Great resort

Grounds are very well kept and rooms were very clean. Public common areas were always staffed well and many entertaining areas! Many pools to choose from. The swim up bar was mainly younger late teens, early adulthood. If you don't mind a long drive from the airport to this resort, be prepared to be on the bus for 2 hours. That, I didn't like. The other downfall was the FLYS ! I'm allergic and got eaten by them even with fly spray on! Even the kids complained about them. They go around in the ea [... read more]rly evening with carts spraying to prevent them, but it didn't work. Many flys.

Can't wait to go back

I am a picky traveller. This was my first time in Cuba and I can't wait to go back. Rooms were modern and clean, staff was so friendly. Entertainers were my absolute favorite..don't forget to tip them - they are some of the hardest working on the beaching and are rarely tipped. The beach was beautiful, nightly entertainment was 10/10 and the drinks and food were great!! I am planning a trip back to this resort before September. For such a poor country the quality of service and people were amazi [... read more]ng and always went above and beyond. Really puts things into perspective and makes you enjoy the smaller things in life. Can't wait to go back definitely a 10/10 resort.

Best resort ever

Nothing negative to say about this resort. Clean, friendly personnel, beautiful room. Excellent food in buffet and restaurants. Best resort we have been to. We would definitely recommend to all our friends and family.

Awesome beach...

Beach was gorgeous and plenty of space for everyone. No problem getting a beach chair anytime of day. Staff was nice , rooms were clean. And water was always hot. Not that you want it hot after spending the day outside. Line up for the grilling and omelet stations were a bit long . About the same amount of time if you ordered at a restaurant. But taste was much better than what was under the heating lamps. If your a foodie don't go there. Same with the a la carte restaurants. We went to 4 and th [... read more]ey were pretty much tasteless. Either they dropped in too much salt and you could not finish the meal, or there was no seasoning at all. Although at the Italian restaurant the shrimp risotto was good. The one excursion we took into Santa Clara, was a waste oftime and money. The only highlight being the Che Guevara museum and moselium. That being said it is great for families with kids under 10. They entertainment staff are very talented. And they all make an effort with the kids. We liked that it had 2 quite pools plus 2 party pools. It looked to be the best hotel on the strip of 4 hotels that are located on thr island. Also if your french canadian you will feel right at home there. As 80% of the guests were from Quebec.

Has potential to be great.

This resort was a good first impression when we arrived. As time passed after checking in is when we started to notice the negatives. First was the stained bed linens, with what I can not say. The staff was either great or horrible, we have to give credit to the ones that deserved it. The fact that there was no clean towels for the pool 3 out of 7 days is beyond me, especially since the resort was not to capacity. I can't give an honest review of the food because my expectation may have been a l [... read more]ittle high. The pools and other common areas of the resort were beautiful and well kept. Our room was kept very clean on a daily basis and the cleaning staff was very friendly. A little attention to detail, better laundering of towels and linens and some coaching to certain staff would make this an ideal vacation spot. This review is not intended to bash the hotel but to give them feedback on what they can improve on. On that note I have to say that the beach and nightly entertainment were amazing and overall we had a great time.

Could have been great

Arrived May 29th, 2015 without luggage, got it three days later thanks to Fiona at Tripcentral,(Thank you Fiona) the air transat rep had no clue....... Potential for this place if the staff could get there stuff!, together other then the males employed at the hotel trying to pickup the females arriving, this is the meat market in Cayo Santa Maria, not what I want for my family and my Grandaughter. I guess I've been spoiled all the years travelling, with friendly staff that have no expectations b [... read more]ut this place, "WOW", if you don't have the inflated Cuban Peso to give they want generally nothing to do with you. This is no more then a 3 STAR resort and that's being kind, would not recommend this place to anyone I want to remain friends with. Thanks for getting my luggage to me air transat, claiming for $25 a day will probably get nothing.

Good Times

Overall it was a very good resort… We were staying in Bungalo number four on the Overall it was a very good resort… We were staying in Bungalo number four on the third floor and we found the room to be very clean and well-maintained. The only problem with the room was the sliding patio door which was very stiff but all the other amenities in the room were very good. The restaurant was well stocked with all types of food available both precooked and also items made to order… There was Th [... read more]e restaurant was well stocked with all types of food available both precooked and also items made to order… There was A very good omelette station at breakfast time as well as a well-stocked smoothie bar. At lunch time there was a choice of fresh made pizzas, various types of fish and a selection of chicken beef or pork cooked At lunch time there was a choice of fresh made pizzas, various types of fish and a selection of chicken beef or pork cooked to order. Most of the staff were very friendly and helpful. There was a 24 hour snack bar which serves fairly good food. And the drinking cappuccino bar in the lobby was very good also. There were nightly shows in the lobby bar as well as in the theater. The performances were very well done. All of the pools were very shallow but offered a lot of variety and the beach was well-maintained and very pretty. If you are going to be out at dusk or on rainy days be aware of the mosquitoes which are in abundance!

Wonderful Resort

the resort was wonderful. Positives - pools, beach, rooms were clean, food was what you would expect in Cuba negatives distance from airport, activities that they did have could not use lack of equipment (broken) positive/negative luggage did not arrive with us but our Trip Central representative made sure we received it.

An experience to remember...

Enjoyed the deluxe suite and so happy we upgraded. One night during the storm tons and tons of little flies came into the washroom. Main buffet should change the dinners each night.. (ex.theme nights)

Beautiful place!

Such a beautiful resort. Very clean and lovely staff. I liked it so much that I went twice in four months! The beach was breath taking. There were tons of activities. The drinks were delicious! Food was pretty great too, and I have specific allergies!

Beautiful Beach, nice hotel

Beach-excellent walking and swimming Grounds-well kept Room- clean basic room , no complaints Front desk staff-always friendly and helpful Food-the food is good, especially for a buffet, I really don't understand why people complain, lots of fresh fruit and vegetables Bus Ride- enjoyable , interesting to see parts of Cuba

Very nice resort, but......

Have to say the staff is very nice, the hotel is clean & the entertainment very good.The down side is the buffet & although Cuban resorts are not known for their great food, this one was particularly bland & repetitive. Every day was the exact same thing making for recirculation of previous uneaten food more easy I imagine. To be fair, all the A la Carte restaurants ( Hi Anna, excellent waitress by the way ) were however quite good, as well as the 24 hour Snack bar. The lobby area & bar [... read more] were also quite nice. They also spray for mosquitoes every night, which some may find annoying, but I found very appreciative. Again, can't say enough about the staff. One of the better resorts I've stayed in for pleasant, smiling faces. The ice cream bar is also a nice touch near the pool & I really enjoyed the bottled beer ( at no extra charge ) at the bar near the pool, something I've never seen in any other resort I've stayed at to date. The entertainment staff are also quite nice & energetic & keep you busy for the most part at the beach & pool if you so choose to participate. The beaches are OK & the grounds & pool clean, with plenty of shaded areas for lying & sitting. The one big beef is the bus ride to & from the resort from the airport. At least 1 bathroom stop/break would be appreciated each way since the ride is approx. 1 hr. & 40 mins. with no toilet on the bus. All in all a nice place for the money, save the bus ride & buffet.

Brilliant family resort

We stayed at the Playa Cayo May 17th to May 24th .It was our 25th wedding anniversary. we flew with Holasun Elizabeth was our tour representative. We had a fantastic holiday. Rooms were always kept clean and mini bar restocked daily. Beach was gorgeous pure white sand, water clear blue and warm , very safe for all age groups. Beach bar and restaurant with choice of buffet or fresh made pasta and pizza stations or grilled meats. Staff always friendly and helpful. 24 hour snack bar available with  [... read more]lots of choices from the menu. There were a choice of pools at different hotel blocks. These were always clean and well maintained We went to the Romantica al la carte for our wedding anniversary, food was excellent and staff were wonderful. We also went to the Italian al la carte. Food also wonderful and our server Elizabeth was fantastic. There was also a main buffet for breakfast with fresh pancake and omelets stations. and also fresh made donuts. Lunch excellent food choices on buffet also with grilling stations for fresh meats and pizza and pasta stations. Again same for Dinner buffet. Entertainment staff were on site encouraging adults and kids to take part in daily activities. They put on a show each night. there performances were excellent and very enjoyable. We did go to the Cigar lounge which my husband enjoyed they have a Humidor for the cigars. The staff here were awesome and knowledgeable re cigars This lounge became a disco after the nightly show. It was fun and the Dj did an excellent job. The main lobby had a Coffee bar which also supplied any alcoholic beverage you desired. During the day the main Lobby had an awesome jazz player and on other days an awesome piano player. We had a brilliant relaxing time and were very sad to leave.

Just perfect!

This resort was a pleasant surprise that exceeded our expectations. We were worried going to Cuba for two weeks especially to a resort we had never been to before. it's Cuba we told ourselves so do not expect much but it was great! Let's start with the positive...staff in the restaurants, bars, and the entertainment staff are friendly and make you feel like family. Ernesto, our room steward, was just amazing! We never needed to ask for anything and his unique daily surprises were something we lo [... read more]oked forward to each day. Lazarau from the entertainment staff is wonderful with all guests and ages. Very professional workouts daily! The whole entertainment staff do a great job. Staff at the front desk are not very helpful...if you want to know something ask other staff they know more. I do not know if it because of staff changeover but they need some customer training and need to know what is going on on the resort. Maps should be given with instructions on check in. All areas are kept clean and appealing to look at. The food in the buffet is plentiful with many choices. It's Cuba people so don't expect fine dining like in New York or on cruises. But they have their version of ketchup and mustard plus some spices such as garlic, salt, pepper, and oregano. We ate at the Italian twice so good...chicken cordon bleu was delicious. The Longina romantica restaurant was very good also. Could not complain about the food it was good even the hot dogs were all beef and the snack bar was very good too from pizzas to chicken fingers to panninis. The wine/coffee room needs to be more welcoming (shorter chairs, too high for short people and uncomfortable for leg and back problems) and further advertised. A nice touch would be adding specialty hot chocolate drinks and cookie/pastry snacks. Our only main complaint is the long waits at the cooking stations in the buffet because the grills or pans cook only for 1-2 people at a time. The lines block the other food and lines run into each other. Suggestion is to take out the buffet foods past the pasta station and make the whole end larger grills that handle cooking for six or so people at a time but place each station in a way that the lines for each station do not run into each other. The fresh food at the stations are all worth the wait especially the pasta and the fried rice it just needs some placement and cooking size ability to be improved! All the fresh stations could be located away from the already prepared food and each station should accomodate 4-6 guests at a time. Nightly entertainment in the lobby was nice. Great magician. The Michael Jackson show in the theater is not to be missed...just great. Mama Mia starts off slow but ends well. The other shows nights need to be changed or upgraded. And there needs to be a large, enclosed room like the wine/coffe bar but larger that is air conditioned with game tables, board games, pool tables, etc so there is something to do when the show is over or if the show is not up to someone's preference. Plus a good place to go when trying to avoid mosquitos or when there is a day of rain! We loved the taxis, double decker bus, and the train. The La Estrella market was very nice. No one begged for you to buy anywhere at the market and on the resort...nice surprise! We did the Catamaran excursion with the dolphin encounter and snorkeling...well worth the money! Great day! The rooms are roomy and clean. Everything is pretty modern even the plumbing worked well. Suggestion would be to add a step up to the tub for easier access getting in and out. It's a high tub! The lights in the stairwells need to be kept on at all times since we went to go to the lobby for 6 am for an excursion to Havana and we could not see our hand infront of our face. Thank goodness I had a flashlight on my cell phone. But people who had an early flight were trying to carry suitcases down in the dark. This was building 10 and there are small lights in the stairwell but either they did not work or they are not bright enough. Sewer smells in some areas need some work but it is their plumbing system so it's understandable. We loved the choices of restaurants, the ice cream store, the pools were big and clean, and the beach was clean with powdery, white sand. Water was incredible just be aware of undertow so do not venture far. Plus they have life guards too! A suggesion would be roping off areas for people to swim so they do not go too far and then they would stay out of the path for the water sports like the hobie cats. The hobie cats are included and so much fun. The guys like Medina are great sailors and take you out for a nice ride. Westjet reps were very friendly and helpful. Overall, as you can see we absolutely loved it and can't wait to go back!

Exceeded our expectations

This was my second time staying at Playa Cayo Santa Maria . I had just as great of an experience as I did on my first trip ! The hotel is modern and well kept .The staff were very friendly and helpful . We absolutely loved the nightly shows ! The food was actually fantastic from what we have heard from others who travelled to Cuba before . We enjoyed some of our favourites -smoked salmon and prosciutto daily !! We never went hungry on our trip! We have recommended this resort to friends of ours  [... read more]and family and everyone who has gone has fallen in love with Playa Cayo Santa Maria ! Can't wait to go back for round 3 !

Had a amazing trip

Just got back about two days ago. We had a good time. My spouse and I wanted an inexpensive 5 day trip to relax. This was our second time to Cuba but first time in Santa Maria. There buffet was indoors and offers three made to order items: meats and fishes, pasta and Pizza. The buffet offers salad, rice, and three meats (pork, chicken, and steak). There is a about 4 or 5 items that is recycled throughout the menu everywhere. Food is acceptable. Rooms include Ac, large beds, 24" LCD with many go [... read more]od channels,iron, safe and fridge. The room was a very God size and everything was in good working order. The beds where abit heard but good for Cuban standards. I didn't have trouble sleeping but it is not North American beds and pillows. Staff was friendly except this one person at the check in. Most bar staff will respond better if you tip them. Cle aging staff was outstanding: keeping the room top shelf clean and changing everything daily. The Micheal Jackson show was amazing to watch. Beach is nice but the waters are choppy. We stuck to the pool most of the time. Snack bar is acceptable for a quick burger or pizza. They offer breakfast that is offensive to eat. Stick to the buffet. A la carte are the rehash of the buffet items. Far from air port. Be ready for a 2 hour bus ride. Sunwing offers great food on the plane.

Rates itself a 5 Star!

Word of mouth and reviews had us choosing this Resort Hotel, so it was disappointing. I think choosing 3 Star accommodation would have given us the same facilities and services. Food may be slightly better.

Too many Mosquitos, they use a fog machine for!

The hotel and grounds were pretty and the food was good, however there were too many mosquitoes on the grounds to enjoy the stay. To make matters worse the hotel uses a fog mochine in the evenings to spray for the mosquitoes. I has burning eyes and headaches the whole week I was there. The hotel does not worn the residents about the fogging machine and if you are walking around after sunset or sitting on your balcony you will be sprayed with pesticides too. I got sprayed by the pesticides when s [... read more]itting on my balcony the last day of my stay. I've been having a headache and upset stomach plus Muscle weekends since then. I would not recommend the hotel in the mosquito season.

Great Beach

The rooms were fine, there was no seafood available anywhere on the resort and other menu items were limited. The staff was less friendly than other places we've stayed in Cuba. We had much better food in Holguin 2 years ago. There is no dancing but the shows were ok. Last week of April the Mosquitos were terrible.

Great place to stay!!

We really enjoyed our stay here! The staff were very nice and over accommodating. The food was great we had no issues. The room was very clean and spaces. The grounds were amazing the beach was awesome.