Brisas Sierra Mar

I only stayed one night as I was cycling from Santiago to Pilon so perspective is everything. For me, compared to some private casas this was a luxurious oasis with incredible views and lots of food, drinks and filtered water. This place must have been just spectacular decades ago when first constructed right on the beach and into the side of a steep hill with most rooms oceanview. Time and economics have really taken a toll and much of the walkway/stairs to the beach are broken and not useable. The elevator seems dangerously close to falling apart. In my room, the main door would barely open, the patio doors would barely close, the safe didn't work, and when I discovered that the toilet didn't work I needed to get another room which of course took time and effort but hey, it's Cuba. It was a Sunday so as the afternoon progressed, more and more locals appeared - seemingly each with their own boombox turned up to 11 as well as large plastic (antifreeze or vinegar) jugs that they would fill with beer or rum to dispense in volume rather than the silly little plastic cups (maybe smart to do - lol!). By dinnertime, there was a live band trying to play outdoors and a talented pianist performing classical music on the grand piano in the lobby - all drowned out the multiple boom boxes as well as the resort muzak sound system. It seemed that I was the only person there who noticed. Thankfully, all these folks then piled into a bus (after filling the jugs with beer) and left the resort in a peaceful state on a clear and starlit evening. The buffet was a bit sad and pathetic but again compared to some of my previous meals it was a feast of chicken, pork, lamb, salad, buns, desserts, etc. Unfortunately, the ocean water was a bit murky for swimming and a fellow snorkeler told me that in all the years he had been this was the first time so that was too bad otherwise it was a nice beach and sandy entry. I have fond memories of the place but I can't imagine paying $1000pp/wk and taking the 4+ hour bus ride and then being stuck there for a week. Kind of sad because if someone pumped a few million dollars into it the place would be quite spectacular.

We have been to BSM before the korona and can tell the resort is struggling. The drive from Holguin airport took 3:07 hrs. with one stop for WC/drink about 1:15 hrs. from the airport. It's actually a nice drive in a new (AC) chinese van. The route is through Santiago de Cuba but without a stop there. The lobby of the resort is new and very nice. Throughout our one week stay the lobby bar and the beach bar were the only bars opened. The one in the lobby is opened 24/7 apparently. They serve Cuban alc (beer, rum, vodka, whiskey). No orange juice, no tonic/gin, only Cuban cola and fantastic guava juice. Coffee was good most of the time from a proper espresso machine. Milk was not always available but honey & brown sugar was. The restaurant food: breakfast was really only missing cheese, jam, cereal, tea from the usual "necessities". Lunch and dinner were for the most part the same: pork, chicken, rice, batatas, potatoes, fresh shredded cabbage, sautéed veggies. No beans really which was a surprise. Desert was a variety of spong cakes mostly. Resort itself is .... slowly falling apart. Out of the 3 elevators only one worked and not always. Seems like only a number of rooms in lower section of the resort are operational. We walked through all the sections and especially the upper one seems abandoned. The rooms that are used are old but clean with a fantastic view. We had however no hot water despite communicating it to the staff. Not exactly a big problem when the weather is warm and sunny. The beach has an open bar; only beer and Cuba libre was available for the most part. Sandra did however managed to make us couple of mochitos. The beach is small and very nice (no white sands if that is a problem ...). Water bikes and one Hobie 16 catamaran were available. The ride back to the Holguin airport took 4:5 hrs as we were picking up others from 3 Santago hotels. Again the ride was actually quite comfortable. Overall we had a fantastic time thanks to the enduring Cuban people. If a bit of "hardship" is acceptable than Sierra Mar is still a great place for a nice reset. Having said that we really hope that the Los Galeones finally opens soon and opens for good + the Santago de Cuba airport opens to Can flights.

We arrived in Cuba to find that we were not booked into our regular Los Galeanos, as it was closed for repairs. We were to stay at the much larger, sister resort Sierra Mar. This was a disappointment at first but in typical Cuban style, the people, the landscape and the culture carried us away to a wonderful vacation. We are not loungers, we like to move and explore on our vacations. We let the entertainment coordinators, Leo and Italo, know this. they organized interesting morning walks, a snorkelling guide, a trip up into the mountains for a hike, a meal and a swim in a mountain stream..... It is true that food is scarce right now in Cuba, there is a gas ration, there are fewer tourists so activities have been pared back.... But like any vacation, the people that you meet make all the difference to your experience. Leo and Italo, along with the rest of the dedicated staff at this resort served us up typical Cuban hospitality. We had a wonderful time at this resort.

extremely disappointed , i have been there many times but the hotel closed during covid and I went to Holguin instead as many other regulars of Sierra Mar , i will not discredit the employees as they were very good and tried their best with what they have, lack of tourist ( we were at maximum 12 during my 2 weeks) so it was very boring, i am not to return for quite a while, write me in private if you want more info, Los Galeones closed during my stay