Reviews Casa Barbara
Dec 18 2018
Name: Jenny Cressman
Country: Canada
I stayed here at: 11/01/2018
I stayed in this casa particular in the past and I enjoyed it so much that I had to return! Everything I wrote in my 2016 review is still correct. This is a beautiful, quiet home and the family is wonderful. Since my previous review, another paladar (Dany's) has opened in the Marea del Portillo village and it is within walking distance, like the first restaurant (the Ferlin). But, when staying with Bárbara, you don't need to walk anywhere for a great meal - she and her husband, Diomedes, are excellent cooks. I am already looking forward to my next visit!
Feb 15 2018
Name: Nick Robinson
Country: Canada
Casa Particular Barbara Mendez
I stayed here at: 01/28/2018
How did you make the reservation?: The casa directly
How much did you pay per night?: 30 CUC
We stayed for 2 nights at this casa in the center of the village of Marea del Portillo, which is about 1 km east of the all-inclusive Marea del Portillo resort. The ocean is about 200 m away. There are small local fishing boats there, and what look like mangrove swamps offshore. The beach at the village does not look very good for swimming, but one could easily go west to the better beaches near the all-inclusive resort. The trailhead for the all-day El Salto hike is also nearby. For people like us who are bicycling the south coast road, Casa Barbara is a good place to overnight before continuing east towards Campismo la Mula, which is 57 km down the road. This is the hardest (due to hills, broken pavement, and a few short gravel stretches) and most beautiful part of the ride from Pilon to Santiago de Cuba.
How was your room?: Excellent.
How was the food they offer?: Excellent.
Other services they offer: Very helpful, knowledgeable about the area.
Feb 19 2017
Name: Jimmy Friel
Country: USA
I stayed here at: 02/02/2017
I made a reservation at the casa directly
I paid 25 CUC per night
Casa Barbara
My review: Our group stayed at Casa Barbara in early February 2017 for a night as we were bicycling from Santiago to Holguin. Both Diomede and Barbara are warm and welcoming and their 3 bedroom, 2nd floor casa is lovely, comfortable and was perfect for the 5 of us. Barbara made us a lobster dinner that was absolutely delicious as was our breakfast the following morning. I was feeling under the weather when I arrived with your basic traveler's disease compounded by a hot ride over the coastal road from Campismo la Mula. I mentioned my condition to Diomede who immediately set me up with a cup of soothing Manzanillo tea on the breezy upstairs patio that accompanies the 3 rooms. His kindness was much appreciated. On that same patio you can catch up on your emails as the town's wifi tower is just a short distance away. All in all a lovely stop on a wonderful trip.
How was your room?: Very comfortable and clean
How was the food they offer?: Tasty and plentiful
Other comments: Barbara speaks English very well
May 21 2016
Name: Jenny Cressman
Country: Canada
I stayed here at: 04/27/2016
I made a reservation at the casa directly
I paid
40 CUC/night for the entire 2-bedroom apartment
Casa de Bárbara
My review: I had a lovely week's stay at Casa de Bárbara in the village of Marea del Portillo at the end of April 2016. The home is beautiful, the setting is very pleasant and the family is wonderful. Bárbara Méndez Martinez, Diomedes Lara Guevara and their sons Diomedes Kaxdiel Lara Méndez and Roberto Antonio Lara Méndez were excellent hosts - and their dogs were very friendly too! Bárbara and Diomedes are superb cooks and Kaxdiel makes great mojitos! Both sons drive taxi, so they can also transport you to/from the airport or other locations, if you wish, which is very convenient.
The house is located between the popular Ferlin restaurant and the public beach/fishing dock (first street to the right when entering the village going east), so it's an easy walk to either. The apartment is situated in the upstairs of the family home. It has two bedrooms (the master bedroom has A/C and the smaller bedroom has a fan), a modern bathroom, large living room with TV and stereo, fully equipped kitchen and private balcony. You can rent the entire apartment or just one bedroom; packages are available for stays of two weeks or more, with some meals included. If you wish to cook your own food, Bárbara will assist with your grocery shopping.
I'm sure you'll enjoy staying at Casa de Bárbara!
How was your room?: My air-conditioned room was very comfortable. The mattress and pillows were great.
How was the food they offer?: I ate several meals with the family and the food was excellent each time.
Other services they offer: Having taxi service at your doorstep is a nice feature. It was also very helpful to have Bárbara pick up groceries for me, when I wanted to do some of my own cooking.
Other comments: I hope I will be able to stay here again, maybe for longer than one week!
May 15 2015
Name: Pat Green
Country: England
I stayed here at: 02/11/2015
I did not make a reservation
I paid 25 CUC per night
Casa Barbara
My review: We stayed at Casa Barbara for 1 night while cycling around the East of Cuba.
The casa is set a little back from the main road in a very attractive position, only a short walk from the sea. There is also a bar a few metres away.
Barbara and her son were very pleasant and helpful to us and we enjoyed our stay there.
How was your room?: Our bedroom was in a second floor apartment, which included a shower room, kitchen and sitting room, all very tastefully decorated and furnished. The entrance to the apartment leads onto a balcony; a lovely place to relax.
How was the food they offer?: The evening meal and breakfast were both ample and enjoyable.
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