Cartagena is a beautiful and multicultural destination. Filled to the brim with things to do, places to see, and people to meet. You can just wake up and choose whichever side quest or journey you want to go on and Colombia will take you there.

With that, some of you haven't traveled as often as your Instagram says you have so we thought we would lay some ground truths here for you to look through.

1. From the moment you land till the moment you leave, you will be harassed, assertively, by the local souvenir, cigar, and horse carriage drivers. They have to earn a living as well. It's best not to get too worked up about it. Smile, say, "no thanks" with a hand gesture, and move on.

2. Uber/ Taxis are everywhere here, so it isn't recommended that you rent a car. Just ensure that the license plate on your Uber matches the car picking you up. They're also very cheap.

3. ATM machines aren't everywhere, and oftentimes, they come with a long line. You don't need cash for much other than taxis or tips (they do 10% here for the max). Most, if not all, restaurants will take Amex/Visa credit cards or debit cards. Yes, it's safe. Just don't let anyone walk away with your card or use your card in weird/sketchy places.

4. Most places don't have warm water for bathing. They will all have air conditioning units but the water often times is just room temperature. Which, to be fair, is warranted and delightful after being outside in the heat.

5. Walking around town at night time is pretty safe. Especially within the walled city with a small group. Just try not to be alone on a quiet dark alley.

**For your reference, the map above has been compressed and saved to google here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eXyjfzThDTWYLAUhqPQJ3_W4Sbw9KhVD/view?usp=sharing it is advised you look ahead of time to learn the street names nearby (not the numbers on google) to where you'll be staying so that Uber/Taxis can get you from the airport to your hotel/AirBNB. **

The Old City is very small, and you can walk across it in roughly 20 - 30 minutes. That being said, the wedding venue & reception are very close to one another in the center near the main cathedral.

When looking for hotel / BNB options, feel free to choose any option within the walls or just outside in places like Getsemani.

The New City, or where the tower apartments are, has plenty of great AirBNB options that are within a 5-minute Uber drive. Highly recommend looking at those options.

High End: Charleston, Sofitel, Sophia Hotel, and Ananda Boutique

Middle Of The Road: Hotel NH Urban Royal, Hilton Hotel, Hotel Caribe By Faranda Grand, Hotel Bantu, and many others.

AirBNB: There are a TON of airBNB's in the area. Just a little word of advice: you get what you pay for. Places around $100.00 or more a night are generally a safe bet. However, any further below that price, there is a diminishing return. Check to see if there is A/C and/or hot water options available.

Places We've Stayed Or, Our Friends Have Stayed: Sofitel, Sophia Hotel, Arsenal, Selina Cartagena (Fun Hostel w/ large private rooms), Hotel Boutique Las Carretas