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Club Amigo Caracol 03/10/2004
Reviewers Rating:  Great
My husband and i spent the first week of march at this resort. we booked with go travel direct from ottawa and have nothing but praise for the company and any of the reps we dealt with. everything went smoothly (except for the delay because the plane had a problem with the weather radar, but hey, those things happen). We have travelled to cuba and other islands before, and stayed at 4&5 star resorts such as sandals, breezes and club med. this was our first experience at a 3 star, and frankly, we were not dissapointed.i had requested a 2nd floor room overlooking the ocean, and we got exactly that. we were steps from the beach!
The staff is helpfull and friendly, and they remember you after their first dealing with you. the service in the restaurant was fabulous, and our maid kept our room spotless. she left us nice notes to thank us for the gifts we left her, and of course decorated our bed with swans/hearts etc..the animation staff will spend as much time with you as you want. if you want to be involved in activities with them, they'll welcome you. you can play darts, voleyball, take dance or spanish lessons, aerobics in the pool, stretching etc..
While we were there, we had incredible winds everyday, therefore water sports weren't available. although this area usually has a steady breeze, this was unbeleivable. the locals kept commenting that this was very rare. it was the first time in all our travels that we never swam in the ocean! we always take a catamaran cruise, and we were cancelled both times that we booked.
We took a horse and buggy to coco beach (12.00 us return). this beach is a must see. a beautiful restaurant serving lobster, chicken, fish and cold beer, and of course that wonderful cuban ice cream awaits you, as well as a beach that resembles a postcard.
We also took the organized tour of camaguey, which included a visit to the rum factory, cigar factory, pottery studio, lunch and also a visit to a music house where a wonderful band entertained us. you can never tire of cuban music. we enjoyed camaguey, and definately recommend this trip, however, we did see some begging, with young men and older ladies following the tour bus to all our locations and asking for clothes or money.
So, would i go back? In a heartbeat. this resort is quiet, and the food was quite good, although i did hear some folks grumbling about the lack of selection. we never went hungry. Breakfast included eggs, ham, cheese, fresh juice, croissants, lunch and diner always included lots of fruit, chicken and pork dishes, fish, rice and a great chef who prepares pasta while you wait everyday for both lunch and diner.
You can also dine at the beach bar restaurant in the evening, and you can request lobster (extra cost). it is quite nice to sit there at night and it's much more intimate.
The rooms were recently renovated, and have new sparkling tiles in the bedroom, washroom and sitting area, as well as on the balcony. the furniture is old, and the bed is very soft, however, everything is very clean. we did have a couple of days with only lukewarm water, however, as soon as i mentioned it at the front desk, someone fixed it within a couple of hours.
The clientel seems to be mostly italian (both italian canadian as well as european), with a few canadians from ottawa, toronto and the halifax area. there only seemed to be 4 or 5 children while we were there.
Santa lucia is not varadero. there are only 4 small hotels, and not much night life. lots to do during the day, and frankly, the beaches are beautiful here. it is truly a beach lovers paradise.
So, if you're looking for a nice quiet and relaxing spot, where you can veg on the beach with a book, just steps away from the beach bar, with good food, excellent service at a good price, you won't be dissapointed. it's affordable, clean and you are steps from a gorgeous beach. what more could you wish for?
Christine
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