We Loved it !!!

RETURNING to the pelicano hotel after 23 years (march 94) was quite a surprise.... The service given by any of the staffers was excellent... very courteous especially at the restaurant also in any of the hotel sections) The food was surprisingly good with many choices (Compared to other hotels i have been in ciuba) , Very clean rooms Out of about 30 beaches i have spent time on This was the most wonderfull beach i have been so far...

Just What the Doctor Ordered

I stayed at the Hotel Pelicano last week and I didn't want to leave! The hotel is not the fanciest and the food is not the greatest but the beach is spectacular and the staff are wonderful. Everyone was very welcoming and attentive to my needs, which was what I was hoping for since I was travelling alone. There is an awesome 7-piece band that plays every day at the beach restaurant- the flute player in particular is talented beyond words. My room was comfortable and Letitia the maid did a great [... read more] job of fixing it up for me every day. The activities people were great fun, I played pool volleyball and danced with them every day. Wilfredo Jr. at the front desk was very kind, making sure that all my needs were met. I will definitely return to this little piece of paradise!

Great time at this resort!

This was our fourth time to Cayo Largo, first time in Pelicano. Comparing to the other resorts, I would say best and happiest staff, very relaxed atmosphere, good food and lots of options, the best beach, clean grounds, nice pool (no pool bar).

Hotel Pelicano - Value for the money. Excellent beach .

We stayed at the resort in April 2017. Great value for the Money. I would recommend the resort. Friendly staff, good food, I will definitely return. Please note: that Cayo Largo seems to be "the" destination for nudists. It didn't bother me that there were many nude people on the beach, however I heard from several fellow guests with children that had they known about the nudists they would have chosen a different location for their family vacation...

Great value for the money

A 3.5 star hotel with 5 star personnel. All the employees work with a smile and are happy to serve you. The buffet was fantastic, especially the pasta bar at diner time and the pancakes in the morning. The lobby bar has great cappuccinos and Spanish coffees. We were there in late March so the grounds were dry and everything was clean. Our room was in good shape, everything worked. The beach was in good shape too. A bit windy so the waves were quite large with a couple of days of red flags [... read more]. The walk to Serena Beach was only a couple of hours and worth the walk. Just walk a bit farther and find star fish and conch shells. Great beach, I would estimate one of the nicest I have seen.

Dissappointed

Beach narrow and only two access points, but flour soft sand, ocean was un swimmable as it was to rough and pool had an algae problem that lasted all week. Food is bad even for Cuban standards (we have been to Cuba 12 times so we know of what we speak) if you enjoy hot dogs prepared in 3 different shapes to fill up room on the buffet then you will love it! thank goodness for deep fried frozen fries. Even the fish was cooked raw or over done to the point of it being so dry it was inedible, if you [... read more] go to the pasta station take your drink with you, there is usually quite a line up. Staff were not friendly and welcoming but not rude either. Customer service was definitely lacking. Hotel room was very clean and grounds neat and tidy except for the public washrooms that sometimes left a lot to be desired. I would not go back to this resort and know of many resorts that cost less and would give me a better experience. BTW Do NOT fly Cabana Air even if it is cheaper. We had 5 hour delay in Toronto (pilot problems) and 13 hour delay returning home (mechanical problems). We were thankful to land safely back home.

Liked it very much

Simply great resort, family friendly, clean. Simple but delicious foods. The beach was excellent, although we would prefer that the red flag wasn't seen that frequently. Personnel was very welcoming and cooperative. We were not looking for 5-star luxury, and our expectations were matched perfectly. Comparing to the neighboring Sol, it's less fancy (less vegetation, unpretentious pool, older looking buildings) but more lively (the band that was playing and dancing every night was worth that alone [... read more]). And it's also less crowded, which is a big advantage from our perspective!

Amazing resort

My husband and i enjoyed the stay At the Sol Pelicano resort,, Beautiful resort, Loving people. Awesome food, Place is well kept,We stayed for one week, we went to the Serena beach. Most beautiful beach. Can't wait to go back.

Love this resort!

This is our 3rd visit to Cayo Largo and this was the best resort of the two. We have visited many provinces of Cuba and by far this resort offers the best beach, beautiful white sand to squish your toes in. The resort offers umbrellas for the guests to use at no charge for the beach or to take to the Serina beach on the bus/boat trip. My advice to you if you want to visit Serina beach, just take a cab, you will get there so much faster for a mere 2 pesos per person. The resort grounds are l [... read more]ovely, lots of little hidden treasures for those that love to take pictures. The food was excellent, so much to choose from, from salads, breads, soups, meat (all meat groups) rice, potatoes, pastas, which I might add their version of mac and cheese at the Rachon restaurant was amazing!! We had blue sky and sunshine the entire week, temps ranged from 24 to 27 C. We highly recommend this resort to all. There is a great kids club too, we don't have small children but they do offer a great pool and park area for the little ones.

Beautiful resort

Beautiful hotel ,very clean friendly stuff . Most beautiful beach ever you have to visit playa sirena . Sand feels like icing sugar . Good selections of food and amazing bbq everyday by the pool . Bartenders are amazing .

Amazing stay!!

Hotel is well maintained. Shows age with class. Delicious food warm friendly staff and moments spent with animation team that won't be forgotten in our life times. Wow factor beaches. Will definitely return.

Don't think we will be back at this resort.

This has been our 2nd time at this resort. We thought their may have been a few perks as a repeat customer but no, their was nothing. We found a few changes that wasn't for the better: 1- they had a safe deposit box in the room but you had to pay 2 pesos to have access to it. 2- nothing after supper in terms of entertainment and have to wait until 10 for any entertainment to start, by that time we are tired and ready to go to bed.

J'le conseil

C'etais la cinquieme fois! Simple, propre, tranquille, personnel accueillant et serviable. Tu veux te reposer, c'est la place. Plage extraordirnaire! Pas trop achanlandé en novembre! Bonne bouffe, bon restaurant à la carte,

A paradise resort!

Flew with Cubana which was unfortunately 2 hours delayed. Flight was straightforward tho, please note that there's no TV on the flight so have your iPads/tablets for entertaining the little ones. My 2 year old was asleep on my lap and the flight attendants luckily gave me a whole aisle to myself, on both flights (even tho the flight back to Toronto was almost full). Resort is only 6-8 mins away from the airport. Check-in was fine but please note to line-up in the appropriate line (one for check- [... read more]in and one for check-out as the staff will ask you to move if you happen to be in the wrong line). Beach of this resort is the BEST in Cayo Largo out of all the 3-5 resorts there. The food was good and resort is dated but everything is functional. Had hot water and AC was working. We didn't have a balcony tho but we have a quadruple setting (2 kids, 2 adults). No complaints. Paraiso and Sirena beaches are only a few minutes away for 2CUC each way. We also visited the Turtles, good info. However, 2 years ago we travelled to Cayo Largo in November and we were able to release the baby turtles back to the ocean. So if you'd rather have that kind of experience, go travel in the Fall. Overall, what made this trip really amazing is the staff! We've been everywhere in Cuba (Varadero many times, Holguin, Cayo Santa Maria, Camaguey and twice in Cayo Largo - Playa Blanca last time) and by far this resort has the nicest, friendliest staff ever! They always greet you with a warm Hola and go out of their way to make you feel "at home." This resort that seems to have a very active animation team with activities all throughout the day and night!!! We really had a fabulous time here and would really like to go back again!

Secluded Beauty

I have just returned from Cayo Largo - Sol Pelicano. We spent a great week swimming in the ocean, reading and relaxing. Or room was terrific (4929) and the beach spectacular. The grounds were well kept and the food was pretty good. Unfortunately, the access to the swimming pools was limited with no hand rails into either pool and no steps into the children's pool.

An enjoyable stay

The property at the Sol Pelicano resort in Cayo Largo, Cuba is dated, but it is well-maintained. The grounds have a desert-like terrain feel to them with some very beautiful vegetation, such as flowering bushes. The rooms are clean and in good order. The windows and doors to the balconies and terraces have locks and they come equipped with air conditioners. Unfortunately, because the air is so humid in Cuba, the bath towels don’t dry too easily despite the A/C, but if you request a change in t [... read more]owels you will be provided new ones. There is cable TV in the rooms, but the choice is limited for English-speaking travellers, as most channels are in Spanish. The public areas, such as the bathrooms are clean and well-stocked for the most part. On one occasion, the women’s washroom near the salt water pool (bonus!) and the snack bar had run out of toilet paper and the towel bar had run out of clean beach towels. The resort property was devoid of litter; however, the beach was slightly polluted primarily with cigarette butts. This was due to disrespectful tourists and bears no reflection on the staff at the Pelicano. The food at both the buffets and the a la carte restaurants were more than adequate, but the fine dining restaurant could step it up a bit. Gordon Ramsay would not have been impressed. Bananas, real orange juice (not the drink they say is orange juice), and a milk alternative for the lactose-intolerant at the buffets would be a nice addition. Introducing authentic Cuban cuisine to the beach resorts would be refreshing. There were line-ups at the egg and pasta stations, and there was a line-up to use the toaster as well. The toaster did not work very well and eventually broke; it needs to be replaced and there should be more than one. Rooms come equipped with security safes, but unfortunately there was a fee to use them despite the trip being “all inclusive”. A new 1.5L of bottled water was provided daily and you didn’t have to ask for it. The staff were friendly, particularly the men if you were a woman. Some staff members did not seem to speak English well or at all; many were fluent in Spanish (obviously) and French, which did pose a bit of a problem if you, as a traveller, have limited Spanish or French skills. The resort was quiet and never felt overrun by tourists. There was a clothing optional beach, which was amusing when you first stumble upon it as you walk along the beach, but it quickly becomes old news unless you’re prone to prudishness. Overall, the Sol Pelicano is a very good resort. I would recommend it to others looking for a quiet, stress-free vacation and I would stay there again.

Great time

WE had a wonderful holiday at the Sol Pelicano resort in Cayo Largo Cuba The buildings were a little "tired" but we felt that added to the charm of the place. It was impeccably clean and well looked after. The staff were friendly, and helpful. The food was acceptable. Drinks were fine. It was the perfect spot for our 4 year old Granddaughter and I would recommend it for children of that age. Large, foot deep pool was perfect for her to play in without too much worry on parents. Wonderful play ar [... read more]ea right beside it. The beach was fantastic, and a great place to walk everyday.

It's about the beach and the staff...

Fabulous beach, tho fun waves will be too much for smaller children. Lots of chairs, palapas & portable umbrellas. Lots of opportunity for walking. Fabulous staff, too. But the resort is somewhat dated... "quaint"...& 5 mins from airport.

Disappointing

Lets start with the positive. Amazing beach!!! Room on second floor good,clean and updated recently. Pizzeria located outside main bar had very good pizza and service. Buffet due to our waiter Victor made our breakfast and dinner experience excellent. Unfortunately for the negative. Please take into consideration I have been to Cuba over 12 times in many different locations. We have also been informed the resort has been sold to Memories during the vacation . Trip Advisor had rated this hotel s [... read more]econd best out of 7 so I thought we were going to have a good experience. Selection of food at the buffet poor and many items undercooked. Buffet not big enough for the amount of people at the resort. Lunch was a nightmare everyday. A few items at the beach restaurant and not enough seating. We could never get a seat!!!. The pool Bar was absolutely disgusting both service and food. This was a family resort with no French Fries or Ice Cream!! Our only option was half way across the resort was the Pizzeria. Lobby Bar was the Everything Room that not much happened. There was no 24 snacks. Not enough seating for the size of resort. One to two bar staff serving drinks. At night this was the only bar opened and was very frustrating when you wanted to get a drink. You could be waiting up to 30 min. The bar staff that worked evenings were Great!!!... and oh so overworked!!!! They did their best given the situation. Frequently running out of drink options. Nighttime show was dancing almost every single night. Needed to change it up. Pool liner in desperate need of replacement. The all inclusive water-sport was non existent. For 2 peso a person you could take a taxi shuttle. Let me tell you it was an absolutely Terrifying experience!!!. 14 people, no seat belts, and seats that were held together by tape. It was a horrible 20 min drive, my husband hit his head on the roof and I got mild whiplash, and when we got to the beach, it was nothing special. We left 20 min later. Luckily the taxi on the way back was newer with a good driver. Hopefully the new owners will turn things around. This resort does have the potential to be a good resort. We were approached by staff asking us to write a good review for the hotel for Trip Advisor. I guess thats why it was rated #2.

Ok but lots if room for improvement

Let me start that I have been to Cuba 7 times now, so with that said We Love Cuba. The good part of the resort is if course the beaches they are all really nice,white sugary sand and crystal clear waters. This resort was the same. This was the first and last time I'll go to Cayo Largo but plan to go to Cuba mainland again. This resort was small but very nice and clean, rooms were clean as well. Although asked to have our bed stripped as the sheets didn't look clean at all. Looks like someone had [... read more] slept in it at least a night or 2 as there was sand etc in the sheets! Spoke to the maid and she said ok I'll do for FREE! Well I hope so as this is the job you do, so with that she did a great job although she used the same mattress cover as the one I took off had a cigarette burn in it. Anyways we gave her a nice tip the next morning. The resort it self needs some TLC but Iam sure this will happen now since Memories has just taken it over, which is why I believe the rest of the issues happened. The Cuban people that work there rant as friendly as the ones on the mainland if Cuba. They also had very little English speaking Cubans. This resort seems to have 99.9 % of the visitors come from Montreal and rude wow it's embarrassing!! The workers would speak to us in French automatically and I would correct and say NO English! We would ask a question in English and they would answer us in French! If Iam speaking English I would expect you to answer me in English not French what's with that. Very frustrating after a fee days. Other employees would ignore you completely, like we were invisible ! Very disappointing! This happened to all of us on many occasions. The most friendly person was Victor in the buffet. He was wonderful and we tipped him nicely everyday for his efforts. The main bar at night was a night mare if you have epilepsy run before disco starts as the stove light in there is meant for a large room not the tiny room and caused many to feel dizzy as it was so intense. The poor bartenders are so over worked in that bar. There sometimes was only one bartender for the 600 people that were crammed into this what we called everything room. This resort doesn't have a large enough gathering area, all the resort we have been too have large main bar areas with lots of seating etc and more than one poor bartender. I read the trip advisor reviews and though this resort was perfect. But in actual fact we were approached by one of the night time entertainers (same thing every night for the show) he came up and said can't you give us a good review on the trip advisor and we said we will see. And he put his hands together like praying and a sad face and a tear as his English was more French/ Cuban than anything. So this explains all the so called great reviews. Well I won't be bribed to say things. So this is my honest option of this resort. Also the food was fine other than they ran out of most food like Fries but they had potatoes and ketchup but said they had no fries. They were none existent since we arrived which I found odd as we saw them peel potatoes everywhere. Every resort I have been to always had fries. They ran out of lots if stuff, they did have bacon but they don't seem to know how to cook bacon, it was almost raw but you could stand in the lineup and have it put on the grill, the toaster needs to be replaced you could stand in line and wait for a long time as even putting the bread in the toaster 5 times didn't toast it. Just made the bread hard and not cooked. Crazy! Other than these issues, we made the best of it. We are not high maintenance people and we have all travelled to Cuba many many times. If I can give anyone any advice I would say DON'T go to this resort maybe wait and see what happens once Memories has taken it over and had time to get it ship shape. Glad to come home for the first time ever from Cuba! I recommend going to Varadero,Cayo coco or Holgin. Been to each if these places 2 times and would go back again and plan on it. Another thing don't go to the playa or Serena beaches the one at the Pelicano resort is better and free to get there. Don't pay the taxi guy for both directions as he jammed 14 people in a van an took you on a sand road that was extramly rough and we flew over a bump and our friend hit his head on the roof and hurt his back and neck, his wife also had whiplash, very scary ride to a beach that was less appealing than the one at the resort. The resort beach was cleaned up this one was not. 2 poor dolphins trapped in a small area that must have wanted out as they had wounds in them that they put oniment on. Felt terrible for them. We just turned around and paid another taxi to take us back. Not recommending this little trip.