Baranquilla and Medellin
Feb 6, 2017, 5:29 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: IL
Programs: UA Gold, DL Silver, Hertz PC, Avis Pref+, Accor Silver
Posts: 1,107
Baranquilla and Medellin
I am planning a short visit to Colombia next month - I know that these places were thought to be extremely dangerous in years gone by, but are deemed OK these days.
I'd be glad to get a few pointers (or perhaps a link to where I could find a few pointers...) as to anything special I should know regarding safety in these two towns.
Thanks
D.
I'd be glad to get a few pointers (or perhaps a link to where I could find a few pointers...) as to anything special I should know regarding safety in these two towns.
Thanks
D.
Feb 9, 2017, 5:21 pm
#2
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: MDE
Programs: Lifemiles, Connectmiles
Posts: 3
I'm not really sure what tips you're looking for other than the obvious which would be: don't flash your valuables! Got a $5,000 Rolex? Leave it at home. Got a pricey Iphone? Don't walking around in the middle of the night with it. Met a girl at the bar and want to take her home? Keep your items in a safe place and out of her reach. And don't accept drinks from a random girl if you didn't see the bartender pour it.
Feb 11, 2017, 9:28 pm
#3
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: BWI
Programs: UA 1MM & 1K, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 255
I spent a weekend in Medellin two weeks ago and have been in Bogota for a few months. I got around using the Metro and Uber exclusively. The yellow taxis in Medellin are supposed to be safer than in Bogota but I have a distrust of them and due to my awful Spanish Uber is just easier to use. Generally, when going relatively short distances, I'm willing to walk around in places that have alot of people around but if its not busy I'll get a Uber instead. I'll never be able to blend in so I just try to be careful knowing I'm always going to stand out.
All the tourist places I visited were safe with tons of police which is quite a normal thing here. Parque Arvi, up in the mountains, weirded me out a bit. I did the guided tour/hike but for the latter part of it we were escorted/shadowed by horseback police. The police (and Army) presence is not unusual at all but its the first time I've done a tour with a police escort. So maybe not a place to go walking around yourself.
All the tourist places I visited were safe with tons of police which is quite a normal thing here. Parque Arvi, up in the mountains, weirded me out a bit. I did the guided tour/hike but for the latter part of it we were escorted/shadowed by horseback police. The police (and Army) presence is not unusual at all but its the first time I've done a tour with a police escort. So maybe not a place to go walking around yourself.
Feb 19, 2017, 10:53 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: IL
Programs: UA Gold, DL Silver, Hertz PC, Avis Pref+, Accor Silver
Posts: 1,107
I'm on my way back.
Bit of a mixed bag - I asked people (local) for advice, and many of them told me not to walk around at night, anywhere, if I could avoid it. Others said walk anywhere except XXX.
So.... not quite sure what to make of that. I did walk around at night, didn't feel too unsafe, but who knows.
One thing I did do was always use easytaxi to get a taxi - so I had a record (as did they) of whom I was with, plus a picture of him, plates etc.
Bit of a mixed bag - I asked people (local) for advice, and many of them told me not to walk around at night, anywhere, if I could avoid it. Others said walk anywhere except XXX.
So.... not quite sure what to make of that. I did walk around at night, didn't feel too unsafe, but who knows.
One thing I did do was always use easytaxi to get a taxi - so I had a record (as did they) of whom I was with, plus a picture of him, plates etc.