Geraldine Joaquim is a seasoned traveler who has visited over 60 countries. Despite her vast experience, she reveals that Caracas, Venezuela, is the one place she will never visit again. Her brief stay in the capital city was marked by fear and high-stress situations.
The trouble began when her late-night flight arrived and her pre-booked transport failed to show up. Left alone in an emptying airport with a non-working phone, she felt vulnerable. When a man eventually arrived to collect her, she discovered a second man already waiting in the car.
During the 30-minute drive, Joaquim remained on high alert. She even held a small pen knife for protection. Though she reached her hotel safely, the experience left her deeply shaken. She noted that her natural stress response was at its absolute limit.
The next day brought more chaos at the airport. A man took her bags under the guise of an “informal check-in service,” forcing her to pay to get them back. This final incident added to the feeling of being unsafe and exploited.
Joaquim believes travel should include seeing the “not-so-good” parts of the world. However, the constant state of danger she felt in Caracas was too much. She now shares her story as a reminder to stay vigilant, even when you are a travel expert.