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What are the best and safest cities to Live In 2018

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OneWorld2018
  10/17/2018 12:44 EST

Hello,
Can anyone currently living in Venezuela please share your opinions as to which cities are best to live in overall for an Expat family? Which cities offer the highest overall quality private healthcare, available food, safety and things to do for long term living in country and paying with USD. How does one deal with the day to day currency fluctuations and money changing safely? Any advice tips or tricks would be wonderful. Thanks in advance for any of your thoughts.

pvrich
  10/19/2018 11:52 EST

Hey. I do not know what is the best place or the safest areas as I am not there. If you are interest, this may be a way to avoid having to deal with money. therealmoney.online/richilugold
Just something to consider.

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sandrroy
  10/22/2018 14:48 EST

The island of Margarita is better than the mainland! Healthcare is BAD everywhere! Medicines are not available in most pharmacies. Measles, diphtheria, and malaria are back with a vengeance! There are no vaccines! Proteins are hard to find anywhere! To change money you need a bank acct, but you need to be living here to get a required CEDULA (official ID card) . You cannot BUY property without a cedula! Education is almost non existent as teachers are leaving and schools are closing! Private schools change their fees monthly!! Prices change almost daily and the IMF predicted inflation at 10 million for 2019. NOW is NOT the time to be coming to Vzla!! I have been here 12 years and I know what I'm talking about!

cork
  10/25/2018 11:06 EST

I lived in Maracaibo for 17 years & still own a home there (hope to go back one day). My wife is currently there visiting family & I basically concur with all you wrote. She took (2) large suitcases when she left & they were packed with food & medicine. Such a beautiful country & beautiful people; it's such a shame, but being the eternal optimist, I hope things get better during my lifetime.

OneWorld2018
  10/25/2018 11:48 EST

Thank you for the suggestion!

OneWorld2018
  10/25/2018 11:53 EST

Sandrroy, thanks for your response. If one were to overcome the Cedula issue, has USD or Euro to spend, can obtain a local bank account, and brings their own medicines, is it possible to live well there? I have received many mixed opinions and thoughts about going to the country. Some say if you have USD and access to local banking that life is not bad and you can buy almost anything you need. Others say nothing is available. I heard there are private hospitals and clinic that one can go to that do have medicine, where one can have a child or get taken care of with good care if you have the money. So that's really what I am trying to find out.

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William Russell's private medical insurance will cover you and your family wherever you may be. Whether you need primary care or complex surgery, you'll have access to the best hospitals & doctors available. Unlike some insurers, we also include medical evacuation and mental health cover in our plans (except SilverLite). Get a quote from our partner, William Russell.

William RussellWilliam Russell

William Russell's private medical insurance will cover you and your family wherever you may be. Whether you need primary care or complex surgery, you'll have access to the best hospitals & doctors available. Unlike some insurers, we also include medical evacuation and mental health cover in our plans (except SilverLite). Get a quote from our partner, William Russell.
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OneWorld2018
  10/25/2018 11:56 EST

Hello Cork, would you happen to know which cities are the best for expats right now? where are the best private healthcare facilities, food, entertainment, etc? I know a lot of what we see online is exaggerated or fake news, but I do know there is a lot of truth to it as well.

I think buying land or real estate may now could be a good investment. As they say, nothing last forever. One day things will get better there. The question is, how to survive the best way possible with out suffering in the interim.

sandrroy
  11/7/2018 06:58 EST

Yes, things can be purchased IF they are available, but a far as medicines go most are not! I recently heard of someone needing to go to a hosp with pneumonia but the private one wanted $1000 up front!! YES in dollars!!! WAIT!

craig734
  11/24/2018 06:46 EST

Listen to these people. I live on Margarita but am currently staying in Medellin. If you care about you and your family's life DO NOT GO TO VENEZUELA NOW. It is no longer cheap and dangerous. Many people are not working and those who are only making several dollars a month. What category does that put you and your family in?

jim42
  12/3/2018 18:56 EST

0neWorld please qet your head out of your butt.....

fecherklyn
  12/28/2018 17:38 EST

@OneWorld

I find it hard to believe your enquiry is sincere as surely the regular media reports about what is going on In Venezuela cannot leave anyone in doubt. You will be risking your family's lives if you go to reside there at the moment. Here are a few of my experiences:

Lived and worked In Venezuela from 1997 to 2003 with my Venezuela wife. We are now living in Colombia together with millions of other fleeing Venezuelans.

"Escaped" from Venezuela in 2003 after 4th mugging in a few months, the last with a gun held at my wife's head.

Only managed to sell our house three years later at an 80% loss in Euro terms. The buyer was a Chavez supporter who had the good fortune to become suddenly rich!

My wife's younger brother was assassinated only a couple of years ago because he resisted paying extortion monies to the local mafia.

My wife's elder brother has just given up as his legal incomes have completely disappeared and he was dying of hunger and without essential medicines. He has just arrived to live with us for the time being whilst waiting to see what happens. His house in Venezuela is deserted but he wonders what will remain of it whenever he can get back.

And many more tales.

What can possibly make you think it is currently a serious prospect to live there?

William RussellWilliam Russell
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William Russell's private medical insurance will cover you and your family wherever you may be. Whether you need primary care or complex surgery, you'll have access to the best hospitals & doctors available. Unlike some insurers, we also include medical evacuation and mental health cover in our plans (except SilverLite). Get a quote from our partner, William Russell.

William RussellWilliam Russell

William Russell's private medical insurance will cover you and your family wherever you may be. Whether you need primary care or complex surgery, you'll have access to the best hospitals & doctors available. Unlike some insurers, we also include medical evacuation and mental health cover in our plans (except SilverLite). Get a quote from our partner, William Russell.
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GcmsGuru
  10/28/2019 09:51 EST

I lived in Venezuela some years ago near the village of Rio Chico in the development of Los Canales. This location is on the coast about 80 to 100 miles east of Caracas.

I never felt the least threatened anywhere I went in country and found that once people learned I was studying Spanish every day and was not a tourist was accepted warmly.

Of course if one was to go out and about dressed in expensive clothes with a gold watch and with large US bills hanging out of pockets, like just about anywhere you'd probably have trouble.

desertdave
  3/28/2020 09:28 EST

It is nice to read a positive report here.

I know "everybody" says run the other way and don't look back, but I am still interested in coming to VZ.

My plan is to come down, teach English and technology, and integrate into the community. I certainly don't fit into the rich American stereotype.

Caracas might be a bit much, as I am used to living in smaller cities, so I will be shopping for just the right spot to roost.

My feeling, not yet confirmed, is that VZ is resilient, has just about hit bottom after years of difficulty, and may be poised for a rebound. Maybe this is a good time to be there to be part of the rebuilding...

Thoughts?

happysettler
  5/22/2020 00:58 EST

Greetings from Thailand,
How safe is Columbia to live in and what is a resonable amount to spend each month for quality living. I was in Bogota many years ago and was inquiring about where the donut shop was and was told by the bell-hop, it was too dangerous to go there. This was a sunday morning. Please fill me in as much as you can. I have been in Thailand since 2002 and am now get restless for a new location. Thanks a lot.
Phil originally from Georgia in the USA.
[email protected]

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