Travel and Selloffs

Location:  Santa Clara, Cuba

Hotel:  Melia Cayo Santa Maria 

Date Visited: November 22 – 29, 2004

Price Paid:  $512.00 each plus tax. What a bargain!  Booked 16 days before departure.

Room#:  1612 – ground floor, good location, large rooms, but with a poor view.  I would request a second floor room next time.  The rooms were huge with a front foyer supplied with an umbrella (excellent idea), separate washroom and sink area.

Weather Conditions:  85 degrees every day (with the exception of one cloudy day).

Restaurants:  Food was okay.  They did provide a lobster dinner one evening which was good.

Snorkeling:  Could find no area to snorkel at this resort.

Beach:  Phenomenal! Crystal clear ocean water.  Bonus there were lifeguards actually stationed on this beach.   One draw back – no beach bar in November when we were there, but it was low season.

Opinions/Tips:  Food was so-so.  They did have a lobster night and it was good.   Nightly entertainment was excellent, very talented dancers.  Sister hotel next door, Sol Club had a fun disco.

Would I Return:  For Sure!

Location:  Holguin, Cuba

Location: Cayo Coco, Cuba

Hotel: Tryp Cayo Coco

Price Paid: $815.00 each + tax. Booked 1-1/2 weeks before departure.

Room#: 710 - Great location if you like to be by the pool. The room was ground floor and close to everything.

Date Visited: January 18, 2003 (one week stay)

Weather Conditions: Very cool at night so bring a sweater and long pants.

Snorkeling: Did not go here, water too rough.

Opinions/Tips: Power is 220 not 110 like home so a converter is needed. Great Spanish Coffees, and the pizza restaurant was excellent.

Would I return: Yes, if a good sell-off became available.

Location: Beach front - 35 minutes from Varadero International airport.All-inclusive: 536 Junior Suite, 4 Handicap Junior Suite and 4 Suites

Overview: The Barcelo Marina Palace an elegant five-star hotel, is a sun seeker’s paradise in northwestern Cuba. Situated in front of the Marina Gaviota in Varadero, the Barceló Marina Palace lies amid stunning white beaches bathed in the warm waters of the Gulf Stream. Offering an abundance of adventurous options, water sports enthusiasts can kayak, windsurf, or sail in the turquoise waters surrounding the hotel.

The hotel consists of a beach nearly 2 kilometers long and the hotel is surrounded by beautiful gardens and spacious areas with a genuine feeling of exclusiveness. Besides the exclusive area Cato Libertad Royal Island features 85 Rooms (79 Cayo Junior Suites, 1 Cayo Junior Suite for handicap, 4 Cayo Libertad Suites and 1 Grand Suite Palace) 11 bars and restaurants.

Guests who choose to stay in the Barceló Marina Palace will enjoy the following accommodations:

• 24 hour room service
• Air conditioning Ceiling fan
• Hair dryer
• Handicapped accessibility Terrace or balcony
• Iron & Ironing Board
• Mini bar
• Ocean, beach, garden view
• Safety deposit box
• TV-SAT
• Private bath with shower
• Telephone

Max occupancy 3 adults or 2 adults with one child

Restaurants and Bars:

• One International Buffet Restaurant “La Marina” (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
• One Cuban grill “Bacunayagua” (Breakfast, Snack and Dinner)
• Rice & fishes Restaurant “El Faro” (lunch a la carte)
• Beach Grill Breakfast, lunch and special sea food dinner

SPECIALIZED

• Spanish Restaurant “La Zarzuela”
• Italian Restaurant “El Arlequino”
• Seafood Restaurant “Las Dunas”
• Cuban Restaurant “Bacunayagua”

BARS

• Pool Bar “La Boya”
• Lobby Bar “Club Hemingway” 24h
• Theater Bar (10.00 - 01.00) Next to the beach
• Pool Bar “La Boya III”
• Discotheque “El Ancla”
• “El Faro” Cuban Life Music
• Cuban Club. Specialized in Mojito and Daiquiri

SNACKS

• Bacunayagua Restaurante (Lunch)
• El Faro Restaurant Bar
• Pool Bar III