All You Need to Know About the Children Club
at Hotel Brisas Sierra Mar
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Children Club review highlights
... 5 so you can see the scenery very well). There is a kids club there and Annie who works there is very nice, the kids...
... We did have a few problems. There is an advertised "kids club" but it only operated one day out of seven. We asked...
... the average age 45+ and is family oriented with a great kids club and the staff to look after your needs. The food is alas...
Most popular question about the children club
Is there a kids club at this resort? What activities do they do?
What ages would it suit best for?
Answer from Dan G
Mar 2019 |
Featured children club amenities
Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly)
Kids Club
Family-friendly
Reviews that mention children club
Write a reviewWe just came back from one week vacation to this resort. We took our kids (8 and 10) and mom. It was a great family vacation and I would recommend it to anyone.
One thing we all did not like is the mosquitoes flying in our room while we slept, and 3 of us got bitten by them. But to prevent this during our next nights we tried not to open doors/windows during daytime. I did take a homeopathic cream against insect bites which worked quiet well. I did take a citronella based bug spray (I do not like other chemical stuff like DEET since it interferes with hormones - a no-no for little girls) but it did not seem to work as well as it works in Canada. This is one negative thing from the trip since in other places in Cuba we went to (Cayo Largo and Caracol) we never encountered mosquitoes. But I guess this is because there are a couple of spots of standing water around the local's beach and the resort is in the mountains.
When we go to Cuba we mainly go to swim in the ocean. The beach by the hotel is fine as to having lots of shade and spaces to sit and bar and snack bar. However the water is full of sea weeds and sea urchins which the kids were scared of even in water shoes. So only our mom swam there but we walked about 7 minutes down the beach from the hotel and there the water was perfect - clear sand and nice waves. The kids loved jumping them and swimming on their shark water toy and just floating - they were amazed how easy it it to just float in salty water!!. We went there each morning before 11 and each night at 5 for about 1.5 and a half. The water is about 27 degrees in the morning and 28 degrees (celsius) in the evening, so very warm.
The kids also liked the pool with a water polo net and the water is quite cool there and the pool is not deep at all. They swam there once a day and played balls that were provided. I enjoyed sitting by the pool looking at the sea and the mountains (the lobby and everything else like restaurants and pool are on level 5 so you can see the scenery very well).
There is a kids club there and Annie who works there is very nice, the kids loved her and called her their friend. We did not need any babysitting since we did not go on any trips, but she was available for us if needed. Once she joined me and the kids to play go fish and we had a nice chat with her about life in Cuba. She really liked the card game so I offered it to her since we have 2 games likes this at home anyways. She also took the kids (and hubby and me) to go horse riding on the beach. 5 pesos each for about 40 minutes. The kids enjoyed it very much and were pretending they were princesses going somewhere.
The food was good and very tasty. Fish, meat, Rice, pasta, pizza, hot sandwiches you can ask to make were always there. The kids loved eating ice cream 2 times a day, a thing we do not do in Canada :) Guava ice cream is very good.The desserts are very nice and cucumbers and tomatoes are SO good - that's how real local food tastes!! Meats were also really good - though I did not like the hot dogs in snack bar. By the way, if you like hamburgers and hot dogs, bring your own ketchup - the one they have here the kids called "sauce" not ketchup. Service was good too - and I LOVED that you could see the mountains from huge windows the the cafeteria. Very beautiful.
The day before we left we decided to take a taxi (3 pesos one way for all of us) to Playa Blanca (white beach). It was a 7 minute drive in old soviet Moskvich car. We enjoyed the ride (somewhat bumpy - which reminded me of growing up in Russia) and the beach was closer to the mountains and there were no people there which I enjoyed - wild nature! There is a little hand made bench there and shade. Our youngest loves lizards so she had fun observing different colored/sized ones there in the forest. We told the taxi driver to come back for us in 2 hours and he did - we were not sure he would come back since he did not understand English very much, but we could always have walked 40 minutes down the beach to the hotel.
The kids loved the orange juice from the bar - the bartenders got used to them and didn't even wait for their order but poured orange juice for them when they saw them coming. Pina colada is good there, but not as in Cayo Largo.
Rooms were ok, but small. Though we did not need big ones since we were out most of the day. One room had one bed and other room (separated by double doors - if you want to enter the neighboring room you will have to open two of them) had 2 beds and extra bed that unfolds. None of the kids like the folded bed so they slept on one bed. The balcony is great - ocean view!!! I also think there were bats above our room since once when we entered it in the evening there was a little fruit bat in our room circling around the ceiling. I don't know how she got there - we had trouble letting her out until I opened an umbrella (provided in the room) - she got scared and flew out from the opened door. There was a TV in the room with a English cartoon channel, the kids loved watching it an hour after lunch (when the sun is at its hottest).
Elevators are fixed - and very new, they even talk :) We stayed on third floor which was ideal - 5th was the lobby/restaurants/pool, first was beach. So when we walked, it wasn't as many stairs.
The shower was very good - nice pressure to wash of sand from kids hair, and always hot.
The road to the hotel was not as bumpy, they repaired it pretty well (about 2 hours long), and the road back to the airport was even shorter - 1 hour 20 minutes - i have no idea how they managed to make such a great road in the 6 days we were there! The tour guide said they will make it even better in a couple of months. We were given a juice box and sandwich on the bus on the way to the airport.
About the local people - they stand on the boarder between the beach and hotel and ask for things to be given to them (clothes, shampoo, etc). Our mom and hubby did not like it but it did not bother me since they are friendly and if you don't talk to them they will not bother you. They did give lots of nice shells to the kids.I did bring some used clothes that do not fit our kids anymore so I did give a bag to one of the locals our last day there. We also gave some clothes to the waitress and the cleaning lady and the babysitter. In Canada, i give clothes to the second hand store so I figured why not bring them to give to Cuban people - clothes are expensive there.
If you can, find some ripe mangos there - they are delicious. You could then ask the fruit lady in the cafeteria to cut them for you. There are a few mango trees by the beach. We found some on the beach and by the pool - i think the service staff bring them there to share with people. The pigs on the premises by the beach (a very cute family) also like mangos. Sometimes there are goats there too. I have not idea where they come from, maybe from the village nearby.
We went to two a la carte restaurants - international and Cuban. Cuban was very good and fun - you could write on the walls there which the kids loved, and we loved reading the walls - it is all in different languages from different people. Steak in international was very good and with live music.
So overall, we really enjoyed the vacation, got a nice tan and spent quality time together (this was the first time we took our kids - they knew how to swim/dive this time which made the vacation less stressful).
Hubby's mom loved the full body massages there - 20 pesos for 40 minutes in a little room by the pool with a nice breeze.
One thing we all did not like is the mosquitoes flying in our room while we slept, and 3 of us got bitten by them. But to prevent this during our next nights we tried not to open doors/windows during daytime. I did take a homeopathic cream against insect bites which worked quiet well. I did take a citronella based bug spray (I do not like other chemical stuff like DEET since it interferes with hormones - a no-no for little girls) but it did not seem to work as well as it works in Canada. This is one negative thing from the trip since in other places in Cuba we went to (Cayo Largo and Caracol) we never encountered mosquitoes. But I guess this is because there are a couple of spots of standing water around the local's beach and the resort is in the mountains.
When we go to Cuba we mainly go to swim in the ocean. The beach by the hotel is fine as to having lots of shade and spaces to sit and bar and snack bar. However the water is full of sea weeds and sea urchins which the kids were scared of even in water shoes. So only our mom swam there but we walked about 7 minutes down the beach from the hotel and there the water was perfect - clear sand and nice waves. The kids loved jumping them and swimming on their shark water toy and just floating - they were amazed how easy it it to just float in salty water!!. We went there each morning before 11 and each night at 5 for about 1.5 and a half. The water is about 27 degrees in the morning and 28 degrees (celsius) in the evening, so very warm.
The kids also liked the pool with a water polo net and the water is quite cool there and the pool is not deep at all. They swam there once a day and played balls that were provided. I enjoyed sitting by the pool looking at the sea and the mountains (the lobby and everything else like restaurants and pool are on level 5 so you can see the scenery very well).
There is a kids club there and Annie who works there is very nice, the kids loved her and called her their friend. We did not need any babysitting since we did not go on any trips, but she was available for us if needed. Once she joined me and the kids to play go fish and we had a nice chat with her about life in Cuba. She really liked the card game so I offered it to her since we have 2 games likes this at home anyways. She also took the kids (and hubby and me) to go horse riding on the beach. 5 pesos each for about 40 minutes. The kids enjoyed it very much and were pretending they were princesses going somewhere.
The food was good and very tasty. Fish, meat, Rice, pasta, pizza, hot sandwiches you can ask to make were always there. The kids loved eating ice cream 2 times a day, a thing we do not do in Canada :) Guava ice cream is very good.The desserts are very nice and cucumbers and tomatoes are SO good - that's how real local food tastes!! Meats were also really good - though I did not like the hot dogs in snack bar. By the way, if you like hamburgers and hot dogs, bring your own ketchup - the one they have here the kids called "sauce" not ketchup. Service was good too - and I LOVED that you could see the mountains from huge windows the the cafeteria. Very beautiful.
The day before we left we decided to take a taxi (3 pesos one way for all of us) to Playa Blanca (white beach). It was a 7 minute drive in old soviet Moskvich car. We enjoyed the ride (somewhat bumpy - which reminded me of growing up in Russia) and the beach was closer to the mountains and there were no people there which I enjoyed - wild nature! There is a little hand made bench there and shade. Our youngest loves lizards so she had fun observing different colored/sized ones there in the forest. We told the taxi driver to come back for us in 2 hours and he did - we were not sure he would come back since he did not understand English very much, but we could always have walked 40 minutes down the beach to the hotel.
The kids loved the orange juice from the bar - the bartenders got used to them and didn't even wait for their order but poured orange juice for them when they saw them coming. Pina colada is good there, but not as in Cayo Largo.
Rooms were ok, but small. Though we did not need big ones since we were out most of the day. One room had one bed and other room (separated by double doors - if you want to enter the neighboring room you will have to open two of them) had 2 beds and extra bed that unfolds. None of the kids like the folded bed so they slept on one bed. The balcony is great - ocean view!!! I also think there were bats above our room since once when we entered it in the evening there was a little fruit bat in our room circling around the ceiling. I don't know how she got there - we had trouble letting her out until I opened an umbrella (provided in the room) - she got scared and flew out from the opened door. There was a TV in the room with a English cartoon channel, the kids loved watching it an hour after lunch (when the sun is at its hottest).
Elevators are fixed - and very new, they even talk :) We stayed on third floor which was ideal - 5th was the lobby/restaurants/pool, first was beach. So when we walked, it wasn't as many stairs.
The shower was very good - nice pressure to wash of sand from kids hair, and always hot.
The road to the hotel was not as bumpy, they repaired it pretty well (about 2 hours long), and the road back to the airport was even shorter - 1 hour 20 minutes - i have no idea how they managed to make such a great road in the 6 days we were there! The tour guide said they will make it even better in a couple of months. We were given a juice box and sandwich on the bus on the way to the airport.
About the local people - they stand on the boarder between the beach and hotel and ask for things to be given to them (clothes, shampoo, etc). Our mom and hubby did not like it but it did not bother me since they are friendly and if you don't talk to them they will not bother you. They did give lots of nice shells to the kids.I did bring some used clothes that do not fit our kids anymore so I did give a bag to one of the locals our last day there. We also gave some clothes to the waitress and the cleaning lady and the babysitter. In Canada, i give clothes to the second hand store so I figured why not bring them to give to Cuban people - clothes are expensive there.
If you can, find some ripe mangos there - they are delicious. You could then ask the fruit lady in the cafeteria to cut them for you. There are a few mango trees by the beach. We found some on the beach and by the pool - i think the service staff bring them there to share with people. The pigs on the premises by the beach (a very cute family) also like mangos. Sometimes there are goats there too. I have not idea where they come from, maybe from the village nearby.
We went to two a la carte restaurants - international and Cuban. Cuban was very good and fun - you could write on the walls there which the kids loved, and we loved reading the walls - it is all in different languages from different people. Steak in international was very good and with live music.
So overall, we really enjoyed the vacation, got a nice tan and spent quality time together (this was the first time we took our kids - they knew how to swim/dive this time which made the vacation less stressful).
Hubby's mom loved the full body massages there - 20 pesos for 40 minutes in a little room by the pool with a nice breeze.
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Room Tip: I think all the rooms here have an ocean view.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
We had a good time. The weather was spectacular (Feb 21 to Feb 28) and we enjoyed the pool, the beach and sunshine. We did have a few problems. There is an advertised "kids club" but it only operated one day out of seven. We asked frequently when it would start during the first three days but after the woman at the reception desk laughed at me, I realized it wasn't really a going concern. On one day, a very cheerful and friendly woman organized a pool volley ball game for the kids and taught them some Spanish and they all enjoyed themselves. But she never appeared again. My daughter did have fun because she met some other children and they had a great time playing together. But I was very disappointed that the hotel did not provide a children's program when that was the reason we picked this hotel. Other programs such as aerobics, stretching classes, water exercise and other things also occurred only on some days though the posted list of activities made it seem they would happen daily. Our room was okay. The pillows were rock hard and the beds only so-so. The lighting in the room was awful and I was glad I brought a small clip on light for reading. There was no clock in the room so bring a travel alarm clock. Also bring your own beach towel. The hotel allows each guest one beach towel but one of mine disappeared and I met several others with the same experience. The hotel charages 15 pesos if your towel goes missing. Since they are all identical, it is easy for guest to mistakenly take the wrong towel. Easier to bring your own. The food is plentiful though not necessarily great. I enjoyed the coffee especially the espresso from the hotel lobby bar. We all enjoyed swimming up to the pool bar for a juice. We had lunch in the Ecological Restaurant. It is small so book a table just as soon as you arrive because it is really lovely and quite special.
We enoyed our trip despite the troubles. I doubt we'd go back to that hotel because I think we could do better for the same price.
We enoyed our trip despite the troubles. I doubt we'd go back to that hotel because I think we could do better for the same price.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Brisas Sierra Mar Practical Advice
A grand old girl built by Canadians in the eighties to my understanding and now run by the Cuban government. While Brisas has seen better days it was built to last and has survived many things thrown at it with grace and dignity. Most of the guests that enjoy this place fall in love with the quiet unspoken charm of the old girl and special people who work here and return time and again. Located about a 75-90 minute drive (depending on the amount of goats, cows and horses to be avoided) west along the coast road from the Santiago airport it sits in quiet isolation nestled between the mountains and the sea.
While the resort is in need of some fixing up here and there it is well maintained and clean and lovingly looked after by an attentive staff of grounds keepers and maintenance personnel. The resort is only able to fix or replace things when the government allocates funds for the repair/replacement but even so Cubans are resourceful and hard working so they manage to keep everything working to their best of their ability and go out of their way to help people enjoy their stay when problems arise. That being said there can be issues like the elevator not working or water leakage but report your problems and issues with a smile and some kind words and the matter will be resolved promptly if possible.
This is not a resort for the young and foolish but maybe the young at heart (stick with Varadero or Cayo Coco for young partiers) with the average age 45+ and is family oriented with a great kids club and the staff to look after your needs. The food is alas the food, no one will starve and there is ample choice and the staff tries very hard but this is the same story at most Cuban resorts. The pool is clean and well used if anyone complains about the black ring around the top take a look at who showers before entering (no one) so there is a permanent ring of sunscreen imbedded into the concrete. The beach is wonderful and you can walk for kilometers without running into anyone, there is vegetation in the water at supervised beach but it is sea grass not sea weed and feels rather good to sit in and walk in in my opinion.
The music is phenomenal here at this resort and you will find excellent live music being played nightly at all ala carte restaurants, the lobby and pool bar area. Please tip the bands well they earn their living from your appreciation of their music and ask for CD’s a souvenir worthwhile taking home. The same can said of the 9:00 pm shows here excellent, this is a small resort area and the entertainment staff are recent music and dance graduates that take their craft very seriously and practice day and night also show your appreciation and pass the hat after their performances.
Tipping, I know you already paid for your holiday but you actually paid very little for quite a lot. Tip you barman every round, tip your maid in the morning and your servers for meals, all tips are pooled across the resort and shared amongst all including grounds staff. It is very little out of your pocket daily to make a big difference in people lives and their families. This resort is a bargain and you would do well to remember this, you paid a weekend in Montreal or Toronto for an excellent week long adventure so remember as a wise man once told me “If you want home, stay home” as this is Cuba.
Some Brisas Do’s and Don’ts
Do learn some basic Spanish such as please and thanks good morning/day/night and use them frequently you will be surprised at the great service and smiles you will be rewarded with.
Don’t bring your attitude there is enough of that to go around and everyone has one so leaving yours at home makes for a great trip for all.
Do visit the ala carte restaurants they are all great with live music I especially recommend the ecological restaurant set near the organic gardens Aero and Leo will make your visit one you will never forget and if Pablo is playing you are in for a real treat.
Don’t forget to bring Watkins bug repellent, this works best for mosquitos and sand fleas, yes they are everywhere at night near the sand but they are everywhere in the Caribbean and Mexico as well.
Do bring some strong sunscreen for your nose and Chap Stick for your lips. The sun is strong here and I don’t care how many hours you have in the tanning bed you will regret not having these two items.
Don’t walk on the beach after 10:30 am without flip flops or water shoes. The surface of mercury maybe a little less hot than the beach sand after the sun does its job of heating things up.
Do bring some travel mugs with you save the environment and keep your drinks cold at the same time. I would recommend the Costco Contigo brand (right size for us) as they float but to each their own. I find the Bubba mugs a flat disappointment.
Do bring a few flash lights the power has been known to go out on occasion so be prepared and they also make great gifts to leave to staff.
Don’t take your old clothes to value village, pay an extra 30 dollars to bring an extra checked duffle bag with you and you will make a lot of people very happy. Clothes are not hard to get but selection is limited and sizes are as well. Larger clothes (big and tall), kid clothes, shoes and light jackets are greatly appreciated.
Do bring your old laptops, phones and assorted electronics, Cubans are a resourceful people and will refurbish anything that you have outgrown. Most of the cars from the fifties are in better shape now than they were then, even if they are Franken cars they run and usually very well.
Don’t miss out on the Sunset from the bar over the pool as well don’t miss out on a Mojito or coffee prepared by William at the lobby bar.
Do bring toys, board games and lots of love for Ainsley the head of the kids club and whom we affectionately call the kid whisperer. She will have your baby asleep in 2 minutes, your kids following her around like the Pied Piper and totally in love in very short order. We have our suspicions she might be a secret hypnotist.
Do bring a picnic pack of your condiments and some jam/peanut butter if you have to have what exactly have in Canada. We enjoyed the new flavors but tastes may vary
Don’t forget to ask Osmar at the beach bar to play some fresh Cuban music you will not be disappointed and Osmar loves to please. That being said he loves to please a little too much sometimes so don’t forget to waive him off the booze while pouring or you will pay for it later.
Do challenge Pedro to a game of horseshoes behind the beach bar! The pit is a little shorter than Canadian normal and they play leaners in Cuba, but their country their rules. Pedro gives his lessons very quickly and cheaply and will also supply you with a coconut for drinking on request.
Finally Do respect everyone and they will respect you. Make an effort to say hi to everyone and be nice and you get it back in spades.
A grand old girl built by Canadians in the eighties to my understanding and now run by the Cuban government. While Brisas has seen better days it was built to last and has survived many things thrown at it with grace and dignity. Most of the guests that enjoy this place fall in love with the quiet unspoken charm of the old girl and special people who work here and return time and again. Located about a 75-90 minute drive (depending on the amount of goats, cows and horses to be avoided) west along the coast road from the Santiago airport it sits in quiet isolation nestled between the mountains and the sea.
While the resort is in need of some fixing up here and there it is well maintained and clean and lovingly looked after by an attentive staff of grounds keepers and maintenance personnel. The resort is only able to fix or replace things when the government allocates funds for the repair/replacement but even so Cubans are resourceful and hard working so they manage to keep everything working to their best of their ability and go out of their way to help people enjoy their stay when problems arise. That being said there can be issues like the elevator not working or water leakage but report your problems and issues with a smile and some kind words and the matter will be resolved promptly if possible.
This is not a resort for the young and foolish but maybe the young at heart (stick with Varadero or Cayo Coco for young partiers) with the average age 45+ and is family oriented with a great kids club and the staff to look after your needs. The food is alas the food, no one will starve and there is ample choice and the staff tries very hard but this is the same story at most Cuban resorts. The pool is clean and well used if anyone complains about the black ring around the top take a look at who showers before entering (no one) so there is a permanent ring of sunscreen imbedded into the concrete. The beach is wonderful and you can walk for kilometers without running into anyone, there is vegetation in the water at supervised beach but it is sea grass not sea weed and feels rather good to sit in and walk in in my opinion.
The music is phenomenal here at this resort and you will find excellent live music being played nightly at all ala carte restaurants, the lobby and pool bar area. Please tip the bands well they earn their living from your appreciation of their music and ask for CD’s a souvenir worthwhile taking home. The same can said of the 9:00 pm shows here excellent, this is a small resort area and the entertainment staff are recent music and dance graduates that take their craft very seriously and practice day and night also show your appreciation and pass the hat after their performances.
Tipping, I know you already paid for your holiday but you actually paid very little for quite a lot. Tip you barman every round, tip your maid in the morning and your servers for meals, all tips are pooled across the resort and shared amongst all including grounds staff. It is very little out of your pocket daily to make a big difference in people lives and their families. This resort is a bargain and you would do well to remember this, you paid a weekend in Montreal or Toronto for an excellent week long adventure so remember as a wise man once told me “If you want home, stay home” as this is Cuba.
Some Brisas Do’s and Don’ts
Do learn some basic Spanish such as please and thanks good morning/day/night and use them frequently you will be surprised at the great service and smiles you will be rewarded with.
Don’t bring your attitude there is enough of that to go around and everyone has one so leaving yours at home makes for a great trip for all.
Do visit the ala carte restaurants they are all great with live music I especially recommend the ecological restaurant set near the organic gardens Aero and Leo will make your visit one you will never forget and if Pablo is playing you are in for a real treat.
Don’t forget to bring Watkins bug repellent, this works best for mosquitos and sand fleas, yes they are everywhere at night near the sand but they are everywhere in the Caribbean and Mexico as well.
Do bring some strong sunscreen for your nose and Chap Stick for your lips. The sun is strong here and I don’t care how many hours you have in the tanning bed you will regret not having these two items.
Don’t walk on the beach after 10:30 am without flip flops or water shoes. The surface of mercury maybe a little less hot than the beach sand after the sun does its job of heating things up.
Do bring some travel mugs with you save the environment and keep your drinks cold at the same time. I would recommend the Costco Contigo brand (right size for us) as they float but to each their own. I find the Bubba mugs a flat disappointment.
Do bring a few flash lights the power has been known to go out on occasion so be prepared and they also make great gifts to leave to staff.
Don’t take your old clothes to value village, pay an extra 30 dollars to bring an extra checked duffle bag with you and you will make a lot of people very happy. Clothes are not hard to get but selection is limited and sizes are as well. Larger clothes (big and tall), kid clothes, shoes and light jackets are greatly appreciated.
Do bring your old laptops, phones and assorted electronics, Cubans are a resourceful people and will refurbish anything that you have outgrown. Most of the cars from the fifties are in better shape now than they were then, even if they are Franken cars they run and usually very well.
Don’t miss out on the Sunset from the bar over the pool as well don’t miss out on a Mojito or coffee prepared by William at the lobby bar.
Do bring toys, board games and lots of love for Ainsley the head of the kids club and whom we affectionately call the kid whisperer. She will have your baby asleep in 2 minutes, your kids following her around like the Pied Piper and totally in love in very short order. We have our suspicions she might be a secret hypnotist.
Do bring a picnic pack of your condiments and some jam/peanut butter if you have to have what exactly have in Canada. We enjoyed the new flavors but tastes may vary
Don’t forget to ask Osmar at the beach bar to play some fresh Cuban music you will not be disappointed and Osmar loves to please. That being said he loves to please a little too much sometimes so don’t forget to waive him off the booze while pouring or you will pay for it later.
Do challenge Pedro to a game of horseshoes behind the beach bar! The pit is a little shorter than Canadian normal and they play leaners in Cuba, but their country their rules. Pedro gives his lessons very quickly and cheaply and will also supply you with a coconut for drinking on request.
Finally Do respect everyone and they will respect you. Make an effort to say hi to everyone and be nice and you get it back in spades.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
5 Helpful votes
Helpful
Response from Brisas S, Director de Relaciones con Clientes at Hotel Brisas Sierra Mar
Responded Apr 26, 2018
Dear Maryla26, Brisas Sierra Mar Management and Staff appreciate your comments regarding our resort. Our guests’ opinions are carefully read and every consideration is looked after. They are an opportunity to improve our services since our main purpose is customers’ satisfaction. It will be a pleasure to welcome you in the near future. Best Regards.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
we arrived in santiago in the second week of april ,the ride in to the hotel as other reviews stated it is a very bumpy ride in ,and some people we soar.the staff of the hotel tried to give good service but ,after bad habits,they could not.let me start off with the food ,it was the same thing every day for,lunch dinner ,brekyand the quality of the food was bad,at breakfast they wisked away all the food very fast at 1015.if you got up late ,no food.....they had areas of the hotel that were run down,and one wing was abandoned.if all you want to do is drink this is the place for you because there is not much to do,besides drinking.the view was beautiful.this hotel had a group of people called repeaters.they are people that have been coming there for years,they got served before us ,they got bottles of wine brought to their tables, wich at times i had to serve myself they were to busy with the repeaters, i guss the hotel is not concerned with new customers.......the kids club was never open ,i went there five times with my child and it was always closed..i did get my child there once.and my child was back after 45 min.in the begining. this hotel is run down.and needs alot of tlc.the pool was good,the elevators were dangerous,the some times opened 1 ft to hight.also the repeaters got a steak and lobster dinner ,which we never saw any food like this .my final comment is this is not a 3 star ,it should be a 1.5star,and treat all your customers the same............
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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This was our 2nd time to Santiago de Cuba but our first to the Brisas Sierra Mar (3 ½ star). The weather co-operated and once again we enjoyed 14 good days. There are of course pro’s and con’s but the food, service and general ambience of the resort for me gives it the thumbs up. We were there from Jan 9th to 23rd. For context we are retired empty nesters in our late 50’s enjoying our 14th trip to Cuba, all various AI’s.
First the cons or deal breakers for some. This scenic resort is built into a hill with 3 levels of rooms above the main lobby/ facilities area and 4 levels below, all overlooking the Caribbean. But be warned, there are a lot of stairs. We were on the 100 level so we had to go up 4 levels to the main area (buffet, pool, cadeca, front desk etc.) but we had easy access to the beach. There are elevators however only one was working and it got you between the 1st and 4th level. The other elevator that would get you to the main level was under repair. If you have mobility issues this may not be the best resort for you.
This resort has a dark sand beach that can get very hot in the sun. Also there were a lot of rocks and coral in the water close to the shore making water shoes a necessity. However If you walked down towards the public beach area there was a lot less rocks but a few more waves. For us, we love to snorkel, and it’s one of our main considerations. The reef was impressive with a nice variety of fish but because the water was never still, visibility varied daily. We did manage to get 2 excellent days.
The rooms are dated but clean and any issues that did arise were dealt with promptly. I can’t comment on the TV as it was never turned on. Going up and down the stairs could be a pain at times so I would recommend something on the 400 level, however they are quickly taken up by returning guests, and there are many. For example in our second week the resort had to have 2 returning guests dinners as there were more than 100. This in itself speaks volumes.
So now on to the pros. The buffet was plentiful and had a good variety of food. At breakfast there was usually a cook station to get your eggs done the way you wanted. For lunch we alternated between the buffet and the Ecological restaurant. A lot of the produce is grown locally and the tomatoes were the best I had in years, anywhere. The beach restaurant “the Ranchon” was closed due to roof reconstruction.
The Cuban a la cart was OK but we were surprised to find that wine was extra (or slip out to the pool bar and bring some in in a plastic cup) however they did have a nice selection available to purchase. At the International a la cart (“the Mariposa”) wine was included with your dinner. The meal was enjoyable and when we returned the next week we were presented with a seafood menu which was equally tasty. Gala night at the buffet is on Friday nights, and was definitely the best night for food. We also went off resort to a nearby restaurant “The Oceana” and enjoyed a great lobster dinner with local entertainment at a very reasonable price.
There was evening entertainment in the main lobby and sometimes at the pool bar at around 4:30. These very talented musicians were a joy to listen to. The evening shows varied, from audience participation, dance, water ballet, or local bands. Some days were better than others. And yes there are mosquitoes so remember to bring your bug spray. The resort also sprayed every night which helped a lot.
There are 4 bars at this resort and what impressed us was they never ran out of mint! This is the first resort we’ve been to where it’s always on hand. You could also get a mojito or a properly blended Pina Colada at the beach bar.
One of the strong points for this resort is the friendliness of the staff; they really made you feel welcome. This may explain why they have a lot of return visitors, which I’m sure one day will include us. Most people there were around our age so I wouldn’t call this a party place but it did have a disco; don’t know if it was used. Not many kids either, but there was a kids club so maybe it’s more active during March break. If you look up my channel on YouTube (MrJarArt) I’ve posted a few videos of this trip.
First the cons or deal breakers for some. This scenic resort is built into a hill with 3 levels of rooms above the main lobby/ facilities area and 4 levels below, all overlooking the Caribbean. But be warned, there are a lot of stairs. We were on the 100 level so we had to go up 4 levels to the main area (buffet, pool, cadeca, front desk etc.) but we had easy access to the beach. There are elevators however only one was working and it got you between the 1st and 4th level. The other elevator that would get you to the main level was under repair. If you have mobility issues this may not be the best resort for you.
This resort has a dark sand beach that can get very hot in the sun. Also there were a lot of rocks and coral in the water close to the shore making water shoes a necessity. However If you walked down towards the public beach area there was a lot less rocks but a few more waves. For us, we love to snorkel, and it’s one of our main considerations. The reef was impressive with a nice variety of fish but because the water was never still, visibility varied daily. We did manage to get 2 excellent days.
The rooms are dated but clean and any issues that did arise were dealt with promptly. I can’t comment on the TV as it was never turned on. Going up and down the stairs could be a pain at times so I would recommend something on the 400 level, however they are quickly taken up by returning guests, and there are many. For example in our second week the resort had to have 2 returning guests dinners as there were more than 100. This in itself speaks volumes.
So now on to the pros. The buffet was plentiful and had a good variety of food. At breakfast there was usually a cook station to get your eggs done the way you wanted. For lunch we alternated between the buffet and the Ecological restaurant. A lot of the produce is grown locally and the tomatoes were the best I had in years, anywhere. The beach restaurant “the Ranchon” was closed due to roof reconstruction.
The Cuban a la cart was OK but we were surprised to find that wine was extra (or slip out to the pool bar and bring some in in a plastic cup) however they did have a nice selection available to purchase. At the International a la cart (“the Mariposa”) wine was included with your dinner. The meal was enjoyable and when we returned the next week we were presented with a seafood menu which was equally tasty. Gala night at the buffet is on Friday nights, and was definitely the best night for food. We also went off resort to a nearby restaurant “The Oceana” and enjoyed a great lobster dinner with local entertainment at a very reasonable price.
There was evening entertainment in the main lobby and sometimes at the pool bar at around 4:30. These very talented musicians were a joy to listen to. The evening shows varied, from audience participation, dance, water ballet, or local bands. Some days were better than others. And yes there are mosquitoes so remember to bring your bug spray. The resort also sprayed every night which helped a lot.
There are 4 bars at this resort and what impressed us was they never ran out of mint! This is the first resort we’ve been to where it’s always on hand. You could also get a mojito or a properly blended Pina Colada at the beach bar.
One of the strong points for this resort is the friendliness of the staff; they really made you feel welcome. This may explain why they have a lot of return visitors, which I’m sure one day will include us. Most people there were around our age so I wouldn’t call this a party place but it did have a disco; don’t know if it was used. Not many kids either, but there was a kids club so maybe it’s more active during March break. If you look up my channel on YouTube (MrJarArt) I’ve posted a few videos of this trip.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Questions & answers about the children club
Answer from Dan G
Mar 2019 |
not a great place for kids, older crowd , can t remember seeing a kids club
Answer from Baxter B
Aug 2016 |
no kids club in 5 times I have visited.
1