I'm going to be traveling to Cali, Columbia for work in a few weeks and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions in sampling the local flavor. I'll only be there for a few days and will be working long hours. I'll probably only have a couple free hours at night. I don't know that I'll have much time for going out, so I was thinking of arranging some company at the hotel. Of course a quick Google search brought up many websites for listings, most of which seem legit. Just wondering if anyone had any suggestions, warnings, tips, etc. Thanks in advance.

Well, I am Colombian and although we have some of the world's most beautiful women, especially in Cali, I would not play there without being chaperoned by someone who knows the local scene.  We are wonderful people, we are kind, we are polite, we make you feel at home, but when we go wrong oh boy, we can be dangerous.

Especially anyone from Medellin. lol

I will agree that Colombia in general, and Cali in particular, to be enjoyed safely and to it's utmost, it's best to have someone to chaperone you. I am sorry, but while I have been in Cali a couple of times and Colombia many, many times. I don't have anyone to refer you to. OTOH, if you find yourself in Medellin, hit me up and I can recommend someone to show you around, make sure you have fun, and more importantly, keep you safe.

One small note. Colombia is MUCH safer than it was only a short decade ago, but Santos is no Uribe, and  not only are the leftists getting a bit unruly, but street crime is up quite a bit over the last year or two. Don't be freaked out, but do be careful

and to Ibll, don't worry, I am not trying to revive the Medellin/Cali "guerra". The women in both cities are absolutely gorgeous.

Yes, the country in general is a lot safer, but let me put it this way, I am a native and if a family car with driver is not available for me on a given day, I just rent a known taxi driver for the day, because it is not unheard off to simply step into a cab, then you get taken to the boonies , you get rolled by the cabbie and a friend and you end up with no watch, no wallet and a few bruises.   Crap, people are being stabbed for not handing over their smart phones!  So, a lot safer than it was, beautiful country, beautiful women, great food, but it is still a place where you have keep your eyes really wide open.

When we have a poster who cannot spell the name of the country, it kind of tells me that he is going to stick out like a swore thumb as a gringo and an easy mark - I want him to enjoy himself, but without putting himself in jeopardy.    If a chaperone is not possible, the hotel concierge can also point him the right way, the doorman at a hotel in Cali won't probably speak English, although he might.

GaGambler, glad to know you have been there and appreciate it, the country has a lot to offer, and you are right, women from Medellin are gorgeous too