Hotel rates in Caracas are crazy. Business travelers fill almost every room in the city Monday through Thursday, and hotels slash their rates on weekends. Moreover, the high occupancy and heavy corporate traffic has made rack rates at most Caracas hotels almost meaningless. Few hotels actually charge their published and advertised rack rate. It always pays to ask for a corporate or special rate, and if that fails, try to bargain at all but the truly top-end hotels.
Moderately Priced Hotels
In addition to the hotels listed in this section, the Hotel Paseo Las Mercedes, Centro Comercial Paseo Las Mercedes (tel. 0212/993-6644; www.hotelpaseolasmercedes.com), is a business-class hotel located in the heart of the fashionable Las Mercedes shopping and dining district.
Near the Airport
Years after la tragedia de Vargas (the Vargas tragedy), the coastal area near Venezuela's principal airport is still struggling to get back on its feet. In December 1999, heavy rains caused massive landslides all along El Litoral, killing as many as 200,000 and leaving many, many more homeless. Somehow, the international airport at Maiquetía survived, but almost all of the hotels and towns in the area were wiped out or severely damaged. The towns and cities of Catia La Mar, Maiquetía, La Guaira, Macuto, and Caraballeda were devastated, and the heavy runoff, debris, and detritus have left the beaches here decidedly unappealing.
Nevertheless, in recent years, several options have opened within a 15-minute radius of the airport. It is once again feasible to stay near the airport and thus avoid Caracas altogether, a good option if your travel plans are predominantly built around the natural wonders and beautiful beaches found further afield. In addition to the option listed, there is also a Eurobuilding Express Hotel, Avenida La Armada, Urbanización 10 de Marzo, Maiquetía (tel. 0212/700-0700; www.hoteleuroexpress.com), located just across from the Simón Bolívar International Airport. This business-class hotel offers little in the way of personality, but they do have a free shuttle to the airport, and if you arrive late and leave early the next morning, it's a good choice. If you're looking for a budget option in the area, try Il Prezzano, Avenida Principal de Playa Grande, Catia La Mar (tel. 0212/351-5306; fax 0212/351-3144; il-prezzano@cantv.net).
