hotel in manzales

MacGringo says on Apr 10, 2006, 11:38:

If you want to just kick back and relax, go to the termales, relax outdoors in the hot spring water, and allow the waiters to bring you ron and ice while enjoying the view of the mountains in the backdrop.
It costs 30k pesos for entrance for two and you can chill out there all day if you like for this price.(obviously this doesn't include the large quantities of ron you'll scoop while lying there all day)
Try and get an hour or two in in the daylight, but also try and be there when it tuns dark, pretty cool lying there relaxing in the hot spring waters at night when they put the lights on around the pool.
Enjoy!!!

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MacGringo says on Apr 10, 2006, 11:49:

Another thing I enjoyed was this but its not very touristic. I was living in Villa Maria with locals and from there they took me on a short walk which involved walking up the steepest road I have ever seen, to the top of the hill where the local radio mast is, from there is quite a nice view of surrounding barios and hillsides. This is something for if you are actually staying in this area with someone to take you, I wouldn't go out my way to do this, but it is quite a good view.And there is a bar at the top of the hill, your going to need a beer when you get up there.

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Miguel_Clavo says on Apr 10, 2006, 23:10:

It is spelled Manizales, btw.... Los Termales del Otoño is one of the better thermal springs about 45 minutes outside of town....great relaxing place, real clean, but not cheap if you stay the night. MacGringo is correct about Chipre...near the radio tower, real steap street, very unsafe very late at night. has a few great bars near the top. there is a park on the side which offers great view of the area, including where they plan to build an international airport..place is packed on the weekends, especially Sunday, and sometimes they have free open air concerts....Cable Mall is nice to visit, lots of women work there, and there is another mall which is enclosed in smoked glass or plastic near el centro if you stay there.

Hotels i have used:

Hotel Carretero: www.hotelcarretero.com on Calle 36 clean, great staff, a little noisy if you get the car dealership side, but has a great view of the mountains.

Hotel Bolivar Plaza: great price, $50 night, but faces an old church which has the church bells rung every hour on the hour...drove me nuts!

i believe the other hotel preferred by businessmen is the Hotel Colina...in el centro...but i believe is the most expensive one around....never used this one, as Carretero has the conference room facilities that i like.

Manizales is usually quite during the week, but you can hit all the bars/discos etc, in the small Zona Rosa about a block from the entrance to Cable Plaza....very busy during the weekend nights, and you can always treat yourself to a South American style Futbol (soccer) game, which will really open your eyes....if Once Caldas (their team) is playing Pereira, bring your bulletproof vest, because the rivalry can get a little bit violent......one guy in Pereira was thrown off of the second floor seats to the playing field, and splattttt.......one less fan....

stay away from the area around the bus depot.....lots of hookers, thiefs, and other undesirables in this area....taxi drivers get whacked there late at night quite often.....

Great City, Great People, and deserving of your respect at all times. Have fun, and i know you will return.....they always do!



Just my opinion...

Miguel_Clavo

"Ignorance is a Weapon of Mass Destruction..."

"I would rather die living life, than to live a dying life."........ Oh, and my PM is always ON. Great Bumper Sticker: "Home of the Free, Because of the Brave"

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MacGringo says on Apr 11, 2006, 01:56:

Miguel,you described much better than I could have. I wasn't meaning Chipre though. I think I might have confused matters by mentioning the radio mast, When I think back, you could see the radio mast from the hilltop I was on.
This was more of a road which eventually changed into a path and it had just one bar at the top of the hill, it wasn't a tourist area in the slightest. The start of the steep road was accessed, sort of at the back end of Villa Maria near to a bario , which I think was called La Pradera. Maybe you can correct me on this.

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MacGringo says on Apr 11, 2006, 01:59:

I did like Chipre though, great effort put in with lights and decorations at Christmas and during Feria was buzzing with all kinds of activities.
Also a good area , I believe if you want to try flying 'Parapente'

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Miguel_Clavo says on Apr 11, 2006, 19:15:

Hmmm...i am not familiar with the other radio tower, MacGringo.. but i really love Manizales...i hope to live there in July or August if all goes well....i will keep an apartment in Cartagena for business, but live in Manizales on the weekends....

Just my opinion...

Miguel_Clavo

"Ignorance is a Weapon of Mass Destruction..."

"I would rather die living life, than to live a dying life."........ Oh, and my PM is always ON. Great Bumper Sticker: "Home of the Free, Because of the Brave"

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MacGringo says on Apr 12, 2006, 12:32:

I loved Manizales too, it's a great city and a good size too, although I like Bogota very much too , I found the size of the city a bit over whelming.
What is your business in Cartagena?, if you don't mind me asking.

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Miguel_Clavo says on Apr 12, 2006, 23:42:

MacGringo....I like Bogota as well, but it seems to be raining all the time. The only major city i have not been to other than a layover in the airport is Medellin....never have really seen the city itself....I love to travel, and do so every oppurtunity...i even spent a month in Eastern Europe on a Harly-Davidson i rented in Frankfurt...went solo and had the time of my life..next Harley venture will be Australia and New Zealand..i work for the government and my assignment here will be finished on July 1, 2006. At that point i have chosen to live in Colombia, as i have never encountered such a wonderful warm people in all my travels and assignments. Certainly unlike 98% of west coast americans. People here only chase the almight $$$ and dont even know who their neighbors are, much less their own kids.....

About a year ago i started a samll tourism based corporation in California, with the main office in Cartagena. It is located in the walled city section near the governors and mayors mansions. Since i have not been able to run it in person (my employer determines where i can go,) i have had to rely on my Colombian manager until i move there this summer. I hope to purchase an apartment in both Manizales and Cartagena intitially. I plan on actually living in Manizales because of the people there, basically. i have visited Colombia about 18 times over the last 3 years, partly for my personal business, and partly for work when assigned. The game plan will eventually be to have offices in all the major cities in Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Chile and the like. Depends on how well CTG does. My investments in real estate in California have done real well, and i hope to contribute in a positive way to a country i have adopted. I have faith in the Colombian people whom i believe will overcome their obstacles in due course. Hell, if they dont deserve it, noone does....=)

Just my opinion...

Miguel_Clavo

"Ignorance is a Weapon of Mass Destruction..."

"I would rather die living life, than to live a dying life."........ Oh, and my PM is always ON. Great Bumper Sticker: "Home of the Free, Because of the Brave"

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MacGringo says on Apr 13, 2006, 06:19:

Miguel have you got an email address I can get in touch with you at please?

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Miguel_Clavo says on Apr 13, 2006, 10:57:

Sure.....try miguelclavo at aol.com..... Just my opinion...

Miguel_Clavo

"Ignorance is a Weapon of Mass Destruction..."

"I would rather die living life, than to live a dying life."........ Oh, and my PM is always ON. Great Bumper Sticker: "Home of the Free, Because of the Brave"

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bkcarolina says on Apr 17, 2006, 12:37:

Termales was great... but it now costs COP 50,000 for entrance for two, and they say they take VISA till you try to use one, and suddenly the line isn't functioning.

But spending 5-6 hours hanging out there was the most relaxing time I could ever imagine. Thanks for the tip.

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bkcarolina says on Apr 17, 2006, 12:40:

a good hotel choice is Casa Polty, just behind the Government Building on the Plaza Bolivar.

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