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Reviews posted on this page:
Club Amigo Marea del Portillo
Club Amigo Farallon Del Caribe
Club Amigo Marea del Portillo - Club Amigo Farallon Del Caribe — 
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| Club Amigo Marea del Portillo |
Wendy ~ London |
June 2009
Arrival: June 12-19
Got there through Sunwing (again a great flight with everything they said they were going to give you).Got our packages and on the bus. We basically had all of our check in done while on the bus. My one pet peeve - they tell you to sign the registration card and put your passport number on it and then hand it into the front desk upon arrival . Why is there always a couple of people that cannot do so in the 90 minutes it took us to get to the resort. There is always someone standing in front of you asking the clerk " what should I do with this paper? do I have to sign it?" Really are you kidding me....
Rooms:
Basic, clean and very functional
Restaurants and Bars:
Only one bar, so I would not return during peak season. Originally they did not serve wine on the bar, only in the restaurant but during orientation, a guest requested wing (obviously never travelled before to a 3 star) and asked for wine and the next day, it was on the bar. The buffet restaurant served hot, good but very much the same food. If you do not like meat, potatoes, rice and pasta you are out of luck. They had an a la carte but when we tried to book, we were out of luck. The waiter said come back later to see if someone had cancelled. We did but we were too early so two days later, the waiter sought us out on the beach area and asked if we wanted to come (apparently the restaurant was empty) but we had already eaten. We heard good things however and really appreciated the staff looking for us
Beach/Pools/Grounds:
Great, clean, hot, lots of chairs
Activities on and off the Resort/Hotel:
My husband went horseback riding and said the horse, equipment, price and ride were good however the guide was not so he never went back and he usually will ride every day given the chance
Other Comments:
A great place to do nothing, see nothing, take it easy at a good price. The most polite, charming staff I have ever encountered. No one asking you for anything and actually taking the time to serve you. Lots of "couples" at the resort(mostly return guests) but they were not "in you face" and it was actually interesting people watching.
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| Club Amigo Marea del Portillo |
Sydney ~ Toronto, Ontario |
May 2009
Arrival: April 23-30th
SunWing was awesome. We got to watch a great movie, we got complementary champagne, and a great hot meal. The flight arrived an hour ahead of schedule. We got off the plane, went through customs and were guided straight to the bus that took us to the hotel. While on the bus our room key and wristbands were given to us, so before we even got to the hotel we were checked in. The bus ride was VERY bumpy as the roads are currently being fixed up. If you are one to get motion sickness or anything of that nature be sure to take a Gravol as soon as you get off the plane. My partner and I found the bus ride enjoyable and fun, but that may just be us! We arrived at night so we couldn't see out the windows, but on our way back to the airport at the end of the week we got to see the beautiful sights that we had previously missed out on. Upon arrival at the hotel our luggage was unloaded from the buses and we were shown to our cabana.
Rooms:
The cabana (#28) which we stayed in was lovely. The chambermaids tend to open the window in the bathroom everyday when they clean, but the windows in Cuba do not have screens, so there were a few little gnats and other insects in our bathroom when we first arrived. But nothing that we couldn't handle! The cabana had a TV, closet, a table and two chairs, two double beds (which we pushed together), a dressing table, air conditioner, mini fridge containing 2 bottles of water and 2 juice boxes (we didn't get the VIP package) and a lovely patio (we were on the second level). There was a remote control for the AC, which you could set at any temperature and although it doesn't look like a powerful AC, it worked amazingly. My only complaint was that there was no alarm clock in the room. The room was cleaned everyday.
Restaurants and Bars:
The A La Carte Restaurant (the main one) was buffet for every meal, the servers made sure your water was always full and that you had everything you needed. You had the choice of sitting inside or outside, both were great; note that if you choose to sit outside you will be accompanied by the hotel Pest Control (cats and kittens) that are awfully cute, but I'm sure some will find them annoying. The food was very carbohydrate and starch based (lots of rice, potatoes and pasta). Although it was all very tasty, some may feel bloated! The meat selection was always good, and salad was always available. The dessert buffet was good as well, but again very carbohydrate based (mostly cakes) but ice cream was offered at dinner time! The Beach Bar had great food, I would call it lunch food though, mostly sandwich type foods and fries (burgers, hot dogs etc). My partner and I ate lunch there every other day, it was right on the beach and you never felt under-dressed. I'm not sure if there was an actual dress code for the A La Carte Restaurant, but it seemed inappropriate to go in there wearing a bathing suit. We didn't get a chance to go to the other restaurant, which only serves dinner, and requires a reservation. My partner and I forgot to make a reservation EVERYDAY, so we never got the chance to go; smelled AMAZING though! The bar service was amazing, all they have a list of the drinks you can get so you know what you can and cannot order beforehand. I am a fruity drink person, so I stayed with the Daquiris, Pina Coladas, "Tropical Islands", and Shirley Temples. My partner is however a beer and Mojito kind of guy, and he had no complaints either.
Beach/Pools/Grounds:
The beach was amazing, as far as I'm concerned, why is white sand a requirement for so many people? It feels exactly the same! ANYWAY, there was never a day that the beach was packed, chairs and shade was always available. The water was gorgeous and the perfect temperature all week. If you're looking for seashells and that type of thing make sure you walk up the beach away from the hotels, you will be pleasantly surprised. The pool area was also nice, the pool was always clean, the kiddie pool was always clean and the water was at a very good temperature. Cold enough to cool you off, but warm enough to soak in all day! A volleyball net is also provided for your enjoyment! The chairs and umbrellas around the pool were also always available. There was a little area behind the pool where the bar was and there was a ping pong table and a pool table that you could use whenever you pleased. Also, games could be rented from the Club Room, which was in the pool area as well. The grounds were very lovely! The plant life was thriving and colourful!
Activities on and off the Resort/Hotel:
We only did one off-resort activity and it was the horse-back tour through the mountains. IT WAS AMAZING. If you get the chance, go on this excursion!
Other Comments:
This resort is a 3-star. You get what you pay for, and PLEASE do not go to this place expecting what you know you won't get. My partner and I are 19 and 20 years old, and we loved every minute of this vacation. We aren't picky and we weren't expecting 1st class service (although we kind of got that) so we found no problems with the food, cabana, or staff. Although I am positive that there were some who did. The vacation overall was beyond enjoyable and I would DEFINITELY return to this resort! There were no people hassling us to buy things, there were no civilians begging for money, or prostitutes on the beach. From what I've heard about Cuba vacations, those things are expected... NOT HERE!
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| Club Amigo Marea del Portillo |
Joe ~ Kitchener |
March 2009
Arrival
It was very nice all the way.
We found paying the extra for the premium worth it! Express check in at Pearson, emergency exit seating and an extra 10 kg weight allowance!
Room info and bracelets are handed out prior to boarding the bus, thus making things quicker once at the hotel.
Rooms
We stayed in the Cabanas and found them to be large and very clean.
We met people who were up at the Farallon, and they said it was nice as well.
Restaurants and Bars
Food is what you expect to find in Cuba... which is fine by us!
Selection of fresh fruit was very nice, though, no bananas.
Bar offerings are standard fair. Don't expect anything too fancy, though we did have some very nice daiquiris and coladas!
Beach/Pools/Grounds
The pools are nice and the warmest we've experienced in Cuba.
The grounds are very well maintained.
Activities on and off the Resort/Hotel
We did very little at the hotel itself.
We made three trips over to Cayo Blanco (very nice) plus the deep sea adventure (?), which included fishing, snorkeling and lunch at Cayo Blanco.
We suggest getting off the resort and visiting the locals. They are very warm and hospitable!
Other Comments
We planned this trip for the area, not the amenities. This is a 3* and that's what your getting. Our experiences, though, made it a 5* vacation!
Also, we found the VIP package to be worth the extra $$. Sunset cruise, three trips to Cayo Blanco and red wine & white rum in the room.
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| Marea del Portillo - South Shore |
Pat ~ New Dundee |
January 2009
Arrival: Dec 25/08 to Jan 1/09
Excellent arrival. Once we got our bags claimed at the airport, we picked up an envelope from the Sunwing Rep which had our room key, and wrist bands inside. Once we got to the hotel, we simply unloaded our bags and went right to our rooms. Perfect!
Rooms:
Very clean, quiet. Lovely view of ocean. Small bathrooms, but who cares, I wasn't there to spend time in the bathroom. We always had hot water.
Restaurants and Bars:
Lovely laid out buffet area with seating both inside and outside. Servers were very friendly and courteous. Nice variety of food - loved the fish every day, but they also had two other meats to choose from. Great french fries at the beach bar. Italian Restaurant had great lasagna.
Beach/Pools/Grounds:
The beach was so uncrowded, it was surreal. No trouble finding a lounge chair, no trouble finding shade if you needed it. Lots of area to walk.
It was just perfect.
Activities on and off the Resort/Hotel:
Rented a car for a day, drove to the most south-westerly corner of Cuba, Cabo Cruz. Enjoyed the scenery - snooped thru the town of Niquero. Took some back roads just to explore. We also went on long walks out from the resort - along the beach and into the village. It was great... what else can I say!
Other Comments:
I do not like strips of resorts - if I wanted that, I would go to Wasaga Beach.
I absolutely loved the remoteness of this resort and area. It is not for everyone. If you need a 5 star hotel, please don't come here and give Marea del Portillo a bad rating. If you need your true Strawberry Dacquiris - you won't get them here but you will get a very friendly staff who just wants you to enjoy yourself. There was no loud music booming at the pool all day long - thank you. Even the entertainment at night was low key and if you didn't want to hear it you simply left the area, and the sound didn't follow you around. The resort is small enough that you don't have to walk a mile to get a drink, yet I had no problem finding a nice quiet corner to read and relax on the beach, or even in the lobby. Unfortunately, my travelling companions did witness one male guest being extremely rude to Anita, the woman who scheduled trips, etc. for the guests. She could not accomodate one of his requests, and he proceeded to yell at her and do his best to make a scene. My companions told her they would speak to her supervisor on her behalf if she needed them to in order to support her. She did nothing to deserve that kind of treatment from a visitor. Unfortunately, it was probably a Canadian.
However,for me, this is my absolute favorite place in Cuba.
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| Marea del Portillo - South Shore |
Barry ~ Kenabeek, Northern Ontario |
December 2008
Arrival: November 20 - December 18, 2008
Almost on time and it was very quick and easy. Much more organized than other years so maybe the customs and immigration people are learning.
Rooms:
Not fancy but lots of room and very clean. Maid service was great. Everything worked very well and in the 4 weeks we were there we never had to get anything fixed other than one lightbulb. We stayed in the ocean front cabanas.
Restaurants and Bars:
The buffet restaurant had plenty of good food although the variety was somewhat limited. We certainly never lacked much other than bacon some mornings. Staff at the breakfast bar even tried some things that we requested that they had never heard of. The Italian a la carte was very nice when it was running although they did close for quite a few days when the kitchen equipment broke down. The bars and service were great as far as I'm concerned but I'm just a beer drinker so don't care about international brands of liqour. All the wait staff and bartenders went out of their way to give us good service.
Beach/Pools/Grounds:
We love the beach even if it is not white sand. It is well over a km long and great for walking and swimming. The pool area was always lots of fun and kept very clean. The grounds were well maintained and always being worked on.
Activities on and off the Resort/Hotel:
The activities staff is always trying to keep things fun. The biggest problem we found was getting the tourists to participate. The shows at night were not professional but always fun to take part in. One of the best activities was the baseball games we helped to organize with the locals in nearby Mota village. The animateurs were great in helping get this going. Hopefully it will become a regular activity. We spent a lot of time off resort visiting friends we have met over the years. The sunset cruise and trip to Cayo Blanco were good times. Horseback riding and jeep trips into the mountains were wonderful ways to spend a day.
Other Comments:
The best part of Marea is the people, both on and off the resort. They go out of their way to make you feel welcome. This area of the Sierra Maesta mountains is also very beautiful. Go to Marea expecting a 3 star resort and you should have a wonderful time. This was our 15th trip to Marea and we went for 4 weeks and we think of it as our second home so I guess you could say this report is a bit biased, but there is a reason that Marea has the largest rate of returnees in Cuba.
barry_kinch@hotmail.com
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| Marea del Portillo - South Shore |
Joe |
August 2008
Came back Aug 5....first trip in 12yrs that we were looking forward to be going home. We have stayed in many types of hotels and many 3 to 5 star hotels. We have also stayed at 2 other club amigo hotels in Cuba What's up with this place? So let's start with the bad ( this could be a while,sorry ). This was my 7th time to Cuba.
Arrival: Flew with Sunwing, as usual flight and service on the plane were good Arrived on time, customs was quick, and thank god cause you can only get 1 plane load of passengers in the terminal.
Oh ya Sunwing has great flight service, but that is IT. What a bunch of .......... In 7 months we spent $10.000, with these idiots, never ever again. Apparently they just won some award or other and i am sure they bought it at the blue light special at K-Mart, but i'll get back to them later. 1hr45 to get to the hotel, greeted with music and smiling staff, but as previously stated weren't to many smiles after.
Rooms: Exactly as expected, except for the fact our back door was jarred open while we were sleeping and 160 things were missing. Cabana#10 don't take it unless they change the back door. We were moved to #16, no problems there. They can use new shower heads, as we had 2 rooms and they both weren't that great, a/c was great, fridge great. We found the beds to be really really soft as in really old. But this is Club Amigo and as stated, exactly as expected. Room service for us was good. Oh and if you do break a ashtray they will charge you. We did hear that.
Staff: The hotel was filled with the local population, which of course is fine with us as we are in Cuba, and we love the Cuban people, except for the Cubans who think they are gods gift to humankind. Bar service at the pool was a joke, unless you were local. Yes we were tipping even though the service was very very slow for us. One time i am standing there 2nd in line and the Cuban 's would walk right in front of you and get served again and again so when i finally get my drink, i had my 3 peso's on the bar and when he gave me my drink i took it back and he wasn't to happy about that, but hey i don't tip ANYWHERE where they ignore you. Don't the Staff know that the Canadians,other than the Cuban's were the only people who were tipping. Vincent ( public relations) i think explained that to them because after a few of us complained, about the way we were being treated it did change. Exception was the taller thin gentleman at the beach bar who was just fantastic.( sorry i forgot his name ) Now when i had a problem with the door being opened i was asked to make a formal complaint, which i really did not want to do. Me and 4security guards, kinda intimidating i'll tell you that .After explaining what happened 1 guard said to me that i told him that i went out and that i left my back door opened. Ah ya right.. Vincent was there and thank god he was. Vincent thank you.
Food.
Oh boy. When we got to the hotel i think it was around 6 or 7ish. We were kinda hungry so we headed to the buffet. My pics will tell the story. It did get "better" on the last 2 days. Soup was excellent though, even though it was basically the same soup but with different leftovers , but i really liked it . I lost 9lbs, and am kinda happy about that, so if you want to lose weight go there.. The bread in the morning was a case if you got there in time and the person in front of you didn't put in 30pieces you would get some.Once gone it was gone. The same person who would put 30pieces in would also empty out the butter dish. In his situation i understand, just wish he was more courteous of others.Generally the food really sucked big time.
Drinks. I knew beforehand that you wouldn't get the blender drinks, but almost every dayi would ask for a cuba libré and hear "sorry no more coke" ok then vodka and 7up "sorry no more 7up" ok a shot of tequila "sorry no more tequila " you had to go buy the coke and 7up at the store. Why couldn't they do that i asked myself? But that's Cubacana hotels for ya. Not the end of the world but frustrating. Oh ya back to the food i think their sandwiches at the snack bar were the source of the people getting sick there because 3 of the 4 of us did not eat then but our friend guy, J.P. ate one and he was sick for a few days. Hot dogs were norm.
Excursions: Did the Caya Blanco trip the food there was wayyyyyy better than the hotel. The lobster tails were huge and delicious. I wouldn't want to go more than once though. People if you think that place is beautiful which it was nice , you have to go to Cayo Largo. Went diving once, it was ok. Every dive is a good dive.
weather: freakin hot, just the way we like it. 5 1/2 days out of 7 were sunny, showered once i think.
Overall i would never go back there or recommend it to any one especially if you have younget kids 10-17. There was no kids club there. Maybe in the fall you get better service and food but i don't know that. If you are a single male, things outside of the hotel could be fun for you. We met some great people,Judy , J.P some names i forget, sorry really bad with that.
We also ate 3 nights at the house of some very fine Cuban people. If you stand at the front entrance to the hotel, and look just a bit to the left you will see some mud flats, stick to the sides and walk 4min, you will see some houses, we had 3 fun filled nights there, brought some beer and rum and ate and danced and laughed We gave them tons of clothes and stuff wish we could have brought more. Vitamin C.. These Cubans were some of the best i have ever met, and will miss them because i can't go back to that hotel.
Sunwing. What a bunch of dummkoph's Can't take simple reservation instructions, dont' care that you spend thousands of dollars, don't care at all just give us the money. Next time i would even take Air Canada over those bunch of losers Even though we spent 10 grand with them they really don't give a care about the problems they caused us. In January their rep in Varadero ( he was their rep in varadero so he is their employee he yelled at my kids made them cry,and they are not little kids, he was very rude and aggressive, lied to our faces. Sunwings customer service reps told me "we will look into it " what a bunch of bull. This time i asked for repeatedly over the phone " I want the cabana room with thew vip upgrade" several times and paid for it and got nothing like that at all. Fool me once shame on you,fool me twice shame on me NO MORE MONEY from me you idiots
There was that problem which costed me another 80.00 so we could go to cayo blanco, think they give a care in the world, no they don't. Also when we got to the airport 3 1/2 hrs before departure, we checked in put our luggage through went and grabbed some beer and then went outside to enjoy the last hour in the sun. ******** (rep) SHOULD have said to us "can you please go into the departure area as the customs agents wanted to go home" as we were the only plane leaving that day. Instead he told the 4 of us to go inside and we said no thanks we want to enjoy the last hour outside in the sun, and then the lie came. He said " its ok there is a place to go and sit in the sun in the departure area. Sunwing shafted us again, as there is no such place.
Sunwing he is your employee, you should stop telling lies to your customers
Anyway we still enjoyed our stay because of the people we met, thank god for them, and i will be back to Cuba in October, but no way back to Club Amigo Marea del Portillio. Do not go there in July, Aug, as for the other months i cant speak for those. The place sucked.
The other review mentioned stuff about the pool which was accurate
P.S. There were 161 things missing from my room, and oddly enough, there it was ( 1 thing ) in Toronto coming out of the baggage pick up area all by itself on the conveyor belt.......mmmmm strange. All my luggage was locked so it didn't " fall out
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| Marea del Portillo - South Shore |
Stevenbev |
July 2008
We are a professional couple in our mid 30’s with multiple trips to the Caribbean under our belt Cuba by far being our favorite Island destination.
We have previously stayed in accommodations rated anywhere from a 2* through to 5* and always adjust our expectations accordingly. When choosing our vacations we typically try to decide on exactly the type of holiday we are after first then research our options accordingly.
For this particular vacation we were looking for a basic, no frills, non-touristy resort where we could spend quality time with our kids in a location not previously visited.
Thanks to all the previous guests who took the time to write a review on this resort we were well prepared for our visit to Marea Del Portillo and can honestly say this resort met or exceeded all our expectation on every level.
We flew into Manzanillo De Cuba via Varadero with Sunwing Vacations. I have to admit our experience with Sunwing was absolutely exceptional.
Everything from the VIP flight service (hot towel, hot meal with wine, champagne, comfortable chairs, plenty of leg room) to the on-site representative Elaina was spot on, I have no complaints what so ever and would go as far to say that we will actively try and book our future trips with Sunwing.
As mentioned, our flight stopped in Varadero in order to off-load and re-load passengers before continuing on to Manzanillo. All passengers were required to leave the plane in Varadero for approximately one (1) hour to allow the flight crew time to clean the plane and reorganize for the return trip to Toronto.
This turned out to be a great advantage for us as we were able to change our CDN dollars into CUC at the Varadero airport.
A quick one (1) hour flight from Varadero finally had us arriving at the Sierra Maesta Airport in Manzanillo.
As only 53 Canadians arrived on our flight, going through customs was a breeze. Daniel the Marea Del Portillo Reservations Manager met us just outside the luggage claim area and gave us our room key and bracelet prior to boarding the bus, basically covering the “check-in” process at the airport as opposed to the resort, which is always a nice touch.
I should also mention that you do have a chance to purchase a few drinks for the long road trip to the resort while you wait for others to fill the bus!
The traveling time from the airport to the actual resort was approximately 2 hours in length, which may be too long for some people, however, the bus was a large, air conditioned coach complete with a washroom for those who didn’t take advantage of the airport washrooms prior to leaving.
I would advise people to try and sit close to the front of the bus as by the end of the trip, the stench from the bathroom really did begin to waif through the back of the bus.
Honestly, the two-hour trip seemed to fly by, as the actual scenery was spectacular. The resort guide who accompanied us on our journey from the airport used the time wisely giving us a running commentary about the local area and attractions we were seeing as we drove past
When arriving at the resort we were greeted by dancing and singing staff welcoming us to the Marea Del Portillo, tons of cheers, laughter, heart felt “welcome home” to the many repeaters who were on our flight. I have to admit, I was a little taken aback with the amount of repeaters who joined us this week, I would say at least 25% of the guests had been to this resort before.
We were offered a rum punch in the lobby as the porters gathered our suitcases and before we knew it, our porter had found and gathered the luggage and brought us directly to our rooms.
The Rooms:
We decided to book the Room/VIP upgrade which automatically meant we were upgraded to a Cabana, which I may add is the only way to go at this resort.
Included in the VIP package was: Three trips to Cayo Blanco (white sand beach) c/w a lobster lunch, Lagoon Tour, Sunset cruise and a stocked mini fridge (2 waters, 2 Bucanero, 2 Tukola, 2 fruit bars, 1 bottle of Cubay Rum and one bottle of Sorora Red Wine).
Due to the age of our kids we ended up booking two (2) Cabanas. I emailed the resort prior to arrival and requested adjoining rooms on the second floor. Although we received the adjoining Cabanas, our rooms were on the first floor.
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At first I was disappointed, however, as soon as I opened the curtain and realized that we were approximately 10ft from the beach, my opinion quickly changed. We LOVED our room allocations couldn’t have asked for a better location. For those interested we were in Cabana’s 10 and 13.
Both Cabanas were really in need for some updating, the word “rustic” comes to mind.
Patched paint/plaster, cracked tiles, uncomfortable beds, TV with really only 2 stations that come in clearly (thankfully one was a movie channel). The bathroom appears to be slightly newer, however our shower just would stay connected to the wall.
Water pressure and temperature was fine all week, the air-conditioning worked well, the fridge was nice and cold. The room came equipped with a pretty powerful hair dryer and two very nice lounge chairs.
We did seem to have a few power failures, however the recovery was quite quick and never caused us any hardship.
Cabana # 10 did not seem to suffer from the usual musty/moldy problems we have seen at some of the older resorts in Cuba, however, Cabana #13 was practically unbearable for me. The kids didn’t even appear to notice the smell, so they chose to stay in #13 (thankfully).
All in all, the condition of the Cabana’s are poor, however, the location made up for the shortcomings.
The rooms were thankfully very clean and armed with my trusty can of Raid, relatively bug free (we did have a few ants on an occasion).
The Grounds:
The resorts foliage was actually quite dire indeed. I suppose we were expecting more of a lush environment, however, with the terrain being semi-arid I suppose any natural growth would be quite difficult to nurture.
The Marea is set on a small area of land, with the majestic Sierra Maestra mountainside as its backdrop. The area surrounding the MDP is quintessentially Cuban Campo. We had the delight of many local farm animals visiting us on a daily basis; pigs, horses, sheep, goats and the occasional dog would just wander right in. I did notice the staff didn’t require the farm animals to wear an AI band.
The Beach:
The Beach in front of the MDP is indeed charcoal coloured sand, and yes it can get very, very hot to walk on, however, just bring along a pair of cheap flip-flops and you should be fine. The sand is actually quite deep, soft and for the most part free of debris, the total length of the beach I believe is 4kms long and can be quite a nice walk at sunset.
The resort also offers a shuttle three times a week to a private island, Cayo Blanco, here you will find a white sand beach and the water toys, however, we really did not enjoy this beach trip at all. The sand was white but coarse (crushed coral, seashells), very, very little shade and bathroom facilities are pretty much non-existent.
The boat leaves for the island at 9:30 am and does not return until 3:00 pm. In our opinion this is far too long of a day to be stranded on Gilligan’s Island.
The 3 trips to Cayo Blanco are free for VIP guests, however I believe there is a cost of 25CUC for everybody else. There is a makeshift bar available for call drinks and they did provide a small buffet lunch. On Friday’s, and only on Fridays, part of the lunch buffet will include Lobster Tails for those who pre-order (you pre-order your lobster at your welcome meeting).
Needless to say, we only visited Cayo Blanco once, which in our opinion was probably once too many. When we return to the MDP and we will, I don’t think I would bother going back to Cayo Blanco, not unless they shorten the trip by a couple of hours.
Resort Facilities:
Please keep in mind this resort is only rated as a 2.5 or 3* resort thus as expected the resorts facilities are quite limited.
The MDP has only one small activity pool and one very small child’s pool (both with shade and plenty of loungers/tables).
Two bars which closed by 11:00 pm daily (Pool and Beach), one (1) buffet restaurant, one (1) Italian a la Carte restaurant (which was closed the entire week due to air-conditioning issues), and a beach snack bar which served French fries, ham and cheese sandwiches, hotdogs and later in the week hamburgers.
I should mention the MDP had a Dive Centre (which was closed the entire week due to poor visibility/dive conditions), a poor excuse for a beauty salon, one (1) ping-pong table with no balls or paddles, one (1) badly damaged pool table which for most of the week only had the one (1) cue, a Physicians office which was opened 24hrs (the better place to receive a massage) and entertainment/stage area where most of the daily activities and nightly shows were performed.
Staff:
We found the resort staff completely different from any other resort we have visited in Cuba.
For the most part everybody was helpful but you really need to make an effort here. Let me tell you, no kowtowing from the staff at this resort, which was nice to see for a change.
Once the resort employees realize you are going to treat them with the respect and professionalism they deserve, they really begin to warm up to you.
We did note at this resort large amounts of tips would NOT guarantee you better service, but manners, a smile and a gracious attitude will.
Another point to mention, yes, it did appear as though the repeaters were treated a little differently by the staff, a little more welcomed and a little more included, however, as first timers we really didn’t feel ostracized or left out, maybe just a little awkward at times.
Entertainment:
The animation staff was quite engaged and did have a daily program by the pool, which, they tried to follow, however, for the most part the guests just didn’t seem too motivated to join in.
As for the evening programs, I have to admit we only stayed for the nightly program one evening.
We were so busy during the day coupled with the oppressive heat we really were just to exhausted. Actually most evenings we retired to the comfort of our air-conditioned Cabana by 9:00 pm.
I will say the one show we did see (the talent show) was pretty good, unfortunately the comedian was lost on us as he only preformed his skit in Spanish, although judging by the laughter of the Cuban guests he must have been pretty good.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the band at this resort, 14-person orchestra from Pilon, which besides very, very loud were actually quite talented, and I would say somewhat wasted on the resort crowd.
The one problem we did find at the resort is after dinner there was a “dead time”, with nothing at all going on.
In order to beat the food frenzy at the buffet we would try and time dinner for 7:00 pm, however, by having our meal so early we found ourselves looking around for something to do until the show would start around 9:30-10:00pm…
You could go to the pool bar and listen to tapes of Gheorghe Zamfir, however Pan Flute music is NOT what I was looking for in Cuba. In the early morning the eclictic classical music CD was much more to my taste, however I would have liked to hear more Cuban music played during these “off hours”..
Speaking of music… Holy geez, the contsant blaring of rave/discohall music by the pool during the day really began to wear on my nerves by the end of the week, this complaint coming from a person who never spent one full day at the resort!
The music was so loud that you could hear it everywhere on the resort, and then again once the evening show started the live Cuban band was even louder.
My husband and I joked that we didn’t need to sit by the pool to watch the shows, we could just park our lawn chairs outside our Cabana and listen from our room.
Seriously I don’t know how people staying in the main building could tolerate the loud thump, thump, thumping all day and in the late evening. We were so glad we had a Cabana to escape to!
The food
Okay, some people may think I am crazy for saying this, but I really did enjoy ALL my meals at this resort, seriously, I can’t think of one meal which disappointed us.
People often make the comment “you don’t go to Cuba for the cuisine” and after reading some of the reviews about this resort I thought it best to bring my contingent of spices and condiments from home, I even brought snacks (Pringles, cheese and crackers), expecting the worst…
Oh boy was I wrong… well, except for one very good tip I received from a fellow reviewer, NO Ketchup at this resort, none whatsoever.
Thanks to that tip, we brought our own from home and I have to tell you we were the envy at the beach grill… French fries with ketchup for this family everyday!
Seriously, besides the lack of ketchup and decent salad dressing (we brought our own salad dressing as well), we really couldn’t have wanted for anything else.
Each evening they had limited salad fixings (tomato, cucumber, cabbage, peppers, no lettuce). As well as a fruit selection consisting of sliced mango, melon, guava and a few other fruit varieties, cold salads and a cheese and cold cut selection.
Hot dishes consisted of two types of rice, pasta (no make-to-order pasta), potatoes, a chicken dish, a pork dish and a beef or fish dish.
The only cooked vegetables seemed to be squash and mashed plantain (which they called banana). They also had something at the grill, generally a roast turkey, fish or pork.
I should mention one fault with the protein here…
There is no way anybody visiting this resort could end up with food poisoning due to undercooked meat…
Each and every piece of meat I had at this resort (including the lobster at Cayo Blanco) was extremely over cooked; I mean we are talking to the point of sawdust in some cases.
I appreciate the effort on behalf of the chefs to ensure proper food safety precautions however I believe the chefs at this resort have taken the “cook till you kill” approach to whole new level.
The desserts didn’t seem to ever change, generally a few different types of cakes, rice pudding, custard and AMAZING Bread pudding yummy!
They also had ice cream a few nights, which caused a huge commotion with people practically knocking each other over to get to it…
Please, the ice cream was good but not that good!
If all else fails, they also had a wonderful bread table with fresh homemade butter, which was absolutely delicious…
Lunch was almost a mirror image of dinner so to prevent boredom I would avoid the buffet at lunch. We preferred to have a large breakfast and hit the Beach snack bar around 2:00 pm for French fries if we were really hungry.
Breakfast, had everything you could want for breakfast, including a chef who would fry your eggs anyway you prefer.
Fellow Guests
One of the most unique features of this resort and probably our favorite aspect of the Marea Del Portillo is the blend of guests here.
I would say at least 75% of the guests staying at the MDP were Cuban, which we thought was absolutely amazing. We truly enjoyed and felt privileged to be able to share the resort with so many wonderful Cuban families. Honestly, the Cubans we met were all so friendly, polite, animated and a true joy to be around.
However it was not just the vacationing Cubans at this resort we enjoyed being around, truly, with the exception of a couple of 20 something’s that were sorely out of place here, I would say all the guests visiting the MDP during our stay were absolutely fabulous…
A very good mix of families and couples, and for the most part everybody seemed to get along wonderfully.
Excursions
Saving the best for last…
The MAIN reason we chose this particular resort was due to its location and its proximity to the Sierra Maestra mountain range.
We are not beach people (which is a good thing here), but instead love ecological outdoor adventures.
Everyday we had an excursion booked off the resort, everything from guided horse tours, jeep adventures, hiking, boat tours, a rigorous trip to Pico Turquino (Cuba’s highest peak) guided walks, visit to local farms, anything and everything you can think of that involves the Cuban Countryside can be arranged for you, either through your Sunwing representative or the Cubanacan rep at the resort.
If interested you can also book tours into Santiago de Cuba or the Bayamo City tour, which will give you a little insight to Urban living in Cuba.
Really, for guests who need to be active and have a real desire for outdoor adventure this resort offers so many choices, one week is not really long enough (maybe that’s why they have so many repeat visitors).
Our personal favorite had to be the guided off road jeep tour into the mountains where you are brought to a beautiful waterfall, have an amazing outdoor lunch prepared for you and finally a quick stop to the chefs home afterwards for some fresh homemade mountain coffee.
I could go on and on about what a wonderful excursion this was, truly one of the best tours I have ever had in Cuba.
In Summery
The Marea Del Portillo should be rated as a solid 2* based on amenities, condition and its relative isolation. However please don’t let that deter you from considering this resort as a vacation destination.
No, you wont have the typical bells and whistles that many have come to expect from an AI resort in Cuba, but what you will get is a chance to have one of the most unique and diverse Cuban Ecological/Campo cultural experiences that can be offered on this Island.
The area surrounding the MDP is nothing short of breathtaking and the adventures we had as a family were second to none (trust me this family has seen quite a bit).
The achievements/ accomplishments of the Cuban people from this region especially in the face of diversity really shone through. Everybody we met had a story to tell, an experience to share, opened their hearts and homes to us freely expecting nothing from us in return. It really is as though time has stood still here, as tourism has yet to spoil this little piece of paradise.
I would recommend the MDP to the most experienced of travelers, those who understand the value per dollar scale, feel comfortable leaving the confines of the resort, enjoy the countryside, can appreciate Cuba for what Cuba has to offer, and are willing to roll with the punches.
As a family, despite the fact that I have given the resort a 2* rating we would absolutely consider returning. Really the MDP offered everything this family wants and needs in a vacation and I wouldn’t hesitate to go back.
If interested you can view some of our vacation photos here:
http://community.webshots.com/user/StevenbevMDP
Cheers!
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| Marea del Portillo - South Shore |
Cindy |
February 2008
We booked our trip on the Sunwing website for Jan 24th ,2008, and booked a Cabana at Marea del Portillo in Manzanillo because it came with a lot of extras, like a sunset cruise, 3 trips to Cayo Blanco, late check-out etc. When our flight got changed to an evening departure instead of morning, I called to be sure we arranged the late check-out, only to be told by Sunwing that we did not have those extras, since only VIP bookings included those. So I spoke with a manager and showed them on their web-site where it was worded that booking a Cabana came with the extras and although she advised me it was a typo, we were upgraded to VIP with all the extras and had no trouble with this throughout the trip.
Arrival at the hotel was a 2-hour bus ride, not 1 1/2 hour as stated, but we were smart enough to change our money over at the airport and to buy enough beer for the bus ride to make the trip bearable and fun! (warning-get any money off of credit card you need at the airport as the hotel will only change over Canadian cash and cash advances from credit card must be done at the bank in Pilon-not something I ever want to do again. More about that later).
This resort is the last one we will ever go to, meaning we were working our way around Cuba but have found paradise and will probably come back here again and again. We are in our fourties but we stayed at Marea where most of the older tourists stay and it was beautiful and quiet. There is plenty of shade for the loungers and chairs around the pool, unlike the Farallon pool, where you have to bake in the hot sun. We had the bottom floor of the Cabana and slept with the door open all night to hear the surf, and I even slept outside on a lounger a couple of times. I had the usual number of mosquito bites around my ankles, a few on my arms, but saw some people up at the Farallon with quite a few on their upper body. I heard someone mention they thought they were bedbug bites and had to laugh because at night you are either too drunk or busy to notice being bitten by the tiny mosquitoes and when waking up the next day is when you get itchy, so some people assumed they were being bitten in bed!!
Anyway the food is the usual Cuban fare, the lobster upset my stomach as usual but I love it enough to torture myself. We went on the 'Fiesta' trip at night to Pilon which was great. We brought lots of toys, crayons, glow-bracelets for the kids and were mobbed when we got off the bus! We were escorted by our new 'friends' to the outdoor bar, where my husband bought a 40 ouncer of rum and some pop and we and all our new friends shared a shot or two. Others who came on the same bus were not prepared for this and sat back in the fringes, watching, not sure what to make of this, but we even got into the bathroom at no charge!! We met a couple of Cuban families who we befriended and will visit again at Christmas, and I seriously recommend you do this if you want to really begin to understand the Cuban lifestyle. Our young couple live in an up-scale home made of cement and do better because the husband works as a cook on one of the resorts. His brother and mother live with them too and they have one child. Their out-back neighbour lives in what we would call a 'shack'-all put together from left-overs because her husband ran off to Venezuela and she has only one income. However, we could take a lesson from the way they help each other out and support each other. And might I add that Cubans are colour-blind when it comes to race which is really nice. We went back to visit by taxi later in the week ($22 round-trip) and were treated to a lunch with chicken, fish, lobster, shrimp, beans, rice, and cabbage that had been sprinkled with lemon which made it really nice as it is usually plain and tasteless, but went quite nice with the fish.
Our 20-year-old daughter came with us and although every Cuban male in the place was interested in her, she happened to fall in love with one of the young entertainers at the resort, so we are now faced with all that comes with such a thing. If you don't know what l am talking about, I suggest you leave it that way as it will boggle your mind once you start investigating what is required to continue such a relationship!
One of the entertainers suggested we seemed the type to be up at the Farallon with all of the younger tourists, but the walk to the beach there is down a thousand stairs! However the music group there, Charanga del Caribe was superior to the Marea, so we made our way there each evening, and then down to the Disco which was fabulous! Glow bracelets and white clothing are terrific under the blacklights, and although the free bars close at 11, you can buy beer there for $1 and shots for $.55, so really, who cares?
We took one of the entertainers, Henry on our horse-back ride into the hills to swim in the waterfall (arranged just across the road for $10) and I recommend you go over and make the arrangements yourself so that the owner of the horses gets your money. If you arrange it though the hotel, he doesn't see a penny. He was so grateful he gave us some coffee which is great, both whole bean and ground and very tasty. Take candy and gum for the locals who will join you for a swim there.
The entertainers at both resorts are some of the nicest people we have met so far; funny and genuine and very helpful.
We needed money from our Visa so decided to get it on our trip to Pilon to visit our friends. We got to the bank at a quarter to 11, not knowing it opens at 11, and had to get into a long, hot line-up. However, when the doors opened a young lady came to get us and took us in first, ahead of all the locals! (arranged by our cab-driver, unknown to us) I felt so awful! You can tell these people are used to it and that bothered me even more. We had no trouble, just make sure you take your passport as ID. Next time I will deal with it at the airport when I arrive as there wasn't even a lineup there. Most people don't know to go back into the building after passing through customs and gathering your luggage to do so. You have to wait until the bus is loaded before you leave anyway so there is lots of time.
Cayo Blanco is nice but boring. You get there by boat and we went twice, once to check it out and the second time for our lobster lunch. The food is great, the snorkelling so-so. The trouble is, you are trapped there all day until 3pm. If you want to just lay there, fine. otherwise you can have to amuse yourself. We need to find the right place here to snorkle. By the way, the white sand of the cayo is just as hot on the feet as the darker sand at the resort!
On of the truly amazing things for me is that this resort is also frequented by vacationing Cubans. They stay in one block of the Cabanas and are even allowed to eat in the restaurant! Although they tend to stay to themselves, if I knew more Spanish, I'm sure there would have been more communication between us. Also note, the young men here cannot get enough to eat, so if you can slip them a burger along the way, they are most grateful. Some even like a drop of rum or two!
Just make sure you tip the entertainers, waitresses, band members, etc that you connect with before you leave as they depend on this, and $5 is nothing to us, but half a month's wage to them! They work 28 days straight, sometimes 12 or 14 hour days before they get 5 or 7 days off, yet are always willing to go that extra mile for us, no matter what we want, and do so with a smile on their face, so we need to show them a little appreciation at the end of our wonderful, restful vacation.
This truly is a little slice of heaven and I recommend the resort if you are the type who does not need the fast-paced night life in Havana, hardly any shopping ( the best souveneirs are at the airport when you are leaving-and there is a bank there so you can get the money to buy them), and jyou ust want to relax and enjoy the sun and fun!!
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| Marea del Portillo - South Shore |
Mel |
January 2008
My family went to Club Amigo Marea del Portillo (Manzanillo de cuba) and stayed at the Farrallon Dec 6-13,2007. I am not much for returning to the same place but we would go back there in a minute. I loved how un-crowded it was this time of year. At times we were the only ones in the ocean. The water temperature was quite warm so you could stay in for hours. The waves were fun! The snorkeling was bad. The excursion to Cayo Blanco Island had some tropical fish but not many.
The food was simple more authentic Cuban food. Breakfast had bacon, eggs, fruit, hash browns, yogurt drinks, cereal, juice, toast, some of the best cheese and bread I have ever tasted. Lunchtime had fish, pork shredded beef, chicken, fruit, salads, bread, cheese, black bean rice. I was not a fan of dessert. It was quite bland. The only thing good was the ice cream. Dinner would be similar to lunch turkey, pork, chicken and rice. I would suggest you go to the Italian restaurant once and have the pizza. We had a lobster dinner, however it wasn't great. Nothing beats a Canadian lobster! Bars were great. Coffee was really good I just wish they had cream.
The jeep excursion was fantastic. This was well worth the money. Bring a tip for the driver. I would also recommend an hour horse back riding. Bring money, toys or clothes to trade for jewelry.
In short it was a great place that I plan to go back soon.
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| Marea del Portillo - South Shore |
Rob |
January 2008
Just got back from a trip during Christmas Break to Marea Del Portillo. Though it cost an arm and a leg because of the time of year (over $1000 each for my girlfriend and I), it was a fantastic experience. I hope I can help others who aren't quite sure what they think of this place, figure out whether it is for them - I know the previous reviews helped me immensely in my decision making so... here it goes:
LOCATION - Marea Del Portillo is located in the mountains about a 2 hour drive from Manzanillo airport. We drove in at night so we didn't get to see the surrounding landscape, but it is through small communities, forests, farms and mountains. It is grueling though, and if you are prone to car-sickness, its not fun, especially with the roads in Cuba.
THE HOTEL - We stayed at the Marea Del Portillo section, in the actual hotels. There are actually 3 different options available - the Farralon which is up on a hill away from the beach, Marea Del Portillo (the hotel section, which is on the beach) and the Cabanas at Marea, which are two story buildings scattered along the beach as well. The rooms were very clean - no bugs, no weird smells, no dampness, and no cracks in the floor or walls. AC and fridge both worked perfectly. Every room at Marea faces the beach even though the view may be obstructed by palm trees, and the beach is literally steps away.
THE BEACH - From the previous reviews and what I had heard, this was what suprised me the most about Marea. I thought the beach was beautiful - the sand wasn't white, but it was very, very soft. The water was sometimes turquoise, extremely clear, and very warm. You didn't need water shoes or sandals either because the bottom was soft and pretty weed-free. I didn't experience many sand flea bites - there were a few around, but they didn't bother me.
THE FOOD - A decent variety of meats, fish, and fruits. Some vegetables, two types of rice daily, a pasta, and a soup. It wasn't Milestones or the Keg, but that's not what I was expecting. It did get boring after a while, but I didn't get sick and no one else that I talked to did either. New Years Dinner was a bit nicer, and I ate at the Farallon restaurant a few times, but it was much the same fare.
THE POOL, BARS, and ENTERTAINMENT - The pool was clean and large enough for the resort. Nothing special - I didn't spend much time there. There were two bars - one near the pool and one near the beach. Both had fast friendly bartenders and the selection of drinks was fine - the beer on tap is Cristal and its not bad... a bit weak, but fine. The screwdrivers were different, but not disgusting. And the other tropical drinks were great - BRING YOUR OWN CUP. I brought a stainless steel one and it kept my drink cold and they fill it was as much alcohol as you could ever ask for. There was an old pool table and ping pong table near the pool - not state of the art, but serviceable. The entertainment throughout the day and night was good. The staff were funny, talented and extremely friendly. If you go in with an open mind, and expecting to have fun, you will.
EXCURSIONS - We did the Jeep Mountain Tour (cost $49 CUC). It was amazing. We saw Cuba in its rawest form, and people living off of the land with very few luxuries. The waterfall you could swim in was amazingly clear and cool... and the views from the different stops were fantastic. Again, if you are prone to getting car sick, this isn't for you. There were trips to Cayo Blanco (an island with crystal clear waters and white sand) for $35 CUC, and horseback riding moutain/farm tours for about the same price. The excursions are what I enjoyed most about Marea, and what separated it from other resorts I had considered - you get to see a different Cuba than the urban development of Havana or Varadero. I guess it depends on what you want more - if you are looking for the nightlife and shopping available in big city tourist areas, then Marea Del Portillo isn't for you.
I was warned that I shouldn't consider a three star resort in Cuba - that I wouldn't get value for money, especially during Christmas break, where prices are so much higher. Those people were wrong. I got more than I paid for at Marea Del Portillo, but only because it was the type of vacation I wanted. I wanted the eco-tourism and to experience the rustic life of everyday Cuban farmers and labourers who live in the country. I left Toronto to escape the high paced stress of big city life, so Marea Del Portillo, its amazing staff, and its proximity to nothing but unspoilt wilderness were the perfect escape.
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| Marea del Portillo - South Shore |
Martina, Larry and Jason ~ Peterborough |
December 2007
We just returned from a one week vacation at the Mareo. We booked the resort only 3 weeks ago and were able to book a cabana room. The resort is split into three sections. The Mareo which is located directly on the beach which has a section of rooms in two storey long buildings and then the cabana rooms. Those are a little further away from the action (ie: pool and entertainment area), however are more quiet two storey building with four units in each of them and are also directly on the beach. We were lucky to get a cabana with an ocean view. The cabana rooms seem a little larger and have a bigger balcony or terrace. Then there is the Farallon section of the Hotel which is located about 1/2 mile from the Mareo, up on a hill. It's a long and steep walk to the beach and the beach also didn't seem to have any loungers etc. The Punta Piedra section is located about 5 km from the beach and by driving by did not look very impressive. The resort has a dive centre located on the beach and also operates a catamaran and a couple of kayaks out of there. My husband went diving every day. The boat comes right to the beach by the dive centre and offers shallow and deep dives and day excursions. My husband went on a day trip to the see one of the spanish ships that sunk 1898 and loved it.
Service with Sunwing was good. No delays and transportation from the airport to the resort was fairly efficient. Everyone received their bracelets and room keys before boarding the bus which made for an efficient check in. The bus ride was long and took about 1 1/2 hours. Unfortunately we didn't arrive in Manzanillo until 9 pm and you could not see a whole lot in the dark. We had booked a triple room and found only two beds in the room when we arrived. Staff promptly made arrangements to bring us a third bed. Booking a cabana also provides guests with VIP service which was nice to have. It included a stocked fridge with beer, pop, juice, a bottle of rum and wine. We also received a Sunset Cruise, Lobster Dinner, 3 trips to Cayo Blanco (an island with wonderful white sand) nearby. Those trips no cost $25 pesos per person. For VIP these were free and also included a delicious grilled lunch on the island. VIP also provided us with late check out (4:30 pm; the bus departed for the airport at 5:30 pm).
There are the usual day tours to cities nearby etc. We opted for the Jeep Safari which was amazing. High up in the mountains to a farm house and a beautiful waterfall.
The location of the resort is absolutely spectacular. Here you have the ocean, beach and the high Sierra Maestra in plain view in the background. Gorgeous! The beach is wide and fairly long. The resort is located in a bay and the water seemed rather calm all week. The drawback is the sand is not white. It's quite dark and got extremely hot during the day. The water was warm and fairly free of any debris and rocks. We never needed watershoes or anything.
The food was sort of your typical cuban fair. Repetitive and not a huge selection. However we found there was always something to please. The Mareo has an italian a la carte restaurant. We ate there twice during the week. Both times they offered the same menu. Again, I think you have to keep in mind you are not feasting in Italy! The Farallon has a cuban a la carte, however we did not eat there. While staying at either hotel you can make use of all their facilities, including the restaurants which was a nice change. We ate dinner at the Farallon several times, however found their spread to be the same as at the Mareo. However it was a nice change of scenery and the view from the terrace of the Farallon is amazing!
We have been going to Cuba for many years all over the island and found that the staff at this resort were particularly friendly and accommodating, more so than we have encountered anywhere else. You also could not help but notice how clean the grounds and the facilities were kept.
The hotel offered nightly entertainment. We didn't really attend and I can't comment on that. The last night they had a big fire on the beach with music and dancing which was nice.
Being there over Christmas the hotel put on a special dinner on Christmas Eve. Otherwise the rest of the holiday was the same as every other day.
If you are looking for a great bargain and don't expect a lot of luxuries this is definately a resort we would recommend and return to. We paid $615 plus taxes each for our cabana room. I'd say that that is probably the cheapest Cuba vacation we ever had and we enjoyed every minute of it.
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| Marea del Portillo - South Shore |
Gail |
December 2007
Home after 4 weeks at Marea del Portillo, Nov 1 - 29
Each time I return to this quaint, isolated, lovely place, it gets better. Enveloped by Sierra Maestra mountains and facing the Caribbean, the scenery is unsurpassed --- I compare resorts across the country to this place (from Havana to Holguin to Santiago de
Cuba) and Marea remains my favourite. Plus, it's always a few degrees hotter in this southwestern corner of Cuba, than the north and eastern coasts.
Flights in and out Toronto-Manzanillo are Thursdays: we arrived midday (apparently flight times change in a few weeks to night
arrival) to the music, cheers and smiles of long-time friends, our Cuban families.
Sunwing is a far superior airline/host than the former carrier,
Sunquest/Skyservice: better service, food, sweet little perks (hot towels and champagne are nice touches) and best of all seats on the plane are more spacious. Homeward bound: limited duty free, and no magazine or catalogue listing items.
Luggage didnt make it for 2 couples, and one wife's suitcase didnt make it although her husband's did. Will never figure that one out:
how luggage can be lost on a direct flight.
Customs and immigration is notorious at Manzanillo Sierra Maestra Aeropuerte for cashing in on excess baggage weight (the big scale is steps away from the tiny luggage carasol, which was a ridiculous addition when the airport was renovated a few years back). DVDs and other previously prohibited items sailed through (I had 2 portable dvd players and my laptop) but they were curious about my Not Just Tourists suitcase. The guys went through the suitcase checking out all the meds and supplies so carefully packed---happily, they did not charge me, but suggested everything be packed in zip locs, rather than tossed loosely in the suitcase. Some items were wrapped in plastic bags, other items were loose. I had letters from NJT and permission from Sunwing, arranged the weeks before via email and letters I printed to present. A man on the flight the following week had to pay extra--but i think his luggage far exceeded the 20kg limit to Cuba. It's a cash grab pure and simple: a friend paid $19, others paid $200 or more.
Judy brought 2 bicycles, second hand, at $50 each, but wound up paying $180 in import taxes as well as to cover transporting it to the hotel. Seven years ago, there was never a charge to bring a bike.
The bus ride from the hotel is 90 minutes or less. Have the camera ready, if you arrive in daytime — each village, town and city has its own charm. People wave their welcomes all along the route. Dont forget to tip the driver.
Marea resort has a reputation as a sleepy boring "old people" hotel, where wheelchairs and walkers are most common mode of transportation (sorry, no scooters, mopeds or bicycles anymore... rental cars only and not so many; book early) but I'm 48 and I find peace and tranquillity when i need it as well as all-night parties with wild and crazy 20- and 30-somethings when i seek that. It's a place which offers whatever you want, whenever you want it, and often when you least expect. The beach is outstanding---many are put off by the dark sand, but it's a massive beach, wide and long, powder soft and the water is amazing. Always remember the flipflops (or crocs): the sand is hot on the way to and from the water.
To escape poolside politics and gossip and typical resort activities (which are fun the first few years) I rent a car/jeep and travel the country. Roads are in terrible shape, potholed and rubbled and heaving pavement, but within 2 minutes, you're deep in real Cuba, with real Cubans, and for me, they are what make the vacation.
The hotel was full, and most of us repeat guests; I stopped counting after 15 visits, but we met couples and singles and groups who've been four times and 40 times. There were 70+ at the repeat dinner the first week. A first-time one-week group from Port Colborne/Ridgeway/ Fort Erie is already planning a return trip for two weeks next November, they enjoyed the place and the people so much. "It's like going to the cottage, and being with your extended family," noted Claudette, who just loved every minute.
There is a main 2-story block of rooms---first floor back doors open to the beach, second-floor balconies face the ocean. The cabanas (or
villas) are the primo rooms at this resort---past the pool, a little more private, bigger patios and balconies, more spacious rooms, newly tiled bathrooms, and yes, a hair dryer. It costs a little extra but I find they are worth it. I stayed in a room this time, since I planned on doing so much travel, I didnt spend a lot of time there. Sunwing has added a new VIP upgrade which was super for folks I met during week 1 and 2 (green bracelet instead of regular blue) but prompted some confusion for others in week 3 and 4. Upgrading to a cabana doesnt automatically mean you get the VIP package--it costs $40 or $60 extra. Be sure you've booked and paid for VIP if thats what you expect. It sounds like a great package: stocked bar in room, lobster dinner, some boat cruises including a couple days at Cayo Blanco, a island spit of white sand and turquoise water, lunch included, great for swimming, snorkelling, sunning (it was once free with the hotel, then $7 per person, now its $25/pp) and other perk services.
The food is buffet basic --- pork, chicken, fish, rice and beans, veg including lettuce, cabbage and typical sliced and diced cukes and carrots. Reserving the morning of or day before secures a table up at the four-star sister hotel Farallon, where the food is similar, but more of it and better presented. We enjoyed lunch (no reservations required for lunch) up the hill at Farallon where the view is spectacular over the bay and bartender Castro makes an exquisite cappuccino. There is an a la carte Italian restaurant (reservations required/no extra charge) in a glass room adjacent to the pool bar at
Marea: lasagna, spaghetti, beef steak, canelloni, shrimp cocktail, vino tinto; a lovely candlelit full-service change from the buffet restaurant. I think it's Cuban fare for lunch, but we preferred sandwiches and burgers at the beach bar, between 11am and 5pm.
Some people prefer the Farallon, the 4-star up the hill, which is architecturally superior, a lovely 4-storey hotel with a view to die for, but it's a hike to the beach, and the beach is far superior at Marea. It's a super morning walk along the beach, more than a kilometre, and every morning as the sun rises, people walk there and back along the shore, where the waves kiss the sand. Many guests just stay at Farallon and hang around the pool and swim-up bar and dont bother with the beach. There were only about 80 people at Farallon; it will be full this month and next. Marea seems to be full all the time. If you want the Farallon you have to book "superior room" at Marea.
It rained 27 straight days — including every day week 1. Sunny in the morning on the beach, and by noon, hard, steady, big, tropical rain.
It was still 30 degrees, but so much rain rain rain. Roads were washed away, rubble and mud blocked access in many places, rivers overflowed, bridges were underwater... by week 2, water drained away quickly, but high water marks in river valleys and fields were evident.
Apart from understandable high-water hassle on transportation, all that water meant so many mosquitoes. I was eaten alive Week 1, but by week 2 i was bite free. The mosquitoes and hehenees switched from me, covered in bug dope every time i left my room, to the new flesh and blood of weeks 2, 3 and 4. Dr. Barbara was kept busy tending to pussy bloody legs and backs....
It was the worst I'd seen or experienced in years. Take bug spray and use it!
Bill, aka Guillermo, one of the group of divers who return to Marea year after year, said he was concerned the water would be murky and messed up with all the rain and rivers washing into the sea. When diving resumed after tropical storm Noel and all our week 1 rain ended, he said they enjoyed the best dives they'd had in years — colours of coral and schools of fish he'd never seen in them thar parts... mid-afternoon at the beach bar, he'd regale us with tales of groupers and barracudas and brilliant reef fishes at 30 and 50 and 80 feet where the sun still illuminated the crystal blue depths
There are several super excursions: city tours to Bayamo and Manzanillo are totally worth spending the day (try to alwasy book 2 weeks; 1 week goes so quickly). There are horse and buggy tours, horseback riding, sailing on the catamaran, but the best trip, if you can only do 1, is the "jeep adventure." The ride alone is exhilarating, but add the sites and sounds of the mountains, the visit to the farmer's house and plantation, and the swim at the waterfall —you'll remember it the rest of your life.
We enjoyed several days at the carnival in Pilon, the nearby city where the majority of the hotel staff live. The carnival moved to Niquero, and then Media Luna. November is carnival time in Granma province, and it really is a popular time at the hotel, and for Cubans who come home to Pilon from across the country. We met people from Havana, Holguin, Manzanillo, etc....
When its not November, or carnival time, night life from the hotel include the "Saturday night street party" in Pilon. For $5/pp the bus takes hotel guests to the central park in Pilon and you can dance and drink and party with locals until midnight. There was a disco set up after "The Show" at the hotel every night at the beach bar in Punta Piedra, another sister hotel 5km west of the resort. That lasted about a week — transport problems with taxis and buses and sound systems...
I have to mention the amazing house band at marea del portillo: integracion sonora
its a 14- or 15-piece band and wow, they are such talents, each and every one
The after-show disco, complete with blacklight and reggaeton, Donna Summer, Boney M, AC DC, you name it, is at the beach bar/restaurant at Farallon— a beautiful walk along the beach under the stars or along the road under the streetlights The Show ends about 10:30pm, the disco starts about 11
It was an awesome, amazing 4 weeks.
Travelling anywhere in Cuba, you learn to roll with the unexpected, unanticipated...
And you learn about karma: what goes around comes around, baby I had hot water every day, all the time, but some guests did not, even though new solar panels to heat water were installed last year and as recently as this summer I didnt mind that the sandwich lady ran out of chicken (there was always ham and cheese) or that there was no ice cream every day (we had some week 1, then none until week 4 and we scooped it every day)
The animacion/entertainment staff is the best team in Cuba — Edgar, Arnaldo, Luis, Chacho, Olga, Katie, Henry, Bussy, Lissandro (i know i am forgetting a couple others...)—each has their own special gift, and they make you feel so special. It always blows my mind how they can remember everyone's names, week to week, year after year...
They work so hard for us, long days, longer nights: they are creative, talented, personable, and if you dont love them all, there will be one or two you'll love forever
Marea is a magical place, yet not all succumb to its spell That's ok — they'll find their own magic elsewhere
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| Marea del Portillo - South Shore |
Stanf & Jane ~ Ontario |
November 2007
Destination: Marea del Portillo Resort, Granma province, Cuba
Date of visit: October 18 to November 1, 2007
Arrival/Check-in: The most organized, easiest check in we have ever experienced. The Reservations Manager, Daniel Sánchez Guerra, had our room keys, wristbands, literature, etc. ready for us in individual envelopes at the airport. We picked up the envelope as we boarded the bus, sat back and enjoyed a 1½-hour bus ride with commentary by Nelson. Bumps, potholes and washouts were courtesy of the heavy rains the area has recently experienced. We arrived at the resort at around 1:30 in the afternoon (Toronto departure @ 06:30!), were met at the door by management (special hello to PR Exec. Vincente - thanks for the invitation) and animaçion staff and went straight in to have lunch while our baggage was unloaded and staged in the lobby. After lunching, we were shown to our room by a couple of bellhops. Into our swimsuits and on the beach by 2:30.
Room: We opted for a cabaña room. These are located about 50 yards from the main block of ‘hotel’ style rooms, beyond the pool and entertainment area. The cabaña rooms seemed to be a little larger than a regular room and were in blocks of either 4 rooms, or 8 rooms, 2 stories high. Most cabaña rooms had a small balcony or patio that faced the beach. From our balcony, palm and sea grape trees obscured a clear view of the beach. They also effectively blocked out the sun for the early morning. Room was equipped with shower only, a hairdryer with cord too short to reach the socket, safe (no charge), bar fridge (empty), cable TV (3 or 4 stations in English), 2 fairly firm twin beds, air conditioner, etc. Housekeeping by Mirdelis was excellent.
Beach: As has been mentioned by others, the beach at Marea is of dark sand. It isn’t black and it certainly isn’t white. What it is after about 9:00 in the morning is HOT! Run as fast as you can from the plentiful shade to the water’s edge. There were always enough loungers available, although, once or twice after a late morning start, someone else had claimed ‘our favourite spot’. The beach is fairly wide – maybe 40 or 50 yards from the trees to the water. Once the onshore breeze starts up, be prepared to get somewhat roasted if you are on a lounger. Best remedy for that is to keep up the intake of fluids! We’re not positive, but it didn’t seem like there was any snorkeling from this beach. All the time we were there (pre and during Noel), there were pretty good waves. OK for short body surf rides. Made a nice sound all day and night too. Be prepared for noseeums when there is no breeze.
Food: In our opinion, typical 3 star fare. Always a variety of fruit, salads, entrees, sides and desserts. Custom omelettes at breakfast. Wine with lunch and dinner. We are not picky eaters, so were always satisfied with the offerings. As I told the Head Chef, "I was never disappointed by a meal". We only wish that there were a few truly ethnic and/or local items on the buffet every day. By the way, all of the fish served was absolutely delicious! We did miss the fresh squeezed orange juice machine that we have seen at other resorts. During the day (‘til 5:00) the Beach Bar offers hot dogs, hamburgers, ham and cheese, chicken sandwiches and fries. Excellent for a late afternoon snack. The best coffee comes from the Pool Bar until the Beach Bar’s espresso machine gets fixed. The specialty Italian restaurant, Amici, makes a nice change from the buffet. There was never any problem with booking a table for 7:00, so we went twice. The restaurant could do with 2 things: menus in English and a little mood music. Other than that, service was great and the food good.
Locale: Marea del Portillo is on the south western shore of Granma province, 12 km. from Pilon and about 175 km. from Santiago de Cuba. It is on a large bay with curving beach and is backed up inland by the Sierra Maestra Mountains. For those of us who live in relatively flat terrain, it made a nice change to see hills and mountains. The village of Marea is about 3 or so km. from the resort. The town of Pilon is about 12 km. In the opposite direction.
Entertainment: This resort has a 14-piece house band!!! 14 piece!!! They are great! The dance troupe of about a dozen or so are also very professional. All the shows we saw were well rehearsed and presented. Poolside bingo daily for a bottle of rum or liqueur as well as daily contests for similar prizes.
Pool: The pool is a reasonable size and is deep enough to shallow dive into. There is also adequate natural and man-made shade around it. The Pool Bar is conveniently nearby. Be prepared for noseeums when there is no breeze.
Excursions: Due to an unfortunate set of circumstances (lack of, or miscommunication and hurricane Noel), we were not able to go on as many excursions as we had wanted to.
Bayamo day trip (55CUC each) – This is a long day. Almost 12 hours in total, about 6 of which are spent on the coach. The visit to the province’s largest city includes a tour of Carlos Manuel de Cespedes home (now a museum) lunch at a nearby restaurant, a visit to a taverna for some Cuban music and about ½ an hour free time. Back on the coach and off to the city of Manzanillo. Stop there for a walk around the city square and some shopping at a souvenir store.
Cayo Blanco (7CUC) – First of all, be aware that you have to make your own way to where the boat is docked (we didn’t know and had to almost run to make it). This is about a 12 minute walk. A half hour boat ride (fishing included) takes you to Cayo Blanco. White sand, lots of loungers, shade, open bar, cooked lunch, snorkeling and pleasant conversation (only 8 of us plus crew!) made for a very enjoyable afternoon. We would have gone back, but Noel cancelled that thought.
Local horseback rides (5CUC) – a great way to get away from the resort for about an hour and a half. We especially enjoyed going up into the foothills. That trip included a refreshment stop at the guide's parent's house. Very edifying.
Summary: We enjoyed our stay at Marea del Portillo. If the weather hadn’t interfered for a couple of days and we hadn’t had a misunderstanding about the VIP package, it would have been a most enjoyable experience. In the travel forums, I asked Marea returnees why they go back there. Hollydog gave me the best summary for this resort:
"No blaring music, late night parties and booze ‘till you puke parties. Staff who are genuinely happy to see you and go out of their way as best they can (with the limited resources they have) to make you feel special. An animaçion/entertainment team that will take "no" for an answer. Local neighbours who are not nosy, rude or trying to sell you absolutely everything. If you want to rest and relax, in a cozy, if not fancy part of Cuba, Marea del Portillo is the place". I will add that it is a bargain to boot!
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| Marea del Portillo - South Shore |
Dale ~ Canada |
August 2007
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Check-in in Toronto was a breeze, arrived three hours prior and breezed through. Kudos to Sunwing counter personnel.
Flight was uneventf
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ul with a nice meal of chicken Teriyaki or pasta served along with complimentary champagne, and audio headsets. Flight crew friendly and efficient.
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Unloaded and reloaded in Jamaica without incident.
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Short flight across the bay to MDP.
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Arrival a little chaotic as there is one small carousel and everyone trying to get their bags ‘first’.
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Immigration a little tense, but not unusual for a communist country (I have traveled to China).
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Drive to MDP was long and somewhat bumpy. Three passengers caused most of the problems. Two insisted that we stop for a smoke break, the Sunwing Rep asked the other passengers if that was O.K. After a resounding “NO” we continued on our journey, and these two inconsiderate individuals ( who later came to be known as Mr. Johnny Cuba and Mr. Shorty pants”) decided to light up anyway! A lot of shouting ensued and they grudgingly butted out. The third individual was throwing up all the way from the airport to the resort. She apparently did not know it was going to be a long ride…Don’t people with this problem read the brochure? The sounds, and smells were enough to make other passengers want to throw up as well.
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Arrival was very nice with music and staff clapping to welcome us
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Snack in the room upon arrival (11:00 p.m.) consisted of a ham and cheese sandwich and a pop. Some guests thought this was gross, I personally thought it was fine.
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The location of this resort is truly special. The mountains circle the bay, and the view is amazing in every direction.
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The ocean is warm, with a soft sandy bottom. No weeds or coral. You can walk out about 50 feet before it gets deep.
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The first few days provided great boogie-boarding for the kids.
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The weather was HOT and humid. Do not recommend to older clients or those with breathing difficulties.
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Staff at the resort were friendly and efficient. We had a Nintendo DS stolen from the room on the second day, and after complaining it mysteriously reappeared on day 5. My eldest daughter had her bathing suit stolen from outside the room where it was put to dry. This was the case with other guests as well. My advice would be to lock everything in your safety deposit box and bring a lock for your suitcase and lock up all your clothes as well. Don’t leave anything outside the room as the locals appear and raid the patios in the middle of the night.
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The food. I am in the food business so I tend to be a little more critical than most people. The food here was very good. It was 100% Cuban with lots of pork, chicken, and local produce. Pork is most widely available, so you may want to mention this to some of your Muslim and Jewish customers. Breakfasts were awesome with sausages, bacon, ham, made-to-order omelets, lots of fresh bread, fresh fruit and smoothies. There were always a couple of kinds of cereal as well. I honestly don’t know how somebody could complain.
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Snacks were a bit weak, with hot dogs, and chips available at the pool bar from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. long lineups and they frequently ran out of food or equipment would break down.
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With three teens that are constantly hungry, I think that the snack service needs improvement.
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Bar service was reasonable, however no servers. You had to get your drinks at the bar which was a pain.
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The lobster dinner was amazing. Huge lobster served hot, fresh and very tasty.
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I definitely recommend the VIP package, it is well worth the money.
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The tours were hit and miss. Jeep safari was awesome, probably the highlight of our trip. The “Sea day” was pretty boring as we just trolled up and down the coast for 4 hours (fishing) and then stopped for lunch and snorkeling. Definitely not worth the money. The Fiesta on Saturday night in Pilon ($5) was horrible. You basically get a bus ride for $5, dropped off in town and left to fend for yourself at a large street party. We (and all the other guests) were constantly harassed by local mutes and mentally ill people for money, beer and deodorant. What a waste of time and money.
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I heard from other passengers that the trip into Bayamo for shopping and sightseeing was a grueling 13 hour day on a bus with 7 hours of bumpy roads.
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Mr. Shorty Pants caused a lot of problems with smoking everywhere, rude behaviour, unreasonable demands from the staff and his really ugly, gross, disgusting tight fitting Speedo. We had to laugh at him, otherwise we would have not enjoyed ourselves. He had to be one of the most inconsiderate people I have ever met in my life. Guess who was sitting next to me on the flight home?
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The highlight of our trip was the people we met from Ontario. I think we have made some lifelong friends.
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Flight back was changed so that we stopped in Jamaica, this was a bit of a disappointment as we had to leave the resort at 3:00 p.m. instead of 6:00 p.m.
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Please tell your customers to bring toiletries and old clothes and shoes for the locals. The people are very poor and appreciate everything they receive.
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| Marea del Portillo - South Shore |
Jim and Karol ~ Bristol, Quebec, Canada |
February 2006
We travelled to the Marea the last week of January 2006. Selloffvacations was great.
I will not bore you with all the comments about the trip.Westjet out of Montreal was great. Save to say it was uneventful and well organized, until we got to Cuba. 30 minute power outage in airport while going through security. Another 45 mins. to an hour sitting on bus while someone got things organized. Seemed to be no one in charge.
Arrival at Marea was fine. Precheck in on bus is good. Straight to room without line ups.
We had booked standard room at Marea but were given Superior Room at Farallon.
Very nice room.
Pros- Scenery, Staff, cleanliness, affordable excursions especiallly the scooter rental and ride up coast. Do this if you like scenery and have a blast on the scooters. Lots of fun.
People. Mostly older Canadians with a bit of a mix.If you want party don't book here.
Solitude. you can walk up trail and be in total isolation. Very beautiful area.
No vendors except the kids on the trail. Not pushy. just say non Gracias.
Ocean is warm and clean. Beach huge and very uncrowded. not your typical white sand Caribbean beach but really nice.
Cons
You are totally isolated. cannot be reached or get word out. this may be a positive but take it into consideration.
Food is a bit repetitive but it is Cuba.
A number of people got stomach problems, myself included.
No see ums when there is no wind. Still scratching.
take lots of canadian cash, take new bills. They won't take a marked or ripped bill.
They do not give VIsa/Mc cash advances. TAKE CASH!
We would go here agin but think we can do as well other places.
For questions e mail thompsons@295.ca
hello to all our friends we met in Cuba.
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| Marea del Portillo - South Shore |
Natalie ~ Canada |
January 2006
We went to this beautiful Cuban location for Xmas 2005 and had a wonderful time. There are 2 hotels, one much nicer than the other. Both look like they've just been extensively renovated after the hurricane. The rooms are not what one would expect from a 4 star in Canada, but it was still very good. THe views from the front door of the room as well as the sliding glass doors was stunning. One side had a large rock cliff with iguanas, the other view to the garden and the bay where the hotel was located on the hill. The beach was black sand and clean. Just a bit further around the bay were coral beaches, great for scavengering for shells. The food at this hotel was incredible. If you like fresh fish and fresh free range beef, pork and chicken you're in for a treat. The selection of food was wonderful, great fruit and main dishes. Deserts were ok, and the cookies absol! utely devine.
We went on a few side trips, jeep adventure - off roading into the mountains with lunch with a typical Cuban family- which was quite an eye opener. A very modest home but clean, hospitable and the food was awesome. We also went Horse back riding into the mountains. Again the views were aweome, waterfalls were beautiful, and food great. We also went to an island about 12 miles off shore towards the town of Pilon. This was a white beach, quiet and tranquil, great for scuba diving. Again I mention the fish, wow! There were other excursions into Pilon for the Saturday night party, which was great fun as well.
The people who took care of us were gracious, friendly and very educated. No one harassed us for anything. They love to dance, sing and drink. The song! s kind of got to us after a while, towards the end of the week I was sick of La Bamba and Guarantana mera.
We went for a few walks around the resorts, watched the local people racing their horses and saw how the people lived. They all seem very poor but everyone waved and said olha. It was fa bit startling to see pigs, goats, cows and horses just wandering around.
All in all we had a great time. One thing to remember, after you get off the plane, you're in for a treat, a one and a half hour crazy drive by bus to the resort. Depending on what time you get there it's a bit alarming. The view in the morning is definately worth it.
Don't plan on buying much in the way of soveriers at ! the resort. Both hotels have a limited supply of things. The airport on your way out of Cuba has a small selection for a few trinkets and are very resonably priced.
Have fun! Enjoy!
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| Club Amigo Farallon Del Caribe |
Tammy ~ Ontario |
March 2009
Arrival: Feb 19 - Mar 5
We had a good flight. The service on the plane was great.
We arrived in about 3hours and 20 minutes, went through customs quickly. It took about an 1 1/2 hour to get to the resort which is fine. You can see alot fo the country travelling by bus.
Rooms
The rooms are quite clean and the servic was excellent
Restaurants and Bars
The service in the restaurant and bars this year were not what they should have been
Beach/Pools/Grounds
Beach and the pools were clean although there was no ladder for people to step into the pool. (there is quite a few older people at this resort that need to have the ladders to get into the pool) The grounds are kept quite clean.
This is our 10th trip down to the Marea Del Portillo and each year things seem to be get worse. The tourist are not being served as well as the people from the island. It seems that the people from the surounding areas are being treated alot better than the tourist who are bring money into the country. We thinK that someone from Sunwing tours should go down and have a look at what is really happening down there. Food is being put out the back door before it is being put out the front door. People that should be working on the beaches and in the bars are drinking alot more than we tourist. We pay good money to go to this place that we know think of as a cottage, and we feel that we are coming in second best or not coming in at all. We plan on returning to this resort again next year. Hope things have changed by then
Thanks for listening
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| Club Amigo Farallon Del Caribe |
Ginette ~ Montreal |
February 2009
Arrival: April 2008 & returning March 9 2009
The arrival is a bit confusing as they unload the passengers onto a tarmac then we wait in line under an awning in order to enter the building and begin processing. It was different, I can say this much. I have travelled to many small islands, but have never been through such a small airport. It was extremely clean and well run. Having been through the 'processing' system, I can say that it is actually more efficient then the larger airports. Once outside you can buy cold beer or drinks at a little cart located in the parking lot. The buses are waiting outside and tables are set up with the tour agents exchanging your vouchers for hotel key and bracelets. Be prepared, many people at this airport do not speak english nor understand it, so some basic spanish is useful. It is all people going to the MDP and the Farralon, so just ask questions because many people are returning visitors and know the best plan of action. The ride to the hotel is long 2 hrs, I took a gravol and slept most of the way, but enjoyed seeing Cuba for the first time driving through all of the different villages. Upon arrival at the hotel we were greeted with dancing, music, colorful drinks and tasty sandwiches on home made bread. The people at this hotel are extremely helpful and we had a very good experience in 2008 which is why we are returning this year.
Rooms:
We had read reviews that the MDP (Marea Del Portillo) had more dated rooms and beds, but they were located directly on the beach. Cabanas can be had with a vip package (about 20 ft from the waters edge directly on the beach. They are also dated and would need some renovations. The Farralon is a new hotel, consisting of wooden bridges to access a gift shop and the terrace restaurant. Our room was simple but a beautiful balcony with a view of the pool overlooking the ocean. Walking down to the dive shop and the beach is a little walk, but always exciting. Under the stairs on the walk down to the beach lives an Iguana, (iggy). When out of his shelter he can be seen sunning himself on his rock about 15 feet from the path. I really did not have a complaint about the room. It was clean and comfortable, nothing extravagant. Don't forget that you are in Cuba, not a 4 star in las vegas.
Restaurants and Bars:
We loved the restaurants and bars. Juan and Roger our bartenders were the greatest. They really made us feel welcomed and comfortable as it was our first visit here. We were treated very well by all of the staff here. Blanca the head hostess in the main restaurant was such a sweetheart. The Cuban Restaurant is a must! The food is excellent! We had fish with rice and beans, all Cuban fare excellent. With an excellent selection of wine. This is one of the a la carte restaurants which is held where the lunch buffet is held during the day. There was another enclosed area with a restaurant under construction so perhaps this was to become the Cuban restaurant. The Italian restaurant located in MDP is excellent and another ''do not miss''. The breakfast buffet was great with everything from sausage, bacon and ham, with a personal omelette chef at your service. Also a machine which squeezes fresh oranges into a large glass of juice for your pleasure and enjoyment. The first three mornings I had mostly fresh orange juice for breakfast, it was delicious adn very popular. After 3 days it needed servicing so that was the end of the fresh juice. The bread and cheese are amazing. I enjoyed eating the different variety of fish and seafood that we were offered. We sometimes ate the lunch buffet but would just grab a snack at one of the beach bars or other resorts because we were so busy between resorts. The heat during the day required that you drink water, which we drank very much of and alway had some, even if it got a bit warm (on our horseback journey and when we took the sea kayaks to the point)
Beach/Pools/Grounds:
The beach has very dark soft sand and I was told that it is volcanic sand residue from past activity of the Sierra Maestra. The pool at the farallon was very clean and well kept. The staff are constantly serving and cleaning. Every morning we would see the staff washing the pool deck. The grounds are rustic and animals can be seen in unusual places. Coming into the beach bar for a break, out of the sweltering sun after a long walk on the beach, my girlfriend almost stepped on a little black cat sprawled on the concrete of the shaded beach hut bar/ restaurant. Ponies can be spotted easily from your hotel room on the grounds, and usually the mother not far behind. The caleche ride from the MDP to the Farallon is nice but we walked most evenings as the weather is perfect with a light breeze and the stars are stunning. The Farallon does not have computer access so we had to go to MDP if we wanted to communicate with loved ones back home. The habs were in the play offs so we were really trying to log on every day in order to see what the results were. We mever ate at the MDP as we prefered eating on site were we stayed.
Activities on and off the Resort/Hotel:
The activities on the resort consisted of bingo in the afternoon after aqua fitness for which not too many showed up to. Once you see the grounds and surrounding countryside and mountains you will understand why the people who remain 'on site' are very, very few. The deep sea fishing/ snorkeling/beach lunch at cayo blanco is a great trip. It is a full day but our experience was wonderful. Our group caught a baracuda and they cleaned and cooked it and everyone ate it at our beach bar b q. I could not see staying on this little island cayo blanco for an entire day, but having a break from being in the ocean (snorkeling off the coral reef) or on the boat fishing, was a great idea. This trip is 35 cuc. There is a jeep trip which I intend on taking this time around if it is available.(45 cuc) We took the 3 city tour(5 cuc) which was fun and informative but I would not take it again as it was an entire day away. The dance on Saturday night held in a town and this is a fun event, that I have heard but have not gone as of yet. The shows at the MDP are fun and the comedy must be good because people who understood spanish were laughing quite a bit throughout the performance. We has booked for a tour to go horseback to the falls and through a few villages but it was cancelled, so the tour agent arranged for us(5 cuc plus gifts and tips) to go with a farmer whom she knew. We had a wonderful experience and plan to do that again. If you are looking for a full of frills, bar boys serving you directly on the beach while you lie on your beach chair, then this is NOT the resort for you. Remember that it is rated 3 * although the Farallon has a 3 1/2* and holds it well and perhaps could get away with a 4* if it were not a distance issue from the airport.
Other Comments:
The Beauty shop, run by Cecila was one of our favorite places to go. We booked massages, eyebrow plucking, manicures, pedicures, etc, it was a blast and right next to the pool, so we did that in our down time when we were not out snorkeling, fishing, sea kayaking, hiking, horseback riding, etc,,,,lol There are pics available on tripadvisor.ca if you do a search for reviews on the farallon on visits in april 2008.
If you love travel and want to see the REAL Cuba go to the Sierra Maestra Mountains, you will never forget the trip, the people, nor the experience, I gurantee it.
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| Club Amigo Farallon del Caribe Hotel |
Barbara ~ Ontario |
March 2009
Arrival: March 5th - 19th
People where all helpful and quick to keep the new arrivals happy.
The airport was new to me, so i must say somewhat confusing for first few minutes but all worked out well.
The bus trip was interesting, it was an early arrival so for a change it was a great experience to actually see where we where all going. I especially enjoy seeing the sites on the way to the resort. The little villages and the mountains where breath taking.
Rooms
I had booked VIP which meant upgrade,this included a trip to Cayo Blanco, Sunset Cruise, and a Lagoon tour, all where well worth the few dollars spent. i My room, No complaints, i have stayed in worst and these where 4 and 5 stars. I was hoping for a cabana, but once i seen my room was happy to stay where i had been assigned. Travelling single, i was happy to be in the room. # 102 it was close to the main bar and pool area and only a short walk to the breathtaking beach. The sunrise from my ground floor patio was the best
Restaurants and Bars
The staff we all freindly, and the food was more than what i would have ever had being at home. The variety for me was nothing to complain about. I especially enjoyed the pig roast done outdoors, the fresh cooked fish and the salads.
The Bartenders always friendly and willing to fill my requests. Yes even the 52 ounce bubba jug! I miss all my newly made friends. Benitin at the beach bar, please tell him i will return! Sooner than later
Beach/Pools/Grounds
The beach, if i could only bring it home and put it in my back yard. The beach was the best that i have found yet. I have been to cuba 7 times, belize, costa rica, honduras, never yet have i found one like this. So tranquil!
The pool i have to say was clean and quiet for the most part, i didn,t spend much time at the pool but when i did it was pleasant.
Activities on and off the Resort/Hotel
Horseback riding, races with Oscar, Merea, and touring the mountain side and falls on horse back was more than i ever expected. The people in Merea,the school kids at morning prayer excepted my small gifts of paper and pencils with big smiles. In Pilon the people where pleasant to all that arrive for the feista. The food and dancing was fun, a great cultural experience. My heart goes out to "Jesus" my friend,it was a learning experience for me and great fun.
Other Comments
This resort is for the average people who enjoy and laid back and relaxing holiday experience. Its like the cottage country of Cuba. I will be returing in the near future.
Solute,Sverte,Verdad.
reiny8@hotmail.com
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| Club Amigo Farallon del Caribe Hotel |
Barbora |
March 2008
The Resort:
My parents (in their 40’s), my brother and his girlfriend (20’s), and my fiancé and I (20’s) stayed at the Farallon Del Caribe, which is 1 of 3 hotels that are part of the resort, located near Pilon. The area is peaceful and quiet. The hotel Club Amigo Marea del Portillo was right on the beach and another about 5km from our hotel, which was not on the beach and did not look promising. The Farallon has the nicest rooms (I’d say 4 star), the best entertainment (a very good live band), includes the younger crowd and has a great view of the ocean/Sierra Maestra Mountains. There is minimal shade at the pool, but I come to Cuba for the beaches not the pools. You have to do a bit of walking to get to the beach, takes about 5 minutes. Before I came here I read some reviews of this place, one stated that there are something like 100 stairs, that they are not easy to climb and that the ground was very uneven. So I counted the stairs for fun and got something like 30, and the ground is fine to walk on. I especially enjoy meeting the iguana’s that keep warm on those stairs, sometimes there were horses and more often there were goats. The other side of the hotel has a lagoon and more mountains.
This was the first time we didn’t pay for the lock to the safe in our room. But if you lose it you pay about 50 pesos. This was also the first time I was told I can drink from the tap water, which amazed me.
Weather:
Apparently the weather is always beautiful here. We met a couple who came in November and said the water/weather was about the same as now, warm and sunny.
The Beach:
The beach has darker sand (mixed with volcanic earth I hear), isn’t crowded at all, and has the warmest ocean water I’ve ever been in. This is because the beach in on a bay, which keeps the water warm. There are sit on-top kayaks you can use and free sailing trips to the end of the bay. A couple negative points though, the beach isn’t as beautiful as, for example, the ones in Varadero/Cayo Coco. The tide brings in jelly fish. My mom got stung once and my fiancé twice. They both scrubbed the affected area with sand to remove what’s left of the jellyfish and put lime on it right away. Using this technique, most people find the rashes disappear within a day or two. And apparently there are fleas in the sand, and are best avoided just by not lying on the sand directly. I never noticed them. Yes we all got bites from something or other, but they were nothing like mosquito bites, and didn’t bother us.
So now that I scared everyone with jelly fish and fleas, I’d like to mention that a walk along the bay toward the open ocean (on the resort side) is very beautiful. Our best pictures are from that walk. You walk along the beach on coral rocks, you pass funky little trees and end up at beautiful cliffs with the view of the open ocean. Just make sure you bring sturdy shoes, a camera, sunblock and lots of water.
Excursions:
There are quite a variety of trips to choose from. One of the simplest and cheapest is the snorkeling near our resort. For 10 pesos a boat takes you from the lagoon a few minutes from the entrance of the hotel to the open ocean. My family really enjoyed this trip, we took it twice. I found there were good amounts of fish. We found one really large fish, a jelly fish, lots of little colourful ones and sometimes even a school of fish. The water was quite clear, but some days it was a little murkier because of the tides.
The jeep excursion was super. A jeep takes you directly into the mountains on a pretty bumpy ride. Sometimes it felt as though we were going up a 90 degree hill. Those jeeps can do wonders. We stopped to take pictures, then ended up at a waterfall. It was beautiful and for once the water was chilly, which I enjoyed because it cooled me down. There is a family that cooks a great meal for you right there. They have two girls so bring some gifts. Then we went to a farmer’s house and saw some chickens, goats and pigs. But the point was to try their locally grown coffee, which was I enjoyed and I don’t even drink coffee.
The trip to Cayo Blanco was well worth it. The island was a short bus ride and boat ride away. The sand was white and beautiful; the ocean was warm and very clear. It was paradise. My fiancé spent an hour snorkeling from the beach and took some very nice pictures of fish and coral reef with our underwater camera. The sun shone through the shallow water nicely. We also took the snorkeling trip they offered a few km from the island. That was nice too, but mostly it was something to do while you’re at the island all day. The food was amazing. That was the best fish I had all week.
We went horse back riding to a small waterfall near the resort. We just walked to the back of the hotel by the beach and asked to book a riding tour. It was nice with the view of the mountains while passing little villages. They took us to a waterfall, we had some nice swimming and jumping off cliffs. There was an older lady washing her clothes nearby with a young girl, who offered us some mangos. Bring gifts on this trip also.
On Saturday nights they have buses that take you to Pilon. There you will find many Cubans and tourists of all ages mingling on the streets, dancing to a live band of their choice, drinking $1 beer and so on. This is a great time to bring gifts. There will be people asking for money or for you to buy them a beer, but that can’t be avoided. The Cubans really appreciate it if you give them something. My family gives out little flashlights, the Cubans seem to like those. This is also the time when I most regretted not knowing how to speak Spanish.
There are some other trips, such as deep sea fishing and scuba diving. You can easily go have great lobster at a Cuban family’s home.
The Food:
The Farallon has one buffet-style restaurant. The food is good and you are served as if you were at a restaurant. It is located inside as well as outside on a balcony with a view of the mountains and the lagoon. Sometimes you have to wait in a line-up to get seated, that was one downside to the restaurant aspect. There is another buffet in the hotel by the beach with similar food. I think there are 2 a la carte restaurants as well, but we didn’t go to those.
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| Club Amigo Farallon del Caribe Hotel |
Marilli ~ Toronto |
February 2008
Arrival -
We arrived with Sunwing at night, customs was fairly quick, but there was a bit of a wait with the boarding of buses. There is a money exchange at the airport and cold drinks and beer were available for sale. We boarded the smaller bus and had quite a bumpy right through the night. Since there is no light along the road, the trip seemed longer than the 90 minutes. We were taken to the Farallon hotel although we had booked 3 cabanas at the Marea, to be close to the beach. The staff was out front with musicians to welcome the visitors. There seemed to be many return guests who knew the staff.
We were a bit perplexed to be given keys and no explanations as to why we were not at the Marea, but told that we should see the reception the next day.
Rooms -
We stayed at the second floor of the Farallon with an ocean view. The view is superb, the rooms bright and clean. We visited the front desk and were told that Marea is full, but we could move there by Sunday. We had paid for the VIP package and thought meaning a stocked bar meant, that it would be stocked the same at the Marea so we did not take the left over stuff, when we saw the PR person, we were rudely treated and in a rather condescending way. He was the only staff of our entire week that was unpleasant. It was the principle and not the worth of the drinks. Yet, after a couple hours some of the stuff that stayed behind had been brought to our Marea rooms. The cabanas at Marea are great since you can hear the ocean and there is no sound coming from the disco which is located between the Farallon and the Marea, but I recommend that if possible you stay on the upper part of the cabin since it will give you a better view. The furniture has seen better days, but then we were really only in the rooms to shower and sleep. I had hot water each time, I showered and my room mate only once had warm water at the Marea.
Restaurants -
At the Farallon the dining room is on the second floor and The dining room at the Marea is on the main floor and guests can either sit inside or outside, there is no wait for breakfast or lunch but there may be a line for supper.
Bars -
The staff at all bars were friendly and efficient. However, don't expect a daquiri except at the Farallon bar. After the first day of heat, caution flew out the window and we had all drinks with ice. None of us got sick from the water at the hotel, (however you better bring your own water and drinks if you are going to a private house away from the hotel for dinner). The blender at the Marea has given up a long time ago and it may be a long time yet before a new one arrives.
Beach and Pools -
Aquafitness in the pools can be attended at Farallon and Marea. The Farallon has a swim up bar. The walk to the beach is great for fit people from the Farallon, but a horse & buggy ride is cheap and a delightful experience to take you to the Marea or the other way around. After a few days the distance becomes smaller, as one becomes accustomed to walk along the beach in the sand. The pool and beach areas at the hotels are kept clean and are very safe.
Make sure you don't loose your bath towel since it will be handed out by the room maid and you may ask her to exchange it for a fresh one the next day or you have to pay for replacing the towel.
Grounds -
The grounds are kept impeccable and if you keep your eyes open you will see iguanas at the Farallon which backs onto the mountain and a variety of small lizzards at the Marea, plus a few frogs and toads. What you will not see will bite you, they do have No-see-ums, tiny little mosquitoes, smaller than our black flies.
Activities -
You need to check the activities of the day by the club house which is opposite the pools. Bingo by the pool, volley ball by the beach, life music and show at the stages near the pool in the evening and the disco in between the two hotels gives you a variety of activities to participate in. Hair dressers, mani and pedi cures are available and you can also book for massages, but remember if you are only staying for a short time, that you will have to juggle the available slots.
Tours -
We took the sunset cruise but due to wind could not venture out of the lagoon, so we endet circling the lagoon and it was definitely relaxing and fun with an excellent view of the ecrits perching in trees. The Cayo Blanco Beach boat tour was an excellent experience that included a wonderful lobster or chicken lunch. If you stay longer than you will find ways of either renting a car or using the hotels bicycles to go on your own tours.
We also went into Pillon by bus for the weekly Saturday night dance at the square. An experience that I would have liked to repeat, but by going there during the day to explore the town a bit more.
The jeep tour into the mountain should be a must for all nature lovers, however don't go on it if you get car sick, it is a roller coaster ride in slow motion. There is also quite a descent, (so put on your running shoes instead of sandals before you leave) to the falls where lunch is cooked and served before you climb back up and into the jeep to head back to the hotel, but not without a stop at a local farm for a cuban coffee.
Conclusion -
Some people had been 21 times to Marea and it does not surprise me at all, since there is nothing that compares to the Cubans smile, music, fresh air, beautiful beach with no noise polution.
If I could, I would go back in a heart beat, but most likely for a two week stay. If you are a party animal than please stay away, there must be tons of other places in Cuba catering to your needs.
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| Club Amigo Farallon del Caribe Hotel |
Aruna |
January 2007
I went to Cuba on Dec 28th 2006 for a week, and it was the most amazing place that i have ever been too, and please keep in mind that I have travelled the world. Remember that you are going to Cuba, so there are no grocery stores, major malls, what you have to get in touch with are the Cuban people.
The hotel was great, and extremely clean, the dirt does not even hit the ground!
The people are wonderful, and have such a kindness, love and warmth about them that i have never see.
In a nutshell i highly recommend Cuba!
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| Club Amigo Farallon del Caribe Hotel |
Kate, Jennifer & Tricia ~ Canada |
February 2005
My two girls and I just came home from an extremely enjoyable vacation at the Farallon del Caribe in Marea del Portillo. (we flew to Manzanillo with Sunquest on a Skyservice flight, very early on a Thursday morning.) We booked this vacation 10 days before leaving and it was very good value for the money we paid.
A couple of negatives - then the positves!
This hotel was rated 4 star. It was full. Absolutely booked solid. The room that we stayed in was distinctly NOT a 4 star. I believe that some of the other rooms were better equipped, but don't know for sure. I asked for a cot or another bed when we got there and the housekeeping staff was terrific about bringing it, but another family down the hall didn't ask and were sharing a 3/4 bed with a nine year old. I had to ask for a blanket for the 3rd bed, and later in the week when I requested a 2nd blanket because I was cold at night - I was told that there were no more blankets, the hotel was too full. (we were on good terms with the housekeeper btw and I believe she would have got one for me if she possibly could have.) There was one pillow per bed, one of them was fine - but the other two were like rocks. There was no chair in the room and no chairs on the little outdoor walkout. (main floor - nice little wall around the walkout, I took a plastic chair from the entertainment area and sat outside on it. The staff had no problem with this.) If you wanted to sit quietly in your room and read, you couldn't be comfortable because of the lack of a chair or pillows to lean against if you were on the bed.
With 2 full flights a week the Farallon and its sister hotel the Marea were overbooked. People who had booked months in advance were being sent from the Marea to the Farallon. (and since they booked in advance so they could visit with friends at the Marea - they were extremely vocal and unhappy.) Some people were staying nights at a local 1 star hotel and being driven daily down to the facilities at the Marea/Farallon. The hotels were doing the best they could, but there needs to be something better for the future or they will quickly lose their faithful repeat customers.
There were a couple of blackouts and a lack of water in the room one afternoon but I had expected that and it didn't put me off the hotel the way the lack of furniture and bedding did.
There was often a wait for a table in the dining room for dinner. The food was fine for Cuba - in fact I was surprised at how much good beef we had. (also fish, pork, chicken and excellent turkey) I had thought that because it was a 4 star there would be a bit more selection for my children and for dessert but my expectations were not met. There was pasta one night, and always a good variety of sponge cakes (excellent ice cream too) but the hotels I had been at previously offered a pasta bar each night and occasionally had specialty desserts (fried bananas or crepes for example), this hotel had a good 3 star menu but I was somewhat disappointed because of my expectations based on the 4 star rating. The baker was excellent - the bread was awesome.
If I had booked early and paid full price I would have been unsatisfied with my holiday choice because I was expecting a Cuban 4 star hotel and didn't get it.
The positives:
I loved the early morning flight with Skyservice. We had to be up early but the staff on the plane were terrific and I personally prefer a decent sandwich to an inadequate hot meal. Yes it was a little squishy - but the people (mostly repeats) were so friendly it didn't matter. (and it's only a 3 hour flight) Then we had the whole afternoon at the hotel to settle in and explore.
The wait for our baggage was a little long, but I discovered (on leaving) that it was because the baggage staff was busy loading the plane to leave. The incoming baggage waited (just outside the door) while the plane was being loaded to go home. I didn't feel that there was too long a delay and my 3 bags with gifts mixed in got through customs no problem. (including the hammer and exacto knives I had as gifts.). "Fred" was reportedly unhappy - he was a repeat visitor with gifts for friends in town and ended up leaving one of his bags at the airport to go home again when he wouldn't pay the "duty" demanded.
I bought Convertible Pesos at the airport. They come in denominations of 1, 3, 5, 10 and 20. There were also 1 CP coins. (often referred to as US dollars btw - no-one is used to the new name although the Cubans have certainly adjusted to the concept.) The hotel charges an extra 3 percent to convert, but there was no problem changing Canadian cash to CP. Take ENOUGH Canadian cash, or use your credit card for trips because you can't get cash advances and will need the $25 Convertible Pesos for the Airport Tax. You can exchange your extra CP at the airport before you go to the departure lounge - but then you can't buy a drink or souvenirs so you might want to keep some.
The hotel staff were exceptional. They were friendly, polite, had good English (not perfect, but certainly adequate) and worked very long hours to make sure we were having a good time. The bartenders and the grill chef knew my kids and were preparing for them before they actually arrived to order. The animation staff did a heroic job (without music for 2 days because of stereo problems) and were friendly and cheerful. They obviously weren't professional actors, but ran the events cheerfully and happily. (good stretching at 10:15 and aquasize at 10:30 were well run by Monica and Annis, although they always had reasons to not get into the pool. It's not good swimming weather for Cubans.)
The weather was terrific. Sunny and clear. We had one windy night. (all the nights were a liitle cool - but as expected for January.) The ocean was warm. The black sand beach was fine, there was some leftover white coral sand. I wouldn't recommend it for sandcastles, but there were purple and pink shells and sanddollars to be found while walking from one hotel to the other, which was fun. If you are taking kids - take inflatable rings so they can sit and be bumped and lifted by the waves. The gentleman in the Hobiecat was great and I saw people enjoying the kayaks. (swim over by the Marea, the Farallon beach was always red flagged.)
Everyone was friendly. The guests were friendly, the staff was friendly and the local villagers were friendly. It's obviously an area where people make friends with the locals and each other and visit again and again. My 14 year old daughter liked to walk the beach at dusk for some "alone" time and I felt that she was safe doing that and didn't worry about her.
I enjoyed having everything in the hotel close. The pool and the grill and the bar were seconds away from our room. We didn't spend anytime walking between places. (except when we were going to the Marea by road and the golf cart had run out of battery power AGAIN!) We had no trouble with the steps down to the beach and preferred to wander over by that route anyway. I've only stayed at Villa style resorts before and wasn't sure I would like this, but it was great.
We swam in both pools and definately preferred the Farallon, it's bigger and has the volleyball and basketball nets. (and the bridge!)
I spoke to the Mom of a 3 year old who found that there weren't quite enough activities for her child - she saw children's activities in the brochure, but didn't realize that there was only a Kid's club when there were enough children to warrant it. There were 7 English kids and 2 (I think) French ones when we were there. My children are good at entertaining themselves and the other children there always seemed happy. After the first supper, I suggested that my children ate dinner at the grill before it closed at 5 pm and then had dessert while I was eating at 7:30, the other kids seemed more adventurous than mine, or their parents did the same thing as I did. (the 3 year old's parents struggled a bit to find food she would eat at the buffet.)
I was at the Melia Cayo Santa Maria last year and although the beach and hotel were nicer than this one - this was a much better holiday. The staff were not always looking for tips and the people working here just seemed happier and more cheerful. (maybe because they could live in the local village, rather than everyone being bussed in and living in staff apartments?)
The lobby bar, is only open in the evening and is a cash bar. This is where you would get brand name drinks. It was not busy at all, people seemed happy with the cuban brands available at the all inclusive bar on the other side of the pool. It was amusing to see all the different groups of people playing cards after dinner. (us included!)
I signed out the night before leaving so there was no line up or wait (we used the balcony door for access to the room) and arranged for a wake up call. The restaurant opened 1/2 early and we had a good breakfast before waiting for the bus to take us back to the airport. (The busses kept filling up and leaving, then a smaller one would arrive so the large group that was left wondered if we would end up in a horse and buggy trying to get to the airport miles away, but we all got there in the end.)
I would definately return to the Farallon, and would try to get my (very active) husband to come along next time. The jeep expedition and the trip to Santiago de Cuba sounded like a lot of fun and I think he would enjoy heading off into the foothills for a daytrip/hike. I'd choose it over the Marea if I could, because this was overall a good experience - but I feel that either hotel would be a great choice for a last minute, fairly inexpensive holiday.
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| Farallon del Caribe Hotel |
the Mesquita family |
January 2005
I am rating this above average for a hotel rated at 3.5 stars. We got an amazing deal, very last minute, the week before Xmas . I am also indicating what extras we paid for- there is not much in the way of frills included at such a low price.
The review...
We have just returned from a week at the Farallon del Caribe and Marea del Portillo hotels. We stayed at the Farallon which is the newer of the 2 hotels. We are a family of 4 - kids 14 and 11. We've been to these same resorts before.
At the airport,we had a very long and hot wait at Cuban customs and immigration. They have put a roof on the upper patio at the airport, and they now have currency exchange. Don't bring portable dvd players-they are not permitted for personal use or as a gift item. Customs took one from a lady and she had to get it back when she left Cuba.
Getting to the hotel was great, a nice long scenic drive through the mountains and country side, we bought some cold drinks (beer and pop etc.)at the airport for the drive in.
Check in was pretty fast, we had a welcome cocktail while we waited.
The rooms are very clean and nice, and the beds were big and comfortable. We had 2 little pillows on each bed, they seemed to be filled with some little beanish things. We liked them. The shower is a little slippery and the water was warm to slightly hot. The rooms have a safe deposit box which you can rent ($) there is no mini fridge. There is 110 in the bathroom,220 in all other areas, no hair dryers, so bring your own. There is a wall radio in the room and a tv with some satelite stations.
The veiw of the mountains and lagoon from our rooms was spectacular.
They have done some upgrades to the Marea grounds since we last stayed there. They have a new stage, poolside restaurant and improvements to the pool itself. They have a (very basic) minigolf course now!
The Farallon hasn't changed alot except a few plants, some great new animacion staff, and a after hours bar($). You can exhange your currency at either hotel.
The evening shows seemed to be better at the Marea, so we cabbed it down ($) there each night-(1 peso). The new house band is really great.
There is a free shuttle cart during the day between the hotels.
The weather was really nice during our week- the week before xmas- it was hot each day, and warm enough in the evening to go without a sweater.
There was a breeze at night which helped to keep away some of the biting little insects that really came out when it was calm.
They did run out of mint and dark rum at some bars, but there was lots of other drinks available and lots of regular rum. There is now a lobby bar at the Farallon ($) they didn't run out of anything. They still have the disco where you can buy drinks at night on the beach ($).
We sat out on the beach on a couple of evenings and watched the stars, it was really lovely.
They still offer the trip to Pilon($)-DON'T GO! It was a mob scene-It was embarassing to see the locals asking for money and drinks. The towns girls were very pushy offering their things(!$) too, and many people on the tour were complaining. I think that going at another time, and not on the evening bus trip, might be OK.
On one morning there was a baseball game organized and the guests could go to Pilon and play against some locals-we didn't go so I don't know if this was included or for a fee or not.
On the road between the hotels there was the racing thing where the cowboys put a stick through a little ring while they are galloping wildly on their horses. this was alot of fun to watch, and we brought them a bottle of rum to have when they finished. They offered rides on the horses after they'd finished.
Some people went to Cayo Blanco Island ($) and said the food was really good and the water was nice and clear. We didn't go. It's a long day when you only have 7 to use!
We went on the daytrip to Santiago($), but we left the tour immidiately upon arrival to go and visit friends, we had a great day of music and laughter.
There are alot of new young staff members this year. We really like the enthusiasm of the new animacion. They kept our kids busy and they had a very positive energy to offer these notoriously slow paced resorts.
There was always a contest, game or lesson for the kids to try, and our daughter loved the disco.
We found the food at the hotels hadn't changed much over the years, but all of the grill style lunches were held at the Marea, poolside. The Zumex orange juice machine made our son's holiday. The food was pretty good overall, we could always find something. The alacarte lobster dinner was fantastic and very filling($). Our daughter had the shrimp dinner and really liked it too ($).
We have recently travelled to Guardalavaca and Santiago de Cuba and what really impressed us about the Marea and Farallon was how clean and pretty the grounds were kept. The beach is dark sand, but it was clear of litter and ocean debris which was a nice change. The gardeners work tirelessly to keep mother nature looking pretty and fresh. We really enjoyed sitting at the Marea's beach bar, looking out over the ocean and the beautiful Sierra Maestra mountains.
This was a very relaxing week for all of us and I would love to go again for 2 weeks at the same time next year. I'll take warm breezes and crashing surf, over snowy skys and slush anyday!
the Mesquita family
p.s . there is a SERIOUS CRACKDOWN on beach cigars(black market) at the Sierra Maestra Airport - don't buy them-even if you are provided with a hologram and fake reciepts by your seller, you'll lose them when you leave. We saw at least 5 people have theirs taken away by the customs officers at the Manzanillo airport. Buy real cigars at a government store, it's not worth the risk and embarassment.
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| Farallon del Caribe Hotel |
Elaine |
January 2004
This is a 3 star hotel located on the south shore of Cuba. The drive from the airport is about 1.5 hours through beautiful mountains. The airport is very small and slow, one of the old-style Cuban airports. It took us about an hour to clear customs and immigration. On the bus we were given registration forms and our room numbers, but we had to line up at the hotel to get our keys. I don't know why they couldn't give them out on the bus, but I suggested it in the questionnaire they handed out at the resort.
The hotel was built in the early 90's and is located up the hill from the beach. There are quite a few steps and even though the pathway is paved it is quite uneven and could be a problem for people who have difficulties walking. There are about 40-50 steps. There is a huge iguana who lives under the stairs. He hardly moves but it's funny to watch people's reaction to him or her when they see it for the first time. The beach itself is huge, perfect for a long walk. The sand is very dark, but nice. It's actually better down towards the other hotel (Marea del Portillo), and you can use the chairs and palapas at that hotel with no problems. Services at both hotels are interchangeable (restaurants, bars, pools etc.) which is nice. You can go for a walk down to the other hotel, go in for a drink or two and then head back.
The rooms in the hotel are quite plain, but fine. We had two 3/4 beds that were pushed together and the hotel brought in a single bed for our 12 year old. There was still plenty of room to walk around. There was a huge closet with drawers inside it, a full size mirror as well as a tv with about 5 channels. There was also a nice balcony with chairs overlooking the pool and a phone. The bathroom had a huge shower, no tub. Hot water was lukewarm at best, but that's okay when you have a sunburn! The room was very clean and there were no bugs.
The hotel has a really nice free-form swimming pool. One end you walk in like a beach and at the other end is a swim-up bar with about a half-dozen stools. There is a pretty bridge over the pool that gets really, really hot to walk on, be careful!
There is one main restaurant at the hotel. It's open for breakfast and dinner. There is an outdoor buffet for lunch as well as a snack bar that is open in the afternoon with pizza, fries and yummy sandwiches. Meals are all buffet. Breakfast has the usual cereal, toast, a chef making omelettes and some odd things like meatballs (!), sliced hot dogs (!) and even fish sometimes. Regardless, you can always find something good to fill your plate. Dinner offered a salad bar and different items most nights. We got kind of sick of chicken and rice because they were almost always on the menu, but it's Cuba so no worries!
Every night there was entertainment after dinner, usually a Cuban band, as well as a disco that didn't open until 11pm. The entertainment staff at this hotel are great. Henry, Eddie and another fellow who's name has slipped my mind were great and included everyone who wanted to "play". There were Spanish lessons, bingo, volleyball, and other activities throughout the day if you wanted something to do, or you could veg by the pool or beach.
The hotel offers a day trip to Cayo Blanco 3 times a week. It costs $4.65 USD per person and includes the boat trip there and back, about 45 minutes each way as well as lunch and watersports on the island. It's a nice way to spend the day. There are snorkels, kayaks and a catamaran to use and a BBQ lunch. Good fun.
We also took an excursion from the hotel into the surrounding mountains. It's called the Jeep Adventure and was USD39.00 each, half for kids. What a cool trip. We headed out in jeeps with drivers provided up into the Sierra Maestra mountains. The road is really rough and we were getting bounced about pretty hard. It was fun though. After about and hour's drive we stopped at a farmer's house for a visit and then back into the jeep for about another half hour. We stopped at a beautiful waterfall where we could swim and hike. The water level was low at this time of year but is apparently quite spectacular once the rainy season starts later in the spring. We were there for about an hour and then back to the farm for a home cooked lunch. It was really good food and really interesting to see how the local people live. I wouldn't want to stay there for sure, but it was nice to visit. It was a great trip and we highly recommend it.
As I mentioned earlier, this hotel is a neighbour to Marea del Portillo hotel. Farallon tends to attract a younger crowd, I think because of the stairs to the beach. Marea on the other hand is full of senior citizens and seems to be a much quieter property. Both hotels are relatively laid back and very remote from anything. Perfect for getting away from it all.
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Last updated: June 21, 2009
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