Sanctuary at Grand Memories Varadero: A good time

We experienced the high & the low of this resort Low: a mouldy (initial) room, septic issues & cold showers (solar heated & we had some coolish overcast Cuba winter weather while there) High: staff who worked hard to fix the above issues, an amazing second room, decent food and a couple of sunny days. The pool was kept in fantastic shape & the beach was fabulous. I would go back for the right price...

Memories Flamenco Beach Resort: Beautiful beach and fantastic staff

The beach is beautiful! The staff is amazing. The resort is still recovering from the hurricane. There was an awful smell of sewerage around the resort during our stay and the public washrooms were dirty. The resort is a nice but definitely not five-star hotel. The al carte restaurants are nice but the buffet was very repetitively. The entertainment team was excellent.

Memories Caribe Beach Resort: LOVELY RESORT

This was our first visit to Memories Caribe. We have also been to two other resorts in Cayo Coco. We arrived January 1st at the resort about 5.00 pm. Our check-in was very efficient. The staff were happy and polite. We did not get the Lake-view superior room I had booked, instead they upgraded us to a Junior suite which was also Lake-view # 3901. It's not one of the renovated rooms but it was completely acceptable with a nice size patio. The bathroom had an indoor shower and an outdoor shower.  [... read more]There was also a door on the bathroom which I know many people have been inquiring about. I was completely amazed at how much work these people have completed in such a short period of time after such a devastating hurricane.The gardeners are working as hard as ever to make the grounds beautiful. There has been a lot of devastation to the trees and vegetation. The food was pretty good. Lots of variety. Great pasta bar and stir fry bar. Lots of fresh vegetables and fruit. There were a few different salad dressings and hot sauce too. The pool bar was very good with a great selection of snacks 24 hours a day. Fries, Pizza, Hamburgers, Ham and cheese. The pool itself is very well kept and looks great. We tried the Asian restaurant. It was very nice. We ordered Lobster in the morning at the wine tasting store and they brought it to the restaurant. It was excellent. 20 CUC per lobster. The piano bar in the Lobby is nice and they have good drinks. There was a very nice ambiance there with the pianist playing. There was also a Saxophone player and he was excellent. It was a busy place as the weather was not great the week we were there. The nightly entertainment was outstanding. The dancers work so hard rehearsing and put 100% effort into their shows. There was a Michael Jackson show which was fantastic. With the weather being bad, some of the shows were moved to the lobby. The dancers improvised so well and still performed amazingly. If you want to go to the disco, a bus picks you up at the resort and takes you to Memories Flamingo and returns at 1.00 am and 2.00 am. Drinks at the disco were 3.25 each.There are many day trips available if you want to do something different. Visiting the city of Moron is a nice day trip. Apart from the weather, which no one can control we had a great time and met many nice people. I would visit Memories Caribe again as everyone was so friendly and helpful. For the people who post negative comments about the resort: please remember the devastation this country has suffered and the rebuilding they are doing. If you want to eat the same food as you eat at home then don't go to a foreign country. Be open minded and embrace their culture and traditions. Thank you Memories Caribe and all of your staff for making our stay so enjoyable.

Memories Caribe Beach Resort: A trip we regret taking

This resort has nothing in place in the event of bad weather, which we had four/four days of last week. There was really nothing to do, nowhere to go, and everything is a walk to get around the resort. Not cool in 30km/h cold winds under grey skies. The lobby is open concept so there’s almost nowhere to go if the weather is bad except your room, but then you have no access to food or bar. The food was literally the same every single day and it was pretty bad - even for Cuba. And we have pr [... read more]etty low expectations that still this resort managed to fail to meet. Beans, olives, beets, potatoes, gerkins, cucumbers, same cut of pork, chicken and beef every day. Nothing in mini-fridge. Cups they give drinks in are so small that you can’t even bring drinks back to your room unless you remember to bring your own thermos or bubba cup. Not that you could drink a lot there... everything they served was so sweet with heaping tablespoons of sugar added to everything. Phone in room wasn’t hooked up; no batteries in remote. We honestly just wanted to go home!

Sanctuary at Grand Memories Varadero: Excellent service ... genuine staff ... whatever you need, just ask!

Stayed at the Sanctuary over the Christmas holidays and we were pleasantly surprised with our overall experience. Resort food is always the number one concern when travelling to Cuba and I can honestly say, there is plenty of variety at this resort and there are many options for everyone. We thoroughly enjoyed eating at the a la carte restaurant for our breakfast and morning coffees each day. I suggest stopping into the cigar lounge cafe before heading into for breakfast to grab your latte, Am [... read more]ericano or Cafe de leche. When we first checked in, we had a few minor maintenance issues with our room. Instead of waiting to have those things fixed we simply when back to the Sanctuary lobby and asked to be moved to a higher floor and explained the issues. This was not a problem. I've been to Cuba 8X and what I realize is, it takes a day or two to really settle into a new resort. I almost find it better to return to the same resort as its easier to navigate around and get a better understanding of how the restaurants and bars work. For example, the cigar lounge bar close to the Sanctuary Pool carries ice cold bottles of Heineken, Crystal and Presidente ... how ever they don't have mojitos so you have to go the a difference bar to get one of those (I suggest asking for it blended btw). "The Gourmet" a la carte restaurant was excellent with a nice cut of tenderloin and rock lobster tail. However the a la carte Asian restaurant did not rate too high for us, but not a big deal, we simply went to the buffet after. The shuttle carts will take you anywhere on the resort, again don't be afraid to ask for a lift. We took off to Havana for a day, we hired a private car. Our driver Alain drove a green 1955 Chev with air conditioning. He was awesome and really made the trip. Ask for him you won't be disappointed. The cars (Taxi's) are usually parked just outside of the resort. Be sure to ask for Alain. Havana is definitely worth the road trip. Check in and check out was simple. We were greeted with hot towels and some bubbly. We skipped the airport shuttle and took a Cab direct. Its worth it and you get to the resort in half the amount of time. Internet/Wifi - The resort has a couple hot spot areas. Anywhere in Cuba you have to pay $2 CUC for 1 hour. We didn't bother with this since our mobility providers have changed their roaming packages. For $12 a day we could roam and use our existing data plans (Bell and Telus) so call ahead to your provider and ask. We would go back to this resort and would also recommend it to our friends and family. The biggest take-away is if you want something specific, kindly ask for it. If you don't understand the language, use Google Translate. Tip well in CUC and you will be greatly appreciated even more. Enjoy!

Memories Caribe Beach Resort: Good resort - Stayed Dec 30 to Jan 6 2018

The resort itself was decent, some damage from the hurricane which the staff cleaned up and fixed fairly well. All staff was very nice and helpful. Not much variety at the buffet but the food was decent. Not the place to go if you're looking for a nightlife. One of the bars is basically hidden, no signs or anything...we didn't find it til day 4 of our vacation. The entertainment at night was good. The beach is beautiful but not for someone looking to snorkel offshore. Our room was  [... read more]kept clean, maids were good. The shower didn't work that great in our room and beer fridge was not filled so a bit of a bummer. We were able to exchange money at the front desk which was very useful for when the bank was closed. The snack bar is open 24/7 which is very handy. Takes about 30-60 mins from airport to resort depending if you're picking up other people at other resorts. Not really any villages nearby just resorts so if you're looking to visit a village/city then visiting Moron is your best bet. We didn't have good weather when we went, maybe 3 days of sun and the rest of the time it was cold, cloudy, rainy and very windy but I'm told it's just that time of year and bad luck. Overall decent resort! P.s. The churros and hot chocolate are the best !

Sanctuary at Grand Memories Varadero: Awesome Adult Only

The food exceeds expectations - it is a bonus to be served a la carte instead of having to compete with the crowds in the buffet. The staff is so attentive and lovely. The pool area and grounds are so well kept. You can't beat the Varadero beach.

Sol Turquesa Beach: not recommended

Just got back, too many stairs, so no good for elderly, or young children, we were told that property just got purchased by new owners, so property is not up to par. I do not recommend right now.... lacking in Food, "not the taste" the lack of food, buffet should be plenty everywhere, at this hotel, the wait to serve yourself was insane...only 3 stations. I have been to Cuba, and never disappointed...

Memories Paraiso: Wished the week would end so I could go home

We had to chang rooms twice because there was no hot water/ no water pressure & a coackroach in room. The food was THE WORST food I’ve ever experienced. I literally dreaded every time we had to eat. The beds were so hard and uncomfortable. I’m not a snob about where I sleep but my back and neck were aching by the end of the week. The beach was gorgeous - so blue! White sand. The pools were very clean and wonderful to hangout by. This resort was not worth the money though - there are  [... read more]better resorts you can stay at for similar price.

Resonance Blu Varadero: Underwhelmed!

Having been to Cuba 2 other times our expectations were tempered. This was our least favorite experience. The gardening, dance shows and beach were good but that's where the good ends...the rest of the place was regrettable. Dirty pools! Terrible beds! Patio doors broken! Very few tongs at the buffets make for plenty of cross contamination. Many food items sitting in the danger temp. zone. My wife now has strep throat! Not the Memories we were looking for. This will be our last time getting s [... read more]cammed by Cuban destinations.

Resonance Blu Varadero: Really good resort

Grounds and restaurants maintained really well. Rooms could use a bit of an update but still good. Great service and very friendly. No one asks for tips and they work hard for them. Great place to bring a family.

Memories Paraiso: Beautiful grounds and beach

Despite tge damage caused by the tornado this is a beautiful resort. I could find no real fault with the facilities outside though the room I was given was not what I had booked or paid for. The front desk and management are rude abd highly offensive to visitors. Thankfully this attitude does not carry over to the rest of the staff in the hotel who are wonderful. Do not waste your miney on the Duamond Club since they provide no service to Paraiso.

Grand Memories Varadero: Excellent hotel

Service was excellent Food was quite good at grand memories but we upgrade our stay for two days at Sanctuary of this hotel. That was super, food, service, bar and activities. The swimming pool at Sanctuary was a dream and bar service around the pool as well. Marvellous beach and animations (volley ball, zumba) were good

Sanctuary at Grand Memories Varadero: Amazing Resort

We celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary at Sanctuary at Grand Memories Varadero - and we loved it. We traveled in December, so as expected our flight was delayed, we were suppose to arrive at the Resort at 2:00 PM, however due to the delay we didn't get to the Resort until 3:00 AM. We were greeted by friendly smiles and extremely accommodating staff. Everyone who works at this Resort is truly amazing. Our room was huge and very well maintained. The food was delicious and a plenty - whether  [... read more]we ate at the a la carte restaurants or at the buffet. We loved the 24 hour snack/bar facility and room service was very much appreciated. We stayed at the Sanctuary, but took advantage of the pool bar. The grounds were well kept and beautifully manicured. The pool and beach were clean and there were plenty of lounge chairs available. The ocean water was a little too cool for my liking - understandably, we were there in December. We would definitely return to this Resort.

Royalton Splash Punta Cana: Very good resort

Great pools, good staff. Waterpark is amazing! Food very average, the a la carts on the Memories side not very good and have long lineups. Have to pay to access the a la carts on the Royalton side. The beach on the Royalton side is fantastic, maybe the best I have been to

Memories Caribe Beach Resort: Overall very nice, with some great highlights.

As with any Cuban vacation, having realistic expectations is key to having an enjoyable trip. There were a surprising number of highlights from our week, from the absolutely spectacular beach, to the unexpected variety at the buffets, to the very impressive wine cellar and wine tasting experience. Being at an adults-only resort over Christmas was fantastic - no screaming kids anywhere! Previously this resort was family-friendly, but it is definitely adults-only now. Having traveled to many [... read more] resorts in many countries, I think it is fair to say that Memories Caribe met or exceeded all of our expectations because we weren't comparing it to a 4-star Mayan Riviera resort (which we have been to numerous times). We wanted something clean, nice, quiet, and comfortable, and we got all that and much more. THE ROOMS We stayed in the renovated "Superior Deluxe" room category. The rooms are generally very nice. Sure, they aren't perfect...paintwork, tilework, etc. isn't up to "professional standards". But the rooms look nice, are kept clean by staff, and are more than adequate. Some of our resort friends staying in the same room category had minor plumbing and electrical issues - but no one had major complaints. It is worth noting the bathroom/shower area is not separated at all from the rest of the room. Privacy isn't really an option - but you can always turn up the TV. We didn't have hot water (I believe the whole resort experienced the same issue) for a couple of days, but for most of the week everything worked fine. The overall layout of the resort was very pleasant, with numerous two-storey buildings plus some bungalow suites. We saw a number of wheelchair users managing fine, as there are no stair requirements for ground-floor rooms or any facilities within the resort. Yes, as with many resorts, there is some walking required to get from the rooms to the beach/restaurants/etc. There are no resort shuttles, but this resort is much smaller than others we've traveled to. A little walking never hurt anyone. THE BEACH Wow. Spectacular. The finest of fine white sand, very clean, and enormous. There is only one neighbouring resort on the beach, and there is lots of space for everyone to enjoy. Palapas and lounge chairs are in good condition....occupancy was relatively low so we had no problem at all with people "reserving" lounge chairs. The water is very shallow (I snorkeled out almost two kilometres and it was only 12 feet deep), but great for sitting/wading/swimming (particularly when the tide is in). Sadly, the snorkeling is not very interesting, as there is no reef (the dark areas on satellite photos are sea grasses). Sand fleas (the practically microscopic flies with a nasty bite) were torturous for some people (as evidenced by the welts on their arms and legs), but oddly enough we had no problem with them at all (despite playing beach volleyball every day). Many brought insect repellent, and it is a good idea. THE POOL Very nicely laid out and beautifully clean. The pool bar wasn't really in use as the pool was a bit cool, and for most of the trip the pool was empty. Lots of lounge chairs and places to sit around the pool, with great sun exposure. THE FOOD Yes, the food was a bit lacking in "flavour", which was often made up for with salt. But the variety of food at the buffet restaurant was really impressive. Lamb, rabbit, beef, pork, chicken, fresh fish and calamari on the grill, great omelette station for breakfast, carved pork for dinner....I really don't understand how anyone could not be satisfied with the variety of offerings. There were a few "downsides" to the food: Although I don't eat sweets, my girlfriend commented that while there was lots of selection, they just weren't very tasty. Also, the a la carte restaurants were mediocre at best. Nice venues, pleasant service, but the food wasn't the highlight. No matter...the buffet was close by! This resort has a great little coffee and ice cream "shop" which (according to my girlfriend) served excellent coffee. A novel little afternoon break spot, and very nicely laid out. The resort also has a wine cellar - something I haven't seen at a resort before. And what a great experience their wine tasting is! Get a group of people together and spend a few hours sampling wines from Europe and South America - definitely a highlight of our week. The piano bar was another great spot, for evening cocktails and live music. All performers were very talented, and some were superb (sax player especially). THE BARS As noted above, the piano bar is one of the highlights of the resort. Great cocktails on their menu (and premium brands if you upgrade to the Diamond Club). The sports bar was very nicely appointed...we spent an evening there and really enjoyed it. The 24-hour snack bar is outdoors, and was often busy well into the early hours of the morning. Staff were always friendly. Definitely no lack of venues to get your money's worth. ENTERTAINMENT We found the evening shows very enjoyable and well put-together. The dancers are talented and well choreographed, and everyone seems to put a lot of effort into their roles. Resort staff running activities were also generally very pleasant and enthusiastic. The magician who opened a couple of shows doesn't get the credit he deserves - he's a great magician and hopefully more people will appreciate his talents. EXCURSIONS Normally we rent a car during our vacations and explore our surroundings, but there are no villages (or anything else) on the island of Cayo Coco. We opted to take the full day catamaran tour, and it was excellent. Beautiful scenery, great snorkeling, a nice lobster/chicken lunch, and overall a really fun and relaxing day. I took a scuba diving trip through the resort as well, and it was also very well organized. The reef has been damaged by the hurricane (lots of broken coral and siltation), but was quite interesting nonetheless. The catamaran and dive boat were very modern and well kept - much nicer than I expected. Everything from the dock facilities to the roads to the airport are modern and nice...my only previous experience of Cuba was 17 years ago and things have definitely changed (for the better) since then. Of interest, there is a very small "tourist flea market" close by where you can purchase souvenirs. Most people take the public bus, but the flea market is small and the bus schedule (while on time) isn't very frequent. A MUCH better option is to hire a taxi to take you to the market, and then to Lenny's Beachfront Grill. The scenery alone at Lenny's is work the drive (perhaps 15 minutes from the resort), and their seafood platter and fish filet were absolutely delicious. If you're interested, it cost us $35 to take a "modern" taxi from the resort to the flea market, Lenny's, and back. The taxi waited for us, and the driver was very friendly. Friends took a bus to the flea market, then hired a classic cab for the ride to Lenny's. Sadly, Cueva el Jabali (the Wild Boar Cave bar) was not open during our trip. We were really hoping to take advantage of this unique venue, and I highly recommend checking it out if you have the opportunity. It is very important to note that while hurricane Irma did extensive damage to the entire island of Cayo Coco the resort, the surrounding resorts, and all facilities/excursions are fully operational and in great shape. Please don't hesitate to select this resort (or any other in Cayo Coco) based on concerns about hurricane damage. The Cuban government has done a stupendous job of repairing infrastructure and getting facilities back online.

Grand Memories Santa Maria: Great resort

Very clean resort, spacious rooms, staff is awesome, they make sure that you have a good time, very good service. The beach is amazing, the staff on the beach are incredible. The food was fine. I would go back anytime!!

Sanctuary at Grand Memories Santa Maria: Amazing butler's

Sanctuary section makes vacation more intimate without sacrificing the amenities of a large resort . Rooms were spacious and beds comfortable. Maids did an excellent job and always left towel sculptures. Food was good for Cubian enjoyed the Itian restaurant and International restaurants Beach was powder soft white sands and due to a breeze there were always waves the 12 days we were there. Most of the time were carts available to take you where you wanted to go including the market. Ne [... read more]gative mosquitoes and no see ems

Resonance Blu Varadero: Poor experience

I got food poisoning in the last day of my trip and today is my 3rd day of having diarrhea, so I decided to see doctor. I've been told by the nurse that I am the 4th person there today who caught diarrhea from this hotel. I was like "wow" Overall the hotel was OK, staffs there are friendly and very easy to communicate, but I don't think I will ever go back to this hotel.

Resonance Blu Varadero: Great Christmas

Memories is a very large resort so be prepared to walk, but the layout works well and there are always carts. The food was typical Cuban fare. We never went hungry. The bar staff are all super! You can be quiet when you want. Or have a wold night of you want. Lots of kids....but they always had activities going for them. The entertainment team was good...but not as good as in years past. We were in block 31 and our housekeeping staff was EXCELLENT!! We always had a clean room towel [... read more]s toilet paper and beer pop and water in our fridge. Beds need updating the mattress wasnt very comfy Beach was beautiful as always. I think this resort may be under new ownership as some of the sineage is changing... We had a great time as we always do!