Bogota is a thriving city with 7 million people. It is so big that it could take as long as one hour to travel from one location to the other. Like other cities there are areas that may be more hospitable to residents, while others might be more complex and risky. In order to help you decide the best place you'll be staying at Bogota, GLOCAL V students have shared their experiences with accommodation in Bogota and wrote down their ideas and tips to help you find the perfect accommodation in Bogota!

Before we get into the accommodation alternatives, it is crucial to remember it is the GLOCAL office, faculty and staff at the University of Los Andes are exceptionally helpful efficient and ready to assist. If you're searching for a private room on the Airbnb or housing websites be sure to submit your options for accommodation to GLOCAL faculty in advance to let them tell you if the area is secure.

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City Center - CityU

CityU is the student residence where the GLOCAL office suggested students choose to stay in due the proximity to the university. I resided in a four-person residence along with 3 other GLOCAL students. Below are the advantages and disadvantages of staying at CityU.

The main benefit of staying in CityU is the central location. It took me about 3-5 minutes walking to school and, as this year, we were in seven a.m. class as well as an 8 p.m. session on the exact same day, I was able to return to my room to have a nap. It is a nightmare to travel in Bogota is crazy. It can take up to half an hour to ride an Uber but it takes a long time to reach your destination during peak hours.

City Center - International Student Housing

There are two locations that I'd suggest living in Bogota in either Candeleria University within Candeleria or further North in the area of Chapinero. Both have advantages as well as negatives. Chapinero is home to more bars, cafes and restaurants, but it is farther from the campus. I was near the University so I'll look at the area first.

I first lived at an international students home known as Villa Verde, it's very affordable (around EUR180 a month) and the house is home to 12 rooms that are occupied by students from across the globe (mostly French students when I was there). The house is extremely enjoyable however the room I lived in was without windows, and I was forced to leave. If you're able to get an alternative room in the house, then it's a great alternative. The house is 10 minutes walk from the campus. Below is an advertisement of the boarding house.

City Center - Airbnb

Bogota is a bustling city This is why it is crucial to find a place that is suitable for their needs and provides a safe space to unwind from the daily hustle and bustle of the city! I found my home via students from earlier cohorts. This made it a simple decision as they were aware of what my college time would be like and were able to recommend a place which was appropriate to my life style.

First of all my home was close to the center of Bogota located just a 10-minute walking distance from UniAndes. One of the primary reasons I chose my apartment, as I was certain that I would be spending a lot of amount of time at Uni but not just for classes as well as to gather for group activities and to take advantage of the many sports programs that are offered for free.

In the same way it is imperative to mention that the center of Bogota isn't considered to be the most secure. This is the reason one shouldn't leave the house after eight p.m. (at at least, not on walking). I was able to feel relatively secure throughout the day, however once it started getting dark the streets would become quite bare and the general environment did not seem to be the most secure. However, I would never want to move from my home due to its close proximity to the university and the local culture.

Chapinero - Airbnb

In the course of my time in Bogota I stayed in a beautiful apartment located in the Chapinero Alto neighbourhood. The flat was rented by a GLOCAL colleague and I stumbled across the flat through Airbnb and we rented the place together. The property was situated in a quiet neighborhood, with a lot of tree-lined streets, a variety of convenience shops right by, and a large supermarket that was within a 10 minute walk. A Uber was only 13 minutes to travel to the campus (cost: PS2-3.5).

In order to get public transport the walk was for 10-12 minutes and then board the TransMilenio bus which took around 16 minutes to reach the station right in the direction of our university (cost: PS0.6). It was also close to the areas that are most popular for bars, cafes as well as nightclubs and restaurants in a quick Uber ride. The distance to the airport was an advantage -- only 20-30 minutes drive (cost PS4-6).

We spent about PS420 per month for rent. I think that it was a good choice for us, as we could easily get to virtually any location that we would like to visit. the area was quiet and we had plenty of room and were able to occasionally entertain family and friends.