Recent Vacation

We were at this property a week after hurricane Melissa. The resort is charming but is in need of certain renovations (nothing to do with the hurricane). Rooms are dated but clean, AC works, hot water readily available and bed was comfortable. The drawers on some of the dressers do not work and the safe is old and can be temperamental. Food was decent, plenty of it but fresh fresh fruit and vegetables were limited. Snack bar had the best coffee. Service was hit or miss, but it was only a w [... read more]eek after the hurricane, so there could have been staffing shortages. Beach is rocky as you first approach, but the further you walk the softer it becomes. We brought water shoes and did not use them. Beach washrooms have no door handles on the inside, making it a challenge to exit. Pools are cleaned every morning and are pristine, however, there is a serious lack of loungers poolside. The loungers are old and some are broken and should be replaced (could have been caused by the hurricane). Pathway lighting could be improved, many do not work making it difficult to navigate at night. Despite the no-smoking signs, people smoke everywhere. In the lobby, at the beach, around the pool and in the pool. Overall it was a pleasant vacation despite a few hiccups, we would probably return.

I had a very enjoyable stay.

Staff was very pleasant and accommodating. Any problems were resolved quickly. There was a lack of fresh fruits and vegetables, but I've been to Cuba enough times to know that is to be expected, so it didn't affect my holiday.

Not a 5 Cuban Stars resort!! Way to outdated...not enjoyable.

Very outdated resort that's for sure. Lots of things to update (so old and used that it starts to bother). They might blame it on the latest Melissa storm, but nothing to do with that. We arrived 8 days after the storm, and the few trees that were damaged by the storm were long cleaned by the crew. Here are the things that require immediate attention: 1. Room furniture requires attention. All doors of the cabinets won't close from our room. Extreme old and used furniture. 2. Lots of abandoned  [... read more]gardens and water fountains - (ex. main one by the lounge & buffet stage, all middle fountains, all side walks, plants and vegetation need massive attention). 3. The front lobby area looks depressing. The A la Carte restaurant, located in the lobby, is abandoned, and the left side end pond is abandoned with no water. 4. The main beach area was full of sea vegetation, and only one guy was working to clean it using a small pull-behind basket!! We complained to the lobby, and after 2 days (lost from our vacation), 3 more guys were assigned to help (same technique) 5. The main buffet area needs immediate attention. Since it is not an enclosed area, lots of black birds are present, landing and stealing food from the buffet. Very, very unsanitary.. since we noticed lots of birds' droppings. The crew doesn't seem to be bothered about it. Also, since is an open space and not enclosed, it is very hot and humid. 6. Many of the light fixtures are damaged (especially the concrete enclosure "lamps" by the side of the pathways or poll area) and need immediate attention. 7. The pathway along the ridge by the sea is mostly abandoned. Also, lots of digging (electrical or pipes) and left daily, with lots of garbage from the workers. Empty paper caps, leftover damage removed parts...not a good view, for sure... The list can go on, but I can say that I don't recommend it. It was our first time here for us, and we will never return here.

It is haven on earth… amazing place.

This resort we would definitely recommend. It is peaceful, with amazing gardens, quiet, relaxing place. Beautiful beaches. Food is great , lots to choose from , good quality and no shortage. Amazing staff.. they treat you like a family but with respect . Rooms are clean, nice comfortable bed, beautiful swimming pool. We have been to this resort many times and we keep coming back . It is the top resort in Cuba . We highly recommend.

Amazing resort

Friendly staff good food for Cuba great beaches and infinity pool Would visit here again Friendly staff good food for Cuba great beaches and infinity pool Would visit here again Friendly staff good food for Cuba great beaches and infinity pool Would visit here again

Our second time here but not our last.

My fiance and I just returned from our 2nd stay at this resort. We upgraded to the Royal Service both times. The resort is beautiful, the grounds are well kept and the cleaning staff do an amazing job keeping everything clean. The gym is in great shape and the trainer, Reembero does a great job keeping the gym clean. The food is very good and all the staff are amazing. You become like family there. Edgar and the butler staff made sure we were taken care of and happy. We can't wait to come back! [... read more]! Our travel agent, Alisa Infanti also gets a big shout out for always making sure our vacations rock.

Calm place for the rest

In the beginning of August Paradisus rio de oro resort was so quite and we didn't have problem with sunbeds at the beach, food &drinks at the restaurants and bars. Snorkeling was amazing, ocean was warm and clear. We used several times kayaks, catamarans and other seaboats. Tips are always welcome)

Amazing vacation!

My husband and I loved our week at Paradisus Rio De Oro. We stayed in the regular side. Rooms were clean. Food was delicious. We have no complaints. Beach was beautiful but a bit Rocky in some sections. Water shoes recommend. We went off season (July) so resort was a bit quiet but we met some wonderful people. Not too many activities during the day but we were totally fine with that. Would have been nice maybe to have something going on during the evening. Staff are wonderful. We would highly re [... read more]commend this resort!

Great Vacation!!

We got off to a great start weeks before departure when I called Beth at Trip Central. It was a great booking experience that was efficient, quick and informative and she was able to book Club Class seats on both flights. I made use of the Air Transat app and it is one of the better ones taking you through documentation requirements before your trip through online check in, airport transfers, hotel confirmation and return flight. Club Class was a really nice perk. We’ve been to PRDO many times w [... read more]hich is why we chose it. The resort, the rooms, the food, the beach and the pools are always on point. We upgraded to Royal Service upon arrival as usual and it makes our vacation experience even more enjoyable. Cuba is experiencing a six month drought right now which is making the shortage issues even tougher for the resort but I can say that there was always plenty of fresh vegetables, fruit, fish, pork, chicken, breads and desserts. Most of all, the wonderful PRDO staff make you feel at home. They are all truly kind and happy people! We highly recommend PRDO via Air Transat through Trip Central.

Exceptional resort.

We have stayed in Cuba over 25 time over the last 30 years. This is by far the best hotel we have stayed in. Even though it was July and the hotel was at approximately at 25% occupancy the staff and facilities were wonderful.

Different-Not for seniors!

Upon arrival, no greeting or refreshment as at other resorts. Room-up 4 steps w/o railing into building, Then 2 steps from floor with bed down to living area and patio door! Hot tub-NO handrail!! Walkways good and mostly level No information received about the resort or it's events!!! 12 hr excursion was over 13 hrs and was not able to keep reserved supper reservation!! Bus and walking excursions not suitable for seniors. No assistance on or off the bus at any time throughout visit!! On  [... read more]excursion there were people hanging around asking for $. At no point did bus driver or tour guide stop them from harrassing us!! VIP lounge at airport was included in an excursion-poor snacks, alcohol but no mix for it. Was not told what else was available. Exculator going up but had to do stairs going down. Hard to find seats to wait for plane as people had their bags on the seats. No one willing to allow 2 seniors a seat!!! Fitness area and spa quite a ways away. Would have liked to exercise every day. Had to go down a number of stairs for massage. Limping all the way!! Had to use a number of my Canadian credit cards to pay for massage. Kept being told not approved! Even tried a different machine. Thanks for blocking the cards that I tried!!!xxx We are both over 70, my husband is 86!! Unable to go down to beack as for walkway!! It was so humid that feet & legs swollen very badly!!

6th Time...Home Away From Home

This was our 6th trip to Rio de Oro, the first in 2016 and the last was July 2025 and it will always be our choice for our vacation. Why would we go anywhere else. We were greeted by many of the staff, some of which have become great friends who welcome us every time with smiles. The resort itself is amazing but the staff are what makes our stays there the best. Check-in was smooth and easy and our room always kept clean and supplied with clean towels daily. The food at the resort is still gr [... read more]eat even with the shortages. Our recommendations for 1st timers are the Japanese a la carte, the pizza at the pool restaurant and everything served at the beach restaurant especially the fries. Of course the buffet has so many choices...this year we loved the pasta bar as well as the freshly grilled fish and chicken. As far as entertainment goes, one three piece Cuban band with guitars and bongos stand out as we enjoyed their performances on our past two trips. Their rendition of Oh Darling by The Beatles is something to be heard. We became friends with both DJ's last trip who are both very receptive to our requests at the pool bar and in the disco. We can't say enough about the lobby bar staff who served us our cappuccinos and other coffees each morning to start our day, and the evening staff who mixed us great cocktails with a smile. Though we spend a lot of time at the main pool, we always take a nice walk down the beautiful beach with many pictures taken. We now call PRDO "our resort" as it just feels like home every trip. We met many new friends this year, some who have never been to the resort and the concensus is much like ours...why go anywhere else?

Another Amazing Trip to PRDO

This was our 7th time to Paradisus Rio De Oro and, as usual, it was amazing. What sets this resort apart from most in Cuba is the fact it is an adult only, quiet resort with phenomenal staff. Very friendly and helpful. They treat you like family here. Staff like Yamlet (Jami) make you feel like you are part of the resort. The resort was highly unoccupied during our stay. I was happy as you never had to wait for anything. At times it felt like the resort was just for you, but I felt bad for the s [... read more]taff. There is a "Royal" section to the resort but we have never stayed there. Many people who do stay in that section generally come to the main section to eat and play as they find it VERY quiet there. We stayed in a Junior Suite. Sure, the rooms are a bit outdated but they are spacious and kept very clean. The bathrooms in this section have all been updated over the last 4-5 years. There is a safe, small bar fridge that is stocked daily, and we had a king size bed that was very comfortable. The grounds are kept immaculate here and everything is sufficiently lighted at night. Because occupancy was so low, a couple of the a la carte restaurants were closed for a few days but there was sufficient food and a good variety at the main buffet, and it is good! If you go hungry here, you are far too picky. No, the food is not like you would get in Jamaica, Mexico, Turks, etc but it is good. We didn't notice any food shortages and for those concerned about power outages ... there were none. PRDO is absolutely one of our favorite places to stay in the Caribbean and we cannot wait to go back next year!

Our home away from home!

This five star resort continues to live up to our expectations and the people (Cuban staff) are second to none in ensuring the clients have an enjoyable and fun filled experience during their stay. The “reservation restaurants “ are excellent and the food very nicely presented to the clients. There were very few shortages of food selections in the buffet with white onions lacking for my western omelette each morning prepared by Analiset, and on two occasions she brought some from her own home  [... read more]to satisfy my craving ??????!! We, my wife and I, would HIGHLY recommend staying at this resort and its name truly exemplifies the stay as…in paradise!!???

Our home away from home!

This five star resort continues to live up to our expectations and the people (Cuban staff) are second to none in ensuring the clients have an enjoyable and fun filled experience during their stay. The “reservation restaurants “ are excellent and the food very nicely presented to the clients. There were very few shortages of food selections in the buffet with white onions lacking for my western omelette each morning prepared by Analiset, and on two occasions she brought some from her own home  [... read more]to satisfy my craving ??????!! We, my wife and I, would HIGHLY recommend staying at this resort and its name truly exemplifies the stay as…in paradise!!???

A hidden gem

I recently came back from one week vocation in Holguín Cuba at Paradisus Rio di Oro. By far this was the best resort in Cuba not only for the beautiful surroundings and the beach but especially for the excellent service and the amazing people who made every single moment memorable. Thank you for making this trip unique and unforgettable. I can’t thank you enough and looking forward to come back soon.

Still my Favorite

Gracious, well laid out resort. Beach natural and unspoiled with white-gold sand and good safe access to sea bathing. We liked the beach restaurant for lunch, with spectacular view out to sea. Pools and surrounding area excellent. Room decor a little tired, but clean, spacious and comfortable Grounds beautiful: lots of green lawns, flowery bushes, statues, pools and fine tropical trees. The service was excellent, and friendly, everywhere we went. Food was good and plentiful, if a bit limited  [... read more]in some respects. Our favorite memory of this place is perhaps sitting in the airy lobby, sipping cool drinks and listening to the wonderful piano player. So relaxing. We hope to go back before too long.

Definitely will return!

We are seniors returning from a pleasant & relaxing vacation, our first stay here. Friendly & efficient staff, plenty of food choices to satisfy, spacious & clean but older corner Junior suite room, comfortable bed & shuttle service available, plenty of sun & shady areas around pool for sitting, beautiful beach to swim or walk, beautiful grounds for walking. Amazing musical talent in lobby, poolside, restaurants & beach. Perfect size of resort for getting around. Power outages were very short &  [... read more]minimal. This was our best all inclusive experience ever!

Loved Our Stay!

We approached our trip with an open mind, considering the resort's age and the ongoing food shortages Cuba has been facing. Let me tell you, it exceeded all expectations. While the resort is older, it’s impeccably maintained, and the lush, beautiful grounds are a real highlight. Its smaller size, compared to most resorts, only adds to its charm—by the end of the week, it feels like everyone knows each other. The atmosphere is incredibly warm and welcoming. The food was hands down the best we' [... read more]ve ever had in Cuba. Our favorite à la carte restaurant was the Japanese one, and the 24-hour snack bar always served fresh, delicious options. The oceanfront restaurant offered the most amazing fish & chips, paired with a view that you truly need to see to appreciate. The beach also provided fantastic snorkeling opportunities. A fun tip is to fill an empty water bottle with small pieces of bread to feed the fish—they absolutely love it! Without a doubt, we would return to this stunning resort. Thank you, Paradisus Río de Oro!

Beautiful Beach

The resort is beautiful but starting to look run down. They used to get a lot of rewards but none in the last 8 years. There is a reason for this. The entertainment was 5/10 and ridiculous that they had prepubescent looking girls entertaining one evening. It actually made me sick. The workers have become passive and complacent. This is not surprising given the average wage is $20 AMERICAN per month. I would not be motivated either but as far as the job lottery goes, working in the tou [... read more]rist industry is number one for them so maybe pick up the pace a bit. Their preference for American money was no less than insulting. When we tried to tip in CANADIAN dollars, because 75% of tourists in Cuba are CANADIAN, 4/5 workers asked if we had AMERICAN dollars. Money from the country that has imposed an embargo on you. Really? I admit that I'm a picky eater but did find something edible at each meal. Of course I washed it down with some very good beer and rum. (Best part of each meal.) The 24 hours snack bar has better service and food than the buffet. The day trip to the nearest town is A COMPLETE WASTE OF MONEY AND TIME! Don't do it. (Only $5 AMERICAN per person that pays for the bus going to that shitty town full of underfed horses and men wearing cowboy shoes and hats.) Another "package" or excursion offered is a VIP service on your last day with a "guided tour" in the city of Holguin, dinner at the top of the city (no choices, you get what they cook) and drop off at the airport while you wait in the VIP lounge. $100 (AMERICAN of course) per person. Holguin is full of beggars and the guided tour lasted 5 minutes. You are better off staying at the hotel that day and enjoying the pool or beach. I would only recommend this resort if all you're looking for is a good beach and decent pool and lots of alcohol. I will not go back to Cuba until their government works out better importing and exporting deals with their allies and there is a reformation of their government policies. Good luck to all the people of Cuba. The sun is beautiful, but you can't eat sunshine. They need more sustenance and help.