Cameleon Villas Jibacoa
Mar 31 – Apr 7, 2007

This resort was chosen because it was small, quiet and has great snorkeling. We are a couple in our early 40’s, avid snorkelers and are beach people. This is our second trip to Cuba; we were in Holguin last year. Overall, we had a fabulous week that was relaxing & quiet. We will definitely be returning.

Flight & transfer
We flew the afternoon flight out of Toronto, on Westjet. It was a great flight…Westjet is on of the best! The seats are comfy and the staff helpful. “Lunch” was a turkey deli sandwich, cheese & crackers and a butter tart. No complaints, except the butter tart was stale.

Arrived at Varadero a few minutes early…no problems at immigration and getting our luggage. Changed $150 CDN to CUC at the airport, again no problems. Hubby bought a couple of beers and pops for $8 CUC, $2 each. Great to have the refreshments for the 50 – 60 min. bus ride to the resort. The transfer bus was good and included a rep from Cubanatours. The rep was informative and tried hard to be entertaining (he was).

Check-in / Front Desk
On arrival, had DH get the luggage and I went to check-in. Staff was friendly and efficient. All the rooms are already assigned, so check-in was quick. Inquired about a safe and was instructed to come back the next day. Bellhop was quick and again informative. When we asked if dinner was still available as it as already 8:45pm, he said he would call ahead to the buffet to keep it open an extra ½ hour to 10pm to feed us newbies. Great service.

Rooms
As noted in other review, the rooms are in groups of 4 or 6, in bungalows. Each room has its own patio with 2 chairs and small side table. This was great for sitting at for reading or just relaxing. We met many people at the resort this way. The rooms themselves are fairly basic but were comfortable and clean. We did not have any ants in our room. Any food we had was put in to the fridge for safekeeping (from ants). There were two bugs over course of the week…but we are in the tropics! Our room had 2 doubles, which we pushed together…felt like a huge king sized bed! If you like your pillow high…bring yourself an extra one. We brought our memory contoured pillows with us…can’t seem to sleep well w/o them! No problemos… our maid, Yanet, was great! Watch out for the floors when wet…they can get pretty slick!

Beach
We spent most of our time here…while the sand is not white…it is just fine. Snorkeling is great…the reef is very close by and the amount of marine life is quite varied. We brought our own snorkel equipment, as did many of the other guests. We tried to snorkel everyday, however there was dependant on the weather and how windy it was…no point going if you can’t see anything! The hobie cat rides were awesome. We got in some good waves and got really wet…boy it was FUN! Would advise you to stay on the part of the beach closest to the lobby/beach bar. This part is quieter and you don’t hear the noise/music from the pool.

Pool
We did not spend a great deal of time here. A couple of afternoons at most. We did catch one of the afternoon dance shows and the Band. Both were good, but by the end of the week…a little repetitive (they play at the shows and during dinner at the buffet. There were always loungers available, as well as shade if desired.

Food
As they say…you don’t go to Cuba for the food. I am a very picky eater. Generally Breakfast is good, lunch okay, dinner, not so good. Breakfast always had made to order eggs, a veggie, hotdogs and bacon. There was also an assortment of cold cuts & cheese if you wanted a sandwich. The fruit / cereal bar was always fresh. Lunch always featured a grilled protein, pasta, fish and fries. While the variety was limited, everything appeared fresh and was replenish regularly. On one day, there was fresh shrimp on the grill. Very good, but the heads were still attached (I’m okay with this) and on another there was liver. Needless to say, it was not very popular! There were other meat dishes to choose from on that day though. Dinner, I found it to have slimmer pickings…there was usually a roast of some kind (Turkey (twice that week), pork and grouper), the same pasta, boiled potatoes and veggies. There are a large number of mixed salads (didn’t try any) and a small salad bar (cabbage, some lettuce, cucumbers and carrots) with oil & vinegar for dressing. As I said, I’m picky…I know others enjoyed the food, I just like more taste! Definitely bring your own condiments…ketchup, parm. Cheese (for pasta) and hot sauce. They had Tabasco available if that’s good for you. If you are still hungry after these meals…you could get a grilled hot dog or ham & cheese sandwich from the pool bar. I enjoyed the hot dog, and the ham & cheese were not bad.

Ala Carte – Thought this was excellent. The appetizers were good, included chicken salad, shrimp & crab and green salad. This was already very filling. Entrée, we had the fish, which was Mahi Mahi. Beautifully grilled, with lobster on top and rice with beans. Dessert was a choice of flan or fresh fruit. All was excellent.

Bars
There are two bars at this resort. Would say that the best one is the Lobby/Beach bar. The bartenders were excellent (Alberto is very good) and pour good and yummy drinks. Try the chocolate monkey…it’s like dessert and YUM YUM! The mojitos here were definitely better than the Pool bar. We found the staff at the Pool bar to be a little stand offish and not as friendly as the Lobby bar. Here too, we did not find the drinks poured as good as the Lobby bar.
Service at the Lobby bar was always prompt.

Excursions
We went to Havana for the day…our guide was good and very informative. Would recommend that to anyone that has not been to Havana. This is an amazing city, very old and full of cool places to explore. We did not go on any other excursions, however we spoke to others that did the Catamaran & Matanzas River tours…and they highly recommended this as well.

Overview
The resort is a little tired, however while we were there, there was always ongoing maintenance. This is the first 3* resort we have been to and thought it was excellent value for what we received. This is a very laid back resort…there is nothing fancy schmancy here! This resort would not be suitable to anyone looking to party & dance, but, if you are interested in some R & R, meeting great people and just doing nothing…this is the right place to be. We will be back!

First thing, remember that it's a 3 star.

Rooms:
- very basic. The bed is pretty hard but liveable.
- safe in the room (you pay extra) and you use your room key to open it. This leads me to believe that staff could theoretically have access to it but we had no issues.
- the maids were very good and cleaned up everything. Leave tips/gifts on the pillows so they know it's for them.
- there is a mini fridge. I suggest putting any food or drink inthere as the ants show up mighty fast if you leave it laying about.

Beach:
- long beach and very private feeling. Tons of space.
- also alot of crab on the beach so watch where you are walking
- jelly fish are common. I recommend bringing a small bottle of vinegar just in case.

People:
- the other guests seemed to be 35+. We are in our twenties so there were very few people our age but it didn't bother us.
- the staff were fine. Not great, not bad, just fine.

Food:
- food in Cuba is bad anywhere you go and this place was no different.
- I highly recommend you bring snacks. (ie granola bars)

Overall when you pay very little for a week long trip this is what you get. So, go in with an open mind, make the best of it and you will enjoy it.

We stayed at this resort Mar 10-17,2007, Ontario’s March break week. We were with a group of 6 adults, all around 50, 5 teens and 1 ten year old child. We flew Air Transat from Toronto. Our request for 5 rooms all together was not met by the front desk. They say they never received the request from the travel agent. We did manage to get them fairly close together though. The rooms are in one story villas spread out over the resort. Some are in groups of 5-6 in a row facing the ocean, while others are in groups of 4, with 2 facing the ocean and 2 facing the mountains. Each room has a patio with a table and chairs. Much more private than a high rise hotel. The grounds are lovely, with lots of trees and flowering bushes. The rooms are very basic. They have a mini fridge and a TV with HBO, one queen bed, two three quarter beds or a three beds.
The beach is gorgeous. Warm clear water with coral reefs close to shore which makes for great snorkeling. We saw amazing tropical fish and coral formations. The sand is not white, but light brown like our Ontario beaches. The beach at Cameleon Villas is much longer than the beach at Breezes next door, but guests at either resort can use the beach anywhere. There are lots of shade trees on the beach, and lots of plastic loungers, although many are cracked.
The week we were there was quite windy, resulting in red or yellow flag days every day but two. This means the dreaded jellyfish are in abundance. I suggest taking a whistle and having a spotter watching for jellyfish while others snorkel. On calm days you don’t see them. There are paddle boats and kayaks available for you to take out. There is also a dive shop. Snorkeling equipment is available, but I suggest bringing your own.
The resort has a large double pool that is situated close to the beach. You can sit by the pool and still enjoy the ocean view. There are activities around the pool you can join if you wish, water polo, exercises, dance lessons etc. A couple of times a week the house band plays by the pool. The pool bar offers a variety of yummy cocktails such as mojitos, pina coladas, cuba libres, rum punches etc etc. Two kinds of beer - Cristal and Buccanneer. The bartenders will make virgin drinks for the kids and non drinkers. We enjoyed delicious Spanish coffees at the lobby bar after dinner. The snack bar has hot dogs and ham and cheese sandwiches only, no other snacks.
Meals are served in the dining hall buffet style. There are lots of things to choose from. Usually pork, chicken or fish with each meal. Two kinds of soup are offered each lunch and dinner. We had one dinner at the a la carte restaurant which was very good. Dessert at the buffet was ice cream, always lots of fresh fruit, and a variety of cakes and cookies. Freshly squeezed orange juice was served every morning but one. Red and white wine are served with dinner.
The staff at this resort are, for the most part, very hard working and friendly. They appreciate any tips or little gifts you can give them. The maids work very hard to keep the rooms spotless. Leave them a little money or some gifts if you can. They share with others.
Don’t go to this resort for the nightlife. Each evening there was a little show in the theatro put on by the animation team. They tried hard, but they were all pretty hoaky. After the show the theatro became the disco, but most nights it was totally empty. People sat around the pool or lobby bars in the evening and went to bed early.
The Nolitours rep is there in the morning to book excursions. They offer a variety of them. We preferred to do our own thing with private taxis. You can also rent a mini-van or bus for a larger group. You will save money doing it this way, and go where you want on your own time.
Overall, we had a great week at this 3 star resort. It is not as well appointed as the 4 star Breezes next door, but is less crowded, has a larger beach, and from what I hear, better drinks! This is not a good choice for anyone who likes to party, or those who prefer upscale furnishings, etc. But, it is a great resort for anyone who just wants to relax in peace and quiet and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.

Jake and Julie Feb 15-Mar 2/07
Cameleon Villas Jibacoa
I will try not to repeat the reviews listed. We are in our 70’s and just returned for 2 weeks from Cameleon villas. This is our second trip to Cuba. Last year we stayed at Breezes resort (4 star)-next door to Cameleon (3 star). There are some differences. First the Breezes Jibacoa (250 rooms) has a much better selection when is comes to meals.(including lobster night on Thursdays). Also the beach bar has a better food selection. The rooms are more up to date including a bathtub with the shower. They also have an extra bar during the entertainment evenings. The Breezes and Cameleon share the same beach. You are able to walk from one to another-but that is where the benefits end. There is no limit where you can swim. The service at both is excellent. The friendly staff speaks fairly good English and is always helpful. The cleanliness at both is exceptional. I admire the work ethics of the staff. We would come back from the beach the rooms would be spotless, our clothes would be folded, and our room sprayed for ants -which like to live in the rooms where food is available. (killed a spider-when we returned was covered with ants).This is the tropics.
The meals at Cameleon are mainly limited to pork, chicken, ham, fish (mahi the best) and one-day prawns, roast whole pig, and turkey. The rooms are 6 and 2 type villas. We never had to worry about finding loungers at the beach and the pool.
Rudy and Pedro at the main bar can make some unbelievable drinks. Although the bar close at 11.00pm , they work 24 hours and have the next day off- this is standard. The girls at the desk, (Yara, Maricely, Lili, Marile, Maybet, Madilaine and Lisbel) are unbelievable in the help and friendship they have given us. Bring some goodies (crayons, pencils, scribblers for their children).
The weather during February is there winter month. We had strong wind and cool weather the first four days we arrived. Coming from Winnipeg and -30C and going to 19C we just loved it. Although we are the only people that swam in the pool during this period, we enjoyed every day. The temp then went from 24C to 31C for the next (sunny) ten days. We both came home with great tans.
The main difference between Breezes and Cameleon is that what we paid for one week at the Breezes, we got two weeks at the Cameleon.
I do not believe there is a better place to snorkel. I have included pictures of the snorkeling I did 300 yards from the beach at Cameleon. Would we go back- in a minute.
One warning: Cameleon lets you use their snorkeling equipment for the length of your stay. Day before we left (we left our equipment outside) someone walked away with it. The cost to me $50.00C.
Bring your own and keep it inside the room.