I've just returned from a two week stay, after a four year absence. The place has changed...for the better. The pool area has been updated with brand new chairs, but there is still a lack of shade. A wind-barrier at this time of year would have been greatly appreciated! (They have one at the Grand Caribe Oasis in Varadero). The kids now have a new building and amusement park.
The ocean was cool, shallow and the winds were cold after 5pm. The beach offers a good one hour walk in one direction and back to the Cojimar.
The GOOD: the staff is very nice and tipping is not an issue. They do appreciate items of clothing from Canada, especially shoes and baby clothes. Women always love make-up and men need rasors and small tools.
The best place to eat is at the Cuban resto on the beach. It has a balcony, grill, and self-serve fruit, veggie and dessert bar. The lineups there are very small compared to the main dining-room.
The winds were responsible for the lovely bugless atmophere in and out of the rooms. The marina is a short walk along the beach going east to observe the training of dolphins. The marsh in front of the hotel has beautiful flamingos. Pillar Beach is worth a visit, but make sure you get on the right bus.( Bring your own drinks, snacks and towels to cut on the cost). Our bus went on a two hour tour of Cayo Coco's hotels in the other direction first!
Playa Guillermo Beach is a KITE SURFERS HEAVEN!!! The Villa Cojimar is closest to the best point of entry because it's shallow, and fairly people-free.
Best rooms were a split bungalow closest to the beach #111-onwards are newly renovated. You can write the hotel and reserve with Edwin at jefe.recepcion@cojimar.gca.tur.cu I understand that the newly constructed wooden Cuba-style houses, are horrible for privacy. To be avoided due to lack of sound-proofing.
The BAD: the beds are so so but the pillows are horrendous. Bring your own if you can. Theirs are tube-like and filled with tiny pieces of stryrofoam. The shop carries only basic snacks;chips, over-priced Pringles, cookies and candies. (Ladies bring your own nail polish remover) You are allowed to go into the other hotels down the beach to shop. The cigars were cheapest at the airport at a shop near Gate 2. (10CU for 5 Guantanamera long ones in a tube)
Bring a small water-bottle with you. You'll need it to survive the first night. There is nothing in the fridge in the room upon arrival. The Cuban "tour-guide" will push beer on the bus....for a price, but he won't help you with the bags or offer water! He does expect a tip for himself and the bus driver though! Guests arriving from Montreal at 10:30pm are not greeted as in the past, with a welcome drink, and the grill was closed as well for a few hours. Poor planning on the part of hotel management!
The UGLY: the worst aspect of this hotel is by far the poor management of the dining-room. IT IS A DISASTER!!!! The guy in charge should be fired. Hot side dishes are in the way of people lining up for items at the grill. These items should be in a separate area and accessible from two sides. This is my 33 time in Cuba and this dining-room is by far the worst! The food lacks inspiration and color. If cost is an issue, the hotel should consider offering less variety, and more quality on a few items. Their staff should be made to tour some of the foreign owned establishments to learn their tricks. The dining-room was rarely cleared of dirty dishes. The staff had to asked constantly for plates, cups, cutlery etc. They were always running out of clean dinner plates! There was one heating plate for made-to-order omelettes, and only one bread toaster. Most days I just grabbed a cooked egg and used small saucers to put my fruit and breakfast on. Try the liquid yogurt. It's delicious. The overly sweet fruit juice from concentrate, wasn't worth the calories!
Don't expect anything much at the beach. The water craft were rarely there, the snorkelling is non-existent, and the water too shallow to swim. You can however walk 10 minutes down to the Melia where the water is deeper.
There is no library and the PR people were not very interested in setting up a little table in the lobby for pocketbook exchanges.
SUMMARY: Would I go back...yes. At $1000 for two weeks with no single supplement, it's a rest from the winter in Montreal. It's basic but comfy. Hopefully you'll meet some nice people like I did, and enjoy your stay. Be prepared for varying weather at this time of year...it is very windy! Try to eat at the Ranchon (the Cuban resto by the beach-day and night it's the best place). 220V current so bring an adapter, don't leave any food, especially sugar in your room or you'll be invaded by ants. Bring a coffee carafe and get your latte from the pool or lobby bar before going into the dining-room for breakfast. The Cuban resto also has an expresso machine. Don't bring laptops, or baby monitors, walkie-talkies to Cuban. They will be taken away. Bring all medication that you might need. Computers are available but VERY slow. Print out the hotel layout on www.resortmaps.com and ask for your prefered place away from the disco, pool etc...close to beach etc. (I had room 106. It had an oceanview) Check out www.beatmyquote.com for best deals.

I went here many years ago and I haven't got a bad word to say about the place. It was a long flight from England and as soon as I got there I just thought I was worth every second. The beach is absolute paradise and you can always find you're own quiet spot like a deserted island. I've been to Cayo Guillermo too and this beach was a lot quieter and nicer looking than there.
The bungalows as right next to the beach, you could not as for a better location, the food was ok, it's not great but for the price you get this trip for you can not complain. All inclusive food is never as good as food n a resteraunt, saying that you do get to use the pizza resteraunt and it was gorgeous.
The entertainment staff work so hard day in day out to put on a good show and it's quite an entertaining night that they put on. If you want a nice romantic break in a quiet location with a perfect beach and you aren't too fussy about food then this place is perfect. Don't be put off by my comments about food, enjoyed it, I just know that some people are more fussy and expect perfection all the time. Just go there and relax with an open mind and you will have the time of you're life.

This resort is a great place for familly, friends or couples that just want to relax. Dont get me wrong, there is an outside disco close to the pool bar (beside the theater) but is not to noisy. You can also go out of the resort at different beach partys, but if your looking for nightlife...go elsewere!

Food: no major problemes. It is adequate, but limited in choice. They make individual pizza that are good, and pasta so you always have something if you dont like the buffet. The only probleme is you must be patient...very patient. The two a la carte restaurants are also good. The wine...well the wine is ordinary, but they have a good selection of wine from chili that you can buy for 12 pesos. If you like wine, buy some at the duty free before you leave, they permet you to bring them to the restaurant. For snacks, all the have between meals are grilled sanwiches. Its ok at first, but bring some.

The resort it self has the new part (wood cabines) and the older part. I was in the older part and have no complaints. It is verry clean. The pools are awsome. The service at the bar is fast (not like the buffet) and the choice of drinks are good. The animation groupe are very nice and do not bother you if you are not interrested. But they are the best place to get info on what to do.

The beach....well what can i say....its beautiful!

Tips for your trip!
-bring peanut butter, jam, nuttella...what ever. You will understand after 3 or 4 days of eggs lol
-If you like meat, bring steak spices. The meat is good, but needs the extra tast that we love.
-The bank at resort is open from 9 to ....when they decide to close. exchange rate for can$ was 1,08 so for a dollar you get .92 pessos. By the way the rate was better at the resort then at the airport.
-go to playa pillar...realy go!

I will go back with the kids next time because it is perfect for them.

Well have fun!

I felt very comfortable here as a solo female. I met some great people, both french and english canadians as well as lots of nice staff. I didn't find the lady at the front desk helpful in any way though. Anything I asked for she just made a sorry face (or what was supposed to be a sorry face and said " maybe later".) I just sat in the lobby and when she stepped away from the desk I went back and asked any one of the men taking their turn there and got whatever I needed right away i.e. beach towel, internet card, change... Thanks guys! The female bartender was also in no hurry to smile or serve me even though I always gave a peso. Oh well. The other bartenders were fantastic all the time. I loved the lobby and spent a lot of time there. Very comfy seating if you played with the cushions a bit. Great authentic live bands/singers almost every evening. Such talent! I had a new cabin . It was really nice and everything was new and clean. No toilet seat though! Hot enough water everyday and no frogs or lizards made up for it. The gap under the front door needed a towel to keep out the bugs. A few mosquitos got in, of course, during the day but I liked my room anyway. It's no lie the walls are paper thin but as I was quite a distance from the lobby it was kind of reassuring to hear others close by. It is dark and a little bit hard to find your way home the first night! Even after that if you've had a few drinks heehee but I managed it! Drinks were just right by the way. On to the buffet. I thought it was very nice. Pizza, pasta, fish, pork, eggs. It's true you have to be a little patient sometimes. For me it was o.k. When there were no plates I sat down and was immediately served every time. I would just order my drink and mention that I was waiting for a plate. My waiter or waitress would go in the back and get me one. I always sat to the right of the entry doors. It was less busy there and the servers were excellent. Jose especially and two wonderful ladies (one older, one younger) took very good care of me. Gracias!

A few final points now
Bring water. None in the room and the little store closes at 9 o'clock.
I got bit up bad night 5. I slacked off the bugspray and paid the very itchy price.
24 hour snack bar not really accurate. When I was there it was closed in the a.m. between buffets, during the shows and closed by 2 a.m. It was just little hamburger buns with ham, cheese, veggies on a grill . They were yummy though.
Grilled fish at the restaurant during lunchtime was really good. But no fries or much else when I was there.
Bathrooms were quite rude at times. There are just not enough. Sometimes no water to flush or soap or toilet paper. Got quite a bit better towards the end of my stay though.
Churros by the pool were a nice little treat . The man was there most everyday.
Lots of activities around the pool- A lot of effort there by the staff.
Table cloths are dirty in buffet. Grab some paper napkins at the bar and keep them on you!

In short , it's not fancy but it felt real for me and I'd go back tomorrow!
Thanks for the memories Terry, Wayne, Iranian couple from T.O.,Daniel from Quebec and all the rest of you!
Janice
Any questions feel free to ask!