By Catesby Holmes
WEATHER 鈥 From sunny to rainy to windy to sunny again, all within the hour: Bogota鈥檚 mountain climate is extremely unpredictable. Be prepared by carrying layers and an umbrella. Note: as soon the first rain drop falls, getting a cab becomes monumentally more difficult, so sometimes we prefer to wait out the shower with a Colombian coffee and snack at a local cafe.
CABS 鈥 Yellow taxis are prevalent on the streets of Bogota, but in order to minimize risk, always call (or have someone call for you) a cab rather than hailing one on the street. All taxis have meters and accept cash only. When you call, write down the security code given to you by the dispatcher; you will use it to identify yourself to the driver. You may also book cabs by hour by notifying the dispatcher when you order your cab (approx. $14,000/hour). Minimum fare: $3,300; surcharges include: $600 for a pick-up scheduled by phone, $1,500 after 8 p.m., $3,300 to the airport. Note: taxis are tough to track down during rush hours (7-9 am聽 and 5-8 pm); if you have to travel at these times, order your cab in advance.
SECURITY 鈥 Bogota鈥檚 crime rate has plummeted in the past five years, but it鈥檚 still wise to avoid taking unnecessary risks. These include: wearing flashy jewelry or hanging your purse or bag on the back of your chair (most restaurants have under-the-table hooks). As in all urban areas, the key is to simply exercise common sense. As in all urban areas, the key here is to simply be smart about your choices. Also, the five zones we cover in Lure were chosen in part because they are among the safest in the city; exercise caution if you decide to stray outside of the recommended areas.
STREETWISE 鈥 Once you get the hang of it, Bogota is easy to get around. Numbered calles (streets) run east to west and get higher as you go north; carreras (roads) run north to south, their numbers increasing as you head west. Addresses in the city are comprised mostly of numbers that indicate both the street and cross-street 鈥 for example, Carrera 15 No. 94-37 means that the destination is on Carrera 15 at Calle 94, building number 37.
RESERVATIONS 鈥 While Bogota鈥檚 restaurants are seemingly infinite, open tables are not. We recommend you make reservations on weekends, particularly at the places we鈥檝e recommended.
TIPPING 鈥 Checks will always include a standard gratuity of 10 percent. If you feel you鈥檝e received above-and-beyond service, it鈥檚 appropriate to leave more.
TAX FREE SHOPPING 鈥 Foreigners can reclaim the 16% VAT on purchases made in the country. When you鈥檙e leaving, take your receipts or facturas and passport with valid entry stamp to the DIAN desk in the international airport and your refund will be credited to a credit card within three months.