Love returning to Brisas!

My husband and I travelled to Brisas for two weeks at the end of March 2011. This was our first trip to Cuba and our first all-inclusive resort. Brisas Guardalavaca came highly recommended by several different people, including a large percentage of return guests.

From the time we arrived in Cuba we felt welcome. The front lobby of Brisas is a relaxing place with lots of hanging plants and comfortable seating. We found the front desk staff to be very efficient and friendly.

Our room had a comfortable king-sized bed and plush king-sized pillows (with extra pillows and warm blankets in the closet.) The room was spacious, well appointed and very clean. The air conditioning worked wonderfully and we had good water pressure. The housekeeping staff does a wonderful job and delighted us everyday with new towel art. We were on the top floor and had the most incredible view of the ocean, country-side and pool area from our side deck and the front balcony. We had no problems with noise or loud music and enjoyed being close to the action. For anyone that prefers less action/ more quiet, the garden view rooms or villas would be perfect. We walked around the villas and the grounds are beautiful and the pool looked very peaceful.

We found the food and service at the buffets and restaurants to be far beyond what we expected. There was a huge variety of foods at the buffets and the servers were always smiling and pleasant with great senses of humour. The grill was perfect for a light lunch straight from the beach. The mini pizzas were very yummy! We felt the Cuban a la carte was slightly less formal than the Italian and Seafood restaurants. The food was good (especially the roasted pork!) and the setting is lovely as you can choose to be seated under the thatched roof or in the open air. What a great spot to watch the sun set! The Italian restaurant is located in the hotel so it is air conditioned and the food is quite good here as well. There is also a small bar in the Italian which serves some top shelf and imported types of alcohol. Our favourite spot was the Seafood restaurant. The food was always good but the ambience was fabulous! As you dine you are entertained by the servers. There were musicians, a magician and a juggler! The saxophonist brought a tear to my eye with his music! We enjoyed a nightcap (or three) outside the restaurant on several occasions and there were some imported alcohols here too :) Treat yourself to a romantic dinner on the beach in the gazebo—you won’t regret it! For $25 CUC (which is about on par with the Canadian dollar) you can have a private dinner at sunset. You get to choose the menu and it is more than worth the small price. Our evening was so romantic I will remember it as long as I live!

The beach has gorgeous white sand and clear turquoise water. Every morning a team of men was worked hard to keep the sea grass to a minimum. There is great snorkelling around the pier as well straight off the pier about 40m out or so. The loungers were plentiful and we never had to worry about finding a great spot. There are lots of palm trees and palapas and hammocks too! The weather was perfect and there was always a lovely breeze from the ocean.

There are many activities and things to do. We were never bored! The market is about a 10 minute walk away and it is a beautiful. The entertainment crew does a great job of keeping things lively without being a nuisance. The pool bar is a great place for a chat with Jose, the bartender, and to cool down after a long day on the beach. The lobby bar had some fantastic musicians, particularly an electric guitarist who was truly awesome! The evening entertainment was incredible! Do not miss the water ballet—it was spectacular!

Brisas Guardalavaca was an amazing place and we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the resort to anyone. There wasn’t anything we could complain about. We have been planning our next trip since we returned!

We are returning at the end of March 2012 and this time we're bringing a group of friends who are also excited to see what we've been raving about!

Cheers,
Amy & Scott Stackhouse
Nova Scotia, Canada

We loved our visit to the hotel in January 2010 so much so we have booked to return January 2013. Cant wait to meet up with the staff again as they were so helpful and friendly

The staff is the reason we will always come back to Brisas Guardalavaca. See you all in Feb.
Kenny & Trudy Dewey