Holiday in Venezuela vs holiday in Thailand

[ubonr1971]

Obviously we know how easy it is to travel in thailand where the only dangers are driving on the road and lady boys. Take a look at my report below re a holiday to Venezuela. It was a few yrs ago but even I would not go back now. Ive travelled over 75 countries since the early 90s but would not consider V as a holiday option. The situation is desperate there now under the current socialist dictatorship. 

 

If you are feeling your life is tough in Thailand have a think about the locals in V 

cheers

 

 

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Just wanted to say something about going to Venezuela, Caracas, in July 2017

 

I changed money in the airport. People said not to do it. I'm not recommending doing it. I'm just saying that's what I did. I did it because the only people who could see me were other passengers around the carousels. When the lady gave it to me, I quickly wrapped it in a sheet of paper and put it in a backpack.I also followed the logic that it was less risky than walking out of a bank. If you throw out $100 you will have 100s of their money about 6-8 inches high. It looks like a lot. And in fact, a stack of their cash was one of my souvenirs from the trip. 
But again, some people have said that the airport is a dangerous place to do it. It is! There are people walking around who look like they could just pull out a gun and blow your head off, once you get through customs and exit through Arrivals. 

But my logic was the banks were more dangerous. So I just did it. But don't do it because I said so. I'm simply stating what I did. 
Oh, and one last side note. When I got in the taxi, I had a bad feeling. So I had a knife in the back seat. I planned on stabbing the driver before he turned me over to his gang, or whatever. Nothing happened, but I was 'that' prepared. And it was tense, but I did get to the hotel without a problem. And this taxi was just some guy with an old car, who knew another guy, tinted windows etc. Not a real taxi, but it was the same thing. Risky. 
I definitely felt safer with that guy as opposed to the brown-toothed guys with a few missing, saying 'taxi.'

 

I came into the airport. I had prebooked transportation with the hotel. The transportation was cancelled, a middleman cancelled my hotel, also on a credit card, because the hotel would only do everything by credit card. 
I had to get a taxi, which people have been murdered, kidnapped, or robbed in. I went to the same hotel to learn more about what had happened, and got a room. The middleman who apparently worked with a major internet hotel reservation sight committed fraud. I reported it when I got home to the credit card company.

In September, someone started using my credit card and committing fraud worth hundreds of dollars. I was contacted by the company and had to cancel the card. I had to get a new card.

Anyway, nothing major happened to me. But I know as some have said here before I left that it could. And I can't necessarily get into their mindset, but I can tell you that if I was one of them, I could easily find it in my heart to rob you, and if need be kill you. It's a dangerous proposition. 
Yes, I did it. But I was already booked, flights, many flights throughout South America, visa, hotel, etc. So I did do it and I wanted to reach a certain travel goal. 

 

It's probably gotten worse since then. I got a hotel and went on several long walks around the city. I blended in really well with the beard, no backpacks, etc. And i think at least from a distance I passed for one of them. I didn't really have any problems on the street. But it was easy to see how someone could. When I was walking, most men wouldn't walk on the same side of the street if they were approaching each other. They would cross the street to avoid each other. i walked up on one guy. I was just walking passed him to the hotel. He turned around and with the biggest eyes looked like 'this was it' and disappeared through a small park area. A similar thing happened with another guy. And I didn't look any worse than anyone else, but I didn't look any better either. I blended well.

If you didn't blend well, i think you would be an instant target. I mean I would take you out if I was one of them and was able to spot you. Why not? The chance of facing punitive consequences is less than 10%. I have over a 90% chance of not getting caught and you mean nothing to me because I'm hungry and hopeless.

I walked into some stores. There was no water for sale. Gatorade and stuff like that was available.

 

However, my advice is to wait until after the collapse and go to some other countries. Then go there after it's corrected.  But I just thought for those who haven't been there in the last few months and are thinking about going to V I wouldn't recommend it. I'm not the first to say that here. 
Anyway, if something happens to you, as it's happening, or before it happens, remember that you were given the heads up. Take care and happy travels~

 

 

[Kwasaki]

1 hour ago, ubonr1971 said:

However, my advice is to wait until after the collapse and go to some other countries.

Yeah Yemen is nice this time of year.

[ghworker2010]

Anyone interested in the hardships going on should watch on youtube: France24 channel 'dancing with the dead: Venezuelans turn to desperate measures to....'

 

Its a lawless state now. Is civil war next?