Absolutely my perfect and preferred little escape, my first trip was 2005 and I’ve been there many of times and it’s now 2021 and my feelings is still very much the same, I love the fabulousness of friendship build through out the many years and very special with friendliness , future plans I am extremely excited to book another visit ❤️❤️❤️

We arrived at the Holguin airport and were promptly escorted to a mini van where two other people were waiting. The two hour bumpy ride was ok for me, but my poor husband who has a bad back was white and in pain on arrival. I rushed to the lobby and was told that our ocean view upper level room was not yet ready. We left our luggage and waited by the pool for two hours for our room. The view from the room was delightful. It was less than a hundred feet to the ocean.....and I have to say, that, is really special. It's an older resort with large spacious rooms. The cleaning staff were always making sure that everything was pristeen. They all go over and above, so it's important to leave a small tip for every service. They really appreciate it so much. In the morning we had a double espresso at the pool bar...they gave us sugar cane to stir our coffee with....an extra delight. For breakfast, and all meals, they greet you at the door and table service is friendly and efficient. It's obvious that Cuba is in an economic crisis. There were shortages. If certain things were not available...they made do. I was never hungry. There were always options. The only fruits available were papaya, little bananas, and watermelon. They often had pork, chicken, and shrimp on the grill. Sunday, there was roast beef which many really enjoyed. The animation crew were very talented and upbeat...The microphone was turned up way too loud, so the older crowd would drift to the other end of the resort to avoid the noise. The bartenders were all very friendly and accommodating whether or not they received a tip. Yandi at the beach, was delightfully witty. The best pina coladas and mojitos on the planet!!! His little hut was right on the beach next to the volleyball courts. Unfortunately it was too windy to play vball most days. They have a gorgeous tennis court, but no racquets or balls, so bring your own...Also a basketball net, but no ball. Table tennis...no balls, and too windy to play. All in all, what we wanted was sun, surf and sand. We got more than we expected, since the price was very low. If you want luxury, this is not the resort for you. If you want a beautiful beach for long walks, and no crowds, with very kind and capable staff, then this is the place for you. I would recommend this resort for diving and snorkelling as well. The water was the most amazing turquoise blue and very refreshing. The pool water was not the cleanest, as they had some mechanical troubles....but I would never go into a pool, when the ocean is right there. It's very obvious at this resort that the country is in crisis, but the people are upbeat, and making the best of it. No one is starving, but because they have information (internet) about the rest of the world, they are beginning to feel the twang of deprivation.

BRISAS COVARUBBIAS Feb 5 - 15, 2020 We had a very good flight down with Air Transat but waiting for our luggage was painful. Since we were the only ones going to this resort, it was lovely to have a nice private taxi. Driver was great and his English was pretty good. It was definitely a long, bumpy ride but when we got to the resort, all was forgotten. Check in was done quickly and we were soon in our in fast time. The room is very spacious with a king size bed, long dresser, a little table with two chairs and a loveseat ! Really quite lovely. The view from our balcony was spectacular and mere steps to the beach. Bathroom was ok but could use some cleaner caulking in some areas which was a little gross but clean nonetheless. The maids kept our room very clean. Only two smallish towels were provided but I assume we could have asked for more but didn't. Some towels really need to be replaced as they were heavily stained and at times we were reluctant to use them even though they were clean. The beach stretches out on either side which makes for great walking in the morning. It is a stunning beach with beautiful powdery white sand. The water was shallow enough to just bob around in. It seemed like they could use more loungers on the beach as people spent time walking around looking for a few. Sadly we joined in on the towel game and got our loungers early in the morning. We didn't use the pool simply because we are beach lovers. At times though walking by the pool, we noticed is was quite murky and wouldn't have gone in anyways. They were constantly cleaning it but I wonder if they are lacking the material needed to "shock" the water. The buffet food was pretty good ! Was always hot and they replenished the trays often. Great selection of cheeses, fruit, breads and more. The grilling station was fantastic. We enjoyed pork, fresh fish, shrimp kabobs and even a rack of lamb - all very delicious. Staff were wonderful and we didn't have to wait long to get a drink as the dining room was never really full....until Valentine's Day. They work so hard but always had a smile as they went along serving guests. Another reviewer stated no a la cartes. Well yes there sure is. We enjoyed two dinners here and very good. It's a nice change from the buffet. The lobster however left little to be desired as it was either undercooked or just bad. Was mushy and we couldn't eat it. Steak was tasty. The beach snack bar also served great food. Hamburgers were always cooked well. Pizza was great. Once again, service fantastic ! It was frustrating however to be in line waiting for your order and a local would come right up and be given large quantities of hamburgers while we had to wait for another batch to be cooked. I think education for staff is the key. They really need to be told to have these people stand in line & wait their turn. Was a very frustrating experience. Getting a drink at the bar was difficult.....one would have the bartender continually pouring cups of beer...10 sometimes 20. The dining room was actually very appalling in that for the first time we witnessed, hoards of food being put into bags and taken out. Same with the beach snack bar. We just shook our heads with this behaviour and waited...and waited longer. Thankfully it was only two days of this behaviour. First few days the mosquitoes/no seeums were out in full force. Had a few bites but nothing like some tourists got. After that, they did fog a few times and made a big difference. We didn't use spray after that. I think we're just lucky ones that bugs don't go after. We really didn't notice much in the way of shortages. The store at times didn't have Cristal beer. There were a few times that ice wasn't available but that was only for a short time. The resort seemed to have had everything that most would expect at mealtimes. For wine lovers, it was so-so. White wine was just ok and the red was quite nice. They did run out of french fries at the beach snack bar and the pizza, they only had once. The staff were second to none and wonderful. Once again, we met some amazing people....tourists & staff alike. We would certainly like to return but will rethink the time frame. Valentine's is not the time to come. The locals came in droves and pretty much took over the resort which would be fine as they are obviously happy to be on vacation like all of us ... but. This butting in line - taking huge amounts of food - ordering many, many beer at one time while we've been standing there for awhile isn't something we would like to witness again. We had a great time in spite of these happenings. The guests we met and the staff that endured Pat's sense of humour will always be in our hearts. The sun shone...the water was warm, beer was cold....that's what vacation is all about. Pat & Diane North Bay, Ont.

I've been going to Cuba for years and I've stayed at resorts rated from two to five star. The beach is this resort's best asset. The minimum two hour ride to the resort is rough, the roads are in terrible condition. The resort is rundown and neglected and left just too much to be desired. The staff are friendly and they do the best they can with what little they have to do it with. I could not get in the pool even once as it just did not look clean. I brought chemical test strips to test the water and so it confirmed the pool wasn't being treated. I would not recommend this place to anyone.

This is my second time at this resort, this time we brought our kids along for the ride. It is a long 2 hour bus drive from the airport, as adults we didn't mind the ride as it gives you a good scenic view of Cuba. Our last visit was 3 years ago and the resort seemed to have a little more entertainment my first time around. We paid for 2 ocean view rooms and were first placed on a bottom floor room. After speaking with the staff we did get one room moved to a second floor which was much nicer, best view you could hope for! Staff is very friendly and accommodating, if you are a returning guest they love to see familiar faces. The mosquitos and noseeums after dusk were horrendous, so unfortunately we did come home with some unwanted bites on us. You could not ask for a nicer beach! We spent most mornings and afternoons here. They have a beach bar where they serve burgers and fries which was awesome for our teenagers! The pool was mostly good except for our last day, it was cloudy and needing a good cleaning. We were pleased with the buffet on most nights as well. Overall, we enjoyed our visit at this small family friendly resort and will definitely return.

The resort is small and family oriented. Friendly staff. Paid for ocean view room and was put on bottom floor, so could have been better room. The beach was superb, however the bugs after dusk were awful. Food and drinks were plentiful. Bus ride from airport is long but you get to see a little bit of Cuba along the way. My third time visiting this resort, would definitely go here again.

The resort is perfect for relaxing either on the beach or pool side! It wasn't crowded and noisy. The only problem I had was I couldn't exchange money as the resort had no money to exchange. The food was good, nice variety of dishes. Staff was very friendly and helpful.

Average food, too far from hustle and bustle, lot of tiny mosquitoes bite all your body everywhere in beach area and open area in hotal. Staff is good, rooms are good and spacious , cleaning staff is good

The beach and the people in the resort are amazing The food was fine and plenty of sunshine clear ocean and beautiful white sand. The room was clean and big with an ocean view that was out of this world

Very quiet and not too many people good service it’s very near to airport very good food pool is very clean room service is good very clean room bus service from airport to hotel is very good and very fast service

I paid 1,000 Canadian for 1 week and it was worth every penny. The staff were always friendly and helpful. The hotel is startimg to show it's age but everything was always clean, neat and tidy. The beach is amazing. If you like a bloody mary Julio makes an amazing one. I enjoyed seeing the Cuban families especially the children who where guests at the resort. They were always friendly and polite. The only down side is the distance from the airport to the resort over 2 hours.

Just returned from Brisas Covarrubias after enjoying 2 wonderful weeks(22 February- 8 March). The flight down with Sunwing was great and on time. We were very happy with transfer from Holguin airport to the Brisas Covarrubias. Check in was smooth and got into the block we had requested by email. The resort was clean and the grounds we're well kept. The food in the buffet was very good and our servers ( Raquel & Ricardo ) were the best. The beach was incredible and once again clean. Snorkeling was just great as well. Kendry at the Nautica center was great and passed on great information about the area. Nunia, Raymond, and Xiamarra at reception were in St so helpful during our stay answered all our questions and requests. Julio and Horacio at the pool bar we're great and Louisa at the Lobby Bar made incredible Spanish coffees. Isela the towel Girl was very helpful and looked after our needs. Yane and Maria our house keepers were extremely thorough and had our room done before lunch every day. My wife and I are totally pleased with our stay at Brisas Covarrubias and plan to return next year.

The hotel was fine. The room was large and lovely and so was the washroom. Unfortunately, having warm water for a shower was rare. The surroundings were very nice and were kept clean. The beach area needed raking. The pool area was amazing! The food was quite good as far as taste and variety. There was no entertainment at night maybe it was because of there was a lack of tourists. This could be because of the large amount of mosquitos and/ or of the large groups of Cubans vacationing at the hotel I noticed that there were many large areas of still waters around the buildings. The 2-storey buildings were built on stilts and after a rainfall the water remains underneath ( a perfect place for mosquitos to breed ! ) The people working at the resort were very pleasant and friendly. The hotel did not provide a bottle of water for our room every day. We had to fill our bottle everyday at the bar. We also had to pay 2 pesos/day for 2 weeks for the use of the safety box in our room. We have decided that we will not be vacationing there again .

We booked thru trip central with hola sun. When we arrived they said they didn’t have a reservation for us so put us in a very poorly kept room. No safe could be used, shower work sporadically. We had to complain numerous times in order to be moved. The staff was not very friendly and the mosquitoes were plentiful. The resort is very isolated and thus there were not a lot of excursions.

The beach was wonderful! The mosquitoes terrible. The housekeeping staff was awe full. We had no clean towels for 3 of the 7 days. The first room we were in didn’t have a safe or a working shower we had to complain 3 times before they gave us a better room. When we got to the resort we were told they didn’t have a reservation for us. All in all this resort was disappointing

Whole resort is very well located and organized.Has nice garden and swimming pool.Very nice lobby/reception with near by bar. El Dorado restaurant with its crew are amazing(very clean and caring for guests,tasty food and good selection). Hotel room well cleaned and airconditined. Nice sand beach and entering into water very good.Very friendly and fast service personnel(at the bars,reception,store,beach rental equipment or/and beach towels exchange).

Best dollar value in the Caribbean!!!! Almost impossible to beat the staff and the beach. I’ve been 14 times and consider many of the staff friends. I plan to visit again in March and again in November.

The resort it self ,not the same as a couple years ago.Many Canadian's are not returning . In January we only had 50-60 tourists . Last year the same time, it was full. Insane amount of mosquito's sand fly's made our stay uncomfortable.There is no money to take care of the issue. The food quality , choice's compare to last year were bad. No fruits on the first week period.They must to change the Chefs there as well. Disko is permanently out of service. Cleaning ,worse then last year ,I felt the cleaning ladies only did they job ,if you left something on the bed. Safte is not as good . Some times both side of the resort are many locals walking on the beach .They also leave a lots of garbage The beach is still beautiful, just don't walk out of the resort. Hot water we only had on the last day.

Very miserable we had to bag for an extra shampoo or a towel very remote place Anti sanitary food Long waits to get into lunch room Not willing to go there again....................................!!!!!!!!

Beach is beautiful. Resort it self is getting older,if you are looking for no issue place,this is not for you.food is very simple ,almost no fruit or salad this time. Clean but many broken areas ,very old chairs on the beach definitely not enough .for younger generation nothing to do. Entertainment is very much repeating it self in a couple days. People are nice friendly helpful. Before you are choosing this place ,prepare yourself ,if is no sunny days ,you will not like it.

Brisas Covarrubias is one of the best dollar valued resorts in the Caribbean. The staff is amazing and very helpful. The beach is one of the best I’ve ever seen. I’ve been 12 times and will return again soon.

This is the first time I visit this place,it seem it is good when I read the review online before I visit. after a week stay,I could not say I will come again if it is the same type staff. I think: the location is very special,if you like wild natural(including the Sand/fish/bird/plant/earth..),it is real amazing. the hotel building is amazing,special. but the staff' attitude is very complicated,some is very welcome the guest,some is very keep distance the guest,maybe they are tired. the Sunwing staff(Cuba) is good. There is still many Cuba people stay in hotel in this time,you can watch the real Cuba people life style and listen there music all the week. The driver who send us to Airport is very good,it is more than 2 hours mountain road,I am very motion sickness,his drive was perfect,the view outside is amazing.

It was good but in returns i lost my staff from baggage some one stolen but i don't know who is reponsable for that is tow time i went to cuba some things happen only for me and the hotel is was far from city

Hotel and grounds - lovely areas and gardens Spacious and beautiful buffet restaurant - best food variety I have seen on my 10 years of going to Cuba Rooms - spacious, and any issues were resolved. Day activities by animation staff were minimal, despite a full listing on display at the hotel (which is often the case, you must ask the person on duty if something will take place that day, and then they will do it). Nightly entertainment was mostly music, no variety and minimal effort made. The disco on the beach (beautiful building) was only open once during the week. Watersports - the catamaran did not go out all days, only 1 pedal boat and I did not see any kayaks. Beach bar and building very nice, you could have lunch there, but it closed at 4 pm. The biggest inconvenience were the mosquitoes (though this improved on fumigation) and the invisible biting flies. Repellent needed anytime you leave the room, especially on the lower legs. Overall a very nice stay and I would return.

The beach was amazing and the Cuban workers were the redeeming factor in this resort. This was my 5 Th time in Cuba and I never had to pay to have my room water or pop replaced. This resort offered it as a VIP room service. To be billed to your room. The weather was as expected for May. Our other reason for not going back is because they crank the music up so loud we had to leave the bar 3 nights. On the weekend they stopped translating the shows, so we had a hard time keeping up and enjoying the shows. There were no international drinks offered. Not even the expensive few bottles they had were worth it. We both got sick and lost a few days. The resort kindly comped us the 25CUC late fee to keep our room. Other guest said they got the same offer because there wouldn't be any guest coming in for a few days. This is a stay on the beach kind of resort. It's a 3 star at best. For a Brisas I was expecting better. For another $150 we could have gone to Oceans de la Mar which is a 4.5 star, in Cayo Santa Marie.

Be warned... This was my 6th trip to Cuba, visiting Varadero, Cayo Coco and Holguin. I have always loved Cuba and found the Cuban people to be so friendly and welcoming, on and off the resort. This trip was like nothing I have ever experienced. We had the misfortune of arriving on Friday afternoon (after the Cuban School Break) and what followed was 2 days of the worst customer service I have ever seen. After checking in around 2:30 and being told to come back at 3pm (usual time) to get our room key we still waited 'in line' for 2 hrs, while local families butted in line, over and over, and hotel staff refused to make eye contact with us while giving out room after room to everyone else. If you couldn't speak Spanish or had money in your hand you were ignored. It was unbelievable treatment, both from other guests and staff and even witnessed a full blown argument (in Spanish) between a staff member and guest....awkward to say the least. Now, don't get me wrong, I have no problem waiting my turn, but I do have a problem with staff allowing this treatment from other guests to happen. How hard is it to form a line? Finally after all the local guests had been waited on we were finally given our room key, given no directions, no information on the resort...nothing. The next 2 days (weekend) was like living in a twilight zone. We continued to be ignored in every line up for food or drinks. We gave up even thinking about going near the pool as it was filled with fully clothed people and garbage...yes, in the pool! Garbage was all over the grounds as people just left all the plastic cups, plates and leftover food to blow in the wind. It felt like the staff just throw their hands in the air and gave up....can't blame them I guess, it was a losing battle. And then Monday came...all of a sudden it felt like a completely different resort. The staff were professional and kind. The mood had completely shifted. Honestly it was the weirdest experience...all I can say is, thank God it got better. On a positive note, the beach and ocean were the best I have ever seen...absolutely beautiful! The food was good, not a lot of variety but it is a small resort, and once the craziness of the weekend was over you didn't have to fight for it. Our start was very disappointing but once Monday came we made the most of the rest of our vacation. Thank you to the friends we met and bonded with...you made our week! Next vacation I will pick somewhere else.

The beach and weather was wonderful... the rooms and food terrible Only 1 restaurants A la Carte always book when it was open... pool never cleaned... gym equipment all rusted out Was very disappointed with this resort

It was our fourth time in Covarrubias. Stunning beach, warm turquoise water and lovely people; our Cuban family. Hoping to go back again in few months. Spacious rooms. Great specialty drinks bar. Love this hidden gem Haste pronto Cova❤

Just had a week stay at Las Brisas Covarrubias. Beautiful resort with a beautiful beach. Although the customer service at times was quite poor. We booked 2 ocean view rooms - first was put into a room facing opposite of the ocean, with a horrible drooping ceiling that was leaking leaving our whole bathroom soaked. Went to the front desk to request a room that at least wasn't wet.. and also explained that we paid for ocean view.. was met with rudeness and told to go back to our room. I refused and they gave us a much nicer room on the above level. I wouldn't call it ocean view but it was better. Our friends whom we booked with were put into a room across the resort.. was not allowed to switch rooms. Buffet food was not good. Bar food was a lot better. Would not recommend if you want to see Cuban life or anything outside the resort since it was very far from everything. Also you cannot book excursions with the other close resorts, because of the far distance. Other than that it was a great time. Very hard to book a massage, or any excursion on the boats. Make sure you are firm with them if they refuse your wishes. Although most stores or the currency exchange said they were open at noon, many of them would take their lunch breaks and would be quite rude if you asked for their time for a moment. Ups and downs.

Brisas Covarrubias is a small resort located in the country side about a 2 1/2 hour bus ride from Holguin Airport. The bus ride was very interesting as the road winds through many small communities and beautiful countryside. This enabled our 12 year old granddaughter to see the real Cuba with its bicycles, horse& cart transportation , school children in uniform walking to schools that on the outside do not look anything like our modern school buildings and stalls along the road side selling fruits, vegetables, fresh meat hanging from hooks , no supermarkets in these communities. Brisas Covarrubias has a beautiful beach with shallow water and always seems to have a breeze to keep you from baking in the sun. There were always 3 lifeguards on the beach when we were there. I must say they were the most attentive lifeguards that I have seen in all of our vacations in Cuba.The pool is also nice with a shallow end and a deep end. We thought the food was good for a small resort. Ice cream was always available. Not a lot of variety for vegetables but they always had potatoes and pasta. The fresh bread was delicious and always available. The International a la carte was very good. Activites for our grandaughter was bingo each day at 4 pm. This was well attended and enjoyed by all. Entertainment each night was Cuban music and singing beginning at 9:30 pm which most nights was too late for us. We enjoyed our week here. This is a quiet relaxing resort away from all the stresses of life. We came here to enjoy quality time with our grandaughter and to be away from all the distractions of life and this was achieved.

Good amenities, great staff! Although our room was a little dated, it was clean, a good choice of food (buffet, grill, a la carte), nice beach and pool....nightly entertainment if you want to take part! Note: 2 hour drive from airport and over an hour from closest city

2hr drive from airport so don't be surprised. Food was sufficient, all of my favorites fish and fruit. Staff are like one big family, very nice. Beach wow. Shallow for a bit but crystal clear. You can find imperfections if you look. But I got just what the doctor ordered.

The good points. The staff are very pleasant and friendly, the beach is very nice white sand, the ocean a wonderful turquoise blue, drinks are not watered down, the resort is well laid out and the gardens are groomed daily. The a la carte restaurant food was quite good considering. The bad points. Too many mosquitoes and sand flies especially at night time, hard to watch the nightly entertainment due to this problem. The resort is 2 ½ hours from the airport. Resort trips are very limited due to the distances involved. Las Tunas the closest town is very polluted and many of the people were very drunk. Food is basic and usually cold. The rooms are OK but the mattresses are old and very uncomfortable. Only 1 a la carte. The so called tour guide from the airport was interested in talking to his girlfriend than telling us anything about the history of the area, and still expected a tip. Most of the washrooms were not clean and toilets often full of non-flushed feces. Cubans were coming in for the day, they were loud and very obnoxious, crowding the long-time vacations so they had no other recourse than to move. We were delayed at the airport in Holguin for approximately 6 hours, we got no explanation, there was no rep to be found, all we got was a 10CUC voucher for a stale ham and cheese and soggy fries and a soft drink. I will think twice before booking with Sunwing again, they are batting 0% for 3 trips so far with me.

The resort is a smaller, less busy, very relaxing resort. Being older adults we appreciated the quiet, less crowded and noisy resort. The beach and ocean views from the oceanview rooms are the best we've ever experienced. The buffet offers freshly grilled meats every night as well as an omelet bar (breakfast) and spaghetti bar (lunch/supper) which were nice options. The racheron day grill had great fries, as well as hamburgers/hotdogs, and pizzas. We found if we arrived before 12 noon that we could avoid the overcrowding, especially with the locals. At times the locals seemed to be a bit overbearing with bringing their own music to the pool or not waiting their turn in a food line.The 5 bar options were very enjoyable. The wine at the Rancheron-beach bar/restaurant had the best, whereas I'd recommend only ordering the white at the buffet, if wine is your beverage of choice. Take time to book your a la carte restaurant dinner. The public relations staff is only there until 11:30 am and she is in and out during that time, so take time to wait. The dinner and entertainment is fabulous. We had a seafood meal, which they rotate with two other types of dinners: American & Cuban, throughout the week. The mosquitoes weren't bad but they were there a couple days. Just bring your bug spray and bite ointment, just in case. Although the drive was 1.75 hrs, you certainly gained an in-site to the communities and life of the cuban people. Having an English speaking driver/guide would have made the drive a very educational excursion. The staff was very friendly. I found there were quite a few return couples and young families due to their relaxing, less stressful atmosphere. The resort really took time to show appreciation to their guests, especially their return guests with a special a la carte dinner and other perks, which we hope to enjoy with our next visit.

The staff is the best that there is anywhere. They just couldnt do enough for you. Very courteous and friendly. The hotel is in a quiet location and it is small enough that you will meet almost everyone. I've been 8 times and planning another visit soon

Relanxing family vacation. Staff at the resort are happy and very friendly and helpful. Beach is beautiful. It is a small resort and not in the city which make it perfect to rest and relax. My kids loved the shows and games. Food and drinks are good as well.

OK, just got back from a week (March Break Week so one of their busiest weeks) at this resort; flying from Montreal with Cubana on a Hola Sun package: Cubana Air – fast check-in at Doravl airport, as opposed to the huge lineup at the Air Transat counter; the 737 was pretty new and had more leg room than other economy charters. The return fligt was an A320, and again spaciously configured. Small sandwiches were served on both flights and they were fairly good by airline standards. Arrival at Holguin and processing through passport control was quick, less than 30 minutes; unlike busier airports such as Veradero. Bus ride to the resort was 2 hrs 10 minutes in a modern, air conditioned coach. Along the way, you get interesting views of different towns with small concrete houses to small wooden houses and the concrete apartment blocks from the Soviet era. There were glimpses of many farms from home gardens to large sugar cane plantations, beef feed lots to banana plantaions. On the roads, modern buses, trucks, motorcycles, American cars from the 50s with adapted engines and chasis were mixed-in with tractors, ox carts, horse-drawn carriages, horses, bicycles, peddle carts; all helping people and farm produce to get around. There were also roadside stalls selling farm produce, pizzas, juices, and snack bars where people socialized on their way home. Overall, the countryside from Holguin to the resort is quite flat, although you can see the mountains in the distance part of the way. After passing thru Puerto Padre, a city of 35K population, you pass a police checkpoint controlling access on the road to the resort, then it is just 25 minutes and the resort emerges out of the mangrove lowlands. The resort – just some highlights: the food was good, not merely OK but truly good for both quality and variety on par with any good family restaurant in Canada or the USA, with some dishes bordering on very good. The menu during the week included fresh shrimps, roast lamb, roast turkey, beef pot roast, roast pork with amazing crackling, and fried, fresh red snapper. They even had conch in their seafood stew! I am sad that we missed the spit roasted pig which smelled heavenly as we boarded the bus home. That said, it's a buffet so you have to choose wisely, not everything is cooked to ones taste 100% of the time ! Now the house wine, it is horrid (like most all inclusives), so either bring your own or buy the bottles on offer; or drink the beer which is very good. The capaccinos – what a great way to start the morning, and top off a dinner. The Ranchon bar/restaurant, the 2nd and 3rd floors are very pleasant when it is really windy and it was windy during our week. The staff were accommodating and helpful as noted in many other reviews. William, the porter, looked sporty in the pair of New Balance runners he received from a guest. Without exception, all the other staff were appreciative of tips and gifts received from guests. It is amazing to think that what we spend for coffee and a muffin at Starbucks or Tim Hortons everyday is a substantial amount which can make a meaningful difference to their everyday living. Evening entertainment – local bands played every night showcasing contempary as well as traditional Cuban music; some good talent on show. Excursion - Puerto Padre, interesting to see how the locals live, and the mix of housing for the people. Our tour guide was very informative and openly discussed the way people lived and the changes happening in Cuba as it transitions to allow more private enterprise, home ownership, and lessen state control. Also, visited an organic farm which showcased research to develop higher yield coffee & other plants and organic farming methods. The small, family farm grew fruits, vegetables, sugar cane, bananas as well as having chickens and pigs. The peppers, papayas, pinos, and other fruits which we tasted were very flavorful, unlike the staff we get in Canada which are picked green so that they transport better. It was a very interesting 1/2 day; too bad we didn't have more time to see more of the town, talk to the guide about life in Cuba, and have lunch/dinner at the farm. The guests – many are return visitors which speaks well for the resort. Watersports – very good snorkelling especially on the outer reef where you can see lobsters and a wide variety of fish (groupers, snappers, moray eel, colorful reef fishes, etc.) but it was a 3-4 our swim so you should be a very strong swimmer, or you can take a dive trip from the watersport center - one of the lifeguards is a very good diver & spearfisherman. Both hobie cats and paddle boats are in good shape; they also have 2 tempermental motor boats and a sit-on-top paddleboard but no kayaks. In good weather, you can go fishing in the paddleboats or take a fishing trip with the watersports folks; and if you catch some fish the chefs will gladly cook it for you for a small tip. As well, there are at least 4 bicycles available for use. Overall, an excellent, economical vacation at a resort with friendly staff, good food, Cuban rum & beer accompanied with a salsa beat. Yes, the weather could have been better, and if the plane for our return flight could have staying broken down for a few more days leaving us at the resort, it would have been perfect !

February 24 – March 3, 2017 This was our 3rd time at Brisas Covarrubias and as usual our vacations starts as soon as we are out of the Airport doors. We know that the ride will take a while so we always pick up a few bubbly pops before loading onto the bus. I prefer a Small Resort so we can walk up to our room in privacy, as opposed to a Large Resort with Elevators and crowds, etc. It is a very private area being the only Resort on the lovely long beach. This Resort/Staff shows their appreciation by hosting a Special Dinner for returning guests. Elizabeth is Wonderful. If you have any questions, requests or problems, She will certainly do whatever she can to help you! Our room has always been large, clean, well maintained and conveniently located to everything. This year we had an Ocean view Room #3225. With the upstairs corner balcony we enjoyed the view of the Ocean and most of the resort. Very large clean rooms, grounds are well kept. Pool is sparkling. The Ground Keepers and Cleaning Staff are always greeting us with a friendly Hola! Each time we visit, they have taken care of us very well. The Bartenders are exceptionally friendly. It amazes me how they remember our names. The service is wonderful in the Buffet Restaurant. It seems that everyone’s favorite is the Breakfast Station where you can order eggs any style and they are cooked in front of you, personally I love the omelets. There is always a line at Lunch and Dinner at the Pasta Station. This year we also enjoyed 2 al carte. One of the great things about a small resort is you never have to wait for a table in the restaurant or a lounger on the Beach or at the Pool. After Breakfast and a Few spiked coffees you can enjoy a Fun game of Darts with many other Sun Lovers. There are bicycles available to take a ride if that interests you, or there is always the gym. Peddle boats (take a fishing rod with you) or a Hobi Cat ride will get you out onto the aqua blue water! I am sure there are many other activities that we have missed out on. The Beach Bar has a small menu and also a grill for burgers, hot dogs and fries. If you hit the right time you could have a pizza. We always enjoy joining the large fun loving group playing Bingo by the pool. Who knows who will have to do a dance or a plunge into the pool before getting ready for Dinner. If you are an early riser you can obtain a Wi-Fi card to use on your cell phone/tablet or laptop good for ½ hr. or 1 hr. Very reasonable but hard to come by! There is a Disco that opens at 11 pm. Sorry I cannot review since I have never made it past 10!!! New this year is the Beauty Salon. Braids, wash, style, haircut. Facial, Manicure, pedicure and Acrylic nails too! What a Lovely Lady! Highly Recommended!!!

This place is low-key, not very commercial, isolated, very very nice staff, gorgeous beach, ok food - not great for vegetarians, but workable. Lucky for me it was papaya season! The buffet is indoors which was disappointing to me, especially since you can't see through the tinted windows at night as they turn into mirrors! But you can always carry your food to an outside table in the hall or by the bar. The beach is beautiful, snorkelling was fun. The water is lovely. One day we were lightly stung by jellyfish, but only when we were far out. There are not enough palapas so it's not always easy to find shade. No sandfleas, few mosquitos, but plenty of no-seeums in the mornings. The rooms are spacious and comfortable. The house band and other musicians were really wonderful, beautiful voices. The apartments furtherest from the pool and bar are quiet. Cycling was fun and I really enjoyed the drive to and from the airport even though it's a bit far. Lots to look at. I loved that often there were Cuban guests at the resort.

We found everything about this resort to be very enjoyable, food,beach rooms, grounds, shows and the people who work there all very nice. We were 3 couples of different ages, and from different locations in Canada who travel together quite a bit, and all of us agreed. We were very pleasantly surprised,and will return.

We enjoy it very much very nice location close to beach staff was very friendly food was good Hotel staff very cooperative Rooms were very clean and maintained The beds were just OK I took a foam mattress with me and was glad that I did

Just returned from our fourth visit to this hotel and this time we brought the family. The staff was very nice and accommodating. The hotel was fine. The beach was great and the weather was perfect 6 out of the seven days we were there. The buffet quality has deteriorated somewhat since our last trip but was still acceptable.All in all we had a great time.

This was our 10th trip to Cuba, every trip to a different resort. If you are looking for a quiet, off the beaten path resort with fantastic staff, good food, great beach, ample snorkelling and SCUBA then this is the place for you. It is a bit further from the airport, 2 hours or so one way. This seems to turn a few people off the resort but if you seek relaxation this is the place to be. There is nightly entertainment on the open air stage next to the 24 hour snack bar/pool bar, a mini club for the kids, bicycles to rent, the standard but downsized entertainment you will find on any Cuban resort. The smaller size of the 180 room resort somewhat limit the entertainment side. If you are the sort of person who requires a slick Broadway production every evening then perhaps Broadway is where you should go. One buffet, one a la carte, 3 bars (one a 24 hour with the best ham and cheese sandwiches on earth), a disco and a nautical center are the main attractions. The buffet food is good. Not just Cuba good but the best we have found at any Cuban resort. And the a la carte is even better! I don't know if it is because it's a smaller resort so food prep is easier managed but it's very good. You won't lose any weight coming here. The rooms show their 18 years of age but they are clean and comfortable with air conditioning that will freeze you out of the room. I read many negative reviews about electricity and water in the rooms. There is zero issue with either. The power went out once for an hour, likely due to the high winds that afternoon. The water is plentiful, very good pressure and will burn the skin off you if you're not careful. There were never any shortages of hot water or water pressure, even at peak times. We are beach bums so not a lot of time was spent in the pool but it was clean. Meticulously clean, in fantastic repair and comfortably warm. I'd say a pretty good pool if you're so inclined. But with the beach they have the pool is a distant second best. Probably 40 or so meters wide and over a kilometre long it would easily serve another resort or two but it's all yours. The only comparable beach in Cuba is Playa Pilar. The water is shallow for quite a ways, 100 meters and it's finally to your waist. Just beyond that the reef is found, great swimming and snorkelling there. If snorkelling and diving are your thing the nautical center is front and center on the beach. They offer all sorts of water sports, snorkel, fishing, boat tours and SCUBA, including lessons, open water certification courses and night dives, all at very reasonable prices. Of all the resorts we have been to in Cuba this is the first one we will go back to. I'm not saying it's the best for everyone but if you want a simple, laid back vacation with good food and great people this is the place to find it.

I travelled alone. The Nightly entertainment was basically a band or singer every night & quite boring. The Wi-Fi was not available for 3 days. Electricity kept failing for periods at a time. The resort is a long 2 hours away from the airport (via small town roads where you had to stop often to pass horse & buggies carrying locals - Time warp!)... On the Plus side... The beach is beautiful & the hotel grounds are well maintained.

We really enjoyed our trip to Villa Covarrubias over the Christmas break. It is a low- key, quiet resort with a lovely beach and beautiful grounds - exactly what we were looking for. The rooms are large, sparsely furnished, very clean and have balconies or terraces. No room is far from the beach or the main hotel area. The food was fine - more fresh salad stuff than at other resorts we have stayed at, which was good for us, as we are vegetarian. There is no sightseeing or shopping available nearby and the hotel is not close to the airport. It is a 2 hour transfer. I found the drive really interesting, but it was definitely hard on children, after the flight form Canada. This is a superb place to relax and read, walk along the beach, swim etc. All the staff were awesome.

This hotel is just perfect spot for people who wants to be far from noise of every day life.It is located 40 km from the closest city of Puerto Padre,and it is siting on untouched white sand beach.It is perfectly clear water,untouched nature around resort,clean air and lots of beautiful locations for snorkeling and diving.As well, who like deep sea fishing, it is possible to organize those tours in the hotel.There are some seasons over the year when you can catch big sword fish or big tuna fish. Personally, I had that opportunity, and luckily sword fish brake the line, it was so big that it was scary to think how to pull it to the boat.?? Beside this,kids can enjoy shallow water and sand,as well a pool that have three different depth. Service is very good,for the stars that hotel have,food as well,assortment of vine,beer,and Rom is also good. import drinks are served as well. Basically you can find everything that is described for hotels with 3+ star. Rooms are very spacious,clean,sat TV, Internet over WiFi, ambulance,massage,tennis court , store with regular assortment, beach closed and open restaurant, pool bar 24 hours with food and drinks, lobby bar like hide spot ,disco with A/C, etc. This resort is for anybody who is not looking for small details,and lets not forget, the price is also super for this offers, so who like to rest and party on his way with family or friends there is enough space. I am there last 16 years and I will still be present. It is yours to discover....

Easiness to get around,clean everywhere . Only thing not very pleasant is that after flying 4 hours you have to be driven for over 2 hours to get to the hotel which is tedious and tiring travelingis treaturous boring and too long

I have stayed at the resort 4 times and will stay again. The staff is amazing and friendly The beach is great. The hotel is about 2 hours from the airport but the drive is interesting ..............

Best beach, best diving, best people but you need to know that you won`t probably go out of the site during your stay. The food is Cuba's food but if you're lucky and go fishing, they can cook you finsh. You can also purchase lobster at the reception.

This is the place to go for a one week get away. If you are fancy smancy don't go here, if you want a place to walk the beach, swim, beach comb it is great. The resort is small, uncrowded and well laid out. The road to Brisas Covarrubias has been repaired and is in better shape than many in Nova Scotia. I traveled alone (first time) and was met at the airport and driven by cab to the resort, I thoroughly enjoyed the 2+ hour trip as the scenery is so wonderfully Cuban. My room was clean and large with a balcony which had an ocean view and I felt very comfortable there. You don't go to Cuba for the food, but I found there was more than enough to choose from and the fresh papaya, pineapple and bananas are SO good. The main buffet area is enclosed, I prefer the open concept as it's so nice to eat outside. The beach is gorgeous, even with rough surf you can swim and be safe as it's shallow for quite a ways out. The snorkeling is not great, but I should have paid 12 pesos to go out on a boat off shore for an hour. I'm more a beach person, the pool was quite small however it had a great kiddie pool . Surprisingly I had a wonderful Sunwing rep at the resort, Renee went above and beyond to make sure he met everyone, answer any questions and provide insight into tours being offered. He arranged on his own for 4 of us to visit an organic farm and spend time in Puerto Padre, the closest small town and came with us as tour guide. In all I had a great vacation my only disappointment was that the snorkeling wasn't great from the shore. I felt safe, relaxed and well treated.

Grounds - Swept, Cleaned Everyday. Pool - LOVe Salt water Pool, like being in the ocean. Great Coffee and the wonderful smiles by the lovely Cuban people. Nice facilities, Bars, Special Restaurant. Great Ham-Cheese Burger - Excellent Cook

grounds were well kept up until the weekend arrived and the locals came and showed such disrespect throwing garbage everywhere and being very loud and disruptive. Staff was friendly and always smiling.

Grounds were kept clean employees worked hard. Locals came on the weekend and were quite messy though seem to have no respect and threw trash and glasses everywhere. Excursion booked in advance and indicated that transportation was included but was not they wanted 120 CUC ( pesos) too much is I cancelled as did 9 other people this week.

This resort was very run down, the smell of sewage in the room was only the least of it! I've been to Cuba 9 times and this time gave me my first negative view. The Cubans were really rude and always served first which I found to be completely uncalled for! The only good thing I can say is the weather was amazing! Everything on the resort was falling apart especially the pool. I will go back to Cuba but definitely not this resort!

I travel to Cuba often and have never been disappointed but this hotel was by far the worst. Our room smelt of sewage , power off one night, no water one night the food was inedible we mostly ate potatoes rice and cucumber. This place definitely needs a overhaul. For all the people I'm sure will say it's Cuba don't expect a ritz I don't but this was by far the worst experience along with the flight

First of all you have to take into consideration that it's Cuba and everything is slow over there and not the quality that we have in North America; nor the price either. But the beach and the water is great.

We paid for VIP stay for two weeks. Hotel room was not VIP standard; nice and big, but kid scribbles from a marker on the vanity, no drawers to put clothes in (there was space to hang items), when we had issues which we tried to speak to management about, it was a continual "we'll check into it" and no-one ever got back to us (or checked into it!). I went back everyday during the second week, with no satisfaction. At 3 p..m. the day before we left (at 6:00 a.m.) there was a note stuffed into our door about a return guest dinner in 3 hours - we think it was a badly timed attempt to smooth things over - my husband told them we had been there for 2 weeks, so we felt they were a little late. We never did get the wake-up call we had requested. Entertainment at this hotel is almost nil - we've been to other Cuban resorts with really good offerings before dinner, after dinner, then the major show. There was nothing here until 10 p.m., sometimes later, and it was just one band. The restaurant could not accommodate everyone - line-ups for breakfast and dinner. Food was o.k., salads plentiful, soups excellent, bread freshly baked, good ice-cream - but few utensils to cut cakes, spoon puddings, etc. Often there were no glasses for juice, soup bowls had run out, and dessert dishes were non-existent. The a la carte restaurant was very good, and we enjoyed our two dinners there. The staff were all very nice and as helpful as they could be, and our rep, Abel was very consciencious. The two people giving massages were WONDERFUL. The resort is favoured by Quebecers, and we estimate at least 75-80% of the guests were from that province. Unfortunately a few of them (not the resort's fault!) decided that they could smoke in the dining room while the rest were trying to enjoy dinner. We had been there once many years ago, had a wonderful time, and thought it would be interesting to visit it again -- but because of the lack of interest on management's part to address our concerns, we certainly won't ever go back. We have been to Cuba many times before, and are familiar with the way things are done in the tourist resorts. We don't demand a lot, we appreciate what the try to do for us, and usually really enjoy our visits, which are a minimum of 2 weeks, and up to a month. The beach was really nice, and sloped gently into the ocean, so it would be fine for families with children. At low tide you have to walk quite far out to reach water deep enough (waist) to swim. The bottom of the pool is peeling away in places and needs replacing.

The accommodations were terrible. We visited 8 rooms before settling on the best of a bad lot - broken furnishings, doors that don't lock, mold on walls and ceilings, bad phone, bad TV, missing furniture, bad mattresses. Most serious issue - rationing of water for washing and toilets for the 2 weeks we were there. The front line staff in hotel were not informative, not helpful and simply shifted responsibility and blame to other authorities. The manager of the hotel was nowhere to be seen. Although the beach front is spectacular, there is shortage of lounge chairs and many of those that are there are broken and unusable. The daily cleaning effort of debris washed up overnight is halfhearted at best. The pool liner is broken in many places and needs to be replaced.

The hotel is average if you book here make sure you upgrade to VIP with an ocean view room, beautiful beaches, friendly staff, if you are looking for a vacation with not much to do this is the the place great place to relax and unwind

If you are not a picky person you will have no problems going to this resort!! Excellent people and beach plus beer are all you need for fun in the sun. Food was ok. Bingo and games at 4 o'clock is a blast and shows are entertaining!!

While food is just above normal, the presentation is excellent, the personnel friendly and very helpful. The nightly show is very entertaining. The room is good and located a few steps from the beach which is very convenient.

After a 4+ flying hours we still had to be seated in a bus for over two hours to arrive at the resort!!!! Once there service was ok. The beach was splendid and water crystal clear and safe. Food was ok and some days very refined. Room was large and comfortable and serviced every day. The shower head was hanging along the shower wall so we had to hold it while showering, nothing major but. Bars excellent variety of food and drinks. Overall I was satisfied

This was our second time at this resort. Not much has changed. It is in need of some upgrades, but is well kept and very clean! The beach is absolutely gorgeous! The food is edible, you will not starve! There is not much to do, which for us was what we were looking for! Be forewarned, the bugs were absolutely horrible, we got eaten alive even with bug spray on.

Resort is a bit rough around the edges,lots of minor things broken.only big issue was no water sometimes.beautiful beach,the people are great.food was ok,I think the bread was the best I've ever had.its a long way from the airport(2 hours +).

This was my first time at Brisas Covarrubias, and I would have to say it was a very good time! The staff were friendly and helpful, the beaches were clean and solicitor free, and you could walk for miles! After being to a more busier resort in Cuba, this was actually a nice break to be able to relax and socialize with other travellers and the staff. I would definitely go back and refer others to this resort!

This is our 14 the visit to Cuba so we where well aware of what to expect...This resort is 2 1/2 hours from the airport on typical Cuban roads The beach is truly amazing. The food is typical of a 3 1/2 star you will not go hungry.Its a very low key resort with not much going on but if you are looking for some r&r its perfect

We had a very relaxing vacation on the week of April 2- April 9. The resort is 2 hours away from the airport, but the ride was fine. Actually the ride back was much more fun since we made couple of pit stops in the town. CHECK IN: Check in was fine, with no issues at all. They provided refreshing drinks.There is a bar in the lobby so you can also get a drink while you're waiting. When we booked our vacation, we requested a higher floor and a king size bed. got exactly what we asked for. ROOMS: Our room was fine. It was big, with a nice big balcony (corner unit). Since the resort is small, we were close to everything. Don't expect anything fancy. The only complaint I had were the pillows....probably the worst pillows I've ever seen in my life...nevertheless we had good sleep. I know some people had issues with their rooms. our key didn't work on day 3, they fixed it. If you have an issues go to the lobby and ask them to change your room, they will try their best to accommodate you. You pay $2 a day for the safe. HOTEL: The hotel itself is small. They have a very nice salt water pool. Near Pool bar (24 hours), Lobby bar, snack bar, disco (pretty far walk! secluded). Towel exchange place also provides books and games which is pretty great! FOOD: Food was meh....I always found something to eat, but wasn't impressed, particularly with dessert and complete lack of fruit. But honestly it was fine, it was not gross, like some other reviews say. My suggestion: bring stuff with you like: spices and sweets. Snack bar provides great ham and cheese sandwiches, burgers, pizza and even lunch (rice, salad, pork/chicken/fish). Since we spent almost the whole day at the beach, we ate our lunch at the snack bar. Also they provide Lobster dinner for 15CUC each. We didn't try, but heard it was delicious. You can book it y talking to a guy at the buffet during breakfast. BEACH: THE BEST BEACH YOU CAN POSSIBLY ASK FOR!!! AREAS TO IMPROVE: 1. Those pillows have to go! 2. They run out of bathing towels and just give small towels, which is manageable, but still can be improved. 3. Food can be improved if it's kept warm. 4. They definitely need better shows. We had a nice, relaxing time at Brisas Covarrubias. We would return only if we find a cheap deal and the goal would be just relaxing.

The hotel was ok. Service was a bit wanting. The beach was very nice. Food was ok. The bus ride to the resort is quite long, over 2 hours, but interesting as it passes through a couple small towns and some rural areas.

Very comfortable,the beech is close.The room is very convinent, too minutes from the restaurant, very quiet, very clean, freash water every day. The beach is amazing!!!!.The staff aris very frendly and polite.The food varied.We were twice with my family in that resort.I'm so glad to be there.

we just returned from Brisas Club Covarrubias,We found it very nice, not too large you get good service from staff. Beach could use cleaning more often. seemed to be garbage on beach for several days.Food was acceptable we only stayed outdoors for one show it was ok we did not go for the nightlife we went for nice beach decent food and rest . We accomplished them all Ty

The hotel room was great! Very clean, and in good condition. The grounds were well kept, friendly staff, and our chambermaid did a grey job! The food at the buffet was also pretty good, however some variety would have been alright too. The food in the A la Carte was awesome! Highly recommend you make your reservations :) The bus ride to the resort is 2 hours long, but well worth it for this great resort! The beach is gorgeous, but could use some raking now and then to tone down on the prickly burrs and sticks/seaweed.

beach was awesome,so clear and no undertow. entertainment was good service was very nice. grounds were neat.Too far from the airport and not much to do outside the resort food was adwquate for the price,restaurant was only one supper per week,the rest was buffet only ,

Was there mar20 to 27, 2015, first 3 days the hotel was full of Loco Cubans, that crowed the pool 24/7 pool full of garbage, cups, plates, cigarette buts after they left everything was fine, beach was nice but not the best I've seen, if u walk the beach in the morning or evening you will get eaten with sand fleas, we are covered in bites & blisters,, room was nice ocean view behind the beach bar, mattress was the worst Ive ever seen, just a mattress on the frame with springs sticking in ur back, would find better in an homeless shelter!! ,, been to Cuba 6 times the food is the worst I've ever seen, thank god for booze !!!or I wouldn't be able to stay 7 days, but met some great ppl there & had a good time because of it .

Small resort, big hearts! All of the staff are wonderful and would do anything for you. Been there nine times - home away from home. Beach is absolutely the best - protected, soft, really white sand. The grounds are nicely kept up. Food is good at both the buffet and the al-a-carte. Also the lunch at the Beach Bar. Some of the rooms have been refurbished, some are still tired but who wants to be in their room anyway?

This resort has the most amazing staff. They deserve a huge MUCHAS GRACIAS for all they do and for making our vacation to Brisas Covarrubias an awesome experience. The start of our trip began at the airport where we were met by the Air Transat crew and boarded our flight. My 10 year old daughter and I had a great start to our week away from the frigid cold. Flight was smooth and crew were great! The shuttle from the airport in Holguin was long but entertaining and lasted about 2.5 hours. Stopped for bathroom break and so we could by beer. Not my daughter, of course, just the adults. Haha. We arrived at the resort and it was beautiful. Lobby very nice and very open concept. Nice bar right next to their and great service and drinks. Cristal beer is on tap here and very nice to drink. Rest of resort has Bucanero and a little stronger, but still nice too. Buffet was large and had decent food. I can't criticize, food was good for Cuba and yet again amazing service. Try the lobster...fantastic and cheap. May be included if you buy VIP package. A la carte was nice and great view. Right beside beach bar and food was very good. Live entertainment even the night we went. The beach is gorgeous and definitely the highlight. A little coral and some rocks but very visible and avoidable. Spots with none and you can walk out very far. Very good for children and safe. Bring water shoes if you like to explore as will help you walk over and around a bit easier, but not a necessity. Beach bar is close and very good bartenders, William is great! Lots of snacks here at lunch and nice change from buffet which was a little repetitive. Pool was nice and large with salt water. Very safe and clean. Swim up bar is nice touch but not tended well. Pool bar was good and easy enough to get out and walk around it really wanted something. Raul was a great bartender and always willing to make a drink of any kind for you. They serve snacks and drinks at pool bar at night after 11pm. Amazing cheese and ham panini sandwiches. Disco until 2 am most nights was an option for some nighthawks as well. I went twice and it was actually fun. Not corny like some resort discos can be. Good music and lots of people dancing. Good mojitos! We went to Puerto Padre excursion and it was a good choice. Went to a farm and got to eat fresh bananas right off tree and fresh peanuts from gardens. Had a tour and a fruit buffet. Toured a cigar factory. We had an hour to walk around and shop and do our own thing and then a fantastic lunch in a restaurant overlooking the waterfront. Highly recommend this tour. $38 adult and $24 child. This place has a store, bank (say hello to Janet, she's a gem), a decent kid's club and medical clinic if you need it. The gym is rough if you like to exercise, run on the beach and give yourself a strength training break, as gym wasn't great. I don't want to be negative, this was minor to me and I am big on exercise. But don't go expecting a good life fitness or anything even close. Haha. I would go back if got a good deal again. These people try very hard to make a great time and deserve positive feedback. It's Cuba and don't expect 5 star, but they are fantastic for what they have to work with. We had a beautiful second floor oceanview room and there were minor things but not a trip spoiler in the least and always tried to correct any issue... Thank you, muchas gracias to Brisas Covarrubias!!! We miss you! Bill and Alyssa Laffrenier

A three star at best if not less. Shade is very limited on the beach and yes people hog the chairs by tying them together with towels and returning hours later expecting their spot! The locals do get served first! even if you've been standing in line for some time. March 6 - 13 one solid week of 30 degree weather! Forget the nit picking and you'll have a blast!

There were some great things about this resort and the beach being number one. It was amazing and you could walk out a very long way. The food was pretty good, albeit very repetitive, our room overlooking the ocean was excellent. However, on the down side is the 2 hour bus ride. Just too long before and after the flight.

We spent 2 weeks at this resort. A 2 hour drive from Holguin, but that was OK-as we got to see the beautiful countryside. Like most resorts in Cuba, it had it's issues, but overall, it was amazing. If you're expecting 5* resorts in Cuba to compare to our 5* standards, then stay home, cause you're not going to find it in Cuba. The room we had the first week was great, except that there was little hot water and very little water pressure. We asked to be moved for our second week, and had an even nicer (ocean view) room, that had hot water and great water pressure all day/all week. Everyone knows you don't go to Cuba for the food...you go for the beautiful beaches and the wonderful people. The food really wasn't too bad...we've had worse...but you make do. You'll find something you'll like. The breakfast omelets, papaya and fresh squeezed OJ was the best. Lobster was also great, but you have to pay 15 cuc for it, which is peanuts compared to what we pay at home for fresh lobster. Some meals were better than others. The pork loin we had one evening was excellent. There is always pasta if nothing else appeals to you. The staff were great, friendly, and always accommodating. You'll find they don't move to fast, but they are very hard working people, working very long hours, and they deserve everything we offer them. Just to see that look of appreciation and their smiles, is worth it all. The evening entertainment/animation staff was usually quite good, and we had some good laughs with their comedy routines. The dancers were fantastic! We wondered the beach often and found many sand dollars and conch shells to bring home. The weather was amazing, likely 30c everyday. A couple sprinkles or short showers a few times in 2 weeks, but that was OK too. They were always short lived, then the sun was shining again. I would recommend this resort, and I would like to go there again to see all the wonderful new friends we made, however, I would like to try the Caribbean side of the island on my next visit.

This is a nice resort with the most beautiful beach imaginable. It is very isolated with plenty of opportunity for solitude. There is plenty of wildlife in the area if you are a wildlife watcher. Nothing at the resort was ever busy. The rooms are basic but large and clean. If you like excursions, trips, and towns to visit then this is not a good resort to choose. For peace and quiet, long walks on abandoned beaches, and some exposure to nature then this is a good pick.

Secluded and relaxing resort. Great if you just want to lay on the beach. Very nice large salt water pool. Rooms were clean but basic. Good buffet, a little repetitive but still lots of choices. Staff were all very helpful. Great drinks at the lobby bar and Havana Club bar.

This is a great getaway for anyone looking to relax and enjoy the beautiful Cuban beach! If you are looking for shopping and nightlife try Varadero this is not for you. We were a little disappointed in the Senior Manager who choose to have his maintenance staff renovating empty rooms instead of performing their maintenance duties, example waited 3+ hours to get a toilet plunged while staff were moving furniture and mirrors from one empty room to another. Front desk staff were amazing at trying to resolve issues like this but are limited by the Managers discretion which is where the problem seems to be. running away while he leaves the front desk staff to respond to his poor decisions. All in all it was the best food we have ever had in Cuba bar none and we've been 7 times to other resorts. Did I mention the beautiful beach? That is where we were from 8 to 4 every day. You can walk and explore for ever just bring something to wear on your feet there are a couple rocky parts but it is mostly sandy beautiful beach. We went for 2 weeks for the first time ever and will likely go again for 2 weeks as long as the price is right. Hint: $ exchange rates are better at the resort then at the Airport. Enjoy!

This resort is 40 km from the nearest town and 2 hours from the airport. It has an amazing beach with a very small reef just offshore. We were there in the first week of January. The resort was full and often a bus or two of locals would arrive for the day. This produced long lines at the restaurant and bars. Patience was required. The resort has undergone some improvements (3rd time here) but more is required. Some lights on the walkways didn't work (regulars know to bring a flashlight), some rooms are still in need updating. The food could be better - but this is Cuba! You will find the most friendly and gracious staff here. This is not a place for those seeking nightlife and adventure but the price is usually right for a cheap week or two lazing on the beach - and many return year after year to do just that.

We spend 7 nights in this hotel. The room was nice but no hot water. After 3 days of our trip we got it. The meal was poor, but service was nice. All these disadvantages was covered by perfect diving!

Quiet, clean, stunning beach. All staff went above and beyond our expectations. Try a kayak into the mangroves, walk for miles in either direction. Snorkel, swim, sun. Great food. No tourist distractions so you are able to relax and unwind completely.

It was really nice good workers really friendly staff it felt like to be home room was kept clean everyday if there was somethink we need they provide us quicky good food great service really enjoy I even made some friends while I was there I plan to be back soon thanks the only thing I dislike was Mosquitos and no water at night shut down but the rest was ok

This was much better resort then other ones and price was good , overall was good. Beach was good not enough shade but ok. Swimming pool was good . Restaurant and food average. Had a great room with beautiful view, mattress was little too old . Staff was ok . We were not able to get a la cart reservations as was already full?

Modest but good dining. Very good service. Clean public areas. Access to excellent beach. Good outings available. The right size for a quieter holiday. Pools well maintained. Staff very well trained in hospitality.

This was about our 7th trip to Cuba and our first to this resort. The place was newish (15 yrsold) and fresh looking. We had a room that was as close to the beach as could be and about half way along their ocean front. Fairly central to everything. The beach was super long and we walked way beyond either end on separate days. Sturdy shoes helped once we got past the sand section and had to walk on various surfaces (rocks, rock/sand mix, old coral reefs ...). These old reefs can be dangerous if you fell as they sharp edged. Be careful! We saw more sponges than we have ever seen and thought about taking some home but could not figure out how to get the sand out, maybe little critters too. There are vendors on the west end of the beach but we did not see them until the end of our stay. There were also some guys looking for gifts at the east end of the beach on various days. We did not have stuff for them but we saw some people giving baby clothes. There was not as much of this as we have seen at other resorts which is probably due to its remoteness. This remoteness also means that there is nothing nearby to walk to and the excursion to a town (Puerto Padre) is a 2 hour drive. Really, if you enjoy going for a walk to like a nearby village, this is not the place you will be able to do this. At all! As we have been on some of these excursions on other trips we opted to stay on resort this time and just absorb the sun. We did walk out of the front of the resort and walked to the end of the road to another section of the beach but it was an hour's walk one way. There we found spots where people come to camp. There was one semi-permanent structure with Cubans staying there There were some vendors on resort in the area of the lobby and they had some nicer and different stuff than other areas of Cuba. The store was well stocked but did not have finer cigars nor matches/lighters. I went the whole week bumming lights off people. All in good fun. I fished along the shore most days and had some luck. I caught a few barracudas and various other sharp toothed fish that I could not identify. There were 4-5 guys shore fishing. There is also fishing to do from the paddle boat either on your own our with one of the beach staff and these trips seem to be a lot more successful. I have not yet used bait but I think I will next trip. There is deep sea fishing but I did not do this. The bugs were driving me crazy! The resort is kind of in a swampy area which did not help. Not many mossies but no-see-ums!! By day two I was actually considering whether I could just live in the room for the rest of the trip. It is a great place to go to just relax. The beach was great and the staff was great also. We have been at other resorts where they treat you like you don't exist unless you are a repeat guest. Not here. Every staff member (well almost every) was friendly and helpful. They spoke to you freely, pleasantly and just wanted to do their jobs well. There also did not seem to be much need to speak Spanish which is a bit disappointing but oh well. The beach was wide and long and we had no trouble getting chairs or a place to sit either under trees or palapas. The ocean swimming was fantastic! The water was mostly warm and when the tide went out in the late afternoon you could walk out to a sand bar about 100 feet out and sit in about 5 inches of water and let the waves wash over you (or push you around on windier days). It was a great spot to enjoy a sip of rum and smoke a Guantanamera. The food was average for Cuba. There was lots of it and a decent variety. There was tons of salad type things and veggies. Lots of meat chicken, pork, beef chunks, rabbit. The restaurant had the usual grill for hamburgesas, fish, chicken for lunch and supper and then for eggs in the morning. They served conch snail on the last day which I wanted to try but you know... it was the last day. Not a time for me to try new foods. There is a beach bar/grill where you can get hamburgesas, pizza, fish, fries and think we had chicken once. It was a great place to sit, eat, enjoy a beer and sit near the ocean. We ate there every day. Beer was always cold but the rum was the cheaper Santero(?) brand. Funny after taste. There was spa treatments. Try the mud therapy. Hehe, I would go back for the staff, beach, fishing and relaxation. I would have to find a solution to the bugs though.

My sister and I (both seniors) stayed at Club Covarrubias for a week in early February, and had a wonderful time. The beach is absolutely beautiful, one of the nicest I have ever seen, the pool (saltwater) was nice, and our room was spacious and clean, with a view of the ocean. We had requested an upstairs room, but were given one on the ground floor, which was initially disappointing, but it was in such a nice location, close to the beach, pool, and buffet, that we soon ``adjusted``! The staff at this resort are absolutely wonderful, from the maids to the gardeners, who do a great job in keeping the grounds looking clean and attractive. The girl who is in charge of the beach towels is particularly nice and helpful. There is also a library, with books in many different languages, in the same building, a very nice touch !! The two hour ride to and from the airport was very interesting, and the bus was air-conditioned and comfortable. It was a great opportunity to see more of the beautiful Cuban countryside !! The food was really good, both at the buffet, and the beach bar (great fries !!)...we didn`t try the A La Carte, but heard good things from people who did. This is a small, quiet resort, definitely not ``party central``, and in a very isolated location, surrounded by mangrove swamps. There is limited opportunity for going off the resort, but, really why would you want to ?!! If I had any criticism at all it would be that the lighting, at night is rather poor. We noticed that all the return visitors (and there were lots!) had brought flashlights with them, and I would definitely recommend doing so....also bug spray, as there were a lot of very enthusiastic mosquitoes around, especially in the evenings !! We really loved Club Covarrubias, and would love to return !

The staff were welcoming. There is often no running water at the resort which causes toilets to back up and overflow and no drinking water. I would not bring small children as a result. Beach is absolutely the best though.