VENEZUELA
Business/social hints
Appointments: must be made in advance.
Attire for business meetings: men should wear a lightweight suit and tie, women a two-piece suit or equivalent and hosiery.
Etiquette: it is customary to shake hands on meeting and leaving.
Language: business is conducted in Spanish. Many executives speak English.
Laws: smoking is generally accepted unless there are notices to the contrary. The minimum drinking age is 18 years.
Invitations: punctuality is appreciated, gratuities are around 10%, even when a service charge is included in the bill.
Local time: GMT -4.
Capital:Caracas.
Language:Spanish.
Electricity: 110V 60Hz.
Int. direct dialling code: 58.
Driving:International Driving Permit required.
Currency: Bolivar (VEB 1 = 100Centimos).
Business hours
Banks: 8.30am-11.30am and 2pm-4.30pm Monday-Friday.
Offices: 8am-6pm Monday-Friday.
Shops: 9am-1pm and 3pm-7pm Monday-Saturday.
Emergency Services
Police: 169, 165, 160.
Fire: 166, 987, 4334
Ambulance: 545, 4545, 977-3967.
Clothing
Lightweights for most of the year although warmer clothes will be required for higher altitudes. Rainwear is essential for the rainy season.
Health
Compulsory vaccinations: none.
Weather
Tropical climate with high temperatures throughout the year although cooler at higher altitudes. In general, the main rainy season is between April-October but there are regional variations.
Montevideo Temp C Humidity % Rain
Max Min am pm (mm)
January 24 23 – – 23
February 25 13 – – 10
March 26 14 – – 15
April 27 16 – – 33
May 27 17 – – 79
June 26 17 – – 102
July 26 16 – – 110
August 26 16 – – 110
September 27 16 – – 106
October 26 16 – – 110
November 25 16 – – 93
December 26 14 – – 46
Caracas Simon Bolivar CCS
Postal address: Sub-direccion de Aviacion, Civill del Litoral, POBox 3445, Caracas.
Telephone: +58 282100/282055/283878.
Fax: +58 2 285161.
Transportation to city centre: Bus service operates 6am-6pm every 60mins, fare VEB 100, journey time 45mins.Coach operates 5.39am-23.59pm every 60mins, fare VEB 2,000, journey time 30mins. Taxi fare VEB 3,500, journey time 45-60mins.
Airport departure tax: US$18. Infants andchildren aged 2-14 are exempt.
Flight information: tel: 282100, available 24hrs.
Passport and visas
Passport required.
Customs
Import allowances: 200 cigarettes or 25 cigars. Two litres of alcohol. Four small bottles of perfume.