Great hotel with a great price

stayed at Brisas from March 29 until April 5 first time to Cuba and was blown away by the service and resort. For Cuba the food was really decent , hotel was very clean staff was friendly would definitely go back beach was extremely nice , you will need to reserve a chair pretty early but like others say if you cannot beat them, join them would definitely return

Absolutely wonderful!

The people in the hotel were very friendly and really helpful. The service was wonderful. The whole resort is kept very clean. We really enjoyed our stay. The food was average but we ate well. The tour into Holguin was well worth the price. We met many people who have come back to this resort many times.

Great Family Resort

Another great week in March. The weather was hot and sunny the whole time and he ocean and pools warm and refreshing. We stayed in the villa section - I highly recommend this as it is quiet and relaxing. The resort is small an with everything I a 5 minute walk. The beach is everything you would expect in a Caribbean destination, turquoise water, white sand, and a shallow shoreline. The restaurants are passable, as is the buffet. The many free activities like snorkeling, archery, catamaran rides [... read more], and so on are easy to book. Rooms are well kept, if a bit dated. Returning guests are thanked with a complimentary bottle off U.K. and a tree planting ceremony followed by a special lunch. Wonderful resort. Definitely going back for a third time with our three young children.

Would definitely return.

Property is wonderful: clean, attractive, spacious, good food, nice beaches, long safe walkway available. Most of all fun polite staff. The mix of ages and nationalities staying at the resort was unusual.

Nice resort. Dated but very clean.

On first sight pulling up to the hotel it appears very dated and in need of a facelift, however, our views quickly changed once inside and in the pool area. Grounds are very well kept and the staff is consistently cleaning. Very nice layout and the beach although not very long was lovely. The villa section is definitely the nicer area, quieter and more relaxing. It was nice to have the option for a short walk to the main hotel where there were plenty of activities and entertainment if you chose. [... read more] The food was not as bad as expected for Cuba. The buffets in both the villa section and the main hotel provided a lot of options. We were quite satisfied with all four a la carte dinners we had. Service was good and the staff was friendly. There were a few incidentals that were not expected such as the very dear exchange rate from Cuban Peso to Canadian currency. The rate we had to pay was $1.32 Canadian for $1 CUC. The cost for the airport departure tax was equivalent to $70 Canadian. Also, we were not aware until day three that you had to purchase a lock for the safe in the room. We assumed that by giving the front desk $20 Canadian for a lock that it would be returned when we brought back it back on check out, however we were wrong. Also, there is a very strict policy on your beach towels. You wouldn't want to misplace them as you would have to pay $15 CUC for each one not returned. We would recommend bringing lots of snacks and before settling in on your first night make sure to have plenty of bottled water as the one they give you will not last long. In all it was a nice place, beautiful weather with a nice consistent breeze. We would consider going back. The poorest experience we had would have to be the flight and the Holguin airport experience. The seating on the plane was extremely tight for my husband and I are both over 5' 8". The Holguin airport was extremely disorganized and left much to be desired for both the arrival and departure. We won't elaborate other then to suggest you pack your patience and remember you are not in Canada! If on a return trip we would consider upgrading the flight experience and feel the extra cost would be worth it! We will highly recommend purchasing a $25 VIP from your travel rep at the hotel for the return flight. This helps you avoid all the line ups on your departure.

Really enjoyed time at Brisas Guardelavaca!

Staff very friendly and efficient, always some kind of great entertainment going on, beach was just gorgeous! Food was not always tasty (overcooked meat, vegetables,...). Loved the lobby entertainment every evening around 7 p.m. The only thing I didn't like was having to get up around 6 in the morning to reserve a spot on the beach by putting my beachtowel on a loungechair. Getting a loungechair was otherwise impossible.

Amazing trip to Brisas guardalavaca

Fifth time to Cuba. First time to this resort! Loved it! It was a friendly, clean and super nice place. Grounds were kept very nice at all times. It was a quieter resort which I really liked. Not a lot to due but we went for to totally relax and just wnjoy the beach and sunshine. We hung out in the beach everyday and swam in the ocean everyday. Had fun in the disco and walked to the flea market just past the next resort, had a nice selection of trinkets. The hotel rooms are a little date because [... read more] of the wood in the rooms but they were newly painted and saw them doing some painting while we were there, so they are keeping up with stuff. Staff was friendly and lots of food. I would go back to this resort no questions asked. Loved it. My only Complaints were one being at the very end. Had some people come into the resort and they were yelling in the hallways and being very ignorant and in regards to other people staying in the resort. The other was you had to get up at 530 to put towels on chairs at the beach, which is fine if people actually went and sat in them, I find people are very ignorant about putting towels on chairs and NOT bothering to even go to the beach, others would come down wanting to sit and no chairs ( that is so rude)Other than those 2 complaints we had a wonderful stay.

Pleasant and relaxing getaway

Grounds are well maintained, smoothy bar for breakfast and lunch daily. Nice beach, enjoyed snorkelling on site. Good selection of food offered recommend the stirfry station quality and service. Bathrooms well maintained, "only used them inside the hotel" Room was clean a little too cold and the thermostat did not adjust the temperature, bring a spare blanket and open the blinds to warm the room. Get your beach chair early to enjoy sune and shade throughout the day. The shows where fantastic spe [... read more]cifically the water dance performance. I will be returning.

Everything you could want

My first time to Cuba. I had heard lots of complaints and that finding a good resort was important. Friends had recommended this one. They were right. Make sure you book the a-la-carte restaurants. The buffet has lots of great choices but the restaurants are outstanding. Especially "El Patio"... singing waiters... great experience. This resort seems to cater to mostly an older crowd or families with older children.

Enjoyed the ocean and waterfalls

The hotel was average, had to wait for our room to be ready when arrived, but the beach was excellent, lounge chairs fairly accessible, pools and bars were great. But the best feature of this resort is snorkelling right off the beach - lots of coral, fish and sea urchins (water shoes is a must!) - my 10-year old had a ball. You can also take a peddle boat further out and jump off to do some snorkelling (one of you must remain in the boat!) Also loved the excursion to "Salto del Guayabo" - 2 wate [... read more]rfalls in the mountains. The trail goes down to the base of the waterfalls in the tropical rainforest - lots of wildlife, - but the hike back up is challenging, won't recommend for unfit people. I believe they offer an easier option, you can ask. Be prepared to spend whole day for this (lunch is included) because the drive to this National park is about 2 hrs on bad Cuban roads, but you will pass through lots of fields and villages and you can observe some real Cuba. So if you are not too fussy about the Hotel accomodations, I highly recommend the resort

Feels like home.

Grounds are immaculate, staff polite, helpful. They even brought us breakfast in bed for my wife's birthday, and bottle of champagne. Our 10th time at Brisas, feels like home.the location out in the country, lots of places to walk including the local Flea Market.

Great resort!!

Nice place. Great hotel. Great food. We have been in Cuba over 10 times. This place was the first time.The beach was great but a bit windy and had the red flag up half of the time(march8-15,2015). The best part was that the music and entertaining all day long feels like every day is Sunday.Not once my thought went back to "work" .

March 2015 - Travelled in Wheelchair - 3rd Visit

Brisas - Guardalavaca, Cuba has been my only Destination Vacation. I have had a spinal cord injury for 20+yrs at the C6-C7 level and am a quadriplegic. Therefore, some of my review of the Brisas will be from a wheelchair users perspective. I was unable to get a Villa room identified as wheelchair accessible as they are limited in supply - there were many guests with mobility related issues (seniors, children) this year. We were in Villa Unit 9; Room 9107. This room had one major issue - I was u [... read more]nable to fit my w/c through the bathroom door! We immediately spoke to reception who offered to move us from the Villa to the hotel - not an option we were interested in. Several hours later after having a bite to eat we once again approached reception and a different clerk sent a maintenance man to our room. Quick solution was to remove the bathroom door :) No door - no problem at least I had access to the bathroom facilities. To the next guests of Room 9107 - I hope you get your door back :) Wheelchair access around the Resort was very manageable. Plenty of ramped areas although some ramps are very steep - I needed assistance for all of them in my manual chair but that’s not unusual as I use a power chair at home. The Villa Breakfast buffet area has sliding door system. The sliding doors are always open but requires a wheelie pop up in order to get over them. We always began our day with a Coffee from the Cappuccino Bar - (Spanish Coffee, Chocolate Liqueur, Coffee & Baileys Irish Cream, you name it always great). Meals at Villa breakfast were never disappointing - I always had an omelet but you also had the option of fried & boiled eggs. Plenty of bacon, sausage, ham, roasted potatoes, french toast, toast, cheeses, jam spreads, juices, etc, etc, etc. I was always able to find something on the Hotel side that pleased my palate for Lunch & Evening meals but the stir fry was a particular favorite. The Taberna Bucanero, El Patio, and El Guayabero (Cuban Restaurant) A La Cartes all had very tasty food. Travel between all areas was an easy trek. Evening entertainment was always enjoyable at the Hotel Lounge area - each night after 6:30 there was a different selection of singers, violin playing, dancers, electric guitar that ran until about 9. Then the larger stage entertainment had a later evening show - Cuban music, variety show, water dance, karoke.

Average Resort

The grounds needed up keep, rooms were clean but disapointed in having to pay for bottled water every day and also pay for safe key, it usually is incl. with room.Main buffet was terrible, the a la cartes was OK. Lots of entertainment which was good.)

Brisas Guardalavac (Villa)

My Spouse and I had our delayed 40th Anniversary Vacation at this location. The Resort is very nice and cosy but, it is the Staff and indeed the local residents that make this place great! We just might return again!

Amazing Resort

This resort was everything you could ask for and more. the food, the grounds the people and the room were all excellent. We stayed for 7 Days and had no problems with anything. Check in and Check out went smooth and easy. Hotel staff was so very willing to help with anything.

Brilliant resort

Beautiful grounds,good selection of food. Rooms a little tired but who spends lots of time in the room when there is so much else around. Everything so close by...........pool, beach etc..Staff here amazing...

Great resort

Beautiful hotel and nice pool with swim up bar. Workers were excellent and very obliging. Food was good but repetitious. We found some of the front desk staff were difficult when asking questions and our daughter emailed them to put a bottle of wine in our room for valentines but it didn't happen.

Great Resort

Nightly entertainment was very good. Food was better than expected(for Cuba). We didn't like the location of our room and had absolutely no problem changing to a more desirable room. Grounds are well kept by numerous garden and maintenance persons. Most staff are able to speak multiple languages. (Fr. Eng. Ger.) Our favorite bar was the Havana Club which is a rooftop bar providing great rum drinks and an amazing view of the hotel grounds and surrounding area. We usually like to visit different p [... read more]laces every year, but I would consider returning to Brisas Guardalavaca.

Great spot for a girls getaway

Although it wouldn't be my choice for a romantic getaway with my husband, for a relaxing trip with 4 other girls this resort was perfect. There was just enough to do to not get bored, without so much that you would feel like you missed something. The entertainment staff were fun and friendly, and cleaning staff were always keeping the grounds neat and clean if any debris. There was a long cement boardwalk along the length of both sister properties, which made walks along the beach really enjoya [... read more]ble, especially if still in shoes. The food wasn't splashy, but there was good variety to choose from at the buffet. There could be more beach chairs- you had to run down very early to reserve them. Although that being said, the beach wasn't too crowded because of this. All in all, a great spot for a low key week with the ladies.