Hi stuckinCT!

I'm from Venezuela, and I lived here during my first 22 years of life and then again since last May. Well, Caracas is not a safe city, it is quite dangerous. You have to know where you can go and where you can't. However, there are innumerable places where you CAN go and that you will find very beautiful and worthy. You should take a flight to Caracas and then try to connect to a flight to either of the places where you want to go. Traveling by bus is also a good idea since is inexpensive. Most of the buses are in very good condition(nothing like the horror of Greyhound if I must add...).

However, you can come to Caracas if you want. Just find a nice neighborhood to stay. The Eurobuilding Hotel and the Tamanaco Hotel are quite nice and well located. If you come, you should definitely visit the Avila. You can either go up by foot (not too far if you don't have a guide) or with the cable car. It's quite a beautiful ride! And while you are up there, you can take a Jeep to Galipán, a lovely little village that produces the most amazing sweets and juices you will ever try!

Let me know if you need more info!

Best,

Ana María

Thanks for your feedback, Ana Maria!

My wife and I visited Venezuela in April 2008. We stayed at a coastal hotel near the airport and bypassed Caracas about which we had heard poor reports of traffic and safety. Our trip included Merida, the Andes and Los Llanos. We always felt safe on our travels but we had a guide. Some basic Spanish is needed if you do not have a guide.
The extensive land nationalisation programme being pursued by the government has resulted in some of the Hatos (large ranches) being taken over and no longer taking tourists. We had an excellent time at Hato Pinero, where the hospitality was great and the bird and animal life marvellous. We saw jaguar and ocelot and got close to puma!

Kazon,

What coastal hotel did you stay at near the airport? How was your experience at this hotel? There seem to be very few hotel options near the airport and they seem to be pretty expensive for what they provide.

I spent a couple of weeks on Margarita Island. I felt very safe there. It is a laid back atmosphere once you get on the island. Not much to do, but a beautiful place to relax. I was traveling with wind surfers but would choose somewhere else if I was just looking for a vacation spot.