Grand Memories Santa Maria: Worth returning to Cuba

I stayed in building 60 at the grand memories sanctuary area. Well worth going back to Cuba. It’s been a long two years of going nowhere. I was very hesitant to go to Cuba quite frankly because of the COVID situation, but I couldn’t pass up the deal. The Wi-Fi was a bit spotty better in the room and by the pool but quite frankly I loved the break. Also something that’s very new most things were paid by credit card. They excepted Canadian American or Cuban money. The resort could probably b [... read more]e updated but everything was kept clean by the staff who was very friendly. It should be noted that this resort offers a three-story walk up buildings for the rooms. They also offer trollies or golf carts around the resort. The food is Cuban. You were offered pork chicken beef or fish, soup, salad and dessert for supper. The food was delicious regardless. My philosophy when eating in Cuba has always been eat what they make in front of you. There was a hut on the beach that severed alcohol hot dogs or hamburgers. For breakfast and lunch there is a buffets. As well as a chef, late at night that would make something. They also made cappuccinos. I did tip throughout the vacation. The staff was very appreciate of of the tips. But if you didn’t tip they still treated you the same there was no difference that I noticed. I stayed at the beach in the morning until two. The loungers in the palapas were well taken care of. There was always somebody to set it up for you clean it and place your towel. I felt very safe leaving my stuff on my seat. If you walk down to the end of where the hotels were there was a place where you could snorkel. Also, the hotel offered a complementary catamaran ride into the ocean and back. There is a place on entering the beach where you can tell what the water was like because there was always a flag red or yellow. In the pool area there was a swim up bar there was a lot of music and entertainment at the pool. Shade or sun areas on the pool deck. The rooms were kept immaculately clean, staff is always around to help you. The entertainment staff with exceedingly busy it made everybody felt welcomed. Thank you very much Mercedes, Joel, George, Rafeal, Eduardo, Elena, Dayanes and anyone I forgot. I did get a really nice massage. There was a safe in the room I did have a converter but I don’t think I really needed it for the electricity. There was a mini fridge that was always stocked with water. There was always fresh towels and you had 2 beach towels. There was entertainment there with dance troupe. After the show at night time the staff was always around to have fun with. There is a doctor on this resort who was very professional and understanding. Also, I would like to mention the Sunwing representative was very clear very precise and friendly and helpful. Which I can’t always say about other the travel reps I’ve dealt with. As well as the bus drivers and tour guide from and to the resort. This resort was very safe for ladies travelling on there own

Playa Cayo Santa Maria: Playa Cayo Santa Maria

We just got back from one week at this resort..love the place..people..and beach..want to go back in march for two weeks and bringing more family..also hopefully for New Year and hubby birthday..pools were great..24 hours food..

Playa Cayo Santa Maria: It was a good hotel

The staff could of been more helpful, not a lot of people spoke English which was frustrating, the food was awful and the locals were treated better than the tourists . They were cooking meat with the same spatula meaning they were flipping cooked meat with the same fork as they were picking up raw meat . I complained and saw it happen the next day . Mixed chicken and pork together ????? There was no change in menu same food every day . And I feel like they lied about positive covid results they [... read more] kept people in rooms then released them in the day we were leaving and charged them money . So positive for 2 days then negative ???? It was scary to think we were travelling home with people that had covid . They did not test people they had it already even tho people could still get it with shots ????? They charged them 100 to be cleared ???? Scam if u ask me . This needs to be looked into . Will I return no I will not . Unless things change .

Dhawa Cayo Santa Maria: Great stay

The grounds were beautiful and gardens work all day keeping it so. Attendants are at all bathrooms and they are kept clean. All staff wear PPE and spray your hands as you walk into a restaurant.it’s clean, inexpensive and the beach is beautiful. It’s probably a 3.5 star but the beach and staff make it worth it.

Royalton Cayo Santa Maria: Absolutely Beautiful Resort!!!

This resort was a definite a 5/5! The Staff, beach and food were amazing! Unfortunately getting there and returning was stressful! Sunwing was absolutely horrible! We will definitely be going back to this resort only with a different airline! Ana our chamberlady was so sweet and hard working. Noelvis and Diana, our butlers, went above and beyond the call of duty. Dialys and the kitchen staff were excellent! Bravo Felix for running a top notch resort!

Dhawa Cayo Santa Maria: Amazing Service and food!

We recently stayed (6 Jan to 13 Jan) and it was the best trip we have been on. The grounds were clean and the beach was very nice. This was our second trip to Cuba. Randy and mariesly that work at the snack bar are simply the most amazing people we have met. Not only the service they provided but the attention to detail was outstanding. They went over and beyond for our group of four and provided us with true gourmet Cuban meals at the snack bar! The cook that was working there was also one of t [... read more]he best! He would create different items and bring them out to us for testing. We could not have asked for better service or food. We will definitely be going back to visit our new friends soon!

Melia Las Dunas: Amazing beach

The beach is the best in Cuba but entertainment is horrible and the first time that we haven't felt welcome in a Cuban resort. Hopefully other resorts will reopen we love the beach but won't return to mld

Iberostar Selection Ensenachos: 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.

Playa Cayo Santa Maria: Not five star

Needs a bit of refurbishing Food is not that great Rooms are a bit tired an so is the lobby The beach is the best in this whole experience the pools are a bit dirty. Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Dhawa Cayo Santa Maria: Great resort, great beach and lots of nature!

What we really liked at Dhaka Cayo Santa Maria is a lot of greenery and flowers on the grounds, beautiful white sand on the beach, amazingly clear and warm water even in December. The room was also modern, clean, and comfortable. Cubans are very friendly people. We really enjoyed our stay in December-January 2022! There were no cases of COVID-19, so we could enjoy a normal life finally.

Dhawa Cayo Santa Maria: Would not go back!

The staff were lovely. The drinks were plentiful. The pool was big and clean. The beach is nice but very windy on this side of the island-we went across the street to use the other resort beach & it was calm. The food was beyond horrible! There was limited staff due to low occupancy so restaurants were very slow because they had to serve everything at buffet and specialty stations were not efficient. New Year was the big event for locals who were allowed to attend...food service for those  [... read more]3 days obviously favoured the new guests.

Valentin Perla Blanca: Disappointed

We arrived at the hotel late at night.. nobody to direct us or help with our luggages.we received our room key and waited a long time for assistance or direction for our room but none available so we walked around the resort with our luggages in the very dark night with no clue where to go, being bitten by a storm of bugs. Once we finally found our room. It was very dirty. Toilet paper pasted on the bathroom wall beside the toilet. The sheets had blood on it and lots of sand. There was even  [... read more]a smashed mosquito on the wall on top of my bed. We did not gain weight at this resort.. I was not very impressed with the food either. Not to much option. There was wieners in almost everything. Lots of wieners. No slush for our drinks either . So warm drinks. Staff was nice, beach is very beautiful and pools also. Not much lighting at night and we had no more bugs for the rest of the week. A group of My friends said that was their favorite resort in Cuba But after my experience , they are thinking twice about going back after Covid.

Valentin Perla Blanca: Not the best experience

We arrived to the resort with zero guidance. After we received our room key we waited with no assistances or directions to get to our room. We roamed around the resort with our luggages in the dark getting bit by bugs non stop. Once we finally got in our room it was filthy. There was toilet paper on the wall, sheets were dirty and very dusty. Majority of the food items were unavailable and hot dogs was in mostly everything. The bugs were only awful the first night no complaints afterwards. A la  [... read more]Cartes were great. Weather and beach were nice as well.

Gran Muthu Cayo Santa Maria: Loved it!

It was a good family Resort with decent amenities. Beach and pool was superb. Food was ok. Front desk stuff was a bit rude. We really enjoyed the time with the entertainment team throughout the day with a lot of dance. However night concert was not so good. Also, we had to replace our door keys 3 times. It didn't work time to time. But overall we really enjoyed the time. Will go back again.

Dhawa Cayo Santa Maria: Great deal for the price

This hotel provided an overall good experience for us, especially for the low price that we paid. (Beach/facility) The beach was gorgeous and the weather was wonderful every day we were there. The lawns and vegetation were well taken care of. The resort was on the smaller side which was a huge pro. It was not a long walk to get anywhere Ie/ it was a 2 minute walk from the room to the beach or the buffet. There was a small gym, tennis courts and soccer field. I very much enjoyed the gym during [... read more] my stay. I might also add that there seemed to be ramps all over the resort, so I believe that it is relatively accessible if this is required for your needs. (Room) the room was very nice, my partner has been to Cuba 5 times, and he had indicated to me that this was the nicest room he has ever stayed in. Each room had a balcony and fresh flowers were put on the bed every day which was a nice touch. The room was also re stocked with water, beer and soda every day. (Food and drink) the bars were wonderful, though they sometimes ran out of things, the bar tenders were very kind and would recommend things based upon what we had been drinking. Though not available every day mojitos were amazing and I highly recommend them if you go to this resort. I did have a hard time with the food however. I am a vegetarian and found that there were not many options for me at the buffet as almost every food offered contained meat. There was a 24h snack bar and a beach hut that served grilled cheese, which I lived off of for the week. Additionally there is an omelet bar in the morning which was a fan favourite for my group. If I were to make one suggestion for this resort, I think that having more fruit and vegetables available would be beneficial, though I understand that there are supply chain issues at the moment which could prevent this. (Staff) is he staff were quite friendly, specifically a waitress named Rosy made our trip much more memorable. She was always willing to seat us outside on the balcony even though it was not open at the time we stayed there. She even had our table set up with a dinner setting and twinkle lights one night as she knew we were coming. Truly this woman is a sweet heart and deserves a raise! (COVID) COVID seemed to impact the food offered at the resort a bit as there were some restaurants that were closed when we visited. Masks had to be worn in the buffet, lobby and before we were seated at the a la carte. Also there was a staff member spraying sanitizer in our hands when we entered the restaurants and buffet. At the buffet the food was only served by staff members, and the tables were cleaned after each group left. As far as the covid test to re enter Canada, it went very smoothly. They organized for a doctor to come to the resort 72h before we left, and got our results the afternoon before we were set to depart.

Grand Aston Cayo Las Brujas: A beautiful, spotlessly clean, modern resort !

We (a group of six) just returned from a week at the Grand Aston. We thoroughly enjoyed it, and were made to feel SO welcome. It is a beautiful, modern resort with exceptionally pleasant, helpful staff, and some of the best food we have ever had in Cuba. We were very impressed with how careful the staff observed the necessary protocols. They were masked at all times, and did not hesitate to gently remind guests to put their masks on in indoor spaces. There were a number of hand sanitizing [... read more] stations throughout the resort. The public washrooms were very clean, well supplied with toilet paper, and the liquid soap containers were always full. Our room was very nice.....I was sharing with a friend, and the room, initially, only had a double bed. I requested a second bed, and one was immediately moved in, and made up..... within minutes, and with no fuss at all. The bathrooms were clean, with great showers.....excellent water pressure, and lots of hot water. For the first couple of days, the resort was very quiet.....only about 150 guests. On the third day, a large number of Cuban families arrived, and the place really came to life !! It was lovely to see everyone enjoying themselves, especially the kids, but the music was just a little too loud, and the number of people at the buffet a little daunting, so for a very nominal amount we transferred to the much quieter adult only section (with adjacent ocean view rooms, which was lovely) for the last few days. This gave us much easier access to the beach, a large quiet pool, a great snack bar (which also served breakfast, lunch and dinner.) And a well stocked bar right beside the pool. This is a really nice resort......the beach is lovely, the ocean calm and clean (and quite shallow for quite a distance, which is great for small children), and we had a lovely holiday !

Playa Cayo Santa Maria: I would recommend this resort

I liked this resort because they were masked at all times. At no time did I feel at risk to covid. They were very accommodating. Food was very good. Had no issues. The beach was absolutely gorgeous. The rooms were very clean. Bartenders were quick to get drinks and always very pleasant. I would go back to resort again.

Playa Cayo Santa Maria: Fantastic time had

This hotel is awesome. Food was the best I've had in Cuba. Resort is in beautiful condition, landscaped and cleaned every morning. Rooms are very comfortable. Great beds and pillows. Beautiful showers. Air conditioning works great. Staff are amazing. Fantastic public areas. Great bars.

Melia Las Dunas: Amazing!

The resort is beautiful, the workers are even better! Lots of options for food, the beach was perfect and the customer service was great. They accommodated our family very well and will definitely be going back!

Dhawa Cayo Santa Maria: Very nice resort

Loved the resort, grounds and especially the beach with clean white sand. Hotel staff in general very obliging and friendly especially Carlos, Richar, Andalay who served us in the dining room. The mosquitos and sand fleas? were a real nuisance around 5:00 - 7:00 in the evening and 7:00 - 8:00 in the morning when we tried to go for a walk. All in all it was a pleasant experience at the Dhawa.