Hotel Playa Paraiso: Very pleased

It was our first visit to Cayo Coco, and I am glad it happened to be Pestana Cayo Coco resort. We had a great vacation! We came with our 4 children (9 to 20 yr old) one week before the March break but the resort was practically fully packed. (As we found out, March break in Quebec is one week earlier than in Ontario.) Yes, there were lots of people on the beach and in the buffet, but it didn't spoil any good impressions at all. It was actually nice to see so many families with children of all ag [... read more]es. In spite of so many youngsters, it was quiet and peaceful. Pestana Cayo Coco is a relatively new resort. All buildings are in a good condition, very clean and tidy. Hotel grounds are nicely designed and well kept. Food was very good as well. Every day choice of fresh fish and other seafood, cheese, fruits... My husband really liked pasta. Boys' favorite place was a Snack Bar (open 24 hrs) - with fries, chicken sandwiches and other all time North American favorites. A small inconvenience was the late check-in upon arrival. We came to the hotel around 10:30 am and were told that our rooms will be available only by 3 pm. We took our swimming suits and sunscreen out of the suitcases, put all our stuff to the luggage room and spent time on the beach. Another thing which could be better is the left half of the beach. It is great for sun bathing but not so convenient for swimming because of the corrals in the water. But the right half is great. Just want to say, that this resort left a very pleasant overall impression. People who visit Cuba more or less frequently know that you don't have to expect that everything will be great. Often, if you have a beautiful and comfortable hotel, you might have to put up with poor food, service, or not so great beach; or vice verse. Pestana Cayo Coco is a positive exception. We liked the overall value, including hotel rooms, grounds, food and beach. It's a good place for a vacation!

Melia Jardines del Rey: Melia Jardines Del Rey-Simple

I understood before booking for the Melia Jardine Del Rey that there was construction going on to complete about 12 new buildings that house guests. So, I have no complaints about the construction but of what most have reported and that is the quality of the food. The a la carte restaurants fail to meet the standards of a 4 or 5 star. I will be clear that we ate at three of them. We chose Las Aquas which was seafood. It had very little available on its menu that would be good seafood. I believe  [... read more]four items were offered of which two were seafood. Fish was an option and the second was listed as lobster, shrimp on rice and squid. I asked that squid not be included on the plate and was told it was mixed in the rice so that was not an option. I ordered chicken that was so badly over cooked that the edges of the chicken was hard and curling up. The chicken was also cut into small pieces, such as small medallions and put on rice. The cheese sauce that the menu said the chicken was in was completely missing. It was not edible. I was very disappointed. La Bristo which was featured as French/Mediterranean was alright. The service was very good. The food failed to impress us or another couple sitting beside us. Between the four of us we ordered the beef steak, roasted chicken, and two of the seafood (lobster) dish. When they came they all looked much the same. The roasted chicken was not roasted. It was a stripped chicken leg that looked boiled and stuck in the top of a small bed of what appeared to be mashed Yucca. The beef steak was a small amount of shredded beef on a small bed of rice and the lobster was very tiny and again, stuck on top of a small bed of rice. The Cuban restaurant should be avoided because the food there is pretty much the same as at the buffet. The drinks in the lobby are good, but mixed drinks such as Pina Coladas should be avoided at the pool bar. They were the worst drinks I have ever experienced in my travels. The tasted scary and awful and went into the garbage. Stick with wine, beer and rum and coke. The wrong plastic glasses are being used to serve the drinks at the pool. They are the plastic juice glasses used elsewhere. Because of this, four times more plastic is being dumped into the garbage which ends up in the ocean. Many of the mixed drinks were thrown in the garbage near the pool and the liquid was running out of the bags when they came to collect them. I'd rather see proper size glasses and made of coated paper. The buffet was not bad and had much to offer. The rooms were simple and clean and the mini frig always had water and a few drinks in it. The pool is outstanding and very nicely designed. There is a developing problem with what we call "lounge chair trolls". People who will go out late at night and early in the morning to claim a chair by leaving their towel on it. I watched this over the week I was there and many times the people doing it did not show up until about 2 or 3 in the afternoon. They go on outings or down to the beach and do not use these chairs leaving others guests to walk all over the pool area looking to sit and use the pool. Many times workers were asked to bring out extra chairs so guests could sit. Many resorts have taken action against this practice by guests by posting signs, removing the towel after 30 minutes, giving other guests the permission to remove any towels on chairs after 30 minutes if not being used. Others have gone as far as to have an employee out around the pool early in the morning telling guests not to leave the towel and walk away. I understand that the resort has only been open since January, but there are many problems developing that are not being addressed and they will escalate if not handled now. I notice huge stains and dirt on the lobby chairs that have not been cleaned and this looks bad now, so what will that lobby look like in a year with really filthy and stained lounge chairs. It is especially noticeable in the pagodas outside the lobby. Two of the taps in the women's room at the lobby bar are running non stop. They work on motion. They were running when I arrived and I reported it and they were still running when I left. If you are environmentally inclined, this will drive you nuts. It's such a waste. The gym is very small and only open in daytime hours. The resort is isolated, so to see anything you will need to get a bus or take an excursion. I can't say whether I would recommend this resort at this time to anyone. It depends on the individual and their expectations. It also depends on what they want to pay.

Hotel Playa Paraiso: Beautiful beach, water and lovely staff!

A lovely newer hotel, beautiful clean beach and clear/clean/warm water...best beach in the area and much clearer of any shells etc then its neighbours. Fantastic mojitos and pretty decent draft beer for a resort. The food was plentiful and pretty good array day-to-day and for Cuba overall. The Cuban and Italian restaurants were very good and the service excellent. I know some people weren't thrilled with some of the food but I think thats normal for some travellers...eating at a buffet for for a [... read more] week just isnt ideal for most and if you want a 5* dining experience at a certain price point then you're just not realistic. Our room was also very clean and the maidservice was excellent, we stayed in Building 9 and our room was always done earlier in the day which was ideal having a toddler with us who needed a nap early afternoon. We had a few minor hiccups when we got there having booked a suite which was then unavailable due to some maintenance issues...though we were very disappointed, the Customer Service staff (particularly Joanna) went out of their way to move us to a lovely 3rd floor room with an ocean view to make up for it and checked in with us all week to ensure all was well. Our 23 month old had a great time; this is an ideal resort for little ones given the friendly staff, clean beach, wade in pool, 2 kids pools and kids club/park area. It is also not overly large in size so very walkable. The nightly entertainment was also very very good and they had a 'kids disco' half-hour which they all thought was fabulous. My only complaint overall I think would be they need to add some more food choices at the snack bar, and stock up on napkins/tea spoons at the ice cream station. :)

Muthu Colonial Hotel: Good for the money

Wonderful, friendly staff. Nice layout. Enjoyed beach, freshwater and saltwater pools. Breakfast always good. Room clean. Shower had hot water except for one day. Good entertainment especially the Michael Jackson show. Buffet lineups too long to get in and once inside, long waits to sometimes find a table and long lineups to get food. Selection of food could be improved. Broken down areas are a danger: sidewalks missing tiles, broken tiles on walkways, wood planks at beach bar rotted and a big d [... read more]anger. Not enough servers at bars, often long lineups.

Memories Flamenco Beach Resort: We enjoyed ourselves!

The three star is for our overall experience and in comparison to other resorts I've stayed at (both in Cuba and beyond). That said, my family enjoyed every minute we were there. Value for the money we spent was very good. Our expectations were met and there were even a few pleaseant surprises. The staff were excellent - in all cases and areas. The beach was excellent - yes it was rocky to walk in but a minor issue and quickly forgotten - great for beach walking and searching for shells and sea  [... read more]life. Those of my family who spent time at the pool liked it there too. Food / drinks - My family is moderately picky but we could always find something we liked between the snack bar and the buffet. Never tried the a la carte. If the quality of alcohol is important to you then go for the upgrade. We did not and were happy with the drinks we had. Rooms - basic but clean. Rooms were quite and the a/c worked very well. Location - Short ride (20 min) to the airport = very good. Grounds = nice. Beach/water = beautiful. Weather note, we had very windy days for most of the week. Wind could be a turn off for some people.

Starfish Cayo Guillermo: like a cottage experience with everything included

I have returned to this resort 6 times, and each time the services get better. it is a 3 (3.5) star. don't expect a 5 star. It is like going to a cottage with all the amenities of a resort, rooms were spotless, food was acceptable and drinks, well wine is wine and beer is beer. The people are friendly and remember what you like to drink and eat after a day of being there. You can walk on the beach for hours. Will return for a 7th time!

Hotel Camino del Mar: Relaxing Oasis

This resort has the best beach in the area, friendly staff, clean facilities, plenty of choices for food, clean rooms and great entertainment. Definitely not a rowdy party spot but a great place to relax and enjoy! While we were there the walkway over the water was closed as it is in need of repair and the tower was taken down I'm assuming for the same reasons so don't plan any walks down the pier, enjoy the beach instead. Three of us travelled to Cuba together for the first time in March 2015 a [... read more]nd had heard so many things ranging from "the food is horrible in Cuba and they don't have any spices" to "the beach is rocky". I don't know where these people stayed as we had a wonderful time and repeatedly commented to each other how nice it was.... if you want spice just try the salsa in the centre of the buffet! While we didn't eat off the prepared buffet (we took advantage of the omelette & poached egg stations for breakfast and the pasta station for dinner) we did try some things and although they may not be exactly what we're used to we certainly didn't go without ! If you need ketchup for your food you should bring your own but with all the other sauce choices I would suggest trying something new.....you might like it?! We ate in both of the a la carte restaurants as well and the food was very tasty, the entertainment in the International restaurant was simply amazing, we could have stayed all night listening to the trio.

Hotel Mojito: Wonderful

very clean, beautiful grounds, very friendly staff, good food and lots of it at any time of day. Staff go out of thier way to make you feel like you are the only guest there! Only downfall is no balconys and no coffee maker in room.

Hotel Mojito: A fantastic place to relax

As an all inclusive destination Mojito is the best bang for your buck. The beach is fantastic, the rooms are very clean, there is always food and drinks available. The staff are very corteous and friendly. There is nothing negative to say!

Iberostar Origin Daiquiri: Beautiful Beaches.

Had a few bumps with this trip to Cuba. We waited several hours for bedding. The most frustrating part was the front desk kept saying, "ten more minutes," which turned into hours. Our shower was plugged up often. They had to come and plunge it a few times. They were prompt with this. Food was average at best. There was the least amount of choices in all the places we have stayed in Cuba. Grounds were well kept. The beach was stunning. More beautiful than Hawaii beaches. The manager did put forth [... read more] a good effort to make things right, though offering a 20 minute complimentary massage for all these problems hardly seems enough. Staff were average. Wifi was pretty good for Cuba. I like that the resort is small and you can always find your friends/family. The worst thing about this resort is all the chairs are reserved by 7:30 am!!! And they sit empty all day!!! There are ZERO CHAIRS for most of the day. I find this unacceptable. Invest in some more chairs!! That is what people go there for!!! Will not be back to this resort, or even Cayo Coco.

Melia Jardines del Rey: Fantastic experience at this resort!

This resort was perfect for me and my family. The room was very clean and new, the buffets were large with a great variety of food, the a la carte restaurants had great service and great selection of foods, the pool was huge and the beach was picturesque!

Hotel Playa Coco: Great Holiday

This is our fifth trip to Cuba and our first to Hotel Playa Coca. The food was the best I have had in Cuba, the beach was wonderful! The rooms were a little tired but we were only there to shower, change and sleep.There was a problem with plumbing but not enough to be a real headache. The Japanese a la cart was the best I have ever been to in Cuba. Only saw two shows but the Micheal Jackson was awesome! The bars were not too crowded and in the evening they brought your order to you so all was we [... read more]ll.

Memories Caribe Beach Resort: OMG!!!!!! IT WAS SO AMAZING, FELT LIKE A DREAM,

I felt like I was in a dream, the palm trees, coconut trees, the ocean view, Beach words cannot describe my experience at Memories Caribe. The service was great, the food was fabulous and delicious tried different foods. I MISS THE FOOD, OMG so good and the staff very pleasant and fabulous Chefs , the grounds were so well up kept and so clean and trimmed , Room service was great and cleaned , the entertainment during the day and evening was very entertaining. The staff was very wonderful, I real [... read more]ly like the excursions that the resort had to offer. The BEACH was beautiful something I would only see on brochures, love walking the sandbar when tied was out and swimming in the ocean , entertainment & bar on sight at the beach, the hotel was very nice and loved how everything is opened and also looks like a little village, I very enjoyed my stay at the Memories Caribe , I would like to say OMG!!!!!! that was the best , I dream and click my heels hoping to be there again. I WOULD GO AGAIN TO MEMORIES CARIBE ((it was a trip I would never forget ))

Hotel Playa Coco: Good value for a cheap getaway

Playa coco was good value for the money spent. What they lacked in with uncomfortable beddings and pillows they made up for with the great food and stunning beaches. Upon arrival, we were greeted with smiles and great weather. We had a few slight issues with our first room but soon had it changed without questioning. The rooms are dated but are soon to be renovated. (They had renovation projections in the lobby) The one thing I noticed was the rough bedding and flat pillows left something to b [... read more]e desired but it wasn't that bad because we were hardly ever in our rooms. The food was fantastic. Better that a 5 star I stayed at in Varadero. We had plenty if fresh food to choose from. I loved the grilling stations. They always had plenty of varying seafood options, as well as beef, chicken and pork. There were plenty of salads, cold meats and cheese to choose from too. Breakfast was excellent as well. The beach was stunning, absolutely perfect. The colour of the water was gorgeous. It was so blue and turquoise. We walked the beach and sandbars everyday and found plenty of fish and shells along our way. The beach made everything worth while. The pool area was a nice escape for a windy beach day but I perfered the beautiful beach. The grounds were well kept and the staff were generally friendly. They always seemed willing to chat, especially if you tried your best to speak spanish. It was always a great icebreaker. As this resort completes it's renovations, I have no doubt it will be even that much better for accomadations. I would love to go back. It's great value for what we spent.

Hotel Mojito: Wonderful Hospitality !!

Iberostar Mojoto was a beautiful resort! This was my 5th resort/trip, Hands down the best hospitality I have received in CUBA so far ! Great Rooms, Adults only pool ! Plenty food, quick service. Amazing beach. Full on Entertainment. Ana at the front desk was Fabulous.

Melia Cayo Coco: MELIA CAYO COCO

back for our second time, liked it so much , we took another couple , they in return thought it was a great place and would go again next year. Great food, friendly, clean, they can't do enough for you, always something going on. Entertainment was enjoyable.

Memories Flamenco Beach Resort: 2 weeks in Paradise

My Fiancee and I stayed at Memories Flamenco, Cayo Coco, Cuba from February 22-March 8/2015. I would rate this resort a strong 4.5 stars. The previous two years, we stayed at Tryp Cayo Coco, just a few kilometers away. We will be returning to Memories again next winter for another 2 weeks in the FRIENDLY surroundings of this beautiful resort. In point order, my review is as follows: Pool area: Pool with aquabar more lively and where entertainment can be found during day. Celebrated my birthday h [... read more]ere. The bartender ORLANDO made it a day to remember. He arranged for a cake and champagne and birthday wishes. Pool staff GREAT, and pool was spotless. Reserve a seat early in morning for day. Grounds: Being in the landscape business, I found the grounds to be very well maintained by a group of extremely hard working gardeners. Plants trimmed, beautiful flowers, EXCELLENT job at keeping landscape looking beautiful. Food: People have no right to complain, something for everyone. Did not try any A La Carte restaurants. Ate at buffet and 24 hour bar. Only complaint with buffet, at breakfast they would run short of some items (scrambled eggs, bacon), and these items would be replaced 15-20 minutes later or not at all. Bacon was under cooked most days. In the evening, O Canada was played in buffet twice in our first week there. The sight of everyone standing and singing our national anthem on Cuban soil was incredible. Second week, we were present for O Canada being played once. Only a handful of people stood and sang....Disgusting display of national pride. Tourists: Pretty well 100% Canadian. This resorts caters to Canadians and it shows. Felt like being home. Doctor: Needed the services of the Dr. 3 times for back pain. She arrived at my room on time and gave me injection for pain. Hour later pain free and asleep. Dr. and nurse very professional and well educated. Rooms: SPOTLESS,SPOTLESS,SPOTLESS. Have never stayed at a resort with rooms as clean as the one we had. If you tip just one person, make it your maid. They all work very hard at maintaining clean living quarters. Same with the public bathrooms on resort, very clean. Pride in their work reflected in appearance of resort. Beach: It's Cuba.....Beach is BEAUTIFUL. A little rocky in some areas but ocean easy to access. Get a seat early morning for the day. Lounge chairs go FAST. Management: Very visible and willing to listen to any feedback (both good and bad). Had a long talk with general manager pointing out what we thought could be improved upon. She took notes and explained why certain things were not quite up to par. Well run resort. Manager boarded our bus prior to leaving for airport and thanked us for staying with Memories....Nice way to end holiday. Entertainment staff: Where to begin? They were all GREAT. Met two great guys who were responsible for entertaining at pool and beach named Ahmad and Karal. Spoke with them everyday . Both very proud of the work they do and it shows. Very eager to learn English so they can converse with tourists even better. We had no problem carrying a conversation with either of them. The dancers at this resort in a "LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN". We have never experienced shows like the ones these dancers put on. They could all dance in Vegas to a packed house EVERY night, they were that good. Michael Jackson show on Tuesday (get to theater 2 hrs prior to show to get a seat), you would believe you were watching the real Michael Jackson. Every movement by Rudney (1 dancer doing Jackson) and his back up dancers was a mirror image of a MJ video. We befriended Rudney and his girlfriend Maria (who is also a dancer in the show). We spent our time with them when they were free (between practice, shows and performances around resort, thes dancers are BUSY) and made a connection with them that only the 4 of us can appreciate. When it came time to say goodbye to them, it was like saying goodbye to a family member. We look forward to renewing our relationship with them next year. The dancers alone are worth the cost of staying at this resort. You have to experience the shows in person to appreciate how talented these individuals are.

Melia Jardines del Rey: It has potential

Resort will be great once fully completed. Expect construction crews and noise to be a part of your stay. Short power outages are the norm at least once a day. Staff was wonderful, nice rooms, food was good, gorgeous white sandy beach. We enjoyed out stay.

Muthu Colonial Hotel: Great Time

Just got back from the Hotel Colonial Cayo Coco on Feb 28th. It was our 3rd time there. Had a great time !! The food was great, the staff very friendly, and the resort was very clean. Going back next year.

Hotel Playa Paraiso: Nice Resort

We had a lovely time at the Pestana the apartment was clean, the food was good, had a good selection our favourite was the omelettes and the grill bar Ranchos. The beach was lovely too, but due to winds no boats out and no snorkel equipment so take your own so not to be disappointed. The entertainment was good but not much for our 10 year old. The restaurants got booked up early so had to go for the 8.30 dine some nights so you missed the entertainment. The staff were lovely but the reception st [... read more]aff were a little frosty. Overall we had a lovely time but got a little busy towards the end and not enough seating room for the amount of guests in the evenings