The bottom line....

elmodefoque says on Jul 23, 2004, 10:31:

colombia Bogotá is as safe as any large city in the USA. If you came here to NYC, I would not recommend that you walk at night in Harlem, the same goes in Bogotá, stay away from bad neighborhoods. Thought I’m not too familiar with Bogotá, I’m sure is the same way. What I do as soon as I land in Bogotá’s airport, I go directly to an ATM machine to take out Colombian pesos. I use my USA Citibank card, with absolutely no problem.
There are plenty of safe and well located hotels all over the city and it all depends on how much you want to spend.
If you want to see ocean in the Colombian mainland hop on plane, for maybe $150. US roundtrip, to Cartagena, or Santa Marta, the water is nice but not spectacular, but the nightlife is. If you want spectacular ocean, I recommend you also hop on plane, about $200. US bucks, to San Andres. You’ll love it and you’ll see many other Canadians there too.

I'll get there, when I get there!

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liquidlove says on Jul 23, 2004, 10:37:

thanks Thanks for the tips...
when you say the ocean isn't spectacular...what do you mean? Is it still nice deep blue tropic water? Or more muddy?
When you land in Bogata, you take a taxi? How much do you pay? Can you trust taxi drivers?

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elmodefoque says on Jul 23, 2004, 10:56:

most taxistas are honest. the water in cartagena is not deep blue. closer to muddy but the place is a lotta fun. santa marta the water is better but a smaller place. again, san andres will blow you away, is awsome, is like heaven.

I'll get there, when I get there!

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poulet says on Jul 23, 2004, 12:50:

you can safely grab a cab at the airport since the ones you take are all registered there. The "center" or downtown has an interesting architecture to offer but it isn't very safe, uptown(or "el norte") is very safe and the best nightlife goes on around there. (parque de la 93, la 82, la T). Also further up north, outisde bogotá you can visit Andrés, Carne de Res. Do go there if you come to Bogotá, maybe you've heard about it, it's an excellent place for "rumba".

San Andrés is great, but if you go there, visit providencia which is a smaller island very near and 100times more beautiful.
Cartagena has excellent hotels, you can go for the all-inclusive deCameron, which has reasonable prices or high-class santa clara or santa teresa, you'll find websites for all these hotels. The nightlife here is excellent you definitely wanna go to the "ciudad vieja" which is the walled ancient city, the nightlife there is ... plain awesome.
In san andrés the choices are more limited since deCameron has a monopoly, but the hotels are very nice. In santa marta you'll probably wanna go to the Zuana Beach Resort or the Hirotama.

cabs are very cheap in bogotá, from the airport to the city it will cost around 20thousand pesos which is around U$8.

I will gladly tell you were to go if you do come here, but I'm kinda bussy in college.

hmm... also its ColOmbia, not ColUmbia

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vladimiro says on Jul 23, 2004, 14:58:

If you don't speak Spanish... Its very important to learn as much Spanish as you can before you go. Colombia's main attraction is its amazingly warm and friendly people. For beginners heading to Colombia I would use Pimsluer CDs to up to speed quickly.

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liquidlove says on Jul 23, 2004, 15:57:

HI My spanish isn't all that bad
I am by no means fluent...but I can get by. I'll keep my dictionary handy. But I'm also hoping that some of the people my age speak at least as much english as I speak spanish...is that un-realistic?

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farmerdan says on Jul 23, 2004, 17:21:

bogota in late may i was to bogota in may. there is a place in the centre square that sells canuch lobster. they had canadian flags out and the works. very cool. as far as the english goes. i'd say only the people that work in the hotels spoke english that i talked to. i met one bar tender how spoke english so don't count on meeting anyone in the bars with english pick up lines.plus work on your dancing man can the chicks dance.where in the great white north r ya from? mail me if ya what to talk more shiness at execulink.com

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vladimiro says on Jul 23, 2004, 18:47:

Hello I don't think you'll meet people that speak English unless they are very educated professionals. But that's ok, as long as you know some spanish you'll be able to make friends easily.

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cobbook6104 says on Jul 24, 2004, 10:22:

colombia Most wonderful place I've ever been. Bogota is the best climate imaginable, 45f at night 68-72 dias. you'll love it, taxis are the only way to go, but you must speak and understand spanish well. Cartegena is great, very, verry humid!! Many hotels that are very nice around 35 u.s. per night. Santa Clara and Theresea are 250.00 plus us per night. Taxi's is Cartagena are not metered, be sure to ask the price before, I said before you get in the cab. Have a great time I will be back in the winter and moving to Bogota within 5 anos.

florida bob

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cristina8463 says on Jul 26, 2004, 17:15:

Hello You can go out in the Zona Rosa or Parque 93 in Bogotà. Emglish is very important for Colombians to know. In these night spots you will be able to find English speaking people. Also, the Canadian Embassy has happy hour every friday night in a hotel across the street from the embassy.
Whe you arrive at teh airport, go straight to a window where there is a cashier - sorry I can't remember what it is called - but it is located jsut outside of where you pick up your luggage and go through customs. You tell the lady where you are going and she gives you a receipt with how much it will cost. Then you take a taxi that is parked outside that is especially assigned to take these fares. The people in the airport are very friendly. Do not be afraid. It is to their benefit that you are treated well.
Once in the city always try to call for a taxi or have the maitr'd or consierge find you a taxi. Do not take one straight from the street at night.
How long do you plan to be in Bogotà? When are you arriving? Maybe I can find oyu some friends that can take you around. People love to show tourists around.

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