Hostel Caracas

Hi,

I am leaving for Venezuela in about 4 days and I was wondering who stayed in a good and not to expensive ;) hostel over in Caracas? easy to get from from the airport? Lots of travellers?
And how did you like Caracas?
Any tips for trips in Venezuela?

Thx!
Kat

As far as I´ve gathered there are NO hostels what so ever in the entire country. I tried booking a hotel online but I think they want me to pay before I get there which would mean using the official exchangerate. 70 pounds for a hotelroom. No thanks. I have a sneaking suspicion I´m gonna have to wing it when I get there like everyone else.

I am looking at hostels right now, but everything is really expensive....

Yeah I am gonna pay my hotel when I get there, seeing as it will be more than 50% cheaper...

Which hotel did you find? I ve seen that another traveller went to Vistavilla Suites and is seems ok. It is expensive but maybe if I just go there when I arrive, it might indeed be cheaper.

Yeah I found that as well but it seems to be a tad far east of the centre, which is meant to be less safe? I´m thinking just catch an official taxi when I get there and go to Altamira and say the names of a few hotels that I found, like La Floresta. Seemed to have good reviews.

There is a hotel called Altamira (go figure ;)) and it is 40 usd a night for a room. When do you go? Maybe you can mail me afterwards where it was good to stay LOL.... or I ll mail you 'cos I leave on Tuesday.

I found a hotel called shelter suites, very good references. According to the site it is near the Floresta one.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g316066-d562386-Reviews-Hotel_La_Floresta-Caracas_Central_Venezuela.html
and from here on you can click on the shelter suites.

Shelter Suites sounds good. I get there a week after you, I will probably travel the country for about a month, no real plan. Let me know if you wanna meet up, doesn´t seem to be a whole lot of other travellers in this country, or maybe they are just too welltraveled to use the TT forum..

Edited by: hurricanebertha

I will let you know what I did and where I am ;) I don 't have a real plan either, heading for Colombia afterwards.

I tried to make a reservation with Shelter Suites a few months ago. Though I speak Spanish as soon as I had the reception on line they hung up. E-mails remained unanswered.

I had a local person call them and they were booked up for weeks and not interested. I think the best is to go there and walk into the hotels; there are several near the shopping mall.

Also travel light; particularly in Venezuela.

Well I tried booking the La Floresta hotel I got a confirmation email but it said I should wait for another confirmation..
Yes hopefully there is something available in the good neighborhood even though it´s July (high season?) when I arrive.
Light travel is the best!

Hey,

I am on couchsurfing, and will be staying with someone.
I had a room in shelter suites (really nice man at the phone) and i didn't even have to give my mastercard number.
A cheaper place is Ateneo Popular and the closest metro station is "Ciudad Universitaria". Maybe this can help you out.
I don t think July is the their high season as it is rain season.

On the cheap hosting search the Ateneo of Caracas that
is close to the Ciudad Universitaria metro station
(line 3), and integrated purchasing ticket as you exit
the station looking for the "metro-bus" (buses from the
metro) and stay at the second stop, there is near the
Ateneo Popular. Not because it is identified by a home
... The street address is between Vargas and Av Av Las
Ciencias Stadium - Los Chaguaramos. The cost per night
is 25Bs (12 $)....

ATENEO POPULAR DE CARACAS
Calle Vargas. Between Calle Las Ciencias and El
Stadium.
Los Chaguaramos. Caracas.
T (0212) 690 14 40
E-MAIL: ateneopopularcaracas@gmail.com

Seems cheap and it´s described as a hostel, did anyone actually stay there though? Seems to be in one of the bad parts of town.

I met this guy on couchsurfing (CS) and he recommended it to me. don t really know where it is though....
maybe try CS as well!

Hello Katvanloo,

I read that you are in venezuela. where are you now? I am in caracas near sabana grande region.

Today, as i posted it on forum, about 3 hours ago I've been attacked by snatchers and they stole my camera. I am feeling very very disappointed right now.

Anyway, let me know if you are around. Else, we can make plans for the other places, I am planning to go Margarita Island and Salto Angel.

Cheers,
Caglayan

Hi!
I am leaving for Cuidad bolivar tonight, on the bus of 9.15 pm, with the compagny aeroexpress, near altamira.
I will mail you my cell phone numer

Hello,

There is another cheap hostel, which is "Nuestro Hotel", the Backpacker`s Hostel. It's colse to Sabana Grande, it's cheap, the owners friendly and close to the Metro (undeground). The downside is that the fuss have set up a roadblock outside and harass tourists no end, not to mention that it is a high crime area, tranvestites, drug pushers and users abound after dark. Stay inside after dar.

The safest area in town, considered by many, is Altamira. A few hotels in the area such as La Floresta, Altamira Sur and Hotel Montserrat among others.

As for the Ateneo's surrounding areas, they are quite, if not very, dodgy, which is very unfortunate as many of Caracas's Museums are in the area.

Travel safe.

All the best,

Thomas
berry_venezuela@hotmail.com
Caracas