Problems w/Fiancee Visas

[Clevelander]

... in response to Re: are you saying that Cartagena is fre..., posted by JunFanTX on Oct 1, 2001

but it does happen.  however, it's not just the authorities, merchants will try to sell you stuff for more, taxi drivers charge you more, hotels the same.

I was on a bus in Honduras and the guy told us he was going to charge us more because we were tourists.  at least he told us he was going to rip us off.  

I have never been to Colombia but I will be going shortly.  I definitely will be going to Cartagena but I know enough to be on guard.  I tend to make generalizations about traveling.  One generalization is:  people will try to scam or sucker you.  and I would expect this to occur more frequently in tourist areas than off the beaten path.

surely you were swarmed by shoe shine boys, taxi drivers, tour operators, maybe even dudes that "have a friend" that can get you a hotel, drugs, girls.  

[Cali vet]

... in response to I doubt most people see it..., posted by Clevelander on Oct 1, 2001

If you visit El Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas (the fortress) in Cartagena you as a foreigner you will pay double the price a Colombian pays. To avoid this stand to the side and have your girlfriend go up to the ticket window.

[JunFanTX]

... in response to I doubt most people see it..., posted by Clevelander on Oct 1, 2001

Sure, all that goes on.  I never had any trouble.  The only thing I ever got ripped off on was when I bought a pack of Marlboro Lights from a street guy, and there were a bunch of Kool Menthols inside--LOL.  

I had corresponded with my wife for months before I went down there, so I knew someone before I got there, which turned out to be a HUGE advantage.  I got there on a Thursday night, and the hotel had transportation so I didn't get ripped off there....and the next day I met her, so she made sure WE didn't get ripped off the entire rest of my trip.  If you have a local you can trust, whether it be a friend, potential girlfriend, or recommended translator, you will cut alot of that BS out before it starts....

Mike

[Cali vet]

... in response to I doubt most people see it..., posted by Clevelander on Oct 1, 2001

I just call it the "impuesto gringo". Many taxis like to charge it.

[denvermike]

... in response to Problems w/Fiancee Visas, posted by yc on Oct 1, 2001

Sounds like a shake down to me too. If a couple of hundred bucks fixes the problem, it was a bribe situation, not a legal situation.  Maybe I'm wrong, but the VISA is to get into the USA not to leave Colombia.  His mistake may have been to travel to Colombia and return with her, and those yucks at the airport saw and opportunity to shake down the "rich" gringo.

mike

[El Diablo]

... in response to Problems w/Fiancee Visas, posted by yc on Oct 1, 2001

I've personally never heard of this happening with a fiancee visa although bribes for a variety of things are common in Latin America. If I were your friend I wouldn't give it a second thought.  I think it's extremely unlikely to happen to him.

El Diablo