Playa Costa Verde: comfortable resort

Small resort with bungalows. Clean rooms with comfortable beds. Well manicured grounds. Lots of food to choose from buffet. Friendly staff. Nice beach.Would recommend this resort for families or couples. To get to beach have to cross over bridge which is loaded with all kinds of water birds.

Playa Pesquero: Very friendly resort

Grounds are well kept, some buildings need fresh paint.Wash rooms need re- done, with walk in showers only,tubs are too high to step in to.No potatoes or white wine,not good.A few more English TV channels needed.Transat rep not overly friendly.

Aston Costa Verde Beach Resort: Great resort

We booked our trip with the help of Karol from trip central. He was amazing help btw Rooms. Great for cuba. Clean but very outdated Beaches: beautiful blue and clear but bring water shoes has rocks and bring snorkeling gear amazing for snorkeling. Go see Roger for an amazing ride in sailboat. Won't regret it. Also lifeguard Axal, sweet sweet man that thought my kids to make flowers lut of palm leaves. Buffet repetive but we still manage to eat well. Met head waiter Samuel and he was amazi [... read more]ng. Katia our waitress would reserve our table every morning. Sweet woman with a great heart. Loved her. Shows great for cuba. Only disappointed was the pool activities not to enthusiastic. Staff was phenomenal. Would go back

Don Lino Hotel: Love this place

I have been going to Don lino for years. I love it because it's small and intimate. They are doing a great job on trying to make themselves better, whether it be improving the older rooms or adding a little play area to make it kid friendly.

Brisas Covarrubias: adequate resort--basic everything except for the staff who are exeptional

We arrived at the Holguin airport and were promptly escorted to a mini van where two other people were waiting. The two hour bumpy ride was ok for me, but my poor husband who has a bad back was white and in pain on arrival. I rushed to the lobby and was told that our ocean view upper level room was not yet ready. We left our luggage and waited by the pool for two hours for our room. The view from the room was delightful. It was less than a hundred feet to the ocean.....and I have to say, [... read more] that, is really special. It's an older resort with large spacious rooms. The cleaning staff were always making sure that everything was pristeen. They all go over and above, so it's important to leave a small tip for every service. They really appreciate it so much. In the morning we had a double espresso at the pool bar...they gave us sugar cane to stir our coffee with....an extra delight. For breakfast, and all meals, they greet you at the door and table service is friendly and efficient. It's obvious that Cuba is in an economic crisis. There were shortages. If certain things were not available...they made do. I was never hungry. There were always options. The only fruits available were papaya, little bananas, and watermelon. They often had pork, chicken, and shrimp on the grill. Sunday, there was roast beef which many really enjoyed. The animation crew were very talented and upbeat...The microphone was turned up way too loud, so the older crowd would drift to the other end of the resort to avoid the noise. The bartenders were all very friendly and accommodating whether or not they received a tip. Yandi at the beach, was delightfully witty. The best pina coladas and mojitos on the planet!!! His little hut was right on the beach next to the volleyball courts. Unfortunately it was too windy to play vball most days. They have a gorgeous tennis court, but no racquets or balls, so bring your own...Also a basketball net, but no ball. Table tennis...no balls, and too windy to play. All in all, what we wanted was sun, surf and sand. We got more than we expected, since the price was very low. If you want luxury, this is not the resort for you. If you want a beautiful beach for long walks, and no crowds, with very kind and capable staff, then this is the place for you. I would recommend this resort for diving and snorkelling as well. The water was the most amazing turquoise blue and very refreshing. The pool water was not the cleanest, as they had some mechanical troubles....but I would never go into a pool, when the ocean is right there. It's very obvious at this resort that the country is in crisis, but the people are upbeat, and making the best of it. No one is starving, but because they have information (internet) about the rest of the world, they are beginning to feel the twang of deprivation.

Playa Pesquero: Great Resort

Great resort, food, beach, all. We were there at the end of Feb 2020 with our 14 mth old twins and had a great time. The only item to bring up is that the rooms are not really updated- still looking like rooms from the 80s/tiles old and bathrooms outdated. However, they were very clean, mattresses new and there were no bugs & insects of any kind! We slept peacefully and really enjoyed our stay at Playa Pesquero. This was our 2nd time at the resort and we met many people who returned there ove [... read more]r 10 times.

Playa Pesquero: Great resort

We were pleasantly surprised by this resort, it was beautifully landscaped, clean with friendly staff. There were lots of options for eating throughout the day and many locations around the pool and on the beach to grab a drink. The pool area had lots of shade to escape the sun as did the beach. We did run into a couple of issues with the first room we were given, very musty with mold on the walls. The staff did find us a new room but we had to wait until the following day. When booking we up [... read more]graded to a Montecristo Room which is not worth the upgrade. The room was no different then any of the other rooms. There was no wristband, no free bottle of rum (even after requesting one). Overall we had a great trip and would go back, but stay on the premium side in the newer buildings and enjoy the adult only environment.

Sol Turquesa Beach: The staff at this resort are incredible!

This resort was wonderful, but if you have any mobility issues, book elsewhere. There are a lot of stairs everywhere. Also, there isn't a bug spray made that stops the bugs from biting. I have been to Cuba numerous times, and never had an issue with bug bites. This year they were unbearable. With this said, we had an amazing vacation and Love Cuba.

Brisas Covarrubias: Good !

BRISAS COVARUBBIAS Feb 5 - 15, 2020 We had a very good flight down with Air Transat but waiting for our luggage was painful. Since we were the only ones going to this resort, it was lovely to have a nice private taxi. Driver was great and his English was pretty good. It was definitely a long, bumpy ride but when we got to the resort, all was forgotten. Check in was done quickly and we were soon in our in fast time. The room is very spacious with a king size bed, long dresser, a littl [... read more]e table with two chairs and a loveseat ! Really quite lovely. The view from our balcony was spectacular and mere steps to the beach. Bathroom was ok but could use some cleaner caulking in some areas which was a little gross but clean nonetheless. The maids kept our room very clean. Only two smallish towels were provided but I assume we could have asked for more but didn't. Some towels really need to be replaced as they were heavily stained and at times we were reluctant to use them even though they were clean. The beach stretches out on either side which makes for great walking in the morning. It is a stunning beach with beautiful powdery white sand. The water was shallow enough to just bob around in. It seemed like they could use more loungers on the beach as people spent time walking around looking for a few. Sadly we joined in on the towel game and got our loungers early in the morning. We didn't use the pool simply because we are beach lovers. At times though walking by the pool, we noticed is was quite murky and wouldn't have gone in anyways. They were constantly cleaning it but I wonder if they are lacking the material needed to "shock" the water. The buffet food was pretty good ! Was always hot and they replenished the trays often. Great selection of cheeses, fruit, breads and more. The grilling station was fantastic. We enjoyed pork, fresh fish, shrimp kabobs and even a rack of lamb - all very delicious. Staff were wonderful and we didn't have to wait long to get a drink as the dining room was never really full....until Valentine's Day. They work so hard but always had a smile as they went along serving guests. Another reviewer stated no a la cartes. Well yes there sure is. We enjoyed two dinners here and very good. It's a nice change from the buffet. The lobster however left little to be desired as it was either undercooked or just bad. Was mushy and we couldn't eat it. Steak was tasty. The beach snack bar also served great food. Hamburgers were always cooked well. Pizza was great. Once again, service fantastic ! It was frustrating however to be in line waiting for your order and a local would come right up and be given large quantities of hamburgers while we had to wait for another batch to be cooked. I think education for staff is the key. They really need to be told to have these people stand in line & wait their turn. Was a very frustrating experience. Getting a drink at the bar was difficult.....one would have the bartender continually pouring cups of beer...10 sometimes 20. The dining room was actually very appalling in that for the first time we witnessed, hoards of food being put into bags and taken out. Same with the beach snack bar. We just shook our heads with this behaviour and waited...and waited longer. Thankfully it was only two days of this behaviour. First few days the mosquitoes/no seeums were out in full force. Had a few bites but nothing like some tourists got. After that, they did fog a few times and made a big difference. We didn't use spray after that. I think we're just lucky ones that bugs don't go after. We really didn't notice much in the way of shortages. The store at times didn't have Cristal beer. There were a few times that ice wasn't available but that was only for a short time. The resort seemed to have had everything that most would expect at mealtimes. For wine lovers, it was so-so. White wine was just ok and the red was quite nice. They did run out of french fries at the beach snack bar and the pizza, they only had once. The staff were second to none and wonderful. Once again, we met some amazing people....tourists & staff alike. We would certainly like to return but will rethink the time frame. Valentine's is not the time to come. The locals came in droves and pretty much took over the resort which would be fine as they are obviously happy to be on vacation like all of us ... but. This butting in line - taking huge amounts of food - ordering many, many beer at one time while we've been standing there for awhile isn't something we would like to witness again. We had a great time in spite of these happenings. The guests we met and the staff that endured Pat's sense of humour will always be in our hearts. The sun shone...the water was warm, beer was cold....that's what vacation is all about. Pat & Diane North Bay, Ont.

Club Amigo Atlantico Guardalavaca: Gone down hill

We have been here a few times this will be the last ! The resort is being over run by locals , which are taking lots and lots of food out . I know Cuba isn’t known for its food but this was bad . Every morning our eggs weren’t cooked they only had bacon 2 days . If you wanted sprite for your drink you had to pay for it , if you wanted amber rum you had to pay for it . That has never happened before . Our keys went dead the last day , I had to fight with the front desk for 5 hours to let me i [... read more]n my safe so I could get our passports and money ! 20 minutes before we left is when they finally let me in . They have put on face book about all these Reno’s that are being done ... what they have done is nice . The place is still clean :) it’s definitely not how it used to be .

Iberostar Selection Holguin: So-so resort

I could have been told that on my return trip I was booked, along with my friend, on a Priority seat. It would have allowed me to avoid two hours of lining up for two hours for the check in an customs in an unbelievably slow process.

Brisas Guardalavaca: Beautiful spot

Just back from a lovely vacation at Brisas! If you’re looking for an entertaining staff, beautiful gardens and true Cuban culture this will be the place for you. We had a great week here!! The resort however is 25 years old!

Sol Turquesa Beach: Amazing staff. Lovely people work there and do their best. They are worried.

Been there 4 times but very sad this time. It is now adults designation so extremely loud microphones in lobby and at pool could be heard on the beach and on our deck. Fewer people than before when families, of different sorts filled up the resort. La creole is shut down, central square was empty, fewer la carte meals, 2 instead of 3. But, amazing buffet dinner on Wedneday, very clean room and service excellent. Gardens are well tended and cared for . The wood and thatch make this resort uniq [... read more]ue and I want to return. But think the resort should be returned to a family designation again to survive.

Sol Turquesa Beach: Won't Go Back...

I've been to Cuba many times and I love the people! I'm also not a super fussy person about the resort for the most part. Cleanliness, a semi comfortable bed and white wine. That's all I need for a week in the sun. Nothing fancy. This trip had none of those. Rooms were awful, the beds sunk in the middle without even laying down, our room was infested with midges (tiny, horrible biting flies) that ATE me alive! I'm still scratching my legs a week later, there was no white wine at ANY b [... read more]ar, we withdrew money from the cadeca in the lobby ONCE and the next day, an identical withdraw.... it's going to take 6 to 8 wks to 'maybe' get our $175 back... the transaction was done by the cadeca clerk- not an ATM. Servers were all lovely, bartenders were quick. But I'll never go to this resort again.

Aston Costa Verde Beach Resort: Disappointing

I entered my room to find pop all over the floor, however it was promptly taken care of. Very noisy in block 3. Listened to a "father" berate his 17 yr old son at 1:00am. There is no real place to just sit and relax without having to listen to loud music. Public washrooms rarely had toilet paper. Fruits and vegetables selection was very poor. Service at the snack bar was slim to none.

Club Amigo Atlantico Guardalavaca: Resort is getting run down and needs improvements

I have been to Cuba and this resort many times - I go for the people but I do want to have a good room so I always pay a little more and stay in the villas on the second floor - I was put on the first floor - room was very bad - was clean but the walls and ceiling had mold on it, very musky - got in late so asked for another room the next day - only got a reaction when I told them if I didn't get moved that it would be my last trip to this resort since I have been at this same resort since 2005, [... read more] I said it in a very nice tone - a lot of time if you speak to fast they really don't understand - there is a language barrier there and because they are so nice they try to help not knowing what you are trying to say - all was well after we changed rooms and then waited for our luggage from Sunday night to Thursday morning - thanks Sunwing

Paradisus Rio De Oro: Paradisus Rio doro

This was our second time here in past few months great resort amazing staff go far and above to make sure you have everything you need Thanks to Osmonie and Latenzo at pool bar Louise and fast Eddie for room delivery and Marisol at restaurants and all others Great snorkeling will be back soon

Paradisus Rio De Oro: A great ten days at a wonderful resort.

We arrived at Paradisus Rio De Oro in early afternoon and were immediately greeted at registration with welcoming smiles. After a speedy registration, we were taken to our room. The buffet was open so we quickly slipped into vacation mode. The main area includes registration, shops, the lobby bar, the entertainment section and has lots of areas to enjoy the atmosphere while you sip on your favourite beverage. The grounds are lovely and you can see the great pride that the garden crew takes in k [... read more]eeping the foliage and flowers well trimmed as well as being creative in what they grow. The ecological garden is fascinating.The beach is beautiful and you can walk along, snorkel and swim, or relax in a recliner. The grounds, the public areas, the rooms and dining areas are always kept clean. There are lots of choices for dining in the various restaurants as well as at the buffet. We were greeted by friendly, caring genuine staff who were always willing to help and make your day a great one. We look forward to returning to Paradisus soon.

Paradisus Rio De Oro: Wonderful getaway

Our first all inclusive, so we don't have a large sample to work with. 7 days of relaxation and sun. We chose the Royal Service option after having to reduce our time there from 10 to 7 days. The upgrade was absolutely worth it. A beautiful infinity pool with a superb view and great service. Employees unconditionally focussed on exceeding your expectations and ensuring you enjoyed your stay. The resort does show some signs of aging (examples: loose pool tiles, aging toilets, worn out seat cu [... read more]shions, lounges by the main pool were past their past). But overall these minor draw backs are well outweighed by a great spot, quiet rooms and friendly guests. If you are looking for inpool bars and a lively experience, the main resort may be more your scene. But if you want privacy, a getaway and a chance to recharge. Royal Service may be right for you. We are already thinking about our next stay.

Paradisus Rio De Oro: Excellent Resort: Much Better Than Expected

This was my first time in Holguin and my partners second. As it was our anniversary, and her 2nd time at the resort -- we requested and were graciously authorized for a upgrade to the villas-- . essentially a bungalow with a nice patio out back facing the mountains and a walk way. The grounds were beautiful and well maintained. The food at the resort was very good, much better than we expected. However, the vino tinto (red wine) was likely the worst we have ever had at any resort although so [... read more]me of the wines available for purchase were quite good. There were some things not available, such as bananas and grapefruit -- which I understand is a logistical thing so let us move on. The beach and water were excellent albeit certain areas of the beach were somewhat treacherous to get into the water so we entered the ocean further up the beach -- which is why I only gave 4* for the beach. The pools are definitely 5* and we especially enjoyed the swim up bar. We found that all the staff were wonderful, especially Manager Emile (a fellow guitarist), Eduardo in the pool bar, Marisol, who seemed to be everywhere and Roberto at the beach bar all went above and beyond in their duties and should be highly commended. As a musician, I had the distinct pleasure of performing Cuban tunes such as Chan Chan, La Bamba, Guatanamara and of course Hotel California (not so Cuban however people always asked for it) with Alex, Vlady and Manuel several times (Echo Band) -- who are incredibly talented musicians. Cuba is such a great country for music going as far back as The Buena Vista Social Club musicians. I was unaware that scuba diving was available free at this resort; however, when I was told of this by bar patron Mark, I immediately signed up and was able to complete a great dive amongst some beautiful coral and fish life. Be sure to bring your diver's certification and log book. The gym facilities were very good albeit I did only work out twice. There are weight plates and an assortment of dumbells and of course your typical machines. Be sure to go to the beach area behind the spa. The management invited Cheryl and I to a special by invitation only dinner at the Beach Bar restaurant on our final evening where incidentally they also have live music during the week from 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. by Alex's band. We must say that this special dining experience was fantastic! The chef went out of his way to make an incredible six course dinner which we enjoyed while listening to a very talented solo musician playing her nylon string guitar. We would highly recommend you stay at Paradisus Rio de Oro and please tell the aforementioned people hello from Larry and Cheryl and that we highly recommended them. To give you an idea of the exchange, I received 39 CUCs for 50 $Cdn. Have fun and drink responsibly. BTW if you have any old cell phones you plan to get rid of, bring for the locals.