airlines

[david hagar]

Which airlines do you gentleman usually use from the east coast. I would probably be going through Atlanta or Miami airports.  Do any of you use any specific travel agency?

Beattledog

[tnolan1]

... in response to airlines, posted by david hagar on Aug 1, 2005

I usually get the best price through American Airlines out of Miami.  I live in Tampa so I take a hop on Southwest to Miami and fly out of there.  Most of my flights are to Lima Peru.  Taca has the best service (and the best looking stewardesses) in my opinion.
Terry
My Latin Rose
www.mylatinrose.com

[AnzoNevis]

... in response to airlines, posted by david hagar on Aug 1, 2005

I always fly out of Miami, and I almost always use the dreaded Avianca. 2
Mojitos at the Baccardi Lounge, a leisurely check in (GET THERE EARLY!!!),
another Mojito before take off...after 30 round trips to either BAQ or Cali, no
lost luggage, 1 delay, nicer planes, better looking flight attendants, and
better food than American. You only get to take 1 bag in the cabin-a normal
carry on will be loaded with the regular bags if you have a small (personal
bag) in addition. Some guys hate Avianca-I haven't had any bad adventures.

[WS244]

... in response to Re: airlines, posted by AnzoNevis on Aug 2, 2005

My girlfriends cousin is an Avianca 757 Captain, and i have also ridden them.  I will take an overseas airline any day over an american one if i can, for as a rule inflight service is usually better without in your face old liberated american women flight attendents, except for Continental that is nonstop Houston-Bogota for convenience and my frequent flyer miles.

[Frank O]

... in response to Re: Re: airlines, posted by WS244 on Aug 2, 2005

NT

[WS244]

... in response to airlines, posted by david hagar on Aug 1, 2005

On Delta from Atlanta to Bogota is about 4 and a half hours or more, and you arrive late, and leaving Bogota you depart early.  American in Miaimi has several flights each way at better times, and Miami to Bogota is 3 hours and 30 minutes at most.  So if you have a sorry seat the shorter run is more tolerable.  If i recall correctly with American you do not pay the 28 dollar departure tax as with the other airlines, but maybe some other poster could qualify on this.  With U.S. Customs today returning to the States i give myself 2 hours between flights.      
ws

[typher]

... in response to airlines, posted by david hagar on Aug 1, 2005

I checked a lot of travel agencies and america travel in miami had the best prices to barranquilla. phone 1-800-367-2581 or the website americatravelmiami.com. Good luck!!

typher

[wayvinwil]

... in response to airlines, posted by david hagar on Aug 1, 2005

I've got a trip planned in Sept using Copa airlines.  Have any of you used this airline?

[jim c]

... in response to Re: airlines, posted by wayvinwil on Aug 1, 2005

[This message has been edited by jim c]

I live in Cartagena and Key West. The best way to Cartagena is Avianca non stop from Miami two hours and fifteen minutes only on wednesday and sunday. There are hotels from thirty dollars to three hundred. For a clean room forty dollars with air and breakfast, Hotel San Martin centrally located in Bocagrande but no hot water. In the eighty dollar range Capilla del Mar two blocks away. For something more elegant in the old city La Merced probably one twenty. From the airport do not pay more than 10,000 cop to either bario

    The old city is beautiful and safe. Bocagrande is high rise hotels and condos.The area to the south is normal south american barrios, not too safe to walk around alone. The area around La Popa is a squatter area and an eyesore. The old city is exquisitely clean and getting very upscale. During holiday seasons it is impossible to find a room in Centro. The  areas Bocagrande and the old city are the two areas that have any interest for gringos. You can stay very busy there and unlike other cities it is safe to walk around at night.

  I have used America Travel for six years and have heard of no one cheaper. For a good look at Cartagena pull up WWW.Cartagenainfo.com. Ignore Juan Paul real estate or anything to do with his businesses he is a partner in the site but is a gringo scammer in my opinion.jimc

[wayvinwil]

... in response to Re: Re: airlines, posted by jim c on Aug 2, 2005

jim c, if I remember correctly from reading the archives, you are the developer of the esamor.com website?  I'm traveling to CTG to meet a lady I met from this service.  I live in the PNW, so flying out of a west coast city is my option.  She's setting me up with a room in a large house for 40 dollars a night.  Has air, tv, internet, pool, etc.  Sounded good enough for me.  The air ticket I have is actually from skyauction.com, I was high bidder ($300) for a roundtrip out of L.A.  I'll be there Sept 10 through 17.  I live in a dry desert in eastern Washington along the banks of the Columbia River.  The 84% humidity in CTG is going to be a shock to my system.  I'm allowing myself one full day to acclimate.

WVW

[jim c]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: airlines, posted by wayvinwil on Aug 2, 2005

Well guy it sounds like you have it all covered  give me a call while you are there 315 774 8181. PS get your passport copy done in Colombia. An American Notary holds no weight in Colombia. jimc

[wayvinwil]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: airlines, posted by jim c on Aug 3, 2005

Thanks for the number.  Possibly when my lady is at work I'll give you a call and we can meet up or have lunch or at least talk over the phone.  Don't be surprised to hear from me.  Take care.

[WS244]

... in response to Re: airlines, posted by wayvinwil on Aug 1, 2005

Good airline, codeshare with Continental, have the same paint scheme as Continental, and fly late model 737's. Panama City is their hub and the terminal though small is clean and has many gift shops on the departure side.  If you spend a day there, you can get your visa at the airport for 5 dollars, they use dollars there as the currency, but the only thing worth seeing in Panama city is taking the half day boat tour through the Miraflores, Pedro Miguel canal locks at 100 USD per person, and going to the Gamboa Rainforest Hotel which is close by for lunch. Colon is a dump, and the duty free zone up in colon is also a dump for Chinese goods and not worth the train or car ride up there.  the Marriott is a very good hotel and the sheraton is okay. Take an umbrella.  Though you only asked about Copa i threw in a little history for you.

[wayvinwil]

... in response to Re: Re: airlines, posted by WS244 on Aug 2, 2005

Thank you amigo for the insight.  I do have a layover in Panama City, so I have a little time to kill before hopping the jumper to Cartagena.  This is my first trip, and it is my understanding that I do not need a visa to enter either of these countries.  Correct?

[WS244]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: airlines, posted by wayvinwil on Aug 2, 2005

Not for Colombia but your passport good for 6 months.  You only need one for Panama if you leave the International terminal for town, etc.  It cost about 5 dollars issued at the airport and takes about 10 minutes.  The airport is about 20 minutes to downtown Panama City, about 22 dollars by taxi, but is not worth going for an hour or so.
Cartagena is hot, humidity is high, just like Corpus Christi, Texas. The airport has one runway and a small but clean indoor / outdoor terminal.  There are a couple of really expensive hotels in the walled city, but i like the Hilton out at the point. I spent 4 years in the army so i like nice hotels.  It is not cheap but is very nice. The main city is kind of a dump as they do not keep up with the infrastructure.  In fact on final approach you will see a lot of slums if you are sitting on the left side of the aircraft and landing to the north. The old inner walled city however is being rebuilt, a lot like old San Juan, Puerto Rico, and you can walk all around.  If you are a navy or ship buff they have a "Naval museuo" that is really nice and`also tells of the early days of Cartagena.  All sorts of restaurants and all sorts of prices.  Just buy a few pesos at your departure airport, and then use your CC at atm's in Cartagena for cash as the exchange rate is better on your CC than at the hotels and cambio's.  If you are going to meet a chiquita just remember for every girl in Colombia with a kid, there are 5 more good ones just like her without a kid.  The ones with kids are desperate not unlike single mothers in the states, so buyer beware.