Resonance Blu Santa Maria: Great resort

A great overall hotel for the value you pay with. Beautiful beach and nice room to go with. Buffet was good for Cuban standards. Entertainment was overall good for each night. Service was good from employees working there.

Hotel Roc Casa del Mar: Best Cuba experience.

Wife and really enjoyed our time in Santa Maira/Ocean del Mar. Best section of the beach, staffs were so friendly, and the weather was sunny and warm. The only part of the trip we didn’t care for was the 3 hours+ bus ride without WC stop.

Hotel Roc Casa del Mar: Beautiful Beach

Still fairly new resort and still improving. Most of the staff are nice but of course, there will always be a few that’s not as cheerful as the others. I will definitely be back if the price is right.

Gran Muthu Cayo Santa Maria: Good Vacation - Resort needs improvements

We stayed at the Golden Tulip the week of Sept. 21, 2018. We have been to Cuba now 8 times. We usually go to Varadero but decided to try Cayo Santa Maria this time. Our overall experience was good but there was definitely areas for improvement. Bus ride: Definitely 2 hours. It’s very long especially after flying. The bus ride for us was during the daytime hours so we were able to see the small towns and country side but I couldn’t imagine that bus ride at night. Resort: Beaut [... read more]iful large resort. Grounds are well maintained and very pretty. Guestrooms: We upgraded to an Ocean view prior to our departure. It was totally worth it. The view was incredible. Keep in mind that when you are out on your balcony/terrace the mosquitos are bad. Also, keep your eyes open for tarantellas. We were beside our friends and they had a giant tarantella hiding in the water hole of their balcony. Probably the size of an average hand. Also, check your sliding door when you arrive. Ours barely opened. You had to be Hercules to open it. We stayed in Block 15 on the 3rd floor. Housekeepers were great! Mini bar always stocked. Food: This is where improvement needs to happen. The main buffet was horrible. Like I said previously, we have stayed in Cuba several times and have never experienced such bad food. This was the first time we found the food awful in the main buffet. They offered a large buffet, but there are sections in the buffet and in each section there was 5 or 6 chafing dishes of different food. The thing was, the entire buffet was sections of the same 5 or 6 dishes. We were lucky to find one thing we liked. Breakfast was the only meal in the buffet that was tolerable. Fresh eggs each day. Never count on any fresh bread. Or should I say buns. They never had bread. Each day they had baskets of buns, even for breakfast. And they were rock hard stale. I brought peanut butter with me and couldn’t even use it for toast. Most of the staff in the main buffet were good. Some were pretty pushy for you to go into their sections. One time we sat down and no one even came over to greet us or ask us if we wanted anything. There were definitely staff around and then when we left 3 staff stood by our table expecting a tip. It was very unusual. International and Italian A La Carte: Thank goodness for these restaurants. The meals in both restaurants were really good. The staff were incredible. Fresh sliced bread – like right out of the oven fresh. Why not at the buffet?? We ended up booking a 3rd a la carte so we were guaranteed a good meal. Also, you will see a lobster/steak dinner advertise. DO IT! It’s $20 Pecos each and 100% worth it. The lobster is huge and incredible. One our friends had the steak. It was the size of a dinner plate. So good! The Thursday of our stay they opened up the beach grill and had a pig roast. This was really good. They don’t say anything about it, we just stumbled across it. If you were at the other end of the resort you may miss out on it. Beach: Most incredible beach ever! Tons of sunshade. 2 beach bars. Beach towels were always available. Pools: The 3 tier pools (main pool) are very beautiful but the 2 lower level pools were closed 3 days we were there. They did re-open but very dirty. The main upper pool by the swim up bar was so disgustingly dirty I don’t know how people even swam in it. Hair, floating things, the white grout throughout the entire pool was black with dirt. It was gross. Never once did we see anyone cleaning the pool daily. Any other resort we have stayed in they actually have a pool person who goes into the pool and vacuums and cleans it daily. The “family” pool is the same – dirty. Bars: All of the bars we went too were amazing! The staff were so friendly and kind. The lobby bar was a lot of fun. The Spanish coffees are to die for. The air conditioned bar was great too. We played pool, the music was great and it was a good place to cool off for a bit as the lobby bar was rather hot. The mosquitos and sand flies/flees (idk) were horrible. We got eaten alive. I used muskoil spray and came home covered head to toe in bites. They fogged each night which was good I guess. The fogging smell was toxic. Catamaran: It was okay. The lunch was fantastic. They drop you off at a beach for over an hour. It’s nice but the beach has no shelters, no washrooms and no drinks. All in all our vacation was great. We travelled with 2 other couples and we made the best of our week there, not letting the bad things get in our way. Unfortunately, we wouldn’t go back to Golden Tulip Resort. There are too many things that need to be improved, things that should be there to begin with.

Iberostar Selection Ensenachos: Very beautiful resort

We went there 4 years ago,loved the place.This time we went in off season, not all the buffet was open.Also we had no brand liquor, that we recognized. But we did find some thing to drink. We could only book on alacart restaurant, because they only had one open a night. The staff were amazing, we would go back but not the beginning on October

Melia Cayo Santa Maria: Incredible Resort

This hotel is one of the nicest we've been to. The food was incredible, whoever complains about the food is crazy !! The staff, way too many to list as they are super courteous, friendly and go above and beyond service. The grounds are impeciable. The pool ,sometimes dirty but they get on it right away and clean it. The snack bar has pizza, hamburgers, fries and drinks. The a la carte's are fantastic. Leticia at the front ( who takes care of the a la Carte's ) is the most pleasant person to deal [... read more] with. Efficiant, friendly, polite and is always smiling. The beach, beautiful, the food , fantastic , the staff incredible. The rock band they had, simply amazing ! The entertainment is somewhat sub par but they do try. The day time entertainment doesn't get enough credit and seriously people , you're on vacation, get off your butts and get involved and have some fun, they do try very hard. Other than the 1.5 hour drive , it's well worth the time. ***** for me

Melia Cayo Santa Maria: Remarkable Resort

This has been our third visit to Melia Cayo and we have no complaints. I am totally shocked with the recent reviews online. What is there not to like? The food is great, the beach is fabulous, rooms are very clean, etc... We will be returning and renewing our vows next yr at Melia Cayo Santa Maria. The staff ARE ALL GREAT! No need to mention any names as they are all very friendly...right down to the gardeners.

Dhawa Cayo Santa Maria: Great Vacation at Dhawa!

The hotel grounds were very clean and well maintained. The pool area as well. The beach was one of the cleanest most beautiful beaches I have seen. The staff, very welcoming and they truly know how to take care of all your needs. Overall, I had a great time at Dhawa and highly recommend to everyone to try it at least once!

Melia Cayo Santa Maria: Very pleased.

First time to Cuba and enjoyed my trip. Staff very friendly and helpful. Pools,beach and grounds very nice. Food not so great but always something to eat to get bye. Would like something a little closer to airport. Would recommend resort to friends/family.

Melia Cayo Santa Maria: enjoyed resort

Pools and grounds amazing. Rooms nice and clean. Beach is lovely however big step down sand bank to waters edge. Resort wasn't very busy last week. Food not the best typical of Cuban choices. Staff exceptional, will try to please you if possible. Overall enjoyed trip and would recommend to others.

Valentin Perla Blanca: Amazing Resort

Everything was up-to-date. It was very clean, staff was friendly and courteous and service was excellent. I would definitely recommend this resort to a friend. Overall..it was an enjoyable experience! Will definitely visit again!

Playa Cayo Santa Maria: gets better overtime

Playa cayo santa maria We have stayed at this resort 10 times so far and we will keep coming back. From the time we entered the hotel and were greeted by the front counter, it was fast and efficient to get our keys and room. We were quickly driven along with our luggage to our room in the fantastic building 7. Once inside our room it was clean and very nice. Our chambermaid would always decorate our room with towel animals. We saw many friendly faces that are still working at Playa an [... read more]d were happy to see each other. We quickly went to see the gorgeous beach before heading back to the front customer service office as our air conditioning was not to cooling the room enough and also to make our ala cartes reservations. We dealt with both Marta and Yillian, who fixed the air conditioning in our room very quickly and also make our dinner reservations. These two work very hard with long hours and many clients to please but they do it with smile and kindness. At the beach bar we were met by Paulino ( drink, drink, drink) who was fast with our orders. The lifeguards, Rafael, Adrian, Dido, Luis, Jovi and Roberto were very professional on making sure that everyone was safe in the water. We did see a couple of people stung by jellyfish ( the lifeguards were quick with vinegar to sooth the sting.) The beach is truly stunning with white sand that feels like powder and the blue water, you must see it for your own eyes. You can walk for kilometers both ways, which is a must for us. We did go to the pools a couple of times and met a server (Ernesto) who remembered us from our last visit. The entertainment staff led by the charming and vibrant Lisdania who was always entertaining. Along with the other entertainment staff of Chino, Mayluvi, Suso, George, Delvis and of course Duniel. They all work hard in the sun to provide customer interaction by dancing and singing. We did have the pleasure of having dinner with Lisdania and Duniel, which you can arrange as it , was great to interact with them and learn more about the resort and Cuba itself. We did go to the repeat clients dinner and we finally made it to the top five repeat clients that week coming in third. We did go to the disco in the main new plaza one night with the staff and other clients on vacation. This was enjoyable but, We do miss the disco that they used to have in the Cigar bar. One night they had a beach party with a foam machine, which was a lot of fun. On one of our last nights the had a live band playing at the beer garden playing 50’s to 90’s songs which was very entertaining. At the beer garden we saw an old server Javier who we met many years ago. We did go to the Romantico, Italian and Asian restaurants during our stay and the food was excellent. Were greeted by the always friendly and smiling face of Yarely and the staff of Dago, Yurleidy, Yosebel, Katy and Liuvi who were always professional and helpful on dinner choices. With the help of Duniel who suggested the risotto which was delicious. It is great that the hotel promotes staff as we met Yosebel when he was a beach server and Yarely when she was working in the main buffet. At the 24-hour snack bar Omar and Yoxely who were always helpful and quick with their service greeted us. This year we discovered the small restaurant for lunch beside the 24-hour snack bar that served but a delicious soup and nice paella meal for lunch ( you must try this) We were served by Lisbeth who was always smiling and friendly. The main buffet was moved to the ranchon playa for breakfast, lunch and dinner during our stay as the main buffet was undergoing major renovations to make it better. It was nice to have those meals while enjoying the breeze and the view of the ocean. The staff there was great with a special thank you to Pedro, Mercedes, Landy, Raidelyn, Yainary who went out of their way to make us feel welcome. And of course our favorite smoothie lady Gretel who was always ready to make our favorites. There was plenty of selection of food. People have to remember that food and fruits are seasonal in Cuba and not like any other country where you can buy anything out of season. On a plus side the food that you are eating is pretty well all organic and not been genetically modified. There is so much more flavor. At the main lobby we had many cappuccinos and drinks served by the friendliest servers who were always smiling despite it being very hot. Thank you again Leo, Lusieny, Sergio, Yosbel, Aniran and Yanniesy. We met many new friends on vacation from Germany, England and Canada whom we enjoyed their company and exchanged information and who knows maybe we will meet again at Playa We did try the Cuban restaurant at the front of the hotel and were not disappointed. It is a great place and intimate .( please note that there is an extra cost to this but it was worth it). The chicken or pork was delicious along with the rice. The servers of Ronnie, Noel and Marleny were very helpful. Hats off the to the Chef who prepared the meal. For desert Noel asked if we ever tried a Cuban desert called Majarete, which we replied no. He described what it consisted of and that he used to eat it as a child with his grandmother. It was delicious and should be tried if you get the opportunity. From that point on my wife craved it again. When we spoke with customer service Marta and Yillian they informed us that it was only served in the Cuban restaurant and but, they would try to see if my wife could have it again. On one of last nights Ronnie found us in the lobby and asked my wife if she wanted Majarate again. Without hesitant she went to the Cuban restaurant and had her new favorite dessert. It is the small things that make a difference to clients and this hotel and Marta, Yillian and Ronnie went out of their way to make it happen and this is why return so many times to Playa. Luckly many years ago Debbie McGuire suggested we try this resort and we were not disappointed. In fact we have returned 10 times to Playa Cayo Santa Maria

Gran Muthu Cayo Santa Maria: Mixed Review

The resort itself was very nice, beautiful pool area and the most amazing beach I've ever seen. However the pools were not very clean so we ended up spending the majority of our time on the beach. Rooms: The rooms were nice, we had an ocean view which was fabulous. There were only 2 very tiny drawers in the closet which was not great as we had to live out of our suite cases the entire time. The pillows are flat but you can ask for extra pillows if you want. The cleaning staff were great,  [... read more]the room was very nice with the creative towel sculpture on the bed daily. The water guy was wonderful, friendly and very sweet. Pools: all the grout in each pool was black and there were missing tiles. There were pools on three separate levels and there was an infinity pool overlooking the ocean which was amazing! Lounge: The lounge was good, no fans so it was very hot to sit in there in the evenings. The bar staff and waitresses were amazing and friendly. Entertainment Staff: Joey was my favorite, so personable and funny. He wanted to improve his English and it was fun talking with him. Entertainment: Not much for entertainment at the resort, other than in the evenings at 9:30 when the stage show started. No foam party at the pool, and not a lot of fun activities happening. Bugs: There were a ton of mosquitoes and tiny biting flies..Our legs were covered even though we used 'Off'. They sprayed the bug fog in the evening when we were sitting in the lounge, they should maybe do that in the middle of the night instead. Beach Towels: were available every day and they were big, thick, blue towels. I loved them. Beach Bars: the staff was fantastic, the drinks were great!! Beach: Lots of cabanas set up for shade, and the beach was beautiful. Make sure you have flip flops for walking to and from the beach through the trails as there are lots spurs in the trails. Be careful in the water - lots of jelly fish. Buffet: The buffet was not great, six stations of the exact same thing. We stuck with the eggs cooked in front of us in the morning by a super great chef, and the chicken legs and potatoes at dinner time. Everything else I was not a fan of. 24 hour Snack Bar: The food was much better and available during the day. One day they had a big pig roast and buffet in one of the beach buffet buildings which was great. Lobster/T-Bone Steak: It was very much worth the 25 Pecos, so much food and was absolutely amazing! Bus ride to resort: The ride was very long after flying in. It was interesting to see the little towns on the way but the 2 hours on the bus was too long. Catamaran Excursion: Not the best I've been on for sure but it was nice. The dolphin area was fantastic, the staff on the boat were boring, they dropped us off at a beach with now shade, no drinks, no nothing for over an hour as they pulled back out into the ocean and waited. Not happy about that but we were on vacation and we made the best of it. I love Cuba!

Hotel Roc Casa del Mar: Wish I would have known

Got to the hotel around noon but they won’t give you a room until after four. To make things worse they won’t give you a towel for swimming because the towels are strictly assigned to the rooms. So bring a towel for the first day. Plus, the theatre and 24 hour bar will fill the air with noise till the wee hours, so try to get a room far from “the action”, if you like your sleep. Cassandra Brown at Tripcentral was great to work with !

Hotel Roc Casa del Mar: Another Great Week!

Although it was low season, Ocean Casa Del Mar did not let me down! The room and entire grounds were kept immaculate. There was plenty of food selection and the drinks were delicious. Nighttime shows were scaled back slightly, but were still excellent. The best part of the trip hands down was the care given to us by Big Daniels of the Animation Team, Leo and Daniel from the Buffet and Vania, Valentin and Andrey at the Pool Bar. Thank you so much and I cannot wait to return to this beautiful [... read more] place!

Gran Muthu Cayo Santa Maria: Mediocre resort

The rooms were clean with up to date facilities. Always polite staff. Beach was amazing, while we where there it rained a couple of times during the week but never for more then 15 minutes and always able to carry on with activities. Buffet was mediocore, not really impressed, would recommend eating at beach spots or 24 hr bar as much as possible. The service at the grills was slow but polite. The items in the buffet dishes was duplicated so not really as many options as it looked and the ho [... read more]t dishes were not always hot. The lobby bar staff were awesome for service and attentiveness but mixing of drinks was hit and miss if you got the right mixture. They couldn’t grasp that I wanted vodka instead of rum. Usually added the vodka into drink with the rum. The pools look awesome, swim up bar and multi level overlooking g ocean but not very clean. The grout in the tiles was always black with mould. The drive from the airport to the hotel was about 1.5 hrs. Very long.

Gran Muthu Cayo Santa Maria: The beach was the best thing about thus hotel!

I found that the place was too big with a lot of walking on cement everywhere, and was very slippery with the humidity. The washrooms were very good with toilet paper. The quality of food could of been better, nothing much to eat, had bread and pasta. The meat was scary. I was looking forward to Cuban bananas, but had none, no smoothie station. I had diarrhea. I was covered with mosquito bites. The internet doesn’t work in the lobby in the evenings. Also everything is expensive now. Th [... read more]e bag of Serrano coffee is now 17 Cuban pesos which is about 23 Canadian dollars, didn’t but any, cheaper at Starsky and Hutch in Aurora.

Sanctuary at Grand Memories Santa Maria: Amazing beach, great hospitality

We stayed at the sanctuary grand memories Sept16-23. We were pleasantly surprised when we got there the place was beautiful. Out butler Yoel took great care of us as we were there in our honeymoon. Evelyn at the beach bar was always smiling and inviting. Christian down on the beach brought us fries and fresh fruit cups daily. He was a great kid and super friendly. We can’t wait to go back!!!

Grand Aston Cayo Las Brujas: Second Time even better

This was my second time there ,the staff is amazing, service is quick and efficient, the staff is very attentive, and will do anything to please you . The food at the buffet is not as good as the first time , there has been a change in the head chef , the buffet food caters more to Cubans , the AL Carte restaurants are much for food and quality .The pools and beach are amazing, the entertainment team is the best at this resort, they keep you going all day Jesus and Dana are the best . Overa [... read more]ll this resort has everything you for amazing vacation,

Iberostar Selection Ensenachos: Unforgettable beaches!!!

We have visited Iberostar Ensanachos at the beginning of July and liked it so much that have decided to return for another week the same summer, at the end of August. It’s also been our first vacation in Cuba, and, we loved it. First and foremost, the white-sand beaches and clear blue waters of the ocean are truly amazing. For ocean lovers, there’s snorkeling, catamaran, surfing, and water bikes available, provided by the resort at no cost (of course, gratuity is very much appreciated) An [... read more]d, the beaches offer white sand and are both spacious and long for the enthusiasts of long walks on the beach. The rooms are very clean, some are bigger than others. They are also cleaned in a timely manner. In addition, one building was being refurbished, another in the final stages of construction. The food - despite all we’ve heard about Cuba - was amazing in the buffet. There was always plenty of food for all meals; for lunch and dinners there were three types of meat grilled according to each customer’s wish as well as three types of fish - which we’ve absolutely loved. There was salmon, snapper, mahi- mahi and every other day shrimp, squid, and even lobster. The restaurants on the beach served food for lunch as well. We only went to one a la carte restaurant - we’ve enjoyed the selection of buffet more. We liked the food so much that my husband gained weight this time - and this has never happened to him on many trips we’ve taken thus far. Other amenities at the resort were good. The pool was good and quite spacious, and, never really busy, We’ve played tennis and my son even took tennis lessons with Reno - a professional tennis player. And, the service was great - everywhere- buffet restaurant, pool bar, beach bar, beach restaurants. Whether we’ve given a tip or not, we felt we’ve been treated the same. Jorgio (sic?) at the piano bar was very nice and funny, Osniel and Vangie at the buffet were the best waiters ever. And drinks - very generous - at all bars. Finally, we felt very safe at all times, And that was of utmost importance to us and our children. I would definitely recommend this resort to everyone! Just remember, you’re on vacation, there’s no rush!!