Colombia gaining popularity... good or bad?

Grateful Dead says on Oct 8, 2007, 10:12:

Gringos are welcome in my opinion , we should extend the courtesy that they extend to us when we go over there to the U.S. The only thing that they need to be aware of before they move down there is that no matter what travel magazines say and crime statistic show it is still DANGEROUS as f$cken hell , I'm not just saying that to be controversial (sp?) Medellin isn't Palm Springs or Orange County , Medellin is the real thing , danger,women ,booze and money,its the wild west.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

bufalo says on Oct 8, 2007, 10:23:

danger is something to consider. it is bad, but not nearly as it was.

most difficult thing is income.

"If you don't like it - lump it, take it down the road and dump it." - Archie Bunker played by Carroll O'Connor

0 funny, 0 helpful.

peterNC says on Oct 8, 2007, 11:04:

Danger is another consideration...without question....
and although it could exist anywhere in Colombia at any time, there are certain areas that have to be "safer" than others... generally speaking.
That input would be awesome and is both welcome and wanted...
I do have about a dozen visits to Colombia over the last year and a half...
but to limited areas...so I'm still curious to hear other's input about not nesessarily how to avoid "gringo areas"... but to find areas where our reputation is at least nuetral...
Does that make sense?
In Cartagena for example, many consider any woman who is with an extranjero must be a working girl or a gold digger... I know I'd like my Colombiana wife to be free of such ignorant prejudice criticism... not just now but years down the road too...

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Boatygringo says on Oct 8, 2007, 11:10:

PeterNC, you sound like a travel brochure. Unless Colombia can get a handle on crime and the Garrilas there will be less tourists not more.
The local paper advised that there were 22 murders in September in Cartagen alone. Colombia has a real problem with distirbution of income, there are a few rich Colombians and the rest are poor. History has shown that if welth is not disributed among the poor people there will be revolution it happend in England France Germany and other countries. I feel Colombia is ripe for a change and it wont be pretty.

Boatygringo

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Grateful Dead says on Oct 8, 2007, 11:16:

Yup, unless your'e going down there to visit your new mother in law then I suggest you proceed wth caution , but hell you only live once.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

peterNC says on Oct 8, 2007, 11:20:

Point well taken Boatygringo... and definitely worth considering....my wife has heard such talk in Cartagena....

Morphus....how do you mean?

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Man Tequila says on Oct 8, 2007, 11:38:

The increase in popularity is there, but too small to make a dent at this point. If bigger than Morphus has a point.

Aunque no me creas/ si me lo propongo/ lograre olvidarte/ porque a fin de cuentas/ no soy tan cobarde./ Y termino todo una de estas tardes/ no sera dificil buscar algún sitio donde refugiarme/ donde nunca mas vuelvas a encontrarme. (Polo Montañez)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Saltador says on Oct 8, 2007, 13:38:

I agree with ManTequila and Morphus. The tourist "explosion" everyone keeps talking about has not happened, and probably won't for many years. A lot more tourists are coming, but it's all relative. It may have doubled or tripled in the last few years, but only because so few were visiting before that. I've heard all kinds of guys say it's "the next Costa Rica". No way.
When I look at the Sunday Travel section in the Chicago Tribune, there are dozens of ads from Travel Agents offering trips to vacation spots. Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Cancun, Jamaica, Rio, St. Martin, etc etc etc, but not ONE line mentioning a trip to Colombia.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Saltador says on Oct 8, 2007, 13:38:

I agree with ManTequila and Morphus. The tourist "explosion" everyone keeps talking about has not happened, and probably won't for many years. A lot more tourists are coming, but it's all relative. It may have doubled or tripled in the last few years, but only because so few were visiting before that. I've heard all kinds of guys say it's "the next Costa Rica". No way.
When I look at the Sunday Travel section in the Chicago Tribune, there are dozens of ads from Travel Agents offering trips to vacation spots. Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Cancun, Jamaica, Rio, St. Martin, etc etc etc, but not ONE line mentioning a trip to Colombia.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

john_stark says on Oct 8, 2007, 22:23:

The real Colombia? I was going to say that no gringo could handle the real Colombia but actually there are a few who can. Most of the posers on this site would have a hard time handling a rowdy crowd at Madison Square Garden let alone the real Colombia. I'll take you to Santa Lucia where you can watch the town's one television and fight the dogs and pigs for scraps of food. Leave your shoes at home.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

christobeldawg says on Oct 8, 2007, 22:30:

true none of the ads I see in SC even dare mention Colombia. even still, and likely for many many years. Reputations are built over time, good and bad, and Colombia, to most in the US, has a very bad rep. If you don't want North American tourists, that's good. If you do, that's bad. With today's media, though, I will say things could change rapidly, if the stories out of Colombia continue to make things sound more and more safe for travel. It's definitely not on many people's radar as a retirement haven. Hate to say it, but it is likely, overall, last on the list of most in North America.

traveling hopefully is always better than arriving

0 funny, 0 helpful.

elmodefoque says on Oct 9, 2007, 04:42:

" Also, it seems all the bars/disco are full of whores. Hordes of euro trash come over for weekend sex tours. Its becomming very scummy." juancho

fok that, i'm taking black ass straight to cartagena. thanks for the great news!!!!

curramba, la puerta de oro, lo de mas es monda!!!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

miamimike says on Oct 9, 2007, 07:27:

I've seen a few travel stories in the Miami Herald on Colombia recently but look at the Paper's target audience-overwhelmingly latino. And the stories were aimed at Adventure Travelers at that. IMHO, it will be Decades before Colombia is a Destination for mainstream Baby Boomer Couples(non latino native born american husband and wife). Seems now the appeal is mostly to a single male traveler(or female traveler wanting to study spanish) or americans with a Colombian Spouse who are returning for the yearly trip home.Remember, you have to sell Colombia not only to the Husband but also to the Non Latin American Wife. How many Mainstream American wives want to retire in Colombia? And whether you agree with American Women or not, they are part of Equation. Nicaragua has gotten some Press in recent years as a retirement haven but that may be evaporating since Ortega has returned as Prez. Nicaraugua also offers some pretty nice Retirement incentives with their Pensionado Visas for Retirees with Tangible benefits. Seems like some of those Middle Class Americans now have second thoughts on Nicaragua with the return of Ortega and his NEW Friendship with Hugo Chavez. Word is Americans have started bailing on Nicaragua but unable to sell for what they paid a few years back when Ortega and Hugo weren't on the Horizon. This could happen in Colombia as well so then what happens to your investment? Colomnist Andres Oppenheimer wrote exactly that last week concerning Colombia in one of his recent columns that was posted here on PBH. The Title of his Colombia was like "Colombia, Uribe may move closer to Chavez" Never say Never! As far as small Business, Colombia has a stretch to go in transparency and removing some of the barriers and red tape that are in play now,,,

What's the difference between a pitbull and a hockey mom? Lipstick.Sarah PalinAcceptance speech at 2008 Republican National Convention, on selection as party's vice-presidential candidate.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

peterNC says on Oct 9, 2007, 08:34:

great info Mike...
that's definitely something to think about...
there's always the unknown... but living abroad has huge benefits... and usually the better the benefits... the higher the risks... one of the biggest risk as I see it is being in another country if it ever becomes "anti-American"....any input on this possiblilty?

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Mr. Hollywood says on Oct 9, 2007, 09:56:

There's no tourist explosion, unless someone has blown up a tourist I didn't hear about.

The Colombian government nearly broke its own arm patting itself on the back last year about crossing the 1 million mark of "tourists". Of course, I think it turned out that was actually the issuing of 1 million "Tourist Visas" in one year, many of which are issued to business travellers and also many of which are issued multiple times in one year to the same person (because they're 30, 60 or 90 day visas).

By comparison New York City alone gets 16 million real tourist visitors.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

peterNC says on Oct 9, 2007, 10:59:

Interesting...
I guess with the popularity of cities such as Cartagena and Medellin on the rise with single men, it appears to be a bigger growth than it is...
I know more about Cartagena than any other city and between the Italians, the Spaniards and the North Americans... they have seen alot more extranjeros throughout the city...
But like you say... that doesn't mean that the rest of the country are seeing growth...
Good point Hollywood, I appreciate the stats....

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Mr. Hollywood says on Oct 9, 2007, 14:12:

It doesn't take a LOT of people in Cartagena to make it visibly different. The difference between virtually NO foreign visitors and a couple thousand is a huge deal in a city that size in terms of the perception on the street. But compared to, let's just say, the number of foreign visitors to Machu Pichu in a year it's still trivial.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Leeroy says on Oct 10, 2007, 08:07:

I'll be going to Cartagena this Saturday - so will be sure to report back on the foreigner/native ratio. Foreigners are easier to spot in Cartagena, normally, owing to their (generally speaking) more distinct skin tone.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Mr. Hollywood says on Oct 10, 2007, 09:04:

Cartagena is also the only place in Colombia where I've routinely seen large tour groups of Asians.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

rhydewithdis (☼Travelguide writer) says on Oct 16, 2007, 10:28:

For those of you that think that Colombia is not gaining in popularity, just peruse these two recent stories on Cartagena and Medellin from the New York Times:

Cartagena: http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/05/20/travel/tmagazine/07well-cartagena...

Medellin: http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/08/12/travel/12nextstop.html

These types of stories will only help to further the publics perception of Colombia and make it less uninviting.

They said I couldn't play football I was too small / They say I couldn't play basketball I wasn't tall / They say I couldn't play baseball at all / And now everyday of my life I ball.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Saltador says on Oct 16, 2007, 16:30:

rhyde,
not to be critical, but you're missing the point. We all agree that Colombia is "gaining in popularity" as a destination for tourists. It's gone from a country no one would go to for a vacation, to a country which a few people will go to for vacation. But so far that's it. Gains in popularity from this point will be slower and depend on many unforseeable factors that may or may not materialize.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Leeroy says on Oct 20, 2007, 15:24:

I just got back from Cartagena. Still 99% domestic tourists.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Cerealkiller says on Oct 20, 2007, 15:33:

I am not sure as to how I feel about the possible tourist boom. As Juancho mentioned in regards to Cartagena, as long as colombia is cheap and easy to get to, that is the kind of tourist that will visit colombia just as the type of tourist that goes to Costa Rica -pothead and putachaser or 120 years old and broody-...and if that is the case, then id much rather not have any tourists at all.

Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives -John Stuart Mill

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Cerealkiller says on Oct 20, 2007, 15:36:

double post

Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives -John Stuart Mill

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Man Tequila says on Oct 20, 2007, 16:12:

Yeah, but that is the nature of travel. The hippies, backpackers and potheads blaze the trail. The more mainstream tourism comes later, once safety and reputation improve. Happened in India, Mexico, Peru. It could happen in Colombia too. Is that good? This question is too simple -- it is good if it leads to more jobs and more investment and more security.

Aunque no me creas/ si me lo propongo/ lograre olvidarte/ porque a fin de cuentas/ no soy tan cobarde./ Y termino todo una de estas tardes/ no sera dificil buscar algún sitio donde refugiarme/ donde nunca mas vuelvas a encontrarme. (Polo Montañez)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Mr. Hollywood says on Oct 22, 2007, 15:25:

People are going to jump all over my back for this, but if you look at the things that what people call "mainstream" tourists travel for, Colombia really doesn't have it. The beaches are so-so at best, so it's not going to become the next Hawaii or Cancun (though I can't imagine wanting to be that, either). Culturally, it's no Paris or Bejiing. And in terms of ruins and indigenous cultures, I just don't see it holding a candle to places like Peru, Cambodia, Guatemala, and Mexico.

Personally, I think the best bet for tourism is the "adventure travel" crowd who want to look at birds and raft whitewater rivers, etc. Costa Rica has definitely made itself a big destination for that and Colombia's geography is far superior to CR. But there's always that pesky personal safety issue when you start venturing too far out into the sticks. That will need to be solved first.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

TioJoe says on Oct 28, 2007, 04:31:

Bogota as a tourist destination certainly has one severe drawback - the altitude. Watching all the tourists fight bronchial spasms as they try to adapt to 8,800' on a short vacation is fun to watch. Adjusting to barometric pressure usually takes some time and sucking oxygen is an unpleasant experience they always share back home. I do not see Bogota becoming a hot spot like the coastal areas.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Man Tequila says on Oct 28, 2007, 08:05:

People still seem to be able to make it to Cuzco, though.

Aunque no me creas/ si me lo propongo/ lograre olvidarte/ porque a fin de cuentas/ no soy tan cobarde./ Y termino todo una de estas tardes/ no sera dificil buscar algún sitio donde refugiarme/ donde nunca mas vuelvas a encontrarme. (Polo Montañez)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

aztec says on Oct 28, 2007, 08:42:

Any first hand information about Bucaramanga as a retirement or second home destination? Especially the Ruitoque Golf Country Club Community?

Thanks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVmYf5U6x3k
http://www.bucaramangacity.com/
http://www.ruitoquegolf.com/

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Monpirri says on Oct 29, 2007, 10:21:

Aztec, how are you? Everybody was looking for you several days ago. I'm glad you are back!

"Anyone who still thinks that Colombia is not a gastronomical paradise needs to have their head examined." Darloup

0 funny, 0 helpful.

aztec says on Oct 29, 2007, 10:53:

Thanks. We are dealing with a seriously ill nephew (in Bogotá) of my wife's.

Aside from the horrific illness the most difficulty has been dealing with the bureaucracy as it involves treatment. My wife spent the last three weeks attempting to secure the approved "number" assigned to patients. Even with the approved "number" the chemotherapy may not be available for two months. (Too late to operate) Can you believe that. He will be dead before treatment starts! Haven help anyone who is saddled with socialized medicine.

Learned that you better have an insurance policy that will cover catastrophic illnesses. You do NOT want to fall into the Colombian State Medical system. I suspect that would apply to any country.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Monpirri says on Oct 29, 2007, 10:58:

Oh, I sorry to hear that, unfortunately Colombian State Medical system needs a LOT of improvement based on your information.
Bureaucracy is an ugly monster that attacks progress and citizen's welfare.

"Anyone who still thinks that Colombia is not a gastronomical paradise needs to have their head examined." Darloup

0 funny, 0 helpful.

kat1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Oct 29, 2007, 11:09:

aztec says on Oct 29, 2007, 15:42:

Thanks kat1. My wife just called to say that they received the approval and "number" today. To say the least, she is happy. Now the task of taking her nephew to the Cancer Institute in Bogotá for the tests and treatment.

0 funny, 0 helpful.