Hotel Paseo Las Mercedes, Caracas

I stayed there for two weeks. The hotel manager insisted I pay for the first week because it was too long a stay without paying some of my stay ahead of time (in case I ran-off). I can see why the hotels are too expensive for the quality. Apparently, Venezuelan men love to bring young teenage-looking prostitutes to a hotel for a night or a just a few a hours. I saw a lot of this at the lobby. So, I theorize that the hotels overcharge in order to discourage this practice, which might also bring crime and a bad reputation to their hotel. Venezuelans call hotels where men mainly go for just a sexual "quickie" with a young prostitute a "tiradero." The day I arrived the room was fairly dirty. There was a black cleaning glove mangled and jammed between the refigerator and the dresser. There were speckles of blood on the sheets. I called the manager, and a woman came and checked. A maid came and swept the room, removed the glove, and changed the sheets. I placed my money in a safe in a room adjecent to the front desk, and we had to fish for safety deposit box in working order. I was adviced by the staff not to wander outside the hotel. I payed no attention, but I quickly realized my mistake when I saw a young party goer getting mugged and shot in the hip - he run/limped his way across the street shirtless and shoeless with blood streamng from his hip. I had to go to the hospital from an eye infection from placing my head on the dirty pillows - I guess. I would strongly recommend not going to Caracas unless you know someone there. It seems pretty neat and vibrant, yet it is very treacherous and riddled with violent muggings. I would pass on the hotel and visit Caracas with a local - honestly.

Very dirty. The minute you walk in the door you smell and see dirty walls, furniture, carpets. It is filthy. The beds looked clean but once you want to o under the sheets you find hairs from other guests under these, not to mention the bathrooms!!! Very unsanitary. One thing is to have old furniture but to keep the hotel dirty is another. wake up Manager! The place is at an excellent location but very poorly managed.

Excellent Hotel in the heart of modern Caracas. Right next to shops, fancy restaurants, night clubs.

OK um I said that because da wateer was bad and all those other people was complainin' 'bout it so I guess dats dat!

I got to go shopping at the mall, had good maid service, and got a free newspaper so I could read the funnies. I liked the showers too.