Venezuela
Business meetings are typically formal, with suit and tie expected of visitors. English is becoming more widely spoken in business circles, particularly at executive level. Nevertheless, Spanish is essential for most business discussions. Appointments are necessary and a business visitor should be punctual. It is common to exchange visiting cards. Office hours are 0800-1800 Monday to Friday with a long midday break.
Crime is the greatest problem confronting the visitor to Venezuela. Seventy-five percent of the crimes reported in Caracas involve some type of street crime, pickpockets, snatch-and-run or armed robberies. These types of robberies occur at any time of day or night. Visitors to Venezuela are advised to avoid the economically deprived barrios, areas known for extremely high incidents of crime. Visitors in Caracas should limit their exposure on street, particularly at night. If travel is required, the use of a privately-owned vehicle or taxi is recommended. Visitors should maintain a low profile and try to blend in. They should take special precautions to avoid wearing expensive watches, gold chains, or jewelry, or carrying large amounts of cash. The conventional wisdom is to carry only what is absolutely needed in cash, credit cards, and identification when traveling around the country. Experience has shown that persons who carry a camera in plain view are normally relieved of that property in short order. Carry cameras and other hand-carried objects of value, concealed in some type of handbag.
If confronted on the street by a would-be thief, it is best to assume that your assailant is armed and working with an accomplice, whether you can immediately identify one or not. Without any hesitation or show of resistance, hand over what you have. Experience has shown that this response usually prevents needless violence. It has been shown that violence normally occurs when a victim fails to cooperate or struggles with the would-be thieves. Most of the crimes committed are economically motivated. However, people should not/not agree to move off the street if told to do so by the assailant. It is best to have the robbery take place on the street and in full public view to minimize chances of any possible gratuitous violence.
Most crime is economically motivated. Pickpockets concentrate in and around crowded bus and subway stations, along with the area around "Parque Simon Bolivar" near the "Capitolio" area in downtown Caracas. There have been cases of theft from hotel rooms and safe deposit boxes. The "barrios" (the poor neighborhoods that cover the hills around Caracas) and isolated urban parks, such as "El Calvario" in the "El Silencio" area of Caracas, can be very dangerous. Most criminals are armed with guns or knives, and will use force. Theft of unattended valuables on the beach and from rental cars parked in isolated areas or on city streets is common. A guarded garage is not always a guarantee against theft. Travelers are advised not to leave valuables or belongings in open view, even in locked vehicles. There have been incidents on Margarita Island in which tourists have been targeted for robbery and theft.
Armed robberies are common in urban and tourist areas, and travelers should exercise caution in displaying money and valuables. Also, four-wheel drive vehicles have been targeted for carjackings in the past.
For expatriates, residential crime is a real and growing problem, with no reason to believe that this escalating problem will be brought under control in the foreseeable future. People who opt to live in single family homes, referred to as "quintas" in the local lexicon, should be aware that police patrols of residential neighborhoods are rare, and that criminals normally prey on those "quintas" that are left unoccupied. While experience shows that maintaining a 24-hour continuous presence in the "quinta" is an excellent preventive measure, the best solution to residential crime is to require all expatriates to live in apartment buildings that offer 24-hour guard service and secured off-street parking for vehicles.
There are many excellent hotels in Caracas. Numerous smaller hotels are open throughout the country but it is essential to make reservations at both these and the larger international hotels well in advance. The main hotels are Hotel Caracas Hilton, the Hotel Eurobuilding, the Sheraton and the Hotel Tamanaco Intercontinental.
Telephone IDD service is available to the country. The country code is 58 and the outgoing international code is 00. Fax facilities are available at larger hotels. Important documents can be sent via international courier (such as DHL or Federal Express, and more recently, UPS). Note however that international courier service should only be used for papers and documents and not include anything else or it will be delayed by Venezuelan customs. Most correspondence is by fax.
Electricity is a 110 volts AC, 60Hz. American-type 2-pin plugs are the most commonly used fittings.
110 volts AC, 60Hz. US-style two-pin plugs are the most commonly used fittings.
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Cumin and saffron are used in many dishes but the distinctive and delicate flavor of most of the popular dishes comes from the use of local roots and vegetables. There is no good local wine, although foreign wines are bottled locally. There are several good local beers, mineral waters, gin and excellent rum. National specialties:
• Arepas (the native bread made from primitive ground corn, water and salt).
• Pabellón criollo (hash made with shredded meat and served with fried plantains and black beans on rice).
• Hallaca (cornmeal is combined
with beef, pork, ham and green peppers, wrapped in individual pieces of banana leaves and cooked in boiling water, traditionally eaten at Christmas and New Year).
• Parrilla criolla is beef marinated and cooked over a charcoal grill.
• Hervido (soup made with chunks of beef, chicken or fish and native vegetables or roots). National drinks:
• Coffee.
• Merengada (fruit pulp, ice, milk and sugar).
• Pousse-café is an after-dinner liqueur.
Things to know: Bars have either table or counter service. A lisa is a glass of draught beer and a tercio a bottled beer. Most bars are open very late and there are no licensing laws. Table service is the norm and opening hours are 2100-2300. Tipping:
Tips are discretionary but in the majority of bars and restaurants, 10 per cent is added to the bill and it is customary to leave another 10 per cent on the table. Bellboys and chambermaids should be tipped and, in Caracas, tips are higher than elsewhere.Nightlife
There are many nightclubs and discos in the major cities of Venezuela. The National and Municipal Theaters offer a variety of concerts, ballet, plays, operas and operettas. There are other theaters - some of which are open-air - in Caracas, as well as several cinemas.
