Love this place!

We had a group of six women on this trip!! Fantastic beach, friendly, helpful staff that made for a safe, fun, relaxing stay. Rooms were clean, food was fantastic and service was exceptional. I will return and bring even more friends!

Great Resort

food was good, grounds and beach are nice. Too many steps to get anywhere. They do have a few ramps. The staff are great! Not enough chairs for the pools. We had a nice ocean view on the third floor. Our bathroom needs to be updated.

Awesome Adults only

Comfortable bed, best yet in all Carribean. Perfect day beds and cushioned loungers around beautiful lazy pool. Great Staff all around from ALlexander and all Lobby Bar Tenders Maria Del Carmen and William and staff at Main buffet DYANA at swimup bar Larissa and Junior our Butlers We will definitely be back again soon Thanks for an awesome 7days

Awesome Adults only

Comfortable bed, best yet in all Carribean. Perfect day beds and cushioned loungers around beautiful lazy pool. Great Staff all around from ALlexander and all Lobby Bar Tenders Maria Del Carmen and William and staff at Main buffet DYANA at swimup bar Larissa and Junior our Butlers We will definitely be back again soon Thanks for an awesome 7days

August was So-So vs Feb at the Iberostar

We traveled as a family of four with two rooms on the first floor, one with an outdoor shower and both with direct pool access. The Iberostar Coral Holguin is a smaller adults only resort located in the Playa Pesquero area of Holguin on Cuba’s northern coast. The layout is one of the most convenient we have seen, easy to navigate with a straight central path from the lobby to the beach. Buildings are no more than three stories high, and the atmosphere is calm and quiet. The outdoor shower was a  [... read more]unique experience for me, while my wife especially enjoyed the jetted tub. Food August is not the time to come. Compared to February the shortages were much more pronounced. Both times there were gaps but August was far worse. Nothing either time compared to pre 2020 Cuba. Breakfast and lunch were the highlights. Most meals were at the Coral buffet and grill which were consistent and enjoyable. At lunch there was often fresh grilling and breakfast was a strong point with good variety. The one time at the Selection buffet was disappointing. Chicken wings were so greasy that both hands were covered in a thick layer and it took multiple napkins to clean up. Food quality was lower than at Coral and the room had an echo that made it unpleasant. That same visit ended in food poisoning despite having had no alcohol that day. The Selection sit down was no better. The returning guests meal at the Mediterranean reeked so strongly of seafood that even my daughter who normally enjoys it had to leave. Suppers at Coral were inconsistent. Often the description did not match the dish. Salmon was replaced with white fish. A seafood platter turned out to be fish stew. Shrimp was actually crab meat not even the lagustinas usually seen in Cuba. On many nights there was only one non fish option. After two weeks we were already bored within the first. When meals were done well they were good but honesty about what was actually being served would go a long way. Snack bars at both hotels were nearly useless. Most of the time the only options were ham sandwiches and pizza that was basically cheese toast if you were lucky. On rare occasions fried cheese or chicken wings were offered and those were highlights, but they were seldom available. Supper time or later there was almost nothing, so if you had a bad evening meal there was no backup option in the Coral section. We were also invited to an off site “thank you for returning visitors” event at Playa Pesquero. Being the last bus to arrive we were stuck with cold hot dogs and hamburgers and had to sit through two hours of mediocre 90s music. Service at all food locations was great. Staff were attentive and friendly, which helped balance out the inconsistent food quality. Overall score: 1.5/5 (-3.5 for shortages, inconsistency, and lack of honest labeling) Pools The Coral pool is the highlight of the outdoor spaces. Bali beds and loungers were always in abundance, and first floor patios with direct walk out to the pool made the experience especially convenient. The pool itself is giant, and even at full capacity there would still be plenty of space so it never felt crowded. During our stay the pool was often quiet to the point of being dead. For the first four days there were no activities and very few people around. We left a comment in the Facebook group which led to four or five days of improvement, but once again the daytime atmosphere went back to silence. When Carlos was present it was a completely different experience. He brought aquafit, drink demonstrations, and music. Those days were highlights, but for much of our two week stay the lack of energy left the pool flat. We do not want a chaotic or noisy pool, just one with a bit of life. There are speakers around the Coral pool but they play the same small rotation of about twenty songs. Uptown Funk came on six times in a single day. It is an easily fixed issue but noticeable after a few days. Drinks and service at the pool bar were excellent. The bartender was consistently attentive and the cocktails were great. Simply wandering the pool area at Coral was a pleasant and relaxed experience. The jetted tub beside the Coral pool was also enjoyable. It is not really a hot tub but more of a bubbling pool. My wife used it frequently and found it relaxing. The Selection pool by contrast was the opposite extreme, a moshpit of jumping kids, party music, and crowding. Overall score: 3.5/5 (-1.5 for lack of consistent activity and atmosphere) Beach There are two beaches connected at this resort. From the larger Playa Pesquero beach you can swim out past the break and come around to the smaller one. Cuba has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world and this was certainly the case here. The water is clear, the sand is soft, and there is plenty of wildlife in the ocean between both beaches. Swimming between them is fun and feels safe. The Coral section of the resort is set far back from the water. Getting to the beach often felt like a trek. Carts are sometimes available to drive you down but not consistently. Most days we walked back and would stop at the Selection pool halfway to cool off and grab a drink for the walk. The larger Playa Pesquero side is more active with more people and a snack bar. The smaller area is quieter and less crowded. Both offered good options depending on whether we wanted quiet or activity. One downside was the facilities at the smaller beach. The washroom never had toilet paper and there was no toilet seat, which made it less usable. Overall score: 4/5 (-1 for distance from Coral and poor beach facilities) Facilities The layout of Coral is one of the best parts of the resort. Everything connects along a straight central path from the lobby to the beach, making it simple and convenient to find your way. The pool, buffet, and restaurants are all placed logically, and room blocks are evenly spaced so nothing feels far away. It is one of the most convenient and well laid out hotels I have visited. The Coral section is mostly outdoors, which keeps things open but in August the lack of airflow made some areas uncomfortable. The lobby bar in particular would benefit from fans to improve circulation, as it often felt hot and still. Carts are available at times to make the trek to the beach easier, though they are not always consistent. Washrooms are available in the lobby, pool area, and at the beach, though the beach facilities were poor with no toilet paper or seat. Overall score: 4.5/5 (-0.5 for inconsistent cart availability and poor beach washroom) Rooms We had two rooms on the first floor, and one of them had an outdoor shower. That was the coolest experience and something I have never had before. It seems there are only a limited number of upgraded rooms with this feature and there is no way to ensure you will get one, but if you do it is worth it. Rooms were large with plenty of space, the beds were comfortable, and everything was clean and well maintained. The jetted tub in the bathroom was my wife’s favourite feature, while the outdoor shower was mine. Having a first floor room also made it convenient to step directly out to the pool area. The air conditioning worked well even in the August heat, and the large ceiling fan over the bed was a welcome touch. From our previous stay in February we knew the patio door was hard to operate, so this trip we brought a stick on handle which made it easier to open and close. That small adjustment made a big difference to comfort and accessibility. Overall score: 5/5 Service and Staff Service across the resort was generally very good. At food locations and bars the staff were attentive and friendly, and pool bar service was excellent. Drinks were always well made and the bartenders stood out for their consistency. Lisbet, who worked the grill in the Coral section, was always friendly and did a great job. Lifeguards and other general staff were friendly and helpful, and the overall tone from staff made the experience positive. Entertainment staff also played a key role. Carlos in particular stood out. When he was present the pool area came alive with activities and energy. His presence made a clear difference and was a highlight of the stay. Guests at Coral are assigned a butler, and this is where our experience was mixed. Over our two weeks the assigned butler changed. Larissa was fantastic. She kept us updated on what was going on, helped organize details, and made the experience smooth. Junior was the opposite. He was like the Where’s Waldo of staff. Hard to find, no easy way to contact, and rarely communicated with us. This became an issue because the Coral section does not post information anywhere. If you wanted to know about special dinners, returning guest events, or how to arrange a trip off the compound you had to track down the butler and ask. We later learned that we could have requested things like morning coffee service or fruit and tea delivered in the evening. Other guests did this, but because Junior was our butler 80 percent of the time we never knew it was an option. Even when I asked him directly if there was any other way to reach him besides chasing him down at the lobby he never mentioned that dialing 555 on the room phone would connect to the service. When Larissa was our butler the difference was night and day. She kept us informed and made sure we did not miss out. The hotel could really benefit from something as simple as a chalkboard or daily posting in the Coral lobby. Not knowing what is going on until it is too late is a common complaint among guests, and it was our biggest frustration with the staff setup. Overall score: 4/5 (-1 for inconsistent butler service and lack of posted information) Entertainment Entertainment at Coral was a mix of highs and lows. When it was present it was fantastic. Cocktail demonstrations and live music were highlights, and when Carlos was leading activities the pool area had energy and life. Those days stood out as some of the best parts of our trip. The challenge was consistency. For long stretches there was no entertainment at all. During those times the Coral pool felt empty and lifeless. Just small touches like aquafit or a drink demonstration would have made a big difference. We never went to the evening events in the main Selection area. They were so loud and filled with kids that we chose to stay away. We could still hear them clearly from our section even though we were not close to the plaza. When entertainment was offered in the Coral section it was exactly the right balance of lively without being overwhelming. The issue was that it did not happen often enough. Overall score: 3.5/5 (-1.5 for lack of consistency and overly loud Selection events) Overall The Iberostar Coral Holguin is one of the most convenient and well laid out resorts we have visited. The straight central path makes navigation simple, and the first floor rooms with direct pool access were a highlight. The outdoor shower was a unique experience for me, while my wife especially enjoyed the jetted tub. Service across the resort was consistently friendly. Staff at the pool bar, Lisbet at the grill, and Larissa as our butler all stood out for making the stay memorable. Carlos brought energy and fun whenever he was around. The weakness was the inconsistency in communication. Without posted information in the Coral section we often felt out of the loop and dependent on finding the right staff at the right time. Food was the greatest disappointment. Breakfast and lunch at the Coral buffet were the highlights, but dinner was inconsistent, ingredients often did not match the menu, and shortages in August were pronounced. The snack bars rarely offered more than ham sandwiches or pizza that resembled cheese toast. On rare occasions fried cheese or chicken wings appeared, but they were unreliable. After two weeks the repetition wore us down. You had better like ham if you come here during this season. The contrast between the beautiful facilities and the lack of food variety or opportunities to socialize took a toll. By the fourth day my wife, who had hyped up the trip to our two adult children, ended up in tears. My adult kids likely would have rated the trip much lower as they struggled to find meals that matched their tastes and were bored of the limited dishes well before the two weeks were over. After we posted on Facebook, staff did approach her and referenced our comments, and for a few days there was a noticeable improvement in activity and atmosphere. However, it should not take a public complaint to get action, and those improvements faded back to the usual quiet routine by the end of our stay. The pool and beaches were outstanding in terms of space, cleanliness, and overall setting. The Coral pool never felt crowded, and the beaches were beautiful with safe swimming and the ability to move between them. But the long trek to the beach and lack of energy around the Coral pool on most days made the experience feel empty compared to what it could have been. Entertainment when offered was excellent, with cocktail demonstrations and live music being standouts. Yet those moments were few, and the loud family shows at the Selection were unappealing. Overall, Coral is a resort with enormous potential. The layout is superb, the rooms are well maintained, and the staff are friendly. But the inconsistent food, lack of communication, and absence of social energy in the Coral section made the trip far less than it could have been. Overall score: 3/5

Wonderful Vacation

Had a relaxing and enjoyable week at Iberostar Coral in Holguin. Great food, great staff and great vacation. Would like to have carts to go to the beach as a fair walk in such hot hot weather. Even though it is off season there was still enough entertainment and variety of food.

First Solo Vacation

Iberostar Coral was smaller than I expected, but in the best way—it felt cozy, safe, and super friendly. As a woman traveling by myself, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the staff and guests made me feel totally comfortable from day one. Being connected to the Selections resort was a bonus: I could wander over for bigger crowds, more restaurants, and evening entertainment, then come back to the calm vibe at Coral. The public beach across the bridge was gorgeous and easy to get to. Shout-o [... read more]ut to the butlers—Yunior and Laritza—for making my birthday unforgettable with a cake, wine, bubble bath, and flowers. And thanks to Yosvany for fixing a water issue in my room right away, with total professionalism. Just a heads-up: the tap water has a bit of an aftertaste, so I recommend bringing flavour packets if that bothers you. This isn’t a party resort, but if you want a safe, welcoming spot for a solo trip, I can’t recommend it enough.

Interesting Food

The hotel is beautiful and the workers are very kind. The beach is about a 10 minute walk from the hotel, and the beach bar did not have a good selection of drinks. The food was not good. If you care about the food, this is not the resort for you. I don’t know if all of Cuba is like this, but the food was tasteless and much of it seemed to come from a can. If they improved the food, and had a properly stocked beach bar, I would give this resort 5 stars.

Had a fun, relaxing time!

We went on a girls trip and had a wonderful time. The resort is well maintained and we had all the essentials needed. The room was very clean and welcoming. The air conditioning was a blessing, as well as the ceiling fan. It had a beautiful balcony with lounge chairs, overlooking the pool area. We were welcomed kindly at the reception area and brought to our rooms efficiently. Throughout our stay, I found the staff friendly, kind and personable. There was a wide variety of activities, lead by  [... read more]Carlos. We participated in Aquafit and Cocktail making classes by the pool. Carlos was energetic and tried to include every guest. The lifeguards at the pool were friendly and we enjoyed getting to know them, especially Frank.The staff at the restaurant were always there to make sure you were taken care of. The cooks, as well as the bar and wait staff were always friendly and accommodating. The pool was great and the beaches beautiful. We have already talked about returning and look forward to seeing the staff again. We feel like we made some wonderful friends.

Terrific Resort in Holguin

The Coral Level Iberostar Resort was an amazing place for a relaxing holiday. The rooms were spacious and very clean. The pool and grounds were very well cared for. The beach was stunning! The staff (lifeguards, maids, event coordinator, bar-tenders, cooks, waiters, butlers) were all very friendly toward guests. In particular, Frank, the lifeguard, took the time to interact with guests and Carlos planned fun and engaging activities.

Third visit to Iberostar Coral Holquin

As a solo traveler this resort is a home away from home. The resort is beautiful, clean, comfortable and important to me, safe and welcoming. The staff are kind, caring and welcome you as family, you are family. There are fun events to attend, great excursions and activities at the pool. Speaking of the pool...it is the best, add in Carlos and there is nothing better. The butler staff would put the finest in the world to shame. I will go back every chance I get!!!!!

Third trip better than ever !!

It was our third visit and the staff and resort continue to exceed our expectations! The rooms are clean and spacious and well air conditioned. The meals were amazing and so many options. The butlers Junior and Laritza are amazing ! They take care of all your reservations and are always helpful and available. There were many choices at the bar and premium liquor available. It’s easy to get a cart in order to go down to the beach and it’s just perfect there. Lots of sandy beach areas as well as p [... read more]laces to snorkel. There were more options for entertainment in the evening this year which was appreciated! Thank you to the great staff …. We will be back next year!

Fantastic trip

As always, the resort was fantastic but it's the staff that make it special from check in to check out from the butlers to the bartenders and support staff already planning our next visit. trip central was also great to deal with and i can't say enough about Air Transat

The best Home-Away-From-Home ever!!

There is really nothing bad to say about this resort except the fact that eventually you have leave! The rooms are large and well decorated and kept spotless. The grounds are beautiful and well kept. Don't get me started on the pool! It runs the length of the resort and is crystal clear and inviting. The beach is beautiful and although it is a bit of a walk, the staff will shuttle you back and forth. What can I say about the staff? Well, the staff, in a word is amazing! If it is within their  [... read more]power, they will do it for you. If you have any special needs or just questions, ask your butler and it will be seen to. They are starting to have some great theme nights that are a lot of fun and keep the guests involved. One additional service is the massages ($). You have to try them, they are worth every penny. There are many local excursions ($) available as well. They will pick you up at the front door in either a classic car or a horse and buggy. The choice is yours, and always classic Cuba! Now how about the food you ask? This last trip, I have to say the food was some of the best I have had in Cuba. Large selection, well prepared, well presented and plenty of it. No shortages that I could see. Bottom line, most who try this resort tend to love it and return over and over again. Just do it! You will not be sorry.

Amazing Time

We had a few reservations about going to Cuba with a lot of the reviews we had read, but this place had fantastic reviews. Everything was amazing from check in to check out. The Iberostar Coral Level is for adults only and is next to the Iberostar Selection which is for families. Coral Level has access to both resorts. I read a lot of reviews and they varied in their descriptions of this place. We were there from June 21 - June 28 2024 and this is what we experienced. There are 5 buildi [... read more]ngs with 12 rooms in each one. Each building has 4 Junior suites on the ends, upper floor and ground floor and they are clean and beautiful. They have a large bathroom with a jacuzzi tub, a king size bed, wall mounted TV, sitting area with a desk and chair as well as a chaise lounge and small coffee table, a large closet with lots of hangers and a safe. The AC was the best we've had anywhere. All of the rooms have two loungers on the balcony or terrace with the Junior suites also having a table and chairs. The only difference between the two is on the ground floor the shower is outside not inside. The pool is gorgeous spanning across all of the buildings. There are 20 Bali beds and 3 other semi covered structures and lots of loungers and chairs. We never had any issues with getting a Bali bed but we were there in low season. There is a swim up bar and a couple of jacuzzi tubs behind the pool bar on a terrace. The beach is shared with the Selection side but again we had no issues with finding a lounger but I would imagine it would be different at full capacity. There is a beach bar and a small grill area for hamburgers and hotdogs but is only open at certain times. There is also a larger beach across a bridge which has a small bar, washrooms and it is also where the water equipment is(paddle boats etc.). I tried snorkeling but there wasn't much to see. At the Coral Level there is a 24 hour bar and a restaurant that serves A la Carte breakfast, lunch and dinner. Every morning there were eggs, bacon, sausage, hot cakes, fresh fruit, omelets, pastries etc. At lunch there was chicken, pork and fish dishes, salads, soups, pastries etc. For dinner there were various appetizers, pork, chicken and Lobster tails which we had at every meal we ate here. Our favorite appetizer was the fried cheese with pineapple sauce, simple but oh so good. There are 3 other A la Carte restaurants at the Selection side, the Gourmet, Mediterranean and Japanese and also a buffet. We ate at the Japanese which was decent and the Gourmet which was very good. My wife had the stuffed chicken legs which she liked and I had the Cordon Bleu Pork which was fantastic, cooked absolutely perfect and I could eat it every day. The service at both was fantastic. We ate at the buffet for lunch twice, once being Cuba day where there was pork that was grilled on a spit over charcoal and it was so tasty especially the chichiron (skin). There was pizza, pasta, fresh meats and cheeses, salads, a grill station, lots of other meat and vegetable dishes, fruit, ice cream, deserts and lots of different breads. Again great service. There is also a 24 hour snack bar on the Selection side that had Ham and Cheese sandwiches, pizza, Tuna sandwiches, burgers and hotdogs with it varying day to day. We actually never ate here. The service was amazing and genuinely friendly everywhere. Sorry we can't remember everyone's name but who we can are, Carlos the pool entertainment, so friendly and energetic with a fantastic voice and a great guitar player, Alexander, Dianne(pool bar not sure if I spelled it right), Hector, all of the bar tenders, Junior, Laritza, Augusto. Everyone in the Coral Level restaurant was beyond amazing, our maid was super friendly and kept our room super clean and provided some fantastic towel art. The pool maintenance team, gardeners, life guards and front desk all again fantastic and so genuinely friendly. We don't really visit resorts twice but we cannot wait to go back.

The Best in Cuba

The best for size, service, and relaxation. All amenities are easily accessible (very little walking) and well kept compared to other Cuban resorts. Also, even when the resort is basically full (60 rooms) there is plenty of space and no fighting for or need for reserving spots at the pool or the beach. Pool bar shuts down early for peaceful and relaxing nights.

This is now my GO-TO resort!!

I first discovered this resort in January 2023 and I have just returned from my 5th trip, so yes, I would say I like it! Amazing staff, spotless rooms, beautiful pool, good food, I just can't say enough good things! Being Cuba, if there is anything you just can't live without, such as condiments, I suggest you pack your own, otherwise relax and enjoy the beauty that is Cuba. I'm already booked for my next trip in October!

Fantastic vacation

Our visit at the Iberostar Coral was fabulous. The staff are amazing cater to your every need when possible. Rooms are spacious clean and always towels changed twice a day as needed. Pools are amazing. It is however a very quiet area for sure which we loved. Food well no one goes to Cuba for the food however we certainly didn’t go without always lots to eat and a great selection. Drink lots of stock and mix not a worry on the Coral section. Definitely for us it was a five star experience. We we’ [... read more]ll be back as soon as there are direct flights from Halifax.

Very nice resort

Small resort with beautiful rooms. Fantastic pool. Everything is very close except for the beach. Perfect size for us as we could be sociable but still have private time when wanted. Closest beach is very shallow which would be great for people from the selection side that have young children, but not great for adults from the Coral side. Main beach is nice but further away than I’m used to. Neither beach nor pool ever seemed crowded and never a rush to go early to reserve a spot. Fantast [... read more]ic staff. Our Butlers Laritza and Junior were fantastic, handling meal reservations and always checking to see if we OK or if there was anything they could do for us. Carlos the entertainment coordinator was very active and trying to involve guests in activities. He has a beautiful voice and often played his guitar and sang songs requested by guests. All staff very friendly and helpful. Servers in buffet and restaurants always smiling and service great.Beach towels in room and they were exchanged every evening, along with other towels in bathroom. Also, for the first time in over 20 years of visiting the Caribbean, face cloths were provided and exchanged with towels morning and evening. Hasn’t been a big deal as we learned early to take our own, but since they have never been provided before, I felt this was worth mentioning. Note: while not part of my review, I would like to encourage guests to not use Canadian loonies and toonies for tipping. These can’t be used by workers as Cuban banks will not take them. The down side of this is that workers are stuck with this useless money, unless guests will exchange then for Canadian bills.

Exceptionally comfortable

The Iberostar Holguin Coral was everything you need for a relaxing, comfortable stay in Cuba. Comfortable, spacious rooms, excellent room staff, beautiful pool right at your door, thoughtful administration staff. Wait staff and bartenders were courteous and quick (with most times a smile, in spite of how busy they all were). The beach was just a short walk, or an even shorter cart ride away, and was clean and beautiful. (both the large and smaller beaches were beautifully maintained). This yea [... read more]r the Coral side enjoyed our own entertainment (aquatic team, saxaphone or mirachi band at supper) (daytime - water aerobics, afternoon guitar player). Nice fresh fruit at both breakfast and lunch. Would recommend.