The currency used in Venezuela is called the Bolívar. To view an up to date currency chart click here: http://www.x-rates.com/
Money for meals should be budgeted
at between $CND 5-8 for an inexpensive dishes up to $20 for a dine in meal. Be
sure to peel fruit to avoid illness.
Lodging prices will vary from between $CND 15-30 for budget accommodations up to
$60 for hotel rooms. Make sure to have reservations and have a travel book with
you to find the hostel or hotel to suit your travel style. Certain authors are
Let's Go South America and Lonely Planet.
In the 1980's, Venezuela was an inexpensive country to travel in during the period of the fixed exchange rates, provided you came with US dollars and changed them on the black market. Since the bolívar was freed, there has been a massive increase in prices of goods and services. Still, travelers on a budget can easily get by on US$30-40 a day; those looking for more comfort should expect to spend at least US$50.
US dollars and American Express travelers' checks are by far the most popular, so stick to them. Visa and MasterCard have the best coverage for both cash advances and for making payments in top-end hotels, restaurants and shops. You can change money at a bank or at a casa de cambio (authorized money-exchange office). Banks change cash and travelers' checks, but casas de cambio deal only in cash. Beware that lines for ATMs can be very long, especially the first Monday of the month, when many banks are closed, and the day before holiday weekends, when machines are often cashed-out by midmorning.
http://www.think-venezuela.net
Flights to Caracas are readily available from Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom. From Australia and New Zealand, round-the-world tickets may be the cheapest and most flexible option. Flying into the country from other South or Central American destinations can be problematic and/or very costly. Be sure to research your options thoroughly. The international departure tax is US$21 (US$39 if you've stayed over a month).
Entry by sea is possible via the US, where travelers can take a cargo ship from one of several ports on the Gulf of Mexico. Alternatively, ferries run from the Lesser Antilles, but there is no longer any service between Venezuela and the Netherlands Antilles.
By land, there are road connections from Colombia and Brazil, but not from Guyana. Travelers planning to use the dangerous El Amparo de Apure-Arauca border crossing or the Puerto Páez-Puerto Carreńo crossing into Colombia should consult their embassy to assess the security situation. Colombian guerrilla attacks on Venezuelan army posts resulted in a confrontational buildup of troops on both sides of the border in March 1995.
http://www.latinworld.com/sur/venezuela
http://www.travelzoo.com
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