Club Amigo Costa Sur: We liked the Club Amigo Costa Sur resort!

We stayed in a roomy bangalou close to the beach. The view was nice with the distant mountains on the horizon. We enjoyed the food, fresh and with enough variety. The resort is close to Trinidad city, the unique place to visit. You also could make a great safari trip to the waterfall Guanayara, wich is approximately 30 km from the hotel and located deep into the mountains.

Hotel Rancho Luna: Basic All Inclusive

Grounds are clean, staff is nice, rooms are very basic. Food is not of the highest quality and can cause quite the stomach issues. Be prepared for down time due to food. I had some imodium, thank God.

Hotel Rancho Luna: Fantastic place

Nice place to stay in Cienfuegos. Location is not to far from the city, beach is ok but too much weeds, the public beach is not to far. Food was ok. Had a nice time, next time will go for two weeks. Yes!!!!

Hotel Rancho Luna: Nice resort

The grounds of this resort are very nice , clean well kept . rooms are small clean good for sleeping , the air works . I payed more for an ocean view not worth it . The food was great some day's but other day's not so good , tried to get bacon to go with my eggs , got them 2 times . There is a free bus to the city of Cienfurgos and back every day . take it have a look at Cuban life and talk to them . Staff are good and if you give a small tip they are great .

Hotel Rancho Luna: If the room were better it would be a 3.5*

The resort is well keped. The employees are probably the hightpoint of the resort. The pool area is big and cleaned everyday. The rooms are clean, but way out of date. The food was very good...for cuban standards.

Hotel Rancho Luna: very good price wise

Very nice and clean beach is not a big deal but we new about it before going food and drinks service evry thing was ok pool is nice and clean the site all around is properly maintain very quite nothing wrong to say positively surprise yes would go back

Club Amigo Ancon: A DECENT RESORT, NOT ALOT OF FRILLS BUT CLEAN!!

RESORT WAS CLEAN, A BIT DATED BUT KEPT NICE, BEDS WERE NOT THE MOST COMFORTABLE, FOOD WAS GOOD BUT NOT ALOT OF VARIETY, ALACART WAS VERY GOOD, LOTS OF LOCAL ATTRACTIONS, GO ON THE CITY TOUR IT WAS AMAZING !! BEACH WAS CLEAN AND RAKED NIGHTLY, BEAUTIFUL VIEWS !! POOL WAS UNFORTUNATELY UNDER REPAIRS BUT THE NEXT RESORT ALLOWED US TO USE THEIRS SO IT OFF SET THE FACT OURS WAS NOT AVAILABLE !!

Hotel Rancho Luna: Rancho Luna has improved in some ways, is failing

There are new curtains and bedspreads in the rooms. peepholes in the doors. another coffee machine. Those of us who are "regulars" are happy about these changes. With the new director have come changes in personnel which are also good. However, the many 'over-nighter" bus tours are causing some grumbling among the regulars. It is harder to get the room you want since the tour people tend to get their rooms in a row. The food has less variety (if you are staying only one or two nights, why bother [... read more]?) and there is crowding in the dining room.

Club Amigo Ancon: Needs improvement

The front desk staff aren't friendly. The food really needs improvement. There's lineups for the grill, yet they only put 6 or 7 pieces at a time and hope you will walk away instead of waiting. They get swamped with bus tours coming in for a day or two and we just helped ourselves to whatever was needed, i.e. napkins, cutlery, etc. We got their best room so no complaints there. The pools were closed, but the beach is lovely.

Hotel Rancho Luna: Always enjoyable

We very much enjoy Rancho Luna. This was our second time. The staff is fantastic. The food is great. This is an older hotel and the rooms are very dated and run down but for the price, this place is a gem. The only thing we found that was disappointing is there are bus tours going through almost every night so the staff are overworked and they do their best to put on a happy face but it's just hard to watch. We went to see the Dolphins and it was wonderful. To swim with them it was only $40 cuc. [... read more] They are humanely treated as well as they have a large river to swim in. Loved it!

Club Amigo Costa Sur: A solid 3 star where the staff shines

This resort is outdated and a 3 star because of it. But it is a solid 3 star where the grounds and rooms are well kept and clean. While I was there, gardening and other repairs were being worked on daily. In Cuba all resorts are at least 50% state owned. This one is completely owned by the Cuban government and so the food wasn't as good as it is when someone else has their hand in the resort. Still it was edible and if you can't find something in a buffet, there's a problem. The location of this [... read more] resort is just amazing. Beautiful views of the ocean and mountain range. The a la carte restaurant and snack bar are ocean side- it doesn't get any closer. The swimming area in the ocean is naturally blocked off by rocks, creating a natural pool. This was fantastic to swim in, no waves and warmer water. There is dead coral near the rocks and any fish to see while snorkeling. There is also live reef in a couple spots down the beach with even better snorkeling, including black coral and more vibrant fish. I would return to this resort in a heart beat. The nearby town of Trinidad is just amazing.

Hotel Rancho Luna: It worth the price that you paid

The ground and outside around the resort is super clean but the public washrooms are stingy.The staffs are nice and friendly.When you need something always someone there helping out. I would come back for sure for my next vacation.

Memories Trinidad Del Mar: very good location

I like everything the rooms was good and clean the beach nice the water is calm and the send is white . the only problem the water pressure on the shower was very bad some days was impossible to take a shower no pressure to bad I will give this hotel 5 stars.

Club Amigo Ancon: A good resort !

They should replace the beach chairs. The bartenders should be more attentive and the snack bar should be open 24/7. It also didn't offer much of a variety. Many times they ran out of dishes and glasses at the buffet and the coffee machines were rarely working.

Hotel Rancho Luna: pleasantly surprised

Honestly we were nervous Rancho Luna Cienfuegos was our 5th time to cuba But we had never flown Cubanair and the hotel being a 2 star gave us concerns Silly us though.... We had a fantastic time!!! Snorkel right off the beach Free bus into Cienfuegos Annia the excursion hostess was wonderful Be sure to go to El Nicho and Trinidad(fantastic lobster,shrimp,fish meal) Although the Rancho luna bartenders didn't know how to make specialty drinks their rum punch was killer Special note if you walk a m [... read more]ere kilometre past Faro Luna beach(watch for big blue crab and little starfish in the evening) look for the little shack with the blue lights 33cuc got us a really nice lobster meal with mojitos

Memories Trinidad Del Mar: A little Trinidad on the beach

The reviews made us worried about our choice to go to this hotel but we felt it was a fabulous place. It needs some fixes,the room towels are thin and the food was repetitive but the staff and overall feel of the resort was just wonderful. Lots of shaded areas on the beach. The beach is really long for walking along. There are 5 bars serving a variety of drinks. Weekly they had a pig roast on the beach to eat at the picnic tables near the beach bar. The architecture is quite similar to Trinidad  [... read more]with the same lively colours and colonial look. It is a much more quiet resort than the one just beside it (very noisy) loud music. There is not much to see as far as snorkling but a boat can take you out at the next resort for 10 pesos but you must reserve ahead. The hotel had a money exchange which was helpful. Considering this was a state run hotel in Cuba, this resort was a really nice surprise. If you tipped once in a while, the service was better if you wanted a much stronger drink but even if you did not tip, the service was very friendly. Trinidad is just 15 minutes away which is really the only reason we booked at this hotel but the hotel was better than some others I have stayed at in the past. If you decide to book here, keep in mind it is a 2.5 to 3 hour drive from airport to the hotel. Not a hotel for vegetarians or for anyone who is looking for haute cuisine, plush towels, or a party place. It is just laid back, quiet, strolling along the beach and relaxing for a week or two. For hotel snobs - avoid but for those who know that Cuba has done exceptionally well considering the embargo over the years and want just a safe place to stay, lovely beach and enough food you can eat (and drink), this is the place for you. Have fun. Trinidad is wonderful too. So much character and the people are very warm and inviting.

Hotel Rancho Luna: Simple, serene:

Rancho Luna exceeded my expectations. The grounds are vast and uncluttered. The pool large and clean. (The pool water was too cold for comfort due to and unusually cold spell.) The beach on the property is weedy and not good for swimming. A short walk "around the corner" is a lovely sandy public beach. Thatched sun umbrellas are available. Lounges can be rented. It is interesting to be among Cubans enjoying the beach. The hotel beach is quiet and one can enjoy the sea vista and peace. Lounge cha [... read more]irs are provided. The room which I shared with a girlfriend. was just fine. Small, clean. One had to practice neatness. The patio door opened to the garden with views of the sea. One could watch the horses ambling lazily around the grounds, nibbling at the bushes in front of our unit and grazing on the grass. An uplifting sight! The food was simple and nutritious. Eggs,cheese, cabbage, beans, beets, carrots, some meat or fish protein. The bread is the best! Desserts are wonderful especially the custards and ice cream. Always a great choice of fresh fruit. It is not fancy food. One has to remember one is in Cuba. Cuba is giving the tourist their best. If one is looking for peace, friendly staff, basic accommodations, warm weather, good music Rancho Luna is your home away from home!

Club Amigo Ancon: Needs some TLC

My hotel room was clean and nice. My one concern that the pool has been out of service for a year. No one at the front desk spoke much English (if any), so it was hard to ask any questions. There seemed to be some problems with the elevator and some toilets, but I had a good vacation there. This hotel is a long way from the airport (1 1/2 hours), and it is closer to Trinidad than sites in Cienfuego. The hotel just needs some TLC and updates.

Club Amigo Ancon: Average hotel, nice beach, great location!

HOTEL The main hotel building was very similar to the Hotel Tropicoco near Havana. Made of concrete, the hotel was built by the Soviets in the 1980s and in one word, it was ugly. The saving grace was that it had a very nice beach and of course, was close to the charming town of Trinidad. The superior, ocean view section (where we stayed) was built about 17 years ago and was much nicer than the original part of the hotel. The swimming pool was closed. There were two bars near the entertainment  [... read more]area, one served quite good sandwiches, hamburgers and French fries and the other one offered various drinks, including cold beer—bring a big mug! There were also two bars in the lobby area; we often used the one close to the patio, which was open in the evening and served excellent cappuccino and Spanish coffee. On the lower level (below the lobby) were two stores (‘tiendas’) selling alcohol, clothes, postcards, souvenirs, etc. as well as a bank, which was very convenient. There were also other vendors, offering carvings, arts and crafts, postcards, books and the like. BEACH The beach was nice and sandy, there were loungers and palapas, but they were quite difficult to get (I write more about them later). Once a group of French speaking tourists from Canada were conducting a very animated and loud conversation which lasted for a long time; I was sure they could be heard by half of the sunbathers on the beach! The beach was quite long and it was possible to walk along it towards the east for several kilometers. OUR ROOM #8312 The room was located in the ‘superior section’ and from the main hotel lobby required a three minute walk as well as climbing the stairs to the third floor. It was a rather small room, but it was okay. We had a nice balcony, facing the ocean and the beach, from which we could admire sunsets. A couple of loungers/chairs on the balcony would have been nice, though! The TV had plenty of channels, including CNN and Canada’s CTV, albeit from Montreal (in English). The air conditioner worked, yet we tried to sleep with the balcony door open and drawn curtains so that mosquitos could not get in (as a matter of fact, I do not remember being bitten by any mosquitos or sand flies). The bathroom was small, had a bathtub, we always had hot/cold water. There were two small beds. The small fridge kept our beverages cold and the safe was free. We got two magnetic cards; both opened the door and one of them also opened the safe. The maid did a great job cleaning the room every day. Since the entertainment area was close by, we could clearly hear the music from our room. Incidentally, we never went to any performance. RESTAURANTS The main dining hall/restaurant (Bahia de Casilda) was adjacent to the lobby. We always skipped lunch, only had late breakfasts and twice or thrice dinner there. For breakfast we had some fruits, salads and fried eggs with bacon or omelets as well as very good yogurt (not available every day). Dinners offered the regular fare, there were three cooking stations and I was always able to find something I liked. The red wine was quite passable. Most of the time we sat at the end, near open windows, which were also used by several birds that were flying in and out. Overall, I had no problem with any of the food that was served—although the selection was not as plentiful as that in other hotels in Cuba we had recently stayed at. Then again, I never come to Cuba to expect some amazing food anyway. At the lower ground floor there were two a’ la carte restaurants—Italian and Seafood (Restaurante el Pescador). We dined twice in the latter. I found the food quite good, some dishes were excellent. We also wanted to try having a meal at the Italian Restaurant, but were informed that it served only pasta, so we skipped it. It was also possible to have one meal at the adjacent Brisas (in its top restaurant), but since only six Ancon guests were allowed to eat there every evening, we never did get to go. It took some time before we managed to get a voucher for another restaurant at the Brisas under a giant palapa. We had a very casual, romantic and tasty meal and enjoyed it very much. By the way, all the vouchers were obtainable from the Public Relations desk. HOP-ON-HOP-OFF BUS TO TRINIDAD One of the main reasons we went to the Ancon was its proximity to the town of Trinidad, which is one of the most beautiful towns in Cuba. Located 10 km from the Hotel Ancon, it was a very short ride from the hotel by bus or taxi. However, there was also a hop-on-hop-off bus, departing from the Hotel Ancon to Trinidad at 10:00 am, 12:30 pm, 3:30 pm and 6:00 pm and from Trinidad to the Ancon at 9:00 am, 11:00 am, 2:00 pm and 5:00 pm. It cost 2 CUC both ways (keep the ticket if you are planning coming back). WHAT WE DID NOT LIKE We did encounter some inconveniencies which we believe should not have occurred—and they certainly negatively contributed to our overall experience. 1). It was very difficult to get a lounge chair on the beach—unless you ‘reserved’ it early in the morning by placing something on it—it was Catherine who religiously took care of this issue early in the morning, at 7:00 am, to be exact. We noticed that some people occupying lounge chairs did not have any wrist bands—only later did we realize that many tourists from town (i.e., Trinidad) arrived every day by bus to enjoy ‘la playa Ancon’ and perhaps some of them simply used hotel beach loungers. It was a pity that security guards did not make sure that lounges were occupied by paying hotel guests only! Moreover, adding more chairs/loungers would be an even better solution! 2). The checkout time was at 1:00 pm, so we had packed up everything in advance and went to the beach in the morning to enjoy the last day of our vacation. We came back to our room at about 12:15 pm and when I tried to open the safe (where our passports, money and cameras were), neither magnetic card worked. I called the reception to report this issue and was told to come with the card so that it could be reprogrammed. Two minutes later Catherine called the reception and asked the receptionist to send somebody over to our room as it was difficult for us to come—she wanted to shower—besides, it was not our fault, after all. The receptionist insisted on her coming to the reception—and simply hung up on her, thus forcing her to take a walk to the lobby and join the lineup of people checking out! It was still about 20 minutes to 1:00 pm—yet we also found out that now both cards ceased to open our door as well! Well, we had the perfect right to use our room (including the safe) until the checkout time and it was quite disappointing and nerve wracking that the cards stopped working BEFORE that time—if anything, they should have had a ‘built-in’ grace period of at least 30 minutes instead of making our last hours unpleasant and testing. Incidentally, we had a similar glitch several years ago in the Club Amigo in Guardalavaca. 3). On Saturday around 9:00 am, before breakfast, I went downstairs to the bank to exchange money, but it was closed. I asked the sales lady in the nearby ‘tienda’ if she knew when the bank would be open; she said it was closed on Saturday, but the reception upstairs (in the hotel lobby) could exchange money. Thus I went to the reception, only to be informed by the receptionist(s) that it was impossible to exchange money there; instead, she suggested that I try going to a bank in Trinidad. As I always tried to double check everything in Cuba, a few minutes later I asked the public relations lady (whose desk was next to the reception window) about the bank downstairs. Lo and behold, according to her, the bank would be, after all, open today, but around noon, since the exchange rate had not arrived from Havana yet and sometimes it did not come until noon. Around 11:00 pm I went to the bank and it was still closed; I was hanging around it for another 30 minutes, but to no avail. So, I again asked at the hotel reception when it would open—this time I was told that the bank employee was on lunch. For the next 30 minutes I kept checking whether or not she was back, yet the bank’s door was closed shut. Finally, for the second time I asked the ‘tienda’ sales lady if she knew when the bank employee would be back from her lunch. “The bank is closed on Saturday”, she repeated. “It’s not what I was told in the hotel reception”, I said, “The bank employee is supposedly having her lunch”. She looked at me incredulously and briskly called the reception; after a brief conversation she told me to go there to change my money. Indeed, the reception employee (the same I had spoken to in the morning) was expecting me and without any problems exchanged my $100 Canadian into 68 CUCs (albeit a few days ago I had gotten 70 CUCs at the bank downstairs). This whole episode left a rather bitter taste in my mouth—after all, for several hours of my precious vacation time I was chasing after a non-existent employee! CONCLUSION Since we go to Cuba with a very open mind, overall we liked our stay. Although the hotel’s crude, concrete architecture was not too appealing, we had been aware beforehand what kind of establishment we would be going to—and that was why we booked a room at the Superior Ocean View Section, which was a very good choice. The hotel staff were not as nice, friendly and attentive as those in the other hotels we had recently visited, but they were still adequate. The food was good, the room clean with plenty of hot water and we could count on catching the bus to Trinidad—visiting this charming town was the highlight of this trip. Would I go to this hotel again? If the price were right, maybe I would consider it, yet I would rather pay more and pick the adjoining Brisas, a Spanish, colonial-inspired design. Nevertheless, I had, as always, a great time in Cuba and I am looking forward to another trip in November or December!

Memories Trinidad Del Mar: Beautiful sandy beach.

I stayed in the ocean view room and had a pleasant experience. The room, waiters, resort staff were all very friendly and accommodating. The food was very tasty especially the barbequed pig on a spit!