Think before you write, think before you believe.

While PBH is absolutely one of the best sites of its kind, one should bear in mind that there are inherent limitations as to its usefulness in providing reliable, unbiased information. The old computer abbreviation: GIGO, says it all, Garbage In, Garbage Out!

When posters ask members for their opinions about which hotels, restaurants, etc. to recommend, they must realize that any response to their query will be an "opinion" and nothing more. Think of it this way: let's say five of your best friends have all been guests at the same resort. Would you ask ALL of them for their opinions, or would you be selective and ask only those who's opinions you value, based on YOUR PAST EXPERIENCE WITH THESE FRIENDS? Why then, ask (and accept) total strangers for subjective advice, which if taken, could end up costing a lot of money and possibly ruining a vacation?

Many PBH posters, for example, repeatedly recommend only the most expensive hotels, even though the questioner specifically was looking for hotels costing much less than the best. A waste of time for PBH readers because the question and answer are not related!

When I'm looking for info. on PBH, I first use THIS SITE by Google. From my experience, about 10% of the postings are of value in that they actually relate to the key words I have entered.

About ten years ago we began building city wide Portals, first in Venezuela, and now in Colombia. The Portals are bi-lingual, Spanish and English. If printed, the Portals are well over 1,500 pages and more than 2,000 photographs. One of the features of the Portals is the subsidized mini-Home Pages we offer to local businesses, including hotels, restaurants, professionals, stores, etc. The standards we use are based on uniform comparisons, which allows the reader of the Portal to make a fair and fast self evaluation as to: what is offered, in relation to the visitors needs. We include photographs, location maps, current prices, menus with prices, and complete contact info.

The major Search Engines, such as Google, have honored our work with good Search Engine Results. For example if you were to enter the Search Words: "cartagena colombia hotels" (there is more than one Cartagena) our Portals: (www.cartagenainfo.net, www.cartagenainfo.com) will appear in position one, and four, of PAGE ONE, and for hoteles (the Spanish Portal) the Search Results currently appear in positions one, two, and eight, of PAGE ONE.

Some of you may be thinking: developing, programming, maintaining and promoting Portals is a money-maker? TIP: based on our decade of full time experience-forget it! For us, the "payoff" comes in daily fun, continual learning, and doing what ever we can to help improve local economies.

Think before you write-think before you believe. But whatever, continue your use and support of PBH, it's a great website.

Enjoy!

Jim

By jmbone on Mar 2, 2006, 07:36 in Friendly Talkzone.

Miguel says on Mar 2, 2006, 10:03:

...Entonces...digame... I bookmarked cartagenainfo.net a long time ago. While it is comprehensive, it still has a red-lettered link to a US State Dept. advisory about travel being safe for US citizens issued in May, 2005.

There is also a statement that implies that Cartagena does not have "crowds".

If you have any connection to this site, you need to update the information.

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toneloc24 says on Mar 2, 2006, 11:35:

I will try to help: hotels Yeah, I did notice that there does seem to be an abundance of posts recommending the higher priced hotels, even though the mid-range, mom and pop hotels suffice the same for a fraction of the cost. I guess some need that level of comfort to feel extra extra secure, even if it might be a false sense of security nonetheless.

We did something a while back which identified many hotels in Medellin, from high-end to low cost. I will start a thread entitled "Lower-priced, safe hotels in Colombia," or something along those lines in a day or two. That'll be my "giveback" to the PBH board and the many members who have contributed to my travels into Colombia.

I'll only use my own experiences, surprisingly overwhelmingly having been positive. I hope others will do the same. I've never spent more than $55USD a night at a hotel in Colombia and I've been to approx. 6-7 cities.

"Don't tase me, bro!!!!"

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Crazy4Cali says on Mar 2, 2006, 13:09:

The best hotel value I've had, so far... ...in Bogota doesn't even have a sign. The Hotel CasaItaliana was very comfortable, quiet and la duena was very nice. I think I paid $45/night for 2 people, and that included breakfast. No problem getting a taxi, 5 minutes to Salitre and 10-min to the embassy.

You need to know the address and watch for some Italian flags on the roof, otherwise you'll blow right on past it. I've stayed at worse for much more.

The only down side is that breakfast is served at 6:00 am, so if you're trying to get to the Embassy early (as you should for your interview), that can be a problem.

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poco says on Mar 2, 2006, 14:10:

Great Idea Having current information on the net is useful and saves a lot of explanation. However, personal references are preferred to allow a place to start your search.

There is WAY TOOOO MUCH “stuff�? on the net. I believe an ad spot in conjunction with some satisfactory experience by PBH posters might be best.

Another discouraging problem with Colombia is the appalling lack of consistency.

This site might have a question about restaurants in downtown Armenia. This clickable link shows my recent lunch.

One lunch with juice and coffee costs about 5,000 pesos. Juice is “Free�?, coffee costs extra. Basic lunch with soup, juice, banana and the ubiquitous arepa,, 4,500 pesos.

This photo is clickable and links to more information.

This is an example of consistency spanning a two month period. First time was a pleasant experience, second floor, beautiful décor, great service, good food, not too much, not to little.

Second time,, a little less, third time they no longer served coffee (a real bad decision) and the meat was tough. Who knows why Colombians run a business this way, I’ve seen this many times. I’ve also seen why some have been in business for 20 years. Consistency along with “decent�? food,, look at McDonalds,, I don’t like their hamburgers but I know what I’ll get, every time.

BTW: They might have returned to excellent, worth a try.

"Violence is the first refuge of the incompetent" - Isaac Asimov

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platano says on Mar 3, 2006, 05:55:

Has anyone ever started a residencias thread? Cheapest commercial place I ever stayed was a residencia in Piendamó for CP$4.000 a night which at the time was about four dollars. (That's for the night, not for an hour! LOL!)

It had a cold water shower, in a stall under a stairwell, with a slanted roof that did not allow me to stand up completely. Once you shut the door it was also completely dark. First time I ever showered in a semi-crouching position in the dark.

Great people in Piendamó, even if the accomodations were not quite five stars. The people are why I love Colombia, not for hotels that imitate or food that imitates other places.

plátano

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miamimike says on Mar 4, 2006, 04:32:

Expensive $$$ Hotels not always the most secure In Cali recently at a Very Well Hotel Chain, whose rooms cost $100+ USD per night, a friend's son lost several hundred dollars in the Hotel Safe and it was never recovered. So much for the most expensive hotels ALWAYS being more secure. I have never payed more then $35 per night in Col since 1994 and I payed as little as $3 per night in Bogota at the Internatioanl Youth Hostel(I have a senior worldwide membership) by the Palacio Nari~o and it was very secure and clean.$3 USD per Night.

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.

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Blue says on Mar 4, 2006, 06:58:

think before write-think before you believe-what? This is nothing more than self-serving patronizing propaganda.

Blue

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Miguel_Clavo says on Mar 4, 2006, 20:30:

Hey Blue!!! You got that one dead-on!!!!!!! hahaha...

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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