Grand Memories Varadero: Good resort

Rooms where great and Jen was our fantastic maid we stayed in the "adult " side. pools where great, but underused as it was cooler and raining lots this January. Restaurants and buffet had lots of choices Was pretty good for Cuba. The resort was full so if you don't like crowded lobby bar and restaurants this may not be for you. Of course Cuba bases their peso on the American dollar so be prepared to spent more! Cubans cannot do anything with your loonies & twoonies. So I'd you think tipping goo [... read more]d think again! Buy your pesos! And use that to tip! Cubans are gracious people and would not tell you they cannot use your Canadian money! Everyone at Grand Memiries was very helpful as of course we have always found in cuba

Riu Santa Fe: Great place to get head lice!

Awful hotel. My daughter got head lice, my son and I both got sick. Dirty place. Oh and the housekeeping staff stole some of my clothes. The front desk staff was competly indifferent, terrible service. Food was bad. After the third day I started to just eat fruit. If you want to lose weight this is the place to do it. The one shining star was the kids' club, the staff there were friendly, caring, and my kids LOVED them.

Grand Memories Varadero: Poor Management

Example: What did you think about  this hotel? (grounds, public areas, rooms, dining, features, etc.) This part of the hotel was very nice grounds,rooms ect. and clean. But everyday we were always missing bread,butter,eggs,coffee,wine on and on. No toilet paper in any of the public areas. Staff not happy, no eye contact. Food was just horrible.

Riu Playa Blanca: Good Stay

The resort is beautiful, clean and very organized. The rooms are exactly like the pictures, new and modern. The pools are fun and organized ... ie .. the pool bar serves the purpose for drinking and a few kids do come around with their parents who want to drink but not very often, the quiet pool is mostly older people who just get their chill on, the slide pool is for the kids obviously, and the infinity pool "activity pool" is for anyone who wants to play sports adults and kids. Very organized! [... read more]! The food is delicious, something different every day. We didn't get a chance to do an a la cart but the buffet was more than good. The beach was just okay, the water is kind of murky and the tide is crazy. I like clear blue water and you wont get that here. The nightly entertainment is okay, they had a beach party one night and that was the best night. The disco is open every night which is also fun but to do it every single night gets a little boring. The resort employees are super friendly and nice. There is nothing to do off the resort that's close by. There are things being built right now so maybe in the future it will be better. Excursions through the resort are extremely expensive for what you actually get. Rent a cab yourself and go to the places without the resort, its a lot cheaper that way, ALOT! You can even take the bus to Panama City for 6 dollars and go see the Canal for 15 dollars entrance fee, or pay the 150 to go with the resort. There are ways around everything, don't be afraid to explore! All in All ... Great vacation but would I go again?? meeehhhhhh

Riu Palace Antillas: Great resort, exceptional people

First of all the flight was fantastic. Pilots were very informative and staff was great. The hotel was beautiful, rooms were clean, staff was exceptional! We had a problem with our safety deposit box (it wouldn't open/close) so they decided to change rooms and upgrade us to an ocean view without us asking. I can't say enough about the hotel staff. Every afternoon someone would come by to refill our fridge and every evening someone would come by to see if we would like extra towels. Food was grea [... read more]t. I wasn't too keen on a couple of the a la cartes or the way to book them though, but the buffet was amazing. The weather is hot! A bit windy but without the wind it's unbearable so it's appreciated. We had a dinner on the beach for my birthday that was a huge disappointment and it was quite costly so I definitely would not recommend that to anyone. We were completely left out on the beach in the dark wondering if they had left us. It was discussed before hand (twice) that I couldn't have seafood so my boyfriend was reassured that there would be none. We get there and it's all seafood! I sat for 45 minutes waiting for something to eat and then finally a few slivers of steak came out. Instead of placing us in a private location on the beach they plopped us down in front of all the people who were tanning and swimming so we had people taking pictures, a soccer game where the ball went under the table, people pointing and wondering what was going on. It was pretty awkward. The other downfall is how every morning people will put a towel on the chairs and then leave all day and now no one can sit in that spot. We barely ever got a seat. We noticed how people would put towels down and not show up all day because they had also taken a prime seat for the beach and sit there until they decided to switch to the poolside. Some people had their towels down for 8 hours before coming to occupy their spot. we felt that it was a bit too busy for our tastes but again, just our opinion. There was lots to do, lots of activities and staff was so engaging that it was hard to be bored. I would recommend Aruba for sure!

Riu Playa Blanca: Great Holiday!

Check in very easy and smooth. The food was excellent in the buffets - lots of fresh vegetables, salads, fruit and meat options. Great a-la-carte restaurants (went to Asian twice) however you had to line up to book at 7am on the days you wanted to go. The grounds were very nice and clean. Only problem were the pools. Lack of available washrooms close to pools made for a joke around resort of how nasty the pool was. Beach clean and very wide. Wonderful walking.

Riu Palace Antillas: Honestly, best island I have ever been too!

From my flight and transfer to the hotel and back to the airport was flawless. Check in was a breeze, staff was friendly, resort wasn't huge so not a lot of walking. The Rui has the best part of the beach, where the sand is soft and never gets hot, so you don't burn your feet. We stayed at the antillas side in the villas. All 24 rooms face the ocean, you have a quiet private pool, with beds or lounges. You had waiters come and get you drinks. The pool was salt water, and always clean. Fod w [... read more]as excellent. The a la crates were ok.....I wouldn't waste my time on them, I would rather eat at the buffet, choices were amazing. I would rather eaten off the resort then do the a la carted. Casino paid well at the slots. The casino was giving eat person 50.00 to play in there casino when you sign up for a card. I loaded 25.00 on my card and won 800.00 at a 5 cent machine. Shopping for souvenirs was cheaper by 3-8 dollars off the resort. Spa was amazing...I booked a relaxation massage for 50 min cost 99.00 but the girl found a knot in my shoulder that was causing pain in my arm and when she was done working on the knot my arm pain was gone. We hooked a jeep for the day and went to the aloe Vera factory, they gave a free 10min tour, which was very informative. The price for products are the same in the factory as they are at the hotel and airport. We drove to baby beach, very nice, then to the national park, cost is 11.00pp you need 4x4 to get down to the natural pool...it was so much fun and scary at the same time. We also went to the restaurant in the park...that was a rip off a small hamburger and fries cost 20.00 not worth it at all My over all feeling of Aruba was this: The weather is always beautiful with an amazing breeze to keep you cool. There are no people begging for money. There are no vendors on the beach bugging you to buy stuff. The hotel staff don't expect tips, and still give great service. Everything is in walking distance or a short cab ride. There isn't tons of excursions, so therefor easy to choose one. You can drink the water, eat the salad and fruit without worrying about getting sick. This hotel had the best part of the beach! The age range average from 30-75 I would definitely return to this island, and try another resort just for variation. Thank you trip central!!

Riu Palace Pacifico: Amazing Trip

When we first arrived, we were so impressed with the quick checkin and the amazing lobby. We were given our room, 7050, great views. two friends travelling together, and only one bed. they had no issue moving us, but we would have had to sacrifice our view, so we stayed where we were. good food, tried Kyoto and Krystal, both good. Always something great at buffet. We went for some much needed R&R, so didn't participate in activities on beach or around pool. We did walk to little town down the  [... read more]beach (Bucerias), right if looking at ocean, about 20mins walk, wear sandals, tough on feet. nice little town. good to go for a drink and lunch. Taxi back, $5. We did massages on beach heading same way, all 3 tents are good. my only complaint would be the lack of washrooms. If you are in the pool or on the beach, you have to walk to the buffet area and go downstairs. Only 5 stalls, and this washroom is the same one shared by the buffet restaurant, Krystal, and Kyoto restaurant. Not very appropriate with ppl in wet bathing suits and ppl fully dressed for a lunch using same washrooms. The maid in this area (older woman) was soooo amazing. she kept the washrooms prestine the entire week and we made sure to let her know how impressed we were with her. Drinks were good. Yes, lots of pool tiles falling off (little squares) but you could see they were collecting them and repairing at night. We went on a very quiet week Jan 8th, and it was just starting to get busy when we left, but we had no issues our week for seats around pool or ocean. Chairs are very comfy. If you've booked, I hope you have as good an experience as we did :)

Riu Tequila: It was okay

Room service was good food was ok got sick on the last night from it. Front desk was not very helpful. Pools were nice! Lots of walking but beach was nice ten minute walk from resort to the beach. Very clean

Riu Emerald Bay: The resort was amezing

The food was very fresh and excellent and the intertament for adults not enough ,but for the kids were wonderful.anyways we had so much fun with my family and good memory.it was safe area for relaxing.

Riu Merengue: beautiful resort

We had a wonderful time! The staff is exemplary in their efforts to please you and outstanding in making you feel welcome. They definitely deserve to be well paid. The only negative aspect were the beds. They are quite uncomfortable. Never went in any of the pools; ocean all the way! Staff on excursion were wonderful as well!

Riu Palace Paradise Island: Nice resort

Amazing beach and pool was very warm. A la carte was hard to get into but buffet was good. Only complaint about room was the rug , always felt damp. Should be a laminate or tile. The view was spectacular and short walk to Atlantis

Sol Turquesa Beach: Beautiful resort

We thought the resort was beautiful and well maintained. The rooms were clean and comfortable. The beach was very very nice. Staff were all pleasant. We went the the theater for the entertainment one night, and it was amazing ! Loved it. The specialty coffees in the lobby are wonderful.

Riu Ocho Rios: Disappointed

Dec 22.2015-Dec29.2015....requested a wheelchair room with a joining room and didn't get it.....put on 2nd floor the first night but we couldn't manage with the accessible room...next day we moved my daughter into the accessible room with no help from the staff...thanks!!!!...to find out that she couldn't get her wheelchair into the bathroom to use the toliet ..she would have to text me in my room when she needed help. Not so relaxing! The nice thing was that there was accessible bathrooms throu [... read more]gh out the resort which was nice but the staff where always using them.that's dissusting !! And when they would finnilycome out they would just look at us like how dare us want to use the washroom.I wrote to the hotel several times tell them how important it was to have a wheelchair room with a joining room cause my 23 year old daughter need daily care and cant do things on her own but wanted her own space while traveling with her parents. ..come on pepole this was all about her safety .it wasn't like I was reqessing an ocean front room and didn't get it....

Riu Playa Blanca: Super clean resort!

Nice clean and modern resort. Needs more restrooms closer to the pool and a la carte especially steak needs to be upgraded a bit. It would be great to book all the a la carte booked in one trip to booking. Staff are very friendly overall, great time and beautiful weather. And it is within 10 mins. from the airport!

Riu Palace Antillas: Great place!

The advertised photos shown of this Riu that we saw were actually of the Riu palace Aruba and not of the Antillas. The room was nice but not what we were expecting. We have been to several Riu palaces and this one just did not compare. It was originally a Westin and the renos and upgrades were not up to Riu standard. We were very disappointed when we arrived and went up to the room. It was not the standard clean, had broken tiles, the bathtub had paint marks in it and it was not the junior suite [... read more] that we expected. Management tried to make things better but hotel was fully booked.Overall we had an amazing time. The staff, the food, the management and especially the entertainment crew were all amazing.

Senator Puerto Plata Hotel: Great resort

Loved it... very clean I had beautiful ocen view room. The food was great fresh salads and fruits every day wish was more fish but had different meats and chicken lots of variety...the intertainment is the best so far from other resorts they never stop lots of games the shows was ok but still very intertaining, music every evening for dancing had a great time I would go back the price was great for the value of the resort...

Riu Playa Blanca: Pools Needed Attention

The people were great! We had difficulties upgrading our room, even having tried when we booked originally. We were finally able to upgrade, and were very happy with our room. The food was what you would expect, overall there was usually always something for everyone. (Have one picky child.) The pools were not kept clean, and for a newer resort, it's already showing signs of poor repair. My unwillingness to reccomend this resort comes mostly from the condition of the pools, as let's face it...th [... read more]at's where you spend most of your time. There were tiles missing all over the place, and there was this scum floating around all week in the main pool as a result of the swim up bar. It just kept getting bigger and bigger! One is a kids pool, another a sport pool, then one adult loungeing pool... this was even foggy by the end of the week. Oh...and there are no servers poolside. If you're a smoker...you have to go down to the beach. It's a $500US fine anywhere else on the property.

Riu Guanacaste: Gorgeous Costa Rica!

We truly enjoyed this resort. The food was very good and service was excellent. Very clean and well kept overall. We attended for a destination wedding and the staff were very attentive. We enjoyed the evening and lobby entertainment. The rooms were nice and a great view of the mountains or ocean. Rooms wth a court view have a view of other rooms. A mountain view would be my recommendation as it is quieter. Be aware that the bathrooms smell funky in every room. The hotel would benefit from look [... read more]ing into it. Overall great trip and will definitely return so that we can complete more excursions !

Riu Tequila: Beautiful quiet Resort

We travelled to this resort December 28-January 4/16. This was are second time here in 4 years. I have stayed at the viva azeteca in Playacar as well. And also have stayed at the Bahia in akumel as well as many other resorts in the Dominican Cuba and puerta Vallarta. The food is the best I have had anywhere. The buffet is the best. Al le cartes are ok but don't compare to the buffet. The rooms are clean spotless yes a little bit dated but nothing like Cuba rooms. The grounds are emaculate. So lu [... read more]sh beautifully kept. Great location you can walk bike or taxi into playa Del Carmen. Very safe area to be out in. Playacar is a gated comunity. All in all it was a great holiday and I would foresure return. Like this resort better than the other Riui resorts. This is like a mexican hacienda the others like Vegas. We will be back some day.