How to Find Cheap Hotels In Caracas, Venezuela

Caracas, Venezuela is a city in turmoil, with openly operating armed gangs and political thugs. Visitors to the city will see both beauty and ugliness, and those who are accustomed to traveling on the cheap will need to consider the value of life and limb when planning their accommodations.

Difficulty:

Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Map of Venezuela
• Passport
• Computer with Internet connection for making reservations

Know Your Destination

1. Visit Simon Bolivar's home and the neighboring Iglesia de San Francisco, where Bolivar was named 'General Captain of the Army of Venezuela' and 'the Liberator.' Both are within walking distance of the Capitolio Metro station.

2. See Caracas from above while riding the cable car, or teleférico, to Avila Mountain in Avila National Park. There are activities for visitors of all ages in the Park, and views of the city, mountain and sea.

3. Join the UNESCO World Heritage committee in admiring the architecture of the Ciudad Universitaria de Caracas. Designed by Venezuelan architect Carlos Raúl Villanueva, it is an early 20th century reinterpretation of colonial architecture.

Accommodations in Caracas, Venezuela

1. Don't search for hostels in Caracas. It does not have hostels, and its hotels are not cheap accommodations by hosteling standards. Rooms per night per person will run $20 U.S. to $30 U.S.

2. Play it safe by selecting a hotel at Sabana Grande or farther east. Rates (and security) are lower in Sabana Grande than in areas further east such as Altamira and Las Mercedes.

3. Avoid neighborhoods to the west of Sabana Grande. These should not be considered, no matter how cheap the accommodations, due to safety concerns.

Tips & Warnings

• Prepare yourself for an encounter with a poorly supplied bathroom if you venture beyond the higher-class hotels and restaurants. There may not be soap or even toilet paper, so carry a small supply with you.

• Refuse assistance with your bags in the airport, even from an official-looking person with a badge. You won't feel so grateful when he demands about $20 U.S. to give them back to you.

• Save local currency for your air departure from Venezuela. An exit tax and airport fee totaling approximately $50 U.S. must be paid when leaving Venezuela by air. These fees may not be included in your airline ticket price, and the authorities expect to be paid in Bolivares.

• Check with the U.S. Department of State or your own government agency about the current situation in Venezuela. As of this writing, the U.S. Department of State Web site warns of well-armed criminal gangs that operate with impunity, staging daytime armed robberies and kidnappings.