I read lots of reviews when considering properties, so I wanted to leave a few words about our recent week at Sierra Mar for others who do the same. For context, we’re a retired couple on our 9th trip to Cuba, each to a different destination. I will assume you understand the peculiarities of Cuba as a destination - otherwise that’s a whole other discussion...
The bus trip to and from the airport was 80 minutes and reasonably comfortable. Room keys were provided before boarding. The setting of the hotel overlooking the mountains (sierra) and ocean (mar) is truly stunning. The facility is interestingly integrated into a hillside and must have been very impressive when it was new – still is really - but it is showing its age when you look too closely. Never a problem though. They do their best to keep things clean and working. The grounds are well-kept and pleasant. Elevators are essential and worked all the time we were there. Some major repairs will be necessary sooner than later but for now, it's acceptable.
Food was okay and occasionally quite good. Water comes from their own well and is drinkable right from the tap. Our room (135) was fine and the balcony overlooking the ocean was quite nice. I didn’t pay for the ocean-view upgrade and it doesn’t seem necessary. The beach was better than expected but as expected, the beach loungers are old and often all taken by guest who insist on reserving them for the day with towels. No bug bites though. Service at all the bars was good including at the two beach bars. Live entertainment at the beach restaurant was consistently good and a bit more hit and miss in the lobby bar. We didn’t attend any of the evening shows.
The guests appeared to be mostly retired budget-driven folks, many on multi-week return visits. The few younger people were mostly there with older family. There were no groups of loud, drunk twenty somethings as can happen in some resorts. Consequently, the pool area was calm and relaxing with music at reasonable levels when it was even on. Typical day excursions (city, catamaran, off-road) are available at fees that seemed okay. We’ve done such things and opted instead to arrange with a doorman for a taxi to/back from the nearby town (Chivirico) for dinner one day and lunch another day. Both restaurants were entirely authentic and quite good. Daytime is better.
Let me close by saying that one of the greatest joys of Cuba is the Cuban people themselves. While tips are always welcome, many things made outside the country aren’t available or are very limited in choice. Search on “gifts to bring to cuba” and top up your suitcase accordingly.
Hope this helps…

We were at Brisas Sierra Mar from January 22-29, 2020. We had a fantastic time! This resort gets some bad reviews, which is a real shame.

We went as a family of five; my wife and I and our three children ages 3, 5 and 12. Everyone had a great time.

We traveled with Sunwing. Upon arrival, we had no issues at the airport in Santiago de Cuba. There was a staff member at the airport who gave us our bracelets and room key. We collected our bags and boarded the coach bus. The ride from the airport to the resort is about an hour. Its quite scenic travelling through the city and then seaside and through the mountains to the resort.

Our room: we had the Family Room. Its two adjoining rooms, facing the ocean. One queen-sized bed in one room and two twins in the other. Each room had a shower and balcony. The rooms are a little tired, but were kept clean by the staff and were actually quite comfortable. No issues with the A/C or anything. Honestly; how much time do you actually spend in there on vacation!?

The resort: we loved it! The pool area is smaller, but nicely kept. The kids enjoyed it. The beach was great. We spent most of our time there, where you can snorkel, kayak and swim for hours. The kayaks and paddle boats are included and usually sitting there to enjoy. The beach was kept clean and was a lot of fun. You can walk off resort to another beach as well, which is fun to pass the time. The beach bar is handy - say hi to Osmar! He took good care of us. There is also a snack bar near the beach where you'll find enough food to keep you going in between bigger meals. The bars on site were sufficient, although they had no Cola during our stay. But it's Cuba, and you have to improvise.

The food: we ate well! You can have a personally made omelette daily for breakfast or anything else that you'd like. We have no complaints about the food, it was just fine. Cupey is the main buffet restaurant. It was nice and cool inisde; the service was great. The food selection was good; even for little kids, who can be picky. We ate at both specialty restaurants on site, which were quite good. Make your reservation early upon arrival! The water is drinkable at the resort; remember to stay hydrated.

Some tips: get your pool or beach chairs early! They tend to go fast. My wife reserved us some good seats each morning, so we could have shade at the beach. Bring some USD $1 bills - as many as you can for tipping. There is a little bank on site to exchange CAD to CUC, but if you're tipping - USD $1s will be fine. The store on site is good for a little snack - but the cigars and liquor sold on site are over priced and you'll get a far better price at the duty-free shop in Cuba on your way home.

We picked up at 220v adapter on Amazon before we left, it offers several charging ports for various devices.

Overall: if you're looking for an inexpensive getaway and not expecting 5-star quality, this is a great place. There are many people we talked to who have been here year-after-year. That alone says something. The staff are excellent!! Honestly, these are some of the nicest people and they took great care of us. The view is "stunning" as my wife put it. You're seaside in the mountains; you'll see some great sunsets.

We were not disappointed. I have very few critiques. The beach chairs are older compared to the pool, but that is it. I highly recommend this property to families and couples who are not looking for a wild nightlife. It is more of an older crowd with a handful of families. I suspect we'll be back again next year!

PS... the weather was great! Sunny and high 20s each day. We were told Santiago tends to be warmer this time of the year.