Subtopic	Posts		Updated
	Archive 01	50		2005/06/28, 10:57 pm

How would someone know where to go to get the blackmarket rate? Also, I assume that ATM's are a no-no because it will probably give the government rate, correct?

Correct.

"How would someone know where to go to get the blackmarket rate?"

If you read my previous post you see that it's referred to as the parallel exchange rate. It's not illegal. You will see places openly advertising it.

Wow! It was at 3.4 back in March. With the prices at El Morrisson and sexycaracas.com, that would be quite a decent deal.

Some advice please.

If I want to check out Venezuela, what to you suggest.
For a 7-10 day trip do you recommend Puerto la cruz or margarita island?
Which is a better party town or do both.
Pro and cons?

Thanks,
CN

I have spent time in both places. IM is more special, it is 100% for tourism, whereas PLC is like Mazatlan, there is also a city there.

No personal experience, as much as I'd really like to go to VZ.

I haven't heard many good things about IM - it's just a tourist-build up on a nice island with no good pay-4-play (if you're going to compare it to BR or CO or similar). I hear beaches are nice, but the better snorkeling/diving is over on Los Roques, which thus has no party scene that IM has.

I hear the wind sports are awesome - windsurfing, kitesurfing, etc.

If you're looking for a big party scene of nonpros in a tourist environ and beach activities as described, then it's a good spot I hear.

I've given short trips there some serious thought but the lack of nonstop from MIA and no options for award travel has always kept me from going there instead of CO or BR or AR etc.

Has anyone been to Maracaibo? I've looked all over the net and I can't find anything about providers. Does anyone know any clubs or providers? I'll be traveling there soon. Thanks for your help

A very small scene. Not worth traveling all the way to Zulia for mongering purposes.

I'll be there a day for a day or two on business. Any suggestions? Thanks

The price of getting laid in Venezuela just got a lot cheaper lately if you sell your dollars on the black market. The official rate is 2150 bolivars for a dollar but the black market rate is almost twice that.

No shit Reytj. Makes me think about a return to Margarita Island. I thought I was hitting it good on my first two trips during 04 at 2500-2800 black market when the official rate was fixed around 1700.

Assuming cost of things like food, housing, and girls have not increased much.. could be very good.

Wish I could get a three or four guys together to rent a proper house in Playa El Agua and use my old contacts to get a full maid/cook and driver.

...one the older post on Los Roques. GO. I daytripped with a girl, but a couple days chill would be all right. Bring your own girl for sure.

Was in Venezuela recently. Appears prices are 2-3x higher than they were 2-3 yrs ago...

Bioven44 on May 25, 2004 wrote:
"Quinta Cristal in Maracay Bs 30,000.00"

Now it's Bs 90k (70k for the chica + 20k room), half hr.

Taxi from CCS airport to Caracas (Sabana Grande) 110k. If you take the black Ford Explorers cost 150k.

Didn't see any places openly advertising black mkt rates. Best tipo de cambio I received was inside the aiport from an individual money changer & at a casa de empeņo in Caracas, 3200/usd.

So how was the selection at Quinta Kristal? The rise in airport fares has been due in large part to the collapse of a bridge on the main highway to Caracas. Construction of the new bridge is expected to be completed by late June.

I found one that was my type at QK & none at Angelus, Saxo, Canagua in Caracas. Session with the 20 y/o was average, cbj. Some of the unattractive, overweight, older QK chicas quickly dropped their price to 50k & offered bbbj but I still wasn't interested.

The taxi ride from CCS to Sabana Grande took well over an hour. Traffic was heavy at the bridge construction site because only one lane was open in each direction.