Trip Dates: October 26 to December 5, 2025

Where I Travelled: Cartagena, Medellín, Salento

My Goal: Travel Colombia on a budget. Looking back, I reviewed my real costs to see where a Canadian travel rewards card I’m considering, like the Amex Gold Rewards Card, could have made a difference.

I’m Stephanie, a Canadian traveller who works remotely and loves taking extended trips while keeping them as budget friendly as possible. 

A couple of years ago, I spent almost three months in Central America (Nicaragua and Costa Rica), and this time I wanted to keep heading south. I hadn’t been to South America yet, and Colombia felt like the perfect place to start since it’s affordable, digital-nomad friendly, and full of a variety of landscapes. Between its coastal towns, mountains, and rainforests, I knew I’d be able to balance work and adventure easily.

For this trip, I booked everything without an Amex travel rewards card and later reflected on whether a card like the Amex Gold would have been worth it.

Learn More: Amex Gold Card Review in Canada

To really test this, I tracked every major cost of my trip: flights, accommodations, transportation, food, tours, and unexpected expenses, and then compared what I paid versus what the right Amex card could have covered or offset. 

Below is a look at what I spent, what surprised me, and where a travel rewards card might have made things smoother. 

*All prices are in CAD.*

Flights

Outbound Flight: Vancouver to New York to Cartagena

Cost: $398.73
Airline: JetBlue
Layover: 2 hours at JFK Terminal 5

I arrived early at YVR and noticed the Plaza Premium Lounge, which I could have accessed using one of the four complimentary Plaza Premium airport lounge passes that come with the Amex Gold Rewards Card. 

Instead, I waited at the gate. This is also where I found out there wasn’t enough cabin space for everyone, so my carry-on was gate-checked last minute. JetBlue later confirmed via notification that my bag made it onto the next flight.

My layover at JFK was in Terminal 5, which doesn’t have any Plaza Premium or Priority Pass lounges. Breakfast alone cost me $36, and there wasn’t a quiet place to rest after a red-eye.

The overnight flight itself was just under five hours, and between the chatter, bathroom traffic, and minimal legroom, I barely slept. I wouldn’t book a short overnight flight again unless I could afford more comfort.

Domestic Flight: Cartagena to Medellín

Cost: $60
Airline: JetSmart

Return Flight: Pereira to Bogotá: 

Cost: $82.14
Airline: LATAM Airlines

Return Flight: Bogotá > Houston > San Francisco > Vancouver 

Cost: $507.50
Overnight hotel in Bogotá: $48
Airline: United Airlines

These flights were cheap overall, but without lounge access or travel protections, small costs added up quickly during long layovers.

Grand total: $1,048.37

Airbnbs

Cartagena

5 nights | $53.05/night | $269.50 total
Private room, shared bathroom, air conditioning, friendly cats, but not ideal for long workdays.

Medellín

3 weeks | $22.98/night | $508.24 total
A safe area and friendly hosts, but loud early mornings, lots of household activity, and the hosts smoked, which was a deal breaker.

After a week in Medellín, I realized it just wasn’t the right fit – it was too noisy, too busy, and tough to work in. I cut my stay short by eight days and headed to Salento early.

Cost of Leaving Medellín Early:

• Extended week: $93.02
• 1 unused night: $22.98
• Total loss: $116

Salento

12 nights | $38.08/night | $457 total
This was my favourite stay. A quiet, relaxing Airbnb, with strong Wi-Fi and a well-stocked kitchen. Everything was within walking distance, and catching rides in cheap Willy Jeeps made exploring easy.

I headed to Salento sooner than planned since it’s a quieter mountain town known for its coffee farms, colourful streets, and hiking trails. Accommodations there were a bit pricier, so I took the bus instead of flying to save money.

I originally planned to stay in Salento for eight days but ended up extending to twelve before deciding to wrap up my time in Colombia.

Grand total (including my overnight stay in Bogotá): 5.5 weeks | approx $31.66/night | $1,282.74

Day-to-Day Travel Costs in Colombia

These were my everyday, on-the-ground expenses while travelling through Colombia.

Transit

Cartagena

• Taxi: $11
• inDrive rideshare: $7
• Mostly walked

Medellín

• Taxi from airport to Airbnb: $47
• Ubers: $32

Salento

• Bus Medellín > Salento: $31.57
• Willy Jeeps transport: $1.50-$4
• Taxi to airport: $75

ATM Fees

• Four ATM withdrawal fees totalled $20.
• Cash used for groceries, restaurants, tours

SIM / eSIM

• Airalo 5GB: $23
• Top-up: $11.50
• Data issue on arrival: $18

Food

• $60–$100/week depending on city
• Cartagena (1 week), Medellín (3 weeks), Salento (12 days)
• Cartagena had 2 meals out and costs very similar to Canadian prices around $25/meal
• Medellín and Salento had cheaper restaurants but still mostly ate at home. On average, I ate out once per week, costing around $10 per meal.

Laundry

• Cartagena: $11
• Salento: $7

Tours & Activities

• Rosario Islands day tour: $88.13
• Electric bike tour Medellín: $50
• Guatapé day tour: $60
• Free walking tour in Comuna 13: $10 tip
• Cocora Valley: $13.50
• Coffee farm: $25

Gotchas & Surprises

• Cost of Leaving Medellín Early (lost Airbnb extension + 1 night): $116
• SIM data issues
• Noisy “quiet” Airbnb in Medellín
• SIM not working right away
• Airport food prices being way higher than expected
• ATM withdrawal fees
• Paying separate travel insurance on top of everything else
• Higher grocery prices than expected

How the Amex Gold Card Would Have Reduced My Actual Costs

Below is a side-by-side look at what I actually spent versus where the Amex Gold Rewards Card could have realistically reduced or offset those costs.

Category	Total Costs	Amex Gold Impact
Flights (round trip + domestic)	$1,048	The 60,000-point welcome bonus ($600) could have covered most of my outbound flight, with remaining points used via Pay with Points to reduce the return
Accommodation	$1,282	Pay with Points could have offset $400-$600 of Airbnb and hotel charges, especially after changing plans mid-trip
Transport (taxis, buses, Ubers)	$211	Charges could be reduced using Pay with Points after the welcome bonus posted
Food (groceries + eating out)	$353	Earn 2x points on food purchases, helping rebuild points throughout the trip
Tours & Activities	$246	Charges could be reduced using Pay with Points after the welcome bonus posted
Misc. costs	$205	Charges could be reduced using Pay with Points after the welcome bonus posted
Travel Insurance	$200	Out-of-province medical, trip delay, and baggage coverage included with Amex Gold
Airport costs	No lounge access and lack of comfort	Four complimentary Plaza Premium lounge visits per year at eligible airports (such as YVR and Bogotá) for food, alcohol, Wi-Fi, and quiet space on long travel days
Grand total	Appx $3,541 CAD for 5.5 weeks in Colombia

With a bit of planning, the Amex Gold Rewards Card could have realistically covered $800-$1,000 of this trip through its welcome bonus, built-in insurance, lounge access, and flexible Pay with Points redemptions.

Thinking about a similar trip?
The Amex Gold Rewards Card is a strong option for longer, budget-conscious travel thanks to its welcome bonus, built-in insurance, and flexible Pay with Points redemptions.
Apply Now for the Amex Gold Card or learn more with our full card review.

What an Amex Gold Card Would Have Changed With My Colombia Trip

Airport Lounge Access

The Amex Gold Card comes with four complimentary Plaza Premium airport lounge visits per year, offering access to food, alcoholic drinks, Wi-Fi, and showers.

Plaza Premium lounges are available at Bogotá, where I had an overnight stop, as well as at major international airports like San Francisco (SFO) and Houston (IAH) depending on terminal access. Being able to use lounge passes on longer travel days, rather than paying high airport food prices or sitting in crowded terminals, would have added a lot of comfort without paying more for the flight itself.

Visit the Website: Find a Plaza Premium Lounge Near You

Travel Insurance

For this trip, I paid about $200 for two cycles of SafetyWing travel insurance.

If I’d booked my travel using the Amex Gold Rewards Card, most of that coverage would have been included automatically and saved that $200 outright.

The Amex Gold includes:

• Up to $5,000,000 in emergency medical coverage (first 15 days per trip, for eligible travellers under 65)
• Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
• Flight delay and baggage delay insurance
• Lost or stolen baggage coverage
• $500,000 travel accident insurance
• 24/7 travel emergency assistance

For a longer international trip like this, those built-in protections would have replaced the separate policy I paid for, with no extra effort on my part.

Using Points to Offset Changes and Extra Costs

Changing plans mid-trip often comes with unexpected costs, and that was the case here. While an Amex card wouldn’t have reimbursed my lost Airbnb nights (since travel insurance only covers medical or emergency reasons), it could have made the adjustment far less painful.

With the Amex Gold Rewards Card, the current welcome bonus of 60,000 Membership Rewards points is worth $600 in travel credits at a simple cash value. Those points could have been redeemed using Pay with Points to offset my new accommodation in Salento and the bus fare to get there, without complicated redemptions or blackout dates.

At a rate of 10,000 points = $100, Pay with Points works like an instant statement credit. For a trip with changing plans, having that flexibility available would have made a real difference.

For trips with changing plans, flexible points matter. Apply now for the Amex Gold travel rewards card in Canada.

How You Can Offset the Cost of a Trip Like This with Amex

1. Apply for an Amex Gold Rewards Card in Canada

The Amex Gold Rewards Card has a $250 annual fee and a current welcome bonus of up to 60,000 Membership Rewards points ($600 in travel credits), earned by spending $1,000 per month for 12 months.

2. Book your trip using the new card

Flights, Airbnbs, hostels, and tours all count toward the minimum spend needed to unlock the bonus. 

3. Earn the full welcome bonus

Once the points are posted, you will have enough value to cover a week of accommodation or even a return flight in many cases.

On top of the welcome bonus, the Amex Gold Rewards Card also includes a $100 annual travel credit when you book through Amex Travel. This can be applied to flights, hotels, or vacation packages, effectively reducing the card’s $250 annual fee to $150 in the first year.

4. Redeem using Pay with Points

Apply points directly toward travel-related charges on your statement. This includes hotels, Airbnb stays, local transportation, and even domestic flights. Transfer your flexible Amex points to airline loyalty programs for maximum value, or redeem for a straightforward statement credit.

Final Reflection on My Colombia Trip

Travelling Colombia on a budget was totally doable, but it came with small tradeoffs like sleepless flights, loud Airbnbs, and unexpected expenses. 

If I’d had the Amex Gold card, I could’ve taken advantage of perks like lounge access, built-in insurance, and points to offset flights, accommodations, and tours. I also would’ve had access to better hotel options through the Amex Hotel Collection, where properties often include perks like room upgrades, late checkout and property credits. Even if I still chose budget stays, I could’ve used Pay with Points to make rebooking or changing plans feel less stressful.

Next time, I’ll definitely reconsider how a good travel card could make the trip smoother, more comfortable, and still affordable without increasing my overall spending.

Learn More: Amex Gold Card Review in Canada

If you’re planning a longer international trip and want flexibility without luxury pricing, the Amex Gold Rewards Card is worth considering. Apply now!