I was there from Feb 7 to Feb 16.

This is how it went for me.

I went to Cartagena as scheduled. I got there around 2:30 I think.

Checked in to Almirante (Great hotel, Nice & friendly staff). Right after I settle down, I figure I will take a walk a little, get to know the area, grab a lunch.

Walked around a quite a bit. Sweat, sweat, and sweat. Feel a lot safer than Bogota. Walked all the way to the La Dolce Vita and the hotel in front of it. (What was that name?). Found La Dolce Vita. Not open yet. Ok. I decide to walk back then I walk toward to hotel in front of the La Dolce Vita and met this guy (Franko) who works in this hotel as doorman. He spoke good English so we chat a little. He looked very kind and honest. He shows me the room there. (Grad I took the Almirante). I asked when he will be off. He said at 10 and he can show me around. I said I will meet him at 10 and will give him 20,000 peso for showing me around all night.

After a little nap, I woke up around 8. I have about 2 hours until 10 so how about a quickie. SO I grab a taxi and go. Big mistake! We went 3 diff. Casas. Girls were so so. I decide to do on the last one (Manila I think) charged me peso for drink, peso for drink for my driver, peso for girl, peso for condom, peso for room, peso for this, peso for that.

And finally when I am done and got back to the hotel, the cab driver charged me 60,000 peso. WHAT? And that was just a start. I was practically robbed around wherever I went.

I didn't want to ruin my fun so went to see Franko. First stop, LDV. Met the owner (what was his name again?) shook hand. His first word was little slow these days and you are too early. Girls will start to come after 11. OK, Franko vamos! We went maybe 4-5 different place including the strip club. He tried so hard but the whole city (including the old city) was so dead. Back to LDV. 3-4 girls vs 5-6 mans. 5-6 rating in 10 scale. It's almost 1 am. Took one (Did I have a choice? Not going to spend first night alone). The next day, I changed my ticket and went back to Bogota. (no sense staying there when mostly the city is dead) The only good memory about Catagena was Almirante and Franko.

The first day in Bogota. I got pick pocketed and lost my new digital camera. Very very discouraging. Tried one joint in Zona Rosa. Very nice girls but very professional. I felt I can do better than this back home. The next day I flew back.

Epilogue : I think I was too quick to judge everything. I will try again some time in June. This time I will be wiser?

At least I speak some Spanish now :-)

My tip for new comers to Cartagena.
Hotel don't have enough money to change your dollar. Even if they do they will do $100 a day max. Better use your credit card. Use ATM. Works fine and much better rate.

Caller, maybe next time you should hook up with a CH veteran?

Alway's be aware of your surroundings, your belongings!

IMHO, the best cities for mongering in COL. are CTG and Cali. Much easier than in BOG.

"Better luck next time". sf4dfish

Definitly need to hook up with someone before you go.Like going anywhere else,someone needs to give you the lay of the land,what to pay etc.Ctg is not really wide open like Brazil or Thailand,but there is plenty there and plenty of quality chicas at reasonable prices.All the touts are going to take you to the casas, where they will attempt to rip you off.Before you go,ask for help on this board,and you will get it.There are good people down there, who will pick you up at the airport,find you an apartment and show you around.You paid to join this board,use it,and these guys will help you out.Really a shame, because Cartegena is a great place.

help who should i contact for an apartment and to meet chicas in cartagena for a trip 14 May to 18 May, any referals will be greatly appreciated. I am willing to pay to have someone pick me up at airport and show me around, will pay what ever is fair. help gringo out of water, i will be forever in your debt

One contact is Eddy Salence.esalence@yahoo.com
he is the contact for most of the TSM guys.Another is Juan Ventura,but i dont have his email but i'm sure someone else here has it.Either one will take care of you.

The Hotel in front of LDV was Las Velas. OK place to stay if you get an oceanside room. Much larger. Ask for 1504/1505.

Juan Venturas e-mail is ittscol@hotmail.com Really good guy with some nice Apartments. Eddys places are on the beach, good building, good security. Try both. Juans Apts. nicer; Eddys on beach and girls know them.

I agree with the other guys. Next time, meet up with some CH/TSM guys. Your trip will be much better and you will get a better lay of the land.

Sandman

Too bad that you got robbed in Bogota. But for anyone reading this, Bogota for me and all my friends who live here, it is a safe place. we have never had a problem with your situation. Friends just came back from CTG during Semana Santa and said there were tonnes of girls. I have tended to go during the quiet times but I ALWAYS have lots of fun. If you are an in bed early type - well it is not the best of places.
Try again.

Ah! The rashness of youth. learn this: Es demasiado caro(That's too expensive); ¿No tengo algo más barato? (Haven't you anything cheaper?), and Quisiera depositar esto en la caja fuerte (I'd like to leave this in your safe.).

Good luck on your further adventures in Lo Colombia. Suggestion-if you are a novice just post your quesions or concerns.. Most vets will be glad to help.

A la orden,

Gator

Can anyone tell me about Barranquilla, I am planning a trip to Columbia for 7 days and was thinking about staying in Barranquilla. Met a guy in Miami that said; it was full of chicas.

Las Velas Hotel, how is it compared to the other hotels in the area. How safe and affordable is it.

Its safe, but under new management, which now charge about 30,000 pesos if you want to bring a girl in.
One good thing about the Las Velas is that it is right on the beach, but even the hotels or apts that are not, the beach is only a few minutes walk away.

How much are you looking to spend per night on a hotel.


Hunter

no more than 45 a night

The Hotel Charlotte on Av San Martin (its not on the beach though) is about $40 a night, the Las Velas ia about $60 a night now.

There are plenty of hotels for $45 or cheaper, the best bet is to book somewhere up for a couple of days, then take a walk around and see if you can get something better, you will always get a better deal when you are on the ground and can see exactly what you are getting, as long as its not high season.

Just make sure that they let girls in without the extra costs, also the hotels will quote you the price, but not include the tax and insurance, which adds about another 15% on.

There are apts that go for about $45 a night, below are a couple of people who rent apts in Laguito/Bocogrande, Mery rents my company apt which is in the link, they both have about a dozen apts to choose from, there is no problem with getting most girls into these apts, although I hear some girls are barred, because of the trouble they cause:

Mery

http://www.travelnet.cx/cartagena/

Juan Ventura

http://www.zepelion.com/apartamentos/index.htm

Hunter

Hi Guys, I am going on my first trip to Colombia, to spend a week in Cartagena, & some of what I'm reading is making me nervous. Are girls, both pro and non, really scarce? What are the best methods, places, places to hang out. Do hotels let them in the rooms? Can you recommend a good girl-friendly hotel there. Any and all advice is much needed and appreciated. I travel alone and I speak spanish pretty well. THanks so much in advance! Iam a,fraid of getting lost and confused just wandering aroung alone

(Message edited by sekr60 on January 13, 2005)

(Message edited by sekr60 on January 13, 2005)

Girls are hardly scarse in Ctg, there are loads of them.

I would say you could meet several thousand non-pros in the Old City on any weekday if you had the time and the Spanish.

As to pros there are several thousand spread around the City, so hardly scarse.

As to a girlfriendly hotel, I am off to Ctg next week for a few days, I will check out a few hotels and post the information here on my return.

Hunter