Travelers Checks in Cartagena

kernow62 says on Mar 31, 2005, 19:18:

Don't bother with travellers checks, use the ATM. Only draw out what you will need for a few days at a time. Some ATMs are in a booth you access the booth by swiping your card to open the door, always try to do your transaction inside a grocery store or bank and in the daytime is best. I withdrew the money near the hotel where I stayed and before setting out for the day the ATM card was locked in the room safe.

I felt very very safe in Cartagena day or night.

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Gator says on Mar 31, 2005, 19:49:

Do This... Take maybe $200 in AMEX checks as an emergency stash but don't plan on using them except in an emergency. Use your ATM card. Banks, casas de cambio and some hotels will take travelers checks but the rate of exchange is bad, bad, bad.

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

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dr75200 says on Mar 31, 2005, 20:01:

Thank you Thanks to both of you. I am going to take your advice. I can't wait to arrive.

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kernow62 says on Mar 31, 2005, 20:35:

If you plan to take an emergency stash why not just take $200 cash. You can still change it for COP when you arrive if needed.

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Dolfi says on Mar 31, 2005, 23:42:

No problem to change travellers cheques in Gartagena. The rates are worse than in Bogotá though.

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2retirensa says on Apr 1, 2005, 05:35:

????? What kind of exchange rate do you get if you use $$ and change them at a cambio or bank?

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Crazy4Cali says on Apr 1, 2005, 05:47:

Lately... When I was there last month, the bank at the airport paid about $2,200COP/USD while the ATM transactions during that same trip paid about $2,300COP/USD. So on $200USD, that would mean receiving an extra $20,000COP from the ATM than the bank.

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lpdiver says on Apr 1, 2005, 06:57:

On my trips to medellin I brought five thousand dollars in AAA travelers checks. It was time consuming (one hour) to cash them but no problems. They called AMEX and confirmed each and every check. I also had my wife/fiancee with me with her cedula both times. There is a limit to how much you can cash...ten thousand per trip I believe.

I also loaded a prepaid visa with five thousand dollars and most ATM's accepted it.

Tony

"cook some rice!"

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gregshav says on Apr 1, 2005, 10:34:

Have a blast in Cartagena I'm going to Cali and Cartagena in June with my Calena.
Last time we went to Cartagena and had a great time.

I'm ready to go now, the days can't go fast enough.

Party hard!!!!!

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b bruce says on Apr 5, 2005, 20:51:

Travelers Checks I just returned from Colombia. Viva Colombia! While in Cartagena I had no problems cashing my travelers checks at BanColombia just out side the old city walls. Have fun!

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adrimm says on Apr 5, 2005, 21:06:

Vote for the ATM Why bother with the hassle of TCs when there is a bank machine?!

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