Dinner and Dancing in Bogota? Also, best spots for exchange rates

[Osa]

Hi All,


1) I'll be in Bogota with my girl next week, and I would like to take her out to a combo dinner/dancing one evening.  Salsa dancing, that is (I even took a few lessons  )


Anyone recommend a place that is clean, safe, and inexpensive, preferrably closer the the embassy near where we'll be staying (Quinta Paredes).


2) I need to change dollars into pesos.  I know that, once in Colombia, the best rate you get is at the banks.  I'd like to change some dollars into pesos beforehand though, since I am arriving on sunday night, and we have appointments early monday morning, so I'll need pesos for when I hit the ground.


Where does one get a good exchange rate on pesos here in the states.  I (foolishly) asked a kiosk at the mall their exchange rate yesterday, and they quoted me $1660 cop per dollar, which is horrible. I require no less than $1750.


Thanks in advance for any help.

[AndyLee]

Don't bother to bring US money to Colombia. It costs a minimum of 10% for cross counter exchange here unless you know the specific side street place to go. Use the ATM at the airport it will be close to official (if there even really is such a thing) rate.
I don't know about dinner and dance clubs but there is a place I like in Bogota with several locations Bogota Brewing Company a micro brewery and food sampler platters. When you arrive they bring you a server of 4 different beers they brew and you can decide which flavor you like the best. Each person in your group gets a server and the server has 4 beers of about 6 or 8 ounces each, so you get a little buzz for free   They have platters with choices of meats that are excellent. I go to BBC every time I'm in Bogota because I love the beer and the meat platters.

[Osa]

Thanks for the idea.


I dont use credit/debit cards or banks during this phase of my life, just cash and the occasional prepaid credit card for online purchases.  So the ATM solution doesnt work for me.


I tried doing the ATM way in Cali last year when I was there, and got hit with fees galore, so I'll never do that again.

[AndyLee]

Ah yes, the infamous usury ATM fees.......I forget about them because I have a USAA Bank debit card which pays all ATM fees anywhere in the world.
So, since you are not able to use a debit card.....there is a money exchange booth in the airport which will be about 10% below market, maybe more. Today is Bless My Heart exhange rate 1988 at XE.com! This is 1/2 way back to where it was when I came to Colombia in 2009. So you would get a yield pretty close to your 1750 threshold.
But, just for the sake of argument   if you give away 10% of $2000 US during your stay here that will cost you $200 or about 400,000 pesos. If you use the ATM and pay the $5 fee each day for 7 days that's only $35, just something to think about.

[Osa]

but isnt there a place I can walk into stateside to get the true exchange rate, like certain banks?

[fathertime]

Jeez what a rip off 1650 per dollar!


Just today the exchange rate hit new recent high water marks...it was close to 1950 to 1.  Sounds like ANDYLEE made out like a bandit with 1988 to 1.   


   
Osa!  I don't want to belabor the point about debit cards but I thought I would toss this idea out to you.   You can look into the Walmart Prepaid Visa card...there aren't many fees on that one....I think it is 2% per foreign transactions, but it still might be worth considering if you really want a good rate of exchange like you get at the atm!  In a couple of my earliest trips to Colombia, I used money changers over in Colombia and just grabbed my ankles for a crappy exchange rate, but that can amount to a couple hundred bucks like Andylee pointed out. 


Fathertime! 

[V_Man]

I am going dancing in Bogota in the near future. I have no idea where I am going. I am in the hands of locals.  I have not asked, but I'd be amazed if they actually have decided where we are going. I am supposed to be impressed that they actually have fixed a date to go dancing. I am discovering that this illistrates how highly organised and efficent  people in Bogota are compared to people in Cali. Us gringos have no idea of the logistics involved in oranising a group of friends to go out and do something that they all love doing. 

[latina1988]

hello
i am colombian women ! I recommend using money exchange .. accredited place! eg moneygram, western union, is the most secure, and well you can use in bogota
http://colombia.westernunion.com/WUCOMWEB/staticMid.do?method=load&pagename=agentLocator
https://www.moneygram.com/wps/portal/moneygramonline/home/locations/!ut/p/c5/hY67DoJAFEQ_6V6yiFACa0B0FxV5SEMgIuGNkWDk6106G3WmPJnMgRhEu3Qqi3Qs-y5tIIJYSWyNoi27qLkSQ9yqK4cra0lCRMEvH9wKLCq4Soix2xBU8c86hAjlxKvUgb3GaD-b07majzjO3vNBPcKoTziPDtfg5Bu6ye5NloMDcdH0mXALF9vf7wvHL9ERuN23OQytP9X1TX8DS1cTDw!!/