Answers To Questions On Venezuela

Mail Received: August 30, 2005

I'm surprise to read must of your comments on my country, especially when you compare it to Afghanistan. I agree with you that this is a not a 100% safe country, but certainly not like you describe it. I live in Caracas, and I do go out at night, a wonderful night life, I must say. For all of you readers, try Valentna Quintero's Travel Guide, an extraordinary woman who has traveled around Venezuela showing its highlight and downs. I must say I lived a year in the States, and did a month trip around the country. Let me tell you, it wasn't perfect either. We had to be very careful with our luggage, money and ourselves. Same happened in Europe.

People here are very friendly, and even if you don't speak Spanish, we try our best to understand you, not like in various other countries. Salsa and merengue?? Obviously you didn't learn how to dance to it, otherwise you could at least try to have fun. Another thing, there are many multi-languages book stores, at least here in Caracas. You didn't look very hard. The joy in traveling is to experience the culture to it's maximum as well as enjoying the sceneries.

Answer given: October 28, 2005

Hi Alejandra,

I could not agree more. Venezuela has its problems, and so do all other countries. Your country is perhaps struggling a bit more than necessary as you have a monkey for president, but the country is rich in potential and people are extremely friendly. It was almost a problem sometimes in Venezuela when I wanted to be myself on for example the bus, and people would start talking with me like there was no tomorrow. On the other hand, go on a bus in Northern Europe or Japan, and people will be so shy that they would not speak with you even if you forced them to or offered to compensate them for the inconvenience.

When it comes to reading books, I am sure that many people do and that you have bookstores. However, I struggled for a long time to find a store selling books on the island of Margarita. The number of books a population reads will surely depend on many factors, the general education level being just one of them. It is interesting to note that "THE 2002 ARAB HUMAN DEVELOPMENT Report claimed that Greece translates five times more works than all Arab countries combined". This should help explain why much of the region in stuck in the Middle Ages.

Cheers,

Jan

Mail Received: July 2, 2003

Hi Jan This is Pedro a guy from Venezuela. I was reading your comments about my country and I need to say that most of them are true (that is great).

Actually Venezuela have many beautiful places to go but unfortunately the best are expensive like Angel's Fall or Los Roques anyway. In Venezuela you can find a huge diversity of atmospheres like cold (Merida), rainforest (Amazon-Gran Sabana), beach (Margarita, Morrocoy), wild west (Los Llanos), etc. Also I agree with you about Caracas which in my standpoint is not the best view of Venezuela; Caracas is the center of the government and of course of the political disasters, our new crazy and the most unprofessional president is making an anarchy in the city. Therefore I of course recommend to everyone to visit VENEZUELA there is more good things that bad things. My e-mail is PeterStreet91@hotmail.com...........to anyone who want to ask or travel in Venezuela.

Answer given: July 12, 2003

Hi Pedro,

Thanks for the offer! I had an excellent time in Venezuela, and really hope to go back some day.

Evidently, your current president is causing the country much destruction, but the underlying fundamentals for further growth are there.

Trust me, when I return to Venezuela, I will make sure to make it to Angel's Falls!

Jan

Mail Received: September 15, 2001

Hi, Jan, Cool Website!

We're going to Venezuela on October 27th and staying until November 4th. We get to the airport about 9:00 p.m. and originally thought we'd go to Macuta (east of Caracas) to stay a day or two on a beach before flying to Merida, Then, we read about the 1999 mud slids and are wondering if we should change plans.

Do you know anything about Macuto - or do you know where we could go late at night from the airport? Also, we are planning on going to Merda (flying there) and considered taking the bus back. Do you know anything about the bus ride. And...we'd like to go to Los LLanos. You're pictures were great! Probably for 2 days. Why was your drive so long? Any general advice? I guess we're going in the rainy season. Any ideas what that will be like in Merida?

Cathy and Tom.

Answer given: September 20, 2001

Hi Tom, Know little about Macuta, but know that Caracas is not very safe at night, and 9 PM is not the best time to arrive. Best thing is to get away from Caracas as soon as possible, though I do not know if you should worry about mud slides or not. 5000 people died in the WTC, they think more than 100 000 people died in the mud slide.. perspective. Merida is beautiful, but do not know about the rainy season. Everyone likes the city, though, and it is cheap. The drive to Los Llanos is long because it is far away (!), but trust me, it is worth it. I would recommend you to get a travel guide like Lonely Planet or Footprint, as they will be able to give you much better advice (you are welcome to buy them through my site :). After all, I was only there for 1,5 months. Btw, the bus ride can be awful or okay, all depending on how many times your bus gets stopped by police (it is on the way back from Colombia) and how tired you are of salsa and meringue music. Jan

Mail Received: September 16, 2001

Hello Jan,

My boyfriend and I are 23 and 24 and are going to Venezuela in four weeks for approx 5 weeks. Our rough itinerary is Sante Fe, Isle Margarita, Merida, Maracay, and Los Roques. We've left our plans very flexible so we can do as we please when we get down there. We really want to scuba dive, sit on the beach, go white water rafting and to Los Lamos, and swim with dolphins, also hiking in mountains and in the national parks. I found your web site very helpful particularly as you provided opinions about attractions. I have a few questions for you if you wouldn't mind:

1)should we take most of our money in the form of travelers checks? and if so what currency US or Venezuelan or both? 2)How much is realistic to be spending on food per day? I couldn't find the answer to this anywhere. 3)What places are a must to visit? which ones should we avoid? 4)Los Roques is expensive, is it really worth it? we are thinking of not going there, but we have heard the diving is amazing. 5)What about Angel Falls region is that a must? it seems a bit expensive, which is why we didn't include it. but we could substitute it for Los Roques. 6)any hints or suggestions, anything that is a must to bring with us? Thanks for your time and information.

Nicola Bywater

Answer given: September 22, 2001

Hi,

I was only in Venezuela for just over one month, so I am not expert... Anyway: 1: I exchanged a couple of traveler's cheques in Caracas, took me about an hour due to strict security. Bring a few credit cards, you can use them most places (many cities have ATMs). Then, some cash and traveler's cheques for safety (in US dollars).2. Generally cheaper than in the US, but depends upon you and where you are (Merida cheapest, Caracas most expensive).3. Again, depends upon you. I loved Los Llanos, but there are lots of highlights. 4. I went with a local friend as it was easy to do from Caracas, but I would generally say that if you have time, you can spend your money more wisely elsewhere (Moroccoy and so on). It is nice, though, yet the corals were not amazing (not compared to Thailand, Palawan and places like that)... I only snorkel though. 5. Did not go there, but people say it is a must. Expensive, and planes crash, but supposedly incredible (then again, what isn't incredible when you travel.... backpackers seem to be amazed at everything). 6. Bring some books (people in Venezuela do not read, nor do they sell books in any language), lots of patience + some added tolerance for the meringue and salsa music that can drive anyone insane on a bus. Also, no one speaks English or any other intelligible language like German and French, so bring a dictionary if you do not speak Spanish. Oh yeah, do not forget a good guidebook like LonelyPlanet or Footprint... You are more than welcome to purchase them via my homepage (amazon.com)!

Have a nice trip!

Jan

Mail Received: March 4, 2002

Hi Jan,

Thanks for a great site, it's really helpful!

Seven of my friends and I are going Venezuela next week, and we're planning on going to merida by bus. we wanted to take a night bus. However, one of the people we're traveling with refuses to go on night buses, because she says it's unsafe. Can you give me any info about the safety of night buses?

Alice Lipinska

Answer given: March 4, 2002

Hi Alice

I actually took the night bus to Merida from Puerto La Cruz (that's the city next to Barcelona, if I remember the name right). Then I took the night bus from Merida to Coro, and both trips were very exhausting.

I prefer night buses for several reasons. First of all, you are not bothered by terrible meringue or salsa music (one gets tired of that music after some time in the country), nor do you have to watch movies like "Free Willy 3". Also, you do not waste valuable daylight time.

To touch upon your question, however, your friend seems to be an interesting character. If you want to go somewhere safe, neither Afghanistan nor Venezuela should be on your list of potential vacation spots. Still, if you go, a night bus is a pretty safe option, especially if you decide to go with one of the more expensive buses (so-called VIP). Actually, being stuck on a bus is probably one of the safer options in Venezuela, but you should evidently keep your money and valuables in a money-belt while sleeping.

I need to make a few additional comments on negative aspects about taking buses in Venezulea. From Merida-Coro, we were stopped three times in one night to have our passports checked by some army guys. Apparently, it is a major smuggling route from Colombia, and the safety procedures are thus understandable (while evidently also annoying). Secondly, when riding an air-conditioned bus, it is important to dress like Scott and Nansen, as Venezuelan bus drivers appear excited to use an air-condition and attempt to make the bus as cold as possible. A similar strategy is used for the meringue music, this to make sure that everyone both inside and outside the bus is submitted to the torture.

Have a nice trip!

Jan