Dhawa Cayo Santa Maria: Could be better ...

We stayed at Dhawa from March 11-18, 2023; resort/beach is good, the staff were nice as always in Cuba. BUT food was so bad, even though this is our 4th trip to Cuba and we have very low expectations for food, this time you can't ignore it. I understand that they may have supply shortage BUT that is not an excuse for example to not cook the rice well or a pumpkin... I got sick after couple days with diarrhea/fever and I heard other people had same problem as well. We never had seafood durin [... read more]g our stay which you expect to see in the middle of the ocean. After I got sick, our breakfast/lunch/dinner was bread and cheese. A la carte restaurant, only 1 restaurant and rotate every day, from Cuban to French to Italian cuisine ... NOT good at all. I would definitely recommend changing the chef for Buffet and A la carte; they should have quality control for food as well.

Vila Gale Cayo Santa Maria: New resort, poor management

Main issue with resort - luck of food and service in buffet. Cuba in shortage of food - understandable. What is unacceptable: 1) People line up and wait for 15-20 min to enter into buffet 2) Only 2 grill stations open. Huge lines to get grilled beef - about 45 min 3) 45 min takes to get rice or veggie, only few trays with food available NO PASTA, NO BREAD AT DINNER, NO BUTTER, NO CHICKEN, NO CHEESE, NO MILK, NO FISH OR SEAFOOD KIDS HAS ZERO FOOD SELECTION 5 STARS?????

Iberostar Origin Laguna Azul: Disappointed

Although Covid had a tremendous impact on the overall situation in Cuba I was very disappointed in the lack of customer service received from the staff. The food shortage was accepted but there were cockroaches in the buffet and in my room. One day they had sugar the next day none. Just to name a few things. Staff was friendly but not eager to work. You would stand at bar with no acknowledgement. Would not go back to this resort

Playa Pesquero: Decent vacation

We’re at the resort for March break. We had a great time. The grounds were beautiful. The room was dated but clean. The ac worked properly and the shower water pressure was good. The food was hit and miss. They had shortages of everything. We had wine one night only. Few days we had butter in the morning and few days cheese. Their pineapple and papaya was very good. The best of all was the beach. We enjoyed the catamaran and the paddle boat. The sport center was a very nice feature. They [... read more] were in need of tennis rackets, volleyball, and ping pong balls. Just writing this for the future guests that enjoy these sports to bring their own equipment and possibly donate it. We gave away Tylenol, Advil, optical glasses, kids clothes and they appreciated that. Tips in cdn were appreciated. Overall was a good experience. Kids had a great time.

Melia Peninsula Varadero: Not the best experience

Arrived on Saturday march 11th. First room we had the lock didn’t work. They moved us into a different room after the lock couldn’t be fixed. 2nd room the card didn’t work properly. Had to get it fixed almost everyday. No food selection but I can’t blame the hotel for this as the entire island is struggling. Cleanliness in the food hall was an issue. The seemed to use the same dirty cloth to wipe down all the tables.

Melia Costa Rey: Pullman

Beautiful beach, friendly staff, clean rooms. Plenty of food. Best that can be provided given Cuba's circumstances. Don't tip with Canadian coins. Cubans can't use them. If you can tip with American money.

Vila Gale Cayo Santa Maria: Bring what you're going to need. A cheap vacation only

I wish i could write that we thoroughly enjoyed however I can't. Bad stuff first: Bring condiments such as peanut butter, salad dressing, ketchup, also powdered milk for coffee and snacks for the room. Bring toilet paper or flushable wipes. No potatoes, very little chicken, sometimes no bread and butter, no milk. Lots of pork, beef, lunch meats, rice, some veggies. A few fruits. No smoothies. The menu is repetitive and also the same foods at the a la cartes. No privacy in the rooms for family a [... read more]s the bathroom door/shower is frosted glass. The resort is a bit more than an hour and a half from the airport. No snorkeling gear available so bring your own or rent for $10 each. Good stuff: The beach is beautiful as are the grounds. Lots of room at the poolside and on the beach most of the time. The people were lovely and seem to like their jobs.

Grand Aston Cayo Paredon Beach Resort: Unconscionably poor.

I would give the resort zero stars if I could. I do not know how your travel agency could possibly suggest that your clientele stay at the Grand Aston Paredon. The food, by any measure, bordered upon being inedible. One does not generally travel to Cuba for the food, but this was ridiculous. Tureens of gelatinous goop, powdered egg omelets, bone dry pork, it was horrendous. Lack of clean towels (either beach or room), lack of drink choices, absence of any evening entertainment, rocky beach, [... read more] swamp smell from the surrounding grounds… I could go on. By the second day we were ready to leave. All of this at a newly built hotel?? Ridiculously poor customer service. Management/ corporate head office were obviously perpetrating fraud by luring guests with the promise of a 4.5 star experience, only to severely deny even the most basic of expectations. I have two questions for Tripcentral: 1. On what basis did you steer my family towards what will always be our absolute worst travel experience? 2. Why should my family, or ANY family, ever trust you again with their travel plans?

Vila Gale Cayo Santa Maria: Very limited food at the resort

The resort, beach and pools are great. They staff are amazing. We starved for 7 days at the resort. I have been to Cuba so many times and we know what to expect but this time was a totally different story. Very limited food every day at buffet and al la carte the same menu for all. No fries, pasta, pizza, shrimps, fish, burgers, some days milk and cheese. We paid for a vacation to starve our kids. Unacceptable. We had to leave the resort and buy food to feed our 3 kids.

Royalton Hicacos Resort and Spa: Great time had at The Royalton Hicacos

Great destination for Montrealers who are looking for a quick flight to a tropical destination and an outstanding beach experience. Staff are professional, helpful and courteous. Food is very good. Grounds are immaculately kept. The only thing I missed was a good red wine. Turned to white which fared better. Came back feeling rested and relaxed. Mission accomplished. Thank you Sun Wing. Customer service was excellent.

Iberostar Origin Tainos: Awesome Resort!

What make this resort special, is its people. Very friendly staff. Especially the entertainers, they were just great. The evening shows were great, the beach at this resort is so beautiful. Lots of variety when it came to food. If you need something spicy, just take it with you and add it.

Iberostar Origin Laguna Azul: Beautiful resort

Beautiful grounds and beach. Very clean everywhere. And the staff is so friendly and amazing always ready to help you and with a smile. Lots of entertainment. The Japanese à la carte is the best. The weather was excellent will return for sure

Grand Aston Cayo Paredon Beach Resort: Nice resort, amazing plage, substandard food

Unfortunately there are so many negatives about the food that the overall picture is bad - no fish or seafood at all - only meat available regularly was pork - very limited choice of cheese at breakfast (sometimes no cheese st all) - many days limited choice or lack of soft drinks and juices; none towards the end of day. - no red or white wine in bars and buffet restaurant - limited access to a la carte restaurants. We had to wait 2.5 hours in line to get reservation - several days no na [... read more]pkins - from the beginning no bread - huge line to get idecream

The Reserve at Paradisus Varadero: Disappointed in Paradisus Varadero in what appears to be a resort management problem

Paradisus Varadero is a beautiful resort with wonderful staff as advertised. All of us (2 grandparents, 2 parents, 2 grandchildren) enjoyed our stay in the Reserve swim-up accommodations. Unfortunately we spent too much time chasing toilet paper, tissue paper, bottled water, etc., in what appeared to be tight control by management. Our Concierge representative explained supply shortages and logistical challenges in current Cuba, of which we were aware and expected. But it seemed like “pen [... read more]ny wise, £pound foolish” practices were far too common and difficult to accept. A few examples: • There were no spoons in the main buffet restaurants and pool area snack bars during our entire 10-daystay. • Staff failed to provide toilet paper in a main pool-area bathroom after a few tourists reported the problem. I believe they tried but needed to follow procedures involving 2-3 people above them. These few examples may be trivial but try eating ice-cream or food requiring a spoon. There were many others minor issues, like 5-10 minute waits to clean plates, which do not seem like major investment/cost restrictions. We felt sorry for restaurant staff who were more upset than we were having to apologize repeatedly. An Unforgiveable Experience: Our tripcentral representative sent an email to management before our arrival noting several allergies for our 6-year old grandson, including milk products. Restaurant staff were mostly knowledgeable and always helpful during meals. But when we ordered an alcohol free Pina Collada at the bar, which has a sign listing Pineapple Juice and Coconut Milk as the ingredients, we discovered powdered milk was used instead of coconut. Fortunately our grandson only took a sip before we tasted the juice to make sure it was OK. (FYI, we ordered the Pina Collada because other juices were watered down and not palatable) Someone needs to explain to Food Management, which they must then explain to staff, what anaphylactic shock is. We unwillingly waited before injecting an epi pen into our grandson, because doing so means a trip to the hospital (to makes sure the adrenaline in an epi pen doesn’t cause other related threats). Fortunately our grandson only had stomach issues for an afternoon because he ingested only a little, but it could have been worse. We reported to the Reserve Bar that the Pina Collada ingredient sign was inaccurate but it wasn’t taken down. If it isn’t taken down the Resort risks an inevitable, more serious incident, and someone will get hurt. Our final comment is that among my family Cuba has been visited 6-7 times. We admire and respect the culture, which is a major reason we visit. We also want to support its people and understand the unfair treatment of their nation. Moreover, we did not mind that food and amenities were much below pre-Pandemic levels. But I go back back to my Review Title; all the problems we encountered are within the control of management and must be addressed before we return.

Memories Trinidad Del Mar: On the Resort

The resort is lovely. Rooms, grounds, beach and dining all were just fine. Being Cuba, of course there will be something in your room that should have been replaced a long time ago, and there will always be some item of food or drink that is temporarily unavailable. No big deal. The beach is spectacular, and the water beautifully warm and calm for swimming. The calm doesn't quite extend to outside the resort, however. And getting off the resort is why many people go to Trinidad. There were  [... read more]many arguments on the Trini bus as they now want your credit card for the fare, and most folk were unwilling. There were several blackouts in the town during the day...no coffee! And at night, trying to deal with those old broken streets in total blackness is dangerous. Sitting in the waiting lounge at the airport, we experienced a 15 minute blackout which doesn't exactly inspire confidence. My biggest beef is about the money. The money exchange at the bank gives you the official rate, but you will be charged the unofficial rate at any restaurant, bar, taxi etc, and that is almost double. $1 U.S. bills are good for tips, larger bills not wanted. You can usually pay with Euros or Canadian money, but any change owed is given in pesos. And, the crowning glory.... at the airport money exchange, I was refused when I tried to change back some surplus pesos, despite having been told by the Cadeca employee at the hotel that this was where to do it. "It's not possible" was the excuse at the airport.What country doesn't want its own money back?? Also, nothing at the airport can be bought in pesos. So, a giant mess regarding money, and a general feeling that things are getting worse. At the same time, a huge new Melia hotel is almost ready to open on the peninsula.

Melia Jardines del Rey: Surprised

I did a lot of research on this resort prior to going. The reviews were scary and terrible. I even tried to find another resort but too much money. Upon our arrival around 10 pm on Sunday night, there was really no food to find and they were out of wine. The reviews were becoming true. The following day, things changed and everything fell into place as far as al a cartes, lunches, beaches, drinks etc. I was pleasantly surprised. That was until Saturday night. We had no server in the buffet for  [... read more]dinner, had to wait for plates, no cutlery and the food was not great. That night at the lobby bar, they ran out of wine, beer and other alcohol. I am just glad we were leaving the following day. This resort is hit and miss. While one day they are out of certain things, they will appear the next. And vice versa. I was pleasantly surprised Monday-Saturday and then the expectations began to show. Many of the staff are wonderful! The beaches are unreal! Go with an open mind!

Grand Memories Holguin: A TRIP TO HELL!!!!!!!!!

This is clearly a Sunwing hotel. As they partially own it, all others not booking through them are not welcome. Sunwing (diamond and gold club) immediate check. All others line up for over two and a half hours checking in. Sunwing (diamond and gold club members) allowed to book priority Alacarte restaurants all others line up for over an hour to get what's left. TI was not able to book the Japanees restaurant at all during my 14 days and the Italian only once. No mixed drinks. At the bar there  [... read more]was only one bartender who is instructed to serve (diamond and gold club first) and all others only if when there is a break in their orders. International drinks are Johnny walker red, Vat 69 and Jaminson for regular customers (red band). They ran out of cola again for people with the red band but lots for the customers wearing the diamond club band. )Desserts were chocolate ice cream and red shreaded beets. :NO PASTRIES". They ran out of eggs and bread for days. They had bedbugs on the fourth floor in section "E", room 2436 and sandbugs in the sand on the beach which when bitten leave welts the size of a dime for seven days. Both required shots at the hotel clinic. No liquor, cigar or coffee sales at the hotel. Closest place is Antilla a $60.00 dollar taxie ride. Hola Sun did not supply me with a ride to the airport for my air transat flight but for the good graces of the kind sunwing rep was able to hitch a ride on their bus. otherwise it would have cost me a $200.00 CDN taxie fare. The return flight home was ane hour late due to an equipment failure at the Holguin airport. No their fault and they handled the situation well with courtisy and professionalism.

Melia Internacional: Amazing resort and staff

There are no words that can explain the experience we had at this resort. It was my fiancé first time to Cuba and my 9th time and it could not have been any better. From the grounds to the pool to the service we received was beyond words. We stayed on the level adults only and were treated with respect and we lacked nothing. This is my first time to this resort and believe me this was the best food I have ever had in Cuba. The beach was clean and lots of place to sit and relax. We had the [... read more] beach bar bartender bring us some drinks once in a while. At the capri bar the bartender was just amazing. If they keep up with this kind of service they will be the number one spot for me to return to each year. We ate at 6 restaurants on the resort and everyone of them was amazing but my favourite was texmex Maria was amazing.

Starfish Cuatro Palmas: Awesome stay

2nd time here and would return, easy access to beach, pool, restaurant, bar....no long walks! The beach is clean and water so clear (see colorful fish passing by). The food is delish and varied, and entertainment is awsome. Our room was well kept and cleaned daily by our maid. Stalls is friendly and helpful if u need anything. Will return again.

Aston Costa Verde Beach Resort: Great resort!

This resort was great. A bit worn but clean. We had all the necessities, clean sheets, towels both in our room and for the beach. The beach was amazing ! There were enough chairs, the service was good, we changed our towels every day,sometimes twice in the day. We did tons of snorkeling, fish to see everyday. The food was awful. Only one menu for all restaurants and buffet. If you are going for the food, this is not the place but everything else was fabulous.