When will there ever be direct Miami San Anndres service?

Frank Rizzo says on May 14, 2008, 11:16:

I'm hoping never.

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sanandressi says on May 14, 2008, 11:19:

Sorry you feel that way. If increased tourism would improve the island and especially for the poor I think it would be good.

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LilaM says on May 14, 2008, 11:19:

shhhhhhhh don´t say this to anyone... San Andrés is beautiful the way it is... it looks like an old picture from Caribbean Islans or old Florida long long time ago... That´s why is still beautiful

"You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don´t try" B. Sills

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Mr. Hollywood says on May 14, 2008, 11:20:

Seems to me that SAI already has more tourism than it can cope with.

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sanandressi says on May 14, 2008, 11:24:

SAI is great but it is not for everyone. Some will always prefer places like Aruba, Martinnique, Anguilla....big money spots.

There are what? 60,000 residents oonn SAI so how would 3 flights a week for six months out of the year hurt the place?

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GregYohn says on May 14, 2008, 11:48:

Hola!

I do not visit Colombia to meet Americans or Canadians!

Getting more Americans flying to San Andres will make the prices higher for Colombians and the Americans can visit other places, yet Colombians can not visit as many places without a visa.

12VOIP.com gives free calls to Colombia.Greg

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sanandressi says on May 14, 2008, 12:28:

The Europeans are the people with purchasing power in Colombia right now and not the Americans who have seen the greenback go from almost 3,000 COP to the 1,768 that my wife sent to Villavo a few days ago.

If Colombia wants free trade with the USA then maybe direct service to SAI will become a reality. Maybe not. BTW One Canadian couple I met on SAI was not too impressed with SAI after spending time on Mexico's Mayan Riviera.

The island depends on tourism either way...Colombian or foreign....if Colombia wants to sell its flowers worldwide then they should open up their little Caribbean gem.....so me thinks....

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Frank Rizzo says on May 14, 2008, 12:35:

Wealthy colombians have the general purchasing power in SAI. I've spent time all over Mexicos coasts...and just hope the tourists stay there (in mexico), and leave san andres alone.

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Mr. Hollywood says on May 14, 2008, 12:52:

SAI is more attractive to Colombians than anyone else. This is because of the difficulty Colombians have getting visas. To a gringo with a blue passport, SAI isn't a particularly stand-out destination. What's to differentiate it from any of a dozen other Caribbean spots from the Mexican Riviera to the Dominican Republic and beyond?

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sanandressi says on May 14, 2008, 13:00:

OK NOBODY WANTS DIRECT SERVICE FROM MIAMI TO SAN ANDRES. KEEP IT A BIG FAT SECRET. MAKE TOURISTS SPEND A WEEK IN BOGOTA EN ROUTE TO SAI. LOL

You all win OK. OK OK ! I just thought a few more tourism dollars might help the island. I hear the island hospital is totally third world.

I have been to SAI 4 times so the connection does not bother me since we stop in Bogota for other stuff anyway.

I noticed that Uribe spent money to improve the main beach area so I thought maybe direct flights were going to happen someday?

Adios!

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Frank Rizzo says on May 14, 2008, 13:30:

Sorry sanandressi, for my negative responses..... .it's just that.. i'm closing on a finca on SAI...so i'm not for increased tourism.. from any country.

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Mononoke28 says on May 14, 2008, 14:14:

I'd like to see a direct flight from the US to SAI. I've thought of going there without having that huge layover in Colombia since my travel time from Denver is already 12 hours as it is, but no can do, so it's hard for me to get there. Hey if Canadians can do it, why can't we? I don't think it will happen though, but it sure would be nice.

Diana

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sanandressi says on May 14, 2008, 14:25:

Hey Rizzo, how hard is it for a mainland Colombian or American (Foreignor) to buy property on SAI? We have thought about it but probably never will.....I hear it is kind of difficult?

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Frank Rizzo says on May 14, 2008, 14:32:

It's not difficult at all. The laws are different in many ways in real estate. But, as a foreigner this can be done. You'll need to work closely with the seller (very closely) and an atty in SAI...

The "letter of the law" is that you can't stay full time...even if you own property. If you're seriously going to purchase there, you'll find the right people in the right places to help you get what you want.

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Waterdawg says on May 14, 2008, 14:48:

You know Frank ; I have always had a problem when they tell your Money is fine , but not you ! lol
Your money can stay full time , but you can't ???

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Frank Rizzo says on May 14, 2008, 15:14:

hahahaha Waterdawg !!! Good point ..

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mzzmerized says on May 15, 2008, 09:22:

When I used to go to SAI in the 70s there were flights from Miami to Bogota and Cali that stopped there...took the flight from Miami many times...and if you like San Andres now, you should have seen it then...paradise...Providencia is still paradise, but San Andres has more than quadrupled in size and population...

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roquero says on May 15, 2008, 09:22:

You don't have to stop in Bogota to go to San Andres- Copa has connecting flights from Panama City direct to San Andres, just a short hop away
Much quicker than the Bogota route!

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Mononoke28 says on May 15, 2008, 09:48:

You're right. But the nice packages are leaving from a Colombian city right?

Diana

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roquero says on May 15, 2008, 10:13:

Copa offers some vacation packages too, on their web page

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b bruce says on May 15, 2008, 12:23:

Hey, Great idea! The U.S. can build a military base there as well.

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Mononoke28 says on May 15, 2008, 14:32:

It does? I will make sure to check them out.

Thanks!

Diana

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Lisa Zee says on May 15, 2008, 15:10:

I will be having a place for rent in San Andres. It is perfect for divers, not partying, since it is not by the beach or too close to town. A family would be nice, or if you rent a car, ride a bike or take the bus, taxi, it is about 10 mts drive.
The Cabin is located pass "la Cueva De Morgan" before the blow hole.
I will post pics if anyone is interested.

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sanandressi says on May 26, 2008, 13:20:

Actually the US military has pretty much left Latin America. Panama, Ecuador, Venezuela, Viieques Puerto Rico and maybe Gitmo Cuba soon?

Those lousy gringos....then why do so many from the south want to go north?

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ColombianoGringo says on May 26, 2008, 13:46:

I also hope it never happens. I like the fact that for the most part, the only English you here on the island is from the black islanders.

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Mononoke28 says on May 28, 2008, 13:53:

I just went to the Copa web site and I didn't see any vacation packages going to San Andrés... ?

Diana

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viajero123 says on Jun 13, 2008, 17:15:

Well now Spirit said next year they will fly direct to San Andres from Ft. Lauderdale twice a week...

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toneloc24 says on Jun 20, 2008, 08:29:

Sanandressi - Looks like you got your wish.

As of Dec 31, 2009, the open-skies agreement will include Armenia and San Andres for unlimited direct service for authorized US airlines from US ports.

Currently, the only open skies cities are Cartagena and Barranquilla. After Dec 2009, the list will be Cartagena, Barranquilla, Armenia, and San Andres.

Also under this agreement, as of Dec 31, 2009, authorized US and Colombian airlines may operate unlimited combination flights to San Juan, PR and Orlando, Florida from any Colombian port.

http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/99808.pdf - skip to page 23 (c) and 24 (d)

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

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El Piloto says on Jun 20, 2008, 14:52:

An important technicality - it looks like those 12/31/2009 carveouts allowing unlimited service to ADZ and AXM only apply to *CHARTER* flights.

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toneloc24 says on Jun 20, 2008, 18:24:

Yeah, I'm not sure how they are defining charter service for the US airlines. It just appears that such service will be authorized from any US port.

This agreement is what Spirit Air is already announcing Ft. Lauderdale to Armenia and San Andres under, and seems like they will be servicing these routes pretty regularly, at least twice a week to San Andres as I also read. However, the dating seems dubious.

http://www.lapatria.com/Noticias/ver_noticia.aspx?CODNOT=40531&CODSEC=...

Spirit Airlines confirma vuelos a Bogotá y Armenia

La aerolínea de bajo costo Spirit Airlines confirmó que iniciará vuelos diarios entre Bogotá y Fort Lauderdale (Florida, Estados Unidos), a partir del próximo 24 de julio, mientras que a Armenia lo hará a finales de este año.

Colprensa/LA PATRIA

Cartagena

La aerolínea de bajo costo Spirit Airlines confirmó que iniciará vuelos diarios entre Bogotá y Fort Lauderdale (Florida, Estados Unidos), a partir del próximo 24 de julio, mientras que a Armenia lo hará a finales de este año.

El anuncio lo hizo el Director de comunicaciones de la compañía para América Latina, Juan Arbeláez, quien llegó a Cartagena en compañía de un grupo de periodistas y camarógrafos de CNN en español, que grabarán en esta capital dos especiales: uno sobre negocios y eventos, y otro a cerca de decoración, moda y arquitectura.

Arbeláez también reveló que el cuarto destino al que Spirit volará en Colombia será San Andrés, isla a la que conectarán con el territorio estadounidense a partir de mayo de 2009, con dos frecuencias semanales.

Estas nuevas rutas de aerolínea, que se suman a la que desde el pasado 8 de mayo tiene entre Cartagena y Fort Lauderdale, serán atendidas con un Airbus (A319) con capacidad para 144 pasajeros.

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

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Lisa Zee says on Jun 20, 2008, 18:35:

I wonder how much the fares will be from Miami to S.A.?

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