Iberostar Selection Playa Mita: Unforgettable family vacation

We had an awesome time at our recent stay at Iberostar Playa Mita. It was recommended to us by friends with kids and they were right! We brought our 3 year old and 5 month old and they had a blast! Friendly staff, immaculately clean, good food and drink, fun entertainment and beautiful beach/view. We will definitely come again and will bring more friends and family.

Iberostar Origin Laguna Azul: Great Resort

After reading both very positive and very negative reviews of this hotel, we didn't know what to expect! The place is gorgeous, with a beautiful beach and three really nice pools. Everything was clean and well-maintained. There was a wide variety of activities and entertainment options and different places to eat or drink. Service was consistently good from checkin to checkout. Our room was spacious, with a nice bathroom and comfortable bed. The food was fine - we certainly did not go hungry. [... read more] We had full breakfasts with eggs, bacon, toast and fruit; big salads for lunch with cheese and all sorts of stuff to dress them up, and lovely dinners, either at the buffet or a la carte restaurants. We had lobster, shrimp, fresh fish, good sushi, pizza, Japanese food - pretty much everything. We had a great time and my only complaint is that we had to come home!

Iberostar Selection Playa Mita: Amazing resort

The rooms are big enough and clean. The Staff are nice. The are many pools, for kids and adults. It’s little bit far from Puerto Vallarta( around 40min). You can play golf. It’s very secure resort. We had a good time.

Iberostar Origin Laguna Azul: Nice Resort, Great Beach, Amazing Staff!

Hotel was fairly nice for Cuba, rooms were big and comfortable. The staff was amazing and drinks very good. Very nice section of beach and many pools to choose from. Not very close to town, however the double decker bus stops just outside the gate. Would return for sure!

JOIA Rose Hall by Iberostar: Our most favorite resort

Everything is so clean. Staff are so friendly and efficient. The food is great. We love the beach. The water is so clear and warm. There are a lot of things to do on the resort. We have been at this resort four times.

Iberostar Origin Playa Pilar: Totally amazing

It’s still young, but the grounds are great, people even better. Love it We plan our next trip to the same resort, I highly recommend it. Pilar beach is cool, bit of a walk, but having the actual beach on a board walk is kinda neat

Iberostar Origin Playa Alameda: Great relaxing stay!

Great first resort experience, very clean rooms and grounds, attentive staff, close to the beach, decent variety of food, I would even say better than what I was planning for. I couldn’t have asked for anything more!

Iberostar Waves Tucan: Iberostar Tucan

It was paradise. The grounds were amazing. Everything very well looked after . Nice to have wilderness mixed in with the resort. The workers were great ..polite. We would definitely return. The food was very tasty. The 5 alacart restaurants were good.

Iberostar Selection Ensenachos: Great Vacation

We have travelled to Cuba many times and several areas. This is the first time we can say the food was excellent. The staff are fantastic. Rooms are very spacious and always clean. The grounds are beautiful even with still recovering from the hurricane last year. We would definitely consider returning to this resort.

JOIA Rose Hall by Iberostar: Iberostar Grand, not so grand, sorry this is so long......

Just got back from Grand Rose Hall, a group of 6. The weather terrific, beach okay. Water nice, warm, shallow, lots of people enjoying the water every day. Sand is more coarse than other Caribbean beaches. No shells, no waves? Where are the waves? Arrival to the resort was smooth. Front desk staff was cordial but not over the top welcoming. I am not sure about the butler - did not do a thing for us. We had arranged our dinners prior to arrival. Rooms were fine, very similar to the Grand  [... read more]in Mexico and the Dominican, so no issues there. Most standard rooms have a view of the ocean, so don't pay for that. Room was musty smelling (bring incense) and hallways are very dark and carpeted and could use brightening up. Elevators as well could use some servicing - always one out of order, which was not comforting. What I found different from other 5 star resorts was the level of service and attention to detail. We received a phone call on our first day there asking us if we 'were part of the wedding party group'(we were not) - he did not call us by name so I was a bit suspicious. The second day I received a phone call from someone identifying themselves as a bellboy, again he did not use our names and they asked what time we wanted our suitcases picked up since he heard we were leaving tomorrow! - on day 2 of our vacation! I was not impressed. The other 2 couples did not receive any welcome phone call at all - asking if we were good and if we needed anything. Not sure what these people were doing? We ordered room service one morning for 7am. Hung the request on the door the night before as directed. Never came. Our friends had one miss as well. A disappointment in this level of service. We ate at all a la carte restaurants. We all managed to find something to eat. Not outstanding cuisine compared to other Grand resorts. Dress codes here are not enforced. People came into Italian and Gourmet restaurants wearing shorts and flip flops. Why have a dress code? We ate in the buffet one evening for Italian night.... just ok. Breakfast buffet is fine - not the selection as other resorts we have been to, but always something to eat. Lunch buffet was probably the best food. House wine is limited compared to other Grand's. Poolside was nice enough- 3 good sized pools showing some wear with many missing tiles, but it never felt crowded. We got our space by the pool every morning without issue. Mind you, we were up at 7am to secure spots while my husband went to grab coffee from the shop at the resort next door. Floaters, not a lot of them but we managed to share a few each day. ( Better yet, bring your own.) Some days they asked for your room number some days they did not? It's not like I am taking it home. Sunscreen is provided at the towel hut if you don't mind cross contaminating. (not for me) A lovely lady behind the counter will even do your back and the top of your head - if you ask. Poolside service was intermittent at best, not the ladies fault, not well staffed. When they did come around, they were lovely. Some issues with straws. The resort does ask that you refrain from using straws since it is contributing to plastic getting into the ocean, but if you ask a waiter they usually oblige. Day 1- can I have a straw, no problem. Day 2- can I have a straw, no problem. Day 3- can I have a straw, "NO there are no straws here" ( The beautiful girl in the bikini beside us had no problem getting a straw but for us it was a NO). Not sure about the selective straw issuance? (BYOS) As an aside, we were all pretty good about using only 1 straw a day! We like to sit outside for breakfast, a group of 6. No problem on day 1, no problem on day 2, on day 3 when we asked, the staff said "No, we do not seat 6 outside". Not sure what that was about? Turn down service was hit and miss as was daily room make up. I think we had one or the other but not both. Not sure why this was such a problem? Stocking the room was fine but not to Mexico standards. When we were checking out, we arranged a wakeup call the night before. They called us at 5am and hung up and then called at 6, the correct time. We arranged for the bell boy to pick up our luggage at 7 - he never showed. We took our own luggage down. When we got down there, there was not a bellboy to be seen. At the counter, they just checked some papers and said - let me cut off your bracelet. No real warm good-bye or come again soon? Some of these issues may sound petty, but cumulatively it was disappointing service for what we paid for. No worries man, we won't be returning..... Our group loved the sun and the opportunity to be together, but not impressed overall by the service, food, or beverages. We were disappointed in the resort compared to other Grand's and Excellence resorts (which we love) -which are way above this level of service and care.

Iberostar Selection Varadero: Great Resort!

First time to Cuba. This was an amazing family resort. Staff were great. Food was great. We travelled with a 3 year old and there was a gradual entry in the pool which was perfect. Beach was amazing (as expected for Veradero). Nothing to complain about!

Iberostar Waves Costa Dorada: Iberostar is the Best!!!

This resort is a bang for your buck. Manuel,my friend at the resort lobby is amazing! The food is by far the best. And ala carts are quite the experience. I thank you Gina from trip central, I will see you soon when I go to Cuba xo

Iberostar Origin Daiquiri: Very good resort

I am happy we choosed this resort. Came back a day ago, stayed there for 7 days. I loved the lobby area, lots of cozy places to enjoy the drinks from the bar. Clean room, thanks to Isabella! Great beach, a bit windy, lots of kite surfing there. The food was ok, we could always have tge steak, fries and some vegetables. Pancakes and omlette in the mornjng were good. Very good coffee. Friendly staff. If you want to tip, do it in pesos, the canadian coins are not accepted at the bank, they have not [... read more]hing to do with them. I would go back, maybe I will try the Iberostar from Cayo Coco.

Iberostar Selection Ensenachos: Beautiful resort

we just returned from a 1 week trip. The hotel is well laid out. Park side is geared for families. We stayed on the spa side. The room was beautiful,we had a king size bed,mini fridge,exceptionally clean bathroom with separate shower and a bathtub as well as a separate washroom.a large balcony with patio furniture. It is a bit of a walk to the beach about 15 mins from our room but we'll worth the exercise The beach is long sandy and shallow very safe for kids. It is well maintained with sun sh [... read more]elters for use The hotel is beautiful, exceptionally clean with excellent service provided by all staff The buffet food was delicious and way above the standard for Cuban fare. With varied choices of fresh fish and meats as well as salads cheeses etc We ate at 3 of the a la cartes. There were a range of food choices to suit everyones tastes and of excellent quality and flavour There was nightly entertainment of musicians in the lobby at 7pm as well as a nightly show at 930 pm Would return in a heartbeat

Iberostar Waves Costa Dorada: Great vacation destination!!!

This resort was fantastic, I was thoroughly satisfied on all aspects of this resort. the staff were so pleasant, polite, always happy, and work so hard to ensure you have a wonderful time at this resort. Food was great always something to eat with tons of options, from the main buffet, pool side buffet, evening restaurants (Japanese, Mexican, Mediterranean) you definitely will not go hungry. Its a beautiful resort from the moment you walk in. The suites are a little dated but lets be honest ho [... read more]w much time do you really spend in the room. who wants to with a swim up bar well stocked with descent alcohol witch flowed continuously (thanks Miguel). all in all this resort is great and will definitely see me there again. Stock up lol Thank you Iberostar Costa Dorada I had an amazing time and will never forget this vacation. Fernando

Iberostar Origin Daiquiri: Great small hotel amazing beach

The advantage of this hotel is that it is smaller, which allows for more personal, friendly, timely service. The rooms are spotless and mold free, the main dining buffet is good, fresh, and no wait times to all food stations. The pool is small but lively, the entertainment is basic but showcases Cuba, boutiques and crafts were nice. The beach is spectacular and can be walked on for miles; the beach pier and beach club are nice features; somewhat windy in the afternoon and good for windsurfing. [... read more] The restaurants (a la carte) are modest but the service is good. Overall, a very relaxing and friendly place.

Iberostar Waves Costa Dorada: It was a awesome Trip

The hotel was excellent and clean Grounds were kept good and clean Beach was very nice Front lobby service was great Rooms were specious and clean Food was excellent Pool was kept clean Bar tenders were great and drinks Cant say nothing bad about the resort

Iberostar Waves Costa Dorada: Absolutely amazing resort/vacation spot!

The Iberostar Costa Dorada in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic is a beautiful, very well-kept resort with a variety of restaurants, and buffet choices. Very friendly staff who go above and beyond to make your stay an even greater one. Rooms are clean and well-kept - always hot water and excellent water pressure in the showers. We were a group of 23 people and we all had a fabulous time. Absolutely nothing to complain about. Thank you to everyone for making our stay a wonderful experience.  [... read more]Hope to be back in the very near future.

Iberostar Origin Bella Vista Varadero: Iberostar Vella Vista

Overall, I would rate our vacation at the Cuban Iberostar Bella Vista as an enjoyable experience. Our vacation did not start out well as our room was situated in a very noisy area (above the Bar) and we experienced kids screaming and running up and down the corridors late into the night. On top of that, the shower did not work. The hotel staff were very nice and accommodated our request for a different room. Once moved, we were very happy with the room and we occupied. Other minor gripes [... read more], for a hotel that is barely two years old - the hotel has more wear and tear than we expected as many tiles in corridors and stairs cases were broken and in some cases missing. From an exterior perspective, the grass areas appeared a little worn and brown and we saw trash visible in the wooded areas. Food wise, we purchased an 'all inclusive' vacation and questioned why there was just one cook making breakfast which caused delays in line up's for meals. On to the good stuff. The room we had was great. It was bright, modern, spacious and offered plenty of space. If you can, get a room with a balcony that overlooks the beach - it is well worth it. Try to get as high as possible as it reduces sound from air conditioners on the roof of restaurants and there is less noise from the corridors. We found the hotel staff incredibly friendly and accommodating to answer any questions that we had, whether it be restaurant staff or general staff at different hotel locations. Beach wise, outstanding is the verdict we give. The sand was clean and fine grained and the water edge shallow which was ideal for families with young ones. Our vacation was a week of pure sunshine and found it tough to secure a shady location under the breach front palm tree shelters, however, the resort had plenty of other areas we could seek shade from the sun when it was too hot. The photos of the Iberostar Bella Vista shows lots of sandy beach - this is a little misleading as the tide was out when the photo was taken. We liked to stroll / run on the beach and with the tide fully in, it was tight access to other beaches. That said, we made do and found we could easily travel 2-3 Km in one direction across all the beaches before making the turn for our hotel. From a drinking perspective - we had the all inclusive and found that there were bars in each restaurant, in the lobby and by the beach. Staff were very friendly. great with mixing drinks and a highlight for me was noting that the bar staff refused to serve alcohol to teenagers whom they judged to be underage. All bars had both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks at hand and our wait to be served was never too long. Sports wise - again another positive. The tennis court was great, the staff very friendly and helpful. We did not take advantage of the gym as we ran on the beach, however when looking at the equipment, it was a very well laid out exercise area with lots of equipment. We never saw it fully occupied. Beside the tennis court there is a small outdoor play area and we saw families with young kids having fun with a soccer ball and other games. From a beach perspective, there was a small company which offered snorkeling trips via a 20 minute catamaran ride to a local coral reef. The cost was very reasonable ($20 per person) and it is well worth the trip. The reef was 20-30 feet deep and with bread thrown in the water, the abundance of tropical fish was great. We did do the underwater photo tourist thing and found that the CDROM/photos we bought were well worth it. Other beach attractions - Kayaks and Paddle boats were a blast and to considered well worth trying out. The folks manning the beach sports activities were excellent. Restaurant wise - everything was good - other than the minor issue with line ups. We elected to sign up for the smaller restaurants for supper each night (this was a free option) and it was well worth the effort as we got to try different meals away from the large all inclusive dining area. There is another restaurant on the 12th floor of the Hotel - we tried it and it was excellent and it is well worth the extra expense as it falls outside the all inclusive option. We watched the sunset from the 12th floor balcony (available to anyone) - definitely recommended! Our Travel agency was Sunwing - there was a representative on site everyday and they were terrific at giving advice and helping with discussions for excursions away from the hotel. We cannot say enough about the help that was offered. We did several excursions and they were well organized and the buses stopped right outside the hotel lobby so you didn't have to wonder where to go. Hotel staff were great with providing support for excursions. Tips and tricks: There is a bank in the Hotel - but not what you think. It is a cash bank run by a single member of staff. There is no ATM at the hotel - you have to go into town ($5 ride) and find a bank. You cannot get Cuban currency outside of Cuba - so bring cash with you and you can change it at the hotel. Be aware that lots of people want to change money, and with one person handling cash transactions, there is a line up. Try to change money in the afternoon - there is far less delay. Tips for staff. Although we bought the all inclusive, it pays to give a small tip to the staff. They were very appreciative and we noticed they became more attentive. We left a small tip for the cleaning staff each day - they appreciated it. There are no condiments (real North American Ketchup/hot sauce/salad dressings) available at the hotel - if you need them, bring them with you. If you want to secure a spot on the beach with shade under the umbrellas - get to the beach by 7:00AM or earlier and place a towel on the chairs you wish to occupy to secure your spot. By 7:15AM all shade spots are taken. We found that all sun lounges were taken early morning every day - people claimed them and then returned to their rooms and/or went to breakfast prior to taking their spot on the beach. Sun lotion - bring lots of it with you. No need to say more. Drinking water - the water in Cuba is perfectly safe - it's contains more minerals than North Americans are used to and contains a higher level of chlorination. Your body may take a few days to adjust with typical consequences. If you are not sure, stick to bottled water. Overall - we had a great time - a few bumps at the start but after we got into the rhythm of the vacation we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves at this hotel.

Iberostar Origin Laguna Azul: Great resort

We originally got a room on the ground floor but had to move as the rooms were too musty. We decided to upgrade and loved our room. Facilities were great. Entertainment was amazing. Staff were phenomenal.