Brisas Guardalavaca Reviews

It is true that there is nothing to see outside of the hotel as it is pretty much in the middle of nowhere but everything you need is in the hotel and there are plenty of excursions to book if you want to see the real Cuba. The hotel is clean and well run with plenty of daytime sports and activities to get involved in if you wish, although the evening entertainment gets a little repetitive in a two week stay and finishes quite early, around 10.30 - 10.45. All of the staff work extremely hard and are very friendly, my son managed to cut his knee while we were there and required three stitches but the nurse in the medical centre at the hotel was alot more helpful and friendlier than most of the staff I have encountered in A & E departments in hospitals at home! The food is good and plentiful with always plenty of choice and there is also two a la carte restaurants which you have to book in advance which we found the Italian one to be the best. All in all an excellent holiday and we would definately return to Cuba and also to the Brisas Guardalavaca.

ROOMS. We had a lovely room on the 2 nd floor with a seaview. This room also had a balcony that went around the side of the hotel and had two sunbeds on. The room was spacious and clean with an enormous king size bed which was very comfortable. Also in the room was a fridge, hairdryer and TV. The bathroom was quite big and apart from the fact that the door wouldnt close properly was fine ...remember this is Cuba!!! Maids cleaned every day and left beautiful towel arts for us on the bed. RESTAURANTS. Well, the food was OK. Breakfast , a selection of cereals, hot food, toast and omelettes or fried eggs cooked infront of you by the wonderful"egg man". In the evening there was another wide selection and you could always find something to eat. Pasta man would cook your pasta with your choice of extras. Lunch time was the same sort of thing., but we didnt eat in the reataurants then but stuck mainly to the grill bar. On offer there was a selection of sandwiches, toasties, burgers , hot dogs pizza and chips. A la Carte restaurants were very good especially the Italian. All the staff were helpful but especially the cleaners and gardeners!!! The grounds are spotless.

We had an excellent all inclusive week at the Brisas before transferring to Havana for a few days.

The Brisas is a large hotel comprising of rooms and villas - we had a room. This was clean and comfortable - the maids work very hard and make animal shapes out of the towels etc every day which was a nice touch. The hotel has a main restaurant and 2x a la carte restaurants (which require a booking - 1x booking for each a la carte restaurant per week). The food in all the restaurants was very good and plentiful. there is also a 24 hour snack bar and numerous bars. The pool is large and clean - it also had a swim up bar which came in handy! The beach section is state owned so the hotel aren't liable if anything goes missing - however in the week we were there we never heard of anyone having a problem with this. We did the catamaran and dolphin swim excursion which was one of the best days of our lives and well worth booking, (approx £75 per person). My only slight gripe is that the hotel seems to be the first on the coach pick ups and also the last on the drop offs so you tend to spend at least an hour on the coach when you go anywhere - minor point but just to let you know. All in all a great place to spend some time.

i would thoroughly recommend it.

If you don't want to see anything of the resort you are staying in and simply want a beach/poolside holiday then Cuba is ok. We like to get out of the hotel and explore the local area which you really cannot do on a holiday like this. There is nothing there apart from the excursions put on by the holiday companies. This holiday felt like groundhog day. Same thing every day. This is the first time we have gone all inclusive and I would not recommend the Brisas for this. It would have been worth paying more for a 4/5 star hotel. You are in it all day everyday so it really needs to be a good base and the Brisas wasn't.

The food was awful and repetitive and the snack bar (burgers and fries) wasn't open when it should have been. All you got in the room fridge was a bottle of water which you had to take to the bar to be re-filled with tap water when it ran out. I could not believe either that they did not provide bottles of water as part of the all inclusive. Brisas is fine if all you want is lager and rum.

Brisas hotel is large and set in nice surroundings but it really could do with being refurbished. It is dated and well-used. Being all inclusive I didn't think we would need a lot of spending money but as you are expected to tip continuously for 2 weeks we spent much more than expected.

We made the most of this holiday but it really was a let down in terms of the standard we were anticipating. The best thing about the holiday was swimming with dolphins which is a great memory to have and a trip we would highly recommend (although expensive given it was just half a day).

One very disappointing aspect was the evening entertainment. Although we usually like to go out of the hotel at night, we were aware it would not be like this in Cuba so expected a decent level of entertainment. Everything was over within about an hour so after 10.30pm that was it finished.

Overall, there is nothing in Guardalavaca so as a resort there isn't anything to see or do. If you are thinking of Cuba then choose something better than the Brisas.

Our party of 4 have just returned from the brisas in cuba, we did a twin centre 3 dys in Santiago and the rest at the brisas.

3 days Santiago
we had a wonderful time the hotel was brillant on a b and b basis the cubacan reps were fantastic we did a day tour of the city and went to the musica de la trova in the evening it was fantastic local cuban dancers were only too happy to help us with a few moves, in those 3 days we felt as if we really saw real cuba everyone we met was friendly and helpful.

Brisas
the Food was ok not the best we have ever had but you could always find something to eat. Staff were brillant nothing too much trouble our first bungalow was very damp black mould on the walls, but we had a word and they moved us staight away, the maid service was great room was clean and tidy and of good size

we did 2 trips the snorkling and cuban inside both really good, if you do go out and meet the people they are very greatful for any clothes, soaps, pens pencils you can give them. I took books and crayons for the children they loved them.

We flew with Thomas Cook and decided not to upgrade i would never do this again for the long flight you need the extra leg room it was really cattle class.

To sum up cuba is lovely, however really poor so dont expect too much the people are really freindly we felt very safe when out on our own at night in the city and will go back as soon as funds allow.

Having never been on a long haul holiday before, and to be honest not knowing that much about Cuba, I was slightly nervous. But the people are so friendly and kind, everyone was welcoming and helpful. The staff were exemplery in their service and their manner. We could not fault them. I would highly recommend this hotel to anyone who wishes to relax and see the rural side of cuba.

Just come back from a wonderful holiday in Guardalavaca, Cuba! If you've never been to Cuba before - go now! When Columbus arrived in Guardalavaca in 1492 he declared it the most beautiful place he had ever found, and it still is! The white sandy beaches, the clear blue seas, the amazing abundant flaura and fauna you just don't get in places like Egypt, the superb reefs, etc... it's all a joy to behold!

Cuba itself is interesting. The people are very poor, and the country is disadvantaged due to global politics (it is communist) - but yet, crime is exceptionally low. Everyone is friendly and happy to see you. I heard of no-one being harrassed by locals for money, or any pick-pocket offences. They are a genuine and caring bunch, who seem mostly to be happy with their simple lifestyle. This is probably because they're quite well catered for: free education and healthcare for all; guaranteed work for all. If you've heard that Cuba is ";dangerous"; then you've heard wrong - it's very very safe!

Cuba's culture is well worth a look too. Havana is like being in the 40's: old American cars, etc! The cities are a mix of run-down and developed. The countryside is simple yet stunningly beautiful! It's all very different to the Canaries!!

I'll summarise each section of the holiday below for you:

Booking
We booked with Thomas Cook online about 3 weeks prior to departure. Cost ~£650 each for 2 weeks. Not bad. (Note that Thomas Cook's store staff couldn't come up with anything in Cuba under £900, so check the Internet before you give up all hope!). About a week before departure we were offered upgrades to Premium cabin worth £250 for £50, we took it and it was well worth it at that price!

Flights
Thomas Cook use Monarch chartered. Flight numbers from Gatwich MON335 (out), MON334 (in).

Being Premium passengers passage through the airport was a breeze. You also get double the baggage allowance, which you WILL need for 2 weeks away. My case started out at 17kg (the normal allowance is 15kg) and came back at 23kg.

The seats in Economy are shockingly small, with a ridiculously small amount of legroom. In the Premium cabin it is all much better. I have flown both, and slept a lot better this time! Note: imagine Economy on a scheduled airline and that's what Premium cabin is like. If you are flying Monarch, always get Premium cabin. (Buy from the tour operator, the airline charge silly prices.)

You get your own seat back TV with 10 ish channels, nicer and larger meals, a free bar(!!), a few other minor on-board perks, and a better customer service. Less like cattle.

Outbound took nearly 9 hours, return took 7. It felt a lot shorter than that!

Holguin airport is small, but well resourced. Get your money in the baggage room.

Transport to the resort is about an hour through lovely countryside - Holguin is the closest city to Guardalavaca.

Accomodation
We stayed in the Villa section of the Brisas Guardalavaca 4* all inclusive hotel.

Lonely Planet describes the Brisas as the finest hotel on the beach in Guardalavaca, and I would tend to agree. There are a few others that looked nice that aren't on the beach (Playa Pesquero being one). The Brisas is next door to the Atlantico - which looked like a bit of a dive, don't do it! Go for 4* in Cuba: no-one I met spoke well of the 3*'s, and everyone I met spoke well of the 4*'s!

We were very happy with the Brisas. We got upgraded to Villas for free, and these were massive and lovely. Everything is clean and tidy - very nicely presented. When we were there, it was very quiet too - no problems getting sunbeds or served at bars!

The pools are huge, and sprawling. At one end of the Villa pool is an in-pool bar, which is handy if you can't be bothered getting out!

Bars: Good selection of national and international brands, all free with the all inclusive. They don't skimp on the measures like a lot of places do either - you ask for a Cuba Libre, that's what you get - Rum, with a Coke top!

Food: The buffet restaurant is fine - not much variation over 2 weeks but it's all edible. Waitress service is fast and frequent. There are flies about, but no problems with health were encountered. There are 2 ala-carte restaurants available at the moment: a seafood place on the beach; and an italian in the main hotel building. The seafood restaurant is worth a mention - service is excellent and so is the food - lobster on all inclusive!!

Refurb: The main hotel is closed for refurbishment at the moment. Don't worry though, this doesn't mean you'll be bombarded visually and acoustically - they don't seem to actually be doing anything at all...!

All in all, I'd come here again. Take a wander along the beautiful well kept beach past the grotty Atlantico and you'll be glad you chose this one!

Weather
Just to allay any fears about the ";rainy season";. All that means is that there is a quick (light, and warm) shower for 10 mins in the evenings on some nights. Most nights it didn't rain at all. As it happens, we were there when Hurricane Ernesto made a beeline for us... we were very well looked after and just experienced a bit of rain and a bit of wind - nothing to write home about really. We lost 24 hours of sunbathing and travelling, which is not too bad considering the risk of getting a hurricane is quite low anyway. Generally the weather is tropical all year round, about 35 degrees every day with blue skies.

Resort
Guardalavaca is a small village on the beach. It is a lot smaller than varadero, and a lot less lively. Having said that, it is a lot more beautiful (I have been to both). Depends what you care about really. There's not much there, but the tours put on by the tour operator and the hotel are excellent. The best shopping, for Cigars and booze at least, is actually the Brisas hotel shop.

Tours
We did the following, through Thomas Cook:
- Catamaran trip: Tan, drink (for free), and snorkel on the reef from a proper Catamaran. Later in the day, out come the sails as they take you back to the shore for a slap up lobster meal! Great fun, and the guides are hilarious. The reefs in Cuba are on a par with the Red Sea: astonishing!
- Speedboats: Drive your own speedboat for 1.5 hours. Great fun!! They'll let you prat about with it as much as you like!!! There's also a follow-me tour of the canal (by speedboat) for those less brave.
- Cuba Inside: Travel through the countryside on a 100 year old steam train seeing how the real Cubans live, visit the Cohiba cigar factory to see how they work, and various other spots including a Holguin city tour. Very interesting. Try a Cohiba: the finest cigar the Cubans make.
- Santiago Day: Basically visiting Santiago, which is a bizarre mix of rich and poor and eye-opening for those of us who are used to British cities! Don't expect to shop, do this at the airport!
- Salsa Night: They teach you some moves and feed you free booze all night. There's also a really good salsa show. Fun. :)

.... all that for £150!!

[NB: A couple of these were postponed due to the Hurricane. Getting re-booked at short notice wasn't a problem.]

There's also a free tour the hotel provides :)
- Guardalavaca Train Tour: 1/2 day tour of the beautiful local countryside and a proper Cuban village.

Summary
What a wonderful holiday! I didn't want to come home, although it seemed like we'd been there for much longer than we had. Take 2 weeks, and enjoy! Cuba is a magnificently beautiful place, still largely innocent and natural. I imagine that when Capitalism finally takes a hold in Cuba it will destroy it - so go now before Castro goes and people start to get greedy. You've got lovely people, guaranteed weather, the culture, old american cars, rum, cigars, luxury, etc - all for a very reasonable price! Will I return? Of course!!! Definitely!! I'd certainly come back to the same resort and hotel, but I like some variation so not in a couple of years.

I will be back in Cuba very soon though!!

Our first visit to Cuba but definatley not our last. We had a fabulous time from the moment we stepped off the plane. Our flight with First Choice was fantastic and when we arrived in our resort the entire bus apart from 2 couples had been upgraded to the Villas. Our room was spacious and very clean, the bed being a king king size was enormous and very comfortable.

The food in the restaurants was buffet style with plenty of choice and everything freshly cooked.Although neither of us are seafood lovers the fishbar looked delicious.
The Italian speciality restaurant was excellent with well cooked food and brilliant service.
The drinks were not just local but included international such as Jack Daniels, Martini, Baileys, Tia Maria and a huge assortment of Whiskeys. These were included in the all inclusive bars at no extra cost.
The beach was beautiful and clean, swept every day by the everpresent gardeners and all watersports are included free of charge.
Watch out for the beach weddings with the love hearts made of flowers on the sands and the resident band playing soft music.

The people of Cuba are very poor but the hotel staff are always pleasant and friendly and so eager to please to them a small show of gratitude by way of a couple of Pesos tip stands you in very good stead.
If you embark on the free train trip into the hills to see how the villagers live , then take with you a few bits and bobs to give the local kids, A colouring book and a few crayons, sweets, costume jewellery or hair slides all produce the biggest smiles you will ever see.

Our holiday was fantastic and we will be revisiting this hotel whenever possible.

Cuba was a Destination i have always wanted to Vist and I Must say i,m very pleased i did.

From landing the Cuba People were very Freindly and seemed to be pleased that you had visited there country. Be warned though if you take a Portable DVD Player with you the Airport on arrival will check it out and give you a Recipt for it allowing you to take it into the Country, But when you return you must Prove that you have taken the Applience Back out with you so Keep the Reciept as Proof of what there Looking for.

The Hotel Staff were Very Very Freindly and nothing was too much Trouble. That goes from the Maids to the Chefs. One tip is if you Go on any Trips don,t be Buying any Cigars or Rum from the Factory Shops as you will notice that On the Way out there will be Members of Staff if you Want any Cheap Stuff ( IE Knocked Off ) Take my Word on this all the Stuff the Staff are Selling you is Genuine and It,s there Little Perk if you Like. Without this They Earn no More than about £6 a Month so it,s appreciated by them.

Be carefull with the Food though in Cuba common sence is Recommended. Keep of the Pork and Chicken as Your Bowels will tell you if you Dared to try it. Some of the Guests at our Hotel have Returned with EColi o157 Strain which is Very Serious. I Myself am Vegiterian So No Problems there even After being Checked out on my Return with my G-P.

However Still don,t let this put you off from visiting a Great Country with Great People. Another tip would be to Hire a Car for about £40 a Day and Travel into the Proper Cuba Like i Did. One of the Things that are in Very Short Supply in cuba is Pain Killers ECT So on your Return the Reps are Very Happy to Take them off your Hands due to the Trade Embargo that Limits what Medications they have there. All in All a Fantastic Holiday and a Definate Place on My Returns List...

If you are thinking of going to Cuba, but are not quite sure, don't be. It is paradise.
We have just returned from a 2-week stay, we plan to return very soon.

Hotel grounds are enormous and well tended. The rooms were basic but each had a fridge and the essential aircon was superb.
Two huge pools. The villa pools is quieter, only 4 people in with us on some days
One bit of advice I would give, upgrade to a villa room if you ca, if not get a sea view room NOT the ground floor, less chance of bugs!!

Food was ok. Others in our group said food was not so clever, but we never went hungry and no one got upset tummies. Flies were a pain in restaurant though.

All staff were great and raelly made an effort
The average wage is $20 per month, so if leaving a tip the the maids leave any unwanted clothes, these much more appreciated.

Food

Pasta man makes pasta fresh right there for you, even choose your own toppings.
Entertainment was not west end, but ok for the 2 weeks we were there. Could have gone on bit longer, usually all over by 10.40. Still there was a disco from 11-2am

Take the free train (book at reception) well worth 2 hr trip to banana plantation and just to see local scenery.
Swim with dolphins was priceless.

Trips work out at about £50 per person

Pack lots of sun cream, it was 45 degrees. It did rain, but it was clear again in five mins. Some spectacular lightning displays at night too.

Would we go back, you bet we would, but try other hotels in the area.

First choice is also worth a mention, great both ways, loads of legroom. No need to upgrade here.

We took cash and changed at the hotel, currency is Pesos. No problems there
25 pesos per person in cash paid to customs on departure.

Dollar is accepted but add on 15%

well what can i say - an absolutling amazing holiday all round. - apart fromt the flight. I work for airlines and I can honestly say, Excel is the worst i have every come across, the plane was awful, cramped, smelly, old, - the crew were awful, rude, un knowledgable, un informative and seemed to be undertrained, the food was awful, small, cold, un edable!! - anyway that was just the flight!

The hotel, was brilliant. - please remember Cuba is a very poor country, firstly expect you are getting the same standard or accomodation as Greece or somewhere like that. The hotel is rated 3 - 4 * and this is fine, the rooms are spacious, with all you need, you can fill bottles of water up daily for your fridge and you are given a flask to be filled with coffee , juice, vodka or beer!! - the rooms are airconidtioned which stays on all day, the bathrooms are spcious and kept very clean. The chambermaids work very hard and keep the rooms nice for you. The hotel rooms are all the same standard - with the difference being sea or garden view, we had garden view with terrace on to the garden which was nice, friends of ours had sea views which were better. The Villa sections - the rooms are bigger but as you are not in them much you don't really need that extra space if its just 2 of you.

The staff in the hotel will bend over backwards to make sure you are happeir I have never met friendlier more helpful people. some of the waiting staff seemed to be little pissed off with there jobs - but who woulnd't be working in that heat in stuffy restuarants. - speaking of resturants, the food at the hotel isn't the best but there is always somethng on offer as it is buffet style, so you will alwasy find something you like, it is nice to see the chefs coming out and testing the food with thermometres and things regularly too. the 24 hour snack bar serves burgers, chip pizza and sandwiches all day! sometimes they get a little confused with the food - ie putting mash potatoe on pizza??? and calling stewing beef - fillet steak - but its all ok! The Al la Carte resturants are lovely, espcially the sea food one, they have other things on offer if you not a fan of fish too!

The 24 hour all inlcusive is really good, includes all activities, all drinks, local and imported, non moterised water sports and some excusions organised by the animation team
- The Animation team are the best I have come accorss - they are far from proffessional dancers / singers (the have singers and dancers to do this!) - they are entertainers and if they will make your holiday, they are around all day organising beach games and pool games, salsa lessons, cocktail lessons, spanish lessons and anything else you want, they are there to make the guests happier and they certainly do this! - they put on shows all night for everyone to enjoy and they will even party with you till the early hours in the hotels discoteca!
the hotel has everything you want and need, on site doctors, with enlgish speaking doctors and nursers, massage, beauty, hairdressers, gym, suana, tennis courts, 2 pools, disco, inside and outside bars everything you need!

One tip - take spare clothes with you - not for you but to leave for the people that have made your holiday, cuba is such a poor county, especially in places like Guadalavaca. the hotel staff earn about £25 per month, this is just enough to feed the family - they can afford nothing else. The are so appreciative to anything you can spare! - my suitcase was so light coming home! - like I said before, the people that made our holiday were the animation and entertainment team, and they really like it when we thanked them for it - as not many people remember them like they do waiters and chambermaids! (and they earn less money!)

We visited the hotel in a party of 31 for a wedding, not one person needed to complain about anything, the wedding was exceptionlly planned and every last detail taken care of. nothing could of been better

It really was a fantasic holiday, I will never forget it and I will definatly return - not with excel airways though!!

Flights - if you have the choice, don't fly with Excel airlines. The planes are cramped, old and have poor facilities. Our flight was delayed for 2 hours on the way out although I don't believe that to be the fault of the airline.

Hotel - On arrival at the hotel we were quickly checked in and shown to our room which was on the top floor of the hotel. We had a mountain view which I was slightly disappointed with until I saw my sisters room. Her room had the most fantastic pool/beach view but also overlooked the pool bar and grill which was open 24 hours and was very noisy even at 3am - I think we got the best deal there!

There were 5 eating places. 2 buffet restaurant, 2 A-la carte restaurant (1 x Italian and 1 x seafood) as well as the pool grill serving limited snacks. We preferred to eat in the buffet rest on the Villas side of the resort although they were both equally good.

There was a large choice of food and I cannot understand people saying that it was dull. How many times in a fortnight do you have duplicate meals at home for goodness sake??? The omelette chef in the morning was great, you told him what filling you wanted and he would cook it while you watched. Same goes for the pasta and rice chefs in the evenings.

If you don't want to get up early for breakfast, we found out that they serve late breakfast between 10 and midday in the fish restaurant down at the beach.

Drinks were great and the bar staff took great pleasure in mixing us up different cocktails.

My sister got married at the hotel while we were there and Ihave to say that the weddings were a little like a small production line. Very much the same every day, like a conveyor belt. It was pretty nce though to sit on my sun lounger and be able to watch a wedding or two when I got bored reading and sipping cold beer!

The villa side of the hotel was much quieter and more suitable for families. The pool at that end was also very quiet as was the swim-up bar. If we went back we would ask to stay in the villas but there was a lot of stagnant water over there due to rainfuall and little ponds, etc and I was eaten alive by mosquitos every time we walked through so be warned!!

Our chamber maid Mareya was beautiful. We tipped her periodically and she was very very grateful. She left us towel sculptures witih fresh flowers daily.

Rooms are small and basic but the air conditioning is effevctive. I have read other people complaining of a smell of damp but I think that's really due to the humidity over there - even our bedding felt damp after being freshly put on.

We would recommend the hotel alhtough there is little else in the area. Take a walk along the beack (past the grotty hotel next dooor - Atlantico I think - to the local flea market to bag some souvenirs.

The shop in the hotel sells rum and cigars too!

All in all a great holiday - don't listen to people expecting Tenerife with clear seas becsue that's not what you'll get. It's a communist-run country and the people are very poor.

Don't forget to go swimming with the dolphins - what an experience!!!!

We have just returned from our two-week break in Brisas Guardalavaca. We stayed in the villas side of the complex.
THE HOTEL: The rooms are apparently a lot bigger in the villa side as well. So was very happy!! The cleaners will come and clean your room everyday. They are very grateful for anything you leave them. We left them a couple of pesos now and then and they always left a heart shape towel or swan.
Guards about 50 yards apart round the hotel making it very safe for kids to play, very little crime in cuba.
Both the pools were quite big and clean.

Rooms: Clean and all the stuff you'd need, small cool 'fridge' with bottled water (top up from the bars as you need to), TV with some US channels, hair dryer and a chargeable safety deposit box
FOOD: First and foremost the food wasn't brilliant! It very repetitive and sometimes poorly cooked, the staff however, was very nice and did try to make things better.
You have five places where you can eat. You have the 2 buffet restaurants, 2 grill restaurants and 2 a'la Carte restaurants. The a'lacarte restaurants you need to make reservations for. Try to get in early as they get full up quiet quick. The Italian is very nice, the buffet restaurant on the villa side is where we spent most of the two weeks.
The hotel side buffet restaurant is very crowded. There is more choice in food but you have to go and get a seat alot earlier. The night entertainment isn't up to much but there are loads of cocktails to try and you can also snack during the night.

Service: Waitress service and maid service were excellent, bar service was a little hit and miss sometimes. Mostly the bar staff were very good, especially the guys running the pool bars, but some of the bar staff were a little cool occasionally. Some of them were on their feet for hours on end (the grill bar at the Hotel pool was open 24 hours) so I can forgive it very easily as it did not detract from the holiday enjoyment a all.
The beach: is lovely. You can use either beach, Villa or hotel. Again the Villa is a bit quieter but you have the choice. The sea is lovely. Also watch out not to sit under a coconut tree as they have a habit of falling and trust me they really hurt when they do. You do need to try and get up early to catch a sunbed under a parasol. We never did that's why ended up under palm trees with falling coconuts!! There are plenty of water sports to keep you busy, but for motor sports you have to pay.

TRIPS: The DOLPHIN SWIMMING is well worth the money, about 99 pesos each which is about £70. There wasn't a show, but we've all seen them before, you get 20 minutes with the dolphins and you can pay extra for photos, or take your own camera and they will take them.
The Jeep Safari day was fantastic; it's well worth the money, The Catamaran is a lovely day out too. Scuba diving was good, the cost was about £40 for 2 dives

There is barely anything outside the resort, but there is a small market that is good enough for souvenirs.
Anyway would probably go back to Brisas Guardalavaca. The food was not that bad the staff are lovely and will go out of there was to help.

DON'T FORGET, YOU HAVE TO PAY TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY 25 PESOS PER PERSON.