Barcelo Solymar: Hotel review

We did not have a pleasant experience with the hotel, the room smelled moldy and the bed sheets were very old and stained, they provided only two towels for showers, no hand or face towels at all, this hotel is in very good location with beautiful beaches that needs renovation badly, the food also was bad, plates were not clean , low quality service, not following hygiene, no fruits or choice of drinks. as other guest said I also will not travel Cuba again. Very poor condition all over after Co [... read more]vid.

Sanctuary at Grand Memories Santa Maria: DO NOT STAY AT THIS RESORT!!!

Let me start by saying this is definitely not a 4.5 star resort. I have been to 3 star resorts in Cuba that were far more superior than the Sanctuary. I chose this resort to celebrate my wife’s 60th birthday based on the reviews and pictures on the website. I wonder if these reviewers stayed at the same resort! The rooms were in a very sad state. Nothing worked in the rooms. Sliding door would not close properly and lock. Toilette did not flush properly. Hardly any water pressure for showers. So [... read more]ap dish in shower falling off wall. Mirror hanging by a thread. I’ve seen better furniture in a homeless shelter. Towels were all stained and smelled terrible. Bed sheets were also stained. Even pillow cover was stained. I called front desk to ask for new pillow cover 4 times!!! Nobody came. Hallways and stairs were never cleaned while we were there. Sewage odour seemed to be present throughout the resort. Near our building and beside buffet. Workers constantly expecting tips. What most tourists don’t know is that the staff you are tipping does not get that money. The government collects all the tips. So think about that next time you tip. Food was typical Cuban fare. They really need to do something about the unsanitary and unsafe conditions in the buffet. All the food is outdoors and flies all over all the food. Plates, cutlery and glasses filthy. They should invest in dishwashers or train staff how to properly wash these items. Uncooked meats sitting in the heat at the two grills for too long. This buffet would fail an inspection on all fronts. . Building exteriors look like they have been through a war. They are so run down it makes the resort look sad. We were also surprised at the lack of good Cuban coffee like we have experienced in other resorts. Cappuccinos tastes like weak regular coffee. Espresso tasted like watered down coffee. I am second generation Italian and can honestly say the coffees we had at the Sanctuary were horrible. I was very disappointed. The beach is this resorts only positive it has going for it. This resort needs a lot of work before they can claim to be a 4.5 star hotel. I would never return to this resort and would not recommend it to anyone considering coming here for their next vacation. I hope you take my advice and stay away from this resort.

Gran Muthu Rainbow Cayo Guillermo: If you are looking for something really special...

I just returned from an incredible trip to Cayo Guillermo, specifically The Gran Muthu Rainbow. Now, if you're looking for perfection in terms of food, amenities and an easy care free resort, stop reading now. The Rainbow is one of three Gran Muthus in Cayo Coco/Cayo Guillermo and it has it's share of problems, that the other two resorts don't seem to have as much difficulty with, for some reason, that I still want to find out why, such as terrible food (not news), water & gas shortages, electri [... read more]cal issues, basically something is always not working properly, but I knew this before going. Literally everything has to be bought on the black market, which makes life for the people there extremely challenging. But I wasn't going there for the food and I knew about the water, etc. However, if you want to see some of the best beaches in Cuba and want to experience a small, intimate resort with gorgeous rooms (newly built), stunning views and absolutely fabulous entertainment, than this is the place for you. Whether you are part of the LGBTQA+ community or not, it is a very, very special place. Do your research, join their Facebook group, prepare as much as possible before leaving. Bring tons of cash! You cannot use credit anywhere! There are no ATM's, and the bank in Moron will only give you pesos. Bring gifts for the staff please, namely medication, they NEED it! Chocolate is also very much appreciated, as well as so many other necessities, things we completely take for granted. I learned a lot about Cuba while I was there, it is a country I have longed to visit and I plan to go back as soon as possible. Know your history! Ask questions, they love Canadians, sadly we cannot do more to help them economical because of the US embargo, damn American government, it is screwing Cuba again, it has never stopped! I don't about you, but when travelling, I want to meet the locals, I want to learn from them. Hemingway brought Cayo Guillermo to the attention of the world, he's a National hero. Then there's Castro & Che of course, incredible history! If you like this kinda of stuff, check it out!

Iberostar Origin Daiquiri: Friendly Clean Resort

Beach is amazing. Staff is friendly and attentive and if you had a problem it was addressed immediately to the best of what could be done given the shortages and limitations that are Cuba. There are no pushy people selling you anything on the beach so that was nice and particular to Cuba. The rooms are basic. Fresh towels and bottles of water everyday. The areas are sprayed for mosquitos daily so that was not a real issue other than for an hour or so at dusk. Food is plentyfull but basic.  [... read more] Always had fish, chicken, beef and pork dishes. Fruits are tropical only with the occasional imported apple. No almond or soy milk ...just milk. No cereal for breakfast although plain oats was an option. I will be back again....

Grand Aston Cayo Las Brujas: Resort Review

Grounds and pools were great. Rooms were clean and the housekeeping staff was pleasant. Staff at dinners and bars were good with the exception of the lobby bar, there were a few unpleasant bar tenders. Would have been nice if everything was open, the Central Perk cafe was closed during our visit. Beach was great. Food at the buffet was not good at all, nobody in our group really ate dinner.

Paradisus Princesa Del Mar: Great Time

I was impressed by the amount of shows and entertainment the resort featured. On top of a nightly show, bands showed up at restaurants and at the pool, so there was always some pleasant surprises. There were some food shortages, but I was satisfied with our meals given the expectations one usually has for Cuba. Beautiful beach and very friendly staff - it truly was 10 days of Paradise.

Melia Las Americas: Absolutely amazing!

This was our first trip to Cuba, and it won't be our last. Melia las americas was absolutely beautiful. We stayed in the level bungalows with a beautiful garden view, but of course you could still see the ocean. The room was amazing, 2 floors, 2 balconies, one on each level. The staff were very friendly and the food was very good. We had no shortages of anything. They had live entertainment which was great, the band was super. We were there for one week from October 15 to the 22nd, 2023.  [... read more]We did NOT want to leave, Melia las americas is just so relaxing and paying extra for the level is so worth it. Exclusive restaurants and even 2 pools just for level guests. We had asked for extra Cafe pods for our room and never had any problem getting them. Again, the staff was amazing. We stayed in bungalow #6125, it was right beside the level pool/bar. Super easy to get anywhere on the resort from our room. Definitely going to be asking for that same bungalow again, was a perfect spot for us. This will be the only resort we will go to, yes it was that amazing!

Grand Memories Varadero: 4 star hotel — 5 star experience

We stayed at Grand Memories Veradero Dec 31 to Jan 7 2024 and overall our experience was great. We read many negative reviews so had low expectations upon arrival and packed absolutely anything we would need. Arrival was bad and Check in was horrible and so slow. We arrived at midnight and everything was chaos and when we finally got to our room it was bad! We immediately went back to reception and was told we can change in the morning. We moved to a new room the next day and it was perfect. We  [... read more]were 4 travellers and had 1 king and 1 double bed, fresh towels, stocked waters in the fridge, tv and clean. From there everything else was great. Beautiful beach, large pools, friendly staff and family friendly activities. Food was not the best but we were able to find something plus we packed a lot of snacks from home. Overall great experience especially for the price. We will be going back to Veradero and open to going to Grand Memories again although we typically like to try new places.

Grand Aston Cayo Las Brujas: Challenging

Arrived at hotel late New Year’s Eve. Lobby was full of patrons waiting to go to another hotel for festivities, this hotel had a low key party by the pool, lots of metallic confetti being used, took all week to remove from the pool. For the first 3 days, food and toilet paper was hard to find, apparently the hotel allows locals to use the hotel, so hoarding was an issue. The staff was great, trying to help, but, shortages of the food and TP were the issue until the next shipment came in. N [... read more]eeded to speak to customer service several times regarding lack of bottled water and toilet paper in hotel room. Lookout gazebo was in disrepair with rotten floor boards. Poolside entertainment was disappointing. Bring bug spray, we ended up with dozens of bites. The weather, poolside bartenders and beach made the trip enjoyable.

Grand Aston Cayo Paredon Beach Resort: Amazing resort and staff!

My sister and I were there for new years and the staff did and amazing job. We had a delicious turkey dinner to start off the evening along with lobsters, crabs etc. There was an outside stage with music and large screen for videos and the count down. Resort grounds and room was clean and spacious. Very comforting. Ac in the rooms was easy to control and always cold. Mini fridge was stocked daily with water. Staff was friendly, always smiling and so polite. Very relaxing atmosphere if you are lo [... read more]oking for a R&R vacation. Food was good especially for Cuba. If something wasn’t available there was always something else in its place. Chirros on the beach were a nice treat. Beach was breath taking. The pools were clean and not crowded. There were lots of chairs at the beach and pool. Everything about this resort was perfect. Everyone knows you don’t go to Cuba for the food you go for the friendly Cubans and the beaches. The food at this resort was a pleasant surprise and a bonus. You won’t regret booking your vacation at this resort.

Blau Varadero: Excellent resort!

The hotel Blau is cozy with big spaces of restful areas, lobby and atrium. Rooms are clean, spacious with wide balconies. Room service was very good. There are several bars and restaurants with great service. Beach is excellent with amazing entertainment and animation team.

Sanctuary Cayo Largo: A hidden gem in the Caribbean!

SANCTUARY at Grand Memories, Cayo Largo, Cuba We travel often and have to say that we are extremely pleased with the quality of service, rooms, food and attention to detail the staff here have provided during our stay. This is a great place to unwind and relax!! I would not recommend this place to someone who likes to party or stay up late. I’m sure you can find that elsewhere on the island. As we arrived at the airport, it was very evident that is was well organized; we went through cust [... read more]oms and on the shuttle bus in about 30 minutes from arriving in Cayo Largo. We boarded the shuttle bus which was very well organized and arrived at Sanctuary at Grand Memories under ten minutes from the airport. Upon arriving at Sanctuary at Grand Memories, the staff greeted us with smiles, a drink and a very quick check-in. The rooms (cabin to yourself) are very large with comfortable beds and furniture to sit outside (or inside when the weather isn’t as nice / bugs are too bad). There is a safe with swipe card access which is the same as the door to the room. The room (28) was very well taken care of, clean and stocked with water daily. This room is a great location if you want to be at the quietest end of the resort (away from the pool, music and restaurant). The walk to all the main amenities at Sanctuary are not far at all. Although, this would be the furthest point from Grand Memories, next door which (when open in February/ March) will provide other options for restaurants, pools and bars. Grand Memories was not open to guest while we were staying there for New Years, but the theatre was used for wonderful shows, a dinner and still have access to the gym facility (NOTE: please bring a towel to the gym). At night you can hear the sound of the waves crashing up against the shore from the room. The restaurant at Sanctuary provides good enough selection of fish, chicken or beef with most of their meals. It is buffet style with excellent service! The food was good and excellent for New Years Eve! Thank you very much to all the staff who prepared an excellent dinner and entertainment for the evening and for the week! The staff work very long days. As visitors to their country, please respect them and leave good tips! We even left clothing, hygiene and other items that are not simply monetary. I must commend Dianelys Suarez Sotolongo (Buttler) as she even helped me out to plan a special dinner for my partner’s birthday. We celebrated with an amazing dinner at a separate table from the rest so we could enjoy our evening together. Along the week, she often would check in with us to see how our stay was, and if she could do anything else to make it more enjoyable. The service she provided for us was very much appreciated to make the most out of our stay! Thank you for going the extra mile! Caution to beach enthusiasts, there is not really a beach at Sanctuary. There are however, shuttles that would take you to neighbouring resorts to enjoy their beach or to other beaches around the island. That being said, we climbed down the choral / rock drop and found some really nice spots to swim right in front of the Sanctuary hotel (under 2-5 minute walk away). Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay and would certainly stay here again in the future! Thank you very much for making us feel like family while staying at Sanctuary Grand Memories.

Grand Aston Cayo Las Brujas: Amazing staff but shortages showed!

The staff made the place #1. The staff was cleaning almost constantly but there was a huge lack in toilet paper, people were hoarding and saving it because they weren’t refreshing the empty roles in rooms or public bathrooms. Taking into consideration that Cuba has huge shortages itself the hotel showed that. The kids only drinks were lemonade or cola. The kids club was shut down and broken. There was only one day of pina coladas or you could get rum or vodka drinks, no slushy drinks. The beach  [... read more]was a far walk but there was golf carts willing to drive to closer. The a la cartes didn’t have the food that was on there menus but staff did the best that they could do with what they were provided with. The entertainment really lacked at the pool bar. The first few days we were there, people were hoarding food, would take whole loafs of bread not leaving any for others but as the week went on it got better. Besides all the negative we made the best out of it. I do recommend the jeep safari that takes you into town and shows you the real Cuba.

Playa Vista Azul: very clean--excellent staff--friendly

Grounds and public areas nice. Stayed in Premium room and area---well worth extra fee. Also ate all meals in a la carte---Coral and staff are excellent. Premium bartenders were very good. 1 oclock parties were fun.

Grand Memories Santa Maria: Relaxing Winter Getaway

We went on this trip as a couple and enjoyed a wonderful two weeks at Grand Memories! First things first, the beach was beautiful, one of the loveliest beaches I have been to. There were a few windy or rainy days during our stay, but the experience was lovely regardless. Most of the time was warm weather and sunshine, without being too scorching hot. The water was quite clear and no need for water shoes or crocs since the sand was free of any rocks. Great sand, beautiful water for swimming, and  [... read more]wonderful views. Although neither was on the water directly, the sunrise and sunset were beautiful to see... specifically the one time we managed to wake up in time to see the sunrise haha. The staff on the beach was always very friendly -- including the bartenders, snack bar staff, lifeguards etc. Same with the rest of the resort, all of the bartenders, servers, chefs, customer service and front desk workers were all wonderful. While we typically preferred to go to the beach, the pool was nice as well. The pool at Grand Memories was typically busier, so we would go to the pools in the Memories section which was larger and less busy. Our room was spacious and clean and had a king-size bed, seating area, bathroom, mini fridge, closet with hangers, a handful of mirrors and a safe. All that you could need for your stay. Our beach towels were on our bed ready for us when we arrived. Our cleaning lady was very sweet and made sure our room had fresh towels, sheets and toilet paper each day as needed. She often left pretty swans or other designs on our bed with the towels or blankets. The bottled water in the mini-fridge was replenished each day. For the most part, our room was great. We had a couple of problems with the lock on our door and dripping water from the air conditioning, but the front desk and mechanics tended to the issues promptly. I found the buffet to be good. I know some people complain about the food in Cuba, but I thought it was good. I'm not a picky eater, but I did bring some hot sauce for us to use sometimes. The fresh fruit was the best. There was lots of juicy pineapple and papaya that you'll never have as fresh and tasting as good when you are back at home. The a la carte restaurants were alright. With two a la carte reservations allowed per week, we went to the Mediterranean, "Chinese", and the Italian twice throughout our stay. My only tip is don't expect Chinese food for the Chinese a la carte because it's not Chinese at all LOL. The bad thing about the a la carte reservations was that you had to wait at least an hour in line to reserve the a la carte and you could only reserve one a la carte and only for that specific day. So you end up waiting around in line for at least a solid 4 hours during your vacation. Not the brightest idea for how to reserve the restaurants. As for some late-night snacks, the Pizzeria by the lobby was perfect to grab a little bite to eat. They often had limited toppings available based on the availability of ingredients and how busy they had been, but once again the chefs were very friendly and a pleasure to chat to.. especially if you know a bit of Spanish. I highly recommend visiting the nearby market to visit the shops, buy souvenirs, and rum, or simply do a tiny bit of sightseeing. There are so many talented artisans and many beautiful pieces they are selling as souvenirs. There are also a handful of restaurants at the market. My boyfriend really wanted to try some lobster and the meal we had at "La Goleta - Restaurante Marinero" was great! Just note: the prices are in USD. We typically walked, but there were golf carts that you could hop on to go throughout the resort, to the other sections of the Memories hotels, or even to get to and from the market. PSA #1: For anyone travelling to Cuba, don't exchange your money for Cuban pesos since it is not used, specifically for tourists. We heard some people had exchanged a bunch of money at the airport and were stuck with a ton of pesos that were useless to them when making purchases at the hotel shop or the market. You can use USD, CAD, or even your credit card in most places (as long as it's not an American card). PSA #2: Don't bring coins like loonies and toonies! A lot of people were tipping with Canadian coins, but these are useless to the staff. Tourists may mean well by giving these coins as tips, but they aren't aware that the Cubans can't use foreign coin currency. Only bills are worth something to them and can be used. Countless times there were bartenders, chefs, or servers who were asking to exchange Canadian coins, dollar for dollar, for bills since they were stuck with so many coins that were useless to them. Very sad. Instead, bring bills or even toiletries or small gifts to give as tips to the staff. They will appreciate it very much!

Hotel Tuxpan: Good resort

The hotel is good according to Cuban conditions. Service is really good, food is pretty good, clean beach and pool. The problem is location - you have to pay $10 for a taxi to go downtown, no shuttle from or to the hotel from the city.

Memories Caribe Beach Resort: Good resort for 2 stars

So many problems with the rooms... First room had problem with a electricity, can kill you... Second room has waterfall, but not so big. And it's superior deluxe rooms! So many problems with the rooms... First room had problem with a electricity, can kill you... Second room has waterfall, but not so big. And it's superior deluxe rooms!

Melia Jardines del Rey: Awesome place.

The hotel keeps getting better each time I go. There are many places to find quiet or fun, as the property is huge. We danced every night, which is why I keep going back. The staff are kind, respectful and very helpful. There was always food to eat and enjoy, but I do not go to Cuba for food. The beach is long but has been impacted by hurricanes over the years. Walking on the beach in either direction results in nature only landscapes. I recommend and am already planning my return trip.

Starfish Cayo Largo: A special place despite the situation

Starfish is a nice, small and accessible resort. The pool is fine, the beach is great. You have choices for snacks like a pizza place, pool bar open all the time, the buffet, another reservation restaurant and the beach restaurant. And it’s in Cayo Largo! Gorgeous water, beaches, tiny relaxed island where nobody really lives. All workers live in Isla de la Juventud or Havana with 20 day shifts. They work night and day and the tourists who return over and over go for the beach but mostly for the  [... read more]relationships they have created with Cuban staff members. I saw lots of hugs and people bringing in necessary items. Cubans do not have access to so many things. Yunet was my mayordomo, butler which every one is associated with and they get you whatever you need. She goes above and beyond and I would say most staff I met are friendly. The reality in Cuba now is food shortages. All over Cuba and especially in CL as everything is brought in by boat and barge. If the water is rough, the stuff does not come in. Things don’t often gets fixed; food runs out; food is rationed to make sure there’s enough throughout the week. We had butter a couple of days, sometimes no bread, no fresh fruit except watermelon for 2 days and apples on New years eve. The food was mediocre most of the time, no fresh veggies at all and it’s repetitive. Good fish and chicken. It was ok but I recommend bringing a few snacks and maybe some hot sauce. There was no mayo, sauces… I didn’t find the evening restaurant really worth it. Same food as the buffet. Wifi is very good in most parts of the resort, even at the beach. I would return as it’s like returning to the cottage. I had an ocean front room which was so lovely. So… enjoy Starfish with all the complexities of being a cuban resort during this time period.

Iberostar Origin Playa Alameda: Iberostar Playa Alameda- somewhat ok feedback

The overall experience at this resort was ok with a few hiccups and inefficiencies as explain below : ( the restaurant associates, all the workers were amazingly friendly who provided great service though). 1. The internet service was horrible and they must do something about that to have repeat customers to this location 2. My wife only eats vege and fish but most of their vege dishes had bacon or pork bits in them that was not pleasant. They call talepia fish a seafood , That was a [... read more] joke yet the location was so close to Atlantic Ocean . They did not have any shrimp dishes during our 4 days stay. They must keep appropriate seafood and condiments to go with fish dishes . We packed some spices but can’t just pack the whole kitchen with us! 3. The drinks look elegant but seemed really off and the taste was misleading ( only wine was close enough and some beer Bev), I used to work as a bartender and they couldn’t fool me with this. Although we heavily tipped the associates we were not too impressed. 4. They need to rotate the food choices / dishes at buffet, and not present the same items everyday. 5. Taking cold shower was not impressive . 6. At the beach they did not have any change room 7. Couldn’t try any processed meat dishes ( burger, hotdog, cold cut meat) due to all having mixed meant in them ( pork/beef), can you not have just one 100% beef item ? Positive feedback: As I have mentioned, each of their associates were amazingly pleasant and friendly. They tried hard to entertain their guests . Live internet meant, the person who gives dance lessons at the beach each day. The accompanied dancer senior Juniato was very nice and helpful. The room service was very good. Beds could have been more comfy . Tv service can be improved with more choices and not just local channels . The resort is well planned , we liked the ambiance it offered. My special request to management is . Please charge more for drinks , or put a limit as to how many drinks per day a guest can be offered, but please don’t bluff anyone with water down drinks ! Or any fake drinks not appreciated. Overall, the experience was good because of the resorts friendly associates abd good entertainments. We will only revisit or recommend this place to to anyone if the above improves. We will research deeper before returning to Cuba again.