*Travel Tips>>>Venezuela Travel Tips

Caracas, Venezuela?

Travel Info
I'm going to go on vacation in Caracas, and I've never been can someone tell me what it is like there and how different it is from the U.S. and in the U.S. I'm from Tennessee.

Travel Tips

Caracas is a big city and also dangerous to some degree. Source(s): I have been there (I am from Canada) and I hope you are not on the beaches near the airport because they are terrible, high waters, grey and polluted (La Guaria) ---- Go to Margarita island which is an hr. by plane; if you must stay in Caracas stay in a first class Hotel and don't go out at night (alone). Venezuela is very different from USA; a good knowledge of Spanish will make things much easier. I speak Spanish, German and French and have no troubles in thtat way. Is it on business? Caracas is big but not nearly as big as Mexico, D.F., Bangkok, or Sao Paulo. Enjoy it anyway......
Other Travel Tips

Used to be my favorite city in Latin America (pre-Chavez). It is currently spinning into an uncontrollable dictatorship (despite the conflict in terms). Nightlife is great, Cafe L'Attico is the best bar in the world on Plaza Altamira, don't you dare say one good thing about Chavez there, they'll lynch you. Great Weather, Parque Nacional Avila is great for mountain jungle treks, good restaurants. Go Now, Chavez is ruining what little is left.
I agree about avoiding the beaches near the airport. I suggest you take a day or weekend trip to Los Roques. It's a protected archipelago a small plane ride over from Caracas. GORGEOUS beaches, no cars, excellent snorkeling, laid back... you won't regret it. Margarita is a bit too touristy for me but it is nice. Be careful going around Caracas. It's the only place in the world (I've lived in 9 countries) where I've been robbed at gunpoint. Las Mercedes has cool bars/restaurants. Definitely climb up Mount Avila. Take lots of water and a camera. Taking a picture up on the summit with the ocean on one side and the city on the other was one of my favorite moments.
I used to live there for 3 years.
Caracas is possibly the worst city I have visited ever. If you are staying in a good hotel people will monitor you as you enter/exit. Bums, beggars are all around. Power outages are common and crime is growing especially with the decline of the economy under Chavez. If I were you, I would not go alone and make copies of your passport. Lock up everything in your hotel and have the number and address of the U.S. Embassy on hand in case.
Was there in September 2000