Anyone been to Cartegena, Colombia?

[FrugalSaver]

Any recommendations?

How safe were you?

Best flights from the US to get their the quickest?

[life_travel]

We were in 2015 , we loved it , stayed 7 days , sorry not from US so can't comment on flight costs .
First 3 days we stayed in a guest house by Plaza Trinidad , with local family . Nice family but it was a bit pricey for what we got . Location was awesome , plaza Trinidad is full of locals chatting , dancing , etc in the evenings, surrounded by few cafes. Some tourists too so it didn't feel overwhelming .
We went looking for ATM at night as we needed cash and had to ask a few people so it was clear we were walking to get the money :) We felt safe . Not Thailand safe but South America safe . As in watch your back just in case . People were very helpful .
Then we moved from old city to new part and stayed at holiday inn express . By that time we backpacked Chile, Bolivia and Peru for 2 months staying in pretty budget ( read basic ) places that holiday inn was prefect with aircon and a swimming pool :)
Highlights ?
Volcano !! Google totum volcano , yes it's super touristy , I was 50/50 before we went , but it was such a unique experience , we both loved it . We still talk about it .
Old city was cool , very colorful .

[Zola.]

I have been to Colombia, but not Cartegena.

I would highly recommend Cabo San Juan, which is close to Cartegena, some amazing beaches and lovely stuff.

Santa Marta was worth a visit but quite small. Bahia Concha was one of the nicest beaches I have ever been on.

Bogota is lovely during the day. Come 6pm it gets dark and all the cops etc go home and thats when you are at risk.

Wonderful country, but if you dont speak any Spanish, you will struggle.

[Monkey stache]

I flew to Cartagena earlier this year from the midwest and it cost me $380 RT. It was a sale with Spirit airlines which does charge for carry-ons. I fit everything into a backpack (a personal item) so I didn't pay extra for luggage.

I felt safe in Cartagena but petty crime is common in South America so keep your valuables close and practice situational awareness.

Random advice:
Like someone else said, brush up on your spanish because you'll need it unless you go the touristy route (which is expensive)
Always ask and negotiate cab fares before the ride
Try the fried fish, tropical fruits, and coconut rice
You can't miss playa blanca which is nearby in Baru
Bring snorkeling gear

[JoJo]

I was there in 2009.  Loved the mud volcano.  It's a cute city and we felt quite safe.

[desk_jockey]

I’ve been there a handful of times, most recently in May.   I’ve stayed inside the old city walls, in Getsemani and by Boca Grande.  Inside the old city is my preference, as spending time there is why I visit.   If in Getsemani, then I would look at the parts closest to the old city near Parque del Centenario as those are the most renovated.  There are other nice places in Getsemani but you might have to go past sketchier areas to get there.   I don’t care for Boca Grande.  The beaches aren’t as nice as others and it’s crowded with high-rise buildings.   If you want the beach then look for condos well north of Cartagena or take a day trip to Playa Blanca.   

The nicest weather is December to February, but that’s also the most expensive time and would require hotel reservations (well?) in advance.   Be ready for remarkable heat and humidity of you go May-Sep.

You’ll be safe anywhere you feel comfortable going.  Like with any other country with a minimum monthly salary that is less than USD300, leave your jewelry at home and don’t be flashy.   The only time I felt unsafe was a boat trip out to las Islas del Rosario, and that because of the waves and the condition of the boat made me concerned (that was 18 years ago so might be better now). 

If you’re thinking to visit Bogota or Medellin, VivaColomba has a good service with cheap flights to CTG.  Otherwise your best options for flights from the USA will be connecting through MIA or FLL. 

[SilveradoBojangles]

We were there for 2 weeks in early 2008. What a gorgeous city! We stayed in the old part which is pretty but touristy, and did some day trips (via taxi) out to nearby places (check out the mud volcano!). We also spent a few days in Parque Tayrona where the jungle meets white sand beaches - so pretty.

We felt very safe in Cartagena. My in laws met us for that portion of the trip, and they are scared of everything and even they felt safe. Actually, that was the case everywhere we went in Colombia (we spent a month in Medellin and one month traveling the north coast and the coffee region). The small towns are beautiful and the people are so friendly. One time we left a tip and the waiter chased us down because we forgot our money. It was probably my favorite country on a multi-month trip through central and south america, and we experienced or met people who experienced more crime in other countries where there is more of a tourist industry (and thus more of a business of preying on tourists). Colombia didn't have that vibe when we were there, and it was so nice.

[swampwiz]

It is quite amazing what a transformation Columbia has gone through; during the '80s it was considered an extraordinarily dangerous narcostate.  Lots of attractive women too!