Starfish Cuatro Palmas: Another enjoyable stay

Beautiful Small hotel in touristy area of a tourist town, beautiful beach, older hotel but clean, food is as available and well prepared, main buffet is still being renovated, the a la cartes are very well presented, the staff is a joy. If you are prepared to deal with Cuba shortages and touristy activities and music going on past 9:30 pm, you can let yourself have an excellent vacation. We are already preparing to return. Star rating for food allows for Cuba shortages, what they can get you c [... read more]an have.

Sol Rio de Luna y Mares: Returning guests

4th time back, can’t wait till the Reno is done, but it did not effect the amazing atmosphere of Sol Rio, the beautiful surroundings, beach and the staff are what makes this place special and keeps us coming back.. now, to be brutally honest as I’ve seen a lot of mixed reviews.. IF YOU ARE a picky eater, perhaps Cuba is not for you, but if not there’s tons of amazing food to choose from every day! Rice, pasta, chicken, pork, fish, salads and fresh fruits!! Alcohol- lots of rum, wine, mimosas, be [... read more]er, however - we did not have vodka or tequila for most of our stay. It did pop up a couple nights though. Overall if you want to have a nice relaxing vacation, this is the spot, amazing service, never crowded and a beach that is an absolute gem.

Resonance Blu Varadero: Memories Varadero Beach Poor Hotel Management

We paid for Diamond Club and had none of it, apparently we were in a renovated room Upon our arrival Day 1 No internet, safe not working, no hot water, no phone in rooms to call Lobby which was 1 km away, no Diamond Club service on the beach the whole week They shut down the only buffet and forced us to 3 a la cart restaurants which was a shit show Ran out of plastic cups, beer, vodka the list goes on We have been coming to cuba for over 20 years and never experienced such cayos in my lif [... read more]e We understand Cuba .. people are always great and housekeeping were wonderful as well as weather but the running and management of this hotel is to be desired Making us rethink Cuba vacations

Royalton Cayo Santa Maria: Stunning beach, resort and amazing service.

The Royalton Cayo Santa Maria is one of the most stunning beaches and compares to Turks. You can walk easily on the white sand for hours. You can get a palapa on the beach or pool at any time of the day. The pools offer spacious beds and surrounded by palm trees. The garden is lush with vibrant colours. The butler service Michele made our 23rd wedding anniversary very special from ballon’s, flowers, cake and bubble bath. There is an abundance of food leaving you satisfied. Highly recommend the c [... read more]appuccinos, croissants in the morning, quesadillas by the beach and fish options. My hubbys favourite dish was octopus with pasta. The staff is exceptional, friendly and keeps property clean. We had to use the medical services which were also available, quick and rectified our hiccup. If you’re looking to retreat to a quiet adult only property this is great one. Recommend bringing a bubba for the beach, bug spray and sweater for breezy evenings.

Royalton Hicacos Resort and Spa: Exceptional service

The trip we took in April of 2024 was amazing at this resort. Thankfully the mosquitos did not bother me but my friend did get bit, I maybe got 3 but that has nothing to do with the resort. The beachfront and beach bar/restaurant are both beautiful. We booked the Junior Superior room which is one of the newly renovated rooms and it was amazing. The only hitch is the butler didn't show us how to work the lights etc. so it was by trial and error. We also didn't get a proper tour of the resort. We  [... read more]were told our orientation by Sunwing was in the lobby the next day only to find out it was at the sunwing office located on the resort after waiting 15 mins in the lobby so we missed that as well. I will never fly Sunwing again, 2 hour delay departing and absolutely no entertainment on the plane, not even music. The buffet and food was always plentiful, room was made up everyday, staff are so helpful. Shout out to Marion who went above and beyond to arrange a reservation for lunch in Varadero. One other perk was our room was decorated when we arrived for my friend's 50th birthday. Well done!!! I most likely will go back but typically I don't like to go to the same resort all the time.

Resonance Blu Varadero: Great Resort

Hotel very clean..grounds are beautiful...staff were excellent.... Shortages on food...but staff tried to accommodate everyone... Entertainment staff very friendly hard-working people... Shortages on alcohol and beer... But you'll find something to drink....... Diamond club.. don't waste your money we got nothing that was offered on the website...

Melia Varadero: Amazing Resort! Exceeded expectations

This is my 1st vacation to Varadero/Cuba and was so lucky to land Melia Varadero...Such an mazing stay, service, and all...I would not say too much as what has already been mentioned here by others and in details...a unique experience and get away. Whether its food, restaurants, rooms, bars, entertainments, grounds or beach...it was just all together top of the top! A special thanks to all the dedicated amazing hard working and big heart/smiling staff of the main buffet restaurant...also the inc [... read more]redible top team of the main bar...Best Cuba Tuesday BBQ party, and also Saturday night beach party!! these guys know how to party and bring in the best to the beach!! A few minor things to mention but perhaps will just pass them to management later... In my opinion, this place is epic...do not even 2nd think about "Melina Varadero" this is where to be and where to go back again and again...

Gran Muthu Imperial: Great resort

I took my family there for the first time and we had a great time. Beach was wonderful and the staff were always ready to assist us. We had great service and had enough food that we did not starve. We may not go back as we like an adults only resort.

Sanctuary at Grand Memories Santa Maria: Worst trip ever!

Bathrooms were disgusting…never any toilet paper …always over flowing Food was the worst in over 20 visits One couple got locked in their room…over 3 hours One of our guests got a cockroach in her mouth No cushions on the seats at the buffet at sanctuary .. but there were at Grand memories… we just had staples to sit on No wine the whole 2 weeks ..except the last day Last day had no choice but to eat at the buffet at Grand Memories….we paid more to eat and drink at Sanctuary …should not ha [... read more]ve been forced to go elsewhere Bartenders at the pool were downright rude I can go on but I voiced my opinion… I am done with Cuba Sunwing reps say it’s management, management says it’s Sunwing Someone should get their act together they are destroying what used to be a great vacation

Grand Aston Cayo Paredon Beach Resort: Beautiful resort and amazing beach

April 2024 Resort is very nice, clean and well maintained. Staff are pleasant and always available and eager to help. Beautiful pools for all ages. A la carte restaurant are really good especially the Italian and Brazilian. The buffet was well set up and fresh fish, chicken and steak is available made in front of you. Breakfast was great, fresh egg and omelette stations as well as fresh smoothie station. We had a great time and would recommend this resort.

Grand Aston Varadero Beach Resort: Amazone resort!!

All is perfect! Hotel super clean, nice Staff, good service, entertainment sufficient not too much! Food is good if you compare to other Cuban hotels. Not too far away from dowtown Varadero, about 10 minutes by car.

Iberostar Origin Playa Alameda: Nice, small resort

The best thing about this resort is the staff. I did not like the layout . I did not like the bar being in a separate room. The lobby is not a gathering spot. No day time entertainment, no bingo ect...

Valentin El Patriarca Varadero: Stay away from this hotel!!!!

Literally no food, no sheets,no towels,not enough beach or pool chairs, people reserve their chairs in the middle of the night. Terrible service as well. The only good thing was the wheather. I will never go back to that place. If anyone wants to go because of the low price take with you food,towels and sheets.

Starfish Jibacoa: Far Exceeded Expectations!

If you’re looking for true Cuban culture and looking for a connection, the Starfish Jibacoa is the place to go. This is not a 5 star modern hotel and that’s exactly what we wanted. Everyone is different and seek out their own travel experience and if you’re looking for ultra modern and sleek- this is not the place for you and move on. If you’re looking to truly feel a connection to the wonderful people who work at the resort, to the local community, to the food, beaches, environment, natur [... read more]al habitats and wildlife with stunning sunrises and sunsets- click book right now. I’ve been to multiple resorts and this is the first one where I walked off the shuttle upon arrival, and I felt like I was at peace in a setting that’s safe and friendly from first step. I felt like I could relax and enjoy right with check in and seeing the beach as you walk to your room. If simple, easy and small is what you’re looking for, the Starfish Jibacoa is for you. Resort/Grounds/Beach Well kept- lots of seaweed in the am and garbage that floated up from other locations. Many guests helped with cleaning it. However, a tractor combs the beach each morning cleaning the debris. 3 major beach sections. One in front of the lobby bar. One section over in front the 20/21 block rooms. Last one over by the pool area. There were a couple of rope style hammocks to use but certainly could use more if anyone wants to bring some to donate. Sand was nice and cool and the beach was fun for shell hunting. Many tourists were out for 7am for the stunning sunrise daily. Do not miss it, you’ll regret sleeping in. Lots of seats and there was never a day you couldn’t get a beach chair to lazily suntan. The beach by the lobby even has beach service for a period of time. Always wear water shoes as there is a lot of coral (amazing for snorkeling on calmer ocean days). Lots of ocean life- sea urchins, little stingrays, crabs, fish, barracudas and one day a Portuguese Man-O-war washed up dead on the shore and a warning was placed to the guests. Amazing awareness! We were in the ocean water every day but one only because we were on an excursion for the day. There are lifeguards on duty. Armando is a character with the biggest heart. Make sure you introduce yourself! Always cleaned- coconut trees were trimmed and coconuts cut down often to avoid falling accidents. Grass/greenery addressed daily by the many hardworking landscape staff. Walking the entire grounds is accessible and just lovely to see all of the flowering trees, palm and coconut trees, the many birds and resort animals of cats and dogs which are very well cared for. Anna who works in the lobby is one of the most passionate and kind individuals who goes out of her way to get many of them neutered/spayed and treatment as needed. Many of these animals can be adoptable with the right steps if that’s of interest. Emilio would be so happy to pluck some flowers to present to anyone. One of the sweetest men we encountered. 2 pools- One adult/one child (under reno). When we arrived we did notice the pools were less than desirable by comparison to other resorts. The reason for this, they are old. This resort was built in the 60s- I believe- so it’s definitely needing a facelift in a few areas, and the powers that be do know this. Anyone who is familiar with Cuba knows there are shortages and it’s takes much much longer to address certain areas of concern than our home countries. So in both pools, the linings are ripped and separating from the base. During our stay, they announced that they were about to renovate the childs’ pool (which is almost equal in size to the adult pool, just much more shallow). The other major difference between the childs’ pool and the adult pool- it’s accessible. So, this is presumed to be the rationale to address this pool first but we were informed that both are being repaired. They were clean, skimmed and chemical treated daily. I look forward to seeing them fixed up on our next trip. There are seats on the deck around the pool but one suggestion I would have would be more umbrellas/shade producing structures and I think the pool would be used more than it was. The rays of the sun in midday can be quite oppressive. Shade structures that could cast some shade on the pool is definitely a wish list request. There’s a pool bar (not swim up) conveniently located off the adult pool. The staff there were hilarious and lots of fun. The towel exchange hut is located there and they play music during the day there. Sometimes, admittedly I found the music a tad loud but I also recognize I’m an old chick who likes a lower volume. Snack bar by the pool- will discuss more in the food section. Store- There are two stores on the resort. One primarily for tourists. You can only pay USD in cash but can purchase goods with a CDN (non-American) credit card. We did the credit card option as we did not bring USD, only CDN. Lots of rum options, other liqueurs (Vodka, tequila, brandy, beers etc). FYI- the prices of the rum were much more reasonable at this store vs the airport. If you plan to bring some back home, buy it at the store. There are cigars, cigarettes, souvenirs, pop (limited selection this time) and some hygiene items. The second store takes only CUP as payment and is often used by locals to purchase items. I did see a small market at a private residence up the street but we never did make it there to check it out. If you want extensive shopping, you will want to go to Havana. Theatre- There’s a large theatre behind the pool in kind of a hexagon shape. It’s quite large, but dark on the inside. It was not used during our stay which is a shame. Would have been cool to have some entertainment in there during the height of the days’ sun rays as a way to escape the heat. Can have kid friendly activities in there or fun adult ones like a rum tasting, drinking games, dance lessons etc.. The Rooms- There are a bunch of smaller rooms that face the ocean that mostly have 2 double beds, a large bathroom with a shower only (no tub). We stayed in one of these. We had hot water daily. A working safe, air conditioning and some funky local television viewing. But really, how often are you in your room? You have a bar fridge in all rooms. There are larger rooms with a similar layout in the second/third rows behind the smaller older ones. Also very comfortable. There are apartment style rooms that are currently under construction as you enter the resort and we’re told those should be finished in the next 3-6mths. People/Staff- Oh boy, this one is hard to write because almost EVERY SINGLE STAFF member makes you truly feel like you’ve known them for a lifetime. When you hear the cheesy “feels like family” statement, many of us just roll our eyes .. BUT.. here, you REALLY do feel this way. We were actually emotional on departure day because you feel like you’re leaving people you’ve loved for years. Another friend of ours, who is now a somewhat of a celebrity on resort (haha) was visibly emotional when he departed and I truly understand why. You start your trip with people like Anna and Yaraimi at the reception desk. You’ll meet Niurka, Yanet and Dian who help with guest relations and are just all around people pleasers. Dian even officiated a symbolic wedding that took place while we were there. It was truly beautiful. They are fantastic. ALL of the bar staff are just lovely and do their best to make some great drinks but the shortages really affect this. I didn’t get everyones’ name, sadly, but all were just wonderful. Will elaborate more on the drinks in the food/drink section. The men who tend to the grounds are so hard working in the heat of the sun so please don’t forget them when tipping/gifting. The (mostly) ladies who clean your rooms are kind and trust worthy. You have absolutely nothing to worry about and if you need a replacement of something, just let them know and they’ll get it for you. The buffet staff, my lord, some of the most friendly hard working people you’ll ever meet. You’ll meet Grisel with a giant smile and hug as you enter the buffet. You’ll meet people like Jose, Nidia, Ana, Victor, Yianni (I’m sorry if I’m spelling her name incorrectly) who will take care of you at your table. Everyone at the service stations are so friendly and do what they can to make your experience one to remember. The meat/egg station, pasta station, seafood stations sure can take a bit longer as they are cooking the food fresh for you- be patient and tip them. They bust their butts and still smile! I didn’t get everyones’ name sadly but there was only one person to avoid and oddly it’s the head manager of the hotel. My goodness, this man is a miserable sod. Rarely smiling, always frowning, we personally watched him berate his staff in front of the guests, for no real reason (at least to our observation). He’s a typical micro-manager. Walking around on his cell phone all the time and always one of the first to get his own food during the buffet times. His name is Faousy but if you’re reading this- positive reinforcement and constructive criticism when warranted goes much further than yelling, and putting down your hard working staff. People will want to work for you, rather than actively avoid your miserable self. Learn to be kind to your staff. It works, I promise you. Food/Drink There’s one buffet that’s open 0730-1000 for breakfast, 1300-1500 for lunch and 1900-2200 (or 2100? Can’t recall) for dinner service. There are no a la carte restaurants at the moment but there’s a hope for them to return in the future. The food was plentiful, varied and delicious. The people who work in the buffet have got to be some of the most kind, friendly and funny staff- make sure you return in kind and tip with generosity if you can. Tips are not expected but of course welcomed. While the staff cannot exchange CDN coin with their local banks, many of the tourists will exchange the coins for paper currency at the end of their individual stays, which is what we did to help out that staff. CDN/USD and CUP are all welcomed forms of tipping. By the end of your stay, you will truly feel like family when you’re greeted with the biggest of smiles and hugs, Nidia acknowledging you as her “babies”. Such beautiful souls who often work 16+ hour days. Be kind. When was the last time you had to be on your feet for nearly 16 hours straight? There’s a cold items/salad/cereal (for breakfast) station on the left as you enter the buffet. You’ll find deli style ham, sliced and cubed cheese, tons of veggies and sometimes olives and pickles. You’ll also find sauces like mayo, vinegars, oils for salads and some dressings. Next you’ll find a hot food section of multiple stations. In the morning, it’s usually a variety of types of eggs- scrambled, hard boiled, fried, over easy and even poached. At lunch and dinner you’ll find soups, pastas- including a version of baked lasagna, rice (multiple types) and the coveted black beans (a personal favourite). Next to this, there’s often homemade pizzas and paella type rice. Then you’ll encounter the meat station and when I say, they have everything, I mean it. Pork, beef, chicken, calamari. And there’s a staff member who will cook up the meats on the flat top in front of you. They will do eggs to order in the morning. Next in the line, there’s a warming station and they had different items daily. The morning croquettes were truly delicious! They had pancakes and French toast, but the syrup is not what you’re used to. Still delicious. But you’ll also find mashed potatoes, yams, sausage mixtures, lobster pieces, bacon in the morning, you will not starve. Across the floor from this station, is the pasta station where they’ll prep you a portion of pasta with either a red or white sauce with a variety of options. Sometimes they had garlic, pesto, a variety of veggie options, ham lardons and so on. You continue down and you’ll find the bread section and there were no shortages while we were there. Lots of bread, rolls and butter the whole week. Next you’ll find the fruit and dessert area. So many cookies, cakes and ice cream daily. Lastly, you’ll find the seafood station at the end. Almost every night we had lobster whether in pieces at the meat station or freshly cooked half lobster at the seafood station. Many different white fishes made the rotation and fresh calamari on our 2nd last night. Just wonderful! Anyone who says there’s no variety needs to reevaluate themselves. I loved that it was NOT junk like hot dogs, fries, burgers etc. I don’t go to Cuba for food I get at home. Drinks are often the standard you can get at any resort. Wine (red and white), beer (Cristal at the buffet, Bucanaro at the lobby bar), coffee, water, pops and alcohol at the 2 bars. Some days, there was no milk for coffees but many guests bring powdered milk to help. Drink mixes were limited to a local version of Sprite/7Up for the week. Again, this is NOT their fault so be kind. The 2nd last day of our stay, they were able to get lemonade, orange pop and a cola. If you’re looking for fancy fru fru drinks that won’t happen right now during the shortages. If you MUST have certain beverages, bring stuff to make them. Such as tea, sweetener (they had plenty of sugar), water enhancers for those of us who have to watch our sugar content. Lastly, they have a late night food cart just outside the lobby bar for late night eats. We never used it during our stay (I’m an early riser) but I hear it hit the spot when you’re feeling peckish. Entertainment/Excursions Sadly, this is where the resort is lacking. There was a trio of staff- two women and one man- who were apparently the entertainment staff and they did the walking tour. They were friendly and went around introducing themselves but there wasn’t much else. There was some music from live performers a couple of nights and a beach party one night. This can be improved for sure. There’s a little hut over by the pool that says it’s for Animacion but nothing was listed of what to expect to occur in the day. A few suggestions- informal dance lessons, yoga mornings, drinking games for the adults, pool games (once repaired), pool exercises, interactive guest games like a dance contest, or silly activity contest, rum tasting or cigar rolling. The airline excursions or non-hotel related excursions are your only options and most of them surrounded Havana. While I do appreciate the Havana is a huge tourist draw with so much to see and do, not everyone wants to go to the city to experience this culture. It can be very overwhelming with those begging. I respect it’s very hard times in Cuba right now and understand why this happens but a family we were on the tour with was swarmed and that was a bit unnerving. There are water related activities such as fishing/scuba diving for those who are enthusiastic about about that stuff. A local tour to Mantanzas or this Hershey Train I heard a lot about would have been great. Yes, you can hire a private tour guide for this but the prices from some of them were pretty high (personal opinion). I’d love to see a tour of a local farm, closer significant sites in Mantanzas, a local restaurant or market trip. At another resort we’ve frequently they have what’s called a “3 towns” tour and you can see a local school, a local farm, a local site in the mountains to take photos of. There’s opportunity for a horse excursion as we did see horse rides offered on the beach from a private tour person. They also had a private individual offering paragliding which we would have done but the winds were too strong in the last couple of days after we learned about it. Having more tours and off resort options would only benefit the Starfish Jibacoa. A couple of other ideas for guest interaction and encouraging repeat customers that was a very popular option at another similar resort to the Starfish- a repeaters wall and a repeaters dinner. The repeaters dinner was offered to repeat guests once during their stay. Where we sit down family style to a special table served meal as a thank you to guests who come back over and over. Another idea is the repeaters wall. On this wall, there was a local artist employed at the resort who would paint simple scenes on a couple of designated walls for a small fee and include your names and years attended. Essentially, your names are visible and honoured on these walls for all to see. It was always fun to add a new year to your painted scene each year you returned. The last time we saw these walls was in 2019 at this other resort pre-COVID and it was a sight to see and a source of pride. Airline/Transport We flew down on Air Canada Rouge from Pearson Airport in Toronto and the experience was bar none and our first with Air Canada. We had heard some awful horror stories about AC but took the chance as the flight arrives in Varadero just before lunch, a great arrival time. Well, we were not disappointed. The airline departed and arrived on time (or early) for both flights there and back. The AC rep was visible and friendly upon arrival in Varadero. Pointed us to our bus transfer effectively and the commute from the airport to the Starfish Jibacoa is only an hour. There were a couple of flight attendants who were maybe a bit grumpy or having a bad day (benefit of the doubt) but most were friendly. I mean, I wouldn’t want to deal with crappy tourists all day either but it’s the job. A few things to note: Daily, while seated on the beach, there will be people who walk back and forth trying to sell items or request items to be donated. Most of them are just trying to make a living, I get it but some can be a bit pushy so stand your ground. As non-guests, they cannot come up very far from the beach shore so will call you down to sell you their goods. Common goods are cigarettes, cigars, straw hats, beaded jewellery, local fruits like bananas, coffee or services like cutting open a fresh coconut for drinking or hair braiding. Use your own discretion for this. The mosquitoes are ravenous. Bring coils, high deet concentrated repellents as yours truly was their dinner all week. Be mindful of disposing your trash. So many tossed cigarette butts into the sand, or left their empty cups on the beach. Come on people, grow up and be kind to the environment. This trip, most were courteous with their smoking as it’s allowed most places in Cuba (not the lobby inside and not the buffet) but that’s not always the case. I respect that you can smoke, please respect that I choose not to as well and we’ll cohabitate just fine for the duration of the trip. In sum- Our experience at the Starfish Jibacoa was so deeply profound and meaningful to us, we are hoping to return later this year. If you’re not a fancy person, want to meet some amazing people (both staff and guests) and have a fantastic relaxing holiday- you won’t be disappointed. We will be back.

Roc Arenas Doradas: Great Resort!

First time visiting this resort and we were pleased! The beach was very clean, and a great location just a few minutes walk from the resort! The grounds of the resort were well maintained. We stayed in building number 2 which was a little dated but we didn’t mind as we don’t spend much time in our room. The location of everything was very close which we liked!

Grand Aston Cayo Paredon Beach Resort: Wonderful time

The resort was clean and full of amazing people ready to make your trip memorable. The shows were entertaining & full of talented artists! The pools were gorgeous and the drinks always flowing. We would return for sure!

Gran Muthu Almirante Beach Resort: Absolutely Amazing!

This hotel was very modern and clean. Staff were friendly and helpful. The beach was great. My only issue is you have to get there by 7:30am or all of the palapas are taken. You can always get a lounger though. I also found the beach loud at times with party music and one day there was drilling as there was some construction. Food was delicious, nightly karaoke was fun. Wifi was choppy and kicked me off a lot and we couldn’t have access to it until the next morning when we arrived late at night. [... read more] The size of the resort and the lay out was good. Things were easy to find and access. Overall, it was one of the nicest resorts I’ve been to and I would definitely Go back.

Sol Cayo Santa Maria: Naturalist Cuban Paradise

We had a fantastic, unforgettable, time in Cuba, March 27-April 7, 2024. (long review, multiple Sub-Topics). Beautiful beaches and fantastic weather. In regards to the resort, we can only compare it to our experience from last year at a 5-Star Resort, Melia Buenavista. Both resorts are small and are Adult Only. SOL changed from family after Covid. Both have Naturist beach sections. Of course it is an unfair comparison but the resorts are near each other and both operate by the same Foreign C [... read more]orporation. First, I should point out I did a surprise Marriage Proposal while in Cuba. A country we are both truly happy and ecstatic to visit. EXCURSIONS We met the Air Transat Representative the first morning. The times he is there are posted beside the lobby desk. We immediately booked the Tuesday, Sunset Lobster Dinner Catamaran Cruise and it is when we got engaged to be married. NOTE, sunset was on the Catamaran and dinner was at One Gallery Resort at 9pm. (bring snacks). A heads up to everyone regarding the Saturday, Havana Bus Excursion. We spoke to the Air Transat rep, Rusbel Santiago, and told him we wanted to go to Havana. He said there was a Saturday bus tour going. We said we would prefer to fly there. He said Air Transat does not support that tour. We asked how long the bus ride is each way and he said 4.5 hours, in fact it is closer to 5.5 hours. Again we said we prefer plane. The total excursion was 21 hour trip (Rusbel had suggested it was 15 hours). I asked for link about the tour and I never received it. I also asked if the price was Canadian and he said yes. After the credit card alert came through it was US$. During the trip we spoke with our tour guide, I discovered that the SAME TOUR GUIDE does the Wednesday Havana Plane Tour Excursion, 12 hour total trip! And the difference in cost was only about $20 more each. I was furious that Rusbel did not have the courtesy to tell us about it. He knew about it because he is friends with the tour guide as the tour guide joked that Rusbel has a huge appetite. The guide kept referring to Rusbel as one of his Salesman! You cannot believe everything Rusbel tells you. He skirts on the truth, I believe he had personal interests in having us book through him on the bus verses on the plane through someone else. I kick myself for not doing research and having blind faith that everyone is looking after your best interest. That is certainly not the case in this experience. My Fiance did not recover from the grueling long bus ride for another whole day. For the Havana Plane Tour go next door to Melia Cayo Santa Maria (CSM) at 9am and speak with their Excursion Representative at their desk in the main lobby. ROOMS The rooms are newly renovated, they look fresh and modern. They have these cool blue LED lights around the room, NOTE, they can be turned off; there is a small metal button on the wall (near the lights) that looks like a dime inside a quarter. You need only TOUCH them to turn OFF/ON the lights. (capacitance switch). NOTE, they are still running on the infrastructure of 70 years ago (I do not think the sewer stacks were changed inside the building; an oversight they may regret in the near future). The hot water supply/pipes are old, one room barely had luke warm water. Unfortunately, we had to change rooms at SOL three times for various reasons. Yes, an inconvenience but was worth it as we finally were happily settled after the fourth night. WIFI Unfortunately, WIFI signal strength varied, room to room. If you require a good signal, check it before you unpack. WIFI was great in the general lobby area and buffet restaurant. FOOD I did not have any issues with food there for both years even though I'm a fussy eater; I go to Cuba expecting less due to possible shortages and prepared for it. (more later in this). My beautiful Fiance on the other hand had issues last year at the 5-star and no issues this year. We were there for 11 nights and eggs were not available on only two mornings. That's incredible considering the neighbour Melia CSM never seemed to have any eggs! Bring your own Ketchup. SHORTAGES Items mentioned below occurred during our stay but keep in mind that things change on a daily and weekly basis. COFFEE Coffee on the other hand was less available. We knew this might be an issue because we joined an active FB group, "Friends of Sol CSM". So in preparation we purchased a 220V portable kettle and McDonald's instant coffee from Amazon. Best thing we ever did. Made coffee in 4 minutes every morning! PIZZA I give this a separate topic because it was something that was mentioned numerous times by many repeat guests. The SOL has an actual Pizza Building on the resort with tables and chairs. Unfortunately, it was not open during our stay. We heard it was open earlier in the year but it closed because they lost their water supply to that location. The SOL main restaurant/buffet building also had a Pizza Oven! But again it was not being used. A guest that was there in December said it was working then and there were constant long lines for their delicious pizza. WATER There is another shortage that was not mentioned. Bottled water. Our first day, we were provided in the room, a large bottle of water, the next day, two small bottles. After that none. Each night we had to scout places and ways to get water. Not the easiest task. There appears to be internal struggles between the front desk, bar and restaurant. Instead of helping front desk with client requests, they do not share the valuable commodity. So seek your own source of water and remember a tip goes a long way. TOILET PAPER Toilet paper is a rare item throughout Cuba as we discovered on a day trip to Havana. Bring a couple of rolls for back up, even for your room! Ladies may want to carry the Kleenex travel packs with them at ALL times. FRESH BREAD/BUNS Fortunately, this is baked daily at SOL and there were never any ingredient shortages. And wow, their buns are delicious. REPAIRS Repairs /maintenance seems to be hit or miss. Usually miss, but that is expected as it is a small resort and it is likely not feasible to have a full time handyman. FRONT DESK Speaking of front desk, the STAFF really tries hard to help you but it seems that they are not given the AUTHORITY to actually get things done. Each request seems to pass through one manager to another and then await approval. Unlike last year at the 5-star we had two butlers assigned to our needs, (alternated days but they communicated to each other); there, all of our requests were taken care of immediately without question. DOCTOR There is no doctor on-site. The on-site Doctor at Melia CSM next door is available for SOL guests; ask front desk for a shuttle ride; 24/7. I used this service for a broken blood vessel that kept getting bigger and also had a cut on my foot that needed disinfecting. There was no charge for the service but the Doctor glady accepted the $5CAD tip that I insisted she take. And since the bell boy, Raul, waited for me and drove me back, he got a tip too; it was late evening and the Melia CSM 24 hour restaurant was not busy so I got two pizzas to go! Staff & TIPS Take the time to talk to the staff and learn a bit of their way of life. It may open your eyes to their struggles and it makes your minor inconveniences seem petty. We were constantly looking for ways to tip and which dollar store gift to give to whom so they appreciate it more because they really needed it. You can really tell when you give a gift that they needed; their reaction and smile is very heart warming. Currency When it comes to money, bring bills that have NO CREASES, rips, cuts, pen marks, etc. The Cubian banks are very, very fussy and will not accept bills with visible worn creases. One guest we met actually ordered new uncirculated $5CAD bills from the bank a week before going. LOONIES & TWOONIES Sure, you can bring loonies and twoonies for tips but you better buy them back with bills when you get asked. Personally, we prefer using US$ bills as it is less weight and cumbersome. Just before you leave to come home to Canada, go around and offer to purchase old bills or coins from the staff to help them. So bring extra new looking $20 bills for this purpose. FLEA MARKET WARNING, if you go to the Flea Market, they do not have credit card POS terminals. Cash only, US cash to be specific. Most places will charge you DOUBLE the US price if you pay in CAD$. CREDIT CARDS Oh, all purchases with credit cards will require your signature even though you have to use a PIN. I suppose the banks want that extra security in case you dispute the charges. And they do not give you an itemized POS receipt like they do here. It's just a copy of the credit card slip. If you like keeping track of purchases, bring a pen with you. PALAPALAS ON NATURIST SIDE A strange thing started happening on the Naturist beach. There was always overflow in the number of people verses Palapalas. We started waking up at 5am to reserve a place we preferred. Each time I ran into 4 or 5 others at that time of morning doing the same! The Naturist sign position has become Dynamic in that it seems to move daily. But each day you can see there is overflow into the Textile section. The Naturist side has grown significantly compared to last year. It spans almost to the Beach Bar now. REIKI MASTER If you have a minor health issues, book a Reiki treatment with Roberto in The Gym. He is a 19-year Reiki Master and receives yearly, a two week refresher/update training, from his Master. Without knowing in advance Roberto told me of what he found with my body! He even mentioned something I did not know and will have to get checked by an MD here. GYM If you are a fitness fanatic, they have a state of art Gym with the latest new equipment! Super surprising considering the shortages of consumables they experience on a daily basis. New equipment arrived while we were there! EVENINGS There are biting insects when the sun goes down; bring insect repellent with you. We used Muskol, others had Off. If it has 15% Deet, it works well. ENTERTAINMENT There was no April calendar of events (saw one for March). It seemed hit or miss if there was going to be a 9:30 show. It seems they try to book shows but they may not show up. At the minimum there was usually music and line dancing lessons. YES, We recommend going there if you are a Naturist. Remember, you are going for the sun, beaches, weather and kind hospitality of the Cubans. Do not expect to have unlimited options in food choices. Do not expect to have all the amenities you have in Canada. Be thankful for what you do get and enjoy yourself. SOL, has the potential to be much more for Naturist. But limitations from the government may not allow it.

Playa Cayo Santa Maria: Beautiful Cayo Santa Maria

Playa Cayo Santa Maria is a great resort for families, couples and singles. It has something for everyone, kids club, gym, quiet pools, main pool with swim up bar and an amazing beach. The resort is well kept with comfortable rooms . The buffet was well stocked and the a la cartes were also very nice. Claudia went out of her way to ensure we had a wonderful vacation.

Iberostar Selection Esmeralda: We didn’t make it

Water was out for days and when we arrived at airport we were told there that we were being taken to another hotel. We did not get to experience the Iberostar nor did we get the ocean view room we had paid extra for. We were taken to Ville Gale Paredon - on ground floor. Beautiful hotel and room, however and beach. Long lineups and food was just ok.