Carisol los Corales: Good Value For The Money

I got what was expected for a 3 star hotel. A mistake in the room we were given was corrected the next day and our room was adequate. AC was cold, water hot, bathroom spacious. Pool was nice and never too crowded. You were assured a lounge chair either at the beach or pool. Beach is on the small side and sand is mostly gravelly. Not a whole lot of room to swim as the water is very shallow with seaweed except for a 30 ft wide area that is deeper and sand covered that leads out to the coral. Ex [... read more]perienced snorkels will be disappointed here with the lack of variety of sea life and limited coral. Still, I had a great time on the beach. Lots of chairs , shade, and even some hammocks. The entertainment was good and popular with most of the guests. All the employees we encountered were respectful and seemed genually happy The food at the buffet was good there was always something for everybody. Bread was baked fresh everyday. My expectations for food in Cuba are on the lower side so I was satisfied . Surroundings are very nice with mountains to look at. Considering what I payed for this vacation , I was happy with this hotel.

Costa Morena: Don't go there even if it is free

Most disgusting place ever. One star if u like to eat flies then this would be the place for u. The food in the dining room is covered with flies . I refuse to eat the food. Bar was always out of rum. I. Had four drinks the complete week. Ninety percent of the 50 guest wer over 75 years of age and were there for 3 to 4 months. The never drank any alcohol so why they didn't have any alcohol at the bar is beyond my comprehension. They had no bottle water and sometimes the water off the tap was bro [... read more]wn. There r lots me to talk.

Costa Morena: Hidden Gem

Simple but clean, grounds kept fairly clean ( I didn't mind horses grazing around or dogs wandering ). Our room was kept clean by lovely chambermaid Estrella who was great and helpful. My least favorite spot was the lobby- staff not too friendly and not easy to deal with. They kept telling us that the internet cards would be available the following day. They never got them. Food was great and staff extremely nice. Table clothes could be changed more often. Great swimming pool and natural pool a [... read more]nd entertainment not bad. Resort is located beautifully right by the ocean and every room has an ocean view and on the other side surrounded by Sierra Maestra Mountains.

Costa Morena: Great trip!

Hotel is small which is what we were looking for. Very clean and undergoing updating renovations. Staff were fantastic and very welcoming! Locals were amazing and always quick with a smile and Hola. Very excited to spend as much time with the locals and being welcomed into their "families"

Brisas Sierra Mar: Had a great time

The Hotel could use a few repairs, Our room had water leak in the ceiling a few times, the toilet door wouldn't close, the toilet needed fixing but, The person who cleaned our room, did a great job every day. It was fine for Cuba. The Staff were nice and friendly. The food was pretty good compared to a few resorts I have been to in Cuba. The chef's were always well dressed and seemed to take pride in their jobs. The bar tenders were friendly. The beach was enjoyable but not so good for sno [... read more]rkeling.

Brisas Los Galeones: Wonderful for some, but not for everyone!

Truly great staff and manager Eddie is awesome. Good food, Lovely and tranquil atmosphere. Great place for a very quiet, relaxing vacation. Small resort, so you will have opportunity to get to know the staff and some other fellow travellers. Mostly quiet, book-reading or hiking/cycling folks who are interesting to meet and who enjoy this truly intimate setting. View of mountains and sea all around is lovely. Nice little restaurant at the bottom of the mountain is great if you need a change o [... read more]f scenery. Evenings great musicians come up from the village to sing during dinner. The beauty of eating outside and listening to local Cuban music with no amplification is truly heavenly! NOT a party place, not suitable for those who need any activities to be provided or looking for any nightlife. One tiny backyard-sized pool, one small 8' bar, one small dining room. 34 rooms in 5 one-storey blocks. Period. The whole resort sits on maybe 2 acres total at the top of the little mountain. Steep climb down nearly 300 cement stairs to the very small beach with lots of big rocks scattered in the water, frequent red flags and strong current/undertow. Some little tide pools to sit in are nice. Some folks manage to snorkel a bit, but this beach has some really serious limitations for swimmers. Super steep hill down to the village, means being very mobile/fit or arranging a cab for 3CUC each way. Not anything at all for tourists in that village, though it is nice to walk around and see how the Cuban people live. Rooms are quite nice but mattresses a bit hard or lumpy. Sometimes the water goes off, sometimes for a few days at a time and people flush their toilets with water bucketed from the pool. Staff do their best with repairs. A place ONLY for the easy-going and adaptable! This is the kind of place you either love and find charming and endearing, or you are bored, dissatisfied, disappointed and swear never to return to again. Not much reaction in the middle it seems. So consider carefully before booking here. It really isn't for everyone.

Carisol los Corales: Poor resort

The hotel wasnt great, bugs, smelly bathroom nowhere to swim shallow beach, food was very poor. I would not recommend to go there for anyone. It was a bad experience never had this bad experience ever.

Carisol los Corales: One of the worst

Room was well kept and clean but was missing phone and fridge and was noisy being beside pool and entertainment area. The grounds were nothing to write home about neither was the beach no fish to see when snorkeling nor could one swim as it was mostly covered by sea weeds. Good shaded and sunny areas to sit around and look out with a good enough beach bar. Food was very basic and boring, no taste, no variety basically the same thing over and over. Entertainment was okay and staff were mostly [... read more] friendly. The bar seemed to only have beer and cheap rum, no vodka , or whisky. I had trouble getting a bottle of water running around to different bars to a point that it seemed there was a water shortage. Two days there was no red wine with meals. Hamburgers were under cooked so was concerned about food poisoning. Often, there were no bowls for soup or ice cream and the soup was the same every day. I will not return to this resort as I found it one of the worst in the context of Cuban resorts.

Carisol los Corales: Best buy for the buck!

We had a wonderful time at Los Corales! The staff were friendly and helpful, the resort itself is beautiful even with some signs of aging. The food was more than adequate.We took two excursions which I will comment on. The dolphin show at the aquarium was fabulous and if you want a really memorable experience add the "swim with the dolphins" too. If you want to save money, just rent a horse and buggy and only do the aquarium instead of taking the package. We also did the Catamaran tour to Santia [... read more]go. The ride is a long one but very beautiful; but bring lots of sun screen and be prepared to just relax in the sun. You only have an hour in the city which was just enough time to take out more cash and walk down to the cathedral. If you like to shop, Cuba is not the place. There's not much in the stores except basics for Cubans. The best souvenirs you will find on the beach! So, you will save money there. The free excursion in the horse and buggy was fun and we even saw the wild dolphins in the lagoon, but you can't be guaranteed of that. The beach is a mixture of sand and broken coral so bring water shoes especially if you'd like to play volleyball! Even though there is a lot of sea grass in the water if you venture out a little beyond it there are lots of tropical fish. The coral is not live as it was killed by hurricanes. Also, bring your own snorkel set because most of the ones they have there leak. My daughter went scuba diving and you got to train in the pool until you're ready. Even though they are not certified by North American standards, they did a good job and were very safety conscious. There are paddle boats and you can go out on a small catamaran with a skipper for a tip. There are two masseurs on the beach so for $10 you can have a great 1/2 hour massage with the sound of ocean waves, birds and goats in your ears! Just a word about beach etiquette: the more seasoned guests go out and claim their lawn chairs first thing in the morning, leaving a shirt or something to let you know that it's taken. I don't think it is kind but don't try changing it. If you can't get out early enough to stake your claim just wait until one's available or pick a place on the sand or a hammock or go later in the day when the others have gone in. Bikes are free so you can ride down to where the road ends and see beautiful wild beaches. But they aren't speed bikes so you will have to work on your way back! I got a good one but I was told that some aren't so good and you may get a flat tire. Check it over carefully before taking it out. Also, if you have any dietary concerns, talk to the chef and they will be more than willing to accommodate you. If you're gluten free just bring along some of your own pasta and bread. I am vegetarian and had I known how accommodating they would be, I would have spoken up sooner. There is lots of meat and vegetables, only pineapple, papaya and one other tropical fruit which I am not familiar with for fruit, and only white bread.There is no WiFi but internet is available for a small fee. I liked that because my daughter was not on her phone all the time and it was nice to just visit with other people and enjoy all the activities. If you have a heart for the poor, bring a check in with give away stuff; you'll find ample opportunity to do so and you will be rewarded with seeing happy, appreciative recipients who will try the best to give you something in return. You will be entertained with lovely Cuban music at every meal with live entertainers. There are always dogs standing around the outdoor tables but they are all very mannerly and you will probably have your favourites. To me it was homey. Bring an umbrella for occasional rain. Would I go back? Most definitely!

Brisas Sierra Mar: Wonderful people, relaxing vacation

Brisas Sierra Mar is a very nice resort, by Cuban standards. While it is a little dated and not in an excellent state of repair, the staff are very friendly and hospitable, the food is very good and the entertainment is diverse and talented. The prices are affordable and the location is great, so I would recommend it to anyone who can appreciate the culture in less than a 5 star resort.

Brisas Sierra Mar: Good resort

The hotel was good, very clean and comfortable. Awesome beach, I love the water, so warm.The paddle boat was fun and relaxing, my husband enjoyed snorkeling We really had a good time I would definitely return, for a much longer stay

Carisol los Corales: Great weather and people.

Just got back from a 4 week stay at my favourite resort near Santiago de Cuba This was my 9th time there; my reason for being a repeater is .It's the devil I know, not the devil I don't. This resort is a 3 star Cuban rating a lot of people pay for a 3 star and want a 5 star. The weather is always 27 to 32 this time of the year; the food is good and you will not starve and the staff are friendly and always willing to help without having their hand out as on the north of the island.

Brisas Sierra Mar: amazing resort will go back in a heart beat

very clean good food lots to do good shows great bands great friendly staff beautiful beach kids club was great beautiful scenery beach bar was nice beautiful lobby all around great atmosphere cant wait to go back

Brisas Sierra Mar: wonderful

A wonderful congenial, beautiful place to vacation in and the staff and clerks are excellent. This is a very warm atmosphere as is the surround neighbourhoods which are safe for ladies to travel in. I would recommend this to any woman without hesitation.

Brisas Sierra Mar: A wonderful and friendly atmosphere

This hotel is an older hotel but contains charm and most scenic from the hotel rooms. The food it fine and the staff are warm and very helpful. The gardens are second to none. You feel loved and cared for here. All hotels should have such a wonderful staff.

Carisol los Corales: The staff was great, very helpful, very friendly.

The room was ok. I was not happy with the fact that when you went to the beach there was never enough sun beds; also at night when they offered the entertainment there was never enough chairs for the guest. At the pool there also was not enough sun beds. The food was not bad. The beach is not as good as other places in Cuba.

Brisas Sierra Mar: IT'S BEEN BETTER

IT NEEDS FIXING ON EVERY CORNER. BICYCLES ARE 5 YEARS OLD NOW, FOOD HAS BEEN MUCH BETTER IN THE PAST. THE REASON TO GO THERE IS THE SCENERY AND THE FRIENDLY PEOPLE. THERE USED TO BE MUCH MORE LIFE MUSIC, THEY CUT , CUT, CUT.

Carisol los Corales: Adequate

Grounds - good for our taste. We were four of us: our son with his wife, my wife and myself. The rooms were not bad. Once because of some strong wind the resort left without water but they managed to fix the problem pretty soon. Except that day the water supply ran O'K. Caution! The hot water is really HOT. The beach isn't bad though not excellent. The view from the beach to the East is amazing. The water is limprid (clear). Our children used to snorkel a lot and with a great pleasure telling [... read more] us that there were many beautiful fish out (down) there. The water was pretty warm all our two weeks the passed January. Apparently nothing unusual as it is the South Coast of the Island. Two trips. To the city. We liked it. The guide was VERY good and interesting fellow. The price fare. Another trip to dolphinarium - nothing but amazing especially for us as we had never seen anything like that before. The daughter in law swam with them - UNBELIEVABLE! We didn't regret the additional price for that pleasure. Then they (not dolphins but the guide and the bus driver) brought us to the Lagoon, then to a private restaurant - the LOBSTERS were cooked perfectly!!! Though the food in the resort was just adequate. We tried two a la carte. "Italian"... As usual pasta - nothing else. But "Creole" was nice. Meat and sea food kebabs. And yet there was another good thing - we could eat after midnight and we liked eat - good hamburgers and hot dogs in the grill bar at the discotheque. ALCOHOL and BEVERAGES were very POOR. I like GIN but even a domestic one was not every day to say nothing about "Beefeater". No TONIC WATER ever, no SUGAR FREE Coke. At least there was sugar substitute for coffee and tea. Adequate... The staff was good. Typical for the kind Cubans. The price for two weeks is fair.

Brisas Sierra Mar: nice grounds, pool needs TLC, food needs steam tables

We spent 2 wks in Jan 2017, first week was terrible in room 310, no hot water or any water pressure in shower, then no air conditionning, then to top it off after 6 days, no water in the whole hotel, imagine the problems with toilets!!!! Second week was excellent as we changed rooms to 135, excellent water pressure in shower, on bottom floor, elevators worked perfectly, beach was nice, need more beach chairs as several are broken and the others are "reserved by repeats" so you have to go at 7a [... read more]m to get a spot! Now food was better at beach restaurant, fresh lettuce from hotel garden, very good soup and fresh fish cooked while you wait, yum! In hotel restaurant, the tables where the warm food was set out never was hot so food not very hot. Problem for food poisoning! Lack of fruits and vegetables (canned available) We bought bananas and tangerines from locals on beach! Would I return maybe for 1 week for the excellent temperature!

Carisol los Corales: Worst vacation ever

It was definitely our worst ever vacation. The resort is still repairing the damage from hurricane Sandy so we knew the rooms would not be great and paid the additional price to upgrade to a bungalow. BIG MISTAKE. There are feral dogs running loose on the grounds and we had a bitch with four pups living under our bungalow. They barked and howled constantly through the night resulting in very little sleep for us. The dogs roam around the resort even into the open air dining areas. They all suffer [... read more] from mange, are flea infested and wormy. I complained to the manager about the dogs every day and was assured things would be corrected. STILL WAITING. The food in the buffet was the worst we've seen, even for Cuba. Food normally served hot was cold and the cold cuts , cheese, fruit etc was not chilled. Food hygene was non existent. The food handlers did not wear gloves and the food was not covered so the numerous flies were free to crawl on it. The beach was stony as there is a coral reef just offshore and had only a small area suitable for swimming. On the upside the staff were great, doing their best with the little they had available to meet your needs. All told we would not recommend the Carisol to any one