Iberostar Origin Laguna Azul: Perfect vacation

First off thank you to Trip Central Travel Agents. AMAZING!! We loved the entertainment at Iberostar Laguna Azul. The beaches were so beautiful. Drinks great. Food was honestly pretty decent. Always found something good. Maid service was spectacular. Disco, every night entrainment show, 24hts snacks and drinks was perfect. We couldn't have been more impressed!!

Playa Cayo Santa Maria: Fantastic time

We were given a room overlooking the Relax pool where we spent a lot of time. The staff was incredibly friendly. After being home for a week, we've already booked a trip here for next April. Can't wait to go back.

Melia Buenavista: A Beautiful Retreat

Overall Resort Score: 7/10 -older more mature guests, a few young couples here and there (including my husband and I), quiet and is more of a retreat. If you are looking to party and for a resort with activities, this is not the resort for you. -giant blue crabs start crawling and running about the resort right when the sun sets. Very scary and unpleasant for someone who is scared of bugs/spiders/crabs. I was surprised the resort did not catch them and serve them to guests. -the resort fumi [... read more]gates to help control the mosquito population. They even do it when guests are around. Given that it is a pesticide and Cuba has different health and environmental regulations who really knows if there are any long term side effects to breathing this stuff in. -every morning at breakfast your assigned butler will greet you before you go in to discuss any concerns you have and make your dinner reservation -neatly manicured grounds with beautiful flowers, palms and shrubs -the best coffee -mixed drinks are overly sweet and taste artificial. Ex. If you order a pina colada you are not getting one with fresh pineapple, its alcohol + a pina colada drink mix. -pools are clean. They had two pools, one was more lively and the other was more quiet. -learned that a doctor and nurse live on the resort on rotation; that's good -nightly entertainment in the form of live music and singing -everyone gets 5 hours of Wifi access daily. If you run out you need to go to the front desk to get a new login -the resort generates it's own electricity so you will not be affected by the daily blackouts local residents experience for hours every day. Beach: 10/10 -pristine, white sand, clean beaches. There are 3 access points for the beach at this resort -little to no seaweed -shallow water access, schools of fish even come to the shallow end -lots of beach chairs available any time of day, everyone is spread out -attentive butler service at the beach for drinks -daily yoga by the water in the morning Food: 6/10 -definitely not a 5 star spread. Cuba is a struggling country and it is clear in the food that they serve. If you are looking for a gourmet culinary experience this resort will not provide that nor am I sure any resort in Cuba will. Please come here with the understanding that you are visiting a 3rd world country who imports more than they export and has major economic issues. -need to book a reservation for dinner and not all restaurants were open/available -the resort ran out of flour 2/7 days of our stay and so they were serving hamburgers and hot dogs without the buns and did not have pizza available. If you don't eat beef and pork no snacks for you...not even fries. -asking for seconds or more dinner rolls at dinner seems frowned upon. You could definitely lose weight here lol. Staff: 7/10 -most of the staff are friendly -encountered a few rude staff members -highly motivated by tips and tips are expected for every little thing they do for you -most of the staff really try their best to give you great service Room: 6/10 -not very clean, good thing I brought a huge container of Lysol wipes -floors were not very clean -furniture was dusty -outdoor showers. Note: around the time the sun sets and into the night there is no hot/warm water coming from the shower head. So take a shower before the sun sets -called for new towels mid-way through our stay, we asked for two towels and only got 1 because the housekeeper said they don't have anymore available. What?! -extra hand towels we asked for did not look that clean -mini fridge with non-alcoholic drinks are not restocked unless you request it -sink faucet head is too low you are almost touching the sink, that's gross.... -bedding was never changed during our stay -little red ants in the room -you can order food and drinks to your room but regarding food it will only be the three snack items available pizza, hamburgers and hotdogs -furniture is old and dated Spa: 8/10 -the massage itself was 10/10 we did an aromatherapy couples massage and it was excellent -sauna, steam room and hydrotherapy also a must -one of the spa staff members, looked like a manager was a little moody. Everyone else was really nice -easy to book a reservation, lots of time slots available -clean but the change room had a urinal the overflowed which was pretty gross and the showers had a little mold So if you are thinking of coming to this resort, you are coming for the beach and for a quieter resort that is more like retreat. Hands down the most beautiful beach I've ever been to. I would actually come back just for the beach. At the end of my stay I did feel refreshed.

Paradisus Princesa Del Mar: Relaxing and Enjoyable Vacation

Husband and I really enjoyed our stay at Paradisus Princesa Del Mar. Taking into consideration the challenges Cuba has faced with COVID and Hurricane Ian, we were happy with the selection of food, drinks and our accommodations. The staff genuinely go out of their way to make your vacation pleasurable. We plan to return next year.

Grand Muthu Cayo Guillermo: Great resort!

The hotel and staff were wonderful. But by far the beach was the best part. Aqua warm water and white sand. Great for long walks. The food was good on some days and not great on others. I never went hungry. Best mojito I have ever had (sports bar). Entertainment was a lot of fun. great live music and dancing in the lobby one day. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

Vila Gale Cayo Santa Maria: You get what you pay for

Mostly nice staff including server Gereni, our maid Yanet and bartender Santos plus more. There were a couple rude and in non-accommodating staff members. A few things went wrong such as cold shower and broken safe but was fixed. Due to the humidity, the sheets and pillows always smelled of mildew. They fumigate for mosquitos daily, but it doesn’t work because my husband and I got eaten alive by them. The mosquitos were the worst part of the trip by far. The food isn’t the worst I’ve had [... read more] in cuba but not too great either. Buffet not the best. Found plastic baked into bread and hair on other items. The buffet serving utensils were managed poorly. The dessert is mostly wet cake and unripened fruit. The grill stations are your best bet. The beach is great. Overall you get what you pay for so I can’t even complain. Would recommend for a money saving option. Bring lots of bug spray and spices for your food.

Grand Muthu Cayo Guillermo: Has its pros and cons

Beautiful and clean resort with amazing views + pools! We loved the entertainment (shoutout to the AMAZING twins that host). Getting into the nitty-gritty, the food had a really bad taste, assuming from the off cooking oil. Aside from being hungry 24/7, it was a good spot to vacation. But beware to my girls, some of the workers who were male would hit on me and make me uncomfortable and one day I watched one of the chefs call his friend over to look at a girls butt. Quite gross, take your husban [... read more]ds everywhere you go! Also stay by the pool, beach smells NASTY!

Memories Flamenco Beach Resort: Viva Cuba

Big resort, great food and selection compared with many resorts in Varadero. Service and stuff are very good like we used to have in Cuba. Rooms are big and clean, some renovation work is due but for money we paid they’re just fine. Night shows are good and Tuesdays “Michael Jackson” show is the best one we ever had ( must see ). Only downside are mosquitoes and mosquitoes between 18:45 and 20:15 ( they arrive with first flight at 18:45 and they are very active until around 20:15 )😊!!  [... read more] With newer furniture in rooms and without mosquitoes around this resort would be 5 stars for everyone especially for the price we pay ! Cuban hospitality and great beaches are always present…. Since this resort is off the mainland many things are limited and expensive ( cigarettes, cigars, beer and liquor in their stores.. in duty free shop on the way back even more expensive ). Everything is priced in US dollars and they accept/prefer only US and Canadian dollars

Paradisus Rio De Oro: We Love This Resort !

It was so wonderful to finally be able to go back. My sister, brother and I have been travelling to Cuba for years. This was our 4th time to this resort. Staff are so warm and kind. Beach is fantastic ! Pool and surrounding grounds are well kept and pleasing to the eyes. Rooms are very clean with lots of attention to detail. These folks can be very creative with towels - LOVE IT. We really enjoy the food offerings here. Again - the creativity these people come up with in the face of lim [... read more]ited supplies is nothing short of amazing. Take a day at the spa if you can - it's incredible. Beautiful saltwater pool, whirlpool, sauna, a little private beach. The massages were heavenly ! Can't wait to go back !

Royalton Cayo Santa Maria: MooMoo & MeeMee love The Royalton!

This is a very long but thorough review! This was our experience at The Royalton! Depending on what time of day you read this review of our recent stay at The Royalton, you'll need to put aside some time.....hopefully it'll convince you to give serious consideration to booking your next holiday at The Royalton in Cayo Santa Maria! So grab a coffee, or some popcorn or a glass of wine! Because you don't want to miss this! This posting is going to include our review, as well as some important [... read more] information regarding the use of different currencies, and what you might consider bringing as Thank You gifts to the employees while on vacation in Cuba. This will be helpful to both you and be greatly appreciated by the exceptional staff who work at The Royalton. As you read this, read it with an open heart and an open mind. If you are fortunate enough to visit The Royalton, be sure to treat the staff as if they were your family....because that is exactly how they will treat you. Like family! Here we go! In the middle of September 2022 we booked a last minute 7 day vacation to The Royalton. This was our second time visiting this resort. We did look at other Cayo Santa Maria resorts to do a comparison before booking. Our decision was very easy to ONLY select The Royalton. Nothing compares! We went back to The Royalton because we knew we would have 7 days of relaxation in paradise. We came back to The Royalton for both the scenic beauty and the most amazing hospitality! The Beach You won't find a more stunning beach anywhere in Cuba! And dare I say in any other part of the world! The sand is so white! The beach is kept clean every single day! And this gorgeous beach leads into some of the most spectacular Blue colors in the world! The ocean waters are calm most of the time. Plenty of beach chairs, all under palapas. When you arrive at the beach, one of the beach staff may follow you to make sure your chairs are well cleaned off from sand and they'll place your beach towels on your chairs. There's a Bar & Grill at the entrance to the beach. You can take your drinks and food "To Go", grab a seat to eat lunch, or a stool at the bar. Pools There are 2 pools at The Royalton. One just outside the lobby and the larger Party Pool is down the central pathway. Both of them are so blue and beautiful! Always clean and a perfect temperature. They both have bars! The larger Party Pool closer to the beach has a few more Pool Beds, providing more shade from the Sun. The way the resort is positioned on the island provides you with gorgeous sunshine....from morning to late afternoon! When I describe the larger pool as the "Party Pool", I mean that around 4:00PM music starts and then there's some entertainment, to get you exercising. Some games and great DJ music! Start to finish is about 1 hour plus. Accommodations We stayed in a room on the second floor of Block 6! Rooms are spacious, comfortable and very clean! Everything you need is in these rooms! Comfortable bed, closet and storage space, a bench to place your luggage, TV, fridge, safe and living room area. And yes....the AC works very well! If you are fortunate enough to be placed in a second floor room...you will have access to a balcony that overlooks the ocean, where you can see the gorgeous horizon! I may be a little biased but I think Blocks 5 and 6 (Second Floor) are the very best in accommodations! Blocks 5 and 6 are so incredibly close to the large pool. A direct line to the main path which leads to the Main building, and the path that leads straight to the beach. The Food (Keep an open mind - this is Cuba.) The food at The Royalton is really quite delicious. As you're reading this from your home or office in Canada, keep in mind that Cuba is restricted to many things, especially after Covid. With what they have on hand, you'll enjoy pastas, pork, fish, chicken, beef and quite a bit more. The Chef and his team put together tasty meals every evening! You will not be hungry! Eggcellence & Senses The Royalton has several places where you can eat. Near the lobby are their 2 main restaurants: Eggcellence and Senses. Eggcellence is the restaurant that serves breakfast from I believe 7AM to 10:30AM, as well as lunch. The pastries and fresh breads are so delicious! There's a small buffet with a variety of meats, cheeses, different fruits and other selections! I had omelettes made to order. They were perfect for me. They didn't have Orange Juice, but they do have Mango Juice and Grapefruit Juice?! Eggcellence and Senses are also the 2 main restaurants where your Butler will make reservations for your dinners. You have the options to eat inside the restaurant or outside on a patio. Both restaurants serve tasty, A la Carte meals. Your waiter/waitress will offer you a selection of about 5 different options each night. The Sunset The Sunset is the Restaurant right beside the larger pool. We enjoyed their pasta as well as their cheeseburgers. They'll make it as you like it! There's also a BBQ Station beside The Sunset, open from 1:00PM to 3:00PM daily. Different meats, fish with rice and a variety of vegetables! The Sunset is open 24 hours so if you need something to eat outside restaurant hours, you can always head to the The Sunset or Room Service will bring you whatever you'd like to have. The Lobby Bar has coffees, teas, pastries in the mornings and of course a full bar! If you find it too hot outside, you can always cool off with a drink in the Cool Lounge! The Grounds & Gardens The property is simply stunning. Gardeners are constantly working to maintain gorgeous grounds and gardens. Beautiful flowers and palm trees. You'll admire the dedication that these gardeners demonstrate while you walk throughout the property. The Staff As I mentioned, we stayed in Block 6. We were taken care of by our butlers, Alexis and Ketia. They work tirelessly and enthusiastically to make sure that you are well taken care of. Always with a smile and making sure that you are enjoying your room, activities, and arrangements for dinner reservations and special requests. Alexis and Ketia take great pride in their work and making sure that you are truly enjoying your vacation at The Royalton. "Alexis & Ketia, thank you so much for everything you did for us while we were on vacation! You are so kind, wonderful and remarkable at your jobs. Our vacation was not only spectacular because we were in paradise....but because you went beyond expectations to make sure we were delighted with everything that we could ever need or want. We consider you friends and we thank you very much!" While we stayed in Block 6, our room was always lovingly cleaned and maintained by our room attendant Jenilet. She was always smiling, caring and understanding if we needed something additional, were missing something or needed a little privacy, so we could sleep in! "Jenilet, thank you very much for taking care of our room, while we enjoyed the Royalton. It was truly appreciated how hard you worked to make sure our room was comfortable, clean and stocked with what we needed." The staff at the reception are always available. There's always someone at the front desk to assist with resetting your access for the WI-FI, exchanging currency and answering any and all questions! Always polite, friendly and willing to help with whatever you need. As soon as you arrive at the resort you are greeted by welcoming staff and those friendly faces are there to greet you throughout your entire visit at The Royalton! A very special thank you to Dania, Denis and Daisoris at the Front Desk! "You guys are amazing and so friendly and helpful! Thank you so much for welcoming us and always available to answer our questions and assist us with little requests!" As I mentioned earlier, there is entertainment at the larger pool for about an hour every afternoon. There are 3 women and a DJ named Anibal who keep the party going for some fun and exercise in the pool! DJ Anibal plays some great Dance Music, some that you may not have heard of! He's always willing to share with you the names of the music artists and names of the songs...PLUS if you have any favorites that you'd like to hear, Anibal will try his best to find and play your favorite song, as he did for us! "Anibal, thank you for playing great music every day! You made the afternoons so much fun at the pool! And to the 3 women whose names I don't know (Sorry!), except one that addressed the losers of the Pool Games with 'Ciao Ciao Mickey Mow!'...you know who you are....you made the afternoons at the pool a lot of fun! Thank you very much for making us smile and laugh every afternoon!" Lobby entertainment offers a different performance every evening! There was one night where there was an acoustic guitarist, playing modern, current songs! He was AMAZING! Really talented! For the first time ever in our travels to a resort, we saw daily, the Director of the resort! The Royalton is under the careful care and watch of Alejandro. You will see him daily, either when you're having dinner, or in the lobby. Alejandro has an 'Old World' charm about him. It shows in how he interacts with the Royalton guests, and his staff. He will approach you personally to ask about your day at the resort, "Do you have everything?", "Are you enjoying your stay?", "What can we do to improve?!" We've never seen this before. Anywhere! He takes your enjoyment personally. "Alejandro, thank you so much for your kindness, attention to detail and taking great pride in The Royalton.... as if you're welcoming us to your personal home. The resort is stunning and beautiful! But what truly draws us back to Cuba, Cayo Santa Maria and The Royalton, is your friendly, dedicated staff! It really shows in their interactions with the guests. Although we don't know or remember the names of every single staff member that we interacted with, we truly appreciated every thing the Royalton staff did for us! Will you please thank everyone for us?! Congratulations Alejandro on providing a magnificent paradise at The Royalton! Once more Alejandro, the service that you and your staff provide are exceptional!" Thank You Gifts Canadians are always treasured by Cuban people for their generosity and thoughtfulness. Clothing items, toothpaste, toothbrushes, sunscreen, bug spray, even over-the-counter medication such as Tylenol, Pepto Bismol, Antihistamines, DOVE Soap, Body Wash, Deodorant and school supplies are just some of the things you might bring down to leave for the Royalton staff. Just like everywhere else in the world, Cuba has been affected greatly by shortages. Money/Currency 1) Before you leave Canada, prepare to go to the bank and exchange money for your trip for such things as tipping and "Thank-Yous" 2) There are two currencies that the staff appreciate and that you can exchange at the Lobby for Cuban Pesos....US Dollars and Canadian Dollars. 3) At the Lobby/Front Desk you can only exchange Canadian or US Dollars for Cuban Pesos. Dollar bills only. Please don't bring Loonies or Toonies. Cuban citizens aren't able to use Loonies or Toonies in their personal lives when they make purchases. Bring with you dollar bills in US or Canadian currencies. 4) At the Lobby you will get a better exchange rate when you convert US Dollars into Cuban Pesos. At the time of our vacation, we received 100 pesos for 1 US Dollar. When we converted Canadian currency we received 92 pesos for 1 Canadian Dollar. 5) The Lobby doesn't have a Credit Card terminal for you to purchase Cuban Pesos. So, you can only convert paper money for Cuban pesos. 6) There's a Bank at the Market next door to the resort. They are open from Monday to Friday from 9am to 3pm. Bring your passport. You can use your credit card to exchange to Cuban pesos. 7) During Covid, Cuba stopped issuing and using the Cuban Convertible Pesos that tourists were issued during transactions. If you have them...you can no longer use them. Don't bring them with you as the currency no longer exists. Important Note If I can offer some humble recommendations regarding tipping, tip graciously whenever possible, preferably in US or Canadian currency. Before leaving Canada, consider estimating the dollar amount that you would like to bring for tips and "Thank-Yous", go to the bank and prepare your money. With US currency you can tip with $1 dollar bills....the smallest Canadian denomination is a $5 dollar bill. While you can still tip in Cuban Pesos, it is much more appreciated and useful to tip in Canadian and US currencies, as the Royalton staff can shop in their personal lives, at local, Cuban town stores where they can buy what they need, using US or Canadian money. Please remember that as you prepare your currencies for tipping to the Royalton staff. That's it! Hope it helps with your decision to visit and love The Royalton! Thank you!

Melia Buenavista: Amazing resort

Awesome place, super clean grounds, nicely kept, Staff extremely pleasant, all of them, chambermaid name Judy is the best we ever dealt with ( we travel 3 times a year for last 10 years) Buttler name Joan Martinez Ariosa —- we couldn’t ask for the better one as well. We will return to that hotel for sure ( group of 8 people).

Melia Buenavista: Amazing resort

Awesome place, super clean grounds, nicely kept, Staff extremely pleasant, all of them, chambermaid name Judy is the best we ever dealt with ( we travel 3 times a year for last 10 years) Buttler name Joan Martinez Ariosa —- we couldn’t ask for the better one as well. We will return to that hotel for sure ( group of 8 people).

Sol Varadero Beach: Beautiful Resort But........

The resort is beautiful, and staff work so hard to keep it immaculate and well manicured. The beach is also gorgeous. I cant say enough about how friendly the staff are and how hard they work. However there are definite short comings to this resort and the biggest is the food. The food is bland, and buffets are beyond repetitive. My initial thought was "they" simply did not have access to certain food & beverage items, that was until I saw them at other resorts and heard about very good food [... read more] at other Melia Resorts in Varadero while on a catamaran trip with folks staying at other Melia Resorts. We went 9 days with out any cola of any kind at our resort, so we were forced to buy some at the resort next door for a simple Rum & Coke. The liquor & beer selection was also extremely limited. Food was always cold with the exception of eggs made to order for breakfast. The 24 hour snack bar was no better with the exception of hamburger. Our West Jet representative Yoan did locate some coke and hand delivered it to us. Throughout the 2 weeks I was there I often saw Sr. Staff sitting with returning guests (identified by their arm band) and the Hotel Manager appeared to be there 24/7. That said I never observed the Hotel Manager speak to a guest. That said this was my 3rd trip to Cuba and went in knowing full well that food in Cuba is never great, and perhaps if I had only been there for one week it wouldn't have been so taxing. I recommend Waco's in town, we had a beautiful lobster dinner for around $25.00 USD.

Memories Jibacoa: Amazing resort, staff and food amazing too. Would go back !!!

Everything great people and food . Beach was beautiful! A little rocky near the water Snorkelling right off the beach 2 reefs. Close to airport. Would definitely recommend- already have . May book for next year

Vila Gale Cayo Santa Maria: Nice Resort

This is our first time to Cuba just one day after IAN Horicon In general resort is new only one year before Covid time Rooms are very nice and clean , daily room service Food is acceptable compared to what was expecting Beach was OK first two days after that Sea weeds began to appear on the water (which was annoying some how) and the beach One swimming pool was in service due to low capacity Two dinners were AL a cart to all gust (no much option in the menu ) Be prepared for mosq [... read more]uitoes

Starfish Cayo Guillermo: Great experience

We just came back from this hotel, first week of October in 2022. The location of the hotel was great as it was located right by the beach. The staff were absolutely amazing, kind and welcoming. The food wasnt the greatest the first two days but it improved significantly over the course of the week. At all times, there was plenty of options in terms of meat (chicken, fish, beef, pork).As you can imagine, with the difficulties that a country like Cuba faces, there was some shortage of soap and h [... read more]and sanitizer in the common areas (the soap issue did not apply to the soap in the rooms). The rooms were clean and spacious.

Memories Flamenco Beach Resort: Nice resort considering it was just after hurricane Ian

Grounds were well maintained. Public washrooms were not always stocked (ie, TP) Staff was super nice and friendly Coffee and food was quite a letdown Shortage of supplies (soda, some alcohol, grill by the beach ran out of food) Considering we booked Diamond Club, the service in the buffet was no different (staffing shortage?)

Vila Gale Cayo Santa Maria: Beautiful Place

The resort was beautiful, the grounds very well kept, gardeners working extremely hard from early morning to evening. Couldn't fault the staff at all throughout the resort, took great care of the tourists staying here, and went out of their way to please and make your stay really wonderful. The beach was also beautiful. I was there by myself but never felt lonely or left out of anything, I had a wonderful time from the moment I got on the transfer bus to the time I got back to the airport. I  [... read more]especially want to mention Elvis and all the entertainment staff, who all did an amazing job of keeping people involved in the activities, and I only wish I could have joined in, they made everything so much fun! The food was really good, had grilled chicken, beef and turkey every day and more than enough choice even for the picky eater., I loved it and had an amazing much needed vacation, the pool was sloped so very safe for all.

Starfish Cuatro Palmas: Honest Opinion on this hotel

location- very good, steps away from night life Bars, Restaurants, and night clubs Beach- clean and Beautiful food- is average you feel everday same. Service - some are good some are really Bad expects Tips. (i tipped to employees who work at the back of the department, like kitchen cleaners , dishwashers, public area cleaners etc, do not tip to Servers they make tons of money everyday. Room - do not book Eco rooms, they are not in the same building. across the road you will have to wal [... read more]k from main building. you feels like you are not in the hotel. pool- pool is not deep , you will feel like kids Pool Night Entertainment - very Poor shows at the hotel.. very few people watch it. conclusion- if you want night entertainment, like nightclubs, restaurants ,this is the hotel to stay you do not have to spend money on taxies. if you like quite and good food , service. look for some other hotels.

Grand Muthu Cayo Guillermo: Amazing resort with wonderful staff

I've been to Cuba many times, this is by far one of the best resorts I've been too. I traveled with my 11yr old son, 2 senior parents, my husband and brother there was always something to entertain us all. Food was great and staff was AMAZING. THANKS GRAND MUTHU FOR BECOMING OUR HOME AWAY FROM HOME.