Welcome to the TravelPod forums

[joysun]

Hi There

I am working on a two month visit to Venezuela( near Puerto La Cruz) in the next few weeks.

I am trying to get my head around the exchange..do i take heaps of dollars( seems risky) and change it at the airport in Caracas, or do i invest in a pre paid credit card and use this at ATM machines...what i really need to know how much money do i need if i need to pay for Food and travel only an day to day expenses..and is it expensive at most restaurants..
I have no comparrison. I have been told it is the same as USA and the costs is similar...so does this mean a whopper at Burger King in the USA is 5 bucks..so it is about 15,000 bolivar if it is about 3000 to 1dollar? IS this soo?

I hope someone who is living in Venezuela can share a bit if you are working and living on both currency ..how far will my dollar go? SInce the value has decreased in the last couple of years, does this mean the cost of every day living( por puestos, Milk , medical care and so on..remains expensive?

As well, any hints on a safe and reliable airline from Caracas to Barcelona airport( near Puerto La Cruz ) would be great. I have to get to Puerto La Cruz from Caracas. I am restricted to one major airlines, so I have to find an alternative route to Barcelona.

THanks for your comments, suggestions , advice ... I want to be prepared especially when it comes to money..sure to have other questions as I plan the trip

Cheers-

[starlagurl]

Here is a link I found to help you with your decision. I don't have any personal knowledge about Venezuela, but I think you should bring more money on a credit card than cash.

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/ven...money-and-costs

[starlagurl]

I asked my friend who used to live in Venezuela to give me some tips for you:

Here is what he says:

The thing with venezuelan currency is that there is a currency control exchange now. Which obviously generates a black market.

If you exchange your $ at a regular exchange house or bank, you get 2.15BsF per dollar. If you go to the black market, you get around 5BsF per dollar. The difference is huge as you can see. Lots of people use the black market daily, although its illegal. This is something i would recommend if i was on your position as a blogger in travelpod though, but i think people should know. If someone wants to use the black market, you'd need cash. Otherwise, use atms, but be very careful: dont accept help or advice from anyone. Credit cards are widely accepted at most places within the cities. If you travel with cash, be extra careful. If you go into the country or to the beach, you will need some cash for meals and souvenirs, but hotels and decent restaurants will accept credit.

Regarding the costs on the link you put on the forum, i think the meals might be a little bit above that estimate, but its a good reference otherwise.

The best advice you can give for people traveling to vzla is: be always with people you know. If you dont know anyone, couchsurf. Being with a local can lower your risks significantly.

No info on airlines though, sorry.

[sheenasumaria]

Hi There

I am working on a two month visit to Venezuela( near Puerto La Cruz) in the next few weeks.

I am trying to get my head around the exchange..do i take heaps of dollars( seems risky) and change it at the airport in Caracas, or do i invest in a pre paid credit card and use this at ATM machines...what i really need to know how much money do i need if i need to pay for Food and travel only an day to day expenses..and is it expensive at most restaurants..
I have no comparrison. I have been told it is the same as USA and the costs is similar...so does this mean a whopper at Burger King in the USA is 5 bucks..so it is about 15,000 bolivar if it is about 3000 to 1dollar? IS this soo?

I hope someone who is living in Venezuela can share a bit if you are working and living on both currency ..how far will my dollar go? SInce the value has decreased in the last couple of years, does this mean the cost of every day living( por puestos, Milk , medical care and so on..remains expensive?

As well, any hints on a safe and reliable airline from Caracas to Barcelona airport( near Puerto La Cruz ) would be great. I have to get to Puerto La Cruz from Caracas. I am restricted to one major airlines, so I have to find an alternative route to Barcelona.

THanks for your comments, suggestions , advice ... I want to be prepared especially when it comes to money..sure to have other questions as I plan the trip

Cheers-

Hi,

I am currently in Venezuela...and would definitely recommend you take dollars with you. The exchange rate makes a huge difference in terms of pricing (around 2-3 times). I haven´t changed money at airports, but through contacts of local friends. You don´t need to go to the street to change money, but many families are willing to provide a fair rate (currently around 5BsF to the $). An average meal here costs around 15-25BsF, which is about $3-5 (black market rate) or $7.5-12.5 (official rate). Average living costs amount to 50BsF a night. As for travel, city buses cost around 1BsF per journey...and a bus from Caracas to P. La Cruz between 30-50BsF.

Hope that helps!

Ps. the new currency is BsF (dividing original bolivares by 1000) - so be aware of this when you change money

Sheena

[beba11]

Hi I Live in Caracas near to the airport of la Guayra, here each day change the cost per dollar....(we must evaluate the aproximately value of the day)....

I work like financial asesor specially in dollars transfers on my country, and If you need Bolivars safe I can bring you these posibilitie, how?



If you are interesting you can find me at papia5@yahoo.com, and also we can talk and comunicate....


see you soon

beba

[fight4rave]

Hi all!

i'm going to isla margarita in few weeks and maybe i'll start working there (i hope to..)

anybody knows if is it better to bring dollars or euro with me for change in the black market?
friends from there told me that i can change 1euro at 6vef in porlamar, but now the dollar is very cheap for me (0.75 euro) so i would like to know the "black rate" of dollar us..

thanks!

[scubagirlve]

Hello I am a teacher of tourism with taste it will help you, nowadays the price of the dollar and the black market has gone down price because the government I emit a great quantity of purchase of dollars, approximately the dollar this one to 4.5 bs. for $ And the Euro little more. remembers that you must not change in public sites(places), and only with right-hand people, if the quantity is very big what mas I recommend to you is for bank transference, Any information that you need, consult me to my e-mail, rodriguezlvlza@gmail.com, many regards fp

Hi all!

i'm going to isla margarita in few weeks and maybe i'll start working there (i hope to..)

anybody knows if is it better to bring dollars or euro with me for change in the black market?
friends from there told me that i can change 1euro at 6vef in porlamar, but now the dollar is very cheap for me (0.75 euro) so i would like to know the "black rate" of dollar us..

thanks!

[laorfamily]

To this day I remember my grandfather getting a kick out of the "black market" prices being published in the Israeli news papers as part of the exchange section.

All you needed to do is go to a bank and there will be someone outside willing to give you black market price right at the door, while you do the transaction on the street in daylight.

LOL.

Now that I'm a bit older and a lot wiser I realize that those were the honest people - the thieves were sitting in the bank.