Traveling to Colombia

Discussion in 'Colombia' started by Froboy69, Dec 15, 2015.

  1. Froboy69

    Froboy69 Member+

    Inter Milan
    Colombia
    Mar 25, 2011
    San Diego
    Club:
    FC Internazionale Milano
    Nat'l Team:
    Colombia
    Hey guys I have a question since I am going to Colombia the end of this week: what way would you recommend to convert currency from US dollars to Colombian Pesos?

    I know that the bank and airport are bad ideas hence I was thinking of something like western union.

    Also since I am going to go there for a week, I was thinking about bringing a set amount of money ($700-$1000) but I don't know how much I 'need' considering that Colombia is cheap and the peso keeps going up from recent exchange results that i've googled. I am going to stay there for about 10 days.

    Hell I might see Nacional vs Junior since I arrive a day early.

    Can you give me a idea on how I should approach this? My dad keeps stating I need $1000+ but he loves to exaggerate.... -_-
     
  2. dapip

    dapip Member+

    Sep 5, 2003
    South Florida
    Club:
    Millonarios Bogota
    Nat'l Team:
    Colombia
    It all depends... Where are you going? Staying with Family or at a hotel? Multiple cities or just one?

    I think you could do well on $50 per day (150,000 pesos) unless you have something out of the ordinary planned.

    Regarding the best way to get money, ATMs give you the best exchange rate (fees included) but it is always a good idea to bring some cash just in case. Just be careful where you withdraw, try always a shopping mall and preferably during business hours.

    Paying with a credit card is also reasonable and safe in cities.
     
  3. Froboy69

    Froboy69 Member+

    Inter Milan
    Colombia
    Mar 25, 2011
    San Diego
    Club:
    FC Internazionale Milano
    Nat'l Team:
    Colombia

    Well I am planning to stay with family so yeah...
     
  4. crzdcolombian

    crzdcolombian Member+

    Jul 17, 2006
    Avon,CT
    Club:
    FC Internazionale Milano
    Nat'l Team:
    Colombia
    You can stay at a super nice hotel for 50 bucks

    I use my credit card exclusively. It's sketchy to take money out of at least my parents make it seem so. Or my family just gives me Colombian money for USd.

    1,000 for a week seems like enough if you have free housing and probably free food if staying with family.
     
  5. Froboy69

    Froboy69 Member+

    Inter Milan
    Colombia
    Mar 25, 2011
    San Diego
    Club:
    FC Internazionale Milano
    Nat'l Team:
    Colombia
    Well I want to treat them (not all nights) and pinch in since they're not as privileged as I am.
     
  6. dapip

    dapip Member+

    Sep 5, 2003
    South Florida
    Club:
    Millonarios Bogota
    Nat'l Team:
    Colombia
    True. We spend $200 for 4 nights at a luxury condo. No room service but, heck of nice building.

    You usually get shafted with family. They want to pay same as they'll pay at the exchange windows, like 10% less. Going to an ATM is OK, just don't go in sketchy areas and try inside super markets or malls, it is safer.
     
  7. Froboy69

    Froboy69 Member+

    Inter Milan
    Colombia
    Mar 25, 2011
    San Diego
    Club:
    FC Internazionale Milano
    Nat'l Team:
    Colombia
    What if I sent money via western union to my father and he gives me the money that is exchanged?
     
  8. dapip

    dapip Member+

    Sep 5, 2003
    South Florida
    Club:
    Millonarios Bogota
    Nat'l Team:
    Colombia
    #8 dapip, Dec 15, 2015
    Last edited: Dec 15, 2015
    Shafted. You pay $5-$7 per transaction. Over there you get less than the exchange rate. Adding the transaction fee, it is way less than withdrawing from ATM.

    For example, currently, 1US$=$3,300.

    So lets say you withdraw about us$100 and your bank atm and foreign fees are 5%. So for $105, you get 330,000, or about $3,142 per dollar.

    With WU, they charge $105 and pay you $320,000, so you actually get an exchange rate of $3,047.

    Your family will probably want to pay you as little as an exchange window, $2960 - $3010.

    http://www.dolar-colombia.com/
     
  9. crzdcolombian

    crzdcolombian Member+

    Jul 17, 2006
    Avon,CT
    Club:
    FC Internazionale Milano
    Nat'l Team:
    Colombia
    Travel card from chase or Bank of America

    You get like $200-300 travel credit for opening

    No foreign transaction fees and when you buy something they give you the exchange rate of that day without fees

    I have both and never had a issue. If you want actual money most banks can order you other currencies and do iit for free.
     
  10. Froboy69

    Froboy69 Member+

    Inter Milan
    Colombia
    Mar 25, 2011
    San Diego
    Club:
    FC Internazionale Milano
    Nat'l Team:
    Colombia
    God but I am worried that my wells Fargo/Navy Federal cards won't work in Colombia. Anyway I can confirm if they do work??
     
  11. dapip

    dapip Member+

    Sep 5, 2003
    South Florida
    Club:
    Millonarios Bogota
    Nat'l Team:
    Colombia
    Call them.
     
  12. Froboy69

    Froboy69 Member+

    Inter Milan
    Colombia
    Mar 25, 2011
    San Diego
    Club:
    FC Internazionale Milano
    Nat'l Team:
    Colombia
    Thats outrageous!
     
  13. crzdcolombian

    crzdcolombian Member+

    Jul 17, 2006
    Avon,CT
    Club:
    FC Internazionale Milano
    Nat'l Team:
    Colombia
    Are they visa or master card? They work if they do but credit cards that aren't travel specific charge you fees every single time you use it. I have a travel card just for when I travel so I don't pay foriegn transaction fees. My old credit card use to charge me $20 per each
     
  14. Froboy69

    Froboy69 Member+

    Inter Milan
    Colombia
    Mar 25, 2011
    San Diego
    Club:
    FC Internazionale Milano
    Nat'l Team:
    Colombia
    Ok update I am lucky that there's another Colombian who works in the same building as me; she said yes to all of my questions. No issues whatsoever.

    Actually now I need to keep track of how much pesos I can actually withdraw from an atm when I get to Colombia. It keeps going up for the dollar bill.
     
  15. crzdcolombian

    crzdcolombian Member+

    Jul 17, 2006
    Avon,CT
    Club:
    FC Internazionale Milano
    Nat'l Team:
    Colombia
    Yea my parents always be exchange USd to peso and keep it. The exchange rate fluctuates from 1800-3000 pretty quickly
     
    Froboy69 repped this.
  16. dapip

    dapip Member+

    Sep 5, 2003
    South Florida
    Club:
    Millonarios Bogota
    Nat'l Team:
    Colombia
    Usually the limit is rather low, like $600,000 or $800,000, but that should suffice. And yup, dollar is up almost 10% in the last month (and that is the trend, don't expect a sudden drop, maybe from $3,200 to 3,000), so you're going to get a lot of bang for your money.
     
    jay luis repped this.
  17. jay luis

    jay luis Member+

    Sep 14, 2013
    Corona, Nyc
    Club:
    Deportivo Cali
    Nat'l Team:
    Colombia
    which city or cities are you visiting ?you're going to Colombia at a great time. The holidays, final of the league, and the the value of the US dollar has gone up. Like dappip said , your best bet is to go to a decent mall and take out money at a atm in the middle of the day with someone that knows the city. i recommend taking out 100 mil pesos a day depending what you are going to do of course. Have fun and be safe.
     
    dapip repped this.
  18. Froboy69

    Froboy69 Member+

    Inter Milan
    Colombia
    Mar 25, 2011
    San Diego
    Club:
    FC Internazionale Milano
    Nat'l Team:
    Colombia
    Medellin. Envigado is the town itself. I may see the final final with nacional and juniors but we'll see.
     
  19. Froboy69

    Froboy69 Member+

    Inter Milan
    Colombia
    Mar 25, 2011
    San Diego
    Club:
    FC Internazionale Milano
    Nat'l Team:
    Colombia
    Dude it's Colombia not Mexico.
     
  20. crzdcolombian

    crzdcolombian Member+

    Jul 17, 2006
    Avon,CT
    Club:
    FC Internazionale Milano
    Nat'l Team:
    Colombia
    I have seen 3 people get stabbed outside my building in downtown Boston where rent is 2,200 for a 1 bedroom. Every place is dangerous if you start shit or are looking for trouble
     
    jay luis repped this.
  21. Froboy69

    Froboy69 Member+

    Inter Milan
    Colombia
    Mar 25, 2011
    San Diego
    Club:
    FC Internazionale Milano
    Nat'l Team:
    Colombia
    I am pretty sure that's everywhere in general dude...

    Remember I grew up in Miami for 23 years.
     
  22. jay luis

    jay luis Member+

    Sep 14, 2013
    Corona, Nyc
    Club:
    Deportivo Cali
    Nat'l Team:
    Colombia
    Nice . I want to visit Medellin in my next trip to the mother land .
    lol ill tell someone to be safe anywhere they haven't been before : it could be Liberia or Sweden .
     
  23. jay luis

    jay luis Member+

    Sep 14, 2013
    Corona, Nyc
    Club:
    Deportivo Cali
    Nat'l Team:
    Colombia
    Exactly , if you go looking for trouble , sure enough you will find it . Anywhere on the planet
     
  24. Froboy69

    Froboy69 Member+

    Inter Milan
    Colombia
    Mar 25, 2011
    San Diego
    Club:
    FC Internazionale Milano
    Nat'l Team:
    Colombia
    I've been to Medellin like 5 times in the '90s and '2000s.....


    But yeah I know better than to be purposely trying to stand out as a US Navy dude who is only half Colombian.
     
  25. Froboy69

    Froboy69 Member+

    Inter Milan
    Colombia
    Mar 25, 2011
    San Diego
    Club:
    FC Internazionale Milano
    Nat'l Team:
    Colombia
    Hey guys made it here safely and your advice helped thanks!
     
    jay luis and dapip repped this.

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