Planet-Love.com Searchable Archives

When arriving in Cali everyone queues up in one long line to go through immigration. Try to get a seat near the front of the plane and get off as quickly as possible.

After going through immigration, be sure and get a "Tax Exemption" form from the desk just to the right of the immigration desks. Show them your passport. It is free and you'll need it to get out of the country. There is also an exit fee of around 60,000 pesos but I'll explain that later.

You will go right down the stairs to baggage claim. The wait may be awhile so be patient. The area is small so it will be very crowded and chaotic. It is a secure area but make sure no one grabs your stuff my mistake.

Next is customs. This is where a little Spanish comes in handy because the military police checking bags NO NOT SPEAK ENGLISH. There should be someone (probably in a shirt and tie) who does speak some English so if you have any problems look for one of them. You will be direct to either have your bags opened or not. They use a red light/green light system and someone will direct you. They will match your bag tag on your ticket folder to your luggage so have that handy.

The taxi to/from the airport in 2002 was 25,000 pesos (about $10 US). They are very inflexible on this since the airport is so far out of town. There are about 8 taxi services in Cali and most are dependable. Some speak English. Look for the phone number on the fender and get the number of your taxi 'just in case'.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
When time to leave Cali after searching for and hopefully finding the woman of your dreams allow plenty of time. You will probably be leaving early in the morning so that will help getting to the airport before traffic gets bad. The ride to the airport, without traffic, will take at least 30 minutes. Allow yourself AT LEAST 1 1/2 to 2 hours to get through all the lines to get to the airplane.

If you are leaving on American Airlines you'll wait in line to get to the ticket counter (pre-screening then to the counter). You will show them your paperwork, tax exemption form, passport and ticket. They will also ask you some security questions. This is all before you even get into the line for the ticket counter to check in. This is where you can really spend some time because many people will be immigrating to the US and they will have lots of paperwork and luggage. If there are any problems it can really hold up the line. They will take your luggage at this point and match it up with you at the ticket counter.

At the ticket counter the portors will bring your luggage to you. You will then pay your departure tax and turn in your Tax Exemption for that you picked up the night you arrived (remember that?. Keep it with your passport). The departure tax can be paid in pesos or dollars. In 2002 it was around 60,000 CDP or $28 US.

If you want anything to eat, get it BEFORE going through
immigration. They have nothing at the gates.

After checking-in, do not waste a lot of time hugging and kissing your new love goodbye (many will want to be there to see you off).
It will be painful and there will be a lot of tears but that's just part of being in love.

The reason for not waiting is that after entering the doors to immigration you'll again find everyone in one line. If you're lucky there will be 3 immigration officers working but maybe only 2.

If anyone has ANY irregularities with their paperwork at immigration it will again hold everyone up.

Once you get through immigration you will go through a bag X-ray and pat down by militry police. Many of these people don't speak English and have no sense of humor so just try to follow their orders if you can understand them.

It's good to have something with you to read just in case you actually get through all of this before departure time.

Once at the gate you will go through another X-ray and possible bag search and pat down just before getting on the plane. Believe it or not they actually do this every day and the plane does get off close to on-time.

Allow ample time in Miami because going through immigration and customs there can be a zoo, too. Be sure and go all the way to the lines on the right in Miami immigration, these are for US Citizens.

Good luck.

You can see the whole thread by entering "Bad News, Great News...Part 1" or "x-ray" using Patrick's search tool! This incident happened in 01. My subsequent trips have been hassle free! A vet told me before my first trip, to hope for the best, but expect the worse, once you leave the US & you're at the mercy of foreign immigration/police officials!

Peace...

http://www.planet-love.com/wwwboard/search/searchdisplay.php?page=latin&archive=000041&id=15114&bold[]=x-ray

http://www.planet-love.com/wwwboard/search/searchdisplay.php?page=latin&archive=000041&id=15117&bold[]=x-ray

Howard, can you remind us about what happened with the X-rays at Cali airport?  Has anything like that ever happened to you since?

It only happened once, which was more than enough! Every trip since the "incident" has been smooth, without any hassles. Your post on Brazil.....made me feel as if I was with you. I hope guys are taking notes on the differences (culturally & socially) between the different South & Central American countries. Oh, BTW, don't forget DR!

H...

Sit down fella's bad news first....
RELAX, me & Stivalis are still together! Here's how the drama unfolds....

Early thurday morning, I tell Stivalis it isn't necessary for her to accompany me to the airport since she has to report to work early. She calls a cab and away I go. Cali streets are naked this time of the morning, so my driver is flying. Get to the airport in one piece without incident. Standing in the American Airlines line, waiting & waiting, while it inches forward. Now it's hot as hell when I finally get to the counter. I pay my gringo tax & head to the immigration door. A feel a tugging at my bag & I turn around quite rapidly (natural response) & notice a Policeman pulling on it. Another one approaches & request my passport. I hand it over & as he's flipping through it, he notices, that I've made a number of trips back & forth.

I tell him, I've been visiting my novia. He replies, "why are you sweating?" I had on my jacket as I was walking fast to the gate, carrying my bags & gifts, the temp was 80 plus, is this guy being funny or stupid? I replied that it is hot & I'm wearing my jacket. He didn't buy it. So now Dick Tracy wants me to follow him upstairs to the police office. Inside the office, four other officers suround me & request that I hold out my hands. I complied, and the tallest one said that I looked a little nervous. Fella's, I wasn't shaking like a crackhead, but d*mn! You got four or five police with one hand their 9mm, I think, I have the right to be alittle nervous. They ask me about my Stivalis, where does she live, blah blah blah. My profession, more blah blah. You'll never guess what happens next.....

The tallest gets about four inches from my face. I take a step back letting him know "politely" that it wasn't necessary for him to jump in my face. He apologized, and said that since I made soo many trips back & forth to Cali, that I might be concealing DRUGS IN MY STOMACH!!!! I maintain my kool, trying not to act a fool! Big man, said that I would have to be x-rayed at the hospital. EASY DAVIS EASY. What about my flight SIR? He promised that me & the others would be back in time. The others were "Brown & Dark" skinned spanish speaking males. It gets better...

Mister Davis, it will be necessary for you, to pay for the x-ray. EXCUSA MI? Sir the cost is only 15000 peso's. Fine sir, can we get this done so I can catch my flight please? I was told, I could leave my bags. Yeah right! Remember that little hair trick that James Bond did to his door, so he could be tipped off, if someone is or was in his hotel room? I did something similar to my bags, JUST IN CASE!

Me, 2 cops, & three other men squeeze into the typical size Cali car. Nice of them to allow me to sit in the front seat. Y'all know, I hotter than 2 muthaf****'s now! The cops & the other guys are making small talk. You like salsa & merengue? Can you dance to it? Better than you partner! What is your profession the other cop request while flipping through my passport. I work with computers sir. OH that is how you are able to make soooo many trips here? How much do you make a month? PROBALY WHAT YOU MAKE IN FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS!!!!! It get's even better...

We arrive at the hospital, proceed to the x-ray area. DON'T YOU EVER COMPLAIN ABOUT AN AMERICAN HOSPITAL EVER! The other examinee's sit down while I stand. They start to joke between themselves about my height & size. One cop, about 5'6" was going through some boxing motions like he could knock out big guys. The other's found this quite funny. He turned to me said, that he could probaly do it to me...Enough of this B.S! I told him to keep dreaming in spanish, more laughter from the crowd. He said c'mon man, throwing his hands up. I knew he was playing, so I replied while patting my hip (indicating his gun) that I was very "LOCO, NOT ESTUPIDO". Everybody is rolling on the floor now. He shakes my hand & said that he was only playing.

It get's even better...I gonna break this up into 2 parts.
Hoda

Despite of what went down between us, I'm still wishing all the best for you & yours, because you've put in the time & worked for it...

Yep, I sure was pissed that I had to pay for it; guess they didn't like my hawaiian shirt as much as my wife does.  Take Care Bud

The agency rooms were already booked so I stayed about 1 mile away in the Hotel Pacifico Royal
http://www.hotelbook.com/static/welcome_21802.html#top
VERY nice place and a good rate from being with the agency of $83 plus tax (in 1999).

On my next 3 trips I stayed close to or on Avenida Sexta (6th Ave) where most of the social scene is. You can find a nice room there for $40 to $65+. Many include breakfast.
Hotel Valle Real, Windsor Plaza, Don Jaime or Hotel Penon are all reasonable. Last year we stayed with my in-laws.

When getting prices don't be afraid to ask for the best deal. If you can get someone who speaks Spanish to call for you it's even better. Don't let them think you're a businessman on an expense account or they might add a few pesos to the price.

Food is very cheap in Cali. Of course if you are paying for two that goes up. There are cheap places and more expensive places. Figure $50 a day and you'll be covered.

Taxis charge by zones and are very cheap. If you speak the language you can negotiate since there is a lot of competition. Let your girl friend handle this. My wife has told me on more than one occasion, "Don't say anything."
since the price always goes up when the gringo speaks.

You can even take busses. They are very cheap as long as you have someone with you who knows where they are going.

Entertainment is not expensive. Most clubs and discos are free or have a modest cover. Drinks are cheapest by buying a bottle of rum and pouring your own.

So factor your airfare, hotel, food, drinks, entertainment, gifts (don't go overboard), and taxis for the number of days you'll be there. Add in the departure tax (if it is still required) and add $100 for anything you overlooked and you'll be fine.

(1) Don't worry if you don't get the tax exemption upon arriving - often if your plane arrives late there's nobody working the exemption desk anyway.  Also, if your stay is short it's a waste of time to get the exemption then.  You can get it upstairs at the airport when you leave - There is NO tax for short stays - I'm not sure of the exact length cutoff, but my last visit of 8 days had NO tax - they look at your passport to see what day you entered.

(2) Even if you just have one checked bag, utilize a porter (guys in white shirts with the carts) available in the luggage claim area (you did get some pesos, hopefully in small denominations in Miami, right?).  Doing so has alleviated any hastles going through customs - I've never had a bag searched, nor even had to press the light button.  Maybe I've just been lucky, but I think by using the porter you don't appear to be some stingy gringo.  The cost is only a couple of bucks.

I have noticed much more scrutiny upon departing recently.  Afterall, the only reason a gringo would be in Colombia is to steal their women or to complete a drug transaction, right?  I really get drilled when I tell them I have a condo there!

As for not having to pay the departure tax, that must be new because on 5 trips from 1999 to 2002 I always paid it regardless of length of stay (5-10 days).

Good point on getting pesos in Miami (although I never have) and using porters.

A note on changing money in Cali. The banks don't offer a very good rate. The Cambios (money exchange) places are a little better. In either you must have your passport. I usually just use ATM machines. The rate is good and you can get money fast as there are numerous machines all over town and the malls. It's only $2 to $4 depending on your bank.

You can usually get around 300,000 pesos (about $130) at a time. In fact, my in-laws have an ATM card from my wife's account here in the US to draw money when needed. She never has more than $1000 in her account and they never take any without asking. Sure saves time and money when they need something and they've never had a problem getting the cash.

Credit cards are taken at most places but I wouldn't use them just anywhere except hotels and the better restaurants.

Be sure and have a couple debit/credit cards since they may be on different systems (Plus, Honor, Cirrus, Star, etc). Also BE SURE YOU KNOW YOUR PIN NUMBERS. Also make sure you have a 4-digit PIN number. I've heard of Canadians having problems with this.

It's also good to take some pesos home with you for your return trip. They may de-value a little but it's always good to have some for tips and a taxi when you return.

Which reminds me. If you are returning and your new love is going to meet you at the airport have her keep the taxi she got there in for your return. This is often preferable especially if she is from one of the small towns around Cali like Yumbo, Buga etc. Some taxis from Cali won't want to take you to these villages plus they will feel more secure in knowing the guy is from her town.

Have her meet you away from the exit doors as there will be hundreds of people there in a very small area. There are some pay phones just to the right of the exit. That might be easier. Or have her hold a large sign with your name to help you locate her.

Don't let anyone grab your bags from you unless she or you know who they are and where they are going with them.

Here's something I just thought about if you want to show your girlfriend a good time. Dress up and take her to one of the casinos. The Intercontinental Hotel has one and there is one called the Grand Casino (I think that's the name) not far from 6th Ave in Cali. There are a couple more but I'm not sure where.

The girls can play slot machines very cheaply (like 100 pesos), get some drinks and really live the high-life. They also have blackjack and roulette. The places are upscale and you will go through a metal detector and probably be patted down upon entering.