Finding a novia in a small city

[cabocancun]

Guys,

Since my relationship with my girlfriend ended,I have been thinking about visiting some of the smaller cities in Colombia.
I was wondering if anyone met thier novia while visitng a small city?
I saw some ladies on Amigos.com that have the exotic look that I prefer.
They are from Valledupar, the city that created Vallenato music.
Has anyone visited Valledupar?
Is there a way to purchase an Avianca ticket so that a person can visit several cities in Colombia?
I will be returning to Colombia in two days.
Cabo

[Gator]

... in response to Finding a novia in a small city, posted by cabocancun on Jun 2, 2005

Smaller cities are a wonderful way to take a good look at the parts of Colombia seldom or never seen by the average gringo tourist.  Most are safe unless you wander into the wrong area.  What's the wrong area?   When you couldn't pull a needle out of you ass with a John Deer tractor you can be fairly sure you are in the wrong area.  Unless you have made a prior inquire, i.e. Amigo, etc.  you will find the girls are harder to meet and date-this is due to the more conservative attitude in these towns.

I do NOT agree with the comment about bus travel.  For fairly short distances it can not be beat but only a complete bobo would try a bus from Popoyan or Bogotá to say Cartagena or Barranquilla.  Since you say you Spanish is far past the "Una mas Cerzesa," and "¿Donde esta el baño?" stage you should do O.K.

He is some information on different airlines.

Avianca Discover Colombia Airpass

This can be a very good deal if it fits YOUR travel plans.
Avianca offers an it calls a Discover Colombia Airpass.  This allows one to travel to various cities in Colombia. The air pass is available for sale when purchased in conjunction with transatlantic travel on Avianca. Travel within Colombia is permitted on Avianca (AV), Sam (MM) and Aires (4C) but Aires is only good for those cities NOT serviced by Avianca or SAM). The Discover Colombia air pass cost is based on the total number of coupons (flights) purchased prior to commencement of transatlantic travel. It is not available in Colombia. The minimum cost is as follows:
Seasons: Low: January (about the 10)-May & September-November.  High: June-August & December and early January.  The DCA (Discover Colombia Airpass) maximum stay of 30 days if purchased on Avianca and 21 days if another airline is used.  All coupons must be used with these time frames. DCA cannot be "saved." Travel must be undertaken in a logical geographical way around Colombia. No backtracking is allowed, except in the case of transit, where a passenger may transit a city more than once only in order to make immediate transfer connections. All domestic routings are permitted with Avianca (AV) and Sam (MM). Domestic routings permitted with Aires (4C) only: BOG to VVC, IBE, and NVA.
Help for the airport code handicapped. Airport abbreviations: BOG Bogotá, MDE Medellin, CTG Cartagena, CLO Cali, BAQ Barranquilla, VVC Villavicencio, IBE Ibague and NVA Neiva.
Here is how it should work:
The Avianca Pass can be complex and has a wide variance of pricing. The cheapest fares consist of flying Avianca to Columbia during the low season (January through May and September through November). Purchase a five-segment coupon for $250 off peak, $280 peak. You can get the pass on other airlines but you will pay $499 off peak, $529 peak if flying another airline to Columbia. These prices do not include travel to either Leticia or San Andres, which adds additional fees.
The five-city pass does allow you to return to a city of departure but the KEY to using the Discover Colombia air pass is NOT to return to the same city twice. Anytime you land from any other city at a city you have not been there before it will cost you a ticket on DCA.  The most advantageous way to use the DCA is to start your journey in Bogotá try to only return there to depart for the USA.  Why?  This is Avianca's hub so most everything goes through BOG.   Let me try and explain a little more on using the Discover Colombia Airpass:
You can touch twice in the same city BUT it will cost you a ticket. For example: CTG TO MED "would be one "ticket" on the Discover Colombia air pass. The problem arises if there is no DIRECT flight without touching down. Example: There is NO Direct flight from CTG to CLO (Cali). You must stop in either BOG or MDE. Since the flight is not direct, even though you might be on the ground for only 10 minutes, it would be TWO airs pass tickets, one from CTG to MDE and another from MDE to CLO.

Try to plan all flights so they terminate somewhere you would like to hop off and stay for a couple of days. Perhaps some more explanation on routing might help.  To get to CTG from BAQ you MUST go through Bogotá (BAQ/BOG/CTG.) That is TWO air pass tickets. BUT, if you are planning on going to MDE make that your FIRST stop. Since you got off and visited that is ONE ticket. BUT to get to BGA or PEI from anywhere it will be a stop in Bogotá or TWO airs pass tickets. You must get back to BAQ to return to MIA so it would likely be two tickets since both PEI and BGA return to BAQ through BOG-again two tickets. That takes care of all five Airpass tickets. As I said, you can, I believe, add additional stops for $50 USD each for three more cities.

CALL AVIANCA FIRST BECAUSE THINGS CAN AND DO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE (800-284-2622).  BTW you will probably be issued what is called a Miscellaneous Charge Order (MCO).  This is a coupon used by airlines and travel companies, including Avianca, as a general-purpose voucher for services by their company. When you get to Colombian you go to any Avianca office with the MCO and book your flight(s).  

Let me try and explain a little more on using the Discover Colombia Air pass (DAC):
You can touch twice in the same city BUT it will cost you a ticket. For example: CTG TO MED "would be one "ticket" on the Discover Colombia airpass. The problem arises if there is no DIRECT flight without touching down. Example: There is NO Direct flight from CTG to CLO (Cali). You must stop in either BOG or MDE. Since the flight is not direct, even though you might be on the ground for only 10 minutes, it would be TWO airs pass tickets, one from CTG to MDE and another from MDE to CLO.

Try to plan all flights so they terminate somewhere you would like to hop off and stay for a couple of days. More explanation on routing.  To get to CTG from BAQ you MUST go through BOG (BAQ/BOG/CTG.) That is TWO airpass tickets. BUT, if you are going to MDE make that your FIRST stop. Since you got off and visited that is ONE ticket. BUT to get to BGA or PEI from anywhere it will be a stop in Bogotá or TWO airpass tickets. You must get back to BAQ to return to MIA so it would likely be two tickets since both PEI and BGA return to BAQ through BOG-again two tickets. That takes care of all five Airpass tickets. As I said, you can, I believe, add additional stops for $50 USD each for three more cities.

ALWAYS CALL AVIANCIA before travel at (800) 284-2622) and find out what is presently being offered.  For those of you who do not know things can and do change in Colombia with very little notice.

AeroRepublica,

Go to AeroRepública web site  http://www.aerorepublica.com.co/

Open the site, go to the right to Reservas select on the cities and dates of travel click on Continuar. Go to the right and click on  Volver a empezar  When the next windo opens click on Reservas, the small one at the top of the page.  When that opens go to the right and click on Tarifas about 1/2 way down..  When that open go to the bottom select the route and click buscar.

To find the schedules open the site on the right hand side you will see Reservas  Select the cities and the date like Barranquilla/Santa Martacali and the dates of travel.  if this appears "Lo sentimos, no se ha encontrado ninguna ruta de Aerorepública para el origen y destino solicitados. Por favor regrese al paso anterior y seleccione una nueva ciudad de origen y/o destino." Means no flights. Select Barranquilla/Medellin and if this appears you are good to go.  
     
 7531/7510 Barranquilla Medellín 08:05 AM 11:20 AM Bogotá
 7531/7510 Barranquilla Medellín 08:05 AM 11:20 AM Bogotá
 7537/7508 Barranquilla Medellín 04:25 PM 08:10 PM Bogotá

The fare box when it appears looks like this (Ida is one way and Ida y Vuelta is round trip.
Estas son las Tarifas Normales de AeroRepública entre Barranquilla y Medellín,
y no tienen restricción alguna (Ver Regla de Tarifa)

CLASE PRECIO ADULTO  PRECIO NIÑO  TIPO .
Y $336000 $225000 Ida  
G $266000 $178000 Ida  
L $207000 $139000 Ida  

Estas son las Tarifas Reducidas de AeroRepública entre Barranquilla y Medellín,
y tienen restricciones (Ver Regla de Tarifa)

CLASE PRECIO ADULTO  PRECIO NIÑO  TIPO .
E $240000 $161000 Ida  
K $302000 $302000 Ida y Vuelta  
H $381000 $381000 Ida y Vuelta  
Q $126000 $126000 Ida

Aires Air
For sometime cheaper prices try Aires Air at: www.aires.com.co

Also give Satena Air a look at  :http://www.satena.com/satena.nsf/?Open.  Best to call them because their site is a bitch to navigate.  Run by the Colombian Airforce and hits a lot of the out-of-the way smaller cities.

Any questions just ask.

A la orden,

Gator

[Malandro]

... in response to Finding a novia in a small city, posted by cabocancun on Jun 2, 2005

I say go for it.  

I believe Avianca has a Colombia Pass where you can buy a ticket to either 3 cities or 5 cities for like $240 and $340 respectively.  you should look into this as the per flight rate is usually over $100.   You MUST buy this outside of Colombia so check out the internet and do it now.

[Brazilophile]

... in response to Finding a novia in a small city, posted by cabocancun on Jun 2, 2005

I have met ladies from smaller cities in Brazil.  

My experience is that she MUST be an extremely special lady for a foreign man to travel to out-of-the-way small cities.  Smaller cities that are close to large ones are not that bad.  The HUGE difficulty is getting there.  

Brazil, Colombia, DR, etc DO NOT have outstanding transportation infrastructures.  Few smaller citie have airports, and the ones that do are not served by large national airlines.  They are served only by the smaller regional airlines.  You may have to travel by bus to smaller cities.  The smaller airlines may have less impressive safety records so risk is higher.  In addition, the schedules for travelling to smaller cities is less frequent so you may end up waiting for long periods of time in bus stations and airports.  

One unpleasant surprise I had was finding that some large cities in Brazil have two airports; one mostly for international flights and one exclusively for domestic flights.  I arrived in Brazil in the international airport and found that the city I wanted to go to was served only by the domestic airport.  I had to take a lengthy, and expensive, taxi ride from one airport to the other since the two airports were located on opposite sides of the city.

If you get a good vibe through letters, email, the phone, then by all means go visit her even if she lives in a small city.  BUT, especially if she lives in a small city, MAKE SURE you have plans B, C, D, and E for back-up.  Going through the expense and hassle of making your way to a smaller city and then finding a lack of chemistry is an excellent way to turn a man off of making trips.

[Jake]

... in response to Re: Finding a novia in a small city, posted by Brazilophile on Jun 2, 2005

they have a shuttle service for the two airports in Brazil , Sao Paulo .. it is very cheap and fast ... like 21 reals and they travel every 20 minutes or so ... Jake
I just got hone after 3 weeks in Brazil ... RS area

[cabocancun]

... in response to Re: Finding a novia in a small city, posted by Brazilophile on Jun 2, 2005

Excellent advice.
It is difficult to travel in Colombia.
I feel comfortable travelling by van or taxi from Cartagena to Barranquilla or Santa Marta.
I have fallen in love with a photo and I need to make contact, so I do not waste valuable time.
I will only be there two weeks.
Do you think it is reasonable to ask her to meet me in Barranquilla, if she is interested?
I would pay for her round trip ticket by bus.
The trip would probably take her several hours one way.
Thanks...

[MarkNJ]

... in response to Re: Finding a novia in a small city, posted by Brazilophile on Jun 2, 2005

I think that the use of Amigos.com or InternationalMatch.com could be a good way in locating a real gem of a latina who might be living in some of these smaller towns that do not have access to an agency.   Brazilophile makes a very good point in regards to the travel time that you might incur.    If you are like some of the guys out here who do have the opportunity to spend long periods of time in a foreign country then I think the smaller towns are worth the attempt...   But if you have a limited amount of time per year in which you can travel going to some of these smaller towns might be difficult.   I am fortunate to have some non-stop flights available to me for locations such as Cali, Bogota, and Medellin and I usually only need to allow two days for traveling... if you are needing to travel and make connecting flights here in this country and then make the connecting flights/Bus transportation in Colombia you might end up spending 4 or 5 days of traveling just to get to/back where you want to go.   If you do decide to venture into the smaller cities you might want to look into flights on either:  AeroRepublica, Aires, Satena, or Lineas Aereas Suramericanas.   I have flown into Girardot, Popayan, Pasto and Ibague in the past with no problems... you just need to be comfortable on a smaller prop plane.

[utopiacowboy]

... in response to Re: Re: Finding a novia in a small city, posted by MarkNJ on Jun 2, 2005

I have long thought that a gringo in Monteria would have a wonderful time with the beautiful women there. I have never seen a gringo there, the people are friendly, there is an airport with service to the major cities, and the place is safe for gringos. I have been there several times and the chicas are hot Costena types.

[cabocancun]

... in response to Re: Re: Finding a novia in a small city, posted by MarkNJ on Jun 2, 2005

Thanks for the info.
If I get in touch with someone from a small city who is interested in meeting,do you think it would be reasonable to ask her to travel 4 hours by bus to Barranquilla,if I paid all of her travel expenses?
If things worked out,I would travel from Bogata to her city
directly in the future.

I speak conversational Spanish.
If I went to a smaller city and things did not work out with the person I was meeting,do you think I could meet someone else by just going to the main mall and talking to people?

[MarkNJ]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Finding a novia in a small c..., posted by cabocancun on Jun 2, 2005

It is all going to depend on who the latina is... her age, travel experience, etc...   It might be hard for some of the "younger" ones who are living at home to go off to meet a "stranger" no matter how long you have been writing and talking with her...  Just boils down to one of those parenting sort of things many of the younger ones have to deal with... Most of the older ladies, the ones that I have met would have no problem meeting with you in BAQ, some will pick up the tab themselves... as far as for the 4 hour bus ride, that is somewhat of a short trip compared to what some of my friends have to do on a regular basis.
As far as going into some of the smaller cities I would definately go...  I know I have been to quite a few and it is for the most part "virgin territory".   Again, two issues you might want to consider are that in some of these locations you should consider the additional travel time that might be required in the long run if you were to make several trips back to see someone in that location and some of the ladies might be a little less receptive to relocating (a new idea for them due to limited exposure)if they were to find someone special...