Saltador has left 372 comments
Comments:
|
|
|
Saltador comments on Weird colombain dating service for gringos. Kat you have to admit that last guy with the red tie-dye shirt was pretty stylin... Damn, the colombianas I could pull with a shirt like that!
|
|
|
Saltador comments on Wow. You know, PBH used to be a place for useful information. Change isn't always good.
|
|
|
Saltador comments on Is there any way I can get the two minutes of my life back it took to read this thread?
|
|
|
Saltador comments on rocinante, How true. It also demonstrates for the millionth time that there are no certainties in investing. And also that the average poster on a message board on the internet has no business giving investment advice.
|
|
|
|
|
Saltador comments on ROBBED AT KNIFE POINT IN BOGOTA! THIS COUNTRY IS DANGEROUS!! rhydewithdis says on Jun 27, 2008, 06:57: flag Sry to hear what happened to you. Honestly though, they way I see these overweight gringo sex tourists wandering around here, completely aimless, drunk beyond belief thinking this is Disney World, need a wake up call and something like this to happen to a few of them so they realize that this ain't Kansas. rhydewithdis I call Bullshit on this post. You are perpetuating a tired stereotype and I'll wager you've never seen ONE such person as you described in this paragraph. I've been to Colombia more than 15 times and myself have never seen one, and that includes cartegana in the areas most frequented by us pasty white, bald, fat, only english speaking, socks/sandles/shorts wearing sex tourists. Get real...
|
|
|
|
|
Saltador comments on AAadvantage reducing benefits, got to pay Upgrade Awards to Colombia now Count me among the suckers who uses a credit card. I charge everything from gas to groceries on my Citi Premier Pass card. I then pay my balance off every month. I get miles awarded on everything I buy that can be turned in for travel, gas or even cash. I' ve paid the 75 dollar yearly fee twice now (150 total) and could have them send me a check for 900 dollars if I wanted cash. There may be be better cards out there, but I'm happy with this one.
|
|
|
Saltador comments on Colombia's Peso Drops Most in 6 Weeks on Bank Dollar Purchases Dollar dead cat bouncing all the way up to 1750 today...that's 100 off it's low of a week or so ago..let's hope it keeps bouncing so those 12,000 people who lost their jobs might get them back...Remember, it's for the good of the colombians, not us gringos...
|
|
|
Saltador comments on Colombia's Peso Drops Most in 6 Weeks on Bank Dollar Purchases Guess the Colombian government doesn't understand economics. They need to read a few posts here on PBH.
|
|
|
Saltador comments on Colombia, the disgraceful appalling truth tasco, I think the problem was you stated :"In America we don't think that way". That makes it sound much broader than CEO's in America. Actually the USA and it's citizens are number one in the world when it comes to providing financial aid to others, this was explored in another thread where Sir Tertius got a severe beat down with the facts. And the statistic I've heard is that if you earn 30,000 dollars a year or more, you are in the top 5% of the world.
|
|
|
Saltador comments on The Average wages in Colombia Good info. I usually leave more anyway, but good to know.
|
|
|
Saltador comments on The Average wages in Colombia Damn, and here I always thought me sleazing over them WAS their tip... But seriously, the propina is included on the cuenta at most of these places, and us gringos always pay it. Don't the servers get any of it?
|
|
|
Saltador comments on San Andres Resort Sunrise Hotel/Resort Seems very Nice online... I've stayed at Noblehouse hotel twice and will stay no where else in San Andres. What it lacks in location (It's not on the beach, but one block away) it more than makes up for in service. They only have like 10 rooms, so you will be treated like family. Anything you want or need will be taken care of. They can hook you up with a guy named Gustavo who will take you around the island off the tourist trail and you'll see and do some really cool things (for a propina of course) like snorkeling with sting rays. Even if you don't stay there I'd stop by and get his number, you'll be glad you did. PM me if you want I might be able to find it if I dig deep enough in my post-it pile...
|
|
|
Saltador comments on Colombian news headlines | humanitarian crisis worsens, three hostages freed, peso is causing hunger, colombia denies increase coca The sinking dollar has cost 12,000 colombians their jobs. But go Peso, keep rising, it's great! Right?
|
|
|
Saltador comments on LOL Simon, how true! JC, One thing you may be underestimating is how much your lack of spanish will affect your trip. I've never been to Asia, but from what I hear 30-50% of the people speak some english, so the language is not an issue. That's not the case here. I'd say maybe 5% at most speak any english. If you don't speak the language, you're going to struggle.
|
|
|
Saltador comments on Moneygram- its gets you coming and going!!! I've also posted before on this topic, but to me the best way to do this is open up two accounts at National Interbank of Indianapolis. No ATM fees or foreign transaction fees, NONE. (Other ATM cards may in fact charge you one, but not reveal it.) Anyway, get your two accounts, each with a different ATM card. Use one as your main account, the other use as your novias account. You do not need her name on it for any reason, they both stay in your name. (They do not ask for ID at ATM machines.) Give her the ATM card for the second account. Then just transfer (online, super easy point and click) what ever amount of money you want her to have into her account. Do not transfer more than you want her to have, for if you do, she'll find an emergency for it. I got this info from more than one PBH'er, and it has worked like a charm. Ooops, I mean a friend of mine has done this. I'd never send money to a colombiana.
|
|
|
Saltador comments on Peso strengthens against the dollar Peso is now 1650 to one dollar. Estoy llorando...
|
|
|
Saltador comments on Screwed by Avianca - again You may recall the time my novia and I bought tickets to San Andres from Cartagena on the morning of the flight, luggage in hand. We left the ticket counter with our tickets and got in line for our boarding passes. When we got to the check in counter, the man informed us our tickets were for the flight the next day! We went back to the ticket booth and after fruitless arguing had to pay like 150 dollars for the woman to change our tickets to the correct day. I knew it wasn't our fault, but I figured Avianca would reimburse me or give me a credit when I got back to the states. Wrong. Countless calls, emails, providing info they asked for, etc got me nothing. Bitch about Spirit, but at half the price I'll gladly pay for my baggage and food.
|
|
|
Saltador comments on New Avianca service starts today. Actually I'm from the midwest and I can catch the Spirit 10:30 departure for Cartagena by taking the 6AM from Ohare. You walk off the plane directly into the waiting area for the 10:30 flight. Works like a charm.
|
|
|
|
|
Saltador comments on Colombia Peso Weakens On Fed Official's Rate Comments Agreed. Every little peso rise is saluted and cheered on with 50 posts. But let the dollar rise and we're not supposed to do the same. Pretty funny actually...
|
|
|
|
|
Saltador comments on Poll: Many In The World Look to Big Change Post Election USA Troll? Guess not, but the statement was so ludicrous it had me wondering... In reality, if Obama wins, it will be the end of prosperity for the US. Kind of sad.
|
|
|
Saltador comments on Santa Marta beaches are nice, we agree they are better than the ones in Cartagena. But one thing everyone fails to mention, is bring your earplugs if you are staying/living near the beach and want to sleep before 1-2 in the morning. The drum beats go into the wee hours of the morning, quite loud.
|
|
|
Saltador comments on Cartagena, a hidden retreat . CG, with all due respect, "apart from the old city"? Isn't that a little like saying Hawaii is mediocre, apart from the beaches? In your opinion, what cities are the best colombia has to offer, and why are they better than cartagena? And please include the old city when comparing what the cities have to offer. We like that part of Cartagena...
|
|
|
Saltador comments on Cartagena, a hidden retreat . What's with all the glowing articles about Cartagena? Don't they know it's really nothing to write home about, every other city in colombia is better. Guess they don't read PBH....
|
|
|
Saltador comments on Best American Candy To Take.... Agree with DWR also on the beef jerkey believe it or not. My gal went loca for the stuff the first time she tried it...
|
|
|
Saltador comments on Best American Candy To Take.... Chocolate, chocolate, and then more chocolate. Trail mix with the chocolate chips goes over big too.
|
|
|
Saltador comments on Shipping to colombia (I know, it's been discussed...) Arthur, I spoke to Rafael yesterday, very helpful guy. I think the problem is he does not trust anyone to get the TV's from Medellin or Cali to Cartagena safely, undamaged and without chance of theft. I seems like he could not guarantee anything like that and was not comfortable with it, makes sense to me.
|
|
|
Saltador comments on Shipping to colombia (I know, it's been discussed...) Well, actually, I'm not much of a TV watcher at all. But I'm going to be renting out my apartment in cartagena, mostly to tourists. The apartment is brand new and I feel like I need to have the TV's for this purpose. But it sounds like I'd be better off just buy local. Makes sense after you hear everybody elses experiences. That's what makes this forum so useful (sometimes! LOL )
|
|
|
|
|
Saltador comments on Yea, but we're talking shit. We shouldn't relate our experiences, because there are good and bad cops in every city in the world.
|
|
|
Saltador comments on My experience with the police in Cartagena was a joke. They blatantly stole my cellphone from me after stopping us with a roadblock. Their professionalism was a joke, it was like giving a 15 year old gang banger a uniform and telling them to have fun with their new found power. Numerous complaints and conversations with their superiors in the days that followed accomplished nothing.
|
|
|
Saltador comments on Spirit Airlines service to Cartagena- My Experience. Yea, I think you just have to hope for no glitches or snags. Read up on other peoples experiences, and all their rules and regulations.Sounds like if you ever need customer service, you're going to be out of luck.
|
|
|
Saltador comments on Is this true? It looks like what happened here is that wolfttz cut and pasted a report from the archives and is wondering how accurate it is. The two italians being murdered in cartagena is old news, that was a couple years ago now and is the only "tourists being murdered story" we have heard in relation to cartagena. Granted, two people losing their lives is two too many, but in relation to the number of tourists in cartagena over the last 5 years it is minimal. I hate to rip on the original writer, but he had a false image of colombia to start with. And I would say the only reason he had better luck with the ladies in manizales is because he went to a marriage agency where it's like shooting fish in a barrell. Don't come to colombia if you can't tolerate cockroaches, rats, and beggars. And don't come to the coast of colombia if hot and humid weather upsets you. Paradise Island is much nicer, I've been there. Of course, it costs 10 times as much, there is no nightlife, and your chance of hooking up with a beautiful woman are ZERO. But, you gotta have priorities in life....
|
|
|
Saltador comments on Colombia's Peso Weakens After Govt Tightens Capital Controls "The measure won't weaken the peso strongly. We believe the peso will end the year around COP1,900, but not because of the measure," said Daniel Escobar, head of research at local brokerage Gesvalores." This flies in the face of Roci's 1400 prediction for November. Somebody is going to be wrong.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Saltador comments on Can I retire at my age with my savings The silence from CanadianCorey is deafening.
|
|
|
Saltador comments on Can I retire at my age with my savings Very helpful report, especially to us non fluent gringos :-)
|
|
|
Saltador comments on Can I retire at my age with my savings Yup. You'll burn through 700 dollars pretty quick in cartagena, especially if the dollar keeps dropping.
|
|
|
Saltador comments on Can I retire at my age with my savings Keep in mind he's talking about Cartagena, the most expensive city in colombia.
|
|
|
Saltador comments on Can I retire at my age with my savings I agree with brians that 250,000 dollars would actually be cutting it close. You could do it, but would have to manage your money wisely. The rental apartment is not a bad idea, you will need a way to turn the nest egg into a stream of income. However, most of th people here are underestimating the costs of the apartments you are talking about. An apartment in bocagrande that you will be able to rent out at all is going to be around 100,000 dollars. That will cut into your nest egg considerably. Lifestyle is a question also, will you continue to go out to the most expensive nightclubs and restaurants in cartagena? If so, you'll go through money rather quickly. I'm surprised no one has started in on you with the stereo-typing. Is this a kinder, gentler PBH? Let me pick up the torch... How long have you been married? How long have you known the girl before you got married? Did she know about your nest egg before you got married? Do you live together now, if so, where? Sorry, but someone had to do it...
|
|
|
Saltador comments on Spending the night on the Rosario Islands The humidity is not always unbearable, in all my trips to cartagena I would describe it as unbearable only once. (Yea, it sucked big time.)And I'm from the midwest so am not used to it except occasionally in the summer. For all the bitching about the vendadores, I don't find them that bad. It's just something you get used to. I've never found them to be too bad in the old city, except in plaza santo domingo, which for the most part should only be strolled through due to the high costs of everything. Yea, at the beach in bocagrande they can be annoying, especially those damn massage girls who don't understand "No" in any language. But after a while (if you keep saying no gracias) most of them will leave you alone....
|
|
|
Saltador comments on Spending the night on the Rosario Islands Agree with tom tom 100 percent. You can't go to playa blanca through a trip to the rosarios, you get bent over doing it that way. Try going just to playa blanca, either as tomtom did or through the decameron hotel. If you spend the entire day there, you'll quickly realize the touts are nowhere near as bad as they are in cartagena. You'll have maybe four or five approach you all day, maybe one massage girl. The rest sit behind little stands and wait for you to approach them. Scale of 1-10: Isla Rosario excursion =4 Decameron Playa Blanca = 9
|
|
|
Saltador comments on Current Living Expenses Medellin rocinante, What is your timeline for the peso to be at 500 with the US dollar? Just need to know when armegeddon will be upon us...
|
|
|
|
|
Saltador comments on Taxi from Cartagena airport to El Centro - Costs? Now there you hit the nail on the head. The most common scam will be that they charge you the rate from the airport. Almost all of them will try it if you don't agree on the fare before hand.
|
If you're not a part of this travelicious experiment just yet, just sign up here. It's free & easy.
About poorbuthappy | About the travel guides | Travel guide editing | Community rules
© 1998 - 2008 Peter Van Dijck, all rights reserved.