Safety in Colombia-my daughter wants to visit Colombia. I am against the idea. Any suggestions?

Question

Has anyone travelled Free and Easy in Colombia recently?
Insurance companies do not cover this part of the world.

Any horror stories to share?

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

I have visited Colombia 6 times in past 3 years. Never used Free and Easy. I found Bogota, Cartagena, and Medellin to be similar in safety to New York City or any other big city in the world. The level of spanish your daughter speaks will be a determining factor. Of course, stay with a group and avoid being alone. I found the sites amazing and the people very friendly. Sorry, no horror stories.

Answer 2

Hi, I was there 1yr ago in September mainly on the north coast, its great, the people are nice, the rule of Colombia is to stay to the west and north. Great place and not like it was in the 80's and 90's.

Source(s):

http://www.southamericanpostcard.com/col…

Answer 3

I've never used Free and Easy Travel, but have some friends who recommend it highly. (Nicaragua) I have been to Colombia, however. It is a beautiful country, and with a tour group that knows it your daughter should be perfectly safe. Most horror stories come from armchair travelers who have never been there, but love to relate "I know a guy who......".

Answer 4

Ann:
First you need to know about Colombians is they are a normal hard workers ,highly family oriented ,very friendly and off course they have some black spots too as any place in US.
for you Daughter I will recommended she never be alone , no travel by ground at night time on routs between city's,she can do so at day time will be more safe, she will maintain her self in a big towns.


Absolutely, Colombia is a beautifully country and same other country's you will have troubles if you looking for.
If you have the placer of travel to Colombia, the only risk you going to have is what you wanna stay there.
Colombia have awesome places to visit and is depends what you wanna visit also is amazing tours to Leticia in the hearth of the amazons if you look for ecoturism, but if you wanna go to the regular stuff here is a travel itinerary suggestion.
travel Us to Bogota and visit candelaria area only at day time is the old area of Bogota you found Plaza de Bolivar,museum,theaters,flea market, also monserrate(observer point top of mountains), and try the food Ajiaco Santaferenho ,fritanga,cuchuco de marrano, all typical plates from the region stay away also from south area of town, north and zona rosa are ok and is the area for restaurant and good hotels , be in bogota for 3 days will be enough from there you can rent a taxi for travel to the country is cheap and you can ask the cost of the service to the taxi company operator and then the key is BARGAIN...the trip will be to Boyaca state going to Tunja and Paipa thermal waters, then Villa the leyva and Raquira you will take a full day for that too, then you back in Bogota you can decide going north or going south.North will be going to Bucaramanga (take the bus) passing Cannon of Chicamocha then take 2 day in Bucaramanga is big city very Famous for leather and shoes ,city of the parks ,again bargain a taxi to go to Panache is a park in the cannon of chicamocha , and then 1 day more travel to St.Marta,stay 2 days one for visiting the cultural part and museums other for the rodadero beach, you can travel to barranquilla what is half hour from santa marta and next day travel to cartagena take 1 day to visit the town ,1 day to visit the Rosario Island and 1 days to recover and relax from there you can travel back to USA via Spirit air lanes,Avianca(best service),Delta,continental or Copa, probable for a 300 bux to florida look for deals to colombia in you tickets is the cheap air line now to travel to colombia off course you need to found the deals. now if you are in bogota and want to go south fly to Pereira visit pereira area and Quindio visit national park of Coffee and travel by bus to Cali and avoid the south side, take 3 days to that area you not travel by bus at nite time just to avoid risk at road also you no see the area.Medellin is another trip from bogota is about 8 hours in bus torse east is nice to visit you do not visit oriental comuna is really bad area hope enjoy you time if you still have time visit San Andres Island take the plane in Bogota is about 2 1/2 hours fly visit san andres take about 3-4 days to also visit providence, and santa catalina islands is part of san andres island archipelago.


about you money : 1 dollar is about 1900-2000 pesos now depend the current change at the day ,you will be available to change money in the westerunion at the airport or currency exchange place and for you return change the colombian money there before come to states or you will reciving menos then half price por exchange here in US , but you best will be a debit card visa or master card since you can paid there directly is a charge depends you bank but very much you can take in some atm until 500.000 pesos per day and other until 1,000.000 that will be alot money to be there , so change maybe 200 bux in airport to have change in you paket and use the atm in 500.000 pesos each time so you no pay to much for card charge, dont display alot amount of cash in public, no use gold necklest , earpiercing or fency watch and keep her purse tied and close to her,ah last thing no walk at the street with a fency digital camera hang in her neck.

People is very nice and will be more then happy to help her but still a good recomendation be awere of posible scams,if she need taxi ask for one by call the local taxy company (you can just pick taxy in the street with out call but not recomended for her since she dont know the area and probabilie her spanish is not he best.
last recomendation motels in Colombia are very different then here:
hotel = hotel here
motel in Colombia is a place where only lovers go for affers and have sex, other places is called residencias is using by hookers and prostitutes and those normally are in the bad areas of the town.
when she be there she will be available to see what ind the area is she if look nice she be ok , if look little guetto get out rigth away.

About the insurrance I normally use assist card and I use couple times with my mother when she come here to visit they service is awsome.
www.assistcard.com and they offices are in FL you can contact them by phone also :
City: REGIONAL ASSISTANCE CENTER - Miami
Email: [e-mail]
Office phone: [phone]
Office national phone: [phone]
Fax number: (1 305) 375 8135
Office Toll-Free: 1 800 874 2223
Regional Alarm Center USA - Miami
(1 305) 381 9959.

Hope she enjoy and for you will be really cool you enjoy her, I bet you never be sorry of visit that amaizing land.

see videos of colombia at you tube and you will see what im talking about.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgW8Y7F8D…

Source(s):

Proud to be Colombian , US resident past 10 years and frecuently traveler to Colombia, just come back afer 1 month staying over there.

Answer 5

My grandmother is colombian so i always wanted to visit and i dont regret anything. it has been one of the funnest countries i have visited.