Grand Aston Cayo Paredon Beach Resort: Food not edible, poor service, ants in the room

If you come to Cuba, come for the beach. I strongly recommend bring your own food and towels. The food is not edible. As in literally not edible. There were real eggs once in a week that I was there, but a long line to get them so they ran out. They make omelettes out of powder. There are also no milk products. I do not know what they make the yogurts from, but it’s not edible. Buffet has long lines, they run out of whatever food they have quickly. The ala cart dinners are ridiculous. Waited [... read more] for 1.5 hours at the Italian place for boiled pasta. They gave out stale bread. The meat in the Mexican restaurant was not chewable. There are no juices for the kids, just some flavoured water, which is disgusting. I can go on, but you get the picture. My kids ate ramen noodles that I brought. Service: I asked for a bottle water to come to my room for 3 days. If you want to get a place on the beach you have to grab one at 6 am. All of them are taken if you show up at 9. Same goes for the pool. Bring your own towel. They give you 1 towel card per person, and run out of towels pretty quickly. Entertainment: honestly too loud for me, but tolerable. They have 30 min of dancing for the kids every evening. Nobody goes to the kids club, so do not expect to be able to out the kids in kids club while you have some adult time. Bottom line, this is not a 4 star hotel by Canadian standards. So if you go into it with low expectations, figure out what you can bring in terms of food you can be comfortable.

Iberostar Coral Esmeralda: Absolute Disappointment

The rooms are clean, food is terrible, water is scarce to come by, bottled water must be asked for or bought, towels are non existent, no sodaand zero mixed drink options really other than rum, we literally had zero a la carts, no eggs, booked the spa and was cancelled stating that closed till fixed, everything was cancelled when management showed up No dinner reservations or a la carts No condiments, mustard, relish, ketchup, only mayo - none, not even vinegar Daily No white or red wine No [... read more] liquors , No coffee No eggs the entire time we were there other than powdered Very limited bread, buns & French fries- just depended on the day No hand towels, toilet paper, no face clothes, zero beer in fridges in the room for the entire stay, nor did anyone in the resort No bottled water- house cleaner, room service, bar tenders, there was water available but highly chlorinated to point of making me sick No facial tissues& no napkins/silverware at times Ceiling issues, water issues, running toilets Old in shower ceilings, No pop or soda daily, vermouth, no potatoes, no fresh fruit only canned peaches & pineapple Zero beer or drinks in our room No 24 hour food at snack Bar, no beach grill -the communication, scheduling & supervision at this resort was an absolute nightmare There was a couple days where there was cheese available

Hotel Playa Coco: Amazing resort

Beautiful rooms beautiful staff Beach pristine excellent pools. All in all my two weeks there were excellent no complaints. I would recommend this resort to anyone. Lobby bar staff are amazing. Food at the beach fantastic.

Valentin Cayo Cruz: Beautiful resort!!

The resort was beautiful. Staff went over and above to help you if they could. There were shortages on resort, but we were expecting that. We read up a lot before the trip. Overall....we (6 adults) had a good time. Had no complaints about resort.

Melia Jardines del Rey: Nice beach and subpar accommodation

Lets start with the good things; The beach and water are amazing This is the only good thing about this resort that is more like a 2 star not 4 The rooms are really old and un need of renovation, bed sheets stained and with holes. After tipping considerably and asking for new sheets I got ones with fewer stains and only 2 holes. The key to the room stoped working numerous times and every time you need to go to reception to have it reprogrammed. Food is tasteless, deserts are all the same wit [... read more]h different cream on top. You do not go hungry but definitely did not enjoy any dish. The list is too long. I do not consume alcohol so I can not comment on this.

Hotel Playa Coco: Fabulous Beach and Great Resort!

We had a great visit for the first week in March at this beautiful part of Cayo Coco. This was our second visit to this resort with the last being eight years ago. Despite the hardships in Cuba, the resort was in at least as good and in many areas better condition than our last visit. The room, common areas and pools were clean and well maintained. The food was plentiful, satisfying and there was a good variety. There were shortages which meant no eggs on some days or they ran out of butter [... read more] and wine was hit or miss but that's to be expected with the Cuban economy as it is right now. We did not have any shortages that made us go hungry or not enjoy our trip. The a la carte restaurants were a bit of a disappointment in the choices of food available, again probably due to shortages, but made a nice change from the buffet anyway. Bottled water was available at all times. (We had no shortages of toilet paper or power issues either.) The staff were super friendly with some that made extra efforts to ensure we were having a great time. Elietta at the buffet, George (Jorje?) at the quiet pool bar and our housekeeping staff in building 6 stood out in particular, although everyone we dealt with were very accommodating and helpful. I can't rave enough about the beautiful beach and the opportunities to see sea life (conchs, crabs, many varieties of fish) and birds. You can walk for kilometers either way from the resort before you get to another resort. The resort beach itself was wide and sandy with plenty of chaises and shade. One note is that if you are susceptible to bug bites, be sure to bring plenty of bug spray and benedryl. Though we didn't find there to be a lot of bugs, you are likely to get some bites in the morning or evening without bug spray. Two of the four in our party really reacted to the bites and that took away a bit from their enjoyment. We had perfect weather and a wonderful time and would definitely go back again.

Melia Costa Rey: Very nice resort

We loved the hotel, it was clean, staff was very welcoming and the entertainment was very good. The food was good in the buffet and the A la carte were excellent. The room cleaning was excellent. The beach is breath taking. The only down fall was that we didn’t have hot water and when we mentioned it we were offered to use the showers at another location. I would recommend this resort and we will go back in the future.

Iberostar Coral Esmeralda: Amazing resort

The resort was small, clean, and the staff was helpful and friendly. The food was ok but everything else about the resort was exceptional. I would definitely go again. We had one of the swim up rooms and now I’m spoiled for any other trips I want to take.

Grand Aston Cayo Paredon Beach Resort: Amazing hotel

It was a beautifull hotel, nice staff, very clean. Everything was OK, except for coffee pods, not getting everyday. Food,drinks, and restaurant a la carte, pool and buffet was OK. They just need a little more organization especially at the airport. We had a nice holiday!

Iberostar Selection Esmeralda: Review if Iberostar Selections Esmeralda Cayo coco

Resort listed as 5 star, trip was all inclusive; after being there for 9 days, I feel it certainly isn’t 5 Star. We did not receive basic items such as toilet paper, bottled water, bed coverings, clean towels or linen changes for the entire stay. Food was limited but not terrible, alcohol drinks were very limited in selection, no soda to mix with drinks. Customer Service office was very welcoming and would write notes of what we needed, telling us they would look after right away. They would n [... read more]ot do anything one you left their office. Sign up for a la cart meals was scheduled to begin 9 am each day for the evening meal but some how the list would be full by the time we signed up at 9. Then when I complained I was advised the rules changed and people could book all their a la carts upon arrival. However this was never made public to those already at the resort. Very poor signage of events, times, schedules to occur over the week.

Melia Costa Rey: Great Vacation at Gran Marena Cayo Coco

We have been to the family side of this resort twice before when it was called the Pullman. This time we upgraded to the Sunset Adult Only side. The resort is only 15 minutes from the airport which is a huge plus for us. Upon arrival at the hotel, we were met by a concierge who was holding a sign with our names on it. He (Falcon), walked us to the Sunset lobby where he checked us in and told us about that section of the resort. Our room was on the second floor as requested and we had a (distan [... read more]t) view of the ocean. Our room was large and clean and everything worked. Beach towels were in the room and the bathroom was well-supplied. The bath towels were replaced every day. The mini fridge was stocked with water and beer. The pool area was beautiful with lots of loungers and bali beds with big roofs for shade. There is a pool bar and a beach bar. The beach is huge, clean and beautiful. They have recently built many new palapas on the beach so there is plenty of shade. There is no need to get up early to save chair at the beach. The beach is raked and cleaned every morning by a couple of hard working men. The food and drinks were great and plentiful. We ate at the Gourmet restaurant frequently and the food was always great. We did not notice and shortages of food or alcohol during our stay. We brought our own instant coffee and heated water in the coffee maker in the morning, but the pool bar is open for early morning coffee. We indulged in a couples massage at the Spa and would highly recommend this. All the staff in this section were amazing. Very professional and happy to help us with anything we required. The adult only side of the resort is very quiet and relaxing and the guests were mainly older people. It is not a party area of the hotel. It was not at capacity when we were there at the beginning of March as they are renovating many rooms. We look forward to returning to the resort and in particular, the adult only section in the future.

Iberostar Selection Esmeralda: Several Issues, but an excellent time

Some issues but overall an excellent time. There were some management issues towards the end of my trip which may be more impactful for the next wave of guests, but only made a small impact on my stay. The story I heard was that half the staff was fired ~2 days prior to the end of my stay, this resulted in the a la carte's being closed, the spa being closed (inspection issue?) and a noticeable decrease in house keeping Biggest concerns: Supply issues... mainly regarding water bottles in m [... read more]y 7 day stay I only received 2 water bottles... which, as someone who has abstained from alcohol for years was quite troubling.. but it was fine... I slummed it with beer and Rum and had a time of it The ongoing supply issues were exacerbated by the lip service of hotel staff, "oh no, we'll get that sorted right away sir." ... it never was.. and repeated complaints always yielded the same lip service. I understand the problem with supply issues, and was quite patient in that regard, but I really could have done without the lip service that never yielded results. Food: I don't recall having a bad meal, very good overall. At the start of my trip they had no eggs, they were using pre-prepared presumably powdered eggs, which was fine. I tried it once and had no real complaints.. but stuck with the cereal option for breakfast -A la carte's were a pain... booking was only done in the morning for the same day (unless you pulled some strings with the management), and even then it filled up VERY fast. This was also a major issue in regards to the management problem mentioned above, the last two days there were no a la carte due to staffing problems. The a la carte's themselves were quite unimpressive... very limited selection and VERY slow service. In the two I tried it took ~1 hour for the food to arrive, luckily I had a book with me. The food wasn't of much higher quality than the buffet, which was quite annoying considering the time taken to prepare. Would not recommend. Beach: Fantastic, easily the highlight of any Cuban vacation, especially in the Cayo regions ..... the only complaint would be the other guests... specifically the fact they do not clean up after themselves. I would often find bottles, glasses, cigarette butts, etc littering the beach. Room: Small but functional, which suited me just fine, I'd rather not spend my time in my room. I opted for an Oceanview room and was VERY pleased with the result. The walls seemed quite thick as I did not hear my neighbors... very nice. Housekeeping staff were extremely pleasant and a personal highlight, as my housekeeper was the one who went out of her way to provide me with my much sought after water. I didn't see her on my last day, I hope she is still employed there. I haven't travelled to Cuba since just before Covid struck, and was quite surprised by the extensive free Wi-Fi coverage. A very unexpected and welcome bonus. .... though personally it was a little soured at the end... the Wi-Fi control is apparently automated elsewhere, so when it was time to check out, I was kicked off the service. Normally this wouldn't have been a large issue, but I was in the middle of trying to resolve a problem and was quite urked by the sudden loss of internet.... to make matters worse, my check-out was the standard 1200.. while my departure from the hotel was at 1930 ( delayed to 2030) .. supposedly the hotel had an arrangement with Sunwing to circumvent this problem... but... no... hopefully they resolve that in the future.

Iberostar Coral Esmeralda: Amazing resort! Loved it!

This resort was fantastic. It was quiet, lots of chairs at the beach and pool. It was never busy and overcrowded even thought the resort was fully booked. Never had to reserve a spot at the beach, pool, and buffet no matter the time of day. The food was good and did run out. The service was excellent and the rooms were clean, large and very comfortable. If you like the nightlife, it is not the place to go. By 11 pm everyone is in their rooms. If you want a beautiful beach and quiet area to re [... read more]lax, this is the place for you.

Memories Flamenco Beach Resort: Third Time a Charm

Even though we couldn’t have Ocean Front ( not available) our room on the end of building #2 ( beside #1) was fabulous. This time we enjoyed hot water and pressure from the shower!! Room was always clean. We were disappointed ( paying more for Diamond Club) we were NOT given water and/ or beer daily as stated in booking. Front desk staff could be more polite and friendly. I realize they deal with many people and issues, however, when someone new walks up …. Be ?. We will return be [... read more]cause we love the beach. ?️

Memories Caribe Beach Resort: Such a fun resort

Food was pretty good. Lots to drink. Beautiful beach and shallow warm water and fun pool action. Hardly wait to go back. I would recommend buying the diamond pkg . All the staff everywhere was friendly and hard working. Felt bad for buffet staff. They were clearing, setting and serving people. Too bad there wasn’t some extra help for them. Hard workers

Iberostar Coral Esmeralda: Absolutely fabulous resort

This was the very best resort I have ever stayed at. The room was simply amazing. The Lobby entertainment was great. The bar staff were fabulous especially Dan. He was the best. Great mixologist and kept the mood very high at all times. The beach was gorgeous and the sand was like flour under your feet. All the staff went out of their way to accommodate you. Definitely will visit again next year. Can’t wait.

Valentin Cayo Cruz: Beautiful beach & a nice resort.

This was our first resort stay, we had a lovely time. The beach and the ocean was something to see. It was definitely worth spending on the Alegance package. The staff was great, and very attentive. Shortages to the region made for some challenges with certain foods and beverages, and I think it was handled very well by the staff. The property is beautiful, the pools are well maintained and readily available. You are a little out of the way, but if you want to relax like we did, this place was a [... read more] great choice.

Hotel Playa Paraiso: Room was Horrible

Well had a great time at the resort, however the room was a nightmare. The room was cleaned everyday and had no issues with the cleanliness of my room. I was at an end unit closest to the bush. Not very well light at night. First couple of days, issues with my room key. Since I was at an end unit, there was a window but no blind. So I used a towel to cover what I could. Had issues with the door locking but finally figured it that I had to push the door out a bit to lock it. No lock on the patio  [... read more]door, no screen and no way to ensure that no entry could happen. The phone was not plugged in and I would had to move the phone and place it on the floor. The tv channels were not the same as to what my friend had but at least I had one English Channel but a few days later, lost that channel. I did talk to Customer Service and it was fixed immediately. I also discussed the issue with the patio door but nothing was done. When I mentioned the room number, he was aware of that room so I believe he knew the condition of this room And the last thing that was the worst part of the room. Cockroaches. I was there 7 days and there was only one day where I didn’t see them. I was bungalow 2, second floor. Also, I was going to have a cup of tea but noticed small bugs in the back of the coffee maker, so I passed on using that. I’m shocked that this room was given out to paying customers. No wifi in the rooms well which is unfortunate. I slept awful during the entire week as I felt unsafe. I would not go back to this resort again just because of the quality of this room

Iberostar Selection Esmeralda: Good value

This was definitely not a 5 star resort but we def had a 5 star experience! Beach is absolutely stunning, much work needed to clean up a lot of the rubbish washed up from storms just beyond the resort. There were toilet paper and bottled water shortages but we didn't let that get to us, many guests were very upset about this. We went with our 8 month old baby and the staff provided us with crib and high chair in our room (no cost). They also made sure to set aside water for our baby. My husba [... read more]nd and I drank the treated water on the resort with no issues. Food was really tasty, always fresh fish for the grill, steak or pork freshly grilled as well, rice, pancakes and eggs for breakfast, lovely breads, desserts, salad bar, cheeses, guava, papaya, bananas and more (a baby's feast)! The hospitality of this resort was impeccable! Guest services were amazing, wait staff, maids also incredible! Rooms are really nice with sexy showers and our room overlooked the stunning crystal blue ocean. 3 pools were very nice also, a couple nights the music did get to us very late (finishing around midnight, pack your earplugs), as a tired Mom and Dad that was a bit frustrating but again that is also expected on a resort vacation. We would have gladly been down there too enjoying the night if we were baby-free. Overall we loved Cayo Cruz and the remote experience of this resort, it was exactly what we needed for some much needed rest and relaxation, highly recommend for families, we met so many friendly Canadians and Cubans!

Melia Cayo Coco: Lovely cosey resort

Melia Cayo Coco is just the right size for a relaxed, adult vacation. Seniors in majority. Beach excellent. Staff friendly and helpful. Clean rooms and grounds. Entertainment professional. Food plentiful and basic.