Very nice resort

Traveled in mid October 2014 for one week. Other travelers positive reviews are correct and I would definitely consider it for my next vacation. I would have liked to have tried the Royal Service section, however the upgrade prices at the hotel were outrageous even with the $400.00 credit that Melia offered. .

Our Third time and We'd Go Again

As mentioned, this was our third time back to the Paradisus and as before we found the staff exceptional and the grounds immaculate and beautiful. We arrived late which is no fault of the resort itself but when told that there was no room in Royal Service which is where we'd stayed the time before it was a big disappointment. Couple that with not feeling well I hope I didn't come off as rude to reception as that wasn't my intention at all so I'll take this opportunity to apologize if I did. We w [... read more]ere taken to our room which by morning we realized wasn't suitable for my mother who is 85 and has mobility issues. The tub was deep and the grab bar was on the wall across the tub so she'd have to bend over and reach across the tub to hold on to the bar and pull herself over which was going to be a dangerous situation for her. I understood that there were other upgrades at the resort that weren't Royal Service but perhaps might be better for her and went to the front desk to ask. They did a great job at finding us one of the renovated rooms that was just across from the building we were in and right next to the lobby. It was really very nice and had a walk in shower which was perfect for Mom. Housekeeping was great, the room was spotless and the little fridge was kept well stocked. The only drawback was the coffee maker. The pot had broken or something and in its place was a large mug. Try pouring coffee from a large mug into two smaller cups. A bit messy. After that we didn't bother. I didn't bring that to anyone's attention though and realized after the fact that if I had, the issue probably would have been resolved quickly. The coffee at the buffet was better anyway so we just left it at that. Speaking of the buffet, lots to choose from but sometimes cold and that was the same for all meals. I think the later we went in the higher the chances of things cooling down. But for breakfast you could have an egg made specifically the way you want and of course that would be hot as were the omelets. The french toast and pancakes were hit and miss. Just depended on how fast you got to them when they were put out. But as I said, always lots to choose from and again the staff was great. The guys at the lobby bar were terrific and the drinks have improved! At least the pina colada has. I had one in Royal Service a few years back and it was pretty bad so nice to see that improvement. If you like cocktails on the sweeter side there always seemed to be something different although I can't tell you how good it was as that's not so much my taste but all in all I'd say the bar has improved with what they're offering. We only went to one a la carte this time and had the lobster which I thought was very good. Talking to others there was no complaints about any of the a la cartes which is what I'd expect having been to all of them before. One bad experience was the restaurant by the pool. We went for lunch one day and it was great. I had a hamburger and Mom had a grilled meat plate which she said was very good. The next day she wanted the same but bit into one of the meats and couldn't eat it. I tried it and it was bad. Tasted to me like it literally was going bad and that simply should not happen. Mom thought they'd put the meat in vinegar or something but it was not good at all. The vegetables on the plate too were ice cold as were mine. So one day good, the next day beyond bad. I can't speak to the entertainment but saw they offered some nice activities. One night was a beach party but the beach is a number of steps down and a bit tricky for Mom so we didn't go but it was nice to see that they were doing it. The resort offers Spanish lessons, dance lessons as well as other things that I just can't remember right now. The beach itself isn't the white sand kind that goes on for miles. It's rocky as well but apparently good for snorkelling. Wading..not so much. All in all, a great resort and wonderful people. We'll go again without hesitation. I can tell you that Royal Service is really exceptional, especially for Cuba where quality can be hit and miss. Royal Service is all about quality and a lovely place to relax and enjoy. This stay, not being in Royal Service was still very nice. We love the area, the people and this resort. For us, it's a special place.

Above expextations

It's a well managed resort, with extras, that You don't know until experience it. There was no charge SCUBA available as an example. The À la carte restaurants excelled. The people who work there make all the difference.

Awesome resort

The resort was amazing, we had a late check in and we were still greeted with a cold cloth and champagne. We had the royal service , I think is a must. You have an assigned butler who handles everything for you, from planning excursions to making all your dinning reservations. The spa was very relaxing also. with the Royal service you have a private pool and beach, the bartender on the beach was awesome can very friendly. Amazing staff , beautiful beaches and great restaraunts.

Fantastic resort

Great hotel, very friendly staff, food was awesome, excellent service, fantastic shows, the grounds are very well kept. Special thanks to Luis (pool bar), and Judy (lobby bar) for their great service.

Perfect resort - Royal Service is a must!

We visited Paradisus Rio De Oro on the last week of September. We booked directly through Trip Central to get the Royal Service. The advantage of doing so is that you get a private taxi from the Holguin airport to the resort, which is about a 1hr drive. When we arrived, we were the only clients arriving at the lobby and were served immediately. We had a glass of sparkling wine and a private 10-min tour of the Royal Service part of the resort. I have to say the "regular" part of the resort is, to [... read more] me, a 4-star, but the Royal Service part is truly a 5-star resort. The service is excellent - I really can't find any negative comments. The 3-level pool is wonderful with personal service by a very sweet server, an AMAZING view, so is the view at the private beach, that also has excellent service. The clients were really relaxed and conscious of other people - we usually get irritated by people who talk loud or yell or are drunk - but this resort is an adult-only resort, and the RS part also seems a lot more calm, probably because there is less people. The room was amazing, I would say 700-800 square feet, super clean and we had our bed prepared every night while we were out to dinner. We didn't really care about the a-la-carte restaurants, the Cuban is the only one we really liked. Next time, I think we would use the room service a little bit more for dinner, as the food as the RS is superior from the regular part of the resort. We had an excellent breakfest every morning with delicious mangos and pineapples, and excellent mojitos around the pool during the day. The wine isn't that good, but we didn't care as we always had a couple of drinks during the day. The beer is also great. We will definitely be back, this resort is the best all-inclusive we've had so far!

Exceptional

Royal Service section of the resort was terrific. Excellent personalized service, wonderful and spacious suites with outdoor shower. Good private beach and access to all a'la carte restaurants. Surprisingly good fod for Cuba.

Not 5 star hotel

Just came back from one week vacation with my husband and this is our 10th time in Cuba.Arrival : Sunwing representative was poor. Bus was filthy. Check in was unprofessional. Food was mediocre. Service was fare. Beaches were OK. Grounds were excellent. Room was dated not 5 star. Room service was good. We will never go back because it is not 5 star hotel as we will let to believe.(May be 3.5 star)

Fantastic resort

The hotel was all I could image plus. There was some construction on the roof in the lobby but that didn't stop the staff being there for your every need. I have been telling everyone who will listen what a Great resort it us. The staff was out of this world. I will come back again soon!

Romantic quiet resort

This hotel is very clean, quiet, and comfortable, room is spacious well taking care of, food was great except need more choice for people who don't eat meat, we were a group of people and we notice mist of the bar tender ignore you until they received a tip, it change their mood like day and night its funny but we checked it out over and over.

Amazing resort

I would go back tomorrow. The resort was everything someone would want in a vacation. The staff was great. The food delicious and everyone was made to feel special. I would recommend this resort to everyone.

Paradisus rio de oro

grounds very beautiful, staff very helpful. food fantastic, pool clean and lots of areas to sit with friends or just by yourself. rooms very spacious and out door shower was the best, only downfall was the air conditions in the rooms not cool enough. and could you ceiling fans in areas.

Rest and relaxation

The hotel personnel were extremely helpful and friendly. The amount of people that were at the site at this time was lower then usual so some of the restaurants were closed on some days. The food was acceptable. the Japanese restaurant was great. The private beaches are private for guests only, but they are PUBLIC beaches for people living in cuba, they cant use your beach material but the beaches are open to them. For 115v electricity outlet , there is only one in the hair dryer in the bathroom [... read more] all the rest is 220. so bring a converter or be prepares to use the one outlet Be prepared to walk or take the cars which come very quickly. In my opinion the best of the rooms is the master suite with ocean view DO not limit yourself to what is on the menu, ask for pancakes, eggs, anything you may want, but ask, even if it is NOT on the menu. Travel from the airport to the hotel is about 1.5 hours, but you get a flavor of the life in Cuba Exchange to cuban currency can be done at 2 places either at the bank or at the concierge (with a premium) note: if you fly sunwing and you are offerred the VIP lounge on your way home. do not be fooled by the picture of what is served in the lounge. it is nicely air conditioned and drinks are available but the food is just some coldcuts, some rolls and some other side additions, The alcohol on the way home is very cheap, so take note of brands that you want to get and the local price before you go Cuban cigars can be purchased at the hotel, relatively inexpensive

What a fantastic resort.

I stayed in a royal service ocean view room in June 2014. This resort is just amazing. My room was spotless. The marble floors were very clean and the washroom in my suite was nothing short of spectacular. The walkout shower was an experience to remember. The whirlpool tub was large and I enjoyed the scented salt crystals which were provided at no extra cost. I found the king size bed a little hard for my taste so I mentioned that to my butler and he said he would fix it for me. I went out and b [... read more]y the time I returned to my suite there was a four inch foam top-up put on my bed. Wow, what service. And talk about service, every time I ordered room service my meal was perfect, hot, and on time. If you can, stay in the Royal Service suites for they are large, well furnished, and very clean. All of the grounds surrounding the suites are kept incredibly clean and well manicured. All of the beaches at the resort are clean. I never found any garbage around them at all. I stayed mostly at the Royal Service members beach for the service there is very good. The three-tiered infinity pool (royal service) looked awesome. I did not use it for I went swimming in the ocean every day. The Royal Service restaurant is sooooo fantastic. The food is the best you could ever want and the presentation of it is wonderful. I love mango`s so I asked if they could put them in my pancakes. Without hesitation they did that even though it was not a menu item. I only ate once at the other restaurants because they could not compare to the Royal Service. All of the management and staff are very friendly and help you out any way they can. From the grounds keepers and maids right up to the manager everyone was polite, well mannered, and truly concerned to make my stay as enjoyable as possible. If you are looking for a beautiful resort where you are treated with both kindness and respect, where eating is a wonderful event, and where you are pampered and treated like royalty then come to this resort. I went out on many excursions during my two week stay (both on and off the resort) and ALL of them were truly wonderful experiences. There is so much to see and do that no matter what you enjoy you will have a great vacation. My only reservation regarding the activities at the resort was that the rifle that they let you use for target practice really needs to be replaced. This was my first time in Cuba and at the Paradisus Rio De Oro Resort. It is my hope to return again in 2016 for another wonderful experience.

Definitely a resort I would revisit

We thought it was a spotless facility . The grounds and flowers were wonderful .The staff was exceptional. Very personable . The pools were inviting and relaxing . We liked the aduts only concept . This was our 10th trip to Cuba and this was the best yet . It was conveniently located . The room was a junior suite and met our needs nicely , although we could have upgraded . It was a lovely room. The Spa was a nice feature that we took advantage of

Well worth the money

We stayed here and the people were amazing and they even went out of there way to do something. I have celiac and i had the resort making sure there was enough to eat. The excursions were amazing. The resort was so clean.

Wonderful Resort

The staff and the food was incredible. Many return vistors to this hotel some have returned 13 times. The rooms could be renovated the cottages and the beach location were excellent. We enjoyed the Cuban restaurant. On the entertainment side we enjoyed the classical music and the Aquatic pool. I would definitely return to this resort.

Always what the doctor ordered!

This is my second trip to Paradisus Rio De Oro. It was so magical the first time - tranquil, relaxing and soothing to the soul. So when in need of the same feeling, we decided to go back to the source - and yet again - tranquil, relaxing and soothing to the soul. We were well taken care of, the staff is very friendly, the restaurants offer great variety and for Cuba the meals are great. The weather was off and on rainy, but it didn't seem to matter - it was so magical. It's a bit of a trip from  [... read more]the airport but worth it. Didn't have the greatest experience in the spa - had a mud wrap - wasn't worth it. But have heard from others that went repeatedly, and the private beach and pools at the spa are lovely.

A paradise

Beautiful, clean rooms. Grounds were well kept and gorgeous. Loved to walk the paths around the resort. Staff attentive and friendly. Especially liked the entertainment at night, professional and diverse talent.

AMAZING!!!!!!!

My wife and I absolutely loves this resort!! The layout was very easy to navigate and the beach was Beautiful with Great snorkelling just off the beach. The food was the best we have had at over 15 other resorts. And the entertainment was wonderfull. But the best part of all was the staff... they were all so friendly and so eager to please with no feeling at all that they were doing it for tips. What can I say.....The Paradisus Rio De Oro.....was AMAZING!!!!!!!