Muthu Colonial Hotel: Amazing beach, depressing resort

The hotel is way outdated with doors and windows that don’t close well, no hot water for two days, no light bulbs on stairs, no Mojito at the bars, poor food selection and full of Russian tourists. It says 4 stars, but in reality it is close to 3 stars.

Iberostar Waves Costa Dorada: Very happy with Iberostar

My best friend and I recently stayed at Iberostar. We were very happy with the resort. The rooms although slightly dated were very clean and the balcony was very nice. The food was great. Always stuffed and lots of variety. Vegetables and fruit very fresh. The pool was too cold for my liking but was very clean and pool bar was nice. I thought the entertainment was super cheesy but I guess that's just a matter of taste. The beach was our favorite part. Lots of shaded areas with ample chairs. Ther [... read more]e was quite a bit of seaweed but that's not something the resort can control. If you wanted to swim you had to walk to either side but not to far. Overall we had a great time and were super happy with our stay.

Iberostar Waves Quetzal: gorgeous resort.

We enjoyed there every minute. Service was excellent. There was variety of food. Lovely location with different cute birds and animals. Everybody was friendly and tried to bring us only good memories about our holidays.

Iberostar Waves Costa Dorada: Not a five star hotel

I would start with a positive note. The grounds, the public area, the territory are amazing. The staff is friendly and ready to help. The rooms need renovation including bathrooms The territory around beach , just some meters further away from the hotel, is littered with plastic, shoes, tyres, etc. Plenty of sea weed on the beach. The dining experience was not quite nice cause one day we had a big cockroach tasting our food on the plate who appeared from under the table. I have pictures an [... read more]d a video. Most vegetables served were quite overcooked.

Iberostar Waves Paraiso Beach: Great for families!

Air Transat: The transfer from the airport to the hotel was very nice. Clean, air conditioned and friendly service. It was a nice touch that the whole wedding group had a private transfer so we knew everyone on the bus and only had to stop at our hotel making the drive seem faster. The Air Transat rep was friendly, funny and good at relaying information about excursions. The one negative I would say is that she recommended the “free” shuttle to Playa Del Carmen. We understood that ther [... read more]e would be a couple stops prior and when we reserved our shuttle we checked with her to make sure that we would return to the hotel in time for the rehearsal dinner with the rest of the wedding group. She informed us that we would be back at the hotel by 5:30 at the very latest. At our second stop (the Tequila and gift shop) we had to wait about 45 minutes for the shuttle to come pick us up to bring us to Playa Del Carmen. We finally get there and upon arrival were informed to meet the shuttle for our return at 5:40... the bus was returning after the time we were told we would be back at our resort. We ended up having a quick lunch where we were dropped off and taking 2 cabs back to the resort. Unfortunately we never got a chance to “see” or walk around Playa Del Carmen and it was a wasted day that we could have spent back at our resort. Most of the other people in our group went to Playa Del Carmen in the following days, we told them to just take a cab and not waste their time with the “free” shuttle. Hotel - Check In was quick and simple. Because we were part of a wedding group they had everyone set up at a table ready to go. The resort itself is beautiful and well taken care of. We loved the open air lobby and the lobby bar as well as all the greenery and wildlife on and around the resort. It’s very spacious so you don’t feel crowded but that also means a lot of walking from your room to the restaurants or the beach. The shuttles did run fairly often enough but we found ourselves just walking most of the time. Pools - The pools we nice and clean and they had few swim up bars to choose from. They made whatever drink you requested from Mojitos to Mudslide or something special for the kids. The pool water was a little cooler than we would have liked but the kids of course still swam. There were a lot of lounger around the pools so we were usually able to find a few for our group without having to get up at 8 am to reserve them. The only negative was that there are no hot tubs. Only jacuzzi’s that are the same temperature as the pool. The only spot that hat any tru hot tubs is the spa. Restaurants - Service at all the restaurants were very good and fast. Nice atmosphere/decor, food was tasty and again plenty of drink options. Even the buffet restaurants were good. Spaces fill up quick for the specialty restaurants so I would recommend reserving them early. Rooms - The buildings are all 3 story walk ups so any one with limited mobility or in a wheel chair needs to be on the bottom floor. They offer bell boy service so that you don’t need to carry your luggage up 3 flights of stairs. No matter what side of the building you are on you get a decent view of either the pool or the grounds. The rooms weren’t too dated, they were clean and the maid service was good. The beds were 2 doubles, we would have preferred 2 queens but there was also a built in couch/futon that our other child slept on. Beds were fairly comfortable but you did feel every time the other person moves. Beach - Sand at the beach was soft, no sea shells or coral so you don’t need water shoes. They cleaned the sea weed every morning and it’s a long stretch of beach that you can walk along. There was lots of loungers and palapas to choose from and the snack bar/drink bar was close. There were a few days that the waves were really bad and the red flag was up. The lifeguards were amazing, we watched them save a couple of people. Kids Club - We went with our kids to the Star Club every day. They LOVED it there. Plenty of activities for all age groups. Very clean, modern and friendly staff. The kitchen had drinks and snacks available. There was a new PlayStation, the wii switch, a big couch, a hammock, rock climbing wall, trampolines with basketball nets, board games, crafts and art easels, jungle gym, a stage, outdoor playground and then a games room with disco for teenagers. Shows & activites - There were lots of activities and entertainment at the loud pool. One day they had a giant inflatable thing in the pool for the kids. That kept them entertained for hours! The kids shows at the theatre were fun and interactive. They were so impressed with the magic show. Overall we had a great family vacation and an enjoyable experience at the resort. We found that there weren’t too many kids there and a good balance of things for the kids and adults to do. Our only recommendation (and I’m not sure if other resorts do this since it was our first time doing an all inclusive with kids) would be that the resort give kids a different coloured glass when serving drinks. It was difficult to tell if their virgin pina coloda or sprite was theirs once they put it down. Any time we lost sight of their cup we would just get them a new drink to be on the safe side.

Iberostar Selection Holguin: Modern resort

This resort will be very nice in a year or so. It's brand new and some things are not ready for turists. For example the beach. One is right next to the buildings 25 and 26 and faces the river with small bay where you can smell diesel fumes from sand excavation boat which floats right in front of the beach. This sand is being supplied to the next beach which is few hundred meters away. Since this beach is only partially done it was extremely crowded. The other thing we were missing was outside g [... read more]rill. But this resort definitely deserves credit for excellent service and pleasant people. Unfortunately this resort is a bit too modern for us since we prefer more Cuban authenticity and greenery. If I would not yet recommend this resort that would be for beach issue only

JOIA Paraiso by Iberostar: WE LOVE THE GRAND- AGAIN AND STILL!

We had been to the Iberostar Grand 4 times previous and also to the Grand in Jamaica and Dominican Republic. This Grand is the best! Staff and management are outstanding, food exceptional and the buildings are gorgeous! We had a room overlooking the tranquility pool and it was lovely. Room service is always on time and still hot! You will not be disappointed here. Lots to see and do. There is a shopping mall, casino and plenty of grounds to wander around. This resort was and still is, our [... read more] favorite in the Mayan.

Iberostar Origin Bella Vista Varadero: Amazing time

we loved staying here! the drinks where amazing and the food was good! i have celiac and i always had alot to eat! the workers were very nice! you could buy hr internet cards for 1.45 canadian or 1 Paso. alot of people we spoke to who had been coming to cuba for years said this was the best resort they stayed at. They has salt peper and ketchup (alot of resorts in cuba dont) . we cant wait to go back to this resort! was truly an amazing time! beautiful beach, and you can walk anywhere safely!

Iberostar Waves Costa Dorada: Iberostar Costa Dorado

We were impressed with the appearance of the resort, clean, and well maintained. This was our first visit to an Iberostar property and first to Puerta Plata. Our previous 25+ resorts have been usually in Punta Cana, Myan Riviera and Jamaica. Our visit was from Jan 21 to 28, 2019. Our room was 5018 , stated to be a Ocean View room (more on that later) Rooms are set up as mini suite, with a King size bed and a sitting area. We had requested a ground floor room as there are no elevators and my [... read more] old knees can't handle stairs very well. The A/C is controlled by an on/off switch near the bed. There was no screen option to the patio door so outside ventilation was not an option . The bathroom appeared to have been updated, now with a shower only, unlike the advertised tub/shower. Water pressure in the shower was very low, only the rain shower worked, the wall mount shower only dribbled down. The bathroom is small, with room for only one at a time and the toilet is behind the door . There is only one pool centred between the buildings and while there was no shortage of chairs, can be crowded for seating . There are two rings of chairs surrounding the pool, cleverly separated by hedges also in rings almost giving a maze like look to the area. Contrary to signs posted , people were reserving the prime location chairs early in the morning, leaving just the outer ring chairs open for anyone not up at 7 AM . Service and friendliness from all staff was excellent and indeed is a huge plus for the resort. Most staff we encountered were excellent. The entertainment staff worked very hard and provided lots of options for activities, like volley ball, archery, horse shoes aerobics etc. Likewise in the evenings, band, shows etc were very good. Food and service in Sakura was one of the better one of it's type we have seen (out of about 8 similar)Reservations are easy to get and are for 1 1/2 hours , however a large party we shared the table with arrived a half hour late and put a bit of a rush on getting finished before the next group. The Chef and serving staff are to be commended for their patience and skills. Rodizio also provided very good food and service, but some care should be given to controlling the cats which had occasion to jump up on a table. Breakfast in both buffet locations was good with fresh fruit and cooked to order meals done very well.  Evening and lunch meals in the same were adequate, food was plentiful, kept well stocked with enough options, with some minor variation on theme specialties. Lobster cooked on flat grills tend to be quite charred in taste, perhaps open flame grilling would improve the taste /texture.  Note the two buffet restaurants are open sided to the outside and therefor not air conditioned and subject to visitation by birds. More then sufficient bars and product were available and at the pool side buffet even had self serve beer and soft drinks, however some poolside service would be an improvement. Our two major disappointments however, were the lack of VIEW from our beach view room 5018, which offered a view of Star Prestige Beach Club and the multiple vehicles dropping off supplies and guests and the quite noisy exchange between staff at 7:30 in the morning. and the lack of a bathtub in the room  as my wife looks forward to a relaxing tub at the end of day. Overall I would say the staff, service, well maintained grounds and food were pretty good. The Hotel is less modern, then we are accustomed to and reflect an older era. I think management is doing a good job trying to ensure quality, withing the limitations they are given.

Iberostar Origin Laguna Azul: Amazing resort

Staff were great and very friendly, front counter staff could use a little refresher on friendliness but overall they were good. Loved the pools and beach right there was perfect, a short ride to town; we took taxis as trying to get on the bus was impossible for 7 of us so we just bartered two cabs. Food was good, and had good variety.

Iberostar Origin Laguna Azul: Great resort

Hotel was good overall, staff were very friendly and always smiling. Food was good, we took our own ketchup from Canada(tip from fellow traveller there). Was nice to be right on the beach and walking distance to marina and a short drive to town for day trips

Iberostar Waves Paraiso Beach: Amazing Resort

It was a big resort but it didn't feel crowded. With everything well spaced out, you were never crowded. The beach was nice; bar close by, towel hut and food was available. The A La Carte Restaurant were superb, great food and great selections. As well as the buffet. The kids club was handy. The mall with the disco (free free free) was all part of the all inclusive. The shuttles to and fro was a godsend. Very clean and lots of hot water in the rooms. FYI: Do not take the "free" shuttl [... read more]e to Del Carmen. It's only a 20 minute drive, it took us 3 hrs. They do a stop at a jewelry store and then to the tequila store. They drop you off and then you have to wait for your shuttle to come back to pick you up to take you to Del Carmen.

Iberostar Origin Daiquiri: Unremarkable overall

I have been to Cuban all-inclusive resorts on four occasions so what follows has at least some basis for comparison. 1. Our room was always kept clean and tidy by the housekeeping staff. The room itself was a different matter. The couch, bed, and bathroom had seen better days. In fact the general "physical plant" of the resort was all but crumbling. Perhaps the most disconcerting issue with our room was the the door to our deck (which had a fantastic view of the beach and ocean) had no actual l [... read more]ock. While it was on the 3rd floor, a common balcony was next to it. I could go on about no mattress cover, peeling paint, mold in the bathroom but my observations should be clear. 2. The fridge worked some days and not others and was only stocked on the first day. It seemed to me and to those few I spoke to that requests to address issues was met with a simple transfer to another room (which often had different infrastructure problems). I realize that some of these issues were due to recent storms in the area, but many were clearly long-standing. Without doubt, the long beech was among the best I have walked on in my life. The greatest draw of this resort IMO. 3. I know that before we go to Cuba that the food will not be particularly tasty or varied. However, the food at this resort is in another category. First of all, the ques for having parts of meals (fried fish, omelettes, pancakes etc) were slow and long. One of the pizza cooks was using an two-deck oven where one of the decks was not working. Much of the food seems to have been frozen and reheated--even veggies. This was even the case at the ethnic restaurants. Prepared salads tended to be a creatively presented mix of aging veggies to the point that they became a kind of slush when put on people's plates. 4. Most of the workers were among the best I have ever encountered at any resort. I had a severe medical issue that was handled by the resort doctor and communications person with genuine care and promptness. The servers, gardeners, towel guys, and many of the bar/lunch places were excellent. Conclusion: while the crumbling physical plant and food were well below the 4* designation (even by Cuban standards) the genuine care and professionalism of the workers was outstanding and the beech was outstanding. If a beautiful natural surrounding and delightful staff mean more to you than average food and well maintained buildings and grounds I think you would enjoy going to Iberostar Daiquiri all-inclusive resort. Otherwise, you may wish to consider other options.

Iberostar Origin Laguna Azul: Not a 5 star!

This hotel might have been 5 star in the past but it is not 5 star anymore. The rooms were dated, the fans, showers heads, etc broken, mattress, bedding & towels old & worn out. The Japanese restaurant doesn't really serve Japanese food, they can call it anything but Japanese. The restaurant close to the beach doesn't keep the service & food until the exact closing time & the dishes were empty half-hour before closing time. The staff are polite & kind & the night shows were great.

Iberostar Selection Ensenachos: Family oriented resort

This is a family oriented resort. Nothing much to offer for adults entertainment and overall animation. Annoying that children have access to the bar lobby and kills the vibe if you want to enjoy a relaxing adult only experience. Rooms are spacious and clean in the Spa section_block 21 is perfect setting. Food is ordinary and we saw some cockroaches at the buffet walking on the counter. Avoid the food at the snack bar near the beach. Do not bother with A la carte restaurants since they serve  [... read more]the same thing at the buffet. Please bring lots of hand sanitizer since this is lacking Pathways to access the beaches in really poor conditions and dangerous. Great tennis courses and coach is amazing. Same for Joby from animation team that offered private boxing training every morning at the Spa section. Great coach and excellent training. Staff are friendly.

Iberostar Origin Playa Pilar: One persons opinion

The hotel was nothing special. My fridge was not stocked daily, my balcony door did not lock and my toiletries were not restocked daily. I did find the beds very uncomfortable after a couple days. The resort itself was nice and staff were friendly. My only complaint os that there was nowhere to buy bottles of water.

Iberostar Origin Laguna Azul: Needs some updating

The first rooms we were assigned to were terrible building 20 I believe. They were dated, dirty and not at all five star quality. After negotiating with front desk we ended up in building 16 which was where we stayed previously and it was nice! But not enough beds. Overall the resort has lovely grounds. Great pool ocean front is amazing. The entertainment was great! Only would recommend ocean view building 16!

Iberostar Waves Paraiso Beach: Good time

It was a good time, everything was spread out so lots of walking, lobby closed early every night. Good food, overall 3.5/5 would probably go back with better footwear. Staff was good to deal with, should be provided with a map of everything included including sister resorts.pool was colder than the ocean.

Iberostar Origin Laguna Azul: Hidden Gem

It was a beautiful hotel, accommodations were amazing, beach was great, and the staff was super friendly. What more could you ask for in a resort. Food was as best as cuba could offer, and the entertainment was superb.

Iberostar Origin Daiquiri: Pleasantly surprised!

Spent a week with friends at this budget friendly hotel and was pleasantly surprised. Having travelled to Cuba 4 times previously, I was well acquainted with the cuban cuisine, beautiful beaches and friendly people. The resort is approx. 40 mins from airport. Not a lot to see during the drive, major destruction to the vegetation caused by last year's hurricane. Area consists mostly of hotels, considerable distance from any town. There is a marina nearby for sailing and snorkelling. (I am a snork [... read more]elling enthusiast), not a great coral reef, but the catamaran excursion was still fun. The hotel is small (my preference) with lots to offer. The grounds are well maintained, the pool clean and the beach so beautiful. White powdery sand, lots of chairs and shade available. The water clean, warm, beautiful turquoise, some seaweed growing in areas, beach cleaned regularly. Catamaran, paddle boats, and banana boat activities available short walk down beach. Also parasailing available for very good price, we were able to stay up for 20 mins. and got as high as 480 to 500 meters, very good experience if you get the right weather. The area is very popular for kite surfers as well, provided incredible entertainment on windy days. The hotel itself is older and as I mentioned fairly well maintained. Didn't request upgraded room when booking, took deal of the day pricing. The room I had was clean and comfortable, new mattress, new pillows, etc. Everything worked, view was of pool and oceanview. (All rooms are oceanview) Air conditioner worked, lots of hot water,mini bar stocked daily with water, beer and soft drinks, maid service was excellent. The staff are excellent and try very hard to please it's guests. Check In was well organized, bags portered, no wait for rooms, etc. Desk staff spoke good English and very friendly. Money exchange at lobby desk was actually better than bank! There is a bank on site at the resort. WiFi cost very reasonable for 1 peso/per hour in lobby area, range extended to pool/room area depending on device. Lobby bar by far the most popular for drinks including best coffee, but no smoking restrictions may be problem at times. Dining was a pleasant surprise. Buffet offered many selections and variety. If you like fish you will be very happy, beautiful fresh,local fish/seafood grilled to your liking (sea bass, mahi mahi, baracuda, snapper, large shrimp, and others). For the meat lovers, there was fresh grilled to your preference: pork, chicken, beef, bacon for breakfast if desired. Everything was cooked fresh. Lots of salads, breads, beautiful cheeses, fruit of all kinds. There was a pasta station, pizza station, different stations for different nights. One night sushi, another night amazing burgers need I say more. I can't comment on the desserts as they are not my thing, but I can say the ice cream cannot be resisted. Line ups, yes unfortunately at times, but that is why you book al la cartes, there are three of them, Italian, Mexican and Cuban. Besides line ups are a great way to meet fellow guests. The entertainment was nice, the dancers were very good, couple of ok magic shows, but what I enjoyed most was the informal music in the lobby bar area, local cuban music bands and singers all very, very good. If you like cuban music don't miss out on a opportunity to see the legendary Buena Vista Social Club, not too far from hotel for 25CUC's, up close and personal, small venue for this renowned performance. There are few places I would return to as I love to travel and there is a big world out there to see, but I just might go back to this place. But I would definitely recommend it to the budget minded traveller, lots of bang for your buck!!