La Bella Luna Reviews

La Bella Luna offers All-inclusive with style!

I know we were the first but we won't be the last! We were the very first couple to actually experience the new La Bella Luna Supreme Package. Becca had just begun offering them and we had decided to check out Margarita at the last minute. After reading all the great reviews on the web we decided to try La Bella Luna Inn and then we found their all-inclusive packs so we signed up.

I have to tell you that we're not big fans of all inclusive but what these people have put together is amazing. Becca says all you have to do is get to the Margarita airport and you don't have to think again until they drop you back off, or something to that effect, she's not kidding. Their packages are fantastic. You don't stay in the BandB for every meal. We went all over the island, ate at some really great restaurants and we didn't have to do more than make our choices off the menu and eat and enjoy. It was that easy. Once we told Ric what we wanted he even ordered for us. I was nervous about pronouncing the Spanish but the other couple ordered for themselves. They like to try, so they did.

Every choice made was perfect! We had a wonderful time and except for when we went shopping I don't think we spent a cent. We changed a bit of money once through Ric and Becca but that was it.

Our tour choice was snorkeling and it was a blast. The lunches were perfect too. We are pool people really and had most of ours while lounging around Bella Luna's pool. Becca packed us a great lunch the two days we decided to go to the beach.

I'm a teacher and I thought the best part of our vacation was their NO CHILDREN policy! I actually got to relax completely, everyday. You have no idea what an experience that was. A beautiful Inn to vacation at and not a single kid around the whole time!! It was paradise.

The staff at La Bella Luna is terrific too. I don't think we ever saw anyone not smiling, and so helpful yet unobtrusive. Just Wow.

When we checked and compared with the other couple we found that our package costs were pretty darned close to what they'd spent for their vacation here too. But they had to keep exchanging money to pay for everything. They paid for their taxis, lunches, dinners, tours, everything. We just sat back and enjoyed. It was a tremendous experience and we've already rebooked for next April and we're thinking about bringing a group with us. It's only 7 rooms and I know we have more than enough friends for one heck of a party! We can't wait. Thanks Becca and Ric. You've made another conquest. Cindee and Dan US

If the thought of an all inclusive package holiday is about as exciting to you as a wet weekend in Scarborough and if like us you have champagne tastes and beer bottle pockets, then look no further than the lush, tropical comfort of La Bella Luna Inn, Margarita Island for affordable luxury. This little gem in the Caribbean fulfilled our fantasy of a Caribbean holiday without the huge price tag and pretentions that come with some of the more well known islands.

La Bella Luna is a beautiful rose coloured stucco finca with just seven rooms set round an ample swimming pool. It has the feel of an exclusive club and is more like a catered villa than hotel. It is small, beautiful and offers the peace and tranquility which its large competitors cannot.This maybe due to its no kids policy- which suited us very well and gave us the peace of mind that we were not going to be subjected to the divebombing unsupervised brats that usually take over every holiday resort. We knew we would receive a warm welcome from our hosts, Ric and Rebecca. Rebecca answered our E mails promptly and made us feel like regulars even before we travelled answering even our most simple questions in detail. They were both waiting at the inn to meet us when we arrived and we were greeted like old friends.

Although the pictures on the internet site for La Bella Luna were lovely, we felt the reality of the place exceeded our expectations. Our room was pretty and spotlessly clean, with little touches like fresh bottled water daily. The view from the shared balcony overlooked the pool and beautiful tropical garden. We often sat with a cold drink or two watching the humming birds whizz in and out of the hibiscus and trying to spot the resident iguanas that shared the garden with us.But is was the view from the restuarant that was worth every penny of the $75 per night that we paid. Not only did it overlook the garden and pool but its elevated position allowed a view to the mountains beyond. You could imagine the great coffee we were served for breakfast came straight from those slopes. Coffee was not the only thing we enjoyed in the restuarant.

One of the many bonuses of La Bella Luna is Rebecca's culinary skills. We really thought we had hit the jackpot when we found out that she had been the chef/owner of an award winning restuarant in Vermont. The breakfast alone is enough to keep you going for the whole day often extending to 4 or 5 courses and always featuring something homecooked or baked, like bananna muffins or warm ham and cheese croissants. Rebecca offers dinner 3 times per week. Although this was a little more expensive than the local restaurants-(between $18-$25 for 5 courses)- we found the meals served at La Bella Luna far exceeded the quality of anything we had outside. We could enjoy top quality food in a relaxed and informal atmosphere eg: no dress code- you can eat dinner in your swimmers if you like. Very convenient for an after dinner swim and drink from the ";floating bar";.

Ahhhhh- the bar!!!!!!! We spent many happy times propped at the bar stools or lounging in the pool with a cold beer or industrial strength vodka and tonic. Margarita measures are large by anyone's standards and this and the cost of living means a night out or in by Ric's bar offers great value for money. Ric's bar can be as lively or as quiet as you like. Ric himself is a party animal and will challenge you to pool contests and party games if the guests are up for it. If like during our visit the clientele are more subdued-you can enjoy the evening just chilling and chatting. Ric also makes a mean BBQ-accompanied by Rebecca's salads and sides, this was our favourite meal of all.

The staff at La Bella Luna are simply charming. Jesus, the gardener often brings you water coconuts fresh from the trees to refresh you in the pool as well as being knowledgable about the local wildlife.Danny the barman, a young Antonio Banderas lookalike will sketch your portait whilst practising his English but beware- you could end up looking more like one of the Simpsons than a glamourous happy holidaymaker!Ric, Rebecca and the whole team will go out of their way to make your stay mememorable in every way-nothing is too much trouble. They made our 1st anniversary very romantic- we were really treated like V.I.P's all the way.

Margarita itself isn't as developed as some of the other Caribbean islands so don't expect sanitised tourism-its still has a slight 3rd world feel alongside the waving palms and white beaches. This made it all the more exciting for us but it wouldn't be to everyone's taste. It is a fantastic island of contrasts, it had desert, mountains, jungle and beaches and its only 22 miles from the Venezuelan mainland. We enjoyed a bumpy jeep safari around the island, even though it was hard on our bottoms! It gave us the chance to see other parts of the island that we would have otherwise missed. Margarita is delightfully politically incorrect-no nanny state here-hooray!!!!- No compulsory seatbelts, indeed no compulsory car headlights, roofs, or doors either. Beer is compulsory on every car journey however as is pumping salsa music. Its a vibrant, beautiful island that offers great value for money and a warm and friendly welcome.

Our Highlights:-

Everything at La Bella Luna-especially the No Kids Policy.

Canaima National Park Trip

Cost of living - beer approx 12p a bottle
Dinner at a local pizzeria $7 with wine and beer.

Our Tips:-

Excursions:- You have to be quite fit for some of the trips- Canaima National Park etc is not suitable for anyone with walking difficulties or even a poor level of fitness. It includes a 2 hour walk up steep slippery hills. Don't do this one if you are frightend of flying!!!

Money:- take US dollars- you get a better exchange rate. Contrary to some websites there our now some ATM machines in Porlamar and just outside Playa El Agua.If you are going to La Bella Luna- allow some extra dollars to pay for the taxi transfers to and from the airport to the hotel- they are not free. We felt the website was not clear on this.

Get out and see the island and experience the local culture. The beach at the weekend is a good place for people watching. Its full of Venezuelan families enjoying their time off and it really makes you feel like part of the culture.

We can't wait to go back to Margarita and La Bella Luna- it was our best holiday ever and although we are loathed to share or secret- we know you will have a great time too!

Thanks very much for one of the best vacations we've ever had.
La Bella Luna is certainly the place to be whenever you go to Margarita.
The place it's just excelent, the owners, Rebbeca and Ric will do just about anything to make your staying as best as possible. The swimming pool and the snoocker table, along with Jose's tropical cocktails will make you stay for a long, long time.
The food Rebecca cooks, it's one of the best we've have had, and we have been in some exoctic places around the world.
Ric is the greatest guy this side of the planet, and will become your friend just after 10 seconds.
We've rented a car, drove all around Margarita, and to tell you the truth,
La Bella Inn it's the best place in the island.

Thanks again

Mario and Sonia
Portugal

La Bella Luna

Well where to start with La Bella Luna. This was our first trip to the Caribbean and we wanted something that wasn't too commercialised so thought let's try Isla Margarita. Anyway flights were booked and the next thought was alright where to stay. After several days of surfing the net, reading reviews and just about any other scrap of information I could get my hands on, we settled on La Bella Luna. Three factors came into it. (1) Read some really good reviews; (2) NO CHILDREN policy (3) it only has 7 rooms. Both of us hate big faceless hotels in the middle of nowhere.

So the day of departure dawned and off we set to Manchester Airport (if anyone from Excel Airways reads this, any chance of putting a flight on from Bristol?), with absolutely no idea of what we were going to. One long flight later, we were met by a smiling Ric at the airport and settled into the taxi for the trip to LBL. The difference here is no scrum for the bus and less than ten minutes after leaving the airport, we both had very cold beers in our hands. Definitely what you want after that flight.

40 minutes later we are at LBL and let me say, the pictures you see on the web do not do this place justice. The only thing I can say is, book this place and see for yourself. It really is an oasis. Fortunately, on our first night Rebecca had the restaurant open so we did't need to head off in our exhausted state to try and find something to eat. The food is fantastic. RandR will make whatever you want and how you like it. Don't like butter, no butter in your food.

Rebecca and her team also make sure the hotel is spotless, I have never stayed in such a clean place before. The rooms are absolutely spotless and extremely comfortable.

The staff at the hotel are great. We were really fortunate during our two weeks that we had the hotel to ourselves for 2 days (yes, Rebecca I know you want the place booked solid but we really did enjoy having our own private hotel for 2 days!).

Margarita is a fantastic island and Ric and Rebecca know all the good places, whether it is an out of the way beach or a great restaurant in Pampatar. We were shown some fantastic spots that I don't think we would have found without someone telling us about them.

If you want to unwind and completely forget about workplace stresses and everything else that goes with life in the 21st century, then book La Bella Luna. I would strongly advise not too book any less than 2 weeks though, 3 if you can manage it. You wont want to leave. We have been back for over a month now and I still miss sitting on the verandah, just after sun up feeling very at peace with the world.

We booked our holiday at 'La Bella Luna' in January this year and had 9 months to look forward to it. We did not really know what to expect but were hopeful from our communication over the months with Rebecca and Ric that we would have an enjoyable time. We have now returned home having spent 3 weeks with them at 'La Bella Luna' in Margarita. From the moment we arrived the welcome was like meeting 'old friends', and during our stay they treated us like family. The hospitality and kindness we received was exceptional and truly unique. Rebecca and Ric were both tremendous people with an overwhelming capacity to please others and nothing was too much trouble.

Rebecca's culninary skills are second to none and the food was exquisite and plentiful! We have never experienced such quality and quantity before on holiday and doubt if we shall again.

Ric's amazing personality exudes warmth and friendship and he has such an infectious smile (cheesy!).

They are two of the most generous people we have ever met and we know that 'La Bella Luna' will go from strength to strength with them working together to make it a success. Their determination and ambition deserves the ultimate rewards and we hope they succeed with many more 'La Bella Luna's'.

We had a marvellous holiday but Margarita would not be the same without 'Rebecca and Ric at La Bella Luna'. We returned home having experienced Margarita at its best and our heartfelt thanks to them both for giving us such wonderful memories:

the peace and transquility
beautiful, clean environment and setting at 'La Belle Luna'
relaxing in the rocking chair and painting
playing '12 ball'
relaxing massages
luxurious manicures and pedicures
the markets, beaches and mountainous scenery
dining out and spending time together
meeting other great guests
the sunsets and sunrises
the 'Jeep Safari'
friendly, helpful, excellent staff
'The Pool Party' - what an invention

But all good things must come to an end and our holiday was no exception. Maybe one day we will be able to return to see two such great friends. We sincerely hope so.

Our very best wishes to you both, Rebecca and Ric, in the future, and thanks for everything.