aaroninatl

Enjoyed reading these, thx!

I feel like a high roller after reading these. 😆 Regardless of whatever the bargain going rate is, I feel guilty offering anything less than 200K. I mean it's only $50. I remember one Medellin guy posted his rate on his ad at like 70K and the level of service I got was off the charts lol. The profession they chose is not an easy one. I especially admire the straight guys who do this line of work. I always think how miserable I'd be if for pocket change I had to get with old wrinkly women. 🤮 Likewise, any guy who asks for 300 or up right away, I think someone said it earlier, just a red flag that they're going to be a big swing and a miss once they arrive.

Sounds like it's probably the same jerk running that place when I tried them. I did give them a second chance, but same shenanigans. Each time the first guy was the one I requested, but the 2nd one wasn't. He didn't try the upsell to 3 guys as I recall. But he did charge more once you're inside his place and he knows you're probably going to pay it. Again even his overprices weren't unreasonable. I could easily have pulled up his mileroticos ad and showed him the prices he advertised. I just didn't like the shady way he did things. One of the guys I met at the place I hired a few more times in later trips. He told me the jerk treated his guys worse than he does his customers. So I never did go back. If someone else was running the show or they didn't do the bait and switch routine with the guys or jack up prices once you're on site, I'd have given them loads more business.

I'm not the one who posted, but my 2 cents... Theatron is enormous... about 2 dozen rooms. It's definitely sensory overload. But that's what makes it so popular with the younger crowd. I usually go once a trip. But I do feel old the minute I walk in... I'm in my early 50s. I also used that brothel a couple times. Both times there were guys substituted without warning once I arrived. And the rates were higher once you were inside. I didn't have a terrible time and the escalated rates weren't crazy. But yeah I had the same experience as this guy. I liked the guys I had fun with and made sure I got their contact info. They're not supposed to do that so be sly if you do. But not surprisingly they see very little of the money you pay. And the rates are quite low to begin with. But the biggest negative was definitely with the guy who ran the operation. I can get along with pretty much anyone and keep the mood light. This guy was just kind of a jerk. It was about 2 years ago so maybe things have changed but I doubt it.

The selfie has worked well for me. I'm glad the video call has worked for you. Makes total sense in Rob's case that he wants to ensure he gets a masc guy. Masc/fem doesn't matter much to me if I'm going to know them for only an hour. My big thing is I don't want to be filmed. Too much risk to me. And if I were the hired guy I'd feel suspicious about a client who wouldn't show his face on a video call. Asking them to do something in the selfie that requires a new fresh photo is easy. I've had guys touch an eyebrow, hold a piece of paper or my usual is to tell them to bite their lip. Easy stuff that they wouldn't likely have on their phone already. It lets me know what I'm getting today versus what I'd have gotten had I hired them when they took their ad's photo 2 years ago or when they just happened to have good lighting. Either way... whatever works for you. It's helped me weed out the guys who might have been a problem once they arrive. If there's too much complaining asking for a simple photo, you know it's not going to get any better in person.

haha good plan

Don't beat yourself up too much over this @Menaughty. Eventually everyone has an encounter like this. It shakes you up and will make you look for those red flags more. After my bad experience a couple years ago, the big thing I insist on is that the guy send a taken-today photo. I'll tell him to do something like hold a piece of paper in the air. Something that wouldn't already be on his phone. If they are difficult in this stage of the process, you know it won't be much better in person. You sharing your story to help others avoid is admirable. Thank you for sharing the link. I wish more used the ratings/reviews feature on that site. It would help all of us avoid experiences like this.

By aggressive, I meant lower prices... the escorts are aggressive in the sense that there's more competition. In my visits the bigger selection (and thus more hot guys) is in Bogota. In Medellin, at least in my visits, rates are about 25% higher.

Nah not depressing me. I am far from new to this game. I've just never had a bad experience in a paid situation. I'm really clear on my expectations and I also usually insist on a taken-today photo (I'll tell them to do something odd like touch their elbow or something that wouldn't be a normal photo pose). That probably has weeded out the troublemakers. Plus it lets me know their real look as opposed to that day they felt photogenic 2 or 3 years ago. The other thing that I do is what I did way back in the AOL chat room or gay.com days when I dated... meet in public first. Feel them out. Smile and see if they smile back. A food court, restaurant, coffee shop. If they're unwilling, move on. Most are more the willing, especially if there's a free meal. I think between those 2 steps, it's how I've avoided the bad experiences except for the one I told you all about. Agreed on a deleted chat being a red flag. I've never actually had that happen. In fact, that troublemaker I mentioned never did so. I showed it to the staff at the love motel when he was throwing his tantrum. My last tip is to do a deep dive on any social media they share. I feel a lot more comfortable meeting someone who has real friends and a life. An IG with one headless torso pic with 0 friends on may mean he's just DL. It's not a deal-killer but it's a bit of a warning sign that I need to make sure I do those other 2 things I mentioned. As for the other poster who asked if I would send the photo, sorry, I'd rather not. I'm just glad to be done with the experience and lessons were learned. I wish I had employed my taken-today photo strategy with him... maybe he would have said no and I'd have never met him. Not sure he would've said no though... the photo I have of him was taken at lunch that day and not in an undercover way. He smiled/posed.

Made a couple visits this past year and can definitely confirm most of this. Medellin (although a smaller pool of choices) was definitely pricier than Bogota. I usually paid around 200K cop, but a few said no to that. If they had been super hot, I might have budged. They weren't. Medellin is the city I visit for the overall experience. It's nicer. But the much hotter guys with far more aggressive rates are in Bogota. Makes sense. Bigger city.

Totally get that. And I've had a few of those that did go well. 2 on this past visit actually. But yeah that one experience definitely soured me on freebies. I just prefer now to keep everything on the clock to avoid that situation ever again. But it's an ego boost when you "still got it" and when they're genuinely interested. You certainly can tell the difference. Sucks aging. Back in my 20s I was always one of the hottest in the club. Now when I show guys my old pics their jaws drop LOL... ugh! I'll think about sharing the photo again. I'd describe him but his description matches about 90% of the population there. 😄

I've hesitated to tell my one bad story similar to the one shared earlier in this thread. This happened in Bogota about a year ago. I often look on Grindr for "disponible." You often find better stuff than on the web. Saw a guy who wasn't advertising but I still offered compensation. He declined the offer saying he thought I'm hot. That should've been the red flag #1. I used to be... but I'm pushing 50 now. We met, had lunch, drinks after. Knowing what I know now, I would've insisted on seeing the drink prep or had an unopened bottle of beer. Fortunately he didn't drug it. But he could have. We went to a "love motel" where things started to go south. We played and fooled around a little, but he wasn't all that into it. Didn't think much of it. He wasn't an escort so he didn't have to be attentive, he was there voluntarily. And as I said, I'm getting up there. Extra pounds, less hair. As we wrap up, he goes into that same routine described by an earlier post. He started raising his voice, demanded money... when I raised an eyebrow and realized this was his scam, he started saying he's underage and calling the police... yelling, trying to cause a scene. I packed my stuff up and headed downstairs. In the lobby, the door opens inward and is controlled by the love motel. He blocked the door and wouldn't budge. He continued the yelling while I showed the staff our Grindr chat. They didn't pick either side they just stood there. So beyond embarrassing. I gave him a fraction of what he wanted... I really should've just given him more to get him out of my life. My heart was racing. It was terrifying thinking of getting police involved. I did nothing wrong... and I know he wasn't underage. He was in his mid 20s at least. Plus he had to show ID when we arrived to get in to the room... but I wasn't thinking about that at the time. I share this not to frighten but to enlighten. It's the only bad experience I've ever had like this. I've met dozens of guys both on M'cos and Grindr in my visits to Medellin and Bogota. The worst is they usually go into that routine after of how they had their wallet stolen or a parent or pet is sick and needs an emergency surgery. But that experience in Bogota scared the hell out of me and still gets me worked up just retelling it. I've considered attaching a photo of the guy to this post, but have decided against it. Just be as safe as you can guys. As for Medellin vs Bogota, I've found a much bigger selection at better rates in Bogota. Makes sense. Much bigger city. Even though my bad experience happened in Bogota, I've found Medellin to be the shadier of the 2. I like the city of Medellin more. But both have their issues ... and perks.

Tom is so right about the testing things out before you commit to spending a few days together nonstop. Had a blast with a Bogota guy when we had fun at my AirBnB. Super hot and friendly ... for an hour. He got annoying at times when we went to a soccer game the next day. I should've paid more attention to that before I flew him to Medellin to join me for the last leg of my trip. I couldn't wait to be away from him.

I have been lucky w the Airbnb I've used too. But keep in mind in Chapinero there are at least a dozen love motels. They're cheap and add a little fun to the experience.

Thanks for the report xpaulo! I figured the place went under since this thread was so quiet. Visiting in February and will seek it out!