Amazing resort, beautiful beach, no food,no water in a room,no hot water In the shower,no toilet paper in the washroom.but in general it's a great resort ,very friendly envairment, beautifully designed rooms.i will definitely recommend to go visit this resort
We were told that there could be supply issues and I believe it should be stated on the Memories Caribe website exactly what the issues are so that guests can make an informed decision on whether they would stay there or somewhere else.
Firstly, it was hard to get towels changed and when they did, well we have better scrub rags (tattered and frayed edges and not very white. The fridge in the room was empty from day one to day seven. When we inquired about water, soda or even beer, we were told[... read more] it was due to supply issues. In particular, gas for the trucks to make deliveries.
Second, the food. We had bread on 3 days only. Never had any bacon or ham. I believe the omelettes were made from powered eggs and were served with tomatoes, green peppers and cheese. A couple of mornings we were offered hotdog wieners or hamburger patties (meat only- no buns). Don't get me wrong, I did not starve, but the meals they served, were the same every damn day. Chicken or pork with chicken or pork stir fry cooked fresh on the grill. They also had tallapia fish grilled fresh and freshly cooked pasta. I just wish they could have changed it up a few days. A few French fries would have been nice.
Third, wine. Wine was only offered at the buffet and the al-a-carte restaurants during lunch and dinner. There was no wine available at the bars around the resort.
On a good note, It's a great place to go if you want to lose a few pounds.
Lastly, at the end of our vacation and went to the Cuban airport and got to chat with others who were on vacations at different resorts, some experienced shortages also but not to the extreme we did, and some travelers experienced no shortage at all.
Majority of the staff were great and tried to make our stay as enjoyable as possible. The problem I think is the management lacks innovation or motivation to improve the situation.
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Vladtch -
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Iberostar Origin Daiquiri: We had a good vacation, but with some caveats.
We spend a week at Iberostar Daiquiri at the end of March 2024. Small group of 5 people. First impression was 'What a rathole we got ourselves into!' - reasons being flight came late, check-in took very long, and no restaurant was working, hotel does not have ANY food provisions for arrivals after 22:00. So hungry/angry guests go to sleep in Cuban style - hungry! Don't have any REAL 24-h snack bar. Also rooms are looking old and musty, some lights not working, some furniture missing. Rooms were [... read more]clean, but still first impression was not favorable. Next morning we were rested, ate and had a nice swim, things look better. Overall, we had not a bad vacation!
So here is the list of pros and cons:
Food was good, probably the best we had in Cuba recently. Both fresh fruits and meats/fish present and well prepared. To the chief chef - thank you sir/madam!!! No shortages (at least no considerable ones).
Beach is nice, sand is clean and white, seaweed cleaned out daily, enough lounges/shades, beach bar - good, Pier is maintained and nice. Coconuts - cut for you for a small fee daily.
When wind is mild, swimming is very pleasant, but no reef close to the beach. you see lots of fish hiding under pier from birds. you can also see the lion-fish under the adjacent hotel's pier. We spotted starfish and sting rays once.
Staff is friendly and tries to help - even the infamous front desk staff. Waiting staff at the restaurants are somewhat slow, but bearable.
Showers are good and working, hot water present.
Internet is limited to 7 hours per week, but is relatively fast and present in the rooms too! Very good!!!
Reef is in 1 km to 3 km from the beach - catamaran ride for $20 or excursion for $50. Reef is so-so, but at least present.
1 hour bicycle rent is included, also 30 min catamaran run is included - use it, we liked it.
Cons:
Mosquitos near rooms and beach. Was not so bad for us, but some guests were all red spots, like chickenpox.
WINDY. I mean - kite-boarding and stronger. Could be a pro if you kite, but for swimming - not good. out of 7 days 4 were too windy, and 3 were very calm and nice.
Rooms are spacious but aged, they smell faintly of age, for some could be a big con.
NO food provisions for arrivals after 22:00. if your flight arrives after 9 pm prepare some sandwich for that. IF hotel admin reading this - you are CRAZY not providing this, EVERY other hotel - even 2 star ones have something for late arrivals. it creates VERY BAD first impression.
First connection to the internet was iffy and confusing, messages are in Spanish, even if you choose English. Once you are connected - done your browsing/calling/uploading, disconnect to save hours for later, next connection is ok, though wait for it, takes few seconds waiting. You don't need to enter password again - just wait.
That is it.
Few tricks: if you ran out of internet hours - go ask front desk for more, no charge.
If you want snorkeling - instead of catamaran for $20, you can go to Diving center (600 m walk to the left) and ask to ride as a passenger - same $20, but reef is nicer and bigger. They depart around 9:30 and 11:30 (approx)
Check out a wild flamingo flock - 1.5 km total walk from the beach to the right (800m) and at the next hotel (starfish) right again - another 600m almost to the main road, flamingo laguna is on the left.
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Private -
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Iberostar Origin Playa Pilar: A Series of Unfortunate Events
My parents have been to Cuba 11 times, we came as a family for the 3rd time together and unfortunately it was objectively the worst experience we’ve had. We are not picky but the 2/5 rating is based on the customer service and upkeep of the facilities. Due to the nationwide food shortage Cuba is experiencing, it wouldn’t be fair to rate the food.
Pros:
- lovely gardeners, very friendly, lovely landscaping, helped us source coconuts
- beautiful water, cold though in March-April
Cons:
[... read more]- my bed broke and collapsed on one side just before I went to bed (I weigh less than 120 lbs)
- toilets flushed only once every few hours (…“if it’s yellow let it mellow”)
- for about 18 hours our entire building ran out of water
- internet was out for several days, therefore unable to use credit card for late check out payment
- glum looking staff who seemed annoyed with requests or questions
- all towels and bedsheets were stained with old makeup or what looked like blood
- multiple rounds of keycards not working
- front door handle fell off
- previous guest’s hair was on the shower wall and remained there all week
Honestly.. it was not a relaxing vacation at all, we just waited for one thing to go wrong after the other. Perhaps this is now the case for resorts across Cuba post pandemic but we certainly wouldn’t come back here.
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Joyce -
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Iberostar Selection Esmeralda: Nice resort
Hotel was very nice considering food shortages in Cuba at present time not bad service was horrible no face cloths or towels all week along with no toilet paper last day was spent with no running water for whole resort very dissappointed
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Private -
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Iberostar Selection Esmeralda: Not worth it
Big problems with the food supplies. The drinking water was missing, the alternative glass bottles was stinky as a hell, as well the water itself was very chlorine taste. The cola was missing as well. The food was nothing special, below the average. The beach was good, but a lot of plastic thrush at the sand.
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Megnay -
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Melia Cayo Coco: Definitely the best resort in Cuba
Me and my two friends thoroughly enjoyed our time at Melia Cayo Coco. We loved how small it was, meaning we never had to fight for beach or pool chairs (a huge plus at a resort). All of the servers (shout out Joel at the main buffet and Charles, the omelette guy!) were incredibly friendly, kind and appreciative of generous tips. The beach is absolutely spectacular; probably the most beautiful beach I've ever seen in my life aside from Cayo Santa Maria, also in Cuba. The rooms were slightly rundo[... read more]wn, but that is to be expected at most resorts — they were perfectly fine, comfortable beds and the AC worked very well. We had some issues with water pressure and heat, but again, to be expected in Cuba. We loved the excursions... Highly recommend doing the one to Playa Pilar and renting a catamaran to go snorkelling only a few minutes right from the main beach of the resort (the catamaran is free, based off tips, and snorkelling is $20 each). The food was definitely the best I've ever had in Cuba... but this is not to say it was really good, it was good at times and passable most days, and we got very bored of it by a few days in. Having said that, there was always something to eat, but if you are vegetarian you will feel very limited by the choices. The 24/7 snack bar was our favourite spot... Simple pizzas, burgers, sandwiches, etc. We did really appreciate that the main buffet ALWAYS had fresh lettuce and fixings to make salads. It's important to understand that Cuba is in a food crisis and their own people do not have access to food, so it's a privilege to have what we do at the resort. We chose one night to go to the Mediterranean restaurant and my two friends got VERY bad food poisoning from the pasta or tempura, which they are still dealing with almost a week after getting back. The mosquitoes are only bad if you are near the lagoon/on the grass near the lagoon and at the airport at night, otherwise we didn't experience any mosquitoes really at our normal room or in the back area of our room. I would definitely recommend this resort, especially if you are middle aged or older — it's very quiet and quaint, no one really bugs you to buy drinks or play games and the night entertainment was great!
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Petra -
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Grand Aston Cayo Paredon Beach Resort: Amazing resort, poor food
The resort is very good, the accommodation is superb. Several lovely swimming pools, gorgeous beach. Staff is friendly and pleasant. Now about the food: we all know that Cuba is facing shortages in every way so we didn't expect gourmet dining, however it was even worse than we expected. There wasn't much to choose from the first two days. No fruit at all, mostly cabbage, rice and dry pasta with a couple of spoons of watered down tomato paste. As far as alholic drinks, there was no wine in the [... read more]entire resort, only beer and rum. The situation improved the 3rd day of our stay as they must have received new shipment of food. There were omelets in the morning and fried fish and chicken later in the day. However the lines to get this food were very very long. There was even wine in the evening but you had beg to get your glass refilled. There was no tea the entire week.
Having said this, aside from the food, we still had a good time and enjoyed our stay.
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Private -
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Memories Caribe Beach Resort: Beautiful resort
The resort was very beautiful from the palm trees to the flower's and the beach the different venues were decorated nicely. The public washrooms were kept impeccable and they decorated the sinks with hibiscus flowers everyday. Entertainment was good. Different choices everyday in the piano bar, at the pool and a beach party at night!! (Wear insect repellent) There were some shortages…items unavailable at times were bottled water, bread. The water that is available at the bar is good I drank alo[... read more]t of it. Save your bottle and refill at bar.
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Private -
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Memories Caribe Beach Resort: Fabulous time!
Beautiful and clean resort! Lots of activities to keep you entertained all day and evening. Staff are engaging and friendly! Food was good, lots of drinks available. Loved the beach party, disco and piano bar. Great entertainment nightly, truly enjoyable! Dancing into the night! Always great music throughout the resort and disco represented by DJ Tinta. The entertainment team was awesome!
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SCACPT -
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Melia Jardines del Rey: Excellent Vacation
We are enjoying our last day of vacation at MJDR, our favourite hotel in Cayo Coco. We have stayed here MANY times, and always appreciate the Cuban people, weather, beach and hospitality. We will definitely come back. Two large pools with many chairs and beach towels you can change as needed. The beach here is beyond paradise…crystal clear, calm and walkable forever. The huge lobby and open air Mojito Bar is popular with drinks, activities, entertainment and wifi. No mosquitoes. Our suite and [... read more]maid (Aradely) in building 18 was excellent. Highly recommend the coffee bar, a la carte restaurants, ice cream parlour, snack bar, pizza and barbecue. Thank you to our pool (Yeisy, Yexnier, Osiel) and beach (Joel and friend) bartenders. The animation team (Jordan and friends) are around all day and night for music, games, and the fun Thursday night beach party. Much gratitude to Lisbet and Adalberto in customer service and Yohander at reception and Papa/Jorge in food and beverage who have made our vacations outstanding since the hotel opened in 2014. Tonight we look forward to the special reception and dinner for repeat guests. Thank you to all staff for making our vacation so relaxing and special.
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Susana C -
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Grand Aston Cayo Paredon Beach Resort: Overall great experience! Great people, beautiful beach and new amenities.
My first time visiting Grand Aston Cayo Paredón and overall I had a great experience.
Yes the food shortages are noticeable but you can tell the staff makes every effort to make the most with what they have.
I decided to upgrade to the Club and was the best choice! My goal was to have a relaxing and peaceful vacation and doing the upgrade allowed me to be in a more secluded section with a beautiful pool facing the ocean!
This also included a private restaurant, bar and lounge area where Carlo[... read more]s and team made every attempt to ensure everyone was taken care off.
The only feedback I would have is for management to really invest into creating more options to allow for better flow in the buffet as I felt bad for the people who couldn't upgrade to the club option and had to wait so long for an omelette or some pasta.
Yes you don't travel to Cuba for the food experience, but you also don't go on vacation to wait for an hour to have breakfast or lunch.
For the A la carte restaurants I would recommend management invests in some training to enhance the taste of the dishes. I would rather have less options to pick from but ensure it tastes the best than have a chicken parmigiana that is not exactly a chicken parmigiana. Considering how much effort the staff puts into their work I just feel like there could be more done from the top management to make things easier for everyone.
The evening entertainment had some great shows, would have preferred if the location where most of the shows were held wasn't setup on beach sand and that it offered more seating as some nights people had to stand in order to watch.
I would definitely return just for the overall experience!
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Private -
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Grand Aston Cayo Paredon Beach Resort: Very disappointing resort
Beautiful beach and resort itself but so many shortcomings that it was impossible for us to experience a stress free vacation. We managed our expectations but could not have imagined how bad it could be. Had to salvaged our vacation and upgrade to the Club for a lot of money just to get basic necessities. Had a good time meeting new people but it had nothing to do for this pooly managed resort.
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Sharmagne -
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Grand Muthu Cayo Guillermo: Second stay. Beautiful!
Friendly, safe, and clean. The staff are amazing. Always lots to do and plenty to eat at the buffet as well as a snack bar. There are four other restaurants to choose from. The lobby is wide open with lots of seating to read a book or play a board game. Beautiful beach to play volleyball, watch the boats, or take a long walk to collect shells. Plenty of seating around the clean pools with a view of the ocean. Always entertainment with musicians and dancers through the day and shows every night. [... read more]Our family of five will return!
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Tiff -
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Tryp Cayo Coco: Fantastic Resort!
The Tryp is a great resort! The staff are absolutely amazing which is a big part of what makes this place so great! The beach is absolutely beautiful! Overall the place is pretty clean. Wasn’t too busy either. Good entertainment at night as well.
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Private -
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Grand Muthu Cayo Guillermo: Good bang for your buck
This resort was worth the money we paid for the vacation. The food was above Cuba standards. The rooms were clean. grounds kept neat and tidy. Liquor (rum and beer),pop and water were available all day every day. Nightly entertainment was good (2 shows in particular) The 24hr snack bar did run out of snacks throughout the day. There was no washroom near the beach. Bar service in the lobby was not as efficient as accustomed to but pool bar was great. It is a property we would return for the same [... read more]dollar figure.
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Debbie -
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Tryp Cayo Coco: Disappointed compared to past years
I have been coming to this resort for the past 7-8 years. Its a beautiful resort and the staff is what makes me keep returning. This year however, my husband came with me and had a very expensive Underarmor shirt stolen from the lobby bar. I also had by beach towels and clips stolen off my chaise lounges by the pool, which in turn I had to pay for them at $20 a piece. Every year I have had a bottle of rum left in my room as a repeat customer. Not this year and upon inquiring was told they n[... read more]o longer due this. I love Cayo Coco and may have to try a different resort next year.
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LToellner -
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Sanctuary White Sands: Amazing beach and staff
We stayed at the newly opened Sanctuary White Sands Resort in Cayo Cruz, Cuba (March 2024). This resort is brand new, clean, modern and not too large. The white sand beach with turquoise water was one of the most beautiful we have been too. The pools are large, easily accessible and have lots of seating. They have been adding more shade to the beach and pool areas. The resort is very well laid out. It is only a short walk from lobby, to pool, to beach or any building. At this point the resort is[... read more] doing a soft opening and is not at full capacity. There are some hiccups with the buffet and a la carts. Supplies are limited because sure to bring your condiments and any extras you like.
The staff were all very helpful, polite and always smiling. A shout out to a few special staff members that went above and beyond. The electric personality of the pool attendant Luis was amazing. His soul purpose is to make you smile and assist you any way he can. Yailenis (Yai) and Yordays at the pool bar were amazing at making us many delicious drinks. They are very knowledgeable. Dainelis at the buffet was always prompt to get us whatever we needed. These employees make us want to go back to this resort as they made our vacation very memorable. We hope to return soon.
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Adskar74 -
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Sol Cayo Coco: Amazing resort
Had a 2 week stay at Sol and have to give nothing but praise. Rooms were spacious, comfy beds and very clean. Had bottle of water everyday in room and lots of towels, always stocked.
Food was phenomenal, I never experienced any shortage of anything in the 2 weeks. Fresh eggs and bacon everyday, lots of fresh fruit and for dinner you always had choice of pork, beef, chicken or fish. Some nights even veal - pasta station was great as well! We skipped lunch and opted for snack bar pizzas and fries[... read more] which were fantastic! No illness experienced whatsoever.
Entertainment team was exceptional and always had lots going on if you were wanting activities, otherwise shows were fantastic with authentic Cuban bands. Music was not too loud and they cater to all ages.
Special mention to all staff at Sol who are genuine, friendly and will go out of their way to make your vacation enjoyable and memorable!
Will definitely return and I recommend to those looking for a solid, great place with a fantastic vibe and is budget friendly.
Have been to Cuba over 30 times and this by far is the fav! Have stayed at newer resorts, but they don’t compare to the warmth, care and kindness experienced here.
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Kimmcarthur -
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Grand Aston Cayo Paredon Beach Resort: Beautiful Resort
We just came back from this resort on Tuesday.
The beaches are amazing, hotel was beautiful, staff was pleasant.
As always food was what I would have expected from Cuba. Although the shortages are getting more plentiful. I feel bad that I was contributing to eat the food that the the Cubans lack. Until this issue is resolved I will not be going back to Cuba. This has nothing at all to do with the resort nor the beautiful people and scenery.