[mommytoEli]

we've had a lot of PAP around here lately asking lots of questions...so let's do a poll for them.

(i'd love to do a poll for those of you already in process or done, so let me know if you have ideas about that too. )

so....in ALL, including everything from the first set of prints all the way down through the pick up trip, how much did your journey cost you. (remember....no one can see how you vote...so no worries ) also those that are just starting out, remember costs can vary from agency to agency, some Colombian families are able to complete adoptions without an agency, and costs vary depending on orphanage and a variety of other factors.

[Sumerce]

I assume that you mean including travel and stay in COlombia. OUrs will be about $10,000 -- going independent and staying with family for some of the time.

[entropy]

^Having family has got to be a big help! What was so expensive for us was the travel. Two months of hotel wasn't cheap! Being assigned to Bolívar wasn't helpful either. Of course, we got to spend 7 weeks in Cartagena! We also stayed in "Hotel Caribe," a really nice place which treated us very well. Matter of fact, a few on the staff had tears in thier eyes when we left! They gave us a great rate as well. Compared to rates I've seen on the internet, I think we paid about 50% of the going rate!

[AuntDonna]

I agree. Travel was a big expense. We spent $10,000 just on airfare and hotel. That doesn't include spending money in Colombia. So if you can find airline deals or stay with family you can spend a lot less.

Donna

[meganicolson]

Being a very frugal person I would love to know how we can save money on the in-country travel expense...mainly lodging. Okay...maybe airfare, too, if anyone has suggestions. We are not Colombian and do not have family in country, so what are some suggestions for spending less than the "adoption hotel" expenses? For us it will just be impossible to do the Hotel Paris thing again once we add two or three more children...besides...I'd love a bit more privacy for our family to bond, even if it means I have to cook and clean myself (hey, I have to do it at home!). Since this is our third adoption, I don't feel the need to be staying with other adoptive families like I did the first time. But I definitely feel the need to save some money.

[entropy]

^We almost left the hotel in Cartagena to stay at an apartment that was about 20$ cheaper a night. My lawyer recommend this apartment to me. In the end, we stayed at the hotel because as new parents we liked the ease of hotel life. 20 bucks cheaper a night for 49 nights adds up.

[meganicolson]

I am thinking that we would like to rent an apartment, but it will all depend on where we end up in the country, I guess.

For those of you with family in Colombia is finding an apartment something we can do from home by researching on the internet or should we have our agency representative look into it in country for us? Also, what is a reasonable amount of money to spend on an apartment in the different areas of Colombia?

Any other money saving ideas while in country? I definitely can't save money on not buying coffee...we're all out from our last adoption, so we must replenish our stock!

[AdoptInMN]

Megan, I had looked at renting an apartment there when I wasn't sure how much longer we would be in country. Online (if you google what you're looking for) I found companies that seem to cater to business travelers that have fully furnished apartments for rent. It would have been quite a bit cheaper. I was looking specifically in the same north Bogota neighborhood, so I'm not sure what's available in other areas of the country.

As for other ways to save money, our agency often recommended have a driver take us to different tasks (meetings, etc.). Drivers are quite expensive, but taxis are cheap, so whenever you can get by without a driver, do it!

[Sumerce]

Just remember it is best to call a taxi service and have them send someone. There are some people posing as taxi drivers that have been know to kidnap people. I think this is why agencies try to get you to use their driver. But, just call a service and they send someone. It is the same price as picking someone up off the street. They give you a code when you call the service and the taxi driver has to give you that code when he picks you up.

[DrLaura]

Talk to the in-country rep for your agency and they can likely find some apartment services. Obviously this works better in cities like Bogota, Medellin and Cali but it can definitely save you some money.

Also use credit cards that have points, ask friends and family to donate points. Hotel and air. People may be more likely to help you with points (that don't really cost them anything) than to just give you cash to help toward your expenses. We stayed at the Embassy Suites in Bogota for the week we were there using points. Delta is partners with Avianca so skymiles can be used to get tickets on Avianca.

[FranTastic]

I am also going to get a credit card with points. Since I know I have about 2 years to wait, I think I can rack up a lot of points which should really help with airfare.

I think we will look into renting an apartment as well. Especially if it is more affordable and more cost effective. Win - Win!

[NashvilleGirl]

We have learned that in Colombia, it is all about negotiation, whether you are at the flea market, or looking for a hotel. It is a wierd concept for us, since in the U.S. usually the price that is printed is the price you pay. But here, there is more wiggle room. Hotels really want your business, especially since adoptive parents/families end up having such an extended in-country stay. Research and get some different quotes, and then start haggling!

[meganicolson]

Speaking of saving money...for our first two adoptions we used the travel agency that our agency told us to use and supposedly got the "adoption" rate through them. We flew Delta, but the travel agency didn't get us a great rate and the service through the travel agency wasn't that superb either, taking an entire year to get refunded the money they double charged us for our son's lap ticket price.

What is the cheapest way to fly to Bogota? Maybe those of you who have family in Colombia and make the trip more regularly might know the cheapest airline or connecting flights to take? Or how to ask an airline for a true adoption deal? Or whether or not it is best to use a travel agency - and any recommendations via pm?

Thanks!

[DrLaura]

Delta, American & Avianca currently fly to Bogota. Spirit Airlines and JetBlue have been approved and will be adding flights very soon.