[Pyrrhic victory]

Very close to the dann Carlton and Oviedo mall. Not a good sign for tourists using ATMs.

My girl is from there and many locals are now complaining of incredible unreported crime.

Proceed with caution when visiting. Use debit cards to with draw funds and do not walk back to your room after withdrawing funds. Go elsewhere out to eat etc. To lose the watchers.

Above all, I have always tried avoiding public taxis as well and not flashing any money

[Merenguero]

(09-26-2015 08:59 PM)Carolinian Wrote:  

http://app.eltiempo.com/colombia/medelli...o/16387859

65 year old American tourist was killed in a taxi robbery in el poblado.

Key words, "luego de presentar oposicion a que un sujeto le robara sus pertenencias." Give them what they are demanding and you should be able to walk away alive. I'm not sure how the person who wrote the article found out that information or if he is merely speculating.

[Travesty]

The last foreign trip I went on was 7 years ago. I had traveller's checks and cashed them at a bank as needed.

Is this a safer and smarter route than going to an ATM? Just take a taxi to the bank then back to the hotel hide the money in the safe or somewhere?

[Merenguero]

(09-26-2015 11:25 PM)Travesty Wrote:  

The last foreign trip I went on was 7 years ago. I had traveller's checks and cashed them at a bank as needed.

Is this a safer and smarter route than going to an ATM? Just take a taxi to the bank then back to the hotel hide the money in the safe or somewhere?

I probably haven't used an A.T.M. in a foreign country in about ten years. I just bring enough U.S. cash to cover my expenses during the trip and either keep it locked in a safe or in a closet of the place I rent. I keep the U.S. equivalent of a few hundred dollars in my pocket with no wallet when I go out to go to the gym, to eat, ir to go to a nightclub.

[Travesty]

^ Ok. I am just so surprised so many guys talk about using an ATM in a country known for violent robberies. It would be the last place I would ever get money from.

[newgame]

(09-26-2015 11:54 PM)Travesty Wrote:  

^ Ok. I am just so surprised so many guys talk about using an ATM in a country known for violent robberies. It would be the last place I would ever get money from.

ATMs are perfectly safe; much safer than bringing weeks/months worth of dollars into the country, in my opinion. If you exchange dollars, they could be watching you at the exchange place too, so it's no different than an ATM. Use the ones in malls or stores or very busy areas and make sure nobody is watching you when you leave. Whatever you do, give up anything the robbers ask for without resistance.

[Disco_Volante]

I heard Envigado is the safest neighborhood because the cartel controls it and doesn't really allow small time hoods to do robberies on their turf. And since the cartel members are generally financially well off they don't have the impulse to rob tourists.

Is there any truth to this?

[kavakid]

Sweet deal today on spirit airlines. Tickets like $100 everywhere Colombia included. Just sayin.

[godzilla]

(09-27-2015 03:36 AM)newgame Wrote:  

(09-26-2015 11:54 PM)Travesty Wrote:  

^ Ok. I am just so surprised so many guys talk about using an ATM in a country known for violent robberies. It would be the last place I would ever get money from.

ATMs are perfectly safe; much safer than bringing weeks/months worth of dollars into the country, in my opinion. If you exchange dollars, they could be watching you at the exchange place too, so it's no different than an ATM. Use the ones in malls or stores or very busy areas and make sure nobody is watching you when you leave. Whatever you do, give up anything the robbers ask for without resistance.

They could be waiting anywhere really. I usually just take out my cash during the day. I usually dress like shit when i do this. I try to keep the amount I take out low and leave my card at home. If your really paranoidx switch atms everyday or you could even walk in a completely different direction from house. IN colombia, your would be hard pressed to spend more 100us out at night.

Exchanging cash is such a ripoff when you have schwab.

[Beirut]

Hey guys a couple of questions: is january/february a good time to be in medellin?

Will everyone be off on vacation then?

Whats the weather like in that time? Does it get annoyingly hot?

[Merenguero]

(10-08-2015 05:05 PM)Beirut Wrote:  

Hey guys a couple of questions: is january/february a good time to be in medellin?

Will everyone be off on vacation then?

Whats the weather like in that time? Does it get annoyingly hot?

I'll answer your questions with a question. Why Medellin? If you have to be there for work or something, make the best of it. If you don't have to be there, you may want to think of trying Bogota or a second or third tier city instead. I've only been there in December and I think July, so I don't know about January or February.

[Beirut]

Well tbh i was fooling around on tinder a while back and had quite a few great matches that i find very attractive so thats pulling me there. And ive kept in touch successfully with them so far.

I did try bogota and had a lot of quantity but seems like medellin was better quality. Thats about it.

[Merenguero]

(10-08-2015 05:52 PM)Beirut Wrote:  

Well tbh i was fooling around on tinder a while back and had quite a few great matches that i find very attractive so thats pulling me there. And ive kept in touch successfully with them so far.

I did try bogota and had a lot of quantity but seems like medellin was better quality. Thats about it.

Quantity and easiness are better in Bogota. Quality is better in Medellin and Medellin may be a better city overall. If you know what you're doing, you shouldn't struggle regardless of where you go. If you are just learning stuff, Bogota is your best bet.

Wherever you go, make sure you don't rent an AirBandB apartment from the lady who accused Scotian of sending her a picture of his bollocks. You have far better options.

[chochemonger1]

(10-08-2015 06:40 PM)Merenguero Wrote:  

(10-08-2015 05:52 PM)Beirut Wrote:  

Well tbh i was fooling around on tinder a while back and had quite a few great matches that i find very attractive so thats pulling me there. And ive kept in touch successfully with them so far.

I did try bogota and had a lot of quantity but seems like medellin was better quality. Thats about it.

Quantity and easiness are better in Bogota. Quality is better in Medellin and Medellin may be a better city overall. If you know what you're doing, you shouldn't struggle regardless of where you go. If you are just learning stuff, Bogota is your best bet.

Wherever you go, make sure you don't rent an AirBandB apartment from the lady who accused Scotian of sending her a picture of his bollocks. You have far better options.

Overall, paisas are also the sexiest women in Colombia..so very feminine and great in bed.
But sooner or later money will be brought up one way or another. That is how they are raised, and it ruins everything.

[chochemonger1]

(10-08-2015 06:40 PM)Merenguero Wrote:  

(10-08-2015 05:52 PM)Beirut Wrote:  

Well tbh i was fooling around on tinder a while back and had quite a few great matches that i find very attractive so thats pulling me there. And ive kept in touch successfully with them so far.

I did try bogota and had a lot of quantity but seems like medellin was better quality. Thats about it.

Quantity and easiness are better in Bogota. Quality is better in Medellin and Medellin may be a better city overall. If you know what you're doing, you shouldn't struggle regardless of where you go. If you are just learning stuff, Bogota is your best bet.

Wherever you go, make sure you don't rent an AirBandB apartment from the lady who accused Scotian of sending her a picture of his bollocks. You have far better options.

Merenguero, in general, do you go for the bang in Bogota directly, on the first date, or is it a better strategy.... to go out with a ton of girls and just wait for the 2nd date?
In Colombia, my strategy depends on the city.

[WEDO]

(09-29-2015 01:30 AM)Disco_Volante Wrote:  

I heard Envigado is the safest neighborhood because the cartel controls it and doesn't really allow small time hoods to do robberies on their turf. And since the cartel members are generally financially well off they don't have the impulse to rob tourists.

Is there any truth to this?

Yes and No....Envigado is relatively safe by Colombian standards but it has nothing to do with the Cartel.....It's just a nice neighborhood...that's all.

[Merenguero]

(10-08-2015 09:11 PM)chochemonger1 Wrote:  

(10-08-2015 06:40 PM)Merenguero Wrote:  

(10-08-2015 05:52 PM)Beirut Wrote:  

Well tbh i was fooling around on tinder a while back and had quite a few great matches that i find very attractive so thats pulling me there. And ive kept in touch successfully with them so far.

I did try bogota and had a lot of quantity but seems like medellin was better quality. Thats about it.

Quantity and easiness are better in Bogota. Quality is better in Medellin and Medellin may be a better city overall. If you know what you're doing, you shouldn't struggle regardless of where you go. If you are just learning stuff, Bogota is your best bet.

Wherever you go, make sure you don't rent an AirBandB apartment from the lady who accused Scotian of sending her a picture of his bollocks. You have far better options.

Merenguero, in general, do you go for the bang in Bogota directly, on the first date, or is it a better strategy.... to go out with a ton of girls and just wait for the 2nd date?
In Colombia, my strategy depends on the city.

I've posted about this before and I think some guys were pretty thrown by it. For me, this goes for everywhere. Not just Colombia. If I can get a girl back to where I am staying, there is a high probability of sex happening very soon after I get them in the door. The times that sex doesn't happen, usually nothing happens, not even a makeout, and they just leave and I usually just delete their numbers. Often, especially in Colombia, they say they might (this means it is pretty much 100%) go back with me the next day. In those cases, I always meet up with them the next day and as far as I can tell, I get them to where I am staying the second time I go out with them. Girls in general are pretty aggressive with me (even in Mexico, but I also get rejected and pissed on in Mexico much more than I do anywhere else). They usually initiate the make out with me and also usually initiate the escalation. The key is obviously to get them to go back to where you are staying.

[chochemonger1]

(10-08-2015 09:25 PM)Merenguero Wrote:  

(10-08-2015 09:11 PM)chochemonger1 Wrote:  

(10-08-2015 06:40 PM)Merenguero Wrote:  

(10-08-2015 05:52 PM)Beirut Wrote:  

Well tbh i was fooling around on tinder a while back and had quite a few great matches that i find very attractive so thats pulling me there. And ive kept in touch successfully with them so far.

I did try bogota and had a lot of quantity but seems like medellin was better quality. Thats about it.

Quantity and easiness are better in Bogota. Quality is better in Medellin and Medellin may be a better city overall. If you know what you're doing, you shouldn't struggle regardless of where you go. If you are just learning stuff, Bogota is your best bet.

Wherever you go, make sure you don't rent an AirBandB apartment from the lady who accused Scotian of sending her a picture of his bollocks. You have far better options.

Merenguero, in general, do you go for the bang in Bogota directly, on the first date, or is it a better strategy.... to go out with a ton of girls and just wait for the 2nd date?
In Colombia, my strategy depends on the city.

I've posted about this before and I think some guys were pretty thrown by it. For me, this goes for everywhere. Not just Colombia. If I can get a girl back to where I am staying, there is a high probability of sex happening very soon after I get them in the door. The times that sex doesn't happen, usually nothing happens, not even a makeout, and they just leave and I usually just delete their numbers. Often, especially in Colombia, they say they might (this means it is pretty much 100%) go back with me the next day. In those cases, I always meet up with them the next day and as far as I can tell, I get them to where I am staying the second time I go out with them. Girls in general are pretty aggressive with me (even in Mexico, but I also get rejected and pissed on in Mexico much more than I do anywhere else). They usually initiate the make out with me and also usually initiate the escalation. The key is obviously to get them to go back to where you are staying.

I have never stayed in Bogota more than 3 days.
Merenguero, that is why I mentioned strategy. Wherever, or whenever you can get a girl back to your place...go for it 100 percent.
That is a given.
For me, Barranquilla is the easiest place in Colombia to get a girl back to your place. Consequently, you get laid more.
In Cali, I found a second date strategy better. The culture there has less trust and unless a girl is drinking, it is very difficult on the first date.
Bogota has a bit of logistic issues. So it might be wiser to go for all or nothing, from the start.

[Corroncho]

(10-08-2015 05:05 PM)Beirut Wrote:  

Hey guys a couple of questions: is january/february a good time to be in medellin?

Will everyone be off on vacation then?

Whats the weather like in that time? Does it get annoyingly hot?

Anytime is a good time to be in Medellin. December is probably the absolute best time, though, with the river festivities and happy holiday vibe. If you're arriving in early January you might hit the feria in Manizales first and then come back to Medellin afterwards, it's not too far. January is a big vacation month in Colombia but Medellin doesn't seem overly affected by it one way or another.

If it hasn't rained recently, Medellin can get pretty warm down in the valley part of the city including Centro and the Parque Lleras area, it can break above 30C/85F on the hottest days. As to whether it will rain or not, Medellin seems very random to me. This winter is expected to have a continuation of the El Nino weather pattern, which typically leads to drier and hotter conditions than usual in Colombia.

[tomtud]

Also you may want to consider the feria de Cali as well. December is a festive month in all of Colombia. As for December and January the weather is great IMHO. Not a lot of rain. I noticed less (hot) women in the malls in January, but that may be a coincidence. I do know that many Colombians go on vacation during that time and a lot of (hot) girls go to the beach or to fincas.

[Travesty]

Hey guys,

I have my trip to Medellin next month, the trip is a month long. My buddy I am going with is only taking carry on baggage I guess to avoid waiting in baggage claim or losing a bag for our flights.

What do you guys think of bringing a carry on bag and a backpack for a 1 month trip? I had a big duffel bag when I backpacked a long time ago it seemed like not a lot of stuff for the 2.5 months I felt like a hippy.

Any suggestions either way? Big under plane bag or good bags and backpack for getting a month's worth of clothing and stuff into a carry on and backpack? Been awhile since I have done a long trip (8 years) just looking for guys' experience with medium duration trips like this.

[Nascimento]

^^ I had the same dilemma as you my very first 3-week trip over a year ago.

I decided on checking a medium-sized bag and in hindsight, it was the right thing to do. A carry on alone with a backpack would not have been enough. It's not that I brought many things, but you still want to have space to bring 6-8 shirts, 2 pants, commodities and other essentials without limiting yourself too much.

And, it's always good to have some extra space in your luggage in case you decide to bring things back.

If you're worried about losing the luggage, know that I had the same anxiety.. But with subsequent trips, I realized that if that happens to me, even though it would be a major inconvenience at first, in the long-run it wouldn't matter.

All my important things are with my on my carry on or in my pockets. For me that includes my documents, laptop, phone and cash.

Everything else is not essential and is easily replaceable.

That said, I bring an extra change of clothes just in case my luggage gets misplaced or lost.

I mean, it could always happen, but it probably won't. If you're really worried about it, just get insurance, shouldn't cost too much for the peace of mind.

This is a good list to refer to, you won't need everything on it, but you'd have trouble bringing all that you should on just a carry on alone.

http://www.rooshv.com/travel-packing-checklist

[Tigre]

(10-15-2015 02:03 PM)Travesty Wrote:  

What do you guys think of bringing a carry on bag and a backpack for a 1 month trip? I had a big duffel bag when I backpacked a long time ago it seemed like not a lot of stuff for the 2.5 months I felt like a hippy.

Any suggestions either way? Big under plane bag or good bags and backpack for getting a month's worth of clothing and stuff into a carry on and backpack? Been awhile since I have done a long trip (8 years) just looking for guys' experience with medium duration trips like this.

Bring the big checked bag plus a carry-on.

Packing light makes no sense in Latin America. Taxis are cheap enough. You won't be hauling your bags around metro stations and then walking 10 blocks with them.

Don't travel with anything extremely valuable (including sentimental value). Better to leave it at home.

[newgame]

(10-15-2015 02:03 PM)Travesty Wrote:  

I have my trip to Medellin next month, the trip is a month long. My buddy I am going with is only taking carry on baggage I guess to avoid waiting in baggage claim or losing a bag for our flights.

What do you guys think of bringing a carry on bag and a backpack for a 1 month trip? I had a big duffel bag when I backpacked a long time ago it seemed like not a lot of stuff for the 2.5 months I felt like a hippy.

Any suggestions either way? Big under plane bag or good bags and backpack for getting a month's worth of clothing and stuff into a carry on and backpack? Been awhile since I have done a long trip (8 years) just looking for guys' experience with medium duration trips like this.

As the others have said, bring the checked luggage large bag. On my first trip here I realized I didn't bring the right types of clothes and shoes and I was glad to have the extra space for the things I bought. Medellin's weather was warmer than I had imagined and Poblado is hilly, so you'll sweat more than you're expecting making it a good idea to have some extra clothes to change into.

Medellin's airport is pretty efficient with the checked luggage; I'd guess you'll wait an absolute max of 30 minutes. Usually by the time I get through immigration my bag is already waiting for me.

[bootyhuntah]

Another thing to note is washing clothes, if that's something you're planning on doing. For whatever reason, I found laundromats or places that wash/fold your clothes are either very rare or quite pricey (for Colombian standards) in Medellín. If you are renting an apartment with washer and/or dryer, this is a non-issue. I still recommend packing light, enough clothes for 10 days then washing your stuff. For one month of stuff you would need sizable luggage...and besides, who actually owns 30 pairs of undies?