Grand Memories Santa Maria: Most beautiful beach

My daughter and I had an awesome week at Grand Memories. The staff are so gracious and helpful. The room was kept spotless. We were part of the Diamond Club which afforded us a la cart dinners for Mexican, Mediterranean, Cuban and Italian. The regular buffet had lots of food all the time. You have to realize the food choices are basic given what they can import in. We brought peanut butter, jam and syrup. Their bread is to die for. The biggest attraction was the beach, it is so beautiful [... read more], clear water and white sand. This was our second time going to the same resort and we will go again. Tammie and Cassielle

Iberostar Origin Bella Vista Varadero: Great Location

The resort was really nice and clean. Staff were friendly and welcoming. The beach was wonderful, only down fall that it was a little small for the amount of people. It got crowded at times and no personal space to relax. Food was ok, there was no salt, pepper, ketchup, hot sauce and butter. Make sure to bring your own. Coffee in the lobby was amazing! Overall it was a great place to stay.

Valentin Perla Blanca: Best Beaches in the World!

In a country that is suffering, this resort & its staff give their guests the best of what they have. They are always cleaning, & smiling! The gardens are lovely. The entertainment crew are friendly & high energy, the dancers are spectacular. Although they spray for flies/fleas, bring insect repellent & after-bite. Don’t be picky about the food when Cubans may be starving- there is plenty for tourists: lots of pork & chicken, delicious rice dishes, lentils & chickpeas, cold cuts & cheeses, and [... read more] some fruits (pineapple, guava, papaya) & some veggies (potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, cabbage, eggplant). The waitstaff & kitchen crew try to please (but need to use a bit less salt sometimes). Bring your own “water” bottle for drinks; to cut down on waste/cups. The beaches truly are the best in the world- so relax & enjoy. I’ve been twice and can’t wait to go back!

Playa Pesquero: Relaxing!

Let me be clear, nothing "ruined" our vacation. It was great weather, beautiful beach and water and some of the friendliest and most humble people I've met in many travels throughout the Caribbean. That said, Cuba is in a very dire situation which affects the food & dining experience. Beer was plentiful but water was hard to come by on some days in the amount us northerners require when in the tropics. The area of the island we were in is also experiencing a major drought therefore if you  [... read more]are expecting lush green tropics, unfortunately it's just brown and minimal floral fauna. None of this of course is the fault of the resort or people. But it was enough to make me hesitate to return right away. I really can't say if I would recommend or not but if you do go, lower expectations and enjoy the beach and great coffee bar in the lobby!

Melia Costa Rey: Amazing time at the Pullman Resort

The friendly staff greeting with “Olah” all the time with a smile. Accommodations were just perfect and would recommend this resort to anyone planning a vacation in Cuba. Pool and deck were kept clean as well as the beach being pristine were all part of a perfect vacation. Sue Snider was correct in saying “ you can’t go wrong with Pullman.

Melia Internacional: The beach!!!

Cuba is the place to go for a beautiful beach! It is truly breathtaking. If you love to eat, Cuba is not the place for you. They are offering what they can given the supply chain issues. The resort is only 3years old but looks more like it is 10years old. There are many things in the room that did not work well like the shower and the sink drain… For our family, these inconveniences did not bother us. We go to Cuba for the beach, the sun, the relaxation at a reasonable cost. The pool [... read more]s are very clean and well maintained. The gym is small but most equipment is in good working order. It only took about 40mins to get from the airport to the resort. We loved the kayaks and pedal boats. The pedal boats are huge, you can sit about 6 adults in it. You can jump off and snorkel right from the boat. We would go again if we are looking for an inexpensive trip.

Club Kawama: Like family!

We thoroughly enjoyed our time at Kawama! The staff were incredible, friendly, helpful and welcoming. The hotel is undergoing major renovations and they do their very best to make patrons comfortable. The food was excellent and plentiful and we were all able to eat well. The amenities were good, the beach was fabulous, the entertainment was fun, and we would definitely go back.

Gran Muthu Imperial: The place is shit

We’re got there had no hot water and are fridge didn’t not work I have meds that need to be keeped cold we went do to the front desk three times the first night and nothing got done then we had hot water for two days then back to cold and one day for a bit of it we had no water then food was so bad we couldn’t eat it most workers were ok others were not happy to be there or get a tip bugs on the floor well eating I would never go there again

Melia Peninsula Varadero: The worst kept hotel in Cuba

I've been travelling to Cuba for over 20 years and have stayed in every type of resort from 2 to 5 stars. This property is the worst and so badly maintained that it is outright dangerous. Before getting to all the negative, on the plus side; the beach is beautiful, the staff is great and the food is more than adequate. At one time, I couldn't see that this was a great resort; however, due to poor management and absolutely no maintenance.... there are random holes throughout the property which  [... read more]a small child could fall into or even an adult could be seriously injured. Not to mention the dangers of metal spikes and rebar protruding from cement. Both swimming pools had green algae growing throughout the pool. Tripcentral should be ashamed to sell this resort. The tour operators should be held liable for their representation of this property

Valentin El Patriarca Varadero: Clean resort nice pool beach beautiful

Staff very pleasant pleasing and service like none other I realize with covid shipping lanes are busy across the nation and premium for shipping are hard to justify for certain items Some items were in shortage but always a compromise available The resort is beautiful but not in new condition but but price is dictated by the quality of yr stay Keep in mind no one gets 5 star accommodations for the price of 4 star

Paradisus Varadero: Royal Service - Perfect!

We flew out of Kitchener(Sunwing) and what a relief compared to Pearson, less time and the flights were on schedule both ways! Booked private transfers and this definitely speeds up the hotel drive/arrival time(s). Stayed in the Royal Service section, our Butlers were great Yenisleidy/Yamir! They booked our dinners each day, delivering wine/water to the room and always around should you need. Walked the hotel grounds daily, the Royal Section is well cared for but The Reserve is in need of some  [... read more]attention and we would have been disappointed had we booked that section. Food was good, other than the International and the only shortage we experienced was butter for a day! The bar service around the pool was beyond amazing, the pool guys were always helpful for setup. Don't forget to ask for the large cushions, they are a game changer around the pool loungers!

Starfish Cayo Largo: A LITTLE BIT OF PARADISE

IT MET ALL OF OUR NEEDS AND MORE. THE POOLS WERE VERY LARGE WITH THE BAR CONVENIENTLY LOCATED BESIDE IT. OUR ROOM WAS ON THE LOWER LEVEL AND FACED THE BEACH SO WE COULD HEAR THE WAVES ROLLING IN. IT WAS CLEAN THROUGHOUT THE RESORT AND THE SERVICE WAS EXCELLENT. THE ADDITION OF A PERSONAL BUTLER SIMPLIFIED THINGS FOR US. GREAT WEATHER WAS THE ICING ON THE CAKE

Gran Muthu Almirante Beach Resort: Beautiful Resort

Pros: The hotel is beautiful and well maintained. No musty smells and the cleaning staff is constantly working. Beach is gorgeous with lots of seating (if you want an umbrella / palapa you have to get up at 6 am to reserve, but if you are fine with just chairs there are plenty to go around). Rooms and beds are lovely - we had great sleeps. Thursdays is Canada Day - they served poutine and lobster on the beach which was fun Wednesdays is Cuba Day - they had a celebration with Mojitos, pi [... read more]gs on a spit and lots of food at the la Roca restaurant (closest to the beach) Fun games room by the lobby with pool, foosball, pin ball and PS4/Xbox Tripcentral did a great job and made trip very easy! Neutral: Food - same stuff over and over - par for the course Beer was very good Cons: A la cartes weren't great and difficult to book - you can only book on Saturday for the week?! Mixed drinks - weren't good, made differently at each bar, no fun drinks for the kids or fun drinks for adults. Man playing accordian on beach singing at tops of lungs Music too loud at pool from 10 am to 4 pm daily.

Grand Memories Santa Maria: great vacation

just returned from Grand Memories Santa Maria cuba. The resort is huge if walking is not your thing this will not be your place. carts were available if you waited. The pools are very nice and big. music and descent entertainment was provided at night time in the lounge and in the stadium. rooms were nice however our first night my wife stripped the sheets as they were dirty.food was descent but there was no fish which was a dissapointment. The beach and water are by far the main attr [... read more]action blue water and white sands. covid precautions are not really enforced there. social distancing, disinfection hand sanitizer dispensers were not seen. all in all was a good trip too big of a place for us

Vila Gale Cayo Santa Maria: Nice Resort

This Hotel had everything and the beach was spectacular and beautiful and wide and well maintained. Do not expect amazing food in the restaurant, the consequences of Covid are still being felt, the restaurants will have bread one day and no bread the next day, or milk and no milk, etc.... The servers, the bartender and pretty much the whole staff really try and do their best, they have major restrictions in their everyday lives by the system imposed but they do well with hotel clients. Cuba i [... read more]s a beautiful country and has beautiful people.

Paradisus Princesa Del Mar: Far below expectations :-(

I feel so sorry for the staff; they were out of almost everything and most of them were still working hard to make things work. Cuba needs to catch up: No butter all week, out of wine by 9pm most nights, no fish, no cheese most of the week, no sheets change all week, sheets were three twin staggered to cover our kingsize bed… the list goes on! Normally, I would not complain, but when you pay for 5 stars+, and get 3 stars -at best… it just hurts.¿Qué pasa, Cuba???

Dhawa Cayo Santa Maria: Dhawa cayo Santa Maria

Hotel and grounds are beautiful! Well kept grounds comfortable rooms clean and not dated. Food is another story buffet everyday didnt matter morning or afternoon same thing Yes you could get an omelette freshly cooked for you line ups long However you could find something Alacartes were aweful cold over cooked 3 people in our group of 8 got sick Yes its cuba Yes there are shortages But to serve cold food in an ala carte not acceptable Sunwing complaint Ordered duty free on the way  [... read more]down For my return Nothing but they charged me Also ordered VIP On sunwing app guaranteed lowest price well hotel sells it for 30 us we paid 50 canadian total rip off Connie Jean

Playa Luxury Cayo Las Brujas: Recommend this resort

It was my first time in Cuba, I had traveled to other Caribbean islands before. I really liked the resort. The resort is not very big, but there is everything you need to relax. Very attentive and friendly staff. The room was beautiful and clean. The food was varied and tasty. There were fresh vegetables and fruits every day. I especially liked the cheeses. The beaches and water were clean, white sand. The waves are small, you can swim. There are some rocks in the water, so I recommend bringi [... read more]ng swimming shoes. Every evening there was entertainment and dancing in the lobby bar. One compliment, no fish and seafood in restaurants and buffets. As the hotel workers explained to me, they do not have fish supplies, and they cannot give local fish, as they want to exclude poisoning. They are probably right. However, the meat was varied. I would also like to wish that the menu of the Italian restaurant be improved. All the staff were very nice, but I especially want to thank Niurka, Akydis, Yipsy, and also Ana Jauren Thanks to all the staff for a great week spent at the resort.

Playa Vista Azul: Breathtaking!

We cannot say enough wonderful things about this resort, staff and beach! So to start, we arrived on February 21 for 14 nights. We booked Premium Oceanfront, and would not go any other way than Premium. We were warmly welcomed by the staff in the Premium section and given all the details of our room. We were then escorted by Louis Miguel to our room. He was super friendly and helpful. Our room was absolutely perfect. Room 1318, overlooking the infinity pool and ocean. Super quiet, almost  [... read more]soundproof room and the air conditioning worked REALLY well. We had to turn it off at night! The water pressure was great, and lots of hot water. Our private balcony was spacious and comfortable. We were fortunate to get an a la carte the first night at the Coral. The staff were incredibly friendly and attentive and the food was delicious. During our stay we did not go to the Buffet once. We ate breakfast and lunch at the Neptune because it overlooked the ocean and the staff were amazing! We always at outside at the Neptune to take in the view! An extra special thank you to Aylen, Jennifer, Claudia, Daniella and Lozamio. We did try the Beach BBQ once and it was delicious. We spent our days at the activities beach, so did not try the outdoor beach buffet on the beach to the left of the resort. We did go to the Main Pool to have a burger one day and the service was great and the food was really good! We tried every a la carte and enjoyed each one, but our favourite was the Boca Marina - Cuban, for the outstanding and friendly service by Yaime, Milexy, Amalia and Doralys! You were fabulous! These ladies interacted with us which we feel is important. The food at each a la carte was really very good. We were impressed and tried to choose different things on the menu each time. The soups and their buns were scrumptious! We were not disappointed in the food, and always found lots that we loved. We like red wine, and found the red wine (Premium) to be quite good. The service in the lounge area, superb, the lovely piano man and violin girl - WOW! The staff at the Premium Lounge were exceptional, welcoming and funny! Now, our maid, Doralis, oh my, she was so funny, and always had us smiling or laughing at her towel/blanket creations. Our room was always done before lunch, and our mini bar was stocked by lunch. They never missed a day, they were always on schedule, the room was spotless. Now for the BEACH - the VIEW - it took my breath away every time I stepped into the water, or opened the curtains in the morning! The beach had no seaweed, it was clean, gorgeous! We spent most of our time in the ocean! The activities staff were so fun and professional. I tried aqua gym and the stretching. Loved both! They always interacted with the guests, getting them to get up and get moving!!! (Ladies don't be lazy! or you're in Cuba, you don't sleep in Cuba!) Another special thank you to Alberto, our beach man who got loungers for people, or brought trays of beer. You always had a smile for everyone. We looked forward to seeing you each day. You can use the paddle boats, kayaks, or get taken out on the catamarans at the beach. We went in the Infinity Pool and the Premium Pool and found them both lovely and clean. We did not swim in the Main Pool but loved the music and activities they held while we walked by. It was also so pretty at night with the color changing lights. I tried the salon at the resort. For $15.00 US I had a manicure and pedicure. It took over an hour, an hour spent with the lovely Solema. I would recommend going to the SPA for sure! The other ladies at the spa were super friendly too! AND...the old cars, the taxis they have. It was like stepping back in time. We had the best taxi drivers, one favourite was the man that took us in the 1949 Pontiac. He has had this car for 8 years. Best experience and time spent with him. We wished we got his name. Each time you booked a taxi you didn't know what car you would get! We walked on the beach to the Plaza America. It took us 20 minutes which we would only do in the morning as it gets too hot later in the day! There are some lovely shops and a Pizza restaurant on the top floor. You can also buy cigars and nice wine in one shop at this mall. We took taxis into the Flea Markets twice and found lots of treasures. The vendors were friendly, not pushy and very proud of their items. Again, we do this in the mornings, and back to the beach by lunch! We did one excursion through our fabulous Sunwing Rep (Myknee). It was the Cuban Sugarcane, Rum, Cigar and Coffee day. We highly recommend this one. So much history and well worth the money spent. A full day from 8:15 AM - 6:15 PM. We had Joe as our guide and Alex our driver. We learned so much and had the best day. $115.00(Can) per person, included lunch with a beer, a cigar each and a bottle of rum each! Special mention about Sunwing - from start to finish they were EXCEPTIONAL! Coffee at the resort is the best, they make one cup at a time, made with great care. There is Benny's Cafe on site where you can get many special coffees, hot or cold! I wish I got the names of all the staff that made each day so special, but we thank you all. (We will just be back next year to see you again!) We were always greeted with a smile and well taken care of. Thank you to all the Premium staff for your wonderful service and always getting the a la carte we wanted each night. If there was anything that I could recommend here, it might be a bit better lighting on the paths at night. It was a little dark. We also found it was dark on the stairs and in the hallways. Maybe a few more lights.... Also, the beach and plastic/litter. It blows up against the back of the beach. It might be nice to have more garbage cans or someone taking care to pick up the garbage. We are already looking to come back here next year! We love the Cuban people, the amazing beaches, the wood/leather they make, the staff at the resort and just being in your wonderful country. We are so grateful we were able to travel and experience all that you have to offer. With heartfelt thanks, we hope to see you all next year!

Iberostar Coral Holguin: Perfect Vacation

I wasn't sure what to expect as I had never been to this part of Cuba before or this resort. Everything was beyond my expectations. The resort was absolutely beautiful. The staff was the best I have ever had the pleasure of being with. The food was delicious. The weather was terrific. The sights were breathtaking. I have never gone to the same resort twice but will definitely be going back to this resort next year--hopefully for 2 weeks. I would rate my experience a 12 out of 10!