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Our second time returning to this resort: unfortunately we were only there for one week! The weather was beautiful (sunshine) all week. This resort has a wonderful scenic view, especially in the mornings. The food is not that great but hey we’re not big eaters so you make do it’s Cuba and it’s not all about the food. In the restaurant it could do with some more fresh fruits and ore salads,in Cuba there’s lots of fruits While the rooms were spotless,they can certainly to with some upgrading especially the beds.
Just love the entertainment in the lobby in the night! The grounds are well kept The beach is beautiful, we were there every day Beach chair are on a shortage there if you’re not there very early in the morning you don’t get a chair, no one wants to get up early in the morning to go get a beach chair after all you’re on vacation.
We met some of the staffs that remembered us the last time we were there Rene the gardener,Marisa the maid,Holize the cook at the beach restaurant,thanks guys for the wonderful service! Thanks to the PR :Sandra,front desk. May ,lobby bar,Davis,Elizabeth great job guys!
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Brisas S, Director de Relaciones con Clientes at Hotel Brisas Sierra Mar
Responded Feb 11, 2020
Dear jenmaharaj, 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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We had a great vacation at the Brisas Sierra Mar. The hotel is showing age and needs some repairs and a refresh but when you look out your balcony window you see the most beautiful mountains, ocean and tropical resort. The rooms were clean and we had hot showers and the chamber maid Marlene was very helpful. We got the VIP package and every day she brought us beer and water and pop. We also had massages and a bottle of rum. And a delicious special dinner with lobster. The rooms were very quiet which was nice and the balconies were private . We don’t smoke so it was a bit of a challenge in the lobby and during entertainment shows. Fortunately for us it was very quiet at the resort we were able to find a few areas where we could enjoy without inhaling smoke. I know this is Cuba but perhaps the hotel could look into designating some non smoking areas as many Canadians do not smoke and are used to clean air in public spaces and lobbies. We saw the most beautiful sunsets every night. The restaurant had a lot of food shortages but thanks to the wait staff we were accommodated as my husband does not eat pork or beef. Basically the food was mostly Cuban food. Breakfast was good with fresh eggs and omelettes. Thank you to Gladys who brought us chicken from her house when the hotel did not have any. The staff at this resort really do care about their guests and we really appreciated their hospitality. The entertainment here was the best we have experienced in Cuba, many amazing dancers and professional bands. Thank you to Italo and Leo for arranging the entertainment, the morning walks and helping us find a school to donate to. All the reception staff were very professional and Ode was especially helpful with our inquiries. In many areas we experienced 5 star service and entertainment but overall I would say 3.5 stars. Also if you walk towards the end of the beach you may find Andy who gives amazing massages. The beach was good and there were lots of umbrellas and chairs and the beach bar was great. We will hopefully be back again, ❤️
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Date of stay: January 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:The airport bus ride is 3.5 hrs but the scenery is very beautiful. Most staff speak good...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I only stayed one night as I was cycling from Santiago to Pilon so perspective is everything. For me, compared to some private casas this was a luxurious oasis with incredible views and lots of food, drinks and filtered water. This place must have been just spectacular decades ago when first constructed right on the beach and into the side of a steep hill with most rooms oceanview. Time and economics have really taken a toll and much of the walkway/stairs to the beach are broken and not useable. The elevator seems dangerously close to falling apart. In my room, the main door would barely open, the patio doors would barely close, the safe didn't work, and when I discovered that the toilet didn't work I needed to get another room which of course took time and effort but hey, it's Cuba. It was a Sunday so as the afternoon progressed, more and more locals appeared - seemingly each with their own boombox turned up to 11 as well as large plastic (antifreeze or vinegar) jugs that they would fill with beer or rum to dispense in volume rather than the silly little plastic cups (maybe smart to do - lol!). By dinnertime, there was a live band trying to play outdoors and a talented pianist performing classical music on the grand piano in the lobby - all drowned out the multiple boom boxes as well as the resort muzak sound system. It seemed that I was the only person there who noticed. Thankfully, all these folks then piled into a bus (after filling the jugs with beer) and left the resort in a peaceful state on a clear and starlit evening. The buffet was a bit sad and pathetic but again compared to some of my previous meals it was a feast of chicken, pork, lamb, salad, buns, desserts, etc. Unfortunately, the ocean water was a bit murky for swimming and a fellow snorkeler told me that in all the years he had been this was the first time so that was too bad otherwise it was a nice beach and sandy entry. I have fond memories of the place but I can't imagine paying $1000pp/wk and taking the 4+ hour bus ride and then being stuck there for a week. Kind of sad because if someone pumped a few million dollars into it the place would be quite spectacular.
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Date of stay: January 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My thoughts on the hotel. The view is beautiful! The rooms are nice and clean. The beaches are not that nice. Dark sand with many sand fleas! There is a shortage of supplies so they were reusing plastic cups and only rinsing them, not washing thoroughly which was disgusting. The cleaning lady for our room did not replenish our toilet paper for 4 days, even though I repeatedly asked at reception and still never got any, so one of the guests we befriended got me toilet paper from the public washrooms in the foyer. Also, the variety of food was lacking. Hardly any fresh fruit and no fish considering we were surrounded by water.
Tips never seemed enough. We hired a taxi to take us to the city and I wanted to see San Pedro de la Roca Castle which was 25 minutes from Santiago and he said it was too far. This seemed unreasonable to me as we were paying him 100 CUC for the day considering the government pays them less then 20 cuc a month. I know that the quality of life there is horrible. One of the employees told me she had to rip up her shirt for her daughter as they had no feminine products. For me this is a necessity and no women should have to experience this! In Santiago de Cuba, there were so many starving people begging on the streets. It was so sad. For me this was not a vacation! I left feeling sorry for the people, wondering why the government won't provide a better life and not happy with the service I received. We spent over 500 cuc on tips and the service was still unpleasant. Also, between the singers, the wait staff and bartenders it really didn't seem we had enough money. I read a post that said the individual felt like an ATM machine to the Cubans and it is very true.
The only thing that is hurting the tourism in Cuba is the way the Cuban government is starving and depriving their people. I also do not see why they don't work on developing themselves. There is so much land there and they can do more farming and manufacturing. The government seems to want to keep the country from development which is very backwards thinking in my opinion!
In conclusion, now is not a good time to visit Cuba. With no supplies reaching the Island and the people starving for basic products such as hygiene and food, it leaves you feeling unsatisfied and frustrated. There is only so much you can do to help!
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Date of stay: March 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Several times to Cuba at different locations. First time at this hotel. This hotel is in a great location and the staff mostly are very nice. But the hotel itself is a POS. Only access to rooms (hotel is built into a hillside) is by elevator or stairs with 100+ steps. Twice in one week elevators were out of commission affecting people with mobility issues and trapping a couple we spoke with for over an hour because doors wouldn't open. Internet is lobby only. For 2 days you couldn't buy a card at the front desk because their system was down. Payment by credit card at the shops is not worth the trouble - takes a long time. No fruit at the restaurants until the last day when a few bananas were laid out and quickly snapped up. Plastic cups at the bars were washed and re used. Shortage of glassware meant a beer would be poured in anything from a tumbler to a wine glass. Beach furniture is old, dirty and mostly worn out. In our room we had maintenance come twice during the week for a noisy airconditioner, broken toilet. We still had to fix the toilet ourselves. Patio doors had a 2 inch gap at the bottom which we couldn't fix. Lots of little bugs. This hotel we were told is owned and run by the government and perhaps that is the reason for the problems. We have stayed in 4 other locations in Cuba and mostly had no issues. For a first time visitor to Cuba this hotel leaves a very bad impression
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Date of stay: February 2020
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:Because access to rooms is by elevator people with mobility will have problems if elevators go...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Brisas S, Director de Relaciones con Clientes at Hotel Brisas Sierra Mar
Responded Mar 9, 2020
Dear clike, 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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Nestled between the verdant mountains and the azure sea, Brisas Sierra Mar offers a serene getaway in Santiago de Cuba. The resort’s picturesque location promises breathtaking views, especially during the tranquil mornings. We where appreciate the well-maintained grounds and the beautiful beach, which is perfect for daily relaxation. The rooms, featuring air conditioning and private balconies, offer stunning ocean views. Culinary offerings at Brisas Sierra Mar are a blend of local flavors and international cuisine, the dining experience is generally enjoyable. The resort’s staff, known for their warm hospitality, leave lasting impressions on visitors. From the gardeners to the maids and the cooks, each staff member contributes to the welcoming atmosphere, ensuring guests feel remembered and valued. Evening entertainment and a range of activities cater to all ages, making Brisas Sierra Mar an ideal choice for families, couples, and solo travelers seeking a peaceful retreat. In summary, Brisas Sierra Mar is a charming all-inclusive resort that captures the essence of Cuba’s natural beauty and the spirit of its people. It’s a place where memories are made, and many guests find themselves returning year after years.
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Date of stay: March 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
It was my first stay at this property. To my surprise, I was not on the list for new arrivals..I was given a room on the third floor, in A building. The room was flooded due to burst pipe..(The front desk does not know the conditions of the rooms given out??) The second room was on the first floor, was OK. I had supper chamber maid.Her name is Odalys. The hotel is dated, and in need of thorough renovation. There was no fresh fruit at all, with exception of the Valentine's day. The food was repetitive, day in day out. A very few times I have seen fish. A lot of Cubans on the weekends. On the Valentine's day was the worst, especially for dinner. There was a huge rude and noisy crowd, not pleasant at all. I for sure won't miss that one. WOW, it is hard to imagine!! The beach is of poor quality and there is shortage of beach chairs. The sand is black. The service is very good and attentive, accommodating. My stay was satisfactory and pleasant, thanks to the attentive chamber made, Odalys. I might go back some day.
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Date of stay: February 2020
Rooms
Location
Service
Room Tip:Building B and A is the best view , building C is further on the hill with a lot of steps.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Brisas S, Director de Relaciones con Clientes at Hotel Brisas Sierra Mar
Responded Mar 9, 2020
Dear Stefan P, 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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We arrived in Cuba to find that we were not booked into our regular Los Galeanos, as it was closed for repairs. We were to stay at the much larger, sister resort Sierra Mar. This was a disappointment at first but in typical Cuban style, the people, the landscape and the culture carried us away to a wonderful vacation. We are not loungers, we like to move and explore on our vacations. We let the entertainment coordinators, Leo and Italo, know this. they organized interesting morning walks, a snorkelling guide, a trip up into the mountains for a hike, a meal and a swim in a mountain stream..... It is true that food is scarce right now in Cuba, there is a gas ration, there are fewer tourists so activities have been pared back.... But like any vacation, the people that you meet make all the difference to your experience. Leo and Italo, along with the rest of the dedicated staff at this resort served us up typical Cuban hospitality. We had a wonderful time at this resort.
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Date of stay: January 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:The food is scarce in Cuba right now. I'd suggest packing a box of energy bars.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We were here for DEC. 25th to Jan. 1st. First time there, and would go back. Hotel is older but rooms were good. Our room was a bit mouldy smelling, but they changed room for us. The second room was better. they did have 3 days of heavy rain before we arrived. The buffet and pool, bars, theatre , and ala carte, snack bar are all close to each other. all rooms face the ocean and some face ocean and mountains. great views whatever room your in. All the staff were the best. Interacted with the guest well. tried very hard to included guest in pool games, rum for prizes, bingo every other day. Nightly entertainment was great as well. Nice big lobby with bar and couches, as well as table and chairs to sit and have coffee or drinks after dinner. Best ala carte we have had in Cuba. Clean hotel just a bit dated. Rated at 3.5 but think its more a 3 star. Thought the food might be a bit better but we didn't starve. Donald trumps actions are being felt by Cubans so travellers must keep that in mind. Beach is nice and there is a bar there as well. Not enough loungers on beach. Had a great New years party at hotel they really went all out. Looking forward to going back to this hotel.
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Date of stay: December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Brisas S, Director de Relaciones con Clientes at Hotel Brisas Sierra Mar
Responded Jan 22, 2020
Dear cindy n, 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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My wife and I just returned from a week at Sierra Mar. Here is how we rated it on a scale of 1-10
Beach 7 - It is not a white sand beach typical of some other Cuban locations but it is peaceful, well kept and it goes on forever. You can walk a couple of miles and find your own secluded area. We really liked that there was a beach bar just a short walk from the water. No vendors.
Pool area 8 - Except the water in the pool feeling a little colder than we might have liked everything else was excellent. Lots of pool chairs. Very quiet (until 4 pm when the dance lessons start). Not an abundance of shade though so if you wnat a shady spot get there early. If you play pool volleyball (a must) tell George that "the hammer" says hi!
Rooms 7 - A bit musty when we arrived but a Glade plug in solved the problem. The rooms where clean but not fancy. Lost water pressure one day and the air went on the blink on our last day. No big deal. The best part of the room was the ocean view which most rooms have. Absolutely beautiful. Morning coffee watching the some come up (now that's a vacation!). We stayed on the lower section (1st to 4th floor) which is very close to the pool, restaurant etc.
Food 7.5 - The buffet food quality was good but a bit repetitive. Look for something new and you can often find it. If your a bit adventurious there always seemed to be some thing interesting. The omeletes in the morning are awesome! The al a cartes were excellent. A 9 in our books. One on the beach, one next to the al a carte. Be careful if you order rare or medium rare steak though. It is pretty pink. If you like medium rare order it medium well and you should be fine. The booking for the al a cartes is posted outside the buffet at breakfast. Take advantage of these as much as possible. If not the buffet can seem pretty repetitive. They are on a first come first served basis (snooze, you lose)
People 9 - We loved the staff. Friendly, but not pushy. Very courteous and respectful. If you meet Adonis, one of the waiters, say hi from Steve and Debbie. If you want the best Spanish coffee you ever had ask Adonis to make it. AMAZING!
Safety 9 - Never felt at risk at all. The resort is about 1 1/2 hours from Santiago in a small rural community so there is not much around, especially people.
Tours- no idea. We were there to relax and relax we did!
Scenery 10 - You will be blown away. The ocean on one side, the mountains on the other. Quiet, secluded, tranquil. WOW!
Overall a solid 8 out of 10. This is rated 4 star and it is exactly that. It is not a 5 star so if you are looking for perfection this might not be the place for you. Like most resorts in this price range there is always something that is just not quite right but just relax. After all you are on vacation (that's what we are supposed to do right?). The staff is very helpful and will do what they can to solve any problems you have.
Tips: Take scented candles or a Glade plug in (you can leave this on throughout your stay so it was a better choice for us) in case the room is a bit musty. You can convert your Canadian money to converitible Cuban pesos at the resort (fair exchange). US money is no longer excepted in Cuba. Take some insect repellent. There are apparently some sand flies at the beach but we put some repellent on our legs before we went so we didn't meet up with them. Also, if you visit the al a carte in the evening the mosquitos will be visiting you. Once again a little shot of repellent will do the trick and you will have a great meal. If you play softball they take a busload of guests to play ball with some of the locals. What a blast. Take your glove (and another to leave behind if you can, they have no equipment). They play on Tuesdays. Finally, if you really want to have an unforgetable holiday, take some stuff to leave behind (clothes, caps, shoes, sandals, tools, baseball gear, toys or candy for kids). No problem finding someone to give it to. You will probably meet someone from the staff that you can help out (they make on average about $20 US per month so they will be very thankful) or if you are alittle adventurious wander off the resort and you will meet some folks as well.
If you are looking for a relaxing, tranquil vacation, you will love Sierra Mar.
Hola!
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The main dining room often (not every night) sets out tables outside for the evening meal. About an hour or two before dinner hour you will see them setting up. Ask the attendant to save you a table (a tip is nice to offer) and he'll put out a name tag on a table for you. It's very pleasant taking your meal on this patio.
There are more places to choose from in the Guama area.
ALSO KNOWN AS
brisas sierra mar guama, brisas sierra mar hotel guama
LOCATION
CaribbeanCubaSantiago de Cuba ProvinceGuama
NUMBER OF ROOMS
200
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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