Paradisus Los Cayos: A Cuban Resort

As usual with Cuba, AMAZING people/staff, and AMAZING beaches. ROOMS - We had a swim up suite in family block and a regular suite in the family block on the second floor. Swim up suite was disappointing, I think we got the only one without an outdoor shower and bali bed. It wasn't very clean when we arrived, even though we had to wait for it to be cleaned, whereas the other room smelled nice and was very clean every day. FOOD - It's Cuba, so little variety. But they did their best. It woul [... read more]d have been nice to see some fries, at least, somewhere. No kids corner at the buffet. Snack bar only had pizza and sandwiches, sometimes no pizza. Smoothie bar had no smoothies. Only ice cream. I rarely saw the a la carte restaurants open. And only one buffet was open - the no "Market Grill", though people eating at the buffet sat there. And the buffet opened for dinner at 7pm! I personally think it's a little late, especially with kids. KID-FRIENDLINESS - Nothing advertised was open... there was no kids section of the buffet, the kids water park was closed off with red tape, and the park was in disrepair (found glass several times in the sand at the park). So, the kids section was always deserted. One poor guy sitting day after day, with no kids because the entire kid zone was basically closed (and our room faced this "kids park") All in all, I expected more from the resort.

Vila Gale Cayo Santa Maria: A definite update resort

The hotel was much much better than other places that i’ve gone to. I have no complaints in terms of the room except the shower when the water overflowed. I called the reception to send towels to wipe the water as it was very late I didn’t want anybody coming to fix it. The towels didn’t come, and the next night the shower stall wasn’t fix so it overflowed again. The third day I talked to the Sunwing staff and reported the situation and that day the stall was fixed. Other than the shower [... read more] problem, overall the resort was pretty decent. The service needs improvement i think maybe they were short staffed?

Vila Gale Cayo Santa Maria: Beautiful beaches!

Best snorkling off the beach we have ever had in Cuba. Wonderful beach, spent most of our days collecting seashells. Prepare for shortages with certain types of food as Cuba in general is lacking supplies. Staff mostly does not speak English so make sure to bring some of your own supplies for situations such as managing a bought of tourista.

Sanctuary at Grand Memories Santa Maria: Great spot to vacation for sure!!!

From the time we landed to the day we had to leave this beautiful location we were given the best hospitality. On the bus, which was easy to locate, to the hotel, from the airport, we were offered drinks for the ride. When we arrived at the hotel we had butlers to take our luggage to our rooms. There was offerings of drinks and homemade pizza to great us. The hospitality was always so friendly, kind and so supportive for our stay. The wait staff at our daily buffet meals for breakfast, lun [... read more]ch and dinner, to our mini bar supplies every night (beer and water included) to the amazing entertainment staff that kept us going all day long with activities. The entertainment group did yoga, workouts, games, dance lessons, to nightly entertainment nights at the theatre for the guests to enjoy. Wow they never disappointed us either. Food was available all day long at the buffet with a wide variety to choose from. Even with food intolerances I was able to eat with no issues daily and the food was delicious. There were A la Cart dinners offered to us daily from our butlers. These dinners were not buffet and more of a dressier night out setting for dinning. This is optional and at no added expense but needed to be booked in the mornings through our butler. Every day we received room service with beautiful bed art for us to enjoy. The cleaning staff always left the room clean. Bring the butlers, cleaning staff and mini bar staff items they can use, such as hygiene items/children items/clothing etc, to support themselves and their families; they will treat you very well to show their appreciation. For the wait staff, bar staff, beach chair support workers, entertainment staff bring small dollar bills in US or Canadian for tipping. They earn it for sure with all they do for us visitors. Beach chair staff will help find you good lounge chairs in the mornings and sweep them clean for you, for an enjoyable day at the beach front. The pool also has lots of lounge chairs as well as a swim up bar. I would highly recommend this hotel for the experience of visiting Cuba. Definitely a great stay from beginning to end. Yes the food was amazing daily!!!

Sanctuary at Grand Memories Santa Maria: Beautiful resort

This is my second time to this resort and it is spectacular!!!!! The grounds are beautiful well maintained, the beach is absolutely beautiful!!!! Water is turquoise clear with very little seaweed, lots of little fish and white sand you can walk for miles !!!! It could use a coat of paint here and there but after Covid it will get there in time, but still amazing!!!! Most amazing staff, friendly and very kind . Butler service was spectacular and the entertainment crew keeps you on your toes !!!!! [... read more] Lots of laughs !!!!! Food , well let just say I have been to Cuba many times and I was blown away with the food !!!! Always something to eat and it was delicious!!!!! Sanctuary Grande Memories Santa Maria is a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🏝️

Sanctuary at Grand Memories Santa Maria: Nice place

Very pretty grounds, great staff nice beach til half was washed away. The music and games at the pool were very loud every afternoon same as at beach many different radios trying to drown out the other one, they need a quiet pool

Royalton Cayo Santa Maria: Amazing stay at the Royalton

Not our first trip to Cuba but certainly the best. Resort was great. Small, great staff, clean, beautiful beach. Greatest surprise was the food was amazing. Quesadilla grill on the beach was a daily must. Definitely going back.

Playa Luxury Cayo Las Brujas: Above our expectations!

I had booked this hotel in 2020, mainly on the great reviews. Because of Covid I had to cancel. Sunwing refunded some of my $$ and gave me a credit which I needed to use before March ‘23. I saw that reviews were still good so I rebooked and I am so happy I did. Service was fabulous from the front desk and on! Shout out to Macey and the front desk staff who had everything from safe to air conditioning repaired immediately. Rooms were lovely, our cleaner left the most amazing towel art. Bar and  [... read more]restaurant staff were attentive, thanks Nalli, Damian, Jose-Jesus and countless others. Food was varied and good for Cuba. Two beaches to choose from, we preferred the quiet one where you could walk out into the water forever. Always plenty of loungers at both beaches and the pool. It is a quiet hotel and entertainment was good but ended at 11, but we still danced and had great fun. If you are looking for a classy, laid back, relaxing vacation this is the spot. Please bring US $1 bills as they cannot exchange our loonies and toonies at their bank. This has been my 5th Cuban trip and I usually don’t go to the same hotel twice but I’d definitely consider rebooking this one!

Sanctuary at Grand Memories Santa Maria: Great stay

Our stay was better than we were expecting. Reviews can be very mixed and it's hard to see past a bad one - but we really didn't have any negative experiences. The beach is absolutely incredible and 100% the reason to go. The food is quite bland but we still always had options (I am vegetarian and still always had something). We did bring our own condiments and brought them to each meal which was really helpful, as I don't think there are any there. We were able to eat at an a-la-carte almost ev [... read more]ery night, which was nice. For drinks, they really old have rum for hard liquor but lots of beer and wine (no diet sodas). The bugs on the beach were REALLY bad at morning and night, so definitely bring a good buy spray and after-bite. I got so many bites no matter how much I tried to prepare. The only negative I could find would be that the "Sanctuary" section of the beach is very small, and people get up at 5am to save chairs. It's frustrating to get up at 7 and have no chairs available, and no one actually sitting in any of them until 10am. If the resort stopped allowing this it would be a big improvement. The pizza on the beach is incredible - definitely recommend. They accept USD and CAD for tips but if you give them CAD coins they are constantly asking other tourists to change it into bills, so it seems to be much easier for them if you get USD $1s for tipping. We also really struggled to find sunglasses anywhere on the resorts or shops, so definitely bring extras! The butlers and staff were very friendly and accommodating. The entertainment and music at the pool is very repetitive, but it didn't really matter to us. The rooms are okay, nothing special but also no complaints. The hotel is pretty far (1.5-2 hours) from the airport so you lose a day in travel. As long as you know to expect less in Cuba than in other caribbean countries, I would give it a solid 4 stars.

Grand Aston Cayo Las Brujas: Amazing beach

The resort is very nice, beautiful large lobby area with a bar, nice swimming pool, amazing beach where you walk along for 2km. Rooms are clean and modern. Food mediocre, not a big selection and variety. General shortage of everything is visible. However, you don't go to Cuba for gourmet dining. You won't starve there. Public toilets in the resort are dirty.

Memories Paraiso: Great vacation

The hotel was very clean. Staff were extremely nice and helpful. Some items they did not have all the time however we adapted. Would definitely stay at the hotel again. The beach and pool were amazing.

Vila Gale Cayo Santa Maria: Great resort!

Went in February 2023. Bus ride was a little long, approx 1.5 hours from airport. Resort was well maintained, the groundkeepers kept the place clean and even supplied coconuts when requested. Stayed in building 5 which was the best location! The room was amazing, clean, spacious and mattress was great however the pillows were thin. Bathroom had all that we needed but on occasion, we ran out of hot water when showering but that did not bother us, cause we were in CUBA!! The beach is just WOW [... read more]!! Clear waters, sand is a little shelly but soft. Spend hours snorkeling near the beach and saw many starfish and other marine life. Did not spend any time at the pool, so I cannot comment. Drinks were mostly rum based, which we did not mind and not all bars had vodka or scotch. Food, as we know, is always the weak part. We did not go hungry. Yes the choices were limited, but we still ate and had chicken or pork at the buffet or at other restaurants. Sometimes we had to think outside of the box to make some meals. Eggs were available daily, fruit smoothies, cappuccinos were delish, plantain chips are to be recommended but the fish selection was poor which was a little disappointment. HINT: Bring some hot sauce, ketchup, BBQ and peanut butter if you want. The hot sauce we brought was well shared among guests at the resort. In all, great resort, looking to going back next year with the kids!

Vila Gale Cayo Santa Maria: Beautiful Place and Amazing Staff

We had the best vacation ever at Grand Serenis. The entire property is covered in beautiful palm trees and gardens and so many walkways lit up at night...it's breathtaking. The beach is THE BEST I've ever been too!! The staff are incredible and make you feel so welcomed. The food is plentiful and so is the entertainment. We loved it so much that we will be going back next year to host our Wedding ceremony there! I can't wait.

Dhawa Cayo Santa Maria: Average at best

We found the grounds and staff to be very good. No complaints there. However for a “5* luxury resort” we thought it fell short in a few areas. Firstly, I had sent a mail weeks before our arrival. I received no response from the hotel. Our bathroom door and the patio door did not function well. Our shower drain was clogged and filled up with water during showers. (I later fixed) Seemed only 1 of 3 ala-cart restaurants were open which was near impossible to book. Booking for th [... read more]e week starts at 9am Sunday. We arrived tuesday afternoon. Only Sunday evening was available for us. Buffet was very average with long lines. Snack bars had very little selection beyond ham and cheese.

Melia Cayo Santa Maria: Comfortable and clean with amazing staff!!

My husband and I have been going to this same resort for 20 years. It is always clean and the staff go out of their way to make you comfortable. It wasn't as busy as normal this year but we still had a great time. The ala-carte restaurants served very good food although fewer of them were open. We will most definitely return!

Memories Paraiso: Nice resort and very friendly staff

Beach, grounds, pool all beautiful ! Food was very good , excellent fruits, meat , vegetables and fantastic fresh baked bread. We stayed for 2 weeks and end of last week we got Covid. Stuff were great, they called every morning to see how we feel and what we want to eat that day. Food and weather was delivered to our room every day, and doctors were visiting as well. I assumed there were more Covid cases in resort but not reported. We didn’t see anybody wearing mask…….

Royalton Cayo Santa Maria: An absolutely amazing vacation!!! (February 23-March 2, 2023)

Our stay at the Royalton, exceeded our expectations! This was our 6th time in Cayo Santa Maria, but our 1st time staying at the Royalton. We were very happy with our hotel room. We received 5 STAR customer service, from check in-to check-out (from all of the employees). The food was the best that we have had in Cuba. We had a nice variety, each day. We were a group of 4 (age ranging from 23-57). We all enjoyed this resort, to the fullest. We are already planning our next vacati [... read more]on, at the Royalton. Thanks for the amazing week!

Sol Cayo Santa Maria: The Newly Renovated Sol, Cayo Santa Maria

If you are looking for relaxation and utter beauty, than the newly renovated Sol, Cayo Santa Maria should be considered as your next holiday destination! We travelled at the end of February, beginning of March. I will share my impressions with you. The Beach: aquamarine ocean, cool, soft, white sand beach, blue/lilac sky...perfection! You can walk along the beach to find your own private spot, or settle down on a lounge chair under one of the palapas....no need to play the ''towel game'...the [... read more]re were plenty of chairs to go around, when we were there, at any time of day! The Resort: The gardens were lovely, colourful and well maintained. The pool was beautiful with a unique snack bar located in its centre! The Restaurants: The buffet was spacious, the Italian Ala-Carte had an intimate feel, and the beachfront Ranchon had the most amazing view of the ocean and beach! Service was professional, yet warm and personable. The lobby bar also needs a special mention for creating wonderful cappuccinos and mojitos, (they always had mint when I was there!) The Food: When I travel to another country, I always try to dine on the food of their culture. I absolutely enjoyed the Cuban choices. Favourites included the homemade soup, homemade bread with plenty of cheese and butter, (no butter shortage here), rice with beans, bbq chicken and pork, guava, watermelon, pineapple and other fruits, stirfried vegetables and plantain...not to mention the delicious, creamy icecream. I enjoyed the buffet, more than the Italian restaurant, but that is just my preference. On one evening they had a Cuban dinner by the pool, with entertainment! The Rooms: The rooms are completely renovated! There is a walk-in shower with a rain-head, a true kingsize bed, a balcony with comfy chairs. The room was always cleaned each day My only suggestion: I would appreciate if management could post daily, at a convenient spot, if there was going to be special entertainment, or food. Twice I missed something special, that I would have made an effort to be at. This small, boutique resort offers quality service and a stunning location. I would not hesitate to recommend it!

Iberostar Selection Ensenachos: Beautiful Beaches

This resort has accommodations to suit every type of visitor. Families, singles and seniors can be comfortable in this resort. The Coral section is removed from the main property and offers a quieter pace suitable for those who are looking for relaxation. The resort struggled with supply issues and food items were not available. COVID did not appear to be a concern anywhere from the airport, going to or from the resort and inside the shared spaces. There did not appear to be an increased cleanin [... read more]g regime and staff and guests were unmasked. There was entertainment throughout the day and evenings. The staff were excellent.

Iberostar Selection Ensenachos: Not as advertised: This is not a 5 star hotel

I don't like writing bad reviews but I think our experience here is important to share. 1- Rooms were dirty, with dead insects on the floor, specially under the beds (cockroaches). 2- Not hot water on first day. 2- Food was very limited: no bread, no eggs, very limited fresh fruit. Mainly rice and chicken and it wasn't even fresh. 3- They run out of glasses at the bar, toilet paper, napkins (they had to cut them in half) 4- They were understaffed. 6- In general facilities are not well m [... read more]aintained (Sofas in check-in area, were dirty and smelly). Although the beaches were very beautiful, and the staff was very friendly (they were really trying) this is NOT a 5 star resort at all!