Anybody been to Venezuela?

Skynut

I may have a chance to go to Caracas for a couple of days to work.
I have never been to south America and was wondering if any of you have any input about the conditions of Caracas or any experience traveling there.

I am not real interested in being kidnapped or killed while I am trying to earn money to support my family.

I heard that travel from the airport to the city needs to be done during daylight hours because of "violent armed roberies" on the road to and from.

I also read that threre is more violence out side Caracas in the slums than there is in the city.


Basically I am going there to help a can manufacturer fix their machines to make better cans.
I figure I will be there about 4-5 days.

I have a couple of weeks to decide, plus I have not been offered the job yet but I am working on a bid.


Thanks for any advice.

Demiurge

Hey.

WHERE THE EFF YOU BEEN?

Skynut

Demiurge wrote: »

Hey.

Sup Demi?

I have been real busy lately, my company just closed my plant and I am trying to figure out how to become self employed.

Demiurge

Not much.

That sucks. Good luck with the new gig. I dont know anything about Venezuela, so no help there.

dkg999

I've worked in several South American countries, but not in Venezuela. You'll want to check on the work VISA situation, as some other countries require a VISA if you are going there for anything work related. In Brazil, Chile, and Argentina we stay in gated/guarded American friendly hotels, and you don't go outside of the compound without escort. Executive (ie American worker) kidnapping is a sport in South America. We've had a couple of people get escorted off a street into a waiting car. In both cases they have just run $500 or $1000 on their AMEX card, and taken them back to their hotel. They seemed to know if they actually hurt anyone, that the gov is then going to crack down on them. BTW - they kept one of them about 6 hrs, apologized for the delay, and threw a couple of hookers in the room with him to keep him entertained!

Ricardo

You should have no problem if you use common sense and a couple safety measures. Crime is bad and being a gringo with dollars will flag you as a target....if you're in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Here's a couple of things you must do:
-Don't use the airport taxis; the company you will go work for should provide a pick up service. Someone will be expecting you at the airport. Usually they will not carry a sign with your name, but with the company name; you'll approach them and ask THEM for the name of the person they are expecting. If they cannot provide that (I doubt it), I can give you details of one I use.
-Don't go out for a walk at nights alone. Period. Not sure what hotel you'll stay, but some 5 starts are located in "red" areas. Once you know where you'll stay I can provide more details of what you can do.
-Do you know where's the factory located? Industrial areas are normally outside Caracas and might be dangerous. You might want them to provide to/from transportation. Once you know let me know.

Other than following these steps and avoid being too obvious, Caracas has some of the best restaurants in the world, and some malls where you can sit down for hours just to watch the most beautiful women (I think it's 5 Miss Universe now).

If you decide to go, I can provide more tips.

Skynut

Thanks dkg999.
I kida feel like I can stay aware of my surroundings well enough to stay safe but then again, what do I know?
I don't want to get hurt or taken advantage of if I go.
It is just for work so if that is all I do then so be it however, if it turns out to be a nice place I may want to check out some sites in my free time.

I just don't want to put myself in a real bad spot just for money.

Thanks for the info.

obieone

Um, just a thought, but check the state dept. website for travel advisory? I'ts not like Hugo is all warm & fuzzy for yankees

Skynut

Ricardo wrote: »

You should have no problem if you use common sense and a couple safety measures. Crime is bad and being a gringo with dollars will flag you as a target....if you're in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Here's a couple of things you must do:
-Don't use the airport taxis; the company you will go work for should provide a pick up service. Someone will be expeting you at the airport. Usually they will not carry a sign with your name, but with the company name; you'll approach them and ask THEM for the name of the person they are expecting. If they cannot provide that (I doubt it), I can give you details of one I use.
-Don't go out for a walk at nights alone. Period. Not sure what hotel you'll stay, but some 5 starts are located in "red" areas. Once you knao where you'll stay I can provide more details of what you can do.
-Do you know where's the factory located? Industrial areas are normally outside Caracas and might be dangerous. You might want them to provide to/from transportation. Once you know let me know.

Other than following these steps and avoid being too obvious, Caracas has some of the best restaurants in the world, and some malls where you can sit down for hours just to watch the most beautiful women (I think it's 5 Miss Univeres now).

If you decide to go, I can provide more tips.

Thanks alot.
Great info here.
If I get to go I will let you know and maybe you can help some more.
Thanks

jdhdiggs

Sky:

When we were in Colombia we contracted a driver/security detail and it worked REALLY well. Nothing like an armed guy who knows the place driving you around-A whole lot of piece of mind for $60/day.

Skynut

Ricardo wrote: »

-Do you know where's the factory located? Industrial areas are normally outside Caracas and might be dangerous. You might want them to provide to/from transportation. Once you know let me know.

Address:
Calle Medina Angarita #116-03
Zona Industrial Cagua, Apdo. 1350
Cagua - Estado Aragua - Venezuela

Skynut

jdhdiggs wrote: »

Sky:

When we were in Colombia we contracted a driver/security detail and it worked REALLY well. Nothing like an armed guy who knows the place driving you around-A whole lot of piece of mind for $60/day.

Great idea, how did you find one?

Ricardo

Skynut wrote: »

Address:
Calle Medina Angarita #116-03
Zona Industrial Cagua, Apdo. 1350
Cagua - Estado Aragua - Venezuela

That's a bit more than one hour drive from Caracas. Maybe 2 hours depending on where you stay in Caracas (You need to check if you'd stay in Caracas or Cagua. If you stay in Cagua, I'm pretty sure there won't be much to do. But crime will not be as bad as in Caracas).

Ricardo

Skynut wrote: »

Great idea, how did you find one?

In Colombia this is a lot more common than in Venezuela; not that you won't find one, but at least I wouldn't know where to look.

jdhdiggs

Well, my company set it up the first time and I was given a picture of the driver and the driver had one of me and a code word. The second time I was down there with a son of the Col. in charge of the Colombian version of the Rangers and he set it up. (that guy was super badass)

You can probably talk to local management down there or contact the US Embassy for reputible companies. I'll do some research when I go back to work on Monday.

Skynut

Ricardo wrote: »

If you stay in Cagua, I'm pretty sure there won't be much to do. But crime will not be as bad as in Caracas).

I am not real worried about being bored for a couple of days if I stay safe.

If I feel safe I will want to check stuff out but if not I can stay in my hotel when not at work.

Skynut

jdhdiggs wrote: »

Well, my company set it up the first time and I was given a picture of the driver and the driver had one of me and a code word. The second time I was down there with a son of the Col. in charge of the Colombian version of the Rangers and he set it up. (that guy was super badass)

You can probably talk to local management down there or contact the US Embassy for reputible companies. I'll do some research when I go back to work on Monday.

Sweet.
I just hope I get offered to go.

dkg999

The one guy in our company that got snatched was ex-special forces (although probably Vietnam era) and said it was a well run snatch operation. He had a name for it, but I don't remember it. I do remember it was about 6 to 10 people in on it who just funnelled him to an open van door, not really a chance to escape. We were all briefed by our Haliburton security team on how to react to certain scenarios, this one included. This guy was Mr Tuff ex-military I can take care of myself and decided to go for a sight-seeing walk without an escort. I think they had him covered as soon as he exited our hotel compound. We all wanted him to show us how to get snatched because he said the hookers were good looking and $1000 for 4 hours with two girls was a pretty decent rate :eek:

Skynut

dkg999 wrote: »

We all wanted him to show us how to get snatched because he said the hookers were good looking and $1000 for 4 hours with two girls was a pretty decent rate :eek:

Now thats funny, I don't car who you are.

I did just get a call from them and they want me to come.

I am pretty stoked.


They are in Cagua and will pick me up at the airport.
He says that Cagua is in the country and is beautiful.

I wont be able to travel till the beginning of may so I have time to make solid plans for the trip.

Thanks for all the input from everyone, I want to do my homework before I am kidnapped by hot hookers.

mule

I had a friend from Colombia, he was a pro cyclist and did the 96 olympics for Colombia. I wanted him to take me there on vacation to ride bikes in the mountains. He said "Gringo no go" he did not want his safety to be at risk by being with me, he said they would kidnap me and then when they found out that I didn't have any money they would kill me. I think he was very serious.

My friend Jim is going to Ecuador to compete in a downhill race. I am envious, it looks absolutely amazing.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ANBv9bvax0U&feature=related

George Grand

South and Central America are great places. Ecuador, Paraguay, Panama, Uruguay ......

All great places where the women are incredibly hot and totally out of control. Go out into the countryside a bit and small businesses hire young guys with a "Who's better than me" attitude to stand out front with shotguns and bandaleros. That's the "store security" down there. Real wild west ****. I love it. In downtown Quito, I went into a bank with another guy so he could change US dollars into whatever they were down there. I got out of there as fast as I could, left him standing on the line. There were enough Ecuadoran federales or Army guys in that bank lobby to take on a German armored division. If any poor fool went in there to rob that bank, and those guys started shooting, insects wouldn't have made it out of there intact.

Bring us back some Venezuelan rum. Santa Teresa or Anniversario will do it.

Ricardo

Good to hear they want you to go; having them pick you up at the airport and take you to Cagua pretty much covers the major concerns. Just have some common sense and don't look for trouble; not much I can recommend in Cagua, but they'll know what places are safe. As I said, less crime as it is a smaller city. Of course you'll find a few drunks as in any other town

Cagua is pretty close to the "Hacienda Santa Teresa" where they produce the best rum in the world (IMHO). They have guided tours, and if you have a chance (and like rum), it would be a pretty cool thing to do. Bring a bottle of Santa Teresa 1796 for George.

http://www.ronsantateresa.com/

Skynut

I can go for a rum tour, I like rum.