Gringos Invade Colombia

USA Today author Jayne Clark noted that in the past leisure travel was a tough sell. Yet today, Colombia's climate is changing.

Recently the U.S. State Department's warning against travel to Colombia was updated stating that, although rural areas remain extremely dangerous, violence has decreased markedly in urban areas, including Bogota and Cartagena.

Now there is the return of major U.S. cruise lines. During the 2006-07 season (September to May), there were 50 port calls at Cartegena, Santa Marta and San Andrés Island. This coming season, cruise lines are expected to make 200 stops in Colombia.
The country is attempting to re-brand itself with the slogan "Colombia is Passion." One Colombian comments, “this sentiment is aimed as much at its citizens as visitors. For a long time, no one loved Colombia: not even Colombians. Now, Colombians are proud to be Colombians.
Official sources report that the amount of tourists that arrived in Colombia in 2007 was 2,100,000. This is almost 3 times as many tourist as in 2005. The aim of the Colombian government is to attract an all time record of 4 million tourists by the year 2010. But to reach this target by 2008 it needs to see a further increase of almost 30 per cent in 2006 of an additional 600,000 tourists.

In order to attract tourism Colombia has placed emphases on diversification in terms of marketing newer routes such as the Colombian Amazon and the coffee region.

Pro-export, a Colombian institution aimed at promoting Colombia says, “We are looking for a certain tourist who stays for a longer duration and spends more money.” "With this in mind there have been special efforts to woo film directors to use Colombia's plethora of locations fit for movie productions."

The US remains Colombia's biggest tourist market, apart from neighboring Ecuador and Venezuela, delivering 235,000 visitors in 2007. Clark notes that Bogotá will add 7,000 three- to five-star hotel rooms in the next three years.

This is good news to people like the Colombians who rent their apartments to foreigners.

Bogota, Colombia Summer Season

 This mall is located in the heart of Zona Rosa.  This is an upscale part of Bogota.  Don't expect any super bargains here.  You will find quality items at reasonable prices.  If you can afford it you can buy shoes at this mall for over $1,000 US.  A little too expensive for me.  But there are lots of places in this area to find reasonable food.  Look for some great discos in this area.

It's that time again in Bogota Columbia when the rainy season is over a lot of sunny days are on the way. Those rainy days in Bogota are something else. The sidewalks are often raised at least 12 inches from the roads. The reason they do this is the downpour of rain is so heavy. The good thing, is that these downpours usually only last for a few hours.

Now you can enjoy the crisp and fresh air of the mornings in Bogota.  And, like many other countries this is the time for love and a new romances.  One of the things that I like most about Bogota is that you can fly to almost anywhere in the world from their Elderado Airport.

One thing that visitors will find quickly is that accommodation is expensive. Unless of course, you are renting an apartment or room on a long-term basis. And when you rent an apartment or house in Bogota you should know that most of the time they are not furnished.


If you're on a limited income you really want to stay away from most of the hotels in Bogota. Take your time, rent an apartment or room and search for the apartment or house you want to live in on a long-term basis. You can save a lot of money if you rent long-term in Bogota Colombia.

ROOM AND APARTMENT RATES IN BOGOTA, COLOMBIA IN SEPTEMBER

Now is a good time to rent rooms or apartments in Bogota, Colombia. The kids are back in school and there is a high vacancy rate. You can take advantage of that by asking for a special rate. This is especially true if you are renting an apartment in Bogota or room for a long period of time.

September is the month where things start to get colder in North America.  Leaves are falling off the trees and you get the odd sprinkle of snow.  Bogota gets a little colder but you don't often get snow. There was the exception a few years back when Bogota was thrown into a tail spin with a huge snow storm.

So if you are traveling to Bogota, Colombia in the month of September always try to negotiate a better price. Even some of 5 star hotels will negotiate in September. You have many choices from Hostels, Home Stays, Guest Houses, Bed and Breakfast, Hotels and renting from from private individuals. Here is a good place for apartment rentals in Bogota, Colombia.  I have actually stayed at this place a number of times and highly recommend it.

Bogota, Colombia: Finding Accommodation In Bogota Is Not Easy!

Finding lodgings and accommodation is not easy. It is more difficult in a foreign land. And to make matters worse it gets more difficult if you cannot speak the language of that country. That has been my experience in Colombia.

I have rented rooms and apartments in many locations i.e., Medellin, Cali and Bogota. In all cases with no exceptions I had a difficult time renting a room or an apartment. This is in part, my fault as I am not fluent in Spanish.

Fist it is not easy to find a furnished apartment in Colombia. If you do, it is likely a foreigner who is renting it. Colombians usually do not trust others with their furnishings. In fact it is not unusual to rent an apartment that has absolutely no electrical outlets for lights. Not only are the bulbs removed but the outlets are also gone!

Allot of foreigners believe they can find cheap accommodation in Bogota, for example. They also believe that if they pay for rent with many months in advance they will be able to secure any apartment.

This is simply not true.

Colombians have a pattern they follow when renting and it is fostered by Real Estate companies. The real estate companies deal with everything including plumbing and electrical issues as one example. This takes allot of pressure off the owners. It also builds a wall between the owners and persons renting their properties.

I have rented in the community away from the foreigner invested communities. I rented in places where no foreigners have ever lived. I never felt that my life was in danger where I lived. In fact, I felt very secure. People knew me in the area and offered to help me if I fell ill. They would often greet me on my way home and offer me a drink.

The world had a misconception regarding Colombia and Colombians. The movies love to portray Colombians as all 3rd world narco crazed animals. This is not what Colombians are like. Quite the contrary. Colombians are kind, considerate, fun loving and family oriented. 99.99 % of Colombians are against anything to do with drugs. Colombians look down on people who do drugs of any kind. Most Colombians believe that only low class people use drugs.

Anyway, I do regress. The point I am trying to make is that there is very affordable places to rent in Colombia. It all depends on your lifestyle in terms of where you want to rent. In Bogota for example there are many areas where you can find accommodation. The areas in Bogota are divided in estradas. The lower the strata the cheaper the rent. And, this is the same with security. You will see allot more security in the higher estradas.

I like to rent a room or apartment in Bogota while I am looking for long term accommodation. I always stay at this Bogota, Colombia lodging when I travel to Bogota.

Tourist Flock to Bogota Colombia

Tourism is on the rise in Colombia. One of the greatest places to see is the capital city: Bogota. There are lots and lots of things to do in this very modern city. If you enjoy the arts you will be happy to know they are well and alive in Bogota. If you go there for a vacation and want to stay at a place that is in many ways better than renting a hotel room in Bogota try this apartment for rent in Bogota.. This is great place to stay and feel like you are at home.

I really enjoyed the weather in Bogota. Nice warm and crisp morning and cold nights. An air-condition sales person would surely starve to death trying to make a living in Bogota.  I used to go to Zona Rosa for the night life.  I especially enjoyed the beer at the Bogota Beer Company.

Image via Flickr

Image via Flickr

APARTMENT RENTALS AND ACCOMMODATION CHEAP RATES

I am currently residing in Angeles City, Philippines. The rates for apartments and rooms is similar to those in Bogota, Colombia. Accept that there are much more opportunities to rent a decent hotel room here than in Bogota.

For example, I can rent a huge hotel room here with access to an olympic size swimming pool only steps from my door. The room comes with 24/7 security and a restaurant/bar that is open for 24/7. The rooms are fully furnished with great Aircon. I paid only $20 a day for my room on a monthly basis. You will pay over $100 for a similar room in Bogota.

That's why I always try and find a furnished apartment for rent in Bogota, Colombia. I normally only rent one room in these apartments. I often have the entire apartment to myself because all of the rooms are not rented out.


It's hot here in Angeles City and my mind wanders to Bogota where the air is cool and the people are so sophisticated.

Image via Flickr

Returning to Bogota, Colombia

I left the Philippines in February for Las Vegas to try my luck with Holdem Poker. I was there for a week and then returned to Bogota, Colombia. Of course I stayed in Martha's apartment. She has added one more apartment for rent in Bogota, Colombia. I rented a room in one of her apartments. You would think that Hotels in Bogota, Colombia would be renting their rooms cheaper given that there is worldwide recession. Unfortunately that is not the case. Hotels and hotel rooms in Bogota, Colombia continue to so expensive they are out of my reach. Yes you can find cheap hotel rooms in Bogota but don't expect wifi, micro wave over, fridge or stove etc.

I just wanted a decent vacation rental in Bogota, Colombia and I did not want a Bed and Breakfast or to live in a Guest House in Bogota, Colombia. Have any of you ever lived in a Guest House. This can be great experience but it can also be hell! For example, I lived in a Guest House recently in Colombia. The manager of the guest house would run after me and turn out the lights. Every night around 9 o'clock he would make sure all the lights were turned out. I don't know about the rest of you but I hate coming home to a place that is in darkness. I found it very uninviting.

On many occasions I felt like I was imposing on this person's life. That's why I like renting from Martha. I can come home whenever I like and I can leave a light on when I leave. I don't have someone watching over my shoulder all time or running around behind me turning off lights and such. And, no I always try and turn off lights to save energy. To make matters worse after 9 pm you were told to keep the noise down as his wife had to work at 7 am and would be up at 6 am. She needed her sleep so you had to whisper and not talk loud our play any music whatsoever. And every time I rent from Martha I have her rooms so clean. Bedding is so clean and I sure to like that.

Anyway I regress. Bogota, Colombia is still teaming with activity and it looks like real estate continues to boom. Some visitors to Bogota say that the people of Bogota, Colombia are cold just like it's inhabitants. I have never found that to be true. Yes it can get cold there but I have always found people from Bogota warm and kind. I usually stay in Bogota at least for a few weeks before traveling around Colombia. This time around I stayed in Medellin and Cali. The weather in Medellin is close to perfect. The weather in Cali can get quite hot but for the most it is really nice.

More later on Cali and Medellin.

After living in Cali for close to 4 months I traveled to Bogota. Stayed at the place I always stay click here for details.  I left Bogota for Canada for 6 weeks returned to the Philippines and now live in a place called Dumaguete City.

Image via Flickr

Image via Flickr