Need some info on Bogota

[bundy_138]

Long time, no post!  I finally got the interview date for my novias visa (January 16, 2008)  I have been very busy getting forms together for us and am now making the travel arrangements.  Anybody have names or contact information for a nice hotel/bed & breakfeast close to the US Embassy in Bogota?  Need something close that is reasonably priced, safe, CLEAN....you know the drill.  Perhaps someone has stayed in Bogota while their significant other was going thru this process. Any help will be greatly appreciated. 

Are there any other airlines beside Copa & Avianca that fly between cities in Colombia? 

Bundy

[soltero]

Congratulations, Bundy!

How long did it take? We put in the paperwork at the end of July and have only received the receipt notice so far.

I am not one much for hotels and such. I usually try to rent an apartment. Here is a good one that runs the same or better than any hotel and is (I believe) a few blocks from the embassy.

http://www.portamonedas.ch/Bogota/Bogota_en.html

[william3rd]

You would be well-advised to stay with major carriers on domestic flights in countries like Colombia.

I stayed at a hotel about 2 miles from the consulate in 03. I will see if I can come up with some info. . . . .

[bundy_138]

Soltero:  I started the process on 05/10/07 and just received the interview date yesterday.  Would have been about 10 days sooner, but we received and RFE and had that little set back.  Almost 7 months......if interview goes ok, she should be here around the 1st of Feb.  Roughly 9 months from time we filed to the time she gets here.  Here is my timeline I posted on VJ:

05/10/2007: Mailed I-129F petition (Texas Service Center)
05/11/2007: I-129F petition received Texas Service Center (11:09 am)
05/14/2007: Received Date on NOA-1 (petition sent to CSC)
05/22/2007: Check Cleared my bank
05/24/2007: Recevied NOA1 via Snail Mail
10/05/2007: TOUCHED---FINALLY
10/09/2007: RFE notice received via email
10/10/2007: Touch
10/17/2007: Touch (Due to phone call)
10/18/2007: Received RFE Hard Copy via snail mail
10/19/2007: Touch
10/20/2007: Resent RFE information to CSC
10/22/2007: RFE info received CSC (6:29 am-signed for by V. Semegi)
10/22/2007: Touch. Touched again 10/30, 10/31, 11/01, 11/02
11/02/2007: NOA-2 APPROVED-USCIS Website
11/04/2007: Touch (on a Sunday?)
11/08/2007: Received NOA-2 via snail mail
11/19/2007: NVC Receives petition
11/21/2007: NVC forwards petition to consulate in Bogota, Colombia
11/26/2007: Petition received by consulate in Bogota
12/04/2007: Received packet 3
12/05/2007: Interview Date issued - January 16, 2008

Good luck.  Once the papers leave NVC, the process goes very fast.

Bundy

[william3rd]

OOOPS- sorry, I didnt read your entire post. You would not want to stay there. Not cheap, probably not even reasonably priced but definitely 5 star.

[valleydude]

Hey, Congrats Bundy!

I was approved on November 13th and I am now waiting for the transfer to NVC.

There is AeroRepublica http://www.aerorepublica.com/. I flew them from Cartagena to San Andres. If I don't go straight to Bogota from LAX, I will probably take AeroRepublica from CTG-BOG.

Will you be going to the interview? I see they have been changing some things with picking up the visa, so my tenative planes have begun to change.

[utopiacowboy]

There are several other airlines in Colombia.

ADA: http://www.aerolineadeantioquia.com/
Aires: http://www.aires.aero/Website/Default.aspx
Satena: http://www.satena.com/DesktopDefault.aspx?lang=en
 

[valleydude]

15 Minutes ago I couldn't think of them for the life of me:
http://www.aires.com.co/

[Researcher]

   I think I'd stay away from COPA airlines because when I was in Bogota back in August there was a story about how COPA was cancelling flights and leaving people stranded.I've talked to others who say that it is a bad airline.

[valleydude]

In regard to COPA, I haven't had the cancelled flight thing happen, but I can see where that could turn someone off. On the way back, I only have 50 minutes for my connection and it used to make me nervous, but they haven't let me down.

Overall, I like COPA. I've taken all my flights with them to SA the last two years. I originally switched to COPA because of their schedules. I can be there early and leave late coming back. Now I have gotten to know them, and what to expect, so I like them more.

The worst thing I have had happen was the first time I flew with them. In LAX they weren't enforcing their carry on limit at boarding. I only travel with a carry on, so when they were out of overhead space I was forced to check my bag. I did find a work around for this, and it doesn't affect me anymore, but I have noticed over the past year that they are enforcing the limit now.

My best experience with them is now that I am Elite I am getting first class upgrades. I got good service in coach, and it's nice up front too. Before having status they always let me in the Elite line for check in if I wasn't checking anything. That was a big plus and usually saved me an hour+ in LAX.

Overall I have had good experiences with them. They seem to remember me now, so things are only getting better. The only thing I could see that someone might not like is their English isn't the best. If a person has one of these "Speak English" attitudes, then they won't be happy.