Iberostar Origin Bella Vista Varadero: Very well laid out resort

This resort was very nice .room were very large and very clean The service in the lobby and around the pool area was very good and every one was very pleasant ,the food area was not great .long lines to get the food and no label as to what was on the menu.food was cold when you got back to your table cooking stations in the food are not set up to give good service There was no information posted as to what was showing at the theatre There were no clocks anywhere in the resort The elevators [... read more] were very slow as only one would be working at a time The speciality restaurants were very good This resort was very easy to get around

Iberostar Waves Paraiso Beach: Nice resort

Resort is very big but the shuttles r pretty quick . Food was very good .rooms clean but air condition not working ver well . Complained 4 time still no change .that sucked .people very friendly . Beach no no good . No flat sad . Very weedy and soft sand. Difficult to walk in .

Iberostar Selection Rose Hall Suites: Better Than Expected!!

I am always a bit hesitant about all inclusive resorts during peak March Break season, but I was pleasantly surprised with my visit to Iberostar. Check in was quick and easy, staff was friendly, chairs around the pool and on the beach were plentiful. Food was repetitive but decent. I would not say it was outstanding, but was good for all inclusive and buffet styles. The Asian restaurant was horrible and really needs to be improved. But Italian was decent. Only issue was the lack of avail [... read more]ability and difficulty booking dinner reservations in a la carte restaurants. We were told they were full, but then noticed so many empty seats. Kind of felt like they had a limit and then pushed the rest of the guests to the large buffet dinner. Room was small and needs an upgrade ... their ocean view required me cranking my neck around a wall and then I could see ocean. But I was barely in the room so not that big a deal. But was clean and bath products were fine. Fridge was restocked with fresh water bottles daily so liked that service. I did not like how the concierge was fully pressuring us into signing up for time share meetings or whatever they were selling. It was completely annoying that in order to book dinner reservations I had to sit through her sales pitch and upgrade offers that would cost me more money. I get that is her job and she was lovely and a nice person, but totally takes away from the relaxing vacation vibe. Drink Service around Pool and Beach was slow and intermittent. They need way more staff. One drink would take 20 minutes to arrive. There is no food menu around the pool. That needs to be added. They have a buffet on the beach a couple times a week, but really need snacks and food around pool. Would make for much better experience. But staff was really nice. Place was clean. Lots of chairs by the pool and beach and thankfully no annoying chair hog guests!! So overall was much better than I expected for a last minute March Break Trip.

Iberostar Waves Costa Dorada: Relaxing vacation in Puerto Plata

Pluses: 30 minute ride from the airport Quick check in (We were assigned a standard room farthest from beach but closest to the lobby) Clean Comfortable Bed and decent pillows Grounds Well Kept Beach lunchtime BBQ (we enjoyed the meat one better than the seafood one – we are from the east coast of Canada) Wi-Fi all over the resort – even on the beach sometimes Recycling initiative (no disposable cups or straws). I wish all Caribbean resorts would do this. Room fridge well stocked wit [... read more]h water, soft drinks and beer. Wine white was actually good Safe in room worked well Lots of hot water and good water pressure in the bathroom Food ‘overall’ was good Appetizers were better than the main courses in the Mediterranean & Mexican restaurants (Taco soup was good). Bottle of sparkling wine in our room for our anniversary was a nice touch. Facial tissue and toiletries were provided Clothesline to hang wet bathing suits was provided on the deck. Lots of lounge chairs available. Clock on the phone in the room with cellphone chargers attached. Dominican theme night in buffet included grilled lobster and other seafood (Thursday) Minus’s: Bathroom was a bit small and some rust was appearing around the bathtub Big Step to get into the bathtub Poor reception Cable TV and limited English channels Pushy concierge (Manuel trying to get us to attend a meeting – I call it a timeshare sell) $500 Star Rewards (We tried to use a room upgrade coupon for $140 and they asked for an additional $40 on top of it.) The difference in ocean view standard room versus other standard rooms is much less than $180 on line. We didn’t redeem any of these coupons as they all required an extra spend. No bar service on the beach – Beach bar was a bit of a walk away. We do like to walk so not a big issue. Luggage should be locked up instead of just sitting at the lobby entrance for those leaving the resort later in the day. Beach was raked only a couple of times a day and it was mostly seaweed they raked up and not necessary the garbage. There was a ‘smokers ally’ on the way to the buffet. Tableware was hit and miss – you often had to search out some for yourself. Small spoons to stir tea were rarely available. We always walked first thing in the morning and then when we went for breakfast most of the tables had been used and only partly set up again. Pool was quite deep for a family resort and for me who doesn’t swim. Lack of face clothes in our room for the first few days. Had to pay $10 per hour for late checkout. I assume if I’m late leaving that someone else is likely late arriving. Suggestions: Have someone at the beach to help find and place beach chairs. Need more communication on when stuff is happening. Perhaps a brochure in your entrance package. Courtyard is under-utilized. Need more entertainment in lobby bar before and after the theatre entertainment. Not everyone wants to go the Disco after the theatre. One night there was a lady singing and a piano player- this was very nice touch.

Grand Memories Cayo Largo: A mixed bag...

The Good: The staff, our room ... renovated oceanview bungalow...new comfy bed, decent furniture and tv. The ocean is spectacular!!! The Mediocre: Food - generally the food was ok... always something to eat... typical Cuban fare.... always a tasty protein at dinner: chicken, turkey, ham, beef, vegetables, rice, potatoes The Bad: No beach right on the property but a short walk will take you to a gorgeous, rugged beach that you can walk for 9 kilometres! Having to pay for drinks at anot [... read more]her beach. Iberostar should be providing drinks at Playa Sirenis since we have to commute there to enjoy a full beach! One of the pools wasn’t up and running until part way through the week. Keep the food covered or keep the flies off it. Very disgusting. Got sick mid - week as did others at the resort. Not acceptable!

Iberostar Origin Daiquiri: A Wonderful Experience

I went to Iberostar Daiquiri in March, the 7th - 14th, 2018 with my daughter and my granddaughter. We had a wonderful time. Our room was a little tight, with three women, but considering how much time we spent in our room, it was fine. The maid was amazing and the room was kept clean and the towel art was bar none. The food was great, not your usual all inclusive buffet. There were several stations and the food was cooked while you waited. I knew there would be lines when I went, and I th [... read more]ought it was worth the wait. The chefs were amazing. The entertainment staff were fantastic, they never stopped and the shows they put on were superb.. Everyone was so friendly and helpful except for the bar staff, which was disappointing. Even when you tipped them, you were lucky to get a smile. But I would definitely recommend this resort, we will have great memories of this vacation.

Iberostar Selection Playa Mita: Beautiful resort but both kids were extremely sick from something they ate/drank

The property was beautiful. The rooms were clean and well maintained. Bathrooms were small and bathroom fans - while present - did not work. Pools and beach were clean. No issues finding chairs. 6 out of our party of 8 were violently ill (throwing up for 12-15 hours straight) during our 7 day stay. We travel frequently so nothing but bottled water was consumed - even teeth were brushed using bottled water. The sickness came from the food/drink served on site.

Iberostar Origin Tainos: Nice resort

All very good for an older building,but very well maintained The food was very good,The staff were very pleasant and we enjoyed petting the cats.We had brought along some cat treats from home and the cats really enjoyed them.They would follow us looking for more.

Iberostar Origin Laguna Azul: Great Resort

Very clean, great friendly staff -- good food with great variety -- exceptional meals and service at reserved seating restraunts. The only complaints would be the comfort of the mattress and the fact that the elevators were not always available.

Iberostar Origin Playa Pilar: Good Resort

This resort is relatively new so the decor and layout is very nice. The grounds are well kept with beautiful gardens - overall very nice aesthetic. Staff were very nice too and the entertainment was good. Where the resort could improve was around efficiency in their processes. The check in experience was horrible. There was no line just a crowd at the counter....it felt like when you are ordering a drink at a very busy bar. When we finally got to check in we had to fill out a very long [... read more] form with information I would have thought the resort already had...things like our names and addresses etc... The whole experience took over an hour. Since we were the last family to check in and it was late - after 11pm the bell boys were gone. We had to carry our luggage through the resort in the dark to find our bungalow. Terrible first impression. The other real area of weakness is in their a la carts. They have 2 good options one was Gourmet and the other was a Japanese restaurant. Then they have also set up a "room" that they claim houses 2 other a la carts. It alternates between Mediterranean and a steakhouse those were horrible. Both nights they didn't have most of what was on the menu. What was available was really sub-par. We would have been better served eating at the buffet. We were able to get reservations at Gourmet and it was very good. On balance the surroundings are beautiful but some of the basic services need improvement.

Iberostar Origin Laguna Azul: Great resort

Overall a great hotel ! People were friendly, food was good for Cuba and the rooms were great. Looking for a safe, family friendly hotel this is it. Just be aware that you are in Cuba so you will need to adjust your expectations. The one disappointing fact was that the resort and local banks were giving us 70 cents on the dollar. This was despite leaving Canada and the US dollar was at 77.

Iberostar Selection Playa Mita: Fantastic Resort!

The friendliness and cleanliness was above par. The food was outstanding and options were many. The drive to the resort was about an hour from the airport but well worth it for that location. The beach was primarily Iberostars and was kept very clean. There was evening entertainment if you were looking for something to do or you could listen to a band at one of the lounge bars. There was a beautiful scent pumped across the foyer of the resort that was tropical and appealing to all.

Iberostar Waves Paraiso Beach: Great winter get away

Enjoyed 11 days at the Iberostar Paraiso Beach resort. Very friendly staff; yards and grounds very well kept; food was great and plentiful with the chefs asking for opinions to want to ensure food was top notch and if improvements required. Beach was nice, although some days had seaweed, which was taken care of by staff. Entertainment crew was exceptional and engaging with the guests. Very large pools and very clean.

Iberostar Origin Bella Vista Varadero: Does not live up the Iberostar Reputation

We booked this vacation with "eyes wide open" meaning we have been to Cuba on a couple other occasions and are well aware the standards of cuisine, amenities etc. are most likely not up to the standard of Mexico and other Caribbean islands, We enjoy the people and usually the beaches make up for what might be lacking elsewhere. We also understand that they do not have access to all other things that help make a resort a vacation oasis. Upon arrival at noon our room was understandably not  [... read more]ready and we were told it would be in about an hour. Finally, at 3 p.m. were were told it wouldn't be much longer. The room was spotless, however, in somewhat in a state of ill repair. The blackout draperies were half falling down, the vanity lights in bathroom didn't work, the dresser drawers did not close properly, the shower leaked on to the bathroom floor, sometimes our room door would not lock upon leaving, and the tv one evening slid off kilter on the wall while we were watching a program. We could live with all of this and even found some humour in it, even though the resort is only a couple of years old. The main thing we had great difficult tolerating was the shower - it was a handshower with a "rainhead shower, the rainhead was malfunctioning so it just poured in a steady stream, not a big deal, however, the water was either dangerously scalding hot or icy cold there was no adjustment.in temperature and it seem to be governed by the time of day. My husband skipped his shower a couple of days as it was unbearable and even after a few trips to the reception desk and customer service, a couple of visits by the plumber it remained that way through our entire stay! We were not the only guests affected by this. The pools were very nice, clean and large but the drink service at the pool was very sporadic, sometimes non existent. The beach was nice however the seaweed wasn't cleaned away and the maintenance of the beach left a little to be desired, there were cigarette butts everywhere. It felt a little tight under the palapas , you were very close to the next chairs. I will preface the next comment with the fact that we are not fussy eaters, we enjoy the cuisine and customs of whatever country we visit, however, even not having high expectations we did not really enjoy the food. Most of the time it was not labelled nor was it hot or particularly tasty. Breakfast was the best meal. We did enjoy the Asian specialty restaurant and the Steakhouse was good. Once again, our food was cold in the Italian restaurant and found the same in the 24 hour snack bar. It should be noted that although there is no smoking in the rooms, the lobby area is very smokey particularly in the evening. We understand that the resort is still trying to get out from under the damage caused by the last hurricane and we are sympathetic to that, however this resort doesn't live up to a 4.5 rating by any stretch of the imagination.

Iberostar Origin Laguna Azul: Beautiful Resort

Beautiful Resort - not too big and plenty of staff for the guests. Lovely grounds and well kept. Staff very friendly and tried to give excellent service. Nice beach but not enough lounge chairs at beach or at the pool. Sometimes the food was cold and they use an excessive amount of salt to flavour the food. Selections like all resorts in Cuba need fine tuning. Became repetitive after a while. Many of the staff need to get a better handle on the English language. Some staff speak so loudly [... read more] from one floor to another or yelling across the floor to each other. Bar service was quite slow in the lobby bar. Rooms could do with a bit of refurbishing. Overall, I would return to this hotel.

Iberostar Origin Laguna Azul: Great group family vacation.

The pool bar staff make this good resort great. They make you feel like a VIP. The pool area was clean and tidy, the beach area was large and was well maintained. The food was typical for Cuba, a bit lacking in flavour, but always had the choice of fish, pork and chicken. The main buffet had lots of variety including cooked veggies, freshly made pizzas and a great salad bar. There was ketchup and peanut butter at breakfast with fresh bread but no whole wheat. This was the best buffet when  [... read more]comparing to the pool side buffet which had less choice. The beverage minibar restock service was a bit lacking. We needed to call multiple times for the beer and water that was supposed to be stocked daily. We stayed in a family suite which was great. However, the door to the kid's room had some technical issues and would not lock. This took multiple calls to get fixed. A trusty wedge took care of the kid's safety. The entertainment was fantastic with obvious dance/ballet training. The nights were generally quite cool therefore recommending that you bring warm sweaters and pants. Would definitely recommend this resort!!

Iberostar Origin Daiquiri: Positivity goes a long way

We had a good holiday while at cayo coco. The staff were amazing people. They were very positive and upbeat. They encouraged guests to participate in a variety of games that suited all abilities and energies.

Iberostar Selection Ensenachos: Fantastic time!

The room was spacious and clean with a very comfortable bed. The food was plentiful and delicious . The staff were simply amazing. Friendly and extremely helpful. And the resort grounds and beach were breathtaking. We will definitely be making a return visit!

Iberostar Selection Ensenachos: Top-notch

The accommodations were very good. When we moved rooms and the second room had issues with the sink faucet and the toilet, it was quickly attended to by the staff and the issue corrected. The dining/food was very good keeping in mind that you are in Cuba, not Toronto or New York City. The staff were gracious, helpful and always provided service with a smile.

Iberostar Selection Playa Mita: A relaxing resort

We just spent 2 weeks at this resort, and found it quiet and relaxing. Despite the fact it is family friendly, the resort is amazingly quiet due to the child activity centre location and services for those with young families. The food was amazing. Chef Aldo was the customer service king. At every meal when he was working he took the time to come out and visit almost every table to check on the satisfaction of the guests, and made every effort to accommodate special requests. New chef Jose, was  [... read more]following by Aldo's example even though he was not as fluent in English, great effort. The poo, waitress Claudia was unbelievable with her beautiful smile and great memory of what we drinking. Marco Polo and Marcelo from the entertainment staff, made the games fun, and they were both very engaging. We never ran into one staff member that was rude, sullen or offered poor service right from the cleaning staff to the front desk people. The number of pool and beach recliners made it totally unnecessary to do the early morning grab and save. The guys on the beach were great in moving the recliners where you wanted them and putting the umbrella well into the sand. The beach is great for walking, but not so great for swimming due to the waves that come in with differing velocity, great for board surfing though. The resort was absolutely spotless, and every day we had fresh flowers on our beds, and we admired the beautiful arrangements that decorated the resort. We would recommend this resort to anyone who wanted a relaxing vacation, but you need to realize that to go anywhere involves a taxi.