Venezuela has one of the world s highest crime rates. Violent crime, including murder, armed robbery

Presidential elections are scheduled montreal discount hotel for 7 October 2012. Campaign montreal discount hotel activities have already begun. There is the potential montreal discount hotel for violence in the lead up to and in the period surrounding the elections. Australians should avoid all political gatherings and demonstrations.
Venezuela has one of the world s highest crime rates. Violent crime, including murder, armed robbery, kidnapping and carjacking, occurs frequently throughout Venezuela and has increased over the past year.
The road between the Maiquetia Simon Bolivar airport and Caracas is dangerous due to violent crime. There have been reports montreal discount hotel of muggings and kidnappings by criminals posing as taxi drivers. montreal discount hotel See the Crime section montreal discount hotel for more details.
We strongly advise you not to travel montreal discount hotel within 80kms of Venezuela's border areas with Colombia, montreal discount hotel in particular the border states of Bolivar, Amazonas, Apure, Tachira, Zulia and Barinas. The presence of gangs and terrorist groups make the region unsuitable for travel.
Australia does not have an Embassy or Consulate in Venezuela. The Canadian Embassy in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, provides consular assistance to Australians in Venezuela (except the issue of passports). The Australian Embassy in Chile can also assist Australians.
Visa and other entry and exit conditions (such as currency, customs and quarantine regulations) change regularly. Contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Venezuela for the most up to date information.
For entry into and departure from Venezuela, Venezuelan or Australian/Venezuelan dual national children (i.e. under 18) travelling alone or with one parent require a letter of consent signed by both parents providing details of travel, and a copy of their birth certificate, translated into Spanish and certified by a Venezuelan Embassy or Consulate. Australians travelling with children are advised to contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Venezuela montreal discount hotel for further information.
Venezuela is listed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as endemic for yellow fever. Airlines require passengers montreal discount hotel to present montreal discount hotel a valid Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate before being allowed to board flights out of the country.
If you have visited Venezuela in the last six days prior to your date of return to Australia, Australian Customs officials montreal discount hotel will ask you to present a valid Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate on entry into Australia.
You are required to pay an airport tax on departure from any international airport in Venezuela. These taxes must be paid in local currency and in cash. You should check if these taxes have been included montreal discount hotel in the price of your ticket.
If you are travelling to Venezuela through the United montreal discount hotel States of America, or if you are transiting in Honolulu montreal discount hotel or other US points of entry, you are required to meet US entry/transit requirements. Make sure you check with your nearest US Embassy or Consulate your visa requirements well in advance of your travel. You should also read our travel advice for the United States of America .
Border areas: We strongly montreal discount hotel advise you not to travel within 80kms of Venezuela's montreal discount hotel border areas with Colombia, in particular the border states of Bolivar, Amazonas, Apure, Tachira, Zulia and Barinas, because montreal discount hotel of risks from terrorist groups and cross-border political tension.
Colombian terrorist groups, such as the FARC and ELN, and narcotic gangs are active along Venezuela's border with Colombia, Brazil and Guyana. Kidnapping for ransom in these areas has resulted in the death of victims, including foreigners. The Venezuelan military conduct search and arrest operations to maintain law and order in border regions.
montreal discount hotel We advise you to exercise a high degree of caution in Venezuela because of high levels of serious crime and ongoing montreal discount hotel political tensions. Pay close attention to your personal security at all times and monitor the media for information about possible new safety or security risks.
Presidential elections are scheduled for 7 October 2012. Campaign activities have already begun. There is the potential for violence montreal discount hotel in the lead up to and in the period surrounding the elections. Australians should avoid all political montreal discount hotel gatherings and demonstrations.
Social and political tensions continue throughout Venezuela and could prompt unpredictable montreal discount hotel violent incidents. Prior notice of demonstrations is often included in the local English language newspaper 'Daily Journal'. montreal discount hotel National strikes montreal discount hotel can be called at short notice, causing disruptions to air travel, public transport and banking facilities.
Venezuela has one of the world s highest crime rates. Violent crime, including murder, armed robbery, kidnapping and carjacking, occurs frequently montreal discount hotel throughout Venezuela and has increased over the past year.
If possible, you should avoid city streets in central Caracas and the Sabana Grande area. There are increasing levels of crime in poorer areas of Caracas, in Cumana, Maracaibo, Paraguana, Valencia, and on the islands of Los Testigos. The Avila National Park is a known target area for criminals. You should also avoid walking or driving in isolated areas, especially at night.
There has been an increase in reported montreal discount hotel incidents of violent crime on Margarita Island (Isla de Margarita). Hotels and tourist areas have been targeted. Travellers are advised to take extra security precautions on the island.
The road between the Maiquetia Simon Bolivar airport and Caracas is dangerous. The road should be avoided at night, particularly between the hours of 2300 and 0400 when there are fewer vehicles on the road. Incidents of muggings and kidnappings by criminals posing as taxi operators at the airport have recently been reported. Foreigners, including Australians, have been attacked and robbed. Licensed, radio-despatched taxis can be organised in advance by hotels or by telephone at the airport. montreal discount hotel You should avoid sharing taxis with strangers. If possible, travellers are advised to arrive in or leave Caracas during the day and to organise transport to the city through their hotel before they arrive at the airport.
There has been a recent increase in incidents of 'express kidnappings', where people are forced to withdraw funds from ATMs to secure their release. montreal discount hotel Victims have been killed or injured while resisting montreal discount hotel perpetrators' demands.
We have received reports of harassment and extortion by criminals posing as officials. Australians should exercise care when dealing with those in official uniform or carrying official identification.
Travellers have been robbed montreal discount hotel and assaulted (including sexually assaulted) after accepting spiked food and drink. In some cases, montreal discount hotel hotel workers and taxi drivers have been implicated. Women should take particular care when dealing with strangers or new acquaintances and be especially cautious about accepting rides or invitations.
Before you go, organise a variety montreal discount hotel of ways to access montreal discount hotel your money overseas, such as credit cards, travellers' cheques, cash, debit cards or cash cards. Australian currency and travellers' cheques are not accepted in many countries. Consult with your bank to find out which is the most appropriate currency to carry and whether your ATM card will work in Venezuela.
There are limitations on foreign exchange transactions throughout Venezuela and money exchange facilities may be difficult to locate on weekends. There are high levels of credit card fraud, whereby hand-held scanners are used to copy the card's electronic coding onto a false card.
Make two photocopies of valuables such as your passport, tickets, visas and travellers' cheques. Keep one copy with you in a separate place to the original and leave another copy with someone at home.
Your passport is a valuable document that is attractive to criminals who may try to use your identity to commit crimes. It should always be kept in a safe place. You are required by Australian montreal discount hotel law to report montreal discount hotel a lost or stolen passport. If your passport is lost or stolen overseas, report it online or contact the nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate as soon as possible.
Driving in Venezuela can be dangerous due to poorly maintained roads and vehicles and local driving habits, including driving while intoxicated and ignoring red lights at night. Rural roads are often unmarked montreal discount hotel with little or no street lighting. For further advice, see our bulletin on Overseas Road Safety .
Piracy occurs in the coastal areas of Venezuela. See our Travelling by Sea advisory for more information. The International Maritime Bureau runs a 24-hour Piracy Reporting Centre based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which issues daily reports broadcast to all shipping on the Safety Net service of Inmarsat-C and weekly reports on its website.
When you are in Venezuela, be aware that local laws and penalties, including ones that appear harsh by Australian standards, do apply to you. If you are arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you but we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.
Penalties for drug offences, including possession, are severe and include lengthy jail sentences served in local jails that are dangerous and among the worst in the world. Drug trafficking in Venezuela is a significant montreal discount hotel problem and the authorities have invested in sophisticated detection methods in an attempt to identify drug traffickers. Travellers are screened for drug possession on arrival and departure and can also be screened while waiting in the airport.
Some Australian criminal montreal discount hotel laws, such as those relating to money, laundering, bribery of foreign public officials, terrorism, child pornography, and child sex tourism, apply to Australian overseas. Australians who commit these offences montreal discount hotel while overseas may be prosecuted in Australia.
Australian authorities are committed to combating sexual montreal discount hotel exploitation of children by Australians overseas. Australians may be prosecuted at home under Australian child sex tourism and child pornography laws. These laws provide severe penalties for up to 25 years imprisonment for Australians who engage in child sexual expl