Playa Pesquero - love this resort!

Returned 20 Apr 2015 from a 10-day stay at Playa Pesquero. This was our 5th visit to this resort, and we'll be going back! We have booked a Superior package every time we have gone there, so we don't know about the Standard rooms - but we didn't hear any complaints while we were there. Loved the people, the pools, the food, the room (we requested an upstairs room in advance and got it), the service, the beach (didn't do much there this trip, but it's gorgeous), ... just about everything. And des [... read more]pite the resort being fully booked, we never felt crowded. Here are some specifics: Food - Pesquero has made significant improvements to its buffets over the last couple of years, and it shows. Food that used to be lukewarm was served piping hot this year, and the variety of choices was always appealing. New this year was a sushi bar at every lunch and supper buffet; also, Saturday nights featured roast turkey! And for the record, it was lovely, not dried out at all - difficult to do in that setting. Fresh fruit and vegetables at every meal, lots of local offerings, as well as the ubiquitous French fries which were hot & crisp every time. You're guaranteed to find something you like, and there are plenty of chefs on hand to cook something fresh just for you. A special shout out to Melba at the breakfast juice bar, who made sure my papaya shakes were made fresh every morning! As for the a la carte restaurants, they were terrific. The Romantico & Gondola always get the most attention, being enclosed and air-conditioned, and having the higher-end dishes on the menu. They were lovely, as always. The Caribeno and Terra Antiqua restaurants deserve praise here as well: we were very pleased with the food at both (do try the black-bean soup, it's fabulous!). The Yareyal grill was also very good. Room - The hotel opened in 2003 and it is almost always full. Our room bore some evidence of that, with some wear and tear visible - cracks in the paint and minor stains on the mirror. But it was very clean and comfortable when we arrived, and housekeeping did everything they could to keep it that way. We let them know that we were missing a couple of facecloths when we got there... facecloths were delivered within 10 minutes! All of our (few) requests were managed promptly. Thank goodness for the air conditioning - it was really hot later on in our stay. And if anyone has ever smoked in that room, we couldn't tell. No smell in there whatsoever, for which we as non-smokers were very grateful. Lobby/pool/theatre: We went to Pesquero with the intent of doing as little as possible for the first few days of our vacation - we had a busy year and were looking forward to a chance to really relax. So, much of our time was spent poolside or in the main lobby area. The pool is lovely: it's kept as clean as possible, and resort staff were there throughout the day to make sure it stayed that way. Water depths range from 4 cm to 1.8 metres, so it was wonderful for swimmers of all ages. The munchkins were very entertaining! Again, this busy resort is showing signs of constant use: the pool has some broken tiles along the top edges and could use new grout in some places. However, there definitely wasn't anything that posed a danger to anyone, and the pool floor is in very good shape. Note: Pesquero is in the process of replacing its deck chairs - thank goodness, as the old ones are saggy and worn. There were lots of new chairs available, and we manage to snag a couple for ourselves every morning. Get out early, though - it gets busy by mid-morning! The lobby area, likewise, has some upgraded furniture, some new while other pieces have been refinished/repainted. The lobby bar is the best, and the coffee bar there is also excellent. Best lattes ever! It was hard to stay around the lobby area in the evenings for the shows - it was difficult to find a spot where smoke wasn't blowing in our faces. However, when we could stay, we really enjoyed the live entertainment. At other times of day, we had no problem finding a spot to sit and read smoke-free. Service - excellent, hands down. Several of the staff recognized us from previous visits, which was lovely, but no matter whether they knew us or not, everyone there was friendly and courteous. And if by chance we ran into someone who wasn't as cheerful, a friendly smile went a long way! We kept tipping to a minimum on this trip, but that didn't affect how we were treated at all. One tip we did give was very much appreciated: we brought some adhesives, line levels and other small tools for the gardeners, and they were delighted. Overall: I would recommend this resort to anyone who is looking for a comfortable, reliable, family-friendly vacation spot. Let me know if you have any questions - I'd be happy to help!

Amazing Resort and People

Our rooms were absolutely perfect. Spacious, comfortable and clean. Fridge was stocked daily with bottled water and local beer. Lobby was wonderful. We went to the lobby for cappuccino prior to breakfast (eggs to order, crepes cooked as you watched) and a glass of wine before dinner ( incredible pasta, lobster and shrimp). Pool was spectacular and the beach was picture perfect. The food was plentiful with lots of fresh fruit and veggies. Met some great people, visitors and staff, and had good be [... read more]lly laughs each day. Perfect :)

Another great visit!

This was the third time we went to Playa Pesquero. While the beds are getting old and worn-down, this is still a great place to go. The food is getting better, the people are great, the service is great, the beach is wonderful. The staff is also great when you have little children. They are very welcoming

Awesome Value

We had a wonderful time at the Playa Pesquero in Holguin. As a former travel agent, I can honestly say it is really good value. I recommend this for small families, young adults (bunch of friends, or young couples), or anyone on a budget. It's fun, cheap and cheerful. Here's the scoop: - Rooms - really outdated, but fine. Mini fridge in the room stocked with water, beer, pop and juice. The Jr suites are much better than standard rooms and we upgraded once we got there. I hear the Premium is fan [... read more]tastic. - Beach - Glorious!! Crystal clear blue water, some good snorkelling you can easily swim to straight from the beach (bring a bun of bread to see fish swarm you - pretty cool!), soft white sand. Water is very calm and great for little children as it is a gradual drop to deeper sea. This is my kinda beach, it has beautiful trees scattered and has two coves. Long enough to walk it and feel like you've had a proper walk, and pretty scenery. - Pool - One of the prettiest meandering pools I've ever seen. Beautifully landscaped and very large. Great for children as there are LOTS of shallow spots. Good amount of shade for both pool and beach. Yes, you still need to reserve your spot with towels, but we never had a problem getting loungers in the shade. - Food - I was pleasantly surprised for Cuba the food was good. Lots of variety. Could have had lobster every night if I wanted. Great calamari and seafood options. For those who don't eat fish, lots of alternate options. Fruit was great. Wish there were better veggie options though. Fresh fruit juices were yummy. Alcoholic drinks were hit or miss. Not made to our standards in North America for taste, but whatev's, I always found something I liked. Mohitos are good in the lobby bar. We also loved the icecream parlour and the beer garden. Had good experiences at both the buffet and the a la cartes. - Vibe / Entertainment - very good!!! They have a fantastic Cuban band who totally rocked. LOVE Cuban music. Cubans and their passion of the arts in general really makes my holiday every visit. There was a great pool party one evening complete with synchronized swimming, a rocking beach party one night, awesome acrobatics, the lobby was buzzing each evening. - Grounds - Large. Bring a stroller definitely if travelling with a toddler. I was a bit disappointed with the looks though... there are large empty spaces of arid land on this property. They were experiencing a drought too so the grass was burnt. But the landscaping around the pool and closer to restaurants etc were nice. - Tipping - goes a long way, as it always does in Cuba. It's appreciated and you do get better service for it.

Very good resort

Rooms were big and very clean, everything worked well including great water pressure in shower. Nice balconies. 1 very large pool - seemed to have a quieter side one side of bridge, a little more lively on the swim up bar side. Very clean. Beach had great sand, long shallow walk out to deeper water, with some rock outcroppings at one end for some good snorkelling. Used the paddleboats and the Hobie Cat, both in great condition. Food was mostly good, ate at 3 a la carte's - Seafood restaurant dow [... read more]n by the beach was best. Also like the little pizza place beside it. Good burgers and dogs at the cafe by the pool. Buffets were good, if nothing else lots of choices and lots of seafood. Food at the Beer Garden - tapas - was not good except for the fries. They roast pigs on Caribbean day in the boulevard - best thing I ate there. Loved the mojito's at the Mojito bar. Very nice lobby - great coffee bar. Extremely friendly staff.

Great resort by Cuba standards

Staff was the best we have had at any resort. Food was very good by Cuban standards. Just bring some spices with you if you don't care for bland food. Resort was very clean; but we think there may have been bed-bugs in our room.Rooms were dated but well maintained. Pool very clean, water & beach was beautiful but sand needed to be combed. Tons of cigarette butts all in the sand. Shows were very good as well. Bars - they were very liberal with their alcohol.

Best Family Vacation Ever!!!!!

After a long cold winter I booked a last minute trip to Cuba. We were not disappointed, the weather was perfect, the food was plentiful and much better than expected even with our gluten & dairy free restrictions. The mojitos were awesome, most of the servers were friendly & very helpful. We had a " professional " photographer take family pics........they weren't so professional, I would recommend not getting the disc, just pay for the good ones & make sure you view the photos inside, out of the [... read more] sun. Live & learn........we did get a few nice shots. Also my husband and I had a couples massage at the new upscale resort......it was lovely, and so relaxing......I recommend you book extra time to enjoy the water facilities included in your visit ......we only had about a half hour......not enough time to enjoy the extras. All & all I must say this was our best family vacation ever! And a nice way to recharge after our brutal winter. Can't wait to go back!

Amazing!!!

Loved it!! The hotel, the staff, the beach, everything was fantastic! Gotta try the bacon wrapped shrimp at the beer garden..best late night snack! Pasta bar at the alacarte by the pool..so good! Rooms were spotless... Kids loved the towel art everyday! The catamaran dolphin excursion was expensive but swimming with the dolphins was priceless. Bring $10 for extra tricks with the dolphins. Beach is superior,I would suggest going to the left side of the beach less busy and better snorkeling near t [... read more]he reef.. Wear water shoes lots of sea urchins! Get to beach by 8am to reserve your spot..bring tips..for the guys on the beach that help you! We are saving for the next trip to that resort ... Can't wait!!

Mixed review, good points and not so good

Mixed feelings on the resort. The food was excellent. I thought as good as Sandals. Also a beautiful beach, lots of available shade. Staff were very friendly, and the Holgien area was beautiful. The rooms themselves weren't up to what you would expect. Lamps with bare bulbs, and just generally plain. Some bathrooms around the resort were missing toilette seats. It was very clean though. The resort is huge so pretty far to the beach. Short version, I would go back, but I would look at other place [... read more]s first.

Great resort

Loved it rooms were very clean the lobby was beautiful the service was excellent the good food and drinks loved the la cart restaurants and pools great beach, bar tenders were extremely nice, friendly and helpful every where I will recommend this resort to all my family and friends.

Surperb Holiday

Had a great vacation thanks to our travel agent. Only complaint was we requested a balcony and received ground floor and had a few issues with creepy crawlers in tub and a surprise bug in bed one morning which I'm sure the whole unit heard when I noticed it. But that is nature and not too much can be done I guess.

Amazing resort

Just come back from playa pesquero my 3rd time in Cuba first time in playa pesquero was an amazing resort for the price can't wait to go back ,the rooms are very clean the food is really good the elecarts was amazing never had so good of corse the beach and polls are very nice, recommend this resort to everyone great times

Good resort

Grounds could use a bit of improvement. The beach is gorgoues and the pool is also really nice. But you have to be carefull as there are some missing tiles all over it. There was a playground for the little ones right on the beach, which is great! Tey also have a kids club, but the first time I went in even though there were kids there I couldn't really see the staff and not only the gate was open as there is a small pool inside. Didn't trust them at all with my kid. Staff works really hard and  [... read more]are always busy but maybe they need more employees?! The food seem very similar every day but most restaurant have grills and there is always beef, pork and fish and some even have shrimp and squid. Good stay overall.

Great vacation

The flight was nice and easy, the weather was hot and comfortable, the bus ride was also good and comfortable, the playa pesquero resort was overall great, the hotel , the food, the sweet table, the service,the beach was amazing. would definetily recommend this hotel and would also go back.

Very enjoyable famly oriented resort!

My wife, little-one, and I stayed a PP resort for 7 days during March break 2015. The first impression of the hotel lobby is spectacular. This is a HUGE resort. It has 1000 rooms. The highlights for me were the lobby bar, which is pretty happening at all times of the day, but especially after dinner. The entertainment shows were very good, and they have earlier shows for children as well. Another highlight was the beach. Crystal clear and perfect turquoise water. A bit chilly in March, but very  [... read more]very enjoyable. Lots of shade also. Rooms were clean, big and well air conditioned. Food was very good for Cuban standards. We all enjoyed their desert menu the most. The resort is a bit pricey, but if you're looking for a very relaxing vacation in a beautiful resort with awesome beaches and pool, then look no further. PP is that resort. Go and Enjoy!

Play Pesquero Exceeded Expectations

My wife and I have been to Cuba have a dozen times and this was the first time in Holguin. On par with the best hotels in Cuba for food. This is the best hotel in Holguin, with others somewhat lacking their own beach.

Great staff, beautiful beach, fantastic time!

We want down for a family vacation including both sets of grandparents and everyone enjoyed themselves. Staff is very friendly and goes out of their way to make you feel welcome. Will definitely go back!

Upgrading is a must

Our first room was a 3 star or less as it was musty smelling and smelt like sewage in the morning. The ground were nice, pools beautiful and the beach amazing. Once we upgraded to the other side which was called Prima Playa Pesquero that blew our minds on how beautiful it was and the rooms absolutely amazing with private butler. The service of the staff was also amazing we were treated like royalty. We will go back for sure next year at Prima Playa Pesquero.

New management hinders service!

We returned to this resort after the most amazing holiday last March break. We were so impressed with the service from the staff, the maintenance of the resort and the overall lush feel. We returned expecting a similar experience, however were very disappointed with the new management that has recently taken over. They seem to be more interested in making money and cutting back vs. maintaining a level of service to keep returning guests satisfied. The new policies that have been put in place are [... read more] not family friendly. As a family we will look elsewhere for our next vacation considering the lack of customer service we were extended during our recent visit to Playa Pesquero. The service from management and staff had taken a huge hit! Unfortunetly all of the extra luxuries that once were generously offered, now come at an inflated price. When chatting with other guests, the feeling was mutual.

Everything We Wanted!!

On our first trip to Cuba we could not have had a better resort. The staff were friendly and helpful. Our room, while a little dated, was clean and the water was HOT. The resort itself is very large and beautiful - extremely well-kept. The pools are uniquely designed and centrally located. The beach is white sand, warm water - what more could you desire. You do have to walk a lot though. Meals at Playa Pesqero were very good - the a la carte at Seafood Restaurant - was excellent ( staff were e [... read more]xtraordinary ). We actually found the buffet for lunch and dinner to be comparable to other a la carte offerings. We enjoyed the coffee station ( old train car) in the lobby with its myriad of available coffee and tea options. Overall, Playa Pesquero resort was as advertised - it was an extremely enjoyable vacation that I wish I had extended to 2 weeks instead of 1 week. We are planning to return next year!!