Ok resort

The resort was nice . The grounds well kept. Pools were clean. Bathrooms had toilet paper 75% of the time fairly clean. The rooms were nice but the first room we were in had a really bad sewer smell and a few cockroaches. No A/C working most of the 2 weeks we were there. The second room was nice and no smell. Our Butler Michel was amazing. Always checking in on us every day to see if everything was good. Our day time butler Adriel we hardly ever saw. The food was what we expected. Better hot f [... read more]ood at the buffet than the a-la-carts. Huge issue with cockroaches at the Japanese restaurant. They were in the cloth napkins and when the grill was turned on many started crawling out of the cracks on the table top. All 16 of us had to get up and leave before we even got our drinks. Staff were overwhelmed most of the time. Short staffed and working long days. The beach was ok . Very windy with lots of seaweed and garbage on the shore line. Usually raked by later in the day . Being premium wasn’t what it was all that cracked up to be. 2 days the premium bar had no beer or rum. Still love the Cuban people and will go back but just not to this resort.

Amazing Resort

As a group of 8 we truly enjoyed ourselves! The food was good (we don't go for the food) The staff we so outgoing and helpful. We had an excellent experience at the Japanese a'lacarte! Some others we hit or miss. We were treated like royalty. We did upgrade to the Sanctuary (premium side) The resort is fairly big however they had the staff and amenities to cover. Multiple pools, beautiful beach! The people of Cuba are some if the most kind, caring and giving individuals; which is ama [... read more]zing considering their own struggles

For a 4 year old Hotel, disappointing

Beach = Beautiful Hotel Service = They were trying to help, very good Bar Service = Very good Food = It's Cuba Guests = Too many locals, annoying A la carte service = Very good (we skipped the Italian) Main Buffet service = Hit or miss 24 Hour snack area = Always short of food Sanctuary Buffet = Terrible service Our room = For a premium category we were disappointed 4 things had to be fixed, air condition is controlled by them, we constantly asked them to adjust si [... read more]nce we were freezing, still didn't work. Upgrade category = We paid extra for premium, we did not feel any different, rooms were the same as the lower category, food and drink the same, we had 2 butlers, 1) was good (YASMANI), 2) the other will not mention name, pretended to be helpful, did not do anything

January 13th -27th vacation

January 13th - 27th vacation Our first time visiting Sanctuary at Grand Memories Holguin and am pleased to say our trip was fantastic. The Premium upgrade with butlers was outstanding. We were assigned Dariel as our daytime butler and Alvaro José Blanco Pupo for the evenings. Wow!! What a pleasure to get to know these two young men. The dedication and care we received was incredible. I received Good morning texts from Dariel asking how we are doing and if anything was needed. And a [... read more] how was our day from Alvaro in the evening. They booked all our a la carte dinners and coordinated together as a team. Each would randomly show up to say hello at breakfast or lunch and dinner. We always felt cared for. Breakfast was ordered in advance from Dariel and always delivered for our Aunt Jeannine when she decided to sleep in. They took great care of us and her as we celebrated her 82nd birthday on this trip. We asked and received extra pillows and blankets thank you again as our room air conditioning worked to well at times. Water to our room was always working, shower pressure was as good as home. I have to mention the whole butler system at this resort is one of the best teams I have encountered in our 22yrs of travels to many different island resorts . I have had butler service in many places but nothing like this dedicated group. A few more to mention that would stop by wherever we were at the time to see how we were doing Yosbel Zaldívar Sarmiento and Pablo who is also is attending university and Michel. Michel was assigned to my brother who surprised me at the resort at the start of our second week. I was sending photos of the resort pics of the food. That helped him decide to book two days before flying out to join us for our last week. I’m sorry so many others names I can’t remember. I was ask by guests why upgrade you don’t get much more than a few extra a la cart dinners. I can say we received much more than that. Never having to go to the front desk to ask a question or make a reservation or request or to report being locked out of your safe lol Alvaro called technicians and they were prompt to arrive. Using WhatsApp or Messenger was perfect to communicate. Room service for our aunt or ourselves. Extra anything they could provide they did. And so much more to mention but it would be a book. Our breakfast and lunch in the premium section restaurants was sit down service and a game changer. No line up to wait and the service staff was so friendly and over the course of two weeks those we interacted and spoke with often would remember us and specific things we mentioned about ourselves. This resort is not lacking in wine , soft drinks or food. Our fridge was stocked daily with water, two soft drinks and 2 beers (Crystal) All our meals were large portions plus always options for staters. Every soup I tried was delicious. I’m a little scared to try on my work pants My favourite and most consistent meal was at the Creole restaurant. The pools are beautiful and clean. Our ocean view was absolutely amazing. Building A 1311 Mila and Glenise our housekeepers work very hard always clean towels, floors clean and shiny coffe maker cleaned coffee packets left for our use and took the time for some beautiful extra little touches for me in my room. Always looked forward to coming back to see what they did. The ground’s gardening staff work incredibly hard to keep it looking beautiful. I can only say from our experience we would definitely return here in the future. Same room ? ?. This resort was a bonus to find but people of Cuba are what keeps us coming back.

Questionnable

Après avoir visité Cuba à plusieurs endroits et pour plus de 20 fois, c'est la première fois que j'ai été autant déçu. Je comprend très bien que présentement il sont en manque de plein de choses. Mais le fonctionnement et l'organisation de l'hôtel ne devrait pas être si mal géré. La plage pleine de déchets ** du jamais vu** ici je ne parle pas d'algues je parle bien de déchets (soulier, tube de pate à dents, bouteille d'huile, assiette et oui même des chaise en bois). Le manque de stations au bu [... read more]ffet, **terrible**, des attentes de plus de une heure pour avoir ce qui restait, disons pas much, à la viande, aux pâtes et aux pizzas. Les plates du buffet toujours froids même si tu arrivais en premier, plaques chauffantes non fonctionnels. Sur un côté positif, les travailleurs étaient super gentils, les piscines et l'aménagement étaient super propres, la température superbe et les activités (catamaran et Jeep) super bien à faire. Est-ce que je vais retourner à Cuba? Oui. Est-ce que je vais retourner à Holguin? je dis pas oui je dis pas non. Est-ce que je vais retourner au Sanctuary Grand Memories Holguin? Non.

Quality of Service needs improvement

The resort, beach, pool, grounds, were beautiful but the efficiency and quality of service must be improved significantly specially in the main buffet area. This place was not at all organized and people stood in line for hours to get food. Many empty trays were not refilled in a timely manner. The layout of the main dining area has to be redone to ensure the flow of traffic is optimized. We were lucky that we booked the premium class and so we had more options for food. The snack bar didn't ha [... read more]ve condiments like ketchup or mustard. The pizza place next to the snack bar was not in service most of the time. The wifi worked only for 2 days out of our 7 night stay which is unacceptable. Another example is at the bites restaurant for breakfast, they had just 1 burner operating for the egg station creating unnecessary lineups. There were several impractical issues that made our stay unpleasant. Many times toilet paper would run out in the public washrooms and would not be replaced. There were roaches in the Japanese and Italian restaurants as well as in our rooms. On the positive side our butler, Carlos was an amazing individual and did whatever he could do satisfy our needs.We did enjoy the international/Mediterranean restaurant. We did get a free lobster dinner on Christmas Eve which was nice. Most of the staff were pleasant. We feel sorry for the people but it appears that the management is creating inefficiencies that are going to drive tourists away from this resort. We won't be going back to this resort.

Repeater and SO Disappointed!!

My wife and I stayed at this resort in October 2024 and were so impressed that we decided to return for a second visit. Unfortunately, our recent experience was very different and did not reflect the quality of our previous stay. This resort is not operating at the same standard as it did last year. Whether due to changes in management, current conditions in Cuba, or resource limitations, the overall experience was disappointing. I have stayed at 2.5-star resorts more than 20 times over the pas [... read more]t 25 years and have never previously felt compelled to complain about food quality. However, during this stay, the food was extremely difficult to tolerate. There was no fresh fruit available other than cucumbers, no fresh vegetables, and most food was either canned or heavily prepared with mayonnaise. Housekeeping was also an issue. On the third day of our stay, the chambermaid removed our waste paper bin and did not replace an empty roll of toilet paper. I went to the front desk and politely requested a replacement. I was informed that housekeeping would be contacted; however, it took approximately a day and a half for toilet paper to be delivered. During this time, we were forced to use serviettes taken from the kitchen. I do not take writing negative reviews lightly, and I have never spoken poorly of any vacation I have had in Cuba. That said, this experience was both disappointing and unacceptable compared to our previous visit.

Sanctuary at Grand Memories Holguin

We travelled as a couple along with another couple of friends. It was a long way from airport to the hotel, about 2 hours.The hotel is nice with very well maintained grounds.The room was very clean and lovely decorated every day. The view from our balcony was amazing. The beach was clean, but rocky in the water. There are many pools enough for everyone. All the employees were friendly and helpful. Everyday, the manager was supervising the main buffet, and greeting the tourists.There wasn't much  [... read more]variety of food, almost no vegetables and fruits, but we didn't starve. Not much variety of drinks as well, and the coffee had a weird taste like burnt.The staff did their best with what they had. Junior, the most friendly barman in the resort, made us Canchanchara, a traditional Cuban drink and told us the story around it. As Premium class, we got an Exclusive dinner with music show and nice food. Entertainment was pretty light especially at night time, I believe because the resort was not so busy. Overall, for the money we paid it was great. Our butlers, Yosbel and Raciel, made our vacation wonderful. Our designated room had a mouldy smell, but Yosbel managed to give us a better room. Communication with them was flawless via WhatsApp.They made all our a la carte restaurant reservation, send us daily activities schedule, checked on us every day to see if everything is ok. We had a big surprise for my husband birthday; we requested to dine at the Japanese restaurant for the second time because we loved it first time, and Raciel made this possible. There, he decorated the spot with balloons and "Happy birthday" banner, brought us a cake with candle and a bottle of sparkling wine. Thank you guys, you are the best!

Beautiful resort

This was our 2nd stay at this resort. It is still very new and kept very clean . Has an easy access to the lovely beach . Gardens are beautiful , you see gardeners working on them all day . Rooms are specious and beds are very comfortable. Staff is wonderful and very attentive. They will do anything to make your stay more pleasant. So overall we are very pleased with our stay and would recommend to visit. The only thing negative there is hardly any entertainment. Was tired of disco music eve [... read more]ry night . We love true Cuban music . Makes the vacation more magical and unique. Also would like to see more activities around the pool.

Sanctuary at Grand Memories Holguin

We had a great time in Holguin. As usual in Cuba there are items that are not available but staff always aim to please and make things great. Overall, no complaints once we got to the resort. Our flight from Toronto was delayed for over 7 hours which made us miss the whole first day but the rest of the trip was good. Upgrading to premium was a bonus to ensure that we had access to a butler (Marlon and Yannel). We spend most of our time at the Sanctuary Pool which was never over-crowded. The bus  [... read more]ride to the resort is close to 2 hours but is pretty scenic at least. Overall, I enjoyed my time at the resort.

Well managed resortFirst of

First of all I want to thank to Yosbel and Raciel for their effort.In fact all the personell is doing their job. There is a well maintened resort but water shoes are a must. The coffee was the worst I ever drink

Good Value, but Not for Quiet Seekers and Beach Lovers

I stayed here for one week in mid–late November. Personally, this isn’t a resort I would return to, but I can see it suiting many people depending on what you’re looking for. I was hoping for a very quiet, adults-only experience in the Sanctuary area, but the lines between the Sanctuary and the main resort are quite blurred. It is less noisy, but you can still hear the main-side party music, and kids do use what’s technically the Sanctuary portion of the beach. Rooms: Overall, the rooms were [... read more] good quality. I tried two different rooms because I requested a quieter location, and the staff accommodated that. Both rooms had working AC, though it didn’t feel very adjustable in either. The main differences were water and air quality: the ground-floor room had plentiful hot water, while the top-floor room had almost none. The top-floor room also had slightly musty air and a small mold spot in the bathroom. Other than that, both rooms were clean and generally well-maintained. There were no screens on the sliding doors (though upgraded rooms might have them). Bugs were present, especially at night, so depending on how well your AC works, not being able to open the door might matter to you. Food: The food was acceptable. Eggs were always available, and the cooking stations were reliable — tacos, pasta, meat, yogurt, crepes, etc. Fruits and vegetables were in shorter supply, but meat and starches were plentiful. Coffee was good, and the bars seemed to have all the usual staples. Beach and Pools: The beach was on the dirtier/rockier side, with some seaweed and sargassum. Still swimmable, but I was glad I brought water shoes. For Cuba, I’d consider it on the lower end, though you can still enjoy lounging in the sun. The pools appeared clean and well kept. Staff: The staff were mostly very kind and did make an effort to accommodate my request for a quieter room. The new area would have likely been quieter under normal circumstances, but there happened to be construction nearby during my stay. I chose not to move rooms again even though they did offer this to me (the process isn’t quick), so I spent more time at the beach and made the best of it. Entertainment: There wasn’t much in terms of live Cuban music or shows. It was mostly recorded music played through the sound system with people dancing. Wildlife: There is a large presence of wild cats on the property. I counted around 20, often in groups, including at the buffet where they meow for food (and many guests feed them). They also sit on chairs in the lobby and dining areas. Some people love this; others, especially those with allergies like me, may not. Overall: If you’re looking for a more affordable Cuban getaway, want sun, drinks, and a livelier atmosphere — and you don’t mind a noisier environment with lots of cats — you’ll probably be fine here. If you’re seeking more tranquility, a better beach, and some Cuban music in the evenings, I’d recommend looking elsewhere and just spending a bit more. For Holguin area, you might want to check out Paradisus Rio De Oro.

Terrible

Unfortunately the room at Sanctuary Grand Memories was one of the worst I’ve stayed at. The room has a musty smell and the whole room was always damp. One wall was so wet, it kept forming puddles on the floor. Floor was always damp and slippery and always seem to have a greasy film on it making it always slippery. The staff at this resort, as always were amazing, but the shape of the room is not acceptable. I realize that food is always hit and miss, but no cheese for several days, bread was alw [... read more]ays stale, very minimal fruit, no beer in bottles or cans, mini bar in room was only stocked with pop and water, which was disappointing as we upgraded to premium room and usual a bottle of liquor would be included. Pool was closed a few days because of some biting insects in the pool, and, unless the employees got up at the break of dawn to clean the pool in the premium section, I never witnessed anyone cleaning the pools

Big resort

HOTEL IS NEW, FOOD REALLY GOOD FOR CUBA. CORRIDORS, WAlKWAYS SLIPPERY. BEACH IS NICE. WATER WARM IN OCTOBER. WATER IS NOT TO CLEAR, ROCKS IN WATER. SWIMMING POOLS ARE GREAT. STAFF IS GREAT ESPECIALLY MELISSA.

Clean and beautiful but lacking entertainment

Eight of us returned September 19th from a week of the Sanctuary Grand Memories in Hoguin. The hotel is beautiful. Staff were amazing. The rooms were lovely and came equipped with a safe, storage for your clothes, a balcony and very comfortable beds. The food is OK, but was really lacking in fruit and vegetables. The only fruit we saw for the week was papaya for about three days and bananas on one day. There are a few à la carte restaurants at this resort the Japanese was our favourite. The alco [... read more]hol was better than expected. The pink gin from Spain being my favourite for sure. If you have a flight, leaving later from the resort, the prestige plan allows you to check out at 3 PM which would’ve been a nice bonus. We did one excursion on a catamaran for a lobster dinner and sunset cruise for $65. This was a great trip. Others said they really enjoyed the Jeep trip but the snorkelling trip wasn’t great. There was very little entertainment in the evening. There were no theatre style shows. They did have a karaoke night and a dance competition night. I don’t even know if we met an entertainment staff member when we were there. The beach was beautiful and lots of beach chairs and shade available. The water was warm and clear other than when it was stormy. There are a few jellyfish and sea urchins in the rocky areas. We met some amazing people and made some fantastic memories.

Relaxing and memorable

The staff were amazing. I really appreciated getting to know them and how willing they were to do anything to help us or meet our needs. The butlers are to be commended as well. Yumior and Yennel were super but l appreciated all of them. The hotel is unique in many ways and we enjoyed the beach, the bites restaurant for breakfast and lunch was a nice change but the selections buffet also was good. A nice experience was the bus tour into the nearby town. Overall we had good experienc [... read more]es and made new friends.

A Great experience

I enjoyed the lovely people there. The hotel was clean and well kept. The gardeners work hard because everywhere you look it’s so nice!!! My favorite place to eat was Bites. Although l still enjoyed all of the options. The staff was by far unforgettable.

Beautiful Resort

The pools were beautiful and clean. But the beach was a little rough but I still enjoyed it. So were the grounds. The food was lacking flavour at times but still we had choices. Breakfast was especially great but Woujd have been better if we had more fruit choices. The service was exceptional. My butler Daniel was very helpful and the rest of the staff always tried to please us. The restaurant staff were amazing, friendly, warm, kind and most helpful.

Resort

the resort itself was nice friendly staff good food and drinks but need shad around the pools as there is none and by the bites restaurant there is a slippery spot that they need to fix ..my last day was going to the restaurant and i slipped on the walk way landed on my back and bruised back of my head badly ..they need to either put signs up u need to wear shoes here or repave with concrete ..i am still having headaches. If they persist will have to see my doctor .please warm your customers ab [... read more]out this. also they had no entertainment at all .and the buffet was very crowded

Roach hotel

This resort was infested with roaches They were in restaurants , rooms , lobby , in premium longe, on bart tops If someone says they did not see them they are either blind or lying !! I have been going to cuba for over 15 years and have NEVER seen this before .