Iberostar Origin Tainos: Cuba - Our 5th trip

Iberostar Tainos is a smaller resort than all the resorts we previously stayed at Varadera and Cayo Santa Maria but the experience at Tainos was just as great. We enjoyed having the dining areas and the beach being so closed to our room. Love the fact that people did not leave their towels on the beach chairs to reserve their spots and not showing up till noon hour. We were able to find a spot everyday under a beach canopy. Like the fact there were lots of garbage bins to keep the beach clean an [... read more]d enjohable for all. The staff were amazing - helpful and warm. Love the beautiful Cubans! The gardeners/grounds keepers kept the resort so beautiful - sincere appreciation to all of you! I like the fact that we can exchange our money without the long line up like we experienced at another resort in Cayo Santa Maria. The room was kept neat and clean and we are thankful for the work our chambermaid Any did for us. It would have been great if the fridge could be restock everyday rather than every other day. It would have been nice if more drinks could be refill rather than just two cans of beer and pop each + a big bottle of water. We did not touch the pop as I do not drink pop nor beer. Hopefully, the main elevators are fixed by now as we had to use a small service elevator throughout the week we were there. The food was average and there was a good selection to choose from. I know people complain about the food but we thought the food was good enough for us as they do not have a lot of resources. Love the three groups of musicians who entertained us daily. They are talented and beautiful people. We will continue to visit Cuba as the trips are affordable and the beaches are amazing. We will check up on other resorts rather than staying at the same one!

Iberostar Origin Daiquiri: Simply elegant

Great hotel! Smaller resort with beach pool rooms and dining all within a short walking distance. Food was amazing, the best I've had on any vacation I've been on! Hotel rooms were renovated. Simply but elegant. Staff were always smiling and trying to get you up and having a good time . Drunks were great! Lobby bars made awesome daquariea and iced coffee Beach was smaller then what I've experienced in Cuba but still beautiful. Pool was a good sized and never had an issue getting pool chair [... read more]s or beach chairs. The cats are not a problem as other reviews have stated. They keep to themselves and actually run away if you get too close to the . I would rate my trip a 4.7 and would recxoment to anyone ! It is on my list of places I would return to.

Iberostar Selection Varadero: Awesome Resort!!!

We found this resort to be amazing. The grounds were beautiful and well tended. Public facilities were kept very clean and stocked. Rooms were spacious and the bathroom seem updated. The staff were friendly and very helpful. Enjoyed the activities at the beach and around the pool. Attended all the shows at night and enjoyed them. Wished the disco was more popular. Only a few people there the couple of times we went. The main buffet was good and had a variety of choices. Tried all the al a carte  [... read more]restaurants. They had a variety of choices for people who were not into fish.

Iberostar Waves Tucan: Great Resort

Loved this hotel, especially the jungle atmosphere and all the wildlife running around freely. Agoutis, howler monkeys, peacocks, coati, just to name a few critters that we saw. Hotel was fine; looking a little dated, but very clean. Staff was friendly and helpful. Food was just okay, but very plentiful. You won't go hungry here; you will always find something you like. The best part of this hotel is the gorgeous beach. The water was beautiful, waves just the right size for ocean "bobbing", some [... read more] fish in the water, but not anything that bites. Loved its proximity to Playa Del Carmen. I would go back here in a heartbeat.

Iberostar Origin Laguna Azul: Amazing resort!

Great hotel and staff but 3 stars for food. Best vacation spot i have been in. I would recommend this to anyone seeking a near perfect experience. It was very relaxing and fun. The service was spectacular.

Iberostar Selection Ensenachos: A nice spot with some good and some bad

I've been to Cuba several times in addition to other Caribbean places so I feel that I can provide an accurate review. We travelled with two adults and a 12 year old. This place is a nice hotel on two beautiful, quiet beaches. Sunwing provided a smooth, well run flight. The good: Beautiful beaches, Nice gardens, decent entertainment, super large rooms which were extremely clean, the buffet staff were super nice, no one was ever "tip trolling," a good mix of people. This place is very spread ou [... read more]t, so expect lots of walking (this is a good thing). Bars were generally easy to get a drink. Wait staff in the lobby were quick to offer you a drink or a coffee. The animation staff were friendly and encouraged our son to play with them. Pools are clean. The bad: All public area bathrooms were broken in some manner (yes all), the general maintenance in the public areas was worse than other hotels in Cuba, the staff in golf carts are just plain rude and usually ignore the clients, they ran out of pool towels for 4 days in a row (ours got pretty stinky). The food was average (the buffet was basically the same daily, the Italian restaurant didn't have multiple dishes listed on the menu, the seafood restaurant was good, the Japanese ok but not a lot of food). The map of the hotel was terrible - it took us a while to orient where everything was. The check-in staff were not that friendly. Pools were very shallow (1m or less) so it was difficult to play around or swim. Two other important items to note are things that cannot be helped, but customers should know. The distance to the airport is long (1.5-2 hours) and there are a ton of mosquitos due to the mangroves around the quay. Overall this was not one of my favourite experiences, but my son enjoyed it, and the beaches and gardens are awesome. I would recommend it only at the right price with caveats of everything I listed above.

Iberostar Waves Paraiso Beach: GREAT SERVICE!! Clean, FUN, Friendly

Well this time was just as good at the last two! I cannot say it enough but WOW! I love this chain in Mexico! Not only was the food great so I could put on some vacation weight, but the service was top notch! This time leaving I even remember the names of our servers and Bar Staff, and cannot forget the front desk & reservations! Julia on Reservations was excellent and personable, ALL bar staff was fun and amazing! Dining staff was upbeat, memorable and down right great at making sure everything [... read more] was clean. Only thing lacking for this resort was absolutely nothing. The beach was clean, the chairs were well kept and everything turned out amazing. I have been there three times, and I would go back for a 4th. Only thing I regret about this resort is not staying longer. If you want to check out some photos search the tag on instagram of the location, tons of real great shots by people who explore the whole resort. Also, being a part of the fitness field here at home and then going there after they upgraded the gym facility, it was incredible. Only thing I would suggest is renting out the newer equipment from the conditioning room, under room number, so that you can do some of the things on your own and get the workout you need. All in all, great place, friendly staff and I would go a 4th time! Can't wait to go back someday! Maybe I can visit the Grand like my parents do!~ We can only wish! haha

Iberostar Waves Rose Hall Beach: Good Times in Jamaica

This was our mother & daughter trip we both enjoyed in early June 2015. As my daughter is away in universtiy and working all summer, this was our way to relax and reconnect. The weather was sunny, no crowds in June so there were no line-ups or mad rush to "reserve" a spot by the pool or the beach. The beach had white sand, with a very gentle slope, there were plenty of shade/trees which was nice to get repreive from the sun. This hotel has 5 floors, we were on the 4th with the view of the pool a [... read more]nd beach. The resort was clean, the food was good, the drinks were refreshing, the staff were friendly. Our tripcentral agent Nicole helped us to ultimetly decide on this resort, and we were very pleased. I would recommend it for anyone who needs to get away and relax Jamaican style.

JOIA Rose Hall by Iberostar: Unbelievable Service, Food & Amenities!!

Loved this place, service was absolutely incredible and we felt like Royalty our entire stay. Food was AMAZING - though our favourite was probably a tie between the Surf & Turf and Japanese A-La-Cartes. Beach was ok but pools made up for anything lacking in the sand department. We will be back!

Iberostar Origin Tainos: Tainos - nice getaway resort

This resort and the people that work there are fantastic. Being Cuba you need to deal with repetitive food (was all very good though). The beach was always cleaned first thing and the service was spot on.

Iberostar Waves Costa Dorada: Beautiful resort, exceptional staff and service

The rooms were bright and beautiful....bathrooms could be a bit better...the grounds were so well taken care of and the service.....I will never forget how well I was treated! The daily food kept my belly singing and the staff were all so happy and courteous..always looking for ways to brighten our day no matter how big or how small! I cried the day I left.....it was very hard leaving such a paradise. I wish though we could have swam in the pool after hours ..it was so looking forward to wading  [... read more]in the pool in the moonlight.... it was my first time in the Dominican. ...and it will definitely will not be my last...it can't wait to come back to Iberostar Puerto Plata! Oh and a very special thank you to Barbie, chocolate, chocolaka pepsi cola, Romero, Boss and many many others..you went above and beyond to make our vacation so memorable! Thank you again!

Iberostar Origin Laguna Azul: Great Resort with Great Staff

The hotel is beautiful but in need of some updates/renovations. The layout of the resort was fantastic! Loved that there were quiet pools and not just the main pool. Beach was gorgeous. I can't say enough about the staff - they were all so helpful and nice. The temperature of the food at the buffets weren't great so we stay with the made-to-order food, which was always easy to find at different spots around the resort.

Iberostar Selection Bavaro Suites: 3rd Time's a Charm!

Our 3rd time visiting this beautiful resort in Punta Cana and it just keeps getting better! From the moment of check in, we were treated like royalty. The staff are so friendly, accommodating and genuinely care about the guests with no expectations of a tip in return for this service. The resort remains immaculately clean and so well cared for. The food continues to be outstanding providing variety and high quality food clearly labelled and replenished. What I found remarkable was the auditing o [... read more]f the presentation that took place at each meal. Management observing the presentation of the food, the labelling and ensuring the staff were cognizant of what was required to make it even better. We requested the same room due to location in advance of arriving and they did everything possible to accommodate. We were welcomed with a bottle of rum and fruit platter upon arrival. I celebrated my birthday while there and at teh end of the night, I returned to find a chilled bottle of champagne with fruit platter and a birthday card. So impressive and truly made me feel special. I always provide balanced feedback in my reviews so here are the cons I came across during this visit: 1. The rooms have excellent air conditioning but should have temperature control vs. high/medium/low. We were freezing in the room but if we turned it off, it was too hot 2. On my previous visits, the entertainment staff were extremely sociable and visible. Each morning, they would walk the beach, stopping to say hello to all guests and set the stage for the day's/evening's activities. During this visit, we noticed less entertainment staff working, they were not very visible during the day. They truly make the experience while you're there so would like to see them increase their visibility and sociability during the day to ensure a better stay. Overall, I have travelled to many other places over the years and always draw my comparison to this resort. Simply outstanding resort! I will be returning to the Iberostar Bavaro in Punta Cana for a 4th time.

Iberostar Origin Daiquiri: One of my bad experiences

One of my bad experiences in my life. Room was terrible; customer service was bad - A/C was not working, mini bar was not working even bed was broken (I took few pictures - please contact me) further more lots of mosquito and one thing I must add they serve same food every day. I do not recommend anyone one to go there

Iberostar Origin Laguna Azul: Pick Laguna Azul for a Great time!

If you wanna go to have fun, drink lots and enjoy the beach I would recommend this hotel. They have many activities to offer, fantastic drink menus and the beach is pristine. As a partial vegetarian, I look for a variety of salads and dishes without meat and to my surprise there was delishish salads! When it came to housekeeping, my room was kept neat and clean, and if I needed fresh towels, I got them. It also helps to bring little gifts (from the dollar store) for the house keepers to show you [... read more]r appreciation, and OMG the coffee in the lobby bar is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! My favourite coffee drink is the cortado. Anyways, a few minor hiccups like the public bathrooms were smelly,dirty and without TP and the hotel uses little plastic spoons in the coffee to stir a HOT beverage, yet all in all i enjoyed my stay at Laguna Azul!

Iberostar Origin Playa Alameda: EXCELLENT!!!

My husband myself and two daughters, ages 7 and 5 stayed here for a week from May 22 to the 29th. The weather was undountbly amazing during this week. We were not sure what to expect as some said it would be extremely hot and some said differently. But we loved every minute of it. The pool did keep us refreshingly cool to say the least. That amazing pool side that had great activities that ran every day and had us all amused and laughing through it being a funny show or games or just the chance  [... read more]to learn how to do the salsa pool side. Peke and Gorki made sure you were involved everyday and making sure you were having a fantastic time. Especially when it came to the night time as well. The shows and live entertainment rocked the house!! Which followed by the most amazing bartending, From Colon at the front house Owen at the pool side and Yuceil, they had talent and customer service that truly went over and beyond!! They made you feel like a part of there family and had known you for ever and would do whatever they could to make you feel happy!! For the food service..well I am not sure if our family could even say enough! The food was amazingly delicious!! From the fresh fruit to all the fresh veggies and the outstanding grilling!! I cant say I have tried grilled turkey like that ever before. YUMMY And again from the most outstanding customer service from Roberto, Yinny, Carlos the most talented Jadinen who grilled my husband the best tuna, salmon with always a smile and an honest interest of how our day was!! I also cant say enough about Roberto who made my omelette every morning!! LOVE is all I have to say. THANK YOU ALL!! Suly is yet another great lady who spent some crucial time making our girls have just an fantastic time at this resort. They could not wait for disco every night !! We would hands down recommend this resort to you!! The rooms my not be up to full standards and my need some upgrades. The rest of the resort and the people are truly the BEST part of your trip. I wish or we could say more...but we as a family LOVED every minute of it and will go back!! I must not forget to mention, that my daughter turned 7 while down there and the staff and resort truly went over and beyond to make her feel very special. From a surprise plate in our room to signing to her twice and a surprise cake!! It truly was a very special day. Thank you all from our family to you all!!!

Iberostar Selection Rose Hall Suites: Iberostar Suites is the spot!

Rooms are nice an modern. Amazing and friendly staff. Food is Top notch! Can't get enough of it. 24 hr room service to boot :) The staff get you what you need, when you need it. The grounds are always immaculate, and the staff treat you like friends and family. Tipping is not required, but come on the average jamaican makes $20-30 USD. The beach boys in the evening are cool, talk to them nicely and theyll be nice back, don't be afraid of them. They have cool things.

Iberostar Waves Costa Dorada: Nice resort.

We stayed in room 1101 and were pleased with the room. Everything was close by. Pool was just down the stairs, the beach was to the left once you were on the ground level. The main lobby was clean and well managed with a lobby bar and another bar were the entertainment was held was opened at night so there were no long waits. The pool bar was amazing. There was a swim up and walk up on the opposite side. The food was excellent in my opinion. The a la carte options were enjoyable. Japanese was pr [... read more]epared in front of us, the Mexican was very good, we had beef skewers instead of tacos and we were extremely happy with out choice. The Brazilian was also well done. We had the skewered choice there as well. The pool side buffet was perfect with snacks for all palettes ie burgers, pizza and fries and much more. There were 2 days were paella was prepared on the beach which I did enjoy. There was a beach barbecue that I missed. Entertainment and activities at the pool were very entertaining to watch, I didn't volunteer or participate but I enjoyed watching. The bikini competition was fun to watch, bingo daily, sports like competitions etc. At night there were some hard working, very physically fit staff who performed shows and had audience participation including children. The same performed the evening entertainment. Very hard working young men and women. Service staff worked tirelessly on the gardens and trees, the pool, the water gardens, the bars and the buffets. The housekeeping was immaculate. It really was an incredible experience to stay at this resort. I have nothing negative to say. The price is moderate and you get everything you pay for and more. We enjoyed our vacation immensely, would we go back? Unsure, I like hopping around but would not hesitate booking with Iberostar resorts.

Iberostar Selection Ensenachos: Good, but not a 5 star

Not a 5 star. Room outdated. Flies everywhere at the buffet makes it hard to eat. Flies IN the food. BUT- The most beautiful resort grounds and beach I've ever seen. Pool is amazing, especially if you have kids.

Iberostar Selection Ensenachos: Close to Heaven

I visited the Iberostar Ensenachos about 8 years ago when it was a Royal Hideaway hotel - back then it wsa absolutely spectacular and easily the most luxurious hotel I had stayed in in Cuba. It's now shwoing wear and tear, and the quality of the food has dipped. That said, the grounds remain spectacular. The beach is secluded - from both noise and waves - and the resort is absolutely huge. There are two beaches - one is beautiful (Manego) and the other is nothing short of spectacular (Ensenachos [... read more]). It's about a 20 minute walk (30 if you're really slow or are travelling with kids) from the lobby to the Ensenachos beach, but well worth it, There are snack bars dotted all around the resort so if you head out there and want to stay all day, you can. You can also ask reception to send a go-cart (or try to flag one down) but I found that takes a long time and not really worth the wait. The drinks were all wonderful - from the Bailey's spiked coffee to the mojitos - and the service was quick and very friendly. We stayed in the adults-only Spa section where I am told the rooms are nicer. They certainly were very spacious, the bed was the most comfortable one I've slept on in Cuba (notorious for terrible mattresses) and the bathroom was huge and well-equipped. I would recommend that you pay the 25 CUC per person for dinner at the Colonial as that was the best meal we had (a very nice lobster thermidor and great flan), mangoes were in season when we visited so we pretty much ate some all day - they tasted so much better than any mangoes I've ever had in Canada. Fish and shrimp, as well as paella were always fresh and delicious. I usually stay away from beef in Cuba as it's not the best. I usually like to try different resorts when I visit Cuba, but this one had it all (except for a party scene, but you don't come to Cayo Santa Maria to party!). I would definitely come back.