viajero has left 52 comments

viajero comments on I didn't pay an exit tax...how did that happen?

I fly delta to bogota and never have to pay exit tax. I simply go to a window to be exonerated. I fly on delta buddy pass. Viajero

viajero comments on Chiropractor in Medellin? Suggestions PLEASE!

I am also a chiropractor, living in the caribbean and I have also noticed the shortage of chiros in colombia. I have located a few chiros (on the net) in bogota and bucaramanga but that's about it. I am also interested in knowing what are the laws and procedures required to practice in colombia.

viajero comments on

I have stayed there a few months ago and i think i will go there again at the end of this month. First class apartments, modern furniture, art deco style (at least the 2 bedroom apt. we stayed in), telephone with local calls free, cable TV and extremely safe area. I used to stay in hotels in bogota, but this is by far the best deal. Like I have mentioned before in my posts, they are so trust worthy, they picked us up from airport, dropped us in the apartment and then I didn't see anyone come to pick up money for 3 days. I mean, no papers signed, no money charged up front, nada. The maid came to clean everyday and they checked up on us to see if everything was ok and working. I finally had to tell them to come pick up the money before I spend it all, hahaha so they came. there are restaurants from mcdonalds to local style food within 3 minute walking distance. You can eat cheap or you can dine with style at a local restaurant and still not spend much. The place is run by young people, fernando, his wife and even the people who work for him, all young and helpful. They will guide you into the right direction which suits your festive mood. I will write another review next month after I stay with them again at the end of this month. I hope the prices have not gone up. Viajero.

viajero comments on Apartment Hotels in Northern Bogota

"I got back the prices from Fernando Suites. They are about as far North as I'd consider staying, but the prices seem very good. 1 Bedroom - $90.000/night 2 Bedroom - $110.000/night 3 Bedroom - $130.000/night" written by colombiano gringo If you stay a few nights, I am sure you can get some discount. The free airport pick up is a great value all by itself. the apartments are very good and located in a very safe and clean neighborhood (santa barbara). i will be going back there soon in the end of june. Viajero

viajero comments on Apartment Hotels in Northern Bogota

Your search stops here: just contact fernando (speaks perfect english): fernandohotel at gmail.com He has class act apartments. I have stayed a week in his 2 bedroom apartment 3 months ago. All I can say is, his place is impressive. Remember, I make not a single dime from writing this review but I am doing it because I was treated well, like a family and I was given what I was promised. the place is new, furniture is art deco and decorum. The apartment is located in Santa Barbara near restaurants and even Bogotá beer factory bar (not sure of exact name). It’s a safe neighborhood and there is 24/7 security at the door. I walked everywhere in day light and at night. Fernando apartments offer free airport pickup service so no hassle is involved in seeking a good taxi driver. The prices are cheaper than most hotel. Fernando and his wife will personally come to check up on you and make you feel right at home. They didn't even come to pick up the rent for 3 days; this is how much they trusted me. hahaha. Full wifi internet and cable tv, not to mention, free local telephone calls. Maid comes everyday to clean. Hot water and clean bathrooms. There is nothing you guys need that they don't have. I would be stupid to go to any hotel when I can get 2 bedroom apartment in a great neighborhood for less than I pay for a single room hotel. Check out his room in his website. www.fernandosuites.com Viajero aka AZB (dr1).

viajero comments on

I don't feel the urge of being a snob. I'm not saying that by having things it makes you a snob..... Ryan619 then he writes: Your ass is not ment to be spoken out of unless you are wearing a G-string. Settle down you are getting a lil crazy viajero. ryan619 Ryan, I am not the one sitting in up north, dreaming of colombia. I am already here in paradise. Viajero.

viajero comments on

Morphus, seems like you have very good taste in women. I hope to hook up with you on my next trip to bogota. I think you do live there, right?? Viajero

viajero comments on

ron barcelo, is what I remember drinking in DR and cerveza presidente in the afternoons. viajero- do you know Los alcarrizos in Santo Domingo? is that the type of place you are referring to? I spent a month working at a clinic there a couple of years ago. and I'm thinking he should go to Brazil instead... written by romy He is drinking puerto rican rum but listening to bachata (dominican music). I just don't know why he is thinking of colombia when he hasn't even been there. Los alcarrizos is dangerous barrio in santo domingo. He will find plenty of rum, bachata and putas to make him forget all his miseries back home. hell, he may never return to his country. I live in santiago where the life is more relaxed and the people are of better quality. of course, colombian women can put any dominican girl to shame on their bad days. I love living in dominican republic but the women in colombia are wayyyy better. Bogota, here I come. Viajero

viajero comments on

if he like to drink rum and listens to bachata, he would fit in perfectly in a barrio of Republica Dominicana. We have many putas waiting for a gringo like him. Hahahaha

viajero comments on Looking for an inexpensive hotel in Bogota

Sorry, I meant free airport pickup when you stay at fernando suites. Viajero

viajero comments on Looking for an inexpensive hotel in Bogota

the 2 bedroom apt had a master bedroom with private bath and the other room was a regular sized, queen bed with a bathroom outside. you can cook and do whatever there, its a fully equipped apartment. The price is 80 dollars / night total. no hidden costs. between 2 people, its 40 each. I am sure you can get a discount if you talk to owners. Ask to see if they have cheaper 1 bedroom apt. remember, the hotel pickup is free of charge. Viajero

viajero comments on Quality of Education in USA verses Colombia

Americans don't know the capital of brazil, canada or even the capitals of their own states. they can't find any state on a unmarked USA map. Forget about finding another country on the map. Just do a youtube video search with this: clueless americans. You will see how clueless they are about everything.

viajero comments on Looking for an inexpensive hotel in Bogota

I have stayed in fernando suites on my last visit to bogota. I took a fancy 2 bedroom apartment, with phone, cable TV, full sized fridge, new furniture, free wifi internet and 24/7 security at the main door. It was much much better than staying at any hotel in bogota. I had full privacy and total freedom. It was like 15 mins cab ride to zona rosa and it costs little in cab rides anywhere in bogota. There are plenty of economical places to eat, right outside of the apartments. The place is in a very nice neighborhood. its a guest friendly place. the owners will treat you like family. Oh, and free pick up from airport. Send an e mail to fernando: fernandohotel at gmail.com Ask him for rates on smaller apartments. Once you go there, you will not settle for any other hotel anywhere. here is their website: www.fernandosuites.com PLANET TRAVEL & SERVICES LTDA Office Phone Contact: (57-1)2863286 Mobil Phone Contact: 3134414544

viajero comments on Very nice apartment in The best area of Bogota

The apartments are clean and new looking, the building has a security guard at the door and the main lobby door is always locked. The guests have to be announced by phone and they can only enter when you give permission. So you have an intercom telephone with lobby and a real telephone with all local calls free. Full cable TV and a huge master bedroom and a standard 2nd bedroom. The 2 bedroom apartment costs 80 dollars / night so between 2 people the price cuts in half. You can bring in guests everyday and no one will ask any questions. When you leave, you are on the main avenue (116) so getting a taxi is only a hand motion away. There are small tiendas (stores) or better knowns to many as colmados , bodegas where you can buy beer, soft drinks, juices and cigarettes etc. There are real restaurants in walking distance and even a mcdonalds. Zona rosa is only 10 minutes or less by taxi and if you walk 2 blocks you can go to Bogota beer company on avenida 19. This is a great place to meet people and enjoy good local beer in pints. Viajero .

viajero comments on new shorter route to cartagena from bogota???

I was in bogota last week and I was told by a local that there is a brand new road opened up that takes 12 hrs to reach cartagena. I hope this is true. Viajero

viajero comments on Very nice apartment in The best area of Bogota

I have stayed there about a week ago. Very nice apartments with new furniture, clean with punctual service. The management makes you feel at home and there are no hidden costs. There is a free airport service from airport to apartment and the driver (robinson) is a very cool person who speaks english. The owners, both husband & wife, are very professional type people who understand the needs of clients and make personal visits to make sure everything is in place. We had internet problems with wi fi signal being too weak. I am sure they have it all fixed by now because the tech was working to fix the problem as we were leaving. The cable channels come in clear, the fridge is big and the kitchen is spotless. I say, if you want to spend a vacation in peace and maintain your privacy this is far better deal than any hotel I have ever stayed in colombia. They will get my business ever time I am in bogota. Viajero

viajero comments on Bogota-Bucaramanga Bus fare

I have paid as low as 35K and as high as 40K. You can bring the price down any day. I have done that. Viajero

viajero comments on HEY!!!!!,,, AMAZING ROOMS TO SHARE IN NORTH BOGOTA

Is it guest friendly? I mean, can I bring my decent female friends (non hookers, university students) there? Viajero

viajero comments on Retire In Colombia? Cail 1500 Mudered 2007

I am sure, like in many countries around the world, the majority of these murders are committed in dangerous ghettos (barrios) or among people who had feud with others or even people who deal with shady people / businesses. If you are a common person, living in a nice neighborhood, socialize in decent safe places with decent working people, I think your chances of becoming a victim will be minimal. Viajero

viajero comments on from cali to bogota by bus

Are you sure its not more than 10 hours ride? Viajero

viajero comments on best method of travel between medellin, pereira, ibague

Bus rides are not so bad as people say. I have taken buses all over colombia, even as long as 18 hours trip one way. They are comfortable and you get to see nice view of this country in the day time. Take the night bus if you are planning on being on the bus for 10 hours. You sleep and when you wake up, you are there. Viajero

viajero comments on Colombia as seen through Injun eyes

Can the moderator kindly tell me, why my posts have been deleted? If I am not welcomed in this site, please advice me not to post anymore and I will disappear. Thanks. Viajero,

viajero comments on Barranquilla or Medellin?

Dammit, pictures didn't come up Viajero

viajero comments on Barranquilla or Medellin?

listen guys, IF you're a white guy, young or old, what ever you do PLEASE DON'T come to NYC looking for chucha. You can't even buy chucha here. Elmodefoque LOL, this is funny but sadly true. My friend in queens is doing a 42 yrs old fat Guyanese neighbor. He feels lucky to be getting some. I am so grateful to god I live in Domminican republic, the home of plenty (chucha, I mean). Hahahah. Hey Elmodefoque, How about living in DR? pictures of santiagueras. [IMG]http://i21.tinypic.com/vfgo04.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i23.tinypic.com/2e4ci2s.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i24.tinypic.com/23wseib.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i22.tinypic.com/35mjzx0.jpg[/IMG] Viajero

viajero comments on Warning: Aires sucks!

take the bus, its not that bad. I took the bus from bogota to bucaramanga to barranquilla to cartagena and back. No big deal. Viajero

viajero comments on

There is racism all over the world even in dominican republic where the majority of the population is black, yet blacks are discriminated against by the whiter folks. The small white minority controls the majority of wealth and power in this island. There are places in santiago / santo domingo where blacks can't enter. Now talking about Colombia, I see hardly any difference. Its the same almost all over latin america. Now let me make a correction. I live in dominican republic and I have also traveled to colombia (2 times), I have gone from Bogota, to bucaramanga to cartagena. I do not think white expats are getting any better chocha there then they are getting in dominican republic. majority of them are still doing putas, cueros or simply put, cucharachas. This is what I saw with my own eyes in bogota and in the coast. I can imagine there must be some expats who are with finer women, but the ones I saw, were with cucarachas. Shame to see how tourists always seem to end up in the same gutter anywhere they go. Now I am not white, I was born in Pakistan but I grew up in USA. I try to dress properly and try to speak professionaly. I was not going to go to colombia to hook with with girls in bars so I did my homework before hand. I met the girls on internet and already softened them up before I even got there. I traveled via buses all over the country and met people everywhere who treated me nice. People in Bus talked to me and everywhere I went. The girls were fine too and I didn't feel any discrimination towards myself. One was rich girl from north bogota and she was a university student, a total pure rubia with extremely perfect speech skills. the other was a lawyer and also very well presentable, the 3rd was a model type but also university student and very smart. She is also a rubia. So there you have it, I was treated well, taken all over their respective cities of residence. I had more chocha than I could handle and it only cost me food and taxi money. Non of the girls are hookers or even putas. They are all good girls from nice families. If I post their pictures, I think some of you guys would have your jaws drop. My next trip will be in medellin and cali. I am expecting even more fun there. So if anyone is concerned about racism against indians or pakistanis, forget about it man. All good there for us. Viajero

viajero comments on Buses San Gil to Bucaramanga

The curves are dangerous and when the buses over take each other on the andes mountians near chicamocha park, the distance between them in no more than a foot. I don't know how they keep each other away from rubbing each on the sides. The curves will make you sick. I was about to vomit. The mini vans / buses pass through there frequently. Just get on and pay a small price to go to Bucaramanga. Must bargain. Viajero

viajero comments on Hotels In Bogota

Hotel el duque calle 23 9-38 downtown bogota, 15 minutes from airport. Its clean with hot shower. The hotel is safe and they make you feel at home. The best deal is the price, 60k / night. The restaurants are right near by and you have a ton of places to choose from to eat , drink coffee etc. Viajero

viajero comments on

I was with 3 colombian women in 10 days of my last visit. They are all no different than the domincian women in dom republic when it comes to taking care of their men. The women I met in colombia, I met them via internet. So I knew quite a bit about them before-hand. One was a lawyer in bogota 27 yrs old. The other was younger but a university student, living in north of bogota (possibly from a well to do family), the 3rd one was from bucaramanga also a student and worked with her sister (politician) but also sweet and attractive. All 3 took care of me like I was a movie star. They were actually proud to be with me for the time I spent with them. I did not spend any money on them, except dinner and icecream and a few beers. I took one to cartagena with me for 2 days. They massaged me whenever I asked for and hugged and kissed me 24/7. they just won't let go of me. Now that i talk to them on msn messenger, they all miss me. Mind you, I am no tom cruise. I am 44 yrs old bald and overweight. I speak good spanish and can make people laugh at any time in 3 languages. So in my books, the colombian women are very sweet, far more intelligent than the dominican women (I live in dominican republic), pound for pound, colombian women are more elegant and attractive and they sure appreciate the company of their man. Now I am no expert in colombia, especially since I have only been there twice but I am proud to say my first girlfriend in NY was a colombian from bucaramanga and she sure was a sweet girl at the time. Too bad I was such a jerk and lost her. Come to think of it, thanks god I did, because now I am free and able to travel anywhere I want. Viajero

viajero comments on

Thanks tonloc24, you are the man. I can fly delta really cheap, on buddy passes so thats why I am interested in delta alone. I have been to colombia twice and would like to visit frequently. Now with this mde flights, it will be very easy for me to reach other parts of colombia. Viajero.

viajero comments on

Tonloc24, can you give more info on delta future plans in expanding flights to colombia? The cities you have mentioned, will they be served from atlanta or JFK? What are the expected dates for launching of these flights? Thanks in advance. Viajero

viajero comments on

Vallenato = colombian country music. Its very similar to Musica tipica in dominican republic. Viajero

viajero comments on Just how dangerous is Colombia outside of Bogota ?

dwmte7, were you stopped while traveling in a bus, private car, taxi or simply walking around in the bushes? Please explain. Viajero

viajero comments on Barranquillero in La Romana, D.R.

If he wants hookers, he better save his money for Colombian hookers because Dominican hookers are nasty. What I mean to say is that dominican hookers are no where near as good looking as colombianas on the average. Viajero

viajero comments on Barranquillero in La Romana, D.R.

Sosua only has hookers, many ugly and some good looking ones. Viajero

viajero comments on Barranquillero in La Romana, D.R.

morphus says on Thursday October 4th, 2007 8:40: Lets go to Cuba! We can get an all-inclusive with airfare, hotel, food and booze out of Canada for $500US. Those commies treat you good. Dammit, 500 US dollars for the whole package? We pay more than that just for the airfare alone from santo domingo.

viajero comments on Barranquillero in La Romana, D.R.

The real dominicans don't live in La romana resorts, they are the working class. Now if you could sneak into town of la romana and go to some parks at around 5pm then you will see some single girls sitting around bored to death. I am sure you will find a way to charm them. Santiago is the best place to hang out if you are not into santo domingo type fast cities. Although, santo domingo has it all. Santiago is fun to be in from friday till sunday. The rest of the days, its dead. Viajero

viajero comments on Just how dangerous is Colombia outside of Bogota ?

I walked up and down bogota in the centro de ciudad at day and night and never felt in danger. The best place to take a stroll with your girl is the north side of bogota, in zona rosa area. Totally safe. I personally feel the best place outside of bogota is bucaramanga, its a small bogota, smaller than medellin, cheap and nice weather. The girls are prettier than in Bogota and food is great all around you. If you feel you need more adventure, then stay a couple of days in a small pueblo called san gil. I hear the night life never seizes even on week nights. Its cheap and quieter than many cities yet still maintains it beauty and charm. Viajero

viajero comments on its late 12 pm cooking,curry

Bring some Shan masalas from USA england and have the real curry the way indians eat it. Viajero

viajero comments on Barranquillero in La Romana, D.R.

Real funny story. made me laugh out loud. Please keep up the updates. Viajero

viajero comments on Just how dangerous is Colombia outside of Bogota ?

El Polo says on Wednesday October 3rd, 2007 8:36: Viajero were you stoped in between Bquilla and Cartagena? No, I was stopped closer to bogota, on the way from bucaramanga. Guys, colombia is not dangerous at all if you don't go looking for trouble. I stayed in nicer areas and minded my own business. I didn't take out my expensive cell phone on the streets of bogota to talk to people or took out a wad of cash to pay a 3 thousand peso bill. The only gringo I saw in bogota was a sleazy looking drunk type gringo with 2 hookers in his arms. Now if he gets robbed at night while he is sleeping, then he might have asked for it. Just use common sense and you will be just fine. Of course if you speak proper spanish, your life will go a lot smoother. I have met gringos in cartagena, living there for 4-5 yrs and yet don't speak 5 words of spanish? Helloooo, whats up with that? I have met nothing but good, down to earth colombian who made my trip worth while. Viajero

viajero comments on Just how dangerous is Colombia outside of Bogota ?

You will not get kidnapped in colombia. Contrary to everyone's advice, I only took buses to all over colombia on my last 10 day trip (last week). I went from bogota to bucaramanga through the dangerous curvy roads up the andes mountian range. Not for faint hearted people at all. I took all my buses at night and then went from there to barranquilla and then to cartragena and then back. All night trips with day travel as well. We were stopped at road to be checked by the military. They collected everyone's cedula and when they came to me, I simply handed him my US passport. He immediately returned my passport and seemed totally uninterested in me. He checked everyone and within 15 mins we were back on the road. I traveled 24 hours each way on buses and more on other side trips. The roads are in good condition, the buses are safe and comfortable and the women are simply irresistible outside of bogota. Bucaramanga is the best kept secret in colombia. All you guys have to do is simply meet girls via internet first and I don't mean those marriage introduction webpages where you have to pay a fee to meet girls. I mean pages like latinchat.com, hi5.com and badoo.com. You will be surprised to see how many lonely beautiful girls are simply waiting for guys like yourselves. This is the prime method of meeting decent classy colombian girls without even having to spend time and money in bars. Viajero

viajero comments on

Some of you folks have so much to learn about arab culture. nevermind, just Go back and drink some more beers and screw some more hookers in cartagena.

viajero comments on

Some of you folks have so much to learn about arab culture. nevermind, just Go back and drink some more beers and screw some more hookers in cartagena.

viajero comments on

First of all, Iran is smart to fight off USA in Irag instead of in their own land. USA has no right to change any government in any country of the world. What is democracy to USA? An american puppet installed in any nation is considered democracy? Pakistan has no democracy yet USA loves that dictator there. He is able to hold power because of USA. So please don't talk about democray and terrorism to us, we are not as dumb as you think. Taliban was supported and installed by USA during the afghan / russian war. They were good folks back then and after they refused to allow the gas pipe line through Afghanistan, they became #1 on terrorist list. Now that they are gone from most part of afghanistan and the billion dollar gas line project has been started to tunnel gas from ex soviet states to be sent to the port of pakistan to be shipped all over the world. Did you know about this??? Oh wait, CNN didn't cover this so this must not be true. You folks kill thousands of people all over the world and then have the audacity to talk about terrorism? Shame on you. Most decent americans are left in dark, not allowed to think. If the real american knew what their government was doing to other nations, they will not stand for this at all. Viajero

viajero comments on San Gil....

San gil has many small hotels, seems like its a cheap town. It has a river flowing through it and has a park under construction at the moment. I hear the place is a party town, where young girls do nothing but party all nights of the week and weekend. many think of it as a little sex get-away weekend spot. I think you will have a good time there. Good luck.

viajero comments on

cali373, I could not have said it any better. Thanks god there are people like you who can think beyond the propaganda of CNN and fox news.

viajero comments on Travel from Bucaramanga to Cartegena

I have just returned from Colombia and took a bus from bogota to bucaramanga and then to cartagena from there. The bus ride from bogota to bucaramanga is anywere from 9 1/2 to 10 hours and cost 30 thousand to 35 thousand pesos after negotiation. They were charging a lot more but I brought them down. The bus ride from bucaramanga to cartagena or vice versa will cost 80K but I brought them down to 60K. take the night bus and sleep in it. Try taking the larger comfortable buses as the smaller ones make 50 stops along the way to pick up and drop off passengers. The ride is around 12 hours and you won't even feel it when you ride at night. you go to sleep and when you wake up, you are there. In bucaramanga, stay in Hotel de Leon. Its clean and comfortable, cost 49K / night. The rooms are huge and clean. they have internet wi fi service for 3 thousand pesos / 24 hrs. There are many eating places walking distance. Good luck.

viajero comments on

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is a hitler, hijo de puta for trying to built a nuclear reactor???? hahahaha. Ok here is a question for all the CNN brain washed dummies: If Iran's president is compared to hitler and called an animal, hijo de puta and his country should be bombed for even attempting to make nuclear weapons when tell me this, what we should call American presidents for building thousands of nuclear bombs, testing them in oceans (killing millions of sea species), contaminating water, spreading radiation in parts of the planet, invading other countries and killing hundred of thousands of civilians and to top it all off, drop 2 atomic bombs on japan which wiped off 2 entire cities??? what should we call them? Do you think USA has any right to justify its aggression towards Iran when they, themselves, explode and test nuclear bombs on regular basis?? Threaten other nations with weapons of mass destruction and use them against their civilians??? Iran is nothing compared to what the super power is doing to weaker nations. think about this for a change.

viajero comments on Money exchange help please.

I had people make calls in colombia to casa de cambios and to my disappointment, they were quoted in one place : 1650 pesos to dollar another place: 1880 pesos to a dollar. So i guess the rate fluctuate quite a bit. Listening to both rates, made me depressed. I guess I will change a few dollars at the airport to get to town and then change some more the next day at a place of my choice.