Iberostar Coral Esmeralda: Absolutely Beautiful Resort

The Coral Level Iberostar Selection Esmerelda far exceeded our expectations. Cayo Cruz is incredibly beautiful and has the most amazing beach with the softest white powdery sand, that you can walk for miles. Never an issue to find chairs and a palapa if you are at the Beach before 9am. A bit of a drive from the airport, 1.5 hours on bumpy roads, but you won't regret choosing this resort. Staff here are fantastic and go above and beyond. The food was exceptional, occasional minor shorta [... read more]ges but always an alternative. Food was not repetitive as we'd read, always lots to choose from, and fresh grilled beef, pork, chicken or fish cooked to your preference. Not many options for a salad, however always sliced tomato and cucumber, different fruits over the week and endless homemade sweets, rice pudding, ice cream, etc. Al a carts Mediterranean and Cuban were both delicious. Lunchtime has several meal options, there are dishes offered at the beach (kept warm on a barbeque), the snack bar close to the beach always has meal options, burgers/hotdogs with occasional days offering pizza and fries. No people brought their own butter and condiments but we were fine without. The Spanish red wine was lovely and a nice treat. The lobby offers an early evening entertainment option with Cuban show or local talent, ie different nights someone playing a guitar, piano, violin and the best was a young lady on a chelo...all were fantastic. We would definately consider this a 5 star for Cuba! Loved it and would return.

Iberostar Selection Holguin: Iberostar Holguin

Had an awesome trip to the Iberostar in Holguin from March 29th to April 4th, 2023. The resort was very clean and our Oceanview room was excellent (you could hear the waves crashing on the rocks when you left the balcony doors open). We were in building 24 on the 3rd floor. The beach and pool area were amazing and the bartenders at the pool were so friendly. In fact, all the staff we experienced were very kind and courteous and always were helpful with any questions we had. We really enjoyed the [... read more] food at the resort and while there were shortages (no butter for the week, ketchup on some days...etc), we always had lots of options and we found the food excellent. Overall, we had an amazing time and would definitely recommend this resort. We will definitely be back again for another visit.

Iberostar Selection Esmeralda: Wouldn’t rate this a 4 or 4.5 star resort

My expectations are not high when travelling to Cuba. I love Cuba the people and their beaches and have travelled there every year (sometimes twice a year) for ten years prior to Covid. First time back. I expected shortages and it is what it is. However I was disappointed in the 1 restaurant we had. Never opened at 7. Always a line up to go in, made it hectic when the doors were open. The food was a little below standard. Not enough tongues for food. They were used for every dish. Cross conta [... read more]mination..no milk, powdered milk which is fine they just need to stir lumps out. End of vacation no milk what so ever. I found lots of veggies to eat, meat was hit and miss and fruit was limited. I love apples so ate them everyday. No bananas. The flies were disgusting. On tables, in food, in glasses on table. Maybe try fly traps. We sat outside for most meals and no flies? Go figure…. As for the rooms, cleanliness for Covid, unfortunately our towels were never changed, I’m ok with 1 change while we are there but they just folded the wet towels and put in rack. One day half way through our holiday we walked in room and commented the cleaning supplies must have arrived because it smelled clean. The rest of days not much done. No soap to wash hands, which they have containers for hand soap, shampoo, body wash etc. all empty. Used our own soap which I expected. Was disappointed there was no hand soap in any washrooms on the resort. There was to be 3 specialty restaurants but only 2. No big deal they were good. Pasta was in short supply. The drive from airport to resort varies from 45 - 11/2 hours depending who is being dropped off at other resorts or picked up on way home. This resort will not be an option for my next trip. I will be looking to Cayo Santa Maria or Cayo coco my favourite spots. Tried something new but will stick with places I’m sure will be a 4.5 resort.

JOIA Bavaro by Iberostar: Consistency Abounds

My wife Julie and I stayed at the resort pre-pandemic in 2019. I am pleased to report that it certainly survived through COVID and kept their very high standards. Staff were very attentive and constantly went the extra mile - my birthday celebration was most memorable. The golf course is one of the nicest resort courses I have ever played. Two thumbs up!

JOIA Rose Hall by Iberostar: Great resort

Overall a fantastic resort with a few extras that are nice touches, such as butler service, 24 hour room service, turn-down service, plus top shelf liquor. Grounds are beautiful and very well maintained as are the pools. Lots of seating both at pool and beach. Beach is nice and swimmable and you have a nice stretch of beach for your walks. The food is incredible and a great variety to choose from at the buffet. Completely surprised with the options that also included shrimp, lobster, fi [... read more]sh, steak as well as local cuisine - Jerk chicken. Variety of options on entertainment from morning yoga on the beach to crafts to live band on the beach. The rooms are spacious and in great condition yet dated in decor (not a big deal) because the bed and pillows are superior and provided the most comfortable restful sleep. The only flaw which is out of the control of the hotel is the merchants that walk the beach, it gets tiring to have to say no thank you to the same person multiple times a day. I had no issues with the merchants selling souvenirs yet the drug solicitation from a handful of merchants was undesirable. Again, out of control of the hotel, but something to be aware of in advance. Fundamental question is would I go back - ABSOLUTELY!

Iberostar Selection Ensenachos: Beautiful Resort

We sure enjoyed our stay at the Iberostar Ensenachos with our little family. Everybody had a great time. This is a very big resort therefore lots of walking to go everywhere but you can also take a cart to drive you around if needed. The gardeners are working very hard to keep the grounds meticulously clean. They are very friendly. We can't say enough about the staff working everywhere, they all tried their best to make sure everything was perfect for us. The beaches are beautiful with their whi [... read more]te sand and the pools (kids and adults) were kept very clean. The food at the buffet was good and they had a good variety to please everyone. The only complain we have is that the lighting along the path to return to your room at night is not very well lit so bring a flashlight if you think about it. All in all, this is a beautiful resort, we had an awesome vacation and we would definitely return.

Iberostar Origin Daiquiri: Loved coming back!

Thank you Tripcentral for all the info updates re: travel\Covid/reviews. All were so helpful in our choice to return to the Iberstar Daiquiri. We (three 60something women) had a great flight to and from the island. Customs on both sides were no problem. My sister and I had been to this resort quite a few times and were not disappointed. Yes, we understood that the Cuban land and its peoples are in a difficult situation but they greeted us with such warmth and cheer. Rooms were a little ru [... read more]n down but spotless. The food was simple but ample....and the fish!!! OMG!!. Loved the pig roast; loved the beaches; loved the entertainment. This was the first time to Cuba for my friend who has travelled quite a bit and I had hoped she wasn't disappointed. Nope, she also fell in love with the people and place and will come back again. Yes, there were some issues: flies in the "Big House"; ran out of wine, both red and white; no door on the closet. But really? no complaints here. Thank you to all the staff ...LOL...especially the Bellman and Front desk. Thank you to the cleaning staff of the Trinadad building. Hope to see you next year!

Iberostar Origin Playa Alameda: Amazing Staff and Great Resort

In our experience, the staff was extremely helpful, attentive, and friendly! The resort was clean, the room was comfortable, and there was always a place to eat and grab a drink. It was beyond our expectations! We plan to return.

Iberostar Origin Bella Vista Varadero: Great hotel and service

We came back 2 days ago from Cuba We, me and my husband had a great time in this hotel Iberostar Bella Vista Varadero. The room was clean and with enough space to move around with all the necessary things. The entertainment at the beach and the swimming pool was fun The Lobby bar tenders guys was service minded and very Cham, the amazing coctel ready at anytime all around the hotel .I will recommended the hotel to others The food is an issue

Iberostar Origin Daiquiri: For very picky people

Almost everything was very good and we got first class service from hotel's staff. It will be easier to list minuses, as there is only three. Buffet - Food was very good, fresh, choice of fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, excellent bread and a lot of annoying flies Room - renovated, clean, bed comfortable, fantastic view, but could not open the window for fresh air as there was no screen. Beach - cleaned daily, nice sand, water shallow, but a lot of vegetation in the water, For crystal clea [... read more]r water you have to walk around 300 yards towards next hotel. Everything else I would say 10/10. I am really happy with our trip.

Iberostar Origin Laguna Azul: Great time!

I have been to Cuba several times and this was a great resort. All the staff are so friendly and accommodating and the beach is beautiful. The food is made very well despite all the restrictions. Would go again! The only thing - I wish the pools had more shade but the beach had plenty!

Iberostar Origin Daiquiri: A PIECE OF PARADISE

Visited March 24-31, our second time since November 2022. A great go to for an inexpensive vacation. Can't do better than the beaches at Cayo Guillermo. While the hotel was full, the food was not as good as in Nov, when the hotel was only 1/3 full. More choices this time but lacked quality. Flies in buffet made for quick meals. No wine at all. Purchased a bottle in the store and more when we went to Moron. No Cristal one day, Moosehead cans served. Rooms are dated but comfortable and clean. [... read more] Staff is amazing, very friendly. A la cartes are delicious, a nice break from the flies!

Iberostar Origin Laguna Azul: Excellent experience, good value for money

I was very happy with my overall stay. My room had been well maintained and there were no issues. The only thing I noticed but did not let it affect my overall experience was that the cleaning staff did not clean the room daily. It appeared as if they just made the beds. There had been hair - my hair, that was never swept for the 4 days I was there. There was some dirt in between the bed and the couch which said that they did not really clean the room. Towels were not changed for clean on [... read more]es. When you go to Cuba, you do not go with high expectation of standards and you will be happy. Food was really not that bad but for Cuban standards. The place was always happening with lots of activities/ entertainment during the day and night. Great place if you want to party and enjoy loud music. I was actually looking for something quieter but I was happy to get the sun, sea and sand! Pools were amazing, beach was heavenly, except that many of the beach beds were broken. Service was excellent !!! overall facilities were the best!

Hotel Bella Costa: Nice resort

We had a great few days at the Iberostar. We stayed on the 5th floor in an ocean front suite. We knew going into the vacation that the hotel was going to be out dated. We came prepared with extras like wash clothes, beach towel, extra toilet paper, hot sauce, ketchup, peanut butter, chips, candies, chocolate... lol The sheets were not fitted or white but we didn't care as long as they were clean. The beach is beautiful and the staff here were very friendly and helpful. The food was fine here [... read more]. We liked the daily barbeque of chicken, pork or beef for lunch. A lot of the same food presented at each buffet but or hot sauce spiced it up. :) Just keep in mind that Cubans do not make very much money for all the hours they work so tipping and bringing little gifts go a long way. We would go back here in the future. We like the smaller not so busy resorts plus this one is the closest one to the beach. We stayed at the Melia Internacional in January. The resort is beautiful and the rooms are new and lovely but they ran out of so many basic things. It's a much larger resort with hundreds of people. We would much rather stay here any day. Just keep in mind this is not Barbados so don't expect things to be any where near a vacation like that. We loved our 6 day trip here and would recommend this resort but please just keep an open mind. You are getting what you pay for. Enjoy!

JOIA Rose Hall by Iberostar: Amazing Anniversary Vacation:)

Check in was smooth. Concierge brought us to an area to make dinner reservations. We arrived on a Thursday and were able to make reservations until Sunday. We were told the remaining reservations could be made through our butler, which we did on Saturday! The dinner buffet at the Grand is not open every night but they're able to tell you when it's open/closed so we enjoyed the buffet the nights it was open and ate in the a la carte's the other nights! The concierge explains that there's 170+ [... read more] Iberostar's across the globe and invited us to a breakfast. We understood this was a time share presentation and politely declined. It wasn't an issue and we were brought to the bell hop to get our bags and be escorted to our room. One of our butlers, Jaime, met us at the room and gave us a full tour and set us up with WhatsApp for the butlers. Every morning the morning butler introduced themselves with an itinerary of what restaurants were open, entertainment etc. via WhatsApp. The butlers checked in several times a day by both WhatsApp and in person! Our butlers were all fantastic: Taneil, Romell, Ralston, Travis & Jaime Iberostar has an app which we utilized to find out what activities were going on (aquafit, classes at the gym etc.). We ordered room service for breakfast twice and it was quick, accurate and delicious. We didn't have an issue getting reservations; we had a few 8pm/9pm reservation nights, but we rolled with it! We took the opportunity to hang out on our huge balcony early evening, order cheese/crackers, hummus etc. from room service, make a drink (room is fitted with customized mini bar and 2 bottles of your choice of liquor) and enjoy the tranquility of the space! There was amazing selection at all restaurants. I'm a vegetarian where my husband is not. We were both able to find amazing food choices; I can honestly say, the Iberostar does a fantastic job of offering a well-rounded menu at both the buffets and a la carte's. We participated in lots of activities; paddleboard yoga, aquafit, arts and crafts, kayaking, snorkeling etc. We went to the gym, played pickleball and walked the beach! We checked out the Iberostar Suites next door; enjoyed their lobby entertainment, a show in their theatre and buffet one evening. The lobby bar at the Grand was great; we spent a lot of evenings there before/after shows. Cassandra was an amazing hostess! The shows were enjoyable both in the theatre, on the beach and at the pool area. The Iberostar Resorts are on a public beach so there are vendors. It was a smidge annoying but honestly, not nearly as bad as I expected given reviews I'd read. I found the vendors in Dominican Republic on Bavaro Beach as well as in Nassau, Bahamas, much, much worse than this. A 'no thanks' worked, not to say the same vendor wouldn't ask you again in an hour, but again, a 'no thanks' and they were on their way. We had a fantastic vacation and would gladly recommend this resort to friends and family.

Iberostar Origin Laguna Azul: Wonderful Holiday

The hotel is dated, but you don’t go for the rooms. Everything is clean. Only issue with our room is that the patio door did not lock well. Staff is very friendly and accommodating. Not all drinks available at all bars, so what. Take what’s available you will enjoy it. The pools are great, beach is great, weather is great, people are great. The buffet is ok, some days better than others, you won’t starve. They try their best with what they have available, which changes every day. Exc [... read more]ursions were fantastic ( Havana especial, Mantanza Yumuri and Guama Especial). We will go back soon, 9th time in Cuba. You feel welcome and safe wherever you go.

Iberostar Origin Daiquiri: Hotel for Kitesurfing fan

Beautiful long beach/ Small hotel to relax for beach lover/ a lot of beach chairs and palapas/ very clean :washrooms and pool and on the site. very good room cleaning room service All hotels in Cayo Coco /Cayo Guillermo have shortages of Wine (red,rosé,white) since a few months,have to buy it at the tienda of the hotel (plan B)

Iberostar Coral Esmeralda: Great Week!

We travelled here on March 22 2023.It is approx.1hr 15 min from airport.The resort itself is very modern and well kept grounds Beach and staff are 5 star.Rooms are very clean.If you are looking for a small relaxing resort this is the place for you.Everything is very close .We did not ever have a hard time finding a chair by beach or pool.Dining is Cuban fair shortages at times but never left hungry.

Iberostar Coral Esmeralda: Good resort

The rooms, the grounds, the beach, the pool, and the staff were amazing. The food was ok, but it would have been nice to have some soft drinks or juice where water was limited. Everyone does not drink alcohol all the time. Our room was very nice but we had no hot water at all. By day 6, we had hot water from one of the two bathroom sinks. We were dreading taking a shower every day after the beach before dinner.

Iberostar Selection Hacienda Dominicus: Great resort!

The beach is amazing and beautiful. The entertainment team is also great. You will not get bored at night as there are shows and parties. There are also activities for kids. The hotel is green and clean.