Iberostar Origin Laguna Azul: Ok resort now but not a five star

This is my third stay at this resort. Our first time there was great. Second time we noticed things broken and not getting attention. This stay the same things we noticed last time are still broken, maintenance doesn't seem to be a priority. The outside grounds are still well kept and lovely. The main lobby is so nice to sit and enjoy, however, it also needs attention. You can see where there has been heavy rains at times and ceilings have been damaged. Our room was ok , little issues but no [... read more]t a lot to complain about, the dining area is ok, food is ok but seems to be the same most days, Japanese el la carte is my favorite, Italian not. Entertainment is so so. however there was a band one night called 5th Avenue that was amazing. Shows are the same over and over and mostly all Spanish and difficult to understand even the English, but its Cuba...Elvis from Keswick, Ontario, Canada entertained us one night for a bit and that was enjoyed but the Canadians. The beach and the lovely staff everywhere is still my favorite. I just love the Cuban people.

Iberostar Selection Paraiso Lindo: Fantastic!

Beautiful resort, beach to die for, multiple salt water pools, amazing food and service, fun show's every night. Only 30 minutes from the Cancun airport. This is one to book for your next family vacation.

Iberostar Origin Playa Alameda: Nice resort

The resort was nice, the staff was wonderful and the food, both at the buffet and à la carte restaurants, were good. We upgraded to the romantic package which was definitely not worth the money. We were in the renovated section however the rooms were extremely dated. The mattress was not very good and there were a couple of coils that would poke you. The water pressure in the shower was nonexistent and the water was lukewarm at best most days. The beach was very nice.

Iberostar Origin Playa Alameda: Perfect for family with kids!

Well cleaned room,beautiful pools with bars. Resorts has mini club for kids to play and a small pool for toddler that was fantastic. All staffs were very welcoming,smiling and always happy to exceed guest need.

Iberostar Selection Ensenachos: Ensenachos - Wonderful week in March

The resort is beautiful. I don't think I've ever seen such a beautiful pool, beach and grounds. I stayed in the Adult Spa section. I loved it. The rooms are clean and spaceous. The balcony is also quite large when you have a corner unit on the 2nd floor. The service is exceptional as well. They go out of their way to ensure you have everything you need and want. I'll be going back probably same time next year with my family to celebrate my engagement. Can't wait.

Iberostar Origin Playa Pilar: Awesome resort

For a fairly new resort the grounds was very nice. I can't say enough to justify how friendly the whole staff was, right from the front desk to the cleaning and grounds keeping staff. The food was amazing, with an extra shout out to the Japanese A-La-Carte restaurant the food was delicious and our chef was very entertaining. If I had to say anything negative it would have to be the lack of a beach, but in saying that there is Pilar beach which is just a short 10 minute walk from the resort, and  [... read more]the best part is that while you're there I don't believe that you would feel any safer in your own home. I would recommend this to anyone looking to relax in a friendly environment with good food and drink, I will definitely go back.

Iberostar Waves Dominicana: Great Resort

The resort is fantastic. The grounds are clean, the beach is amazing, the gym is awesome (the amount of equipment is incredible for a resort and the fact that they had group classes is almost unheard of), the food was good, and the service (front desk, house keeping, dining areas) was second to none (other than one morning where service was slow). Everyone was very friendly and the staff were able to speak English very well making things easier when I had questions. The room was clean and didn' [... read more]t smell musty at all. I plan on going back next year. The trip was awesome.

Iberostar Origin Laguna Azul: Seasoned Travellers Review

I'm that guy who researches every resort 10 times before actually booking anything....and I'm that guy who looks for the best deal before actually making that purchase. My wife and I have travelled all over the world so we have seen the best and the worst. All in all...you can trust what you are about to read. Never having been to Cuba before, we wanted to get there and see it before the doors open up to the Americans and Cuba as we know it now will quickly change. We have all heard the stories [... read more] that the food is lousy and everything is run down. That's true at any destination all over the world as you can find the best and the worst anywhere. So, let's talk about the Iberostar Laguna Azul. Flight: Flew down on Cubana Air which is an older airline but has great deals because they don't pay the tax at their own airport like other airlines. Remember...everything is owned by the government. It's a 3 hour flight from Toronto so it was a cheap flight there and back. Nothing in flight...close your eyes and 3 hours later you're there. Hotel: Quite large with 5 a la carte restaurants. Very clean...no bugs or anything "icky" anywhere. Bathrooms were nice. You all know that getting a chair first thing in the morning is incredibly hard unless you get up at the crack of dawn right? Not here. Even at 10am you can still get the best seats by any of their amazingly beautiful pools. It's Cuba...who the heck wants to sit by the pool when you have one of the most pristine beaches in the world a few meters away?? We picked Building #20 only because I read in someone else's review that this was a good building. They all are great but #20 is the furthest away but closest to the beach and is the quietest and right by it's own private pool and private eating area. Beds are really hard but other than that, the room was beautiful (and I'm pretty picky about the room I stay in). Restaurants: If you're there for a week you get 3 a la cartes to choose. Pick Japanese, Italian and Romantic. We weren't overly thrilled with the Cuban Restaurant. The buffet is fine...and I mean just fine. Everything pretty well tastes really bland. The desserts every night look amazing, but if you put on blind folds, you would swear you were eating the same dessert 3 times. The stations are a little more compact so you're constantly bumping into one another. Pick a table outside (still enclosed but the outside wall is a screen hanging down to keep the sun out but allows the breeze in) as there's a great tropical breeze and far more personal space. You have to look for this as it's over by building 19 and 20, but there's a great outdoor Pizza station you have to try. There's even an ice cream building as you walk to the beach with really great ice cream (yes...I did this everyday...don't judge me) Entertainment: No one talks about this in most reviews, but let me tell you the entertainment here was absolutely 1st class...incredible...wonderful talent and we never missed a single night's performance. (Take a sweater as sometimes there's a breeze blowing through) The talent each night was as good if not far better than any cruise ship entertainment. Was really blown away and we weren't expecting this at all!! I have been a musician for 30 years so again, I'm pretty picky about the entertainment at any resort. Excursions: If you like snorkeling, you'll love this resort. Walk out to the beach, turn left and walk down about 400 meters to the next resort. Right on the beach you'll see a rack with a lot of lifejackets hanging out. This is where anyone can book a snorkeling session for a mere $20 CUC/person right there off that same spot. A Hobi Cat will take you and your wife or family out to a reef which is about 1 km right off shore. It stays with you and they throw food into the water to attract some of the most beautiful tropical fish you will ever see. There's bunch of these Hobi Cats all tied off together and after about an hour, they take you back to shore. Cheap and a wonderful hour right off your own beach area. I went 3 different days it was that good (take your own snorkel gear you can buy at any Costco) Going into Havana is a must. Yes, it's a bit of a drive, but this is a MUST. I also read about this private tour and I booked it. You can travel by bus for about $80 CUC/person and wait for others all day for 12 hours...or...you can email this young man and get a private tour for $70 CUC/person. He comes with a driver and you spend the day in a '57 pristine Chevy. His name is Joan (pronounced like Juan). He's a young man of about 30...married with a 5 year old son and he's married to a doctor. His English is perfect and his knowledge is the same as any university professor. There wasn't a subject or a building he didn't know every aspect about. The driver doesn't speak English but then again...that was part of the fun. He takes you to a restaurant for lunch called Hostal El Canonazo (it's right beside the biggest fort in Cuba) and it was one of the best places we have ever eaten at. For $34 CUC total, we had the assorted plate which gave us 2 good size lobsters, chicken for 2, steak for 2 along with vegetables and Cuban rice. Drinks were $3 CUC so our whole meal which would have been over $150 Cdn at home was about $40 CUC and the entertainment was again, stellar. Here's his contact info... Joan Rodríguez Falcón Cell: +53 52621309 falconcuba25@gmail.com I'm as cheap as they come and instead of $140 CUC ($70/person), I ended up giving him $200 CUC...the day was that great. Even the spa at Azul is incredible and super inexpensive. Couples Massage is $80 CUC TOTAL...not per person. We rarely ever go to the same place twice, but we're actually planning on taking our 3 adult children and their spouses in the fall. Staff are outstanding...food is far better than I was expecting...entertainment 1000% better than what we were expecting and the rooms and the resort itself was really clean, safe and fun. You will NOT be sorry at this resort...and again...I'm really, really picky about where we stay. We got 7 nights for $1,008 Cdn flying Cubana Air. Room Tip: Try and get a 3rd floor only because it gives you a better view. For a quieter area, ask for Building 20. Stayed March 2017, travelled as a couple

Iberostar Selection Bavaro Suites: outstanding resort

There is nothing to complain about!!! Everything ( I mean e v e r t h i n g !) was perfect. Paradise on earth. Very friendly staff. The food was excellent. Extremely clean. Beautiful garden. Lots of space at the beach and the pool. Enjoyed the peaceful breakfast at the beach.

Iberostar Waves Paraiso del Mar: Great hotel

The hotel aria is great: the pool nice, rooms are clean and the restaurants are perfect. The hotel representatives are professional and friendly. The beach has rooks and when we stay in hotel on the last week of March the ocian has a lot of weeds.

Iberostar Origin Playa Pilar: Iberostar Playa Pilar...WOW!!

We had the opportunity to stay at this resort March 20-27th and all in our group agree that this property is amazing! The staff are second to none and can't do enough for you during your stay. The food at the A-la-carts was great and the buffet always had a good selection to choose from. We enjoyed fresh battered fish and risotto at the beach grill as well as chicken wings and burgers at the Ranchon grill station. There was always entertainment to enjoy at various places about the property [... read more] and great bar service everywhere. We enjoyed the board walk to lounge on and also the beach and pool areas to swim in the warm water. The room was well appointed, it has a large walk in shower, minibar, safe and flat panel TV. Always kept spotless and fresh by the great ladies looking after us. Go and enjoy this little piece of paradise for yourself !! Cheers Dapa81

JOIA Rose Hall by Iberostar: Amazing hotel - look after every need and polite

The food was excellent. The beach was beautiful. So were the rooms. They did a lot of little extras that we didn't expect. We have been there three times and would go again. Its our favorite place. The weather is always warm and sunny.

Iberostar Origin Daiquiri: Beautiful place!

Very nice place. Everything was great. The staff are always very helpful and smiling all the time. Very clean and lots of hot water. Needs a few minor updates but on the whole it was fabulous! Everything is very near, pool, lobby, buffet, bar, and drinks too of course.

Iberostar Waves Rose Hall Beach: Great Resort

Resort was clean and all staff were always friendly and helpful. Staff always made our kids special. Food was amazing. Steps away from the beach. Staff were prompt with all service requests - changing batteries in safe, extra towels and pillows etc.

Iberostar Waves Costa Dorada: Wonderful Resort

The resort was lovely. Mature vegetation with beautiful orchids in numerous locations on the grounds. Pool was well maintained. Personnel was constantly cleaning & tiding up the resort. Many items of different foods to choose from. Love that the resort was not huge. The layout was well thought out. Had rain late in the afternoon a couple days but were able to walk to main building without getting wet. View of the mountains in the distance adds to its charm. The only glitch was that front staff  [... read more]is being pressured into trying to sell time shares for Iberostar. Beach was well maintained. It is the Atlantic side so a little rough. Staff is wonderful!

Iberostar Selection Ensenachos: Great vacation

The resort lived up to Iberostar standards. Only caveat was that food was quite bland, but still lots to choose from. Very very bad service at checkin. Staff was rude and tried to rush us through. We had to ask twice to hear about the features of resort and location of various points of interest on the resort. The manager on duty was even ruder than her staff! Luckily, the beaches and rest of staff made up for it! It was family friendly.

Iberostar Selection Paraiso Lindo: Amazing family resort

I highly recommend this hotel for families, Food was great, and lots of stuff to do with the kiddies super pleased with this hotel and will absolutely go back. The service was great there was a concierge at every other building which made making dinner reservations easy easy. loved that/

Iberostar Selection Ensenachos: Best beaches in Cuba

We have been to Cuba many times and this is our favourite resort. We just returned from our 6th visit and it does keep getting better. Lots of variety and quality in the food (smoked and salmon and prosciutto in the buffet every night, for example), comfy well kept rooms, and the very best beaches in Cuba. There are two one-kilometre long beaches: Megano beach is the busiest, with beachside activities and grill, and Ensenachos beach is quieter, but with a bar, and usually a barbecue at lunch tim [... read more]e. Although mostly sandy, there are some spots off each beach where you can snorkel, even walk at low tide, and see some tropical fish. There is good music, often Cuban, in the lobby every night, and prompt friendly bar service, both in the lobby area and inside the bar, where you may find piano music being played. You'll find mostly families and older folk here, so if you're looking for quiet, with good service, food and beaches, this is for you.

Iberostar Origin Laguna Azul: Nice resort

Everything was fine. Maintenance service was poorest. I went three times downstairs with a request ti fix balcony door latch, no one showed up even the next day. The serving staff in dining was never serving with a smile and sometimes it was obvious that they were ignoring you. The hotel with 814 rooms has only maximum two persons at the bar area and you have to wait quite a bit to be served. Further the bar closes at 1 am. The entertainment crew was amazing

Iberostar Waves Paraiso del Mar: Beautiful place with friendly people

This was a great vacation. Good food with lots of choices. This resort is very clean and well maintained. Helpful people and the service is over the top. Day trips to eating at the specialty restaurants was all handled very professionally.