As a Colombian this is also very helpful for locals. Thank you for sharing it! I’m gonna send it to all of my foreign friends that are coming to visit. Very informative! :)
Amazing video! Thanks for sharing the tips. They are applicable to most South American countries. I love Colombia but i did feel exhausted to be constantly on alert and you can never fully relax
very good points. When i was in Medellin it was crazy how obvious many foreigners are. Walking with their phones out, counting money in public, laptops at front of cafe's etc, wearing expensive clothes. I literally wore denim jeans and polo shirts my whole trip and blended in like a native haha
@@AKJoel i’m just a little worried about the time waiting on street for uber 🫥 i have a friend just got robbed at a gun point at Manrique at night, I am planning to travel to Medellin in mid April, now get very scared and trying to see anything that i can do to prevent anything bad that could happen
You can follow all of these precautions and be robbed at gunpoint multiple times. I was eating at an expensive restaurant when I was robbed and I saw two other robberies take place - one while walking to the gym and the other while walking back from lunch. The only precaution that would have saved me from all three was to never leave my hotel and stay there 24/7. But what kind of vacation would that be? I love Colombia but the armed robbery situation is just out of control.
Yeah it's getting worse and worse - you can definitely limit your chance of being robbed by not carrying valuable things and wearing expensive jewelry though
@@AKJoel Agreed. I love your videos and I think that people are wise to follow your advice but I just don't want them to be lulled into thinking that just taking these precautions means they will have a safe trip. I have been all over the world and I have never seen anything like it. And unfortunately, it wasn't even just me. Multiple people in my hotel were also robbed at gun point and two were robbed with this zombie drug thing. Life is too short to risk it on a random vacation when there are so many other safer places to visit in the world. Some of us have children and people who depend on us back home that would be gravely impacted if something was to happen to us.
A few things that I would add: 1) Always walk like you know where you're going, even if you don't. And if you need to orient yourself, go into a store to do that, don't do it out on the street. 2) Pay attention to motorcycles. They're infamous for the snatch and grab and can get away much quicker than other vehicles. 3) Never assume who will or won't rob you. My wife has seen really well-dressed people committing robberies.
We'll be heading to the Rock of Guatape, and transportation is included. However, I feel slightly uncomfortable. The tour is advertised through the Airbnb app, and there are many positive reviews...still, I'd rather double-check and ask people's opinions to see if it sounds legitimate.
@@Starryface681 sometimes they take ID for security, or incase you get lost. I'd say as long as it's through AirBnb and has a lot of positive reviews you're good. Let me know if you need any video work done when you're there 👍🏾
_"Don't walk around with anything you're not prepared to lose"_ ... but how about my LIFE? I don't wanna lose that (not yet anyway). So I should just stay in the hotel 24/7?
Say "gracias" to decline a beggar or street seller. Super important. Don't be rude to them. Best advice, along with the last twp, is to be very chill. If someone's trying to get you to do something just be super polite, say exactly what you want or don't, will or won't, then just stand or sit there completely unaffected with an uninterested look on your face until you get the resolution you want. Applies to everyday situations, not robberies,
Technically yes, but everyone uses it without issue. I personally take 2-3 Ubers every day and have never had a problem, they ask you to sit in the front though, so it looks like they're just driving around a friend. Also taken about 10 Ubers from Colombian airports with no problems either.
Say "Gracias" to decline a street seller or beggar. Beggars will be happy with anything. Never giver more than 2k pesos to a beggar. 2k is good for street performers too. Never more than 5k.
@@AKJoel Doug here - It's just not very common / expected. You'll probably never see a local give 10k bill to a performer. I've worked with street performers, like performing with them, and if they get 5 it's like wow. 2k is very well received. I mean, it's up to you, but my advice is never more than 5k. Last time I gave 10k to a street performer (I didnt' have smaller bills that time) he just like wanted to talk like way too friendly and it wasn't what I wanted out of the exchange ha ha.
Just cancelled all the hotels in Colombia. Was planning to go, but after doing my research of this country in its current state, there is no way im vacationing there.
I should have done the same. I saw 3 armed robberies in a single week. Luckily, my stuff was taken in only one of the 3 occasions - One second I was sitting at a restaurant in a super nice area of the city and the next I had a gun to my head and my stuff was being taken. The other two times was me just walking during the day and seeing people around me being robbed at gunpoint. It happens very quickly. I love Colombia but I am clearly not cut out for this - plenty of other countries for me to go to and eat peacefully at an expensive restaurant.
As a Colombian this is also very helpful for locals. Thank you for sharing it! I’m gonna send it to all of my foreign friends that are coming to visit. Very informative! :)
Glad I could help!!
Amazing video! Thanks for sharing the tips. They are applicable to most South American countries. I love Colombia but i did feel exhausted to be constantly on alert and you can never fully relax
Yeah you get used to that feeling after a while but you can never truly relax, especially if you're carrying any type or valuables.
Thank you. Planning a long Spanish trip in the future.
very good points. When i was in Medellin it was crazy how obvious many foreigners are. Walking with their phones out, counting money in public, laptops at front of cafe's etc, wearing expensive clothes. I literally wore denim jeans and polo shirts my whole trip and blended in like a native haha
Yeah good strategy, far too many foreigners are careless and flashy which is what ends up costing them in the end.
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Great tips! I haven't really thought about that mall ATM tip before. That's good advice!
Yeah not many people know about it!
The decline conversion rate is the guarunteed way to avoid robbery.
Yeah so many people get tricked by that one!
he is right, and try to be safe place, when there a lot people reduce the crime, never in insolate streets alone
Great job with the video, very helpful 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Glad you liked it!!
Thanks a lot
Thank you. 🙏👍😎
Anytime Luke, glad you found it useful!
this video is super helpful. thank you Joel! One question, would it be safer to rent a car than uber?
Uber is very safe, I've taken probably 500 and never had an issue.
@@AKJoel i’m just a little worried about the time waiting on street for uber 🫥 i have a friend just got robbed at a gun point at Manrique at night, I am planning to travel to Medellin in mid April, now get very scared and trying to see anything that i can do to prevent anything bad that could happen
You can follow all of these precautions and be robbed at gunpoint multiple times. I was eating at an expensive restaurant when I was robbed and I saw two other robberies take place - one while walking to the gym and the other while walking back from lunch. The only precaution that would have saved me from all three was to never leave my hotel and stay there 24/7. But what kind of vacation would that be? I love Colombia but the armed robbery situation is just out of control.
Yeah it's getting worse and worse - you can definitely limit your chance of being robbed by not carrying valuable things and wearing expensive jewelry though
@@AKJoel Agreed. I love your videos and I think that people are wise to follow your advice but I just don't want them to be lulled into thinking that just taking these precautions means they will have a safe trip. I have been all over the world and I have never seen anything like it. And unfortunately, it wasn't even just me. Multiple people in my hotel were also robbed at gun point and two were robbed with this zombie drug thing. Life is too short to risk it on a random vacation when there are so many other safer places to visit in the world. Some of us have children and people who depend on us back home that would be gravely impacted if something was to happen to us.
A few things that I would add:
1) Always walk like you know where you're going, even if you don't. And if you need to orient yourself, go into a store to do that, don't do it out on the street.
2) Pay attention to motorcycles. They're infamous for the snatch and grab and can get away much quicker than other vehicles.
3) Never assume who will or won't rob you. My wife has seen really well-dressed people committing robberies.
True all good points! Cheers for commenting!
Very good video💪🏽
Thanks mate! Glad you found it useful 👍🏾
Hi Joel, great advice--do you know know if it's normal for tour guides to request for your passport information?
Depends what kind of tour and where they're taking you?
We'll be heading to the Rock of Guatape, and transportation is included. However, I feel slightly uncomfortable. The tour is advertised through the Airbnb app, and there are many positive reviews...still, I'd rather double-check and ask people's opinions to see if it sounds legitimate.
@@Starryface681 sometimes they take ID for security, or incase you get lost. I'd say as long as it's through AirBnb and has a lot of positive reviews you're good. Let me know if you need any video work done when you're there 👍🏾
_"Don't walk around with anything you're not prepared to lose"_ ... but how about my LIFE? I don't wanna lose that (not yet anyway). So I should just stay in the hotel 24/7?
Haha I meant possessions!
@@AKJoel Ah, thanks for clarifying 😅
where you guys going in Medellin? been there twice for long periods you don't have to worry about crime never once felt in danger
You're one of the lucky and responsible ones then 👍🏾
Hey Joel! Great video! I am flying in tomorrow to Medellin, are you free to meetup bro
Cheers glad you enjoyed it mate!
Say "gracias" to decline a beggar or street seller. Super important. Don't be rude to them.
Best advice, along with the last twp, is to be very chill. If someone's trying to get you to do something just be super polite, say exactly what you want or don't, will or won't, then just stand or sit there completely unaffected with an uninterested look on your face until you get the resolution you want. Applies to everyday situations, not robberies,
Yeah I've seen locals saying gracias a lot, never made sense why haha
Funfact when someone star recording something in a dangerous place "dude you look like a gringo".Gringos don't know how to calculate danger.
Isn't uber illigal?
Technically yes, but everyone uses it without issue.
I personally take 2-3 Ubers every day and have never had a problem, they ask you to sit in the front though, so it looks like they're just driving around a friend.
Also taken about 10 Ubers from Colombian airports with no problems either.
Have some other tips that I missed? Tell me here!
Say "Gracias" to decline a street seller or beggar. Beggars will be happy with anything. Never giver more than 2k pesos to a beggar. 2k is good for street performers too. Never more than 5k.
@@DouglasButner why never more than 5k??
@@AKJoel Doug here - It's just not very common / expected. You'll probably never see a local give 10k bill to a performer. I've worked with street performers, like performing with them, and if they get 5 it's like wow. 2k is very well received.
I mean, it's up to you, but my advice is never more than 5k. Last time I gave 10k to a street performer (I didnt' have smaller bills that time) he just like wanted to talk like way too friendly and it wasn't what I wanted out of the exchange ha ha.
@@FreshSirDouglas haha okay makes sense!
Thank you so much for making us to know more about Colombia
What a pain. Why go to places like that. Exhausting to just listen.
Id say much cheaper cost of living and a more vibrant life - it's definitely not for everyone though!
Just cancelled all the hotels in Colombia. Was planning to go, but after doing my research of this country in its current state, there is no way im vacationing there.
Sorry to hear that!
I should have done the same. I saw 3 armed robberies in a single week. Luckily, my stuff was taken in only one of the 3 occasions - One second I was sitting at a restaurant in a super nice area of the city and the next I had a gun to my head and my stuff was being taken. The other two times was me just walking during the day and seeing people around me being robbed at gunpoint. It happens very quickly. I love Colombia but I am clearly not cut out for this - plenty of other countries for me to go to and eat peacefully at an expensive restaurant.
The title of this video should be "why you don't want to visit Columbia"
sad, such an amazing place to be. If i watched videos about safety of places and do hours of safety research id never travel anywhere in the world.
@@Usernotknown21 Columbia the capital of North Carolina? , thank you for your advice I will never go there , I will go to “COLOMBIA “ better place
The title of this video should be "why you don't want to visit Columbia"
haha it's not all that bad!
Just like India 🇮🇳
Is it unsafe too?
This commentator hasn’t gotten robbed and drugged yet!!
Cos I don't do stupid things haha
@@AKJoel Will SEE!
@@AKJoel Its matter time , before you'll get ambush and robbed. The motorbike will get you GRINGO!!
@@AKJoel Australians are smarter than gringos , 😉😉😉😉, good video dude .