๐งญ Venezuela: good to know
The general-information half of trip planning: how expensive Venezuela feels, what is considered polite, what is not, and the everyday practicalities - alongside our 73 written places.
Warm, loud and physically affectionate; strangers become friends over a tiny sweet coffee.
โ Considered polite
- Greet with a single cheek kiss between women or man and woman, and a handshake between men
- Make small talk before any business - going straight to the point feels cold
- Accept a cafecito when offered - small, sweet and near-constant
- Dress neatly - people take real care with appearance even in the heat
โ Better avoided
- Arrive exactly on time to a social invitation - a little late is the norm
- Refuse offered food or drink without a warm excuse
- Be startled by personal questions - curiosity is friendliness here
- Wear beachwear away from the beach
๐ก Worth knowing
- US dollars in small bills circulate alongside the bolivar - carry ones and fives
- Tipping around 10% is usual - check whether service is already on the bill
- Arepas are eaten morning, noon and night, and areperas keep long hours
- Lunch is the main meal and early afternoons run slow
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Customs are living things - regions differ, cities relax, generations shift. Take these notes as a friendly head start, watch what locals do, and when in doubt a smile and a greeting in the local language cover almost everything.