Whhich area of Medellin

[Jomxyz]

As a non-Spanish speaker I have booked a hotel in Laurels area but I keep seeing messages (eleswhere) that state tourists should only stay in either Pablado or Parques Llareres areas. I was also considering Provenzia area but it never gets a mention anywhere.

I do not want to be restricted to getting taxis everywhere as I enjoy walking around places. So what would previous visitors / locals suggest? It's not too late to cancel my booking.

[escierto]

You'll be fine in Laureles. Just remember that hardly anyone will speak English. They mention Poblado because it is the safest and most upscale part of Medellin. I prefer Laureles however.

[Alphablue]

Jomxyz,
When are you going to be there?

[Jomxyz]

In Mefellin for 9 nights starting on 17th March. Before then in Cartagena and after then in Bogota

[jimmybandido]

In Mefellin for 9 nights starting on 17th March. Before then in Cartagena and after then in Bogota

escierto is a well seasoned colombian traveler. laureles is fine, as he said. in fact, you will almost certainly have more fun if you stay on the laureles, estadio, calasansz side of the river....more down to earth girls....fewer gringos, and better prices. generally safe at night as well. spanish, however, is a must.

[Jomxyz]

Thanks people for putting my mind to rest.

I've learnt a little Spanish but by no means fluent or probably even enough to work out what someone speaking fast is saying - it should be interesting + fun

thanks again

[jimmybandido]

Thanks people for putting my mind to rest.

I've learnt a little Spanish but by no means fluent or probably even enough to work out what someone speaking fast is saying - it should be interesting + fun

thanks again

well....i would not try to roam around this part of the city without spanish, you will only frustrate yourself. I can line you up with a translator/guide. He is reliable, fair, and will not steal from you when you get drunk and sloppy. He charges 25.000 pesos an hour (about 14 USD). 3 hour minimum. If you are interested PM me, i will tell you how to get in contact with him. He also maintains a nice "blackbook" that he can reference for you. This is at no cost, he will tax the girl when you pay her. Happy hunting

[RedneckRoy]

well....i would not try to roam around this part of the city without spanish, you will only frustrate yourself. I can line you up with a translator/guide. He is reliable, fair, and will not steal from you when you get drunk and sloppy. He charges 25.000 pesos an hour (about 14 USD). 3 hour minimum. If you are interested PM me, i will tell you how to get in contact with him. He also maintains a nice "blackbook" that he can reference for you. This is at no cost, he will tax the girl when you pay her. Happy hunting

Better yet, find a chica on Tagged and let her show you around. There are 100's if not 1000's on there ready and waiting for a gringo to send a message. I was in a gym in Laureles a couple days ago, and two sisters practically molested me. I asked them to show me a good place for lunch and they took me to their apartment and molested me. Today, I walked down to a mercado near my apartment and another paisa came up and chatted me, ended up walking back to my apartment and had a nice 2 hr. romp. ALL of them offered their phone numbers and said they'd love to show me their beautiful city.... FREEEEEE

[jimmybandido]

Better yet, find a chica on Tagged and let her show you around. There are 100's if not 1000's on there ready and waiting for a gringo to send a message. I was in a gym in Laureles a couple days ago, and two sisters practically molested me. I asked them to show me a good place for lunch and they took me to their apartment and molested me. Today, I walked down to a mercado near my apartment and another paisa came up and chatted me, ended up walking back to my apartment and had a nice 2 hr. romp. ALL of them offered their phone numbers and said they'd love to show me their beautiful city.... FREEEEEE

what gym was that, again?

[BestHunter]

I have just found a cheap good hotel at La Mayorista. Do I make a mistake to stay there instead of Laurels?
Thank you

[RedneckRoy]

Mayorista is fine. I just stayed at the Hotel Central Plaza... I must say.. for 50K pesos ($25 US) it is a phenominal hotel. hotelcentralplazamedellin.com/home.html Even the site doesn't do it justice. It's not far from the Metro which will take you anywhere you want to go. Laurelas is just a nice tranquil suburb, but I find it very boring compared to the massive amount of action and cheap prices of Mayorista. As far as safety, most all hotels there have security patrolling, all of the Mayorista stockyard has armed security. I'm not going to say walk freely, but I saw no indication of danger when I was there, unless being molested by 100's of whores is danger.

[NY_Mike]

thank you gentlemen, for some very informative posts.
I am relatively new to this, and mostly unfamiliar with Columbia in general.
I am starting to feel a certain attraction to Medellin based primarily on your "mini-dissertations"!

thanks again!

[ottoparts]

Is there a list of bars/discos/pickup joints on this board somewhere? If so, I'll put together a map and post it.

[pockets123]

RedneckRoy - is Tagged a website?