Margarita Tropical Villa Pool

Bed & breakfast in Playa El Agua. 10 rooms with king size beds, A/C, pool, fridges, DirecTV with HBO & CineMax, free Internet & breakfast From US$40 - See www.casatrudel.com for info!

Pool Side Room

Isla Margarita or Margarita Island
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS,
MAPS AND EXTRA PHOTOS

HERE ARE ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS.

Caracas, Venezuela airport information, Caracas airport hotels and Venezuelan exit tax leaving from the Caracas (Maquetia) airport please see our Caracas, Venezuela information page.

How far is Playa El Agua from the Airport?

It's about a 40 minute drive by taxi and costs around Bs.180 to Bs.216 depending if it's night or holiday.
To see a list of taxi prices & rates for Margarita Island.

We have an airport pick-up service from 6 AM until 11 PM daily (except Sundays only until noon) by an American lady named Marcella which costs US$40. She has an air conditioned Ford Explorer. You can see full info at http://www.casatrudel.com/crusin-n-style.htm  . If you would like to use this service we would need the airline, flight # and exact arrival time. We also offer this service to hotels other than our own.
Just e-mail us at margarita.island@gmail.com .

What is the current Venezuelan exchange rate?

The current official exchange rate in Venezuela is 4,30 Bolivars to one US dollar. (May 26, 2012).

For information in English on the Venezuelan currency conversion that changed on January 1, 2008 please see http://www.casatrudel.com/new-bolivar-fuerte.htm . This removed three zeroes from all our currency.

In late January 2003 (and still exists in 2009) Venezuela introduced exchange controls to protect the local currency.
As a tourist you should bring US$ cash (preferable) or traveler's checks.
All transactions with credit cards or ATM machines will be at the official rate of BsF.4,30 to US$1.  Exchange houses & banks (not all) are exchanging dollars and traveler's checks for Bolivars at the official rate. Our suggestion is to ask the hotel or guest house where you are staying the most convenient place to go to exchange your money.

Do NOT plan on using your credit card or ATM card as it will end up costing you much more (85%+) than what you can readily receive for US dollars.

Please do not be trapped into changing all your money at the Caracas airport by so called "helpers". There is currently no law that requires you to change all US$ when you enter the country. Once you change them into Bolivars you will not be able to change the local currency back into dollars. Just do your exchange a little at a time.

How do I get to Margarita Island?

Depending on where you live the easiest way is to find out if there are any direct charter flights and then book "AIR ONLY". For example there are direct flights from Amsterdam, Germany, London, Denmark & France. Also Toronto & Montreal in the winter. As these flights change check the travel ads in your local paper and see if anyone is advertising Margarita Island as a destination. If they are, there is bound to be a charter flight.

Canadians: - Nolitours for direct flights to Margarita for "air only" tickets (starting in Dec. until March) at 1-866-556-3948
Air Canada - weekly direct flights from Toronto to Caracas.
Arrivals: Tues., Thurs. & Saturday - Departures: Wed., Fri. & Sunday

Americans: Direct flights to Caracas from Houston, Atlanta & Miami.

Europeans: Direct flights to Caracas on Air France, KLM, BA, Lufthansa, Alitalia, Iberia and others.

The alternative is to book a regular flight to Caracas and then, from there, to Isla Margarita (Porlamar) on one of the many daily 35 minute shuttle flights.
The distance by air from Caracas to Margarita Island (Porlamar) is about 215 miles or 344 km. 
For international flights check out a site like Orbitz. , Expedia or Travelocity .

For flights inside Venezuela check out this list of airlines that fly from CCS to Porlamar (PMV)

Laser - (58) 212-2020100 - http://www.laser.com.ve/laserweb_2008/

Aeropostal - (58) 212-952-9566, (58) 800-237-6252 - http://www.aeropostal.com/aero2009/home.html

Conviasa - (58) 212-507-8820 - http://www.conviasa.aero/ or reservas.caracas@conviasa.aero

Aserca - (58) 800-648-8356, International call 58-212-953-3004 - http://www.asercaairlines.com/

Venezolana    (58) 501-836-396-5262    http://ravsa.com.ve/

Avior (58) 281-287-2080 http://www.avior.com.ve/  Miami - (1) 305-470-2203
(Conviasa also has flights from Trinidad and Grenada) There are others.

Avior Airlines has a flight from Miami to Barcelona (Puerto La Cruz) on the Venezuela mainland with same day connections to Margarita Island both ways. Flights are Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday. Website is in Spanish however you can also call them at (Ven 58) 281-500-3646
or call them direct in Miami at 305-470-2203.

For a complete list of both national and international airlines using the Caracas Airport please go to http://www.iaaim.com.ve/  . This site is in Spanish however it has a wealth of information.

Flights from Margarita to Los Roques and Canaima (Angel Falls).

We get many requests for information about trips to and from Los Roques. A local travel agent, Magic Tours, has information at http://www.islamargarita.com/losroq.htm .
For Angel Falls (Canaima) information see http://www.islamargarita.com/magic-tours-english.htm .

How do I find out about the Ferry - Conferry - from Puerto La Cruz?

Conferry that owns one of the ferry lines has a web site in Spanish at www.conferry.com . There is another ferry service called Gran Cacique that has their own web site. What we have done is create an extra page to reduce the number of e-mails that we receive about ferry schedules. Please click here for Conferry schedules for the Margarita Island ferry, Puerto la Cruz ferry, Cumaná ferry and the Caracas ferry .  Please do not e-mail us about ferry schedules and prices.

What's the weather like on Margarita Island?

Please click here for a separate page on weather conditions on Margarita Island.

When is winter on Margarita Island?

We are located 11ºN of the equator so we are in the Northern Hemisphere and winter is just like the USA or Europe. (By the way, what is winter?)

Are casual clothes accepted everywhere?

YES!!!!

What is the electric current in Venezuela?

We are the same here as North America - 110/120 volts - and use standard North American plugs.
If you are coming with appliances from countries that use 220 volts you will need a converter.

What do things cost?

Most things on Margarita Island are reasonably priced because we are part of the larger country of Venezuela, unlike the other islands of the Caribbean. Margarita is also a "DUTY FREE ZONE" so some things with traditionally high taxes are very low priced. As an example a case of 36 Polar beers in returnable bottles costs around US$8.50 and a 750 ml. bottle of Cacique rum costs $7.00 or less. Together with a 2 liter bottle of Coke at $1.50 and a large bag of ice for $3.00 you could have a quite a party for $40. Other things like Edam or Gouda cheese from Holland is about $6.50 a kilo ($3.00 lb.) while ham is also about $10.00 per kilo. A main course of fresh fish at one of the beach restaurants is around $10 - $12 per person while meat, chicken & pasta tends to be a little less. There is also take-out. Just down the street from Casa Trudel is a great place that has, among other things, PIZZA for about $10.00.
You can also visit our moving to or working on Isla Margarita page to see more detailed information.

The local supermarket is called "Bodegon Johnny" and is a short walk from Trudel's Garden.
Click here to see photos of the inside.

What can we do at night?

Around Playa El Agua there are a number of the beach restaurant / bars that have music & dancing at night. 
If you want to venture out to Porlamar, which is about a 30 minute drive, you can find CASINOS, DISCOS, MOVIE THEATRES and many additional RESTAURANTS & CLUBS.

What about last minute trips?

If you are coming last minute just e-mail us letting us know when you are arriving. We will let you know that same day if we have availability. We do not accept reservations of under 3 nights in low season or 5 nights in high season.

We will accept arrivals at the door without prepayment however we can not guarantee someone will be here to receive you - only if you guarantee your reservation by making a payment. We also will NOT accept unpaid walk-ins after 9 PM at night.

The other thing to be aware of is we do NOT accept credit card payments here in Venezuela - only through PayPal. With PayPal you MUST have a VERIFIED account to make payments from Venezuela. The only way to get a VERIFIED account is to do so from your home country BEFORE you come to Venezuela. Go to https://www.paypal.com to register.

If you want to pay in BsF. please see our rates in Bolivars at http://www.casatrudel.com/preciosenbolivares.htm

How do I make deposits? 

We accept payments at banks in 
Canada, USA, Europe, Venezuela 
We accept credit card payments through

                                          
An eBay company with 150 million member accounts worldwide.
For further info just click here.
 

What are our deposit & reservation requirements?

Christmas / New Year's, the month of August and Semana Santa (Easter week) - full payment.

All other times of the year:
If the reservation is 7 nights or less - full payment.
If the reservation is 8 nights or more - 50% deposit (min. deposit 7 nights).

The balance is then payable before arrival to our bank or on arrival in US$ cash or traveler's cheques.

What is our reservation cancellation policy?

Cancellation 30 days or more before arrival:
If you paid in full - 50% credit less 10% of the TOTAL reservation cost towards a future visit within 1 year.
If you paid a deposit of 7 nights or 50% - no refund

Cancellation for any reason 30 days or less before arrival:
No Refund.

Christmas / New Year's (Dec. 20 - Jan. 10):
If you paid in full - 50% credit less 10% of the TOTAL reservation cost towards a future visit within 1 year.
Cancellation for any reason 30 days or under - no refund.

What about security?

For your protection and the protection of our other guests Margarita Tropical Villa (Casa Trudel) is restricted to registered guests only. We would ask that all guests honour this restriction. If you do not you will be evicted and there will be no refunds.

For the safety and comfort of our guests we have invested a large sum on additional security at our property. Normal tourist activity like walking to the beach and traveling the Island is perfectly safe.

Our property is now among the most secure on the Island.

Rent-A Car information.

Please visit our Margarita Island Rental Car information page.

What about golf?

Isla Margarita Golf Course is located about 10 minutes by car from our properties.  Click here to see more information.

What about Scuba Diving & Snorkeling?

We now have an excellent PADI diving school associated with us to provide scuba and snorkeling tours as well as PADI dive courses. Visit our special scuba diving & snorkeling page.

What about offshore deep sea fishing?

Enjoy a day in a typical Margarita Island fishing boat, a peñero, with an English speaking guide. The fishing will take place near the offshore islands of Los Frailes where there are thousands of sea birds and perhaps the chance to spot a whale or dolphins. Everything is included - transportation, food and refreshment and tackle.
Visit our deep sea fishing page for full information.

What about an English speaking tour guide or Airport transfers?

We have an airport pick-up service from 6 AM to 9 PM (except Sundays to 4 PM) by an American lady named Marcella which costs US$40. She has a Ford Explorer . You can see full info at http://www.casatrudel.com/crusin-n-style.htm . If you would like to use this service we would need the airline, flight # and exact arrival time.
For full info on Margarita Island tours just click here.

What else is there to do?

There is a super new water park near Playa Parguito / Playa El Agua called Parque El Agua full of toboggan rides and other water related activities. Cost $10 per day with small children at half price.
Diverland is located just outside Porlamar and has various rides including a Ferris wheel and roller coaster. They also have dolphins and seals.
There are also numerous tours available to Los Roques National Marine Park, Canaima (Angel Falls), Los Frailes (Islands off the north shore of the Island), jungle tours, round the island tours and many others.
You can also spend the day with Scuba, snorkeling, horseback riding, deep sea fishing, wind surfing, sail boat tours, catamaran drinking tours, hiking, bird watching, etc., etc.

How can I access my E-Mails and Internet or make telephone calls?

Margarita Tropical Villa has FREE wireless high speed Wi-Fi service on our upstairs patio for those of you that can't leave their laptop at home.
We also have a regular computer set up near the upstairs patio - FREE.

Telephone calls, both national and international, can be made from any pay phone with a prepaid phone card or from the CANTV telephone center on the beach boulevard. Phone cards are available everywhere.

We can also receive emails, FAXes or telephone messages for you and pass them on.

Will my Cellular phone (cel phone or handy) work on Margarita Island?

In most cases your cell phone will not work on Margarita. If you are here for an extended stay you can have it activated through one of the local carriers or just buy a local cel phone - they are not expensive. All the major carriers have locations in the SAMBIL shopping center outside Pampatar. They will add a local chip to your phone for around US$20 and you will then be able to have a local number and be able to use pre-paid cards to activate it.

What is the Venezuelan Exit Tax?

The airport exit tax from Isla Margarita through the INTERNATIONAL terminal (not local flights) is BsF.225 or US$53 at the official exchange rate & much less at the parallel rate. A minimal airport tax is also charged for national flights - BsF.27,50 as of Feb., 2010. This tax is now supposed to be included in the ticket price (March, 2012)

In Caracas the airport exit tax is Bs.225 for International flights & Bs.45 for national flights.

For information on the exit tax if you are leaving from Caracas please see our special page of information on Caracas, Venezuela.

Want to move permanently, retire or work on Isla Margarita?

We have set up a page with the answers to many of your possible questions on living, retiring & working on or moving to Margarita Island. 

Anaconda Snake Photos from the Amazon!!!

Somebody e-mailed us these photos of a very large snake in the Amazon. These photos are not for the weak of heart or timid. Do not click on the link unless you have a strong stomach. Probably not for young children. 
If you want to continue click here - Anaconda giant snake photos.

Why stay with us?? Read why here!

Playa El Agua photos

MAPS & PHOTOS
To see the maps & photos in a larger format just click on them.

Map of Playa El Agua                            Road map of Isla Margarita   

                         
Margarita Island Golf Course Rates         NASA Space Image of Island