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For all kinds of specific travelers such as people with disabilities, women, gay, solo travelers and those with children, traveling through Venezuela might cause certain problems. There are a number of unwritten rules though, that can help avoid any inconvenience. Some kind of a general rule is that all remote places are rather while the major cities, especially Caracas, are far more open to all the groups. All of the major destinations like Puerto Colombia, Mérida or Canaima are much more appropriate for solo travelers than rest of the country. There are few things that should be considered by those who decide to travel alone. First, the accommodation costs will rise since majority of hotels doesn't have single rooms. And second, many destinations include additional travelings to remote areas increasing the possibility of getting lost in the wild. Also, it is more dangerous to walk the streets alone. Women traveling solo might face additional problems.
Disabled persons probably won't enjoy much of Venezuela because the country is inadequately equipped for such travelers. Just few upscale hotels and restaurants have wheelchair ramps. Throughout the country it is almost impossible to find a toilet with available wheelchair ramp. The same goes for museums, banks and other facilities, of which only few are proprietlly accommodated for travelers with disabilities. In addition, using Venezuela's public transportation will present quite a challenge to anyone with some kind of mobility limitation.
In Venezuela a woman traveling on her own will undoubtedly attract attention, mostly unwanted one. It is a country of macho male culture. Venezuelan men feel free enough to address a woman in the street, whistle or comment in more or less rude way. A few tricks will help: dressing more modestly, wearing a fake wedding ring and ignoring comments and attention.
It might not be such a great idea to travel to Venezuela late in pregnancy and get to the situation to deliver in the country. Medical care and facilities aren't of the highest standard, but there are Venezuelan obstetricians who speak English. More information is listed on the US embassy website (http://embajadausa.org.ve/wwwh005.html). At higher altitudes the air is getting thinner so regnant women should avoid spending time at altitudes.Yellow fever is a viral infection transmitted by mosquitoes in rain forest areas. It is a life-threatening infection that requires vaccination. Pregnant women can be given the vaccine because it contains the live virus which is potentially dangerous for the fetus. As in any other South American country, with the exceptions of Uruguay, Chile and Falkland Islands, malaria is often in Venezuela. While pregnant, it is the safest to take mefloquine (Lariam) malaria pills.
Tourists with children, who choose Venezuela as their holiday destination, should be aware of certain problems that may occur. Since the number of vaccines is recommended for this destination, it is advisable to know which of them are safe for children. In spite of that, the country is very family-oriented and parents traveling with children will equally enjoy their vacation as those traveling without kids. It is wise that a six-to-eleven-month-old child receives an initial dose of measles vaccine prior to taking trip to Venezuela. Yellow fever vaccine is not safe for small children under nine months. It is better to avoid areas where yellow fever occurs. Lariam and Malaron, two widely used malaria drugs, are safe to be taken by children. It is also advisable to use insect repellents on children but in lower concentration. Diarrhea, as an after effect of consuming certain food and drinks, is dangerous when occurs in children. The reason is that children under the age of two can receive hepatitis A and typhoid fever vaccines.
Although children's age limits for freebies and discounts differs from place to place, parents can expect many privileges. Generally, discounts include those for accommodations, entertainment and local transportation. Health issues and remote, hardly accessible locations are probably the cause why few people decides to take children along to Venezuela. However, all of the country's city areas are suitable and safe for children. Shops in major cities are well provided with all kinds of children's accessories. There are quite a lot of stores with disposable diapers, clothes, shoes and toys. Most pharmacies and supermarkets in the large cities have baby food.
Venezuela is a Catholic country and following that tradition homosexuality is denied and suppressed. Still, homosexuality isn't concerned illegal. The most openly gay city is Caracas. Some parts of Mérida are also tolerant to gays and lesbiens, while in the rest of the country is hard to make contacts with gay people. Caracas, having the largest gay and lesbian community, is the best place to get information or make contacts. When looking for a place where gay people meet, the key words are "en ambiente".
