A few questions before I leave...

[Kit]

Folks,

1/
If I fly from Cali with 2 different airlines Cali to Bogota and then from Bogota to NA changing planes in Bogota do I have to pay dep. tax in Cali and then in Bogota again?

2/
Are hotels usually filled up (April-May)? Just curious.

3/
I will arrive in Cali late in the night (10pm). Is it to late to take a taxi at this point and go to hotel or does it make sence to overnight at the airport hotel and then hit the town in the morning? Or does it matter? I never arrived that late so I am a little concerned.

[Hiker]

... in response to A few questions before I leave..., posted by Kit on Apr 14, 2003

Get a Taxi at the airport.  Do not let an agency send one for you.  You will pay 2 or 3 times the price to the taxi sent by the agency.  Latin Best still does a weekly deal.  It is better to just walk in with cash in hand instead of emailing.  I think All Colombian Girls also does a weekly thing and it is a great place to stay with a great location.  Although I did much prefer the girls I met at Latin Best.  I strongly recommend staying completely away from Latin Women Connection completely!!

[jim c]

... in response to A few questions before I leave..., posted by Kit on Apr 14, 2003

I usually just walk out and grab the first cab in line just like you would in NY or LA. Of course it helps if you speak a little spanish and know where you are going.I would not take a bus. The Cali Bus station has a reputation for being dangereous and full of thieves. Robert Vignola has a condo few blocks away from Latin Best. It is between Exito and the new Simon Parrilla. I would recommend staying with Luz Amparo. Having other gringos around can be helpful for when you want to go out and look around Cali. Exito is two blocks away and has everything you want from an ATM to a dry cleaners. She still had a weekly rate in November and I am under the impression that the same is true of All Colombian Girls. Chipi Chapi is five minutes away by Taxi.

[Cali vet]

... in response to Re: A few questions before I leave..., posted by jim c on Apr 15, 2003

Jim C-Not to nit-pick but I use "el terminal" about weekly and have never had a questionable moment. The dangerous period I'm told is from about 11pm to 4am. The latest I've gone through is about ten. I had to chuckle though, "a reputation for being dangereous and full of thieves" pretty well describes all of Cali. I agree with the suggestion of staying at Luz Amparo's. It's perfectly comfortable for anyone who doesn't have to have super luxury accomodations and that way you don't miss the walk-ins.

[Brazilophile]

... in response to A few questions before I leave..., posted by Kit on Apr 14, 2003

As to your 1st question, I want to add that Colombia has 2 levels of departure taxes.  As a tourist you can be exempt from the higher level.  I think the high level is US$48 and the lower one US$24.  You pay the tax to the airline when you check in for the international flight.  To get the lower tax you need to pay at exempt tax counter, which in Bogota airport is close to opposite the Aces counter for international flights.  They will stampt your passport and give you 2 receipts.  One the airline takes and the other you keep.  

As to your 3rd question, I think I will repeat Pete's advice.  Go to the city after you arrive but have your hotel (or agency) send someone to take you from the airport to your hotel.  

There is a scam airport taxis run that you need to be aware of if yoiu are not already.  The driver who is sent to meet an arrival writes the person's name on a board and holds it up for you to see.  Another taxi driver will write the same name on his own board and then stand ahead of the first driver with the intention of stealing the fare (you).  You get in the wrong taxi.  At best you still get where you are going, but at worst you can become a statistic.  Before you leave set up a code word or something that the driver will tell you so you can verify you have the correct driver.

[cancunhound]

... in response to Re: A few questions before I leave..., posted by Brazilophile on Apr 14, 2003

In Cali, there is a small desk past immigration where you can get your expemption - don't blink or you'll walk right by it.  If you arrive late odds are nobody will be there working - no problem - get it when you leave.  Also, If your stay is for only a week - you shouldn't pay any departure taxes.  When leaving, just go upstairs - look for the small desk in the hallway, the person will direct you to a window to the left to get it.  Your airline should tell you this when leaving but don't count on it.

The Cali airport is much smaller than Bogota and as such - is safer.  I have not noticed any Taxi scams - and have taken a taxi as recently as last week.  Expect to pay $36 mil (12 bucks) to go to the extreme southern part of the city - less for barrio la flora (luz amparo) - check if that's cheaper than what luz will charge you (years ago luz picked you up for free).

[Brazilophile]

... in response to Re: Departure Taxes/Taxis, posted by cancunhound on Apr 15, 2003

I spent New Year's 2002 in Cali at Latin Internet.  The tax exemption desk is indeed small and in the corner of an office marked as something else.  My first time in Cali, in 2000, I really had to search for it.  In general, you really have to look out for yourself otherwise you will pay through the nose for routine things.  I have always gotten the exemption when departing.

I learned of the taxi scam on my first trip to Cali.  I stayed at the old Latin Love, when it was in Ciudad Jardim.  The agency sends someone to meet you at the airport.  The day after I arrived, another guy arrived but he was not in the taxi that was sent to get him and the cab driver overcharged him.  The real driver came later to say that the guest hadn't shown up. Another guest said he had seen more than one sign with the same name on it.  He didn't think anything of it until the guy above showed up.

[Cali vet]

... in response to Re: Re: Departure Taxes/Taxis, posted by Brazilophile on Apr 15, 2003

That reminds me of the time I was at LI. Another guy was to arrive but didn't show for the driver. Turned out the Crystal Palace driver spotted him told him CP was better and took him there instead.

[cancunhound]

... in response to Re: Re: Departure Taxes/Taxis, posted by Brazilophile on Apr 15, 2003

Good heads up - Pretty nifty scam indeed.  I guess for a 1st time visitor - probably not a bad idea to use a taxi sent by your agency - but it seems like you would be paying a premium since the taxista is making a round trip?  For more confident travellers - I really don't mind recommending just to grab a cab: I've found that a legit taxi is very easy to spot - they have meters, and they should have an 8-1/2 x 11 card that maps out the rates available for you to see - when travelling long distances - I always very that is on hand.  

And those taxes are indeed tricky - sometimes I wonder if even some of the airline employees pocket some unecessary gringo cash.  It seems like once your ticket is issued the payment of tax is not verified by anyone, not even DAS.

[Cali vet]

... in response to A few questions before I leave..., posted by Kit on Apr 14, 2003

[This message has been edited by Cali vet]

If you are arriving at ten pm I DO suggest you stay at the airport hotel. It's called Hotel Aeropuerto T:666 3227/3229. It's right upstairs more or less above the American Airlines counter. The rooms are very comfortable, have AC, stocked fridge and only cost about $20. If you want to save the taxi fare bucks you can take a collectivo the next morning from in front of the national flights exit to Cali for eighty-two cents. They leave every fifteen minutes for the Cali bus terminal which is five minutes and another eighty cents in taxi from Chipichapi! Que descances!

[cancunhound]

... in response to Re: A few questions before I leave..., posted by Cali vet on Apr 14, 2003

Good info on the hotel - I noticed the very "small" sign pointing towards upstairs but haven't checked it out - didn't even see it when I went upstairs to get the tax exemption.

[Cali vet]

... in response to Re: Cali airport hotel, posted by cancunhound on Apr 15, 2003

Then you are very observant. It's a small sign indeed!

[Pete E]

... in response to Re: Cali airport hotel, posted by cancunhound on Apr 15, 2003

I didn't know there was a hotel at the airport.I guess you are safe enough there.Hell I was there 3 times before I found the ATM machine.Good thing I did last time,I didn't have enough cash to pay the departure tax.I really got screwed paying in pesos.Is was like 50% more than if I had had dollars.What p!sses me off is my wife already spent the dollars  probably getting a very bad exchange for them.I always bring pesos home so I won't be broke the next time I go to Colombia and they disapear.She sends them to her family I think,then I don't have cash for a coke untill I hit the ATM's next time I go.I have to borrow pesos to pay for the cab to go get pesos.
Those little Oasis type motels outside the airport look real spooky to me.They make the Bates motel look like Howard Johnson.I could immagine someone disapearing without a trace.

Pete

[Cali vet]

... in response to Re: Re: Cali airport hotel, posted by Pete E on Apr 15, 2003

Pete-those are love motels, not for overnight. The only bad part about the airport hotel if you stay with your calena is the rooms all have two twin beds, no double bed.

[Aaron]

... in response to A few questions before I leave..., posted by Kit on Apr 14, 2003

Kit,

Luz Amparo has a driver that picks people up at the airport. His name is Carlos. If you want, he will be there waiting for you, and can take you to your hotel. He will charge you a fee in dollars. Each time I go, I usually arrive at 9:30 pm.

Luz is very negotiable, but I don't know how much she will charge for walk-ins. I always stay at her place.

Latin Encounters is not so negotiable. They quote their prices, and they're fixed with them. I'm not sure about their daily rate. I think it's $69 or $79 USD. I forgot.
But, anyway if you travel to Cali more than once per year, and are interested in meeting allot of people, then buy the yearly membership at Latin Encounters. You'll save allot of money in the long run because they have allot of women to meet, and just three days of citas wont be enough.

Aaron