Your Idea of a Budget Vacation

[David]

I know there are lots of exotic destinations that we would all love to visit, but sometimes we have to be realistic, and find a vacation that is a little closer to home, and a little less expensive. For example, I live in Atlanta, Georgia, and I can be in the mountains in about two hours, where I can rent a cabin for around $60-80 per night. There is lots of hiking and scenic views in the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains and Smoky Mountains (most visited National Park in America). What is yor idea of a budget vacation?

[Laura]

We like to go to National parks and camp, or stay in their lower-cost lodges.

[cocodrilo]

A week or more in a southeast Asian destination.
A week or two in northern Africa.
The lesser-travelled Greek isles.
If you play your cards right and get rock-bottom priced airfare, then take into consideration your accommodation, local transport and food costs, the above can be VERY economical.

[cocodrilo]

Presently, I'm looking into a trip to some countries in southeast Asia. I'm liking the sound of $10-per-night stays at guesthouses! For long vacations, this is the only way to go!

[mdenisefern]

before moving here ... to Margarita Island.. I never knew you could also rent out condo's here or anywhere. Its so much more economical and you'll save on eating out all the time and the hotel prices.

You can enjoy the pool and live in a safe secured building right in the city and not have to spend much on taxi's. It's as if you are staying a home away from home.

Used to travel allot when I was a kid to Maine and Vermont, they were all good vacations but I really do like it here.


thanks

[cocodrilo]

Ok-
Give us the info on where the place IS, how to get there, available transport & lodging and what you can do while you're there and we will be quite grateful!

[mdenisefern]

hi,

Nueva Esparta State is formed of three islands, Margarita Island, Coche Island and Cubagua Island. Margarita is situated 38 km north east of the mainland of Venezuela.

Right now you can travel by plane from any state of course the further you are away from Miami it will be a little more expensive. From MIA airport to Caracas round trip for a little over one week for one adult is $275.00. I just checked at Travelocity.com on Santa Barbara Airlines. This is for a direct flight. For now you have to take a connecting flight to Margarita once your in Caracas. But Santa Barbara has plans this year to make direct flights from Miami straight to Margarita.

From Caracas.... it is cheaper if you buy the ticket at the airport. The flight costs about $56 as far as I understand- it is cheaper to book once you are there. Because there are 3 airlines that make the trip to Margarita everyday, it's virtually impossible to use a ticket booked on one airline with another.

Once you arrive & clear customs in Caracas, depart the terminal & turn left. It's a good little walk outdoors to the domestic terminal, but if you have wheels on your luggage, you really don't need a porter. Once you get there, there are multiple touts who will help you get in the proper line of the airline with the next flight leaving for Margarita. You can give them a small tip for helping you.

There is a departure tax of 14,000 Bolivar's leaving from Caracas,& 10,000 Bolivar's leaving from Porlamar if I remember correctly. It's about 87,000 leaving internationally but unless you're on a charter this latter is usually included in the price of your ticket. It makes good sense to understand exactly what you have, and to change sufficient money ONLY to pay these taxes & ticket prices in Bolivar's if you can exchange money at an inflated rate. It is relatively easy to do. Steer clear of 50,000Bs notes, old warn bills,& anything w/o the telltale "thread" just to be safe.

The currency exchange rate is 2150 Bolivar's to $ 1.00 US.

Also once you get here there are several hotels or places to stay .. just depends on how much your willing to spend. The Dunes is the most luxurious of them all .. or the Margarita Hilton:
http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=PMVHITW

Personally I have found local condos to be much of a better value ... they are comfortable and cheaper if your not looking to spend allot of money.

Here is two: http://www.vacationspaces.com/3475


http://www.geocities.com/islamargaritacondo

As far as the food goes at the second one there is a supermarket located not even 5 minutes away from this condo. Here is a link to the supermarket: http://www.centralmadeirense.com.ve

And the other condo also has a nearby shopping plaza right down the street with another supermarket called Unicasa and the Sambil mall so very close. And Diverland amusement park almost next door to that condo.

Food is very inexpensive here ...its seems as if it just gotten more expensive to live in the states. A family of 5 can more than live off of a week of groceries here for about $74.00 roughly. Less sometimes if we don't buy stuff we really can do without like snacks stuff. Of course the more adults there are the more $$ ...

What to do when here .... Scuba Diving ..here is company I work with that has scuba diving tours in Los Roques ... http://www.ecobuzos.com/english/index.htm

Hiking, tons of Beaches, wind surfing, La Restinga National Lagoon park with a boat tour, Parque El Agua water Park, Jeep Tours, Island Tours, Horseback Riding , Coche Island Snorkeling, Air Tours to Angel Falls and more.

I have all of this info with many pictures ...just email me. I DO want more people to learn about Margarita but don't believe in spamming here on this message board.

This may not be the cheapest vacation but imagine yourself on a ISLAND for a week and without it costing an arm and a leg ... So thanks SO much for reading this and hope it sparks your interest and maybe one day you'll come here for a visit ....

kind regards - marsha

[Jonathan]

Welcome to the Travel Forums mdenisefern!

[mdenisefern]

thanks a bunch ..glad to be here ... I'm learning about many places I didn't even know of.