 20 when I heard a commotion and glass breaking ahead. Alot of screaming and yelling and people were running in all directions and then people started converging on the corner of Calle 20 and Carrera 14. I seen a crowd surrounding a guy on the ground in a pool of blood. What I could see through the crowd was this guy had a hole in his neck and blood was pumping out as he was bleeding out. A terrible scene and chaos to say the least. No police around at all even though they had did a bust on that corner about 30 minutes earlier. At one point it seemed that he had stopped breathing. Multiple people were calling emergency services on their phones but it was too late. You guys that live in Bogota and frequent Santa Fe can confirm this with your sources because I seen it with my own eyes. Be careful out there and be aware.

Been in town for almost two Months and a local was telling me about this like the day after. And a week prior to that another local was clapped in the streets. That same day while walking around looking at girls w a local bud some Venezolano walked right in front of me talking shit to my bud while holding a gun. He just walked by and went to a hotel prob some girl had a issue with a client. My local bud said he's actually known mentally deranged, and if his boss saw it he'd get beaten up real bad. Dude showed me a former torture house where they used to do anything to people and made them disappear, showed me few gangs, etc. Best thing to do as a Gringo is only talk to dudes to know for guides, or the guys standing in front of the clubs. I know quite a few of those guys, from California, Texas, Troya, Paisas, made friend with at least 5 dudes and a lady from Venus. Always helping me out either with chicks or intels.

I'm out there like once to twice a week and it's prob a lot since here longer. Lots lots lots of good pussy so just go, avoid unknown locals, do your biz and bounce.

Best late evenings to visits are Thurs- Sat, as you'll see a heavy police presence and more girls.

Stay safe.

[Woodman09]

I was with a friend last night 11-8 -- about 11:30.

Streets-- It was pretty dead especially the South stroll --North stroll was ok-- You could find a nice girl but was quiet.

Troya was good about 10+ girls 3-5 pretty hot. Atonis was OK 5-6 girls. Venus was better 6-8 girls but 3-5 were Hott-.

I love Venus because there are often new hotties-- The stripper was so hot like 7-8+.

It looked like Paisa and Fiebre were happening but did not go. Also Loto and Ferco were open.

We went back out on street about 12:30 and ran into 3 Hot 20 yr old Venezolanas. These girls were Nice!! Like 7-7+ all petite and tight-- The guy I was with took all 3 into a hotel they let him have the room for 50 k and he paid them 60 mil each and was in there about 40-50 min. I don't have the details but he had fun.

[Kazeu]

I also have a Schwab card / account and I do get the 50% rebate, however, the rate is always changing. Per Google, at this very moment the exchange rate is 4402.81, I do have to get some pocket cash to go out, so I'll report what is the current rate later in the evening or tomorrow morning.

What is this 50% rebate you're talking about? I've always heard here that Schwab reimbursed ATM fees fully.

[Woodman09]

I'll be coming to Santa Fe, Bogota for the first time. Asking for suggestions which area to get a hotel or Airbnb at that is close to where the chicas on the street stand around.

The 3 favorites are San Francisco, Ibis and Teqendama Suites -- There are many cheaper hotels in the area too.

I picked out a bunch of AirBnB a while ago.

Keep in mind you should always communicate about guests with the owner.

--This just a partial list.

Near SF.

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1068194420218966470

https://www.airbnb.com.co/rooms/596472625136602414

https://www.airbnb.com.co/rooms/1147326118951705478

https://www.airbnb.com.co/rooms/900219517740274543

https://www.airbnb.com.co/rooms/729778976453020053

https://www.airbnb.com.co/rooms/673240712870945116

https://www.airbnb.com.co/rooms/1132553925603744296

https://www.airbnb.com.co/rooms/1186978010374026432

https://www.airbnb.com.co/rooms/1167741341941244977

https://www.airbnb.com.co/rooms/1059723709267750411

https://www.airbnb.com.co/rooms/1178454739754556983

[GauntMan]

You got to decline the conversion rate that is offered to you by the bank / ATM. Even if you decline, you will still be able to pull the money out. At a much better rate (usually previous day's spot rate).

I just got back from the ATM and indeed, if you decline the conversion rate offered by the ATM, you still get your money but the receipt will not show you the conversion rate. I'll need to wait until the withdrawal reflects on my online banking.

[GauntMan]

I really cannot understand why this topic comes out every now and then. It should be very well known by everyone travelling outside his / her own country, that withdrawing money from an ATM usually offers the options:

1) CREDIT. Advance cash from credit card. Never choose this. It has 4% advance cash fee, on top of any conversion fees and bank fees.

2) DEBIT. This is the option to select. Money is taken immediately from the bank account. No 4% fee, but there are conversion fees and bank fees depending on the bank (it could be local bank fee PLUS your bank fee).

CONVERSION OFFERED to your home currency.

NEVER accept. The conversion fee is some 10% higher than the regular rate. Some people takes this option, for ignorance or because they like to see immediately how much money they are withdrawing from the account. I understand that the rates reported by Gauntman are these ones.

Without this option selected, the amount is converted to the currency of your home bank account based on standard inter-bank rates of the time of the day you withdraw. The rate is the one given by the MasterCard or VISA circuits, in most cases, and it is some 1%-2% higher than the average mid-point rate you see on xe.com or yahoo.com.

The difference between the option "conversion/no conversion" is striking! It could be some 10% overall. Please note that the same conversion option is also offered often when you pay by credit card in a shop, restaurant, hotel. "Sir, you want to be charged in EUR or COP?". If you do not mind, your expense on your credit card statement will be up to 10% higher than without conversion... Beware.

Nice to know! I'll check this in a few minutes as I need to get some pocket cash.

[GauntMan]

I don't get this. On all my trips to ATMs in Colombia I've gotten the interbank rate, which would be the 4418 you quoted at first. They do charge me a bank / ATM fee, but my Schwab account refunds that to me.

I also have a Schwab card / account and I do get the 50% rebate, however, the rate is always changing. Per Google, at this very moment the exchange rate is 4402.81, I do have to get some pocket cash to go out, so I'll report what is the current rate later in the evening or tomorrow morning.

[AndrewM1]

I'll be coming to Santa Fe, Bogota for the first time. Asking for suggestions which area to get a hotel or Airbnb at that is close to where the chicas on the street stand around.

[Mr Enternational]

Never saw the BBQ dule, will look for him.

The back side of Troya (or maybe that is the front). The side where you can enter all of the clubs. It is like a driveway or garage. His place is there. You get a plate of meat and potatoes for like 30,000 pesos. I always try to talk him down, but he is always like this is the minimum. And he insists that you try before you buy. Evidently it is this Alejandro Brazas & Sabores place that is on google maps.

Were there any midgets to be found?

If there were, you know I would have gotten one for Long Time!

[MongerHunger]

Honestly this shit reads way too wild for me. I am currently planning a trip but I am genuinely scared if this is something that actually happens on the streets. Who the fuck wants to go to this awful place for some pussy. ?

That shit was definitely wild to see in person. I usually hang out in the South Stroll area and this was the first time I've seen a murder in Santa Fe. I've seen fights, arguments and drug dealing before in Santa Fe. I always get my haircut at the barber shop near the Monaco Building where a few youngsters cut hair. There's a guy that has one leg there but I get my haircut by the guy with 3 crosses tatted on his neck. I also hit the bar down and across the street with the pool tables called Bar de Tejo El Sotano. Everything was cool up until that bullshit happened. It's still fresh in my memory.

[TomJackin]

I am always late when it comes to writing these reports.

No worries about writing the late report. It was a great read.

I plan to head back in March. I felt like I only touched the surface during my last trip.

Never saw the BBQ dule, will look for him.

Were there any midgets to be found?

Thank you my brother!