General Info

[DonCarlos1234]

This seemed like good information. I did everything exactly the way suggested here. So in a few weeks I'll find out if I succeeded.

SFC VNZ Consulate office was very friendly. Your mileage may vary.

http://liveandletsfly.boardingarea.c...for-venezuela/

I might cross over by land with or without the Tourist Visa. (You only live once).

[Mfins]

I have researched this and ask around and found out that you must obtain a visa in the states before you travel so you like me are dead in the water.

TTM.

I have heard quite a few stories that if you cross the border by land, you can either give a small bribe or cross with just a passport. Of course once in Venezuela if the police check your passport and you do not have a visa then it could mean big trouble. I'm not encouraging anyone to try this but, I am wondering if anyone has heard (as I have) that US citizens have been successful in passing over the border by land without a visa.

[GreatGuy1234]

I'm Canadian so should be good for 3 months.

[The Tall Man]

Does anyone have any experience with crossing into Venezuela by land from Cucuta Colombia? Are the authorities going to steal my laptop? I'm in Bogota right now and was thinking about flying to Cucuta, then crossing by land, then flying domestically from some nearby town to Caracas. Or even just taking the bus to Caracas.

I have researched this and ask around and found out that you must obtain a visa in the states before you travel so you like me are dead in the water.

TTM.

[SeanWilkds]

That was me, hahaha, Glad to hear that a recommendation helped somebody.

And man, you have brass balls for going to the Volta, most mongers would see that dilapidated building and run away. I always found the quality in the Volta very mixed and definitely most of the women are not exactly stunners, but from time to time you can find a gem there.

Also, please do mention where did you find that 12 K place.

Yeah, my first impression (and first service) at the volta was a bit intimidating. The building is just one step above being condemned there is not always running water, and they do not change the sheets more than once a day. It would not look out of place in 1980's Alphabet City. So definitely not the kind of place a lot of western men will patronize, but I end up spending a lot of time there, because it is very nearby where I stay, and it is open Sunday, and late as well. There are a lot of girls there that are not attractive and will not give a good service, but there are about 6-8 that are attractive and / or offer good service. I have also invited a couple of them to my hotel for about 100,000/ HR. And have not had any problems. One stayed the whole night for 200,000. The place actually grew on me a bit, the management on the first floor is friendly and honest, and in my opinion it is not so much the crack working girl level of a brothel that it first appears. I have met 3-4 that give good deepthroat, and CIM. The place in centro is in a centro commercial directly across from metro station Parque Carabobo. It is on the 6th or 7th floor (pretty sure the 7th and has a red door. To reach the elevators you walk to the end of the hallways, then turn left and then turn right. Not all the elevators reach all the floors, so you my advice is get off on the 7th if possible or if not the and the 8th. Start looking for the red door (not too difficult it is a small building) on the 7th and if it is not there (90% sure that it is the 7th), then go down another floor and look on the 6th or ask someone who looks like they won't be offended and may know. That is what I did the first time. I was not sure the first time and asked someone and they confirmed then I rang the bell. I was there just a few days ago and the price was still 12,000 and there were three young (18-22 year old) reasonably attractive and not bad service and 3-4 others that where not interesting to me. I will definitely stop in again, when I am nearby and confirm the price is current and which floor it is on. I also found 4 lower end brothels nearby in La Hoyada (they are all clustered within a block or two of each other nearby the Bombers, and have the same format, you enter a room which is tiled on the floor and the walls, there is a space where the girls sit, and then farther along, or behind a gate there are rooms for service. I didn't ask the price or take a service because there was no one attractive there to me. I may stop by again, but sort of doubt I will find anything interesting to me. Sort of mostly older and not attractive looking girls, but who knows there maybe a few attractive ones around. Better and also nearby is the Edificio Protexo (on Calle Urdaneta), roughly parallel to the place at Parque Carabobo (meaning you walk up-hill several blocks from there until you reach Calle Urdaneta then a couple of blocks along Urdaneta until you find Protexo, it is also a Centro Commercial, the elevators do not work and the stairs are slightly hidden. There are 3 Studios inside this building the first two are on floors 4+5 or 5+6 (sorry I don't remember exactly but 5 is for sure and the other is either one floor up or down, and both are at the far end of the hallway on your right as you exit the stairs. These places are also cheap and not too interesting in my opinion. One had fully naked girls on entering but only 2-3 and not super attractive the price was about 25 k. I think one took only cash and in the other you could pay with your card or cash. Better though (if you have the energy and don't think it is ridiculous walk up to the 11th floor) Yes, you walk up 11 flights of stairs inside a building with no working elevator. At the end of the hall also on your right as you exit the stairs is a set of dark glass doors and a buzzer. Ring the bell and they will let you in. I have met 2-3 attractive and young girls here who gave good, friendly, and enthusiastic service. The price was 40 k half hour and 80 for the hour. If you pay with your card it is slightly more than if you pay with cash.

[GreatGuy1234]

Does anyone have any experience with crossing into Venezuela by land from Cucuta Colombia? Are the authorities going to steal my laptop? I'm in Bogota right now and was thinking about flying to Cucuta, then crossing by land, then flying domestically from some nearby town to Caracas. Or even just taking the bus to Caracas.

[MaraCucho]

That issue I have been mentioning in past posts about a debit card account that I tried to open to a forum member, ended up in total failure. Said forum memeber will probably make his own post, but basically he paid for something that isn't usable and caused him a lot of troubles, and I must take responsability for that. I fully admit that I am not reliable for these sort of things, so please refrain from asking me to help in Venezuela.

[Blue Touch]

When you enter the country, do you have to show a proof of payment for a hotel reservation, or just a proof of reservation?

Thanks.

[MaraCucho]

. For example I went to studio Belladonna, the other day as recommended by another user.

That was me, hahaha, Glad to hear that a recommendation helped somebody.

And man, you have brass balls for going to the Volta, most mongers would see that dilapidated building and run away. I always found the quality in the Volta very mixed and definitely most of the women are not exactly stunners, but from time to time you can find a gem there.

Also, please do mention where did you find that 12 K place.

[SeanWilkds]

Places like stripclubs, escort agencies, and "spa estudios" will happily take your dollars. But if you want to go to a shopping mall and start paying and buying stuff using american currency, the vendors and shops can't take your cash openly because it's against the law. Keyword here is "openly", ask discreetly.

Also, the shortage of cash here is so bad, the few people that have bolivares are in a position to abuse and do whatever they want. Right now if you want to exchange dollars in physical bolivares bills, the rate is 50 K bolivares for 1 dollar. To make a comparision, working with bank transfers will net you a minumum of 80 K for 1 dollar, and you can get better rates.

And getting a local bank account in bolivares for a tourist is not impossible, you just have to find the right person and pay. Some warning here: I was setting up a tourist with a bank account, but unfortunately after paying over 9 million bolivares the bank people did a terrible job at it and the account was not usable. After several days of fighting (once those people have the cash on their pockets, there is little motivation for them to get things done fast) they promised to finally get it fixed this Monday. But the tourist leaves this Monday too. Damn.

I think it really depends on your contacts. I was getting 50 k almost 2 weeks ago when dolartoday was below 80, and I got 75 k per dollar for bolivars in effective just a few days ago, without pushing the price to hard and trying to get top dollar. Another user mentioned he was getting even more, so it is definitely possible. Even at 50 you can still manage very easily. I do most of my payments with a Venezuelan debit card, and avoid using cash as much as possible. That way $50 worth of bolo's last a long time. Since I don't take taxis really I only use efectivo for the few spa's I visit that don't accept debit card and tips for the girls, waiters at the restaurants, and the occasional helpful local.

Just a side note on costs here. It is too crazy to comprehend some days. For example I went to studio Belladonna, the other day as recommended by another user and paid 54,000 bolivars for an hour, with a very friendly chica, in a clean but small room and they accept debit cards, so only paid the tip in bolos. If anyone can actually believe I found a place in centro that charges 12,000 for half an hour, with a girl in a reasonably clean environment. Definitely low end even cheaper than the volta which is 20-25 k for 15-20 minutes. Mindnumbingly incomprehensibly cheap. In my opinion it is reasonably hygienic (in the sense that all of the spas (with the exception of Piccolo and the one in Bellomonte) are basic, minimally hygienic and no frills. Anyways Both places are cash only and at Volta I usually tip between 10-30 k depending on service and at the centro cheapy I tipped between 5-8,000. My hotel which is 3 star is charging 300 k and the other night I had a dinner of Octopus carpaccio, Greek salad, 4 sodas, and two "double" shots of fine rum (one which was 12 years old), and another that is a blend of rums between 5-25 years it cost about $8 and half of that was the two drinks.

[MaraCucho]

Today I saw that black market rate exceeded 10 k Bolivar for 1 us dollar. Crazy. I also read that the shortage of physical cash means that you can't get the black market rate (10 to 15 percent lower) in cash. Given that you can't setup a bank account with a tourist visa (no chance of bank transfers), do you think it is prudent to pay in us dollars? I realize that doing so will make me a target for price gouging, and also make me stand out even more as a foreigner which is unwise for safety reasons. Physically, it is impossible for me to blend in as a Venezuelan to begin with. However, using US dollars make transactions easier. I just want to know how happy vendors are to receive dollars for goods and services.

Thank you.

Places like stripclubs, escort agencies, and "spa estudios" will happily take your dollars. But if you want to go to a shopping mall and start paying and buying stuff using american currency, the vendors and shops can't take your cash openly because it's against the law. Keyword here is "openly", ask discreetly.

Also, the shortage of cash here is so bad, the few people that have bolivares are in a position to abuse and do whatever they want. Right now if you want to exchange dollars in physical bolivares bills, the rate is 50 K bolivares for 1 dollar. To make a comparision, working with bank transfers will net you a minumum of 80 K for 1 dollar, and you can get better rates.

And getting a local bank account in bolivares for a tourist is not impossible, you just have to find the right person and pay. Some warning here: I was setting up a tourist with a bank account, but unfortunately after paying over 9 million bolivares the bank people did a terrible job at it and the account was not usable. After several days of fighting (once those people have the cash on their pockets, there is little motivation for them to get things done fast) they promised to finally get it fixed this Monday. But the tourist leaves this Monday too. Damn.

[Questner]

https://dolartoday.com/

Paying in USD cash means you have to bring in that much cash into the country.

[Wraith43]

Today I saw that black market rate exceeded 10 k Bolivar for 1 us dollar. Crazy. I also read that the shortage of physical cash means that you can't get the black market rate (10 to 15 percent lower) in cash. Given that you can't setup a bank account with a tourist visa (no chance of bank transfers), do you think it is prudent to pay in us dollars? I realize that doing so will make me a target for price gouging, and also make me stand out even more as a foreigner which is unwise for safety reasons. Physically, it is impossible for me to blend in as a Venezuelan to begin with. However, using US dollars make transactions easier. I just want to know how happy vendors are to receive dollars for goods and services.

Thank you.

[Haitek]

Good morning gents,

I keep running into terms "bank transfers", or "acepto tranferencias bancarias", or "acepto pago movil" to pay for goods or services in Caracas. I don't understand how that works. (assuming I can get a bank account as a foreign tourist, which I know is impossibly hard) Do you have to go to the bank every time to setup a transfer per purchase, or is it done on a cellphone via app, or does "bank transfer" just equals paying by debit card? Just educating myself for a trip early next year.

Yes it's done with venezuelan banks web sites or their smartphobe applications. The money transfert tale usually 24h.

[Jasoonnn]

It's basically a peer to peer transfer which is done online over the Bank application or mobile browser. In Canada it's similar to an interact email transfer.

I'm in Isla margarita now since yesterday and just got a bank card from someone I know but haven't done bank transfers (transferencias) as yet because the account isn't set up as yet. BTW I think it's close to impossible to get a bank card if you're a non Venezuelan. I had to find someone (male) who would lend me their card. So far it's working good but I have 5 days left so going to wait and see how it goes.

Will post a report on Margarita soon. Took me a full day to get cash and a debit card. Its not as easy as going to a money exchanger to get bolivares so make sure you know what you're getting into before coming to Venezuela. Beautiful country but lot of work needs to be done to have access to cashflow here.

Good morning gents,

I keep running into terms "bank transfers", or "acepto tranferencias bancarias", or "acepto pago movil" to pay for goods or services in Caracas. I don't understand how that works. (assuming I can get a bank account as a foreign tourist, which I know is impossibly hard) Do you have to go to the bank every time to setup a transfer per purchase, or is it done on a cellphone via app, or does "bank transfer" just equals paying by debit card? Just educating myself for a trip early next year.