Don't even think about crossing Caracas after dark with your luggage from the airport. Best to get a local bus to Macuto just along the coast, to a Posada there for the night, and tackle the crossing of Caracas after the morning rush hour next day.( Local bus back from Macuto, then Airport shuttle (15 Bolivares) into Caracas.) Even then, keep all valuables in a bodybelt securely away from pickpockets, who work in teams, and are very good at it. I lost my wallet there last Monday, and chased the "thief" who was running away down the platfom on the metro. He turned out to be an "innocent" person, more, I suspect a decoy, while the true thief walked calmly away in the other direction.
One of the help desks in the Airport can probably phone a posada in Macuto to book you in for the night. The local bus is easy, non threatening and CHEAP (less than 2 Bolivares) to Macuto. On the upper roadway between the National and International terminals you will see a small road with pedestrians using it, which leads out onto the main dual carriageway. Cross the blue metal footbridge to the Eastbound carriageway, and the bus, marked Macuto stops right there. Macuto has plenty of Posadas and eateries, and is ok at night.
Alternatively you can catch a plane to Ciudad Bolivar direct from National terminal, only 400 meres walk from International and cut out all the intermediate stages and danger altogether!
There are plenty of black market moneychangers in the airport (most of the staff, it seems) and you should get 4 Bolivares to the dollar at least, rather than 2 in the official Cambios.
