Starfish Cayo Largo: Ok but lots if room for improvement

Let me start that I have been to Cuba 7 times now, so with that said We Love Cuba. The good part of the resort is if course the beaches they are all really nice,white sugary sand and crystal clear waters. This resort was the same. This was the first and last time I'll go to Cayo Largo but plan to go to Cuba mainland again. This resort was small but very nice and clean, rooms were clean as well. Although asked to have our bed stripped as the sheets didn't look clean at all. Looks like someone had [... read more] slept in it at least a night or 2 as there was sand etc in the sheets! Spoke to the maid and she said ok I'll do for FREE! Well I hope so as this is the job you do, so with that she did a great job although she used the same mattress cover as the one I took off had a cigarette burn in it. Anyways we gave her a nice tip the next morning. The resort it self needs some TLC but Iam sure this will happen now since Memories has just taken it over, which is why I believe the rest of the issues happened. The Cuban people that work there rant as friendly as the ones on the mainland if Cuba. They also had very little English speaking Cubans. This resort seems to have 99.9 % of the visitors come from Montreal and rude wow it's embarrassing!! The workers would speak to us in French automatically and I would correct and say NO English! We would ask a question in English and they would answer us in French! If Iam speaking English I would expect you to answer me in English not French what's with that. Very frustrating after a fee days. Other employees would ignore you completely, like we were invisible ! Very disappointing! This happened to all of us on many occasions. The most friendly person was Victor in the buffet. He was wonderful and we tipped him nicely everyday for his efforts. The main bar at night was a night mare if you have epilepsy run before disco starts as the stove light in there is meant for a large room not the tiny room and caused many to feel dizzy as it was so intense. The poor bartenders are so over worked in that bar. There sometimes was only one bartender for the 600 people that were crammed into this what we called everything room. This resort doesn't have a large enough gathering area, all the resort we have been too have large main bar areas with lots of seating etc and more than one poor bartender. I read the trip advisor reviews and though this resort was perfect. But in actual fact we were approached by one of the night time entertainers (same thing every night for the show) he came up and said can't you give us a good review on the trip advisor and we said we will see. And he put his hands together like praying and a sad face and a tear as his English was more French/ Cuban than anything. So this explains all the so called great reviews. Well I won't be bribed to say things. So this is my honest option of this resort. Also the food was fine other than they ran out of most food like Fries but they had potatoes and ketchup but said they had no fries. They were none existent since we arrived which I found odd as we saw them peel potatoes everywhere. Every resort I have been to always had fries. They ran out of lots if stuff, they did have bacon but they don't seem to know how to cook bacon, it was almost raw but you could stand in the lineup and have it put on the grill, the toaster needs to be replaced you could stand in line and wait for a long time as even putting the bread in the toaster 5 times didn't toast it. Just made the bread hard and not cooked. Crazy! Other than these issues, we made the best of it. We are not high maintenance people and we have all travelled to Cuba many many times. If I can give anyone any advice I would say DON'T go to this resort maybe wait and see what happens once Memories has taken it over and had time to get it ship shape. Glad to come home for the first time ever from Cuba! I recommend going to Varadero,Cayo coco or Holgin. Been to each if these places 2 times and would go back again and plan on it. Another thing don't go to the playa or Serena beaches the one at the Pelicano resort is better and free to get there. Don't pay the taxi guy for both directions as he jammed 14 people in a van an took you on a sand road that was extramly rough and we flew over a bump and our friend hit his head on the roof and hurt his back and neck, his wife also had whiplash, very scary ride to a beach that was less appealing than the one at the resort. The resort beach was cleaned up this one was not. 2 poor dolphins trapped in a small area that must have wanted out as they had wounds in them that they put oniment on. Felt terrible for them. We just turned around and paid another taxi to take us back. Not recommending this little trip.

Memories Cayo Largo: Beuatiful Spot

The resort is older yet clean and scenic. Very nice place to stay. The pool are and restaurants are clean and well serviced. I would recommend this resort to someone who wants to relax and isn't looking for a fast paced vacation.

Memories Cayo Largo: UNPOLISHED GEM

WELL KEPT GROUNDS +BEACH. THE PLANTINGS ARE VARIED AND TENDED BEAUTIFULLY.THE STAFF ARE THE BEST, THEY ALWAYS TRIED TO MAKE US HAPPY. THE FRIDGE IN OUR ROOM (3112) DIDN'T WORK, BUT THAT WAS THE ONLY PROBLEM. WE LOOK FORWARD TO GOING BACK!

Starfish Cayo Largo: No problem with this resort...staff are amazing!

Great resort for value! Very well kept, food is plentiful, drinks are good, and they serve the best cappuccino and espresso! One of the nicest beaches we've ever been to...it's no surprise that we meet many couples that are return customer's!!

Starfish Cayo Largo: Issues unmentioned-

BEACH IS NOT SWIMMABLE - CURRENTS ARE TOO STRONG This fact alone made for biggest downside of the resort. We were told the morning after our arrival that you have to pay for taxi rides to bring you to other side of the island where beaches have less waves. The morning scramble to get onto a taxi was very unpleasant as people push ahead and drivers cram you inside the cab for a very uncomfortable ride.

Memories Cayo Largo: Fantastic improvement over last year!

This was the second year at Sol Cayo Largo and it was a huge improvement over the last year. The food was excellent (they added taste to it :). Last year it was the stereotypical Cuban version of food - bland, no taste, overcooked. This year, the food got taste, it was fresh and replenished continuously. Here is a warning for people with allergies to shellfish - there is cross-contamination, mainly because people are using the utensils from one tray to the other... not the resort's fault, but I  [... read more]thought I would mention it. The service was exceptional (most of the staff speaks at least 3 languages) and very fast in serving us. The biggest improvement - the nightly shows - in comparison to last year, the new entertainment crew is extremely good. If you are a diver, be punctual: if the pick-up time is 8:10, be there at 8:09 - the bus to pick you up will be on time but it will leave without you in maximum 5 minutes. The guys at the Dive shop are amazing. Here is a tip: take some breakfast pastries with you on the boat and share them with the crew. They all have a sweet tooth :) The beach is amazing - white sand, free of any sharp shells and you can walk for kilometres. Fair warning - the "far-far-away" section of the beach is "au naturel", so if you are shy, walk the other way :)

Grand Memories Cayo Largo: always my favorite place to stay!

I love this resort, have been here many times. Lots of beach, places to eat, rooms always clean and everyone that works here are very nice. I can't say enough and hope to be here again next year for 2 weeks.

Memories Cayo Largo: Great experience and very nice resort and island

Hotel is older but very quiet. Beautiful location. Beach is stunning and water warm. No issues with the food whatsoever. We've travelled to many resorts in the Caribbean and this is in the top 3 so far. We will definitely be back.

Memories Cayo Largo: 16th trip.......will there be a 17th......

We have been to Cayo Largo 16 times, 14 times at Sol Cayo Largo and 2 times at Playa Blanca. Previously we went to Playa Blanca because of price, it was not worth the savings. This trip to Sol Cayo Largo, we were pleased to be back. The food was excellent, the beach was awesome. The rooms and overall resort property are nice, some evidence of tired in need of upgrades. Water was on and off for 5 days, an inconvenience especially when you need a shower. I suspect this is a problem with the island [... read more] water system, not the resort. Our reasons for 16 trips to this island were, the beach, the beach, the beach, the staff, the staff and the staff. HOWEVER, this time around we have noticed a change with some staff, notably in the pool and beach restaurants. Staff ignored serving us until we literally got out of our chairs to ask to be served. It seemed that unless they were tipped, no service. We often tip, but the service has to be earned. We are a quiet couple, but this was upsetting. Additionally, the front desk staff were cold, abrupt and did not seem willing to help. Many of the front desk staff were new to us, previously we had an excellent relationship with Alexander and Monica. On the plus side for staff, we met a new manager, Mercedes, she was Excellent!! She salvaged the dissatisfaction we had with the other front desk staff. Mercedes showed a keen interest in us, we were celebrating a 60th birthday for our friends and Mercedes was instrumental in making this celebration very enjoyable. We also met our very good friend Ossmonie (spelling??). He was the 1st person we met 16 years ago, we see him every year, he makes us feel special. Finally, the Las Dunas restaurant staff were all excellent, some old friends and new friends. Will we go back again......yes.......but we hope that the staff at the beach and pool restaurants will be coached on the value of customer service. Any other resort, we would not likely return.

Starfish Cayo Largo: Far exceeded our expectations!!!

Fantastic resort, fantastic staff, Spotless, would go back in a minute!! took a car around the island, marina area was a lot of fun, little shops. went to the turtle sanctuary which was really interesting.

Grand Memories Cayo Largo: Great holiday.

Many improvements have been made to this hotel. Our reservation was for a garden view bungalow. We were not disappointed. Note that there are different accommodation types offered now, and regardless of your status as a returning guest, you can upgrade if YOU pay. Rates are from 10-25 per person/per night. A friend of ours was extremely pleased with her room in the hotel. (Garden view) The front desk staff cannot change a reservation. Be certain you know what you're booking for, and there will b [... read more]e no issues at check in. The buffet was awesome, with lots of choice. No one could possibly walk away hungry. Lunch buffet at the Opalina was equally good, with new grill choices. BBQ isn't functioning until high season at the end of December. Afternoon offered drinks and pizza at poolside, which patrons seemed to enjoy. The new manager was everywhere! He's very approachable, professional, and you can see he cares about making Ole Playa Blanca a place you want to return to. Lovely to see some familiar staff, always feels comfortable, like going to the cottage. Some of the bungalows were being refurbished, and the public washrooms at the theatre bar and in the lobby were also updated. We very much enjoyed the lobby bar, great space for before dinner drinks, or after returning from a day at the beach. The beach for the most part was fabulous as always. There were a few very windy days that saw some of the beach closest to the hotel disappear, but you can't control Mother Nature. It returned to its typical expanse in a few days. Unfortunately there was an electrical fire the evening before we were leaving and it caused some damage to the dressing areas of the performers, along with their costuming and possibly their new sound system. Despite the late afternoon event and the uncertainty of what was lost, the dancers all appeared in the lobby to dance and entertain the patrons with all their usual enthusiasm and professionalism. Cleanup was already taking place as we were departing for the airport. We will definitely be returning to the OLE!

Grand Memories Cayo Largo: Nice resort but poor beach

Very clean, nice place, older style decor, people amazingly nice and service great. Massage is amazingly relaxing and efficient. Food quality good, variety medium (day after day), the main dining room has poor air conditioning. Playa Blanca has no longer any beach, but the pools are warm and clean. Entertaining during day is ok and a pretty good show at 10PM. BUT there are fees as soon you need to leave the resort to go to a different beach (Bus: 5 CUC forth and back and taxi 2 CUC for each use) [... read more], since October 26 2015. To access virgin beaches it takes 2-3 hours walk. To enjoy best choice for gifts we need to go to the Marina's shops and the boat to go to Serena's beach cost money now also. Credit cards are usable only at the Banco (in the pueblo next to the marina) and for the extra charges to your room (massage, etc).

Grand Memories Cayo Largo: Another great trip

Have been to this resort few tomes before. Found the food to be better than in the past and they are making a lot of updates to the rooms and resort. Unfortunately this this the beach had all but disappeared under the waves, but not much you can do about Mother Nature.

Memories Cayo Largo: Great Place to Relax

This was my first time at the Sol Cayo Largo, but my second on the island of Cayo Largo. I stayed at the Sol Pelicano last Jan. Overall the Sol Cayo Largo was a good experience. The hotel is pretty basic, 3+ stars but the island and beaches are amazing so in my view it is worth sacrificing a bit on the hotel quality to experience this place. Beach: Incredible. The island is small and undeveloped so you can walk for miles along pristine white sand with no resorts, no towns, and very few other to [... read more]urists. Truly a walker's paradise. The only caveat is that if the winds are strong, which they often are, then you need to scramble over rocks in places to access the next section of beach. Also due to the prevalent high winds the beach in front of the resort is often red flagged so not good for people who don't like to play in high waves. On those days you can take a bus to the nearby marina and then a boat to two sheltered beaches (Playa Paraiso and Playa Serena) which are amazing. You used to be able to get to the beaches directly, but the road has since washed out so getting to these beaches is a bit more of a hassle now. Room: Room was very clean, and nicer than the one I had at the Pelicano. It's wise to bring your own towel though since some of the towels are older and stained. It wasn't an issue for me since I was staying by myself so I always had enough good towels, but if you were a couple or a family then may have been an issue. The fan in my room was broken, but I didn't bother to report it. Air conditioning worked fine. I didn't pay extra for an ocean view, but could still see the ocean which was nice. Food: Since this is a small island they have even less selection than other places in Cuba but I always found something good to eat. I didn't try the a la carte restaurants so can't comment on them. Meat and fish is generally good. Fresh bread every day is amazing. Made to order omelette's at breakfast also very good. Very limited fresh vegetables. Fruit selection limited but what they had was pretty good. In general the buffet will have the same fruit and vegetables every day for the whole week so not much variety in that sense. You won't see any salad greens or anything like that. Canned peas, corn, carrots, and spinach. But fresh steamed broccoli and brussels sprouts every day (but always served cold for some reason), as well as different things like pumpkin. The carving station was the highlight: great roast pork, beef flank, and chicken. For lunch I like the beach restaurant the best because they have a charcoal grill with different meats. If you are a picky eater or need 5-star food then this is not the place for you. But if you are ok to eat the same simple grilled meats, fresh bread, and limited veggies for a week you'll be fine. I found the food a bit better than the Pelicano. One thing to note is that the main buffet is open-air meaning no air conditioning, some flies buzzing around the food, and cats hanging around looking for a handout. The buffet at the Pelicano was indoors and air-conditioned so that might appeal to you more. I wasn't there to sit inside so enjoyed the sea breeze. Service: I found the service at the buffet was pretty terrible; I was often finished my first plate before someone came by to offer me a drink. Sometimes I would help myself, but that was fine with me. The service at the buffet at the Pelicano was better and overall friendlier, maybe because it is a smaller resort. However, service at the pool cafe was good and bar service everywhere was excellent. Location: Excellent. Five minutes to the airport. I recommend not taking the bus to the airport since it gets you there way too early. Stay on the beach for an extra hour or two and then take a cab for 5CUC. By the time you get to the airport, the line will be gone and you can breeze through. It literally took less than five minutes for me to check in and go through security. Activities: This is not a good place if you want to party or do lots of excursions off the resort. If you just want to relax on the beach then this place is perfect. Because there's not much going on it's not great for kids either, I don't think there is any kids program. Nude Beach: Be aware that there is a section of beach that is clothing optional. If you stick to the one side of the beach you won't even know, but if you want to go for a long walk on the beach you have to walk through the nude section, and may encounter some nude walkers. If you're offended by this then it may not be the best place for you. On the other hand, if you want to go for a skinny dip in a safe and family-friendly environment then there's no better place. Topless sunbathing is permitted everywhere and was fairly common. In conclusion, if you are a true beach lover and can make do with so-so food and few amenities then I highly recommend the Sol Cayo Largo. The island is remote and undeveloped and the whole place has a sleepy, laid back feel that makes it quite special. I noticed a very high number of repeat visitors who knew the staff by name which is always a good sign.

Memories Cayo Largo: Sol Cayo Largo Great food and Fantastic beach

This is my 4th trip to Cayo Largo. 3rd to Sol Cayo Largo and once to Pelicano. The food has really increased in quality since my last visit. Pasta, pork, chicken, omelettes and desserts were all fantastic. The beach also was the best it has been in years, lots of sand and ideal water temp. Would recommend this resort to anyone who is looking for a quiet uncrowded paradise. Only hope not too many people discover it and spoil it for the Canadians who have been coming here for years. Took a walk to [... read more] Pelicano and was very disappointed in the deteriorated condition of that resort. It looked like it has been neglected and ready to fall down. Sol also needs attention but with all the great things about that location, I can tolerate the little things. Go there for peace and quiet and you will not be disappointed. Best beach anywhere.

Memories Cayo Largo: Sad changes

This was our 12th visit to Sol Club Cayo Largo in 6 years. We love the beach and the laid back atmosphere. Unfortunately, this visit we found the food was worse than it has ever been. There is no longer a "train" to Playa Sirena or as many taxis from the airport. We also found that some of the staff have started "looking" for tips and the atmosphere was not as friendly..... We will come again because it's our "Home away from Home" but we hope the changes for the worst are not permanent.

Memories Cayo Largo: Sol Cayo Largo Home away from Home

We stayed from Nov 6 to 13 2015 Even if the resort is showing its age despite the attempt at revamping the grounds... by the way you made it beautiful, the major problem at the Sol is the FOOD. I understand it is a tiny little island far away from the main land or the main island should I say, But do something about the food. Guests can't live on Hotdogs French fries or pizza all week.. That is my only complaint... otherwise it is PERFECT.... we love you Sol Cayo Largo... We love Mario, Moya you [... read more] are the best!, Amarilla, Nestor...Maylyn our lovely maid, you made our stay memorable as usual... Just please do something about the food....

Memories Cayo Largo: Great resort for adults.

This was our tenth time in Cuba, third time at Cayo Largo. In my opinion this is the best hotel out of the 4 on the island. The grounds are amazing, rooms are clean and spacious, beach is beautiful, ocean is warm and wild, service is great. It seems to be more of an adult resort.

Grand Memories Cayo Largo: Not to bad but issue's

the resort overall was pretty good the salt water pool was nice ... the grounds staff and buffet workers were very nice ... reception staff is another thing rude obnoxious when asked about coffee maker was told not ocean view room ... beach was closed due to high waves so was either 2 CUC for a cab to paridise beach or 5 CUC bus only ran every few hours room was average tv 2 beds no closet doors , mini bar in room only water nothing else like stated in travel info food was good snack bar by pool [... read more] was pretty standard .snack bar by ocean was awesome made to order shows boring not much in ways of activities the lady that cleaned are room was really nice over all exspereince have had better was a little let down but made best of it

Grand Memories Cayo Largo: if you want a quiet vacation it is wonderful

I found the food was the best i have had in cuba it ut the rooms are very cledid lack fresh fruit and juice the rooms are clean with lots of fresh water i had a birthday and they brought me a cake down to tha ala carte and gave me a wonderful day for my 75 birthday