Venezuela: Is it safe for an American to visit right now?

Question

A Spanish translation of this message follows the English version. Please excuse me if the Spanish is not good: I have used my PC for the translation.

I'm considering visiting Venezuela later this year. From what I read it seems like a great place, and many writeups I've read say that, at least the way interpret things, that if you stay out of the slums that you will probably not have any problems.

Staying out of the bad areas is a good idea in ANY city and believe me I've had plenty of experience with bad city areas in the USA. A couple places I've visited in the US had real armed guards for escorts to and from the parking lot. They were necessary too...

At any rate, I'm just hoping that perhaps someone who has been to Venezuela recently, or possibly someone who lives there can let me know what the real situation is.

Thanks!

Estoy considerando visitar Venezuela más tarde este año. Del lo que leí seem like un gran lugar, y muchos writeups he leído decir eso, por lo menos la manera interpretan las cosas, que si usted se queda afuera de los barrios pobres eso usted no tendrá ningún problema probablemente.

Se mantener fuera de las áreas malas es una buena idea en cualquier ciudad y creer en mí I haber tenido plenty of experiencia con áreas de ciudad malas en el USA. Un par de lugares que he visitado en los EE.UU. tenían guardaespaldas legítimos para acompañantes hacia y desde la playa de estacionamiento. Eran necesarios también...

De todos modos, sólo estoy esperando que quizás alguien que ha estado en Venezuela recientemente, o posiblemente alguien que vive allí puedan dejarme saber qué es la situación verdadera.

¡Gracias!

Answer 1

DON`T WORRY, YOU CAN COME, i MEAN, IS NOT THE MOST SAFE PLACE ON THE PLANET BUT IS YOU ARE NOT BLOND WITH BLUE EYES YOU ARE GOING TO BE JUST FINE, IF NOT YOU ARE GONNA BE KIDNAPPED.

Answer 2

imho-if you have common sense (see a riot breaking out know to walk away instead of ask "What's going on?"), have traveled before and know the general travel rules (keep self and belongings safe, know where you are), stay away from the Columbia border towns-you'll be fine. Yes, the seedy side comes out at night-but it is that way in a lot of cities. Just don't go waving your wallet around.

Answer 3

Hi, although I´m from Colombia i currently live in Caracas Venezuela (sorry if my english is not well written). Caracas may be now the most insecure city in latin america....although it is very insecure you can safely get to Caracas and visit the touristic places of the city, you just have to follow the same advice "stay away from dangerous zones of the city".....The area of Petare is one of the areas that is more insecure in Caracas, although that if you are visiting caracas I don´t recommend you aracas as a touristic place.....Merida or the Gran Sabana would be good places to visit, look for the in the internet.....and about Colombia, don´t pay attention to people saying stupid things.... I can tell you that in Colombia many cities much more secure than many areas in Venezuela.