VENEZUELA TRAVEL REPORT.

With half an hour delay my plane no. 1 leaves from Hato International Airport in Curacao (Holland) at 21.05. 7I 655 of the Insel Air Company in the direction of Aeropuerto Internacional Simon Bolivar (Caracas - Venezuela), (price of the multi-route ticket including taxes 1) Medellin - Aruba, 2) Aruba - Curacao, 3) Curacao - Georgetown (Guyana), 4) Paramaribo (Suriname) - Curacao, 5) Curacao - Caracas (Venezuela): USD 621.35).

I therefore arrive at 21.40, at the Aeropuerto Internacional Simon Bolivar (Venezuela), located about 26 km north of the capital Caracas.

A visa is not required to enter Venezuela for tourism purposes and for a period of up to 90 days.

To date, currency exchange is a big problem in Venezuela.

The Venezuelan currency is called Bolivar Fuerte (VEF - BsF). The Venezuelan exchange system is extremely complex, as it sees the coexistence of 4 different rates. The first is set at $ 1 = 7.3 Bf, the second, which should fluctuate around the parity $ 1 = 12 Bf, is intended for companies, while the third fluctuates around $ 1 = 400 Bf and that's what comes today applied to international credit cards or from exchange houses. The fourth, on the other hand, is the black market rate which fluctuates around $ 1 = 800 Bf / 1,000 Bf. Keep in mind that changing the currency in black is illegal and therefore if you are caught in fragrant you could be arrested and therefore if you decide to opt for the latter option try to do it with your hotel where you are staying and not at the airport where dodgy dudes come up to you to change money. Finally, keep in mind that the Bolivar Fuerte is heavily devalued and therefore if you decide to exchange 70 USD you should be aware that the volume of the Bolivar purchased will be equal to a small backpack.

Venezuela today is very dangerous and especially Caracas and therefore the bus to and from the airport is not recommended. Therefore I opted for a taxi booked through my hotel at a cost of 3,000 Bf.

The first night in Venezuela I slept at the Hotel Plazamar, (booked by e-mail from home), located in Macuto in Piazza Andres Mata, in the center - Phone: +58 212 3395242 - Fax: +58 212 3554048 - E- Mail: plazamarhotel@hotmail.com, about 15 km east of the Aeropuerto Internacional Simon Bolivar, at the price of 5,000 Bf, for a double room, including free wifi and use of the computer.

Through the aforementioned hotel, I booked an off-road vehicle with driver to move safely and freely in Caracas and its surroundings at the price of 30,000 Bf per day.

Although Caracas is one of the most dangerous cities in the world, in the center and in the Metro during the day the situation appears quite safe. Logically it is advisable not to show jewels, watches, cameras, smartphones and to dress in an inconspicuous way. Plaza Bolivar is guarded by the police during the day.

To reach Valencia, from Caracas it is necessary to go to the La Bandera Terminal, located 3 km south of the center. Several buses a day depart in the direction of Valencia. The ride takes over 3 hours and costs 450 Bf. You pay on the bus.

From the Bus Terminal in Valencia (Venezuela), located about 4 km from the center, I took a taxi at a price of 1,500 Bf to reach the Continental Hotel located at Av 98 Boyacà n. 101 - 70, at 200 mt. about from Plaza Bolivar. The cost of a double room with fan is 1,000 Bf, with air conditioning 1,500 Bf. The structure does not have wifi and the room rates are at the minimum wage.

Although Valencia (Venezuela) is one of the most dangerous cities in Venezuela, in the center, the situation appears quite safe during the day. Logically it is advisable not to show jewels, watches, cameras, smartphones and to dress in an inconspicuous way. Plaza Bolivar is guarded by the police during the day.

The Arturo Michelena International Airport of Valencia (Venezuela) is located 7 km south-east of the center. Even if there are buses that connect it to the center, for safety reasons it is advisable to reach it by taxi, spending 2,000 Bf.

Keep in mind that at the Arturo Michelena International Airport in Valencia (Venezuela), it is not possible to change currency and therefore you should make sure you have done so first if necessary.

If you travel with Insel Air, before leaving the country of Venezuela, at the Arturo Michelena International Airport in Valencia, before going to the security check, Customs and Gate, you must pay an exit tax of 1,140 Bf.

My complete travel report with map, photographs and videos is available at this link:

http://vivendosalendo.blogspot.com/2016/08/viaggio-in-colombia-aruba-curacao.html