Venezuela

[Weegiemum]

Anyone taken their kids to Venezuela. We are hoping to visit friends in Caracas this summer - already had all the jags except Yellow Fever as we have travelled in Latin America with them before (inc Rabies - off the beaten track in Guatemala!)

Kids are 9, 7, 5. Any experience, tips, guidance?

Current FCO advice re Venezuela:-

www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/travel-advice-by-country/south-america/venezuela

My Brother has been to Caracas and enjoyed his stay there. He would certainly not have visited Venezuela if he had not had friends there!. Its very dodgy in parts and there is an awful lot of street crime.

YF is not a vaccination required for Venezuela but there have been cases where officials have illegitimately fined travellers who have been unable to produce such a certificate. Some airlines travelling to Venezuela will insist you have a Yellow Fever vaccination jab before boarding the plane unless you can produce your vaccination certificate. You are advised to check with your airline before travelling to Venezuela.

Travel to and from the airport can take a long time.

Your bags may arrive the next day. Apparently tis v common, so take essentials + in hand luggage. Also, go and pick up your bags yourself, rather than getting them delivered otherwise you may never see them again.

Be vigilant on public tranport and avoid looking like a tourist. Keep a wallet with some small notes handy in case of armed robbery.

It is normal to change money on the black market. No-one except for tourists use the banks as you pay double, but it is illegal, although not policed.

You could skip the security queue and bagage screening completely on the return flight for $5 four years ago.

Don't display any wealth particularly in the centre.

hth

Re money changing:-

The FCO are aware of reports that travellers have been approached at the airport by individuals offering to exchange foreign currency at black market rates, and those who have done so have in some cases been left with forged local currency. You are advised to exchange currency at official currency exchange booths.

Get your mate wot lives there to change your money. They'll know the best source perhaps!

I lived in Caracas with my family from the age of 15 - 19, spending a year there after I left school. It is a beautiful country and there is so much to see and do but it is huge so you will probably need to fly. There are companies who will book you on trips - I would definitely recommend going to the coast or the islands and a trip to the Angel Falls (although not sure how this would work with a 5-year-old....). There are also great trips into the Andes (Merida), the Gran Sabana, ranches etc.

I hear that Caracas is a very different place from when I was there and is now one of the "murder capitals of the world". Heed FCO advice and listen to what your friends who live there tell you. They will know where is and where isn't safe.

If you go, good luck and have fun!

claraqupid We went there on our honeymoon. Caracas, Ciudad Boliver, Angel Falls and Los Roques. You're right it is a beautiful country.

But, we did have an attempted mugging in Caracas.