RENTING A HOUSE

Though vacation rentals are abundant, finding a suitable house can be a challenge, especially if you speak little or no Spanish. Renting a house, however, can make sense if you plan on staying for a couple of weeks or more, are traveling with a group, or demand space and privacy. Houses in Adícora are almost never lavish, but many are quite serviceable, with working kitchens and comfortable surroundings.

Rental houses in Adícora tend to have a lot of single beds and cots crowded into large bedrooms. They also have hammock hooks all over the walls. When Venezuelans vacation, they tend to share a single house among many family members and friends. Mattresses tend to be on the soft side. Don't expect hot water, which I don't think exists anywhere in town. The ambient air temperature being so high, it's hardly necessary anyway. Rental prices are largely negotiable and decrease the longer you stay. It is definitely a renter's market, except during Easter week and other Venezuelan holiday periods, such as Christmas, and to a lesser extent, the month of August, which is when school children get out and families will take a few weeks at the beach. You should expect to pay the equivalent of US$225 - $450 per week on average, depending on size, condition, location, and duration of stay. Linens are usually supplied, but quality isn't always high. It's a good idea to travel with at least one or two full-size flat sheets; they always seem to come in handy.

AARON AND CAROLINA BADELL (See Map)
The Badells and their three young boys live on the South Shore, one house east of the Casa de Diablo. They, in fact, manage the Casa de Diablo, as well as a variety of other rental properties in the area. The oldest of their three boys, Daniel (born in 1986), is already an excellent windsurfer and destined to be one of South America's best. Aaron is constantly running around in one of his pickups, including a pristine '46 Ford that used to belong to Shell Oil. He is always happy to help his tenants secure provisions and supplies. The Badells speak only Spanish. Their phone number is (58) (069) 88-239.

The two-story Casa de Diablo - its deep, coal-fire red finish with black trim and odd angles make it look like the devil's own beach house - is situated on the beach directly in the wind's path. The house has one double and five single beds spread over three bedrooms. Situated just at the start of the surf, it's in a perfect location for a mixed group of sailors, as it offers slightly calmer waters just to the north (upwind) and surf to the south (downwind).

Playera just up the street has two bedrooms and six single beds. Though not beachfront, it has a pleasant yard with palm trees and a patio. There is plenty of room to store gear inside if you move aside some of the furniture. It is about a block and a half from the water.

Pigeonnie abuts the boat channel and sits just right of the light house on the North Beach. It features two bunk rooms with five very simple bunks and one double bed. Bathrooms and kitchen are in a separate building adjoining an outside patio. It is possible to launch from the patio, as the sea comes right up to its edge.

The Badells manage a few other properties, including the beachfront Former Windsurf Center (former location of Windsurfing Adícora, see map), great if bringing your own equipment and Casita, a cute little place near the Las Brisas nightclub and adjacent to the South Beach. You might want to weigh in the noise level of the music from Las Brisas before considering it.

WINDSURFING ADÍCORA BEACH HOUSES

In cooperation with Archie's Place, Windsurfing Adícora offers two new, well-furnished, surf-front bungalows. One is a two-bedroom and the other three. Located on the South Beach, windsurfer's launch directly out the door into the beach break.

A recent addition is an extremely well-maintained house (referred to as "the neighbor house") next door to Windsurfing Adícora that is simply, but nicely, furnished. This deceivingly large bungalow has four bedrooms, three baths, a large kitchen, common room and porch. It is beach front on the South Beach, one house west of the Windsurfing Adícora surf center and guest house. This has become a house of choice for many traveling Americans.

SANTA ANA (See Map)
The first place I ever rented in Adícora, Ste. Ana is a small house with two bedrooms. It is just around the corner from the CANTV phone center. Not beach front, it's not a bad place to stay for visitors who are sailing out of one of the windsurfing centers. During my stay, I undertook a few capital improvements which might still be there, namely patching up many of the screens and screening the vent holes in the bathroom. The owner, Lillia, is very nice and helpful. She and her sons live behind the house, and other family members live in surrounding houses. For this reason the place is well-watched and safe. On the downside, you, too, are well-watched, being the foreign curiosity that you are. This house is great for one or two people, but can easily handle four. It is probably not the best choice if you are traveling with and storing your own equipment, as it is not right on the water. Only Spanish is spoken. Rent is very reasonable.

Finally, just behind Windsurfing Adícora, close to the South Beach, is another small place that is excellent for one to three people. This habitation is affixed to the owner's home, and this makes it secure. It has a lot of interior room and easy access for indoor equipment storage. This is where Matt White holed up, and he found it suited him perfectly. Stop by and speak to the owners directly (Spanish only). See map (the house is listed simply as "rental").