My 25 year old daughter is going to Venezuela alone for 2 months in February to learn Spanish. I am greatly concerned after many of the things I have heard. Would someone please tell me what she is in for and if such a trip is advised. She does not know anyone in Venezuela and will be making her contacts while she is there. I am trying to talk her out of it but her mind seems to be made up. I believe she will be staying in Caracas.
1
marejke
H dahwood,
I can't imagine she'd want to stay in Caracas for 2 months. Won't she be travelling around?
I've been travelling alone in Venezuela for about 2 months too, 30 years old and sola gringa. It was no problem at all, I never had any bad experiences.
As a single tourist you'll get to know a lot of people, especially if maybe she's joining some language course. Maybe then she'll meet somebody to travel around with and you can feel safer.
Please don't worry too much, as I said, my trip alone was perfectly fine.
Yes, guys can be a little annoying, but they do handle rejections well.
What can I say, don't worry, just be happy for her, she's going to have the best 2 months of her lifetime.
4
garisti
Not the nicest city in the world, but hey, with common sense i think she will be okay... I hope that she finds the time to find friends and travel around a bit, since Caracas can get boring fast!
She must be on the lookout thouh for petty theft and con artists, specially on the Maiquetia airport and central areas of Caracas.
Take care!
6
carlos
Hi! I thinK, she most try places like Merida. Here is it better and it could be nicer than Caracas to learn Spanish. Also In Merida there are many Spanish schools or she can try with privet spanisch professor (Student of Languages from the ULA Merida)
8
carlos
Definitively Merida is not a big city like Caracas, but most of the foreigners love Merida, because it is smaller and she can do many more activities apart from learn spanish. for example: mountaineering, paragliding
Speaking about safety, Merida is well, it is not as dangerous as Caracas, Caracas it depends where she is going to live. To live in caracas she most live in a good area.
And there is something very important. what she loves most? big cities or small cities.
if you want a big more information, you can write a e-mail at neblinasierra@yahoo.com
Saludos
9
chiguirita
I am from the US and have been living in Caracas for about a year. While Caracas is a big city that can be dangerous, with a bit of common sense one can stay safe. I have had no problems and I live in the center of the city (a "not-so-safe" area). To echo a previous poster, I think it really depends what kind of experience your daughter hopes to have. If she wants the big city, then Caracas is the place for her. If she wants a more relaxed atmosphere, she should definitely check out Merida.
Feel free to send me a private message if you want more info on Caracas. I have a friend that spent a month here in Caracas studying Spanish and I can offer some insight as to her experiences here as well.
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