cdy has left 45 comments

cdy comments on Cali or Medellin - Calling for your advice

Jann, I am certainly no expert on Medellin, but unless something has changed in the last 8 months, I found Paisas to be some of the friendliest and most helpful people I have met in my travels in Cen & South America. Did not experience aggresiveness, unless you count the cabbies driving. One comment on Mangos, made a mistake of checking it out one night when there was a big football match going on, a pretty mind blowing experience, this giant hall and no one in there but me, 2 midgets, a drunk passed out gringo and about 5 hot looking waitresses.

cdy comments on US banks restrict loans to Colombia

US banks are restricting loans not just to emerging markets but to the US market also. I work in the banking field and this is just the tip of the iceberg, the contagion has crossed to europe, credit is tightening up worldwide, maybe the 1 billion chinese and the billion indians will keep the real estate market afloat in latin america, I would not hold my breath however.

cdy comments on Does anybody know a good estate agent in central Medellin? One that they have used.

My information is about a year old but I used Diego, he speaks perfect english, nice guy, showed me properties in the price range I requested, did not try and push any new construction. His email is dicos28 at hotmail.com Very happy with his profesionalism and knowledge, have not bought anything yet, still can't decide bewteen Panama City and Medellin, but with the market meltdown here is the States, I am going to have to sit on the sidelines another year until some of the investments come back.

cdy comments on Am I missing anything?

One final thought once you visit Bogota, the next trip try Medellin, I liked Bogota but loved Medellin.

cdy comments on Am I missing anything?

I have stayed at the Embassy Suites, about 2 years ago, nice location, plenty of restaurants within walking distance, there was one right across the street that was pretty good for lunch. It was my first trip to Colombia, did not know what to expect either, by myself just for a long weekend, had a great time, everyone was very friendly, hit a couple of clubs one night, no problems. The hotel was small by Embassy Suites standards but same rooms as States with free breakfast and free drinks at 6pm, the service was very good also. I spend a lot of time in Panama City, Bogota certainly has a different feel, especially the climate. It helps to speak at least a little Spanish, I found it interesting that many of the cabbies and hotel workers asked me how I liked Bogota & Colombia, of couse I always said "me gusta" they all made a point of telling me to tell everyone back home how nice Colombia is and how safe it has become, they take pride in their country and want to get the word out that it is not what Hoolywood protrays it to be. Lets face it that is how 90% of gringos know Colombia, through references about drug trafficing mostly seen in movies. First night in Bogota I stayed at a different hotel, too noisy so I switched, told the taxi driver I wanted to go to the Embassy Suites, when we pulled up I knew something wasn't right, he took me to the Swiss Embassy! After a little discussion(my spanish has improved since then) we had a good laugh about it.

cdy comments on Medellin vs Panama City

I spend about 4 weeks a year in Panama City, have only been to Medellin once however. I really like PC however it continues to get more congested, more polluted, and more expensive. Try finding a decent priced apartment in el Cangrejo neighborhood it is almost impossible. I believe PC has more clubs and restaurant options, taxis are plentiful and cheap)as long as you don't get the gringo rate), The city is fairly safe except for a handful of areas. A decent beach is about an hour away on the Pacific,and in 2 hours you can be on a beach on the Atlantic side. I find Panamanians to be very friendly, A little easier in PC than Medellin if you don't speak spanish. And if you like Colombianas all you have to do is head down to Habanos, across form the Marriott, or the Veneto Casino, of course they are all working. With all that said, I liked Medellin better, better climate, friendly people, better transportation, it seemed to me housing was much less expensive. PC has been overun with developers, did not get the same feel in Medellin, a lot less gringos, not as much english spoken(which to me is a good thing, makes me work on my spanish). But I would recommend you visit both, the biggest drawback Medellin has for me is that I am a sailor, it is a hike to get to the coast if you wanted to keep a boat there, Also so much of any city is the friends you make, I have lots in PC and just know a couple of people in Medellin, but I found the Paisas very friendly so I figure it would not take long to develope a circle of friends.

cdy comments on sailing

Gringo Spy, This won't help the original poster's question, but if I had a choice and a hefty budget and a couple of crewmates I would get me one of the new fast cats that they build in S Africa. Don't confuse them with the heavier cats that are mostly used in Charter ops, theses are fairly lightweight lots of sail area with a little more spartan accomodations. They are fast enough to outrun lots of weather and the faster you can cross a body of water the less chance you have of getting caught out in the sh*t. I would not single hand one though and would have a good life raft, if you roll one or pitchpole it it would be coming back over.

cdy comments on sailing

ujay, Newer cats can be complicated, twin engines, lots of small and large items that need attention and can break in a marine environment - roller furling mains, steering quadrants, refrigiration ect... You say you will be by yourself most of the time, don't know why you want a boat with 4 cabins then. Cats are not the easiest to dock by yourself either, very beamy and sometimes light and highsided so docking in a cross current and a breeze can be a bit of an adventure(even with twin engines) My suggestion is to go ith a 30-34 foot ocean going monohull, maybe an older Pacific Seacraft or something along those lines. Moderate rig, a lilltle on the heavy side, roller furling headsail(but not mainsail). Look for a protected rudder, moderate beam and a large enough engine to push you into the harbor when the tide and wind is against you. Just some thoughts.

cdy comments on Spirit Airlines, Cartagena-Ft Lauderdale

Thanks for the update, will be flying them to PTY in October and CTG in November, was there much of a wait in CTG to get to the counter? Have flown them once before, to CR, flight was fine but it was a zoo at the checkin counter in FLL, took about 2 hours to get through it, plus their terminal at FLL reminds me of a Greyhound terminal, too many people not enough seats and one bathroom for the whole place once you get past security.

cdy comments on Cali or San Jose Costa Rica

Somebody probably told your buddy about the Del Rey Hotel in San Jose. Why not compromise, instead of going back to Cali, check out Medellin. I will say though having been checking flights from Florida to Colombia recently, airfare is a lot cheaper to CR. Medellin has gotten very expensive to get to even from Florida. Not much in San Jose, big city but not overly attractive, does have some clubs and pretty women. Stick with Colombia,One other suggestion I know a lot of the people on this board will disagree but you might look into my favorite - Panama City

cdy comments on Cartegena to Santa Marta by car

Sorry thought Tayrona was on the way to Santa Marta, either way would like to check it out. Would like to take the family to Medellin, but the airfare to MED vs Cartegena is at least double from Florida, will most likely fly Spirit, $ difference in airfare would not be such a big deal by myself but when you need 4 tickets it gets expensive.

cdy comments on What's the best hotel in Medellin for one night stay that is near nightlife(restaurants-bars)

Check out the Affinity Hotel in Poblado, stayed there about a year ago, rooms are like small apartments, great service, very friendly staff, great views of the city, short cab ride to the clubs. http://www.hotelaffinity.com/indexin.html

cdy comments on A warning to those who wire money to Colombia

Sorry but I have to add my 2 cents, $125? I need to get myself a Colombiana girlfriend. I wired $500 to my Panamanian amiga last month. However I made the offer, she did not ask, but I knew she was going through a tough financial time. In my defense however I always have a fantastic time with her when I am in Panama, what she does when I am not there I figure is her business. I find it hard to believe gringos who only occasionaly get to Colombia(or insert country here) truly believe that their novia sits around pinning away for them to return.

cdy comments on Spirit airlines...

Spirit is OK if you don't have a problem. Their planes are fairly new and comfortable. They charge for everything, they are always short on people. (although you can say that about any US airline now). They have a bad rep for checking bags in FLL. They have a nasty habit of bumping people up in line if their flight is leaving soon. So if you get to the airport 2 hours before your flight and some yahoo gets there 40 minutes before his, they bump him to the front of the line, pushing you back and creating a longer wait for everyone. They just don't have enough gate personnel to handle everything in an effecient manner. Their prices can be very good though, will be flying them in October to PTY, $150 RT from FLL, also flying them to CTG in November. Will not check bags on either flight, not sure if I will still have to stand in line but at least maybe able to bypass luggage line. Favorite airline to C America or Colombia - Copa, very good service, real food, they don't nickle and dime you, sometimes have very good fares. Everything goes through PTY however so you have to connect to Colombia. Flying TACA next week to Managua, we will see how that goes.

cdy comments on travel to barranquilla - new problems

Just another thought, Spirit has cheap flights out of FLL, not sure if they fly to PHL or BWI though. You could fly Southwest to FLL and then catch a Spirit flight to Cartegena and the a bus/van or rent a car to Barranquilla

cdy comments on travel to barranquilla - new problems

I travel to PTY all the time, at least $25 for taxi into city, hotel closest to airport is an overpriced dump, you could survive one night if you had to. I would only stay overnight if I had time to enjoy some of PC's nightlife. Lots of good restaurants and the clubs on calle Uruguay can be very fun. However if you are not in to that sort of thing try to avoid the overnight layover.

cdy comments on Best city to take family for a week

Thanks for the info, had not considered Leticia area, my daughter would like it but no way I am going to get the wife to stay in a "cabin" with no AC. There is a Decameron property close by but not a fan of all inclusives. Probably opt for Medellin if I can get a decent airfare, I do have plenty of time to do research but the key to the trip is getting afforadable airfare(for 4). The earlier I can jump on a good fare the better, with cut backs in flights and higher loads on existing flights traveling in 2009 is going to more difficult(and expensive)

cdy comments on Is there a Spirit Airlines office in Cartagena? Perhaps at the airport? Please, help!

I am flying them myself to Cartegena in November, hopefully they have not cancelled the destination. Spirit works fine as long as there is not a problem, however contacting them is a nightmare. Keep trying the website but if you call expect long hold times.

cdy comments on Should I fly out of Medellin or Cartagena?

Thats not enough cost difference to fly Spirit. If everything goes smoothly with them you will be all right, but if there is any sort of problem watch out it will be a nightmare. If for some reason you have to change your plans after buying the ticket they are almost impossible to get a hold of. If you can save 50% I would roll the dice with them, I will say however I appreciate them expanding into more latin markets, forces the competition to compete on price a bit more.

cdy comments on What are the best 3 Hotel/Resorts/Casino's in Medellin, and why?

bickerss, Thanks for the claification on Portafino, pretty nice set up there with the restaurants and shops. Surprised that a Holiday Inn anchors it, don't see too many new Holiday Inns in what I would describe as an upscale location. stopped by the casino briefly, lost $20 bucks and left, it was OK, I will save my money for the Veneto In Panama City.

cdy comments on What are the best 3 Hotel/Resorts/Casino's in Medellin, and why?

I would highly recommend Hotel Affinity, in the Poblado area, next to the mall, there is a small casino around the corner. Rooms are like small apartments, free internet. Staff was very nice and effecient. Stayed there about a year ago, $100/night then, I am sure pricing is up due to currency issues, maybe not cheap by Colombia standards but compared to what you get here in the states it was a great bargain. Short taxi ride to Parque Lleres, the Holiday Inn(who would have guessed) has a new larger casino attached to it, it is about 5-6 blocks from the Affinity. I know these are kind of gringo recommendations but since it is your first time in Medellin I would stick with a more fimilar surrounding, next trip you can stay where the locals stay(if you are into that)

cdy comments on New Airlines to Bogota

Just be a bit careful with Spirit, they are eliminating about 40% of their domestic flights and corresponding pilots. They were barley profitable when oil was at $70 not at $136 they are one step from disappearing. They do offer some great fares, if you can get one I would take the chance they will still be in business by the end of 2008. I have a flight with them from FLL to Panama City($150 RT incluing taxes & fees)how they can sell tickets at that price I don't know. There will be no other airline to their rescue in this market, they wil most likely just shut down operations. It is all about shrinking capacity in order to raise prices to at least try to become profitable.

cdy comments on Spirit Airlines -- My First (and maybe last) Experience

The key to Spirit (as a previous post pointed out) is not to check bags especially if flying from FLL. They have terribly slow lines, and then just as slow to get through the security checkpoint at their terminal. Most of the complaints you read about involve the extra charge for checked luggage or missing a flight because of the wait to check bags. (not to mention the overcharging issue but that should not prevent you from making your flight) Once your on the plane it is not too bad, the planes are newer(I believe 717's ) the seats are pretty comfortable, everything costs $ and if I remember correctly you can only pay with your CC for a drink or a snack. Copa is always my first choice, AA customer service out of Miami is no better than Spirits and thier planes are older and tend to have more mechanical issues. If we could just get Southwest or JetBlue to start flying from Florida to Central/South America.

cdy comments on LAS LLAVES MAGNÉTICAS....DE LOS HOTELES ( HELPFUL INFO) IDENTITY THEFT ADVICE

My 2 cents - for now this is a hoax, I spend about 160 nights per year in hotel rooms and have had this discussion countless times- hotels are not storing your cc # on room keys. The systems are not generally even tied together. If a hotel employee wnats to steal your credt card info they don't need your key, it is all there on their computer. Who knows what will be stored on your key card in the future, techology changes so fast , probably will be able to swipe your card at the lounge and your favorite drink will quickly be delivered to your table or swip your key card at the buisness center and of your bookmarks from your home computer will show up on theirs(probably not a good thing). A myth for now but the future reality might be a lot scarier.

cdy comments on Anyone fly AA Bogota-Miami lately on the afternoon flight?

Have not flown that route lately but do fly to Panama City via AA frequently, here is what I was told by a ramp agent after my last flight was delayed " don't ever fly the last flights out of MIA, we don't have any spares, no back up personnel, we are sort of the bastard child of the AA network" she went on to say always take the first flight of the day that way when there is a problem you have a chance on a later flight. Probably the same issues in reverse when flying from Bogota to MIA. Typical airline problems - no backup personnel if pilot calls in sick or over his hours. AA also has a nasty habit of making promises at the gate and then not having their customer service dept backing them up. I wish Southwest would start flying to Latin America. I will say that I have had problems with Copa in the past however they kept me informed and followed through with their promises. (a Medellin trip) I am rolling the dice next month with another flight to PTY, taking the last flight out again, I didn't take my own advice but the price was to low to pass up $275 RT including all the taxes and fees.

cdy comments on Colombia from the Caribbean

Copa through PTY is probably your best bet, but as others have stated the only choices for food is the hot dog cart or a little cafe that is always crowded and does not look too tasty. Depending on where you are in the Caribbean you might look into Spirit Airlines they fly to a number of larger islands(DR, Jamaica, Puerto Rico) they now fly to CTG from Ft Lauderdale. Their service kind of sucks but the planes are new and the prices can be cheap.

cdy comments on Good or bad?

Another sneeze that is happening worldwide is a credit crunch. Not just Merril Lynch and other US firms that made bad investments in subprime loans, many European banks did the same. Tough to kick start an economy when the credit folks have turned off the spigot. Good opportunity for cash investors to pick up property however trying to time the market is tough.

cdy comments on AIRLINE TICKETS ARE RISING?

There might be some relief coming when JetBlue and Spirit begin flying to Colombia later this year, I beleive Jetblue will be flying from Orlando to Bogota, Spriit flies out of Ft lauderdale.

cdy comments on Direct Flights from Atlanta

Jet Blue was talking direct flights from Orlando to Bogota. Have not heard anything new on it though. Also all flights Spirit flies to Latin America goes through FLL I believe. I don't think they have direct flights from Orlando. Of course things change. You can also fly Copa direct from Orlando to PTY and make connections from there. My guess on the crazy times for PTY from Spririt is that is when they have planes available, they are probably trying to add new routes without adding new jets.

cdy comments on Mortgage loan rates

It is my uderstanding you cannot get a loan from a Colombian bank unless you are a citizen. You might try BBVA they are an international bank with a presence in US and Latin America. However I don't think you will be successful. As a comparison there are some banks in Panama lending money to gringos, however you need 30% down and I believe the rates are mostly adjustable. They have been loaning money to Gringos in Panama for a number of years and it is still a hassle. Most people borrow using a home equity loan on their US based property. (where the rates and terms are not nearly as attractive as they were a year ago.)

cdy comments on Once again, flights to Cartagena?

Also called Spirit about CTG, they have no info, sure it was Sprirt? I know Jetblue is making a push for Colombia but was getting oppostion from AA. Have flown Spirit to CR, not my favorite airline, plane is small but comfortable, customer service is pretty much a non-starter. Flying out of Ft Lauderdale with them is a bit of a zoo, they are understaffed at peak times. Great pricing though if you can hook up with one of their specials, just don't have a strict timetable, if there is a problem with the plane or crew you will most likely not get out on the day planned.

cdy comments on Colombian Hostels: A bad value for private accommodation?…

Tejasmarcos, I would guess that 60-75% of the other hotel guests are staying on someone else's dime. I almost never see anyone pay with cash. I do not stay at Ritz Carlton's types, almost always stay at Marriotts or Hiltons(or at one of thier brands, Embassy Suites, Residence inns, Courtyards ect..). I don't think I "cut loose" on the company however I will not stay at a budget hotel for work, no Howard Johnsons, Days Inn ect.. I cover the Southeast for my company, a lot of time away from the family so I want to be comfortable subsequently when I travel for pleasure I get used to certain types of accomodations. I can probably go up to about $250/night without getting my hand slapped by my employer however I tend to keep it around $150/night. I do not travel to NYC where $250/night would be a bargain. As far as the concierge goes, I don't use them, I just like the conciege floor with the drinks at night(sometimes free) and the free breakfast in the morning. Sorry to hijack the original post, but I guess the one thing that sticks out on all my travels(throughout the US, Central America and my limited time in Colombia)is that that the rich are getting richer and more and more companies want to focus on them. They may be only a small part of the population but they have an increasing portion of the wealth. I deal mostly with financial insitutions for work, all are telling their private bankers not to waste time with clients unless they have at least $1,000,000 in liquid assets to invest. I expect this trend to continue. Should have become a yacht broker selling $20 million boats, could be retired by now living on a Caribbean Island.

cdy comments on Colombian Hostels: A bad value for private accommodation?…

If you take a look at the Orlando area, yes there are many budget choices around Disney, however the growth in the Hotel market is in the high-end properties. A lot depends on why you are traveling you won't find many on an expense account at $39/night room. As a business traveler Medellin is a great bargain even at $100/night(Bogota was not such a bargain). To each his own though, in my younger years I am with you, the cheaper the better, how much time did I actually spend in the hotel room anyway? What can I say, now I am a spoiled wimp. Put me on the concierge floor and I am happy. (another thought on the BMW's at the budget hotel - that's all they can afford after the car payment and insurance)

cdy comments on Cuba verses Colombia...

Cuba won't be overrun with returnees from Miami, Cuba will be overrun with developers once the embargo is lifted(some may be Cuban but most will be Donald Trump types) Think large private land development comapnies buying large swaths of land, bulding resort stye condos with timeshares and marketing them to wealthy Gringos in US and Europe.

cdy comments on Colombian Hostels: A bad value for private accommodation?…

If I may add my 2 cents, hotels chains throughout the world are on a push to add more locations, almost all targeted at the the higher dollar customer - think $200/night and up. The Marriott chain is concentrating on it's high end brands, they are not adding many new Fairfields, the money is made in the full service locations. Same forces probably at work in Colombia, in the future you will find more high-end options but you won't find much development in budget hotels, therefore lack of cheap hotel rooms will reflect in higher prices even at bottom priced properties and hostels. Loved Bartolo's take on cheap hotels, have spent a number of nights in them earlier in my career, don't care to go back to those days however, I travel about 150/nights per year for work, I would probably have to shoot myself if I had to go back the the dumps of the old days. If you are traveling to Medellin(and can spend $95/night) I would highly recommend the Affinity Apartment Hotel, great location in Poblado and excellent service. New hotel with apartment like rooms, great views of the city, they were advertising a $75/night special thru the holidays. Not cheap for Colombia but compared to what I could get in the States for under a 100 bucks it is an unbeliveable bargain.

cdy comments on Once again, flights to Cartagena?

Just on -line tonight checking airfare to CTG in June, best I could find from Miami is $686. Have not heard of Spirit flying to CTG, they are starting service to Panama City in March it is helping to drive the prices down some. JetBlue is suppose to start direct flights from Orlando to Bogota in June I believe.

cdy comments on PARENTS OF GRINGO BOYFRIEND THINK HE'LL BE FOUND DEAD ON A DITCH IF HE TRAVELS TO COLOMBIA

One addtional comment, I will be taking the family(gringo family, 15 & 9 year old kids wife) to Bogota next year, I believe we will be safer than we were on our trip to CR(where our car was broken into) You don't hear of any dire warnings about CR however there are a lot more crimes there directed at tourists than there are in Colombia.

cdy comments on PARENTS OF GRINGO BOYFRIEND THINK HE'LL BE FOUND DEAD ON A DITCH IF HE TRAVELS TO COLOMBIA

Just got back from Medellin, was in Bogota earlier in the year and spent a lot of time in Birmingham for work(I live in FL). All three I would have the same suggestion: Stay out of the areas you should not be in, be aware of your surroundings, don't get knock down drunk and don't flash money or jewlery around(actually the advice I would give for any city) You will find the people of Colombia much freindlier than Birmingham, they are proud of their country(and city) and want to make a good impression on visitors(at least that is what I have found). The climate is great in Medellin, warm days cool nights, a little cooler in Bogota due to elevation. Biggest problem is having to leave, freindly people, beautifull women, inexpensive, going to tough to head back to AL. One added plus - don't have to hear people discussing the merits of S.E.C. football.

cdy comments on Medellin Hotel -the Mansion

Waterdawg, The Embassy Suites in Bogata was very nice, actually better than here in the States, the service was better. Free breakfast, free drinks at 5:30pm , smaller than US properties. I believe I paid about $150/night about on par for the chain anywhere. Funny thing though, when I asked to the Taxi driver to take me to the Embassy Suites he first took me to the Swiss Embassy, luckily they were only a few blocks from each other.

cdy comments on Medellin Hotel -the Mansion

Thanks for the update on the hotel, I will stick with the Affinity or the Sheraton

cdy comments on Medellin Hotel -the Mansion

Thanks for the pic of La Habana Vieja Hotel, left them a message on their site, Do you have any more pictures? How big are the rooms? HOTEL CONQUISTADORES - $10/night on their website, holy crap! Costs me twice that much just to park my car at the hotel in Miami, I think I will pass. I will admit to being a wimp when it comes to hotels, roughing it generally means having to stay at a Hilton when the Marriott is full, company pays for it so I tend to travel well. This will be my first time in Medellin, so a little conservative about where I stay. My first trip to Bogota stayed a smaller hotel in Zona Rosa, not bad but small rooms and wood floors which made for noisy nights, checked out after one night and headed over to the Embassy Suites. Just trying to avoid the same in Medellin.

cdy comments on Medellin Hotel -the Mansion

Thanks for the info, too bad the rooms looked pretty nice with decent prices. Figured something was up when I clicked on the picture of one of the rooms and it showed the bath with 3 lovely ladies in it. Actually have seen the above video on Youtube when I was searching for info on Medellin. Watched about the first 30 seconds, just figured it was some guy trying to show off the beauties of Colombia, did not realize they were his inventory. La Casa Medellin looks nice, however I travel all the time for work and I am more comfortable in larger hotel setting. Any opinions on Sheraton vs. the Affinity?

cdy comments on Benefits for foreigners who buy housing in Colombia

Thanks for the Blog link, if I could add my 2 cents. Panama is turning into Costa Rica in several areas: Boquete, Bocas, parts of Panama City, all have areas srtictly marketed to Gringos(primarily Americans). Pricing is such the 95% of the locals could not possibly afford to buy, so what you end up with are properties or apartments that are rarely lived in. There is no attempt to mix with the locals, many of the developers highlight the fact that your new neighbors may be your old neighbors from the US. The locals make cheap gardeners & housekeepers. The numbers are a little different for Colombia however, Panama has a population of about 3 miilion(half of which live in PC), I believe Colombia is about 49 million. 10,000 new Gringos would not make as much of an impact in Colombia as they do in Panama I am still considering PC as a place to buy a second home(not in a Gringo hyped area), however with the price inflation, pollution(the car exhausts are getting terrible)and the interesting sewage system(Bay of Panama) I am going to take a close look at Medellin. Now if the dollar would just come back up, Colombia would be the choice.

cdy comments on Medellin question

Interesting takes on Panama vs Colombia, I have been traveling to Panama for 6 years for business & pleasure, it has changed for the worse, the crime has increased along with the Gringos. Most of the new highrises are being marketed exclusively to Americans(and Canadians). There are ex-pat communities in the Boquete area that are all most all Gringos. I get the feeling that most of the people moving to Panama look at is as just a place to live cheaper than the States, most don't have an interest in blending into the local culture. They could be in Timbuktu for all they care as long as the weather is warm and the prices are low. I assume the ex-pat population is fairly low in Medellin, at least in terms of percentages. If I want my neighbors to be from New Jersey I can just saty here in Florida. You guys have convinced me to give Medellin a look, now I just have to find a good airfare from Miami. Thanks. I

cdy comments on Bogota this weekend

Thanks Appreciate the info, I too need to slow down the typing and put on the reading glasses, Colombia, no U.

Nice thing about Panama City- no ATM fees and no bank fees, of course the currency there is the dollar.

One last question, what is the current exchange rate?

Thanks.