Valentin Perla Blanca: Not up to our service standard

The resort itself is very nice and everything is close and very convenient; however, the service that we are used to was not there! They seemed to be understaffed and maybe this is because they are just new and they are still working on getting the kinks out. Since we both love the beach, we had a hard time finding a cabana as there were very few and far between, very disappointing to not be able to enjoy the beach. We would most likely not return. Thank you for asking,

Valentin Perla Blanca: Was impressed!

Was afraid to visit Cuba.......but, rooms were spacious, clean, modern. Very large resort so allot of walking, and beach is quite far from the resort, so no ocean views from anywhere other than the beach. There was always shaded areas at the pool and beach. Service was good, and always with a smile. Did not like the drinks very much, they just did not taste like the normal resort drinks. As for the food, we did not starve , but I was quite disappointed. i went with the knowledge that Cuba food w [... read more]as not the best but wow I did not quite expect that. No variety, always cold, not allot to choose from at all. The bus ride was long to get there from the airport but is was ok. Would I go again? Well, if all I could afford was 1000$, I would suck it up and go again, otherwise, I am glad I went and tried it ! Was that bad at all !!! It was hot! Beach was beautiful !

Hotel Roc Casa del Mar: Great Resort!

Excellent value for the price, upgrading to priveledge is not worth the money but for us it was included in price. Pools and beach are to die for, very very well kept resort. Little far from airport but didn't mind the scenic drive, let's you see other parts of the country. Currency exchange always had long line and never had one dollar bills. Ice cream is dairy free and bring ketchup! Wifi is absolutely awful only got on three times in a week! No night life, more of a resort for couples or olde [... read more]r people not students. Hardly anywhere to find souvenirs and market has only 5-6 tables!

Hotel Roc Casa del Mar: Large Resort

Beach is narrow and most of the time the tide was in thereby making the beach narrower still. Everything is spread out and because the resort is so large the staff don't get to know you like the smaller resorts. Lots of confusion and miscommunication with staff, being sent to wrong location. Overall resort was okay not a 4.5 star resort, maybe a 3.

Roc Lagunas del Mar: Great trip!!

Very nice hotel. Rooms are beautiful especially if you can get a balcony one with either the beach or pool view. Very big shower too. Have no complaints for the food as we always had choices and found something we like. Most of the staff were friendly and those were the ones I'd return to if I had any questions or concerns. The beach was the best part of my experience at this resort but I was told that Cayo Santa Maria had very nice beaches in general. The Crazy Lobster restaurant was t [... read more]he best of the restaurants a la carte we ate at. Snack Bar was open 24 hours with different choices each day. I would come back to this resort. I had a good experience.

Hotel Roc Casa del Mar: Ocean Casa Del Mar Cayo Santa Maria Cuba

Grounds were nice and well maintained, gardens still growing in, will be very nice in a few years. Check in was fast and was easy to get a bell boy to provide a ride to the room. We did not get a king bed as requested and the bathroom did not have a proper stand up shower, only a tub with a hand held sprayer. (tub was jet tub, but not what we desire when travelling, we prefer proper showers). turns out the hand held shower head did not work due to previous occupant broke the knob. We requested a [... read more] new room which took a couple days, but we got room with a large stand up shower (still no king bed though).After that we had no room issues, maid service was excellent and mini bar was restocked daily. The option for previlage is not worth the extra cost. people we spoke to who had it did not get all the services privilage is supposed to get you. we did fine without it. (hint: if you tip well, you will get most what you need, like "privilage" alcohol at the bar.) You cannot reserve a la cart dinners, you need to line up, 1st time we've experienced this at an all inclusive, needless to say we did not eat at all a la cart restaraunts. we had a terrible experience at the seafood a la cart, Neptune, we lined up at 8:00 pm, were seated by about 8:30, only got 1 glass of water and wine, and no one took our order, we waited for almost 1 hour before walking out at 9:30 to make the buffet before it closed. we tried to get someone's attention but they didn't seem to care. We tried the japenese a la cart, origami, and the wait was not long and food and service decent. You'll need to line up an hour early for the italian. Buffet was decent most times. long wait lines though for fresh grilled beef and chickin, seafood, pasta bars. service was prompt for beverages if you get a good section, all service staff were good, we found a good spot and kept to it for all meals. Mike's coffee bar, superb! excellent coffee and service by all, Yoel was awseome,always served us with a smile and promptely and was always pleasant. The main bar: is very busy most evening, all the bar tenders worked hard to ensure everyone got served. Shout out to Louis and Oscar, you guys rocked! Two pools, we prefered the "west" pool, seemed to be more action there, (entertainment or animation staff we great), Edel at the bar was awsome. Pool maintenance could have been better, ie: pool deck and pool floor were not "vacuumed" entire two weeks we were there. (that we could see anyway). Filtration and chlorination were evident. There is a snack bar at both pools, both were good, the east pool snack bar (and bar) is open 24 hours. Beach was good, ocean was beautiful, the west beach snack bar and bar service very good, try the chicken and veggies there. We did not take part in many evening shows, but we liked to get a seat by the fountains at the main bar people watch. Main building was always clean, bright and tended to. night time path way lighting was minimal, bring a flashlight. All in all we had good time, yes some minor complaints, seems some people were having a worse time than us, but for the value, for us for two weeks, it was well worth it. look beyond the minor issues and enjoy the sun, the beach and the pools. the staff were very friendly and did what they could to make our stay enjoyable and memorable.

Hotel Roc Casa del Mar: Beautiful Resort!

Beautuful, clean resort. Food was as expected for Cuba, the beach is not so great. There were parts of the beach that was very rocky. Service was average, depends on who was serving you. We got the Privilege package which gives us a separate check-in that did not happened. We didn't get the room in the Privilege building, which was ok, since these rooms didn't have showers. The Privilege package, however, did give us a lobster dinner & access to the beautiful spa next to the hotel along with a  [... read more]free massage. My disappointment was with the a-la-carte restaurants. Normally, you would make reservations, however, for some silly reason, Oceans decided to do a first come first serve, which means people had to line up if they want to eat a-la-carte. We did not line up & did the Buffett all week. Overall, it was good value for the money.

Valentin Perla Blanca Paraiso: Valentin Perla Blanca or Valentin Perla Blanca Paraiso? Different rates,same hotel same disappointment

My wife and I have been enthusiastic Patrons of Cuban tourism for the past 7 years and were looking forward to another relaxing and refreshing week in Caya Santa Maria. There were 2 hotels listed on trip central in Santa Clara: Valentin Perla Blanca and the higher priced Valentin Perla Blance Paraiso. We booked a week vacation with Perla Blance Paraiso thinking it would be a higher standard hotel. On our arrival, we were surprised to learn that the two hotels were one and the same. We fel [... read more]t cheated yet hopeful that this would be quickly forgotten because of previous positive experiences in Cuban resorts; we were to find that the concerns with the Valentin Perla Blanca would be compounded however. Major concerns during our stay involved cleanliness of the room, buffet and main bar, Customer service, long lineups, poorly serviced and disappointing facilities and almost ineffective security In terms of cleanliness, we opened the sheets on the bed and noticed dirt in the sheets; since we arrived late, we were too tired to have the bed remade so we simply took blankets from the cupboard. in the morning we stripped the bed of all sheets and left them on the floor. When visiting the buffet, we frequently had to wait for tables to be cleaned and when they were cleaned it was with filthy rags. The food selection was sparse and when there were dishes that were palatable, they often did not last long and were not replaced prior to the end of the service. The cleanliness from the bar was just as harrowing; we watched as an unused Pina Colada was presented to an unwitting bar patron. We also received glasses which obviously had not been cleaned; in one instance there were lipstick stains on a fresh glass. When checking out, a 2 inch long snail had somehow made its way to the front desk and we pointed it out to the front desk staff He smiled but did nothing. The snail then began to move towards one of the guests who was checking out. It was almost crawling on her sandle when we called it to her attention and of course she was startled; again no response from the front desk clerk who watched the whole incident an continued to check out another couple. There was no lineup and every reason to act. We finaly removed the snail ourselves and set it outside. The customer service was also very concerning. At the main bar it was difficult to get a drink. There were 2 waitresses serving about 150 people and the bartenders did not smile or make eye contact and in some instances sullen. There was also no uniformity with the drinks; you might get a decen spanish coffee from one bartender but the next might choke the drink with too much alcohol or coffee. Other examples of poor service occurred on our checkout. It was raining and so we requested carts for our luggage and we were assured a cart would be forthcoming. We waited for about 25 minutes and since the rain let up, we decided to walk to the main lobby. we discovered in discussions with 2 other couples that they too had requested carts that did not show up. Throughout our experience, staff seemed unwilling to assist even when pressed to do so. Lineups were everywhere at the Perla Blanca. We waited in a line for about a half an hour to register and lineups through out our stay for drinks or food. The most infuriating lineup was in requesting foreign currency; we waited a half an hour to exchange canadian currency into pesos. We were at 2 couples away from our turn whn the window suddenly closed without warning. We checked at the front desk and the clerk told us he head no control over the currency and that the currency exchange ahd probably run out o money. (?) Believe it or not, this was later confirmed by the currency clerk. They rarely had peso coins. so we were forced to request change from the hotel staff. in terms of the facilities, the beaches were not very wide. there was a nice stretch of beach at the far end of the resort but there were hardly any shade huts and the pathway to the beach was a dirt path cut out of bush. The shower drain was plugged in our room but was quickly repaired. Our friends at the far side of the resort told us they had no hot water. There was no "Mike's Coffee Shop" There was also no music after 9pm and no disco. Internet was also laughable; you paid 1 and a half pesos for 1 hour of internet and it frequently went down. When we asked forhelp from the man who sold the internet cards, he told us he was not responsible for the reception and only sold the cards. The most concerning aspect of our stay was the close to ineffective security. During our stay, there was a bar brawl in the resort. First in cuba for us . We witnessed the after effects an were told security did not show up until 30 minutes later. One evening around 9pm we did however witness a very very young man who was obviously very drunk. He challenged the entire main bar to a fight and at one point was about to expose himself when one of the other patrons stopped him. When he stumbled down the stairs to the main lobby I went to the main desk and sugested the clerk cal security. The clerk told me that security was contacted about 15 minutes ago and I suggested the clerk call again right now. The clerk went to the phone and made a call while the drunk continued to harrass patrons ad stumble about. Security arrived 30 minutes later.

Valentin Perla Blanca: Good resort

This resort was very good for Cuba but very large...beach and pool were awesome, our bartender Ariel and waiter Jorge were the best!!! Had an awesome time. Ride from airport to resort is too long. Resort had no store for snacks or drinks...

Gran Muthu Cayo Santa Maria: Amazing hotel

This is my forth time staying at this hotel, the staff are amazing the beach is the most beautiful blue water you will ever see and the food is really good for Cuba. We have become very good friends with many of the staff and always look forward to seeing them every year. The entertainment crew are very friendly and always making you move! Overall I would definitely go back and the resort is still a 5 star for me.

Valentin Perla Blanca Paraiso: True Adult only resort

This was our first time at this resort. We purchased the Privilege Oceanview room. Well worth purchasing the Privilege upgrade. Although, when we got off the bus, it is not easy figuring out where we needed to go as the person already went inside with the sign for advanced check in. Also book with our agent, she was able to request "highest floor" and "King bed" which was key. Positives of the resort: True adult only resort. It has two areas with two different types of adult life. There  [... read more]is the "party pool" with swim up bar, snack back and tons of entertainment, volleyball, dancing, exercising and loud music. Then there is the "relax pool" on the other side of the resort that has a swim up bar and some activities, but definitely more for reading your book while having Mojitos. The food choices were wonderful. 3 a-la-carte dinners and a lobster dinner. So 4 total. All restaurants were really well done and service was wonderful. As well, we get a-la-carte breakfast EVERY morning which was wonderful. We never went to the buffet for breakfast as there was never a line, or anything for breakfast, and the staff at that restaurant was phenomenal. Privilege lounge was also wonderful. They have scotch, aged Havana club, Chivas, bigger selection of beers and the best bartenders on the resort. This was always free for privilege members. The beach at the resort was amazing, Santa Maria is known for the beaches. We spent every day on the beach at some point and one of the days dolphins swam up about 20 feet from the shore and were fishing for about 20 minutes (before other tourists "NEEDED" to get closer and in turn, the dolphins left due to them) Room and resort is all relatively new and upgraded in comparison to others. Meaning that the rooms are all more modern and the restaurants are as well. The pictures are exactly what you will find, they are not misleading at all. We booked with Sunwing, and had such a wonderful experience with them. I feel like we got lucky as everything went EXACTLY according to plan. I definitely would recommend booking with them. Resort is massive. This is either a pro or a con. We enjoyed the amount of walking and exercise we actually got there. Negatives: One issue is every once in a while there is a sewer smell at the resort and near the room's toilet. As well, after about 3 days of showering, the drain was fairly clogged or backed-up or something, not too sure and it kept taking a while for the water to drain. Room service was nothing special. Our issue was they were constantly inconsistent with the timing they would clean our room. One day it was 3pm and another it was 11am. So that was annoying as we needed to be out of our room for them to do their thing and we couldn't predict that. Cigar selection is VERY weak at this resort. Apparently at the market there is a better selection, but also the chance of fake cigars is very high. Duty-free before going home has some good selections. Bus ride is 1.75 hrs. It is not bad when you first arrive as you get beers and you're all excited and the tour guide on the way is usually very entertaining. However, the ride back at the end of your week it is exhausting and feels forever. Also, if you book the early flight (11am) remember, the flight back you leave your resort about 5 hrs prior to your flight time. ie, check out at 5:30am and catch the bus to the airport at 6am. Overall: Overall we were very happy with this resort. Adult only so no children running around and lots of booze flowing. I highly recommend the privilege or silver package, it is well worth the extra money. And the concierge will help you book everything, any issues and supports you very well when you're there.

Hotel Roc Casa del Mar: Terrible

This hotel is terrible.. the food was not good at all, the beach wasn't any better. The staff didn't seem to know what they were doing! the ala cartel restaurants don't have a system yet, had to wait in line up for at least 1-1/2hr and you might not get in. i wouldn't recommend this hotel at all.

Hotel Roc Casa del Mar: Very peaceful and relaxing vacation

This hotel just opened recently so has all the new fixtures. The pools are so blue like just on the pictures, place is very clean, the town market place is a 10 minute walk. overall highly recommended

Iberostar Selection Ensenachos: Iberostar Ensenachos

The beaches at this resort were amazing.There are two to select from and require a bit of a walk to get to but are very accessible. The resort itself was very nice and well maintained. There were lots of families with infants and small children during our stay. Which wasn't an issue for us but may be for some folks. The food was okay to poor at times, which is typical Cuban fare. A La Cartes: The Japanese restaurant was average. The Italian restaurant was poor. The Cuban Food restaurant wa [... read more]s good.

Melia Cayo Santa Maria: Peacefull Resort

This is a smaller resort, a little older, with upgrades being done, staff is great, grounds are beautiful and clean, beach is great, 2 nice big pools, some of the food was very good but other not so good. There are not a lot of activities on the site, perfect to relax and rest.

Iberostar Selection Ensenachos: Food needs improvement

The only real issue we had with this resort was the food quality for what is considered a five star resort. We understand this is Cuba, but we stayed at another five star resort in Cuba that had better food. The food was inconsistent. Only one evening in the buffet the food was hot in the trays. A cooked turkey was dry one night and better another. The fresh cooked stations were better but had long line-ups. A la cartes were okay, but the lobster pasta at the Italian was tough pieces of lobster  [... read more]in a soupy tomato sauce and the service at that restaurant was very slow. Breakfast was okay but the bacon needs to be cooked properly. Three of six had stomach issues to an extent we never had before on many previous trips south. Everything else was great - rooms, grounds, two fabulous beaches, and we can't say enough about all the wonderful staff we met who went above and beyond every day.

Sol Cayo Santa Maria: Great experience in a friendly resort

For our first time on Cayo Santa Maria island, we chose the Sol resort for its smaller size and attractive price. There we found a friendly atmosphere with pleasant staff, good service and all the amenities we needed. The front desk personnel were particularly helpful in answering our questions and accommodating us with a room of our choice (room 2807, higher floor and ocean view is perfect!). The maid service was impeccable and timely. The food was fine, with adequate eating venues and meal cho [... read more]ices; the only eating place we found disappointing was the Italian restaurant, which does not not really offer Italian dishes and just serves ordinary food. Entertainment wise, we much appreciated the dancing group’s evening shows, as well as the occasional social dancing with the participation of the pro dancers. One thing that was missing maybe is information on the different shows and activities taking place in the resort during the week; a posted schedule of those would help the vacationers to better plan their day. This however is a very minor thing! Overall, we are very satisfied of our stay at the Sol Cayo Santa Maria. Obviously, expectations of quality for a 4-star hotel in Cuba has to be different from what they would be in North America or Europe. Yes, buildings and rooms at the Sol could use a facelift… But for us, all our priorities -and more- were fulfilled in this resort. As for the beach experience, it was fantastic… spectacular stretches of fine white sand, not over-developed, not too crowded, and bordering crystal clear water. A great and very enjoyable vacation!

Grand Memories Santa Maria: Nice trip

Over all it's was a good stay the only complaint I have is the lack of Wi-Fi and the food at the buffet. We ended up going off the resort to eat. Also the bank there was a little shady and tried to pull out and extra 200 out of my account we ended up going off resort to a more legit bank

Iberostar Selection Ensenachos: GREAT RESORT

The resort was beautiful....large with beautiful pools and even more beautiful beaches (two beaches). However, the pools were close but the beaches were a bit to far away for my liking. We stayed in one of the Spa rooms which meant it was fairly close to everything. Some of the other rooms would have been too far away for us (different if you are young though). Rooms were nice and clean and the staff everywhere on the resort were wonderful. The drive from the airport to the resort was appro [... read more]x. 2 hours each way which gave us an opportunity to see farms and housing and learn more about Cuba from the bus guides. Comfortable, air conditioned buses. Even though it is an all inclusive resort, be prepared to tip on a regular basis as you go along. A great many tourists were doing this and some of the staff began to expect it. FOOD.....not the best but certainly a large variety. The great taste of the Cuban beer made up for the taste of food. Great entertainment every evening. We would certainly recommend this resort and met people who go back year after year. One couple we met just celebrated their 20th visit to this resort. We would certainly go back again. A great bang for your buck.

Playa Cayo Santa Maria: Cosy resort!

The resort is a little dated but comfortable. I would describe the resort, grounds, dining room and lobby as average. There are a number of pools in the resort which makes it convenient to easily get to from any building. Rooms were clean. The food could have been better. By Cuba resort standards, it was average. Nightly entertainment was good.