Travel tips for Venezuela - what to prepare in advance and what to obey

1. Venezuela has been going through a severe economic crisis in recent years. This has adversely affected absolutely all spheres of life, including tourism. You should study the news before your trip to stay up to date and avoid getting into unpleasant situations.

2. There is no summer and winter familiar to Europeans in Venezuela. The temperature changes slightly throughout the year. The wet season lasts from May to November. It is characterized by a high level of precipitation, the possibility of storms and hurricanes. This is not a good time to travel to the country.

3. You don't need to get any special vaccinations for your trip. But you should get medical insurance. It can be purchased from a travel agency or insurance company.

4. The crime rate has increased dramatically in Venezuela in recent years. This applies to pocket thefts, assaults, and robberies. Many areas of large cities become dangerous at nightfall. Special police are created to protect tourists. Tourist police can be identified by the red berets. You can not only turn to it for help. You can even ask to be escorted to a safe place. It is better not to resist but to give all things in case of an armed attack. This is due to the fact that the murder rate has increased significantly in the country in recent years. The situation is much calmer in the province. You should carry a "fake" wallet with a couple of small bills to mislead pickpockets. It is not customary to steal from one person twice. You should leave your documents and valuables in the hotel safe. It is better to leave the jewelry there. You should not show your mobile phone while talking in front of people.

5. The public transport system, including the metro, is well developed in the cities. You can also travel by taxi. It is inexpensive here. It is better to agree on the cost of the trip in advance. Local taxi drivers often cheat tourists. They can also turn on the counter and choose a longer route. Motorcycle taxis have a bad reputation. It is better not to use them. The bus service is well developed between the cities. However, railway communication is not developed at all in the country. It's risky to rent a car in Venezuela. Cases of kidnapping have become more frequent. Local drivers do not follow the traffic rules. Roads are in very poor condition in some places.

6. Tips are 5-10 % of the check amount. It is customary to leave a small amount to the waiters even if they are included in the bill.

7. You will need an adapter to charge your gadgets. There are American outlets with two pins in the country. Power and water outages are common. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

8. Bolivar is the currency of Venezuela. You can also pay in dollars or even euros. But this is not profitable. The official and unofficial rates differ significantly. It is better to exchange money in banks or exchange offices. You should never do this on the streets. You can pay by card in shopping centers and hotels. But keep in mind that payments can take a long time. You may need to make several payment attempts. Quotas for cash withdrawals are set in many ATMs. This way you can withdraw no more than $1. Therefore, withdrawing money is a bad idea.

9. You should not get closer than 80 kilometers to the border of Colombia and closer than 25 kilometers to the border of Brazil when traveling around the country. Kidnappings are common in these areas. Illegal armed groups operate here.

10. You should avoid any demonstrations and protests. Both the police and the protesters use gas and buckshot. Protest actions often end with injuries and the death of participants. You should monitor the situation on the Internet. Many roads may be closed during the protests.

11. The government reduced spending on health care and pharmaceuticals because of the crisis. Therefore, you should take all the necessary medicines with you, not counting on buying them in the country.

12. Cases of malaria, dengue fever, and Chikungunya virus have been recorded in the country. You should avoid places where mosquitoes congregate. Be sure to stock up on repellents. Also, cases of diphtheria have been recorded. If you travel with children you should make sure that they are vaccinated. You shouldn't drink tap water. You should give preference to boiled water and bottled water. You have to avoid ice in drinks.

13. The official language is Spanish. English is very poorly spoken. Indigenous peoples living in remote areas speak local dialects.

14. You should not go to the city's Barrios in the big cities, especially in Caracas. They are built up with houses made of cardboard and slate. Lawlessness reigns here. The police do not cope with the situation. The probability of being robbed is almost 100 %.

15. Interruptions in food and basic necessities are possible in the province. Therefore, it is better to stock up on them in advance.