[bacon]

i havent traveled to venezuela but its reputation of being ripe with hot latinas makes me want to go there. reports are surfacing that hugo chavez is on his dealth bed. if he goes things could change ideally for the better. right now the crime there is some of the worst in the world which makes me hesitant to travel there. what do you see for the future of venezuela

http://www.infowars.com/venezuelan-leade...r-surgery/

[Wreckingball]

Yes,

Before he was elected Venezuela was on the top5 tourist destinations for portuguese and spanish people, but he fucked everything up.
Also, there's a lot of hate directed to US, so keep that in mind. It will take a few yeears after he dies to dissipate.

[Pete]

A few friends of mine have gone there and they tell me they have a blast and the women are amazing. But, and this is a big one. They're singers or music producers famous in a certain genre that is popular in South America. So because of their status I doubt they have to game much at all.

[Sonsowey]

Venezuela IS open!

You are more than welcome to go.

Chavez's death does NOT mean that the next President will be some American stooge. But regardless, you can go there anyway. Go check it out and no des papaya.

I was there for exactly 1 day. I stayed in a perfectly normal hotel there, they had Tyler Perry movies playing. Going around having food and talking with government officials in the embassy and getting my passport taken care of, there was ZERO problem. People treated me just fine, rather indifferently really. We went out at night and played pool and drank, no problems.

I think to a large degree, Americans imagine all this anti-Americanism. People around the world do NOT like how our government behaves, because, oh I don't know, we organized a coup against their current President. Something silly like that.

But this almost never carries over to Americans as individuals. Just like the rest of Latin America they're in love with American music, movies etc.

Now if you start talking about "I can't wait until your President dies," maybe someone would have a problem with that. Don't know, haven't tried it.

But hell, the rich Venezuelans who don't benefit from Chavez's rule hate him too, so maybe you could just chill with them.

[20Nation]

I went to Venezuela like 9 months ago. It felt a lot more dangerous than Colombia, but I got celebrity like treatment and everybody wanted to talk to me. People would always tell me I was brave for coming to Venezuela when I did. I'm not so sure how much Hugo Chavez's death will help. I honestly think the reason their crime has shot so high is because Colombia is doing such a great job fighting the cartels. They have been moving to Venezuela, bribing the army and police and making them corrupt. All the while all the big crime guys are moving out of Colombia and into Venezuela. That's what the locals were telling me.

[tomtud]

(01-02-2013 07:18 PM)Wreckingball Wrote:  

Yes,

Before he was elected Venezuela was on the top5 tourist destinations for portuguese and spanish people, but he fucked everything up.
Also, there's a lot of hate directed to US, so keep that in mind. It will take a few yeears after he dies to dissipate.

There is no hate towards American people, but to American economic policies and imperialism. The news will show YOU what they want to show, not what is really happening at times. I live in the Middle East and have befriended a few Venezuelan diplomats. I have heard different views from them. Yes, it s more dangerous as Chavez doesn't want to punish the poor class criminals who vote for him. But he does have some good programs and ideas to help his people.

Instead of a few having a lot, he has a lot having a little and making the average Venezuelan better off. Once the criminal element is sorted, it would be a blast to travel there without having to worry.

[tomtud]

(01-02-2013 11:06 PM)Sonsowey Wrote:  

But hell, the rich Venezuelans who don't benefit from Chavez's rule hate him too, so maybe you could just chill with them.

These people are still rich even with his policies. Yes, a few have lost the vacation home etc, but are still better off than the others. I'm not supporting property seizures, but the rich in this part of the world and frankly many other parts are ruled by certain families. They share the power. With Chavez, he will distribute the riches of the country more evenly.

[Vicious]

Venezuela has one of the top three (worst) murder rates in the world. If you go there make sure to do your research.

[Tex Pro]

Maybe with Chavez gone, Venezuela can start tackling the crime problem that has grown under his watch. I mean, under the current regime even the murder rate has to be estimated since the government stopped releasing murder stats to try and sweep the problem under the rug.

Venezuela would be a great destination to travel to once the crime situation is somewhat under control.

[rdp]

Such a beautiful and diverse country, to bad it is so fucked up and dangerous there.
Hugo Chavez's dream of a Bolivarian revolution have had Venezuela changed for the worse. I don't believe we will see any change in the nearest future.

Had the worst of times ever in Caracas.
Fleed the city after a couples of days, visited Isla Margaritas (in my opinion overrated), but my bad experiences had me limiting my travels around the country.
Would not go back, at least not as a solo traveller.

-rdp

[azulsombra]

I've never spoke to anyone that had a positive time in Chavez's Venezuela and would recommend it to travelers. With the insane crime rate and black market money situation, I can't see how it could be superior to Colombia. Pretty much the way I feel about Cuba compared to D.R. The women in both countries have a similar ethnic mix so I don't feel like I'm missing out by going to its neighboring country instead.

[garygroundwork]

would love to go...i imagine it would be how colombia was before the gringo cancer started ruining it.

people i know that have been said the women are beautiful and gringos are a sought after commodity. they particularly talk about a university city called merida or something

[maestrobaires]

the death of chavez doesn't mean venezuela taking a different political discourse. maduro will just take over control

venezuela is not closed and ordinary people don't hate anyone, not even americans

terrible crime rates are what holds people back from going there. it's worse than colombia in the 90's

[garygroundwork]

(01-05-2013 10:40 AM)maestrobaires Wrote:  

the death of chavez doesn't mean venezuela taking a different political discourse. maduro will just take over control

venezuela is not closed and ordinary people don't hate anyone, not even americans

terrible crime rates are what holds people back from going there. it's worse than colombia in the 90's

big call... i haven't heard anything about car bombs, planes blown up cops getting killed left right and center and 50 odd kidnaps per day as was was colombia early 90's

[mr_lucky]

(01-05-2013 10:40 AM)maestrobaires Wrote:  

the death of chavez doesn't mean venezuela taking a different political discourse. maduro will just take over control

It turned out not to be that easy. Maduro won the free and fair election by a single percentage point.

2014 events have shown that Venezuela will be changing in the coming decade - it can't go on like this.

Unless Maduro moves towards the center (like other South American leftists have done) then I bet we will see Capriles or someone like him elected in 2018 and that a Colombia-type renaissance and "opening up" becomes possible. The complicating factor is of course the black stuff.

[TravellerJay]

For all of those who think opening means embracing neo liberalism.., so sorry you will feel but unless there is a coupe d´etat Venezuela will not fall. I dont think there will be one because Latinamerica supports Venezuela and will not allow outside interference specially from.. you know
Capriles doesnt have enough representatives for Parliament Asamblea Nacional and despite his supporters they are not enough to win elections. If he does he will probably try to turn things upside down but allowing US interference plus destroying everything Chavez did all these years.
I dont think he has the support in the MDU or MUD or whatever is the name of that bag of cats they call themselves opposition. Corina Machado supported 2002 coup d´etat and she calls herself democratic, funny uh?

Maduro is not Chavez, and despite he won fair elections by a small percentage like the ones we saw in US elections years ago (like Kennedy Nixon) Capriles claimed fraud without proving it and denied legitimacy of newly elected government. US took some time to formally acknowledge it but it did and no one else talked about it no more. But the truth, no matter how much hurts is that Capriles and the ones like him cannot win an election, not because of fraud but because people doesnt want them back to do the oppposite of what was done so far.

So anyone thinking on visiting Caracas and Venezuela go anyway. Crime rates are not as high as media wants you to believe. And country is not at war despite media and foreign interference.

[Gringuito]

(04-30-2014 09:23 AM)TravellerJay Wrote:  

So anyone thinking on visiting Caracas and Venezuela go anyway. Crime rates are not as high as media wants you to believe. And country is not at war despite media and foreign interference.

I have Venezuelan friends that live in Caracas and San Cristóbal. I agree the media exaggerates but those areas are not safe by any means. And less so for americans.

[mr_lucky]

(04-30-2014 09:23 AM)TravellerJay Wrote:  

But the truth, no matter how much hurts is that Capriles and the ones like him cannot win an election, not because of fraud but because people doesnt want them back to do the oppposite of what was done so far.

So anyone thinking on visiting Caracas and Venezuela go anyway. Crime rates are not as high as media wants you to believe. And country is not at war despite media and foreign interference.

You are absolutely right that fear of socialism or violence should not prevent anyone from visiting (provided you bring a first-aid kit etc.)...

But the opposition CANNOT win an election? What about the referendum in 2007 and the elections in 2008? This is not Cuba or DPRK, and Venezuelan socialists can't ride Chavez's legacy forever as the 2013 election and 2014 riots have shown.

One day there will be an opposition leader, probably neither Machado nor Capriles, who does have the charisma to win an election and reverse some things Chavez did and make it a slightly more attractive destination for the likes of us. I just suspect (and hope) that this will be sooner rather than later.

[TravellerJay]

Mr lucky, when you say making a more attractive for the likes of us, what do you mean?
I thought venezuelan people decide what is the best for their nationals and not for the likes of you??

Opposition cannot win elections to rule the country. they can win some mid term elections to put more diputados in the parliament. If the things the right win sections wants to change are the ones that elevated poverty stricken population to middle class and started getting more state welfare.., if that is what you think needs to change then as soon as changed right wings will be expelled because rich ones always wants to manufacture more and more poors.
that is not right.

[Deacon0228]

My Venezuelan friends tell me to avoid it at the moment unless you go with people from their.

I remember my dad traveling about 14 years ago in Venezuela from one city to the other with regards to work. And the company had two men sitting in the back with machine guns due to the violence and potential car jacking's in the mountain roads. To put into perspective since I'm Cuban, I would probably be treated harsher due to the communist invasion of castro in that country.

For the Venezuelan experience head to Miami. All the stolen money from the Venezuelan government has landed here. Plenty of chicks to go around, Doral is literally packed with them.

[Chaos]

I'm curious about this also.
Is Venezuela really that dangerous as the reputation goes?

Thinking about Iran,Pakistan, even Russia which also has quite a "dangerous reputation"
I've travelled a lot in all three of them and I think people believe they are way more dangerous than they actually are.

[Tully Mars]

Spent a week in Merida in Oct '13. Hired a driver from border town of Cucuta, Colombia. Was hassled a few times at military checkpoints...guards were looking for Dollars...stayed cool and had zero problems. Found the Venezulean girls ok nothing special....and way below the Colombianas...lot less warm and engaging....even the Colombianas in Cucuta were way hotter and more fun than the Venezuleans we found in Merida.....i hear Caracas is better but I cant imagine it being better than any of the other major cities in Colombia...
i hv no desire to return.

[Travesty]

Bump since it has been nearing a year since the last post on this...

The last post makes me a sad panda as it sounds like it is just no reason to go here instead of Colombia still.

[Americas]

I will go some day and it will be glorious.

[Kabal]

I also want to go as I imagine my exotic factor will be over 9000 there, but I also don't want my exotic factor to get me kidnapped and/or killed.