Information dated 24th July 2010.

We are currently doing a loop through Venezuela and will list Hotels/hostels/Casas along the way.

Maracaibo. Hotel Cumberland 86-A Entre Av.4 (Belle Vista) Y Av 8 (Santa Rita) (3 star) Bols282.00 Priv. Bath, A/c, Wifi, Cable TV, + B'fast. This was not our preferred Hotel but Hotel Nuevo Montevideo next door was full and is much cheaper.

Coro. Casa Tun Tun. Zamora 92, between Toledo & Hernandez French/Venezuelan owned. Biker friendly with kitchen. Damien and Norko very helpful. Bols140 Priv. Bath + A/c. Secure courtyard parking.

Puerto Colombia. Hostal Colonia on Morillo main road into village. Not on beach. Bols150 Priv. Bath, fan, with kitchenette. Bols95 shared bath + fan. Large secured courtyard attached restaurant.

Will try to update this along the way.

K & C

Hello K & C,
your post is very timely. Could you also elaborate on travel safety? Areas to avoid? Encounters with police? The "dos & don'ts" based on your experience?

Another thread was started concerning safety and the information ranges from "horrible" to "no problem at all".

It would be nice to get some feedback from somebody who is currently in the country.

Thanx and all the best,

__________________
Thomas

"Hey, ...I'm just ridin' shotgun"

Greetings. Have posted a reply on the Central/South American section in regard to travel safety and experiences and will also try to keep this updated as we go.

K & C

Accommodation update.

Colonia Tovar. Residencias Grunner Park Bols200 HW, no A/C, (not needed) Secure parking, below town centre. Could be cheaper places further out.

Between Bachaquito & Piritu. Centro Vacacional Clarines Hotel on highway. Bols85 A/C Big room but basic. Stopped here due to huge storm at 5.30pm

Cumana. Hotel Astoria beside Tourist Information Calle Sucre 51. Bols145 A/C Wifi, TV, Secure Parking, Pizza Restaurant.

Isla de Margarita, Juan Griego. US$20 to 30 Hostal El Caney, Calle Guevara 17. A/C TV, refrigerator, basic kitchen, secure parking.

K & C

Leaving Cumana heading East then South.

Caught in huge storm again after an AM visit to Rio Caribe. Looked similar to where we had been on Isla de Margarita so rode further south towards to Pto Ordaz.

Storm stopped us on highway at Caripito. Bs70 Motel El Crucero.Opposite huge statue of Christ carrying cross. A/C TV

Pto Ordaz. Orinokia De Luxe Hotel (Bs195)2da. Transversal de Castillito, a 30 mts. del Banco Caroni, Pto. Ordaz. Breakfast,A/C, TV, Wifi, pool, HW & secure parking. (New)

El Sombrero. Hotel Altamira (Bs100). A/C TV Secure parking. On Highway just west of bridge.

Barinas. Donatello Hotel, C.A. (Bs100) A/C TV Secure parking. Calle Plaza entre Av. Marques del Pumar y Medina Limenez No. 6-46.

Recommend riding past Barinas towards Merida. Many Hotels on the highway at Barinitas. Looks a far more pleasant area than the city of Barinas.

Merida. Pattys Hostal. (Bs80) Opposite Plaza Heroinas. Last Hostal opposite start of highest cable car in the world!! Basic, share bathroom HW, kitchen, room for one motorcycle in courtyard. Patty is really friendly and helpful.

San Antonio del Tachira (Near border with Colombia) Hotel Terepaima,(Bs150) A/C, TV, secure parking. Calle 3 Andres Bello approximately 2 blocks from main plaza.

Information as stated is current August 2010.

In Cumaná, we stayed in hotel astoria too, because we read this post, the best cheap hotel in town (now the prices are a little bit higher: 145 bsf for one person 180 bsf for two) and they hace a pizza and pasta restaurant, secure parking and it's very easy to find. No brakfast, very simple place, but we like it

Thanks Ken and Carol!

Glad we could help. There was not very much information about Venezuela on H U when we entered and even today most people are reluctant to go. We were at the Overland Expo in Flagstaff AZ at the end of May 2012 and there was a discussion group about South America. A guy from Venezuela asked why the discussion never mentioned his country. All of the panel had been to Sth America and subsequently listed the reasons why they did not go...!!! We offered to say why we did go but they were not interested. Very sad as we had a great experience there although we did not go to Caracas. Start to wonder if the crime and trouble talked about in this city is true as most of the rumors we had heard about Venezuela in general turned into untruths... Enjoy the ride... Ken & Carol