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Playa Pesquero 11/02/2003
Reviewers Rating:  Excellent
We've just come back on 1st November 2003 from this resort, and it surpassed our expectations. We found the reviews shown on this website very useful. It wasn't busy, luckily, and we were blessed with good weather, even though it is the rainy season.
I read an account here where the entertainment was given 2/10. I was prepared for the worst, but luckily had packed my sense of humour. The shows start at 2145 in the main complex, preceded by the Band (of which you can buy a CD for $15). The Entertainment Team do enjoy their work, and we found them to be excellent. They are just short of material, and someone needs to explain to us why one of the Dancers always wears a beard in some of the productions.
A few tips to help enjoy the stay:-
* Remember to put your bathmat down whilst the bath is dry, otherwise it slips.
* Book your inclusive boat trips and pedalos at the beach restaurant. If it's busy, they may have all been taken.
* Men should take long pants for the restaurants. Go for the meal, and then nip back to the room and get changed back into shorts for the evening entertainment.
* When you read Eggplant for Horse in the Buffet Restaurant, it's not what you might think. I was offered a thousand moose leaves in the Italian Restaurant. Translations to English are not up to speed, but that is my fault for not learning Spanish.
* Take small items of nail varnish and other make ups. Western make up is not widely available.
* Take pens and pencils for children on trips.
* The Towel House at the Pool near the Gym is open 0900 to 1700.
* Don't drink too much alcohol, the Hotel Staff keep coming to you to feed you all of the time.
* Playa Pesquero Special foods, such as Playa Pesquero Pizza, is a Pizza with a fried egg in the middle.
* Try the pan fried mushrooms for lunch at the Beach Restaurant.
* If you go on the Sugar Mill factory tour, take a pair of gloves if you want to climb the machinery.
* If you do get ill, although the On Site Doctor costs $25 plus medicine, they are quite excellent.
* Room Service costs an extra $5 per visit, but it is a treat to have continental breakfast in your room, and you should try it at least once (especially on the Havana Excursion).
* Book the Romantica Restaurant as soon as you can.
The most emotional part of the visit was on a day trip to Havana. Having read the reviews here, we had taken some coloured pencil sets, including sharpeners, and one Father was overcome. He thanked us profusely. We really do take our toys and manufactured goods for granted in the Western World. Cuban People do not get access to these things. Other people take sweets, but I'm not one to give sugary foods to any child.
Take a taxi to Guardalavca for the Shopping Centre. It's definitely not New York, but the Taxi Drivers are really willing to help, and are reliable for returning to a specified point to pick you up.
You have got to book the Dolphin Swim. You don't need to go through the Rep, as it might be cheaper and more interesting to take a local taxi. I read the reviews and thought oh yeah, but I was delighted. They are beautiful and kindly creatures up close.
The daytrip to Havana is a must. Book the $189 trip as soon as you arrive. Places go quick. The plane is a modern prop, and although the total time travelling is three hours each way, Havana is a marvellous city.
We didn't go on the Jamaica Trip, but some friends of ours did, and they said to be prepared for a 350 feet climb. They thoroughly enjoyed it. You have to pay $25 US to leave Cuba, including the Jamaica Trip. We wanted to go, but the trips were full by the time we had decided.
We took the Tourist Road Train to Guardalavaca organised by the Hotel Staff at the Gym. A nice relaxing fun afternoon.
We've been to other parts of the World, where people will be your friend for the money you give them, but here, people generally are very friendly. Dollar tips are not expected, but are gratefully received.
The problems between USA and Cuba are quite noticeable, but the locals do not mention it. More interstingly for them, is how much it costs to heat your house in such a cold climate. They've never seen snow! It was a coincidence that the Jamaican Bob Sled film (Cool Runnings) was showing on one of the American Movie Channels at the time.
The food is brilliant, although the Italian Restaurant didn't have garlic on the Menu.
When you arrive, you can find a video of the Complex on Channel 28 on your TV, and channel 20 has the Hotel facilities and telephone numbers.
Phoning home from the room is expensive, and Mobile Phones do not cover Holguin. Havana and Jamaica are covered by some systems, and phone cards are available for use at the few phone boxes.
There are no street lights at Holguin, and if you like looking at stars, you get to see the Galaxy in all of it's glory! Just wish I'd brought a telescope.
The Complex was built in the shape of a railway journey between Guardalavaca and Holguin, and Gold Buggies are available to transport you between areas of the Complex. However,a slow walk is quite nice, anyway, and it takes about ten minutes to walk the distance between the Beach and the Italian Restaurant, and you'll be in between, anyway.
We know that you will enjoy your holiday at the Playa Pesquero. Just remember to pack your Sense of Humour, and that time is an illusion, lunchtime doubly so!
Brian Bromley
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