Cartagena - Colombia

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Big Raff

Original Poster:

1,325 posts

170 months

Tuesday 3rd April 2012
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I have been invited to a wedding there in September and it is a place I have always wanted to visit. Apart from the internet searches and whatnot anyone else been and have any tips/recommendations? I.e. on the best route to get there, must see places, where all the banditos hang out and just general experiences?

Cheers PH, you're awesome! bow

Tiger Tim

1,810 posts

221 months

Tuesday 3rd April 2012
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Watch out for Michael Douglas wearing a pair of Crocodile cowboy boots.. That's enough to scare anyone off! smile

Puggit

48,354 posts

247 months

Tuesday 3rd April 2012
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Tiger Tim

1,810 posts

221 months

Tuesday 3rd April 2012
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Muhahaha wink


With your extra few years of experience as well Puggit.... tut tut..

Big Raff

Original Poster:

1,325 posts

170 months

Tuesday 3rd April 2012
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laugh


Big Raff

Original Poster:

1,325 posts

170 months

Wednesday 4th April 2012
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Any other information?

Remember PH, you are the best thumbup

davepoth

29,395 posts

198 months

Wednesday 4th April 2012
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Big Raff said:
I have been invited to a wedding there in September and it is a place I have always wanted to visit. Apart from the internet searches and whatnot anyone else been and have any tips/recommendations? I.e. on the best route to get there, must see places, where all the banditos hang out and just general experiences?

Cheers PH, you're awesome! bow
Precautions need to be taken. As the above posters have mentioned it can be a bit "iffy".

http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/...

Since you're going to a wedding, it would probably be worth asking the happy couple whether they have a relative who can speak a bit of English (if your Spanish isn't great) who can look after you. That'll be the best way of getting out to see things if you aren't on an escorted trip. Average weekly salary in Colombia is about $175 according to the BBC if you want to slip them a bit of cash for their time.

Make arrangements with your hotel to send a car for you - the arrivals area will be a little bit crazy, especially after you've been on a plane that long.

Importantly - don't look like a tourist. Even though it'll be a bit uncomfortable, leave the sandals and shorts at home, ditto any expensive watches, sunglasses, phones etc. There's no point marking yourself out as a target unnecessarily to the thieves.

vtgts300kw

597 posts

176 months

Wednesday 4th April 2012
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Best beaches are out of town. Also, take a boat out to the islands.

Big Raff

Original Poster:

1,325 posts

170 months

Wednesday 4th April 2012
quotequote all
davepoth said:
Precautions need to be taken. As the above posters have mentioned it can be a bit "iffy".

http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/...

Since you're going to a wedding, it would probably be worth asking the happy couple whether they have a relative who can speak a bit of English (if your Spanish isn't great) who can look after you. That'll be the best way of getting out to see things if you aren't on an escorted trip. Average weekly salary in Colombia is about $175 according to the BBC if you want to slip them a bit of cash for their time.

Make arrangements with your hotel to send a car for you - the arrivals area will be a little bit crazy, especially after you've been on a plane that long.

Importantly - don't look like a tourist. Even though it'll be a bit uncomfortable, leave the sandals and shorts at home, ditto any expensive watches, sunglasses, phones etc. There's no point marking yourself out as a target unnecessarily to the thieves.
Thanks for the link and the heads up...I will of course exercise caution into not looking like 'That Guy' when I get there smile

Also great idea about the local connections, I am sure they will be able to offer advice for me.

Thanks

johnfm

13,668 posts

249 months

Thursday 5th April 2012
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It has been 4 years since I went - but I loved it. There is a lovely restaurant in a small square with a statuette called La Gorda de Botero. Lovely food and incredible Mojitos.

Big Raff

Original Poster:

1,325 posts

170 months

Thursday 23rd August 2012
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Sorry for the thread bump...all going ahead for this experience...Got a trip to the Islands planned with the wedding party guests on the first day, which will be all good, a nice way to meet the others. The wedding is friend from Uni and a few of us have been invited (how many actually go i am not sure) so hopefully a few friendly faces will be there as well. I have to wear one of the traditional shirts for the wedding which will be pretty cool and i am growing my beard to blend in whistle

Thanks Johnfm i will certainly keep an eye out for that place!

Do i need a special Visa of any sort? and any other tips/recommendations...


Mishima

63 posts

151 months

Thursday 23rd August 2012
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We've just got back from a wedding in Cartagena, which was held at the Church of Santa Toribio in the old town, with a reception at the Hotel Santa Clara, where we stayed. Just a fantastic day and night.
We travelled via Paris and Bogota, having been advised not to go via the USA. Important to get an arranged transfer from the airport. Hotel was brilliant.
There were very few foreign visitors (it's a winter place for holidays and cruise visits) and we really stuck out but the only consequence was being hooted by taxis and offered currency exchange etc. Don't do the latter in the street. We only took taxis from outside hotels but we were told the taxis in the Old Town were OK. Old Town itself is busy and safe during the day and we explored all of it but you're told to be a bit wary on quiet sections of the walls and generally at night.
Wedding party went out to the islands - loved it but got soaked - and on some mad evening party bus - loved it but felt rotten the next day - but they had the advantage of fluent Spanish speakers with them.
Bocagrande is all high rise apartments and hotels - we went to a barbecue at the Hotel Caribe - but get out of this area and the old town and the place takes on a bit of a Third World look.
A few people had problems drawing cash - make sure you use an ATM with the right Visa/MC signs. The ATM in Santander wasn't working but the ATM in Exito supermarket worked fine.
Most things seemed quite cheap and the restaurants in the square next to the Santa Clara are good, especially the Argentinian one, Tango something or other.
Humidity was high and sun powerful.
Let us know if you're going to Bogota; we had a couple of days there and it's way way different.

Big Raff

Original Poster:

1,325 posts

170 months

Friday 24th August 2012
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Excellent Stuff, thank you very much for the info!

Only going to be a 5 day blitz for me, but travelling back via Miami, so maybe i need to get a visa sorted...The wedding is at Santa Teresa Charleston Hotel, so i guess i will stay there as well...looks nice enough!

I am only in Bogota for transit and will spend my time in the airport but i will entertain myself i am sure...

tobinen

9,182 posts

144 months

Friday 17th October 2014
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I've been recommended Colombia in general as well as Cartagena. Also Santa Marta - any PHers with first hand experience?

Henry-F

4,791 posts

244 months

Saturday 18th October 2014
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And the thread revival of the year award goes to..... smile

If you find yourself in Cartagena treat yourself to a Segway tour of the city with these guys:

http://segwaycartagena.com/

A great bunch, good English skills both during emails and the tour it's self.

No connection etc.

Henry smile