Cartagena

A friend of mine has developed so called "Soundwalks" that take you through different cities based on a story. It also has Cartagena and is available through the app store (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/soundwalkrs/id946739197).

Are generally considered safe to take in the street. Always ask / agree price beforehand. Usually, within the city or between the city and Bocagrande (e.g. the apartment) you will never pay more than 10k pesos. To and from the airport is 20k pesos. Sometimes in peak high season (around XMAS and New Year) they may charge a bit more due to the traffic delays.

You can use DIDI or CABIFY instead of UBER (which stopped operating as of January 2020) if you wish.

There is a water filter in the apartment.

In restaurants usually 10%. They usually ask you if you wish the "service"to be included in the bill. In case yes, they will add the 10% to it. For taxis there is no tip expected. For any smaller services, if you deem appropriate, a tip of 2-3k pesos is absolutely fine.

Cartagena is a very safe place. Mainly just be aware of pick-pocketers especially in the old town (around "Torre del Reloj").

Walking from the old town to the apartment building only takes around 20-25min and is perfectly safe.

If you want you can use public transport (the brand new and airconditioned TransCaribe buses) to get to / from the apartment to the old town. If you're there for longer this really can safe you some money. Get the app "Moovit" and a re-chargeable card for the bus at the station "La Bodequita" (https://goo.gl/maps/VTeGghhX7RL9wTsK9). Just give the person at the counter around 20k COP and say that you wish a new card "tarjeta nueva"). To get to the apartment you can use the bus line T103 and get off at the station "Mizkha" that is only two blocks from the apartment.

Playa Blaca is a very touristy place and usually gets very crowded. I personally do not like it for those reasons and prefer one of the more quiet beaches nearby.

Check if you are perhaps coinciding with one of the city's festivals: http://www.aboutcartagena.org/festivals-and-events.php Especially the Hay Festival and the Cinema Festival are great and attract a large international and diverse crowd.

When going to any of the public beaches in the city or on Barú always ask and agree the price for food and drinks beforehand. It unfortunately is very common that they will try to massively overcharge tourists. A price for a beer should not be more than 3-4k pesos maximum. Also, the sun shelters /tents they rent at the beaches costs no more than 15k pesos. Also ask this price beforehand. Sometimes in high season (around XMAS) they may charge up to 20k pesos.

Directions in Colombia are stated in terms of "calle" and "carrera", similar to "street" and "road" in the US. Calle often gets abbreviated as "CL" or "CLL". Carrera often gets abbreviated as "CR" or "CRA". For example, the address of the apartemnt is: Carrera 4 # Calle 7-145; meaning it is on Carrera number 4, with Calle 7, house number 145. You may find it also written / abbreviated as: Cra. 4#7-145. Be careful to not accidentally mix up Calle and Carrera when telling and address to a taxi driver, as you may then end up in the opposite direction.