We stayed at this lovely resort from Feb 2 to 9. I cannot say enough nice things about the place. While some people would be put off by the hour drive from the Veradero airport...it certainly goes quickly as you are mesmerized by the country side and the lifestyle of the people. You'll see plenty of cows, and horses by the road side and lots of rambling hills with palm trees. Everywhere in Cuba needs a coat of paint!

The resort is lovely....I can't say enough about the place. The oceanview room we had was lovely and of course the view spectacular. But if you want sun on your balcony and shelter from the wind, oceanview rooms are not for you...they are always in the shade, and you will get the wind off the ocean. I think next time we'll ask for a poolside room for a change. I'm a bath tub person...there was plenty of hot water...and the water is soft...my hair always felt great and had so much more body than here (could it be our pollution weighing it down?)...and your skin is always left so soft.

This time of year presents a lot of wind. While the beach was breezy, the pool area was not. So there was always somewhere to catch a tan, relax and read a book or go for a swim. While we are pampered with heated pools here in Toronto, the pool here isn't heated...but beautifully clean...and once you get past the initial pain of entering the pool, the swim is great and refreshing....

I've read the other reviews and some comments about the staff...I cannot say that I encountered one single miserable face...it didn't matter if it was your chambermaid, or the gardeners or your waiter...nothing but smiles and warm welcomes. While everywhere it says no tipping...once you understand the economy and that these lovely people only make 18 CUC a month, you don't mind tipping. My suggestion is you find a waiter/waitress you like, and tip...and stick with them wherever their section is...and you'll be treated like royalty...and you'll get some great conversation with a local Cuban.

Yes bring goodies for the maids...but my feeling is bring items that everyone else isn't bringing....I took some good junk jewelery (I'm a forever ebay shopper...and didn't mind handing over some of my costume jewelery that only cost me a few dollars)...my maid loved the items...I also left toiletries etc that I didn't want to repack...she came and personally thanked me.

The grounds are emaculate...even after a storm, there wasn't a leaf laying on the ground...the grounds are kept so precisely...the gardens, the palm trees, the sand, the lawns...all beautiful.

All the guests were lovely too. I read in another review of someone complaining that their neighbours smoked....if you are an adamant non smoker, a country where cigars are top of the list...this isn't the country to visit. People who don't usually smoke, all seem to buy the cigars and smoke them on the premises. Of course there is no smoking in the dining rooms etc....but people who are true blue smokers will love the fact that you won't encounter anyone telling you to butt out.

You'll read in someone else's review about sharing balconies...that's not really as it appears....when you go out on your balcony, there is only a metal divider that separates you from your neighbour. I ended up having late afternoon chats on the balcony with the newlyweds next door, while I did my needlework. I found this very pleasant. Mixing with the other guests was always easy...and you can mix as much or as little as you want.

We met so many lovely people from all around Canada, England, Germany. This resort has no screaming, obnoxious kids...not allowed. Of course there is always one adult who sticks out in the crowd!!!!!LOL
If you want a nice relaxing holiday in a mini paradise with the option of joining in on excursions, dance lessons, sports etc...this is a great place. If you want lots of rowdy nightlife this isn't the place...the evening entertainment ends at 10:30pm and the disco is open from 11 to 2am. One of the bars is open 24 hours for those who insist of consuming the amount they paid for the trip.

The average age was mid 50's I'd say, and the majority of people were staying 2 weeks. We met lots of people who were there for their 2, 3 or 4th time. This resort has only been open since 1999.

We would like to stay 2 weeks next time...I wouldn't hesitate to tell you to go to this place...it was like a second honeymoon for my hubby and me. We usually holiday in timeshare properties...so it was delightful to not have to cook, wash a dish, pick up a towel.

The only drawback I can say is that we went via Sunquest...and they fly at night. Sunwing goes in the morning of the same days. Going home late in the night is tiring, and the planes are usually late as you are the last flight for that plane...which has done 4 flights that day! Skyservice...they are very strict at Toronto international for the size and weight of your carry on...when you leave Cuba, they don't even care what carryon you take. The planes are tight...the poor fellow sitting beside me had his knees touching the seat in front of him. I'm only 5'5" and my knees ached after 3 hours of flight! The meal is generally lousy....we flew from toronto at 4pm and they served us a bistro lunch! A small bun and a piece of cheese. We didn't get into the resort until after 10pm and of course dinner was over...thank you Breezes for always having light finger foods available! So my suggestion...eat before you get on the plane!

If you want cigars...buy them at the hotel, they are less expensive than in Havana...although everyone tells you the price is supposed to be the same everywhere! Don't buy cigars off strangers even if the deal is magnificent...you might be getting rolled up banana leaves...and you might just get fined at the airport....we didn't get asked anything at the airport, but we know people who've had cigars confiscated and fined big money!

When we took the Havana tour, we took the one that included a tour of the cigar factory. It was fascinating.

Oh and ladies....whenever you go to a washroom off the the resort, remember to check for toilet paper before you go in...lots of times there isn't any unless you want to pay someone for a few sheets! Doesn't hurt to carry a packet of kleenex with you in case you get stuck.

I think everyone has the same reaction to Havana...the city has the potential to rival any European city for spectacular architecture...if only it wasn't crumbling down....a fresh coat of paint would do wonders...but that isn't a priority.

The people in general are lovely...you will see very few beggars, or people trying to sell you something...

All in all...I'd love to go back and explore more of the country....

I travelled with three friends - all single and all in our early thirties. We weren't interested in the frat party scene and didn't find it here which was a bonus. I would definitely return. I echo what everyone else says about the snorkeling and the cool pool but here are the tips I think are most valuable for you to consider:

Top Five Tips:
1) go on the scooter tours. The guides (Javier and Adrian) are friendly and knowledgeable and speak excellent English. You will learn so much about Cuban culture and life and get to see glimpses of it that you would never get on a large tour. Plus the scooter tours are CHEAP (10CC-15CC). Tip these guys - they deserve it - and bring along some simple gifts for the children in the fisher village.

2) Skip the overpriced (50+CC) package bus tour into Havana. You will learn hardly nothing from the guide who thinks she is the cutest thing on earth but is all sizzle no steak. She will take you to overpriced cigar stores where you have to wait in lines (cheapest prices were surprisingly in the hotel gift store) Instead get a cab (Tony was our driver and he was excellent). You will need four people because cars have to be full but use it as an opportunity to meet like minded tourist. Even if you don't speak spanish, they will know what to show you and where to bring you. When we were asking about this we asked our hotel rep and she quoted us $65CC to get into Havana. Interesting because when we asked at the hotel front desk 10 feet away they quoted us $55 CC and then when we walked an additional 10 feet out to the front of the hotel and asked there the price was $45CC. So then we meet our driver (Tony) - he was a retired criminal prosecutor for the state. He brought us into Havana and drove us to the flea market (see next tip) waited there for us, drove us to a hotel where we could exchange money and arrange our Tropicana tickets for that night, took us on a fabulous driving tour (up to the Jesus statue on the other side of the bay and to the fortress, brought us to a cuban restaurant for dinner (he dined with us and we bought him dinner), brought us to the hotspots everyone has to see and that we went to on the bus tour the day before, brought us into Chinatown in Havana, brought us to the Tropicana show, picked us up after the show, drove us to three clubs until we found one we liked - La Casa de la musica - picked us up two hours later and drove us back to the hotel. He was with us for over 12 hours brought us everywhere and guess what the price was???? 90CC!!! We tipped him extravagantly over and above that but it was well worth it. Divide that by four and think about the price of the packaged cheezy tour that cost $50CC each. Again, even if your driver doesn't speak spanish - get a guidebook and tell him where you want to go. It was an amazing amazing day!

3) although people slag the touristy flea market in other reviews there are some amazing take-homes there to consider. One is hand carved wood sculptures. they are beautiful and ridiculously cheap (I got one that is over a foot long for only 5CC). The other is original artwork (canvas and prints). The price is so so cheap compared to what you would pay at home and there is something for every taste. Contrary to what the guidebooks will tell you, no one said a word to me about my pieces when I was at the airport and I wish I had bought more even though most pieces were not sold with a license because it wasn't an issue. You can barter but see tip #4.

4) Contrary to what you may hear, although the average wage for workers there is very low (about 25CC per month), there is generally far less poverty than one sees in the poorer areas of home. But people do lack in the luxuries we take for granted. Communism at work - so you can choose to be cheap and barter or not tip just because the resort is all inclusive but a little will go a long way for these people. If you are going to bring things - bring little gifts for kids - but we found that things they have difficulty getting (soap, toothpaste, cosmetics)and money was most appreciated. Remember that a 1CC tip is worth a day's wages... and be generous!

5) Skip the cheezy hotel after dinner show... groan!

Just returned a few days ago from Breezes Jibacoa. My husband and I went via Sunwing out of Toronto. Here is my brief review of Sunwing Service, the resort and the excursions we participated in. We have traveled to quite a few places including Europe, various locations in Mexico, and other locations in Cuba.

Sunwing: Flights were on time food and snacks were fine staff was alright. I found the staff on the flight home not as prepared or organized as on the way up, nothing was offered to drink (not even water)except during our meal. It is about a 3.5 hr flight.
Try to book on the right hand side of the plane if possible as the seats have more room, I know it sounds silly...

The Sunwing Rep at the hotel was very sweet but not very informative.

Breezes Jibacoa:
Hotel Rooms - quite nice and roomy, ended up with a lovely view of the garden and ocean. Found it a little strange balconies were shared with your neighbour. Tubs are nice and deep and shower pressure was great (lots of hot water). They supply shampoos, location, conditioner, bath gels as well as a hairdryer and iron and board so if you'd like to save some room in your suitcase ...

There is plenty of closet space, hangers and drawers to put your clothing in.

Food - Food is very repetitive but fine. You wont go hungry but don’t get too excited. Seafood night is Thursday and it is definitely the best night to eat at the buffet. If you are a fish lover make sure you eat your lunch at the beach bar & grill, they have fresh grilled fish such as marlin, snapper, mahi mahi which is excellent. We didn’t get around to trying the Cuban Restaurant. The Italian Restaurant was a nice change of scenery but the food was only mediocre.

Drinks – the pool bar makes the better drinks. The wine at the buffet restaurant is absolutely the worst, lol. The wine in the Italian Restaurant is somewhat better. The Spanish coffees at the lobby bar are a must after dinner ;-)

Hotel Services – money exchange is quick and easy at the front desk, just use Canadian dollars. The rec staff is pretty good and there are some fun things available such as beach volleyball, sand hockey, dancing, water aerobics, etc. The hotel also has bikes, kayaks, snorkeling gear and hobie cat rides available for free. Massages are available for 25 cuc for 45 minutes and she is pretty good. The nightly entertainment however has to be some of the worst I’ve seen, lol. We found the prices of the cigars, rum and coffee to be better at the hotel gift shop then in Havana.

Staff - The rooms and other hotel facilities are kept very clean. Compared to many other resorts I did not find the staff here overly friendly.

Beach/Grounds – the hotel grounds are absolutely beautiful, the gardeners seem to be working non-stop. The pool area is lovely and very clean. The beach is gorgeous, there are plenty of loungers to go around and the sand is raked with a machine every morning. There is a reef not far out from the beach that offers some snorkeling possibilities, nothing too special but nice to check out nonetheless. There seems to be quite a lot of sand flies so if you plan on playing a lot of beach sports you may want to bring some bug stuff.

Excursions – we took the Havana Special offered through Sunwing. It was of good value for the particular guide we had wasn’t very good (Libia). We may have been better off going into Havana ourselves, hanging out and then seeing the Tropicana show (which is a must). We took a scooter tour with Havier (available through the hotel) for 15 cuc per scooter, it was a great value and he was excellent, you could really learn a lot about day to day life in Cuba from him. There is also a free walking tour up the big hill behind the hotel, it is also very informative. Be prepared to suck some wind for about 15 minutes and bring some goodies for the families you meet along the way ;-) The whole walk takes about an hour so bring some water.

That’s about it. It was a very nice week.

My husband and I just returned from a week stay at the SuperClubs Breezes Jibacoa and enjoyed every single day. We chose this resort based on other reviews and would like to add a few comments of our own. We usually vacationed at larger resorts, and were looking for a smaller, more intimate resort, and this fit the bill nicely.

We were lucky to have 6 green/yellow flag beach days and had the ability to snorkel everyday with no sign of jellyfish. The reef is incredible. Go out as far as where the water changes to light blue, the drop off is amazing.

We found the staff to be friendly and very helpful, remember they do not work at the same pace as we do in Canada.

Pool is cold, but refreshing. We were in search of the hot tub, and found the jacuzzi by the tennis court and holds 5 people .. maybe.

The morning walk was very interesting, .. if you survive the 1st 10 minutes, and the family is very friendly. We had the luxury of seeing the inside of their home, and realized the impact our small gifts of basic neccesities could make to this family.

The trip to Coloninal Havana very informative, and worth the money. Lunch was served family style and was a long day. The crafter's market is busy, and found the straw basket/purses to be deal.

If you have any questions, please email, we would be happy to respond.