What was supposed to be a paradise getaway to Cuba to celebrate her birthday turned into a nightmare for Breanna Peebles, a young woman from Manitoba who claims she was drugged and assaulted at the Grand Memories Varadero hotel, one of the most promoted resorts in the island's main tourist destination.
"I woke up alone in a room that wasn't mine, naked, beaten, with scrapes and missing a nail," Peebles recounted to CityNews, still visibly affected by what she experienced during her trip on June 9th.
The testimony, harrowing and detailed, points to an alleged assault that occurred after consuming drinks at the hotel bar. Peebles claims she started to feel drowsy after swimming and drinking, and that she barely remembers being taken by security staff to the wrong room. The next thing she recalls is the confusion, the bruises on her body, and the absence of her mobile phone.
"I believe that only God can save me right now. I have been praying nonstop", she said, her voice trembling.
The tourist also reported strange behavior from the resort staff following the incident. "They looked at me as if they knew what had happened", she said.
Despite the anguish, at that moment she did not report the incident to the Cuban authorities, but her family did so from Canada, alarmed at losing contact with her.
Upon landing in Winnipeg, Peebles broke down in tears. “I wanted to kiss the ground. It was the worst experience of my life. I don't think I'll ever return to Cuba, not even in a group”, she stated.
Institutional silence and concerning background
Neither the Grand Memories Varadero nor its operator, Blue Diamond Resorts, responded to requests for comment from Canadian media. The travel agency RedTag, for its part, only invited the affected party to contact them directly to "provide the appropriate assistance."
This is not an isolated case. In 2019, another Canadian tourist reported a sexual assault at the neighboring Memories Varadero Beach Resort, also managed by Blue Diamond.
As of 2025, at least three Canadian tourists have reported traumatic experiences in Cuban hotels.
In February, Sylvie Beauchesne from Quebec, suffered a hip fracture after an accident at a hotel in Holguín. She spent nearly 48 hours without proper medical attention and without being able to communicate, according to her family’s complaint.
Also in February, the family of a teenage girl from Ontario reported that she was sexually assaulted by a hotel employee. Cuban authorities warned that if they wanted to press charges, they would have to remain on the island indefinitely.
While Crystal Jardine reported in March being assaulted by another guest at a hotel in Varadero as well. Despite calling the police and the embassy, her attacker, also Canadian, was never arrested or prosecuted.
A warning for tourists… and for Cuba
The Canadian government has been recommending that its citizens avoid traveling to Cuba since last year, primarily due to food shortages, issues with medical services, and the energy crisis.
Although Peebles has not yet decided whether to take legal action, he did send a clear warning to those planning to travel to the Island. "Be careful. Don't go alone. Even when someone smiles at you and serves you a drink, you don't know what they're thinking. And it's terrifying."
The case once again highlights the security gaps in some Cuban resorts and the lack of institutional response to serious complaints, which not only jeopardizes the country’s tourism image but also poses a serious danger to both visitors and honest workers in the sector.
For many Cubans who depend on tourism or have family working in hotels like this one, the silence of the authorities and the lack of clear protocols in response to events like the one Peebles recounts are also a concern.
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