Hotel: Breezes Jibacoa  (guests must be 14 years and older)

Date Visited: December 2-9, 2006 (one week stay)

Price Paid:  $648 + tax (booked 2 months ahead)

Room#: 2209, Building 15 – ocean view room (total hotel rooms – 250)

Weather Conditions: Weather was very good except for the last day.  A large amount of jelly fish, Portuguese man-of-war, also known as the blue bubble, blew in.  They are a brightly blue coloured inflated bubble and have very long stinging tentacles.   If stung, for immediate treatment rinse the area with seawater or fresh water to remove any tentacles stuck to the skin. Do not apply vinegar.  A study has indicated that vinegar in these type of stings sometimes makes the sting worse.

Snorkeling:  Did not have a lot of opportunity to explore, but overall it was worth checking out.

Beach: I rated this beach a 5 star as it had plenty of palapas and shade trees.

Food: Cuban specialty restaurant was very good and had a great shrimp cocktail.  The buffet offered lobster on Thursday evenings.  Overall good food.

Opinions/Tips:  The Piano Bar was a great place to spend the evenings.  Internet was available for $8 pesos per hour, though it was very slow.

Would I return: Yes.

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!

 

Hotel:  LTI Coste Verde  (currently known as Blau Costa Verde)

Date Visited: Nov.30 – December 7, 2003

Price Paid:  $722.00 each plus tax. Booked ten days before departure

Room#:  3415 – Third floor room with good view of pool and you could see the ocean

Weather Conditions:  Mixed weather this week; mostly cloudy periods with sunny breaks, a full miserable day of rain, with cooler temperatures on our last day there.

Restaurants:  Italian restaurant was very good; Cuban restaurant had a great shrimp cocktail but dinner was just so-so; buffet food was very good.  Be sure to try the potato salad!

Snorkeling:  Very good, easy access right from the beach.

Opinions/Tips:  Must bring swim shoes to this beach.  Overall a small, quiet resort with great service. 

Would I Return:  Yes

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.

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