Weekend Trips to Colombia?

[Looking4Wife]

Has anyone found it practical or financially feasible to make more frequent weekend trips to Colombia, rather than fewer extended trips?

For example:  maybe 1 or 2 "weekend" (3-4 days) trips every month instead of a one 7+ day trip every 2 months.

I presume this would be easier in coastal/major airport hub cities (Miami, Atlanta, California, New York, etc.).

I am in Ohio, and am just trying to brainstorm ideas of how to maximize my travel efforts and budget.

Gracias

[JEMJCU1]

... in response to Weekend Trips to Colombia?, posted by Looking4Wife on Feb 19, 2005

I live in Ohio and I am engaged to a woman in Bogota. I typically fly down every two to three months. I was down in Aug. Oct and Jan. and will be going down in April. I typically stay a week. I have looked at long weekends as an option, but that is a lot of travel time about (19 hours) assuming you are just going to stay in Bogota. Budget wise you can figure spending 1500 bucks including airfare. That can vary wildly depending on your objectives and how much money you spend on your woman. Good luck in your search

[OkieMan]

... in response to Re: Weekend Trips to Colombia?, posted by JEMJCU1 on Feb 20, 2005

You are engaged to this lady in Bogota.  Could you please share with all of us when you estimate that you are going to get married, and/or bring her to the States? I am interested in if you have been working on her immigration paperwork, and how that is going?  Best of luck.

                      OkieMan

[wizard]

... in response to Weekend Trips to Colombia?, posted by Looking4Wife on Feb 19, 2005

I did this for months prior to marrying my wife... Fortunately, I live in Houston and Continental has a direct flight to Bogota... 5 hours and I would be with my novia... Used to leave on Thursday nights and return on Mondays... Did this once or twice a month...

It was easier for me to get away from the office like this, plus it gives you more time together over an extended period of time... You get to know one another on a more normal basis without all the "separation anxiety" associated with longer stays, usually months apart...

[Neil]

... in response to Weekend Trips to Colombia?, posted by Looking4Wife on Feb 19, 2005

[This message has been edited by Neil]

NO.  This is a bad idea.  You need alot more time.

My first trip to Colombia was over Thanksgiving weekend, 1996 or 7.  I stayed at the Latin Connections apartment in Cali.  They went out of business 4 or 5 years later with Ed Beckwith taking everyones money.

I planned to meet some girls this long weekend.  When I got to the apartment I was told that the director was on vacation.  There was another girl substituting and I think I had one date the whole 4 days.  

You need most of 2 days for travel alone.  The airports in Cali and Medellin are 45 minutes to 1 hour from the cities.  If your plane transfers in Bogota you can arrive late in the evening.  Returning to the US you can have an early flight, like 8 am from Cali on AA.  Then you have to get to the airport at 6 am and leave your place about 5, getting up at 4:30 to pack.

What is the point if you are rushed and only have 1 day there?

You need about 5-6 days minimum to justify the cost of the airplane ticket and your travel time.

Why waste the costs if you are only going there for a weekend?

I have done a 3 day weekend trip to Costa Rica, but this was not to meet girls for a relationship, only for less than a relationship.

Anytime in Colombia, with a relationship, you need 5-6 days minimum.

Why don't you just quit your job or become self-employed?  I have been unemployed for the past 5 years and make more money now than I did when I worked.  Read Rich Dad, Poor Dad and start getting passive income.  Now I travel each month about 10 days and come back to boring, sad life in the united states of feminism.

[OkieMan]

... in response to Re: Weekend Trips to Colombia?  Bad Idea..., posted by Neil on Feb 19, 2005

Neil,

 I hope that you don't mind filling all of us in on the book you were talking about, and being unemployed for 5 years.  You just threw the door wide open with that one.  By the way, I am self-employed.  I have a very  small business.  I got tired of the corporate grind, especially after my divorce 6 years ago.    So, I understand the stuff about reprioritization (I hope I spelled that right).  But, I have to assume that you have a way of generating revenue that is neither illegal or immoral, etc.  So, can you share at least a little of what you are talking about?   No offense, but I hope that it doesn't turn out to be the equivelent of "glowing pillows or pet rocks".  I am not trying to get nosy, but you brought it up.  

                            OkieMan

[Neil]

... in response to Re: Re: Weekend Trips to Colombia?  Bad ..., posted by OkieMan on Feb 19, 2005

[This message has been edited by Neil]

Rich Dad Poor Dad is by Robert Kyosocki. Try the website www.richdad.com

I made a few dollars as a personal injury trial lawyer and invested the money in sub-prime mortgages.  Retired in 2000 at 45.  Interest rates on my mortgages are 13-17% for people who the bank turn down for mortgages.   I can also borrow money at 4-6%.   I am now in management, as my accountant says, I manage to get to the mail box and manage to get to the bank.  Last year all of my loans performed and no forclosures.

Life is now great!

[valleydude]

... in response to Weekend Trips to Colombia?, posted by Looking4Wife on Feb 19, 2005

I am actually for the weekend trips.

I did two trips to Venezuela and the first one was planned for a weekend but ended up longer. The second was a weekend.

Here is my rationale behind it all...

Schedule it on a holiday weekend with Monday off work.
Swing out on a Thursday night and take a late flight.
Swing back late on Monday.

With this in mind and the flight schedules that I know of,
I have Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and can be back at work about 9-10 am Tuesday.

Time missed from work: 1 day. (Friday and I can use a sick day) My boss knows my plan this year and I just joke and say "Do you want to be surprised, or do you want me to let you know when I am going to be sick?

I like this approcach becuase I could go down every two months after I get invovled. I have literally spent hours getting to know the airlines schedules for the places that I want to go. This took a lot of time, but I have a good idea of the flights I have available.

I think the weekend deal, provides more trips over the course of time if you get serious and I can use all the vacation for the honeymoon.

That's just my 2 cents and game plan.

Have fun!

V-Dude

[jediknight]

... in response to Weekend Trips to Colombia?, posted by Looking4Wife on Feb 19, 2005

[This message has been edited by jediknight]

until you have met someone that you think is the one, i would go for the longer trips every few months rather than a few days every month, it just gets to be too expensive with airfares plus you need a place to stay and daily expenses.
i started my search in colombia in 2001 and it takes time to meet someone, go out, get to know them an their family and you can't do that in a few days. my trips have been in one month blocks twice a year for the past few years, this makes it seem like less of a rush, but now that i have a beautiful woman in barranquilla, i'll try to make it every 4 months rather than 6. i got back in jan and will go in a few weeks to surprise her, i'll be staying for only a week, i got a great price on the ticket, $500 with avianca, don't have to pay for hotel since i'll be staying with her family and i had days coming to me from work so it works out.

[Looking4Wife]

... in response to Re: Weekend Trips to Colombia?, posted by jediknight on Feb 19, 2005

As you suggested, I was only considering the weekend trips to progress a relationship after it starts.  I was just trying to think ahead a little :-)

[MarkNJ]

... in response to Re: Re: Weekend Trips to Colombia?, posted by Looking4Wife on Feb 19, 2005

It also helps having a date of return that is very near in the future when your lady brings you to the airport and asks the question:  "When are you going to return?" and in some cases, tearfully "Do not forget me"...

[Onephd]

... in response to Weekend Trips to Colombia?, posted by Looking4Wife on Feb 19, 2005

I've done the 4 day or 5 day trips.  It helps if you are near a major hub like Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, etc.  The trip to Colombia is not that bad, especially if you don't have to drive to a major city.

The cost is not too different.  $700 a pop is the best deal I have seen from the Midwest and that was booking more than a month in advance.  

The only problem with a short trip is if something happens on your flight and you are delayed.  that can through your trip off.

[Chris F]

... in response to Weekend Trips to Colombia?, posted by Looking4Wife on Feb 19, 2005

If you have never been to South America and our going to search for that special someone.....a weekend trip is not only difficult, but makes no sense financially. In many situations, it can take a week just to find the right person that you feel you might have some chemistry with.

If you do not have someone down there yet, you will not be able to accomplish much in two days. In my opinion, this would be a waste of time and a very expensive weekend...

[Looking4Wife]

... in response to Re: Weekend Trips to Colombia?, posted by Chris F on Feb 19, 2005

I fully agree.  I would only consider the weekend trips to progress a relationship that is already started.  I am just trying to think ahead a little :-)

[Craig]

... in response to Weekend Trips to Colombia?, posted by Looking4Wife on Feb 19, 2005

It's possible but the logistics dictate that on a four day trip 2 of them are spent traveling. I live in Florida and even then it's no different. When you do the math you can add 2 days to however many days you spend in Cali or elsewhere. For example to spend 4 days in Cali you need six and a 3 day trip costs you nearly the whole week.