We are no longer traveling to Nicaragua this summer. Our new destination is Colombia.
It turns out my college roommates Freshman and Sophomore year boyfriend works at the US Embassy in Nicaragua. After exchanging a couple of emails over the state of things in the country, it was clear that unless things improved dramatically we wouldn’t be able to travel there with the kids. While I was right that we’d be fine once we got to the beach, what I hadn’t anticipated was how difficult, if not downright impossible, it would be to get there. Other spots I wanted to visit were also not accessible, all because protesters have created an intricate series of barricades around the country, which already has an underdeveloped roadway infrastructure.
Using the information my old acquaintance shared with me, I was able to convince Aéromexico to waive the change fees on my flights. It still cost me $600 to change them, even though the flights were (from what I could see online) the exact same price I had paid for my flights to Nicaragua. I am now flying in to Bogotá and out of Medellín (it was exactly the same price to do that or fly in and out of either) so at least I got that out the extra $600 price tag.
So now are plan is to spend 3ish days in Bogotá, fly to Cartegena to spend about a week at the beach on the Caribbean coast, and then fly back south to spend 3ish days in Medellín. We’re not yet sure if my husband will join us for part of the trip, but if he does he will fly in and out of Cartegena and do the beach with us.
So those are our new plans. I am just starting to look into staying at all these places in Colombia, so if you have any tips for me, please pass them along. I’d much prefer an AirBnB type situation, but I’m not sure how common those are there. I have a friend from Bogotá but she hasn’t lived there in over a decade and she isn’t sure what is available there now. She is reaching out to friends and family, which definitely helps.
I am really excited for this trip, but also weary of the price tag. We’ve already spent $600 more than I intended and I haven’t even looked into how much it will cost to stay. I have a feeling the whole two experience will be WAY more than I budgeted for, which sucks for this year, but will help me budget better for the future. If I really want to do this every summer, it’s going to cost a shit-ton of money.
We are making around $2,400 renting out our house, but after cleaning (and (between guests – we have two different sets of guest for each of the two times were away) other “start-up” costs (new sheets and towels that will only ever be for guests) that will go down considerably. Still, it’s a welcome, if not necessary offset to the costs of traveling. Hopefully next summer we can offset the costs of travel even more.
My inlaws have agreed (begrudgingly) to take our cat. My husband will be with her at their condo for five days before he joins us in St. Louis during the first trip, so hopefully she will be okay once he leaves and they are taking care of her. She will be back there for the Colombia trip, and my husband might be with her the entire time. I really hope she is a respectful house guest so they won’t mind taking her again in the future.
So those are our new plans. Evidently there is some decent snorkeling in Colombia and my daughter is SUPER excited for that. My son is less excited (Are there sharks?!) but is downplaying his trepidation in front of his sister. We’ll be bringing our new snorkel gear to St. Louis to practice with it in my uncle’s quarry lake. Hopefully by the time we’re in Caribbean we’ll be ready to see some really cool fish!
Growing up in Hong Kong we traveled to Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines a lot, and we spent most of those trips on beaches snorkeling. I am very excited to start sharing similar experiences with my kids. This is exactly the kind of thing I most looked forward to when I day dreamed of being a parent.
Of course there will also be the bugs, and the sun, and the humidity, and the unfamiliar foods, and the weird sleeping arrangements, and the sand (evidently my son now hates sand, so that should be… interesting) to contend with. I know it won’t be all shrieking at tropical fish, and I’m reminding myself of the realities every day. Hopefully the good and the challenging will balance each other out somewhat.
Sorry to hear Nicaragua won’t work out (this year!) but I’m glad you got some insider info to make an informed decision and didn’t lose as much $ as you anticipated changing the tickets. I’ve never been to Colombia but it seems like someone I know goes every summer. In fact, a friend just arrived in Medellin yesterday for Spanish classes. I’m excited for you and your family!
The cost changes are obviously BIG for anyone dealing with budgets. Instead of thinking about them as ‘travel costs’ it MIGHT help to consider them ‘investments in safety’. Yes, still same money, but there is a difference in how it is held emotionally.
Glad you were able to get good information and act on it! This will absolutely be a trip and event you will all remember all your lives. Lovely that the in-laws found a path to supporting the project by taking in the cat, and their son. The extra one on one with him may be really good for all three of them, as all three will know each other differently as adults than being thought of as remaining the same as when one was still a child and the others the adults.
Fingers crossed in delight about your future summer plans. International travel is an investment in the future and not possible for many many people … Thrilled you get to do it!
Colombia sounds amazing. When you will live abroad for a year will your husband come with you or will it be just an adventure for you and your kids?
I have a good friend here who is from Colombia originally and she speaks VERY highly of it. Have fun! I’m glad you’ve found a workable solution.