LTI Costa Caribe Beach Hotel

2 readers found this review helpful

We came here to get married in March 2008.
After a 4 hour delay SITTING ON THE PLANE at Gatwick..not even a drink of water was offered although drinks could be brought!!!.
The hotel was satisfactory although the rep was worse than useless..my Father in law booked a trip that turned out to be more expensive than the same trip my sister booked for a couple of days before hand,.......work that one out...he was also offering to change currency discretly for a small fee...much less than the customer service desk charged!!!!!.
The ceiling fan fell down in my family room....directly on top of the beds where my 7 and 8 yr olds would have been sleeping...luckily we were having a celebratory late night!...it was fixed the next day but that really isn't the point!.
The food gave 3 of my family terrible upset stomachs..it's the same every day and it got to the point where we were missing meals as we couldn't face the same food yet again!
The pool was filthy..there was even faeces in the bottom and despite numberous complaints about it nothing was done.
The wedding was well organised i have to say although i was bitten by red ants and still have scars on my feet and legs to this very day!...I had watched other people getting married and wondered why the guests seemed to jump around...now i know!!!...so if you're getting married please please please beware...the ant bites really hurt..feels like being scalded by boiling hot water shooting over the feet and legs.
All in all not a great holiday....at least my wedding went to plan many thanks to Henrietta..she was a diamond bless her.

1 reader found this review helpful

I love this place this was our 2nd time coming, the 1st time in 2001 me and my now husband got married here the downside was we came on our own, so We booked again and the family came with us to renew our vows for them Henriatta who organised it was excellant, The staff are all polite, helpful they where great we had Oscar who made our holiday on both occasions, I like it that much we have booked again to go in October 2008. Ok you may get a slightly unclean room Go and ask if you can change it they will do i for you Not that we ever had to. The entertainment staff are great, the shows they put on are not always to everyones liking they have to please everyone so they have to do different things. The weather was fab both times, we had 1 blackout in the September but it added to the fun because we new this could happen. I will be coming again and again.

1 reader found this review helpful

omg, what can i say about the hotel. iT was so amazing and i would go there every year if i had to. The animation team was so helpful and enjoyable. you can have a good laugh with them. They work all day and night for the night time show. During the day there are plenty of games to play. I was sunbathing on the bed and one of them came up to me and asked me if i wanted to play, and i said no, but they wouldnt take no for an answer.But it was a laugh. The main animation team people who done all of the games during the day was, joel (benny), christian, julio, ozwaldo, roger, angel. Angel was so funny.Miss you all loads.xxxxxxxxxxx

1 reader found this review helpful

What can I say? This is an absolutely fantastic hotel. They will go out of their way to please you. The stay in Margarita was amazing.
The rooms were very nice but if you don't like any kind of damp, then don't go as the humidity is high and everything feels a bit wet, other than this, brilliant.
Definitely take the trip to the Orinoco Delta. It is well worth the money. Piranha fishing, catching crocodiles, see wildlife like never before and sit under the stars at night. You will never see stars so bright. Listen to jungle sounds throughout the night.
Wow you can't beat it.

I just thought I should write a review as we were really worried about going on this holiday due to all the negative ones we read before departure.
First of all I would say, do not pay the extra and upgrade on your flight with first choice its simply not worth it, you get a chance to upgrade the tv package on board for £5, the meals you receive are the same, everyone gets pamper packs and you don't get your luggage first when you land at either side. Apart from that though the flight was good and staff helpful.
The hotel itself is massive, prepare to lose your room! The rooms are basic but clean and the air con and fans are really needed!
The beach is beautiful and the pool is absolutely fantastic, we spent most of our time in there and made good use of the pool bar! Its a good idea to make sure your sun bed is in the shade as its so hot, in fact all of our party used factor 50 and still managed to burn.
The food does get a bit boring and there were some really weird things offered, like curry for breakfast, but we all managed to find something we liked at every meal. The staff at the hotel are very helpful and the First Choice rep. Annamaria, is lovely, got to know everyone's name and is in the hotel a lot, if you have a problem tell her and she will sort it out. If you need the hotel doctor he is lovely, I was ill for a short while and within 10 mins of requesting him he arrived and does not rip you off.
We went on 2 trips - the jeep safari, which is a must, apart from the 2 hours spent on a beach full of flies!!! and the speed boats are brilliant- pay by credit card because you get big discounts. We met some lovely people and even attended a beach wedding which was lovely.
Prepare for lengthy waits at Margarita airport when you go home.
All in all a lovely holiday that went way too fast. If you are going just go with a laid back attitude and enjoy! Oh and by the way take a torch , we had a couple of blackouts that just effect your rooms, you do get a candle and matches but a torch would help.

2 readers found this review helpful

First of all we flew from Gatwick, check-in was rapid although increased security was noticeable. Flight really dragged I would suggest buying a airplane inflatable pillow and try to get some sleep as this really makes the flight go 100xfaster.
Upon arrival was a big storm (Rare in Margarita according to locals), airport roof started to leak and customs was rather slow. Once through customs bags took a while to come out most likely due to the storm which is understandable, airport is also of a small size.
Transfers from the airport to our hotel was quite quick taking about 30 minutes. This is a perfect opportunity to see some locals how they live, as mentioned before they are quite poor although they have the best way of life. Take some notice of the cars they will really put a smile on your face.
When we arrived at the hotel for the quantity of people arrived check in was fast. Got escorted to the room. When we reached the room it was fine, no problems with dirtiness or anything rooms were attended to daily.
The hotel is absolutely huge, as well as the swimming pool. It even has a pool bar and obviously an outstanding beach open from 7.00am until Midnight. Cocktails, Soda and Beers are the main drinks around the hotels.
Lunchtimes were not so great, if you wanted something different everyday for dinner you won't be. It only serves chips, pizza, salad, burgers and sometimes grilled fish, not to mention the hot dogs, don't make the mistake of thinking this is what tea times and breakfast is like because it is not.
Every breakfast and tea time there was plenty to choose from also specialities. In the two weeks we were there we did not eat the same meal and there is always plenty of fruit too for afters and cakes (Really Yummy).
Hotel has plenty to do including a gym, tennis courts and even a diving centre.
People in other reviews may have complained about the amount of other nationalities in hotel and there are just as many English as any other. A lot of people from Cracrus capital of Venezuela.
Overall the holiday was a success and the excursions are great and the first choice staffed named Anna Marie was extremely helpful.
Only downside to the holiday was:
Customs on Margaritas side was extremely slow having to wait 3 hours.
Great hotel and great people well worth the visit, exactly how the Carribean is like.
P.s: If you want a great excursions visit the Artisan Tour, well worth the money although do it towards the end of the holiday.

Well, what can I say about Isla Costa Caribe Beach Hotel, Margarita Island?
First I would like to start with the flight. It was fantastic, lots leg room even in standard class and the seats were surprisingly comfortable. The crew were ever so friendly and nothing was too much trouble, but then you arrive at your destination and that friendly atmosphere you enjoyed for 9 hours stops!
You get off the plane and start to queue in a non-air-conditioned room for well over an hour to get through passport control, given that it is a poor country you can forgive this.
Baggage reclaim was efficient and so was security, then finally onto the bus for the transfer to the hotel.
Upon arrival at the hotel we were greeted with a fruit punch, very welcomed by all the travellers! And also by the receptionist who spoke fantastic English, great you think, it’s going to be a fantastic holiday.....
We made our way to the room going past the pool and the restaurant; it looked fab and was so excited. That soon came to an abrupt end when we got into the room!
It smelt damp and the toilet was dirty put it this way, whoever was in the room before must have had a very upset tummy! The furniture in the room was falling to pieces and there was no remote for the air-conditioning but to be fair we called reception and within 5 minutes we had one.
The last surprise was opening the curtains to the patio door to be greeted by a big white wall that backed onto the main road! Oh and you didn't need a key to get in or out of the patio doors they were always unlocked great if you not on the ground floor! I am just glad we didn't get any cockroaches in our room.
There were a few problems with our room, the shower only gave us hot water 4 out of 14 days and sometimes it just dripped so it took 25 mins to have a shower, this never got sorted. Then our key card stopped working which took 3 days to fix - good job for the unlockable patio door aye!
OK so breakfast, the first morning we were there at 7am, there were NO clean tables and were made to share with someone else, thankfully this only happened the once and for breakfast lunch and dinner during the rest of our stay was very pleasurable. There is a fantastic range of food and it was all very tasty.
However we swiftly discovered that they put their best English speaking member of staff on check in duty and from that day on were faced with employees who's English is non-existent, and with the attitude that they couldn't give a damn. At weekends the hotel is flooded with locals and their needs are put first and we come somewhere down the line of priorities when they could be bothered to deal with us.
Relaxing by the pool isn't what I would call a joyful experience either. The pool and the surrounding area were kept very clean but the damn entertainment team were a law unto themselves.
They were rude - calling us lazy for not wanting to play water polo or do aerobics, and they insisted on playing the same dance music all day everyday so loud you wondered if your eardrums were going to start bleeding! They frequently woke people up who had fallen asleep on their lounger to just be annoying.
Oh and you have to be an early riser to ensure you get a parasol as there were only 5 available.
The beach was dirty and the sea was full of seaweed, not to mention the stray dogs who tried to take shelter under your sunbed, whether you were lying on it or not.
Lastly going home - 2 hours in a queue with NO seats to get through departures, and cockroaches in the loos!
Over all not the best holiday I have had, will not go back any time soon and strongly recommend for that kind of money - stick to Greece or save up your money for another year and go to the Maldives!

We went to this hotel after being told the hotel we had originally booked was having building work completed. This was the worst mistake of our life! We came to Margarita for our honeymoon.
On arrival we were checked in quickly but the hotel looked old and worn. The room we were put in was filthy and the view on the terrace was of an old car park and gas cylinders.
We went to reception to complain and so were several other customers also on our flight. The rep was useless and kept trying to fob us off.
Food was ok, if you can eat pasta every meal time and like chicken wings and pork ribs or chilli for breakfast. The beach bar left food uncovered from 12.00-6.00pm. You can only get a table for two if you arrive in the evening at 6.00pm or 8.45pm unless you bribe the waiters.
This is not the place to go if you like to walk around, 5 minutes either direction on the beach and you are stopped by security not to walk any further (usually as they are loading the gun).
The hotel was overbooked, so hectic in the evenings if you wanted a drink somewhere nice and quiet.
This is a German run hotel and they cater more for them than they do the English.
If you can, change your holiday booking before wasting your money!

On arrival on the Island, it appears to be a very poor place. The transfer to the hotel took us through the local towns which look quite poverty stricken.
We received a fabulous warm welcome at the hotel, which was a 4*.
The hotel was spotlessly clean, with the rooms cleaned every day. I could not fault the staff who were all extremely friendly and went out of their way to make our stay pleasurable. There is a good mix of foods available from burgers and chips to a la carte....yum!

There was a small amount of renovation going on whilst we were there, in fact it was in the two rooms opposite ours! But the workers were very courteous and noise and disruption were kept to a minimum.
Lots of activities for kids and adults alike, both day and night, everyone is made equally welcome.
Even venturing into the local town everyone seemed to be wonderful, strangers waving and shaking our hands!

This seems to be a fairly new tourist place which is still developing, so give it a chance - not yet too commercialised so get there before the beautiful scenery disappears behind huge hotels!
Not a huge island but expect to have to travel in taxis everywhere, nowhere is in walking distance except the beautiful beaches!
Safe enough to venture out, keep your wits about you as with any holiday.
One last thing - EVERYTHING IS SO CHEAP!

Have spent 2 excellent weeks at the Costa Caribe, on arrival at the hotel we were greeted by the entertainments staff dancing and handed cocktails.
The hotel rooms were clean and comfortable and equipped with cable TV, fridge and a hairdryer they were a little on the small side but the time spent in them is minimal.
The hotel itself is beautifully presented with immaculate grounds and gardens and the pool area truly fantastic, very shallow in most places with a deeper end in the main part of the pool. Always managed to find a sunbed around the pool area at any time of the day.
Down on the beach it was a little more difficult to get a sunlounger unless you were an early riser but when we wanted the beach we would jump in a taxi and head down to Playa El Agua for the day.
The food in the restaurants could get a little repetitive into the second week but they had various themed nights and made a good effort, getting a seat outside was near impossible unless you were down there for 7pm. There is also 2 a la carte restaurants which need a reservation an Italian and Mexican, We only tried the Italian which was lovely.
All the staff are fantastic and the entertainments team put on various shows at 9.15 nightly as well as daytime entertainment and pool games.
The weather is fantastic was at least 40c and in our 2 weeks we saw rain for no more than 5 mins.
Porlamar the main commercial city on the island is fantastic for shopping, The 4th of May Avenue is the main street and has plenty of choice. Just outside Porlamar is Sambil a giant air conditioned shopping mall with many well known names well worth a day out.
All in all I had a great holiday in Margarita and the Costa Caribe and wouldn’t hesitate to return and possibly will next year as it is such excellent value for money.