|
Iberostar Bella Costa 12/28/2003
Reviewers Rating:  Excellent
Flight: Air Transat. Great flights both ways. We pre-selected our seats, and was really worth it. We were seated in the middle aisle, beside the exits, and we had very roomy legroom.
Weather: We were blessed with awesome weather for this week. It only rained once and at night, so we didn't even notice it. There was also one afternoon when it got really cloudy and looked like it was going to rain, but the clouds went away. It was sunny/cloudy everyday, and very warm.
Hotel: The lobby of the hotel is very nice and clean. Ditto for the grounds and pools. The only negative thing I noticed on the night of our arrival is the elevator. The elevator looked like it needed some good scrubbing and bleaching. The floor, wall, and the mirror were very rustic looking. I think the hotel should really look into updating their elevators, as these are the first thing you notice before going to your room.
Service: Service was great. Most staffs were friendly and helpful.
Pool: There was only one adult pool, but it's always deserted, so it's good enough for us. The water temp is also on the colder side, but once your body got used to it, it's fine :-)
Beach: This is the area that I really enjoyed most in the hotel. It really IS beautiful! The sand is like silk, and the water like bath-water. I also find it to be less salty than the waters in Cancun (Riviera Maya), which I like. There are many chairs and palapa to go around. The hotel also has a restaurant and bar that are right beside the beach, so you are never far away from refreshments!
Rooms: We booked a package with a standard room that does not have balcony. But we were pleasantly surprised, because we were assigned a room in the third floor with a balcony facing the pool and has some ocean view! The room was nice and clean, but it had that musty smell the first time we got in. Turning on the ac and opening windows helped fixed the problem. The water pressure in the showers were very good. We're happy to find a bidet in the bathroom as well :-)
Food: With all the negative comments I heard about the food in Cuba, I was very wary about trying the food in the buffet on our first night. I placed very little food on my plate, and prepared for the worst on my first bite, but again, I was very very surprised - the food was actually really good. We feasted on seafood and desserts for the rest of the week. We loved their desserts, as they weren't very sweet. I was very impressed with the quality and flavor of the food served in the hotel. Everything was tasty and fresh. We have stayed at the Bahia Principe (rated 5 stars) in the Mayan Riviera, and I'll say that the quality and flavor of the food, although the Bahia has a more elaborate selections and nicer presentations, are very similar. We booked the Mirador, steak house, and Mediterranean for our a la cartes, and really enjoyed the food in the three restaurants as well.
Drinks: Drinks were great and not watered-down at all. We actually have to ask them to go easy on the alcohol!
Hotel Shows: The entertainment team did a great job of entertaining the guests with shows at night. The shows were really funny and the singers talented. I noticed, however, that on some nights, the shows have adult themes. Something that guests who have young children should watch out for.
Tours: We only went on the Colonial Havana Tour. It was an all day tour, but worth it. Havana is beautiful...and really different. It feels like a city that's frozen in time. It's fun to watch their old cars and unique yellow taxi cabs. If you go, you will also encounter people who will ask you for stuff. Give on your own discretion and be careful. There was this lady there (in the market) who really overwhelmed me by begging me to buy milk for her daughter. She wanted us to go with her to a store to buy milk. You'd really fall for it, if you don't know any better. But lucky for me, I read online of an exact thing that happened to another traveler. Basically, the woman came up to her and begged her for the same thing and dragged her to the store. When she got to the store, the owner charged her $20.00 for milk, and because the store was really crowded, she didn't notice that someone had stolen her wallet. So watch out....give help to the needy (we did), but be careful of the hustlers!
More Tips:
- Bring air fresheners for the bathroom. There was this bad smell that came out of the bathroom on certain days. It seems like they don't have a good sewer system, and sometimes, the smell comes out of the bathroom. The smell doesn't last that long, and can be 'conquered' by a good air freshener.
- Among other necessity, bring post cards from your hometown to give to new friends. They'll appreciate it.
- Go with an open mind and embrace the differences, instead of comparing things to your country.
- Get a massage in the hotel. It's cheap ($15/30 mins or $25/hour) and very good!
Conclusion: Overall, we really enjoyed the Bella Costa, and would go back in a heartbeat! This was our first time in Cuba. We had a wonderful and relaxing vacation. The people of Cuba are beautiful and their disposition will truly capture your hearts!
Any questions, feel free to email me.
-Cherry-
Cherry
|
