Ocean Coral Riviera Cancun: Many positive things about this resort

The hotel was beautiful. The beach was great. We had 3 days with alot of sea weed coming in, the resort had workers removing it all day. It was nice to see that they were on top of it. Food was good and rooms were wonderful. Had only 2 things that I did not like overall. I found that the resort was pushing (time share) you to attend a welcome meeting. We were approached 6 times during our 10 day stay. Did not enjoy that. Also their boutique was very expensive. There was no store to just buy tour [... read more]ist stuff at all or snacks. A sun dress was $69 USD at home I would pay about $25 Canadian. Not for me! Again the resort itself was wonderful as were the maids, bar staff and restaurant staff. The grounds were well maintained as well. Resort was abit remote from towns, for shopping.

Playa Vista Azul: Great Value

They are working hard to bring this hotel from a 4 star up the ladder and it shows. The staff was warm, friendly and very accommodating. The food, although not gourmet, was pretty good and a few of the lunches were stellar....trays and trays of lobster tails, cleaned and cooked to perfection. The grounds and common areas were always clean and tidy and our rooms, including the bathroom was sparkling every day. If I could make one suggestion, it would be to put the bbq back or make some food ava [... read more]ilable by the larger beach.

Valentin El Patriarca Varadero: Clean and well maintained resort

We spent 11 days at the Oven Varadero El Patriarca in early December and had an awesome time. The beech an weather was great! The rooms were clean and spacious, the grounds well maintained, the food tasty and versatile. As I travelled with my elderly mom, we wanted a smaller resort with bungallows.The staff was helpful and polite and accommodated our requests. The only issue was that even though the air conditioner worked well, the air was sometimes smelly, however the maintenance staff fixed [... read more] this promptly.

Hotel Roc Casa del Mar: Needs TLC

Nice staff and huge land . The resort is very big and spacious. The beach is very long, great for walks. There is very little algea. However, there is lots of garbage laying around , broken chairs along the whole beach . Nobody seems To be cleaning up. The rooms are simple and clean. The eating area is fine. The food selection is very simple and missing breakfast items. Bread was stale and fruit loops was only choice of cereal. Not good for adults or children. I am lactose intolerant  [... read more]and cannot eat gluten , and there were no other choices or substitute. At buffet, we had very similar choices for breakfast, lunch and supper. Lacked variety. À la carte restaurant were good. Ambiance was decent. Not too loud making it a quiet vacation. Be aware of deffective / demagnetized room cards. We had to go To reception 3 times To get new cards.

Ocean Riviera Paradise: Dream Vacation

This was my first time taking a vacation down south to an all inclusive resort and I felt like I was living a dream. I have no complaints. The facilities were spotless, the staff were phenomenal, the shows were exciting and the food was absolutely perfect, and I'm a vegetarian. So many choices, everywhere we ate. I was with friends and we made new friends there. For me, the atmosphere could not have been any better. Absolutely beautiful resort. I cried when I had to leave. I want to go back s [... read more]o badly.

Hotel Roc Casa del Mar: Super relaxing!

The food options were not the greatest, not much for people with intolerances and I got sick. They gave us keys that didn’t work three times in a row our first night. Other than those things but was a lovely peaceful stay.

Ocean Blue and Sand: AMAZING!

I cannot say enough about Ocean Blue! The resort is fabulous, the beach is amazing (except for the 'whales' (that's what I call them, lol) that stop the waves, some of them are way to close to the beach. The food was amazing, the staff are amazing, the grounds are amazing, and I mean SPOTLESS! (I did not see one cigarette butt ANYWHERE) Mike's Cafe was the best! I would 100% come back to this resort.

Ocean Blue and Sand: Fantastic trip to Punta Cana

This was our second trip to the Ocean Blue and Sand resort, we again had an amazing time they had decorated for Christmas having a light up night with a champagne and chocolate party! The room was clean and the bed was very comfortable. The pool was great and Bienvenito the bartender looked after us! Activities were fun; we played frisbee, beanbag toss, painted, danced pool side, water aerobics and bingo ...Pokémon and Cherry kept us entertained! OB & S have the best staff!

Ocean Blue and Sand: Well run resort.

Stayed at Ocean Blue and sand 1st week dec. This was our 5th time in the DR and second time to this same resort (after 7 years). The PROPERTY: Looks like the lobby area was refreshed since our first visit. Residences same and well kept. Rooms and grounds clean. No bugs. The resort appears quite family friendly. Many families with young children. STAFF: We found the staff to be most friendly and helpful without exception. English is well spoken at Reception. Many staff speak some English. [... read more] If you can speak some Spanish you will be a hit. DINING: We tried a couple of the ala carte restaurants: Margharita and I Mascherati. Both were fine. We dined mostly in the main buffet restaurant so we could sample more things. Really enjoyed the assortment of seafood. My personal favourites were the sushi tuna and cured tuna (similar to prosciutto). There was plenty of variety of all foods and well prepared. BEACH: Parts of the beach near the beach bar took a hit from the last big storm that went through and have significant erosion. Workers were sandbagging below the bar to stabilize. There were also massive sandbags in the water just off shore to protect the beach from further erosion. My guess is that sand may be dredged from further out to restore the beach to its former size. EXCURSIONS: We did the sights on prior trips to the DR so spent most of our time enjoying R&R at the beach. SHOPPING: We did one shopping run on provided shuttle to a touristy shopping centre. Nothing more than you can find from beach vendors. Worth skipping that one. Better shops can be had at Plaza San Juan (free shuttle route A on request from Ocean Blue) and also has supermarket (Super Pola). US$ accepted at all shops except supermarket. There was also a 3 ½ hr trip available to Blue Mall near airport. Not sure of cost or shuttle services. RUM: Since first time to the DR, I have come to enjoy anejo rum. Best prices will be at a supermarket. I found small selection at reasonable price at the Duty Free on resort. Ie. 3x1L of Brugal Extra Viejo for $25US. Brugal Leyenda and Barcelo Imperial .7L both for $25US each at resort shop. Brugal is the big national brand. I was surprised the main Duty Free at airport didn’t carry it. Smaller Duty Free at airport did have it for considerably more than prices on resort. CONS: If there is one negative about the resort is their Travel Club. Guests are selectively solicited to purchase membership in the H10 Travel Club. A request to provide survey feedback turned into a 1hr+ sales presentation. I prefer to be the shopper not the shopped. If you are of similar mind just say NO when approached and enjoy your vacation your way.

Valentin El Patriarca Varadero: Great Cuban resort

We spent 11 days at El Patriarca, and enjoyed it very much. It's a large resort with tourists from many different countries. There were lots of Russians and French Canadians, and not too many English speaking guests there while we visited. The resort is made up of many two story, twelve-plexes. The room was nicely decorated and was always kept clean. Towels and linens were clean and soft. Beach is very nice, with a rocky area nearby which makes it interesting to walk. The resort was full  [... read more]so it was not possible to get chairs at the beach after 9am, but there was usually room at the pool. The food was surprisingly good for Cuba. They had trouble keeping up with the numbers at the buffet, so we sometimes had to wait to get in. Entertainment was very good, and the music in the lobby in the evenings was exceptional. Overall a really nice resort for the price.

Hotel Roc Casa del Mar: Great food

The food was amazing! Staff was great! Only 1 option for 24 hr food, if youre hungry. Had to chase down for bottles of water in the rooms. Beach was nice. More of a relaxing resort, not recommended if you want to party at all. Would definitely go back to Cuba, trying a different reaort next time.

Valentin El Patriarca Varadero: Cuba- Varadero- Ocean Varadero El Patriarca

Arrival at night by taxi- 5* - Desk personnel, very helpful, quick and knowledgeable, friendly, patient. Golf cart type ride to rooms - 5* service Requested adjacent rooms - 5* granted Room – 3.5* - large room, king bed, couch (not comfy), VERY dark, need more lights, patio doors Grounds –4* Amazing! VERY dark at night. Not safe to walk Pools - 3.5* 1 large + 2 kids pools, bottom was a bit slimy. Otherwise very nice Food – 3.5* not a lot of variety as expected. Dinning - 3.5* g [... read more]ood but not fantastic. No reservations required Tips – Were expected everywhere. Has to be added to your budget Beach – 4.5* amazing – clean – chairs were “reserved” early in the morning. SAND FLEA WERE BITTING. 2 decker bus to town - 4.5 Recommended- hop on hop off for 5 pesos HOLA SUN TOUR OP. – 2* - NOT AT AIRPORT AND unreachable all week. Would recommend them. Tripcentral.ca – Wendy was very helpful and patient and knowledgeable. BOOK WITH HER. SHE IS AMAZING Overall 4*

Hotel Roc Casa del Mar: Beautiful Beach

The good: The beach was stunning. Beach chairs were hard to find most days but luckily I brought our own. The staff amazing. Pool bar staff were incredible and snack bar staff were lovely too. The bad: food was the worst I have ever had in Cuba. Weekend maids did nothing but hide in corners on their phones. No towels. And I got a chemical burn from the pool. Beach bar was run by mostly women which is fantastic. Used to only be men who could bar tend in Cuba. However they were also on their pho [... read more]nes too much and rude when you wanted a drink. Mikes cafe had amazing coffee but most staff there acted like you were bothering them until you gave attitude back. Bus ride was way too long and they offered too many beer to the young kids on the bus, causing us to stop for “pee” breaks several times. I won’t be back.

Ocean Riviera Paradise: Fantastic resort for families with young children

Our family of five (kids aged 6, 4, 1) had a fantastic time at the Ocean Riviera Paradise. In reading other reviews, many people commented on the smell in the rooms. I did notice a damp smell on arrival, but it is a humid area and it didn’t bother us. After a few hours we didn’t even notice it anymore. Our room was in the Daisy building. We went for a room at the back of the building to avoid the noise in front of the pool, but if I had it to do over I would choose pool side. The “ [... read more]garden side” looked onto a service road for staff, so in the evenings when we sat on our balcony there was a lot of vehicle noise. The room itself was fantastic! There was lots of space for a family with three kids. We were also impressed with the size of the bathroom; the separate rooms for the toilet and shower were very convenient. Our older kids loved the waterpark for the first few days, and then they were ready to move on to other activities; fortunately there were lots to choose from. The different pools, the beach, kayak rentals, bowling gave us many options. The kids loved the Daisy Club, too. Some days they would go for hours, others they would choose one or two activities. The size of the resort was perfect for us. The food at the buffet was varied and great! We also enjoyed our meals at the a la carte restaurants, particularly the Hibachi, Italian, and the Mexican restaurants. One of the few downsides for our family is that the majority of the a la carte restaurants do not open until 6:30. Our kids are used to eating at 5:30 so this resulted in hungry and cranky kids most nights at dinner. It would be nice to have a few more restaurants with earlier seating. The staff at all of the restaurants were very attentive to our daughter’s allergies. Overall this is a fantastic resort. I would recommend this resort for families with young children, and I will consider returning or trying another H10 hotel in the future! Thanks to Amanda for finding this resort for us, and for the speedy communication. I'll certainly book with her again!

Ocean Riviera Paradise: Great Resort!

The resort was great. It was my first time and definitely would come back. Staff were all very friendly and helpful. Room was perfect, comfortable bed. Lots of different restaurants to eat at. Great pool and splash area for children. My granddaughter loved it. The resort was very clean. The beach was also amazing. My granddaughter enjoyed the spider monkeys running around and the coati mundi. I would definitely recommend this resort to anyone.

Hotel Roc Casa del Mar: Great resort!

Good food, attentive and friendly staff, great entertainment. Everything is close in the central building: buffet/dining restaurant, bar, coffee bar, main lobby/lounge, reception, a la carte restaurants, gym, pool table, theatre etc

Hotel Roc Casa del Mar: Nice resort but very poor lighting

It was one of the nicer resorts for Cuba but for it only being a couple of years old it could use a little TLC especially the lights along the paths. There were also a couple of days when the lights were out in our hallways. This is a safety issue which we advised the front desk and our Transat rep but not much was done. I believe they were short lightbulbs. I understand they only get supplies once a week. We were there at the end of November 2019 so I am hopeful it is fixed. The employees  [... read more]as always were very nice and appreciative for the tips and items we brought from home for them. Some of the items are very difficult for them to get even if they have the money. The Transat rep was amazing and very friendly. Just be aware that Cuba is in the process of changing their currency so do not buy too much. The rep told us of the money changing and to ensure we changed it back to Canadian before we left Cuba. She forgot to tell us to change it before you leave the hotel the duty free at the airport will not accept it and you will have to stand in line to do this after you get your boarding pass so save yourself the headache and do this before you leave the hotel. The beach and sun was great but to my friends disappointment they ran out of red wine half way through the week. Loved Mike's cafe. If you want to bring some items from home I suggest tooth paste, tooth bush, shampoo, soaps, sanitary napkins and tampons, fishing line, leaders, hooks and school supplies. Overall we had a great time and have been to Cuba many many times love the people

Hotel Roc Casa del Mar: The best resort that I have ever been to

Beautiful resort. Although it's huge everything was practically perfect. The rooms were cleaned every day, they also change towels and bed sheets daily. The staff was very nice and helpful. There were variety of food to take from the buffet restaurant and they were bringing things accordingly to the needs. Every thing was nicely and esthetically served. My husband only complained about the pork and beef that it was not very juicy. The highlight of the trip was the catamaran excursion and swimmi [... read more]ng with the dolphins which I would recommend. The dolphins were kept in ethical enclosures out at sea. I also enjoyed the daily evening entertainment. The actors were amazing.

Hotel Roc Casa del Mar: Great beach resort

We had an issue the first night upon arrival where there were no lights outside on the cobblestone to get to our room and this was reported but never fixed all week. Luckily, we found a shortcut and had a flashlight on our phone that we used to walk in the dark until almost to the front lobby. The 3rd night before our departure, the hotel ran out of red wine. For two nights, we had no lights in our hallway on the 3rd floor but the 1st and 2nd floor HD lights so it was reported to our Air  [... read more]Transat rep and it was repaired. The one beach snack bar was not open for the full 7 days of our trip so we only went once to the other snack bar but they ran out of plates and we had to wait for someone to walk on the beach and get more and they were just cleaned under running water, we did not see any soap being used. They should use paper or cardboard plates for the beach. Our rep was wonderful and made sure our room safe and air conditioning worked, which they did. We had a few burnt out lightbulbs and when I asked the housekeeper about it, she took one out a nearby table lamp and replaced it. I reported the balcony light being out all week but it never got changed. They might have had a shortage of light bulbs but we made do. There was seaweed on the beach and they had a sign saying they do not clean it up as they let Mother Nature take care of it. Overall, it was a great vacation with great sunshine and no rain all week.

Ocean Blue and Sand: Absolutely Amazing Resort

We totally enjoyed ourselves here at the Ocean Blue and Sand resort from the moment we arrived. The staff we're extremely friendly knowledgable and willing to serve. The resort is spotlessly clean and is continuallly being maintained and cleaned. Our rooms were very comfortable and clean and spacious. The beds were very comfortable. We visited almost every restaurant on the resort, but sadly did miss 2. We made resevations for some and went without at others. We were never disappointed with the  [... read more]food offerings or quality and taste. The buffets were plentiful regardless of breakfast, lunch or supper and the a la cartes were equally as good. The layout of the resort is very well thought out as well. We could be in our room and not be disturbed by pool activities or by events near the Lobby square or theatre and still be within a short walk to all easily. The bars were all well stocked and the bartenders could mix anything you requested with most of the popular and higher end brands available. The pools were very large and clean and offered lots of deck space for sunning. They have 2 swim up bars, one in each pool as well as surface bars and a restaurant right at the beach. The beach was not as large as some but still offered pleenty of room for walking, sunning and playing in the abundant surf. Lifeguards were always present at the pools and the beach as well as security and lots of helpful staff. I could go on but I feel like I'm rambling. We will definitely return here again. Great value for the money and very reasonable.