"Cottages" are in pretty poor shape. Screens are full of holes. Cockroaches are there. Beds are saggy. Food is very basic and re-cycled, what you don't eat for one meal you will eat at the next meal in a slightly different version. Drinks are of the cheapest quality. Entertainment consists of guests being subjected to some kind of "entertainment" There looked like there were several casa's that were a better choice.

In my view the resort hotel has an undeservedly low reputation as the rooms (consisting of a sitting room, bedroom and en suite bathroom, with efficient air-conditioning) are clean and secure. OK, they do not inspire and are rather ‘basic’ but we were not uncomfortable and there was a regular cleaning service etc. There were no bugs or spiders in the rooms.

Apart from being quite some distance from reception and the communal facilities rooms were mostly disabled accessible although the bathroom doors opened inward with very little space to squeeze between the toilet and washbasin.

Having said that there are some drawbacks. Maintenance is certainly not fast and efficient – it took three days to change our shower hose and head so that it worked better, although others in our party fared better. The reception area was often hard to converse in because of loud music playing to entertain the guests.

As an ‘all-inclusive’ resort (requiring the wearing of a pink plastic wristband) coffee, cocktails, beer and other drinks were available from the bars but were served (except for coffee) in very small plastic cups which then had to be carried to the restaurant… annoyingly only watery squash was available with meals unless you took your own in (which we bought from their shop).

The biggest drawback was the food – never really tasty and boringly the same most days. Vegetarians have a particularly bad time as most days it was pasta and tomato sauce or nothing and, on other days not even that only the cabbage based salads. Potatoes, some pasta and most rice dishes always contained a smidgen of meat sufficient to render it non-vegetarian.

Under ripe fruit was the usual dessert offering with an occasional offering of rice pudding – which came around for several days until my wife announced she was celebrating its anniversary!

Staff members were surly with the exception of just one chap clearing tables, and they all wanted a tips, whether it was to provide butter for the rolls or fry your breakfast omelette. The person in charge also exerted her one power to ensure that there was always a queue by never opening the doors until five or ten minutes past the allotted mealtime.

If you want to visit Zapata (and those interested in wildlife certainly will want to) there are no real alternatives, none at all if you have a disability.

First of all you have to realize that as a 2-star hotel in a lesser developed country you have to expect small inconveniences like lukewarm shower water, no TV remote, average food at best, etc. That being said, the Hotel Giron is really a great place to stay. First of all, our family of five adults stayed in a two-bedroom, two-bath bungalow for $118 USD per day including all three meals and all drinks (of which we probably averaged 25 per day!).

The buffet style meals were all pretty good at the hotel. We were fortunate enough to have a wonderful three-course seafood meal with wine at a private residence in Giron (it was a 1/3 mile walk from the hotel) for $15 USD each. We felt very comfortable walking back to the hotel in darkness.

While there is a nice pool and beach at the hotel, this was the beach that the main mercenary forces landed at Bay of Pigs on April 15, 1961. As a result of the invasion, Cuba constructed a huge breakwater a few hundred feet from the beach so the water is shallow with no surf. However, for $3 CUC roundtrip each, the hotel runs a bus to/from the lagoon at Caleta Buena a few times per day. Caleta Buena is an amazing snorkling opportunity and there is a bar, restaurant, bathrooms, and scuba center. Ever better, visitors staying at the Hotel Giron receive a free lunch and free drinks at Caleta Buena.

Another interesting feature is the museum across the street from the hotel that houses relics and history of the Bay of Pigs invasion. The Cubans are very proud of their 50's revolution and subsequent ability to maintain independence from the United States so the museum has historic significance. It might be a pretty cool place to be this April 15th since it's the 50th anniversary of the Bay of Pigs invasion.

We were looking to see something of Cuba besides Havana and Veradera and Playa Giron fit the bill. A three hour drive from Havana we got to see a little of the island and meet many Cubans - probably half the guests at the Hotel Giron were Cubans.

We went to Hotel Giron for a week. We made a last minute booking as it was very cheap. We have been to Cuba now 4 times and this was the worst. As far as the resort goes, the rooms and resort itself were okay. The food was worse than worse. We have had bad food before, but this was the straw that broke the camels back. We are probably spoiled as we have been going to Dominican Republic to 4 stars. We have decided that we will not return to Cuba. To be fair the trip to Caleta Buenna for snorkeling and lunch, is well worth it, the food was much better there. The beer is always cold but they only have it at one bar.