Gran Muthu Cayo Santa Maria: Terrible food.

Brand new resort with everything bright, fresh and modern. Accommodations great. Beach and pools great. The food was absolutely terrible. Most dreaded part of day was going to the buffet for our evening meal.

Playa Cayo Santa Maria: Decent Resort if you can get a good price

Went to Cayo Santa Maria in the summer of 2013. This was approximately my tenth time to Cuba...first time to Cayo Santa Maria. The bus ride to and from was long...approximately 1 1/2 hours...Scenery was beautiful at some points. At the hotel, the rooms were nice, Beds were comfortable. Swimming pools were OK... Beach was nice, white sand and clean turquiose waters...not too many Jellyfish in the ocean....although others at the hotel spotted jelly fish and complained about sand fleas. Food wa [... read more]s good...for Cuban standards... Enterntainment staff was present and kept guests entertained. Nightly entertainment was pretty decent....however, too many bugs at night. There were many cats in the area...just hanging around ...on the grass, on the pathways...they did no harm and just minded there own business.... Service at check in was extremely slow...One of the slowest that I have been seen...compared to hotels in Varadero and Cayo coco...They seemed to be a bit disorganized...but overall accomodating. I wouldnt pay full rate for this hotel...but if you can get it for $800 to $900, taxed included from Montreal, it is worth the price.

Melia Cayo Santa Maria: Great Getaway

This was mine and my husband's first stay at the Melia Hotels and our first time in Santa Maria. It was beautiful as is all of Cuba. I did find the drive to the resort a little long but there was enough entertainment on the bus ride there. I would have liked to have seen it in daytime as we arrived in the evening and also left in the evening so didn't see much of Santa Clara so maybe that's why it seemed like a long bus ride. On the first night we arrived, there was no power in our room but was  [... read more]resolved quickly. Next day we asked to be moved to another room as we find the rooms on the first floor in any resort are usually very musty. My husband and I were moved to the second floor which was really great. The food was very good at this resort, we really loved the fresh seafood on the buffet as well as at the beach. We had the catch of the day everyday we were there for lunch. The grounds were very well kept, talked to the workers around the grounds and they were very nice. The guys that cut the coconuts down were great, we had a fresh coconut from the palm tree and of course we had gone to the bar and put rum and lots of ice in it. The rooms were kept very clean and bar fridge was well stocked everyday with fresh bottled water and pop & beer. The evening shows were very good. The public washrooms were very clean, but some stalls missing toilet seat, and paper towel dispenser was quite unique with toilet paper inside them instead of paper towel which me and my husband had a good laugh at. Cuba's food is known not to be very good, but like I said previously, the fish was great, there was always something you could eat and we enjoyed it very much and would most likely go back again and recommend to friends. At the main bar they had excellent cappaccino, and my husband and I went every morning after breakfast. I also liked the market and the Spa for a massage.

Melia Buenavista: Recomemmended

The most expensive in Cuba, small, and an adult only resort. The money factor works as a screening filter - NO crowd, NO kids, NO unwanted socializing, etc. Longest beach in Cayo Santa Maria and maybe in Cuba. The island is isolated from main Cuba land so absolutely no locals.

Memories Paraiso: beautiful

Rooms were good food was okay, service was good. The beach was clean. Great off resort activities. After hours entertainment was boring, unless you like fashion shows and dancing with no crowd involvement.

Melia Las Dunas: Great Place to relax and lay back

Love to spend the evening in the lobby watching all the activities going on. Weather/Beach and pool all 1st class. Would like lemons with the grilled fish at the Beer gardens but it was not the end of the world. A side trip to Trinidad is worth sending a day to see a larger perspective of Cuban Life. Wish I would have brought a thermal mug for the cold drinks, a must. Will be returning to Cuba next year for a longer stay.

Memories Paraiso: Amazing beach!!

The resort is beautiful and clean, the beach is amazing, white sand and crystal clear. The staff are very accomodating, if you speak a little Spanish, it goes a long way, they appreciate your effort. The food was really good,you can always find something to eat! The grounds were well maintained, beautiful flowers and very clean. We would definitely go back!

Resonance Blu Santa Maria: Good for the money

Loved the beach and pools. The value was really good for the time we went. Food was acceptable. The rooms were clean and tidy.....never really in them except to sleep ( I don't need marble and granite or couches with a bar in my room). Some of the staff could be a little more friendly and inviting.

Iberostar Selection Ensenachos: Great time

The staff were excellent. Food was good. And the beach was great. Although food at the beach cafe was just ok. We had to change rooms because our first one smelled a bit musty. Staff handled it very well.

Gran Muthu Cayo Santa Maria: Fanomenal Resort

The resort looks amazing and the service was fantastic. Although it is a fairly big and a relatively new resort, the grounds and the service was impeccable as though it had be running for a while. The staff was courteous and very helpful, the rooms, the pools, the grounds and the public areas were very clean and well maintained. There was a great selection of foods at the buffet and the a la carte restaurants were very nicely decorated and the food was delicious as well. The beach is amazing, lo [... read more]ved it. This was my fifth resort experience at Santa Maria Cuba and I believe it should be rated a 5 star resort. I would certainly recommend this resort... actually I already have to a few clients of mine wanting to go visit Cuba for the first time.

Melia Cayo Santa Maria: Excellent Resort

Very nice resort with good layout, very friendly people, and tasty food. Rooms were a little dated but about par to other resorts in Cuba. No bugs at all. Entertainment was okay but they tried their best.

Memories Paraiso: amazing resort

The staff was excellent the resort was clean and well kept the rooms were very spacious a bit outdated but very clean. The staff at this hotel made the week excellent very attentive to our needs. For cuba the food was good

Resonance Blu Santa Maria: Great resort and Island!

It was a very beautiful Resort, everything spotlessly clean! Staff were very friendly and always helpful! Beautiful beaches with lots of chairs and of course the wonderful beach bar and grill very handy!

Melia Las Dunas: Excellent

Best stay ever! Everything was amazing. The food was surprisingly good for Cuba. We particularly enjoyed the sushi bar. Also the beach was windy but gorgeous. It was always hard to find a beach beds but we took the sheets from the Room and attached them in between the cabanas for shade. Then just moved a few chairs. We get smarter as we get older. Lol. We went on many excursions. All were good.

Melia Las Dunas: I keep going back

4th time going there, and I do 2 week stays. Love the people that work there and got to know quite a few of them on a personal basis. Service is amazing, food is good, rooms are clean. I'll keep coming back

Melia Las Dunas: An Oasis of Beauty

What an amazing location, of white sand, blue waters, warm ocean breezes and beautiful landscapes and tropical trees and flowers. Cuba came a calling and the lure of relaxation is to be found there. The hotel is very large and for the most part very nice. Being 7 yrs. old it was assured by the Gen. Manager Mr. Moron that this property will be receiving a face lift in the very near future. The music and performers of the Cuban culture is unbelievably awesome. But what has drawn me to keep coming  [... read more]over a 10 year period is the most wonderful and beautiful people that I have met and continued friendship that have been encountered.

Melia Las Dunas: Amazing resort

I can't what to go back to melia las dunas!!! Great resort very clean, amazing food!! Very nice people that work. The beach is soooo amazing!!!!!!! Never have seen a beach like this before. I have been to many resorts in Mexico, DR, Cuba, Etc... I was melas las dunas march 18-25 this year with my family two kids ages 4&8 great time can't waiting to Go back..

Royalton Cayo Santa Maria: Outstanding resort!

If there is a perfect place to go in the Caribbean this resort is it! The rooms are beautiful and the service/staff could not be better, and very friendly. The 2 pools are so refreshing and you never have trouble finding a place to relax and enjoy!

Melia Las Dunas: Great time!

Melia Las Dunas was great. My wife and I went for our honeymoon in March. We stayed on the second floor after reading reviews about the bugs and we found it to be perfect. We had 2 ants 2 of the nights crawling around but you must expect some insects as you are in the middle of forest land. Tones of activities for everyone to do. We did yoga and all the other classes everyday by the pool. Played shuffle board, table tennis and did a lot of the beach activities and the dance classes on the beach. [... read more] (bring these people food they love it they only get one meal break in a 12 hour day). At night we would watch the live bands play and dance the night away it was amazing. The weather was perfect 29 degrees everyday. The pools were very clean and the perfect temperature. Go to the adult section for more quiet area. What to bring If you go bring some clothes, makeup, shoes and give to the gardeners, cleaning ladies and servers. I gave a flask to one of my servers and every time my wife and I walked in for breakfast he would spot us and treated us like royalty. It cost them about a months wage for a t-shirt so I think we are well to do enough to help them. My wife and I returned with prety much no luggage as we gave away most of the clothes. Next time we will be prepared. Bring extra towels and if you want fancy toilet paper bring some of that too. They don't provide you with face clothes and shampoo is limited so if you are worried about all that stuff bring some too and leave it. We always bring all of these things were ever we go. Beach The beach is gorgeous water is crystal clear. My wife and I enjoyed walking the beach and around the resort. There is an art centre near the spa area that you can buy local art work. We bought a painting there which was gorgeous for $25 pesos and that painting would be worth a heck of a lot more here in Canada. Bedroom The bed in the bedroom is not what we have but you have to expect that if you are going to a country with limited access to resources. So for those of you complaining about the rooms you are dealing with first world problems and should be more considerate as to where you are travelling to. Food On the first day we were not impressed with the food. But we realized we chose the wrong things the rest of the trip the food was better. Its Cuba so you have to expect it to be more bland. So if you are picky and need ketchup bring some with you or salt. The omelletes are made fresh in the morning. I always grabbed some bacon and asked if I could put it on the grill and the cook would put it with the omelette. The smoothies are really good. Home made. Some of the fruit will tast a little weird for us. The donuts and stuff are nice not too sweet. Restaurants avoid MEXICAN not good. That was my wifes and I's first restaurant. It wasn't good. But all the other ones are good. Italian, Romantico were our favourites and the seafood one which is outdoors. Fresh fish is awesome for lunch and dinner. That one is near the 24 hour bar. Also a awesome place for snacks. Beach sandwiches awesome worth the wait. Ice cream don't expect chocolate to taste like our chocolate that goes with the sauce too. I stuck to fruit ice cream and chocolate sprinkles. Sweeter. TIPS I tried tipping everyone a peso so have a bunch all the time what is it to us $1 for us but for them its a days wage. And you can get fresh coconut from the gardiners if you ask and tip them. They will appreciate it. We gave our gardiner a first aid kit tylenol and advil and some clothes for his family. He was about to cry when we gave him all of this. His wife was sick and could not work so he was in aw at how generous we were. He made my wife a bouquet and a broach of flowers and we had breakfast and every women that walked by was starring her down. lol…. But I think the best tipping is clothes, first aid stuff, tylenol, advil, (they only get shipments once every two weeks for this kind of stuff) makeup, kids stuff (there must be tonnes of stuff around your house that you don't need and is new that they can use). I had two flasks that I had that I never used brand new and I gave them as gifts and man where the waiters and yoga instructors happy. Water Usually you get one water bottle a day. So if you see the water guy tip him a couple of pesos and he will give two or three bottles and some extra pop or alcohol. Beer - Drink the Chrytal and they have imports at the 24 hour bar sometimes but it runs out fast. Value That was probably the best value for our trip. I got a really good deal for the time of year compared to other resorts.

Iberostar Selection Ensenachos: great resort

Really great resort. Rooms really nice and private. We stayed on the "childrens" side to be closer to the beach. No problems at all. The beaches very clean,waves a few times then dead quiet for the rest of the week. Really nice for long walks. Lobster on the buffet twice! Boiled first then grilled(very large) Always many choices with no problems finding something we liked. Surf and turf twice at the seafood restaurant..excellent! Lots of walking..by choice. Very large resort with well maintained [... read more] walkways and carts available if you don't like to walk. We are planning to return.