Back in medellin

[MuffDiver]

I want to take the plunge. Since I havent visited Bogota, i ask these questions below.

1. Do you need a local contact
2. What are the best practices to not get ripped off
3. Any hotels you can suggest for stay without worryihg about safety

I've been going to Colombia for a little over 10 years, including Bogota a number of times for a few days to 2 weeks at a visit. Been to Cali, Cartagena, San Andres and Santa Marta.

1. Do you need a local contact - Really depends on the person traveling and their experience and comfort level. I've never used a guide, although there is a Woodman chap on ISG that offers tours through Sante Fe. Are you a nervous traveler? Do you have common street sense? Do you speak and understand at least basic Spanish?
2. What are the best practices to not get ripped off - Anyone can be in the wrong place at the wrong time, but in all my travels, I've never had a big problem. Use common sense - don't get loaded in public, don't flash money, jewelry, watch, phone, etc. Don't be a jerk - be polite but firm. Don't look like you are lost and be wandering the streets with your phone out reading Google Maps. Be careful who you bring back to your room. Lock your valuables in a safe.
3. Any hotels you can suggest for stay without worrying about safety - I've used Ibis Bogota Museo numerous times and walked to Sante Fe from there. Teqendama Suites and San Francisco Hotel are also in the area and walking distance to Sante Fe. AirBnBs are also an option, although it has been years since I rented one in Bogota so my info is not current.. In the Parque 93 area, Hotel Estalar served me well when I wanted a higher end experience. All depends on what you like and are comfortable spending.

There's a number of day trips you can do from Bogota, such as the salt mines in Zipaquira and I enjoy walking around in Candelaria and Chapinero. Monserrate is a must at least once, but better with a date. You can fly to just about anywhere fun in Colombia if you decide Bogota is not for you. If you can't have a blast in Colombia, it's you, not Colombia. I hope you have fun!

I typically wife up while there and have a number of female contacts I can reach out to for fun and/or travel that I have met in person and trust enough. Next is a return to Santa Marta next month where I will be enjoying a new friend for a week. She's fully videocall vetted and I am looking forward to the trip!

 

[Paul Allen]

This is the best thread on Terb. All you guys in here providing valuable information are the real MVPs.

I've never thought of hitting up Santa Marta before but now I'm going to have to do some research.

 

[MuffDiver]

This is the best thread on Terb. All you guys in here providing valuable information are the real MVPs.

I've never thought of hitting up Santa Marta before but now I'm going to have to do some research.

It can be fun, but it is not point and click as much as say Bogota, but there is definitely fun to be had here. I like the ocean, but I find Cartagena is just too exhausting now. The only times I have peace are in a restaurant or my room. Even if you hear out one tout, there's one or two more right behind them. I find I have to walk fast and just say no to everyone when I am out. Having a lady on my arm does not even help.

Being a tourist in Cartagena makes you a target for everyone wanting to make money. Get used to saying no 45 times for every hour out in public. It is possibly the worst place in the world I have ever been to for being harassed and I have traveled a lot.

Santa Marta can be bad at times, but I find it much more relaxing there, even if it is less point and click. I do speak intermediate Spanish and am not shy about approaching women, so I can always find something if I am alone.

Next time I am in Santa Marta, I want to visit the Lost City. That looks like a fun trip! Maybe Parque Tayrona too. Definitely in the future, a flight to Leticia and explore there. I've spent a lot of time in Peru too, more than Colombia. I'm thinking of a trip to Iquitos in Peru (Toronto > Lima > Iquitos) visit there a bit, then maybe take a boat to Leticia and stay there for a bit, then fly back to Bogota. Now that would be an experience of a lifetime!!!

I do know I want to start visiting more of the lesser know parts of Colombia. I'll try Medellin once for a week or so, but then I think I am done with the bigger cities in Colombia.

 

[chatink]

I've been going to Colombia for a little over 10 years, including Bogota a number of times for a few days to 2 weeks at a visit. Been to Cali, Cartagena, San Andres and Santa Marta.

1. Do you need a local contact - Really depends on the person traveling and their experience and comfort level. I've never used a guide, although there is a Woodman chap on ISG that offers tours through Sante Fe. Are you a nervous traveler? Do you have common street sense? Do you speak and understand at least basic Spanish?
2. What are the best practices to not get ripped off - Anyone can be in the wrong place at the wrong time, but in all my travels, I've never had a big problem. Use common sense - don't get loaded in public, don't flash money, jewelry, watch, phone, etc. Don't be a jerk - be polite but firm. Don't look like you are lost and be wandering the streets with your phone out reading Google Maps. Be careful who you bring back to your room. Lock your valuables in a safe.
3. Any hotels you can suggest for stay without worrying about safety - I've used Ibis Bogota Museo numerous times and walked to Sante Fe from there. Teqendama Suites and San Francisco Hotel are also in the area and walking distance to Sante Fe. AirBnBs are also an option, although it has been years since I rented one in Bogota so my info is not current.. In the Parque 93 area, Hotel Estalar served me well when I wanted a higher end experience. All depends on what you like and are comfortable spending.

There's a number of day trips you can do from Bogota, such as the salt mines in Zipaquira and I enjoy walking around in Candelaria and Chapinero. Monserrate is a must at least once, but better with a date. You can fly to just about anywhere fun in Colombia if you decide Bogota is not for you. If you can't have a blast in Colombia, it's you, not Colombia. I hope you have fun!

I typically wife up while there and have a number of female contacts I can reach out to for fun and/or travel that I have met in person and trust enough. Next is a return to Santa Marta next month where I will be enjoying a new friend for a week. She's fully videocall vetted and I am looking forward to the trip!

Thank you for your detailed reply. How do you vet using videocalls . Any suggestions / pointers will be helpful

 

[MuffDiver]

Just instinct really. Is she answering questions or is she doing all the talking? If the call is not interactive, it could be a pre-recorded video. Pay attention to the details. I actually resorted once to asking the lady to do a specific pose, because her smiles and laughs did not make sense in the context of our chat. Plus she talked over me and about totally different topics, so I called it and disconnected then blocked. Also watch for lip movement matching the words if it seems off. I believe I have only spoken to a video recording twice and I called it both times.

Only once have I ever met a woman in Colombia where I was mildly disappointed. All the other times were good to great.

That's the fraud context.

Then there is the "do we have chemistry" context. Is the call enjoyable? Does she smile? Maybe flirt a little and compliment you? If she looks like she is about to see the dentist, then probably time to move on. Of course it could be nerves too and a second call might make sense. If you vibe and converse really well over a videocall, then in person should be great, once both get over the initial nerves.

I am talking from a romance point of view here. If this is just a one hour meet and great in exchange for cash, then most of the above is not necessary. Then I just want to be sure the woman in the pictures is who I am going to meet, otherwise forget it. I have never used an escort agency (to my knowledge) in Colombia, but I do make it clear that if it is a monetary transaction, the lady better be the woman in the pictures, otherwise it will likely be a really short date. This has been covered on this board many times: don't show me pictures of a hot 25 or 30 year old and then expect me to pay for a 45+ year old overweight woman. Not going to happen!

 

[tradervds]

I have been to Medelĺin, Bogota and Cali. Medelĺin is my fav. Stayed at the Novotel Medelĺin el Tesoro. Google it. Amazing hotel. Roof top pool. Banged a lot of chicks. They were so impressed with the hotel. I want to go back. Went there in oct 2019. Then the pandemic hit. Want to return. Any guys want to do a trip there?

Would love to do a trip. Do you still visit there ?

 

[giz99]

I too have travelled to Bogota and Medellin and they are great places to got. As long as you are smart about things it is safe to visit. Dont wear jewelry and fancy clothes, take ubers if you are uncomfortable and learn some spanish.
In Bogota you can go to Santa Fe for street action or strip clubs although it is a bit rough there. There are many spas and internet escort sites.
In Medellin you can get pricier street girls at Parque Lleras. Again there are strip clubs and internet escort sites are popular. Facebook is very popular for meeting girls in Medellin and somewhat in Bogota.
In both cities, dating sites can be very good but it takes time and effort and you need some spanish.

 

[tudman]

Do a YouTube search or search on the ISG forum for more details about international and in this case medellin travel. My advice is to read a tonne and watch youtube videos on it. Look, it’s getting tougher to survive in any country and over there is not immune to economic conditions Like inflation etc.
If you are looking for a working girl to have as your girlfriend (or have several) you can do that anywhere. In Medellin my advice would be to stay in a building with 24 hour manned security Which checks government ids. I won’t go on, but safety issues you can do a search and a tonne of stuff pops up.

La isla is the top strip club. It’s gonna cost you. Taxi up las palmas, then have to take a private taxi back as they have some monopoly so they ding you there as the cost to get back will usually be more expensive. Cover charge is Steep for Colombia and unless you drink water and stand at the corner of the bar, the bottle adds up$$$. The girls walk around collecting tips after their stage show. On the low end it’s gonna be $100 -200 ish for the night Drinking water. If you get a bottle, double that Rate. If you get a girl in house and do the deed, it’s $100 usd in pesos approximately. as you can see, the cost just goes up. Best is to go with 1-2 friends. Split the bottle, taxi etc. I remember going on a Thursday night back in August and do not recall seeing any local male customers. All seemed to be Americans who maybe are weekend warriors, or visiting for a longer time etc etc etc. They have an easier time getting to medellin stateside than us from Toronto, as we have to go to Bogota, then connect and flights here leave a few times a week, meanwhile over there in Florida for example, several cities have daily flights to medellin.

ISG is the best source for details for safety, lodging perhaps and where to find the action. I am assuming many on here are seeking transactional relationships. You have girls who work in Centro daytime charging a very low price and then when they go at night to parque lleras charge 10x at times and Guys pay it. It’s your money and spend it as you see fit. However if you are like me and don’t like being ripped off, I suggest you to learn a bit of Spanish,negotiate and review the ISG forum.

For safety, I would recommend guys to stick to the legit places and have your fun there. Yes, you pay more but your safety and peace of mind is worth the up front cost. What guys do is invite street walkers or girls from the clubs who moonlight as working girls to their airbnbs. They can end up being killed, drugged, robbed. It’s not a good situation. How many situations were not reported to the police that we don’t know about because the man was married or just did not want his name appearing publicly when reporting a crime. Who knows how many crimes like this happened….. reading between the lines, yes yes yes it can be a dangerous place. Whenever mixing with this sorta crowd, morals and values go out the window. Keep cautious and enjoy yourself.

On a side note. In parque lleras the interior bars where the promoters on the street harrass you and you have women standing around inside all dressed the same are not there to get to know you, they are leeches to get the most money out of you. Be cautious as those places might say, ohhh for a girl to sit with you, you need to buy her the drink of our choice. So, let’s say it’s vodka It’s clear. Who knows if they are giving her shots of water just for you to keep on spending. I mean who would taste test her shot??.. they are probably laughing at you how pathetic you are and how smart and clever they are to trick the gringo. Yes you have people like that. im speaking from experience. I was alone, bored to death on a Thursday night I believe and saw a smoke show in one of those bars. And I knew it was gonna cost me as I was lazy to pick up regular girls Whom by the way are probably not out on a Thursday night. This chick, drank several shots, seemed a little tipsy but heck, it seemed awfully suspicious hence my stance.

Those of you Who use onlyfans or webcam to chat up chicks in hopes to meet them in Colombia, I say good luck. It’s a slimmmmmmmm chance you manage that.

 

[zigma99]

I too have travelled to Bogota and Medellin and they are great places to got. As long as you are smart about things it is safe to visit. Dont wear jewelry and fancy clothes, take ubers if you are uncomfortable and learn some spanish.
In Bogota you can go to Santa Fe for street action or strip clubs although it is a bit rough there. There are many spas and internet escort sites.
In Medellin you can get pricier street girls at Parque Lleras. Again there are strip clubs and internet escort sites are popular. Facebook is very popular for meeting girls in Medellin and somewhat in Bogota.
In both cities, dating sites can be very good but it takes time and effort and you need some spanish.

How do you find girls on facebook?
What are the rates in Medellin?

 

[giz99]

How do you find girls on facebook?
What are the rates in Medellin?

Create a facebook account separate from your normal one.
Add a few photos.
Read through the threads in ISG there may be some fb recommendations there.
DM me and I can send you a couple links to get you started.
Prices are between 150mil and 300mil pesos plus taxis $50 - $100 Cdn

 

[zigma99]

Create a facebook account separate from your normal one.
Add a few photos.
Read through the threads in ISG there may be some fb recommendations there.
DM me and I can send you a couple links to get you started.
Prices are between 150mil and 300mil pesos plus taxis $50 - $100 Cdn

Thanks,
I tried to DM you but messaging you is disabled
Could you please DM me and maybe that might work

Thanks

 

[Ksean]

Where's do you get the most favourable rates to convert to Colombian Pesos?

 

[ExoticSpirit]

I've yet to travel to Colombia to monger but this spring may very well be my first opportunity and I'll choose Medellin. I have very basic Spanish but certainly no where near fluent so for my first trip I'm thinking of staying at the American run hotel M or Medellin Plaza which use to be called La Mansion as it seems to be the most user friendly including an in house pool bar area where they bring in available and screened girls. I read that it might be a bit more expensive than say Airbnbs but at least the security is there and easy to simply pick girls to go upstairs to our rooms. Plus lots of English speaking staff and other more experienced mongers there to show you the ropes of the city as well as the local mongering scene.

In the daytime I'm thinking of hitting some well recommended massage places which are bascially brothels like New Life and Loutron as well as the already mentioned La Isla strip club at night. I won't bother with the Parque Ileras because of the safety issues of bringing those girls back but if I have time I'll take a stroll just to take in the eye candy.

So for my first trip to Medellin, a combo of daytime massage casas and night time back at the hotel's own bar for the girls activity might be more than adequate. But I do want to get the opinion from the guys with Medellin experience - what do you think of my plan for a first trip?

 

[tudman]

I've yet to travel to Colombia to monger but this spring may very well be my first opportunity and I'll choose Medellin. I have very basic Spanish but certainly no where near fluent so for my first trip I'm thinking of staying at the American run hotel M or Medellin Plaza which use to be called La Mansion as it seems to be the most user friendly including an in house pool bar area where they bring in available and screened girls. I read that it might be a bit more expensive than say Airbnbs but at least the security is there and easy to simply pick girls to go upstairs to our rooms. Plus lots of English speaking staff and other more experienced mongers there to show you the ropes of the city as well as the local mongering scene.

In the daytime I'm thinking of hitting some well recommended massage places which are bascially brothels like New Life and Loutron as well as the already mentioned La Isla strip club at night. I won't bother with the Parque Ileras because of the safety issues of bringing those girls back but if I have time I'll take a stroll just to take in the eye candy.

So for my first trip to Medellin, a combo of daytime massage casas and night time back at the hotel's own bar for the girls activity might be more than adequate. But I do want to get the opinion from the guys with Medellin experience - what do you think of my plan for a first trip?

Ok, the places you choose to stay at look at the reviews on Airbnb or isg regarding noise. Street noise is a real deal in medellin as the motorcycles and mufflers on cars don’t help. Loutron is quite far from laureles if you stay at the M. The mansion would be a better alternative as you are closer to loutron, lleras and less noise I imagine. Never stayed at either. The mongering scene is a mixed bag. You have some cool dudes and some pricks who are quite ignorant and arrogant. just go on ist on the stupid shit in medellin thread and you will see the lunacy.

don’t trust the ladies 100%. The relative recent murder of an asian American where he visited his “girlfriend” for the last year or so (don’t quote me on exact dates” basically he established a more trustful relationship and she ended up setting him up as his guard was loose and he went to her place or something like that. Go look up the details if you want to know more I don’t want to give wrong info,,,,
anyways, you choose the taxi, you choose the venues you choose your drinks.
a lot of guys like the GFE. It works for some but do you really think a 21 year old wants to date a man 40+? There will have to be some $$$$ exchanged directly or indirectly, if you want a more sincere relationship, I suggest dating a girl max 10 ish years younger than you if you are an older gent. Of course if you are 50 you can push that to a 15 ish year age gap etc. I am speaking generally here. But if you are interested in dating,,,or paying 18+ is a must. Don’t mess around. the safest bet is to use the casas, strip clubs and the mansion If your Spanish is bad. You pay more but its more secure.
As for the lleras girls. If you are a risk taker, and you manage to get one to the mansion,,,, the security will make it less likely that she robs you. again, I never stayed there but you should open your mouth and talk to several guys there. Talk to the staff , learn the ropes and all you can do is decrease the probabilities of being robbed or drugged. Take precautions. Don’t leave all your money in one spot for a guest to rob you easily. Watch your drink always… etc. i will leave it at that. Have fun!

 

[ExoticSpirit]

Ok, the places you choose to stay at look at the reviews on Airbnb or isg regarding noise. Street noise is a real deal in medellin as the motorcycles and mufflers on cars don’t help. Loutron is quite far from laureles if you stay at the M. The mansion would be a better alternative as you are closer to loutron, lleras and less noise I imagine. Never stayed at either. The mongering scene is a mixed bag. You have some cool dudes and some pricks who are quite ignorant and arrogant. just go on ist on the stupid shit in medellin thread and you will see the lunacy.

don’t trust the ladies 100%. The relative recent murder of an asian American where he visited his “girlfriend” for the last year or so (don’t quote me on exact dates” basically he established a more trustful relationship and she ended up setting him up as his guard was loose and he went to her place or something like that. Go look up the details if you want to know more I don’t want to give wrong info,,,,
anyways, you choose the taxi, you choose the venues you choose your drinks.
a lot of guys like the GFE. It works for some but do you really think a 21 year old wants to date a man 40+? There will have to be some $$$$ exchanged directly or indirectly, if you want a more sincere relationship, I suggest dating a girl max 10 ish years younger than you if you are an older gent. Of course if you are 50 you can push that to a 15 ish year age gap etc. I am speaking generally here. But if you are interested in dating,,,or paying 18+ is a must. Don’t mess around. the safest bet is to use the casas, strip clubs and the mansion If your Spanish is bad. You pay more but its more secure.
As for the lleras girls. If you are a risk taker, and you manage to get one to the mansion,,,, the security will make it less likely that she robs you. again, I never stayed there but you should open your mouth and talk to several guys there. Talk to the staff , learn the ropes and all you can do is decrease the probabilities of being robbed or drugged. Take precautions. Don’t leave all your money in one spot for a guest to rob you easily. Watch your drink always… etc. i will leave it at that. Have fun!

Thanks for your insights. I plan to stay only 4-5 nights in Medellin since it will be an extension of a scuba diving trip in the Caribbean and since my Spanish is limited, I do not even want to bother dating or having any relationship with any girl down there. I just want to minimize any safety risks of being robbed/drugged which is why I'm okay with paying a bit of a premium for Hotel M (mansion). I heard they can even arrange with all my airport transits as well as to any tourist locations I might be interested in. New Life and Loutron might be the only daytime monger visits I make and at night I'll simply pull from the Hotel M but for one night I might make it out to La Isla just to say I"ve been there. So with all these venues, I'm hoping that all safety concerns will be addressed as far as the girls go.

As for Parque Ileras, I might take a quick stroll again just to say I've been there but have no intentions of pulling anyone from there given that the venues mentioned above should form enough of a supply of girls for my short trip. I just want this first trip to be a decent overall sampler of Medellin and hope that there's no big thing that I would be missing out on for such an itinerary.

UPDATE - I'm booked to go the Medellin! Hope to stay at the Hotel M (mansion) from May 16-19.