Brisas Guardalavaca Hotel, Holguin Cuba. 4 stars.

Poor Danielle

we strongly recommend brisasguardavalaca
we have been there many times ,and we first started going it was a delta and under canadian management.we have noticed some changes but still like it overall and would go back as the people are very friendly at the resort and gone out of their way to please us,we do feel they could renovate the villa's as they do smell stale,also their microphone and sound system for their night shows need to be fixed as they were not operating.the food was good at the buffet but the al la carte near the beach had great atmosphere,the girl sang beautifully and the man played well but the food there was only fair.breakfast and dinner there was great.the italian restaurant was great and the guys who worked on the table were a+.we had michael and really liked him.the resort is handy to the down town markets and one can walk via the beach or from the front lobby.

Very good anabell

Brisas Guardalavaca
I stayed at the Brisas Guardalavaca from October 10 - 17, 2011. This was my 8th or 9th trip to Cuba and 3rd time at this resort, however, the 1st time solo. I flew Skyservice (despite comments from others, I had a good flight both ways) out of Toronto with Signature Vacations arriving at ~ 22:00. At the orientation meeting the next morning, our rep at the hotel told us that we were only the 2nd week of guests since Hurricane Ike and that they had worked very hard to get the Villas section in shape (the Hotel side was closed for planned renovations, and I would presume that now for some major repairs). The villas side, physically, was very similar to my 2 other stays. The room was clean and comfortable and I was fortunate to be in the 1st Villa on the 3rd floor. However, at the morning briefing 3 other guests reported that they had changed their rooms on arrival due mostly to the musty odour (which was more prominent as the rooms had been closed for a longer period than normal). All seemed to be satisfied with their new rooms. The buffet services was no better then before, in that there was little service, unless you were a repeat guest with a history with the servers. The food in Cuba is never very gourmet, but there was lots of choice, a good assortment of fruit and salad, and of course ice cream. They have "stuck" a bar opposite the front desk that wasn't there 2 years ago, this is possibly to make up for the bars that are closed in the hotel. The only services available in the hotel were the Italian restaurant and Coffee bar, and the disco was supposed to open soon. Of the 2 la carte restaurants, I preferred the Italian over the Seafood, mostly due to the server, Enrico, the air conditioning, and the food is a bit better. However, the Seafood has a nice atmosphere with an ocean view (perhaps it would be more romantic with my wife?). As far as the resort goes it is mostly operations as before (good and bad), the main difference of the resort is the loss of the trees and the shade. Brisas Guardalavaca was always regarded by myself and others to have the best shade beach in Cuba. I go for the heat and the atmosphere, not to burn in the sun, but for now there is very little shade on the beach except for a few remaining trees and the new umbrellas they have put up (but we know that happens to an umbrella in the wind!). Our rep told us that they plan to replant some mature trees on the beach, but this will take time. The surrounding area received some damage. The Club Amigo next door was damaged and they were busy repairing the roof of the Atlantico. The main public beach did not seem to have received as much damage as it is slightly sheltered, but then I did not make an investigation of it. The market was up and running, as were the shops in the market area. The "plaza" across the road from the resorts was not open, the stores were not stocked, and the bank was closed. There appeared to be some major damage at the end and back of the plaza (again, I did not inspect it too closely). The snack bar in the front portion of the plaza was open, as were the "Banos". The atmosphere of the Villas is good, except of course if you get a loud, bunch of partiers. Unfortunately, several of the evening shows were rained out, it seemed to only rain just before the show was due to start, but those that went on were good (no lame audience participation shows), and I finally saw the water ballet one night (much to wife's envy). The walkway along the beach is open all the way down to the market area and I defy anyone to show me a better place to witness the sea and night sky then during a full moon in Cuba. Overall, Brisas Guardalavaca Villas is worth a visit, despite the damage that Ike did to the local area. It may take a few months for the entire area to be up to pre-Ike conditions but it makes for a very relaxing and restful venue. Enjoy.