Destination: Margarita Island, Venezuela

Hotel Name: Best Western Margarita Dynasty

Room Size: 5, We had a family suite with two rooms and two full bathrooms. The kitchen area was nice, and we had two balconies overlooking the pool area.

Amenities: 5

Service: 4.5, Most of the staff only spoke Spanish so it might be a bit harder to communicate with the staff.

Restaurants: 3, The restaurant in the hotel was sometimes a bit slow and on the pricier side but the food was good.

Pool/common areas: 5, Pool area was nice and clean.

Enterainment: 4, Entertainment sometimes went late into the night, so the noise was a factor!

Location: 4, Not located on the beachfront, but everything we needed (Airport, mall, grocery store, touristic attractions, nice beaches) were within a reasonable drive)

Over-all: 5, Having a rental car was great and allowed us to see the whole island for less than half the cost of what it would have been if we would have taken a taxi everywhere.

Tours: At the popular Playa el Agua, there are many tourist companies to talk with for excursions.

Did you explore any of the surrounding area on your own?: We rented a car and visited a few castles, beaches, and areas around the island. One thing to note is that driving in Venezuela can be a stressful experience! It's best to drive as much like them as you can because taking it slower or being too cautious can actually be more dangerous. Try to stay off the roads around normal "rush hour" times, afternoon and early evening when most people are driving.

What is one thing that anyone traveling to this area should see/do?: Try to experience the culture as much as popular, by going to museums, castles and also it is important to take in the beauty and diversity of the island. Don't miss out on Playa el Agua and the sunset at Juan Griego (a beach area)!

Overall rating for the trip: 5! Margarita Island is a beautiful paradise location with something to offer for everyone- great shopping, beautiful historial areas, miles and miles of coast line, and friendly, open Margariteños- people from Margarita.