This resort is wonderful if you want a pure relaxation holiday. It's an hour or so from Havana and about the same from Varadero. Nothing to do walking distance out of the resort really but why would you need to leave this place. It has a beautiful private beach with it's own Coral Reef.....great for snorkelling......but be careful not to get stuck on some pretty difficult to manouver over flats......and watch for tarantulas and scorpions in and around the complex....both of which we found....or rather they found us! The only down sides to this resort were: we got a bit bored of the food in the buffet restaurant and the nightclub was dead...until we arrived..apart from the cockroaches!! (To be expected I guess in an area like this). Definitly do the walking tours the entertainment crew organise from the resort, but don't wear flip-flops on the hike, it's quite steep and slippery. Worth it for the views though!!! Take some gifts for the local farm owners and their children as they give you fruit/treats when you pass through their farm. Watch out for the mad puppy though!!!!! Likes to jump up! We went into Havana and I'd definitly recommend Club Tropicana if you have time. The fish and the burgers at the beach bar on resort are lovely and most resort staff seemed really friendly, eager to say hello and to help you in any way they can. Met loads of really funny and friendly people too, which is always a bonus. Peak season I'd imagine you'd find it quite difficult to get a good spot on the beach area or a bed around the pool. We had a ground floor appartment (lovely and spacious, basic but clean) at the top end of the resort near the pool and found it lovely (we'd only booked a standard room). It's quite a small resort but enough for us as we only stayed for 1 week. (Not long enough!!) Overall, a lovely place to stay and visit with stunning backdrop views, clear waters of all colours, a good beach, pleasant staff and great rooms. We met loads of people who were returning to the resort after a number of previous stays here and they couldn't recommend it enough. Some of the games/entertainment they lay on is also good fun and worth participating in....although the beach volleyball gets a bit serious!!!!! Fo rthe less able players, I'd recommend the water volleyball in the pool....bit less competitive and relaxed! One word of advice.....don't buy the burgers at the airport on your way home....they're awful!!!

Where do I start? We booked through Virgin for my 21st birthday . Virgin were very efficient and talking to other guests at Breezes they were quite reasonable too.

Airport

Arrived in Havana Airport no problems getting through customs it took about 5-10 minutes (but I think we were quite lucky!) my advice is get off the plane asap to beat the rush! We got to the luggage carousel and were there for like 40 minutes before someone mentioned that there was another carousel for our flight!!

Transfer

Took about 1 hr 15 mins.

Arrival at Breezes

We were all given forms to fill out and then we went to reception to check in. Everyone was also given a welcome drink - (slush puppy with rum!!) there is a porter service available but we didn't use it. They give you a little map to find your accomodation and this was very handy, they also have those boards that show you where you are!

Rooms

Very spacious! We were in a pool view room, good size bathroom with hairdryer on wall, bed is probably a super king size and you still have tons of space. It was very clean and tidy. You have a big double wardrobe, drawers, dressing table, two bedside tables, table and chairs and patio table chairs.

Staff

Couldn't do enough for you!! So long as you are polite with them, say your please's and thankyou's you will be treated with respect. Common Sense really! The lads at the pool bar are fab! me and my fiance really got on with them, tip them some peso's they deserve it! also daniella at the lobby bar is more than willing to have a chat with all guests and she was very nice! everyone's english was extremely good, the only disappointing thing I found was the reception staff. They seemed a bit stuck up and unfriendly, but we hardly had to go to reception so we didn't let that cast a shadow over the other amazing staff!

Food

You can eat at the buffet, Martino's and La Taberna. Buffet has your staple foods, Chicken, Pork, Beef, Fish, Rice, Pasta, Bread etc, If you can't find ANYTHING to eat you must be really fussy!
Martino's was beautiful food, italian style with bottle of wine at your table for no extra cost, La Taberna is more casual but still very enjoyable. During the day you can either go to the Beach Bar or the Buffet (we did both) the burgers and pizza's at the Beach Bar were very good!

Excursions

We did the Havana Special (101 Cucs pp), a day trip around Havana and then Tropicana show, Good - not the highlight of my holiday though.

Shopping Trip to Varadero - Chance to get some perfumes and to see some markets etc. One thing I will say is I saw some perfume (J'adore by Dior) in Varadero but it was actually cheaper in the hotel shop! so have a scout round before you buy! I think that cost 25 Cucs pp.

Catamayarn/Cayo Blanco - AMAZING!!!! 75 Cucs pp - what a bargain! they take you on a catamaran you go snorkelling in the sea, you go to a beautiful island where the sand is white and the sea is clearer than you're bath! I'm not a Sea or Beach type of person and I still loved it!! Best day of my holiday without doubt.

People at the hotel - We met some really lovely people! Probably far too many to mention, Pete and Brenda (Hope you're feeling better Pete!), Angie and Stuart, Mark and Julie, Justin and Charlotte, Dave (!!!???), Christine (Honourary Canadian) Gas Guzzler.... Aka Daniel and his wife Jane.

All in all Fantastic Holiday, Best birthday present I have ever had. So thanks to all the staff at Breezes who made it a holiday to remember.


Louise & Mark

P.S

Top Tip - Champagne (by the glass) is included as part of your All Inclusive!! Enjoy!!!

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