Brisas Guardalavaca: Disappointed

Based on my good memories of the Brisas when I first visited 10 years ago, I returned this past June. Wow, what a disappointment. I had a nice vacation because I pushed past the irritations and enjoyed what I came for: the beach. But even that was reedy; there are beaches in Cuba far nicer, and resorts far better, than this. Something happened in these 10 years. The Brisas of my memory was a beautiful, peaceful, gracious international resort. This was a noisy, crowded local hotel - pe [... read more]rhaps because it is on the edge of town. Families came in groups of three or four up to a dozen or more, filling the pools with inflatable unicorns the size of tugboats; emptying entire trays of food in the buffet; packing the elevators to capacity; playing duelling boomboxes along the beach. Lineups were deceiving. That one person ahead of you in line for churros would walk away with six or eight plates-full. Otherwise: Food: Pretty ok. You shouldn't go hungry, but you can do better. Room: The initial room was right over the kitchen, which emitted a constant, high-pitched hum. Separated from the adjoining room by a thin door, there was no sound barrier, no privacy. It was at the end of a long hallway where the lights were out so that it was pitch dark at night. The TV offered just a few blurry channels. After complaining, was moved to a self-contained room (not adjoining) with full TV reception (why would service vary between rooms?) Service: OK; a bit grumpy. A/C: Working well enough, though you cannot control. Value: Things that used to be free are now sold. It costs $20 CAN for a room safe. Bottled water is sold, not stocked (except for an initial bottle.) Watch every business transaction carefully, particularly with hotel charges. They'll quote you a fee and then, when you count your change and find it short, they'll tell you the fee they quoted was an approximation; the actual fee was higher. This happened a few times. Be diligent when exchanging your $$ too. Upkeep: Wow, is this place dirty. Lounge chairs are covered in bird droppings - check before you sit down. Garbage is everywhere. The beach is littered with plastic cups, straws and beer cans - in the sand, floating in the water, even in the pools. This place has security guards posted every few yards throughout the property (which begs the question: is there a security problem, or would there be without them?) I can't help but think they might better allocate some of those resources to scrubbing the chairs. It pains me to have to write a negative review. But, since I first visited Cuba 10 years ago, I have been to resorts far superior to this. In Holguin alone there are some spectacular places in the same price range.

Brisas Guardalavaca: The good and the bad

We were satisfied with the room , but not with the food and with the buffet restaurant. The resort had more Cuban tourists than usual , and some of them made this place worse: they were not waiting in line, they were littering the place and the beach, they were very noisy

Brisas Guardalavaca: My second home

Brisas Was my second time there i am in love all over again. The people are amazing. The grounds are perfectly manicured. I sat on my balcony and watched the gardeners trimming the bushes. That was the first time seeing that and the tools they use. Nothing like here in Canada. I loved the beach omg was beautiful. Laid on the beach chair and listen to the ocean was so peaceful. The room i was in was 407 was comfotable but i dont spend much time on it. Everything was perfect. I highly recommend  [... read more]brisas . I go the food was awesome. There will always be people to complain about everything but i do say if your going with high expectations stay home.

Brisas Guardalavaca: Exceeded expectations!

This is our fourth time at the resort, and we thought it was about time we expressed our appreciation for the resort in a review, because this last time was the best of all. The lobby renovations were a major improvement, and most of all the abundance of fresh fruit and delicious food from the previous times. The staff were all impeccable, the grounds clean and the overall environment felt very amiable. If we had to nitpick, the only complaint were the loud groups of locals that came to the reso [... read more]rt on weekends, which became a slight disturbance to the point of relocation. However, above all the resort is beautiful and highly recommended. Will be coming here again.

Brisas Guardalavaca: is a very good Resort

always we had a good time only this time we see something no good too many local people,that they don"t care for the tourist.are not clean they jump in the pool with there clothes .without taking a shower. Women through there Nupking in the ocean.Waiting a Big line to get in the Restaurant to eat,it was our 13'th Time in this Hotel,Thank you Archie&Emily?

Brisas Guardalavaca: Back for another year!

Return visit to Brisas. Loved every minute! Give wonderful special attention to returning guests. Lovely lunch and tree planting ceremony in our honour. Stayed in the Villa section again. Highly recommend. Nice and quiet. Seafood and Cuban restaurants were even better than last year. Go see Luis at the dive centre! 10 cuc to get the catamaran out to the reef for wonderful snorkeling. Saw barracuda and a school of squid just to name a couple. Very clear water.

Brisas Guardalavaca: Beautiful resort!!

There was no shortage of food at the resort. Go to the buffet and see Miguel to get fresh omelettes! The resort was well kept. We stayed in the villas and had a wonderful time. The staff was very friendly! Thank you Brisas for a great time!

Brisas Guardalavaca: Fantastic people and place

This is one of my favorite resorts in the area because of the people and the area which is close to the beach and walking distance to everything you need including restaurants, pools , shopping. The hotel part is for people who want a little more noise and fun and if you want a little more peace and quite, then the villa area pool or beach is the place for you ... many places to eat and many bars to choose from. It is not a 5 star , but, the people make up for that. It has clean rooms and grou [... read more]nds and I love the beach. I have been going there for many years and will continue to go for many more ..

Brisas Guardalavaca: Very Nice Resort Close to the Beach

This was my first time to this resort although I've been to Cuba many times. We stayed on the first floor of the hotel very close to the buffet and main pool. We really enjoyed the quiet pool. Beach is very close to the hotel. Buffet food is what you'd expect in Cuba but there is always something to be found to keep you full, especially the pasta and pizzas.

Brisas Santa Lucia: Amazing food

I recently stayed at this resort and I was pleasantly surprised that the food was excellent. The hotel staff was friendly and helpful. The rooms were spacious and clean. I only had to ask for an extra pillow and it was provided at no extra cost. I would definitely go to this resort again.

Brisas Guardalavaca: Accommodating Resort- Good Value

This is our 6th time vacationing at this resort. Staff are very friendly, accommodating and go out of their way to please. The rooms are a little dated which is to be expected, since it is an older resort. We vacationed recently for 2 weeks, and experienced some difficulties residing on the 3rd floor in the Villa section. The heat and humidity combined with age and health concerns created some difficulties for us. Management could not be more accommodating relocating us to a first floor, when w [... read more]e expressed our concern. Pools and beach areas are beautiful, with ongoing entertainment. Food was very good, and Al-a-cartes quite exceptional! We both enjoy vacationing at this resort, and have met many “returnees” which speaks for itself. Friends of ours are to be married at this resort next year on our recommendations. Says it all, we will be returning!!

Brisas Guardalavaca: problems with check in

Once we were at the hotel everything was fine. However, the check in process took over an hour in the middle of the night when everyone was tired after a long trip. There was only one woman at the counter doing her best to see to a busload of travelers. They know when the flights are arriving, so why not have more staff ready to check people in.

Brisas Guardalavaca: Had a great time!

Just returned a couple of days ago. We had a great time. The resort is a good size, with lots to do. The room was very clean, the food was good and the staff were amazing. There were always activities around the hotel pool but also quiet areas as well. The beach was awesome. Looking forward to returning to Brisas.

Brisas Guardalavaca: A wonderful getaway week.

Many improvements from 9 or 10 years ago when we were last here. The quality of the food has improved drastically. We had a really terrific week but I have 3 complaints. 1. The constant high volume noise of the staff trying to get activities going and especially the thumping music being played at a much too high volume, especially the bass and drums. There was not enough peaceful relaxing time because of this. And especially the painfully loud thumping racket on the "Disco on the Beach" e [... read more]vening...it went on until 1:00 am....impossible to sleep or even relax. 2. All the bars in the hotel were out of mint for the whole week we were there. What is a Cuban vacation without proper Mojitos???? I even went to a farm near Holguin and bought a huge bag full of mint for only 2 CUCs which we used copiously and then gave the mint to the downstairs bar for the use of the hotel. Surely if a foreigner from Canada can find mint in Cuba, the hotel certainly ought to be able to acquire some itself. 3. A very uncomfortable ending to our lovely holiday occurred when we were not given a courtesy room to change and shower after our final day on the beach and in the pool. We ended up changing in a stairwell that the staff used as we needed to get on the bus but we still had sand and chlorine on us for the entire journey home. All of these things could be easily rectified.

Brisas Santa Lucia: Local tourist destination

I guess it was a bad time of year for flys breeding. First day was intolerable had to stay indoors not before 25 bites. Following that every morning and evening there were tiny mats or mosquitoes. You had to stay covered in bug repellent. The sun was wonderful every day hot and intense. However only one day out of the week they cleaned the seaweed witch was 1 foot deep and 5 feet wide. The restaurant should learn to change the tablecloth after each meal. Often they were dirty. The buffet was me [... read more]diocre at best. Usually you could find something to satisfy your appetite. My sliding doors in my room to the balcony were jammed. Not functional. They also had a a 2 inch gap at the top witch allowed mosquitoes in my room also my phone didn’t work all week. I was there mainly for the sun and ocean and they were both wonderful.

Brisas Sierra Mar: great value for the money

good food ,good entertainment, great staff from the managers to the cleaning staff. beautiful scenery. great for a reasonable price get way, you could spend more money but it has everything you need sun, sand, good food and great staff.

Brisas Guardalavaca: Amazing

I loved everything about this resort!!!! The location was stunning, the beach was beautiful, the pools were fantastic and the food was soooo good!!!! If you want a great place to stay where you feel welcomed and spoiled than this is the place to go!!!! Lots of food choices and so many different bars to experience!!! Do not hesitate....Book now!!!

Brisas Guardalavaca: Enjoyable but Some Issues

This was our 5th time here. We love the location, staff are great, grounds are lovely and well maintained,ground level room was convenient, comfortable and the shaded patio was lovely. We had a wonderful housekeeper, Evia . However,the food and beverages were not up to the standard of past visits. No pizza after 2 days ,no pork though it was on the menus,no coffee liquor, beer appeared weak,soups were not as good as in the past. We were disappointed in our meals. Lots of bars ,places to eat  [... read more]and nice walks to be taken . Beach was great. We enjoyed the little Trolley tour from the hotel into the countryside. The wonderful staff make the hotel feel welcoming . It would be nice if the return trip was not as tiring with 3 plane loads of tourists arriving at the same time to depart for home . The waiting in line is exhausting and we felt the Air Transat agent for our line was very unfriendly and not helpful at all. There were problems with some passengers documents and he took forever to,sort them out with nary a smile or acknowledgement of the people he was serving .

Brisas Guardalavaca: Not happy, not a complainer....however

Third time visitor at this hotel, 10th time in Cuba and i have to say this was the worst. Get to our villa and right off the top we smell sewer, the toilet is plugged, air conditioner not working and neither is the fridge. 1 bottle of water in a musty fridge that was warm. Toilet was fixed but no attempt whatsoever to repair fridge or air conditioner. Requested a move, took us to a room that smelled like it had been closed up for somerime. My throat and chest instantly closed up. I even tried sp [... read more]raying a scent to mask it....nope back to front desk where they proceeded to say no rooms left. So back to original room as at least i could breath in it and there was no white fuzz on the walls from dampness or flooding. I found an unusual amount of the staff miserable and not very helpful. Maid wouldnt replace water, we now had to pay for water once first bottle was done. Or get refills at bar, of which did not taste good. I specifically look forwaard to the coffee in Cuba and couldnt get a decent one until the last day. Not sure why Ive never had problems in past. Wont be going back to Brisas.

Brisas Guardalavaca: Amazingly/Friendly resort

Superb .Staff always upbeat and work very hard to make your stay memorable.Front desk staff are friendly and helpful and bank is conveniently located in lobby.Entertainment is excellent for adults and kids.Already planning next visit.