Gran Muthu Cayo Santa Maria: Beautiful beaches

We really enjoyed the resort. It was kept very clean. Everyone was very pleasant, friendly staff and excellent service. Always lots to do! We really enjoyed the excursions that were offered by the resort.

Gran Muthu Cayo Santa Maria: Wonderful Trip

Resort was beautiful...beach was beautiful, lots of pools and great swim up bar...unfortunately, the main beach is at the far end of the resort and was far from our room...there was a rustic beach, no shade but chairs and a bar...would be nice to see some shade shelters put up here as it is close to the other rooms on the resort....Food was good, service was a little slow but not an issue. Rooms were very nice....All in all it was a great resort

Playa Cayo Santa Maria: Great vacation!!

My boyfriend and I went to Playa Cayo Santa Maria on April 12th-19th. It was both of our first times going to an all inclusive resort. We went with one other couple and had a great time!! TRANSPORTATION The bus ride from the airport to the resort was about 1 hour and 40 minutes. It was a very scenic drive and went through some of the cuban villages which was really neat to see. The man on the bus (Leo) was very nice and gave us all lots of information about the towns and what we were seeing. We [... read more] also were able to see lots of animals during this drive which was my favourite part! ROOMS We has requested a room in either building 15 or 7, and received a room in building 7 on the first floor, with a pool view. This location ended up being perfect for us, and we were only two doors down from our friends. The housekeepers cleaned our rooms daily, restocked the mini bar, and were very friendly. They gave us fresh bath towels every day, however, there were no face cloths in the room, and our beach towels were not replaced at all. This was not a problem for us as we hung our towels to dry each night. The only issue with our room was the shower head. It did not clip onto the wall properly, so we had to use it as a hand held shower head each time we showered/bathed, but it was not a big deal to us. GROUNDS The grounds were absolutely beautiful and well maintained. There were even some cats hanging around that we really enjoyed. The gardeners were all very friendly, and even chopped down some coconuts for us to drink. POOLS/BEACH This was the nicest beach I have ever seen. The sand is white and the water bright blue. There is no sea weed or rocks, and there are plenty of beach chairs. To get a spot in the shade however, it is recommended to get up early and save a spot or else you probably won't get one. Same goes for spots in the shade at the pool. The pools were also all very nice and clean- no complaints! ENTERTAINMENT We had a great time one day at the swim up bar as there was great music playing, and the entertainers were up on the deck teaching everyone the dance. It was a lot of fun! We only went to two of the night shows at the theatre. The Michael Jackson show is AMAZING! I would highly recommend seeing it! FOOD Before coming to Cuba I had been warned about the food quality in Cuba. However, this resort has soo many options to choose from that I never had a problem with the food. At the buffet for breakfast they make amazing omelettes, and fresh fruit smoothies. Their donuts are also very good, as well as their bacon. We went to 4 of the A la Carte Restaurants and enjoyed them all! STAFF The staff at Playa Cayo Santa Maria were probably what made this trip so memorable for me. Everyone I came into contact with was extremely nice and helpful. Everyone there was always smiling and would go out of their way to make sure you were enjoying yourself! EXCURSIONS We took a taxi to a market one day while we were there. The taxi costs 2 pesos each, and is about a 5-10 minute drive. The market has lots of cool souvenirs to buy which were pretty cheap. We also did the catamaran excursion and really enjoyed that! It was 99 pesos each and it is a full day excursion that takes you snorkelling and to the dolphinarium and sand bar. Overall we had an amazing time at this resort. As our first experience at an all inclusive resort, it definitely exceeded our expectations! I would recommend this resort to anyone looking to go to Cuba.

Memories Paraiso: not a good resort

No running water for 2 days. First day we arrive no toilet working in our room, not a bottle of water in the fridge. During the lunch and dinner buffet they ran out of plates. Had to take my sheets of my bed after 4 days so that they would be changed. No entertainment at each pool. Not a good resort. For my mom's first trip out of Canada the resort didn't stack up for a rating of 41/2 star. I will not go back to this resort again.

Resonance Blu Santa Maria: Stay Away!!!

To begin you need to know that I am pretty easy going- I understood that the food in Cuba is less than deisrable ( from a tourist perspective) and that the star rating is not quite comparable to our North American standards...but there is no redemption for this resort. The sun and the beach were beautiful. The resort was reasonably clean and at least 3/7 nights of entertainment were quality and worth watching. What we didn't know when we booked this resort was that it is closing at the end of Ap [... read more]ril for some (obviously needed) upgrading. It was evident that the majority of staff had already "checked out". They were, for the most part, indifferent and ignorant. You contstantly given the run around. There was no butter, when we asked for salt and pepper we were given shakers that were missing the bottom cap and therefore obviously had nothing in them. We were told there was no towel exchange but rather housekeeping would put towels in our room- sometimes they did, sometimes they didn't- the day before our departure we were told there was a towel exchange. You had to almost fight staff for a bottle of water. When you went to the bar or the grill (where the rudest of the rude worked) they would almost roll their eyes at you if you ordered more than one item per person- i.e 2 hotdogs was clearly an inconvenience. But even if you got your hotdog you would probably have to eat it dry- no condiments whatsoever, "not today" became the popular catch phrase. Mid way through our stay I discovered how things mysteriously appeared if you offered up money- it was so incredulous that another vactioner wondered aloud if we'd have to tip the pilot in order to get home ( thankfully we did not :) So if I knew then, what I know now I would def. not have picked this resort. Thanks to Starfish and it's mostly ignornat staff I am done with Cuba- I'll take my tourist dollars elsewhere, thank you very much.

Memories Paraiso: Needs improvements....

beach...amazing! white sand & shallow water for the kids pools....nice! weather....amazing! rooms.....need repairs & updating but clean staff.....mostly grumpy with a few happy exceptions food......OK but cook with way too much oil!

Memories Paraiso: very poor service, not impressed at all

The beach was our favourite. It was amazing for the kids as the sand was white and fine, very clean, the water was shallow for a good few meters from the shore. The rooms were average, and ours was not even cleaned on time. We had to call reception a few times. There was no running water for the first couple of days, and could neither shower nor flush the toilet. It was awful from this respect. The room service was very bad. I asked for drinking water five times, and I finally had to talk to a m [... read more]anager to have some water for the kids. The food was average, and the personnel not friendly at all. Would not return to this resort!

Gran Muthu Cayo Santa Maria: Nice Resort!

The beach, pools and drinks were all amazing. The location is awesome, it's a great getaway. The coffee service at breakfast definitely could have been better and for some reason you always had to ask for a spoon. I would highly recommend the catamaran day trip. All in all a relaxing get away.

Playa Cayo Santa Maria: Very Nice property!!

The grounds, pools and beach front is very beautiful and well maintained. Always plenty of room even when the hotel is full. Rooms are clean and modern. Restaurants and buffet have good selection of food and decent service. Maybe could use additional staff preparing food during peak meal times as the lines would get long. Enjoyed the staff through-out the resort.

Memories Azul Beach Resort: Been there 8 times and will go again!

have been going to Memories Holquin since it was Occidental Grand Playa Sirennas ! I read the reviews each time I go and it still doesnt stop us from going. The people at the resort are very friendly. The rooms are kept very clean and so what if there are a few ants in the room, they are in your own home. There is such a variety of food at the buffet, they have the basics on a daily basis but they have something different every day as a main. I managed to have something diffrent each day! The bi [... read more]rds in the buffet, no different than sitting at home having a bbq in your own backyard. If you dont like to climb the stairs ( and they do tell you all about them while you are choosing your vacation) you can walk around or call the desk and someone will come and pick you up. There is a swimming pool on each level, there is always a spot for you to sit, they are adding more hatched umbrellas at each level. The fridges are stocked with beer, pop and water on a daily basis, clean towel and sheets on a daily basis...you dont get that in a hotel at home. The liquor dispensers are restocked, let them know they are empty and they will right there. It is Cuba, you know where you are going so do some research before you book so you wont be disatisfied. If you want Eggs Benedict and aspargus for breakfast every morning and sirloin steak for dinner .... stay home and miss out on the beautiful beaches, the wonderful hospitality and the relaxation. and in addition, they love seeing you back again and give you a very nice thankyou for returning dinner and you dont have to check out early. HOLA !!!!!!!

Memories Paraiso: Did not live up to expectations.

This was my second year visiting this resort and it was disappointing. We paid for Diamond Club for several reasons, one was the premium liquor we had access too last year, however, this was not available; premium liquor had to be purchased. The bar ran out of things every night, ice, tonic water, etc., bottled/canned beer was hard to find, however, the store in the reception area had lots of Crystal! I find the lines of communication very poor on this resort. We were a group of six and asked to [... read more] be in the same building. When we received our envelopes on the bus the room numbers were crossed out for four people but not for myself and my sister. We were at the top end of the resort a long walk away from the buffets/lobby bar. We requested to be moved to the same building as our friends and were, however, the “Diamond Club” perks were not extended to the room. When the resort was low on towels the other diamond club rooms were given clean towels every day. Also a basket of amenities and a bottle of rum (for returning guests) were in the other rooms. My sister and I received none of these things until the night before we were leaving despite repeated requests to the "Diamond Club Manager" who assured us the items would be in our room the next day. The food in the buffet was fine but my biggest complaint there was the extreme heat inside and the flies! They were everywhere (despite the doors being kept closed), sitting on the tables, cutlery, tea cups, I found that disgusting. I’m sure they could do something to exterminate them or leave the doors open so they’d fly in and out. The beach was amazing, can't speak to the pools as I didn't go there. I will not be returning to this resort, too many irritating things that add up by the end of the week.

Resonance Blu Santa Maria: Beautiful Beach but thats it

Beautiful beach.. HUGE resort, it was beautiful, rooms were nice but bathroom leaked everytime you showered and created a flood, the sink got clogged everytime you used it. towels were NOT changed at all, didnt received any bottled water had to hunt down the maid for it. no controler in our room for the tv. food was disgusting. it was all stale old food. not much to choose from.. beach and entertainment was the only thing that kept me going. not to mention its a 2 hour bus drive to the resort wh [... read more]at a killer

Valentin Perla Blanca: Amazing Resort!!!

Everything from the grounds to the pool to the beach to the rooms to the service to the check in to the entertainment was AMAZING! This hotel is a true 5 star. It may need some work with speed but hey they have only been open a couple months. Staff is so friendly and sweet. They truly care about you. My sis and I had such an amazing time and can't wait to go back! The beach was incredible and the rooms and resort were kept so clean. We had no problems with food, we loved the margarita pizzas wit [... read more]h salad at lunch, and we loved the pork chops at the grill station in the buffet at night. Great omelettes in the snack bar in the morning! The snack bar is like a true restaurant opened 24hrs...its so awesome! Thank you for the great experience!!!

Melia Cayo Santa Maria: not a good resort

while the hotel as you call it was clean the aminities were not good. My first room, the toilet didn't work. After a long flight and bus ride to the resort there was no water or anything to drink in the room. I requested a new room. I was told it would be ready in a Hour this was @ noon and i didn't get the new room till 7pm that night. we went two days without running water. I had to pull the sheets off of my bed 5 days after being there to get fresh ones. durning the Lunch and Dinner buffets t [... read more]hey ran out of plates almost everyday with the exception of the first two days. i will not go back to that resort again. It was not a good experience for my mom as this was her first time ever travelling out side Canada.

Memories Paraiso: Great vacation but resort/staff needs work

Two weeks vacation from April 2nd to April 16, 2015. The resort is massively big so for physically active people like myself it was great, for anyone challenged for walking I would not recommend this resort. Check in was a breeze, our terrace pool view room was adequate with a few issues. The patio screen was ripped badly, the screen constantly fell off the track when slid open, the rubber bath mat was old and moldy, the bathtub plug was not hooked up so we could not drain the water from the tub [... read more] and the soap dish was hanging off the wall. Despite a power outage for a full night, total water loss for the resort for a full day and no hot water until the next day...we survived quite happily. I was a bit creeped out by the two unwanted cock roaches who resided in our room! The food in the dining hall was at times questionable. I always enjoyed what I choose but steered away from cold foods that sat out for long periods of time in the heat...the cooling system for food was pretty much non existent which worried me. Sometimes the hot foods were hot but most often they were only tepid. As I said, I never went hungry and enjoyed what I choose. The pools are wonderful, the staff at the swim up bar and the hotdog lady at the pool were outstanding! The main bartender at the 24 hour grill/ Cuban restaurant was very unwelcoming and went out of his was to avoid serving people unless you waved money at him, he was also very interested in playing on his cell phone. After 3 attempts, we completely avoided this grill. The 24 hour lobby bar was enjoyable and the staff were good and friendly, serving the best coffee! The main lobby desk requires staff that actually answer the phones and they also severely lack in the English language, especially the evening/night staff. The beverage room staff only provided us with the included soft drinks on the first 2 days...the remaining 12 days we were given water and beer only despite giving tips and requesting soda. Soda was available to buy in the resort store but not available as part of our all inclusive package as promised, disappointing to a non drinker! Five inquiries to the lobby desk made no difference, still no soda. The beach is gorgeous and was thoroughly enjoyed several times! The entertainment in the evenings was okay. Some nights were very boring while others were exceptional. The grounds and gardens were very nice especially along the main sidewalks but there is plenty of room for improvement around the buildings. We thoroughly enjoyed the close proximity of the Market to the resort and the excursions we went on...although the very long bus ride to get to the excursions was a bit tiresome. All in all, despite the little things we enjoyed our vacation but I think next time we go to Cuba we will choose a resort that is closer to population to avoid those long boring bus rides and a smaller resort since many times the golf cart people would drive by when we waved them down to be picked up despite only having one or two people with them.

Valentin Perla Blanca: Absolutely Beautiful!

The staff was so nice. The room was very clean. My only complaint would be the wind. Nobody's fault just couldn't swim in the ocean like I was looking forward too. The waves were so strong. the white sand and the beach were beautiful.

Resonance Blu Santa Maria: Fantastic

Huge resort. Gorgeous Beach. Wonderful staff. Very clean. Amazing entertainment - Elvis was the best, super guy and great at his job. Food was quite good. Pool area, loads of fun. I would definitelt go back and of course recommend Starfish to others.

Royalton Cayo Santa Maria: Stunning resort with room for improvement

our trip started out on a negative note as it was our honeymoon and none of the information was relayed to the resort from our travel agent. It all started at the airport and went downhill from there. Although disappointing, I feel because of these consistent stumbles we were already let down. Understanding this is no fault of the Royalton, I want to give a fair review. The hotel is breathtaking and pristine. The beaches are perfection. Pools are incredible, especially the infinity pool! Cons: [... read more] food. There needs to be snacks offered in common areas throughout the day that you can grab and go. Restaurants were repetitive. Second, there was so much management onsite just wandering and meeting consistently. It became slightly uncomfortable Had a room with a garden view (all that was available) and it was everything but. Our view was a sewar with some half overgrown, half dying bush. Very odd. The room itself was beautiful and no complaints but the view was horrible for the price. Last con, and maybe I'm alone in this but I found this very weird. There is a whole section, fairly large, that has trees, flowers, etc planted with plaques of people's names. For the first 24 hours I though it was and in all fairness it looks like a cemetery. It just had a very morbid feel to it. It is not, but it took me saying something to realize it is guests names that planted things. Either way, very unessessary for this type of 5* resort. Very tacky Wilvy is the Sunwing rep here and we really appreciate all he did to salvage our honeymoon. He is incredible at what he does. We did our research and were expecting much more based on the reviews and tripadvisor ratings. We were spending quite a bit of money and were disappointed with the experience. To sum things up, the property is beautiful, beaches among the best we have ever seen if not the best, but there is definite room for improvement at Royalton. Communication would be number 1 and culinary number 2.

Memories Paraiso: Awesome Resort with a Amazing Beach!

Although this resort is huge, it's very well laid out. The staff were amazing always exceeding our expectations! The beach is the best part, so beautiful! Our room was spacious and kept very clean daily. The grounds were kept clean and lush. The food was on par with other Cuba destinations, but did lack in fresh fruit. We had a fabulous week away!

Resonance Blu Santa Maria: Enjoyable vacation

My husband and I had an enjoyable vacation at Starfish Cayo Santa Maria. We stayed in building 10 with close proximity to beach/pool/theatre/buffet and Lobby. We request 3rd floor with king bed which we received. Room was lovely with a view of the ocean. No coffee maker in room but great coffee at the Lobby bar. We enjoyed the theatre shows and music in the lobby was a nice touch. There were long line ups in the buffet at the grills with slow service so we ate from the prepared sections. We alwa [... read more]ys found something tasty to eat and enjoyed the red and white wines, plus the champagne. Our room was kept spotless by our maid who left us lovely towel and blanket art. Towels are still a problem on the Cayo so we took our own bath towels and beach towels and gave them all away to very appreciative staff when we left for home. The 90 minute bus ride has now become a 2 hour bus ride. Beer is sold on the bus and when they run out, they stop to buy more and then stop again just before the causeway so people can relieve themselves at the side of or behind the bus. There are no bathrooms on the Chinese buses. We have been to Cayo Santa Maria 5 times, staying at various hotels. We always enjoy our holidays on the wonderful white beach and enjoy the crystal clear water. Try it....I think you will like it.