Post: #1

First time posting…been reading through all the great content on here for the last couple of weeks. Mixx, Dash, Gman, and the rest of the forum…a sincere hat-tilt to you all! Awesome work, and thank you!

I hope to reach back and help in the near future. Ok…so, I’ve booked my ticket, flying in and out of Medellin 12/22 and leaving on 01/25.

Needless to say, my goal will be to see as much as possible, chase tail, and also work on my Spanish. The last one point is actually very important too. Planning on doing 3 weeks of one on one Spanish lessons. I’ve done this in Costa Rica before, but not finding it as easy to find schools in Colombia. Any tips appreciated!

ADVICE NEEDED: Ok…so, I’m thinking of doing Medellin for about 2 ½ weeks, and then was thinking of doing maybe Baranquilla for a week, and Cartagena for a week, and possibly a few days in Santa Marta.

Very open to any and all advice from you experienced players! Would you guys recommend this as a good itinerary? (SPANISH will be at a high intermediate level upon arrival) In Medellin, I plan on staying with a local host family to help me with my Spanish, and then was thinking a hotel or apartment in Baranquilla and Cartagena. My only concern is…I know these are peak times, and I need to lock some accommodation up soon. BUT, I don’t want to be too tied to plans. Usually like to be flexible when I travel, but don’t want to get assed out with no place to stay in each of the beach cities. Make sense?

Should I be going to Bogota? Weather doesn’t sound appealing, but if I should be going there…I’m open to anything. Definitely prefer the heat/sun. Cali? Not a huge dancer…wouldn’t go for the salsa, as I understand it’s known for. As far as women. I’m an ass man! (Shhiittttt….and titties…haha) Medium complexion…shit I love ‘em all.

All that said…I’m just looking to have a blast. Very open traveller, and know how to roll with whatever comes my way. Would like to have a place to take ladies, especially the last couple of weeks. I don’t mind staying with a family in Medellin, as this is a great experience too.

Any tips/insight you boys can share will be greatly appreciated. I’ve read many datasheets on here, and tried to not waste people’s time posting duplicate shit. Thanks in advance.

One last question: If I take a Verizon World Phone Blackberry, with the SIM card, and buy a Colombian SIM card – does anyone know if I will be able to get a data plan so I can receive email? Gotta stay in touch with the office.

Peace,

Jesse

Post: #2

Welcome.

The dates you picked are holidays in Colombia. Universities leave for summer vacation all December/January Xmas holidays and New Years Eve all Tier 1 cities: Bogota, Medellin, Cali shutdown and everyone travels.

Cartagena is your best bet, but you are going PEAK holiday season; this means everything will be booked and VERY expensive.

If you use a LOCKED phone, it won't work.

Mixx

Post: #3

(09-02-2011 06:51 AM)MiXX Wrote:  Welcome.

The dates you picked are holidays in Colombia. Universities leave for summer vacation all December/January Xmas holidays and New Years Eve all Tier 1 cities: Bogota, Medellin, Cali shutdown and everyone travels.

Cartagena is your best bet, but you are going PEAK holiday season; this means everything will be booked and VERY expensive.

If you use a LOCKED phone, it won't work.

Mixx

Thanks Mixx. I figured that in regard to accommodation. I'm still hoping to find some spanish lessons in Baranquilla for 1 week. Just emailed Uni Norte. Worst case...I'll just try and find somebody who has experience teaching. I know everyone will say they can teach to a gringo with dough, but I'll have to sift through them to find somebody who has experience.

So it sounds like you sign off on my itinerary. Will explore the phone stuff more and not waste anyone's time. I'm sure I can work that out. This is an old blackberry that I don't need anymore so I have no problem "unlocking" it, if it's that easy. Haven't done it before, but will work it out.

Lastly...any tips on accommodation in Baranquilla and Cartagena? I saw I can book them through Hotels (dot) com. Is this the best bet? Will they want payment now, or anything I need to know about? Thanks again for your help. Sincerely appreciate it! I know you know the landscape well!

Peace,

Jesse

Post: #4

(09-02-2011 11:02 PM)lengilman Wrote:  Hey Jessie, I have been to Colombia over a dozen times and all the cities I have been to have beautiful women and the people I met were very nice and hospitable but it is hard t meet women in bars and clubs.
But for the past 10 years I have been getting my girls via a Latin dating site
WWW://latineuro.com and it's much better then trying to meet American women. Have a great time on your trip.

Lengilman...they're not gonna let that slide my friend. 1st post, and you're placing a link to a dating site?! C'mon man!!

Post: #5

Welcome to the forum man! Cant wait to read your trip report!

1 month in Colombia eh. Here is what I'd do.....

1st week - Medellin ( one day / night trip out to Pereira / Manizales, preferably on sat )

2nd week - Bogota ( you got enough time to where you should check out the capital )

3rd week - Cartagena ( def try to get out of the main tourist areas and experience the real colombia )

4 week - Baranquilla ( take a 2 day trip during midweek to santa marta / taganga / parque tayrona )

You have plenty of time for a shit ton of planning and pipelining.

I would consider Cali if you knew how to dance salsa, but if not its better to leave that for next time.

Research every city you plan to visit. Making pre - data sheet with ALL info that will be useful to you ie cool things to see / do in and around each city, all the hottest clubs, ect.

Review all the threads on here.

Well have a blast bro!

Post: #6

(09-03-2011 01:00 AM)Dash Global Wrote:  Welcome to the forum man! Cant wait to read your trip report!

1 month in Colombia eh. Here is what I'd do.....

1st week - Medellin ( one day / night trip out to Pereira / Manizales, preferably on sat )

2nd week - Bogota ( you got enough time to where you should check out the capital )

3rd week - Cartagena ( def try to get out of the main tourist areas and experience the real colombia )

4 week - Baranquilla ( take a 2 day trip during midweek to santa marta / taganga / parque tayrona )

You have plenty of time for a shit ton of planning and pipelining.

I would consider Cali if you knew how to dance salsa, but if not its better to leave that for next time.

Research every city you plan to visit. Making pre - data sheet with ALL info that will be useful to you ie cool things to see / do in and around each city, all the hottest clubs, ect.

Review all the threads on here.

Well have a blast bro!

Awesome...thanks Dash. I was reading your datasheets like there were crack in them the other night. I was tired, but I just couldn't stop reading. You really killed those!

Definitely need to look into Pereira. I was reading Mixx comments on that. Have no idea where it is, but I'll find it. Kinda like your Bogota idea too. Afterall, it is the capital. And I guess it would make more sense to go to Cartagena first before BQ, because I'm guessing it's easier to get flights etc., into CTG.

I know there's links of domestic flights...will have to research those and start putting together some dates. All I have to date, is the inbound and outbound of Medellin. So excited bro! Appreciate you and Mixx chiming in. I'll do my own homework, read data sheets, and try not to ask stupid duplicate shit.

Cheers mate!

Jesse