Caracas

Ah well, it was just a shot in the dark, heh! And that place I mentioned is the most expensive one in the island, when I was there I stayed in a Posada that charged about $22 a night with breakfast and dinner included. Still, LOS Roques isn't really a place for travelling in a tight budget. And about the girls, it depends but I say that they probably would be "semi-pros" to agree to that.

The cheapest price I found last May in a travel agency in Caracas was 300 dollars including two-way airlines ticket and 3 nights hotel in LOS Roques.

[QUOTE=BestHunter;2049610]Sorry, but I need an apartment, not a hotel.[/QUOTE]There are only hotels and posadas in LOS Roques.

[QUOTE=BestHunter;2049610]Sorry, but I need an apartment, not a hotel.[/QUOTE]For appartments in Caracas, why do not you check on airBnB and other venezuelian renting web sites?
But becareful with private appartments, in this moment in Caracas center downtown, there is water shortage from Wednesday to Saturday, you have water only during 3 short times by day (6 to 7am, 1 to 2pm and 7 to 8pm). There is also electricity shortage, but hopefully only on day time.

[QUOTE=Haitek;2049779]There are only hotels and posadas in LOS Roques.[/QUOTE]Actually there are no hotels in LOS Roques, only small posadas (and that one place with 4 apartments for rent). The archipielago is a protected nature reserve, so building permits are both hard to obtain and quite limited on what they allow there.

[QUOTE=MaraCucho;2048873]BestHunter, if you are a beach-going person, perhaps I can suggest you an alternative.

LOS Roques is a small Caribbean archipielago 130 km north of Caracas, quite paradisiacal and the absolute best touristic spot in Venezuela. In fact, one of the beaches there is considered among the top 10 worldwide. Being so removed from the mainland has the advantage of avoiding all the turmoil and threats that (sadly) are attached to making tourism in Venezuela, the main and only town (called Gran Roque) is very small and peaceful, the locals are polite and easygoing, and like I mentioned the place is simply lovely. Myself, I am as far removed as being a "beach person" as any person can be, and yet I went there last year as a guide to three british tourists (of this very same forum! And I absolutely treasure every moment I spent there.

Plus, LOS Roques has a nearly mythical status among Venezuelas, because it's practically impossible for us to visit the islands. If you tell a normal, non-pro girl that you are inviting her to a week or two in LOS Roques, I guarantee that the gears will start spinning in her head and she at least will consider it.

Price-wise, as I mentioned LOS Roques is impossibly expensive for most Venezuelas, but for a tourist carrying dollars is still affordable. The most expensive accomodation there (that I personally know) is called Aquavit, a building composed of 4 apartments fully furnished, with two bedrooms with their private own bathrooms, and a fully equipped kitchen. If I recall correctly the apartments in the side of the beach go for $100 a day (up to 6 people), and the two that are in the side of the town's main street (the attached pic is from that side) cost a bit less.[/QUOTE]100 $ is too expensive, I know that some hotels charge the gringo price online but if you are there in person you can pay in bolivars at very low rate, I know a friend who knows locals so they showed him around he lived on 100 $ a week dining in most expensive restaurants and staying in hotel with breakfast and had enough money to get top class prostitutes but Caracas is so bad right now he got out.

[QUOTE=Cursnoop;2050335]100 $ is too expensive, I know that some hotels charge the gringo price online but if you are there in person you can pay in bolivars at very low rate, I know a friend who knows locals so they showed him around he lived on 100 $ a week dining in most expensive restaurants and staying in hotel with breakfast and had enough money to get top class prostitutes but Caracas is so bad right now he got out.[/QUOTE]Gotta reiterate for the sake of clarity: The place I mentioned is the most expensive one (a two story apartment for rent) in what's pretty much the most expensive tourist destination here in Venezuela. Staying anywhere in the rest of the country is indeed a much cheaper deal.

[QUOTE=Haitek;2048794]I will arrive in Caracas on 25th of July. This time I will hang around Puerto La Cruz, Lecheiria, Barcelona, Mochima and Cumana during four weeks.[/QUOTE]Haitek,

I admire you! You travel the places I want to go. Can I ask, do you go for business or pleasure? I really want to go to Venezuela but scared of the ride from the airport and then the hassle of money exchanges etc.

[QUOTE=Culture;2050596]Haitek,

I admire you! You travel the places I want to go. Can I ask, do you go for business or pleasure? I really want to go to Venezuela but scared of the ride from the airport and then the hassle of money exchanges etc.[/QUOTE]Only and only for pleasure. I'm not mad to do legal business in Venezuela in this time.
It was Britishers's messages on this forum that encouraged me to go to Venezuela. Many thank to Britisher!
I like exploring little known countries. In Europe, I went to Moldavia and Transnistria. In South America, before Venezuela, I often went to Paraguay.

[QUOTE=BestHunter;2049965]Thanks for your news. I understand Caracas is not only dangerous but there are also problems with water. Mmmm I think I will change my trip.[/QUOTE]I do not understand why you want appartment. Good hotels in Caracas are cheap thank to black market exchange rate, only 15 dollars by day. The hotels offfer internet, safe environment and they have big water tanks on the roof and electricity generator for their customers during water and electricity shortage.

[QUOTE=Haitek;2050735]I do not understand why you want appartment. Good hotels in Caracas are cheap thank to black market exchange rate, only 15 dollars by day. The hotels offfer internet, safe environment and they have big water tanks on the roof and electricity generator for their customers during water and electricity shortage.[/QUOTE]I thought I read somewhere that the government was demanding that hotels only be paid for in USD. Is that still true? It sounds like that's either changed or was false to begin with.

[QUOTE=Kazeu;2050815]I thought I read somewhere that the government was demanding that hotels only be paid for in USD. Is that still true? It sounds like that's either changed or was false to begin with.[/QUOTE] Everywhere in Venezuela, you can paid your hotel with both currency, in dollars or in bolivars. Only Eurobuilding hotel (and maybe a few more in Las Mercedes area) quote their room price in bolivars according to black market rate. Most hotels in Caracas downtown use official rate exchange.