South America - Bogota & Santiago Questions

I am travelling to Bogota and then on to Sanitago in a couple of weeks for business.

I am staying at Holiday Inn Bogota Airport for 1 evening at the beginning and end of the week in Colombia, I have been looking for information on the airport-hotel shuttles. Are they relatively well signposted from the arrivals hall?

Secondly I will have 1 day to myself in Santiago, a Sunday (staying at Regal Pacific Hotel) - Can anyone recommend things to do/see for a single traveller with a day to spare?

Look forward to any suggestions!

Richard

I had no idea BOG had a Holiday Inn, have never seen the shuttle for it or any signposts for it either.

Santiago in a day hmmm you could go up San cristobal on the funicular, have some beers in bellavista, or the area around metro bellas artes has nice cafe culture.

Also you can go out to Los Dominicos - there are a ton of artisan crafts / shops - the metro now takes you directly there.

Thanks both for the reply. I don't think the Holiday Inn is at the airport, but is listed as the Bogota Airport Holiday Inn - http://www.holidayinn.com/hotels/us/en/bogota/bogap/hoteldetail - I guess I will have to keep my eyes peeled as it were for the signage to the shuttle bus.

As for Santiago, I don't want to see it all in a day, I plan to return a few times, I just happen to have a whole day free on this occasion, in future I may well fly in and out during the week either from Sao Paulo or Buenos Aires,

I will have a look at a map re your suggestions. Is the Metro a safe option to choose as a single traveller with very little (or no) Spanish?

Thanks both for the reply. I don't think the Holiday Inn is at the airport, but is listed as the Bogota Airport Holiday Inn - http://www.holidayinn.com/hotels/us/en/bogota/bogap/hoteldetail - I guess I will have to keep my eyes peeled as it were for the signage to the shuttle bus.

Ah OK it is down Av El Dorado, once again I don't think I have ever seen their shuttle bus and certainly don't expect any signs. The only sign is for the transfer to the Puente Aéreo and I lived here 2 years without seeing it.

More likely there will be someone outside holding up one of those airport meeters signs, but I have also never seen any of those from a hotel with a name that I recognised.

My guess is you have to tell them that you want the shuttle. If you want to PM me when you are coming I will happily put in a call to them for you and tell them to go and meet you.

As for Santiago, I don't want to see it all in a day, I plan to return a few times, I just happen to have a whole day free on this occasion, in future I may well fly in and out during the week either from Sao Paulo or Buenos Aires,

I will have a look at a map re your suggestions. Is the Metro a safe option to choose as a single traveller with very little (or no) Spanish?

Santiago Metro is certainly safe, modern and clean. The three places I suggested though are all in walking distance of each other. But you would have to take the Metro to Baquedano from your hotel to be in that zone

My guess is you have to tell them that you want the shuttle. If you want to PM me when you are coming I will happily put in a call to them for you and tell them to go and meet you.



Thank you for the kind offer, I sent them an email after I read your earlier response. Let's see what the morning brings and if I have heard nothing I will take you up on it.




Santiago Metro is certainly safe, modern and clean. The three places I suggested though are all in walking distance of each other. But you would have to take the Metro to Baquedano from your hotel to be in that zone

Thank you for confirming this.

I must say although I have read and heard many horror stories about Colombia I am looking forward to visiting, the only shame is that I will not really have any free time. I fly to Manizales at 06:10 the day after I arrive and arrive back from Manizales on Friday evening for an overnight in BOG before the flight to LIM and on to SCL. I'll have to factor in a free day next time. I have heard good things about the guided bicycle tours.

Thank you for confirming this.

I must say although I have read and heard many horror stories about Colombia I am looking forward to visiting, the only shame is that I will not really have any free time. I fly to Manizales at 06:10 the day after I arrive and arrive back from Manizales on Friday evening for an overnight in BOG before the flight to LIM and on to SCL. I'll have to factor in a free day next time. I have heard good things about the guided bicycle tours.

The real shame is you are not going to be in an area where you can stick your nose out of the door and see something of Bogotá. Where did you hear good things about the bicycle tour? Lonely Planet is full of rave reviews but I suspect they are written by the guy that owns the company.

Manizales is a cool little city, downtown is rough after dark but El Cable is a nice night out for beers, the girls there are spectacular, and they all look the same, they are all spectacular. Ahhhh Manizales. You also have a funky landing on a short sloped runway to look forward to.

The real shame is you are not going to be in an area where you can stick your nose out of the door and see something of Bogotá. Where did you hear good things about the bicycle tour? Lonely Planet is full of rave reviews but I suspect they are written by the guy that owns the company.



I saw a couple of things on the bike tour, one was in BA's in flight magazine and the other was in a UK newspaper. I wish I had more time to spend in Bogota as I am sure it is a fascinating place. The Company I work for have just signed an agency agreement with a Company in Colombia so I will be back at least once more this year.



Manizales is a cool little city, downtown is rough after dark but El Cable is a nice night out for beers, the girls there are spectacular, and they all look the same, they are all spectacular. Ahhhh Manizales. You also have a funky landing on a short sloped runway to look forward to.

As I eluded to earlier the reason for Manizales is that is where my Agent has his Offices, it may be we travel a bit from here as I can't imagine that Manizales is a centre of Industry. I'll make sure I don't tell my wife about either of those comments about the women or the runway. No idea where I am staying, all I know is I am being met at the airport by him at 07:20 on Tuesday 17th.

A modelling agency? A dating agency? :)

Manizales is quite industrial, behind Pereira and Medellín. They are Paisas, they are industrious people. There is a reasonably sized web marketing agency called Ariadna with one of its main offices there too.

A modelling agency? A dating agency? :)

Manizales is quite industrial, behind Pereira and Medellín. They are Paisas, they are industrious people. There is a reasonably sized web marketing agency called Ariadna with one of its main offices there too.

:D Ooops, helps to specify. A sales agent, I work for a UK Engineering Company as a Sales Manager, we use sales agents to promote our products in markets where we do not have Offices. I look after Agents in Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and Chile.

Going back to your offer of contacting the Hotel, I will take you up on that kind offer, I have emailed the hotel but had no response. I would usually just get my Agent to do this, but he is travelling in the US at present. PM on its way.

Santiago:

I always recommend stopping at the La Moneda museum. It's an excellent museum at a bargain price. You'll find it at the La Moneda stop on the red line. Although it's great to see the view from the top of San Cristobal hill, both the funicular and cable car are currently closed for construction.

Taxis are pretty cheap in Colombia, so your other option would be just to get an airport taxi from the desk at the airport.

(the fares are fine, watch out for the tips).

And ignore the horror stories about Colombia. I went there full of trepidation and fell in love with it as a country. Do try and find some time to do a bit of exploring.

Thanks to Jenbel and FrogProf for your tips.

I am really looking forward to Colombia, looks like I will have a few hours spare time before heading off to LIM and SCL, but hopefully I will be heading back in April or July and perhaps December, I will try and get some free time in the diary next time.