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.

Hotel Mojito: Nice Beach!

The staff were, almost without exception, very friendly and helpful. The beach itself is excellent even if the chairs are not particularly comfortable. Certainly can't complain about the sun and the weather! That said, it would be very helpful if there was signage in the buffet, many of the items were very difficult to identify and if I don't know what it is, I don't want to eat it. Same with salad dressings, we shouldn't have to taste each one to figure them out. Is it milk or is it yogurt [... read more] was a question we asked ourselves several times. The chairs in the lobby need replacing - most are sagging. Some sort of instruction package in the rooms would be helpful - list of relevant extensions, how to adjust a/c etc.. Given the vast majority of guests are Canadian, why have CNN and ESPN as TV channels? Why not CBC or CTV news channels and TSN for sports? Cayo Coco is very isolated from mainland Cuba and there is little to do beyond a few basic excursions, bicycle rentals would have been great, info on kayak, paddle boat and sailboat rentals should be in the rooms. Why isn't the gym open? Would be nice to have enough light in the rooms so that we could read. If I did recommend this resort to anyone, I would suggest a maximum stay of no more than 1 week!

Iberostar Origin Laguna Azul: Amazing resort

Good food, beautiful beach and pools, great staff and great entertainment. The location of the resort was amazing. Will recommend this place to everyone who is looking to get away to a wonderful and dreamy place.

Iberostar Origin Bella Vista Varadero: Amazing Place

Very good resort gave us an ocean view room it was my anniversary and food was good don't go to Lobby but near the snack bar there is a restaurant that gives breakfast and lunch which was awesome. If you are having issues with anything see the receptionist and they will fix it. Would go back again. Just got back Mar12 it was cold in the evening make sure take some pants and jacket. Entertainment team was very good. There was water show that was amazing and do the Safari trip you will love it.

Iberostar Waves Costa Dorada: Amazing staff; excellent resort!!

First and foremost, the staff was wonderful; especially our concierge Allan!! Accommodations were arranged in advance as per our email request which made our arrival easier; a twin bed and crib were installed in our room. Rooms were very cleaned and resort overall was well being lookef after. There was maintenance being done every night on the main pool as well as painting. Food was great. Large variety and always well cooked. We enjoyed all three of the à la carte restaurants! Beach  [... read more]was raked every day and huts repaired immediately if necessary. Overall, an amazing location!

Iberostar Origin Playa Pilar: Amazing Resort

Loved everything and every minute of our stay at this resort. Well maintained grounds, clean rooms, friendly staff with great entertainment and a beautiful ocean. Beach is limited but the pier gives you easy access to the water without the sand if you want or there are plenty beach chairs behind the pier in the sand. Pilar Beach is close by and you can walk the beach or take a short ride by bus or taxi. Food was good always something to eat for even the pickiest. Already thinking of booking our  [... read more]next visit!!

Iberostar Origin Bella Vista Varadero: Great resort!

The hotel was very nice, clean, close to the beach. Friendly staff. There were a lot of beach huts, beach chairs etc. The only really issue I had was with the towel service. We were given 2 beach towels to use for our stay. Every time we went to the beach hut to replace our dirty beach towels with clean ones there weren't any clean ones available. It didn't matter if we showed up first thing in the morning or afternoon or later in the day there were never any clean towels available. We ende [... read more]d up using the original beach towels for our entire stay (5 days). When we have gone to other resorts the hotel never had a problem having clean beach towels available. It was frustrating and kind of gross having to keep using the same sandy beach towels over and over again.

Iberostar Origin Laguna Azul: Loved the resort

Very clean, safe and fun environment to have a vacation. Staff was polite, and easy to communicate with. Activity staff were amazing. Food was ok. A little bland. The Japanese & Italian restaurant were excellent.

Hotel Mojito: Solid Resort

Despite the recent Hurricane damage, very good progress has been made on repairing the resort and grounds. Rooms were spacious and clean. Food quality has dramatically improved since the last time we stayed at this resort. Weather, pools and beach were amazing as usual and the rum punch is the best in Cuba! Resort staff were also very friendly and helpful. This is a great resort and offers value for money which would be hard to beat!

Iberostar Origin Daiquiri: Never disappointed at the Iberostar Daiquiri

We again visited the Iberostar Daquiri the last week of February/first week of March. This is our 9th visit to this resort. This is a good 4 star (Cuban 4 star) resort. If you are looking for 5 star luxury this is not the resort for you. If you are looking for the best beach you will likely ever find, clean, comfortable accommodation then you will love the Daiquiri. The food is good again not 5 star but there is lots of choice and you will never go hungry. What brings us back time and agai [... read more]n are the people. The staff goes out of their way to be accommodating and make sure everyone has the best experience possible whether you are a returning guest or this is your first time visiting. We will be back next year! Judy and Larry Kiez