Any info on San Andres

[buster40]

Does anyone have some good suggestions on where to stay in San Andres....where to go?  what to do? where to avoid???

I hope to get over there next week with a gal from Bogota.

Thanks in advance

Brian

[Jamie]

... in response to Any info on San Andres, posted by buster40 on Nov 9, 2003

San Andres is a fun place to visit. I stayed at the Sunrise, which I believe is probably one of the better hotels in Colombia. Most of the hotels do not have fresh water in the bathroom, but Sunrise was in the process of providing fresh water showers so they may have it now. We were there last October it was off-season and my wife got a travel agent friend to get us an ocean front room for $65 a night, which included dinner and breakfast and one cocktail per night. However, there are quite a few good restaurants along the beach so we ate out most of the time and in many cases had the restaurant to ourselves. You can stay at a moderate all-inclusive hotel for around $50, which include all the drinks you want. I personally think one is taking a health risk when they do not stay at the best hotel. I suggest you rent a scooter for your whole stay there. I do not recall the exact price but I got a six day rate that was under $100. I just remember it being cheap. Drive around the island and eat inexpensive lobster at the various restaurants along the coast. There is not very much beach around the island mostly coral but you can find some areas that will give you some beach solitude. Many people speak English and the island for the most part is safe, so mingling with the locals was interesting. The best beach is on one of the small islands a couple miles off shore. They have boat rides there. They have what they call a natural aquarium off one of these island, but instead of taking the tour rent a boat and guide for about $50 a day and they will take you to many spots for snorkeling. You can also jet ski off the hotel and do some horseback riding inland. Do not go to the trumped up water hole (one of the “sites” of the island) it is nothing more than a murky farm pond. We were somewhat explorative so we drove everywhere in our little red scooter without a destination in mind including a visit to the local landfill which looks like it is on its way to be a mountain.

[Freddie]

... in response to Any info on San Andres, posted by buster40 on Nov 9, 2003

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[Freddie]

... in response to Try these links., posted by Freddie on Nov 9, 2003

We were there for four nights in May 2002. The island is only about 25K around. It's in the shape of a sea horse.
We stayed at the Hotel Isleños, which is part of the Decamaron chain. There are 4 or 5 properties. Isleño has the best beach of all of them.
You get a plastic bracelet (color-coded for your hotel) and that allows you unlimited access and drinks at any of their properties. You can eat at any of them but you have to put your name on a reservation list at breakfast for that evening's dinner.

They have shuttle busses that go from property to property every few hours. Some of the hotels have shows. One has a small place to gamble (PL board doesn't like the 'C' word) and a disco.

Each hotel has a tour desk. The snorkeling and diving is great. I was about 8 feet from a barracuda and didn't even realize he was lying there watching me.

There are some great restaurants on the island and some shopping. Everything closes from around noon until 2 each day for siesta.

You can rent a dune buggy and tour the island. I think it was about $35 for the day.

Other than that there really isn't much to do there so you and your girl better be happy with each other's company.
www.decameron.com/homepage.asp

Big Juice is a Canadian who has a website that caters to everything you ever wanted to know about San Andres. They have charter flights from Canada to the island from November to April and they think it's God's gift to them.
groups.msn.com/BigJuicesSanAndresIsland/homepage.msnw?pgmarket=en-us

Hotels
www.geocities.com/sanandreshotelnet/hotels.html
www.turq.com/placestostay/colombia.html

Resort Reviews
www.debbiescaribbeanresortreviews.com/standres/stanreview1.html

Lots of info
www.debbiescaribbeanresortreviews.com/standres/standres.html

Photos
www.underwaterphotography.com/Articles/Travel/Sandres/sandres.asp
www.westcaribbeanislands.com/Caribbean/Default.asp

[Freddie]

... in response to system is giving me problems posting thi..., posted by Freddie on Nov 9, 2003

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[buster40]

... in response to Buster, be sure and click on the above p..., posted by Freddie on Nov 9, 2003

Thanks, I'm online reading them right now.  GREAT STUFF, I'll be up all night!
I'm glad I asked..)

[Pete E]

... in response to Any info on San Andres, posted by buster40 on Nov 9, 2003

San Andreas is a small island.Mostly there is the beach,water sports,restaurants and shopping,its a duty free port with some really good prices.
Just a nice place on the beach.If you like laying on the beach,riding jet skis and hanging out at restaurants and bars with ocean views its pretty nice.I liked it.
I stayed at the Sunrise,one of the 2  5 star hotels.The other is the Aquarium.I paid like a $100 a night,just walked in off the street.If you get a package deal from the RIGHT travel agent,I don't know who that would be because this is mostly available through Colombian travel agents,you can get it all incliusive,including food for about that price.
There are lots of nice smaller hotel motel looking places.I'm sure the Colombians know.I bet you could get a real nice place in a smaller hotel for $40 a night.
Providencia is REAL remote.I stayed at the best hotel/motel.No hot water,$40 a night.Its real quiet.If you don't hike or scuba there is not much to do.Mosquitos eat you alive at sundown.I wished I had skipped it and spent those 2 days in Cartegena.We were in San Andreas 5 days,2 Providencia,3 Cartegena.Cartegena was much more interesting,San Andreas better beaches.
I want to try Santa Marta.Its supposed to be a nice beach oriented type place also.

Pete

[buster40]

... in response to Re: Any info on San Andres, posted by Pete E on Nov 9, 2003

Pete,
Thanks for the info. We'll be going through an agency in Bogota.  I've done the Cartagena thing twice already.  It was ok....good sights, but the beaches were a pain in the ass with all the knuckleheads chasing down the goofy looking white guy.  I've heard good things about Santa Marta.  The beaches there are supposed to be great.  That might be a possibility.  Really just looking for a place to get away with this gal with a little sunshine and beach.  

Thanks again for the tips.
Brian

[Pete E]

... in response to Re: Re: Any info on San Andres, posted by buster40 on Nov 9, 2003

I never got hustled once on the beach in San Andreas,but I was usually at the beach right in front of the Sunrise hotel.The beach vendors in Cartegena were the worst I have ever seen.San Andreas is definetly a better beach place.

Pete

[cancunhound]

... in response to Any info on San Andres, posted by buster40 on Nov 9, 2003

You can't go wrong with one of the all-inclusive deals with that chain.  I like the Aquarium.  Truth be told there's not much of anywhere to go, to do, or even to avoid.  Now if you dive that's a different story.  If you can get airfare alone at a good price, consider Providencia for a little solitude and remoteness.

[buster40]

... in response to Decameron's, posted by cancunhound on Nov 9, 2003

Thanks for the info.
Brian