Sanctuary at Grand Memories Santa Maria: Nice resort in 1999!

Hotel is well is well laid out and easy to get around. Many of the staircases have no railing a danger for seniors Room was fine with comfortable bed. Which was nice considering we had our bed made up 1 time in 7 days after much discussion with butler. Toilet paper and towels were in short supply and needed to be chased. Shower was a safety hazard. High step into a slippery floor tub with no hand rails. Food and restaurants were fine with good service. We ate at a la carte every night P [... read more]ool very shallow only 90cm so you can't float on a noodle Beach is also shallow long walk out. Beautiful sand Staff were attentive. Maintenance was clearly lacking every where.hotel will die a death by 1000 cuts. So sad

Paradisus Los Cayos: Impressed!!

Beautiful resort, we enjoyed every day there. Beautiful resort and awesome beach. The only minor setback was food shortages due to state of things in Cuba. Buffet was not as extensive as usual but still was very good. Great resort for the money.

Playa Luxury Cayo Las Brujas: Beautiful, Resort, Incredible, Beaches, Amazing Staff

The hotel is a beautiful, quiet, clean, small, adult only hotel. The rooms are very nicley appointed and are kept nice and clean by the housekeeping staff. We have stayed at this hotel on three occaisions and will return. Although there are new staff members, many are still here from our very first visit and they remember you. The views are incredible, the beaches the best you will find anywhere in Cuba. There is no problem finding a place to lounge at the beach or at the two pools. And as a spe [... read more]cial bonus there is a smaller intimate beach that when the tide is out you can wander out forever. Its just a very friendly, laid back, well run, great adult only resort!

Playa Luxury Cayo Las Brujas: Not impressed

The hotel, beach, pool and grounds were very beautiful, however check in was horrible and took forever. Most of the food was prepared in a very Cuban way. You have to be adventurous with your eating or you will be eating buns and fruit. They ran out of eggs and wine part way through the week. Their idea of sausage is weiners. The two a la carte restaurants were beautiful to look at, and they prepared really nice salads and soups, but the entrees were not good. We had a couple of bites of lobster [... read more] and chicken breast which were both overcooked and rubbery. The entire resort was very slow on providing drinks whether in a restaurant, bar or at the beach. It was like they were trying to reserve bottles so they would last the entire week. The burgers at the beach cookout were always reliable. No tissue in the room and they were stingy with their toilet paper. Many of the public bathrooms lacked soap, toilet paper, or a locking door. Good thing the bed was comfortable or it would have truly been an awful vacation.

Iberostar Selection Ensenachos: Beautiful resort

My self and my 2 daughters had an amazing time at Selection Ensenachos. Food was great for Cuba considering food shortages. I really had no complaints except for the setvice in the coffee bar and lobby! I tip but they were not in a rush for serving women. Men were served first apparently. But that wouldnt stop me from coming back i definitely will be returning !!!

Playa Luxury Cayo Las Brujas: Amazing resort

Quick check-in in the middle of the night. We booked a junior suite with garden view. It was in a quiet area of the grounds. There's 2 fabulous pools close to the main building. The grounds were very well maintained with beautiful flowers. There's access to 2 beaches, each at opposite ends of the resort: one quiet beach, drinks available and chairs but no music; the other beach was louder with Cuban music. The staff is friendly and polite (French and English). There were a couple of shortages li [... read more]ke toilet paper in the general washrooms as well as eggs at breakfast but there were ample food choices. We had a fabulous 2 week vacation and will definitely return to this resort in the future.

Vila Gale Cayo Santa Maria: Disappointed

When we first arrived, our room had an awful smell. We had to be switched not only rooms but buildings away from our friends. We got moved to another building that water supply had not worked for 24 hours. We asked at front desk why would you moved us from a bad situation to another. We then again asked to be moved back to the building with our friends. So we moved 3x. Food was horrific always cold- Lines for the food was unmanaged.

Vila Gale Cayo Santa Maria: Superb experience!

We had a great time In Grand Sirenis @Cayo Sta Maria Cuba! It was our first time going away for March break. From the time we booked with Tripcentral, with the our agent Ash, he was very helpful! It was very easy and flawless. We are a family of 6 kids ages ranging from 6-18yo. They had the best time! Resort was clean, staff were great, beach was EXCELLENT! Couldn't have asked for a better beach and our room view was the best! Food was okay, as per other reviews that said it was the worst. It [... read more] really isn't. Just don't go with high expectations that they gonna serve you with steaks and lobsters. I mean, not all the food they served was for me or for my kids but we were all full after eating at their buffet. I would go back there in a heartbeat!!!

Valentin Perla Blanca: Peaceful

Pro's, Well laid out pool areas with ample amounts of sitting/lounging areas to suit all preferences. Resort is also well laid out providing multiple options for relaxing, dinning, and or entertainment. Vast beautiful beach areas with tons of room or privacy if desired. Grounds are well kept and clean. Con's, Beds are a bit worn or hard and pillows are hard. Longest bus ride from the airport. Last off and first on so a lot of stops at other resorts. Gym is weak.

Vila Gale Cayo Santa Maria: Stunning resort. Definitely going back!

I can’t say enough good things about this resort. The view, the food, the rooms, the food(Yes, I said food twice, it was amazing), the staff, the shows. Almost all 5 stars across the board. A few hiccups to mention first - 1) I paid extra for an ocean view room, but fellow travellers who did not pay for ocean view got free upgrades to views much better than mine. Minor inconvenience, really, just worth mentioning. 2) no matter how much I tipped, our housekeeper did a “good” job but we di [... read more]dn’t get any of the cute extra touches (think towel animals and decorative touches) that our friends got (though they didn’t tip) and on the one day that I was in a rush and forgot to tip, our bathroom waste didn’t get emptied and was quite ripe by the next day. (Toilet paper cannot get flushed, “cottage rules” were in effect) Our towels and bath mat were taken and not replaced and it was a bit of an effort to get new ones. If there’s more than 2 people staying in your room, bring your own towels and beach towels. 3) one of the theatre bartenders, whose name I did not get, spent every evening on his phone and not only refused to serve us but on the first occasion he put his hand up in a “talk to the hand” gesture and walked away. The second time I tried to address him (days later) he looked me in the eye, said “nope” and pointed to his coworker Rogelio who was very professionally handling all of the thirsty people at the theatre every evening. 4) despite reading so many reports to the contrary, cash is NOT king. Both of my excursions had to be paid for with credit card and were charged USD at an almost 40% markup over what I planned to pay in Canadian funds. That hurt. 5) AirTransat flight schedules are a joke and we missed our entire first day as the flight was late in the evening and we didn’t get checked in until 2:00AM, despite the plane landing around 8:30PM. 6) the departing flight - we had to check out 10.5 hours and leave the resort 5 hours before our flight departure time and spent 3 hours at the tiny airport sitting in a room with almost no food options. Save some snacks for the airport wait on the way home! Rum is cheaper at the airport than at the resort, and price fluctuates at the airport depending on which store you go into (there were 3 or 4 selling rum and cigars). So many insect bites from the airport - save some bug spray for the trip home. Now on to the great stuff!!! We went to the theatre every evening and most were wonderful and enjoyable shows. The bartenders (with the exception of cranky man) were amazing. Special shout-out to Rogelio, who made the evenings special. He always wore a smile and a professional attitude, even when he was left to do all the work by himself. If anyone goes to the evening shows, tell Rogelio that Julie says hi! Just to show you the special touches, one evening he noticed I wasn’t ordering any drinks. I mentioned that my tummy was upset and he suggested a bit of brandy to settle it. Wouldn’t you know it - he fixed me right up! Kudos, my friend! The disco wasn’t open while we were there, but Mitch stayed after each show to mingle and make sure everyone knew that there were activities by the beach and pool each day to keep them entertained. I didn’t spend a lot of time on the beach, but the 2 days I spent there, I truly enjoyed the views and the sun. There was a slight breeze each day which made the hot sun easier to handle. I would have liked a few more options of shaded seating, but it was such a minor issue that it hardly warrants mention. The lobby pool was immaculately clean, and it was so fun to have the staff teaching dances and playing music. Yosvic is a top-tier bartender and made our stay so fun!! On the last day we had Eduardo filling in and he was awesome as well. The rumour mill was full of people complaining about the lack of toilet paper, so we went prepared. I am pleased to report, however, that there was only one occasion when there was no tp, and I’ve had worse odds here in Canada! Bring your roll, just in case, but don’t be scared! Now on to the food. Man, oh man, the food. First of all, I admit, I was scared. I booked this vacation almost a year prior, and since then I have seen reports of shortages and hoarding and lack of food. I am a total foodie and spending a week hungry was going to ruin my vacation. BUT… wow, the food! Yes… there were a few days where “traditional” protein options were shy, but there was always plenty of rice, beans, seafood and alternative proteins. I ate calamari 4 or 5 times, fresh grilled, and it was AMAZING. The hoarding is real, and those people should be ashamed of themselves. I witnessed families of 4 scooping up 3 entire plates of chicken breasts and then leaving most of them uneaten on their table when they left. Pork chops were getting scooped up by the dozen and it was all very uncalled for. Pancakes, even, hoarded and then discarded. If it wasn’t for the waste and hoarding, there would have been plenty of food for everyone. There was pasta, salads, so many salad dressings, desserts for miles, juice and fruit. I lost 5 lbs while on vacation not because of the lack of food, but because of the abundance of healthy options!! I left every meal quite full and happy. I can say with 100% certainty that anyone who complains about the lack of food is just lacking in the ability to adapt to one’s environment. If you go here expecting “American food”, you will be disappointed. But if you show up with an empty belly and a willingness to eat local fare, you will not be disappointed in the least!! Tip from the trenches- pumpkin was available at almost every meal, in many forms, and it is a wonderful way to prevent the tummy upset that seems to affect so many travellers worldwide. Look up “the Mediterranean Diet” before you go so you’re prepared. All in all, my week at Grand Sirenis was truly enjoyable. Right up there with experiences I’ve had in Punta Cana and Jamaica, even. Would I go back again? 100%, without hesitation. Sign me up!

Hotel Roc Casa del Mar: Disappointed

The rooms were very clean and the grounds very well kept. There were only 2 restaurants and your choices were chicken pork or fish for dinner and the same thing at the snack bar for lunch. Breakfast was powdered eggs and the odd time crepes they called pancakes..no syrup Breakfast and dinner served at restaurant and snack bar for lunch. We were told we could only have what the Chef allowed. That included bread and vegetables and if there wasn't enough too bad. Dessert was ice cream. I gave u [... read more]p on the food and would only have breakfast and if there was any, take some bread to my room. I was there last year for 2 weeks and although there were shortages the buffet was open and offered different choices. I realized once I got to the resort that Sunwing was fully aware of the issues and could have forewarned us. People would come in and leave again. We were not offered any other resort or a trip home. If we did it would cost a lot of money (we were told,) I definitely do not blame the staff. They did the best they could in the circumstances. I have had many trips booked through trip central and Sunwing. I cannot ever see this happening again

Grand Memories Santa Maria: Good Resort

The hotel was a bit of a disappointment. We arrived at approximately 1:30 pm after a nearly 2 hour bus ride from Santa Clara Airport, and was told that our room would not be available until 4:00 pm. Once we finally got access to our room we found that there were no hand towels or facecloths but only large bath towels. There was no drain stopper in the bathroom sink or in the bathtub. There was no clock in the room, and the hot water was not functioning. One day the main water pipe broke [... read more], and there was no water. As a result we couldn't flush the toilet or get water to wash etc. Fortunately this dilemma only lasted 1 day. The main concern was the lack of toilet rolls and paper towels in all the washrooms. A situation that should never happen in hotels. These are basic necessities to clean living. Dining was another problem. On our first full day we visited the buffet for breakfast and fortunately was able to get eggs. That was the only time in our 10 day stay that eggs were available. Bacon seemed to be rationed in that it was not available every day. Cold cereal was available, however there was a lack of spoons, which necessitated us to seek them out from from the waiters and waitresses. We visited the Italian restaurant twice, and on both occasions the food was presented cold. At the main bar and at poolside bars, certain types of alcohol and soft drinks were sometimes not available - very inconsistent. The grounds were nicely kept, and the workers were very friendly

Vila Gale Cayo Santa Maria: Amazing

Clean room Amazing internment Nice management Good drink Nice beach and awesome Music Very good weather Perfect for march break we had very good vacation my daughter had fun and amazing time with other children She enjoy with food and tatoo and cotton candy

Sanctuary at Grand Memories Santa Maria: Amazing Staff

Well folks, can’t understand the negative reviews, yes it maybe a little dated but the room had power, running water, hot water, toilet that flushed, air conditioning (that worked great), comfy bed, extra pillows, blankets, bar fridge( that worked great), water, safe, TV,(not sure if it worked never tried it), the resort itself has great landscaping, bars had alcohol, lots of places to get food, beaches awesome, pools great, to all the complainers about the food, you are fussy, there is plenty t [... read more]o eat always pork, chicken, seafood, rice, potatoes, beef roast, all the veggies, bread, and desserts including ice cream and donuts made in front of you, and the staff was absolutely amazing, the best butlers I have ever had, Richard Diaz Peralta and Odlanier Urquiola, tip these guys and they will go out of there way and get you whatever you need, please watch out for sand flies early in the morning and evenings, you really don’t realize till you get home how bad it itches, take bug spray, other than that you will have a great time

Melia Las Dunas: This resort needs a lot of love

It was my third time at the Melia las Dunas. The weather was wonderful and the staff amazing! Viktor, at the animation team is a nice guy and he always remember our name. The staff at the pool bar and the restaurant on the adult side are wonderful. The hotel itself is not like it was before. No chair anymore at the adult side beach no bar and not too much chairs on the other side. The chairs are old and uncomfortable. On a positive point our room was cleaned every day. As you know, Cuba is  [... read more]short of almost everything so if you are going in Cuba in general, don’t think that you will have the best food. They are doing what they can with the less they have. You will always find something to eat. But if you want to meet amazing people and lay down on the most beautiful beaches, that’s the place to go.

Valentin Perla Blanca: Amazing Reaort

The beach was amazing! The staff was superb! Only thing I would negatively state is no shows in the evening! Very clean and grounds were kept immaculate. Drinks were served and always with a smile. There were people to book excursions almost everyday.

Melia Cayo Santa Maria: Very relaxing resort

The resort was great. Had a great layout close to everything. It is on the smaller side but great spot to recharge. The beach and the water was beautiful we spent everyday on the beach. The staff were all nice and work very hard to keep people comfortable with all the shortages that they face everyday. A little disappointed in the food with the shortages of things but the staff would help anyway they could. The area of Santa Maria is beautiful and may return again in the future.

Grand Memories Santa Maria: Paradise

The grounds were immaculate. The staff members pleasant and easy to talk to. Our room was just as you would want it to be, clean, equipped, The food was better than expected. The pools awesome and the beach better than awesome. The buildings could use a coat of paint, that is the only thing they could do to improve the place. We'd go back in a heart beat.

Hotel Roc Casa del Mar: Empty resort

First time ever to go on March break time and the hotel is almost empty, the day we arrived we spent more than 3 hours to check in ( by the way we supposed to be EXCELSIOR CLUB) rooms are not ready and we requested connected rooms we have been 2 families with 4 teenagers 2 kids each family. And the receptionist didn’t know what she’s doing she gave us 2 rooms each family and the rooms were far from each other, we kept explaining to her that if there’s no connected rooms which their website said  [... read more]they have, at least she can put the rooms to be next to each other we spent over 3 hours to do that and we had to give her the room numbers next to each because she doesn’t know anything. The phones in the room was dead, if you need anything or in case of emergency you have to walk to the lobby, I am sure they did that on purpose so no one call them. The buffet was not a buffet at all it Han nothing and was open door, the food is full of flies and insects (so disgusting). We complained that we will leave if the didn’t move the buffet indoors and they did the next day.We have been to Cuba for more than 5 times last time in September 2023, and we are aware about the food shortage and varieties, but it’s first time to be like that. The snack bar supposed to be 24/7 but it’s not actually sometimes when you go they have nothing. No bread even!. The beach is amazing, the staff trying their best. The pool needs maintenance, my son was injured because of the broken pieces of the floor in the pool. EXCELSIOR CLUB is not worth it.

Melia Cayo Santa Maria: Wonderful Resort, beautiful beaches!

This trip to Cuba was my 9th, Cuba is having a very difficult time for their people and somehow managed to still give tourists so much! The rooms are lovely, it’s a great size resort, not too big, lots of coffee, drinks and while there are some food shortages everywhere there was lots to eat and enjoy. The grounds / gardens and beaches are spectacular! The staff are so kind, there’s no where I feel safer as a single parent then Cuba, (I feel safer there then at home in North America).  [... read more] Loved our Melia Cayo Santa Maria stay