1 Day in Bogota

Bill1243 says on Apr 24, 2005, 14:05:

note I would choose a guesthouse to stay in...instead of a hotel...

For fun, what kind of fun are you looking for?

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HCouture77 says on Apr 24, 2005, 14:14:

Just a bar or something. A place thats popular

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Gator says on Apr 24, 2005, 14:19:

One Night- Book a hotel in the Zona Rosa (north end).

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

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Jack Smith says on Apr 24, 2005, 14:20:

Dona Flors Guest House
If you are in need of lodging in Bogota I can recommend Dona Flor's Guest House located just about 100 meters from the entrance to the US Embassy for visas. She owns a large house and rents 6 rooms many with private bath and hot water. Hot water can be difficult to find in Bogota at times. Her price includes breakfast and there are some nice pastry shops aand restaurants right by her place. The area is secure with patrols
passing by all day being so close to the Embassy.

Casa de Huespedes Dona Flor
Flor de Garcia
Owner
a la derecha de la embajada, pasando el parque

Carrera 44C No. 22A-16-Quinta Paredes-Bogota
Tele: 011-57-1-269-8694 or 011-57-1-269-7436 FAX 011-57-1-269-3926
If you need someone who speaks English call Midia at 011-57-1-269-2530 who will let Dona Flor know you want to stay there.

Dona Flor charges around $20 to $30 a night but she may bargain if your stay is for an extended period. This is the best place I know of if you have to go to the embassy and this place is about 7.5 minutes from the airport. She can have her taxi man friend pick you up. He is very friendly as he gave us a tour of BOG one day in his van. The phone numbers above are for calling from the US. For Europeans the country code starts with 57 and the city code is 1 then the rest of the numbers above. She is located basically between North Bogota and the business center and Candaleria. Taxis and buses pass right up the street from her house and she can direct you to the right bus to get where you may have to go if you prefer to avoid taxis.

Very friendly lady and very good place to stay. We will be there a third time next spring! BTW The only thing I get from mentioning her place is the satisfaction of helping YOU and her!!

Here it is again......

Good place to stay in Bogota....


Dona Flor's son is there and he speaks English!
Submitted by Jack Smith on Sat, 04/23/2005 - 21:55.
Dona Flor's son is there so you don't need to call Midia or Claudia but the first two numbers I posted above since her son speaks English.

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Jack Smith says on Apr 24, 2005, 14:22:

Party? Better to get a hotel in north Bogota if you are going to partyhard......Dona Flor's isn't for call girls, drunks, drug addicts
and univited guests....

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HCouture77 says on Apr 24, 2005, 14:33:

Im not a hard partier. I was just looking for a place that people like to hang out....

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kernow62 says on Apr 24, 2005, 17:17:

Go with Gator's advice, Zona Rosa.

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platano says on Apr 24, 2005, 17:59:

If I had one day in Bogota....especially north Bogota.... I would head straight to LIBRERIA LERNER NORTE, Calle 92 # 15-23 or LIBRERIA BUCHHOLZ CRA 15 # 72-90 in Chapinero.

I have met the most interesting women in bookstores (lawyers, social workers, doctors, and other professional women as well as activists, thinkers, and dreamers capable of carrying on an intelligent and fascinating conversation: their brains are as hot as their bodies! This is Plátano's little-known tip for finding the best Colombian women and this information has probably never before appeared on PBH!)

If I didn't meet women, I learned something about Colombian culture (and universal culture) from browsing the books on sale. I spent hours in bookstores all over Colombia. Bookstore owners are fascinating people, too. Don't neglect hole-in-the-wall bookstores, second-hand bookstores, or specialty bookstores. They are all great!

It would be ideal if people giving hotel recommendations would annex a list a the bookstores nearest the hotel. But I am annexing a PDF file, a complete list of bookstores in Colombia here.

Platano, who really knows how to have a good time in bookstores!
Oxigeno Verde
Foto de Platanito chinito

plátano

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HCouture77 says on Apr 25, 2005, 10:44:

Is it safe for an american to go there?

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carter says on Apr 25, 2005, 13:58:

don't go to the Zona Rosa Stay at the Platypus in la Candelaria. Its a backpackers you'll have plenty of people there looking to party.

If its a wednesday try Quibra canto (disco close to Platypus) but the staff will tell you other good places to check out as well.

If your in Bogota for just one day you may as well get a dose of Colombia rather than the Zona Rosa which could be any shopping/bar area in the world.

At the platypus you will also be close to the main plaza, gold muesum, Botero Gallery and Monseratte if you have time to do anything. Nothing to see as a tourist in Zona Rosa in less you like shopping.

roughly $6 a night for a dorm
$12 for a private

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Apr 25, 2005, 14:03:

Quiebra canto is called, and along avenidad 19 there are nice Bars too.

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carolain11 says on Apr 25, 2005, 20:49:

platano... I'm Colombian, I'm hot, can carry an interesting conversation, and you'd never meet me there, that's not where I hang out...

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tommytoyz says on Apr 25, 2005, 21:03:

El citio - Wednesday nights! Go to "El Citio" in Parque 93, about 30 yards behind the "Bogota Beer Company" on Wednesday nights. This is where the action is at on Wednesdays. You'll have a blast. They have a great band from Baranquilla playing there on Wednesdays that plays all kinds of music and the place is packed. Don't get there too late as they close promptly at 2am.

I stayed at a hotel called "Los Urapanes" in Zona Rosa Tel in Bogota 218-1188 located at: Carrera 13 # 83-19 - fantastic place, about $75/night with breakfast. Get a room facing the street, as you'll have a view of the mountains and the restaurant zone. You can people watch from your room, if you wanted to.

Hamilton Court is also good right around the corner Tel 621-5455 located at Carrera 14 No 81-20. Have fun.

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flyamerican says on Apr 26, 2005, 23:08:

don't go to the Zona Rosa? Why not? Not everyone is looking for a $6.00 a night backpackers room in the poor section of town.

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carter says on Apr 27, 2005, 08:45:

why not? Flyamerica Nothing wrong with giving her some options.

Many people are after cheap accomodation and a place where you can meet lots of people to party and a party environment different to what they get at home.

some people are also interested in the Colonial buildings and being close to the main attractions.

To experience different cultures is the main point for many who travel.

Im not saying ZR is a terrible place but for many who travelled all the way to Colombia may be dissapointed. I know little of the person posting the message but there is a chance she is one of those people who may not be interested in ZR.

La Candelaria is not a poor area of bogota the rent may be cheap but the People are alot richer in many other ways and that is why so many foriegners are choosing to live there.

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Apr 27, 2005, 09:27:

I agree with Carter, My husband doesn't like the zona rosa either or the north of Bogota that much he said is much like the UK and is true, He loves La Candelaria because of the colonial houses, he would live in there if he has the choice.
Last time I went to Bogota I stay in the Hotel Bacata, very nice and friendly, they even send a security guard with you if you want to take cash out from an ATM! and they a computer in the lobby where you can check all the tourist places in Bogota, time of opening Etc...

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