I have a couple of buddies who have never been to South America and don't speak a word of Spanish. They are planning to visit Medellin this month and initially I was going to accompany them but due to work obligations our dates don't match up. I am looking for some lodging recommendations in Medellin as these guys do not want to stay at places like Mansion or VIP club. Also any recommendation on an English speaking guide and taxi driver would be much appreciated. In a worst case scenario they can stay at Intercontinental but still would need a guide and a taxi driver, or two in one.

Phd, I also prefer apartments, but some minimal Spanish may be needed. Smitty and I have stayed (and liked) the Torre Poblado apts.

Torre Poblado Apts
Edifico Torre Poblado,
Cra 42 No 9-28,
El Poblado, Medellin.
http://www.torrepoblado.com/

Also, Juan Ventura of CTG, whom I've known for many years, is now renting out rooms in a private hotel in MDE that looks pretty good. Haven't stayed there, but worth checking out IMO b/c of Juan:

http://www.cartagena.cc/medellin/

Also, email Juan as he might know someone in MDE to help your friends: itts@excite.com

As far as a guide, contact Alvero. He has a nice car, speaks English as he lived in the States for several years and provides all sorts of tourist opportunities, monger and regular. He also has contacts for independent girls. His number is 3162522882. Call him from the states (01157) and he can handle an airport pick up as well.
Just alert your friends, that the majority of the girls will not speak any English, other than maybe Hello or Thank You. So while the girls are hot and the sex is usually great, it will be diminished by not being able to have any conversation.

Thanks Merlin.

You are always very helpful. I like Torre Poblado as well and have stayed there a couple of times. They are sold out for the dates in questions. It seems like Intercontinental (the best place to stay in Medellin, IMHO) is in order.

Kahuna_bill,

Thanks for the information on Alvero. Would you know how much he charges for his services? Pick up at the airport, and after that does he charges by day, hour, etc.

PhD

His airport rates are around 50k pesos same as the taxis. If there are a few guys they can throw in a propina. He can also arrange to have a girl/girls ready on arrival. Logistically, with more than 2 guys he cannot bring girls to the ariport so he would have to have them meet at the hotel/apt. The car is just not big enough.

I do not know his tourism rates. Somebody just posted a trip report where they used him. Take a look at that. It seemed reasonable though, nothing excessive. Just tell your friends that if they are out for a period of time they can throw in a few beers ro lunch as well.

I second Alvaro's recommendation. He charges a fair price, knows all of the right places and is punctual and helpful.

You can see the info on my recent trip report. However his rates late last year were 20,000 per hour (10 USD at the time) You can't go wrong with Alvero.

New CASA sounds good...Does anyone know the climate between Juan and Greg at the Mansion ?...Could you still pay to attend pool parties at Mansion if you are at Casa ? Just wondering...Are there pool parties and functions at Casa ?

Scotty
I am staying at the mansion at the moment so I asked one of the guys here if it would be ok for you to come over to the pool party, although its not some thing they usually allow, for a member of CH they will make an exeption so come on down.

ALVARO TORRES:

Alvaro is an English speaking driver, tour guide that I met while in Medellin. He was born and raised in Medellin but lived in the US for several years and knows the city very well and can give you that unique experience that only a local can. He is very honest and trustworthy most everyone who has used him has thanked me for recommending him to them. Always get him to give you a price upfront on everything, remember you can always say no. He has purchased a new car (not a taxi) and is providing side trips outside of Medellin around Colombia for a very reasonable price. I talked to him frequently, and he asked me to spread the information that he is more than willing to take you on excursions to Manizales, Pereira, Armenia etc. to enhance your Colombian experience. Call him ahead of time tell him when you are going to arrive & he will be waiting for you at the airport to take you to your hotel or apartment. He charges 60.000cop

I have used him before and his services made my Colombian vacation much better, since I don't speak Spanish his help was invaluable and he really knows the area and lots of girls.

He also has access to apartments in and around Medellin for rent or sale and can pretty much fulfill any requests you may have. Since he knows the city so well he can take you to those out of the way places that only locals know. He can supply you with pretty much anything you need. He is a very busy man so remember to book ahead.

Here is his contact information:


This is Alvaro's cell number from Medellin:
316-252-2882

From the U.S.:
011-57-316-252-2882

Tell him Scooby referred you.

(Message edited by scooby_1781 on May 06, 2008)

There are no more pool parties at the Mansion.
The good old days are over. It's 50% of what it used to be now and sinking fast.

Something negative and weird and paranoid is gradually taking over that place. Maybe it's due to be shut down by the cops or government.

Admin: A portion of this message was removed per ClubHombre's Terms of Service.

True it's fun joking around with the guys there but it's nowhere as fun as it used to be. Greg is bringing a real tension to the place. He must know something we don't know, or he's just a burn-out with some major problems he dumps on others around him. I saw him totally lose his temper thre times. Not a pretty sight. And for little or no reason. Including screaming at paying guests though they did nothing wrong.
Thjis is all new in the last few months. Greg has lost it basically but he may have a reason.

Admin: A portion of this message was removed per ClubHombre's Terms of Service.

Also, the Mansion will no longer let you make or help you make cell phone calls of any kind, and no more fruit of juice at breakfast unless you ask for it. Pinching pennies.

And their chica list is long in the tooth and not very pretty. 6's and 7's mostly. You could do better by yourself at any club in town.

If you know what you are doing in Medellin stay somewhere else. It's cheaper too. Just make sure it's chica friendly. Some hotels charge $50 to bring a chica home. AVoid those places. Get an apartment.

I am very wary then a lurker’s first posts flame a well established venue with a good reputation Goddessmans only posts on this site have been to flame Greg and the Mansion.

I have stayed at the Mansion twice and on the first night of my first trip Greg cut short his personal arrangements to show me around. It’s true that he doesn’t suffer fools or freeloaders which has made him enemies, I was fortunate enough to spend some evenings chatting whith him and there is no way he would tolerate paedophiles at his place, he wouldn’t even tolerate gays staying there.

From my personal experience all the owners of the Mansion are real gents, really know the city and are generous with their time and advice. Given the choice I will stay there again on my next trip and have no hesitation recommending it to my fellow mongers as a great paedophile free place to stay.

No kidding. They are very strict about letting girls in the Mansion. Even a girl who is known to be of age will not be let in if she doesn't have an ID on her person.

Hell yes, I forgot that! I remember my girls bing carded more then once. Thx for reminding me.

Just can't let this one go Bill. This is to diffuss guilt from ones self. Eating my maids food and being a general cheap ass, then bragging about making 200k a year tax free. I think you can afford to buy your own food. As for the under age thing. This is our enemies first weapon of choice. That is why we are so strict on ID at the hotel. In no way am going to write a response as good as you. Your ego got bruised. Accept it and move on.

Seems to be a few of them 200K guys roaming around, never paying for anything. At least we know why he is angry.

Let him stay at the Intercontiental with all the other rich guys.

Who chooses a name like goddessman2 on purpose? Assuming the first one was taken... Gotta' suck having Boyd out you as a cheap-skate...

These are not completely rediculous remarks. They're grievances that he feels he experienced. I don't know if it's bullshit or not. But I'm going to hear him out.

His pad says he joined two years ago, so my guess is he's been around for quite some time without contributing. Which is his right as a paying member. Now, he had a bad experience and wants to "share" it.

I like Greg's instability, Keeps things colorful. I think I'd be out of my mind if I had to hang out with some of you twisted bastards day in and day out. Why that fool lives there is beyond me.

I've had a couple great experiences at the Mansion/Castillo, and one really bad one. I think we need to hear it all. The place definitely has it's ups and downs. Hopefully more ups...

The Medellin Mansion has some problems, mainly greg. I love Boyd (castillojefe) but he is lying to defend Greg who has gone semi-insane and is attacking customers and chicas alike whenever his hangover feels like it. Lying about a guest to cover up greg's problems is a farce.

Greg has ruined the trips of several top-paying no-hassles customers for no reason at all. He has also banned some of the best chicas every seen for no reason anyone can figure out. And had temper tantrums against emplyees for false reasons. Greg has personal problems and needs to go.

The Mansion will be a cool place again when Greg leves. With greg around spying on everyone and potentially blowing a fuse, the Mansion is now a 6 without him it's a 9+.

But I understand why Boyd invents stuff to protect Greg's tantrums. Boyd needs guys to keep coming back. But to all guys, put in a word to remove Geg. It is retirement time. He's become a real alcoholic head case problem and impediment to relaxing and enjoying the place. he is also not chica friendly anymore. He hates them. It's weird. He only likes the most extreme whore types. And Boyd and Robert know it better than anyone.

Everyone who reads this be clear. Greg had a nervous breakdown and started invented lies about some of the top paying customers and best chicas because he got delusionally jealous or something, an ugly alcoholic fantasy.

Boyd (castilojefe) is now trying to cover up the sins. Even though Boyd is the first one to admit them in private and both he and Robert know greg is losing his mind. The problem at the Mansion is Greg. And greg only. No one he attacks for no reason is guilty., He is. And he could attack any one at any time depending on whether or not he has a bad guilt complex or hangover that day. He simply needs to retire.

Greg has burnt himself out. He abandoned his son in Australia and has a severe guilt complex about it and needs to go back and make things right.
That is the source of his personal problems. Take it from Dr Freud.

Instead though, he gets drunk, imagines fantasy crimes of guests and chicas, hates everyone around him, gets off making guest and chicas suffer, and takes it out on everyone else. he doesn't give a damn about the Mansion or his guests anymore. He even has secret video camera to spy on guests (peeping tom?) and reports people to the police who smoke pot based on some old-fashioned rightwing credo. He yells at people who play music loud.

Greg is on a self-destruct course and will take others with him. What he needs is to go back to Oz and fix his home base problems, then get a farm, and work it. Maybe he can even marry a chica and bring her with him to keep him happy.
But he is finished as a pimp meister. He lost 100% of his sense of humor. He just wants to strike out at the rest of us for having a good time. The Mansion will be a great place again once Greg retires. But not until. With greg around it is just iffy.

Okay Goddessman2, about 75 percent of your posts on this site psychoanalyze and bash the Mansion. We get it, you don't like the place. Because I have never stayed there, I have no opinion one way or the other, except that you are getting real tedious.

Now would you please crawl back into your hole and stay there for awhile?

I second LaGuys comments.

We get it! You dont like Greg.

If you had restricted your comments to your original post a few weeks back we would all be left to wonder if what you were saying had some validity but after your continued somewhat unhinged harrangue we are now left to wonder what peculiar basket of emotional problems you cart around with yourself daily.

Physician heal thyself!

"The Mansion will be a great place again once Greg retires"
"Greg has burnt himself out"
"greg is losing his mind"
"The problem at the Mansion is Greg"
"With greg around it is just iffy"
"Greg is on a self-destruct course and will take others with him."
"The Medellin Mansion has some problems, mainly greg"
"The Mansion will be a cool place again when Greg leves"
"Greg has ruined the trips of several top-paying no-hassles customers"
"Greg has personal problems and needs to go."
"put in a word to remove Geg"

So Godessman2,I guess Im still a little confused.. You're saying you don't like Greg?

(In reference to Jonesie's comment)
I always love to tease people that call in and place orders for silly .net domains with my company.. ie pumpandpoo.net ..like somewhow the .com was already taken..;)

What is the genesis of Godessman2? Was Godessman1 really taken? ;)

Despte all the "opinionated" press im still excited to visit CasaBlanca 1 (and 2)here in the near future, but to be honest its good to know what potential personalities await us at this little Oasis..

Okay, I'm heading to Medellin on the 28th of this month and meeting a few CH peeps but want to know if anyone can straighten this Mansion commentary out? I am a noob to Colombia so I'd like to go to the Mansion and get my training wheels worked out.

So if anyone can update there experience at The Mansion please do as it would greatly help mine, and I'm sure other's, experience Medellin.

Cheers!