We recommend using Google Flights or Kayak to search for flights to Medellin (MDE airport code). You also might choose to fly to Bogota (BOG) and then fly to Medellin.

Before the pandemic, there were also direct flights to Boston from both of these cities, but right now they have cut the flights. They might return by the time of the wedding.

Typical Price Range:

From New York to Medellin/Bogota: $400-800. Anything under $500 is an excellent price. $500-600 is quite normal. $600-800 is a little on the expensive side, and over $800 is ridiculous - I would advise waiting.

Also, flights from Miami or Fort Lauderdale to Medellin are often around $300 dollars round trip.

We are recommending two hotels for your stay that are both located centrally and conveniently in the neighborhood of Poblado. There are of course other options such as AirBnB or you could also choose to stay near the home of the brides in Santa Elena. That said, we are recommending the two below for several reasons:

Great Location

Many Restaurants and Bars Nearby (Including IN these hotels)

No need for a car- almost everything is walkable or extremely affordable taxi

The Transportation Pick-Up for both the wedding and the next-day BBQ will be within 2 minutes walking of these two hotel

Both can be booked online. ** Read below, as we recommended waiting until close to the actual wedding date to save money

The first recommendation, The Hotel Dann Carlton Medellin (**Note: Not the Hotel Dann Carlton Belfort Medellin, which is nearby, but not quite as well-located), does not allow you to book on Booking.Com until 3 months before. This is because they want you to book for twice the price on their website. We tried to figure out a way around this, but it has proven a little difficult. So, you can book through their website immediately, or wait and book on Booking.Com around March- which will most likely save you about 50%.

We recommend this hotel because it's a five star hotel, it has an amazing location, there is a beautiful pool where guests can socialize, it has a rotating restaurant on the roof with a great view, and it comes highly recommended by friends. It will also be an extremely comfortable option for those feeling like they may need some of the comforts of home while in Colombia:)

Price: When using Booking.Com to make a reservation for the Dann Carlton, the average price is about 100 usd a night for a standard double room. If you book via their website, it may be up to twice that price.

The second recommendation is Masaya Medellin. This is a new hotel, and it has had great reviews thus far. It is recommended for its great location, rooftop pool, rooftop bar, two great restaurants on the first floor, and the fact that we know the management and their other hotels are amazing! This is also considered a five star hotel as well, but it is not as boujie as the Dann Carleton. This is a great option for those who want something a little more affordable, that's slightly more adventurous:) The two hotels are a five minute walk from one another, so it will be easy to meet up with other guests.

The Masaya Medellin can be booked online for our wedding dates immediately; that said, the prices come down a lot if you wait. For example, right now the hotel is around 50 usd a night for the next couple months. If you look ahead to June, it goes up closer to 85 usd. So it might be wise to wait a bit to book your accommodations.

To/from airport:

The easiest way to get to and from the airport is by taxi. A typical taxi to Poblado neighborhood from the airport is 80,000 pesos (aprox. 20 dollars). It takes around 30 minutes and goes through a long tunnel. We recommend coordinating a taxi ride ahead of time to ease your arrival. Aurelio is a trusted driver who has worked with us previously. You can message him via WhatsApp in the weeks before arrival to coordinate. He speaks some English and if he is unable to pick you up, he will help arrange someone trusted who can. This is his WhatsApp contact number: +57-312-780-7944. There are also busses and shared taxis available. If you want to know more about these options, please contact us.

To/from the wedding and next-day BBQ:

We will provide transportation from Poblado to these events. More details will follow about pick-up time and location (most likely from the hotel).

Renting a car:

If you feel comfortable with your driving skills and ready to take on a challenge, you can rent a car here in Medellin for approximately $35 a day. Keep in mind that it is a bit challenging if you have never driven outside of your home country and most cars are manual. Automatic cars are typically available for a bit more cost.

Getting around the city:

Many points of interest around the city will be walkable, such as restaurants, bars, and parks. If you would like to explore more around the city, we suggest using the metro or taxis, as they are easy to navigate and affordable.

-- Metro: You can see a map of the metro here. Cards can be purchased at the stations before entering.

-- Taxis: Popular taxi apps that we recommend downloading ahead of time are Didi and Uber, in order to request and put in your destination without needing Spanish. Drivers will likely request you to sit in the front seat. This is normal here, so do not be alarmed. Cabify is another popular app, though you would need cash (Colombian pesos) for this. It is possible to hail yellow cabs on the street, but it is not recommended. It is preferable to use the apps or ask a restaurant/security guard to call you a cab. You can say "Taxi por favor?".

Travel to other cities: If you would like to travel to another city such as Cartagena or Bogota, we strongly suggest domestic flights which are quite affordable.

Medellin is known as "The City of the Eternal Spring". That said, the weather is pretty lovely.

In the month of June, the weather range in Medellin is 18-28 Celsius (64-82 degrees Fahrenheit) in the city.

The wedding will be near the airport in Rionegro (25 minutes from Medellin). The weather there is just a bit cooler than Medellin, as it is higher in altitude. 13-23 Celsius (55-73 degrees Fahrenheit). Be prepared to have a sweater for the wedding.

The BBQ that will be at Sindy and Emily's house in Santa Elena on Sunday after the wedding will have even cooler weather. 10-20 degrees Celsius (50-60 degrees Fahrenheit), so take that into account for your packing!

It is important to remember when packing clothes that rain in frequent in Medellin and Colombia in general. Although June does not fall in the rainy season, there is almost a 50% chance of rain each day. That said, it will often rain for 30 minutes, clear up, and then be sunny again.

If you plan to extend your trip by going to the coast, it will be significantly hotter. If you want to stay or visit other mountainous areas, it could likely be chillier, similar to Rionegro or Santa Elena.