Author: dreamingonly
Date: 10/16/2003, 04:23 am
Message: Hi,
Travelling in Nov. to cuba...
Brisas Del Caribe, Tryp or Bella Costa?

We have a ten year old son, great SAFE beaches are important,hopefully shallow as you walk out, no bad currents etc, soft sand beaches...,no sharks..lol..and great pool...

any advice??

I have just finalized arrangements for a 2 week stay at the Melia Varadero in Varadero. I can't provide you with first hand knowledge of the beaches like other contributors can however I can suggest you go to 1click2cuba.com for some good information on hotels, etc. I used this site extensively when doing my research on a Cuban holiday.

Also booked Melia Varadero for Xmas. Have 2 kids 14 and 9. The Melia has no kids program if that is what you require. My boys do not go to kids clubs nowadays as they have each other for company. I heard tho the choice of dining is varied here unlike other hotels. Friends have booked for New Years week at RIU Turquesa. Go on Carib-on-line, they have an active Cuban forum and get reviews on Trip Advisor as well. Brisas has such diverse reviews that I was apprehensive to book it.People either hated or loved it.

thanks guys, but I was specifically looking for advice on tryp peninsula or bella costa...even brisas...

Hi Madeleine:
I can't offer you direct advice, but you might try
posting your question on

http://www.caribline.com/islands/cu/forum.shtml

There is an active Cuba forum where I think you might
have a better chance of getting some advice.

Also for general Cuba info, check out these sites.

Directorio Turistico de Cuba
http://www.transtur.com/eng/

Cubalinda
http://www.cubalinda.com/

Cubaroutes for some Cuban maps
http://www.cubaroutes.com/maps/home.aspx

Also the 1click2Cuba site noted by another poster is a
good site and contains many links to other sites. You
can read for hours.

Have fun and enjoy the Cuban experience.
Steve

Hi, I went on a Travel agent fam trip last year with Air Transat Holidays. We stayed 4 nights at Tryp Peninsula, and 1 night at the Melia Varadero (also 1 night at Melia Cayo Guillermo, but that is in another part of the island) We saw 20 hotels in total. My absulute without a doubt favorate hotel was the Tryp followed closly by the LTI. For children the tryp is what you would be looking for. The resort is fairly new, and set up like a village. All the rooms are in 30 buildings. It is not too streched out at all. The kids program was wonderful and beaches were great. I liked the LTI as well because that hotel was actually made by the same archetect. I like the Brisas Del Caribe, but not as much. I didn't see teh bella costa. Personally as far a the Melia is concerned, I found it was all right, but a little too stuffy for my tastes. I guess I am just more of a down to earth kind of girl, and I found it a little too upscale for my personal tastes. I also found the beach a little rocky there.

I am going back to the Tryp in Feb to have a real vacation, no looking at hotels, and I can't wait. This time I can do some touristy stuff, instead of work. Anyone with any suggestions of stuff to do, I would love to hear it.