A comfortable, secure feeling resort

Beautiful grounds, warm helpful staff The only difficulty was the repetitious menu, with very little variation. The A la carte dining room was helpful, and we did manage to get off-grounds dinners at a private home restaurant and at the Tower, so that was good. (although the lobster at the Tower was extremely overcooked and tough.)

Beautiful location .. Mountains and the Beach!!

Property is spread out and huge old trees around. The beach is just AMAZING!! The waters are crystal clear and great fro snorkelling!! The staff at the resort are very helpful and courteous. Alfonso takes care of everything.. so DO NOT book your excursions online - talk to him. Rooms are quite okay but the air conditioning is good and kept clean. Brian does amazing nightly shows in the amphitheater and you must do the hike up the mountain with him - the view is just breathtaking!! This is a goo [... read more]d resort to relax and take in the beauty that surrounds this place.

Relax Already

First time at Villa Jibacoa. We arrived late evening from Toronto to our bungalow. As the buffet was closed there were two ham and cheese rolls, a bottle of water and a bottle of rum in the fridge to greet us. Nicely spaced out grounds, good walkways and access for anyone with mobility issues. Food was hot and fresh. Not a breakfast or lunch eater but the lobby bar had the best coffee. Heard some people complain they ran out of eggs at the buffet some breakfast times. The two offsite restauran [... read more]ts offered amazingly huge rock lobster dinners with shrimp or smoked pork or grilled fish with shrimp, fried plantain, salad, traditional rice and beans (con gris) and a drink for 15-20 CUC ($15-$25). Three of us had lobster and mojitos for 42.50 CUC. Please don't forget to tip. One person could not eat out for that in Canada. My friend is a certified scuba diver and said the reef is amazing. Go out with the Master Diver and a small group for 25 CUC (wet suit, tanks and mask included). You won't be disappointed. Took our niece for Reading Week. Her first trip to Cuba. She was blown away by the cultural experiences. And they now have WiFi for those who can't disconnect. Many beach loungers were broken but they were working on replacing them throughout our two week stay.

No reason to go anywhere else

9th time to cuba. 4th time to this resort. This is our home away from home. Snorkeling. The staff. Nearby restaurants. Within an hour from havana or veradaro. Did i mention the snorkeling?? We will be back again and again to visit our almost all Canadian returning guests. Value priced right. The only reason we would stop going is if tripcentral raised the cost.. c ya there

Excellent Relaxing Vacation

We have been to various locations in Cuba and our recent trip to Villa Jibacoa (Tropica) was the most relaxing trip we have enjoyed. The grounds are very spread out and well cared for. While we were there the maintenance staff was continuously working on fixing the pathways which meandered over the entire layout. There were ample loungers for everyone and we never had to reserve, although some people did. The staff was excellent from the maid service to the entertainment staff, gardeners, ba [... read more]rtenders and wait staff in the dining area. The gardener gave us fresh flowers every morning the bartenders were really personable to everyone whether you were tipping every time or not. The maids did an excellent job of cleaning the room everyday and we looked forward to the art work they did with the towels on the bed. The dining room staff was continuously checking to see if we wanted more wine or other beverages and were always very personable. We stayed in a bungalow that was quite large with one double bed and a small mini fridge. The shower was a little tricky getting a comfortable temperature however the maid must have mentioned it to maintenance because three days in they did some work on the plumbing and it was just a good as we have at home. We also had a problem with the valve on the toilet and after mentioning this to the front desk it was fixed within an hour. The meals were good, not a lot of variety but you could always find something to eat and if you didn't like the buffet there was always the pasta bar. There are also two restaurants just up the hill from the resort that serve a great lobster and shrimp dinner for 15 CUC. Enough food to split one meal with two people. The weather was great however we could not snorkel as much as we wanted as the red flag was up quite a bit. When we did get out the reef straight out from the lifeguard chair was great for viewing many different varieties of fish. We also took a Catamaran ride that is free for guests of the hotel. It lasted about 30 minutes and was really enjoyable. Overall we had a great vacation. We were worried that two weeks would be too long however as we were leaving we both agreed that another week would not be a problem! We would definitely return and look forward to going back.

A quiet paradise

The Villas Jibacoa provides a quaint, basic accommodation against a paradise of spacious & uncrowded beach, accessible snorkeling and diving right off the beach. I loved my little bungalow right in front of the beach! A hidden gem for low cost; what a find. Given the modestly priced stay, I was very impressed with the outstanding service, genuine friendly nature of the entire staff. The waterfront team and available services were especially noteworthy. This is a travel destination where I fel [... read more]t perfectly safe! For a 3-star hotel, I give it 5 👍🏻 thumbs up!

An enjoyable stay

We stayed at this resort for one week at the end of February. The staff at the resort are extremely pleasant and helpful. We stayed in a bungalow and it was very comfortable. The air conditioning worked well and we always had hot water. The snorkelling is fabulous. We were able to easily swim out to the reef, where we saw lots of beautiful fish, rays, and other sea life. Please note that you must bring your own snorkeling gear. They do not have any for rent at the resort. The food wa [... read more]s fine. There was always a good variety. We also ate at two local restaurants. The Tower is a short cab ride and the food was excellent. The Family is a very small restaurant a short walk up the hill from the resort on the left hand side. The food was excellent there as well. We took an overnight trip into Havana, staying at the Casa Maura. We highly recommend this if you’d like to fully experience old Havana during the day and in the evening. Casa Maura is located in the heart of old Havana and was a perfect overnight bed and breakfast. Please note that you must take cash. Credit cards are not accepted anywhere unless booking through the Transat Vacation representative. The resort was able to exchange Canadian funds for CUCs, however make sure that your Canadian bills are free from all marks or slight tears, they will not accept any bills that are marked up or torn in any way. All in all we enjoyed our stay at the resort.

Our home away from home

This is our resort. We visit twice a year. We love it! Everything about this resort is wonderful, but the staff take it to the next level. They go out of their way to ensure every guest has a memorable stay. The food is simple and very good. If you are looking for 5 star Gourmet cuisine I suggest New York, Paris, Italy or maybe a cruise. Seriously, who goes to Cuba for the food? It's a beautiful culture, with beautiful people and incredible history. The sunshine and breathtaking beaches are just [... read more] a bonus. In our opinion, this resort is perfect just the way it is.

Our "Rations" Vacation

The service staff at this isolated, tired and deteriorating resort were wonderful. From the wait/food prep staff in the dining room and the bars to the front desk staff, they all tried to make us feel special in their own way. It was however annoying to have the chef, while preparing food on the grill, doubling as the pasta prep person as it resulted in very long and slow moving line ups in the dining room. The food shortages during our vacation were disappointing and perplexing. On our second [... read more] day we were told there was no butter. There was no provided alternative i.e. jam etc. The butter shortage lasted several days after which we went to breakfast only to be told the resort had run out of eggs. The eggs also returned after a couple of days absence but the disappearance of hotdogs at the entire resort lasted for about the last 10 days of our 15 day vacation at both food venues. The rooms were adequate despite the rock hard beds however, the state of disrepair of the a/c unit in our room was extreme. The a/c unit in our room gave up the ghost on day 11. I reported it to the front desk at 8:00 am and was told it would be addressed during the day. When I returned to our room at 5:00 pm nothing had been done. I went to the front desk and was told the staff made a mistake and replaced the a/c unit in another room by mistake despite the log book having the correct room number. We had to move to a smaller room for the last 4 days of our vacation. Thankfully the front desk had another room as we had been told the resort was at capacity!

Amazing snorkeling!!

What an improvement since the last time I was here.It is an older resort but they are upgrading and improving. The walkways are now lit and alot more even, the pool has a new liner and the food has improved considerabley. The snorkeling is awesome, especially for timid swimmers who like to walk in and not go in deep waters. They installed playground equiptment while we were there. They also got a big load of furniture and they were working on smoothing more of the walk ways.Our room was nice on  [... read more]the third floor of a building, working air and fridge, view of the ocean. Last time and next we will book a bungalow as I don't like stairs. The frogs were loud, we thought it was a dying generator or something the first night Ha! Ha! The beds need upgrading, they ran out of eggs one morning and napkins the next, no biggie we just laughed, it's Cuba. The weather was great, customer service was fast and friendly. We could not get the safe set and the TV lost it's signal once,both were quickly resolved.

Awesome!

Honestly for the money it was a great vacation , the staff was very friendly the food was good, the beach was great with coral reef for snorkeling . Talked to a lot of other people and they go 2 times a year for the last 3,8,15 years so that’s saying something ! Would go back again !

Small but very nice resort!

This resort is small, but very nice. We stayed in little villas, room was very clean, and walking distance to the bar, reception and buffet. They kept the bathrooms quite clean and the surrounding areas. The beach is OK. A lot of rocks in the water. My buddies said that the snorkeling is AMAZING on the beach. The entertainment was ok. I love to Salsa dance, but after the show, they would play 'Techno', not salsa music. The water is 'treated', they provide 2 bottles in your room upon arriva [... read more]l, then you keep the bottle to change at the bar, buffet or reception bar. The food was very good! Breakfast always had fresh fruit, juice and the egg omelettes were quite good. Lunches had fresh veggies, and lots of pasta salad. Dinner, fresh cut meats, chicken, liver, pork, very little beef. The snack bar was mediocre. They could perhaps upgrade the food a little and get some fries. They only have one 'a la carte' restaurant, which was excellent! Other restaurants off the resort which were also excellent. Pool is kept very clean. lots of chairs. We brought the pool chairs to the beach, but brought them back to the pool at the end of the day. I loved the resort, and would eventually go back.

Awesome Resort and Staff

The hotel was very clean, both the rooms, restaurants and the grounds. The staff were always friendly and well informed, spoke English very well and were always helpful. The beach was a great place for relaxing under the trees, plenty of shade if that is what you like. Snorkeling was amazing, catamaran, massage, all at your waiting. I loved it and would recommend it anytime, hope to return some day.

Beautiful hidden gem!

This resort is simple and quaint. No big frills but is absolutely stunning. Nestled between the beach and the mountains it was the perfect spot and had lots to offer. We were in a hotel room rather than a bungalow (there were none available). The room was basic and the beds were only 3/4 size. So unfortunately not great as we didn't get to sleep in the same bed. Next time we go we will for sure book early enough to get a bungalow. The food was OK nothing to brag about but we always found somet [... read more]hing to eat. The location is amazing for snorkeling but make sure to bring your own gear as it's not included with the resort like we had thought. We will definitely go back to this resort as we just fell in love with the location and the simplicity of it. We also loved that it was located in the middle of both Varadero and Havana.

Amazing views but you’re on your own here

Amazing resort for the location and the views. Service was awful, nobody truly cares about helping you. Food was awful even for Cuba, water was not given out. No water bottles in fridge. We weren’t taken care of well .....for easy going travellers with low expectations, we were let down here.

To return or not return.... that is the question

This is our second visit to Villas Tropico and possibly our last. While there are so many good things to this resort there are a couple things that can’t be overlooked. While not the resorts fault, there were more days of red flags on the beach meaning we could not go into the water due to high winds and Portuguese man of wars. This was a definite bummer. The quality of food was also a major downfall. We all know we don’t go to Cuba for the food but the quality at both the bufffet and a la  [... read more]carte was disappointing. Our room was lovely and most of the staff delightful. We made some wonderful new friends and got to connect with some old ones.

No wonder people keep going back!

In many ways the Villa Jibacoa (aka Villa Tropico) is the anti-Veradero experience, and for us, that is just fine. The grounds are spacious and beautifully maintained, the rooms are mostly one-storey bungalows scattered comfortably around the property, the staff is welcoming and unpretentious (as are the guests), the resort backs up onto beautiful green hills, cities and smaller communities are not far away and easily accessible, the atmosphere is relaxed and comfortable, and a beautiful reef -- [... read more] perfect for snorkeling and scuba diving – is right off the beach. Before we went we checked the reviews and were puzzled by the number of visitors who had gone there five or six time -- or more. (We met one man at the resort who was there on his 13th visit.) We wondered what kept bringing people back. Now we know. The basics are there – spacious, comfortable rooms; good meals that the staff goes out of its way to vary and cook to order; lovely beach; several bars (best Spanish coffee I’ve ever had); great pool; nightly entertainment; access to a variety of tours. But what sets this place apart, I think, is the helpfulness and friendliness of the staff as well as the uncrowded beach and beautiful grounds. It’s a great place for families and we enjoyed the variety of guests from toddlers to seniors. We are already planning our trip back next year. Note that while snorkling gear is not available for rent on its own, for 10 pesos, Nick and the crew offer what must surely be one of the best diving deals in the Caribbean. They will fit you out and take you on a Hobie Cat to some of the greatest reef viewing in Cuba. Scuba lessons and trips are also available. Also, don’t miss out on the relaxing massages available right on the beach by a family of highly trained massage therapists. Another plus is the availability of a physician onsite, who was helpful, resourceful and skilled. The Villa Tropico is just a wonderful place to relax and do as much or little as you like. We want to give a particular shout-out to Ann Marie, the Air Transat rep at the hotel, who provided a thorough and helpful orientation and then ongoing support and suggestions throughout our stay. As a Canadian who has become a Cuban citizen, Ann Marie offers insight into Cuban culture and society as well as how to get the most out of your stay. When I look at some of the criticisms of other reviewers, I realize the Villa Jibacoa is not for everyone. If you want your beach vast and groomed, your room in perfect repair, your trip uninterrupted by kids and families having a wonderful time, your entertainment at Las Vegas levels, and 16 restaurants to choose from, you should probably go somewhere else. Please.

...I would not recommend to my enemy.

This resort was recommended to me by a client who raved about the snorkeling which we were not permitted to do at all while there. There was a red flag put out and no life guard or staff to inquire to. The staff were very rude and tips were expecting even though the service was bad. It was like you were paying for the drinks at an "all-inclusive". The whole trip was a disaster from the air Transat staff giving us 1 visa for 2 people, I paid extra for option plus and soon realized I purchased a c [... read more]heap blanket, terrible food and one beverage for 100$ a person. There was no priority boarding and the seats were just like regular fair. When we checked in we were giving a map and told to find our Bungalow in the dark while dragging our suitcases, the paths were rough and in some cases they had been torn up to lay new pipes to you had to lift them over trenches. These were badly patched while we were there so the drag out wasn't quite as bad. The food was the worst I have ever had. At least 7 of 10 days they made pasta noodles with little tomato sauce for both lunch and supper. The fruit was not ripe. The room was well, a room. The bathroom was disgusting and we often found insects. And the toilet flushed sometimes. The weather was good, the pool was not clean with the bottom liner lifting in multiple places. On more then one occasion I saw cigarettes floating in the pool. The beach was nice, with limited seating and most of those were broken. The beach was covered in seaweed and jelly fish. The resort and beach were covered in litter. I can't put into words how disappointed I actually am. I will never use tripcentral air Transat or Villas Jibicoa ever again. I will be putting a review on Tripadvisor as well. Disgusted. Absolutely disgusted. I gave everything 1 star but its lower. Honestly run, don't walk away. It's the worst money you will spend. I bought this trip as a Christmas present and we wasted our days off here.

Great Resort

Very serene peaceful lovely grounds friendly happy staff wanting to please the tourist food was good great choses room were nice & cheary 2nd time at the resort will be returning for sure my second home Air Transit Rep at the hotel not much help

Beautiful, quiet resort, directly on the beach

The grounds of this resort are beautiful with lots of Bougainville and hibiscus. The resort itself is somewhat dated but very charming and cosy. Check in was fast. The bungalows are small but very private and nicely decorated, the beds are good, the rooms and patio are thoroughly cleaned every day, the service is fantastic. The water was always very hot and available. The second last day we had an ant problem in the bathroom (tiny minuscule ants) but they were dealt with immediately. The food is [... read more] basic but good and with some imagination you can create a delicious meal. Breakfast was very good, the breads are delicious, smoothies made to order. Ice creams are delicious. The coffee was great, easpecially the Spanish ones! The beach is gorgeous and wide with natural mangrove trees and Palm trees of course and Palapas haphazardly placed not like other resorts where you are all lined up in a row beside one another, towels were always available ($20 deposit) and just steps away from the bungalows (there are 4 in a block) all with a little patio. On arrival there was a bottle of rum and 2 Cokes and sandwiches in the fridge as well as a cigar! The water is fine to drink, plus we got 2 litres on arrival in our fridge. The swimming is safe. The pool is fine, no slides,. There were hardly any children. A day trip to Havana is recommended for $51 US. My sister (81) fell at the resort grounds and was attended to immediately by the staff doctor and nurse, we were impressed with the care. We didn't want to go home and will absolutely return next year for a longer stay. Many thanks to Wendy van Zandwyk from trip central for recommending this resort as well as Anne Marie (Air Transat rep) who was available for assistance every day at the resort