I arrived in Medellin 4 years ago and started looking around. After 4 trips and about 18 months, I decided that I liked the area called Laurelas. Some say its the best, while others say its second to Poblado. I will agree, its second to Poblado.

Its pretty much flat, and it it near the metro station. The main street there is LA 70.

I will be pulling pictures from 10 different report groupings so it will take some time to get up.












They have been tearing down 1 family homes and replacing them with small buildings.

I happen to be at the Hotel Florida during the FlowerFest in August 2008

The Hotel Florida was smack in the middle of all this.

There use to be tables outside the Hotel Florida but they redid the streets on LA 70 so people can walk and there would be less traffic lanes.

There was a cute chica sitting outside with her family, so I sat with them, but, her husband was there as well.

I have never stayed at the Lincoln, but I have friends that did and liked it.

I choose hotels based on customer service and location. I was at the Hotel Florida on LA 70, about 4 blocks from the metro station but moved over to the Estaban on Nuttiberra because I liked that area better.

The key here is to meet with the manager of the Hotel and try to get a better rate and or upgrades. Usually staying a week will get you a better rate. Coming back with a wingman or two and staying a week or longer will get you upgrades.

I find that no deposits are required once they know you.

There are 100's of places to hang out in Laurelas

I stayed in Poblado my first 4 trips until a friend took me to Laurelas where there must be over 50 hotels.

I pull chicas from the casas but also meet them all around the city and they all love to eat in nice restaurants



Photo: Laurelas 01
Photo: Laurelas 02
Photo: Laurelas 03
Photo: Laurelas 04

Jimmydr,

How long does it take to walk from the Esteban to the Metro? I am going to go to EAFIT for a bit, and liked the looks of this place on the web.

Thanks

Sandy

The bus stops in front of the Estaban so I always take that. I think its a 20 minute walk to the metro.

There are a dozen bus lines that criss cross within a few blocks of the Estaban.

Thanks. Is there a good bus route to the University?

A good bus route to the University? Well if you walk out of the Estaban, there is a University across the street.


There are dozens of Universities so which one are you referring to.

Sorry, I should have made myself a bit more clear. I am enrolled at EAFIT next month.

Thanks

2 bus trip. One from Laureles to El Centro. 2nd from El Centro to Las Vegas in front of EAFIT.

About 1,400 pesos for each leg. Slightly cheaper than a taxi (about 6,000 each way) but a taxi will be much more convenient and less time consuming. You will also be "seen" getting out of a taxi and not getting off the bus

Now, the other benefits of a bus, especially one going to EAFIT will be the people you can meet. Of course, no self respecting girl of means would be caught dead riding a bus to EAFIT. They would be driving daddys 2nd car. #2, you do get to see a lot more of the city and can relax in the knowledge that if in an accident...the bus always wins!

Ok, I'll bite "seen getting out of a taxi". I have probably been from Earth to the Moon in Colombian taxis over the years. Is there a problem with this?

;->

Better to be seen getting out of a taxi than getting off a bus from a social status standpoint.

Status symbols are very important in MDE, especially at EAFIT.

Me, I used to ride buses everywhere and didn't give a shit. Fast, safe, convenient and economical.

Even though I couldn't make it pencil very well, (no matter how hard I tried)I finally broke down and bought a car just for the convenience factor.

Driving in this city is a nightmare.

I still ocasionally take a bus or taxi to certain destinations where parking is a hassle or difficult to find.

Trust me, take a taxi the first few days to EAFIT then learn the bus routes. You will get over it and you will probably meet some regular riders that are classmates to chat with....maybe more.....LOL

There are tons of chicas riding the bus. I try to use the bus as much as possible.

I get PMs from time to time and many contain excellant questions so if anyone has something to ask, you can post it here so others can benefit.

One question keeps popping up about when I am returning. At this point in my travels, I enjoy traveling solo and just hanging with the chicas.

Last time I was at EAFIT, I always arrived on foot. Found that most of the people I knew on campus were pretty impressed. I think they could not quite figure it out.

That being said, I really was impressed with the students, faculty, and campus.

I plan to figure out the bus. And thanks for your input.

Just take any bus in Laureles that has "el centro" or parque Berrio on it's front window.

You will need to walk a couple of blocks east to the eastern side of Exito San antonio where all the buses congregate.

Pick the one that has EAFIT on it's sign or Clinica Las Vegas. Always ask the bus driver if they stop at EAFIT.

There you have it!

First, reach into your pocket and send some bucks to a Colombia relief agency or group. There are millions of homeless after the floods and noone, least of all the US, offering anything. How is it that miserable corrupt petty dictators haul in the aid after a natural disaster, and a friendly democratic government does not even make the news. (I am thinking of Haiti and New Orleans). Your chica’s family may well be one of those wiped out.
/End Rant

I spent two months in Colombia, 6 weeks in Medellin, then a week in Bogota, then back to MDE. On my return, I tried Jimmydr's suggestion of Hotel Lincoln, and I am WAY impressed. The hotel is beautiful, very modern, marble floors and bath tiles, flat screen TV, the whole bit. The continental breakfast was nothing to write home about, but there is a killer bakery two blocks down that got my morning trade. Laurelas is a very cool neighborhood, lots of folks on the street, typical Colombian mix of homes and businesses, including some very nice restaurants and bars. It is about 10 minutes walk from both Calle 33 and the Estadia metro station.

There are some nice places on Cl 33, including the Blue Room (downhill since my last visit), and Estaticas. They (Estaticas) advertise 24 hour take out or on site. I opted for the on site, with a very lovely young lady. Not my usual type, but those of you who go for High School cheerleaders with braces would be impressed. I was busy with an amiga, but the phone book show two more places within two blocks of Esteticas , one place on Cl 44, and then there is the Energy on the other side of the Stadium, always one of my favorites. All in All, highly recommended.

Is the Lincoln Hotel chica friendly?

I was there only two days, took my lady in with no problem. I registered for two, and paid the two person rate (about COP 10k, if I remember). She is more than presentable, and there was no problem. She also got a kick out of the four young guys sitting in the lobby when we came in, and several hours later when we left. I have never actually seen "eyes bugged out"

That being said, I suspect this could be a problem if one was loud and rude. Polite and low key seem to work wonders about anywhere

Does anyone know a rental agency who will do a one month rental in Laureles? I will be back for about 5 weeks in three months time, and the agencys I have found want a 2 month minimum