Vila Gale Cayo Santa Maria: Really Enjoyed Our Stay

The hotel itself was beautiful. The bathrooms near the lobby could use a little maintenance. We really like the staff especially the entertainment staff Angel and Jason were amazing throughout our stay. Luis at the lobby bar was of great service always had a smile on. We really enjoyed the turquoise water at the beach, we miss it already. The food at the buffet improved throughout our stay always something to eat but you can tell it does get repetitive with the same meals after a while. There ar [... read more]e lots of mosquitos so make sure to bring and apply it. Our ocean view room was the perfect fit and we couldn’t of asked for a better view.

Vila Gale Cayo Santa Maria: Beautiful resort and beach

We really like this resort, it’s not as big as others but it has one of the best beaches we have ever been and all the personal working there were so friendly and nice. The shows at night were great. The food wasn’t so good but a la carte was good

Vila Gale Cayo Santa Maria: Great stay.

Great hotel, beach is paradise, people are so wonderful, very helpful and friendly. On the down size food is so lacking in quality and the wifi is such a pain ! Anyway ,we had a great stay ! I hope one day I will go back !

Sanctuary at Grand Memories Santa Maria: Nice but needs better safety measurements

It was a beautiful beach and hotel and people were nice. However, i fell on my second night due to lack of lightning and safety signs.Medical attention was there but all i got was advice to get to town clinic. Now i am facing a long rehabilitation for my foot.

Vila Gale Cayo Santa Maria: Hotel is Good, Food and Medical not so much

Stayed at the Grand Sirenis Cayo Santa Maria for 11 days, overall we made it the best of it despite some issues. The resort itself is nice, with a couple nice pools, well stocked gym, and mostly friendly staff. However the food was extremely lacking, very few fruits and vegetables, we only got pasta a couple times (which makes no sense as it's so easy) and rarely got any meat that wasn't fish. Also I got a terrible ear infection second day and the "doctor" on the resort who barely spoke 3 words  [... read more]of English told me "no infection, no infection" not because I didn't have one but because he had no medicine to give me, I had to get antibiotics from another guest who was a nurse. Lack of ability to communicate with the staff was an issue alot of the time if you didn't speak Spanish, especially in key areas like the snack bar and the doctor. Also I was quite disappointed in the gift shop/store as they didn't even have basic essentials like Advil, and told me I'd have to drive 45 min into town to get some. I understand this is a very poor country and resources are limited but as a resort catering to foreigners it should be a bit better supplied and staffed.

Sanctuary at Grand Memories Santa Maria: Beautiful Beach!

Hello, overall we thoroughly enjoyed our time at Sanctuary Grand Memories, Santa Maria. So much so, we plan to go back there again. We even have our favorite room picked out. We loved that it was adult only. The beach was absolutely amazing, the staff were very friendly, efficient and hard working. There was a good choice of food and drinks and the market near the resort was a great place to shop. Going in off season (May) was wonderful as the resort was much quieter as was the airport when retu [... read more]rning. The negatives were: The fact that the food is not covered over so there are flies everywhere and I had a blackbird side swipe me on my head when I was sitting outside for breakfast. I do understand it's difficult for the hotel to do anything about this and that eating inside is an option of course. In the rooms, the bathtubs could use updating to walk-in showers. A couple of people almost fell stepping out over the tub. Also, the sink in the room smelled. We felt the music festival went on for too long, 4 nights while we were there, same music more geared to young people. Would prefer to see more stage entertainment. Also, there were a couple of workers who we found upsetting. We don't know names. One day when walking to get breakfast at the buffet at Sanctuary, a chef on the breakfast bar was yelling at one of the waitresses. That should never happen in front of customers and other staff. Also, one at the female bartenders at Sanctuary told the male bartender serving us to give my boyfriend rum when he requested brandy. My boyfriend got his brandy.

Dhawa Cayo Santa Maria: Truly beautiful all around

The grounds are well kept. Rooms spacious and immaculate. The Staff is wonderful, friendly and helpful. And the food was varied and plentiful. Overall, I had a beautiful time and highly recommend it.*

Sanctuary at Grand Memories Santa Maria: It could have been perfect.

The following statements reflect solely my personal viewpoint. Nice hotel, great beach, good food, OK drinks, and a fantastic staff. And tons of mosquitoes and sandflies. In spite of very unpleasant gaseous mixture, which is sprayed twice daily around the hotel by fogger machine, they just eat you alive. Alongside this nuisance, the non-stop, excessively loud music emanating from speakers situated in every bar, restaurant, poolside, beach area, and even from the personal speakers of wait staf [... read more]f and tourists proved impossible to escape, even during the night when poolside revelers were present. If you can tolerate these inconveniences, you will undeniably adore this resort. I am not coming back.

Royalton Cayo Santa Maria: Great staff excellent experience

Service was great plenty of food and drink choices, the pool and beach was fantastic, rooms were clean everything in working order. A two hour drive from the Airport but well worth it. We were there two weeks and want to go back again. John/Fatima

Royalton Cayo Santa Maria: Amazing Beach

Very nice vacation the staff at the Royalton are very friendly and go above and beyond. Beach was best ever. Food was good no issues . Just a couple of suggestions: 1) restaurants should post the menu each day so the wait staff don’t have to struggle. 2) more veggie options The resort is 2 1/2 hour bus ride from the airport . Guillermo and Maria were great.

Iberostar Selection Ensenachos: Amazing resort

We had a wonderful time at this resort beautiful scenery and beaches. Great temperature weather was great the staff was wonderful couldn't ask for a better staff there just like family. Would recommend this resort to anyone as a place to go to?

Vila Gale Cayo Santa Maria: Amazing Beach Resort

I would have given 5 Star but curtain came off but didn't get fix and also the reading light was loose and was never fix. 2 days our coffee wasn't re-stocked the only provide 2 coffee capsules per day which is okay cause the lobby bar is open 24/7 BUT if you are not on the main Building then it's not good. There's only 1 pillow per person. But I will go back there again the Staff and Beach are Superb.

Paradisus Los Cayos: Modern simple no frills, nice beach

Very important to bring increments of $5 bills, i made mistake of bringing 20's and 10s as hotel would not change canadian money into CDN. So had no choice but to tip big $10s and 20s ....cuban money is too low in value - workers prefer cdn US and Euro...so regarding tipping, important to plan ahead. Nice hotel, modern, Food is better in ala carts, Japanese was great. Due to low season, not much food was available, When arriving, fridge in room had no water or drinks and no coffee pods, so  [... read more]to have coffee had to go to bar and drop $5 tip. Prefer adults only resort. Beach was amazing, that is what carries the resort. Not enough to bring me back to this resort. Because dining is importsnt to me as well. Aquasize on beach was good. Better food options is very much needed at this resort, a little overpriced for what you get in return.

Royalton Cayo Santa Maria: Best beaches

Beach is stunning, gorgeous and clean. Staff is very friendly. Food selection limited. Disappointed that guava was not served every morning. Eggs should be served right away instead of asking once plates filled at breakfast buffet and waiting for attendant to ask if you want coffee. Being served eggs once I've finished my plate lessens the experience. I'm okay with eggs being rationed (beyond the resort's cobtrol), it's just the sequence of when they're served that could be made better. Long bus [... read more] ride from airport (90 min). Room could have been cleaner when we arrived. No cream liquers available. Don't bother with the pizza, not their specialty, its really bad LoL. Very quiet and calm resort, party is at other resort which you'll have access to, 5 minute cart ride. Despite the limitations it was great for a short vacay. No sargassum on the beach, just white sand and turquoise water. Beach with some rum and coke is all we really needed.

Playa Cayo Santa Maria: Awful Resort

So so sad. I went to this resort in 2012, 14 and 17 and had a wonderful time. To say this time was a disappointment would be an understatement. This resort is literally falling apart. Nothing worked - our. air con, the keys, the toilet, you name it we had to go back to reception almost every day with a new problem. The food, which was never a strong point, is now abysmal. My daughter got food poisoning on her third day and couldn't eat anything but bread and sprite after that. There used to be a [... read more] really good pizza and pasta area, not anymore. Just some guy preparing overly salty fried rice and another who served me undercooked chicken (no joke). The beach is just a sliver of what it used to be. And the people, well let's just say that Cuban hospitality was not on show. People who work here are often angry and resentful (with a few notable exceptions). The only thing I enjoyed was the wonderful pool and the weather. Never never again. On the way back to the airport we spoke to a couple that stayed elsewhere (the Valentina) snd they had a spectacular time, for less money too! So it's not Cuba - it's this poor resort, that has totally been allowed to go to seed. Not 4 stars, hell I'd be hard pressed to give it 2. Date of stay: May 2023

Grand Aston Cayo Las Brujas: Great beach

Beach is the one bright spot for this resort. Staff were friendly and worked hard. Being a newer resort, it was run down a bit. The food of course was limited as well as the drink choices. Flies and more flies in the buffet.

Grand Aston Cayo Las Brujas: Would recommend this resort ..The staff was great,room was very clean,grounds well look after,beach was awesome.We upgraded to adult side and had a awesome time doing so.

This resort is well looked after..Friendly staff and great services never long for anything.. And never went hungry once..Pool was clean and beach was awesome..Grounds well kept..Walking distance to everything and if you didn't want to walk they had carts to pick you up..Beach was amazing..

Sol Cayo Santa Maria: he best birthday ever

the Staff, the food, the rooms every thing was super, This was my 3 rd time and didn't disappoint me. I can't say enough about the staff they are always there to help you no matter what it is and always with a smile.

Vila Gale Cayo Santa Maria: Great overall

Resort was clean, most of the staff was nice, overall a decent experience, rooms where new and nice, food was decent for Cuba but you can’t go with high expectations, didn’t notice any shortages untill our last day, it was off season so not everything was operating 100% but didn’t effect us much, entertainment is good, and the beach here is 10/10, you can’t go to Cuba expecting everything to be perfect all the time, it’s very safe as resorts are 30 mins from towns, overall it’s a gre [... read more]at budget vacation and I would recommend 100%

Playa Cayo Santa Maria: 6 Years Between Stays. Some things stay the same and others dont

We spent 2 weeks at this resort almost exactly 6 years ago in May 2017 and again just got back in May 2023. Im often surprised by people being surprised when they fly in to Santa Clara and didnt realize there is a 1 hr and 40 min bus ride to get to the island if Santa Maria and the resorts. Its not the hotel staff's fault! We loved the staff, the specialty resturants and a la carts are good. The things that stayed the same was the entertainment staff's level of engagement is still incredible. Le [... read more]o is a hoot and a half! The resort is well run in that the grounds are clean and well card for, and there wasnt anything not open for business despite the resort only at about 20% capacity. The only concerns we have with this resort since our last stay is the buffet. The food is often cold even if you go in right when lunch or supper starts. Many times Id go in and pick something simple like potatoes and a chicken dish, its under warming lights but the food is barely at room tempeture if not still seeming cold as if just pulled from the fridge from the previous offering. That and there is no effort to control the birds coming in the buffet. The entrance doors are broken so when someone enters if the door isnt closed manually behind you birds come in and start walking all over the counters, pick at the cold meats and veggie plates and walk all over the bread station breads amd desserts! Something needs to be done about this from a sanitary perspective let alone appearances when no staff try and shoo the birds out. The work around here is they always have fresh cooking stations for omletts, fish, beef etc, and those cooks work so hard. Just avoid the cold food section and bread section due to the birds crawling over everything if you care about that. It is a well laid out resort. If you want a party pool the have that. If you want a quiet pool they have 3! 2 of the quiet pools are almost olympic pool length if not exceeding if you like swimming laps. They work hard and we tipped for everything as it was always earned. The beach is amazing and I have never been to a resort with better shade structures. There is so much shade from the cabanas built there is always sun or shade for everyone at the beach. Shade at pools is tougher. They have some nice cabanas but not alot. And some of them have just some cloth running through posts with gaps so sun is still gonna get you. Those could be updated with solid roofs which would increase shade offerings by the pools. The pools are big and they really want you to have a good time. They just need to get the buffet issues sorted out which I think are easy fixes by changing the re-heating food process and fixing the door hindges on the entrances. Would return, but likely not eat much like this trip if buffet issues remain. If you dont care about food that much and your fine with the bus ride (its long but pretty) its a great vacation spot and Ive been to many resorts in many countries since 2005.