Quiet oasis

This was our 15th visit to Jibacoa, but our first since it became a Memories resort. There have been both positive and negative changes. The staff continues to be friendly and most eager to please. The beach area has been seriously affected by last fall's hurricane. Much of the natural shade is gone, and lots of debris is still on the beach. It will take quite some time to recover. There are now 3 a la carte restaurants on site. The food at the main buffet provides many choices for all me [... read more]als. The lunch and dinner entree offerings are not as appealing as they once were. If you are looking for a low key, quiet oasis in the country, away from the noise and crowds of Varadero, Memories Jibacoa is worth checking out.

A fantastic place to come back to....and we didn,t regret it

Well situated between La Havana and Varadero, Memories Jibacoa is a little paradise in between the mountains and the sea. Beautiful landscapes. A paradise for snorkeling as there is a coral reef accessible from the beach. We came back because we loved it the first time...The rooms are be beautiful and well equipped and so is the bathroom.with all kind of quality beauty products...Now the food....incredible there is always such a wide choice and enough cooks to make you exactly what you want. E [... read more]xcellent A la Carte restaurants - 3 are available. The staff was friendly and always willing to help. Good service and great activities. A wonderful place for a good rest. Also close enough to Havana to visit and learn the history of Cuba. The only thing that was a little disappointing but out of their control was the weather. Only a few days of sun but Mother Nature is in charge here and the whole east coast was affected. We would definitely go back when a good rest is needed.

Our sixth visit sums it up !

This resort is small in size, but big on everything else. We love the quiet and relaxing atmosphere. The staff is second to none. The beach has a coral reef with good snorkelling. The rooms are comfortable and very clean and the food is very good.

Great Experience. Very nice resort

On arrival I wondered if I had made a poor choice in resorts. The room was not at all fancy, and the beach area was partly rocky, and not like I see on some of the beaches in other resorts. The shower was not working when I arrived and the room safe was not usable. Having said that, the room was quite adequate for my needs, traveling alone, and the shower was repaired in quick response. The staff all through the resort were amazing, and there was always something happening for the entertainm [... read more]ent of the guests. There are several excursions to choose from off site, and they were very interesting for me. The food was excellent and abundant. All the common areas inside and outside on the resort were very clean and nicely kept. This was a very nice experience for me, and I enjoyed my vacation time very much.

"Bad Memories Jibacoa"

Very bad experience at this resort between Dec.3,2017 and Dec.10,2017. Right after arriving an the airport, the first bad impression at women washrooms: the janitor didn't`t let you use the facilities until you tipped her. Second:Beach area infested with Jelly fish ( Portuguese Man of War) and no awareness, no signs and no beach staff to prevent or give advise about first aid in case of bitten.If you are not close to the shore, there is no equipment ( sea doo, board or boat) to take you out o [... read more]f the water. Do your homework about jelly fish before going there( what to do in case got bitten: do not remove the jelly from your skin, pour vinegar in order to detach it from your skin and to avoid breaking the vesicles with toxins. Those toxins give you unbearable pain.Pour or immerse the affected area immediately in very warm water.Antihistaminic treatment is indicated. ) There is a medical office on the grounds, and one of the male nurse Joungedran,is very well trained and able to give you first aid. Medical consultation and treatment must be paid and patient is receiving a receipt. After informing the resort management about the Jelly fish awareness signs, they were posted on the same day. Manager excuse was : didn't have Jelly fish in the water in the last 3 years; they re-appeared "only in April 2017". And since April , nobody , no resort management and no travel agencies staff ,considered important to inform tourists/ make them aware about the risk of Jelly Fish? Another unpleasant situation, at dinning area : fresh meat and grill. On the ice, on display , were exposed slices of fresh pork, beef and chicken meat, but in reality , you received only small pieces of beef of 2/2/0.5 inches, no pork chops, and chicken only same size pieces with no meat , only bones. Majority of them were old, from previous meals and barely reheated on the grill.In seven days there , didn't see on the grill( or stew) a whole piece of chicken breast, drumstick or thigh, or pork chops. But I did see, on a daily basis, nice pieces of pork chops and chicken on the grill , that were taken by staff in the kitchen. Management staff informed, but the situation continued. So, instead of Memories Jibacoa, this resort should be named "Nightmares Jibacoa."

Great Resort

A very good, quiet, enclosed resort in an excellent location. Not stupid big or busy or crowded. Bring a snorkel and beach shoes and see the reef! Unlike Varadero the beach is only a few hundred yards long. Havana is only an hour away. Lots (or nothing if you choose) to do with an excellent staff.

Immaculate resort

Amazing resort. Great food. Very profesional and friendly staff. Immaculatly kept and manicured grounds. Beach is great. Not quite as nice a varadero beaches but great for snokling. the Zen Spa was amazing. Perfect resort for couples. Entertainment was fantastic. We are planning to come back soon.

Lovely resort

The room were spacious and clean and staff from the room maids, to the waitresses and bar staff to the managers were great can’t say enough good things Will definitely be going back soon met a lot of new people there

Tropical Paradise

Before booking my vacation to Cuba this year, I went through countless reviews of many hotels, but the one that stood out above and beyond the rest was Memories Jibacoa. Yes, there were a few negative, but valid comments, but what motivated me to book this hotel, were the number of repeat guests - vacationers have gone to MJ as many as 14 times - that says a lot ! So I decided to see for myself what all the hoopla was about and booked a week to MJ. From the moment I arrived I was impressed [... read more] - fast and very efficient check in, and a lovely gentleman took my baggage to my room - #2131, a gardenview, second floor. My room was spotless with a king bed and fluffy pillows, Beer, cola and 2 large bottles of water were in the fridge and also a Nespresso-like cappucino maker. The next morning I found that i was only one building away from the beach and towel exchange. A quick walk up to the main walkway was the reception/lobby area, with a tiered and covered outdoor eating area. The main dining area was to the right and stores and airline reps were in an area to the left of reception. I also must mention that the lobby and beach washrooms were immaculate - and always plenty of toilet paper :-) Since I gained 5 pounds on my trip, I have to say the food was quite good. Although I didn't see any tomatoes or lettuce, I was impressed with the huge bowels of fresh, perfectly ripened avocados. Although I've never been a fan of Cuban desserts, I was very pleasantly surprised by a creamy rice pudding, and a delicious panna cotta. The cakes and cookies were also very tasty, I ate at one of the specialty restaruants - and had a Cuban meal - it wasn't bad but I preferred to eat in the main dining room. There was also an Italian restaurant and another, which I can't recall the name. One of the reasons I chose MJ was the availability of snorkeling the reef which is just offshore. Although a bit cloudy on the day I went, I heard from other travellers that when the wind doesn't churn up the bottom it can be a spectacular, A group of us took the catamaran out and were dropped off at the reef along with Henry from the Dive Shop. He guided us along the reef and contstantly made sure I was ok. He was a great guide! The beach was very nice, however because it was close to the reef, entry into the water could be difficult if you didn't have water shoes - definitely a must if you go here. There was also a lot of seaweed which washed up every day, so I would say the beaches at Varadero were far superior.. There was never a problem getting a chaise on the beach as there were always plenty available, both in the sun and in the shade. Was nice not to have to rush out at the crack of dawn to claim your chair. The Beach Grill was very nice- hamburgers, hotdogs or fish and chips. The menu didn't change at all, but it was delicious - and right on the beach. One evening I took a horse and buggy up the road to a local lobster place - 15 CUC for a huge lobster dinner, sat with the locals and it was charming. There was usually a beach volleyball game everyday, but staff were never pushy about joining. The majority of my time was at the beach, but did go to the pool for a couple of hours one day, just for a change. I also booked a bus tour of Havana and dinner & show at the Tropicana. Our tour guide was very well informed and it was a pleasure to stroll around the old city of Havana with him. In the evening we had dinner at the Tropicana and then watched a fabulous show - very Las Vegas like but better because it was the Spanish version. Just loved it! And finally, I have to mention the incredible Cuban people who work at Memories Jibacoa: They are: Marcos & Roger at the Beach Grill & Bar Janet - my lovely maid who created beautiful towel scultures Marina - the Sun Wing Rep - who always made time for me Noesky - a great guy who made sure I was always topped up with my Pina Colada Ernesto - the lovely gentleman at the reception bar Kiki - whom I only met at the end of my vacation, but will catch you next time Ernesto! and finally, the lovely, kind and beautiful Olema, who sat with me until 4 in the morning with Marisol and the guy who said he was from Russia. Olema made sure our glasses were never empty. She is such a lovely lady and I'll remember her always. There were also many other staff, who went above and beyond every day, making sure that their guests were well cared for. The MJ is wonderful and I would definitely go again, but the STAFF - they really made my vacation complete. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE AT MEMORIES JIBACOA I

Perfect for couples and first-time visitors to Cuba

This is a great hotel, especially for those visiting Cuba for the first time as it is very close to Havana. It is also great for people looking to relax in a nice and friendly atmosphere. The hotel grounds are amazingly beautiful and very well maintained. The staff was extremely friendly and the service was great. The entertainment program was very impressive with live music, singers and dancers - loved it. The piano bar is also a must see, it also had great air-conditioning. The food choices [... read more] were rich and there were enough healthy options. We would definitely go back and recommend it to our friends.

Beautiful Setting Beautiful Beach

Grounds beautiful. Great layout of rooms and other facilities - quiet and private. Evening entertainment was very good. People friendly. Beach - plenty of room for lounging and tanning, even shaded areas. Beach bar and restaurant - good service. A la carte restaurants, good atmosphere and service. Room cleanliness (we had a recently renovated room) was very good, modern updated furnishings--chamber maid was thorough. Of note: main buffet restaurant is not air conditioned. We noticed a [... read more] lack of consistency in terms of standards for food handling and storage. Cold areas are not iced (salad/fruit/deli meats and cheese), the existing refrigeration is not sufficient. Cross contamination is a real issue/risk at this buffet. Staff picks at the food during service, which is off putting, when they should be working. Food options are very limited. Anyone with allergies should be wary of this resort. General store, souvenirs, and booking a la carte all handled very well by the staff in those areas. The Deli (snacks) was very inconsistent in terms of service/selection and availability. There is a notice on the windows in the shops area of the resort indicating a third party contractor is responsible, and not the hotel staff/management. Hotel owners/management should provide more oversight, as this has created negative experiences for the guests. We have travelled to Cuba many times, and to many other all inclusives, and this one ranked among the lowest in terms of food offerings. (even for Cuba)

Beautiful area amazing staff

We returned to this resort for the snorkelling and we were not disappointed. Still great to get to snorkel right off the beach and even on those windy days it was fun to just swim. However we noticed some changes from 3 years ago - just about everything was more wonderful! The food was really good- and not " just for Cuba"! The grounds were still beautiful and the staff really meant it when they asked what they could do for you. One off note was that though we were in a beautiful room, the bed [... read more]s were really old and uncomfortable. They really do need to replace at least half of the broken sunbeds on the beach as well. Lots if returning guests created a cosy friendly atmosphere.

Problems in Paradise

We arrived at the hotel at 5:30 in the morning, we had no help with luggage and we were on our own to find the room in darkness, we literally went around the entire resort and we were already exhausted. Finally found the building and our accommodations we booked were two twin beds only to find a king size bed? Considering we booked two months in advance..Absolutely, we were upset being were two friends sharing a room for the holiday. Immediately, contacted the front desk and said this isn't ac [... read more]ceptable but were told they didn't have any other accommodations so after a day they brought in another bed. Certainly, these situations are not conducive to starting ones holiday. I will say the Resort and location were exactly what we were looking for most part the service was exceptional. I'll say the most disappointing part was our travel i ternary having been without a room for 13 hours is something I would have paid extra for . our flight home meant we were up for 27 hours , I would suggest that be corrected if your flying out at 4:38 in the morning you need a room for the day to shower, rest. I would also suggest that the flight i ternary include the time being picked up for the returning flight as the front desk didn't help us and only found out the last day that there was a board with all this information that's my suggestion. What's lacking at this resort is Entertainment it basically shuts down after the live performances, which were fantastic. We personally loved our time in Paradise but we didn't appreciate starting our holiday off under the above mentioned circumstances.

Second Visit to this Wonderful Resort

This was our second visit to Memories Jibacoa and our 10th visit to Cuba. Such a cozy little resort, lots of improvements since last year and more to come in the near future. Our room was comfortable, water pressure was low in the room but it was adequate. The food was good, the staff and guests were all friendly. We were met with hugs and smiles and felt very welcome. The snorkeling is amazing and the piano bar is the best. Can't wait to return next year!

Memories Jibacoa

Lets just say my husband and I are planning on go back to this resort next year. The place was great. The food was good for Cuba. No line ups a the bars. The staff were amazing.. can't say enough about good things about this resort.

Amazing resort

This was our twelfth time at this resort we had a fabulous week.Great service as soon as you walk through the door .Thanks especially to KIKI and all the staff for your service will surely visit again.

Great relaxing resort

I found this resort to be the right atmosphere for middle age people, single or married. It is easy to see the same person daily, wherether a guest or staff. The staff are very freindly and eger to please. The grounds are well kept although maintenace on the exterior of buiding and walkways need minor maintenance work. The food was satisfying and plentiful, as goes for all of the beverages. The beach is well maintained, but swimming was limited due to the coral reef which is excelent for snork [... read more]eling.

Great resort

Didn't enjoy the excursions but we thought the resort was beautiful. Everything was clean and well kept. The scenery around the resort was amazing and beaches were beautiful. The staff were all very friendly and helpful!

Best vacation ever

Nice rooms, smiling employees, very good restaurants, great buffet, quiet place, amazing and outstanding reef with direct access from the beach. More different kind of ocean wild life than your eyes can see. So beautiful and colorfull. Snorkling at his best. We will return next year for sure.

Fourth time just as good as the first time.

My wife and I just finished a week at this Resort. We keep going back because the staff is wonderful. On this visit, it was by far the best buffet we've ever had. There were actually several meals that we would recommend. And because the resort is not overly large, we did not feel there were guests crawling on top of guests.. There was always room at the restaurants and on the beach. Highly recommended.