Well, let me tell you ... Arriving in Caracas is a HUGE HASSLE. I fly between Bogota and Caracas every 2 weeks. It takes an entire day despite the short 1:30 h flight.

Yes, the bridge is still down, and yes, it may take you more than 2 hours to get to the city. I've found that arriving around 6-7pm on a weekday is the best shot for a shorter ride from the airport to the city. Avoid arriving on a Sunday afternoon as all beach-goers will be heading back. When leaving, always plan leaving the city around 3-4 hrs prior to your flight time to allow for huge traffic jams. Especially on Fridays and weekends.

Good beaches are not close to the city.