Isla Margarita

[RamDavidson84]

We may put a smile and be genuinely friendly, but I assure you that every person working retail, working behind a counter or serving at a restaurant has all sorts of crippling economic troubles at home. I don't want to dismiss the struggles of the working class from any first world nations because obviously everybody has problems weighing on their shoulders, but here in Venezuela that funny waiter at a high end steak house that makes the customers feel like his best friends probably has "how the hell I am going to feed my family tomorrow" in his mind. This is unavoidable in a country where the miniimum wage is not even $1 a day.

Just a curious question which I am genuinely asking. Why doesn't Venezuela and Cuba just adopt capitalism and free trade with the rest of the world? It's obviously horrific trying to run the country according to their current policy. From my perspective, I am shocked the people haven't rebelled and taken Maduro and his regime out of power, same thing with Castro in Cuba. What are they trying to accomplish exactly? It's so tragic to see both nation's struggle and I am not saying I totally agree with the embargo's placed on them by the USA, but I also truly believe in freedom for people and a free market to pursue your dreams and let those who are hungry for more in life make the most of themselves in this world. I could never support a government which keeps its' people from even leaving the country because their government is so ineffective at providing opportunity for its people.

A huge problem I have seen across Latin America is hugely talented, smart, capable individuals just working dead end severely low paying jobs because there is a massive lack of opportunity in their countries. Really sad to see. And on the other end, for the most part they seem happy, content, and healthy and are usually a pleasure to interact with.

[MaraCucho]

I have not seen any desperation.

We may put a smile and be genuinely friendly, but I assure you that every person working retail, working behind a counter or serving at a restaurant has all sorts of crippling economic troubles at home. I don't want to dismiss the struggles of the working class from any first world nations because obviously everybody has problems weighing on their shoulders, but here in Venezuela that funny waiter at a high end steak house that makes the customers feel like his best friends probably has "how the hell I am going to feed my family tomorrow" in his mind. This is unavoidable in a country where the miniimum wage is not even $1 a day.

[The Cane]

But its the failures of capitalism that I see here. The disgusting segregation of the country in to haves and have nots. The crazy inequality and injustice that there must have been here.

Unfortunately, I found Venezuela to be a very racist place as well. I have traveled extensively throughout Latin America, and Venezuela was the absolute worst for this kind of thing based on my personal experiences. Lots of inequality and injustice, lots of arrogance among the rich, and lots of racism. Well, I bet they aren't feeling so arrogant anymore are they?

[JustTK]

straying far from what the socialist doctrine says. So, if Socialism is tried again and again and it never works as intended, there must be a point where people have to agree that it simply won't work.

be wary of using a credit card anywhere,.

But its the failures of capitalism that I see here. The disgusting segregation of the country in to haves and have nots. The crazy inequality and injustice that there must have been here.

I don't have any option but to pay bills by card bcos I can't get cash. So far the people are very friendly and helpful in the limited roles that they can play. I have not seen any desperation. Just people getting along w their simple lives.

[MaraCucho]

You can see all around how Veneluela was a deeply class-ridden society. You see pockets of shining glory. Huge opulent hotels, gated communities of marine-side detahed houses with privately owned yachts, decadent shopping malls selling designers goods at prices way above neightbouring countries. And all surrounded by squalour. Flithy neighbourhoods with broken pavement and roads, taxis with cracked windscreens and wornout seats, with downtrodden people trying to grind out an existence.

This is a Hellscape. A dystopian future for us all under capitalism, that funnels all cash to the top, the 1%, and the exploitation of an ever widening pool of underclasses. This is not caused by socialism. It is caused by rampant authoritarian capitalism. The type we can see taking over the entire world.

So I came to have a look. To play my small part in trying to support the local economy to recover. But it is hard work. The banking system is completely isolated from the international financial system. This means it is not possible to use the ATMs to withdraw cash, there are no foriegn exchange bureaus, no ready access to cash that nearly all of us take for granted. The only mechanisms are to send money via Western Union (but they won't allow you to use foreign ID to accept the cash, you need to send to a Venezuelan that you trust. And in any case its super expensive), or to make a foreign exchange swap with a local that can give you dollars inside the country in exchange for a bank depsoit to their USD bank in the US somewhere (again, quite a lot of trust required).

The people are friendly, and tourists are certainly a novelty at this stage, but if you want to visit, my advice is to bring big bags of cash. USD only. You can use bank cards to pay for goods in hotels, big supermarkets, and higher quality restaurants, but you need cash for street action and day to day living. Venezuela is a very cash based society, and you need cash to access it. For ths reason, I will have to leave earlier than I had hoped, and return once the USA-led crippling financial sanctions ease.

I don't like going political, but I must say this: while it is true that what do we have here in Venezuela is not textbook socialism, historically the same goes to every nation that attempts socialsim. Even those few that don't fail (IE: Vietnam), they only do so by straying far from what the socialist doctrine says. So, if Socialism is tried again and again and it never works as intended, there must be a point where people have to agree that it simply won't work.

Another thing, what you say about the use of cash (and by cash = USD, nobody gives a damn about bolivares) is true, I'd be wary of using a credit card anywhere, even in high end places. OK, paying your stay in a five star hotel is probably safe, but even a luxury restaurant in the nicer parts of Caracas, (like Las Mercerdes or La Castellana) the people serving you are as downtrodden and desperate as those you see selling stuff in the streets, and the temptation of pulling a "chanchullo" on a guy that they perceive as rich would be too great.

[JustTK]

You can see all around how Veneluela was a deeply class-ridden society. You see pockets of shining glory. Huge opulent hotels, gated communities of marine-side detahed houses with privately owned yachts, decadent shopping malls selling designers goods at prices way above neightbouring countries. And all surrounded by squalour. Flithy neighbourhoods with broken pavement and roads, taxis with cracked windscreens and wornout seats, with downtrodden people trying to grind out an existence.

This is a Hellscape. A dystopian future for us all under capitalism, that funnels all cash to the top, the 1%, and the exploitation of an ever widening pool of underclasses. This is not caused by socialism. It is caused by rampant authoritarian capitalism. The type we can see taking over the entire world.

So I came to have a look. To play my small part in trying to support the local economy to recover. But it is hard work. The banking system is completely isolated from the international financial system. This means it is not possible to use the ATMs to withdraw cash, there are no foriegn exchange bureaus, no ready access to cash that nearly all of us take for granted. The only mechanisms are to send money via Western Union (but they won't allow you to use foreign ID to accept the cash, you need to send to a Venezuelan that you trust. And in any case its super expensive), or to make a foreign exchange swap with a local that can give you dollars inside the country in exchange for a bank depsoit to their USD bank in the US somewhere (again, quite a lot of trust required).

The people are friendly, and tourists are certainly a novelty at this stage, but if you want to visit, my advice is to bring big bags of cash. USD only. You can use bank cards to pay for goods in hotels, big supermarkets, and higher quality restaurants, but you need cash for street action and day to day living. Venezuela is a very cash based society, and you need cash to access it. For ths reason, I will have to leave earlier than I had hoped, and return once the USA-led crippling financial sanctions ease.

[Jasoonnn]

Hi Jasoonnn,

Assuming you live in Canada and that Margarita is not around the corner, it has to be a fantastic place for cheap pro's and non pro's mongering. It is your 2nd time there in less than a month...

Because I want to go there myself, the sooner the better, a few questions:

1. How did you get there? If flying, where did you buy the ticket and for which airline? Still Avior?

2. Where did you stay this time? Hotel? Air bnb?

3. How to get around the shortage of cash? How much does a RIF cost?

4. Are you willing to share your contacts - speak fluent spanish - with fellow mongers?

5. Any business opportunities, like buying a house?

Looking forward to your reply, THANKS!

Hi Tavares,

Yes, I am in Canada, so travel is a bit long, specially because Porlamar doesn't have any internationl flights (not that I'm aware of).

Here are the answers to your questions:

1. I used Avior to get into Venezuela. They have international stops of Miami, Panama, Bogota and Lima. So I flew to Panama from Canada, and took avior from there on. So it was Canada. Panama. Valencia, then Porlamar. I believe Copa Air also does PTY to Caracas, so that is another option too. Some of the other smaller Venezuelan airlines also go around that area, but I didn't check up on that.

2. I stayed at the same place as before, but paid less as I paid them in Bolivares, and not thru Airbnb. Hotels are also available for around 5 $ a day.

3. I didn't really need much cash, as I used bank card or transfers to pay for everything. If you need cash, you pay about double the price for it. Example, you pay 200.000 in transfer to get a 100.000 bill. A RIF is illegal to get for foreigners on tourist visas, so had to grease some palms to get it. If you want to know the details, you can PM me.

4. Sure PM for contact deails.

5. I wouldn't look at houses, but apartments with security are about 35 k - 60 k (USD) depending on location and size etc.

[Tavares]

Just got back from Margarita again. This time I went with a friend, and was even better. To sum up quickly:.

- Still a GREAT place to visit.

- Still pretty safe place, but of course be vigilant. We always had a couple of locals with us at night, and walked around a bit too. But still no chains / watches / rings etc, to be safe.

- Still not a lot of BVF cash, so NEED a bank card to be able to do anything.

- On the last day I was able to change the dollar for 254 each. The best rate is for 100's and 50's, then goes lower for the 20's and 10's. I was able to get 100.000 bvf for a dollar bill from some bouncers or bathroom stall guys.

- I took a lot of smaller USD bills this time for tips, or for cabs that didn't take transferencia.

- Made some guy friends, who got some of his university girl friends to come party with us at the house and at a couple of the clubs. A night out with 3 bottles, food and drinks + "green and white" for about 8 people cost us about 100 $ at the top club (bora bora).

- One of the male friends spoke English, so my friend (who didn't speak any Spanish) hired him for 500.000 per day to help him translate when he was with girls.

- Had a taxi guy with us when we needed him for about $5 a day (could have negotiated cheaper but he was an awesome guy and had good connections to keep us safe).

- Only had the chance to get one Pro, and I think it was 5. 000.000 ($25) to take out 2 of them from (one for my friend) Mediterranean.

- Most of the other lucky ladies were contacts I had from earlier, or met at clubs, or through guy friends there.

- I paid (a lot) to get a RIF, and was able to open my own bank account now. This helps as I'm looking to go there more often as well as do some business there.

- We had a big lunch with 8 people at a great resto by the water (El Fondeadero), with a mix of steak / pasta / chicken / fish, plus wine, beers, juice etc, and the total came out to under 5. 000.000 ($20).

That is all I can remember for now, but Margarita is a great place. Can't get this type of value for money anywhere in this world that I can think of, at least not in the western hemisphere.

Any questions, fire away!

Hi Jasoonnn,

Assuming you live in Canada and that Margarita is not around the corner, it has to be a fantastic place for cheap pro's and non pro's mongering. It is your 2nd time there in less than a month...

Because I want to go there myself, the sooner the better, a few questions:

1. How did you get there? If flying, where did you buy the ticket and for which airline? Still Avior?

2. Where did you stay this time? Hotel? Air bnb?

3. How to get around the shortage of cash? How much does a RIF cost?

4. Are you willing to share your contacts - speak fluent spanish - with fellow mongers?

5. Any business opportunities, like buying a house?

Looking forward to your reply, THANKS!

[Jasoonnn]

Just got back from Margarita again. This time I went with a friend, and was even better. To sum up quickly:.

- Still a GREAT place to visit.

- Still pretty safe place, but of course be vigilant. We always had a couple of locals with us at night, and walked around a bit too. But still no chains / watches / rings etc, to be safe.

- Still not a lot of BVF cash, so NEED a bank card to be able to do anything.

- On the last day I was able to change the dollar for 254 each. The best rate is for 100's and 50's, then goes lower for the 20's and 10's. I was able to get 100.000 bvf for a dollar bill from some bouncers or bathroom stall guys.

- I took a lot of smaller USD bills this time for tips, or for cabs that didn't take transferencia.

- Made some guy friends, who got some of his university girl friends to come party with us at the house and at a couple of the clubs. A night out with 3 bottles, food and drinks + "green and white" for about 8 people cost us about 100 $ at the top club (bora bora).

- One of the male friends spoke English, so my friend (who didn't speak any Spanish) hired him for 500.000 per day to help him translate when he was with girls.

- Had a taxi guy with us when we needed him for about $5 a day (could have negotiated cheaper but he was an awesome guy and had good connections to keep us safe).

- Only had the chance to get one Pro, and I think it was 5. 000.000 ($25) to take out 2 of them from (one for my friend) Mediterranean.

- Most of the other lucky ladies were contacts I had from earlier, or met at clubs, or through guy friends there.

- I paid (a lot) to get a RIF, and was able to open my own bank account now. This helps as I'm looking to go there more often as well as do some business there.

- We had a big lunch with 8 people at a great resto by the water (El Fondeadero), with a mix of steak / pasta / chicken / fish, plus wine, beers, juice etc, and the total came out to under 5. 000.000 ($20).

That is all I can remember for now, but Margarita is a great place. Can't get this type of value for money anywhere in this world that I can think of, at least not in the western hemisphere.

Any questions, fire away!

[Jasoonnn]

I understand you very well, Jasoonnn, after the great week you spent in Porlamar.

Apparently there is a canadian living there who owns a hotel and helps his guests. Sent an e-mail a few months ago but never got any reply. I would like to go there myself, but to get from Europe to IsMargarita is a nightmare and to be frank I do not trust Avior: 35 year old planes, lack of spare parts, cancelled flights a. S. o.

As far as Conviasa is concerned, forget about buying a ticket on line. And at their counters either!

I once did Caracas-Puerto la Cruz by road and then crossed by ferry to Margarita. Everything was perfect but that was a looong time ago, in 1998.

I know Ferries are an option from Puerto la Cruz or Cumana, so maybe try and get a flight until there.

This is the link for Conferry, with their updated schedules: https://twitter.com/lanuevaconferry?lang=en.

[Tavares]

I just saw that as well. Hope they resolve it without Visa restrictions, was looking forward to going back to Vzla soon.

I understand you very well, Jasoonnn, after the great week you spent in Porlamar.

Apparently there is a canadian living there who owns a hotel and helps his guests. Sent an e-mail a few months ago but never got any reply. I would like to go there myself, but to get from Europe to IsMargarita is a nightmare and to be frank I do not trust Avior: 35 year old planes, lack of spare parts, cancelled flights a. S. o.

As far as Conviasa is concerned, forget about buying a ticket on line. And at their counters either!

I once did Caracas-Puerto la Cruz by road and then crossed by ferry to Margarita. Everything was perfect but that was a looong time ago, in 1998.

[Jasoonnn]

You were lucky Jasoonnn! After this diplomatic row between Canada and Vzla with the reciprocal expulsion of ambassadors, canadians most probably will soon need a visa for Vzla.

I just saw that as well. Hope they resolve it without Visa restrictions, was looking forward to going back to Vzla soon.

[Tavares]

Thanks Kazeu. I'm Canadian so didn't need a visa. I am allowed 90 days from the day of landing. I can't really comment on US visas and didn't see or meet any Americans while I was there.

In the General thread there is some talk about US visas so maybe that might help.

You were lucky Jasoonnn! After this diplomatic row between Canada and Vzla with the reciprocal expulsion of ambassadors, canadians most probably will soon need a visa for Vzla.

[Jasoonnn]

Jason, thanks for this post. You've earned my admiration. I was wondering what your nationality is? I'm from the USA and wondering if you were as well and what your experience might have been like getting a visa for Venezuela. The USA and Venezuela aren't on the best of terms right now.

Thanks Kazeu. I'm Canadian so didn't need a visa. I am allowed 90 days from the day of landing. I can't really comment on US visas and didn't see or meet any Americans while I was there.

In the General thread there is some talk about US visas so maybe that might help.

[Kazeu]

Jason, thanks for this post. You've earned my admiration. I was wondering what your nationality is? I'm from the USA and wondering if you were as well and what your experience might have been like getting a visa for Venezuela. The USA and Venezuela aren't on the best of terms right now.

Had been reading this forum and decided I'd like to explore Venezuela. Did a lot of research so kind of knew how to prepare beforehand for money, transfers and a debit card.

My trip was from Nov 27 till Dec 3. (Monday to Sunday). I'm 35, and my Spanish is pretty good and have been to Colombia 3 times, and other Latin places a few times too, so I thought I'd take the next step.

Did a pre-search on tinder and some on Seeking arrangement and matched with a bunch in the Puerto la Cruz and Barcelona area. Also had a few in Isla margarita but not that many. One that did match told me she would help me with her dad's debit card and try and arrange for some cash. It turned out she would be out of town the week I was there so she gave me her sisters number who was also super-hot but I didn't expect to have relations with her (more on that later).\