Wonderful hotel.

We had a wonderful stay at luna marrs as all ways even with only half open and supply shortages. Our 13th trip and will go back. Our trouble was with air transit after driving 3 hours to airport thay delay the flight 14 hours. 1st notice was when we dropped off our baggage 3 hours ahead. Next morning at check in thay gave us meal slips to be used at the airport .we already had breakfast and these expired the next day. Thay should of been useable on air transit plain. So as we left the country  [... read more]with in the hour thay were no good.

Relaxing vacation.

A happy return to our favourite Cuban resort. More buffet space as only one side of the resort has re-opened. Food variety was good. Rooms are upgraded with walk-in showers. A new centrally located disability washroom is much appreciated!! We’re looking forward to using the “quiet pool” again when renovations are completed on the Luna side of the resort. Nice upgrade on the beach washroom too. Thanks to our old friends for the warm “welcome back”!!! (Feb 10 to 24 visit.)

A Beautiful Oasis To Enjoy An Adventure!

My Goodness, what a lovely resort! My wife and I just returned from Luna/Mares and we loved it there. This was my second time there and a first for my wife. Now that it`s post covid and the resorts are open again, I would like to mention that their were only slight changes from when I was there before. First of all the liquor selection lacked the variety prior to covid. If you love rum then your fine but it would have been nice to have a wider variety to choose from. Don`t misunderstand me for t [... read more]here is still a good selection of alcohol drinks to choose from but not like before. Of course there was also beer on tap and wine, the white house wine was good (drank that a lot) but the red not so pleasant. Remember that you are in a country which is struggling to get back to normal after covid (and it was very difficult for the Cuban people and their economy) so give them some time to have selections like before. Secondly, the food selection for the most part was great. I nor my wife were ever disappointed when we ate. The only exception that I have is that the dessert selection was really lacking (not in the amount but in how good they tasted) other than that we were not disappointed. There were slight problems with the food but not enough to really complain about. Now the resort was so very clean, It looked amazing, and as a guest all the staff were polite and helpful, very friendly indeed. We had an upgrade to an ocean view room and it was sooooo perfect! Such a clean well kept room and the view of the pool and ocean was spectacular! The wonderful lady which cleaned our room did such a wonderful job. As mentioned, all the staff were wonderful, pleasant and kind! Now the beach was just picture perfect! So clean and the water so clear. Only one morning did we have a problem getting a lounge chair. (There were many lounge chairs that were broken, hopefully they will repair or replace them soon). Other than that the beach is truly a paradise. It needs to be mentioned that the views from the resort are just fantastic with the ocean on one side and mountains (large hills) on the other side. It`s so wonderful because it`s not one resort after another along a beach. This is a paradise and I am looking forward to going back this coming July and then next March again with my wife. For some reason this is resort is rated 31/2 stars. I truly believe that it is a 4 star resort for sure!

Beautiful ocean front

This was a nice surprise my first time at this resort. The rooms were clean, staff very friendly and helpful. The beach is beyond beautiful with crystal clear ocean water. The food was good but the selection not so much. I liked the 24 hour coffee bar and will definitely plan on returning!

Worry free

The people make the resort and in this case they made it beautiful! Welcoming, clean, and friendly. With today’s economy and the world situation, realize some things are difficult to get, but there is plenty of food to eat plenty of drinks to drink but more importantly, plenty of reasons just to sit back and relax. We have so much here in Canada yet the resort also made me realize what we are missing and that is friendship and humility and joyful times. Thank you so much.

Been here several times. Love it.

We went for 2 weeks for the first time, and had a wonderful time. We heard there were several food shortages due to covid, but didn't find this to be the case. The food was the same as usual, just not much fish this time. Feb.14th was a fantastic lobster dinner. The Luna side is still closed for renovations, but the Mares side has been all updated and is beautiful. All new bathrooms, huge shower stall instead of tub, sinks with plugs, etc. Really impressive! The staff was wonderful as usual, and [... read more] we renewed several acquaintances. Internet was free. Just go to reception and get a login password. I didn't know this, and didn't bring a phone or tablet as their internet was not very reliable or free in the past. Hydro went out more than usual, but we were told it was country wide. Not very many people on the beach, as Luna is still closed, so no problem getting lounge chairs. Beach restaurant has been re-furbished/renovated and there are now flush toilets at the beach. Covid has brought a lot of changes, with so many resorts closed for 3 years. Their store is about 1/4 of the size, mostly liquor, very few souvenirs, and the vendors don't come to the resort anymore. We didn't know this had changed. My husband went to Guardalavaca Market and it was much smaller than usual.Possibly the vendors have had to find other employment with resorts being closed so long. There are no cigars due to an extended drought. I understand the rice rations have been severely cut for the Cubans. I have no patience with people who complain about the food when the locals are going hungry. The resort employees are better off, but even they haven't worked in 2 1/2 years. We were unable to bring a second suitcase even if we paid extra. We usually bring one bag of clothes and toiletries to give away. I took fewer clothes than usual so I could bring some to give away. It's fine to tip with cash, but if the shelves are bare, it doesn't matter how much money you have. Russia's war with Ukraine has impacted Cuba adversely, and covid and the dry weather have not helped. This is the first time there haven't been tons of cigars available. No one at Trip Central seemed to know what currency to bring. They take Canadian dollars for everything, but it is based on US dollars.Things in the store are priced in USD, then converted to Canadian money and that's what you pay. (I suggest bringing more small bills like $5s and $10s rather than $50s) You generally pay for excursions with credit cards, and they won't take any which are affiliated with American banks. You don't have to bring USD or convert to pesos. You can exchange Canadian bills for loonies and toonies for tips, but the staff have to change it back to bills before they can use it. Their banks will not take American bills, so don't waste time buying American money or tipping with it. The entertainment was good, but not spectacular, and the activities staff tried really hard to engage the guests. Everyone loves Jose the waiter at the Lobby Bar. He's worth his weight in gold for this resort. There's a 24 hour snack bar with a limited menu, and maybe not as many "a la cartes", but that was often the same food as the buffet, just served by waiters, with smaller portions. Other years we used to go to the buffet for a top up. Lots of pork, spaghetti, great omelettes, bread, great soup, rice pudding, etc. We expected food shortages, but it was about the same as usual. Buffet has been renovated also, very clean, didn't see any bugs. Every year I take yarn with me and make scrunchies for the female staff. These go over very well. This year I also made earrings for gifts. They really appreciate anything you give them. Can't wait to go back next year.

Still good for the returning customers but maybe not quite as good for the first comers

As serial returning customers, we still find this resort very good: awesome beach, great service, clean pool, newly renovated rooms on Mares side (Luna side is closed). Access to coral reef near Rio de Oro for snorkeling is hard due to the exposed rocks. It appears that Rio de Oro dumps sewage into that small lake between the resorts. Sewage also can be smelled in the Mares lobby between the bar and the coffee island. People should know about the absence of some basic things like napkins [... read more], potatoes, ketchup and shortages of things like juices, pina colada, fruits, fish etc. Hopefully things will get better but as of December 2022 this is the situation.

Wonderful Experience!

We traveled to this resort Dec 9-Dec. 16 2022 and we can honestly say we sure did not go hungry or thirsty ! The beach is beautiful very spacious with lots of chairs . Didn't have to fight for a chair around the pool either. The staff are very kind, helpful and very accommodating. Yes there are many stairs to the beach however there is a ramp that you can use instead The entertainment Comitee really try hard to get everyone involved. It's very obvious that management is doing something righ [... read more]t as the staff are very happy . I suggest pay the extra for a pool/ ocean view room as you will not be disappointed. First resort that I've been to that has an elevator and WFI throughout the resort .

Best resort in Cuba

Everything is kept spotless, the buffet is completely redone, the staff are all very nice and hard working and the beach is the best in the Caribbean with a combination of palapas, palm and almond trees so there is always shade if you like.

Sol Rio de Luna y Mares

Just returned from Luna y Mares. It was my 3rd visit and although it is an older resort they have done a good job keeping it up to date. Pros: the view is as spectacular as ever, the ocean water warm and inviting. The pool is clean and just the right temperature. The gentleman tending the pool does a great job. The rooms have been updated with a new walk in shower, very nice! Most of the staff go out of their way to accommodate. I brought up several issues to the attention of the customer serv [... read more]ice team and they addressed them immediately. Yunoir (pron. Junoir), Gaby and Karalie were great. David the general manager is on top of things and was equally responsive to suggestions. There was quite a bit of litter and debris on the far left of the beach and he had it cleaned up the next day after I spoke with him. He also dealt with a few other issues in a timely manner. Near the end of my 2 week stay I noticed a large pile of plastic bottles and garbage in the wooded area on the right hand side just before the bridge that leads to the Paradisus. Yunoir said that they would have this cleaned up right away. I left before seeing it done, but I’m sure they have already done it. Cons: My biggest complaint is the music. Given the fact that the Luna side is still under renovation there is no quiet area at the resort, not even the furthest corners of the beach. On the right you get the renovation noise and on the left you get the music from the pool area. I tried several times to speak to Alex the activities manager to try and reach a compromise on the sound level, but could never find him and I wanted to speak to him first before speaking to the customer service team. Unfortunately, the mgrs. do not carry walkie talkie’s and therefore getting a hold of them is inconvenient to say the least. Management should either provide these devices or at the very least have the mgrs. accessible by way of a cell phone, as they all seem have one of those! Management needs to determine the maximum level that the activities staff are allowed to set for both the speakers and the microphone. One that is fair to all guests, because when you can’t even enjoy an hour or two at the pool or choose the furthest section of the beach and have some quiet moments then there is a problem! In retrospect I wish I had mentioned it to the customer service team right away. Hopefully, now that I have they may have made some changes. Overall, my stay was pleasant and I may return once the Luna side is complete. And don’t forget to tip whenever you can. They only make around a dollar or so a day, so even leaving 50 CUP makes quite a difference. At the time of my visit in Nov. 80 CUP was what you received for one Cdn dollar. It is important to note that they can’t deposit Cdn coins, so convert your Cdn. dollars to CUP’s. There is a small kiosk in the hotel that will convert your money.

5th time here

Luna Side is under reno's right now. Mares side is now complete totally redone. WIFI in every room, lobby and also the beach. Know more buying WIFI cards its all included now. We had a great time but the mini excursions are know longer there probably because of covid.

One Half Of Resort Closed

The Luna section is closed due to renovations. Building 5,6,7,8, is not available. This is the more quiet section.Also closed off in this area is the Luna side pool, ice cream parlour, the two A La Carte Restaurants, the smaller lounge/bar, and the snack restaurant. The Pinta eating area on the beach has been completely redone and is now open.The washrooms there have been redone also. At the other end of beach the Nina eating and bar area has been demolished and is just a hole in the ground.  [... read more]There are many upgrades on the Mares side now. Each day was a struggle to find a peaceful, quiet spot on the beach to relax and enjoy the sounds of the ocean.Groups of people forcing their load Spanish Music upon others was a constant issue. The only pool currently is the Mares, and it is a dedicated activity pool with music and microphone dialogue.

Sol Rio de Luna y Mares

The hotel is a bit outdated ,but very clean . Everything else is beautiful, the nicest beach, the hotel band - outstanding . People are very nice. Definitely will visit again .Thanks for the nice vacation !

A Cuban delight

Buildings a bit run down and need for constant maintenance and paint. But we know and accept that this is common in Cuba. For instance we changed rooms because the toilet did not flush, the wiring was exposed and you had to do a shoulder charge to open the door. But that's OK: the hotel made no problem about changing rooms and the new room was more satisfactory (although the bathtub finish had gone). The grounds were attractive and well kept. The beach is magnificent and the ocean swimming was [... read more] superb. Staff were friendly and attentive. The food was fine, with lots of choices. But a pity to see guests stuffing themselves solid. I would like to see the hotel advertise permanently the walking trail in the adjoining conservation area ( only about 300 metres from the hotel). I must also add that we were impressed by our agent in Canada, Laura. She took a personal interest, answered our questions and was very helpful. Indeed we were impressed by Trip Central's 'customer support.' I don't think we have ever had such good service before, from any travel company.

Great resort

everything was very satisfactory grounds superp staff super friendly Roomswhere a little tierd looking but very cleen Food and drinks where very good Pools and poolservice very good also the Beachservice was exelent

Good value

This was our third time at this resort. The resort consists of two parts - the Mares side with the main building where the majority of entertainment and other activities take place, and the more quiet Luna with several smaller buildings. We've always stayed on the Mares side, which is located somewhat higher up the hill and has a beautiful panoramic view of the ocean and the beach. The location is hard to beat - the resort is located right on Playa Esmeralda - the best beach in the region a [... read more]nd probably one of the best beaches in Cuba. Overall, we consider this to be a decent value for the money, although for the price one could expect more. The resort would benefit from better upkeep and maintenance, as most rooms are outdated if not run down (which is not untypical for Cuba). We noticed some ongoing renovation, which will hopefully help improve future guest experience. The resort grounds are well-kept. The service was mostly friendly and quick. The food is mostly good quality and has more natural taste to it compared to foods sold at an average food service location or supermarket in Canada. The food variety was decent, although by the end of our first week we've exhausted the buffet menu, so it became repetitive. Coffee at the coffee bar in the lobby is great. Again, the main attraction is the beach and the ocean, with excellent swimming and snorkeling opportunities right off the beach. All the other typical activities, such as short sail trips on a small catamaran, kayaks, beach volleyball, yoga and dance classes etc. are available at no cost. As far as the entertainment program, this year we found it to be quite poor, compared to the previous years. On top of this, for some strange reason most of the performances were held right in the lobby of the Mares side, as opposed to the theatre located between Mares and Luna. This made it horribly noisy on the Mares side - a major complaint this year. We stayed there as a party of seven, including four adults and three kids. Overall - still a good experience, with a few remarks.

Very old hotel,not good for ppl with walking problems

Very old hotel,everything us fooling in a parts,ppl cleaning ,but doesn’t look clean,bc of the very vey old environment..we will never go back there,,even fir free....sorry..Staff is amazing,but somehow the Big Management is sleeping about all this (( Rooms are smelling,A/C are old and you are all the time wet,clothes are wet,Don’t like my vacation ,pls go to outher hotels!!

Amazing resort

Very good view, clean beach, vast area, a lot of bars, tennis area, theater, swimming-pools, a lot of rooms in renovations statue, some archaeological and old status. A lot of points of: services; as many restaurants; Italian, International, Cuban, and main restaurant. The service in both restaurants and rooms were excellent. The people were very friendly in spite of the embargo. We will recommend this place to revisit; I will go again and again for third time.

Repeat Guest

This is my second time and my girlfriends first, I absolutely love this place. The beach is one of the most beautiful in the world. So much character in the buildings and architecture, always clean, the people and staff are amazing and the food is pretty damn good for Cuba! If you go make sure to take a trip into Guadarlavaca and Holguín city there is so much more to Cuba than the resorts! I will be back time and time again,

Great Resort, Excellent location,Amazing staff

Stayed at Sol Rio Luna Mares right after new years and really enjoyed our stay. The resort was great and the staff even greater. The location is excellent being close to local towns for shopping and exploring. The beach is beautiful and spacious. Even though there was reno's going on the noise was kept to a minimal . I would recommend this resort to everyone.