Barcelo Solymar: Beautiful, clean and friendly

The staff were very welcoming and helpful. I had trouble walking and the staff helped me with my dinner plates and servings. Wish there were more choices for Dinning in the hotel. Not happy with Buffett. Food was average but tasty. No bacon lots of pork servings. Fish was served with bones and that is a big turn off. The main Lobby still haven’t fixed the bathroom and this has been since 2020. Last day all Elevators were down. Beautiful surrounding and location close to the beach. A [... read more]ll hotel had problems with elevators due to parts hard to come by in Cuba!

Grand Memories Santa Maria: Best Value

The beach is the best bring Deet for sand fleas aw. Tired, worn but clean resort. 1st room had a rain storm coming from the ceiling, it was exchanged immediately. Facing the beach, the 2nd tired and worn room was 2 single beds. The main ceiling light/fan had been removed so it was quite dark with just the bedside table light. The shower head was sprayed from broken washers. Yet there was a nice strong hot water spray with clean white towels. The 3rd room was with a king-size bed and was perfe [... read more]ct!! 3 English-speaking TV channels White pilly bed sheets were clean and the bed was comfortable. The staff spoke English very fluently and was attentive and helpful. Breakfast confirmed that we have not come in their growing season. The eggs are powdered. I was happy with the sliced white toast, white cheese, and hot black coffee. Nice to have cabbage and cucumbers to round it off. Lots of cold buttermilk. Grilled meats every meal with fresh bread and ice cream for dessert. No milk, just margarine but, there is fresh pineapple, oranges, and cooked squash. Best to upgrade to Sanctuary for food only. Costs $12 US per week per person. The best rooms are garden facing 53 bldg. Please bring US$ one for tipping. Along with medicine cabinet items, toothpaste, pads, toys, and shoes for staff and the people you see on the Jeep excursion. This excursion offers the best real Cuban food. Sad that there were no authentic Cuban bands or Spanish classes and dancing to learn. If it was my design I would change the nightly shows out to movie nights with popcorn. I would use unused restaurant space for dance lessons from the entertainment team during the afternoon and evenings. I would use a conference room for Spanish lessons.

Hotel Rancho Luna: Rancho Luna, not the Moon Luna, but close

Well my teenage son and I had a really good time. Very inexpensive, good staff, fun guests and decent Cuban-style food. The beach was not too good - a tad grassy, but just to the west about a half mile is the Faro Luna beach with great swimming, restaurants snack shacks and cheap n creamy Pina colattas. Two hours from the airport, too bad, but travelled in daylight, an instructive scene. Recommended at the price.

Vila Gale Cayo Santa Maria: Nice resort

The hotel was clean and modern. Also the roo.was very spacious. The staff were amazing especially buffet waitresses Yaylen and Gillian. The two pools and the beaches were lovley. I would say the one thing they could improve on were the grounds bathrooms. Half of them are locked and the ones that are open do not have doors that lock and no toilet paper. I had to carry toilet paper around with me. The third day i was there the elevators stopped working. They only fixed one in the lobby. Unfortuna [... read more]tly my room was at the other end of the building on 3rd floor. This was difficult for me as i have a bad hip.

Melia Las Americas: Disappointed

Have been here 5 times. This was first time after Covid. Used to love this place but so disappointing this time. Lack of cocktails and champagne. No beer on tap. Staff seem very unhappy. Very unfriendly. Level upgrade rooms no balcony or terrace. Very limited food selection. Food used to be great but not so now. Beach still one of most beautiful we have been to.

Sanctuary at Grand Memories Holguin: Mixed impressions and feelings

Sanctuary is just a part inside of the "Grand Memories" So, it is not 18+ only. It looks like the management does not know the meaning of the word “sanctuary”. Definitely it is not a sanctuary of any kind. With the overall friendly and hard working personnel it has to be pointed that the hotel is seriously understaffed. It is lacking the style and the class for the claimed stars of rating. It is definitely new and clean, but the space and attendance is not properly managed: sport b [... read more]ar was turned into some cloaca with the darkness and strobe lights, with the modern dance music beating so that you cannot stand it until drunk up to semiconscious. As a result it had those semiconscious patrons around. Unfortunately billiard tables were there and no access and use were possible. The only one table tennis was in the game room, which was not conditioned. The lobby bar and the hall in the evening/night were turned into some disco with the music so loud that you cannot hear a conversation not only in the lobby, but also in the sanctuary bar behind the glass walls and doors. There is no theater for evening entertainment. There is some sort of conference room though. Some of those semiconscious patrons half dressed were wandering around and in the sanctuary bar dressed as if it is a beach or pool party and at the same moment harassing some other people who were not in such inadequate state. No security was managing anything anything anywhere. All this left an impression of some kind of a cheap bordello, rather than a sanctuary. Not to negate hardworking of the hotel personnel, it has to be pointed that some upper level style appropriate for the word “sanctuary” and 4+ stars must be instated. Hope that this is just the beginning of the use of this new facility and the management will find the way forward to correspond to the name and rating claimed. Otherwise, I would rather pay a double price for some other, better sanctuary than to visit this "sanctuary" again. P.S. Economical challenges of Cuba and resulting shortages are obvious and not mentioned here

Aston Costa Verde Beach Resort: Great Resort

very huge resort.. first couple of days took some time to get used to where everything is.. lot of walking.. great rooms.. nice beach and awesome pools. the staff was wonderful and very helpful... I will return

Paradisus Varadero: Ruin in need of serious reno or demolition.

Beautiful beach with old dirty lounge chairs. Two beautiful pools with 6 showers, one working. Most pool umbrellas broken. Pool ladies washroom closed. Lobby mans washroom stinks. Broken stalls. Most rooms not available, used for storage and full of mattresses and furniture. Poorly lit walkways or no lights at all (Reserva side) Garbage all around and on the beach. Nobody cares to pick it up. Overgrown grass all around. Main pool hummock dirty with hole in the middle. Looks like its bee [... read more]n there since opening 23 years ago. Air Canada rep nowhere to be found. Lobby's staff denies to call the rep. Cigar store is a disgrace to Cuban tobacco industry with rip off prices. Most of the brands 30% cheaper in Canada. Same at the airport. Food below even for Cuban standards except pasta, meat, fish stations and roast pork. The rest is mostly cold and distasteful. Creative food recycling (left overs served next day in new dishes) raised to art form. Very unpleasant. Best food at 24/7 pool bar. Chicken, Cuban and hamburger sandwiches. Ketchup and some days mustard. Broken bathroom fixture and ripped windows curtains. Upon arrival relocated from main area to Reserva section far away. Four hours wait for room. Instant coffee at restaurants. Good coffee at lobby's bars. Good tonic and watery drinks. Tip well. They need it. Ask Reserva lobby staff for money exchange guy. 1CDN=200 peso. Do not use Cadeca. Robbery rate. Would i go again...no. Go to newly build resorts like Grand Aston Varadero and Melia International.

Sanctuary at Grand Memories Varadero: Enjoyed my stay

The grounds were clean and they groundkeepers were always working on it. The rooms were also clean and the restaurant. The pool was very clean and enjoyed the entertainment staff, and the Canada Day and Cuban Day. Staff/Butlers were friendly and made every effort to your needs were met.

Melia Cayo Santa Maria: Paradise

The hotel is the perfect size. We came For a girls trip and we’re not disappointed!!! The staff were amazing, pool was clean, lots of beach and pool chairs, never went hungry. Not a ton of variety in terms of food but it’s such a small resort likely can’t afford to throw anything away. Rooms were clean and spacious.

Grand Memories Santa Maria: Amazing experience

From beginning to end I had the best experience at this resort. The staff were incredible and needs were met always. Even the food was delicious. There was a group of 8 of us girls and we were not disappointed. I will definitely be returning next year. Beach bar by the way has some of the best food

Memories Jibacoa: Verry good resort

I know this location since 2001, when I came for the first time. This was my third visit. Comparing with the past, the hotel reception was verry bad and unfair: we arrive at 12:30. very many other tourists arrived after us. Everybody has it's room before 16PM... We had the first one around 15h PM, but not what we were paying for: we want a Park view and we had Pool view. So, we had to await another 30 minutes for the probably worst room in the resort. Toilet clocked, safe no batteries, vanite l [... read more]icking... Just to make our holiday nice, almost daily. Things were fixed each time, but we could have a nicer 10 days, as in the other 2 past visits. The service was excellent, as well as the food! Many thanks for this. However, I would expect more entertainment and more music during the day, even recorded music in the lobby zone. The evening formation that was playing in the evening at the entrance could be a better one... I will probably come back because I love the location and the resort, and I am expecting a nicer reception. By the way, in our last day, we leave at 12AM. A group of tourists already came in with the autocar and they were received with all their rooms ready! So, this is possible. How cam only for us was not?!

Iberostar Origin Laguna Azul: Would not go back

The flight with Sunwing was probably the best of the vacation...the resort is run down, pools in bad shape, tiles missing everywhere, not clean water. But the worst is food..its not my first time in Cuba, but this was bad..no eggs, no juice, no meat, the odd piece of fish here and there..pasta for breakfast, lunch, supper for 7 days..and the bar system at the lobby is the worst..plus absolutely no mix..no juice, no pop, so no mohitos, no Pina Colada , nothing..just awful, The weather was [... read more] beautiful, the beach nice..thats about it. All in all not a good vacation..too much missing

Valentin Perla Blanca: Superbes vacances !!

Plage superbe le long de la réserve faunique. Parfait pour les amoureux. L'hôtel et le service étaient impeccable. Le nourriture n'était pas trop mal compte tenu des problèmes actuel d'approvisionnement.

Starfish Cayo Largo: Nice hotel, cheap in November

Hotel is renovated so it is in great shape. Restorant has Ac. Nudist beach is great. Food is ok if you are not picky. Staff is great. They have big kindergarden, and kids pool too. It is wheelchair accessible. Playa Sirena is super, but after 3.pm sand bugs start to bite. Transport is free, or taxi 2.dollars each way pp

Hotel Playa Coco: Playa coco

Pools were great,staff very friendly always..smiling😁 & happy to help..My maid in building 6 was amazing!!💕entertainment staff were great to talk to💃🕺..only the food was alittle repetitive & eggs only sometimes. 😉

Paradisus Princesa Del Mar: Great resort

This was our 4th time staying at this resort which we loved before but this time we found it to be less than a 5star resort, the grounds were not kept as before, the food was not as good as the previous times but we were notified of the food shortage prior to going to Cuba The people working at this resort were as pleasant and friendly and welcoming as all previous times, especially our butler Yas and William at the royal service. Also our favourite pool boys Neosbel and Michel always willing  [... read more]to do anything to make us feel welcome and well taken care of as well as all the wonderful serves at the royal service restaurant and bar. Overall it was a great week the beach being the main reason we went back once more but the food was the main downfall this time

Iberostar Origin Laguna Azul: Fair

Food was terrible. There was literally nothing to eat. Had to feed on papaya and bread for 4 days straight. Rooms are ok. Pools and beach sea amazing. This is my second time in this resort. It was definetly much better in 2019. Looks like covid break ruined this place.

Sanctuary Cayo Largo: Great new experience!

That was a new great experience I've never had in Cuba before. The hotel is small, this week there were only 15 guests (including me), as a result the service was incredible. For example, sometimes I was the one in the restaurant with four waiters around and their service was very nice and quick. Sometimes I was the only person in the pool or on the beach, so for the people who enjoys quiet time it's a paradise. By topics: Beaches: There are 4 options of going to the beach: 1. There is a  [... read more]hotel beach in 50 meters from the hotel with a small beach bar, but with no access to the ocean, 2. There is a small beach in ~1 km (~3-5 minutes on the golf cart) from the hotel with some access to the ocean, but waves can be high there, 3. The best option is to use shuttles to Playa Sirena which is very-very beautiful beach. Those shuttles go twice a day. 4. There are beaches in other hotels within 6 minutes on a bus/van and can be used as well. Service: everything was great, all equipment worked, the entertainer brought a lot of fun to our stay. Food: the choice of food in the restaurant is a bit limited comparing with other hotels, but it has everything you need. There is also a possibility to go to any other hotel around and eat there. This hotel is the only one the island that provides this privilege. Rooms are the separate bungalows and they are clean and spacious. The safe is provided. Location is good as the hotel is located in the nice and quiet area with only 5 minutes from the airport. The only thing is there is no quick access to the ocean. It worth to note there are tons of mosquitos there in the evening. But, those mosquitos are part of any other resort in Cuba. Overall, staying in the hotel was enjoyable and I would definitely recommend to visit it.

Playa Costa Verde: Great resort and staff. Sunwing needs to improve

The hotel and staff were amazing. They always give you the best food that is available with the current sanctions exposed by the American government there is some shortages. Having said that i didn't lose any weight, The Sunwing experience was terrible im surprised that they are still in business. We paid for carry-on but we had no place near our seat to stow our paid forcarry-on. The rep from sunwing left my handicapped friend standard at the hotel on the return flight. She blamed him be [... read more]cause he was too slow no help was offered. Shame on sunning and Cuba for employing such a cave person .