Safety Tip #2

TRANSPORTATION TIPS:

• Don't slam your doors closed too hard when you are here! In some cultures, like ours in the United States, we close our car doors a little harder than usual. The locals are sensitive to that here, so be respectful and close your doors softly.

• When stopped at a stoplight and your windows are down, don't have your phone out and easy to snatch by a passerby motorcycle. I've never seen this happen, but I definitely have heard stories.

TAXIS:

1. Yellow Taxis: The yellow taxis are metered and can be found all over the city. I only recommend these if you are from Colombia or are fluent in Spanish. There is some discrimination for tourists with yellow taxis and a rare situation of exploitation. If you are casually going around town, I suggest you take a 3rd party driving app.

UBERS & APPS:

Ubers are a great way to get around the city. They are safe and reliable and are what we usually take when we go around. But let me give you some advice about ubers.

1. Ubers and all driving apps are technically in the grey area: They are not fully allowed in Colombia, and some cities don't even have them available. It is nothing to worry about and everyone uses them, but they may ask you to sit up front. That is TOTALLY normal! And Colombians are such wonderful and friendly people, so it is a great way to practice your Spanish or get to know a local.

2. Ubers from the airport: Since ubers are in the grey area, then taking a 3rd party app to and from the airport can be a little weird at times. They may ask you to meet them on the departure side rather than the arrivals. They may ask you if there are any police around. These are all because they get fined if they are caught at the airport and the airport definitely has more regulations. This is nothing to be concerned about, but if you want to avoid any awkwardness, hop in a white taxi to head to the city center!

3. All 3rd Party Driving Apps available: Uber, Didi, InDrive

HOTEL TRANSPORTATION:

If you are looking for a private driver or would like to arrange for pick up or drop off, I recommend you also contact your hotel as often they will provide all of these services.