Travel Professionals International
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Varadero, Cuba |
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Breezes Varadero is located on, and bears the name of, the most famous Cuban beach resort, on the Hicacos Peninsula, on the north coast of Matanzas Province. The Havana-based José Martí International Airport is 155 km away, while the Juan Gualberto Gómez International Airport, in Varadero, is just 30 km away. The resort was built in 1992, it was the first
Super-Inclusive resort in Cuba, designed for couples and adults 16 years +.
Resort Orientation by
Sunwing rep was good and informational, told us about the bank and to use
Visa to exchange money and told us where to find the tour operator to book
any tours and the A la carte restaurants This resort consists of 270 comfortable rooms divided into suites, junior
suites, or tropical suites.
Maid service was great everyday with
fresh towels and a new towel character and a large bottle of water daily. We
did notice some tiny tiny ant, mostly in sink in bathrooms.
The Beach, Unbelievable white sand beaches,
the best that I have encountered by far, it seems to go on for miles. With
lots of beach chairs, beach vendors will set up and shift through out the
day. Jelly fish were seen on the beach Grounds are very lush and full with tall palm tress and well manicured
lawns and flowers
Live Entertainment, Dance classes, Olympic games, Spanish-language
lessons, "Cuban Day" and many other activities arranged by the entertainment
staff during the day. Tour desk, Conference centre are located on main floor. Computer room
where you can purchase 30 min cards for 5 peso, very slow internet service
with only 2-3 computers. Bank on upper floor - you need your passport
to withdrawl money from credit cards. Laundry service avail. Shops in
the hotel offers cigars, Rum, T-shirts and souvenirs Fitness center offers fully equipped gym with bicycles, weights, aerobics
and unisex sauna and spa. I did enjoy a message, $15.00 peso for 1/2 hr, it
was more of a hard rub down, but I enjoyed it. Landsports -Bicycle tours, basketball, tennis courts with coaches, sports
competitions and table tennis. |
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Jimmy’s Buffet - The buffet restaurant offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Wines are served during lunch and dinner. The restaurant is conveniently located next to the pool and near the beach. Offers made to order eggs, omelets, and pasta dishes. It is a buffet and changes regular but some food was not to sure it might be. Never went hungry and was eating all the time.
Martino's - The Italian a la carte restaurant, has a wonderful atmosphere
with a wide variety of tempting dishes. Reservations and a dress code apply. Los Bohios - The beach grill offers snacks from late morning to early
evening. Has the best burger. In the evening, this converts to an A la carte
restaurant serving seafood, with views overlooking the beach. Reservations
are required. Bars 9 located through out the property, including disco but no swim up
Bars |
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Eduardo Fagundo groups coordinator has taken over for
Lizbeth, who was the wedding coordinator. We went over the details, of
documents, flowers, and then went for a stroll to check out the 5 locations
to hold the ceremony. On the beach, In a pathway to the beach, The archway
outside terrace, A grassy knoll in the garden, Balcony of the beach bar with
Oceanview and The terrace of the hotel overlooking the ocean.
The Wedding and Renewal of Vows Package includes
the following:
NOTARIAL SERVICES FOR WEDDINGS & RENEWAL OF VOWS All weddings and renewal of vows are performed by a Notary Public on weekdays only, that is: Mondays to Fridays, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. There is a mini reception after the ceremony where cake and sparkling wine are served. Relatives cannot be used as witnesses. (Religious ceremonies performed by anyone other than a Notary Public are available, but are not legally binding). The cost of the Marriage Certificate and the Renewal of Vows Certificate is not included; this is payable in advance of the ceremony to the Notary Public. Legal Costs (Weddings): US$ 300.00 per couple Legal Costs (Renewal of Vows): US$ 50.00 per couple |
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First night - Once we dropped of our luggage in our room we were anxious to check this place out. We went back to the front lobby bar located across from the front desk and found some food to snack on, some great tasting chicken and pork, veggies, and deserts. We finished eating grabbed a drink and went for a stroll, where we found the disco and went in for a drink, although small it seemed to be hopping with the beat of some very out dated music, but everyone seemed to be having fun. We had to check out the beach, and what unbelieveable sand, it is so smooth. Seen our very first dead jellyfish on the sand. Day 2 -Awoke at 7:00 by the sounds of birds chirping out side and the waves crashing on the beach. Walked to the buffet restaurant that was a 30 seconds walk pass the pool. The restaurant is open aired with a terrace and large with lot of sitting in and outside. Breakfast was good, we had the chief make us omelet they were tasty, lots of fruit, juices to choose from as well as a lot of food. This is also were the nightly entertainment is held.
Day 3 -We had a our renewal of vows ceremony on the beach bar terrace with a 3 piece band playing here comes the bride. I met Colin under a flower arch over looking the ocean; Notary said the vows in Spanish with Eduardo translating them in English. It was very private and beautiful ceremony, after the vows we had some champagne and cake, did a little dancing and then went around the resort for photos. Our room was decorated with towel art, champagne, left over cake. A very special touch. Spent the rest of the day by the pool relaxing and enjoying ourselves. Supper at buffet that served a seafood night with lobster, shrimp, pretty good overall, Night show was a musical game show and you could win Breezes buck.
Day 5 -We rented a cab with another couple and went to Havana, I would
not suggest a cab with 4 people again, it is a 2 hour ride and it was a
little uncomfortable. The scenery, small towns and Havana is absolutely
amazing. The history so well kept up. Cab was a total of 160 peso. Supper at
buffet was more a Chinese theme. Ice cream is really great Day 6 -Took advantage of the spa and had a 12/2 hr message for 15 peso. It was ok, more of a hard rub down then a deep tissue but it was nice and relaxing. supper at Los bonitos the beach grill of chicken, steak, seafood, nice and ok Nightly entertainment was a variety show, cheesy but passed the time
When in Cuba do as the Cuban's do ! Enjoy this beautiful island, with the friendliest people we have met truly a gem of a country and will definitely go back to Cuba and stay at the Breezes Varadero in a heartbeat. |
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Breezes Bella Costa Did a resort inspection of the Breezes Bella Costa with Amarilyas the guest relations, which is, located 2 resort down. It is a more family friendly resort, 396 rooms, 306 are standard and jr. suites and bungalow and family suites only offered through Nolitours and Transat. 4 restaurants, 1 buffet and 3 ala, Italian, Cuba, Japanese, 6 bars, theater, 24 hr internet room, money exchange office, conference room, gym salon, spa, kids play area, kids pool, Jacuzzi, wedding gazebo
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Our
first room was located in section I - room 165 is was on the lower level of
the first suite beside the pool. It had a king size bed with a swan towel
design, the deco of the bedspread and drapes are the green and yellow that
you see in the brochures, not all that modern but really didn’t notice after
that, there were 2 rooms, Living area with a sofa bed, chair & table, coffee
maker, closet with dresser and French glass doors to the back terrace, the
other room is larger with a bed, 2 closets, dresser in the closet, table,
small sofa, TV, phone, safe and 2 set double door to large front terrace
that had a table and 2 chairs, flowers and greenery lined the railing. It
overlooked the pathway to the beach and beach bar and grill. The bathroom
had a tub & shower, also a supply of shampoo, conditioner, lotions. etc. We
were upgraded to the Oceanview room 264, which was in the same building just
on the second floor and 1 suite over. This room set up pretty much the same
but without a back terrace and a large window looking over the pool area,
the front terrace gave us a little glimpse of the ocean through the tall
palm trees.
No
biggy
Pool
always looked crystal clean, someone out everyday testing and cleaning, it
was a little chilly at first but very refreshing in the hot afternoon sun,
water volley ball games in the after noon, and pool side games and dancing
lessons. Larger Jacuzzi by pool was out of order, man size checkers board,
shuffle board. There are 2 other Jacuzzi, both located on the 2 bar decks
Golf
- Varadero Golf Course is the only golf course in Cuba and its right across
from the hotel. It has demanding water features and the natural forces of
sea breezes to make each round unique. The 4 or 5th holes is right outside
the resort gates, a $5 peso taxi ride to front entrance, green fees are free
but cart is mandatory. Challenging layout beautiful scenery that lies along
the ocean, that will test the entry-level golfer to the low handicapper. 
El
Mojito – The Cuban A la Carte restaurant, has a relaxed setting where local
style dishes and wines can be sampled, whilst being entertained by local
musicians. Reservations and a dress code apply. We loved this restaurant,
visitors are alllowed to signed the walls and ceiling and its cool to read
the comments from people that have stayed here from all over the world 
During
my resort tour, we left the front lobby out the back, turned right to the
piano bar and games room, across from this is the archway that is decorated
with vines and bougainvilleas flowers, a wedding site. Continuing down the
path, we were heading towards a colorfully building where the gift store,
cigar shop and public phones are located on the bottom and upstairs was the
El Mojito’s restaurant, (A la carte) and when peeking into the window we
noticed that the walls and ceiling are autographed by the guest that have
stay here, very cool. From here we went by the tennis & basketball courts,
the partial open aired fitness center with a spa and sauna. Across from here
is a bar that is located in a hatch roof with a balcony and a Jacuzzi off to
the side. From here we entered the Hotel area that accommodate the Jr. and
Tropical
Suites. The main floor is the disco and a bar, down the hallway is the
Martino’s Pasta Restaurant (A la carte), we walked up a flight of stair and
out to the roof top terrace that over looks the ocean, Tuxpan and the
Superclubs Breezes Bella Costa resort 2 doors down. A very nice view from up
here and one of our favorite wedding sites, there was a large statue in the
middle and lots of lounge chairs, but very vacant. During our walk I notice
that there were lots of little pathways that took you to secret little
garden areas to sit and relax and enjoy the beautiful landscaping which was
clean and well taken cared for. We strolled down to a pathway leading to the
beach that is a
wedding
site location and then down to the beach where it is a little more on the
quiet side. We also check out the beach bar and grill location that at
nights turns in to Los Bohios restaurant (A la Carte) serving steak &
seafood, but during the day has the best hamburgers, they also served up
other dishes. The Beach bar has 2 balconies one with a Jacuzzi, the other is
a ocean view and also a wedding site location. Beside the bar you will also
find the beach towel hut. Overall this property is a nice size and not too
big or small and easy access to everywhere. The grounds are lush and well
vegetated with flowers and shrubs and banana tree birds and geckos
Eduardo,
Eduardo, I can not say enough about this man, He was so friendly and
so more then willing to help us with anything and treated us like royalty.
Its not because we were renewing our vows or I am a travel agent, he
genuinely treated everyone special, always going out of his way to shake a
hand, give a hug or kiss a cheek of the guest, or the resort staff. He
invited us to join him at the special supper that they host for repeat
guest, it was at the Martino Restaurant. I have to say we were treated
special, and the food was unbelievable from the seafood salad, French onion
soup to the main course of beef and fish and the desert was fabulous. A lady
played the piano.
Day
4 -We rented scooters from the car rental shop down the street, and headed
to Varadero, not the best in shape but they did the job as we cruised down
the highway. Cruised around the city and checked out a couple of flea
markets, We found everyone to be friendly, we felt safe, and the country
does not seem as poor as I thought. Supper at Mojitos the Cuban restaurant
and what a fun time, visitors from the past sign the ceilings and wall; it
is amazing from where the people have come from and how many times they have
been here. A 2 pc band played salsa music, food wonderful, Valdimar the host
is excellent. Nightly entertainment was Cuban singers.
