Wonderful Resort but...

We really enjoyed our stay. There are a few pools and easy to find a lounge chair at one of them. The beach was also beautiful. This resort, as well as the whole area lost a lot of vegetation in the hurricane so it’s not as lush as it may have been before. Unfortunately the food leaves a lot to be desired. I’d recommend sticking to the fish. I’d also recommend bringing toilet paper/butt wipes everywhere you go. They do not replenish the supply in the bathrooms as the restaurants or by the  [... read more]pool. We had to visit the nearby clinic to get some aspirin which was given to us for free which was nice.

Wonderful resort

I was greatly surprise by how wonderful the resort was after just couple of month after a hurricane hit Santa Maria. The ground around the resort was clean and beautiful, all the pool were in use. At the beach of Playa Cayo they already had beach shelter in place. The people at the resort were very polite and were happy to speak English and French. They had many different type of food to satisfy my hunger. It was my first time and I would gladly go back.

Can't wait to visit again! Great resort!

Playa Cayo Santa Maria was a wonderful resort. It is beautiful, the food was great, the staff was welcoming, helpful and always smiling. The grounds were beautiful and well kept, the rooms were great. We were a group of 10 guests, 6 of them were returning guests to the resort, this was our first time.. We will become returning guests as well! So many guests we met were there before and keep going back. Highly recommend.

Great Resort and amazing staff!

Fantastic resort perfect size no hikes to get to the pools or lobby etc. Service is great. Everyone is very friendly. Food was best I have had in Cuba. We enjoy al carte dining. Only did buffet once. Pools where cool due to weather but gorgeous. Beach was the best for cleanliness, sun shelter, comfort and service compared to the other resorts close by that we walked past. Definitely would go back !

Amazing and memorable trip!

The resort was amazing!! Employees are super nice! Room was great! down fall they were small beds. Cleaning staff did a great job everyday and were very friendly! The restaurants were amazing. Buffet was ok but didn't have a lot of variety. You go to Cuba for the sun not the food! IT wasn't horrible I mean we still gained weight! If you can go to the a la carte's every night, you should try!! Buffet does have omelet bar and past bar. Pools were spectacular! Entertainment crew includin [... read more]g Lesdania was super friendly and by the end of the week they knew all our names. Entertainment is great!! even entertainment in the lobby. Magician was excellent! There is an ice cream bar and a cotton candy bar. the liquid bars were also great! Beach was beautiful. It was disappointing that the weather didn't permit us to swim because of red flags. I can't say enough good things about this resort!

Exotic yet very familiar

We have been going to Playa Cayo Santa Maria 4 or 5 times now. What brings us back is the beauty of the grounds, the beach, the friendly staff. They smile at you, say hello, wave, but never harrass you for anything, in our experience. The rooms are comfortable, clean, quiet, most of the time. Some employees don't speak English, but they listen hard and try to figure it out. They will, in time. The Cubans have strong personalities, they are resilient and very hard working. We love the healthy foo [... read more]d, the desserts, the coffee and of course the drinks. They have excellent entertainers, singers and musicians to help you learn about their culture. The buffet staff is efficient and eager to serve. If you decide to go to the PCSM, say hello to the best waitress, Eliany, and the kindest person in the Italian a la carte restaurant, Yareli. We will go there again, soon!

Hurricane? What hurricane!

Checked the TripAdvisor reviews before we booked, but still amazed that maintenance staff got things fixed up so quickly and effectively. New roofing on the buildings and beach huts, gardening has done a great job of replacing damaged plants, everything looked better than I remembered from my 2016 visit, especially the beach which is ever wider. Buffet and a-la-carte restaurant food was excellent - except for the Panda Rojo, which is a continuing disaster. All staff were friendly and helpful, [... read more] and we especially exchanging "Ola!" with the housekeeping and cleaning ladies who were invariably smiling. Nine trips to Cuba, seven different resorts in various regions, but the Playa Cayo Santa Maria keeps coming out as Numero Uno.

Decent Hotel

I have been to Playa Cayo Santa Maria resort twice. Same quality both times. It is a 5 star in Cuba but would be a 3.5 any where else. Food is not good. I have a lot of bug bites. No swiming in the pool in the evening. Very annoying to get kicked out. Grounds are well kept. The chinese a la carte resturant had the best food.

Great resort

This was our second visit to the resort. All the facilities were excellent. Rooms were cleaned daily by experienced staff who always wanted to make sure guests were comfortable. The staff at the hotel is very friendly and happy to serve the guests with their different needs. The grounds were constantly maintained. Food has a lot of variety but needs some innovative ideas so that it does not look like the same food is being served everyday. With some suggestions from guests who come from various [... read more] ethnic background would provide a different direction to presentation and taste of various dishes. The only complaint we had is the infestations of sand fleas on the beach. Many of the guests being unaware of this menace went back home with flea bites which can be very itchy. We understand this is a beach resort and the beach is an important part of the holiday, however some sort of upfront advise or suggestions of precautionary measures while visiting the beach could have provided a more pleasant stay.

Very good resort but location is 1.5 to 2 hours drive by bus from Santa Clara Airport - Treat as a day excursion !

Well Kept-clean grounds- Claen and comfortable rooms- Found a faulty shower handle- I reported it and was fixed immediately. Very good good - and large choice in Buffet meals - varaious snake Bras around 3 or 4 pools -including one on the Beach. The beach front of the resort was battred by the recent hurricanes in the Caribean - but did not affect the lovely sandy shores - My wife and many other guests were bitten by either mosquitos and or some other tiny sand flies - the itching and ras [... read more]hes was most painful and lasted for many days - needing potent presription hydrocotizon cream treatment . This inspite the hotel taking precautions of daily early morning and l evening spraying of insecticides - perhaps this was just seasonal or a result of the hurricane. I needed emergency medical treatment due to vomiting and diarrhoea probably from sea food alergy - the Govt run clinic located very close to the hotel -was very well equiped and run by very well trained and efficient Doctor- nurse and assistant .

Bad Experience

This hotel is no way 5 star Cuba. The room was filthy had to be switched twice. Some restaurants and pools were closed. Spoiled food. Beach was closed 5 out of 7 days due to very small waves. Worth experience ever.

Exceeded my expectations

My 10th trip to Cuba, 2nd to Cayo Santa Maria, first time travelling solo, without family. Looking for relaxation and nature, not partying. Why choose this hotel: 1. One of the few hotels that did not have a surcharge for a single traveller - almost all resorts charge 30%-50% extra for one person in the room, this one did not -  smart business decision, I would not have gone otherwise. 2. Best food I've seen in Cuban 4-4.5 stars hotels, no contest. Great presentation, variety, qualit [... read more]y. 3. Free safe in the room, free 1 hour of WiFi per day (!), free beer, soda, and a bottle of water in the fridge, replenished daily, beach towels are already in the room on arrival - again, very smart business decisions. 4. Good service at the buffet, great Pina coladas. 5. Territory is small, everything is a short walking distance away. Took me 3 min to walk to the beach. 6. Cuba is safe in general, this hotel is on a small island, no local population at the long  beach, no vendors. Hotel guests are mostly Canadian. 7. Quiet and relaxing beach. Some waves, but swimable and naturally beautiful, unspoiled. 8. Great value, I almost hesitated to leave this review, wishing to keep this hotel to myself, but the staff deserves an honest review. 9. More English language cable TV channels comparing to other Cuban hotels. Staff speaks English. Even gardeners try. 10. Pelicans, lots of them! Close and personal! 11. Rooms are modern, good AC. Good mattress, probably best I've seen in Cuba, good sleep. Great hot rain shower with huge shower head, good water pressure. 12. This resort is fully Cuban owned.  Originally I was not sure about what to expect, turned out to be much better than foreign-owned or managed hotels in Cuba. Great job! 13. Short time after the hurricanes hit the Cayos, there's barely any sign of the damage, almost everything has been restored. 14. Indoor air conditioned buffet. Why you may not want to choose this hotel (depending on your preferences) 1. 1 hour and 40 minutes drive from the airport. 2. Not much to do outside hotel for party goers. 3. This is NOT a 5- star hotel, there ARE cracked tiles, broken steps, if that is vitally important for you, don't go. 4. Prices in the store are inflated, buy your booze at the Duty-free. 5. Prices for extra services are steep. I can get much cheaper haircut and masages in Canada. 6. Some staff does frown when not getting a tip. Sorry, not going to tip for every drink at all-inclusive. And frowners won't get tipped at all. 7. Housekeeping is not that great. When I arrived, there was garbage in the can from previous guests, one coffee cup in the room was not washed after previous guests either. Lots of other small things that would get a housekeeper in Canada into a serious trouble. 8. Sand flies. This problem is common for Cayos, not this resort per se. You won't see them but you WILL get bites. 9. For people with mobility issues: the path to the beach is rocky. Overall though - great value for the price.

A trip to remember

Being my first time down south, I have to admit this was a remarkable experience. Where do I start? lol OK ok ... I will begin with the grounds - clean, well taken care of and spacy (lobby included). The lobby includes lots of comfortable couches, tables with chairs and a bar with lots of alcoholic and non-alcoholic refreshments. The gardeners look busy keeping the place clean as well as fresh looking - they are friendly with a good morning / afternoon smiles. Swimming pools are very c [... read more]lean. Water is the right temperature for anyone to dip in and enjoy it either alone or with their children. Each pool has many sunbathing beds to rest on and gets some sunrays. Volleyball net is set up in one of the pools - great idea to be active while in the pool. A small gym offers you the option to work out - very discreet and private place Total grounds area is very safe for anyone - wherever you go, there seems to be a local grounds worker welcoming you with a smile - you feel really welcome there which is a nice feeling especially for a visitor. Public areas - the beach was very clean and water ... well - let's just say we were in the water very often lol. Background Cuban music made the atmosphere even more enjoyable - the waiters and waitresses at the beach kept your thirst quenching with refreshments. Lifeguards clean the beach in the morning as well as in the evening for the next day. They are on guard to ensure the area is safe - it was very windy on some days (waves) and the lifeguards were very professional about keeping people away from the deeper water areas at the beach - safety first of course which everyone understood. Nicely handled. Rooms - clean, clean, clean. Every day the floor was cleaned, the bathroom was shiny, fresh towels were offered, the bed was done (not to mention the beautiful towel animals they've created on the beds everyday the room was cleaned). The small fridge was always full of refreshments of your choice. I especially liked the little safe you get to hide your personal belongings (with your own personal code) - this is great for putting away your passport, your keys, money or any other valuables you might have and want to keep safely stored. The view from the balcony was also enjoyable - you can hear the ocean from a distance which itself sounds relaxing and calm. Dining - if you attend breakfast, lunch or dinner, the food selection was plenty. You have an option of having something fresh prepared for you such as egg omelette with different ingredients to choose from, rice, fish, chicken, beef, pizza, grilled sandwich - just to name a few. Desserts were delicious and fresh tasting - you can also have a fresh squeezed juice made for you - talk about leaving satisfied. The waiters and waitresses were always busy and your glass was always full (if water, juice or coffee/tea). You knew you were leaving the dining room happy and full. Features - daily evening shows kept the visitors laughing, clapping and entertained. The entertainers involve the visitors / tourists in dancing - during some shows you can go on the stage and join them. Before and after the show, the lobby keeps you refreshed with drinks. You can attend different, enjoyable excursions of your choice - if going alone or in a group, the selections are nice to choose from such as visiting Havana via plane or by bus, swimming with the dolphins, boat adventures and many many more. Gift shop - a little gift shop within the resort offers various types of souvenirs - anything from clothes, shoes, sweets, bottled alcohol and other gifts that remind you not only of the beautiful resort itself but of the beautiful island of Cuba.

Unhappy stay at Playa Cayo Santa Maria

We stayed in this resort from Aug 23th-30th in building #7! It was three adults and three kids,two rooms one facing garden view and the other "dirty" pool view ! Main Pool was close for renovation,but when we booked our tryp nobody told us about that We was disappointed,but they told us there is another 3 pools so they put smile on kids faces but that did not last Pools was filted dirty,plugged from plastic cups,chicken bones,fries and full of chairs because of CUBAN tourist! But don't take [... read more] me wrong we like Cuba that's why we keep traveling there. I complain to the manager he said it is Cuban tourist sorry! "Sorry " that's all? That pools were really Disgusting,We didn't even put our feets In. Very disappointed for kids and even us! Stuff In the buffet not friendly at all. WE TIP them all the time leaving 5 cuc on the ta after each meal ending up with no water I had to go and look around for pitcher to fill the glasess and plus We tiped the cooks We use to wait in the line for 40 minutes and again Cuban tourist comes on the front speaking Spanish ,getting their food but not one person the whole family of 15 people had priority and we was keep waiting and waiting Complain to the manager,who fix the problem for 30 minutes as soon as he left same thing ! We was asking for sunwing representative One day he had day off ,the other day he was on call ,third day he is working from 2pm -5pm We ask so when he will be her The lady that works just beside him yeald "check front page off this book for his hours" She was assisting Cuban tourist!!! We are not people to make a complain but this was not good experience at all,! Rooms was clean but stinky pilows,beach was beautifull ,food was ok the others complained obout food but we was not picky Icecream shop was really good but you have to tip or you will wait longer! No lights in the resort we had to use flash light from our cellphones Entertainment wasn't good at all,resort is nice but there is lots of bad things which will keep us away from this resort for sure We just want to say thanks to the Emily from snack bar and Joicy that serving on the amazing beach!! Thank you

Not going back anytime soon

So...I don't think of myself as fussy, but I was not a ll a fan of this resort. First, my bed sheets were NOT fresh when we arrived. They smelled of urine. There were also black hairs on my son's toothbrush one morning that I can't even think about. There was a leak in the room; none of the bed sheet were stain-free; because of the lack of fitted sheets, I often woke on plastic; the air conditioner was extremely loud, always giving a house-waking "ga-gunk" every time is turned on or off; and we  [... read more]had a couple of things go missing (nothing of particular value as I put all of that in the safe); and there was a blinking light right above the bed. The food was terrible. The same thing every day. Very little in the way of fresh vegetables. Do Cuban people not eat vegetables?! Lots of meat - but not even nice meat. Hot dogs, and dry ham and tough beef. The fish was fatty. So much of it was fried! And everyone I spoke to got diarrhea - some even vomited. We got pizza one day, and it was like someone had smeared cheese whiz on it. I struggled to swallow it when I took a bite. As for the resort itself, the pools were lovely, though the main pool shut down halfway through our stay. I can't say I was too broken up about it, but it seemed odd. There was a pervasive smell of sewage throughout the place that wafted in periodically - perhaps the reason for all the gastro-intestinal difficulties? The beach was very nice. Never any difficulty finding a chair. There is a rocky shelf that one needs to traverse to reach the beach, but that just gave my kid more to keep his attention. I found the volume of the "animacion" a bit much but a trip further down the beach helped with that. Maybe I'm spoiled having been to other resorts, but this one felt like a real "miss." The staff I found very lovely, but really the rooms and food were such a disappointment. ALSO!! I spoke to other people and we compared how much we spent. I payed literally DOUBLE what another woman paid for her trip despite the fact that we had the same complement of people. I booked through tripcentral and am wondering if I made a mistake in doing that?! I should also also say that it was me and my 4 year old son that went. I left him at the kids club one day, and when I came back, he was in front of the tv watching a robbery movie with guys in masks and guns. And they gave him ice cream. Not the worst thing, but I would like to have been asked ahead of time if it was ok. Overall, I would not go back. If you are looking for a relaxing vacation, go somewhere else. There are definitely better options.

Choose another resort

The grounds where well maintained. Meals where very terrible and bland, my two year old and my self stuck to plain spaghetti all week, my wife with fried rice. We still got sick, my wife and child the worst with vomiting and diarrhea for days after. The rooms suited our needs but many cockroaches the size of my finger. Customer service where prompted in responding to our requests. The only accommodation they gave us was the request for a late check out. It was disappointing to pay for wifi and t [... read more]o only have it available in the lobby. Last but not least was the travel time from the airport. If we knew it would take an hour and half to drive each way we would have looked elsewhere

Second visit-still would revisit

Playa Cayo Santa Maria is my favourite all inclusive resort. The food is very good (by Cuba standards at least) and the drinks are made strong. There are a wide variety of restaurants with the a la carte dinner restaurants. I prefer the buffet style personally, but that's just me. All the staff are so friendly. Any special requests I made were fulfilled with a smile. I made a fair amount of requests as it was my first time travelling with a child, I went with my 10 month old. They had  [... read more]a nice playpen for a crib for her. The room was spacious enough not to feel too cramped with the playpen set up. I went during the slow season which was nice because there was never any difficulties in finding a set of loungers by one of the many pools or the beach. One of the only problems with the beach was that there was a bit of a rocky hill to get down, so my Mother who has Mobility problems was not comfortable getting down to the ocean. I remember other reviews stating issues with chipped tiles and the like but my room was in good repair. Also be advised there is about an hour and a half bus ride from the airport to the resort.

Lovely Resort!

Playa is a beautiful expansive resort with charming gardens. There are several pools including a serenity pool my personal favourite. The beach is great and has lots of shade pavilions. You can walk out into the ocean forever and the bottom is soft white sand. Lots of food choices, really liked the Italian restaurant and the pizzas at the snack bar. Customer Service was awesome!

Fabulous beach and much more

We booked this place for a girls trip / long weekend (3 nights, 4 days) and definitely wished we could have stayed longer! Excellent value for the cost. Most beautiful beaches with tons of loungers and shade options. Staff was extra wonderful, friendly, happy and always willing to help. Lots of choices for decent food but then again no one goes to Cuba for the food expecting exceptional fine dining options. All a cartes and buffet are air conditioned which was a nice bonus. Great spa, entertainm [... read more]ent staff and shows, ice cream bar and lots of bars offering great drinks everywhere. Had a fabulous time and will surely go back. No single supplement which enabled a few of us to have own room - nice break! travel to hotel is 1.5 hours but enjoyable drive seeing the area and local towns.

Was great

Was very clean and the grounds where well maintained . Staff where great all very friendly . Would definitely go back. First visit to Cuba and was pleasantly surprised at how good the food was. Great value for what you pay.