Iberostar Selection Holguin, Holguin, Cuba

When Sunwing cancelled our vacation to Punta Cana the day we arrived at the airport, Anne, Franca and I scampered to rebook another vacation ASAP. Franca and Anne work so didn't have the flexibility to not take the planned week off. After three hours of going online and calling other providers, the best we could do was the 4 star Sol Turquesa Beach in Holguin (via Air Transat) leaving on Sunday. When we arrived at there late Sunday night, where was everyone?! There are over 500 rooms but apparently only 80 guests. Because of that, a lot of things are closed down and not happening ... no entertainment, no activities, nothing. 

Monday afternoon we spoke with Pablo, the Air Transat rep on site, and asked him to move us. For another $458 each, he moved us the next day to the 5 star Iberostar Selection. We had to pay for the cab to get us there ($25US).

Adele and his '41 Chevy

A much better resort and worth the move! Though it wasn't at capacity, there were lots of guests so there was energy and people to talk with. At night, the animation team put on shows. 

We had a fun time here. My only complaint about the resort is that their WIFI sucked. It was free throughout the resort, including the rooms. When we arrived, we were given a temporary login and then picked up our permanent login info later that day. I wasn't able to get access on my phone at all so used roaming from my provider at home (I'm not looking forward to seeing that charge!). My iPad and laptop were hit and miss ... sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't, sometimes it was speedy. Once we inputted our login info that should have been it for the week but I found I was often asked to input it on a daily basis. That was annoying.

These carts drove around often and you could hop on
and head to the main building, the snack bar, the beach,
back to your room, etc.

My room was a five minute walk to the main building and the pool (in the other direction). It had a mini fridge, giant fan above the bed, a/c, etc.

Great shower!

The view from my balcony

The pool is straight ahead along with a childrens' water park

Here are me and Franca at Canada Day at the buffet restaurant on the Tuesday night. Franca and I met working together about 30 years ago and have been pals since.

The hotel had a small beach but if you cross a bridge (about a ten minute walk or the hotel's cart would drive you), there was an amazing beach that we shared with another resort ... that's the one where we spent our time.

The drink shack

My "sippy" cup

Me!

I also spent time at the pool in the afternoons ... it had a swim-up bar.

There was a main buffet where you could have breakfast, lunch and supper (they had set hours). There was always enough for me to find to eat. The snack bar was by the pool and was open 24/7 for food and drinks ... you could get a hamburger, fries, hot dog, cheese pizza, etc. I went to the snack bar twice and had a burger (with questionable meat), fries, pizza and a hot dog, which were fine.

There were three à la carte restaurants and we ate at two of them. One was Azul Profundo, the Mediterranean à la carte restaurant. Franca started with fish salad and I started with tomato soup. We all had chicken bom bom. Franca had ice cream and I had a profiterole. 

We also ate at Sake, the teppanyaki restaurant. The appetizers were fish soup or sushi. I passed on both and Franca had sushi. The meat offerings were beef and octopus. I passed on the octopus and veggies and Franca had it all. We had bread pudding for dessert. The chef was entertaining and the food was good. It was a fun time!

Franca, Anne and I

My beef and rice

Franca's beef, rice, veggies and octopus

The sunsets were quick but lovely!