Melia Buenavista: Great resort

Very clean, great beaches, friendly staff. Food is ok, not much variety. Not the staff’s fault in anyway. They really try and do the best they can. 3 different beaches, so depending on the wind, you can find a calm beach to relax.

Vila Gale Cayo Santa Maria: Resort was nice, Food was scarce

Overall, a great resort in terms of cleanliness, activities, amenities, beaches, etc. Staff were kind and gracious. Food was really scarce and lacked diversity - moreso than usual for a Cuban resort - and it was evident that the resort next door (which we visited on occasion) was not suffering from a similar shortage - so this is definitely an issue that is bigger than the ongoing political embargo against Cuba causing food shortages throughout the country.

Dhawa Cayo Santa Maria: Could be better ...

We stayed at Dhawa from March 11-18, 2023; resort/beach is good, the staff were nice as always in Cuba. BUT food was so bad, even though this is our 4th trip to Cuba and we have very low expectations for food, this time you can't ignore it. I understand that they may have supply shortage BUT that is not an excuse for example to not cook the rice well or a pumpkin... I got sick after couple days with diarrhea/fever and I heard other people had same problem as well. We never had seafood durin [... read more]g our stay which you expect to see in the middle of the ocean. After I got sick, our breakfast/lunch/dinner was bread and cheese. A la carte restaurant, only 1 restaurant and rotate every day, from Cuban to French to Italian cuisine ... NOT good at all. I would definitely recommend changing the chef for Buffet and A la carte; they should have quality control for food as well.

Vila Gale Cayo Santa Maria: New resort, poor management

Main issue with resort - luck of food and service in buffet. Cuba in shortage of food - understandable. What is unacceptable: 1) People line up and wait for 15-20 min to enter into buffet 2) Only 2 grill stations open. Huge lines to get grilled beef - about 45 min 3) 45 min takes to get rice or veggie, only few trays with food available NO PASTA, NO BREAD AT DINNER, NO BUTTER, NO CHICKEN, NO CHEESE, NO MILK, NO FISH OR SEAFOOD KIDS HAS ZERO FOOD SELECTION 5 STARS?????

Vila Gale Cayo Santa Maria: Bring what you're going to need. A cheap vacation only

I wish i could write that we thoroughly enjoyed however I can't. Bad stuff first: Bring condiments such as peanut butter, salad dressing, ketchup, also powdered milk for coffee and snacks for the room. Bring toilet paper or flushable wipes. No potatoes, very little chicken, sometimes no bread and butter, no milk. Lots of pork, beef, lunch meats, rice, some veggies. A few fruits. No smoothies. The menu is repetitive and also the same foods at the a la cartes. No privacy in the rooms for family a [... read more]s the bathroom door/shower is frosted glass. The resort is a bit more than an hour and a half from the airport. No snorkeling gear available so bring your own or rent for $10 each. Good stuff: The beach is beautiful as are the grounds. Lots of room at the poolside and on the beach most of the time. The people were lovely and seem to like their jobs.

Vila Gale Cayo Santa Maria: Very limited food at the resort

The resort, beach and pools are great. They staff are amazing. We starved for 7 days at the resort. I have been to Cuba so many times and we know what to expect but this time was a totally different story. Very limited food every day at buffet and al la carte the same menu for all. No fries, pasta, pizza, shrimps, fish, burgers, some days milk and cheese. We paid for a vacation to starve our kids. Unacceptable. We had to leave the resort and buy food to feed our 3 kids.

Vila Gale Cayo Santa Maria: Beautiful resort

The grounds, pools, facilities, entertainment were all great! Our room was spacious with wonderful views. Our bed was extremely comfortable. Room housekeeping was very good. Buffet and Restaurant areas were nicely decorated with ample areas to enjoy a meal. Omelette and stir fry stations were great! Staff were very courteous and helpful when asked for assistance . Beach and its facilities was excellent. Water was beautiful and calm enough to enjoy swimming . On the down side….. variety [... read more] of foods offered could be better but we understand Cubas situation regarding food sources and imports etc. General cleanliness in common areas could have been better…..eg elevators, common washrooms. Wifi service was very erratic. I was rarely able to connect even with new codes. Regardless of these deficiencies we did enjoy our holiday!

Playa Luxury Cayo Las Brujas: Great time!

We had a great time at Angsana! This smaller resort was the perfect place to unwind. Stunning grounds, beach and pool. Staff were incredible and food was plentiful. We had a couple of ongoing plumbing issues with our room that didn’t get resolved quick enough.

Playa Cayo Santa Maria: Family get-away

Everything was wonderful. The staff are exceptional. They work so incredibly hard to make sure everything runs smoothly. The pools were awesome too. They gave us relief when the waves in ocean were too strong to swim in.

Valentin Perla Blanca: Great Getaway!

There was a breathtaking view as we entered up the lobby steps, looking past the wonderfull bar out to the ocean beyond. The staff members were pleasant, friendly and always willing to help. Food was much better than expected and gave us enough options to avoid the boredom of eating the same things. Rooms were clean but need some upgrades and TLC. The pool was a nice area and kept clean, with a variety of areas to sit and relax. The pool workers provided cushions which helped as the chairs are a [... read more] little worn out. It was not too busy anywhere as the resort was only at about 20% capacity. Overall a worthwhile experience!

Grand Memories Santa Maria: Most beautiful beach

My daughter and I had an awesome week at Grand Memories. The staff are so gracious and helpful. The room was kept spotless. We were part of the Diamond Club which afforded us a la cart dinners for Mexican, Mediterranean, Cuban and Italian. The regular buffet had lots of food all the time. You have to realize the food choices are basic given what they can import in. We brought peanut butter, jam and syrup. Their bread is to die for. The biggest attraction was the beach, it is so beautiful [... read more], clear water and white sand. This was our second time going to the same resort and we will go again. Tammie and Cassielle

Valentin Perla Blanca: Best Beaches in the World!

In a country that is suffering, this resort & its staff give their guests the best of what they have. They are always cleaning, & smiling! The gardens are lovely. The entertainment crew are friendly & high energy, the dancers are spectacular. Although they spray for flies/fleas, bring insect repellent & after-bite. Don’t be picky about the food when Cubans may be starving- there is plenty for tourists: lots of pork & chicken, delicious rice dishes, lentils & chickpeas, cold cuts & cheeses, and [... read more] some fruits (pineapple, guava, papaya) & some veggies (potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, cabbage, eggplant). The waitstaff & kitchen crew try to please (but need to use a bit less salt sometimes). Bring your own “water” bottle for drinks; to cut down on waste/cups. The beaches truly are the best in the world- so relax & enjoy. I’ve been twice and can’t wait to go back!

Grand Memories Santa Maria: great vacation

just returned from Grand Memories Santa Maria cuba. The resort is huge if walking is not your thing this will not be your place. carts were available if you waited. The pools are very nice and big. music and descent entertainment was provided at night time in the lounge and in the stadium. rooms were nice however our first night my wife stripped the sheets as they were dirty.food was descent but there was no fish which was a dissapointment. The beach and water are by far the main attr [... read more]action blue water and white sands. covid precautions are not really enforced there. social distancing, disinfection hand sanitizer dispensers were not seen. all in all was a good trip too big of a place for us

Vila Gale Cayo Santa Maria: Nice Resort

This Hotel had everything and the beach was spectacular and beautiful and wide and well maintained. Do not expect amazing food in the restaurant, the consequences of Covid are still being felt, the restaurants will have bread one day and no bread the next day, or milk and no milk, etc.... The servers, the bartender and pretty much the whole staff really try and do their best, they have major restrictions in their everyday lives by the system imposed but they do well with hotel clients. Cuba i [... read more]s a beautiful country and has beautiful people.

Dhawa Cayo Santa Maria: Dhawa cayo Santa Maria

Hotel and grounds are beautiful! Well kept grounds comfortable rooms clean and not dated. Food is another story buffet everyday didnt matter morning or afternoon same thing Yes you could get an omelette freshly cooked for you line ups long However you could find something Alacartes were aweful cold over cooked 3 people in our group of 8 got sick Yes its cuba Yes there are shortages But to serve cold food in an ala carte not acceptable Sunwing complaint Ordered duty free on the way  [... read more]down For my return Nothing but they charged me Also ordered VIP On sunwing app guaranteed lowest price well hotel sells it for 30 us we paid 50 canadian total rip off Connie Jean

Playa Luxury Cayo Las Brujas: Recommend this resort

It was my first time in Cuba, I had traveled to other Caribbean islands before. I really liked the resort. The resort is not very big, but there is everything you need to relax. Very attentive and friendly staff. The room was beautiful and clean. The food was varied and tasty. There were fresh vegetables and fruits every day. I especially liked the cheeses. The beaches and water were clean, white sand. The waves are small, you can swim. There are some rocks in the water, so I recommend bringi [... read more]ng swimming shoes. Every evening there was entertainment and dancing in the lobby bar. One compliment, no fish and seafood in restaurants and buffets. As the hotel workers explained to me, they do not have fish supplies, and they cannot give local fish, as they want to exclude poisoning. They are probably right. However, the meat was varied. I would also like to wish that the menu of the Italian restaurant be improved. All the staff were very nice, but I especially want to thank Niurka, Akydis, Yipsy, and also Ana Jauren Thanks to all the staff for a great week spent at the resort.

Dhawa Cayo Santa Maria: Okay Resort

Beach, pool and grounds were really nice. Service was great! Food was plenty full but would recommend more tongs and sanitizer for cleanliness. Saw mold on the bread, cockroaches around the food. Think they just rinsed the plastic cups to re-use them so bring your own cups for everything. Disappointed they didn’t have white wine or vodka. A few people got really sick while there from the food.

Grand Memories Santa Maria: Changed resorts!

We arrived at Grand Memories on March 6, 2023. After spending two nights we decided to switch to Memories Sanctuary. Our room and another person who traveled with us and had a separate room decided to leave because the rooms were not clean. Blood on the sheets in our room and the other room. Drawers were full of dirt and shelves in closet dirty. Once changing to Sanctuary we were very satisfied. Nice rooms, beautiful landscaping, excellent buffet. We stayed in Bungalow #60. Our Butler w [... read more]as Mercedes. Wonderful person who was always cheerful and made sure our stay was wonderful.

Vila Gale Cayo Santa Maria: Very large and beautiful resort.

Very large and beautiful resort. The room was modern and beds were comfortable. The shower is open to the room so it is a little tricky for privacy. The towels were not changed during our stay but we could exchange our beach towels daily. We requested 2 extra body pillows via a note in our room and we got them on the same day. The beach was very clean and spacious. No chair reservations needed. Shaded gazebos were being constructed by skilled workers with palm trees and leaves... simply a [... read more]mazing to see them work! The 2 pools were clean... one to party and one to relax in. Shaded areas are few and far between. The food was not so bad but very repititious. Same food almost every day. There are food shortages so no expectatioms means no disappointment. Bring condiments like ketchup, mustard, peanut butter, granolas and snacks. The À la carte restaurants were very tasty and the waiters were eager to please. If small.group, it is easy to find a spot even witout a reservation. Our favorite was the Cuban food... the tostones... delicious!! Wine, beer and rhum galore... If you are looking for something more refined, bring your own. The lounge wait staff and entertainers were just fabulous. The 3-hour Wifi was good in our room and the pool but unavailable at the beach. Quick tip: Be nice to the reception staff, 1$ tip goes a long way... we got unlimited access for 4 days. If you want to bring a few things for staff, they are very appreciative... shoes, medication, clothes. You can tip in Canadian coins and then buy them back in exchange for bills. No need for cuban pesos or US$. Good $ for value. If you are looking for a party place this is not for you.

Grand Memories Santa Maria: Nice beaches but it is Ok hotel.

We love the benches but hotel rooms rhar one of room' s mini fridge didn't work for 6 days, one of rooms air condition was making noises when it is running. We did notify customers service but no luck. Our second Ala carte restaurant' s reservations was canceled in last minute due to shortage of staff but didn't give us to book another reservation.The food was Ok and staff were Good.