more about money

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hope137140
hope137140

If I only change around a hundred dollars at the airport (since the rates are apparently bad and it's sketchy to change there?), is it a better idea to find somewhere in Caracas to change more money (where's the best place- Altamira? hotels there? travel agencies? will the private bus companies do this? i need some guideline so i'm not just wandering around...there must be a particular street, area, address, protocol, or something about where/how to do it) OR can i wait until arriving in henri pittier beaches? is there a big market for changing money there since it's a big backpacker place? or will guest houses there give a bad rate or not change at all? i don't want to arrive there and find out no one will change money.

also, why is it that it's not possible to get the rate posted on the dolar paralelo website...what's the point of tracking the rate like that if it's in fact not the available rate at all??? is it only b/c of being a foreigner that one wouldn't get that rate or can even venezuelans not get 6.5? cause there's a big difference between 5 and 6.5....although there's also a big difference between 2.15 and 5....i need to know how much to ask for as my starting price to wind up with the best bargain. logically i should be able to start with 6.5...

as far as changing money at the airport, i get that i shouldn't go in some dark corner or something, but is it ok to change money right in the open? there's not any kind of sketchy ambushes in which officials see you and then hit you up or bribes for technically doing something illegal out in the open...? what do i need to be on the lookout for as far as everyone saying these guys who change money at the airport are untrustworthy? is the money counterfeit or are they just going to short-change me? if i know what kind of scam is in operation, i can protect myself. as opposed to just generally being confused and paranoid. is it better to change with the random guys (in domestic terminal for better rates?) waving money around? or the official security guys if they offer it? by the way, i'm arriving at 5:30 am. so it might be kind of dead.

thanks so much!

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marejke
marejke

Trust your instincts. We changed at the airport, just stepped aside a little, no problems at all. We also changed in a posada in Puerto Colombia. Try the posadas first, then the street. Might be a nice strategy to do the changing in the airport in two steps, if you have some time (like 100 in the first place to check out the rate and how to do and then the rest). Bring large bills.
Don't worry, don't behave foolish, don't be naive, don't be too suspicious - trust yourself and your instincts - most Venezuelan people are just ordinary people wanting to make a living, they're no criminals. I think it's important to think about that, it makes you feeling comfortable about meeting people, and the other way round, people can feel that. I think a real criminal person would know their victims from their fearsome attitude - right? Use your common sense and enjoy that wonderful country!

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yaofeng
yaofeng

Can you enlighten me on the reality between the official exchange rate and a private one on the street of Bolivar fuerte these days?

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kimbatu
kimbatu

Hi

Before you change your money MARK your bills first, My partner Reyna tried to change Euros and the guys have a habit of turning their back to you and walking off to another person.
The guy returned with 2 counterfit Euro bills and told Reyna thats what she gave them, (Untrue of course) Caracas is verry much a guessing game and you need to be in front all the time.

The rate at the Airport for Euro is 5 to 1 and Dollars 3.5 to 1 well thats what it was last week when I was there.
If you do get ripped off you have no help at all but my preference is to have it covered before I go there and avoid the con artists which are very convincing.

Anyway sure you will survive with all the advice there is on this site and its pretty good and factual.

Happy Travellings

Regards Rob

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lobito3
lobito3

I do not think that the dolar paralelo quotations are realistic. Perhaps if you know someone who wants to purchase something from abroad and must pay in Dollars.

# 3 describes a recent personal experience though I would not go that far as to mark the bills. Venezuelans are no criminals and usually quite trustworthy.

In the airport I went to one of the car rental agencies downstairs and talked to the guys. There is not much negotiating room you have at the airport; however, they let me count and inspect the BVF first before handing over my dollars. Bring large bills. I even had a color photocopy of the new bills to compare and they just laughed at me. These guys must be doing this on a regular basis because he had a huge wad of bills in his pocket.

At the beaches usually the exchange rates are lower than in the big cities. But try the posadas and travel agencies.

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znahar
znahar

I've just returned from Venezuela (12 may), and i consider the airport (international terminal) as one of the most convinient places to change money. they give you there 5.5(without bargaining)-5.7(after bargaining) bvf for 1 usd. no dark corners, they can change money everythere. I've been in SB, Valencia, Tucacas and i have never met rate higher than in the airport. in places like tucacas they offered not more than 5 bfv for 1 usd. I consider money exchange in the airport as convinient and very safe procedure.

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theobeek
theobeek

The Dollar is now at the airport 5,40 and the Euro 6,50, it,s about the same in Choroni, a website with the Airport us$ exchange and the Euro is www.dolar.nu</a> and www.dollar.nu</a>

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