Vela Windsurf Resorts

What to bring: It is always nice to pack light, but there are a few things we don't want you to forget. Here is our list of things to bring. (In light of the ever present possibility of lost luggage, we recommend you try to 'carry-on' as much as possible, especially your windsurfing necessities.)

What we have: A limited selection of PFDs and harnesses are available for rent. In our small retail area located at the Vela Center we sell harnesses, gloves, booties, bathing suits, floating eye glass retainers, and Vela logo T-shirts, caps, and lycra tops.

Location: Vela Margarita is based at the Beach Hotel in Playa El Yaque, Isla de Margarita (only 6 miles from the Porlamar Airport). The Vela Coche Center is located on Coche Island, just a few miles by boat from Margarita.

Transfers from the airport to Vela Margarita: You should be flying into the Porlamar International Airport direct from the U.S. or via Caracas. Taxis are approximately $10-$15 (7000 Bs- 10,000 Bs) and may vary depending on the time of day or day of week. After exiting the airport terminal, taxis will be lined up out front ready and waiting to take you to El Yaque. Ask the charge before getting into the taxi. All rates are fixed and the driver should have a sheet with all the prices. The following simplified Spanish phrase asks for the price of a taxi to your hotel: ("Cuanto cuesta a El Hotel ________ en El Yaque.") If you cannot understand Spanish and the driver does not know English, ask him to write the amount on a piece of paper.

Caracas Airport: (Refer to only if you are connecting through Caracas.) Make sure you pick up all baggage and re-check it on the flight to Margarita. The cost of a porter to carry your luggage from the international terminal to the domestic terminal is between 5,000Bs-7,000Bs ($7-$10). Always ask what the charge will be in advance. (Cuanto Cuesta?) Do not give your luggage to anyone who does not have an official I.D. name tag and NEVER give him or her your tickets or passports.

Hotel in Caracas: If you need to over night on the mainland, we recommend the Sheraton Macuto and the Puerto Viejo located approximately 20 minutes from the Caracas Airport. This eliminates going into the city of Caracas. For reservations please contact our air specialist at (800) 223-5443.

Departure Tax: If you are leaving on a flight which connects in Caracas, there is a departure tax of 1000B's paid in Porlamar and then $39 US paid in Caracas. For those flying directly from Margarita to the United States the departure tax is$1000Bs and $22.00 US. These taxes and exchange rates are subject to change and do so regularly.

Beach Hotel: Restaurant, bar, travel agency, store. All units have daily maid service, air conditioning in the bedroom, private bath, local TV, and in-room safes (small fee). Larger units have kitchen, and living area. New this year rooms are equipped with phones, local calls can be made direct and long distance calls can be made from your room through the fron desk. A computer in the lobby offers email and Internet serivice. There is also a massage studio.

Hotel check-in: Upon arrival, check in at the front desk of your hotel. Make sure we have your arrival time if you are arriving after 6:00 p.m. so that the hotel knows to arrange for a late arrival.

Currency/credit cards: Since the Bolivar (Bs) is fluctuating dramatically on a daily basis we recommend only exchanging the amount of dollars you will be using for food, drinks, and gifts. When you arrive at the Caracas or Porlamar airport, you may exchange money at the "Casa de Cambio". It is usually open for arriving flights. It is also possible to exchange money at the "Casa de Cambio" in the Hotel California. The Vela Center will only accept U.S. Travelers checks, dollars and credit cards for lessons, retail items, and rentals. (You will be charged a service charge for using a credit card.) Master Card and Visa only. Even though most of the hotels and restaurants in El Yaque are accepting credit cards (expect an additional 10% surcharge) they all prefer USD, travelers checks, or local currency. Casa Rita, Hotel California, and the El Yaque Beach Club will accept Mastercard, and Visa. However, do not expect the locally owned bars and restaurants to accept credit cards. We suggest taking about $50 per day per person in spending money in small denomination traveler's checks such as $20 bills. You may go home with much of it, but if you want it you'll have it. FYI: Clients are able to access ATM machines at the airport in Margarita or the Banco Union in Porlamar for a cash advance in Bolivars, however it is NOT always reliable and can be a time consuming and costly venture (wiating in lines and paying taxis).

Safety of valuables: We recommend that you keep any valuables in the hotel safe or room safe (small fee). Leave you passport inthe safe and carry a copy.

Electrical voltage: 110 volts, same outlets as in the U.S. but hair dryers and shavers with one plug blade larger than the other may not fit into outlets.

Email/Internet: Computers with email and internet service are currently available in the lobby of the Beach Hotel and Casa Rita.

Drinking water: We strongly recommend that you only drink and brush your teeth with bottled water. All the hotels in El Yaque use filtered water for ice cubes. If you find yourself in small local restaurants you should ask if they are using filtered water before consuming drinks with ice.

Health: Use precautions typical for foreign travel in a less developed country. This would include making sure food is well cooked and served hot and eating fruit that has been peeled. To allow yourself to adjust to the different food and water and to avoid getting sick, don't further tax your system by exhausting yourself the first day or by drinking too much alcohol. Drink plenty of water throughout the day. If concerned, seek advice from your physician before leaving home. You may want to check in with the US Center of Disease Control for any travel advisories.

Weather: The average year round temperature is 82 degrees with an arid climate. The water is about 78 degrees. A light jacket for evenings may be desired.

Rental cars: If you plan on staying in the windsurfing village of El Yaque for the majority of your stay, a car is not needed. If you wish to tour Margarita, we recommend renting a car from the vendors at the Porlamar airport. The receptin desk at the hotel can arrange for a rental car to be delivered to the hotel.. There is also a small agency at the hotel.

Tipping: Gratuities given to the local hotel staff for exceptional service are highly appreciated. At restaurants a 10% tip for the waiter is usually included. An additional 10% for good service is courteous. If you wish to tip the Vela Staff, we have a tip pool which is periodically devided amongst the team. This is handeled by the owners/managers, Tom & Kathy Mastbaum.

Checking in to the Windsurfing Center: The center is open from 9:30 A.M.-5:30 P.M.. Upon arrival or the next day, check in with a Vela Staff member at the center. Please remember to bring your green Vela equipment voucher. All sailors will be given an orientation prior to hitting the water. Orientations are given on a daily basis at 10:00 A.M..

Other available activities: If you are traveling on a complete package, your vacation includes unlimited use of our windsurfing equipment and free windsurfing seminars. The no-equipment option also includes the seminars. (Lessons are optional for a charge.) You can arrange snorkeling, diving and other excursions at the travel desk at Hotel California and the travel agency at the Beach Hotel. We also recommend taking a day off to shop in the duty free shops in Porlamar or an evening out to the Hilton Casino or one of the many nightclubs and salsa bars.

Othe local amenities: 2 grocery stores, Veggie truck which drives through town daily, Travel agency, 5 small retail store including the Vela retail space located at the Vela center, rental car agency, and Casa de Cambio.

Hotel Check-out: Check out time is usually 12 noon. Please check with your specific hotel. Upon check-out from your accommodations, go over your final bill carefully. Personal charges such as bar tabs, laundry, Boutique charges, telephone calls, and such are your responsibility. Vela has paid all current taxes and service charges for you. However, the hotel will collect a 1% tax for items purchased at the hotel (bottled water etc.) upon checkout. Should an emergency necessitate an early return home, we will do all we can to get refunds for you. Standard hotel cancellation fees usually exceed any unused balance, but hotels are quite often understanding of emergencies. To assist us in this you must get written verification of check-out date from your hotel front desk and also from the windsurf staff.

Important note: If you have an early flight, make arrangements for a taxi to the airport and pay your hotel bill the day before your departure. If you are leaving on a late flight, sometimes there is a courtesy room available for storing luggage and taking a shower. If you need any assistance donít hesitate to ask Tom & Kathy Mastbaum, manager/ owners of the Margarita Vela Center or any Vela staff member.

Windsurfing Equipment: Vela Los Roques windsurf center is equiped with high performance gear featuring Neil Pryde rigs, and F2 , JP, and Hifly beginner boards.

Checking your equipment out/in: After presenting your green Vela equipment voucher to our staff you will be given an orientation session before checking out equipment. Equipment is available for check out at 9:30 am and must be returned by 5:30 pm. Everyday you windsurf, you must sign out yourself and the equipment that you are using. This enables us to keep track of our equipment and know that you have returned safely at the end of the day. All procedures and safety concerns will be explained during the orientation.Please note equipment fee is per person and not transferable.

Changing equipment: You may change boards and sails at any time by simply following the check-out/check-in procedures detailed in the orientation.

On-site rental of equipment: If you have not paid for equipment as part of your vacation, the prices for Vela guests for on-site rentals of complete board and rig will be as follows:

Adjustments to rig: Each of the different types of sails available for check out have been rigged in a manner best suited for that sail. If you would like to make adjustments to the rig, we ask that you first get a short orientation to that particular sail from one of our staff.

Damage to equipment: We offer two types of insurance policies, an all inclusive policy which can ONLY be purchased through teh Vela Booking Agency prior to your departure. This policy not only covers your trip in its entirety, it covers damage to windsurf equipment.If you purchase this insurance, you will pay for all damages on-site and may claim any charges (less the $100 deductable) for equipment damage or loss with teh insurance company when you return home. We also offer a equipment damage only insurance policy, which can ONLY be purchased on-site. This policy, at the cost of $35.00 per week, has no deductable. If you choose not to purchase insurance you will be charged the cost of repair or replacement cost of items such as booms, fins, and masts. The manager will asses all situations. To minimize the possibility of damage, please choose equipment that suits your ability level and conditions, and handle equipment carrfully when launching and coming into shore.

Coche Day trips:We now offer daily boat trip to Coche Island to sail out of our Coche Center. The trip with lunch costs $30. Equipment is kept rigged on the beach as in El Yaque. Additional day trips may be possible but are subject to equipment availability on Coche.

Los Roques Day Trips: Day trips to Los Roques can only be booked through the Vela Center in Margarita, however they are subject to space availability. The $235 cost for the trip includes airport transfer, R/T airfare from Margarita to Gran Roque, breakfast and lunch, R/T boat transfer to The Vela Center on Francisque, equipment rental, use of kayaks and snorkenling gear. To secure a longer stay it is best to pre-book through through the Vela Booking Office in California (800-223-5443).

In the event that there are 4 or more days of NON-sailable days during your minimum one-week pre-booked trip, you may request a wind warranty for that will allow you credit towards a future trip to any Vela Windsurf Resort. In some cases you may receive higher credits if you return to the same center. You must get this form before you leave Margarita