Tryp Cayo Coco: Return trip, somewhat disappointing

I had gone back to Tryp because I enjoyed it so much the first time...all the animals, great BBQ restaurant, great beach, friendly staff. (I really place importance on having a coffee maker in the room, which they did but refused to supply me coffee because I wasn't a VIP member. I bought my own coffee and fashioned a filter from toilet paper) This time I went VIP class and there were no longer any coffee makers only water boiling kettles. They had apparently thrown out all coffee makers. The f [... read more]lamingoes were still there but no peacocks or ducks...a couple of cats and dogs; lots of chickens. I went to the BBQ restaurant and was greeted by a surly waiter who wouldn't let me sit down until he confirmed I had the appropriate reservation ticket. I decided to try the sausage and pork combo. The pork was fine but the sausage was like a cross between a hot dog and bologna. Someone looking official came into the restaurant (a staff member) who began talking with the waiter who then proceeded to neglect all patrons. After staring at my dinner plate that I was finished with for some time, I decided to move it across the table to the empty seat to send a message that I was done. No response. I threw my napkin on the seat and left. On the way out I heard another patron say "good for you". Other than that the staff were very friendly, accommodating and responsive.

Hotel Camino del Mar: Rooms were horrible!

Just returned after a 1 week vacation in September 2014. We were extremely disappointed with the hotel. The grounds were lovely and well kept for the most part. The servers and entertainment staff worked really hard… The beach was nice…but the rooms were just horrible. Our room was nothing close to a 2 star…. : upon arrival… at the first set of rooms they gave us… this is what we encountered ants on the counter by the coffee maker stained bedspread - patio door that would not lock (mec [... read more]hanism was broken- cement chunks of wall missing- stained - worn out towels- broken head board- rusted refrigerator - did not work- vanity mirror that was partially pealed from the wall- sticky dirty bathroom counters- My expectations are never high when we go to Cuba…but this was beyond anything I was able to deem acceptable. I have never complained about a hotel before… this is a first. I had a hard time staying there - couldn't wait to come home. When we asked them to switch us… they asked us to wait to the following day… only to move us to rooms that were only marginally better. My dad's room did not have black out curtains (standard for all other rooms) and while I complained several times that he should have the curtains for privacy , etc.. they did nothing about it. We eventually gave up… and made the best of our vacation. This was a most disappointing vacation …

Hotel Camino del Mar: Best resort ever!

I love this resort! From the time we arrived until the day we left, the staff was so friendly and the service was excellent. The resort is well kept and the beach is stunning. There is great snorkelling under the pier and lunch at the lobster shack is a must!

Tryp Cayo Coco: Welcoming and Friendling Resort

This was my 1st trip to Tryp Caya Coco {Sept 19- Sept 26. 2014} **The resort was beautiful and well kept and quite inviting **My was neat and clean although it was a little dated {been told that they are in the process of updating} **All of the staff of very friendly and quick to accommodate all your needs **The pools was always well maintained **In regard to meals...it was better than I expected seeing that it was Cuba **The drinks was always flowing **Wow the beach was FANTASTIC! It was always [... read more] cleaned in the early mornings, collecting the washed up seaweeds and debris was removed I do realized that the resort needs a lot of updating throughout but the friendliness of the staff makes you want to come back. All in all ... I toughly enjoyed my 1st trip there and I WILL RETURN!

Tryp Cayo Coco: The Grand Old Lady Is Beginning to Show her age.

Review for Tripadviser: WEATHER: We just returned from a stay from September 19th to 26th (two adults). Even though this is technically rainy / hurricane season, we have been going down to Cuba at this time for several years and have always had great weather, lots of sun, the occasional shower but mostly overnight. This year the average temperature was in the mid thirties but with the humidity felt like the mid forties. PRICING: Based on the current state of this resort (massive renovations / up [... read more]grading going on) we not prepared to pay 'full price', we purchased a 'last minute' package and got exactly what we paid for. TRIP DOWN TO CUBA: We flew Air Transat and were surprised that even though we flew during the dinner hour, we were not served a complimentary meal, we were told they no longer do that... you now have to purchase your food on these flights.. they did serve a non-alcoholic beverage and offered a small snack... this was a change from a year ago, but I was told by the cabin crew that no carrier offer complementary meals anymore (you may want to check with your carrier as this was news to us). The flight was smooth with just a little turbulence...HOWEVER... the landing was the worse I ever experience on any flight... on touch down the wheels hit the tarmac so hard everyone got a good jolt, this left some of us to wonder if the pilot didn't damage the plane...not good. IMMIAGRATION / CUSTOMS IN CUBA: Visitors to Cuba even non-nationals now have to fill out a 'Customs Declaration'... also one new level has been added upon entry, once you go through immigration, and move past the security into the baggage area, there is now a further area where Officers collect your Customs Declaration, we were not sure if the chaos that existed upon our entry into this area was due to the fact that the process is so new (just started Sept1st)...but there seem to be no system in place for handling this area yet.... the Officers literally just roped off the area near the exit doors and proceed to ask for the declarations as everyone left.. we never saw anyone have their baggage checked (not sure what the pluses of this process was... maybe like the 'medical insurance requirement', it is just something that someone thought up). ARRIVAL AT TRYP CAYO COCO: Nothing changed there and the check-in area seemed to move quickly. Some 'Repeat Guests' still get the express check-in where it is done for them prior to arrival, room keys are simply picked up at the Customer Service office (Ah La Carte reservations are also done for this group prior to arrival), it is my understanding that this VIP 'perk' is earned after your 7th visit to Tryp...I am not sure of the exact timing of this perk, but having been a repeat guest of this hotel since 1997 we have it....HOWEVER.....due to the massive renovations going on at this time, we are no longer guaranteed the rooms we requested... Many blocks are now closed off limiting the availability of 'choice rooms' but they do their best to accommodate all requests... we didn't get the room or the block we requested, but we got the next best thing, besides, there is really no 'bad location' at Tryp, depending on your need, some locations may just be more convenient than others. FACILITY: As mentioned, there is massive renovation of some rooms and buildings, while we were there certain blocks were completely closed off, the Beach Grill was also not operational. There is a new Beach Bar with limited seating capacity, our feeling was that while this was a good idea, logistically it was not thought through... for one, it is located on the beach right in front of building 5, so in addition to the people on the ground floor loosing the view of the ocean because of the height of the vegetation between the building and the beach (in my opinion, this area should be trimmed to a height where the view of the ocean is not obstructed), they now have this building obstructing their view, as well, the rooms on the second floor now look out onto the roof top of this building, and it is not the most attractive building...in addition, we felt that the 'BBQ Shack' should have been incorporated into this building, right now that little 'shanty' they use for the beach BBQ is not very attractive, besides it would have provided those on the beach with a place to get a quick burger or something hot to eat just steps away from where they were if they didn't want to leave the beach.. FOOD: Was the same as always 'average', there was always something to eat, we find breakfasts the best meal at the buffet, however there is always a variety at lunch and dinner... For the people who complain at the availability of food, I often wonder ... just what do they eat at home.. we can certainly find 'something' to eat... Our feeling is that in the off season, the food in the Ah La Carts is the same as in the buffet, just presented differently with a little more ambiance. THE BEACH: Is still one of the most gorgeous in the world (that's why we keep going back)... We have noted over the years that the 'tides have changed' resulting in some erosion of the beach area in certain parts, and loss of beach area at certain times of the day... PEOPLE THIS IS NO FAULT OF TRYP CAYO COCO this is Mother Nature doing her thing.... Having said that, it would appear that eventually some 'relocation' of some of the palapas may be required down the road, I am not so sure what this will do to blocks like building 5 which are already so close to the water's edge.... in retrospect some of the other hotels along this strip built later on may have had an advantage here as they were built further back from the beach, with the encroaching tide it may be easier for them to pull their palapas back when necessary. Never the less, we will still continue to make Tryp Cayo Coco our resort of choice. SERVICE: Even if low season, the service at Tryp was still 'top drawer'.. while the reduce staffing at this time of the year resulted in longer waits, or having to make special requests... once you articulated you need, the staff were only too happy to address you them...My advice to anyone going on vacation is to adjust your expectations to the time you year you go down, we always do and so are never disappointed or surprised. In retrospect... the grand old lady is beginning to show her age, both in the condition of the facility, and in the styling of the amenities, it is visible everywhere... however the administration seem to be addressing this, my only fear is that they are moving at too slow a pace for some of us and as result while some of us may keep returning because of the connections we have made there and the familiarity we have with this resort... others especially those going for the first time, may tend to be a bit more critical.. My suggestion would be to go to Tryp Cayo Coco with an open mind, if you can look past some of the 'cosmetic needs'...this is a wonderful resort, we will keep returning.

Memories Caribe Beach Resort: nice resort

i had a good time but left early. due to other people causing trouble with other guests. hotel was clean staff awesome. room was cleaned every day but no water every day nor was the fridge stocked with beer&pop as i was told when i booked. and never got toilet paper. good thing i brought my own. cleaning staff needs to do a better job but other than that all is good.p.s. the resort needs to get more things to do for the adults during the day. like in the pool some water games.( just a suggestion [... read more]) all in all had a great time.

Hotel Playa Paraiso: Nice resort

food could have been better. Staff nice, Service very good. Rooms very clean and new. Could be a challenge for some in getting in and out of the tub due to the step up and over. Tub raised about 8" higher then floor level. Parts of beach rocky at the shore line and difficult to walk in.

Memories Caribe Beach Resort: Awsome resort.

It's a beautiful resort. I loved it. The view is breathtaking and the food was delicious.The rooms are nice and clean and the people are very friendly.I would definetly go back. I truly enjoyed my stay.

Memories Flamenco Beach Resort: fantastic resort

people have complained about the coral on the beach. there may have been approximately 4 feet of coral that was no more than 3 or 4 inches high. cant believe people would complain about that. the beach was phenomenal. grounds were great, food fantastic if you couldn't find many choices your just too fussy and should stay home and cook for yourself. everything was fantastic. the staff was great with the exception of carlos an activity coordinator. people were dloing the aqua size and were told to [... read more] shut up as they were having fun laughing and having a good time. the next day I was in the pool talking to a friend that I had met at the resort, carlos came over to sell us ticket for a fashion show and I was still talking he looked right at me and told me You shut up. I guess these tickets were more important to him than my and the other guest enjoyment of the resort. what an idiot. the cleaning staff, waiting staff always bang on. the first couple of days in the buffet service was a little slow but as soon as they realized we were bringing little gifts, they were very appreciative and attentive to our needs. room was fantastic would definitely recommend going to this resort, great time, great weather, great beach,pool could have been a foot deeper but no biggy. I would go back but only been to cuba 4 times and always like to see something new, but if another deal arrises at this hotel I would definitely consider going back as it is on par with the best resort I have ever stayed at.

Memories Flamenco Beach Resort: nice resort

Nice family resort, food was ok at the buffet but very good at the a la carte restaurants, pools very nice, beach was ok, construction on the one side. We upgraded to diamond club, not worth it, the only extra was the diamond club VIP dinner so don't waste your money. all and all good times but will not return to this resort

Memories Flamenco Beach Resort: The best so far

Already missing this place. Just came back from Memories Flamenco Beach Resort. We had amazing 2 weeks vacation from 8 to 22 September. And planning to come back in January. Everything and everyone who we meet there was simply ready to serve you. Thank you for relaxing 2 weeks at the paradise.

Memories Flamenco Beach Resort: One of the Best

This resort is one of the better in Cuba. The short bus ride to the resort was a plus and the rooms were modern and comfortable. Food was typical, no great no bad. The resort staff were friendly and except for the waiting forever for a glass of water in the buffet restaurant at any time of day, the experience was overall very good. The only possible negative would be the rocky beach, but just bring your water shoes and you are set, plenty of shade for those who need it. The bar-b-que shack on [... read more] the beach was very popular and even being off-season sometimes ran out of fish!!!!!!! They should have two people there, one to cook one to serve, always a huge line up. Definitely would go back to this resort.

Memories Caribe Beach Resort: 2.5 star resort

I feel terrible having to write a bad review about Cuba but this was my worst Cuban vacation. I'll break it down into three parts: The good- The Beach is absolutely stunning; and there is an excursion on a boat which costs $25 to go snorkelling for 45 minutes in the coral reef and dive off the second floor of the boat. The excursion is not publicly announced (a man comes to tell people on the beach) and it is a shame because it was the best $25 I ever spent. Also, A special thank you to the ver [... read more]y lovely pregnant ladies in the snack bar that made every lunch feel pleasant. Best of luck with your new babies. The bad- Food is never the primary focus in Cuba but there was such little selection and poor quality. I was also extremely disappointed by the service and overall friendliness of the staff. I understand it is a hard job and resources are limited but people are attracted to Cuba because of its lovely people. Please remember that. The ugly-Entertainment was extremely dull. Many people complained about the activities. I know the animation staff doesn't get much of a response from vacationers but it is because the games are dull and staff are not interactive. Some of the most common activities in Cuban resorts are lacking. There is no Water polo, ping pong (table tennis), or billiards. All the volleyball games were started by guests not staff. Overall, I was disappointed as I had gone to this resort 4 years ago and I remember the staff made my trip priceless at the time. Unfortunately, I would not go back to cayo coco. I hope any future travellers have better experiences

Tryp Cayo Coco: Bad......

So, this has been my 6th ( and very likely) LAST trip to the Tryp Cayo Coco. I understand that 'it's Cuba' so, my expectations of a vacation here are lower than they would be in other Caribbean destinations. The beach is beautiful but almost every other aspect of this resort leaves a LOT to be desired. The food quality has gone dramatically down-hill, the availability of food and drink items has decreased and the service has become almost non existent. There is very little entertainment - an [... read more]d what little entertainment there was, was terrible. The resort is dirty beyond the simple mould caused by being in a damp climate. It seems like they have stopped spraying for mosquitoes, the mosquitoes were terrible. In the week I was just there, my room wasn't actually cleaned, the towels were only replaced once, the coffee cups/ glasses were left where I left them and never cleaned or replaced - I do clean up after myself to prevent attracting bugs, but beyond that, the maid service basically only made the bed daily. The dishes, cutlery and glassware at the buffet were filthy, tables were rarely wiped down and there was often food spilled on the floor that wasn't attended to. The buffet was worse that it has ever been before, the 'speciality' restaurants were little better. Unfortunately, more often than not, if you asked for something from the menu, the response was, 'no, sorry, we don't have'. Other than omelettes or a smoothie, at breakfast, there were a few mystery meat or greasy deep fried balls of dough - that you could try - keep in mind though, anything in the buffet trays has been sitting there for a while collecting flies. One morning, I was looking for tomatoes, the 'executive chef' was walking around so I asked him, he rudely suggested that I didn't look for them and then he looked, realized there weren't any and walked away. He did return a few minutes later with some tomatoes for me but the whole experience was a little rude & baffling. The beach is now a public beach, and the resort seems to have become a very popular destination for the locals to spend their vacations at. Also, it seemed like everyone had their hand out, from the gardeners trying to 'sell you things' from the bushes, to only getting service when you tip. I generally tip at the end of a vacation for good service but it seemed that you had to tip to get any service this time around. The Melia chain should be embarrassed about how this hotel is managed after having talked to several repeat visitors during my week there, I know that I'm not the only one who won't be returning.

Memories Flamenco Beach Resort: Very Good Experience

“Very good experience” I posted this review on Trip Advisor My spouse and I resided at the Memories Flamenco in Cayo Coco from August 28th to Sept. 4th.. We had the Diamond club option. Check in was easy, we received our package and room keys at the airport before boarding our bus. Our room in Block #1, terrace was nice & clean. We really appreciated having the sink separate from the bathtub/shower and toilet room. The maid service was very good. On a daily basis, she had a towel our sheet  [... read more]ornament/design for us to admire at our return from the beach. The fridge & bathroom items... were replenished when needed. The food was very good at all the locations we ate: Buffet (wide variety of meats, pastas, breads, fruits/vegetables, ice cream, deserts, etc...) , lunch restaurants: Florencia (Air conditioned restaurant for Diamond Club visitors) was very nice but we preferred the quicker service at the 24 hr snack bar (menu was not as elaborate as Florencia) near building #2/pool as we wanted to return to the beach asap. We went to the Japanese and Cuban A la Carte restaurants and enjoyed both dinners. We did not try other A la carte restaurants. We had special coffees/liquor after our meal at the coffe stand facing the lobby area. The service at all the bars was excellent (We did not go to the Pool bar) service was with a smile. The pool was clean. The washrooms were close to the pool Bar and others somewhat close near the Snack bar. There was no washroom very close to the beach. We had to walk from the beach next to the snack bar. All the washrooms we used were kept clean and constantly monitored by the personnel. There did not seem to be any problems for anyone to obtain a Palapa/long chairs at the beach. We usually got there early after our breakfast and always had the assistance of beach employees who were happy to escort us to the location of our choice and provide us with the long chairs of our choice. The location of the Memories Flamenco is ideal for beach walkers. You can walk either way (North/South) for very long distances (Kms). The Beach is narrow and the sand is white. The only issue is that there are corals/large flat rocks when you want to enter the water. But after approximately 50 feet it is all beautiful white sand (no rocks or corals). I strongly suggest you bring water shoes for the first 50 feet. We did not have any, so after three days we always walked to the boardwalk and entered the water via there. It was beautiful (soft sand/shallow water) and we did not mind the small walk from the Diamond club area. We did not attend any night shows. We saw the Water show (synchronized swimming team) in the late afternoon at the pool which was again amazing. We had seen it in Varadero at night (we found it better at night). The famous Michael Jackson show was moved by one day to our departure day so we did not see it. The guests are mostly from Canada and Europe. All were pleasant and respectful of others. We stayed in Block#1 next to the theatre (night show) there was somewhat load music/speaking until approx. 22;30hrs. but we did not mind. The gym was a good walk away from Block#1. It is located next to the Spa (Block#10). The equipment and AC in the gym (change room with shower) is well appreciated. The Spa is very nice. The hard working hotel personnel are ALL wonderful, friendly & always give you an excellent service. Overall our vacation experience was very good and appreciated. My spouse and I would return to the Memories Flamenco (will buy water shoes) if we can get another fantastic low price deal (we paid $1300.00 (Diamond Club incl.) for both). To the Memories Flamenco hotel administrator/manager, may I suggest that you build another boardwalk leading to the Ocean from the walkway next to the Diamond Club. I believe this would not be expensive and would boost your number of visitors and beach entry appreciation. Room Tip: Buildings # 2, 3, 4 or 5 are closer to the two beach access areas.

Melia Cayo Coco: 100%

The hotel is beautiful from every angle that you look. It is clean and very well cared for. The food and buffet was very well stocked and very good quality. We never went hungry. The chefs take pride in their work. Our room was huge, centrally located with a great air conditioner and kept perfectly clean. The beach was lovely with loads of chairs and cabanas available. The lobby was very nice to have a few drinks in after dinner. the animation team was good, not pushy. If you are looking for a r [... read more]elaxing holiday we can highly recommend the Melia Cayo Coco where the staff really want to make your holiday a memorable one.

Iberostar Origin Daiquiri: Very good resort!!amazing staff!!

Very good location,very good food.rooms are a bit old,but they renovate the bathrooms.the internet didn't work for the all week and same as everywhere in Cuba no wi-fi.overall experience was very good.

Iberostar Origin Daiquiri: 5th time there,

Just got back after our 5th time, heard there had been updates and wanted to give it a try after 31/2 years. The staff as always was amazing.! We got to know some of them and the welcoming from them was nice and made it feel good to be back. The room we had was defiantly a improvement, it felt fresh and clean . The bathroom was much nicer than before, new furniture,,decor made all the difference in the world. The disappointing part was the food. Cuban resorts are not known for the food, but the  [... read more]daquiri wasn't so bad years ago, this time I will say it was not even close to being improved....you will not starve by any means, but it will make for a long week indeed.maybe it was the time of year, we always went in jan/feb area when things are in full swing. A big thing we had issues with was stupid things like no toilet paper in the washrooms, didnt matter what washroom you went to always out of tissue. I carried a roll with me. Lack of latches or locks that worked in the stalls, couldn't find one!. Entertainment has come along way I will say though!! Much better than ever. The nightly band that played were awesome. And as always the beach was amazing and clean. It's one to see for sure! All in all the staff and beach is what would bring us back, but not so sure about the food and lack of attention on small but important details. (Fridge wasnt always with water, had to ask.) for this time of year couldn't beat the price, a shame really, love the people and the layout of the resort.

Tryp Cayo Coco: Major Disappointment

I was at the Tryp from September 3-10, 2014. Check-in was quick upon arrival. As we were walking to our room, we couldn't believe the state of the resort. It is very old, mouldy and needs major renovations. I felt as though I was at a road side motel. We asked to be changed rooms twice due to mould. Being that I am pregnant and was travelling with a 20 month old, being in an environment with mould is not good for me or my babies. Every room we looked at had mould, very tired and dirty looking.  [... read more]There were stains on the sheets, tiles were cracking, paint was chipping off the walls. I honestly cried and wanted to go home after being there for less than hour. it was so bad, we were considering calling our travel agent to be transferred to another resort but after speaking to other people and being told that this resort was the nicest of all of the others on the island, we decided to make the best of it. The staff was great. I honestly think the reason for repeat guest is due to the staff. They make you feel welcomed. They are so kind and very personable. You feel like you know them and at the end of your stay, you leave having made several new friends. We especially enjoyed our conversations with the gardeners, particularly Roy, Leo and Wilbert. The food is okay but very repetitive. We always did the fresh stations in the buffet where they cooked the food in front of you. We often had a waiter named Yubley who was so nice and attentive. The beach grill was very nice for lunch. The beach was beautiful. we spent a lot of time at the beach. the tide is very high in the mornings and then again around dinner time. The best time to go to the beach was around noon up until 4pm. I should also warn people travelling to the TRYP, do not leave your towels unattended past 5pm. Security walks around and collects EVERYTHING left behind and it is impossible to get back. you will be stuck having to pay 50-60$ Canadian. I personally think this is one of their scams to make money off towels. A couple we met left their towels and crocs on the beach to take a nice walk together and when they returned everything was gone. Our towels were also taken and when we approached Jorge in guest services he was not helpful at all. In fact, he was very rude. He told us to check back every night around 7pm to see if the towels were returned and of course they were not. When telling him someone at the resort saw security pick them up he said he would call them to see if they had them and of course they did not. every time we went to check guest services to see if they returned, he said he didn't have any at that time but its possible someone else came to collect them as a lot of people have their towels go missing. SO BEWARE OF THIER SCAM. Would I go here again!? Only if they gutted the rooms and replaced everything inside and pressure washed the exterior of the building. Until then, I will not be returning. They are building a new resort on the island that will apparently be a 7 star, yes, you read that right, a 7 star. I would probably go there before I go to any other resort on the island..

Tryp Cayo Coco: great resort

Simply a great place to vacation.This place is good for singles or family.The staff is unbelievable.The entertainment is great.I would definitely go back .The advantage to go to this resort is that the airport is only 10mins away .Even the bus ride was great.Even though Cuba is not known for its food the restaurants on site are great.Loved the oriental one.As for the beach,it is simply great.