The good, the bad and the ugly - Sierra Mar Resort

We've been to Sierra Mar many, many times - at least 20.. We find that the food offered in the main dining hall improves each year, and they are trying new things all the time - kudos to the chefs! The cleaning staff are very good and efficient, the wonderful staff who dish out the flavourful coffee each morning at the main bar are wonderful, the nightly entertainment for the most part appeals to eveyone, the vendors who come to the resort a couple of times a week are pleasant and not pushy.  [... read more]When the resort is full, there are actual fights on the beach for the lounge chairs. I've never seen that before at Sierra Mar, and it was ugly! A good way to avoid that would be what other resorts often do, and stack the loungers every night (Sierra Mar might have to hire another beach staff). Then, when people come down in the morning, there wouldn't be any more of the situation where somebody ties up 4-6 loungers, but doesn't come to use them until very late in the morning, meanwhile other people who are at the beach early can't use these. People were actually screaming at each other; I saw one woman hitting another tourist with her shoes! WHY OH WHY CAN'T ALL THREE ELEVATORS ACTUALLY WORK AT THE SAME TIME! For heaven's sake, pay people who know what they are doing to fix them - ALL - so they run more than a few days at a time. One bank hasn't worked - I think - for three years! The 'day-trippers' who are bussed from Santiago de Cuba, for the most part, need serious lessons in how to behave at a resort -- they hit the dining room like wild animals - often taking ALL the sausages, or pancakes, or plates of cheese; at lunchtime, entire plates of cakes and sweets at dinner - and a lot of it gets shoved into big purses. I know the resort did attempt to curb that by having large bags left at the door a few times, maybe that should happen at EVERY meal when those people come on the weekend. On the subject of the day people, why do they have to throw garbage, plastic glasses and plates, kleenex, etc. all over the paths, the beach and the floor? It's like they haven't learned how to behave when out in public! We have Cuban friends who live in Santiago, and they certainly don't act that way. This year, I went to use the ladies' washroom just off the bar area, and was disconcerted to see a young man (early 20s?) in there with a bunch of his young women (they weren't ladies!) friends, laughing and acting like it was a big joke ( day visitors). When I told him to get out and use the men's, they all just laughed and he refused to. So I went to the front desk and reported it. The desk staff member said she would look into it -- but I watched her - she slowly walked the triangle of pavement near there, talked to a couple of tourists, then came back to me and told me she couldn't do anything because he was "a client". I told her so was I, and I was there for a month, but obviously that didn't count to her. One one of the four stalls in that washroom has a lock on the door, and if I had a daughter who had gone in there, I would have been extremely angry!!!!!!!! I did report this to Sandra, who said she would follow up on it. That was disgusting, and the staff member I first talked to needs to be educated in what to do in situations like that The staff in the beach restaurant are wonderful - and the addition of more hot items to chose from was great! I miss the individual pizzas though! Osmar, the beach bar man who is almost always on dury, is wonderful, and very personable. Pedro, one of the beach staff, works harder than 3 people! He's always raking up the seaweed, cleaning up the cigarette butts on the sand (why do people think it's an ashtray?!) and works very hard and diligently. He's always very pleasant to everyone. The massage lady, Margo, does a great job! We didn't partake of any activities around the pool, perfering to be on the beach during the day, but there seems to be lots to do for everyone!

Fantastic resort.

We loved and enjoyed the hotel and the beautiful surroundings even more so at the 2nd time. People are very friendly. A nice place for total relaxation. However, if you are a foodie you might not appreciate the meals so much. Good idea to bring your favourite spices. We had a great time except this time we traveled with Tripcentral and to our surprise instead of flying us to Santiago de Cuba, which is 45 minutes away from the resort we were flown to Holguin which is 3 hours and 15 minutes of  [... read more]very rough ride away. Since we assumed based on our last vacation experience with Sunwing that we will reach the resort within an hour we weren't prepared for that ride. We landed at 1.30 and arrived to the resort at 6 pm. Arrived totally exhausted hungry and thirsty with headache due to the really rough ride. (No seatbelt) We were the only couple from the whole airplane who was destined for that ride!!! It seems totally unnecessary and unreasonable to fly anyone who will vacation at Sierra Mar to Holguin when there is an airport nearby. It should not be an option at all....but if it is it would be something that the travel agent should discuss with the client. OUR VERDICT We recommend the resort to others, but we don't recommend to trust Tripcentral with your vacation arrengment.

Brisas Sierra Mar - A great budget option.

This resort has a number of good restaurants to choose from, including the newly opened Ecological at a mere $5 CUC per person, where the food is truly phenomenal. Not a lot of good options for day trips - you are probably better off haggling with locals - easily found by heading down the road. The resort is clean, staff are friendly, and they do a consistently good job with the entertainment. The lobby always has someone playing music in the afternoon. Typically the resort attracts olde [... read more]r Canadians. We went on a day trip to Santiago with an organized tour. The price was $73 CUC, higher than previous years. The island restaurant was crammed, service was poor and very slow. The lunch took easily 1.5 hours, which took time away from the other places that were on the tour. To top that off, both of us got sick - food poisoning we think from the seafood there - as did a few others that tried the seafood dish. This was on Monday, March 5th, 2018. A better value would be just organizing a few people on your own and renting transport to Santiago. General tips: The food is good, some of the staff have had food safety training. Some have not. Watch and when in doubt make sure your burgers/hot dogs are cooked for extra time. Fresh fish is always a safer bet. It's cuba, don't expect a banquet. Always have water and any medications you might need. Outside the resort, lots of folks will only speak spanish, so be ready to learn some or bring a phrasebook. The beach is a wonderful place to explore, expect hawkers selling everything - sometimes questionable quality. Walking past them with a 'no, gracias' will do the trick. That being said, good Rum can be found here at a fraction of government prices. Snorkelling is boring at the beach, but if you keep swimming out a little bit, or take one of the free watercraft, there are some wonderful reefs around the beach area. There are plenty of walking trails in and around the area to explore.

WONDERFUL TIME

RECEPTION AT THE HOTEL WAS WONDERFUL STAFF ALWAYS AVAILABLE AND COURTEOUS FOOD WAS GOOD (BELIEVE IT OR NOT FOR CUBA) MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS VERY PROMPT AND PROFESSIONAL ROOMS WERE COMFORTABLE TRIP TO VILLAGE - FELT VERY SAFE - ON OUR OWN - WALKED THROUGH THE VILLAGE AND WERE WELCOMED INTO THEIR HOMES WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS RESORT FOR PEOPLE WANTING TO RELAX AND ENJOY A RUSTIC CUBA (MOUNTAINS,BEACHES,SUNSHINE)

Lovely escape!

This was our second visit to Brisas Sierra Mar. The hotel is 20 years old and has been hit by a few hurricanes so it’s not ‘polished’ but the people are wonderful, staff are friendly and helpful. Our room was just above the beach so we could hear /see the ocean which was lovely. The food was good, with a huge assortment and lots of local flavours to try. Buffet was always three tables long and a roast sliced each meal. The water is clean and drinks are included and ample! On Tuesday we [... read more] got invited to a wonderful upmarket dinner for return guests - with dancing and a live band.. excellent event!! There were some great excursions to Santiago de Cuba, as well as caves, red sand beach, the nearby village and daily walks into the various local communities. We swam in the pool each day - and this maybe where we both got sick with parasites since the pool water wasn’t as clean as it should be..

Wouldn't be for Everyone.

If you are coming here for strictly a vacation you will be disappointed.The hotel is rundown and lots of things don't work.Children and people with mobility problems would find it difficult here.At the present time they have no elevators working.Food can be hit and miss.Pool is in need of cosmetic repair. Beach has dark volcanic sand very dirty. There is good cycling and very safe to be on the roads.People are very friendly.

What a great week! Feb 7-14

This resort is set in a beautiful location. The mountains, beach and beautiful sunset's stunning views can be enjoyed daily. This is the nicest place I have been to on the island. The resort is about one hour costal drive from the airport. I liked the quick check in from the bus at the airport. It made things so much easier when we got to the resort. My key in hand, I had someone bring our suitcases straight to our room and then headed to the beach! The resort itself is a little tired b [... read more]ut kept very clean and the staff is exceptional! From the staff at the front desk to the waiting staff in restaurants, cleaning staff, bartenders and entertainers, they were all there to ensure we had a pleasant stay. They make you feel like family and no wonder they have so many returning customers. A lot of people I met have been returning to this same resort for many years. It is a bit of an older crowd. The food at the buffet was ok. Not a huge selection but satisfying. They have a pasta station and always have a roast of some kind. My experience at the a la carte restaurants were very good. Food was delicious, staff was courteous and they always had someone playing music, which was very nice. They have pizza and fries or banana chips at the grill next to the buffet in the afternoon and the Cuban restaurant by the beach had fish, hamburgers and hot dogs along with a few other dishes of rice beans and meat. I spent most of my time relaxing at the beach but they did have a lot of activities at the pool in the afternoon. There is a band that comes in most nights and plays at the lobby. They also have a show a 9pm every night as well as a disco. There were mosquitos at night and they got me pretty good despite the bug spay I had on. That was truly the only unpleasant thing about my stay. I travel frequently on a budget and have an open mind so I thought this place was great!. I was there with a group of 11 and we all had a great time. Don't expect a 5* and keep an open mind that way you shouldn't be disappointed.

Great family getaway

Very good selection of food. Rooms always clean and comfortable. Fabulous staff...always willing to assist. Family enjoyed horseback riding to the waterfall. Kids always busy every day and wanted to stay longer.

Great Value

I would definitely return here. It is one of the most picturesque resorts I’ve been to. Lots of live music here and there on the resort. Smaller place with an older crowd, very low key and relaxing.

Wonderful Resort

Everything was perfect , clean new linens, plenty of hot water ,hair dresser, massage& pedicure available. This resort has it all with the usual Cuban cuisine.Very good music in the lobby bar( live)Older resort with established gardens . Flights were on time . Elevator working for the whole two weeks.Perfect holiday for us .

Great resort

Made several trips here now and still find the hotel to be a great place to enjoy and the staff are always going out of there way to make your stay better. Enjoyed the air conditioned dining room. Will definitely be going back

Brisas Sierra Mar - Return Visit

The Hotel was normal busy for January, we didn't go into the pool as it really needs a good cleaning. The room is dated but our Maid took excellent care of us, very clean with fresh towels replaced when required. Food is ok, nothing special but missed fresh fruit as we had mainly canned in the morning. When there was fresh fruit it was hoarded right away by fellow tourists. They did move the egg station away from the hot trays section which is good as it caused a blockage. The staff is gre [... read more]at and tries to work with what they have. The grounds are lush as they have recently had a lot of rain, beach dark sand and you will need water shoes to swim in the front, nice area to swim if you walk just past the pier.

VERY GOOD RESORT

THIS IS OUR SECOND TIME AT THIS RESORT.VIP IS WELL WORTH THE ADDED EXPENSE. PLEASE CHECK TRIP CENTRAL FOR THE VIP PACKAGE. EMPLOYEES ARE VERY FRIENDLY, SMALL TIPS ARE VERY APPRECIATED. VACATIONERS ARE MOSTLY OVER 65 YEARS OF AGE. SOME HAVE BEEN GOING TO THIS RESORT FOR MANY YEARS. THERE IS A DOCTOR , NURSE AND DENTIST. SUNWING REPS ARE INFORMATIVE AND OFFER PACKAGES. AS USUSAL YOU CAN FIND TOUR GUIDES NOT FROM THE RESORT OR SUNWING.YOUNG CHILDREN SEEMED TO BE OCCUPIED WITH NO PROBLEMS. LOCAL  [... read more]MUSICANS CAN BE FOUND AT LUNCH AT THE RANCH, ALSO IN THE EVENING AT THE PIANO BAR. REPEAT VACATIONERS HAVE A SPECIAL MEAL AT THE RANCH WITH A VERY GOOD BAND AND DANCERS ON THE LAST NIGHT. EVENING ENTERTAINMENT INVOLVE DANCERS , SKITS, MAGICIAN. I ENJOYED THE VACATION. SO I RECOMMEND IT.

Hotel chaleureux

cet hôtel construit en flanc de montagne offre des vues panoramiques autant sur la mer que sur les montagnes de la Sierra maestra,en plus d'une végétation abondante la chaleur de cette région de Cuba en fait un endroit très confortable et agréable. Le personnel est accueillant souriant et courtois, toujours prêt a rendre service pour nous rendre le séjour agréable.Sauf pour la représentante de Hola Sun (caribe sol) Kathie elle ne pense qu'a vendre ses excursions ,nous soutire de l'a [... read more]rgent de façon indirecte, peu courtoise et surtout pas souriante et en aucune façon facilitante. Il y a une bonne variété d'excursions dont une nautique pour aller faire de l'apnée au canal blanco qui est gratuite. Les points forts sont la nourriture qui est toujours fraiche variée, avec un souci de la présentation et bonne c'est dans cet hôtel que j'ai le mieux mangé dans tout ceux que j'ai fait, a date. Il y a des repas 4 services avec soirée musicale, deux restaurant a la carte dont le Bodeguita qui est typiquement Cubain avec un décor et une cuisine recherchée et de la musique traditionnelle cubaine. On offre aussi un repas spécial de langouste($), le chef de cuisine Rafael a un réel souci de gastronomie. L'animation est le second point fort elle se glisse un peu partout en musique et en activités diverses marches matinales d'observation d'oiseau, en velo, ou en escalade vers une chute dans la montagne, elles sont gratuites.il y a de l'aquaforme du yoga et des jeux d'eau. les points faibles sont l'état des édifices et des installation matérielles qui sont vraiment déplorables voire même dangereuses. Par exemple,il manque des lumières dans une zone d'escalier. Et des marches il y en a, a vous en faire faire un réel exercice cardio,156 que j'ai compté de la plage au dernier étage(7) du pavillon le plus élevé du site, seul UN ascenseur sur 4-5 fonctionne!!! les chambres sont toujours propres grandes et avec de beaux balcons. Avec quelques rares visiteurs inopportuns.. en dernier lieu cet hotel est assez loin de la grande ville de Santiago ce qui ne facilite pas sa visite soit par des excursions , des taxis ou location de voitures qui sont couteuses.

Good climat

Rooms were old and need a lot of fixing to bring it up to par. The transfer back home took way too long. 3.5 hour waiting in the lobby, no more ecces to your room. Another 4 hours on the airport , no good! Beach, service we're OK. People are nice and try to make the most of it. Food is Cuban and good

NICE PEOPLE BEAUTIFUL SCENERY

IT COULD USE SOME UPGRADES. LOSE MANAGEMENT. MUSIC GROUPS OF THE PAST ARE MISSING. THERE ARE ALWAYS SOME FOOD SHORTAGES. MUSIC IS MOSTLY TO LOUD. THE MANY DIFFERENT MUSICIANS AND MUSIC GROUPS ARE MISSING.

December 13-20, 2017: Enjoyed the stay

Hotel was in a good shape despite the fact that it went through Hurricane Matthew . Beach on the right to the resort was covered by debris, but was improving over time. There were not many fruit in the resort's restaurant and very few fish. But meat was outstanding and in a great variety. We ordered lobster dinner in the restaurant and it was very good. Snorkeling was good only one day, other days there were waves and water was not clear. Weather was great (as always in this resort). We did cycl [... read more]ing, back horse riding, used catamaran, canoe - everything that resort offered and played all afternoons volleyball in the pool. Drinks were great (as always). What bothered us a lot was kind of black flies (or whatever it was) bites. After-bite did not work at all. I asked for vinegar in the kitchen, but they did not have any. They advise us to use rum and it finally worked. Another negative thing was a flight (Sunwing). It supposed to be a one-stop on the way to the resort and direct flight back when we purchased the package. Sunwing changed it at the last week to have one stop on the way back as well. It was a pain - added 2.5 hours to the flight time. Anyway, we enjoyed our stay as we always did i this resort.

Amazing resort in 1993

It was amazing resort in 1993, but almost 25 years was nothing done to keep it same way. Elevators don’t work, beach is full of bugs, bars are cheap. Workers are amazing, trying their best specially at Ranchon.

Amazing Location

Sierra Mar. The grounds and gardens are lovely with mature vegetation. The coffee is delicious and breakfast is good. Staff is attentive and polite. Evening entertainment is very nice and there is always music everywhere. Excursions into the Maestre Mountains are adventurous and very educating (coffee plantations, wildlife, streams and waterfalls). The only complaint I have are the many steps to climb.(I have a bad hip, ....exhausting) There are elevators and all of them are in disrepair. Ou [... read more]r room was clean, good bed, good shower and a lovely ocean view. But despite that I would come back anytime and my husband too. We and particularly he loved the resort.

Faded Glory disappointed me

Brisas was no doubt very nice when built but I think they still use the original beds. The room is fine but even the toilet paper holders are missing and the rolls sit on the counter. Small towels only showed up at the end. You have to rent the in-room safe but that’s pretty normal although I think it’s chintzy. The elevator up to my room did not work for a day after our arrival. The elevators down to the beach never worked for th whole trip. If you have trouble with stairs  [... read more]don’t come, there are way too many. If you forget something in your room you’ll be sorry. The pool was cleaned regularly but there’s a black smudge all around it. There are lots of shade palapas and nice blue loungers but there are also a lot of broken orange ones that should be discarded. The beach has been reduced by storms and is unimpressive. The area is beautiful, the hills surrounding the property are lunch and beautiful. The food is probably the worst and most repetitive of any resort I’ve stayed in of many in Cuba and elsewhere. There are many nice staff members but there is a ton of staff cadging drinks at the bar and it’s evident that food is purloined by the quantity and quality. I have never seen this so blatantly done. The only good thing I can say is that I paid a low price but I would never return and would not recommend this place.