Sirenis Tropical Varadero: The resort was very nice....beautiful resort......kept very clean inside and outside.....staff were great.....the food was so-so......pleasant experience

The beach with the waves was the best.....kept very clean......and no problem to get a beach chair and cabana.....there was never anyone trying to hassle you.....did run out of hot water a couple of days......would have liked to hear some local musicians playing the country's music......love Cuban music.....and would have liked to have had some dancing on the go

Memories Flamenco Beach Resort: Had a great week at Memories Flamenco, Cayo Coco

Loved the beach, excellent staff on the beach got our beach chairs each morning. They were friendly and courteous, remembering us from one day to the next. Loved the food and although we did not try the a la cartes, had many great meals in the main dining room

Paradisus Princesa Del Mar: Outstanding grounds

Paradisus Princess Del Mar has an outstanding grounds layout; everything is in located close by with many amenities. The pool is amazing and the beach incredible. A lot of beach chairs—not crowded together. Food is Cuban style; variety was good, prepared to your taste. Something for everyone. Staff is friendly who had to deal with customer complaints regarding NO WINE DURING MEALS (even at a la carte).! For a 5-star...not ideal considering the price paid. Hit and miss with restaurants [... read more] around resort so was it was management or an embargo(?). Yet wine was available for purchase. Mosquitos or small biting bugs everywhere...bug spray didn’t help in mid February. No French fries in this adult resort. Overall weather was awesome; great coffee; delightful week with our group of 8.

Memories Paraiso: Need improvement hotel

This resort was rated a 4 star but it was not . This was an all inclusive but very limited with the food and beverage supply. The resort was run down. Our room had a water issue when taking a shower we had water outside of the room and mould growing in tub. Very disappointed with the resort but loved the beach and had amazing weather. Last thing was the service wasn’t that great. When we arrived we had a room where the door would not lock. My sister went down to complain 3 times and not [... read more]hing got done till later the next day.

Playa Cayo Santa Maria: Wonderful time.

Grounds, were cleana fn well maintains, they were working on walkways to the beach while we were there. Bedroom, clean with enough space to relax . They had a cot without asking while was ideal . Main negative, the beds were rock hard, the cot was the most comfortable. Did not think until we returned, but I'd ask if they has bed toppers. Reception, fast but not informative. They did not tell us were to sign up for restaurants, or taxis could be taken to the market for the same price as t [... read more]he best which never showed following an hour and half of waiting, they said every 45m. Pools,Beach .... perfect! Drinks .... amazing, a little stong at the beach. Bus ride might be 2 hours, but it's a tour in itself, we all enjoyed it and drinks the whole way, two beer for 5 canadian. Note money in the fridge does not get you more, or for us did not. Food was great, seafood restaurant we enjoyed the most. Buffet was always great, stone oven pizza sooo good. I do not suggest the Asian restaurant.

Melia Peninsula Varadero: Will definitely be returning

Just returned from an amazing week at Melissa Peninsula Varadero. Upon arrival we were greeted by very friendly staff who were very fast and efficient. The resort is beautiful. Meticulously landscaped, and very clean. The buffet while not the biggest selection, was always good and service was great. We did the Italian and Japanese ala carte’s both were outstanding. The beach is second to none, just outstanding with lots of chairs. The pool area could use more shade areas, but has lots of seat [... read more]ing. The lobby bar although busy at times was always staffed by very friendly hardworking bartenders and waitresses. The nightly entertainment was okay but would have liked a bit more variety. Our housekeeper Alicia(room 1431) was just outstanding, keeping our room spotless and always surprising us with her towel creations. Thank you so much Alicia it was a real pleasure talking with you. I would definitely recommend this resort. Thanks to all the staff and management for making our stay so memorable. We will definitely be returning. Special thanks to our travel agent Kevin Dupuis (Trip Central) for recommending this resort.

Gran Muthu Imperial: Great Adults Resort

We chose this resort because it was an adults only and it was relatively new...a year old. I was travelling with family and we were not disappointed. It certainly met my expectations in terms of food, service, amenities, friendliness and entertainment. We really enjoyed the a la carte restaurants, especially the International. We are beach people and we went to the beach every day. There was never a shortage of loungers and they are very comfortable. The beach bar was very accessible and there w [... read more]as also servers who came and asked you if you would like a drink. The sand in the ocean is a little bit rocky & shoes would’ve been good but we never had a problem walking bare foot on the beach sand. We had blue skies and sunshine every day and there was a welcome breeze as well just cooling you off. We enjoyed the entertainment in the lobby bar every evening & found the servers there very friendly & attentive. Thanks to our trip central agent Jack Gentille our special requests were all met. I would certainly go here again.

Gran Muthu Imperial: Not quite as advertised

Hotel was reasonably clean. They need to hire a maintenance person with a square & a level to actually get the showers working properly- doors are visibly out of line & don’t seal. Sunwing ad indicates unlimited a la carted -reality is 3. At check in told we would receive 1 water &1 beer per day - would have to pay extra for more- every other resort I have stayed at (7) provides 2 beer , 2 sofa & water daily. In my 7 day stay received 1 beer & 1 juice box.Buffet - although food was reasonably  [... read more]good - totally disorganized - people constantly cutting through lines to get at food - a few stanchions & ropes for lineups would easily fix.On check in they will change $ to vices at 68 cents dollar - no mention of the Banco in plaza right next door where rate is 72 c /dollar.Buy your rum etc at hotel for Cuba - duty free at airport cost $25 Canadian for a bottle of rum and honey priced at $13- exchanging cups to Canadian at bank is 1-1 no accounting for “30% exchange rate . First & last time at this resort for me - they may improve with time - but as a customer I am used to far better experiences in Cuba

Grand Memories Varadero: Great service

What amenities that may be lacking at Grand Memories Varadero....the staff make up for with their service! Rooms are a little dated but clean. Beach is fantastic! Pools are clean. Could always find something we liked to eat at the buffets.

Playa Pesquero: Quite the Reverse expectations

We challenged our travel consultant based on reviews we read before leaving some reviews spoke about food shortages and various negative aspects of the resort. We had never been to this resort or Holguin however been to Varadero and other Cuba resorts. There were 5 of us including a 5 year old. here are the things that impressed us most: 1. The resort was great, very large, with many swimming pools including kids pools and play areas. 2. Entertainment was great and also catered to the childre [... read more]n. 3. The food was good and no obvious shortages. 4. The beach is the best we have experienced in the Caribbean. Bonus Bonus. 5. I always find myself complaining about something or the other, I had nothing to really complain about except for the paying for WIFI and the birds that frequent the restaurants. There is an official Bird person that claps the birds away. in summary, we will definitely return to this resort as many others we met were on there 11th and 17th times there.

Gran Muthu Imperial: Perfect trip!

This was my first trip to Cuba and I was very hesitant. I'm pretty picky when it comes to my vacations and food. However I cannot say enough wonderful things about our stay here. Only 45 min drive from airport. Once we arrived there was a mix up with our room. We had booked ocean view and were given garden. They assured us an ocean view next day and sent us someone to help move all our luggage. Our air-conditioning wasn't working but they sent someone immediately and fixed it. The resort itself [... read more] has been very recently renovated. Updated, clean and beautiful. Lots of staff working to keep it clean. The staff were extremely friendly and accommodating. Ive never been to a resort where I can truly say all staff were happy and pleasant. The food was above expectations. I've heard horrible things about food in Cuba. I was never hungry and always able to find something to eat at the buffet. The a la cartes weren't fantastic and small portions so we stuck to buffet. The infinity pools were fantastic. The beach was better than reviewed but water was a bit rocky. However 2km and a 5 peso ride away was playa Pilar one of the most beautiful beaches I've ever seen in all my years of traveling. I highly recommend spending a day here. We went with another couple and we're all very pleased with the entire experience.

Brisas Sierra Mar: Great scenery

I’ve been many places in Cuba and I keep returning to Sierra Mar because of its location. The mountains are beautiful. I cycle early every morning and return to the resort before it gets too hot and before breakfast ends. No Cuban hotel is perfect and there are challenges. Food is fine but it’s a country dealing with a blockade from the most powerful country in the world, now in the hands of a vindictive leader so it’s limited in its selection. Fruits and vegetables must be acquired loc [... read more]ally and must be in season. Don’t expect avocado and kiwi. Having said this, they should have guava and bananas but they only have it once in a blue moon. Rooms are fine. I’ve been given an ocean view room. Service depends on individuals; some are great at it, others don’t give a damn. Great beach to walk and swim. It’s safe to wander. Take a trip to Santiago, either on your own or with an organized group. Cigars sold by locals are not banana leaves as some may tell you. They may not be the brand the label says but they are Cuban cigars. Cubans need everything from electrical outlets to bicycle tires. Bring something to give away, not only toiletries and pencils. Both Sunwing and Air Transat are fine. Got stranded by both because of mechanical issues but Air Transat put us up in hotels instead of sleeping on the terminal floor. Weekends are busy with Cuban customers but there’s space for everybody. It might be a good time to book an excursion.

Memories Paraiso: Horrible

the rooms are full of mold no coffee maker we asked to have one and none was delivered fruit flies were all through the fruit at the buffet and not ripe the same food was served daily and was never warm bed linens were not changed it was hit or miss if you got new towels they kept running out of beer and ran out of water I took pictures of the mice in the lobby not to mention the cockroaches in the room will never return

Carisol los Corales: A Typical Cuban Resort made better by amazing staff

This resort is very plain with no bells and whistles but like many resorts the staff were fantastic. The rooms were clean and the bartenders particularly at the pool bar were so much fun. Francesco, Ivan, Dennis, Jorge and Santos were always smiling and joking making your stay more fun. My only issue was the food. not that it was bad but it was never hot. except for the soup of course, There was very little fruit, as well. I am pretty easy going but if you are a picky person then this is not  [... read more]the place for you.

Memories Paraiso: Memories...

The first night we arrived around 10pm, for some reason our room was not booked correctly. I booked the suite and was given a standard room. The hotel was unable to do anything that night so we stayed in that room. The next morning I was in contact with the Sunwing rep and hotel, our room was arranged and we moved in the next day. The new room was great. It still took another two days for our diamond package to kick in. If not for these few issues I would have had no complaints and given the h [... read more]otel, staff and Sunwing a 100% rating. The room, beach, pool, food and staff were all amazing! Thank you.

Starfish Varadero: Nicer than I expected

I was a bit unsure about this resort due to some negative reviews I had read online, but I was pleasantly surprised. The beach is an incredible tropical paradise with stunning white sand and clear turquoise waters that are perfect for swimming. The resort offers palapas for shade and plentiful loungers. The lobby space is nice with 3 floors to relax, including wifi access, a couple of bars and a sports bar/restaurant. Two levels had nice and newly decorated public bathrooms that were clea [... read more]n. The service was good at the bars. I drank a ton of cappucinos and have to say that the coffee was amazing at this resort. As a non-smoker, I did need to sit strategically in the bars and common spaces of the resort as there were a lot of smokers. Thankfully, the buffet was a non-smoking space. The food was ok, although I never really got my taste buds adjusted to Cuban food. The buffet should keep its doors closed so there are fewer flies. A few more serving spoons and tongs would be good, at least one for every dish. I noticed a few guests use their fingers to pick up breads or french toast rather than search for tongs. I spent most of my time at the beach, the lobby bar area and the quiet pool (there are 2 separate pool areas, one with entertainment near the buffet and the other on the same level as the lobby bar, walk past the tourist rep desks and you will eventually find it). Both pools and pool areas are very nice and well maintained. There was good singers, musicians or other entertainment on the terrrace starting at 7pm everynight but I never stayed long as I was bitten by mosquitos here. They seem to only come out at night. I never got bitten during the day. I was happy with my room. It was clean, no feared cockroachs showed up as per some prior reviews stated. The bed was comfortable and the room was cleaned every day. The air conditioning worked great as did the minibar fridge. The maid left a 1.5L bottle of water everyday. My room had beach towels as well as bath towels, however no face cloths. Bring your own if this is important to you. I brought my international power plug adaptor and had to use it to charge my phone as the plugs are 220v. The resort is a Cuban 3star, so there are small things that might bother you if you are a details person with high expectations. My room had paint splatters on the window. There was mostly hot water in the evenings (best time to shower anyways). The hallways and grounds had some chipped paint & tiles, carpets had some stains. Only one of the 2 elevators was working. The satellite TV was out of service for a day, but it got fixed the next day. Overall, I was happy with my room and the resort. The grounds were well kept. I would certainly consider a repeat visit if I book another trip to Varadero.

Brisas Sierra Mar: Love the Cubans, but.....

I love the resort and all the staff and have been going here for the last 4 years. The last couple of years they have been allowing some of the more affluent Cuban families come to the resort on the weekends and this year I am afraid it was more than just on the weekends. As I said I love Cuba and most Cubans, but I do not like the attitude of the more affluent ones that are allowed weekend passes or day passes. There are far too many and they are loud, rude and obnoxious and filthy. They th [... read more]row garbage all over the resort and they pile their plates high with food in the Buffet area. No one could possibly eat the amount piled on their plates and we have seen them put large amount of food in their bags or purses to take home. This leaves a shortage of foods for the rest of us They also take cups silverware and other things out in their purses. We get up the next morning and there are no coffee cups to have coffee. They also sit at in the pool at the pool bar all day and evening and not once do I see them get out to use the bathroom, so you know what is happening in the pool while they are drinking all day and never getting off their bar stools The poor staff are run ragged trying to keep up with everyone and they are not happy with the amount that are let into the resort. I do not feel this way about all Cubans. I visited 3 villages while I was there this year, as I had brought children's clothing to help some of those in need. These families are wonderful and so appreciative for anything. They also want to give us gifts of fruits they grow there. So different from the ones they allow into the resort. I am afraid I will be looking at other Cuban resorts next year as I cannot handle this one anymore. At one time I would have recommended this resort but not anymore.

Don Lino Hotel: You get what you pay for

It's a simple hotel nothing fancy, make sure you bring water shoes as the beach is full of coral and you'll not want to go in the water with out the shoes, food was so so, a la carte menu not much better, nonetheless pleasant but not much to do there or around there.

Paradisus Rio De Oro: Recent Yearly Stay

We have recently returned from our two week stay at the Paradisus (Feb.4-18) On the whole, things have remained very positive at the Paradisus, (as you will see with my star review below) despite fuel shortages across the country, and strained economic relations. I will mention some worthwhile points. 1. I was happy to see that there were new shows added to the regular lineup, since we are yearly guests. Kudos to the young dancers, musicians, and entertainment team! (Delmis, Dian [... read more]a, Junior, Ali, just to mention a few.) 2. Of course, there is no lack of musical entertainment: small Cuban ensembles, awesome rock guitar, classically trained singers, clarinetist & flautists, the list is endless, and by far my favourite aspect of the holiday. 3. There did appear to be several shortages in the buffet this year, however, it did not stop one from enjoying the assortment of foods available at the grilling stations, pasta bar, or the regular cooked meats and vegetables. The a la cartes were good. By far, my best meal was at the El Patio, where I thoroughly enjoyed the suckling pig with candied sauce! Too many names to mention for the extra care! 4. The only thing I can I say about service at the Paradisus, in terms of room care, reception, buffet, and bar.....wonderful!! Thank you to Yamalet, Delia, Yudith, Pablo, Maria, Yadira, Marice, Danilou, Raymond, Allien, Lenore, Yelenis, Dayle, Osmani, George, Lazarus, Yallie,, Youre’, William to mention some! Everyone goes out of their way regardless of how they feel! Always a smile! 😀 5. Smoking Areas: Greater attention on behalf of management is needed where smoking is concerned. Of course Cuba is great for it’s cigars, however, tables need to be clearly marked as smoking/non-smoking. Too often, patrons were smoking in non-smoking areas. :o( In speaking with many guests over the 2 weeks, the general consensus is that the Adult only Paradisus is a favourite for so many! I look forward to my next visit.:o)

Sol Turquesa Beach: We felt at home.

We spent our two-week vacation at Memorial Holgin. From the moment we arrived, we really felt at home. I'd like to thank Mayeli from Room Service, Zoila, Yudeikis, Zoini, Victor the Buffet Manager, and Carlos the Beach Attendant who was very attentive. I'd also like to give a special thanks to Imad and Luis Miguel Tamayo from Public Relations who always asked if we were having a comfortable stay and were quick to accommodate our every need. Again, thank you for making us feel at home.  [... read more] Maria and Walter Peraza P.S. This was the first time in many years that we didn't want to return to Toronto and would have loved to stay a while longer at the resort. Gracias por hacernos sentir como que estabamos en nuestra casa.