Bogota return

[TomF3823]

Just got back from my valenties day travels to Bogota.
Was scheduled to leave on Weds the 13th. However, due to the idiot working the ticket counter at Continental airlines newark counter, I did not leave until the 14th. Continental used to be such a good airline. As of late, all their employees act like they are doing you a favor by flying with them. It is a shame,a s they have a non stop from EWR to Bogota,takes a little over 5 hours. I am going to check out Avianca from JFK next time. Anyone with a 411 on that, it would be appreciated.

Arrived at the airport on the 14th, at about 10;00 p.m. Novia was their with a driver I use. Breezed through immigration and off to the Dan Carlton.

Dan Carlton employees remembered me and were all very friendly. They gave me a room in the penthouse. King size bed. Very nice room. They quoted me a price of $125 per night, and of course when the bill came, I needed a forensic accountant to figure out all the taxes and charges and fees and what not. So the 125 per night came out to about 160 per night. Well, I sounded off. After a while, they came down in price. Not the 125 per night, they gave me every excuse in the book. the novia stayed, that is extra. Insurance policy for me and the novia, two seperate policies. Insured for only god knows. Two seperate Ivias, and so on. I am not cheap, I just dont like to get told one thing and later find out it was another.

The shower in the room was something else. Water would come out hot, than cold than buring hot. I had to jump out of the shower at one point it was so hot. Anyway, the room was comfortable. They have a Dunkin Donuts across the street, nice staff. I would get a coffee every morning to take to the room.

Took a few rides to Uni centro Mall. Had lunch at King Burger. Was good. Used the New York Money Exhange. Got a great rate compared to hotel. hotel was giving $1650 for 100 us, the NY Money Center was giving $1840. Lot of attractive ladies wondering the uni Centro Mall gentleman. Run dont walk.

Novia got a recommendation for a dentist. I met the most fabulous dentist. Doctor Patricia Valenzuela. Not only a nice dentist, but good looking too. I had the following done, and initial exam, teeth cleaning, ex rays and two root canals. Modern office, modern equipment, fabulous office staff. This was the following charges to me.
initial consultation and cleaning 50,00o pessos
X-Ray $21,000 pessos
two root canals $200,ooo pessos
specialist to close and clenout the canals $220,000 pessos

I have to return for the porcelan caps

Total price $$491,000 pessos.

Gentleman, this cost me under $300 dollars US

In the states, with my insurance this would have cost me a small fortune. I know my doctor years ago got $750 per root canal.

I highly reccomend Dr. Patricia Valenzuela
her phone number is 214 40 02
629 84 10
Cra 11d No 120-15
www.dentalvipservice.com

She is gringo friendly, and no gringo tax. A real home run.

Due to the dental stuff, we did not do much night life stuff. Was not able to drink, or eat solid foods for several days. Went to a restaurant Salta De Angel. Very nice food, or shall I say soup. Novia had salmon, lloked fabulous. A high end restaurant, dinner for three set me back $60.00 US. That is about the tip in NY.

Went to a movie theatre in Uni Centro. Really nice theatre. Clean and comfortable. $10,000 per ticket. English movie with spanish sub titles.

that is about all to report. Nothing fabulous. What was supposed to be a romantic valentines day trip turned into a dental trip.

I am going to return to Bogota in 6 to 8 weeks to finish the dental work.

Any questions, fire away.

[LastLion]

Tom , however you scored the penthouse for 125 was a sweet deal< regualr rooms @ tha Dann are going for 160+ I was looking this morning!

Now how did you hook up with your dentist! Seams interesting that she would have a email addy with the VIP, sounds expensive anywhere!

I will be defintely be interviewing dentists when I go on my next trip!

If it is not to much trouble note that restaraunt in the new bar & restaraunt section! Makes for easy pickens when already travelling or just aovbu there!

One last question, where and how did you meet your novia? Just curious!

[Charlie640]

Have flown Avianca a few times out of JFK. No issues... and one of them was nice enough to return my laptop I forgot at JFK!! So ... 2 bonos points for them.... but on the other hand.. I never had an issue with Continental either. Where in NYC do you live?

Yep. the Theater in Uni is nice and modern. I've been meaning to check out the bowling alley... but never had the time.

Maybe its me.. but the docs website appears to be down.

[GrizGator]

Next time you are in Bogota, be sure to check out the new Santa Fe mall. Nice mall. Lots of places to eat. Great, modern movie theatre.

Griz

[Charlie640]

A 5 Star Hotel isn't a 5 Star Hotel unless they use a Grohe Shower body with built in Temp regulator. Its awesome... you will NEVER get water hotter than the setting. LL ... you ever install one of these in your jobs?

[LastLion]

Originally Posted by Charlie640

A 5 Star Hotel isn't a 5 Star Hotel unless they use a Grohe Shower body with built in Temp regulator. Its awesome... you will NEVER get water hotter than the setting. LL ... you ever install one of these in your jobs?

Charlie me sorprendes!!!!!! Anyone who knows anything, knows the Grohe shower valves are the way to go! Usually Close to $1000.00 just for the valves and controls not including the rest of the exposed fixtures!

Tom after staying in a few places that I did stay, including one of my ex's. you should be happy with having hot water at all!

[Flaco]

Tom;
Sounds like you got a killer deal with the dentist. On the north shore of Long island it is 950 a pop for root canals. For 2 it would have been close to 2K with exrays.

How modern was your dentist ? Did she have digital exrays ? Do you know if your dentist does porcelean veneers ? I have emailed several female dentists that are more than happy to do or refer me to a good cosmetic dentist, but so far, no veneers, only composites which fade with time and need re-doing every five years or so.

[HonkyTonk]

I'm not sure about the price jump at the DC. I've stayed at other Dann's and the price quoted was what I paid, no add ons. Hotel prices sure have shot up in the last 18+- months

What's the deal with this "insurance"? You're the 2nd Gringo to bring this up in the past month. Sounds like a BS add on to me.

As to the dentist, when you say modern do you mean the equal of a quality dentist up here? I've had good dental work done in Bogota that was hardly modern though. My reason for asking is that I'd like to have the remainder of my metal fillings replaced with porceline. If not done using the most modern technology, replacing them can be more hazardous to your health than leaving them alone.

Nice report Tom with some very useful info!

PD: Just be thankful the hot water didn't come from one of those exposed electrical heaters attached to the shower head! Touch that bad Boy and they'll be having BBQ'd Tom for a week.

[Underwriter]

Originally Posted by HonkyTonk

My reason for asking is that I'd like to have the remainder of my metal fillings replaced with porceline. If not done using the most modern technology, replacing them can be more hazardous to your health than leaving them alone.

I am looking to do this as well. I would be interested in any additional information you could give us on the dentist.

UW

These new Smiles are the bomb!

[Flaco]

Originally Posted by HonkyTonk

I My reason for asking is that I'd like to have the remainder of my metal fillings replaced with porceline. If not done using the most modern technology, replacing them can be more hazardous to your health than leaving them alone.

TonK:

Are you talking about replacing with composites or porceline. The porceline process is called an onlay or an inlay. I just paid $1100 for one. It envolves the old filling being drilled out, a photo is taken on the drilled out tooth and downloaded into a computer, then a piece of porceline is mechanically cut to fit exactly in the drilled-out area. According my stateside dentist, The machine cost 50k and they just came out with a newer one that he wants to get. It would be really nice if we could find a colombian dentist with this technology as have a few more onlays in my future.