Sanctuary at Grand Memories Holguin: Questionnable

Après avoir visité Cuba à plusieurs endroits et pour plus de 20 fois, c'est la première fois que j'ai été autant déçu. Je comprend très bien que présentement il sont en manque de plein de choses. Mais le fonctionnement et l'organisation de l'hôtel ne devrait pas être si mal géré. La plage pleine de déchets ** du jamais vu** ici je ne parle pas d'algues je parle bien de déchets (soulier, tube de pate à dents, bouteille d'huile, assiette et oui même des chaise en bois). Le manque de stations au bu [... read more]ffet, **terrible**, des attentes de plus de une heure pour avoir ce qui restait, disons pas much, à la viande, aux pâtes et aux pizzas. Les plates du buffet toujours froids même si tu arrivais en premier, plaques chauffantes non fonctionnels. Sur un côté positif, les travailleurs étaient super gentils, les piscines et l'aménagement étaient super propres, la température superbe et les activités (catamaran et Jeep) super bien à faire. Est-ce que je vais retourner à Cuba? Oui. Est-ce que je vais retourner à Holguin? je dis pas oui je dis pas non. Est-ce que je vais retourner au Sanctuary Grand Memories Holguin? Non.

Sanctuary at Grand Memories Varadero: Sanctuary at Grand Memories

Our family of 7 had a great time at the Grand Memories Sanctuary. It was a little resort in a big resort. It had its own beach, pool bar, bar and buffet. Every room at the Sanctuary has their own butler. They are amazing humans who you can text whenever you need something. Our favourite was Norvy- he was our kid’s butler- but he was always around and answered our questions and helped us out- even though he wasn’t our butler. All butlers work in pairs- they alternate. Our two butlers- Tahlia and  [... read more]Jenny were also very good and helpful. The food was good. Not much to eat if you are a vegetarian though. Everything has meat in it and the restaurant staff tried their best, but two of our kids had a very limited diet for the week. I would recommend that vegetarians pack their own protein and snacks to bring. Pool bar was a great place to order breakfast and lunch. The Sanctuary has its own small secluded beach with bar service. You can also eat a bbq lunch down at the beach bar too. The big resort was a five minute walk away. The main lobby had some good entertainment after supper. It had several nice pools, a swim up bar and OK pool bar food. It was open 24 hrs. The two big buffets in the main hotel were OK- not as good as the Sanctuary. The Sanctuary unfortunately had an entertainment person that played LOUD music all day long by the pool. There were not many people in the pool because of this- it would have been nice to lounge by the pool and just read, swim or have a conversation without the constant BOOM BOOM or his loud voice trying to get people to play games. Really wanted to give him $100 to stop playing for an hour so we could enjoy the pool. So- we never swam in the pool- just in the ocean where it was quiet. As it is a small resort in a big resort- we met a lot of people and got to know many of them. The staff there worked a lot of long days. They were always setting up something for a party or special day. They always had a smile for you even if they were tired. New Years Eve was amazing. The band, the food, the champagne…. Our older kids’ room had newer paint and hot water 24 hours. They also paid for the extra package. This was the only difference between theirs and ours. The younger kids’ room had no hot water and not much toilet paper. Our room had toilet paper and hot water from 4-8pm. The resort did not have blackouts, it had wifi, and there was lots of food. Not a variety of food, but there was lots. If you are over 18- go to the Sanctuary- not the main resort. We would all go back.

Sanctuary at Grand Memories Varadero: Amazing

I highly recommend this hotel: the room, the restaurant, the beach, the pool, the services are outstandingly! Many thanks to waiters, to bartenders and all the service staff. You all made my vacation unforgettable. I'll difinitely be back!

Sanctuary at Grand Memories Varadero: So So Sanctuary in November

Sanctuary at Grand Memories Veradero November 2025 Trip Overview My wife and I booked it because we were tired of being sick for much of September and October and needed time together, and the direct flight from Ottawa in early November was inexpensive. Unfortunately, WestJet delays caused us to lose two full days of our vacation and added an extra day of leave from work. Once we finally arrived, the resort was not full, which worked in our favour. The weather was cooler during much of our sta [... read more]y, and two days were too windy and wavy to enter the ocean. The pool water was also cold. Even so, when the ocean was calm enough to enjoy, it was fantastic. The Sanctuary beach area was close, quiet, and had excellent seating. We spent time reading, relaxing, and enjoying drinks even on red flag days, which became some of the more peaceful moments of the trip. Food Food was generally good for Cuba. We did not try the specialty restaurants because in Cuba they tend to feel similar to the sit-down dining already available. Sanctuary meals were convenient and quieter, but the kitchen was extremely slow at breakfast, with simple items like eggs and omelets taking close to an hour. We liked the small buffet-style accompaniments available at each meal. The main Grand Memories buffet had friendlier staff and a more positive atmosphere, although the buffet often ran out of plates and lines for certain stations were long. Birds were allowed inside the main buffet and often perched in the rafters. While the bird song was pleasant in the morning, it raised questions about hygiene and droppings. Food variety at the sit-down meals changed throughout the week and we always found something to enjoy. The soup, however, was consistently watery and lacked substance, with fish soup being the most common. We did not enjoy it. At the buffet, cross-contamination was noticeable because there were not enough utensils for each dish, and many guests moved spoons from one dish to another. Overall score: 3.5 out of 5 Pool We went into the pool every day, even though the water was cold for much of the week. We were not able to stay in as long as usual until the last few days, when the weather warmed up. Despite the cold water, the night we arrived became one of the most memorable parts of the trip. We arrived after midnight and jumped into the Sanctuary pool until four in the morning, simply relieved to finally be there after two days of travel chaos. The Sanctuary pool area was never crowded and always had loungers available. Music around the pool was an odd mix of country music and unrelated genres that did not match the Caribbean setting. The Sanctuary does not have a direct pool bar, but staff came around to take drink orders when we sat near the tables. Our room backed directly onto the pool, which made accessing it extremely convenient. Overall score: 3.5 out of 5 Beach The beach was one of the highlights of our stay. The Sanctuary section was close, quiet, and had comfortable seating that was always available. We never felt crowded. We lost two days to red flag conditions where the waves were too rough to enter the water. Even on those days, we enjoyed sitting on the beach with drinks, reading, and listening to the wind. On calm days, the ocean was excellent. The water was clear, inviting, and easy to enjoy for long stretches. Overall score: 4 out of 5 Facilities The Sanctuary section was very easy to navigate, with flat walkways, clear signage, and short distances between the pool, bar, restaurant, and beach path. Because the resort was not full, the entire area felt quiet and easy to move around. Maintenance issues were visible in both the Sanctuary and the main resort, such as worn areas or older fixtures, but they did not significantly detract from the stay. The Sanctuary bar and outdoor seating areas were pleasant and reliable places to sit, and service there was consistently good. The Sanctuary pool area was quiet and comfortable, though a pool heater would be beneficial during cooler periods. Overall score: 3.5 out of 5 Rooms Our Sanctuary room was clean and reasonably comfortable, but it came with several issues. The layout was unusual, with areas placed at angles that felt unintuitive at first. We paid for the premium level, but it offered no noticeable benefit; guests who did not pay for premium were in identical rooms. The jetted tub and shower area looked appealing, but hot water was rarely available. Most days the water was cold, and on the first day the tub produced brown water with sediment. Even after the concierge addressed this, reliable hot water never appeared throughout our stay. Housekeeping kept the room tidy, but restocking was inconsistent. Our bar soap disappeared on the third day and was never replaced, so we had to walk to the shower and use shower gel to wash our hands. Extra pillows were not available when requested. Despite raising issues with the concierge or making requests to him we never saw items actioned.    The room phone did not work, and we later learned none of the Sanctuary phones were functioning. This meant every request required tracking someone down in person. The towel station on the grounds was never open, so towel exchanges were random. The safe reset itself to the default code mid-week, and we could not determine whether anyone accessed it. The best part of the room was its location. Being beside the Sanctuary pool made it quick and easy to enjoy the outdoor areas. Overall score: 3 out of 5 Service and Staff Service across the resort varied widely. The main Grand Memories buffet staff were consistently the friendliest and most engaged employees we encountered. Their positive attitude improved the experience greatly. In Sanctuary, service depended on location. The Sanctuary restaurant, bar, and outdoor seating areas offered good, reliable service at a solid four out of five. The concierge service, however, was ineffective. Sanctuary alternates concierges daily, which meant no continuity. One concierge was responsive but accomplished nothing, while the other was often absent. With room phones not working, finding a concierge became a frustrating daily challenge. Alittle like playing where’s waldo The Sanctuary front desk was indifferent, and issues such as lack of hot water or missing supplies received little attention. Housekeeping was tidy but inconsistent with restocking. The towel exchange booth was never open. A concerning incident involved another guest whose wife had not left their room for most of their trip due to an illness. He repeatedly asked Sanctuary staff for help arranging medical support, but the response was dismissive. We witnessed this while standing behind him in line. The man was in tears and asking for help and the front desk staff said he’d have to wait until the concierge because they don’t do anything. We eventually went to the main lobby to speak with a manager ourselves, urging him to take the situation seriously. The guest later told my wife she made it home safely, but the resort’s initial lack of urgency and care was troubling. Overall score: 2 out of 5 Entertainment Entertainment was relaxed and easy to engage with. Daily activity boards made it simple to see what was happening. We participated in activities such as drinks served in coconuts, poolside games, and pig roast events. The main Grand Memories area generally offered more engaging versions of the activities. For example, during pig roastings, you could watch the carving process. Sanctuary offered the same food but without the event itself. Music around the Sanctuary pool was often an odd mix of country and unrelated genres that did not fit the setting, but it did not stop us from enjoying the area. Overall score: 3.5 out of 5 Overall Our stay at the Sanctuary section of Grand Memories Varadero had enjoyable moments but also several service and maintenance issues. The quiet atmosphere, friendly buffet and bar staff, and proximity to the beach were highlights. When the ocean was calm, swimming was excellent, and even windy days were relaxing. Food was generally good, although breakfast service at Sanctuary was slow. The biggest drawbacks were the lack of effective service, inconsistent room restocking, lack of hot water, and communication  issues and non-functioning room phones. Despite these issues, we relaxed, enjoyed the ocean when we could, and appreciated the quieter environment. Overall score: 3 out of 5 WestJet Travel Experience Our experience with WestJet before, during, and after this trip was truly terrible and caused us to lose two full days of vacation along with an extra day of leave from work. On departure day, we spent hours on the tarmac and then hours waiting for luggage. The lack of real communication after cancelling the flight created tons of anxiety.  There was no one who seemed to be in charge of finding a solution, no one at the desk and we only out of luck found A random staff member casually told a small group of passengers to return at eight the next morning, but WestJet had no record of this when we called later that night. Their only official rebooking option was a flight two days later. We were staying positive, because westjet’s system issued us a hotel voucher fairly quickly.  However; The first hotel WestJet sent us to was full. It took nearly two hours finally get to a room after they turned us away, and then be moved to a second hotel. Before that, we stood outside in the cold for twenty to thirty minutes waiting for a shuttle along with most of the plane. Flight information never appeared in the WestJet, Sunwing, or Tripcentral apps. Airport screens and staff statements did not match. We decided to just wing it and went to checkin and were issued boarding passes for a flight that was supposed to leave at 11am even though no one prior seemed to know that this was our flight.  After boarding late in the afternoon around 4pm, we sat on the tarmac for hours due to radio and paperwork issues, arriving at the resort after midnight, two days late. The return flight was just as bad. There is no seating in the Varadero airport, so we sat on the floor for hours. WestJet would not check us in early despite our VIP lounge access. Another long tarmac delay pushed a one a.m. arrival into four a.m. Communication was contradictory or nonexistent throughout, and despite the lost days and additional expenses, we received nothing from WestJet. Overall, it was a truly terrible travel experience that added unnecessary stress to both ends of the trip. Also, Westjet provided no compensation.  

Memories Caribe Beach Resort: Memories Caribe

The resort was beautiful The room was nice however I asked for a blanket and never received one, towels were never changed, we only received water in fridge no beer or pop, no water pressure for a shower Buffet food was the same stuff every day

Sanctuary at Grand Memories Holguin: Quality of Service needs improvement

The resort, beach, pool, grounds, were beautiful but the efficiency and quality of service must be improved significantly specially in the main buffet area. This place was not at all organized and people stood in line for hours to get food. Many empty trays were not refilled in a timely manner. The layout of the main dining area has to be redone to ensure the flow of traffic is optimized. We were lucky that we booked the premium class and so we had more options for food. The snack bar didn't ha [... read more]ve condiments like ketchup or mustard. The pizza place next to the snack bar was not in service most of the time. The wifi worked only for 2 days out of our 7 night stay which is unacceptable. Another example is at the bites restaurant for breakfast, they had just 1 burner operating for the egg station creating unnecessary lineups. There were several impractical issues that made our stay unpleasant. Many times toilet paper would run out in the public washrooms and would not be replaced. There were roaches in the Japanese and Italian restaurants as well as in our rooms. On the positive side our butler, Carlos was an amazing individual and did whatever he could do satisfy our needs.We did enjoy the international/Mediterranean restaurant. We did get a free lobster dinner on Christmas Eve which was nice. Most of the staff were pleasant. We feel sorry for the people but it appears that the management is creating inefficiencies that are going to drive tourists away from this resort. We won't be going back to this resort.

Grand Memories Holguin: Declining Quality

Keep in mind that this hotel is 2h bus drive from the airport in the very secluded part of Cuba, there is one hotel close to it but it is shut down, so if privacy is critical for you this is the place for you. However, having a small buffet for 300+ tourists with lineups to go into the buffet is not acceptable, multiple roaches (5+ roaches) roaming around the Japanese restaurant made us leave this a-lacarte booking before the cooking begun. Great weather and lack of mosquitos somehow made up  [... read more]for these deficiencies, although after 15 visits to Cuba things are getting worse each time, which is unfortunate.

Grand Memories Varadero: Memorable trip

The people of Cuba make up for the lack of luxury that one might expect. The resort was functional for the most part, the rooms require renovations, the showers are luke warm, the food was better than expected, but set your expectations! The beach was lovely and the pool was good too! If you know what to expect for Cuba, I recommend this ressort, it was a wonderful trip!

Sanctuary at Grand Memories Santa Maria: Sanctuary at Grand Memories Santa Maria is a wonderful resort

The gardens around Sanctuary at Grand Memories Santa Maria are extensive and meticulously maintained. Our room was spacious and very-well appointed. The maid service was excellent. The butler service was attentive and very professional. The food and beverages were abundant.

Sanctuary at Grand Memories Varadero: A nice trip, but wouldn't return

I had a great time despite some of the issues. My room was on the ground floor, the patio door had no lock and was impossible to open without putting all of my weight into it. The room was damp, and there were multiple signs of mold in different locations. My room was cleaned twice and I ran out of toilet paper. The mini fridge was not restocked despite it being advertised as a perk of upgrading. The shower flooded the entire bathroom with each use and there was a drip above the toilet that made [... read more] the toilet wet at all times. I spoke to other guests and they complained about the same sort of issues and were upgraded to much nicer rooms. I didn't complain (probably should have said something), I don't think you should have to in order to get what you pay for. The food was okay and there were always plenty of options. The facilities were a bit rundown in the sanctuary area. The small pool was empty, the fountains/waterfalls were all off and not functioning and the lighting was not always working. The staff were great at the sanctuary pool/snack bar, outside of that I had a mostly neutral experience. The grounds were beautiful and well kept, it was sad to see a lot of garbage around in some places, not the fault of the staff but rather a reflection of the guests. Overall I got what I went for, which was sun and some quiet time but I don't think I would return to this resort in particular for the price I paid.

Grand Memories Santa Maria: Sanctuary at Grand Memories

A very beautiful resort with very friendly staff. Everyone is so genuine, kind, caring and helpful. I would definitely recommend Santa Maria Grand Memories and Sanctuary to my close friends and family and would come back again.

Grand Memories Varadero: Avoid

There was no toilet paper, bottled water or clean towels on arrival. It was a challenge to get toilet paper or clean towels most of my stay. I never got any beach towels even after requesting them. I had been to this resort once before and the food was okay that time. The quality of the food has gone done considerably. My toilet seat was hanging by a thread. My room was not made up when I arrived. The nightly shows were considerably worse than my previous visit. Management seemed to not [... read more] care at all about guests. I fell on my third day there on a water covered floor. Had to get 11 stitches on my head. No one at the resort seemed to care. STAY AWAY.

Memories Caribe Beach Resort: Definitely would go back

Must admit we were a little apprehensive about returning to Cuba, but I must say if you go with an open mind and a go with the flow attitude, you will experience the most beautiful beaches and amazing people ever. The hotel was clean, the food in the specialty restaurants was very impressive, and the people work extremely hard to make sure your needs are met

Memories Caribe Beach Resort: Warm ocean and warmer smiles...

Wonderful visit to this resort this past week! Premium service provided us with valued perks: delicious fresh made to order food at the beach grill, fine dining at the Premium dinner night, Guest Service care through the premium lounge and direct extension phone. The beach water is stunning and calm. The gems of this resort are the Staff. Premium Concierge Staff: Wilson, Eduardo, Maria & Miguel Premium Beach Staff: Fidel (absolutely hardest working Staff member; takes drink orders at the  [... read more]beach and painfully hauls all the drinks to everyone and does it with a genuine smile. Fidel is the ROCKSTAR HERO of this resort!!! Housekeeper: Maria Premium Breakfast Staff: Chefs & Servers Cuban and Italian Fine Dining a la carte Restaurants: Servers Property / Landscape: Gardeners Ah, Memories Caribe, Cayo Coco... looking forward to returning sooner than later : ) THANK YOU JIM O'NEIL FROM TRIPCENTRAL FOR BOOKING THIS WONDERFUL VACATION FOR US.

Memories Flamenco Beach Resort: Good resort and beautiful beach!

Memories Flamenco is a wonderful resort and was the destination of our first family trip to Cuba. We truly love Cuba and its people, and we already planning to return. It is important to have realistic expectations. This is Cuba, and many people are facing challenges. You should visit the REAL CUBA, the nearest town then, you will able to see the other side of the moon. While the hotel does require some renovations and upgrades, the beach is absolutely beautiful and unique, which is the main r [... read more]eason many travelers choose Cuba. The entertainment team works very hard to make guests feel welcome and to create memories and smile. Staff members across all departments-gardeners, cleaners, reception, management, bar and service staff-do their best to provide quality service. The food is decent, and there is always enough to eat. once again, travelers should keep in mind the realities of the destination. If someone has very high expectations, they may wish to consider a higher priced alternative elsewhere. I love Cuba and appreciate the warmth and dedication of its people!

Grand Memories Holguin: I will come again

Polite staff, good food including every day seafood. Loud music by swimming pool is only between 3-5 pm. If you don't like it , the long beach provide excellent escape with the bar in sufficient distance from swimming pool "noise".

Grand Memories Varadero: So so resort

The hotel pretends to be five star.On arrival they asked us to pay extra money to upgrade the room.The upgraded room was just good enough.It had cockroaches.When we complained,they refunded us the money.

Sanctuary at Grand Memories Holguin: Repeater and SO Disappointed!!

My wife and I stayed at this resort in October 2024 and were so impressed that we decided to return for a second visit. Unfortunately, our recent experience was very different and did not reflect the quality of our previous stay. This resort is not operating at the same standard as it did last year. Whether due to changes in management, current conditions in Cuba, or resource limitations, the overall experience was disappointing. I have stayed at 2.5-star resorts more than 20 times over the pas [... read more]t 25 years and have never previously felt compelled to complain about food quality. However, during this stay, the food was extremely difficult to tolerate. There was no fresh fruit available other than cucumbers, no fresh vegetables, and most food was either canned or heavily prepared with mayonnaise. Housekeeping was also an issue. On the third day of our stay, the chambermaid removed our waste paper bin and did not replace an empty roll of toilet paper. I went to the front desk and politely requested a replacement. I was informed that housekeeping would be contacted; however, it took approximately a day and a half for toilet paper to be delivered. During this time, we were forced to use serviettes taken from the kitchen. I do not take writing negative reviews lightly, and I have never spoken poorly of any vacation I have had in Cuba. That said, this experience was both disappointing and unacceptable compared to our previous visit.

Memories Trinidad Del Mar: Good time, good memories

We had an amazing week at Memories! The weather was great, and the ocean and beach were absolutely beautiful. Big thanks to all the staff, especially Yuni and Luis—you guys made our stay unforgettable!

Memories Caribe Beach Resort: Beautiful Beach!

The hotel grounds are beautiful and clean. The food at the buffet was good. The a la carte restaurants are really great. Only complaint is our beds were uncomfortable. We asked to have the toilet seat attached and the maintenance never came to fix in the 11 days that we were there. This was our 17th time at this resort.