Money at the airport

[papi]

... in response to The Don Carlton; Don Schmarlton, posted by Spanky on Oct 20, 2005

Spankster, mostly good advice except on the ATM's. I get a better exchange with my ATM then the credit cards. The credit cards take a % on the exchange, my bank nor do the banks in Colombia charge ATM fees and even if they did the $1.50 or so transaction fee is smaller than the credit card %. FYI, the versalles is not rinky-dink. It is a simple hotel with very nice staff, very clean, cheap and in a good location

[zack]

... in response to The Don Carlton; Don Schmarlton, posted by Spanky on Oct 20, 2005

[This message has been edited by zack]

Which hotel in BQ is "best" is a matter of opinion.

Montrealer- the bottom line is, if you are looking for a hotel that is more Colombian style, less expensive, with SO SO rooms at best but a nice pool and grounds, stay at the El Prado. If you are willing to pay more for a nicer hotel with GREAT rooms, awesome location, and a rotating restaurant at the top, stay at the Dann Carlton. I have stayed at both several times and the Dann Carlton gets my vote hands down. The construction there is finished.

Good luck and have fun.

[Montrealer]

... in response to El Prado Schmado, posted by zack on Oct 20, 2005

Thanks Zack for the review of Dann Carlton.  It sounds like its a good hotel with all the modern features I'm used to.  Thats what I wanted to hear.

[soltero]

... in response to Money at the airport, posted by Montrealer on Oct 20, 2005

All the airports have ATM (Cajeros). You get a better rate from them anyway. Just take your Credit/Debit card with you and get what you need from them.

Disclaimer: I haven't been to BAQ, so someone else may need to vouch for the airports there.

[Montrealer]

... in response to Re: Money at the airport, posted by soltero on Oct 20, 2005

About the ATM's.  My card carries "The Plus" logo on it.  Have you guys seen that logo on the ATM machines.  I would hate to be putting things on the credit card, especially cash advances at 24.5%.

Speeking of credit cards, do most stores except them?  And has anyone ever had a problem using there card in a foreign country.  I only use my card for online purchases and am bringing the card only in case I get robbed and need to survive.  Am wondering if I should notify my bank about it so they don't think its something strange?

Thanks for the help,
Joel

[papi]

... in response to Re: Re: Money at the airport, posted by Montrealer on Oct 20, 2005

i dont think you will have a problem with either your credit cards or ATM but i would suggest 2 ATM's if possible. When in town, put everything in the hotel safe deposit box. only carry around a color COPY of your picture page of your passport - shrunk and laminated, 1 ATM, 1 credit card and some cash - $200-300,000 pesos

[valleydude]

... in response to Re: Re: Money at the airport, posted by Montrealer on Oct 20, 2005

In Venezuela "Plus" is all over. I am not sure of the ATM's in Colombia, but they are a nightmare in VZ. I went to at least 15 of them before I found a working one. On top of that, my Spanish in conversational banking is nada, so I kept guessing at the screen. I could figure out the cash part, but there was about a 1.5 second window to make a selection or it would cancel the session. I went through this many times.

I notifed the bank when I went and I will do it again. I am thinking about Western Union'ing myself some cash and have it waiting. Some may or may not agree with this, but another thing I did on a trip was tell the girl how much cash I wanted when I arrived, and I asked her to bring me some Bolivares and she can exchange them for my dollars. It's a big deal down there to have a connection to buy dollars from, so it worked out good.

I just didn't feel right using my credit cards down there, so that is why I wanted to carry cash. I carried nothing but money and a copy of my passport. I'd much prefer to think "Damn! He got me for a hundred bucks!" and go about my day.
The last thing I want to do is worry about cancelling credit cards.

I had some clown at the airport offer to change my dollars if we just went outside around the corner. He offered a whopping extra 5 bolivares on the dollar. haha! "Dude! Number one: I am not going around back with you, and Number 2: I am definitely not doing it for an extra penny on the dollar!" (It was actually less than a penny too)

V-Dude

[Hoda]

... in response to Re: Re: Money at the airport, posted by Montrealer on Oct 20, 2005


since you still have some time before your trip! Notifying your credit card(s) company of your travel plans makes perfect sense. I had to call card services once to verify, that I was actually in Colombia. This happened during my first trip.

[papi]

... in response to Take more than one Debit Card..., posted by Hoda on Oct 20, 2005

Hoda, I had to bailout a gringo in BQ whose only credit card he took with him got shutoff while away. He did not have the pesos to pay the country's exit fee (or extortion i might add) or get his car out of hock with the airport in miami. he gave me a check - it was good. that is the second gringo i have had to rescue in my recent travels