Caracas Hotel Tips by carolinaEspada

I would chose this one. It's a very nice, clean and confortable hotel, and is not extremely luxurious.
It is in a "safe area" of the city.
Right in front there is a great italian restaurant called "Mamma Nostra".

Unique Qualities: Is located in a very nice and safe area of Caracas. It has all the facilities you need. They also have a parking area, on the basement, for people who stay in the hotel or people you come to visit.

I wouldent recomend the swimming pool. I think it is not clean enough (but, also, I'm extremely picky about swiming pools).

The food sometimes is good and sometimes is very good.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$80-120  » Currency Converter
Phone: 58-212-2610644
Address: Ave.San Juan Bosco
Directions: Near "Plaza Altamira" square. Closest metro station: Altamira
Other Contact: fax: 58-212-2620243

Venezuela is one of those countries in which you have to arrive to the capital (Caracas) and, from here, depart to everywhere else. (With very few exceptions, like Margarita Island, that has direct flights).

So imagine you arrive late at night: Plaza Venezuela Hotel is the place to sleep.

Unique Qualities: It right in the middle of town. Is clean. Is safe. Is not very expensive.

Do not walk around happily and freely like if you were Little Red Ridinghood. This is a so-so kind of place, kind of dangerous area. But you are here to sleep and to continue your travel next day.

There is a very kind lady at the front desk (now on Jan 2004), her name is Ramona, and when you tell her: "thank you very much", she answers back: "Oh, dont you mention!"... (I like this expresion a lot).

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$20-40  » Currency Converter
Phone: 58-212-7817344
Address: Ave. La Salle, Los Caobos
Directions: In between Plaza Venezuela and the Palacio Episcopal or Nunciatura (the house of the Pope's representant in Venezuela)
Other Contact: calling from caracas: 7817344

This is a place where you go to have sex. Unfortunatelly I havent been there, so all of what Im about to tell you are other people stories.

This hotel pretends to be an Aladdin "palace" that offers couples (man and woman, I've havent found out if they accept gay couples. I'm dont think so. I dont think they are so "advanced" for this) a variety of rooms and erotic "packages" for sexual purposes. It goes from Sex 101 to... who knows what. Depending how much money you want to spend, you can get a simple "package" or "combo" with: a bag of rose petals; a blue bottle of very sweet liebfraumilch wine; candles; inciense; fruty oil. (Condoms... optional).

(I suggest that you always stick to the condoms. Save sex. Did you know that 90% of the latinamerican women who have AIDS have been infected by the only man in their life, that is: The Husband? Did you know that? 90%!!!).

Back to the "package" or "sexy combo"... as you see, you dont have to get too creative, here. Let them do the mise-en-scene... you have sex.

(A question just popped into my mind... Would they also offer Viagra pills?... I wonder).

Unique Qualities: The best rooms (4 or 5) have a cristal roof for you to see the stars while having sex (if you can do both things at the same time, that is).

Also, they have a transparent over-the-floor level jacussi (right in the middle of the room, next to the bed). You have to climb some stairs in order to get into the jacussi.

And... they have these strange looking furniture, something in between a bench and a table, that -if you are really candid- makes you think about torture machinery and devices. But that also is for sex purposes.

I havent found out either if you can stay all night long (or all day long) or if they charge you for extra hours.

I'll never find out. A lady, in Venezuela, will not call to one of these places in order to ask questions... (but that same lady will happily go there if she is invited by the man she loves).

Be sure to check the www I'm writting below. And the erotic adventure continues!!! There are other Aladdin Hotels in other cities in Venezuela.

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Theme: Other
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$40-80  » Currency Converter
Phone: 0800-252-3346
Address: Av.Guaicaipuro, El Rosal
Directions: Closest metro station: Chacaito. But this is not a nice place for walking. Get a taxi. And be discret when you go inside this place. People enter silently and low profile. Once in their room... well, imagine.
Website: www.hotelaladdin.com
Other Contact: 58-212-952-0791

Many tourists come to Venezuela, arrive at the Simon Bolivar International Airport and the very next day depart to Margarita Island, or Los Roques, or Canaima, or Los Andes, etc through the national airport (that is attached to the international one).

So... everybody has to spend one night in Caracas.

Well, I just stoped in a travel agency near by and asked them if there were any hotels near the airport.

Yes they are! At least two of them!

Unique Qualities: 1. HAMPTON
phone number: 58-212-3317011

2.PUERTO VIEJO
phone number: 58-212-3502500

The unfriendly girl at the tourist agency didnt give any more information. Period.

Muchas gracias...

Whenever I have time, I will find out about these places. I shouldent be posting this, I should investigate first. But there are 3 VT members coming to Venezuela and they need this information now. I will update and improve a.s.a.p.

In # 6. Satisfaction and # 7 Price Per Person, and # 8 Comparative Price, I'm going to mark "not aplicable" just because I dont know anything about these places, but if they are mentioned in a travel agency they cant be bad... and it is just for the night...

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Theme: Hotel

Phone: 58-212-3317011
Address: "Somewheeeere over the..." No, somewhere near the airport.
Directions: It could be a 5-10 minutes ride from the airport. Instead, comming to Caracas, it requires half an hour (or even more depending the rush hour and the traffic jam). But check my TAXI DANGER warning!!!
Other Contact: 58-212-3502500

Mixed feelings. Is a 5 stars hotel and the rooms are great: big, sunny, with a great view, very clean.

But the food is pretty lousy.

And the people who work at the front desk are really clue less.

-Please, I want to speak with Mrs. Mandel at room 304.
-Sorry, madam, she checked out and left.
-But I just talked to her sister. She is here and is waiting for me.
-Sorry, but in the screen of our computers it appears that she cancelled her registration in the hotel three days ago.
-But can you call room 304?
-Im telling you she isnt there.
-But can you call or do you want to call your security guards because Im making it to that room no matter what...

...

-Hello, room 304?
-Yes...
-You are not Mrs. Mandel arent you?
-OF COURSE I AM AND IM WAITING FOR A FRIEND WHO IS COMING TO PICK ME UP!!!

I phoned the next day, talked with the same guy, and once again he said that she had left. I have no pacience for this.

I've been there several times: to visit some relatives from Puerto Rico who came to a weading that was going to be heald there; to make an interview for Discovery Channel France; to a lecture of the mexican economy minister, to a book presentation; to a gourmet cheese fancy festival; to see a friend and her family that came from the States and their company had booked them in this hotel.

And I always go out with this lousy sensation of: "These people trully believe that they are the best hotel in Caracas... and they are not".

Unique Qualities: It has all kind of facilities, pools, etc... but it is way too expensive, too too 5 starish and oh how wonderfull we are.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: most expensive

Address: FINAL CALLE LA GUAIRITA, CHUAO
Directions: Near the La Carlota Airport. The Centro Ciudad Comercial Tamanaco Shopping mall.

No doubt. The Tamanaco (Tamanaco was the name of one of our more fierce chief indians during conquering times) is the 5 ***** stars hotel in Caracas with more history and histories. Every important person who came to Caracas in the XX century -and could pay for it- arrived at El Tamanaco.

It has the best view of the city and all of the facilities (including tennis)...

It has plenty of cultural, social, economic, etc activities in many of the conferece rooms it has.

But the room area is private and you cant hear any noise.

Unique Qualities: The food is very good. Breakfast are great.

They have a famous pizza place (made in wooden oven) next to the pool. That is the only thing I dont like about this hotel, because when the pizza finally makes is to the table, it is always cold.

The Tamanaco is located in a hill, right bellow there are two big and fancy shoping malls: Paseo Las Mercedes and El Tolón. They have shops, galleries, theaters, cinemas, and a big variety of restaurant. The whole area of Las Mercedes is a restaurant, pub, deli, chic cafeterias place, discotheques, etc. Big and energetic night life in this area.

I suggest you always take a taxi when you leave and come back to the hotel.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: more expensive than average

Address: Av. Principal de las Mercedes.
Directions: At the end of the avenue, on a hill, with the best view of the city. In front, on top, of Paseo Las Mercedes shopping mall.

This is a 5 ***** hotel with all the facilities, restaurants, night life, everything you can think of, located (just one block away) in one of the most filthy, scary, dangerous and horrible avenues: huge boulevard of Sabana Grande. (Please check my warning pages and read all about the "buhoneros").

I would certanly arrive to this hotel only if I could stay inside all the time or come and leave on a taxi. NO WALKING AROUND in the streets near by.

Unique Qualities: It has everything and I have been told they are great. I feel very sorry for the owners of the Meliá. When they builted it, the Sabana Grande was a huge, clean, beautiful boulevard full of cafés and shops. Not with our new governement who has promoted the "informal economy" and the streets are a nightmare (and smell horrible as well). Please go check the "buhoneros" issue in the dangers in Caracas.

Too bad.
Great hotel.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: more expensive than average

Address: Ave. Casanova, Urb. Bellomonte
Directions: One block away from Boulevard de Sabana Grande full of buhoneros. Beware!

It used to be one of the finest *****stars hotels in Caracas, and -inside- I guess it still is. Oh-oh... but its surroundings in 2005!!!

In front, facing the East is the Complejo Cultural Teresa Carreño, a humongous construction for opera, theater, orchestras, ballet, cinema, coffee shop, one restaurant, art gallery, two bookstores, etc.etc.etc.

Further East there are two museums: the Art one and the Natural Cience one. Adn the a park called Los Caobos.

Further further East there is the Mosk and the Casa del Artista (with another theater).

To the South there is the Museo de Arte Contemporaneo Sofía Ímber. "El MACSI", and the Children Museum. The artistic shops of the museum.

So far... excelent but... to the West... to the Wicked Witch of the West... the territory is taken by "buhoneros" (check that in my danger and warnings, please)... and is horrible, and smells even worst, and if filthy and very dangerous.

Too bad, because the Hilton is located right by the Metro Station: Bellas Artes... right where a venezuelan friend of mine and an australian friend or mine were robbed.

Unique Qualities: Inside is great. It has all the facilities and more. And the food is great.

What worries me is the back part of the hotel. The western part.

If for some specific reason you MUST arrive to this hotel, and you want to go to the other side, to the cultural huge area, please DO NOT go up the stairs, walk over the avenue and go down the stairs at the other side. NO!!! You can get

a. robbed
b. rapped
c. killed
d. all of the above
e. none of the above if you are really lucky

Please, stick to the side walk, walk to the corner, wait until the light changes and cross the street...

Although, this isnt pretty safe, either. About two years ago I was walking in this side walk, and a guy (passing by on a bus) threw an empty bottle of rhum at my head. It missed me by this much: ¡.!

CORRECTION!!! JANUARY 2OTH UPDATE!!!! YESTERDAY I WENT TO THIS AREA. I WENT TO THE CULTURAL RADIO OF EL ATENEO DE CARACAS, RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE HOTEL. WELL... GUESS WHAT? THERE WERE NO "BUHONEROS" TOWARDS THE WEST!!! WHERE DID THEY GO? IT WAS DIRTY, BUT NOT FILTHY!!! I WAS HAPPYLY SURPRISED. I MUST CHECK EVERY NOW AND THEN, BECAUSE SINCE 1999 THIS WEST SIDE WAS THE FILTHY AND DANGEROUS. SOMETHING HAPPENED NOW IN JAN 2005. HURRAY!!!!

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: about average

Address: Avenida Libertador con Sur 25, Caracas
Directions: In front of the Complejo Cultural Teresa Carreño (or just: "El Teresa Carreño") Metro station: Bellas Artes.

Trully NICE small hotel, great food, tiny pool, huge dance room, confortable rooms, plants, trees, birds (tucán, tucanes all over), noise less, secluded, private, confortable, etc... But if you are a turist, you dont want to come here. This is away from it all. There is no Metro station, nor bus, nor anything around. Only taxis. And this is not a hotel for dynamic tourist. This is for people who want to rest, relax, get away from it all.

Its most famous guest has been Vladimiro Montesinos, an ex minister of ex president Fujimori. He came from Peru, with another identity, and he hid in the hotel El Avila during months. He was caught when he moved somewhere else. He is now back in his country...in jail.

Unique Qualities: About a year ago I wrote a short story/article for one of the local news papers. It was called "En El Avila es la cosa" (It happened at The Avila) and it started like this:

“Señora Melba, usted no me conoce, pero yo me llamo Gisela y desde hace año y medio soy la amante de su marido. Si hoy me he tomado el atrevimiento y la libertad de venir hasta su casa es para informarle que estoy embarazada de Edmundo”.

"Mrs Melba, you dont know me, but my name is Gisela and from a year and a half ago and your husband's lover. If today I've dared to come to your house is to inform you that I'm pregnant of Edmundo"...

(If you read Spanish and want to laugh, you can come here www.chovet.com/nojile and look for the whole article)

But believe me, if I was a 50something years old lady, and the door rings, and there is this gorgeous 20something years old girl, even younger than my own daughters!, telling me she is pregnant of my husband... believe me, I would trully dissapear in Hotel El Avila, at least for a week, and would dance every night with all of the handsome caballeros. Oh yes.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: about average

Address: Urbanización San Bernardino.
Directions: Avenida Principal. Opposite street that leads you to the Humboldt Cultural Association.