TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

First..... clear your mind of all the previous all inclusive vacations you've been on. This is Cuba and there won't be as much varied food and the accomodation won't be to such a high standard as you are used to. Then....come to Cuba with an open mind and you will have a good time. This hotel is the best on offer, being part Canadian owned. The food is great and the rooms are clean. The beds are MASSIVE and comfortable. The beach is cleaned of seaweed every morning around 5 am. Great snorkelling on the reef just offshore (free snorkel and flipper hire for one hour per day). There are also a few pedalos and kayaks. Pool is very shallow but perfect for a dip to cool off. Evening shows are very well done. Being all inclusive, you don't have to spend a penny, although giving the maids and waiting staff a few dollars is always well received. Most of the tips are shared, which is a great idea as it's really difficult to pick out specific staff who deserve tips over the others..... they are all excellent. There are some great walks around the hotel and you'll meet many friendly locals who will gratefully receive your gift of hotel soap, shampoo or sweets for the kids. Come on.... it costs us nothing !! Many folk we met had been to Memories Jibacoa numerous times so I think we made the right choice.

Please accept this as just what it is, my opinion. We all experience things differently and so reviews should be viewed with that filter There are many return visitors that have extremely positive reviews which could be clouded by all the great experiences and relationships they have cultivated over the years especially with the staff. This is a great reference but may overlook some of the small things. By Cuba standards this is a very good resort. I have visited a half dozen resorts in the past few years and I believe for the money this is one of the best values. I am a solo traveler who looks for peace and tranquility on my vacations, a break from the real world and Memories Jibocoa delivered on that. I like the location, nestled in the mountains with long stretches of coastline and beach to hike without hardly seeing a soul is a very special asset. A walk up the road to observe the farms and trees is something you will not get in Varadero proper. Having said that there is not a lot of access to the shops, markets or restaurants available in the town of Varadero. If you want there are shuttle buses that will take you in the morning and return you in the evening if you want to spend the day in Varadero(can't remember the cost). I did do a shuttle into Havana for the day which was $45usd and gave me about 5 hours to wander old Havana on my own. There are shows nightly and bands playing often at the resort. I did not partake in the piano bar but many do with live music nightly. Food; it is o.k for a Cuban resort. I did not try the ala cartes but the restaurant by the beach had very good fried fish or chicken for lunch to avoid the buffet for at least one meal a day. The omelettes at breakfast are good, but get there early to avoid a long line at that station. There was bacon most days and fruits. The fresh mango juice is good. They only had chicken at the buffet it seemed every other day but the pork fried fresh was o.k for me. The pizza was the best thing at the buffet, cooked fresh with an airy dough and good cheese. The room I choose was the ocean view and Highly recommend it. They are 50 feet from the beach across nicely manicured grounds. Coffee in the rooms are nespresso which I appreciated and having coffee in the morning listening to the waves is not something you find at most Vardero resorts. The grounds are probably the nicest I have stayed in at any Cuban resort( I have been to about a half dozen). The prestige level was not necessary for me. The beach area did not seem to have the service it listed, the premium liquors I saw were not top shelf that I am used to so I am glad I spent the extra on the Ocean view rather than the premium. I sit down breakfast is a perk you like than maybe it is worth it for you. If I had been traveling with my wife I may have splurged for it. The rooms are dated but clean and comfortable. The biggest negative is the Tub/shower. The tub is a large step up into it and the shower is low. For someone six feet tall with back issues it is a struggle to get in and then you have to bend down to get under the spout. If you are a health 5 foot 7 it may not be an issue for you. Beach is great, lots of loungers and shade. The snorkeling is a benefit you will not find at other Varadero resorts. I do see myself returning when I need a quiet escape from the real world and have no issue recommending Memories Jibacoa if you want a quiet relaxing vacation. If you are looking for a party I would go to the Melia International...

Can’t put the finger on exactly why this place is so magical. A mix of excellent customer service, wonderful staff, amicable travellers, very decent food, lovely setting between a beautiful beach and nice mountains. Such a peaceful and relaxing experience. Not overly crowded, but busy enough to keep things interesting. Many dining options, no line ups. Entertainment was nice. Lots of shade at the beach. Lots of sand at the beach and many areas to swim. Beautiful reef to snorkel or scuba dive right up front. Lots of shaded areas to rest. Wifi pretty reliable. We would have love to have more entertainment at the beach during the day. Especially a few hours of music. The pool does offer more activities and music is being played there during the day. We’re definitely going to travel at this resort in the future.

We were at Memories from December 27th to January 3rd and had an amazing time. Chef Antonio once again fantastic job for the New Years eve buffet, so much food. The staff is pretty much why we keep going back to Memories. The bar staff is amazing, thank you Oralis, Lecy, Jelkis, Yoel and our gentle giant. We had great service at the buffet with Roger, Belkis, Osley, Neida, Yanet and Yasil. Can't forget my egg man Dickson and my wife's omelet guy Nelson. Two of the nicest hard working men. The food at the Gormet was excellent, thank you Juan Miguel, Carlo and Ariel. Great food and service at the Italian thanks to Javier and his staff for letting us spend some time in there. Thank you Senia for the amazing service at the pool bar. Can't forget Rosemary, Riley and Melissa they so sweet and full of energy. There are so many nice staff members that I know I'll forget some but thanks to everyone. Thanks to Marcos from entertainment and Gentry. Shout out to Eric and his partner for the great New Years decorations. Let me finish by saying thank you so much Kiki and Daniel for everything you do for that resort. I'll finish by saying hope the beach bar is open when we return in March. See you soon. Can't forget our great Sunwing Rep Mirena, what a great person.

Returned for 2 weeks mid December and enjoyed ourselves again. Weather was mixed with many red flagged beach days but still enjoyed the heat and the days we could get into the ocean/pool. Mostly Canadian, European and Cuban guests these weeks. As always, all the staff were fantastic (especially considering the challenges they deal with at home). Food and drinks were plentiful and good. No power outages for the resort (which does have a generator if it did go out). Lots of fun Christmas decorations. Many activities on offer as per usual - live music, animation team activities, nightly shows, sports and water sports, Cuban Day, etc. Lots to do but you really can enjoy as much or as little as you want. Just hanging out on the beach or by the pool chilling totally works as well. There are a high number of return guests to this resort, and we met quite a few who were back for their 2nd to 10th visit (and some beyond), which is a testament to the excellent experience Memories Jibacoa offers. People said that it was just so easy to return because they really enjoyed their previous visits and knew they would have a great time again. Perfectly located between the hills and the ocean, super safe to walk around the local area (more rural/not in Varadero), close to Havana for a day trip. It's an older resort but well maintained and always being renovated/upgraded. The mattresses are excellent. All the amenities you likely need. This is a great choice for a fun, active holiday or a chill, relax, recharge break....or some mix of the two. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.