JTOG Day 63-66: Staying at the Hilton Bogota in the Heart of Colombia!

Andy’s Golf & Travel Diary for Thursday, December 12th, 2013, JTOG Day No. 63

Linking JTOG life with a 4-nigth stay at the Bogota Hilton!

Linking JTOG life with a 4-nigth stay at the Bogota Hilton!

I was up at 7 am, had one final breakfast at the Estelar Grand Playa Manzanillo and Roy gave me a ride to the Cartagena Airport to catch the 9:30 am flight to Bogota. I was emailing Alberto to coordinate the Medellin visit (arriving Monday) and the Golf Channel looking for work in the New Year. I realized Colombia is a golfing country, as I later found Argentina to be. Rio de Janeiro has the potential. Claudia, the flight attendant called me a “tourist” in a cute sort of Colombian accent sort of way. I was on the move again, sadly without Torch. I did find borders are easier to cross via airports in South America than driving through with cars like I did in Central America. Still there was a language barrier at times though the travel seemed to be much easier.

Nancy was my awesome chauffeur around Bogota, no need to rent a car!

Nancy was my awesome chauffeur around Bogota, no need to rent a car!

Nancy was there to meet me at the airport with another sign with my name on it. With only three nights to discover Bogota, staying at the Bogota Hilton was one of the wisest decisions I have made in the first 66 days of the “Journey to Olympic Golf.” Not only is it centrally located in the heart of Bogota, being there conveniently introduced me to Colombians who through their interaction with me showed be the heart of all the country of Colombia herself.

 

Yes, traffic is an issue at times in Bogota. Especially so with street closures for the holiday shopping season to encourage residents to come out for a festive atmosphere. Thought it seemed like a short ride from the airport, a quick check-in and I was home in my spectacular room at the Hilton Bogota.

With Colombia’s foremost golf columnist and television personality German Calle Sr.

With Colombia’s foremost golf columnist and television personality German Calle Sr.

The next morning I literally walked across the street to meet and interview Colombia’s foremost golf columnist and television personality German Calle Sr. Afterwards I went back to the hotel to catch a ride to Club Los Lagartos for an afternoon round of golf. Later I went to Andres D.C. and enjoyed a memorable night at Bogota’s famous Latin dance club. The next day I traveled a bit south to take a cable car up to Monserrate followed by a tour of La Candelaria, Bogota’s historic district.

Another night of dining and camaraderie with my new golfing pals and sadly it was time to head to the airport and Medellin. I could not have had a better, more meaningful visit to Colombia’s capital city and it all started with the decision to stay at the Hilton Bogota. Please join in my adventure and make one of your own by visiting Colombia and staying at the Hilton Bogota!

CLICK here for Video Interview with Francisca Medina, Front Desk Supervisor, Hilton Bogota.

CLICK here for Video Interview with Paola Lafe Lopez, Concierge, Hilton Bogota.

CLICK here for Video Beauty Shots of Hilton Bogota.

CLICK here to go to the website of the Hilton Bogota.

Here are 57 picture memories from Thursday, December 12th, 2013, JTOG Day No. 63:

Karibana, Colombia's Only Golf Resort, On the Caribbean Sea!

CLICK her for Karibana’s website…

 

Hotel REAL Intercontinental San Jose, Coast Rica

CLICK here for the website of the Hotel REAL Intercontinental San Jose, Costa Rica.

Four Seasons Costa Rica Peninsula Papagayo

CLICK here for Part 1 of 2 Video Interview with Randoll Viquez, Director of Golf- Ocean Views and a Journey through the Jungle!

CLICK here for Part 2 of 2 Video Interview with Randoll Viquez- Learn how Junior Golf is Growing in Costa Rica!

CLICK here for Video Interview with Pascal Forotti, General Manager- Take some Authentic Costa Rica Home with you from the Four Seasons Peninsula Papagayo!

CLICK here for Video Interview with Dancing & Speed Artist Carlos Hiller- “The Color of Music, Must Enjoy or the Magic is Not There.”

 

Hotel REAL Intercontinental Managua, Nicaragua

CLICK here for Video Interview with Juan Jose Canas, Director of Sales & Marketing.

CLICK here for Video Interview with Concierge Jeasson Camacho.

CLICK here to go to the website for the Hotel REAL Intercontinental in Managua, Nicaragua.

 

 

Black Pearl at Pristine Bay Resort, Roatan, Honduras

The Black Pearl is a fictional ship in the Pirates of the Caribbean. Roatan is the largest of Honduras’ Bay Islands and is home to the largest barrier reef in the Caribbean Sea and the second largest worldwide. While the name of the golf course alludes to Roatan’s history of pirates, Black Pearl is the latest gem of the Dye Designs portfolio.  Like a pearl, this golf course is a hard object produced within the soft tissue of Pete and Perry. While classified as a resort golf course, make no mistake that this is a Dye Designs special. While more “playable” than the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass and more “open” than Harbour Town Golf Links, make no mistake that this is a great test of golf, especially with the Caribbean winds and elevation changes. Plus it has an “island hole on an island.” The residences, villas and ocean villas are spectacular, very private with private views of the Caribbean Sea. Like Alejandra says in the video below, there is no need for paintings on the wall, the beauty is right there in front of you for all to see. My nickname for Black Pearl at Pristine Bay Resort is “The Pearl Extraordinaire.” Check it out!

CLICK here for a Video Interview & Tour of the Pristine Bay Resort with Alejandra Zelaya.

CLICK here for the Pristine Bay Resort website.

 

Hotel REAL Intercontinental Tegucigalpa, Honduras

CLICK here for the Video Interview with General Manager Alfonso Martinez.

CLICK here for the Video Interview with Concierge Dania Ferrera.

CLICK here to go to the website of Hotel REAL Intercontinental Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

 

JTOG Day 38: Playing Dirt Golf at Dye’s El Encanto in San Salvador, El Salvador

I was “charmed” when I went to the hidden site of El Encanto which means “The Charm.” So they got the name right! And the six holes I played before a soft opening in December 2014. From what I can tell they got the whole enchilada right- the location, the golf course, the villas and residential community. Most importantly the timing. Tourism and golf is coming to El Salvador and now is the perfect time to consider membership and ownership at El Encanto. Nearby is San Salvador, a world class city with a solid link to golf history at Club Campestre Cuscatlan. If your private resort, nestled and secluded in the hills overlooking the Pacific Ocean, then take a drive down to the beach or into the city!

CLICK here for a Video Interview (3 parts) with El Encanto’s Golf Course Architect Perry Dye.

CLICK here for a Video Interview with Rick Moreno, Construction Manager for El Encanto.

CLICK here for a Video Interview with Alejandro Lahrssen, my host when I visited & played El Encanto.

CLICK here for a Video Interview with Jimmy Mikkelson, GC Superintendent & Shaper for Dye Designs.

 

 

 

 

Click here for the El Encanto website.

Hotel REAL Intercontinental San Salvador, El Salvador

ICONIC, LUXURY BRAND TAKES OFF WITH PAN AMERICAN

It was a memorable date. On 4th April 1946 Pan American World Airways launched their international hotel brand: InterContinental Hotels. First opening in Belém Brazil, InterContinental Hotels then extended a trailblazing portfolio across the world.

It became a byword for luxury travel to a jet-set generation, with an impressive guest list, from Louis Armstrong to Princess Grace. Today, with five-star hotels and resorts in 60 countries, InterContinental is a pioneer in quality, service and responsibility.

Each property offers its own distinctive style, from heritage elegance to urban chic and resorts on tropical shores.

La Reunion Golf Resort & Residences (Antigua, Guatemala)

Mario Navarro teaching a members class on the range beneath Volcano Fuego.

Mario Navarro teaching a members class on the range beneath Volcano Fuego.

Something about driving up a mountain road at night, seeing the conical silhouette of a volcano with a ribbon of its bright fiery red lava oozing down the slope… puts one in touch with their spirit of life and the tragedy and tranquility of nature all at once… definitely a TROML moment! Torch and I are happy to be safe and here in a very special place in this world of ours…

CLICK here for a Video Interview with the Director of Golf Mario Navarro.

CLICK here for a Video Tour of La Reunion.

CLICK here for Video Interview of Ecuador vs. Guatemala Family Golf Match at La Reunion.

CLICK here for the “Dye-abolical” touch on the 17th Green at La Reunion.