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Breezes Varadaro 04/13/2003
Reviewers Rating:  Great
Got back from a one week vacation on April 04 '03.
Thanks to all the comments on the Cuba forum, I had a good idea what to expect..
The reason I did not give the hotel a 4 star? This was not the best hotel I have been to and that is what my judgement is based on.
Nevertheless we had a really good time!
ROOMS-(3star) Blocks of this resort have been renovated and if I go back next year it will probably all be finished. We were moved the 3rd day because we were looking out onto the back of La Bamba/Tuxpan disco and looked onto garbage and scrap wood lying out the back, our ticket said we had a garden view but because we were situated on the OUTER edge of the property this was the problem. We complained and when a room became available we were moved. Now we faced into the hotel property and had garden and ocean view.(beautiful) Room 713. (Numbers are confusing as this was the THIRD floor.) This room was not renovated but I was told only the bathrooms were in the other buildings anyway. It really did not bother us as everywhere was spotless!!! Ample towels and FACECLOTHS.If I had to say something about the rooms it would be the bedspreads and drapes are old and outdated, pillows very flat and the furniture was basic. The rooms were well sized. Another couple were at the opposite end of the resort, ground floor, they had a huge sitting room as well. I prefered the third floor as the view was awesome. You need to be on the higest level to see the ocean as the vegetation is mature.
PROPERTY/GARDENS (4)
26 acres of paridise ( comment in travel bouchure) is correct! The grounds are breathtaking! We were told the resort was full. You would never know this when you walk in the gardens as they are vast and beautiful,includes a lilly pond, lots of jacuzzis and bars spaced in good locations around the property. Building J facing the ocean and pool looks like the best room location on the 2nd or 3rd floor. H and I looked good too.
CLIENTEL: We are late 40's and the first few days at Breezes we felt quite YOUNG. Many of these people have been coming her 4 -8 years, it says a lot for this hotel! Later in the week there were younger guests as there were a couple of weddings and wedding guests. Things did liven up by the third day.
FOOD (3+) believe it or not, no complaints here.(gained a few lbs.The Buffet had a theme each night that was lots of fun, with entertainment as well. Gala Night was Fri (when we arrived) white table cloths and candlelight and upscale food and an elaborate show, great costumes and boy can those dancers move!!!!!!
Mon. night was seafood night at the buffet and NOT to be missed.(so make sure NOT to book the A La Carte restaurants on that night.) As many lobsters as u can eat.(I had two. They had garlic butter too. YUMMY!!! Crab, fish... sooo good!
Breakfast had made as u wait omlets,and any other eggs of your choice,bacon,different looking sausges ,bread, great cheeses, crosants, sweet bread,cereal, fruit, toast,jam etc. They also have some kind of tuna mixture, I did not try it. Don't be surprised if you see fried fish. (You'll find something you like.)
LUNCH - salads, fried fish, breads, some meats etc. I did not look too much because I had the fresh pasta EVERY DAY! It was fantasic. Raiyal served it with a great smile, he was ALWAYS smiling.I gave him a package of gifts the day before I left and he was so thankful and seemed surprised. Perhap the bar,wait staff and housekeeping get most of the gifts but it is important to remember other staff members too).Back to the pasta.. he has a flavourful light tomato sauce in one pan and cream sauce in another.You pick your sauce and one of 2 pastas and he starts to heat them. In front of you are bowls of peppers, onions tomatoes, corn, peas bacon, ham and parmesan cheese. You choose as many items and spoon them into your pasta.(The pasta is probably how I gained weight.)
DINNER: Most people I spoke to did not think much of the meats. They were soooo lean that they were tough.One night I tried the roast beef as it looked med rare. It was not bad but I prefered the chicken (very good) and the fish, they had things like stews, soups. breaded cauliflour, roast potatoes , their version of scallop potatoes (good), rice, peas, salads, fruit and breads. By the way great desserts at lunch and dinner.
A LA CARTE: At the BEACH GRILL ( (it is fancied up for night time)I had the best red snapper in light dill sauce that I have ever tasted!!! Others had chicken special. Good too, not sure if the snapper is always on. I'm saying this because most other stuff served here is also at the buffet with more variety. The difference being you are served.They had a trio playing salsa music etc.
DAY TIME BEACH GRILL- We first had only tried the pizza, different but good. Don't be like us (we did not try the chicken or burgers till the 5th day as we were worried about the meat sitting in the sun, then friends tipped us of,they had had it all week and were fine and boy was it good. GREAT BURGERS AND CHICKEN!
MOJITO- CUBAN RESTAURANT- We did not go as others had said it was not worth it as same stuff at buffet but they had a small band playing.( There were so many good shows at the Buffet, that if you went late you did not get a good seat for the show, so like I said we choose the buffet that night.
MARIANNO'S- ITALIAN- Not to be missed - like a 5 star Canadian restaurant. Very classy surroundings and they take your picture as you dress up for this place.Three choices of appitizer, three choices salad, three choice pasta, three choices main dish and three choices of dessert. You had to pick one item from each section. A LOT OF FOOD. The seafood salad was good - lobster, shrimp, scallops and calamari. Also the mussles appitizer was good. Creamed potato and cauliflour soup good.Actually everything we had was good only complaint - the main couse was barely warm. I had salmon but figured they would most likely not have a mircowave so I did not complain. The others at the table had the same complaint. That was a shame because the food was great!
EVENING ENTERTAINMENT:The Buffet shows finished at nine.The disco did not begin till approx 10:30pm We went one night at midnight and it was dead.A few young women dancing tog. and another couple, and about six at the bar. We did not go back. There was nothing to to IF you did not make your own fun. It takes time to get to know other guests but by the 3-4th day the piano bar was where any action was and that was hit and miss. We had a coulpe of great nights there but this place at night is definately NOT for young people or anyone wanting lots of dancing etc.
They have Karaoke, but limited songs, how much of Michael Jackson can one take. There was a Canadian singer/piano player there from 9-11pm each night. This changes as he is only booked for a month spring and I think fall. The highlight was a 86 YR.OLD LADY(I won't say her name without her permission) and a few nightS she let it rip with a few Irish ballads. SHE WAS AWESOME! She still plays tennis!!!!!! (did I mention I felt young at this place:)
BEACH: Like everyone says, spectacular! We did not go early to place towels on chairs as I don't like that. When we went we sometimes we had to walk a little more but always found chairs and shade. Don't forget to give the lifeguard a little something. He told us his girlfrind for the past five years was the palapa and he pointed to it. His name was Anoy. He was very polite.( We befriended him because we had not seen the red cross sign and had taken his palapa so he placed his bag at the one beside it and went for a walk on the beach. When we realized what we had done we moved his stuff and changed places. When he got back he kept saying " it's ok" but we apologised and said we did not want to be mistaken for the rescue and he laughed.
WOULD WE GO BACK TO BREEZES ?PROBABLY NOT NEXT YEAR BUT YES WE WOULD!
sunshine
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