Iberostar Coral Esmeralda: Amazing staff

Comfortable clean hotel. Great variety of food. Wonderful staff, ready to help in any situation. Great entertainment. It could do better with a little bit more maintenance on the property especially furniture and curtains.

Grand Aston Cayo Paredon Beach Resort: Grand Aston = good times

We are an experienced group of visitors to the Cayos and Cuba in general, and this was our first time on Paredon. Being so new, all the rooms, furnishings, and grounds were all in great shape: The shower in the room had excellent pressure, the beds were comfortable, everything worked. I had a minor electrical issue that was promptly addressed by the front desk staff, who where very helpful every time I had a request (internet access, swapping rooms, general information, keeping my towel past che [... read more]ck out, etc). The lounges are nice, there is ample seating in the buffet and snack bars, and on the beach and around the pools. You may have to compete for shade but if you just want to sit down there is always a spot or a member of the staff willing to help you find enough seats. Our big group sat together all the time with ease. The resort design means the pools are often sheltered from the winds that might be stronger on the beach. There is a concrete pad between the beach and the resort that was a bit exposed and makes for a rougher walk, but it's minor, otherwise the beach is nice. It has a big sandbar right in front. We were impressed by the skills of the beach crew, they were making sure everyone could enjoy how they desired. There is an absolutely incredible beautiful natural beach if you walk to the east/right for a while. The food was fine, we often found a few stand out items and there were staples that we could depend on at the buffet (the omelet/meat station was my safe place). You might want to bring some hot sauce if you like that. The beach bar has a mini buffet that usually had some great lunch dishes and of course, the pizza for those willing to wait. We noticed the family section had a good selection of kids food too. There were occasional shortages here and there but nothing disastrous (I was getting worried about the espresso situation, but it was resolved by day 3). The a la carte dining was tough to book and based on the one I attended, a dubious use of your beach time to be waiting in line for. If you don't mind dining later, see if there are any missed appointments you can hop in for instead. Diner later was generally the best way to deal with crowds, there was always fresh stuff being brought out. Of course, the service was a highlight everywhere we went. The front, the bars, the buffet, our rooms, on the grounds, the pool and beach crew, even the airport staff ended up going above and beyond for us (a whole other story...). Some great musical talent on the entertainment crew as well. We quickly felt among friends anywhere we spent enough time, in no small part thanks especially to Yoelbis and Roberto(Terry) in the main lounge!

Grand Muthu Cayo Guillermo: Wonderful Trip

The grounds and location are fantastic for both adults and families. Persons with mobility issues may find the grounds bit overwhelming for walking, but access is available to the beach. Families with children have access to Kids Club which includes 2 pools, slide and lounge chairs. The food selection was good, and I don't believe anyone went hungry as there was a variety available each day. Some families did bring their own condiments. The staff is friendly and helpful. There is no need  [... read more]to change your currency to U.S. as Canadian dollars including change, loonies and toonies are accepted by staff. The spa is just outside the main entrance which I highly recommend. 1 hr massage (body, facial scrub, and reflexology massage are included at $80 Canadian) There few stores across the street from the Spa and few meters up are souvenir stands where you can get greater variety of products. Overall, I'm happy with my holiday spent and I would return.

Valentin Cayo Cruz: Wonderful Hotel and Holiday

This hotel is beautiful and had almost everything we'd hoped for in our last minute getaway. We chose Cuba mainly for sun, warmth and a beautiful beach, and all for a reasonable price and we were not disappointed. We also wanted to fly from Hamilton versus Toronto so picked Valentin Cayo Cruz versus going elsewhere in Cuba. Our room (6201 in Building 6) was perfectly positioned to see the sun rise every morning and to still catch afternoon sun too. The rain shower was hot and never ran out o [... read more]f water. The king sized bed was huge. Building 6 is also a short walk to everything - the lobby, the beach, and one of the three pools. There are three pools. We chose to lounge by the smallest one as it had fountains instead of music. As for the beach it is beautiful and longggg and the water is clear. The sand is soft away from the water but firm near it, great for strolling along. We walked along it several times, twice for long walks that were up to two hours. It was simply beautiful (except sadly for the collection of washed up old plastic garbage from the ocean that we think is mainly there from the hurricane some years ago). The beach and pool staff were attentive to help us set up our chairs and towels. We knew there might be some food shortages so we went with those expectations. And they did occur, including shortages in wine some days (no wine for 4/7 days), no eggs most of the week, and they ran out of champagne and French fries after our first day (well, this resort did but we heard another resort had no shortages so these might be occurring based on individual decisions at each hotel about budgeting or rationing?). But that said, there were still plenty of options and we ate well every meal and enjoyed many different drinks at the lobby and beach bars including rum, vodka, tequila and beer. The hot Brazilian alcoholic coffee drink served in a champagne glass in the lobby bar was delicious. The beer is best on tap at the lobby bar. There was a steady supply of tea throughout the resort. The coffee was sub par so if you love coffee we suggest bringing some Starbuck instant packs. For meals, we found the best options were at the lunch buffet versus breakfast or dinner although all meals had good options. One luncheon was an outside buffet where roast pork was served- yum! And one lunch had a very tasty seafood paella. We did not sign up for any of the specialty restaurants as we didn't want to stick to a reservation time to eat so we can't comment on how they were. The desserts were very good, especially the vanilla ice cream which we had at every lunch and dinner. There were also fresh pastries, jello, fresh pineapple slices, pears, and leche flan and puddings. We're not much to watch the shows at resorts however watched two shows through the week - one musical and one name that singer/group game show with the audience. Both were well done. The resort was clean and staff were polite. There was toilet paper most times in the common washrooms however still carry tissues as a few times it had run out. We'd come back to this resort. Despite the few shortages, we give it an 8/10.

Memories Caribe Beach Resort: Memories Caribe Jan 31- Feb 7

This was our second visit to this resort. Our first time was 7 years ago. Obviously because of Covid and supply issues the hotel has become dated and some maintenance issues but they are really struggling to keep up. Hot water issues in the rooms seemed to be a problem in some buildings although in our building #20, we always had hot water. The room was clean, towels were changed daily, the king bed was great, bottled water was ample and more if required. Toilet paper seemed rationed to 1 roll p [... read more]er day but you could get another if requested. If your going to Cuba, do your homework and take with you what you need. The buffet always had something to eat. Meats,cheeses,salads,fruit,chicken,pork,rice,amazing potatoes and deserts that all do taste the same but seems to fix the sweet craving. The pizza at the beach is great, either cheese or ham and cheese. Bites bar and grill has great panini sandwiches and deep fried fries, some kind of a hamburger and hot dogs. Bring your own condiments. Rene at the beach bar is wonderful. Lots of vodka,rum,and beer. We didn’t experience any shortage of drinks. Coffee is the best. Cappuccino and Spanish. The Lobby bar is fantastic for service and courtesy. We tipped with cdn $5’s. They love US dollars as well, so you can tip $1’s. Coin is basically worthless to them. Tip and they will remember you and show you how much they appreciate it. We didn’t do Diamond Club but they had a few perks like top shelf liquors and a breakfast room. We didn’t do any a la carte but people that we socialized with recommended them. We didn’t experience any sand fleas or any issues with flies at the buffet although we noticed a few people were bit on the legs. In my opinion, don’t walk on the grass, stay on the walkways. We made friends that we will communicate with and will plan trips with in the future. To us, this is what our vacation is about. Making friends, a beautiful beach, friendly people and an affordable vacation. We also did an off resort visit to Lennies restaurant, 20 mins away, 70.00$ cdn for 2 seafood dinners and a 2 drinks. 30$ return for the classic cab fare and the cabbie waits for you to take you back. We highly recommend it. It includes a bbq Lobster tail, fish, rice and amazing shrimp. We would recommend Cuba to some of our friends but If your a foodie and are expecting Caribbean top shelf, this isn’t for you. This vacation cost under 1800.00 for 2 out of Halifax. We consider we got what we paid for and Yes, we will return to this resort later this year.

Gran Muthu Imperial: Good resort with a few issues

Flies at the buffet were thick and inescapable Painting and maintenance required on railings etc. toilets throughout the complex always in disrepair. Soap dispensers often empty Front desk personnel depending on who was on duty struggled in English and could not arrange for support staff to address issues. Beach towel exchange like trying to win the lottery This is not a five star facility

Hotel Playa Coco: Beach is Beautiful, But....

We arrived to Hotel Playa Coco and the main reception area is fairly standard for what you would expect. It is a short bus ride from the airport which was great. The grounds were free of garbage and staff were working on landscaping. As you get farther into the resort you start to notice some of the deficiencies and challenges you experience during your stay. Most of the public area washrooms did not have toilet paper and broken fixtures. When we got our room we were initially hit with the [... read more] smell of must as soon as we opened the door, but the smell did not carry on as you got farther into the room. Beds were comfortable, 2 doubles pushed together, with two sheets on them and a blanket stored in the room and the room was clean. We had 2 bath towels, 2 beach towels and a hand towel, no wash cloths were provided. Towels were not replaced daily and we only had our bath towels replaced once during our 7 day stay. We did ask, and the maids did not have them to provide to us. The beach was absolutely amazing and could not ask for more. We were part of a group of 11 and we probably ended up with the best room of the group. Most of our groups rooms toilets ran constantly and did not flush properly. One of the groups rooms only had a sheet covering the mattress on the bed and nothing else. No other sheets were provided even when asked for. One building that our group was in experienced 3 power outages in the 7 days, lasting from a few hours to overnight and part of the morning. Food and beverage. Buffet always had lots of food available and there was no danger of going hungry, unless you were a picky eater. Food is typical Cuban flair. I did not see an egg the entire week we were there. They were making omelets, but from a mix in a bowl, no eggs were broken to make it. The constancy and texture was off so I assume they were using a powdered egg mix. The A La Cart meals was just the same food as the buffet in a different visual setting. The bars had plenty of rum available but the mix was hit or miss. Certain bars had cola available, others didn't and then the bars that did wouldn't have it the cola the next day. The fruit juice mix was obviously made from a concentrate and mixed very weakly so it had almost no taste. Some in our group brought "Mio" type flavoring with them and that is definitely a "Pro tip". If you don't have that, even the weakest drink has an over powering rum taste. Pools were cool and had few swimmers. The advertised "hot tub" was not heated at all and the same temperature as the pool. Entertainment was "Ok" but we found it very loud when at the pool or entertainment venue. The evening entertainment started at 9:30 PM, which seemed late and ran for about an hour. After the show they would just leave a music track running. The workers were all very nice , but can only do so much as it is very obvious that there are supply chain issues and money for infrastructure repair on the resort. If you are going for the beach and just looking for shelter and sustenance for the week you probably enjoy it at Playa Coco, but if you are looking for more, it is not the place. At one point my partner said it kind of felt like camping. I would not go back there or recommend it to a friend.

Grand Aston Cayo Paredon Beach Resort: 14 days at Grand Ashton Paradiso

This is our seventh trip to Cayo Coco so we are well aware of what to expect and fully understand the shortages Cuba is experiencing. We always bring our own salt/pepper, salad dressing, condiments, a kettle and coffee and even a steripen to sterilize our own water should the need arise. Boy were we thankful for that! Coffee was unavailable for our entire first week. Water in our room was unavailable for almost the entire 2nd week. It was not available at customer service or even at the bars. Wi [... read more]ne was completely unavailable even for purchase during the entire 2-week stay. We did manage to get some at 3 of our 6 a la cartes which was quite disappointing since we are wine drinkers. What I was surprised at this resort was the lack of creativity in cooking the food that was readily available. As usual, the bread, cheese, and cold cuts were readily available. The bread and cheese were delicious and the cold cuts were basically six plates of mortadella-like meat and sometimes one plate of cooked ham. Cooked pumpkin, cabbage dishes, and hot dogs were plentiful. In fact at our last dinner I took pictures of the buffet which was typical of our entire stay. The kids bar consisted of one tray of hot dogs cut in 1/8" slices with a few chunks of green pepper sprinkled in, one tray of hot dogs cut in 1" pieces and one tray of deep fried dough balls. There were an additional 5 trays of cut up hot dogs sitting in boiled water on the adult bar but no other meat/fish. If you lined up for 20 minutes at one end of the bar area you could get a dried up basa/tilapia fillet grilled for you and if you lined up at the other end you could get a thin piece of pork or beef but both were non-marinated tough cuts that curled up as soon as they hit the hot surface. Usually there was an additional one or two trays of flavourless rice and one tray of beans. So here is my question: If flour is so readily available, why can't the the hot dogs be served as sausage rolls? or barbecued or roasted and served whole on a bun? A piece of hot dog could even be put inside one of the disgusting dough balls:) Cabbage and rice could become cabbage rolls. Rice could become sushi when wrapped in seaweed. We could have cold slaw, sauerkraut salad or even sauerkraut and hot dogs. What about French toast or grilled cheese sandwiches for the kids? Instead of seven serving trays of boiled pumpkin cubes there could be pumpkin custard, pureed pumpkin, pumpkin pie. We could have tortilla pinwheels made of the mortadella/cheese slices. Instead, when the unappetizing food was not eaten it was mixed together to form pumpkin/cabbage/hot dog dishes that resembled an overcooked version of the original fare. I even saw one of the workers pour a litre of water into the one bean dish turning it into a flavourless soup. At the a la carte restaurants it was clear we were forced to eat the leftovers that had not been eaten at the buffet. We had sauerkraut tacos and pumpkin puree fajitas?? That being said, the resort is only a few years old the rooms were the best we have experienced so far in Cuba. They were decorated beautifully and we had no problems with hot water, air conditioning or toilet paper. Apparently, coffee pods, soap, shampoo and conditioner are a one time gift on arrival. The coffee maker is aesthetic only unless you bring your own Nespresso pods. The only issue we had was the door on our closet. It would not open unless full body weight was put into opening it. Then it would SLAM as it reached the other side. There is no way anyone older than us (50's) would be able to manoeuvre it. The beach was absolutely stunning. Beautiful turquoise water, white sand and small easily visible rocky areas where you could observe fish close to shore. The pelicans are a special sight-diving to catch fish and not caring how close to humans they came. Would we go back? I don't think so. The food was sooo very bad!!

Valentin Cayo Cruz: Enjoyed our stay

Rooms were nice, not opulent but above standard and comfortable. Shower is so large you could park a small car in it. The food is basic and what one would expect from Cuba but certainly no one was starving! They have 3 themed restaurants but the menus are “almost” identical however the food in these restaurants is fantastic. Entertainment in lobby in evening is the smoothest jazz you will ever hear. The staff must be hand selected from the best of the best - happy - smiling - friendly - helpful [... read more]. Please do not bring loonies and toonies for tips (they can’t exchange coins). If you want to be a good guest bring some five ten and twenty dollar bills to help them convert their coins to bills they can use. Watch a couple of YouTube videos to see what you should be tipping On thing to be aware of if you are a nonsmoker is smoking is permitted everywhere except eating areas. Also be respectful of other guests and staff by not drinking your weight in alcohol everyday and eating more than you would at home. Also say ola (hello) to everyone regardless of their job, regardless of what they do from cleaning washrooms to gardening to serving drinks everyone is trying to make our vacation memorable and they deserve our respect. Beach was really spectacular but take note the sand is deep so best to walk at water line. Showers are best taken in the evening as water is heated by solar panels so morning water is warm at best there is a tiny market at the hotel next door that is a short walk or the hotel has a little tram that will take you to and from. You can also get an awesome massage there. The best part of this resort was the people, if you go you will know what I mean. Hotel is remote so if you plan any off site tours (only two available) you will be on a bus for hours.

Memories Caribe Beach Resort: Pleasant place to enjoy,,,

The resort was quite a pleasant low key resort and the employees worked very hard to ensure we were taken care of in spite of a few issues... the plumbing issues were a bit of a challenge where a couple of days the water was turned off, not very warm for showers, not much pressure & the toilets were not functioning due to people putting paper in them in spite of the provided garbage receptacles. The rooms were quite comfortable although with the Air Conditioning a tad chilly, however an elect [... read more]rician promptly looked after that for us when requested. The restaurants & a la carte dinner were enjoyable & they provided ample local products such as pineapple, watermelon, eggplant & pumpkin prepared in various ways. Given what is available there was more than sufficient variety of food provided at the buffet & hot table options & lots of fresh bread & dinner rolls of various types. The Staff were all very attentive & pleasant at the bars & beach front restaurants. The BEACH is absolutely stunning !!!! With several sand bars & lovely white sand, one could walk & play & enjoy all day!!!

Grand Aston Cayo Paredon Beach Resort: Long lines

The hotel over-all was nice, however we had booked (and paid for) an oceanview room, we looked out on a construction site. I realize tge hotel was fully booked, however we met many people who had paid considerably less, basic room, and were si happy they got an oceanview. We were not willing to wait in the customer service line for 2 hours to complain, it just soured our view of the resort. There were 1 yo 2 hour lineups every day for French fries and pizza as well as one hour lines for church's [... read more] on the beach.

Iberostar Coral Esmeralda: Friendly small resort has it all

Excellent facility, 1st class staff, lots of food choices, lovely beach. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Grand Aston Cayo Paredon Beach Resort: Great resort, nice people.

We loved the hotel. We would give it five Stars, especially the work the cleaning lady named Yanet was doing every day at our room, she decorated our room with fowers and everything was always cleaned. All the personal was great, nice people. Beach is amazing. The food was okay, although needs a bit of improvements. There were huge lines during breakfast for omletes and we had to wait 1 hour every day to get pizza. There was no wine and not good choice of desserts.

Iberostar Selection Esmeralda: Cuba just ok

We arrived at 8 pm, about 90 min drive to resort area. We were dropped at the wrong section, even after informing the bus driver. Front desk staff were welcoming until they determined we were at the wrong side m, our welcome beverage were taken away and we were told we would have to walk along the road to the correct side. We refused so eventually a got a ride on the golf cart from a very friendly staff member. Newer resort, easy to navigate, some nights they had outdoor lights for the paths, so [... read more]me nights there were no lights. Room was a good size, toilet flushed half the time. Had hot water all week. Towels and sheets were mouldy, difficult to get fresh linen even though resort was mostly empty. We stripped all the linen off the beds and placed in a pile, bed sheets were replaced, Food was the same everyday for lunch and dinner, would be nice to know what you are eating for allergies. Staff didn’t seem overly happy to be working, there, staff asking us to get them lunch from the buffets daily. Why doesn’t the resort offer food for their staff. Definitely shortages on juices and pop. Staff would only provide beverages with alcohol at the bars, if you wanted only water or juice they told you to go to the restaurant (restaurant open 7-10 1-3 and 7-10) Entertainment was in the lobby , good effort but a little disappointed. 24 hour lobby bar often closed at midnight??. Beach is beautiful, you can tell that is the reason people come to Cuba. There was staff cleaning the seaweed off the sand daily. We booked a pool view room at the adults only pool that had children most days. Pool loungers and cabanas could use some maintenance, cabanas had dirty sheets on them all week. Check out is 12 sharp, we had someone at our door at 12:03 telling us to get out of our room now, I asked for 5 more mins to just finish up and they said I had to pay them $11 if I wanted 5 more mins , so had to finish packing in the hallway. Overall this resort was a little boring, nowhere to go once you get there, too far away from the airport for our liking.

Valentin Cayo Cruz: Great resort and a great deal

We found the resort was well maintained. Our rooms were spacious and clean. The pools were great. The beach was beautiful, and the workers were good to rake up any seaweed that may have come ashore on the windier days. The food was often the same every day, but you could always find something to eat. We knew to expect this in Cuba, especially with the supply shortages. We were going for the sun and water, not the food . The entertainment was good and staff were very friendly.

Melia Cayo Coco: Exclusive, Enchanting Destination !

After numerous visits to Melia Cayo Coco, it has become a very special place in our lives. The service is outstanding, the Resort itself has exquisite grounds that are carefully maintained. You’ll find the cuisine to be excellent, the Chefs take special care, and pride in their art. Cocktails are plentiful, many surprises and new delectable treats to discover. The suites have lovely views, linens and are extremely well done. Entertainment is well rounded, from live jazz above the pool, evening m [... read more]usic in the lounges as well as inspiring nightly performances, that appeal to all audiences. It’s a jewel!

Memories Caribe Beach Resort: Wow… Never coming back to Cuba

Cockroaches, seriously overrun with flies and mosquitoes! Resort in serious need of paint, thorough room cleaning and repair updates! Even the cushions of chairs are deteriorated! Lack of toilet paper, bacon, pop, no eggs, worst burger ever at the Diamond snack bar… might as well be beef jerky… breakfast was the low point but lunches and dinners were adequate! A la carte were all ok! Staff was great and friendly! Complained of no hot water the first day and it was corrected! Never coming back to [... read more] Cuba again and this was our 6th trip here!

Melia Jardines del Rey: Safe,friendly resort

Very accommodating lovely and safe place. Friendly staff everywhere on the resort. Food was plentiful. Pork chicken pizza rice pasta fruit seafood and veggies. Yogurt juice coffee tea lots of desserts and bread water and alcohol. Beautiful beach some rocky. Resort needs some upkeep but very clean with palm trees and natural setting. On premise dentist saved my vacation stay. Thanks to Rafel, sunwing reps front desk and customer service. Little issues resolved quickly. Enjoyed our stay.  [... read more] Nightly entertainment lovely lounge. Will come back. Thanks to all at Melia Jardines del Rey!

Melia Cayo Coco: A gem

This hotel is a gem! The beach is beautiful, the landscape is beautiful, the rooms and food are great! The bathrooms are clean, the bars are always full and plenty! It’s only 10 Minutes from the airport. The best thing about this hotel is the staff!!! Welcoming, friendly and genuine! They always go above and beyond for their guests!! ??

Melia Costa Rey: Better than expected

The resort was more than expected . Koodo's to all the staff that work here. The room was clean ,the grounds were clean every day. The buffet was clean and we had most everything every day. The service was so very good every day. A big shout out to the 2 girls that we had most everyday they were the best. I must apologize I did not get there names but they are # 1 Waitress, hands down. The A la carte restaurants were very good we tried 3 of them and again the service and food was super  [... read more]good. The lobby was very active at night and the service was also very good. The people in Cuba do a very good job and are so friendly. They did run out of some drinks but over all very good . There are many pools to chose from. The beach was very good for a long walk every day. I must say if you like Cuba this is the best place to stay!!!!!!! you will not be disappointed . Just not in January it's a bit cool and windy, for me.... there were some warm days as well but ..... I would return and recommend the hotel to everyone.