My better-half and I returned on April 19 from a two-week stay at the Cubanacan Brisas Sierra Mar resort, situated about 60 km west of Santiago de Cuba. I’ll put this review together in point form, and try not to be too long-winded.

Flights, customs and airports – We flew Sunwing from Montreal through Varadero to Santiago (southbound) and direct from Santiago to Montreal (northbound). Other than a very short weather-related delay in Montreal (de-icing) both flights operated on time and were very comfortable. On-board food is great (hot meals with wine) and we even had a glass of champagne on the way south. We had previously reserved extra leg room seats towards the front of the aircraft, and they were worth every penny. We passed through Customs at both ends with no problems (we took two NJT suitcases with us), and the airport experience was good. The only problem we had is that along with our NJT suitcases, we were 21 kilos overweight on the way south. This cost us $210.00, and there was no allowance for humanitarian aid. What bothers me is there were several people in line in front of us who checked in as many as three bicycles along with their luggage, but because it was sporting equipment, they paid no extra. This policy is entirely unfair and I’ll be addressing my concerns with Sunwing and their CEO.

Transfer to hotel – This is an adventure, not only for the drive through the city of Santiago de Cuba, but also for the breathtaking scenery along the coast and poor condition of the road between the city and the hotel. The road has suffered through several hurricanes and associated washouts in recent years, and for the most part is absolutely horrid. We were told the plan is to have it entirely resurfaced from Santiago to Pilon in two years – knowing the pace of construction in Cuba I’ll be very surprised if it’s done by then. Road crews are working on the section closest to Santiago, however progress seems slow.

Check-in and rooms – Check-in was trouble free and we were assigned a room on the sixth floor on the south end of the upper building (room 621 for those of you obsessed with details). We had a superb view of the bay and the Sierra Maestra mountains (this hotel, by the way, is in arguably the most beautiful and spectacular part of Cuba – there’s a potential photo everywhere you look). Our room was smaller than what we’ve been used to in Cuba, and somewhat dated, however it was clean and had everything we needed. The a/c worked, we always had at least warm water and lots of it, the bed was very comfortable and in all honesty, most of our time was spent outside of the room anyway. Our maid, Marlenys, did a wonderful job in keeping things clean and neat for us and entertained us with sheet and towel sculptures daily. While some people have complained about the elevator service to the upper floors, we never even tried it so cannot comment. All the stair climbing was good for us anyway!

Staff – The staff is absolutely wonderful. Sure, there were a couple from whom you couldn’t coax a smile out of if your life depended on it, but overall they were great folks and we miss them already. The staff is one reason this resort has so many return visitors – how could you not go back to a place where you are treated well and everyone seems like family? Special mention goes to Marlenys, Marvelys (you look absolutely marvellous!), Enoel, Eldis, May, Sandra, Elita, Jolie, Elizabeth, Osmay, Remigio, José, Omar, Anthony and Ernesto – heck, special mention to everyone!

Entertainment – On the whole, very good. Music was everywhere (bands or pianists in the lobby, at the Ranchon beachside restaurant and La Mariposa international a la carte) and the nightly shows were very well done with excellent dancers. Obviously if you’re staying for more than one week the shows will repeat, but it’s no big deal. We enjoyed them just as much the second time around. Some of the pianists and bands indulge in playing North American classics or film music; a bit of a pain when all we wanted to hear was Cuban music. But, they all take requests and we made sure they slipped some musica Cubana in there as well. There seemed to be lots of activities for young and old during the day if you hung out at the pool; beachside activities were non-existent (probably due to the sand temperature) which suited us just fine. Nothing worse than a sand-covered volleyball knocking over your Mojito...

Other guests – We travelled late in the season so the hotel was lightly loaded. The majority of the guests were Cuban (most of whom are rewarded by the government for hard work with a subsidized stay of two or four days at the hotel) with some Canadians and Germans thrown in for good measure. We made some great friends during our stay (Hi Jayne and Hillary [our new family members]; Ben and Mary; Max and Tiffy!) and spent an interesting few hours one evening with a great Cuban couple (Marcos and Marisa) from Santiago who were staying there. Many of the Canadian and several of the European guests are multiple-repeat visitors – we will be joining that select group as well…

Food – Always a subjective area and major point of contention at any resort due to personal tastes and likes/dislikes. We found the food good and nourishing at the buffet, plentiful (unless you came late after the hungry/greedy hoards had their way) and fresh. The salads were great (although we had no lettuce the first few days) and there was lots of fresh bread and desserts. Made-to-order omelettes in the morning as well as freshly squeezed orange juice started off the day. All a la carte restaurants were very good (our favourite was probably the Mariposa, although I found them all great) and the snack bar operated flat out, again normally because of the Cuban guests. Regardless, we never went hungry.

I can’t say if you will like the food or not. We are not picky eaters so the food was very much to our liking. Someone else who was there the same time as us may not be so gracious, so you’ll have to make up your own mind if you go there.

Drinks – What’s not to like? Cuban rum in vast quantities, Cristal or Bucanero beer (seemingly heavy on the Bucanero) and some of the best coffee I’ve had since our last trip to Cuba! We were without carbonated mineral water for the first few days (a resupply issue) but the bartenders made do with lemon-lime. If you like your Cuba Libres with Diet Coke, it was sometimes scarce as well, which caused me to switch to mojitos or Ron Collins. Such a hardship . House wine is the domestic Soroa label, which, while not German Riesling or French Bordeaux, is quite satisfying.

Excursions – These can be difficult to arrange at this time of year, due to the lack of guests in the hotel, the minimum number necessary to arrange a trip, and (we think) the bad roads between the resort and Santiago de Cuba. Many excursions required a minimum booking of 6 or 10 people, and I think many people just don’t want to bounce over that road again for the sake of a few hours in downtown Santiago (in 34 degree heat). However, we did manage to arrange a tour to La Gran Piedra and the La Isabelica coffee plantation museum for four of us (thanks to Gabriel from Sunwing and Elbert from Hola Sun for their efforts to make it happen for us) and we travelled west of the hotel to a health “camp” for a therapeutic mud bath and massage. Both were great tours and the Gran Piedra tour is something everyone should do. Phenomenal views from the summit of the rock in all directions; an added bonus is that it’s 10 degrees cooler at the top than on the coast!

Setting and grounds – The BSM enjoys an absolutely spectacular setting between the Sierra Maestra mountains and the Caribbean Sea (hence the name). There is a photo everywhere you look. We spent a lot of time just looking at the scenery around the resort from whatever vantage point we could find. The grounds are covered in lush flowers and vegetation – someone is always watering, pruning and trimming and they take a lot of pride in the look of their resort. The most beautiful placed we’ve been to in Cuba, bar none.

Infrastructure – Some of the facilities are starting to show their age and a lack of maintenance, caused no doubt by availability of resources and a supply route full of potholes. Having said this, the maintenance staff does their best to ensure everything works the way it should and the place is clean and presentable. The lobby and central areas are still in excellent shape; the rooms are dated and could use a remodelling but they are clean and comfortable.

Beach and pool – We’re beach people and I think out of the two weeks we spent one afternoon at the pool. The pool is maybe a bit small for some, but suited us fine – less of a paddle to the swim-up bar! The beach was great! No, it’s not white sand like Cayo Coco or Varadero, but it’s a great beach with shallow water for a good distance and lots of shade if you need it. The sand gets quite hot in the afternoon, so a pair of flip-flops or water shoes is a must unless you want to burn your feet. There’s also a reef about 300 metres out from shore with beautiful coral and aquarium-like tropical fish. Bring a snorkel, mask, fins and an underwater disposable camera!

Just got back from Cuba, where we stayed for the first time at the Brisas Sierra Mar. I must say first of all that we are seasoned travellers and usually stay at nothing under a 4 star resort. We also travel in a large group so we are always the loudest and probably most rambunctious and sometimes demanding group anywhere we go. Not demanding in a bad way, its just that we like to do things and sometimes it doesn't occur to us that it can't be done or that it might be hard to get things done. Like renting Jeeps in a remote location!

First impressions
Upon arriving at the resort after a long day of travelling we were met at the lobby by a welcoming committee offering drinks, smiles and hospitality which was exactly what we needed. The road was long and the potholes were plenty. I hope the road gets fixed before we go back.

The Rooms
Yes, they were small and in need of some repair but after the initial shock we settled in just fine. There were no fridges in the rooms we stayed in and no bottled water either which we thought would be a problem but we were provided with thermal jugs that we filled at the bar each night and all was well again. Also don't look for a remote control for the TV, there aren't any. Minor inconvenience really! Oh, the best thing I almost didn't mention. Every night we fell asleep listening to the softly falling rain and the sound of the ocean from our balcony. Each morning we got up to a glorious sunrise and a beautiful ocean view. Where else on earth can you get that kind of experience!

The Grounds and View
Nothing could compare to the view from this resort. Breathtaking is the only word I could use. You only had to point your camera to get a beautiful picture. Snorkeling was fantastic, we went out everyday that we were on the resort.

Excursions
We rented Jeeps or "Heeps" as the Cubans call them a went out adventuring as we love to in Cuba. Had a wonderful Lobster Lunch on a small island about 15 minutes down the road going towards the town. Full lobster for $20 CUC or a Mix of 1/2 lobster, shrimp and white fish for $15 CUC. There were other dishes that were very reasonable as well pork, chicken, etc. We were taken out to the island on a paddle boat where we enjoyed lunch, drinks and snorkeled then we were dropped off by the road where we had parked. We went to Santiago on the catamaran and stopped on the way to snorkel a ship wreck. It was wonderful. We also went to the Big Rock which is a mountain on the other side of Santiago. There is a restaurant and hotel with separate cabins up there. The restaurant is not quite to the top of the mountain so you have to climb another 297 or so stairs to get to the lookout. Beautiful view! There is also a coffee plantation up there which we visited and bought a bag of Homegrown Cuban coffee from that plantation.

The Food
Well we were in Cuba after all so the food was good for where we were. Let put it this way we never starved and none of us came back any skinnier! Everyone enjoyed the meals.

The People on the resort
Everyone was great and so helpful. Carlos in the Dive shop who set us up with our Jeep rentals, arranged for a Scuba dive and lent us equipment when we wanted to go off on our own. Oscar in the restaurant who served us our coffee "outside at the tables" each morning even though it was against the restaurant rules. At first he seemed a little taken back by my request but the next day he was right there when we arrived and took it in stride as we drank coffee and ate our breakfast in the warm morning sun. Osmar at the Beach bar put up with our "crap" everyday with a smile on his face. Oscar the crazy entertainment guy who invited us to the Cuban party night with the Cubans on the resort.

The Shows
The entertainment is a little different, but they do try their best with what they have. Don't go there and criticize but go with an open mind and remember the circumstances that these people deal with on a daily basis.

Last thing I want to add is, please when you go down to this area take some things with you. I took First aid kits, shampoo, barrettes and hair ties for kids, balls and toys, batteries, toothpaste and toothbrushes, baby clothes and kids clothes, disposable razors, feminine hygiene products.

My husband also arranged through his DR to take down a suitcase full of medical supplies which we dropped off at a medical clinic just 1 KM away from the resort at Dr. Ricardo's ( his first name) thats what the locals call him and his wife Odalys is a dentist. The group is called "Not Just Tourists" it is a worthwhile organization (mostly DRs I believe) and they have a website. So if you are going you can "Google" them to find out what you can do to help support their humanitarian efforts to the Cuban people. These people treated us like we were celebrities and Thanked us over and over again. We were all choked up because it really was "No Big Deal" for us to take an extra suitcase along with us but it meant so much to them.

I went to this resort over ten years ago when it was part of the Delta chain , returned five years later and have now returned with my young family. I realize by me writing this review I am probably making it more difficult for myself to find a room next time. Regardless, if it helps the staff who live off tips, its well worth it.

The first thing apparent is the over all beauty of the resort. Surrounded by fantastic mountains, the resort is set high up on a hill. Quiet. Yes the bus ride from the airport was long a bumpy one but we heard this road was top of the list of ones to be repaired.. No evidance of hurricane damage, in fact the amount of gardens and greenary is impressive. Sometimes this area can be pit dry but all the hills were green.

When you start meeting the other guests it was a real surprise to my wife that many have been coming back for over ten visits. If you ask them why they return the usual answer is that it’s the hotel employees who make it special. Sure they are tipped as in other resorts but they seem genuinely friendly. My daughter couldn’t go for more than ten minutes without someone asking how old she was, what’s her name or patting her on the head. It was a bit much for my shy little three year old but by the end even she was returning the polite “HOLA”.We were told everyone was talking about her and they referred to her as “Miss Sierra Mar” Kids club was closed but I’m told is fantastic. I read their activity list and it seemed well planned.

There was a children’s show preformed by,Yes,Children. My daughter loved it .

Music was everywhere, In the Lobby (Grand Piano) by the pool and at the beach. It was there if you wanted it but if you wanted peace and quiet that could be found as well. Being a musician with a decent ear, the quality of the entertainers was high in my books.

I read the death by Salsa pop review….Um that was for half an hour and for exercises.

The shows, Dancers were also of high caliber, but the alternative was a “loco show” which to my embarrassment my daughter yelled 'not funny', the Cubans visiting the resort loved it.

Yes Cubans on the resort, I’m told it was a reward for good job performance. Let me state here that from what I saw, they all behaved themselves and just had good fun. Sure the food disappeared faster at the restaurants but it was quite understandable. They seemed to keep mostly to themselves at the beach. Note before they arrived all TV’s were removed from their rooms.

Food, Ok, small variations on the usual Cuban staples, fish chicken rice. It was prepared well. Lots there. Ah ,my wife after a few days said kinda loud how odd that there’s no bananas, (there’s some growing by the beach,) Next day…Bananas!!!

Interesting story. I mentioned to a guest that I never get sick here from the water. He said that the resort was originally built by the Russians for the Russian VIP’s( communism gotta love it) so they built the water treatment plant , it supplies water from a stream to the hotel and the local town. Best water in Cuba.

Room …Basic , everything worked, fantastic Ocean view that you pay for extra anywhere else.

Along that line, Catamarans inclusive, since I was a repeat guest I could get free massage, pedicure and a private repeat guest meal.

My family always felt safe as there was security everywhere, just in case.

Beach, by the beach bar was nice, my daughter wouldn’t come out the ocean. My wife did get bit but wouldn’t put on repellant.

I’m told we just missed the rain the week before. Nov. was a better bet.

The snorkeling was good and Im not easy to please in this area. Great for kids. There’s a patch reef close to shore and the inner reef is accessible for good swimmers.

What to bring , the usual soap, toothpaste , toothbrush, shoes, Guitar strings( metal medium),perfume, cologne, batteries, Baseball stuff, clothes of all types. ( I brought four AA Batteries for the Maid,next day I had a fridge in the room)

Olah..

We booked at Sierra Mar from Feb. 20-27.

We flew Cuban Airlines, and found the staff on the plane were very cold and rude.. Not helpfull at all.

We booked with Sol y Son and when we arrived at the airport, there was NO Rep there...We has also booked for Los Galeones Resort, but the Agent made a Big mistake and booked us at The Sierra Mar.. We could not go on the bus with the other tours, so they called a taxi for us..

Arrival at Sierra Mar was so welcoming... They said they would call Los Galeones the next day to see if we could be fit in, but after getting some dinner and looking around, we met people and they said we would be sorry if we switched over to Los Galeones... So, we ended up staying at Sierra Mar and had a FANTASTIC trip...... We did take a taxi to Los Galeones one day, and found the people very rude to us.... When we got there, the guy at the front desk said, NO LUNCH AND ONE DRINK......... We went down all of the 298 steps to the beach, and the beach bar people were so nice...... They made me a special drink,,,,,,, and NOT just one either....

We started the long haul up the stairs to leave, and what a haul...... I did not think I was going to make it. Brisas Sierra Mar, was so nice... The people Great.. Be sure to book the snorkeling day cruise on the Catamaran.....and you go to an island for lunch..Say HI to Ernesto.... .... I have never had such a large lobster before. Entertainment Great..... Food Great...... Elizabeth at the Pool Bar is so nice... She has a 2 yr. old daughter..

Be sure to take some things from home for the locals...... You can walk down the main road from the resort and then along a dirt road, where you end up in a small village... The locals were very thankful for the clothing I took for them.. All in all...... the resort was Wonderfull..

We visited Brisas Sierra Mar for the first time this year and had a nice time. The Hotel was completely adequate for us and the food was good. We were never sick and we did drink the water. The weather was hot every day and sunny all but 2 days of the 2 weeks. Many of the guests were repeat visitors which says lots. The hotel was far from full which was a good thing because some days the staff bus just didn't arrive.

The highway to reach the hotel is in a terrible mess - potholes in the potholes in some places. This deters you from going anywhere. Riding the bicycles over it was so hard on the tires, few didn't have flats. And it was painful. Better to take the horses for a ride up into the mountains if you can manage it. We went on the catamaran tour and the snorkelling at the shipwreck was fabulous but the city tour part didn't leave much time to see anything. So we got a hotel staff to take us on his day off and had a real tour. It was difficult to rent the car and when it arrived it was small but it happened as planned.

The hotel was short on fresh fruit but it is available if you ask people and especially if you can tip. Be kind to them and they are wonderful to you. We had a lobster lunch one day in the village in exchange for things we brought - lots of baby clothes and shoes.

Bugs were the big problem while we were there. They sprayed and sprayed but some people were reacting to the bug bites. Bring Benedryl in case you are one of those and don't be afraid to take it. Also, anti-biotic cream helps. some folks were bit right in their rooms.

The rooms were comfortable and clean. ours had a fridge. We got new chairs and gym equipment while we were there but the elevator was an on-off continuing problem.

The staff were fabulous. The musicians were 80% great. They planned some really nice moments if you wanted to take part - eg. champgne and music on the deck at sunset.

The dancers were a must-see for at least a few nights. We ate and the beach restaurant most lunches and often the entertainment there was wonderful and very Cuban.

We visited this resort in January, 2007 for our fifth time. The trip from the airport is long but very interesting -- there is always something to see along the way -- people, scenery, animals . . . I don't mind the ride because I know at the end I will be at my favourite resort in Cuba.

Check in is done easily on the bus before you get to the hotel so when you get there you can go directly to your room -- there are lots of bell boys to help you with your luggage and to find your room. The rooms are clean and functional. The maids are very friendly and nice. The view is breathtaking from your room. Most of the rooms are oceanview. If you are not happy with the location of your room, the front desk will try to accommodate any change you might request.

All meals are available in the buffet restaurant. There is also a restaurant at the beach level which is a grill that serves lunch. This grill serves wonderful fish, pizzas, hot dogs, hamburgers, and has a homemade soup every day. There is also a snack bar near the pool which is open late afternoon until very late at night -- this snack bar serves fries, ham sandwiches, hotdogs, hamburgers, etc. Also at beach level is an ecological restaurant which is a la carte and you need reservations. The atmosphere is very natural and the food is all freshly cooked in plain view. There is another a la carte restaurant on the main level of the hotel which you also need reservations for. We have never gone there but have heard it is very good.

The beach is very private to the hotel but you can also wander a bit further down if you want to mingle with the locals. There is a dive shop on site and you have use of paddleboats and catamarans (with captain). Fishing trips can be arranged and they also have a sunset cruise a couple of times a week.

There are various trips you can take from the hotel. We have not taken any so I can't comment on them. I have heard good reviews and bad -- I guess it just depends on what you are expecting, who is with you that day, and your personal experience.

The thing that brings us back to this resort over and over are the people who work here. Many of the staff from the maids to the waitstaff to the gardeners to the chefs have been working at the resort for a long time. We have found that most of the staff are warm and friendly and real people. Just ask them how their family is and you will see a smile come across their face.

As with any vacation in Cuba you need to be flexible because sometimes things are not available or things don't work because of a lack of parts -- you have to remember that this is Cuba. If you can't do without things you have back home, then you probably should choose a different vacation destination than Cuba. If you want to come here, enjoy the weather and the scenery and the company of some great people as well as other vacationers this is the place for you.

My husband and I just returned from our second trip to BSM this year. In April we went on our own and found the resort to be very satisfactory to us. Good food (very important when you are away from home), great staff (made us feel welcome and seemed willing to help) and acceptable rooms (cleaned every day, comfortable beds, nothing lacking).

We did just get back from BSM last week when we went with a group of 10. Again, the resort and staff were very satisfactory to us with the same comments from April.

This resort may not appeal to all but we were very pleased. It is not a "party spot" and there isn't a lot of night life - good quiet fun and a place for rest and relaxation. I'm sure that action can be found if you want to look for it - volleyball on the beach and in the pool, aerobics and aquasize, dance lessons, Spanish lessons, horseback riding can be arranged, scooter rentals and bicycles are available, snorkelling, scuba, hobie cats, excursions to Santiago and other locations, disco, staff entertainment nightly, piano bar with live music in the main lobby. It's all available if you want it.

All in all, BSM is a safe family oriented spot to visit with enough to keep everyone occupied and no pressure to join in. If you want to sit and read at the pool or on the beach there is no problem.

We did encounter some very nasty insects while there this month (apparently December is the month for no see ums - that can be felt shortly after they have their way with you) and there was a bit of a stomach bug going around the resort as well. However, if you are prepared by bringing precautions and remedies from home, it shouldn't present a problem. As well, there is a doctor available at the resort 24/7 if the need arises.

The only negative thing about BSM is the distance from Santiago that must be travelled by bus. The road is a mess of pot holes and washouts making the ride tiring especially after having spent the better part of eight hours (travel to PIA, three hours at PIA getting through customs and security and then the plane ride) getting to Cuba in the first place.

My wife and I (mid 40's) stayed at Brisas Sierra Mar from Apr 6-13/2006...(our 3rd time in CUBA in the past year) Sunwing gave excellent service, good lunch, free headphones..and the legroom seemed larger than on Skyservice.

We received our room keys and bracelets on the bus..which made for a relaxed 1 hour trip to the resort...There is no need to chg money at the airport because Sierra Mar has a bank directly behind the front desk in the lobby.

The resort is dated, although quite clean...Our Room was adequate..we were on the 600 level...maids did an excellent job every day. The view from our room was quite beautiful....(mountains/ocean/ and red-clay rooftops)

The Buffet food was very good, as was the service. All of the bars (beach,pool, and lobby) gave great service.

The pool was quite small and shallow and the waist-deep side was monopolized by a volleyball net..(which, by the way, many people enjoyed)..But if you wanted to have a nice swim and do some laps the pool was insufficient.

The beach was not the greatest..The sand is darker than average (hot on the feet) and there was a lot of weedy areas in the water. Snorkeling was OK though, as there were some reefs that were easily accessible by peddle boat.

The main lobby was fabulous, airy and always a great place to sit and watch other tourists.

The internet cafe had only 1 PC but we usually had no probs getting a turn...(6 pesos for one hour and its quite slow)

We walked out on our own to visit a village nearby and we met a family of 6 living in a very small dwelling.

We gave them some soap, clothes, toothpaste etc and we were heartbroken when we were told that the father (a spear-fisherman) only had one flipper..We tried in vein to get a pair for him but could not...If anyone is planning to go to Sierra Mar and you have a spare pair or 2 of flippers (another fellow nearby asked for the same) bring them down ,walk out to the main road,turn right, walk for about 1-200 meters where you will see a baseball field on the right.Walk across the field, and down the first base line you will see a couple of small shacks..The one on the right is where Magalis (the mother)lives..give the flippers to her.

Visited Brisas Sierra Mar (BSM) March 12 - 26 incl. We are a family of 4: 2 daughters (Angela, 7 and Melanie, 16) and parents in early 50's. Well travelled in Caribbean and Europe, and have years of experience in the hospitality industry, including work stints in Jamaica and Turks and Caicos. I'll try not to repeat what many others have said, but rather touch on a couple of points which stood out.

Getting to and from: A day by air to Toronto from Nelson, BC, then the WestJet charter to Santiago. Comfortable. Santiago de Cuba airport small, but we were the only plane. A money change right at customs. Change Canadian $$ there.

Money: Also a money change at the hotel. Do NOT take American $$, as it cannot be used by anyone anymore. Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC) floats with the American dollar, meaning that one CUC = $1 US. So every peso you spend is equal to about $1.30 CDN. Set money aside for tipping. A peso here and there is greatly appreciated. Also, do not tip in American bills or Canadian $1 or $2 coins, as they cannot be converted anywhere on the island. People at the resort and hotel approached me, asking to change US bills and CDN coin into CUC. Haevy bag of loonies and toonies to carry home! Can get cash advance on credit card. (Not American Express) All crdedit card transactiopns subject to about 11% fee.

Location: This resort is isolated, an hour west of Santiago de Cuba. For us, this was a deciding factor in choosing BSM, as it was our first trip to Cuba and we wanted to be far away from rows of hotel after hotel. Chivirico is the nearest town, about a 20 - 30 minute scooter ride west. The scenery both east and west of the resort is incredible. Get out of the resort by yourself at least once, either on foot, by single speed bicycle, or scooter. Once off the property, there is no doubt that you are in Cuba. No cars for miles, no billboards, no stores, only mile after mile of ocean on one side, and goats, the occasional horse-drawn carriage, and people walking, on the other. Those buildings that look like small shacks: those are where people live. Be respectful!

Hotel and staff: BSM caters to a mixed crowd. The first week, there mostly Canadian families with kids, some Germans, a couple of Russians, Brits, Italians, Poles and a surprising numbers of Cubans. Made for a nice mix. Second week, more Cubans and Europeans, but majority from Toronto area. As mentioned by others, many repeat clients.

Hotel has unique layout, described by others on this site. Elevators hidden in nooks and crannies. Get to know where they are, as at least one is always out of order. Stairs make everything accessible, though.

While you may hear that all staff speak English, most know just enough to carry on their jobs. Only entertainment staff, front desk, Dive Shop, Adolfo at the pool bar, and a couple of others are really bilingual or trilingual. A Spanish-English phrasebook helps, no matter how bad you sound. People appreciate you trying. Melanie, our 16 year old, is fluent in French and English, with a working knowledge of Spanish, while I can get by with the necessities and simple conversation. Many times we struggled, but always seemed to be able to communicate with a mix of Spanish, English, sign language, and a dictionary. Most Cubans were happy to put up with our efforts and assist. Be willing to laugh at yourself. If so inclined, take the time to talk to them about themselves, their families, where and how they live, etc.

Food: OK, you didn't come to Cuba for the food, but you won't starve, and probably won't get sick. The main buffet restaurant has something for everyone, even if it's basically the same each day. Try the a la carte's. Remember to get up early to reserve. Or be creative if all are booked by the time you get there. You do not have to lie, cheat or tip in order to get a seat if all seem booked: just show up and ask if there are any seats. Frequently, people make reservations and don't show. Or some leave really early, freeing up a table.

My wife celebrated her 50th while at BSM. Staff set a special table with flowers, there was a cake, the guys singing in the lobby came to sing, and wine flowed.

Quirky note: There is spaghetti at every lunch and dinner. Only once we saw parmassen cheese, and only in one restaurant. It was there for one hour in a big bowl, then someone from the kitchen came out, took it away, and we never saw it again. Yet twice we had lobster and shrimp the size of small footballs for no extra charge, while others were told there was no lobster or shrimp. And no, we didn't bribe to get it.

Dive / watersports shop: catamaran tours, peddle boats out to the reef, kayaks and windsurfers all available. We are avid divers, and there are plently of reefs close in, plus wreck and night dives. Dirt cheap to dive: $30 CUC per, discounts for more. My wife and I are both certified divers. For $300 CUC, Melanie got certified with SNSI, an Italian organization recognized world-wide. It included what you would expect from PADI:1-on-1classroom, 6 dives, video, and both a written and in-water test. We got to dive each time with her. As there is only one dive boat (and no other boast of any kind as far as the eye can see), it was much more personal than being certified anywhere else. There were some die-hard Germans who have made over 200 dives at BSM (yes!) and a couple from Quebec with great underwater camera gear on most of our dives. Usually just them and us. Occasionally a few first-timers. But not at all crowded. Each dive was just how I like it: just a couple of people, slow, no currents, lots of life in spite of recent hurricanes... aahhhh. A good place for both first-timers and experienced divers. The equipment is old but servicable and inspected.

Outside the resort: Safe, clean, quiet and other-worldly! A time warp! Besides a couple of ventures outside the resort grounds to Chivirico or just for a bike ride, we took 2 trips into Santiago: One, the half day guided bus tour, and another full day with Adolfo from the pool bar on his day off. Both were worthwhile, but Adolfo took us to places well of the beaten path. We got the restaurant to prepare a picnic, rented a car for less than the bus trip for 4, Aldolfo drove, and we were off on an adventure. Getting gas was a Cuban experience, as was chasing down some indredibly rich and inexpensive ice cream. A Cuban moment: driving down the empty patched road in the countryside, everyone including driver digging into nutmeg spice ice cream, the radio blasting Cuban "son", waving at uniformed school kids, and laughing like crazy at some joke! Adolfo trained as a mechanical engineer, but can make way more in tourism. Nice to have him along, with his Spanish and intimate knowledge of Santiago and Cuba.

We had a bag of Hilroy notebooks, pens, stickers, and assorted school supplies. Passing a school somewhere between Santiago and the basilica at Cobre, Adolfo asked if we wanted to visit. He first spoke with the teacher in case we were interrupting, then we were invited in. What an experience! A sea of neatly uniformed little kids, all laughing and waving, ran out to greet us. They sang some songs, showed us their classes, and asked a million questions (in Spanish). A mother of one of the kids was assisting that day, and she gratefully took out supplies and evenly divided them. As there were not enough notebooks for everyone, she neatly cut divided each into 4, so that every student had at least a few sheets. The stickers and pens were to be used as prizes later. The classrooms are semi-open to the elements. Some had lights, others didn't. Each class had a chalkboard and chairs, and not much else.

Cubans: They have my deep respect! A socialist / communist country, under a major embargo, with a broken economy, yet without exception each and every Cuban we met, on or off the resort, was clean, well presented and fed. Yes, there are severe shortages of everything we take for granted. Yes, everyone receives a ration book that doesn't provide much more than the basics of life. Yes, it's extremely difficult for them to get around fromplace to place, and many buildings are crumbling. But you will not meet a more gracious people anywhere. They are fiercely patriotic. Quality live music is everywhere. And they are nuts about baseball! We were there for the World baseball series games: Cuba vs Domibnican Republic in the semi's and Cuba - Japan in the final. Cheer for Cuba, as they grow up as kids on dirt lots with stick for bats and no gloves,a nd take on the world. Except for a couple of times in Santiago, we were never bugged for money.

Yes, it is possible to talk openly and honestly about politics and current affairs. Some people are more open than others, and sometimes you might have to wait until no one else is in earshot. But we had frank discussions with a couple of people on Castro, the American embargo, and the future. Bring it up respectfully, and wait until you know the person a bit. Cubans look very favourably on Canadians, especially Pierre Trudeau (he used to visit and go diving with Fidel, and Castro was a pall bearer at Trudeau's funeral). If someone is uncomfortable with the conversation, move on to other topics.

FYI: As everyone else says, bring stuff as gifts. We packed 2 suitcases of kids clothing, shoes, baseballs, dollar-store pens and paper, batteries... When offering something, to help people save face, saying something like "I thought you might like this in appreciation for your help", or something along that line. Numerous Cubans told us that a gift is better than money, as there is frequently nothing to buy, anyway. But they or someone they know can use just about anything. From duct tape, rope, hair clips, soap, shampoo, lotion, to blank CD's and staplers...

The placemats in the main dining room have an accurate resort layout on them. Take an hour or two to explore the grounds. Bring a small flashlight if you are going to dine in the Ecological restaurant and for those occasional short power failures. Bug juice if you want to sit on the beach near the trees and for evenings of wandering around the resort. If going off-resort for any period of time, carry toilet paper. If you have any electrical medical appliances, such as a CPAP machine, be aware that the bedroom voltage is 220, but bathrooms are 110. Adaptors might be necessary.

Rent the Cuban movie "Fresa y Chocolate" before you go. (Spanish with English sub-titles).

Ladies: Accoding to a good number of guests, if you go with other female friends or without male companionship, you will be "hit" on. Male staff who speak the most English and wear the least clothes believe that they are (and indeed, may be) the "main attraction". Seems that anyone from about 15 and up is fair game. A polite "no" seemed to work for most, but one woman with her young son was bugged to the point that she threatened to report him. No touching, just suggestions of coming to his place after work, or going just with him into Santiago. The threat was enough to end the attraction, and he remained respectful for the rest of her trip.

Be respectful: Cubans are very big on manners. No matter how poor, people wash their hands before they eat, and know how to use a knife and fork and napkin. Try to call people by name: they all have name tags. Guys: shake hands with other men and offer the ladies a cheek to be brushed. (Your upper cheek, not your lower ones). Leave the sleeveless, armpit-hanging-out-shirts at home. Take your hats off when you eat. Ladies: no bathing suit tops at dinner. Cover those up!

Final Note: I'm not preaching here, just giving my opinion. This place is not for everyone! If you just want a cheap holiday with sun, sand and unlimited rum, beach vendors, time-share hit men, discos, parties, nice restaurants in a quaint near-by town, great shopping, buses running here and there to take you off-resort...go elsewhere. Varadaro, the DR, or wherever. This is for people who want to interact with Cubans and are OK with minimalistic comforts. You will be safe, well fed, well entertained by incredible performers all over the resort and at night, and it's hot and sunny. But definitely not for the spring-break, party hearty crowd. Talk to the staff, beyond "gimme a beer and two mojitos". Greet everyone with at least a "hola". Go with an open mind, a smile, and an "I'm OK with what happens" attitude, and you will love Brisas Sierra Mar.

I went with a neighbor friend and my 12 yr old son to Brisas Sierra Mar March 16-23. We flew sunwing and had no problems at all. I have read so many negative experiences with sunwing but I was impressed with the flight. If you can afford it buy the extra $59 package with sunwing. It came in real handy for us. We had no line up canadian airport we just walked right up to a special counter while the other 200 people waited in line with their luggage. The checked our bags immediately and we were off. The special package allows you $35 more baggage allowance which came in handy to bring down extra gifts to give which in return makes your service excellent. It also includes 4 alcoholic drink coupons on the plane. Two for the ride down and two for the ride back. We were given a small glass of champagne on the plane and a hot towel. The plane meal was hot and a glass of wine was included with it. The $59 package also includes you to pre-pick your seats. We went with the extra leg room seats but had to pay alittle more on top of the $59 but it was well worth it. There is other things in the package that include a $50 sunwing gift certificate for future flights. All in all my recommendation is to do the extra package.

After the wonderful flight we landed in Santiago De Cuba airport. The airport was an eye opener. The washroom had no toilet seat and was very very primitive.
As soon as you get off the plane go right in and try to change your money over before the line is huge. We got our money changed and our bags and off to the bus. While out there there are men wanting to carry your bags to the bus waiting for you. Most reviews say don't do it they carry them two feet and then set them down for someone else to carry that way you keep tipping. Well honestly I didn't care. It was nice to give alittle extra money to these people. If you get a chance to go into town while on your stay you will know what I mean. They have nothing. While waiting for everyone to change their money and board the bus we found someone to get us nice cold cans of beer. I have never tasted anything so wonderful after the hot wait in the non airconditioned airport. $5 CUC gets you 5 ice cold cans of beer. The man who ran and got us the beer was very nice and we tipped him with a can of beer.

The bus ride is long and bumpy but quite interesting. At the resort we were greeted with a nice glass of rum punch and then our bags were taken to our room.

There are many outside activities the resort offers but its hard to get a straight answer out of anyone as to how much and what time they take place. Our sunwing rep was nice but not too enthusiastic about his job. By the end of our trip I had a better feeling about him it just took some time to get to know him. The phrase "A trip is what you make of it" was said to us by many of the repeat visitors. It kept entering my mind as trips we booked were cancelled etc. We were disappointed that the dolphin swim that we booked and paid for was cancelled and we did not get to go. We were given our money back. Oh well it just meant we got to spend another awsome day at the beach. These are things that you just have to accept and make the best.

The resort is clean but it is a little rustic. The rooms were always clean but not fancy but really how much time do you spend in your room. Our housekeeper was awsome. We left her gifts every day and she gave us lots of fresh towels and even a new shower curtain. Oh ya don't loose a beach towel it costs $15 CUC.

Really get to know the staff. Ask their name and give them yours. They won't forget it and will greet you with it every day. Be generous early in your stay. Give tips and gifts in the beginning and you will have friends for life. The staff is very friendly and will do anything for you to make your stay fun. Don't forget to tip the gardeners and security. We gave some hats and shirts to the man who cleans the beach everyday and he made sure that we had chairs to lie on everyday when others did not. Once the bartenders know you and how good you are your drinks seem to come faster and taste much better. My 12 yr old son was greeted everyday by the workers. They knew his name and loved his blonde hair and blue eyes. Remember these staff names: Ernesto at the dive shop he is a real sweetheart and his wife also works at the resort. Jose at the beach grill bar he is shy but will not forget your name and will do anything for you. George is the animation staff and he made sure the kids had a great time. Don't forget to tip him. Raphael was our taxi driver he drives fast but we had lots of laughs. Don't forget to tip him. Omar at the beach bar makes great drinks. Give him a little something for his kids. Keep in mind that most of the resort workers have young kids so remember to bring gifts of chocolate, candy, shoes and toys for them too. We brought bags of the cadbury's mini easter eggs and they were a great hit. We also brought hard wearthers candies.

There are people that think that all inclusive means no extra money other then what you paid for the trip. These people may not have had as much fun as we did. Bring about $50 for tipping and gifts it is well worth it.

The beach is clean. peddle boats are fun. The pool seemed clean. The volleyball in the pool was a hit. George arranged Cuba against Canada everyday at 4. It was so much fun.

The food is buffet food. There is a great selection. I had a hard time eating everyday. It is different. Very plain tasting but there was always something to snack on. The bread is to die for I could have just lived on the bread. There is fresh fruit every morning. The dinner buffet has a great selection too make sure you try the ice cream it was only found two days and we really missed it. If nothing at the buffet appeals to you there are grills. The one beside the pool bar serves grill cheese, hamburgers and hotdogs and fries. The one at the beach serves pizza which is very good and fish, hotdogs, hamburgers and fries. The fries changed daily. The first day they were sweet potato fries which were very good. The second day they were just regular fries and then they changed to banana chips. Bring some snacks from home. peanuts, pringles, etc. You really start to miss these things there and they are not found there. Bring immodium and gravol. Try all the drinks. The rum is so tasty and smooth.

We met so many great people from other countries there as well as many great canadians. I got a little home sick about the 3rd day but the staff makes you feel better.

On the way home do the VIP at the airport. Well worth the $20 for it. They come to the bus take your luggage and take you to a special counter with no line. They take your passport from you and do all the work. They take you to an airconditioned room with nice black leather furniture . There is a lady getting drinks for you its all included take a nice cold beer. She then brings out snacks of meat, cheese and olives. Not much to snack on but its food. They then escort you to duty free, they wait there for you and carry back your purchases. What a way to end a trip. If your flight is delayed you wait there and can even sleep on the sofa. Ours was not delayed but we still had to wait 2 hours in the airport so this was the way to go.

I am writing about Brisas Sierra Mar, Cuba 4 star hotel

My boyfriend and I have been going to Brisas Sierra Mar since 1995 (at this time it was Delta Sierra Mar...Cnd owned) We have had nothing but great experiences every year. A majority of the original staff are still working at the hotel and some have actually been promoted to management levels. This is a good indication that not only do the tourists love this place but the staff love it as well.

Over the years we have visited Santiago on many occasions and loved it. We have experienced the street dances, gone to the Grand Prix Seadoo races, shopped in many great stores had dinner with some of the staff's families in their homes, had a pig roast at one of the locals houses just down the road from the hotel and many more wonderful experiences. When you get to know the hotel staff and the people that live around the resort they are very friendly and proud people who will open their homes to you. If you have the opportunity to visit with them be sure to take a few things with you. You will find some essentials (that we take for granted ) in the store at the hotel....such as soap, shampoo, a few goodies and maybe a bottle of cola and rum. Just because Cuba is well known for thier rum this does not mean that they always have it...this too costs money that the locals do not have. We have always enjoyed the food at Sierra Mar. The buffets are always fresh, the Ranchon by the beach is great.

We don't really go for the food...we keep returning because of the people.

We have tried many other destinations but we prefer to come back every year.

We have met many people in the past years and now we actually see a lot of the same tourists each year...which is a lot of fun. We do love the trip to Cayo Damos...the trip to the island. I have read a lot of the reveiws and I do agree...if you want a washcloth you will have to bring your own...bring a few and leave them behind for the staff. Something we take for granted but they don't have.

There are little bugs on the beach but we found if we went to the beach in the morning and left by 4:00 and went up to the pool swim up bar we were OK.

(See also my review of March 2005 below for more info). This trip I traveled solo with an incredible deal on yourtraveltickets.com for $483 Cdn, flights, 1 week AI hotel, taxes and visitor card included. No problem ordering online. Sunwing was awesome – leather seats, movies, champagne, hot meal with choice of wine, free earphones. The flight was not full, so my Not Just Tourists suitcase came ‘standby’on the same flight. Blizzard started as we took off, the last flight out. Sweeeeet.

Luggage takes a while to arrive after landing, but they x-ray everything. I went to customs (table is 5 feet away from the suitcase carousel), where they examined the NJT suitcase, and read the Spanish letter. No problem at all. My own suitcase, in which I had gifts of wrapped knives, was not opened.

Nice new bus this time – on the drive to Sierra Mar, we were given our tickets/safe keys on the bus, arrived in an hour, where they met us with a tray of rum punch. The Animacion team was there singing/dancing to the Sierra Mar theme song. I was on the 1st floor last March; this year on the 7th floor, floors 5-8 being on the upper side of the lobby, and no working elevator. Bell Boy carried my 3 suitcases like a bag of feathers. I nearly died on the stairs (out of shape!) but did not ask for a room change as I figured it would be the only exercise I’d get all week. View was breathtaking! Exact same room/layout/everything as the 1st floor room.

Had a moment of anxiety realizing I was all alone and didn’t know a soul, but decided I could either freak out, or go drink. Chose the latter. Went to the disco after the evening show, and piano bar. If you need a wake-up call, tell the front desk to send someone at the assigned time. Down to orientation with the Sunwing rep, who explained day trips, restaurants, activities at BSM. There are lots of choices – mountain trip, Baconao park, dolphin swim, ranging from $60-$100 CUC.

If you book with Sunwing, you get an overnight stay in mountain resort near a waterfall and strenuous morning hike. You book this at the front desk. I am NOT fit so passed on it. There are 3 desks in the lobby with Holasun, Sunwing and also a car rental agency. I did the Sunset Cruise for $15 - 2 hour cruise at sea with drinks and music. We had the boat instead of catamaran, so it was a Vomit Party for those who did not use Gravol! If you are a repeat visitor, alert the front desk, as they have a special lunch or dinner for you at the Ecological restaurant.

I recommend the mud bath trip for $15 dollars. Wear your swimsuit, get muddied up by an assistant, bake in the sun 10 mins, cool down in shade 10 mins, rinse off in mineral spring, then swim in mineral spring pool, then backrub massage. Hatuey Beer or Tucola available for $1 CUC. Gave the man fishing line/hooks as a tip, which thrilled him, as it saved him the trip to Santiago to buy some. Note that this is not a quick trip (about 4 hours total with car) – you wait while others get massaged, but that’s where the beer comes in. I handed out smokes & pens to the workers and we hung out, while I took their photos. Horses and sheep grazed nearby.

My March experience was different than this one – perhaps because of the great sell-off price, there was a real mixture of individuals - a very happy and pleasant crowd. Never used the disco before; this trip, you couldn’t get me out of it! I didn’t eat in the a la cartes this time – the buffet was my favourite as you could get in and get out quickly. And I discovered the joys of the swim-up bar.

The dock on beach is washed out after Wilma so you can’t walk along the beach straight through like previously. Water is fantastic and I swear it has magical healing powers. Someone complained the sand was brown, not white –oh, honey, get a better problem! ;) Lots of palapas and plenty of shade under the sea grape trees. Saw one episode of Touron Towel Game when couple came at noon and yelled at people to leave “their” palapa as they had put towels there at 8 am. Sorry, showing up four hours later means you have forfeited your spot, folks! Nudity: One European man was sunbathing nude – apparently there were complaints, tho’ personally, I wanted to congratulate his girlfriend. Oddly, no one complained about topless women. One of the beach highlights is to wait for the plane in the afternoon we named “Five O’Clock Charlie” – that is how mail is delivered – he flies low and drops it near town.

Pool: Shallow pool – good for aquasize, volleyball, floating, and a separate pool for the wee ones. Lots of blue pool floatie pads to lie on – never been on anything so comfy in my life.

Piano Bar: The evenings usually start at the piano bar, during the pre-dinner hour. Cesar is a wonderful pianist and so talented. If you have favourite songs you want to hear, bring down the sheet music. There was one couple there that were ballroom dancers and he knew all the right songs to play. He plays till about midnight. I tip him every time he plays Como Fue, my favourite Cuban song.

Clothing to take: Here’s my bare minimum: 2 bathing suits, underwear, one summer dress in the day and fancier dress at night. I wore one pair of sandals the whole trip One night I needed the light jersey jacket but that’s because of a sunburn/chill. You won’t need much more than that. Men wear short or long pants for dinner – long pants better for mosquito protection. Extras: I also brought a battery recharger for the camera as I took 400 pics in 6 days; my own beach towel so I could recognize my chair; several insulated mugs – 1 for me and a couple of extras. I gave them to a Cdn couple who left the mugs in Cuba, where they are very much appreciated as gifts.

Weather was 86-90 F – had one 2 hour rainstorm that was quite spectacular with rainbows and hot pink clouds and thick white rain. Some days were more humid than others. Beach open every day – no red flags. They had called for partly cloudy all week but it was perfect weather. Awesome sunsets every night over the water. 66F at 2 am – that’s as cool as it gets at night. Fantastic night skies for amateur astronomers! .

Shows: Shows are nightly at 9:30 – dinner is 7:30-9:30 so do piano bar after dinner, then go to show area and get a seat. The dancers are FANTASTIC – great costumes, wide variety of styles. They work a long day, teach aquacize, Spanish classes, salsa/mambo, etc., put on a great show, then work in the disco til 2 am. Phew! They are always working on new numbers. It’s fun to watch them rehearse in the afternoon. They brought in a band on Sunday night that was awesome – cd is $10. Saturday night they had reggaeton/hip hop along with fire eaters and gymnasts. Four acrobats stood on each other’s shoulders in an incredible feat of balance. When the fire eaters finished their show, they blew out their flames and then suddenly a blackout. It was fantastic –an unbelievable night sky. One evening we had water ballet – many of the performers were graduates of Kinesiology and Sports Medicine, and were National Swim champions. I recognized a few from last year’s visit, and they remembered me too. Shows always end with the Sierra Mar song and although I felt like the ridiculously uncoordinated white chick I am, I loved to get up on stage with other guests and dance. Alcohol helps, and hey, if you can’t be silly on vacation, when can you be silly?

Going off the resort: Mopeds are available - I think $20 for 24 hours, $5/hr. Horse and buggy I think is $10. Or negotiable, if you want longer. Extremely bumpy roads. If you go off resort, take lots of water �