joizy

Oy, sorry to hear that this happened to you. It is a good reminder to observe all of the recommended safety tips (which I mostly ignored) - don't carry a lot of cash, and keep a stash that you're willing to give up while keeping more hidden (like in your sock) - carry a cheap phone that you are willing to part with - don't stand out if at all possible (dress, actions, speaking English loudly, etc.) - don't fight with muggers - they will kill you I did not spend a lot of time walking around, mostly took Ubers or taxis and didn't go out at night. When I did go out, it was close to where I was staying, and the few times I went to meet guys at their places or motels, I only had enough cash on me to cover the costs. Thanks for sharing your experience - it's a cautionary tale. I'm glad you're ok.

I'm not sure if this is the same thing. I found this on Trip Advisor (couldn't find the post on the Facebook group where I originally saw it) Servibanca was my favorite but now they are trying to trick foreigners, they will ask you if you accept a lower exchange rate. For example at present USD = 3450 COP.....the machine will ask will you accept an exchange rate of USD = 3200 COP ?......at that moment you will think if you say NO that you will lose/end the transaction (and you probably need the cash)......always reply NO to that question....you will receive the money at the better rate. They basically are asking you if it is ok if they rob you of $12 additional dollars (based on their 780.000 COP limit). Apparently, this is a ploy by the banks to get more of your money for their services. But Rob also reminded me of other things related to credit cards. They will often ask if you want to use dollars or pesos. Always choose pesos (I think this is what dynamic conversion refers to). Also, they may ask how many quotas (cuantas cuotas?) meaning how many payments - always say one. And, at El Social, they would ask me if I wanted to use credito, debito or corriente. Once I asked the server what corriente meant, and she didn't know. Always say credito.

One more tip about ATMs that I just learned from one of the Facebook groups I'm in. At a certain point during the transaction, it will ask you if you want to accept the conversion. Apparently, you should say "no". I always said "yes" because I thought I had to in order to proceed. The exchange rate was very favorable from dollars to COP, but apparently, I was getting ripped off and would have gotten a better rate if I'd said no to the conversion. Maybe someone else can explain this.

Great list of tips 12is12, thanks for putting them all together. If I may, I'd like to add some restaurant/eating suggestions. Since I stayed in Poblado, these are mostly in Poblado. El Social - was a great place to try typical Colombian food. There were two locations that I saw, one is on the corner of Carrera 36 and Calle 10B. They have a chalkboard with daily lunch specials. With an appetizer (an arepa with hogao, soup, plate with meat, potatoes, rice, salad, plus the daily juice) it ran less than $5 (a few grilled items were a little more expensive - with juice not included). This is where I sampled typical Colombian food - ajiaco, sudado de pollo, sudado de posta, etc. It was all good. The steak was really good. My favorite thing was a grilled chicken breast (pechuga) with fries and a salad. It's busy from 12-1, but after 1 the lunch crowd clears out. All outside seating, great place for people watching. In the evening, it converts to a drinking hangout. I highly recommend it. Il Castello - great Italian food - homemade pasta, pizza, bread made in-house. A little pricey, but not bad. On Calle 10A and Carrera 40. Aguasfrescas - high end Mexican food. It was a reminder for me that Mexican food is actually high cuisine. No burritos and chimichangas. This was my most expensive meal in Medellin. Really good cochinita pibil tacos (Yucatec Mayan food), I splurged for a white sangria (which was why my meal was so expensive) - really beautiful space, delicious food, You can also order a lot of food from Rappi to be delivered - one of my favorites was from Pane y Pomodoro - delicious Neopolitan style pizza. I also enjoyed the food courts in the malls. Definitely visit El Tesoro, which is a beautiful mall up in the hills with amazing views of Medellin. I had a great tomahawk steak there that was perfectly cooked. Yes, steak at a food court! Also, Santa Fe Mall is very nice and has a very extensive food court. For coffee, I recommend Pergamino. There's a nice spot on Calle 10B a few steps down the hill from El Social. Delicious coffee, breakfasts and desserts. Seating on an outside deck if you can get there before the digital nomads occupy the place. Great spot for people watching. My favorite breakfast (I'm not a breakfast person) was pinches huevos. I'm now hooked on Pergamino coffee and just ordered two pounds to be delivered. No surprise that Colombia has good coffee, but this was the best. Not in Poblado, but in Envigado, a small city/town next to Poblado that is not actually Medellin - La Gloria de Gloria - a Colombian friend took me there for bandeja paisa - it was huge and we split it. Even though we went for lunch, we were served aguardiente (fire water) during our meal - three shots. It was a lot of fun, and Envigado is a nice place to check out. Colombian food is pretty basic - meat and potatoes - vegetables were scarce. But the quality of the food was good. I could tell it was local and fresh, and best of all, it's cheap!

I requested that a separate subforum be set up for Mexico and was told that no one has posted in the Cuba subforum that was created. So I guess the answer is no. Do you think Mexico merits its own subforum?

Thanks for sharing your pre-trip prep and asking lots of questions. This will definitely be useful when I return to Medellin, and for those planning their first trip. You're going to have a great time. I'm excited for you! Looking forward to your post-trip report. I think 40,000 pesos is on the high end. This is what I paid a guide with a car. I found one guy on Grindr who had a rate for 4 or 5 hours, but I don't remember what he was asking for. In the end, he didn't really seem interested, so I ended up going with someone I'd already seen a few times and there was no time limit. We spent about 5 hours sightseeing, had lunch, and then he came back to my place and we had fun. I gave him 200,000 and he was very happy with that. I think in the end what matters is if you want to be with this guy. If so, then the price is right. What I would advise is not to lock anything in yet. When you get to Medellin and turn on Grindr, you're going to be inundated with messages. In my first few days, I was getting upwards of 50 messages/taps per day. It was non-stop. I couldn't even keep up with them to delete them (lots of blank profiles and just "hola", and a lot that were not my type). You are going to have lots to choose from. You definitely don't need to fly anyone in Medellin is filled with some of the hottest men I've ever met in my travels. Enjoy!

I didn't see him listed when I was there, but I did meet up with this guy, Camilo. He was super hot and very sweet. I was surprised that he's on the short side, because he looks much bigger in the photos, but really beautiful in person. We had a nice chat, kissed and then had a great time in bed. I really wanted to see him again, but I ran out of time. https://co.mileroticos.com/escorts-gay/costeno-dotado-24-cm-reales-nuevo-en-la-ciudad/23169276/

No idea. No response to my request to create a Mexico forum. I really don't know how this site works, but it seems to be unmoderated.

I asked you what you were reading in regards to my edited post. I do not deny editing a post. Obviously, because you'd read the original post, you could see how I toned it down. I did that because I don't want to contribute more toxicity to an already toxic forum. There is so much that is good here, but these little arguments are the reason why I wanted to leave. And yes, I was encouraged to stay, and to edit my post. As far as you posting the original, go ahead. I don't think you have a screen shot - but either way, that would say a lot about the type of person you are - you either took a screen shot of my post to use against me, or you lied and said you had one, when you didn't. I'm done interacting with you as well. I'll hide you and ask that you do the same to me since I bother you so much. Your friend, on the other hand, visits my profile daily and looks for my posts so he can continue to harass me. I hope you mean girls are having fun doing this It's not fun for me.

So the fact that I reconsidered what I originally posted and amended it to be less inflammatory proves what? So you're saying you took a screenshot of my original post and are threatening to post it? Go ahead. It kind of proves my point about the toxicity of this forum and the old trolls who are harassing new members.

Not sure what you're reading, but I said what I said.

I see you also experienced it.

Wondering if there are other forums that are not as focused on seeking sex for money. While I don't mind paying, it's not the only way I find guys. I was told this site was only for those looking for paid sexworkers. I had no idea when I joined, and even reading the posts, it's not obvious. Is there another forum with a broader scope that might be a little more open to discussing other options for getting laid?

I appreciate your questions. You're allowed to ask. Some of us are called stupid or accused of having some nefarious plot to steal others' sex workers (still not sure what the plot is). Keep asking. I'm learning from your questions.

I was looking at Laureles Factory lofts. I see they have security. Did you have any problem bringing guys home?

Thank you. Now that I've hidden several people, it's a little better. I'm still being stalked. One person in particular needs to get a hobby.

LOL - I may be old, but yes, I'm naive and I usually expect people to be kind. Maybe a little more cynical after what I've encountered here. Fortunately, after a little time, the feeding frenzy has stopped and I've hidden a few people. Appreciating most of the people here who are sharing lots of good information. After two years of not traveling, I'm ready to get out!

Thanks for the tip.

Since I'm "that guy" I would like you to back up your claim that I'm trying to "infect the Thailand forum as well". I answered a question there. Is that your idea of "infecting" a forum? Seriously, what is wrong with you guys? The three crusaders you mentioned have been harassing me since I joined a week ago. Apparently, they think I'm someone else who was someone else who was someone else. As TotallyOZ has confirmed, I am not whoever they are claiming I am. Now, can you please leave me alone?

It seems that one or two people had a bad experience with someone getting contact information and then harassing people. That certainly is behavior that needs to be condemned. But when those people then accuse newcomers of having the same intent, or accusing newcomers of being those people, it's problematic. The paranoia then takes over, and this forum becomes toxic.

Thank you for confirming. I've been accused by the three trolls mentioned here of being someone else. I have never been to Brazil and have no intention of going to Brazil, so I don't really care about GP contacts (I didn't even know what I GP was until I started reading this forum). I think the accusations that are being made against me are slanderous and need to be stopped. I have been contributing to the Thailand forum because there were questions asked that I knew the answers to (question about a hotel I've used for years). The ganging up that I've been experiencing here is far worse than any bullying I ever experienced from straight people for being gay. It is especially disturbing because it's gay Pride month. This is the way gay men treat each other? I think the intent is to drive me off of this forum, for whatever reason. I just don't understand it. I have never asked for contact information for anyone, anywhere. If anyone is accusing me of that, then they'd better bring some receipts, otherwise, it is delusional slander.

Totally get it. So for those asking the difference between the two, I think that's pretty much it. Furama Silom is on Silom, for me easier to get to. Sathorn is located on a soi and you have to walk through several sois (with no sidewalks) to get there - not as convenient if you want to get to your hotel quickly, but you can also experience life on the sois off the main streets better. Sathorn is a newer hotel, Silom is older but renovated. In the end, both are good bets and no problems with visitors in either.

Here's what the old troll does: 1. Accuse you of being a troll after one post. 2. Claim you are the same person as someone else he's accused of being a troll. And that person is the same person as someone else. And that person is the same as someone else. In his deluded mind, everyone here is the same person. 3. He looks for all posts you've commented on and then responds to all of your posts. He's like an annoying gnat that just won't go away. 4. He'll take things you said out of context and then makes it seem as if you are the problem, when in fact he is the one who is stalking and harassing you. 5. He constructs a very elaborate conspiracy theory that rivals Q-Anon pizza parlor pedophile ring levels of crazy. It's so crazy, even Marjorie Taylor Green wouldn't believe it. 6. He uses what appears to be a lot of free time to make little memes that he thinks are cute. Maybe he could put his computer skills to better use? 7. This troll doesn't like that people use Grindr to meet guys. If he finds out you use Grindr, watch out, he's coming for you! I guess when guys see him on Grindr they just block him. 8. After you post a trip report, he'll Google what you wrote and the claim you Googled the information and weren't actually in the place you claim you were. Like, who would do that and why? His level of delusion and paranoia is like nothing I've ever seen.

Personally, I don't think you'd want to go there during the day either. Maybe I'm biased, because I stayed in Poblado and it was so nice there - el centro was very gritty and noisy and generally unpleasant. The exception for me is that you'd want to go to Plaza Botero. I was not really a fan of Botero paintings, but the sculptures are something worth seeing. The area is gritty and the plaza is filled with homeless and addicts. There was a heavy police presence. I recommend going with a local. Based on your posts from the DR, I don't think any of the guys you might find in this area would really appeal to you. It's not worth the risk. If you pick someone up there, where would you take them? I say stick to Grindr, where you seem to have better luck, but as I said in another post, be careful there. Ask for multiple photos and if you still are not convinced do a video call. Plan to meet in a public place if you haven't met them before.

I've stayed at both, and can understand why you like Sathorn better. It is a nicer hotel (I think it's newer). But for me, it was not as convenient as Silom. You have to walk through the sois to get to the main streets. I've been staying at Furuma Silom since it was the Tower Inn - lots of fond memories there