Breezes Rio Bueno Nov 14-22 2009

We just returned from a wonderful week at Breezes Rio Bueno. The resort has made the switch from Grand Lido Braco to Breezes on 1 November. Overall we were pleased with the changes. For the most part, it seemed like the same resort to us, so for those who have been there in the past, you will not be disappointed. It was obvious to us that the resort is working hard to make improvements. We had great weather all week with just a few showers one morning. Overall, we felt the quality of the food was better this trip and no towel shortage this year. Outside of check-in, which was a complete disaster, all was irie. We had a wonderful vacation and will definitely return.

We left STL at 6:20 am Saturday November 14 on American Airlines to begin our 10th trip to Breezes Rio Bueno/Grand Lido Braco and our 15th trip to Jamaica. We used FF miles. We arrived in Miami at 9:40 and left there at 12:45 for Montego Bay. We arrived MB at 2:15 and went to claim our luggage…which never arrived. We went to the AA desk and they promised that our luggage would be found. We checked in at the Super clubs desk and boarded the bus at 3:00. The driver went straight to Breezes. We arrived at 4:00 along with 100 other people. Of course….there was no cool towels or drinks. There were 3 ladies working the desk…or should I say…acting like they were working the desk. The truth was…the rooms were not ready…which left us all standing there hot and tired and angry. We were finally assigned a room at 6:00….number 3021….building “A” third floor….we of courses requested building “B” ground floor….but at this point we were happy to have a room. We were given blue wrist bands and a packet of information which included 2 coupons for towels. They did forget to give us a lock for the safe so we had to go back and get it. Those guests not staying on the A/N side can purchase a day pass for $85 per person per day and can enjoy that side of the resort from 10:30 am till 2 am. Those guests that booked last year on the textile side were given free passes each day for the A/N side.

We grabbed a quick dinner at la pasta….which will become starlight grill and serve Mongolian barbecue…but the change has not occurred. The food there was pretty much consistent with past years. The menu was pretty similar to years past.

We went to our room and crashed…we had no luggage so there was nothing to unpack. The room looked the same as always. The maid service all week was outstanding…however our room was never cleaned before late afternoon.

The next morning I got up at 6:30 and went to the office and was thrilled to see my luggage sitting there. Michael brought it promptly to our room. He said it had arrived at 1:30 am so they did not call.

I unpacked and we went to Victoria’s market for breakfast. It was the usual breakfast buffet. We ate breakfast there everyday. The toaster broke on Thursday so there was no toast. Seemed a little odd that only one toaster was available at the resort.

We toured the new BREEZES to see what changes had transpired. Just inside the A/N side is a guard building. The signs everywhere have been freshly painted to say BREEZES. The shrubs have all been trimmed, new plants have been planted. Everything is spotless. There is a towel shack in front of building “B”.along with 2 big gazebos for shade. There are two more gazebos on the other side of the pool in front of the little hot tub. None of the gazebos are finished but the workmen were there everyday. The pool deck has been resurfaced and no diving signs painted all the way around the pool. There are all new floaties that say breezes. There is a new manager of the A/N side….which is now called Braco Village. Her name is Deborah and she spent many hours a day there. Deborah was on top of everything and asked for feedback constantly. She is a very lovely lady and I believe she is doing a fantastic job! She had them cleaning the chairs, they stripped and revarnished the bar and the deck of the little hot tub, they scrubbed the steps and hallways of both buildings, they raked the beach…it was incredible to watch how hard all these people worked. As they cleaned the chairs, they removed the old pink cushions…so people were using the floaties to cushion their chairs…which caused a shortage of floaties to use in the pool. However, there were PLENTY of towels. Each day you turn in your dirty towels for a clean one. The A/N side was full so there were plenty of people to play pool volleyball twice a day.

The daily lunch buffet was always good…..and the club house is once again open and has a very good menu. The service was wonderful. On Sunday we had dinner at the club house. There is only one blender on the A/N side so they carry it back and forth from the club house to the pool bar. I believe a new second blender is on order. The pool bar service was not as good as it has been in the past….no one coming around to the chairs bringing drinks.


On Monday, we ate LOBSTER at the evening buffet on the A/N side. It was delicious! We went to the fantasy party which was well attended.

On Tuesday and Thursday, we ate a Munasan…and it was like it has always been except that we did see men in shorts and sandals. We also ate at the Sushi bar for the first time and it was incredible. O’Neil was delightful and informative.

On Wednesday and Saturday we ate at Piacerre. The change there is NO JACKETS required…and it advertises itself as French/Italian. The food and service was wonderful.

On Friday, we once again had LOBSTER at the street party. The twist to the street party was…a German band came to entertain us for 3 days during Oktoberfest in November…which we were told is going to be an annual event. A German band and Oktoberfest just does not seem to fit a Jamaican vacation in my opinion. I really hope they rethink this.

The repeater party was to be held at 5:30 on Thursday as usual and that is what the invitation said…however….they changed it to 5pm because the German band was playing in the town square at 5:30…I have no idea why. The time change did not make it to several of us…so we arrived at 5:30 and it was over….they did comp us with 2 free 30 minute massages. The spa was the same as always, as was the gym.

We had one morning of rain in 9 days…the best weather we have ever had.

They did have the bon fire on the A/N side however we did not attend. The mosquitoes were the worst they have ever been. Everyone looked like they had chicken pox. We used 2 bottles of OFF. I also got stung by a wasp while floating in the pool.

Checkout was a breeze…we left the resort at 1:15 had our cheeseburger in Paradise at Margaritaville at MB airport and got home at midnight.

Overall…this was a wonderful trip and I give the new Breezes a B +. There is always room for improvement. Our biggest complaint remains CHECK-IN. If they could fix this problem…I would give them an “A”

They did not allow us to rebook for next year. You must now book through Super clubs on line or use a travel agent. We used David Parker at All the way travel…as we have for the past 14 trips to Jamaica. He always does a great job for us.

We will certainly return to Breezes Rio Bueno next year.