First, thanx to posters here! We chose BJ based on reviews and we were not disappointed. We are retirees...celebrating my wife's 65th with a Cuba trip. This was our fifth Cuba trip so we were realistic in our expectations, however we were very pleasantly surprised by this resort!
I would rate above average for all the following categories: beach (great reef), bars, room, cleanliness, buffet, Italian a la carte (didn't go to Cuban one), grounds & gardens, proximity to attractions (Havana one hour away),staff, gymnasium, and layout of resort.
The following are "average": entertainment at night, music in piano bar, and "freshwater" pool (too shallow for swimming, missing and slippery tiles, LOUD music poolside in p.m.)
Below average: check-in! We arrived at about 11:oo pm and had only two staff for key?room assignment, no bell staff to carry luggage, stumbled down three sets of stairs (ramp was off to left past the gift store!) tried to find our building (numbers are not prominent!) with the aid of my "CSI" maglite, and encountered several other arrivees doing the same dance!
that being said we noted that the guests returning for a repeat visit knew enough to go to the bar and grab a drink and a seat and relax until the melee had subsided. We'' ll do that next time!
Other than check-in, we had a super time, met great people, enjoyed the food and booze (I had to remove my name from the liver donor list!) and , as always, thoroughly enjoyed the Cuban people!
We give this a 90% approval rating!
Cheers...Tandempilot

Back to reality 18th Sept 2007 and wishing we were back on the beach in Jibacoa with a cold pina colada. The resort is fanatastic for those wishing to escape from the rat race back home. You get to the resort by passing the oil refinery and power station which can be really smelly and is quite industrialised but please do not be put off as paradise awaits you in about 1.5 hours from the airport. We had a tropical suite and our daughter (who was celebrating her 21st) and friend shared the connecting ocean view room. The rooms had toilet, bath, shower, hair dryer, washing line, mini bar/fridge, huge double / king sized beds, balcony with chairs and table, tv, and cd player and the tropical lounge also had a further tv, cd player dining table, sofa and chair, mini bar and kitchen area and another wc. The rooms were spotless and the maids decorated our beds each day with a towel arranged in a swan or heart etc. and replenished the minibar/fridge daily according to our request. The staff on the complex are all really friendly and go out of their way to make your stay relaxing and enjoyable. The food in the buffet restaurant caters for all tastes and we had good food every morning and evening. Breakfast was eggs however you liked them, bacon beans, sauteed potatoes, continental breads with cheeses and meats, fresh fruit and yogurts etc. Dinner was meat or fish with potatoes or pasta or rice, fish even sushi along with soups and salad starters and cakes and pastries or fresh fruit for desert. We did not dine at lunchtime as we stayed on the beach and used the grill bar and Roberto and Roger made our lunchtimes very enjoyable. The grilled fish was excellent along with the homemade burgers and pizzas. The two resident beach dogs were friendly and loved to lay under the sun loungers to protect themselves from the sun and most days they were treated to little bits of leftovers and fresh water by the guests. The gardens and grounds are kept immaculate and very picturesque and we saw a humming bird who was sitting on a chick and some eggs amongst the bourganvillia, so tiny and so colourful. Snorkling is very good as the reefs are close to the shore and swimming is ideal as it is shallow and warm like bath water. You could join in the beach games or just relax in the sun. We did the havana special which was a day trip around old and new havana ending with a trip to the tropicana show. The tour guide was excellent and very informative however getting into the tropicana show was awful. It had rained so they were not sure if it could go ahead as it is outdoors and they only have a small venue to use if it has to be indoors. too many people not enough seats. The pushing and shoving and bad feeling was not what one expected on holiday, the show however did go ahead and was good despite having side seats next to the orchestra. It cost 101 cuc each which included coach, lunch and dinner, hotel room to change and the show which included free bottle of champagne and rum per table of eight. You only had to buy extra drinks on top. We took small gifts of toiletries and childrens school items which was greatly appreciated by the maids and staff etc. The entertainment in the evening was really good and fun especially as the staff are such a laugh and made it pleasurable. We made many friends whilst there and would like to say a big hello to Brian & Sue from Canada, Sandra and David from Hertfordshire, Edna & Bill from London and Kit and his lovely bride to be from Sussex. Mark & Louise also congratulations to Emily and Marcus who got married out there and to their guests all 20+ of them who we enjoyed chatting to on the beach everyday. Fun was had by everyone and we would thoroughly recommend the resort to anyone who wants to chill out and relax. Not for those who want pub after pub and tv screens or noisy clubs and non stop action of the loud kind. Jibacoa is peaceful and quiet and I hope it remains that way. We found that the cigars and rum which is a must to bring home are cheaper in the resort than the duty free so get your allowance before departing. Once again our thanks to all the staff and management for a well run and organsied holiday complex. xx

If you are looking for a place to relax and unwind this resort is ideal. The staff are wonderful and very accomodating. Food is the best I've had in Cuba. The grounds are beautiful and the beach is clean and offers plenty of shade. Snorkelling at the resort is great, as a coral reef runs along the resorts beach area. Fish were eating a banana right out of my hand. Thurs. nights are seafood night and the Italian restaurant is very good.

If you are looking for a party atmosphere or nightlife this is not the resort for you.

I stayed at this hotel between Aug 11th-17th. This was my 5th time returning to Cuba and I loved this property. The beach was incredible..if you love to snorkel then this is definately the place to go. The coral reef is right at your fingertips and we were in the ocean 3-4 hours a day enjoying the snorkelling.

The food and staff are typical of a good 4* hotel in Cuba. There was always something Fresh to eat to cater to a variety of needs. If you are travelling to Cuba don't expect the same type of food in a 4 or 5* resort elsewhere in the Caribean. Having stated this, I never had a problem finding something satisfying to eat.

I would say overall that most of the reviews on this site are pretty accurate. I do have to say however for those people who complain about bugs..if you don't want to see any bugs then don't travel to a Tropical destination. I found the rooms to be clean and well kept. One day we had a notice that the housekeeping staff were going to fumugate our room and we had not even mentioned anything about bugs in our room. This was considered normal procedures througout the hotel.

This hotel is definately not for young people looking just to party, however, good times were not hard to find. We met a variety of people from all over the world who there mainly to relax and enjoy this secluded property.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time at this resort and we have already booked a return vacation for this upcoming New Years Eve.

If you are looling for a beautiful property and looking to just get away and relax then I would say this is the property for you..