Having done lots of research before hand, my boyfriend and i decided to stay at the Breezes Jibacoa Resort. One of reasons we chose to stay here was because of the location. We wanted to stay near Havana so we could explore the city, but were put off by Varedero as it seemed very touristy. Just as we thought, the location was fantastic- very relaxed and right between the mountains and beach.
We had a garden view room with spectacular views. It was only a few feet to the beach and pool so i dont think it would be worth paying much extra for an upgrade. Both the beach and pool had lots of shade which was great for us.
The only real downside with this hotel was the food. Whilst there was always something ok to eat, we never found ourselves looking forward to the lunch or evening meals and it became very repetetive after a while. However, having talked to people who stayed at more expensive hotels in Cuba, i don't think this applied to just our hotel, so don't let the food put you off what is otherwise a fabulous place.
We travelled with Virgin holidays and we went on a tour of Havana with an overnight stay on our last day. This included a guided tour around the city, shopping at a market and entry into Club Tropicana, before being taken to the airport. This was a great excursion and Havana was a fantastic city! Well worth doing!

We (three single women the first year and two single women the second year, we lost the third traveller purely for timing reasons, she REALLY wanted to go again) spent a week in Jibacoa in October of 2006 and of 2007. Yes, we liked it that much we went back again. We had a fabulous time, even though we were younger singles.
The thing with this resort is it is so layed back, it doesn't matter who you are as long as you are easy going, you're going to be fine. here's a few of the "downfalls"
Always, ALWAYS let the room cleaner in (even if you are sun burnt and a tad bit hung over) because you will NOT be able to get more toilet paper until she comes again the next day.
Take tp with you if you go on day excursions.
If you are a picky eater, take some crackers. the grilled cheese at night and the breakfasts will make you happy. My one friend had a hard time with the food as she doesn't eat pork. However, she survived on the fantastic lunches at the beach bar.
book your massage as SOON as you get there
book your specialty restaurants as SOON as you get there (the Italian is to die for, dont' miss it. And the piano player is fantastic, be nice to him)
All the rooms are very well maintained. first year we had three beds already set up for us in the rooma nd it wasn't overly crowded. the second year we felt we could skate around the room.
Take your own plastic drink glasses. the glasses they give you are small.
If you take the havana/Caribana trip, be prepared for a VERY long day, good, but very long.
the staff at this resort is incredible. We went back for them. there are a lot of double, triple, 10 times been there travellers, everyone is friendly and for good conversation in the evening hit up the piano bar upstairs. Hector is the best bartender in the entire resort.
the beach is ok. it's not pure white sand, it's got it's rocks, and reefs and such, but clear. Beautiful.
The pool is very well kept, but not deep and not overly large in size and there is only one pool.
There are NO CHILDREN.....and the the lobby bar is 24/7. Which is good for those of you like us.
We also met people our second year that the one son (and don't let this detour you, he admits it was completely his fault) decided to run into his room, after being in the pool, slipped and kinda cracked his head open. he was up (and running) again within a day and some tylenol for the headache. the family said the medical staff on site was incredible. So for those of you who worry about that stuff, don't!
I can't say enough about this resort. Bus ride is about 45-hour from the airport but, everyone on your bus is going to be great to chat with .....promise.

We were at the Breezes Jibacoa from July 22 through the 29th. We travelled with Sunwing which I personally think is the best charter company flying to Cuba from Canada. We had one small problem on our flight down when they seated my son who has a disability by himself on the plane so he could not receive any assistance from other members of the family (we were all placed randomly around the plane). Thanks to a nice couple of young men willing to switch seats my other son was able to sit in the row opposite his (they both had isle seats) so they were side by side.

We arrived at the resort exactly one hour from when we left the airport..the scenery along the way was great and kept us all well distracted. The resort checked us in very quickly and gave us a cold tasty welcome drink to refresh us from the long ride. ALL my requests were me in regards to room locations and accommodations for my son and my FIL who also has a mobility issue. The rooms were very very clean and spacious and more than you could need. My husband and I got an ocean view room that came with a fully stocked mini bar with juice, water, mineral water, pop and diet cola. We filled out a little order form each day and it was always replenished with exactly what we asked for. The other members of our party had garden rooms and did not receive this service...but since I don't drink pop or juice...I would share mine with them daily.

The one thing that was strange at this resort is how SHALLOW the pool is...alarmingly so when you first get in...you have to virtually knell in the sallow end to get your body up to your armpits under the water. The deep end is about four feet deep and the shallow are I would guess would be about two and a half...perhaps three. The pool was very very warm but also very clean. The view from around the pool was breath taking...with the low mountains surrounding the resort. Lounge chairs are plentiful but shade is not...so you do have to arrive early to get a chair in the shade...the sun shades by the way are very nice and also attractive.

FOOD: THe food at this resort was far better than the sister resort in Varadero where we had stayed previously. They really were making an effort to make the food as tasty as possible considering their limited supply of seasonings. We had an excellent roast beef dinner one night , and a turkey dinner another. The seafood night was not so great as every thing was far over cooked and it was a realy shame that all that fresh seafood was dry and almost tasteless. I also found the pork, fish and chicken on the buffet line was over cooked all the time. The Italian a la carte was really good and we ate there two nights...the air conditioning was so nice, the service was exceptional and our steaks were very well cooked to our order and juicy and delicious. Many people talk bout the breakfasts being the best meals...I disagree...I didn't really enjoy the breakfast offerings...but by the third day had settled on a meal that suited me....dry ww toast (two trips through the toaster was required to actually toast it), a fried egg over easy (just ask the omlete guy..he will gladly cook it for you)..on slice of carefully selected bacon (it tended to be quite fatty if you weren't careful) and the fresh oj (this juice is divine and superior to anything we get here in Canada), papaya slices and cappuccino (which you get at the lobby bar). I have to finish this section by saying that the bread and buns in Cuba are the best I have ever eaten...just incredible...so if nothing else suites you...make a great sandwich from some of the meat available from the buffet. The pasta bar at dinner and lunch was ok and if you explained to the chef exactly how you wanted it ...he did his best to accomodate...things like extra garlic...or cooked in butter rather than oil...you can request and he will do for you.

SERVICE: the service at this resort was exceptional and I don't understand the people that have come here and complained about it...if you are getting poor service I think it is more a reflection of they type of person YOU are than the staff. ALL of them..including the gardeners and housekeeping, bar tenders, waiters, and the entertainers were wonderful. They were without exception cheerful, helpful and very eager to engage with you and do the best at their job possible. We discovered that the gardeners and other grounds staff...really enjoyed bubblicious gum and we would hand it out liberally each day to all of them...it was nice to see them happily chewing while they did there work. My husband brought some garden hand tools down that I no longer needed and shared them with the grounds staff...they were so excited and delighted to get the presents. I also gave a couple of gifts daily to my housekeeper as well as a tip..things like a foldable umbrella, some paper and pencil crayons for her kids and some gum, razors and tampons for her...pens and note pads.

BEACH: the beach is very nice and natural looking....lots of shade trees and vegetation growing around. There are some pebbles and rocks in the water at the entry in some places...but these were easy to aviod. The beach is public and availabe to the cubans that come to the various camps around the resort. If this bothers you...too bad...I would highly doubt you would accept beaches in your country being closed to you so that tourists can have private use. There is a couple who beg rather vigorously I will warn you...it was the same couple every day...a man and his sister....if you told them no...they left you alone..until the next day..the don't seem to remember who the spoke to the day before...LOL. I walked this beach for about an hour or so each day...going to the left of the resort...and past the Cuban camps and families...nobody else every bothered me for anything...and those that spoke to me were just wanting to talk and share about their lives and families...I really enjoyed talking to them all. The fact that I could share my vacation with local people was one of the best parts of this resort. There are no vendors on this beach like in Varadero...trying to sell you junk...which I really liked.

SNORKELING: was great. I spent hours out there every day and was so impressed with how healthy the ecosystem is. The variety and health of the coral was wonderful....there is fire coral so be careful...I discovered it by accident when a wave pushed me into it in a shallow area....it HURTS....the word FIRE...gives you a good description of the sensation. There is an abundance of fish though not the variety I have seen in Cozumel and the Mayan Riviera. There were none of the larger predator fish, or rays and turtles that you find in Mexico..but the coral is much healthier and the numbers of fish is greater. If you like to snorkel it is well worth spending the time to explore the entire shore of this beach.


Overall we had an excellent experience at this resort. The vibe is relaxed and quiet...don't expect a non stop party...infact the party rarely if ever even starts. The younger folks...teens and young adults do find each other and enjoy the disco and piano lounge till the wee hours of the night. ?The free hike up the mountain and to the local farms is very worth it. I really enjoyed visiting the farms...seeing the scenery of rural cuba and giving gifts to the children I met. They gave me gifts also which was really sweet. My husband took the scooter trip one day with one of my son's and loved it...they were gone for about two hours and had great fun driving through the cuban camps and to the town nearby. My other son and I took a cab into Havana which we enjoyed very much. If you want to do this ask if you can get Raphael to drive for you...he speaks fluent English and is friendly and very polite and easy to be with. The drive to Havana is an hour so if you don't like your driver I would be a real drag...or if he couldn't speak to you.

The beach grill is still not comleted but they were working hard on those two hot tubs by the pool...why in that heat anybody would want to use a hot tub is beyond me....but I guess in November through January it might be nice. Have a great trip and don't hesitate for a minute to book this resort if you are looking for a quiet relaxed vacation...away from the tourist areas. The service is great, food better than expected and on some days was very good. There are a variety of trips available to take from the resort if you like to get out and about.

THe manager of the resort is Vivian...she is great and will go out of her way to help you if you need it. We had a local friend from Varadero come down to the resort one day (we brought him a small present) and the guard would not let him enter the resort. My husband talked with Vivian and she let him in without hesitation...we got to visit in the lobby and enjoy a coffee for a couple hours. When we left she ran out to say goodbye and gave my husband a bottle of rum as a gift...that was just so nice.

I first went to Cuba with my wife in 2002 (Breezes, Jibacoa), since then we have been to three 4/5 star resorts on the islands with mixed experiences. After our previous holiday in Cuba we decided that we probably would not return to the islands again! We have just returned from our second visit to Jibacoa; we traveled from Toronto with CANJET.

How was this holiday? Excellent.

Flight was efficient, but basic.
Cuba customs; from landing to leaving the airport took about 20 minutes.
Check in at the hotel was also fast. We booked a Sea view room which was basic, but spotless, cool, and comfortable.
Food; a little limited, but cooked properly. White wine wasn't to our taste, but we enjoyed the red wine served at the tables.
Service; good throughout the hotel.
Pool; large, shallow and very relaxing
Beach; clean, comfortable with excellent snorkeling straight off the beach.
Guests; lots of Brits, Canadians, and Germans. Couples and families with teenage children. No boorish behavior.

What made it excellent? Very relaxing. Excellent setting. Well trained staff who take pride in their jobs. This is the one hotel in Cuba I would be happy to go back to again and again.