A Caribbean Getaway on a Budget: My Post-Margaritaville Turkey Detox

Hello everyone!

This year, we embarked on what was probably our most exotic trip ever. We usually stick to what's familiar, reliable, and tried-and-tested, so we know what to expect. My solo adventures were mostly limited to Turkey, and you can find my reviews here and here.

But since 2021, Venezuela has opened up to Russia, and we took a chance to explore the Caribbean. It was our first time experiencing the region, and we found it to be one of the more affordable options, alongside Cuba. Of course, there are many islands in the Caribbean, with some catering to the 'high-end' crowd and others, like Venezuela, that are more accessible to the average traveler.

We were aware that Venezuela isn't a straightforward or reliable destination, unlike Turkey or Egypt. The standard of living here is quite different, and it might seem low or even poor to some. But I think the locals on Margarita Island have grown accustomed to this way of life, and it's just their reality. So, when visiting Venezuela, you need to understand that it's a different world, with its own unique culture, norms, and way of life. People here have adapted to this way of living for decades, and it's essential to let go of concepts like 'good' or 'bad'. It's simply different here.

When we arrived, our guide told us that Venezuela is a country you'll probably only visit once. And that's partly true, especially if you're used to a more active vacation experience, where you can safely explore the surrounding area or take a taxi to discover new places. That's not the case here.

We were prepared for some 'rough' service, given that Venezuela has been off-limits to tourists for a long time. But we were pleasantly surprised. It was more like staying in a 4-star Turkish hotel, but I want to emphasize that our hotel was still really nice! We had electricity, hot water, and internet (although our neighbor's hotel, Sunsol, often struggled with these basics).

We stayed at the Hisperia Isla Margarita 5* hotel, which is located on the same beach as the Sunsol hotel. But this review isn't about the hotels; it's about our experience on the island.

So, we flew in from Moscow, with a 14-hour journey. I know what you're thinking: 'Wow, 14 hours is a long time!' But the truth is, most of the passengers (including a 9-month-old baby) slept throughout the flight and only woke up a few hours before landing. I'm not kidding – even I, someone who usually can't sleep on planes, managed to doze off in those uncomfortable seats 😂

When we arrived at the airport, we were greeted by people in military uniforms and armed guards. We were a bit surprised, but it turned out to be just a precautionary measure. No one was stopped or searched.

I was surprised by how quickly we cleared customs and got on buses to our hotels. It was interesting to see how ordinary people live in Venezuela, as you can see from the photo below. All our buses (to hotels, to the airport, and for excursions) were accompanied by either the police or security – I'm not even sure which anymore.

First impressions? It felt like the whole place was stuck in the 80s. The same old cars, the same graffiti. The houses are old, and there's not much new around. I only saw one brand-new Toyota 4x4 the entire time I was there. In some areas, you'll see chickens and goats roaming around. There's a lot of poverty and neglect. Trash is left everywhere, and no one seems to care. It's not like the locals can't clean it up themselves if they wanted to, but... I guess they just don't.

We arrived at the hotel and were greeted with dance and music. It was really nice. Only one wing of the hotel was open, but it was clean and well-maintained. I'll write a review about our hotel separately, but for now, let's just say it was decent. The hotel itself looked okay, but there were two buildings – one was normal, and the other was a total dump. It was actually kind of scary to look at.

Checking into one of the hotels Checking into one of the hotels Our hotel was actually pretty good, and they did a great job of keeping up with our needs. Sometimes we'd see them restocking supplies for the guests. For example, one of the Russians ordered tea (which is basically non-existent in Venezuela), and two days later, there were 10 packets of it available. It was really nice, and I even grabbed two packets for myself as a souvenir!

As for the other guests on Margarita Island, it was mostly Russians. I didn't see any Europeans at all. Sometimes locals from the mainland or Caracas would come to relax for the weekend. There weren't many people at the hotel.

So, if you're willing to look past a few things, you can have that idyllic getaway that Bounty's ads promise. Just don't be too picky and focus on the bigger picture.

Now, about the sea. It's cold. We were staying on the northern coast, and the temperature was invigorating. But you can get used to it. That warm sea on the western coast is what we were dreaming about - we took an excursion there, but there are no hotels, only day-trippers. The reason is power outages and lack of drinking water. Those three hours were absolute bliss for us; the water felt like body temperature, and we didn't leave the water the whole time. We even met some local fishermen with their phones.

That western coast Fishermen on the western coastBut despite the coldness of the sea, swimming at our hotel was still tolerable. Yes, it's chilly, but the water's always calm.

But the hotel Sunsol had waves all the time. We'd walk past their beach on our way to the lighthouse, and we were unpleasantly surprised. These weren't just 'oh, look, waves!' kind of waves; they were full-on stormy waves. Kids couldn't even swim there, and adults weren't eager either. Almost nobody was swimming on that beach.The beach at our hotel was clean, white, and stunning...

Coconut water with rum - not tasty In the mornings, the whole beach was full of crab holes. Sometimes you could even spot the crabs A bit of greenery on our beach:

Mosquitoes always buzzed around the tree

View from the beach:

Sunrise from our room:

Coconuts were sold on the beach for a dollar, but to be honest, they were not tasty.

Rum with coconut water - not tasty at all :) We climbed the lighthouse, but to be honest, there wasn't much to see. First, we got our feet dirty because we had to walk on deep sand to get to the rock, and second, we had to walk through all those bushes. But we did it, took a photo, and that was it.

There were also local traders on the beach, and they were a bit aggressive when it came to prices. I mean, they're okay with the prices at our resort, but on the island of Koh Tachai, it was a different story. It's hard to explain, but you have to negotiate with them in a special way. You need to be tough, not take their jokes or compliments seriously, and don't give one trader special treatment by buying everything from them. If you do, they'll get used to it and start being rude. They'll either raise the price or show you some low-quality stuff or make a 'factory' (that's when they make something for you while you're standing there). One trader even asked me for chocolate for his pregnant wife, who was 8 months pregnant and had been walking around the beach all day. Yeah, you get the idea...

We actually took a unique approach and for a dollar, they made us a 'factory' out of some unusual shells we found on the beach.

The flora is just incredible, with all these unusual plants that you wouldn't find in Russia. We walked around and took tons of photos.

The resort has hammocks everywhere, and you can grab a cocktail from the bar and just relax.

We also ordered seafood at the beach, and they laid out a beautiful, if a bit worn, tablecloth and served the food on nice plates - it was like a catering service!

All this goodness cost us, four people, $60We went on excursions, but the prices here are crazy. A trip to Angel Waterfall costs $1000. You can go to Caracas, which is around $500, but if you want to visit their famous slums (which makes Caracas the most dangerous city in the world), add another $100 to $200. And people still go. But I don't want to see poor people, naked kids with no future. Neither they, nor their lifestyle, are a circus, and there's nothing to be excited about.

We were just on a tour of the island, visited the capital La Asuncion, but there's nothing special to see.

City squareSomething like Moscow's Arbat. Everything is beautiful and colorful, but it's a different world outside, of courseSomething like Moscow's Arbat. Everything is beautiful and colorful, but it's a different world outside, of courseSomething like Moscow's Arbat. Everything is beautiful and colorful, but it's a different world outside, of courseCity hallSome kind of fortressWe also went on a mangrove tour, and that was a lot of fun. We got to speed through the jungle on a motorboat, with the mountains in the distance and the wind in our faces. We saw sea stars and even a sea turtle. It was an amazing experience! Even if you don't plan on leaving the island, you won't be missing out on much. One excursion to Angel Reef should be enough, in my opinion.

I'd recommend bringing more money for booze. Rum, whiskey, and Baileys are all significantly cheaper here than in Duty-Free. You'll be recommended to buy coffee, but I wouldn't bother - the beans are super oily, clogged up my coffee maker, and the ground coffee is way too intense. There's a lot of pearl, but the clasps (in necklaces, earrings) quickly rust and break. During excursions, they'll take you to a mall where you can buy goods that were sold in Russia, various sneakers, clothes... We didn't bother, clothes are clothes, no matter where you are.

During our departure to Moscow, we got to know the local airport again. Everyone's on island time. You can bring a liter of water into the cabin and they won't bat an eye, and they'll even let you bring it on board. They'll pat you down and check your bags, but it's all pretty relaxed. The traffic can get pretty heavy, and your luggage will get sniffed by a dog. Boarding passes are issued manually.

So, what should you be prepared for? Be prepared for the fact that no one's in a rush here. Don't expect waiters to be running after you. They're friendly, chatty, and smiley, but no one's trying to make a living here. Everything's super relaxed and laid-back. I'd also recommend drinking a cocktail or a shot of pure rum after eating seafood (they offer oysters on the beach) and salads with seafood at the hotel restaurant. Get ready for a beach vacation, and yes, don't even think about leaving the hotel on your own after sunset. You won't be let in or out, and you'll be stuck in the woods overnight. Some people took the risk and went on solo excursions, and it all worked out for them, but we didn't want to take the chance. As our guide said: 'Please spare the local thieves, they have families to feed, don't go provoking them.' The police respond quickly, and these thieves will just disappear. The police have the authority to open fire without warning.There might be birds flying around the restaurant, and one even pooped on my plate. In the restaurant, I had a cockroach crawling on my plate. I ended up collecting all the critters 😂

Other than that, our vacation was amazing. We relaxed, and our souls were rejuvenated. The Caribbean has won us over, and now we're planning a trip to Cuba.

I hope my review was helpful, thanks for reading!