InterContinental or Dann Carlton In Medellin?

greenday says on Apr 26, 2005, 11:27:

I've stayed at both Although the Dann Carlton is closer to the action (within walking distance of Parque Lleras) and is comfortable, I prefer the Intercontinental. The Intercontinental seems cleaner, and I like the chain, since that's where I stay when I'm in Cali. The Inter has nicer restaurants, a really nice bar (they have different theme nights...i.e. Thursday night is Mexican, with live mariachis)...it's quieter there, nicer pool area...There are some nice discos nearby, for example Las Palmitas...it's a open air restaurant overlooking the city, and has a nice disco...Also HatoViejo is an excellent restaurant just across the street...But if you stay at the Inter, you WILL have to take a cab everywhere, since it is isolated.

I did hear that Park 10 is VERY nice...you might want to consider it.

The cabs I've taken from the airport have not been metered.

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dwmte says on Apr 26, 2005, 11:39:

i'm another voter for the hotel inter..... i used to live there but paid a lot more than $54. not important.

i like it and i like it's seclusion if that's what they call it.

the dan and the 10 are both down in poblado (down the hill) about 3 min in taxi...good half hour walk.

get used to taxis in medellin...they're cheap and everywhere.

they had everything i needed at the inter. i lived in poblado for 2 1/2 years and would still go there even afte i had my own home. long before the dann and the other's were even in someone's mind. when poblado was still a pueblo. it was real cool in the late 80's.

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tommytoyz says on Apr 26, 2005, 11:53:

Forget the Dan Carlton I stayed there and didn't like it at all. At least not compared to the Sheraton four points. From rooms to service to price and view...And it's right next to Oviedo Mall - Medellin's nicest, so you can walk there in 2 minutes and otherwise take a taxi everywhere else. There's also a nice little coffee shop on the corner of the supermaket, a great place to sit down with a coffee and people watch, for people coming in and out of the mall. Though I did walk from Parque Lleras back to the hotel twice, takes about 20-30 minutes - though I wouldn't be doing that too much. It's just a 1,800 peso cab ride - less than a buck.

Don't miss the El Tesoro Mall, take your camera when you go there as it has an Awesome view of the city.

My vote is for the Sheraton.

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viewpoint says on Apr 26, 2005, 11:57:

I live a few blocks south of the InterContinental on Transversal Superior (for the past six years). The IC would be my last choice for a hotel in Medellin because of it's location. That location is too remote as compared to the Dann Carlton, Hotel Poblado or Park 10. You will need a taxi cab to do everything and be dependent upon the hotel services other than a few resturants accross the street.

I personally would choose the Park 10 for it's location in "Zona Rosa" with easy access to banks, resturants, shopping, clubs, discos and the "parque". The area is very safe and easy to walk even at night. It is situated in the "action" area of Poblado and thursday, friday and saturday nights are busy with many people having a good time.

Hotel Poblado or the Sheraton which was mentioned are located right next to Oviedo and a good second choice but the action (nightlife) is on or adjacent to Calle 10 and the Park 10 Hotel is only a few blocks away. The Dan Carlton is probably located about half way between Parque Lleras and Ovideo so with a 10-15 minute walk to either.

If you do not speak espanol fluently then for sure IC would a bad choice as you would we subject to taxi transportation any time you left the hotel instead of being able to walk to multiple locations and service providers. The Zona Rosa and Oviedo Mall locations are both good nesting places and easy for other people to come and visit you as opposed to IC and it's remote location. I stayed in Hotel Poblado for the first 45 days I was in Medellin (in 1999) and that was a good experience. I will send you a PM.

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Matthias19 says on Apr 26, 2005, 13:03:

So.... Tell me KFM are you really going to try to soak up the culture or are you just down on your luck in wherever you come from and just want to get laid? Paisas aren't just another pieces of meat, you know? So tell me are you just extremely ugly and think that being a citizen of the so called first world will mask the fact that your mom doesn't even like you? Enough Americans have corrupted cultures around the world and it would be a shame for some girl to lose her virginity just because she's dumb enough to think someone would actually take her back to the U.S.A. Perhaps, i am mistaken but....i'm sick of seeing people ask others on how to get Colombian women..... If you are going for just four days what are you going to do if you meet a "Colombiana"? If your plan is to get laid and then tell all your grossly overweight buddies about the girl who you somehow managed to persuade into sleeping with you then i suggest you tie a heavy heavy object around your waist and jump off a ship into the ocean.....

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kfm says on Apr 26, 2005, 14:03:

Matthias Take a deep breath and then go get a life. You know nothing about me yet you feel the need to make personal attacks. You think when a Columbian asks for a good hotel in Miami Beach near the discos they are attempting to corrupt American culture. I ask for this advice wherever I travel including the US. I did not seek any help on picking up paisas. I could say more but I would rather not waste my time on people like you.

To the rest of you, thanks again for the suggestions. It seems like the Park 10 may be a good fit. Has anyone actually stayed there? It looks nice on the website:

http://www.hotelpark10.com.co/eng/indexen.php

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daver says on Apr 26, 2005, 15:00:

KFM,

It sounds like Matthias may have caught is girlfriend in bed with a gringo. Just ignore him.

I stayed at Dan Carlton the night I got married. I thought it was nice, but I have not stayed in other Medellin Hotels.

I would put the walk from Dan Carlton to Park Lleras at about 10 minutes. Very safe by Medellin standards. Don´t take a cab unless its raining, as the traffic here is bad. From Ave. El Poblado (the street Dan Carlton is on) you head north for about 5 minutes, then east up a hill for about 5 minutes. The hill isn´t bad (I live in El Poblado, and most hills are 3 times worse). Don´t miss out on Park El Poblado (corner of Ave El Poblado and Calle 10). Not so many fancy trendy bars, but a pretty cool place to hang out on a busy night. This is also a good place to catch a cab. Flota Belen (Cab company) is located there, and I find them to be the best cab company in Medellin.

To soak up the culture, just walk in this neighbourhood. Stick to the busy streets, and try not to get run over. Take a ride on the Metro... just don´t get off unless you know where you are going.

Oh yeah, one more thing, have fun!

Dave

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RUV says on Apr 26, 2005, 15:13:

KFM Hay, Matthias you got all that information from KFM's first post. Do you have any stock tips? Guy you have to easy up. That s??? was out of line.

KFM, I am planning on going in the fall. Let us know how your hotel situation works out. Just curious.

RUV

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greenday says on Apr 26, 2005, 16:29:

re: Matthias' post and everyone thinks I'm the resident asshole of the board...

kfm, have a great time in Medellín, you won't regret going...also you can't go wrong with the Park 10, I've heard many good things about it...

I might be in Medellín soon...I'd really love to meet Hunter, but I don't think he likes me for some reason...mi sexto sentido...

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daver says on Apr 30, 2005, 15:47:

kfm,

I meant to say ¨Flota Bernal¨in my post about the cab company, not ¨flota Belen¨.

Dave

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utopiacowboy says on Apr 30, 2005, 17:01:

Helluva post, Matthias19! You'll fit right in at PBH. Now the fat pasty old bald gringos are knocking up young gullible virgin Colombianas! I hear they're also responsible for African slavery, bad grammar and poor etiquette.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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Hunter says on May 1, 2005, 04:07:

greenday I have never had a guy want to meet me so much, are you sure your handle should not be Gayday.

Hunter

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Hunter says on May 1, 2005, 04:19:

kfm & tommytoyz kfm

I looked at the Park 10 hotel several months ago for a friend, it looks nice, but I think it is over priced.

The Intercontinental isn't really near much, as Gayday pointed out, there is a very nice restaurant opposite and there are other retaurants and about a dozen discos on the Las Palmas, but this road is quite long and you will need a taxi to go from one end to the other.

Dann Carlton is probably the best located, but the Inter-Continental is better as others have pointed out.

Sheraton four points is a pretty good location to walk to the Zona Rosa is only 15 minutes, but you are by the Oveido Mall for the day and early evening.

tommytoyz

I presume you mean the coffee shop in Pomona, I like the coffee and the view from there as well.

Hunter

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dwmte says on May 1, 2005, 06:04:

i agree with you hunter... there are more conveniently located hotels down in poblado...but since without a car in medellin, taxis are a way of life you use them to get anywhere...close of far. i'll still take the intercontinental over all the others. i had a suite there for months and enjoyed it thoroughly...when i wanted any particular activity, i just grabbed a hak and went. period.

i can remember oviedo mall when it was no more than the innitial loop and none of the back existed...even in someones thoughts. and pablos office building was being built across the street. has anyone done anything to that shell yet? we almost bought one of the office suites in that structure....thank GOD we passed on that one.

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go2pr says on May 1, 2005, 06:20:

Park 10 Agree that Park 10 is overpriced.

They just offered me a "long-stay discounted rate" for a one month stay in August at us$ 80/day, which is IMO excessive. And there's no pool, which is for me a big disadvantage.

Yet I'm surprised no one mentionned the Belfort. I spend there two weeks last year, and had a rate at $ 130 000. Location (at walking distance to Llieras), rooms and service were good, and the staff was friendly and helpfull.

A good option IMO.

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Hunter says on May 1, 2005, 06:31:

dwmte No Pablos shell is still, nothing has been done with it, just the flower guy on the steps.

Hunter

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dwmte says on May 1, 2005, 07:35:

hunter... that started as the 'hippest' building in poblado and we were almost talked into buying in....as i said, THANK GOD, we passed. that dead and dying piece of s**t is still cluttering the landscape.

that was built/started about 1987 ish and finished to it's present state about '92 and then pablo found himself in deeper s...t than he had planned and his properties went to hell.

there's one on 10 above oriental (av poblado) that was a shell for years. finally, i think the city of medellin took custody and put it back into usable form it used to be pablo's office (ha ha )

his hang out, was his pizza parlor antique business out by the repressa (dam) by el ritero. he could be found there with all his guards in the late 80's and early 90's. then after his french jail it was life on the run.

dw

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Cousin says on May 1, 2005, 07:50:

Hotels near Medellin Can anyone tell me of inexpensive hotel or hostels in or near Bello. The area I will be spending time in is Santa Ana in Bello and Bello Niquia.

Thanks
USAPRIMO at yahoo.com

Los Cuatro

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jelsaad says on May 1, 2005, 08:27:

COUSIN: Cousin --Believe me, you DO NOT want to seek accomodations in Bello. Bello is, quite possibly, one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Medellin, and most rational people would admonish you strongly agaianst staying there. Additionally, Bello is a lower to lower middle class area --it's unattractive and a bit dilapidated--in addition to being a prime spot for becoming a victim of some sort of crime.

I also discourage you from limiting or even focusing your visit to Medellin to this area. Medellin is a marvelously beautiful city --that can be safe --provided reasonable precautions are taken(such as avoiding dangerous areas --i.e.-Bello). Most hotels are locate din teh upscale El Poblado district, which is likly the safest area of town. A nice room can be had for about $50U.S./night. I recommend the Hotel Plaza Rosa in this price range --excellent location near restaurants, bar, shopping,gyms, great views, courteous/friendly staff, and most importantly --SAFE.

Good luck!

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utopiacowboy says on May 1, 2005, 11:25:

My wife is familiar with the parts of Bello you are going to be in, Bello Niquia is a bad area. She says staying in Bello is a very bad idea for a gringo.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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