Sounds like a fun place Marm. Have you been there recently? What is the quality like? And are the rates still the same?
And why no trip report?
You got my PM. Apart from that, I don't manage to report all the places I go to or even keep track of them. For the number of people likely to visit is few, and it would have taken at least a day to write a full report, so not exactly worth it. Info is up to date from about 12 months ago. The rates are shit cheap so if they have changed at all they are still cheap.
Some main areas:
1) Poblado. Where most tourists go. South of the city centre, take a taxi from the Poblado Metro stop to Poblado itself. One of the nicer parts of town that you can reach without a limo etc, 'happening place' etc. Navigate yourself or take advantage of something you won't find hardly anywhere else in the world. Called Mansion.
The Mansion
External Link/Members OnlyI got a few nights on the offchance but it is often booked up months in advance. As per last post. Many hotels in the area are outrageously priced but there are some especially in the nightlife area near Lleras, that are more 'reasonable'. Think I paid an WG at the inhouse nightclub about the same for o/n as I would for an hour or less in UK (will post price if I can find it). Or it might have been a few hours. Well satisfied.
Poblado is evening mostly, but some action daytime.
2) Mayorista. Another couple of stops further out on the North-South Metro line, get off, turn right (from direction of train) a couple of hundred yards. WG bars line the left hand of the street. Prices exactly what you negotiate, I think I paid about the same as for a casa (which is better value overall). Cheap hotels (mostly by the half hour but otherwise ok) but not a lot else to do. Food and drink but the atmosphere went down when they stopped the WGs from sitting at tables outside. Whereas Poblado/Lleras you have mostly to arrange evening entertainment (unless at Mansion), Mayorista is full on WGs, not crowds of well-to-do Poblado youngsters dating incredibly hot women.
3) Downtown casas. This is a sprawl east of the N-S metro line. (There are ones elsewhere but this is the main sprawl.) Can involve a lot of walking until you know where you are heading. The top casas are very respectable and mostly give a good service. Take as long as you like to decide.Most don't charge an entrance fee or rush you. WGs are paraded. Prices often on a board. FS. They do close or move or change their name occasionally but there's a bunch of about five within easy walking distance of each other for a morning stroll. To stay downtown there are several good value hotels on this side of the Metro. I check out the rooms before booking as they vary a lot. Lots of middle class shops. If coming from Poblado by taxi it's a straight run (though not quick, especially when there's traffic). You can get lists and maps from ISG. Ones I seem to remember as quite good were Aiffe (good though not so many as some places), Fantasias(?), New Life (Could almost stick with it but for variety though there could be up to 20 WGs on at any one time), Yakusa, Zandaly.
4) Trashville. This is west of the Botero Metro station, directly opposite (3). Most punters scream warnings about it without ever having spent much time there. Occasionally very good fun, though the better ones can be less visible (ie busy or don't need to work so much). Couple of nightclub-type places with beefy bouncers and strips with extras. Day and night-time. Cost: small change, grubby banknotes. Go *behind* Botero Museum and its a long street, very colourful, from glue sniffers to market stalls.
5) Other adult bars (strip clubs). Some people think they are ok, I though they were fucking awful and left after a few minutes, so maybe not the best person to ask.
If you plan to go to Colombia, do your research (I'm not inclined to answer millions of questions for curiosity, sorry). The main cities go from very high class society to slum mentality and with a large middle class. It is an amazing city and I think it would be a waste to go there only for punting (save the airfare).