[Doreen J]

VOLUNTARY AMBASSADORS TO CUBA

(with emphasis on Jardines Del Rey - the North Shore Cayos.)

(Updated MAY 2008)

Since winning our first trip to Cuba on a Canadian TV game show in 1978, (hubby) Bert and I have returned many more than fifty times to various parts of the country. (We lost count!)

Being free-lance writers and retired travel agents we love "New Beginnings".
The first was the Paradiso and then Sol Palmeros in Varadero, followed by the Farallon Del Caribe in Manzanillo. We are proud to have been the only passengers to sail on the maiden voyage AND the second segment of the (Havanacruises) Cuban cruise ship, "MV Santiago de Cuba “, before the history-making program ended a few months later, in 1994.

On May 03rd. 1993, the flight arrival of Bradley First Air changed the designation of the Maximo Gomez airport, (in Ciego de Avila) from "Domestic" to "International". Together with a plane-load of other Canadians, we were greeted by Cuban dignitaries, presented with roses and entertained by dancers and musicians.

We were the first guests to stay at the first phase of the first resort on Cayo Coco. Privileged to be invited to be the first guests to "sign in" at Meliá Cayo Coco and Meliá Cayo Guillermo, we were interviewed on Cuban TV. Having been present at the birth of tourism in Jardines del Rey we have monitored and taken personal pride in the growth of the region we love. We are proud to have stayed at (and reviewed) most of the hotels in Jardines del Rey - the N. Shore cayos.

In 1998, we VOLUNTARILY developed and continuously maintained a (Sympatico.ca) Internet information and discussion forum dedicated to Jardines Del Rey: the Cayos off the North coast of Central Cuba. We have an extensive Canadian readership and are cultivating our British Branch. We respond to all of our "Forum Family" posters individually and maintain contact with ALL eleven resorts, for updates. Thousands of followers read but never identify themselves.

In 1998, our discussion groups adopted the familiar yellow “Happy Face” as our identification symbol. Most participants wear Happy Face paraphernalia when they travel to Cuba, to be instantly recognized by fellow participants and by resort staff, who appreciate the fact that these guests are usually well informed and rarely complain.

We bought and placed a ‘Happy Face’ register with the Guest Relations department of every hotel on Los Cayos. Upon arrival, guests check for familiar forum names and make contact. On their return, most followers express their appreciation of the forum by writing and posting reviews, which are indexed in our "Resort Report" files. Although unedited, all reports are positive and serve to inform newcomers. We "keep their memories alive" through the forum and most of our participants return to the region over and over again.

To qualify as a "Happy Face", participants are expected to adopt a

1. Relaxed attitude;
2. Realistic Expectations and
3. An appreciation of the differences


IN MARCH / APRIL 2003, we were honoured by Cuba’s Ministry of Tourism and associated agencies to be visitors # 1,000,000 (to Jardines Del Rey) in ten years! Many of our experiences during the one month visit were recorded by T.V. and print media. Our own version of the occasion and subsequent memories can be read in a "Special Report" (with photos)in our personal File, " "Keepin' Up With The Jones.'" (A month of Marvellous Memories) - CLICK!

IN MAY, 2003, Sympatico.ca announced the temporary closure of all their forums. We maintained contact with our membership via E-mailed bulletins until it became evident that the closure was permanent. We were devastated!

IN DEC. 2003 we had the pleasure of experiencing many CUBANACAN properties in La Habana, Pinar del Rio and Varadero. To read our reports, click here!

LATER IN DEC. ’03 - we accepted an invitation to be the first guests to register at - BLAU COLONIAL CAYO COCO and also attended the 7th Annual JARDINES DEL REY FAIR dedicated to the German market.

IN MARCH 2004: we purchased and launched our OWN voluntary, unsponsored, unbiased, unaffiliated, (Cuba) website and continued our mission to promote Cuba Tourism!

CAROLE W. and JASON H. were warmly welcomed as voluntary Co Administrators, with Jason tending to all technical matters until Carole and I became more conversant with the mysteries of forum technicalities.(My eternally grateful thanks to you both, Amigos!) .

ON DEC. 16 - 19 ’2004 - the passenger list of the inaugural flight of HOLA SUN's own aircraft included our names. Owned and operated by Hola Sun / Air Cubana, the Airbus 320 flight was followed by a FAM (iliarization) trip of Cienfuegos and Varadero, Cuba, where we visited numerous hotels and attractions in those cities. (Our reports are recorded in our personal file, "Keepin' Up With The Jones'". Click here to read!

ON FEB. 19 - March 05 '05, - we spent a week at BLAU COLONIAL and a week at (Gaviota) PLAYA COCO, (Cayo Coco), while visiting 6 other hotels on the cayos, to meet management and to update our knowledge. (Time ran out!)

On NOVEMBER 03 - 10 '05, I (Doreen) divided a week between SOL CAYO SANTA MARIA and the neighbouring MELIÁ CAYO SANTA MARIA, for research purposes and updates.

October 14th 2006 I spent a solo week at the Occidental ROYAL HIDEAWAY on Cayo Ensenachos to review and report on the latest most luxurious resort in Cuba

During that visit I made an official site inspection preview of Melia Las Dunas Cayo Santa Maria

On Dec. 29 'O6 - Jan. 05 '07, I spent a few days, including N.Y. Eve, with forum Co-Admin (Carole) and her husband at the gorgeous, 4-week old MELIÁ LAS DUNAS, Cayo Santa Maria.

P a r t y H a t From April 25 '08 to May 09, 2008, Carole and I celebrated the 15th. Anniversary of the arrival of the first tourists to the N. Shore cayos, while staying at Blau Colonial Cayo Coco. Other Happy Faces joined the celebration on May 03rd, which coincided with the 10th. Anniversary of our forum. During this visit, we inspected, enjoyed and stayed overnight at the Iberostar Daiquiri with other Happy Faces and inspected and enjoyed lunch at Villa Cojimar. We also accepted invitations to enjoy meals with yet more Happy Faces staying at Tryp Cayo Coco and Sol Cayo Coco. P a r t y H a t

In between the above-listed "events" , numerous independent "Research Missions" to Los Cayos and other Cuban destinations have been made.

To read detailed reports about the Cuba missions above, please click here for
the "Keeping Up With The Jones" sub-heading in the Resort Reports Index on the Home Page!

Keep Smilin' ! ...Doreen B i g G r i n