Paradisus Rio De Oro: Great Resort

It was our first time to Cuba. All in all the Paradisus Rio De Oro was a nice resort. The people were very friendly. The grounds were well manicured. Our room was ok- the bathroom was dated but our maid, Joandra kept it very clean for us. There were only two things we felt needed improvement- the nightly entertainment and their dress code for dinner. The men have to wear long pants for dinner- This is understandable for the fancier restaurants, but not for the buffet. The buffet is more of a re [... read more]laxed dinner atmosphere and shorts should be allowed. Each night they had live entertainment- but it wasn't always professional. Some nights you felt you were watching high school skits. If you are interested in taking a day excursion, the catamaran ride/swimming with the dolphins is excellent. The lobster lunch was delicious!

Melia Las Antillas: Had a good time .... Great Beach

Liked the resort and location to Varadero. The Beatles Night Club in Varadero is a most. Rock & Roll all night long and $2 beers. Pool bar may run short of liquor choices at the end of the day. The main restaurant had no air conditioners that worked.

Melia Las Americas: Very Nice Resort

The Hotel is very nice. Lobby is nice, clean and well laid out. The outside could use some cleaning. Walls look like there is dark spots that make it look aged. A good pressure washer would help with a nice paint job. The pool decks were being sanded and stained while we were there. Good job with that clean up. The Bungalo Suites are nice, but they are far from the main building where everything is located. Great if you want total privacy. The one they were giving us was at the very extreme edge [... read more] of the resort. We opted to have a room in the main building. Worked out fine. The General Manager was everywhere on the resort talking with everyone. He was really making a good effort to talk with people and get feedback about the place. The food was very good for Cuba. The Head Chef was really in control of his staff. Never felt hungry.

Hotel Vigia: If you want beach and a chilled out vibe

The resort needs some TLC BUT the staff are kind and wonderful, the layout is small and easy to navigate, the room was always clean, the bed decently comfy, the food tasty and the beach SPECTACULAR!!!

Sol Rio de Luna y Mares: An unparalleled location.

My husband and I just spent a week at this lovely resort at the end of April, beginning of May. We had a wonderful experience overall. The staff were wonderfully helpful and we had no complaints about the food. I think that those who complain must be overly picky. Otherwise I can't understand them. Our room was definitely outdated, but we had what was promised in our package, namely a king sized bed, a stocked fridge and a bottle of rum. We also had the most beautiful view of the ocean from our  [... read more]balcony. The room was kept clean and we really didn't spend much time there anyway. The beach is amazing and the water is so clear!! The staff were out every morning to clean up the beach. During the middle part of our stay, the province celebrated a holiday that commemorated a story of how rain came after a long period of drought back in the 1700s. Ironically it hadn't rained since the end of November. Wouldn't you know it' but didn't it start to rain on the holiday. Sadly, we could go swimming in our room, it flooded so badly. We mopped it up with our towels and put a bucket under the worst leak. The emergency number was busy, so we took care of it ourselves. The maid eventually came with a mop and gave us extra towels. We didn't let the weather get us down though and in between the bad weather, we managed to have fun. We did the dolphin swim the day before we left, though we had to wait 45 minutes for a downpour to finish before we could get started, lol!! It was great and we can definitely recommend doing that excursion. We also did the train trip. It was fun too. The tour of the cigar factory was the highlight as far as my husband was concerned. All in all we had a great time. The resort buildings are tired and do need work, but I understand that they are working on that. Treat it like a week at the cottage. The rooms are actually nicer than most cottages, since the furniture matches and the mattress isn't lumpy. I would say that we loved the way they cook the fish. Some of our best meals included seafood.

Paradisus Rio De Oro: Totally relaxing - just fantastic.

This was our second trip here and we could not wait to arrive! The grounds and public areas are beautifully landscaped , very lush with flowers & greenery and the walkways are super for strolling for longer hikes. Exterior outside lighting was well thought out. alll amenities are easily assessable. The food is absolutely super at the buffet and all the restaurants. Just too many choices! The rooms are clean and comfortable and we found all the staff to be super nice and friendly. You must have a [... read more] spa day. Very accomodating with any requests. But hey, the beach is where we like to spend our energy & it's never a problem to get a lounger. This area of Cuba is positivelty #1 with us. The very best! Our weather could not have been better! Make sure you check out the area of the Wedding gazebo - just beautiful!.Example: What did you think about  this hotel? (grounds, public areas, rooms, dining, features, etc.)

Tryp Cayo Coco: Fabulous Resort

i thought the grounds were very well maintained,the entertainment was good could put more effort in notifying customers of what's up and coming.The food was very satisfying with clean areas to eat in.the 24 hour bar could be cleaner .The staff for the most part were very friendly and helpful in insuring a pleasant vacation was had by all.

Sol Rio de Luna y Mares: Beautiful Playa Esmeralda

Having been to the Cayos of Coco and Guillermo at the Iberostar Daiquiri and Memories Flamenco, it was easy to compare. Travelling on the mainland from the airport to Holguin allowed for us to see the beautiful scenery of rolling hills of green, heavily loaded mango trees, horses, dogs, local people and their houses, the inlet to the dolphinarium and so much more. Sol Rio de Luna Y Mares was a wonderful place to vacation. We were very comfortable in our oceanview suite, with a king size bed and  [... read more]a twin for our 10 yr. old. Food and drink were varied. We especially enjoyed the fresh fish, the pig roast, the banana flambes, the local guava, papaya, watermelon and pineapple and ice cream. The pool with shaded bar was lovely but could not compare with the wonders of coral and fish to be enjoyed at Playa Esmeralda, near the Paradisus de Oro. We also loved the on-site local craft market. We bought lovely paintings, leather goods, wooden crafts and beautifully crocheted dresses. They also had craft sessions every day along with many beach, pool and lobby activities. The evening water ballet pool show was a standout. Hands down however, the biggest standout was the staff, from top to bottom. Excellent!

Tryp Cayo Coco: Old resort but staff made the Tryp nonforgettable.

This resort is old. There was no air conditioning for a couple of nights and very little for the rest of my stay. It was very hot and sweaty for sleeping. There are some spots that the resort smells like septic. One spot is in front of a restaurant. This hotel also has a cockroach problem. The beach and the pools were perfect. It was clean and the sand was beautiful. The staff is what made my trip one to remember. They were the best. I feel bad that most of this review is negative but, I am bein [... read more]g honest.

Melia Peninsula Varadero: Great times in Cuba

The hotel was so nice, the beach was incredible, the staff was extremely helpful and generous, and for our baby's first trip (he is 10 months old), it was the perfect spot for him to discover the magic of traveling!

Sol Rio de Luna y Mares: Highly recommend!

What can I say...well the resort was fabulous...the staff were fantastic and the beach was GREAT! We were at the Sol for the last two weeks of April 2015 and I can honestly say it is the best resort we've been at in Cuba thus far out of six at various locations. We stayed in the Luna section which was very quiet and enjoyable. While we did experience a couple of unavoidable room issues the customer service staff were very quick to respond and even followed up with phone calls to ensure we had be [... read more]en looked after. The food was really good...lots of choice, fresh and tasty. The resort grounds and facilities are in good shape and looked after. Beach was great for walking and the swimming and snorkeling was excellent. I would definitely recommend the Sol Rio de Luna y Mares.

Melia Las Dunas: Amazing resort

This resort has everything you need, for families and adults without children. It is a large resort but nothing is more than a five minute walk away. The beach is incredible and there is always space and chairs and huts to get out of the shade. The staff are the most helpful, caring and humble people I ever met. We upgraded to VIP rooms after our first night at a cost of $100 CAD per person for the entire 9 day stay. It was well worth it. The room we were in the first night was certainly not 5 s [... read more]tar - likely more a 3 star. It was cheaper to upgrade when we got there. The Air Canada representative was great and arranged private excursions for us to nearby Cuban towns as well as a day excursion on a catamaran - the highlight of our trip. The buffet was so-so, but once we figured out that you could have breakfast and lunch at one of the many snack bars and dinner at the a la carte restaurants, we were off to the races. The pools are wonderful, with space for all. We had no worries about beach towels. The maid service was impeccable and we tipped them well. Fresh water, beer and sodas were provided everyday. The resort has North American electricity, so no need to worry about taking converters. There was always something happening in the main lobby for children and adults alike. Try the coffee with milk - yummy. There is a currency exchange on site and you can book excursions with Visa. The transport to and from the airport was seamless. We went at the beginning of May which is the start of rainy season. If we go back (which is likely) we would go earlier in the year. Trip Central was amazing and pulled off a complicated booking for us - three travelling from Ottawa and one from Halifax for a very reasonable price. Thank you Trip Central! You rock!

Paradisus Punta Cana: Peel me a grape resort!

Every inch of this resort is spectacular. The people are wonderful, service over the top, and food truly wonderful. The beach is like something out of a movie and Royal Service Ocean View is the ONLY way to go!

Melia Marina Varadero: Amazing Resort

Loved the resort, just was a little disappointed that there was no music in the restaurants. Staff was amazing they couldn't do enough for you, every time my friend and I went to a bar we had our wine and water before we sat down. All the staff were smiling all the time and always said Hola every time they saw you.

Paradisus Princesa Del Mar: First-class hotel, first class Service

My fiancé and I just returned from one week all-inclusive holiday this was my fifth trip to Cuba and by far it was the most exceptional hotel I have encountered. I would recommend it to my friends and would go again

Melia Cayo Santa Maria: Amazing Vacation

My husband and I along with another couple stayed at Melia Cayo Santa Maria the week of May 3 - May 10. We had an incredible vacation. The resort is beautifully landscaped and the grounds are kept very clean. Our room was spacious and bright. The staff do an incredible job on all service levels. The front desk staff had the best customer service I have seen in all my trips south. This was my third trip to that area and I will continue to return because of the incredible beach and the hospitality [... read more] of the Cuban people. This resort went beyond my expectations.

Melia Las Antillas: Fun!

The beach is really beautiful, the staff is really friendly, and overall a great resort. No children allowed so it is a relatively older crowd, but great none the less. Food was good especially the fish and pasta. As well as the lobster and the fresh pineapple. Overall a great experience.

Melia Las Dunas: Amazing vacation

This hotel is amazing! The food was great and the staff was always friendly. The resort and the beach were beautiful, and even when it rained there was always something to do. Would definitely return!

Melia Las Antillas: First trip to an all inclusive, first trip to Cuba

This was our first trip to Cuba, as well as our first trip to an all inclusive resort. We researched the heck out of this resort and are happy to confirm that the positive reviews we read met our expectations completely! Upon check-in at the hotel we upgraded our room to a 5th floor suite. I'm not sure if this was worth the extra money, as the concierge lounge didn't offer to many extra snacks/beverages, and they were only open until 6:30pm. We still had to change out our beach towels everyday  [... read more]at the Pool hut, but it was never lined up/busy, and there were always lots of towels available. There was a mix up with our supper reservations, but that ended up getting sorted out. Pool- The pool was great, very refreshing (colder than the Ocean was some days). There are 3 separate areas to swim in, one is a very shallow pool that drops off, and the other two areas are fairly deep, although never over my head (I am 5'8"). There were always lots of lounge chairs/huts available, and there are 2 jacuzzi's to relax in. There were plenty of activities (volleyball, scuba diving, aquatics) and music at the pool. We spent the majority of our time at the pool, as the bar is close, the sun is hot and it's a great place to tan/nap and the water is so refreshing! Beach- We usually headed down to the beach in the afternoon. It was very busy between 8am-noon on the beach and all of the beach huts seemed to be claimed (usually just people would leave their towels there.. grrr). The water was very, very warm, the sand was beautiful- clean, white and full of shells and coral of all shapes/sizes. The waves were awesome to watch and wade in. The vendors stayed on the shore so they didn't bother us at all. Restaurants- We ended up with reservations for all 3 Ala carte's on site (Italian restaurant- DON PEPERONE, The Romantico and El Conuco-Cuban restaurant). Honestly, the food seemed to be the same food one would find at LOS TAINOS (the Buffet). Out of the 3 though, the best food and service by far, (dinner or lunch) was found at El Conuco. That restaurant is located beside the pool and had the best staff and food available. We ate lunch there every day! Unfortunately, we only discovered the beach bar and grill on the last day (it's down one of the paths on the way to the beach, there are 2 paths so make sure you try both paths) so we did not get a chance to try the food prepared there. The buffet offered a large range of choices, and was hit or miss for quality/consistency (as were the bars and bar staff). Make sure to try the omelette bar in the mornings, and have the chef whip you up a fresh, hot omelette! The pasta bar in the evening was great, as there was a chef onsite to cook fresh pasta with your choice of sauce/veggies. The pizza was great too! Hotel Room- Our room was on the fifth floor, and had a King sized bed (bed was a bit hard for our liking), a wonderful balcony to sit out on and also to hang out clothes to dry (bring a rope and clothes pins). The cable in our room worked, we were able to watch Canada AM and CNN everyday. The mini-fridge kept our drinks cold and was re-stocked daily with beer and soft drinks. There was a safe provided and extra pillows and a heavy blanket in the closet. Also, there is an umbrella in the closet- We were not aware of this until a few days into our trip. Make sure to bring an umbrella with you if you had into Veradero (we got caught in a downpour one day). All in all, the room could use a new coat of paint but the maid kept the room VERY clean, and offered great service daily. Hotel Bank service- The hotel offers a small bank to exchange your money into CUC. The exchange rates are posted, but keep in mind the hotel also takes a small percentage (2-4%) to offer this service. We did get all of our money exchanged here, as it was very convenient and the service was quick. Gift shop- There is a gift shop that sells pringles, chips, chocolate, cookies, liquor bottles, cigars and toiletries. The prices can be steep though depending on the item. There are local vendors who set up in the downstairs lobby each day and sell souvenirs, wood products and other handmade crafts. The vendors rotate daily so there is a bit more selection. All of these items can be found at any of the MANY markets found inside Veradero town. Night Life at the resort- The resort hires dance groups/ magicians, even synchronized swimmers to put on a GREAT show each night from 9:30pm-10:30pm. Each evening from around 7pm-9:30pm there was either a band or musical talent of some sort set up in the lobby or at the rooftop patio outside the lobby. We enjoyed this very much, as it was nice to hear the live music and it provided a fun atmosphere. There is a disco that opens around 10:30pm every night, and has music, a bar and a small dance floor. It's air conditioned, but the stalls in the women's bathrooms did not have doors on them. Double decker bus- We used this service twice, and I HIGHLY recommend it. It costs 5cuc per person, for the entire day. There are multiple pick-up/drop-off spots throughout Veradero and it stops at every resort on the peninsula. We ended up riding it for an hour and a half one day up to the Marina, then into Veradero and back to our hotel. There is a nice bar at the end of the route in town, and the bus driver usually stops there for a break. We enjoyed a cool beer there. Scooter Rental- We rented a scooter for 4 hours from the hotel for $20 CUC. We drove up the peninsula to the Marina, down to the Ecological Reserve and into town. The traffic is very light in Veradero and there are no lights, only Stop signs. We had a very positive experience with the scooter, although they would not be deemed road safe in Canada LOL. Drive at your own risk! All in all we had a wonderful stay at Melia Las Antillas, and would recommend this resort to everyone ages 16-100 who is looking for great service, and a comfortable stay in Veradero. I had read in some reviews that the average guest age was 40-60 but during the week we were there we encountered a lot of people in their 20's. All of the guests seemed respectable and kind, and there was not any obnoxiousness/loudness that we were aware of. I think the hotel would benefit from some general maintenance (fix that second elevator- please!) and perhaps more consistency between bar staff in regards to making drinks. The service at this hotel was outstanding! Our top staff members were: Tatiana, Mileydis, Raul and Orlando at the Pool bar/restaurant, Alexandria at the front desk and Miguel at the disco bar/Pool Restaurant.

Melia Las Dunas: Good Times

Melia las dunas offers an excellent beach and nice rooms. I was on the ground floor and had a cockroach or two stroll through. Beverages were decent, we were able to get Sol beer at the sports bar until early afternoon but then had to switch back to the not so great Cristal. There wasn't a lot of activities or partying happening. I probably wouldn't attend Las Dunas again but it's all what your looking for. Nice beach and relaxation its pretty good. Food was pretty typical with an okay buffet.