7DaysinParadise
Cuba => Cuba => Topic started by: flopnfly on September 17, 2006, 11:11:00 AM
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Hola
Well we made it here safe and sound. Arrived around 9:30 last night.
there is no internet in the room, so the laptop was a waste of time. We're on the computer in the business center and it is very very slow. It took 10 minutes to log in here and at $10 CUC per hour I don't think we'll get much posting done, and definitely no photos will be uploaded.
The resort is absolutely beautiful. We are in room 4125 which is beachfront, second floor with a King Sized bed. Gorgeous!!!
Occupancy is very low, only 35 people on the whole resort with only 6 from Toronto and the rest from Montreal. All but 2 arrived last night.
Tonight we are doing the Japaneese restaurant, and tomorrow night the Italian. They only have certain restaurants open on certain nights and the bufeet will only be open for 2 nights this week.
A few little hiccups, our safe doesn't work, the TV doesn't work, no coffee makers in the room and no internet. Coffee makers and internet were advertised but they said no they will not have them.
Service from the staff is wonderful, they can't do enough for you and we are being treated like royalty.
We've only had breakfast so far, but the bacon was good and lots of it.
We hit the lobby bar last night as it was the only thing open. No Baileys but lots of Millwood.
We have orientation at 11:30, and then we will hit the pool and the beach.
We'll try to post again tonight and let you know how the Japaneese was.
Dress code is strictly enforced at all times in the main building. No beach attire.
Gorgeous resort, food seems to be good so far and I'm sure it's going to be great once we get settled in.
cya
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Thanks Heather for posting. Only 35 people on the resort, that is incredible!!!
Why on earth build this, plus the new Melia, which apparently has over 900 rooms?
I can see plenty of last minute deals going for these resorts just to increase their occupancy rate. They cannot continue going on like this.
Surprised about no coffee makers and the TV and safe not working though in such a high class resort. Also pleased to hear that the bacon is edible - that DOES make a change!!!!
Anyway the resort does sounds fabulous I must say. Try and drink them dry of Millwood if you can!!!!!
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Thanks Heather. Looking forward to hearing more. :)
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So far it sounds just like Club Amigo.. No coffee makers in the room, no Internet in the room and No Bailey's!!! :rof: :rof: :rof:
Glad to see your safe and sound! Will be interested to get your take on a resort of this size with only 35 guests???
Enjoy....F&T
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Originally posted by FredTracie:
So far it sounds just like Club Amigo.. No coffee makers in the room, no Internet in the room and No Bailey's!!!
:rof: :rof: :rof:
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When we were there last year, Dr. Jorge suggested they were planning on building another causeway from Cayo Coco as that airport could support an increase in traffic and would cut the travel time down! Obviously it isn't happening yet! Who knows?
Cheers...F&T
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That would be a very good idea. Of course there is a small airport on Cayo Santa Maria, maybe it would be less costly to develop that.
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Bellagio
Apparently the Airport on Santa Maria is not able to handle "Heavy Jets" as the runway is not up to standards!!! But who knows what our Cuban friends will do???
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That's true Fred, but it still maybe cheaper to build one that is capable of taking today's heavier aircraft rather than build a new causeway between the two Cayos.
However, as you say, who knows what the Cubans will do!!
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I think a new causeway would be an environmental nightmare and that might be part of the holdup. Developing the airport on Cayo Santa MAria is a much better idea.
I'm thinking of booking CSM if i can get a good last minutes special in the spring. I seee they just started offereing it from Calgary this year.
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Tuss: I don't disagree as far as the environmental side of this issue is concerned, unfortunately this is Cuba and the environment is not always a top priority!!!Fingers are always crossed!!!
Cheers...F&T (How are you enjoying Calgary?)
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Hola
The resort is still fantastic!!!
Yes only 35 people on the resort built to hold 1200. There are presently 300 staff for 35 people, can you believe it_
We walked along the beach to the suite section yesterday, it is a good half hour walk from our room, and we have the better beach area here. Today we will walk in the opposite direction.
Everything in our room was fixed and is operating fine. Still no coffee maker, but they said that they are on order and will be here in a few weeks.
I questioned the internet access in the rooms and asked why they are advertising it but not delivering. They had no idea, but made a note of it.
We had dinner at the Japanese restaurant last night, and it was amazing. The staff were very friendly and helpful, and the food was great.
We then hit the disco and I found some Baileys. :D
Next stop was the lobby bar, and one of the guests from Montreal starting playing the piano to entertain us. He was very good. The staff at the lobby bar and cigar bar are a lot of fun and do their best to keep us entertained with little games.
There is virtually no entertainment at the resort yet. Only the lobby bar and cigar bar, and the disco are open at night. The disco was empty. It is an older crowd here this week.
The mosquitos and no seeums are horrible here. Thousands of them and even with bug spray we are covered in bites. They are around all day, not just at night.
There are 2 main pools here, both with swim up bars and restaurants although only one restaurant is open this week. The pool is directly across from our room, and we have the beach in front. Can´t complain about that. The lobby is about a 5 minute walk from our room, or a 2 minute run to get away from the mosquitos.
Water temp in the pool is about 32 degrees, and the ocean is probably about 30.
We toured the spa yesterday, and it has everything you could possibly ask for. Prices are reasonable, and everything is new and clean. There is another pool at the spa, but no bar there. It is for gentle relaxing.
The beach is amazing, and there was only 5 people on it yesterday. virgin white sand and lots of chairs and palapas. There is also a beach bar with hot dogs, hamburgers etc, and they will bring your drinks and lunch to your chair.
Today we are doing some snorkelling and just hanging out.
Tomorrow we´re off to Santa Clara for the day, and Wed we are doing the all day catameran ride.
John is diving on Thursday. Diving is only available on Tues and Thurs so he will only get one day of diving in.
Well, the beach is calling our name.
cya
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:cool: It sounds like a beautiful resort. It must seem so strange to not have lots of other guests milling around and to be outnumbered by staff ~ a real tropical paradise and a great place to chill out. I can't wait to see the pictures. Enjoy your week!
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Heather, that sounds like heaven! It must be hard to imagine what the place would be like if the resort was filled to capacity.
Enjoy your week, and thanks for posting!
Oh, and if you get the chance, have a drink for me!
:33:
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Thanks for updating us Heather. I had read that the mosquitos were very bad there, but didn't want to tell you that before you went. lol
Also heard the bacon was inedible (as seems to be the case everywhere in Cuba, that I've been to)though you said yesterday it was ok.
Glad you found the Baileys anyway. If you come back on just check for me if YadaY (not sure of the spelling but pronouced something like Jedi) is working there. She used to be on the animacion staff at the Melia and I understood from Faye that she had gone there to work.
Sounds like a super resort, and you sure have struck lucky with your room.
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Thanks for reporting in Heather - sounds like an awesome spot !!!
In your travels if you come across the soon to be opened Melia Las Dunas - would be interested to hear how it's progressing! We're considering this resort in April.
Also can't wait to hear how your excursions are - those are the two we would be interested in - hope they're fabulous!!
Enjoy the rest of your trip!!
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Just in case Heather or John decide to post tonight I'll make it easier for them to find the thread by getting it to the top of the pile, so to speak!!!!
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Heather and Johnny must be having a ball - I hope so anyway.
Hope they come back on to give us an update before I leave for Cuba.
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Johnny will be having a ball tomorrow... (whimper, whimper)
John is diving on Thursday. Diving is only available on Tues and Thurs so he will only get one day of diving in.
I wonder if I can get a flight out tonight?
All the best, to both of You!
Cheers!
:1:
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Glad that you are enjoying yourself Heather & Johnny :)
Sounds like a great place to go :s:
BD :s:
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Hola,
Sorry for not posting for the past couple of days, but it´s been hectic.
tuesday we went to Santa Clara. We first stopped at Remedias and got a short ride on a very old steam train. it was fabulous!!!
We stopped in the town square and saw a church with the most incredible altar, the entire wall was gold plated. What a sight. The church and it´s records date back to the 1500´s.
We then walked around the square and looked at different things.
Next it was on to a cigar factory. I did not enjoy this at all, it was very smelly. However, it was interesting to see the cigar making process. Everything is done by hand.
then we were off to Santa Clara and the Che memorial. This was the part I was looking forward to, and I wasn´t disappointed.
The revolution square is huge, and the monument of Che is humbling. We spent a few minutes here taking pictures and wandering around and then we were off to the museum.
We had to wait about 45 minutes before they would let us in. there was security everywhere, and we noticed the cars parked. Apparently there were some important visitors from the non aligned summit touring the museum.
Security was very strict, and there were lots of cameras. We waited until they came out and then we were allowed in.
The museum is a biography of Che´s life from birth to death. Very worthwhile touring this.
Then we went in to view ¨the immortal remains of Che and his followers. This is a very sacred place, and very touching.
After this we went to the town square in Santa Clara for some shopping, and then we headed home.
Wed, we did the catameran trip. This is always a favorite of mine, and again I wasn´t disappointed. I managed to see a very large baracuda. It is an all day trip and we had lobster lunch. Worth the money in my opinion if you like being out on the water.
Today John has gone diving. He was really looking forward to it, so we´ll see what he thinks when he gets back.
Tuesday night we ate at the Asian again, and I have to say that it is their best restaurant here.
Last night it was the seafood restaurant, and this is where they fail miserably. The restaurant is located at the far end of the resort on the way to the suites. The pathways are not lit and the mosquitos are horrendous.
We decided to walk to it, which was a big mistake, however we arrived without too many bites.
Dinner started off well, with shrimp cocktail, followed by cream of asparagus soup but that´s where the good part ends. The main course of filet mignon, lobster, sweet potatoes and peas and carrots was served and it was stone cold. The peas were still frozen!!! The steak was warm on the outside and still cold inside, the lobster was cold as were the sweet potatos.
Service failed here, because they plunked the plate down and then disappeared. I tried to get someones attention to tell them it was cold but they pretty much ignored us.
finally our waitress came by and asked if I was finished after about 20 minutes. My plate was untouched, so you would think that was a clue that something was wrong!!!
I was very disappointed, and we left. Again service fails here. They should have had the carts waiting at the door, or someone should have offered to call one, but there was neither.
We started walking, and there was not one light working on the pathways. Pitch black!!!
Tonight it is the buffet, so we´ll see what they have to offer.
I must say that breakfast service in the buffet is incedible!!! I cannot fault them at all. And yes the bacon is very good, and lots of it.
The guys in the lobby bar are probably the best as far as staff go. Most of the staff have come from the Melia, and the one and only animation staff girl wishes she was back there. she is a very sweet girl and lots of fun but she is stuck over at the sports center by herself.
So far the week has been great, and the food is probably the best we´ve ever had in Cuba with the exception of the cold offering at the Seafood.
I´m off to the beach and the pool.
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Thanks Heather for that very comprehensive report. I'm sorry though but that experience in the Seafood Restaurant and the very poor service there has to go against this hotel where I thought everything was supposed to be so marvellous.
That was totally unacceptable I'm afraid. Peas still frozen that is just not on. They have enough staff there. How will they cope IF the resort ever gets full. I know they are on a learning curve but any chef should know whether the food is cooked or not.
What do you other guys think? This is the first really damning report I've read on this resort, but at least we know because it's flopnfly posting what she says is bang on the truth.
It was only one meal though and I suppose one should really look at the overall picture, but a resort such as this I'm very surprised to hear such a thing happened.
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I was shocked to see Heather's report of the sub par service in the seafood restaurant. My first thought was that it reflects very poorly on a resort that is supposed to cater to sophisticated travellers. I was thinking that if I was paying the regular price of over $2000 per person per week, I would be furious over an incident like that.
When in Cuba I tend to have a more accepting attitude towards things that go wrong, but if I am paying the outrageous prices for places like Royal Hideaway, I would expect top-notch amenities, with no excuses for bad food or inattentive staff. I would certainly be making my disappointment known to management.
However, I am glad to hear that everything else seems to be going so well for John and Heather.
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Quite agree with you Laura. You have phrased far better than I though.
:w: Not in the Seafood restaurant I'm afraid
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I went to the PP and Sandals Princesa del Mar shortly after they opened on terrific deals.Both of those resorts were going through their teething periods. It will be interesting to get Flopnfly`S overall review on this new resort. Dan F
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I don't like shoddy service at all, and the very few times I have experienced it in Cuba I have let it pass, as usually the staff are very busy, and working very hard. At home though it is an entirely different matter!!
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Hola
This will be my last post from Ensenachos, as we will be leaving in a few hours. :(
Everything has been great, with a few exceptions.
Yesterday we got a personal tour of the Suites section, and OMG that is where I want to go next!!!
Absolutely amazing, but I wasn´t able to pull any prices out of anybody.
They have a boat house and private marina for people that will sail in from other countries.
Every room will have a private butler, he has a little kitchen where he prepares all your meals.
The rooms have living room, kitchen, bedroom and large bathroom, and a smaller bathroom.
Some are two story with 2 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.
All have a private jacuzzi on the patio and a seating area.
The beach area is nice, but it is nicer along at the Hideaway and spa section.
It is totally amazing!!!
Last night we had dinner at the Asian again, and it was wonderful as usual.
The only complaint I have is the seafood restaurant, and I mentioned it to several people so hopefully it will never happen again.
Ok, we are off to enjoy our last few hours. We will post photos as soon as we return.