Brisas Guardalavaca: Another amazing vacation

This was my third time at this resort and it did not disappoint! Room was ocean view and comfortable, AC worked well and the shower temperature/pressure was good by Cuban standards. Food was good, loved my omelets in the morning and Roberto's pizza for lunch. Dinner wasn't my favourite meal but I never went hungry. Travelled with a group of 10 and we always found chairs by the pool. Usually towards the afternoon a few of us would move to the beach and we always managed to find a hut and chairs d [... read more]own there too. The beach is gorgeous and clean. The live music that played in the evening was really good- very talented singers and musicians! Transfer to and from the hotel went smoothly. One thing that was new from last year was that you could purchase a 5L jug of bottled water for 2 pesos which I bought on the second day and used to fill my smaller water bottle. I have no complaints for my week at Brisas....can't wait to go back!!

Club Amigo Atlantico Guardalavaca: club amigo

the villas are very good . the staff at resort are the best . we will be going back in the near future . We have been there six times , allways enjoyed staying there . regards Sandra and Kevin williams .

Club Amigo Atlantico Guardalavaca: Good value

We were there from April 17 to 24 and the weather was perfect. We stayed in an ocean view villa with a hammock at our door. Very relaxing. We enjoyed having breakfast at Bennie's and also enjoyed the coffee. We loved the wine cellar and were able to purchase good wine at a reasonable price. I would recommend this resort to anyone looking for a cheap get away.

Club Amigo Atlantico Guardalavaca: Large resort

Hotel and rooms average for Cuba.grounds were ok.dining was average. Staff was friendly. Had an issue with original room, front desk rectified the problem. Recommend 3rd or 4th floor room at far end to avoid noise from bar area.

Sol Turquesa Beach: Excellent vacation spot if you don't mind stairs

Our third visit to this resort. Food is ok in the buffet but the Italian restaurant was disappointing. Beach is clean with lots of chairs and shade options. Pools are clean and ideal for those with children. Staff were friendly and accommodating.

Paradisus Rio De Oro: Fabulous

We just returned from a week at this resort. This was a great resort with very friendly staff. The food was fantastic. Our room was newly renovated. The only thing that was a disappointment was there was no door on the washroom.

Playa Pesquero: Playa Pesquero - love this resort!

Returned 20 Apr 2015 from a 10-day stay at Playa Pesquero. This was our 5th visit to this resort, and we'll be going back! We have booked a Superior package every time we have gone there, so we don't know about the Standard rooms - but we didn't hear any complaints while we were there. Loved the people, the pools, the food, the room (we requested an upstairs room in advance and got it), the service, the beach (didn't do much there this trip, but it's gorgeous), ... just about everything. And des [... read more]pite the resort being fully booked, we never felt crowded. Here are some specifics: Food - Pesquero has made significant improvements to its buffets over the last couple of years, and it shows. Food that used to be lukewarm was served piping hot this year, and the variety of choices was always appealing. New this year was a sushi bar at every lunch and supper buffet; also, Saturday nights featured roast turkey! And for the record, it was lovely, not dried out at all - difficult to do in that setting. Fresh fruit and vegetables at every meal, lots of local offerings, as well as the ubiquitous French fries which were hot & crisp every time. You're guaranteed to find something you like, and there are plenty of chefs on hand to cook something fresh just for you. A special shout out to Melba at the breakfast juice bar, who made sure my papaya shakes were made fresh every morning! As for the a la carte restaurants, they were terrific. The Romantico & Gondola always get the most attention, being enclosed and air-conditioned, and having the higher-end dishes on the menu. They were lovely, as always. The Caribeno and Terra Antiqua restaurants deserve praise here as well: we were very pleased with the food at both (do try the black-bean soup, it's fabulous!). The Yareyal grill was also very good. Room - The hotel opened in 2003 and it is almost always full. Our room bore some evidence of that, with some wear and tear visible - cracks in the paint and minor stains on the mirror. But it was very clean and comfortable when we arrived, and housekeeping did everything they could to keep it that way. We let them know that we were missing a couple of facecloths when we got there... facecloths were delivered within 10 minutes! All of our (few) requests were managed promptly. Thank goodness for the air conditioning - it was really hot later on in our stay. And if anyone has ever smoked in that room, we couldn't tell. No smell in there whatsoever, for which we as non-smokers were very grateful. Lobby/pool/theatre: We went to Pesquero with the intent of doing as little as possible for the first few days of our vacation - we had a busy year and were looking forward to a chance to really relax. So, much of our time was spent poolside or in the main lobby area. The pool is lovely: it's kept as clean as possible, and resort staff were there throughout the day to make sure it stayed that way. Water depths range from 4 cm to 1.8 metres, so it was wonderful for swimmers of all ages. The munchkins were very entertaining! Again, this busy resort is showing signs of constant use: the pool has some broken tiles along the top edges and could use new grout in some places. However, there definitely wasn't anything that posed a danger to anyone, and the pool floor is in very good shape. Note: Pesquero is in the process of replacing its deck chairs - thank goodness, as the old ones are saggy and worn. There were lots of new chairs available, and we manage to snag a couple for ourselves every morning. Get out early, though - it gets busy by mid-morning! The lobby area, likewise, has some upgraded furniture, some new while other pieces have been refinished/repainted. The lobby bar is the best, and the coffee bar there is also excellent. Best lattes ever! It was hard to stay around the lobby area in the evenings for the shows - it was difficult to find a spot where smoke wasn't blowing in our faces. However, when we could stay, we really enjoyed the live entertainment. At other times of day, we had no problem finding a spot to sit and read smoke-free. Service - excellent, hands down. Several of the staff recognized us from previous visits, which was lovely, but no matter whether they knew us or not, everyone there was friendly and courteous. And if by chance we ran into someone who wasn't as cheerful, a friendly smile went a long way! We kept tipping to a minimum on this trip, but that didn't affect how we were treated at all. One tip we did give was very much appreciated: we brought some adhesives, line levels and other small tools for the gardeners, and they were delighted. Overall: I would recommend this resort to anyone who is looking for a comfortable, reliable, family-friendly vacation spot. Let me know if you have any questions - I'd be happy to help!

Brisas Guardalavaca: Nice hotel, nice location

04APR2015-11APR2015, stayed in villa room 6106. Second stay at Brisas, eleventh stay in Cuba. Trip and arrival: Flew Montreal to Holguin with Air Canada Rouge, subject of another review. Holguin Airport is quite basic and s-l-o-w. They x-ray every single case before it arrives at a snails pace on the carousel. For this reason, getting on your way in the coach can take a long time. The journey takes around 1hh15mm and we dropped off travelers at another hotel before getting to Brisas at around 1 [... read more]:30pm.Our room was ready and we made it in time for a late lunch. Room details, villa room 6106: Sea view, which was an unexpected bonus. 30 seconds to the beach from the patio door. No sun in morning or evening, so room didn't get too hot. AC unit wasn't too noisy, but preferred it off to sleep. Two queen size beds, nice sized room, 19" TV, bathroom with shower over bath, basin and toilet. We had a couple of lizards come in, they can squeeze through the tiniest gap. Hey - they resolve any fly or mosquito problem! - Bathroom has no extractor fan. As such it got very humid when the shower was in use. This humidity becomes condensation which drips from the ceiling panels in the bathroom, and the ceiling in the lobby just outside the bathroom. Don't leave precious items where they can get stained by drips. Restaurants: The buffet is fine for breakfast. Omelets, fried or scrambled eggs made to order, Bacon and other breakfast items available. Juices which seemed to be out of a carton, not out of the fruit itself. Great coffee, and fresh bread that tastes like cake. The buffet is OK for lunches and just about OK for supper too. Waiting staff always at hand to get alcoholic drinks. Food being constantly topped up. - A la carte: You are allowed three a la carte restaurants per week. However there is no track of how many you book, so come back later and book some more. When we made our first selection, the lady taking the booking actually suggested a fourth night, so we chose the Cuban Restaurant a second time. The Cuban vegetable soup is to die for, the main course not so inspiring. The International was OK, nothing special, and the seafood restaurant was not my favorite. The waiters sing and do magic at the seafood restaurant, if your waiter is singing (or in our case tuning his guitar) you can be in for a long wait for your food. My favorite meal though in not very inspired surroundings was the grill, the chicken there was very good. Beach and pools: The beach is very nice. Other TA reviews mention a shortage of sun-loungers - while we were there we saw dozens of new loungers being put in place. There are two pools and while we didn't use them, they seem clean and popular. Entertainment: Plenty of music going on. Don't miss the Thursday night guitarist in the lobby bar. Then when he closes, a band plays on the pool side stage. On other nights some bands play on the beach side stage too, and Thursday at sunset there is a Beatles tribute in the John Lennon garden. Here is my secret tip: the island in the middle of the pool in front of the pool side stage is a great place to watch any group playing, almost like being in a private box! Don't tell anyone though, as there is only seating for 8 there. Lots of things going on during the day like volleyball and fashion shows. Area: It is a 30 minute stroll down the beach path to the flea market, get all your souvenirs here, but don't forget to haggle. A couple of small bars there too, and even a public washroom, didn't try so can't vouch for it. Horse buggies and old American cars around the hotel to give you trips around the area. We went around Guardalavaca with "Daniel" and his horse and buggy, he said CUC20 for an hour and it was nearer 90 minutes and he happily took CA$25. Negatives. The big downer on this trip was the lack of currency exchange in the hotel, the front desk exchange was closed. We arrived on a Saturday with a few CUC's from previous Cuban trips, and the front desk could not say when the exchange would open. On Monday we walked to the bank at Playa Coste Verde, and joined the hour-long line up there. I am sure that many of the Brisas waiting staff went without tips for many days until the hotel front desk exchange finally opened. When it did finally open on Thursday, there was a guy handing out Bucks Fizz in order to placate the customers who presumably had gone the better part of the week with no cash. Another downer was when I locked the key in our room, getting it reopened seemed a huge inconvenience to the front desk staff. - Summary: We have been to Cuba eleven times, this was our second stay at Brisas. We'll try somewhere else next year, but would recommend this hotel for couples or families. It's a nice place.

Sol Rio de Luna y Mares: Very good resort, wonderfull time

We were at The Sol Rio Luna y Mares for the 7th time and we will return again. The beach is wonderfull, Palapas and trees for every one. They had new chairs this year: more confortable. What we like the most is to take breakfast, lunch and supper outside. Rooms are ok and clean. The only thing we regret is that there was less restaurants a la carte, so we had only one supper a la carte, because the otherones were full. Stayed at the Mares, but we will ask for the Luna next year because of the no [... read more]ise. Beautifull ocean view, but noisy.

Playa Costa Verde: Playa Costa Verdes great staff

The hotel is well maintained with an excellent staff, they are the friendliest I have encountered on any other trips. The food was very good and the housekeeping above average. The beach and ocean are beautiful and you are never bothered by anyone selling goods. There are rocks in the ocean but easy to walk around without needing any special footwear. The colour of the water is amazing.

Brisas Guardalavaca: Beautiful beach

We found the staff very friendly and helpful. The Italian Restaurant was my favourite but also enjoyed the Seafood and Bucanero Restaurants. Buffet food was very good as well. We had a villa room and it was clean and spacious. The grounds were beautiful and the entertainment was excellent.

Club Amigo Atlantico Guardalavaca: Relaxing Resort

We have stayed at this resort 3 times. We choose to stay here for a variety of reasons. The number 1 reason is price, traveling as a family can become expensive but Club Amigo Guardalavaca is very reasonably priced. We also enjoy the beaches and the coral reef as the children enjoy snorkeling. The daily flea market is always a big hit with us. As well as the shops across the road from the resort. This trip we found a hidden gem, the pizza shop heading to the beach has the best pizza around. The  [... read more]resort is dated but by returning there we have seen the progress that is being made as they renovate different sections. The food is reviewed by many we talked to as the best food in Cuba, we can be a very fussy family to feed but never went hungry while there. The wait staff and servers are very efficient and entertaining. We enjoy our trips and are looking forward to returning again soon.

Club Amigo Atlantico Guardalavaca: Fabulous Vacation

We are a family of 2 children aged 8 and 10, their mother and grandmother. We loved the hotel. We enjoyed dinner at the themed dining rooms. While nothing is ever perfect, we found the staff very friendly and always attentive to our needs. The ocean beach was lovely clean and not terribly crowded. We had opportunity to meet local Cubans there which we enjoyed very much. There was programs for the children which they also enjoyed. Even if we didn't have children along, we would return to this hot [... read more]el.

Club Amigo Atlantico Guardalavaca: fun resort

This resort is so much fun due to the type of tourists that come. Would recommend highly. Don't judge on the price as the value is so good. Been going for 5 years and there is always so much to do and the Cubans are so friendly.

Playa Pesquero: Amazing Resort and People

Our rooms were absolutely perfect. Spacious, comfortable and clean. Fridge was stocked daily with bottled water and local beer. Lobby was wonderful. We went to the lobby for cappuccino prior to breakfast (eggs to order, crepes cooked as you watched) and a glass of wine before dinner ( incredible pasta, lobster and shrimp). Pool was spectacular and the beach was picture perfect. The food was plentiful with lots of fresh fruit and veggies. Met some great people, visitors and staff, and had good be [... read more]lly laughs each day. Perfect :)

Sol Rio de Luna y Mares: Fabulous Fun, Fabulous People, Beatutiful Resort

My Fiance and I traveled to Cuba the first week of April 2015. The food, for Cuba standards, was very good and a lot of choices. The staff were very friendly and lots of fun. We danced from morning until night enjoying all areas of the resort. The resort was fairly quiet, enjoyable, relaxing. Our room was average, needed some upgrading, but clean. We wished that the room fridge was stocked with alcoholic beverages (wine, rum, beer) for evening hours. But they were quick to increase the bottled w [... read more]ater being left, so thank you for quick response to service requests. Our one complaint was that there was no snorkeling equipment for quests to use and with the coral reef within swimming distance it was a disappointment. We also weren't allowed to sign out life jackets to use in the water which we didn't understand as they had numerous life jackets hanging up unused. The Catamaran run was so much fun. Our reef fishing excursion was amazing with the finale being our catch fresh cooked and served for lunch. The entertainment at night was wonderful and enjoyable for all ages. The gym was lacking in quality equipment and opened a little late for the heat of the area. We had the time of our lives, danced danced danced, swam, swam, swam, drank, drank, drank, laughed, laughed, and laughed some more. Thank you for a wonderful escape from the Canadian winter.

Sol Rio de Luna y Mares: great relaxing atmosphere

Overall I would say that we enjoyed the vacation. We didn't realize that it was so remote. For a relaxing vacation, it was great. We prefer to be closer to the culture of the area, to be able to experience the native aspects of the area.

Aston Costa Verde Beach Resort: Wonderful place for a holiday Our second trip.

Entertainment was provided every night and was very good Food was good and we especially liked the Italian al a carte We like being a little further away from the main building - close to a more private pool and very close to the scuba/snorkeling area. Our representative Marta was a terrific help and sent us on excursions we enjoyed very much.

Club Amigo Atlantico Guardalavaca: Great time

This resort is huge! We stayed in the Tropical Hotel section which was great. Far enough from the lobby to not hear the crowd at night. Beautiful ocean view. Clean, well maintained room. Lots of excursions to choose from. Awesome swim-up bar. Made lots of new friends. GREAT STAFF! Cons: We found other tourists to be very rude at times. With long line-ups people would push their way to the front. Buffet food not the best, but booking al a cart is easy. It was difficult finding lounge chairs if yo [... read more]u weren't down there at the crack of dawn. Overall: too large for our taste, but still a good resort.

Aston Costa Verde Beach Resort: Great resort

This was a great resort, very good food, especially the a la catres french and italian! Very good snorkelling and best beach on the strip. The plus section is worth the money will definitely return here for a third time and in cuba 13 times now. Love this country!!