Disappointing

This hotel is definitely not a 5 star but a two star at best. Needs many repairs and definitely a paint job. Rooms are old and tired looking. Both drawers on the night strand would fall out, only one track. Also dresser had two drawers that wouldn’t close. Maid service was always missing an article ex. Towels, water in fridge, toilet paper 4 out of 7 days. Path to rooms was in darkness, we had to use cell phone flashlight as many other guest were doing. They do not replace the bulbs. On  [... read more]arrival no one to help with luggage. My husband had to try to carry them up a large flight of stairs. Many rest rooms are locked on the property and no elevators were running. Only two restaurants were operational and the buffet. Gets pretty boring and many items unavailable on the a la carte menu. Only rosee wine offered. One day and night no water so you could not flush toilet. Also no air conditioning following morning. Perspiration pouring off of us. Food was very Mediocre No bread for hamburgers one day. Only positive the beach was absolutely beautiful and staff pretty friendly. Not up to Iberostar standards at all.

Good overall but, lots of differences post Covid

This was our third time at the Iberostar Ensenachos. Overall, we enjoyed our week, as the beach here is absolutely world class. There’s truly no other beach like this. That being said, we noticed significant changes in the hotel’s operations that were not favorable. As an example, they put a family of four in a room with one king bed and did not show up with extra beds until the evening! This was despite several requests being made to the front desk. We also did not get pool towels until day [... read more] four. They were available however, they had trouble organizing the delivery to our room and refused to hand them to us. The rooms are tired and they don’t change your towels even when placed on the floor or tub. There is a lack of toilet paper. You have to ask the maid for it. The food got progressively better during the week as shipments arrived. There were some things that were challenging for children however, such as no french fries, chicken nuggets or hamburgers. These items were not regularly available and often eaten quickly and not replenished. So, having a large group of children… It was a bit of a challenge. We also noticed the dessert and fruit areas were minimal. The bar is excellent, as is service there. There are no beverages in your room and an irregular water delivery service. The entertainment staff and shows were phenomenal! There is a noticeable lack of management on site. And, when we asked to speak to management we were told we could not speak to them. The hotel is struggling and the Cuban people are as well. Staff are trying however, it is clear that they are unhappy. It’s a difficult situation they’re in and I can appreciate that. Overall, we had a good trip and enjoyed ourselves but, I’d be a bit hesitant to return. It’s not a five star by any means.

Almost perfect

Bad WiFi speed, connection, accessibility, not enough time, only 14 hours for 7 days. Not enough selection of soft drinks, juices were watery and without flavor. Poor information visibility of activities and shows, some of the shows were canceled. Bad locations for changing towels. No changing cabins on the beach or the pool. Not enough shade on family pool. Everything else was good :)

It was nice experience

We enjoyed our stay in this resort, although at the beginning we experienced some issues with room conditions however they got them fixed asap which was amazing, food is ok, the beach is amazing, overall I give a thumb up considering in the pandemic situation.

Amazing beach!

We booked for Park room instead we were acomodated in Spa area in large suite with 2 double beds,walk in closet,big washroom and big terrace so was like an upgrade. Wifi was working even in our room so was unexpected pleasant surprise. Food was OK,not much variety for vegetables but no major complain, breakfast had always eggs,cheeses and few days even prosciutto and smoked salmon. My wife appreciated fresh squized juices,was no shortage of bread like I was reading about other Cuban resorts,lunc [... read more]h we always had it on beach where they had a charcoal barbecue with chicken,pork and burgers, once pork ribs were available. Dinner we had at buffet with 2 grills one for fish calamari another one for chicken breast,pork and beef. Was a pasta station too.Wines at buffet was from Spain,actually all around bars too.All people working in resort are very nice and friendly I just remember 2 names,Mildred from Spa and Alexander from beach restaurant,sorry for all other people I forgot their names. Beer ,wines,hard liquors plentiful all around resort, my wife enjoyed Mojitos made with fresh mint. Now about beach. Megano beach is the most beautiful I ever seen in Cuba!We went couple of times to pool only for Jacuzzi,most of time we enjoyed white sand and warm calm sea.

Amazing Fitness / Entertainment Staff

We stayed at the beach everyday for the whole week. Since there is no electricity at the beach area, the Fitness staff focused on volleyball only. One day, Osmany Gonzalez Lara, was resourceful enough and borrowed the bluetooth speaker of my friend and we had dancing lessons at the beach - both in the beach area and water. That was an enjoyable one and a lot of guests participated. I have a video to show how Osmany was leading the dance and again this was because of his resourcefulness to cr [... read more]eate activities at the beach. Appreciate if you can commend Osmany on this as truly he is an asset to Iberostar Ensenachos resort. You may email me if you would like a copy of the video - mirbales@yahoo.com

Iberostar ensennachos

The complex is very large well maintained by happy helpful Cuban employees. The rooms are spacious and very clean. The food is the usual Cuban fare nothing to boast about. Cuba has to do better in this area.

Amazing resort, and amazing Agent!

I have never been to Cuba but after much search I booked Iberostar Selection Ensenachos, had an issue with booking via bank but Brenda was such a sweetheart, handled the payments, ensured we are updated with all information and necessary documents that must be filled out. It was a smooth trip with her help. Now on to the resort itself, the staff are amazing they have beautiful smiles all around and go out of their way to make your experience like none other, the resort is absolutely beautiful,  [... read more]the beaches are to die for. I don't have any complaints about anything at all, had an issue with card not working but they were very happy to switch rooms, because they have availability but this is hands down of the best experiences we had. My 6 year old and I had a wonderful time and were sad to leave. Overall highly recommend visiting here, we are already planning to come back here!

Very nice resort

Grounds were beautiful. Gardeners do a fantastic job keeping it trimmed and clean. Rooms were great. Could be a little cleaner. Maybe a bit of an update on decor. Dining area was good. Waiters were always very attentive and pleasant. Food choice could have been better. The bar did not have a whole lot of choice. Very limited on mix for drinks. Ran out of beer for at one point. This resort would be nothing if it weren’t for the staff working here. They deserve the credit for our enjoyable gate [... read more]way. They made the best with what they had. Have to mention that the bar tenders at the beach were not very energetic. We stood and waiting long periods of time for service. They had only one tending to bar. So when they were getting drink orders on the beach no one was at bar.

Overall good stay

Just got back from our trip- highlight of our stay is the beach, immagine best beach ever and this one is better! Great service at the beach getting lounge chairs, drinks. Starfish sighting, snorkeling galore. Resort is outdated with minimal maintenance, you can see the resort and the country is recovering from shit downs, from training of personel to food options. Lack of food or choices of food was the biggest shocker for us. We been to Cuba a different resort many times one never goes there f [... read more]or good food. However basic fruit like mangos, bananas were missing. Limited quantities of deserts that were gone immediately. No fancy drinks, even things like white soda and sugary Pina colada were not there everyday. Eventually you get used to it and fresh fish (only 1 option) and rice were our go to. Once again shortages function of recovery. Report was clean - rooms were kept well. We could not get beach towels for 3 days (good thing we brought a few) as they were always iut of them. We would be back,

Best holte

I like to the holidays I love people where fover family and friends love the pool and the beach and the people too I will go back maybe next year I have no words to see bad the room was nice clean go back next year

Amazing Resort

Very happy with this Resort staff friendly beautiful scenery and great variety of food choices. Loved the live Band performance and the wonderful scenery and variety of blooming plants 🪴 and wildlife. Highly recommend this wonderful Resort and the Food was excellent.👍🏽👏🏽

Making new memories..

It was so nice to catch up with old friends again. From the porters to the Valets to the bar staff all were friendly, professional and helpful. There were some shortages on certain days but we never went hungry. Our villa with it's outside hot tub was a blessing on the cooler days. It was a comfortable syay, obviuosly they were not at full capacity yet but we did not want for anything. Will definitely return for a 5th visit !

Problems at Resort

Upon arrival the resort was very nice, clean and friendly. Our first few days were great until our keycard wouldn’t work. I went to the lobby to have it reprogrammed. Back at the room it didn’t work again. I tried to get the housekeeper to try and hers didn’t work either. She asked another gentleman who didn’t have any success either. We found this a real problem. We then went to the back balcony and climbed over the railing. You must understand we are three women over 70. It was a big p [... read more]roblem. Things didn’t change. Nothing got better. This went on for the rest of our two week stay. Our complaints were listed but nothing happened to remedy them. On the day before our departure we had our final Covid test and one gal tested positive. She was quarantined and another test was done. Again positive. Three of us were negative. We were told we were able to depart the net day without our friend. We were told by the Transat Rep that if our friend had another test before Thursday and tested negative she would be able to leave Friday April 1st. She was then instructed that she would not be able to board an airline for 10 days. This info is not acceptable. Nothing is concrete here. We is responding for the payment of costs incurred. Nothing is black and white. Please follow up on this and I wait for a response.

Perfect beach

Staff are friendly. Food has been the same all week. One day they ran out of flour, so there was no bread and no pastry for a day. Beach and weather (28C in March break) was perfect. There were a LOT of mosquitos and black flies.

A Definite Must to Visit

This was our 5th visit to this resort and the first time staying in the Coral Level Village (also known as the Grand Village) section. It's a resort within a resort with table service restaurants, private pool and beach, butler service and apartment style rooms including kitchens (not really functional) and hot tubs. The first week it was only half full so there was lots of room but by March break it was full which made for some waits at the restaurants and limited palapas on the beach. Staff w [... read more]ere very good but not at full capacity. Access to the main part of the resort is by shuttle bus (not always reliable) or a 3 km walk. This area is perfect for people looking for good service and not having to deal with buffet dining. When we return (and we will return), it will be to the Spa section of the main resort. The rooms are very spacious and you are closer to all the resort facilities. We have also developed some good friendships with staff in this section which is a very enjoyable part of our vacation experience. As for COVID matters, it was very well looked after and the resort had full service testing on site which was easily accessible. All staff adhered to the regulations and everything was well cleaned.

Huge resort, lovely beach

The hotel is massive, and with the limitations of access to parts , the inter hotel transport leaves much to be desired for anyone on a schedule. Allow 40 minutes to an hour to get a ride from the main lobby to the Coral lobby. The guest services butlers do the best job they can with what is available. The issues of Cuba remain supply chain. You certainly can't make any crisicisms of the beach and water. They have plenty of Palapas and although the beach loungers have seen better days, they [... read more] do the job. No chairs on the beach, so take care of your back. All of the staff, with the exception of one, were more than helpful. Very engaging and appreciative of any tip or gift they recieve. None is expected. Note take Canadian currency, and tip in US ones. Since using coin is not good. It's heavy to carry and the Cubans can not change coins in any Bank. As is normal for all countries. The ride to the hotel(90 plus minutes) from the airport is long, but the tour guides usually do a good job at educating you on the cities, towns and history of Cuba. The Coral level is very quiet, the hotel was not at capacity, so one physical restaurant managed to morph into 3 or 4 different a la carte dining places. To be very honest, try the buffet. The food options are many, even though it is hard for them to get supplies. Feel free to instruct the chefs cooking your chicken, pork or beef to not over cook. Meals can become repetative, this also speaks to supply and reduced numbers of guests. Check in was a bit confusing, there seems to be simple solutions to streamline processes. Consistancy is key. Mask wearing was generally done by most guests and all staff. Enforcement was a bit spotty. But you never felt unsafe. The cigar lounge was not open, to my dismay, however the lady workign in the shop is most helpful and pleasant. Do not buy the cigar torches there, they're better priced at home ( $40.00 USD) get the regular lighter for $2.00 USD. The beds are firm and comfortable. Our towels in Coral level were changed daily and the beach towels were in the room and also changed daily. The jaccuzzi was great! A lovely way to watch the stars and sunset. The rooms in the Coral Level were amazingly Huge. The beach at the main building was wider and busier than the Coral level, the bar and lunch area at the main beach were hoping and service was outstanding. Food was good. I've been to Cuba pretty much every year since 1983, seen a lot of hard times, and a lot of better years. The people the safety and the water and beach are all worth the trip. This was our first trip in 2 years, it was interesting how I almost forgot travel routines and how to pack. But the rapid testing was efficient and the need to ensure you complete your Arrive Can , get your emailed reciept! is essential. The WIFI, not surprising is best in the main lobby. Coffee is delicious and don't forget to check out the 24 hour snack bar behind the lobby bar. The Spa is beautiful and my husband took advantage of the massage. This resort may get a second visit from us in a few years...or at a lower price. Have to mention a special thank you to Augustin at the beach bar at the Coral. He did a great job, became a fast friend and kept pace with delivering drinks to you on the beach. He's a sweetheart! Diana and Yandry are butlers at the Coral level, are sincere and not overyly enthusiastic. The bartender Anile( sorry I'm sure that's not how you spell your name) was excellent, very attentive and a true tallent. Thank you for the dance Yamilla! Unfortunately I lost my rings at the hotel, and they were not recovered before I left. One was my father in laws which was the major heart break. I hope some kind soul finds them and I get them back. Next trip , jewlery stays at home. OH the best improvement is the wrist bands so soft and comfortable. The only way to improve them is to put a chip in as your door key. Beautiful gardens and it was winter. Gardeners work hard, reward them. They don't get tipped...so make the change and give them a few of your tip dollars. The pools should be salt water. very clean!

Same great staff

The staff are great as always, in the 7 times i have visited i have always had great service. I do think it is time the hotel was updated, it was looking a bit beaten up. The furniture has had better days. The Spa section pool and bar area is well maintained, the rooms do need a make over.

Very good resort.

Everything was excellent. Although it has a huge theater but I think due to Covid night entertainments were poor and were just in the loopy. Shaded areas on the beach are limited. If the hotel were fully occupied, it would be hard to find a shaded spot but because I went on a low season there was no problem.

Thoroughly enjoyed myself, but do not like the Cuban Universal Currency price gouging on tours etc

Of note, i am ex military and have travelled the world and stayed in many places of various repute in my 32 years, retiring as a senior officer. This review is in mind of those experiences. Be prepared for up to a 90 minutes bus ride to and from your hotel! Bring European conversion plugs for 220 to 110 volt. None to be had in Cuba! The hotel was a 5 star by Cuban Standards which I found very nice. It would be about a 3 to 4 anywhere else and I got the overall sense that it was on th [... read more]e cusp of a downward spiral in quality. My main complaint that lowers the rating is the poor maintenance of the facilities overall....major holes in boardwalks to beaches and on stairs that were never fixed and were in fact dangerous, potholes at the main entrance, broken furniture, etc and no sign of any repair men during my stay. Noted previous repairs were done haphazardly and noticeably half baked efforts. I enjoyed the food immensely and it was 5 star by Cuban Standards. A lot of broken coffee and other machines were noted. The staff were excellent. Definitely 5 star by any standard. The beaches were fantastic as were the pools, bars and service. Activities at the hotel were not well advertised, consequently we missed opprtunities for scuba lessons for example. The room was a Spa suite which was excellently laid out, very clean and well appointed. The only drawback was towels not changed daily and a broken drawer. The beds were okay, but not excellent or up to 5 star standards. We did the Catamaran/Dolphin tour and the Santa Clara tours....I enjoyed and recommend both. Though I'm told that the snorkeling was a bit of a yawn by those with more experience. The Dolphins were great. As I like seeing how the real people live and a bit of their history, the Santa Clara city and history/factory tour is a must for those of the same ilk. The Cuban Universal Peso is a major drawback. The current rate in Canadian puts it at the scam level. Consequently, tours that would cost you approximately 120 USD a couple in Mexico will cost you closer to 220 USD in Cuba. For instance we went on two tours costing about 220 in CUC, which equalled nearly 480 CAD on our credit card......I'm at a loss as to how that figures given the rate was supposed to be around 1.46 CAD, which is also ridiculous. I guess they are trying to be higher than the Euro. Regardless of the drawbacks, I enjoyed the trip. I will go back again, but maybe to a newer hotel and definitely no less than a 5 Star. Esenachos definitely needs better maintenance, however it is good, its clean and in relatively good order for the bang for the buck at present. In a couple years I expect it's quality will erode. Look for a newer 5 star if a few minor issues will bother you