Valentin Perla Blanca Paraiso: Bug infested

Been home a week and still itchy. Not sure what kind of bugs they were but not only were they outside they were also in our room. It's hard to have fun when you are constantly scratching and being bitten. I will say, though, the staff was very good and helpful. We could always get a ride back to our room or to the dining room. They were always pleasant. The front desk staff was also helpful. The food was pretty good especially at the French and Italian a la carts. They even supplied a bi [... read more]rthday cake for us one night.

Memories Paraiso: Great workers

The hotel was decent. The pool was amazing but keep in mind there is no deep end to this pool. The worst thing about this was probably the workers that take you on the non motorized catamarans constantly made excuses not to. The food was actually pretty good despite what people told me. And the people that work there for the most part are super friendly

Playa Cayo Santa Maria: 2nd time a charm

This was our second stay at this resort, we knew what to expect, long drive from the airport but it's a scenic drive with highlights from a tour guide. Arrival at the hotel, check in was quick and efficient an envelope given with map and all of our a la carte reservations...we ended up with 5 in total. What surprised me the most was how the staff and hotel recognize the returning guests, with a special dinner, champagne and cigars. The resort is lush and well maintained. Few quick fixes in the r [... read more]oom by going to guest services not the front desk...issues were fixed very quickly. Food was good and freshly prepared with more than enough choices to satisfy. Mother Nature has made the beach a tad difficult to get to...not the resorts faukt, when tide was low you could easily get in the water and enjoy the lovely calm and clear waters. The staff here is what truly makes this resort special...we were remembered by more than a few staff from 2 years ago...it was great to see some familiar faces and to be remembered is truly a memorable thing for sure. We will return again for sure, this resort is one of the best in Cuba, and repeat guests are rewarded and appreciated.

Valentin Perla Blanca Paraiso: Nice Resort!

The hotel was quite beautiful. Very unique with the different little buildings all over the grounds. The beds were very hard, and the toilets were a disaster, and the drive was long (2hrs). The food was decent, but the a la cartes were tasty. The pools were lovely, and the entertainment was outstanding! The Michael Jackson show was amazing, and the pool entertainers were fun. We had a great time!

Valentin Perla Blanca: Disappointing vacation

Had hoped there would be more positives than negatives but I kept wishing we had gone somewhere else. I would rate the resort as 3 star. Food was plain, bland and very limited choices. The Italian and Spanish a-la-carte restaurants were the best but nothing to rave about. I thought the buffet would be better and the snack bar only had a few a-la-carte selections. I ate the same thing multiple times. Rooms were clean. Beach narrow and rocky. Location remote. Almost 2 hrs from airport. Most of the [... read more] hotel staff were very friendly and helpful. Mosquitoes were terrible while we were there. They closed the pool, bar and restaurant closest to our building half way through the week. We were expected to walk further away to the other area. Limited times for breakfast, lunch, etc. In between, only choice was snack bar. Ate french fries many times. Replacing beach towels hit and miss as only open limited time until ran out. Music in lobby good if you caught it. Never knew what was going on and when. Shows so so. Young people liked the Michael Jackson tribute show. Resort had all ages but not ideal for older crowd as great deal of walking from one side to the other. When everything was open near us it was much better. Have stayed at other resorts in Cuba (Cayo Coco and Varadero) which were better than this one. Wanted to see the newer Cayo Santa Maria area. If come again to this area would choice another resort.

Melia Buenavista: Horrible experience

Everything was bad from the beginning and on the second day we've moved to Royalton Cayo Santa Maria, which was perfect. Now, let's list some of the bad experiences we had at the Melia Buenavista: - After 2 hours on the bus, we weren't offered an welcome drink and a cool towel. - We were assigned a junior suite even if we paid for the "romance ocean view". We complained and they changed the room to one with a bad view of dirty rocks. - We had the dinner in a restaurant with no table cloth,  [... read more]only plastic place mats, we had to ask 3 times for napkins, we couldn't get cocktails from the server and when my husband went to the bar to get them, the server told us that we are not allowed to do that. - The breakfast was the same bad. The omelet was plain, the crepes were thick, burned, full of oil and syrup and nothing else. We asked for cappuccino which was on the menu and they said the machine is broken. I said "OK, regular coffee is fine", but the coffee never arrived. - For lunch we decided to try the pizza by the pool, but no luck here either. I eat only veggie pizza, but the only veggie they had were some pickled peppers, olives and mushrooms from the can. A fly got stuck in the pizza sauce and the cook just picked it up and continued with the pizza. - They have 3 beaches, but none is great. The sand is rough on 2 of them and the middle beach has a better sand, but the water is full of plants. - The mosquitoes are eating you alive and the shower on the balcony is unusable because of them. We've been to dozens of all inclusive resorts and never had any bad experience. And the funny part is that this resort was the most expensive one by a lot.

Valentin Perla Blanca: Amazing Resort!!! Will Return!

I thought that the grounds were beautiful. The pools were impeccably clean and the beachs were equally beautiful. There were always more than enough beach chairs both around the pool and on the beach so we never had a problem finding four chairs to sit in. The buffets were delicious - I would definitely recommend bringing snacks for your room though if you have a big appetite or eat frequently since there are times when they are closed or if you just want good old fashioned potato chips. The 24- [... read more]hour snack bars by both pools were amazing and we ate the DELICIOUS chicken fingers almost everyday. The rooms were always clean and the maids made the cutest towel decorations each day and even left us a note on the last wishing us a safe flight home. The a la cartes book fast (like at any resort) so be sure to book early in your trip to plan your week out. The French and Spanish are by far the best, followed by Spanish and then Italian. Overall all of the workers and servers are amazing, friendly and provided amazing service.

Hotel Roc Casa del Mar: Resort was beautiful

I really enjoyed my stay at Ocean. The rooms were clean and the staff was (for the most part) friendly. The beach was a little too small (not much sand). The mosquitos were brutal. The wifi was a rip off though. You will have to purchase an hour pre paid wifi card that usually doesn't really give you an hour and the wifi is usually not working at all.The gym was also great and there was a really nice worker handing out water and towels and spotting you while you lifted. I would stay there again  [... read more]but I would make sure to bring some good walking shoes because it is very large. Be prepared to do A LOT of walking.

Memories Paraiso: Fantastic Beach!!

We had stayed here 3 years ago and read a number of reviews before booking, so no real surprises. Starting to look a little worn down, could use some renovations. Entertainment was good as well, thanks.

Valentin Perla Blanca Paraiso: A trip of a life time!

It was my boyfriend and I's first trip down south together, he has never been and I have been to Varadero twice before. I wanted the trip to be perfect and the beach was the top on my priority list. It is safe to say Cayo Santa Maria is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. We found a part of the beach that was secluded and we spent most of the time there. The water was the most beautiful blue I have ever seen and the sand was as white as our ginger skin! :) There are somethings th [... read more]at frustrated me about the resort, however they aren't even worth mentioning.The resort was very nice and big and I found it very clean...as well the drinks were plentiful. The cameraman excursion was amazing and so was the dolphin show. The food was alright, My boyfriend enjoyed it, I played it safe and stuck with pizza and pasta. The 1.5 hr drive to the resort is not a reason not to go to this resort. We looked at it as an excursion, it was very interesting to see all the villages and learn about the Cuban culture. I was sad to leave, and would recommend this resort to anyone! We will hopefully be back sooner then later!! :)

Playa Cayo Santa Maria: A little tired looking resort

Repairs need to be done to some rooms.In Our room the grab bar in the shower was loose and the towel holder was broke. The food most of the time was cold even with the warmers. The ocean was very difficult to get to with all the rocks. Most of the staff are very friendly. At night the mosquitoes come out so bring bug spray.

Sanctuary at Grand Memories Santa Maria: Another day in Paradise

That's what I said each morning when I arose from the comfortable bed at Sanctuary. This resort is awesome. Number one being the customer service. The staff are the best. The facilities are very clean and welcoming. The food is great, but the Mosquitos were nasty to me. But that's nature! We had a great stay and made many new friends. Can't wait to return

Gran Muthu Cayo Santa Maria: Amazing view... not so great food

This resort is 100% perfect ..well taken care of ...friendly staff ...but the food was not that great ...I've been to Cuba a few times and I've never had this issue. The views are breathtaking and the resort is very family-friendly. The beach is beautiful .. and the water is an amazing shade of teal blue. We would go back despite the food issues 😀

Roc Lagunas del Mar: Great resort and best snorkelling location

The gardens and rooms were beautiful and the staff at all the dining locations: buffet, snack bar, beach restaurant, and bars were all very warm and friendly. We had such a great time at the beach and were very surprised with how easy it was to explore the reefs around the beaches while snorkelling. A couple of areas of improvement would be the lobby - as I felt that it was understaffed and that we had to wait longer than normal for cocktails after dinner. I also expected more evening ente [... read more]rtainment options but understand that we went in the off-season.

Roc Lagunas del Mar: Perfect Resort for Relaxation and Fun

This hotel offered beautiful accommodation. The resort is very clean and well maintained. The staff were friendly and very attentive. It has a lot to offer such as an active night life and lots of pool side activities during the day. The very best part of this resort is the snorkeling. You can walk 15 ft into the water and find a reef with a lot of beautiful and interesting fish as well as other sea creatures. Overall it was worth every penny and I would love to go back.

Iberostar Selection Ensenachos: A great stay.

The staff made the stay with an animation staff that had me participating in all beach activities and also the evening show. The beach is the nicest I've ever been on. I have nothing but good to say about the service. Overall it was a great vacation and I'd be happy to return again. The only downfall is the distance to the airport; but it's worth it to go there again.

Melia Cayo Santa Maria: Great Family Vacation!

We arrived at the Melia Cayo Santa Maria April 29 2017 7 of us in total. Let me start by saying the bus ride is really long so be prepared. Check In Went pretty quick with friendly reception. I had sent an email requesting that the 4 rooms we had booked be close together and they did that which was excellent. Rooms They are clean, pretty but dated, the beds are hard. I think they could use an update. Pools and beach The pools are big lots of chairs and shade. The BEACH is amazing  [... read more]but its Cuba and beaches are always good. The people are so friendly and cannot do enough for you. Food The buffet was awful, no change usually the same everyday. The restaurants where very good so we stuck to those for lunch and supper. All in all we will not be returning to this area as the distance from the air port is to long and one has to think what does Cayo Santa Maria have that other areas of Cuba that are closer to the airport have? In my opinion nothing. If they build an airport closer I would definitely come back. Thanks for a great family vacation filled with great memories Cuba!

Resonance Blu Santa Maria: It has the right amount of Stars.

Clean dining area, grounds well maintained, beautiful beach. Rooms where okay - we did have to change rooms. The staff in the Resturant and at the grill where polite and efficent. The area around the bar and pool where kept clean.

Valentin Perla Blanca: Beautiful resort

The food was very good and always lots of it. The staff was always friendly greeting us with a hug. The beach was priceless. The rooms were nice with a big balcony. Entertainment was superb! Rate 5/5!

Dhawa Cayo Santa Maria: A wonderful experience!

This was the first time going to Cuba for my gf and I. We chose Dwaha by the pictures and reading other reviews online. The hotel is wonderful. Clean, barely untouched, very brand new. The food was amazing. Seafood and various meats freshly cooked right in front of your eyes. That goes for pasta as well. They also had several different delicous salads from the buffet. The desserts were very good and changed every other day. The breakfast and lunch were worth it as well. There is a 24 hours snac [... read more]k bar. So you couldn't go hungry on this resort! The pool was nice and large and at a fairly decent temperature. The beach was very clean and beautiful. At times in certain places it had seaweed and was a little rocky. But that didn't take away from the clear water. There is only one shop on sight, this could change as time goes on. They have the essentials in there and plenty of gifts to buy (cigars and alchohol included for all you lovers out there). We realize that the hotel opened this year (2017) so its quiet which is nice. There were no lines to get food, alcohol, find a decent seat at the havana club. We went on an adventure to a carneval that had dancing and music all night. Food and drinks were including. A fun experience to get off the resort and see the market square at night. A fair distance away from santa maria. So you if you want to plan on an adventure off the resort it might be a few hours away. Overall it was a wonderful experience. All the staff were very nice. They catered to us with warm smiles and great service. They made you feel like you were at home away from home. Would definietely recommend this to anyone. Hopefully we go back to Cuba again!