Budgeting a trip

[BigLou]

How much should one consider for a trip to SA? While I can imagine the costs could vary a great deal depending where you go and how well you want to live, would $2000 be a reasonable number for a two week trip to Columbia? This would include airfare, agency fees, food and lodging, and whatever extra for entertainment. I speak spanish so there is no need for a translator.

[wizard]

... in response to Budgeting a trip, posted by BigLou on Dec 21, 2003

Pretty general question and yes, it depends greatly on where you are going and how you want to live... If you want to go first class and live like a rock star, no, $2K is not enough... If you travel monitoring you budget, you can still have a good time for $2K...

Cartagena, being a resort town, is a bit more expensive than Bogota and Bogota is more expensive than Cali... The women of each city have their own flavor and personality...

Agency fees vary greatly across the board depending on the level of service you desire... Some agencies have a day rate, but most only sell memberships at $350 - $1000 a pop...

First you need to set you itinerary... Determine where you want to go and what agency you want to visit... Then work the numbers backwards to see what your cash requirements are...

I usually budget $100 a day for spending money... You could do it on $50 a day, but you can have a GOOD time in LA on $100 a day... Add in your travel expenses, hotel and agency fees, then you'll get an idea of total cost...

For example, if you travel to Bogota and stay at LAI for 2 weeks, here's the damage:

Continental direct from IAH to BOG:  $650
Executive Membership at LAI: $975
Two weeks lodging at La Fontana (50 a day): $700
Two weeks spending money (100 a day): $1400
Total: $3725

[DallasSteve2]

... in response to Re: Budgeting a trip, posted by wizard on Dec 21, 2003

True, some agencies only sell memberships.  However, the economy is still rough and money talks.  I've seen others post that you can buy 1 week as some agencies for about $100.  That's no room, just introductions.  

If you offer $200 for 2 weeks it may be hard for them to say "No".  But, a lot of guys wouldn't want to spend 2 weeks at one agency.  After 4 or 5 days they're running out of hot babes they want to meet at that agency.  So they move on to another agency.

At ACG I was getting their nicest room and introductions for $50 per day.  That would be room and agency for 14 days = $700.  Not bad, and it's fun to stay at an agency and ACG allows women in the rooms.  My recommendation.

Steve

[DallasSteve2]

... in response to Budgeting a trip, posted by BigLou on Dec 21, 2003

I'll give you some guidelines.  I don't know if you like to be cheap or loose with your money.

Airfare $400-$500 Miami-Colombia (add more to get to Miami)

Apartment $400 (14 days cheap)
Hotel $1,400 (14 days Intercontinental)

Food $100 (eat at home)
Food $1000 (eat in restaurants)

Agencies $200 (if you want an agency)
Agencies $500 (if you want a lifetime membership)

Taxis $100 - $300 (depending on how much you want to roam around)

Miscellaneous $100 - $1000 (some guys here like to throw a lot of gifts at these women; what's the emoticon for rolling my eyes in disbelief?)

So to summarize a cheap vacation:

Airfare $400-$500 from Miami
Apartment $400
Food $100
Agencies $200
Taxis $100
Miscellaneous $100

Total for 14 days $1300-$1400.  That's on the very cheap side.  $2000 is probably more reasonable.

Steve

[ChasBah]

... in response to Re: Budgeting a trip, posted by DallasSteve2 on Dec 21, 2003

So to summarize a cheap vacation:

Airfare $400-$500 from Miami
Apartment $400
Food $100
Agencies $200
Taxis $100
Miscellaneous $100
Meeting the girl of your dreams...priceless.

For everything else there's MasterCard.

[ChasBah]

... in response to Re: Budgeting a trip, posted by DallasSteve2 on Dec 21, 2003

The best way to get pesos is with a debit card at a cash machine.  You get the exact rate of the day (minus a $3.00 service fee) and up to $300,000 pesos ($107.00 ish American) per transaction up to two transactions per day per card(check with your bank).  Also use your credit card as much as you can because there you will also get the exact rate of the day vs. cashing travelers checks and getting spanked with the reduced rate and bank fees.

Chas

[Cali vet]

... in response to Re: Re: Budgeting a trip, posted by ChasBah on Dec 21, 2003

I don't know what bank you use but I use debit cards from two different US financial institutions at the atms and they both nick me about $40 pesos on the exchange rate not counting the service fee ie; if the TRM is say 2806 I'll get only about 2766 pesos per dollar. Also contrary to what I used to hear I do not get the posted TRM when I use a credit card either, I get less. The Servibanca atms give out up to $400.000 per transaction.

[ChasBah]

... in response to pesos/dollars & atms, posted by Cali vet on Dec 21, 2003

I bank with Wells Fargo.  I get the exact rate of the day with a $3.00 transaction fee.  The Servibanca ATMs use to give out up to $400,000 but now they are at a $300,000 limit.