6 Best Hotels in Isla Margarita, Venezuela

Extremely popular with sun-seeking Europeans as well as well-to-do Venezuelans, Dunes feels a bit like camp in its all-inclusiveness—there's even a cinema alongside one of its many pools. What it lacks in charm and room elegance (rumor has it that much-needed renovations are coming), the hotel makes up for with well-kept grounds, amenities, and sublime beachfront real estate. Unlike its colossal white neighbor up the beach, Hotel Hesperia Isla Magarita, Dunes blends in well with the countryside, no small feat considering the many buildings and rooms it has on offer. If nightly variety shows by the pool and so-so food with tons of foreigners are all right with you in exchange for beautiful pools, great kids' programs, and a perfect walking beach, then perhaps this is the right place for you.

Tarnished old-school glamour defines the public spaces at this hotel perched on the edge of Pampatar's turquoise bay. The rooms remain basic and you may find yourself frustrated with repair calls to the front desk. Be sure to ask for a room with a view of the ocean; rooms of the top floor are the best. A glass elevator (not always working) whisks you up to rooms, some of which overlook the ocean. Breakfast is included, and you can enjoy it overlooking the pretty pool area and the ocean beyond. Just across the street are Café Guayayo and the happening night club Mykonos.

This sprawling resort enjoys one of the best pieces of real estate around, smack in front of Playa El Agua. A smattering of low-slung, colorful buildings, as well as a few larger towers house elegant rooms. Be sure to ask questions when you book, as there are some more recently renovated spaces. There will be little time to enjoy those rooms, though, with the beach activity, various pools, bars, and tennis courts on offer here. You can even get your hair done and a deep-tissue massage before heading out with your towel—or as a reward on the way back!

A short walk away from bumping (and beautiful) Playa El Agua, this family-run hotel offers up both comfort and charm. Colonial flourishes add personality to the terra-cotta and blue spaces. If you want to spring for the best room, ask for No. 208. Rooms on the second floor offer views of the sea from a hammock-equipped balcony; rooms on the first floor simply look out onto the small pool area. Breakfast is included in the rustic, open-air restaurant—a perfect way to start your day.

With a soaring atrium lobby, this gigantic white hotel resides on the north side of the island near Pedro González. It has the island's only 18-hole golf course and an almost deserted stretch of beach right behind it—alas deserted but for this larger-than-necessary bright-white edifice—so there are plenty of outdoor activities to indulge in here, especially swimming and walking along the beach. A sumptuous buffet breakfast is included in the rate.

This vast complex just north of Pampatar spans a huge swath of coastline. There's plenty to keep sun-worshipers busy, from waterskiing to windsurfing to relaxing by one of the pools. Meals are included in the rate, the dining options ranging from a poolside café to a glittery Italian restaurant.