Sanctuary White Sands: Good hotel for the price

The resort itself is absolutely beautiful and clean. The beach and ocean is definitely the star of the show at this resort. The food is very good at the a la carts however the buffet food was always cold, it's like their heat lamps didn't work. There is very little shade by the pool so instead of the chair game at this resort you will be playing the "shade" game so prepare to get up early if you need shade. The main negative is that it is horribly unorganized. I know it's a new resort and they h [... read more]ave to work out their stuff but having one bartender at the lobby bar making all the drinks and 6 servers does not make sense. The premium upgrade was worth it (if the price is right) strikly for the extra a la carts you get however your sapose to have special seats at pool and beach and no one monitors them so they are not premium. Overall I would go back for the right price.

Iberostar Selection Esmeralda: Disappointing Trip

To be fair to the resort we had to cut our trip short due to a family emergency, so we didn’t experience all it had to offer. We knew going in there would be shortages etc, but seeing all the 4&5* reviews I chose this resort anyway. The grounds are lovely. We had a nice ocean view room with a king bed. Good water temperature and pressure for the most part. The bath towels were old and worn and they only gave hand towels every few days. One recommendation to the hotel is to prov [... read more]ide a map of the report to its guests. Upon check-in we were provided no information on the resort at all. We even had to ask how to get to our room. We had no idea where the buffet was, where to get beach towels or any information on booking the a La carte restaurants. Another thing that needed attention was the lack of loungers around the pools. There were very few and the ones they had were broken. They did have plenty of loungers at the beach, but the beach was incredibly windy and not comfortable to sit at. They could have brought some of those loungers up to the pool area. Food was limited, but edible. No shortage of eggs or bread, but not a lot of fruit or salad options. Coffee was TERRIBLE. I have been to Cuba twice before and the coffee was very good. You couldn’t get a hot cup of coffee (even straight out if their fancy coffee machines) and it was like a cold sludge. In terms of alcohol, they had the regular vodka, gin, rum, but the mix was very limited. They didn’t have soda water or fresh limes. Mixed cocktails were out of the question. They continually ran out of red wine as well. They also turn the water off over night. We had an early flight and we were picked up at our resort at 6:30 a.m. We were unable to shower or flush the toilet. We could only brush our teeth with the bottled water and the dribble that came out of the tap. The staff were great and very helpful.

Sanctuary White Sands: Amazing beach!

We booked here because we stayed here last year when the resort was 4 weeks new. The ground's are well laid out and the rooms are spacious and comfortable. We thought that the wrinkles of a new resort would be ironed out and some were . The food was much better but still average. The staff is very young and inexperienced. We were a group of 6 and had a great time but there were to many "no's" to things we asked for. The liquor selection was sparse and they didn't have the mixes needed for those  [... read more]nice drinks. Serving drinks our of paper cups at the main lobby bar is inexcusable. The resort was at full capacity and they aren't ready yet for this. The beach is awesome but it's jammed at peak times.

Sanctuary at Grand Memories Santa Maria: Outdated resort with nice beach

Great beach!!! The food was below average. In the buffet restaurant nobody takes care of hygiene. Rooms are outdated and beds are old. Usually bed sheets were stained as well as bath towels. If you don’t tip them, they will say we run out. Every single day you can expect different things to be missing. No bier, no caps, no gin, etc.

Melia Jardines del Rey: Favorite in Cayo coco

Just got back from 7 days at this resort. This is a fantastic resort my family has been to 3 x now. There as so many positives about this resort. The workers are great, friendly, and go out of their way to do anything to make your day great. The entertainment team is the best in any resort I have ever been to. They always have something to do between , stretching , Zumba or dancing at the party pool and games as well as more dancing after the shows in the evening. Yani and team is always getti [... read more]ng everyone including kids involved. In the buffet Milagros always has a friendly smile with her service. We did 2 a la cartes and the service at oriental was so amazing. Rodrigo was so fantastic with his service and friendliness but the whole team was as well. Getting coffee or cappuccino in morning is always the highlight of my morning with friendly service from the girls. Both the beach bar and bar and party pool were so great with friendly faces always. Joel at beach bar and Yesi and team at pool bar are the best around. The pizza lunch is so great with very tasty pizza everyday. Arrive early as it does fill up and can run out quickly. Cons(but doesn't change my positive love for this resort) - buffet doesn't always have great service depending on who is serving and lobby bar can be busy and hit and miss with service as well. Entertainment does have many songs on repeat daily and it would be nice to have more options or requesting of other songs available. Beach is quite rocky in front of resort but you can walk to right 5-10 min and it is clear and sandy for swimming. The view is still beautiful with or without rocks. Bring your water shoes and you will be okay. Clear blue water. Bugs can be bad in Cayo coco. Bring big repellant with deet and maybe a polysporin after bite. Some people have more reactions so a benadryl is needed as well. If you take a day trip to Pilar beach you will not regret it, it is a beautiful beach and a great lunch for $35. Overall he absolutely love this resort and will be back again. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Starfish Cuatro Palmas: Starfish Cuatro Palmas ….very good location.

Very clean hotel with friendly staff. A bit noisy because of the clubs nearby. Beautiful beach and hotel pool. As for the food, there was lots to eat but always the same thing every day. We knew before going to Cuba that this could happen because they have difficulty getting shipments of food. I would recommend this hotel to friends.

Iberostar Selection Esmeralda: Nice spot, but needs some attention

Best aspects of this place: - Grounds: Are gorgeous. Pools are beautiful. Beach is stunning and the most beautiful I've ever seen. - It is worth the bus ride from the airport. - Rooms: Are well appointed. Housekeeping staff were very good. - Sports bar: Is pretty neat. It made for enjoyable evenings. - Staff: Are fantastic. What needs improvement for this to be a true "5 STAR" resort? (1) The check-in process is abysmal. It is inefficient and frustrating especially after a lo [... read more]ng day of travel. Staff provided only one key card & a handwritten strip of paper with the room # on it. We had to request Wifi separately, AND a towel coupon. (Did not know this while at the desk.) All check-in information should be in a package, ready for visitors upon arrival. Should also be able to book a-la-cartes upon arrival, rather than wait in line for it for an hour every afternoon. (2) Food Handling Practices. Food safety training should be conducted with those who cook food. I observed, on more than one occasion, raw chicken being handled with the same utensil as cooked chicken. Several in our group fell ill during the trip, losing 2 or more days of their vacation. (3) Food quality: I knew there were shortages before I left and I knew what I was in for as I'd been to Cuba before. I won't complain about what is served when average Cubans are starving off-resort. There was always something to eat. However, two things in this area really sucked and the hotel management has control over these: FLIES > The only night there were NOT flies all over us in the dining room was a day when there were “very important looking people” circulating around the resort. So, 5/6 nights we were fighting flies while eating. FOOD TEMPERATURE > is always questionable. Hot things aren’t hot enough, food that should be kept cold isn’t being cold enough. This goes back to food safety, but it shouldn’t be hard to increase the temperature in the buffet stands. Also, the “a la cartes” served the same food as the buffet. Why bother? Get rid of these and set up some specialty spots, like a cigar bar, music room, or games room. (3) Management of the hotel: My room smelled like sewage one day after I returned from the beach, and I came to find out later that there was a sewage backup below me the day before. Why wasn't I notified or moved? Good management would have at least left nearby room occupants a note to tell them what happened and offer to move them. The cabanas outside the pool were popular – but VERY hard to land. Unfortunately, some guests were being greedy and claiming BOTH cabanas and beach chairs with their towels, making it difficult for some to find a place to land. Management should look for a method for guests to book spots, OR they should increase the # of chairs & cabanas. More English channels, especially news. The Russian propaganda got old pretty quickly. I won't be back, but only because there are so many other places to try. I really do hope that the hotel management takes feedback seriously, it is such a beautiful place but operating at 70% of its potential. A little effort will make it so much more!!

Memories Caribe Beach Resort: Terrific Resort

Great resort...rooms are dated but very clean and comfortable....staff very friendly....food at A La Carte restaurants very good, buffet good but repetitive....grounds and common areas well looked after.....good and close to airport as well.....would recommend this resort and will be going again

Sanctuary at Grand Memories Varadero: Sanctuary Grand Memories

I didn’t have the best vacation because of the new Manager Sabrina who caused issues with the group I was travelling with. She was insensitive to special needs and ruined our trip. Also the chair wars for adults was absolutely ridiculous. I paid for premier service and did not receive what I paid for. Rooms were good, clean and the Cuban staff was amazing.

Melia Costa Rey: Beautiful ❤️

Hotel was nice! Very clean , ac worked all A+ Food was good! No complaints. The animations were awesome. Gerrie, Victor, jemelli, Ricky and our Dj Salvatore. Definitely heading back next year. I must say the waitors and waitresses at the buffet should try to pay attention to their guests. Many times I had to ho and ask for a spoon or coffee etc... Please be careful neR the pool area it is slippery. Couple of people slipped. If you are looking for shades you won't get any. Besides [... read more] all that I LOVED IT MUST SEE THE ROCK BAND SHOW! AWESOME ? ? ? Bonus: 20 mins away from the airport ?

Paradisus Princesa Del Mar: Enjoyed our stay very much!

The Paradisus Princesa Del Mar is a wonderful resort, perhaps among the best (in my opinion) in Cuba. The beach is stunning. The grounds are well maintained and lovely. The pools are great with ample seating on the deck. And, we were very pleased with the food at this resort. The main buffet has lots of choice with fresh fish and meat available to be cooked in front of you. There are also four restaurants to book during your stay (included in the price). But be sure to reserve a space since they [... read more] are serious about only those listed to be seated! We personally enjoyed the French restaurant and thought the beef brisket was fantastic. (We wern't that impressed with the Italian restaurant). Service is great but remember to bring cash for tips, either American or Canadian works. (Google suggusts American dollars are not well received, but that is not the case at all). We enjoyed the $5 hop on/hop off bus into Varadero. While there, we enjoyed a $20 horse and buggy ride for an hour (great price!), with the driver stopping for us along the way wherever we wanted to shop or take pictures. All told, this is a great resort choice in Cuba.

Grand Memories Varadero: Beautiful Resort

Grounds are kept very clean. Rooms need a lot of work as they are very dated and run down. Staff for the most part were very friendly. Food in the alacarts was good for the most part. The buffet was lacking especially the fact there was no bread most days. Toilet paper was in short supply.

Sanctuary at Grand Memories Holguin: Santuary at Grand Memories

Will this us our third time spending our vacation at the Santuary . Our first trip was in 2023 and we just loved this resort! From the lobby of this resort to the restaurants , santuary bar. To the la carte restursnts, beach, pools , we enjoyed it all. The butlers and all staff are pretty amazing they go above snd beyond to assist or help in any way they can . Their smiling faces would just make anyone’s day . Our flight to and from was perfect ! Food was very good. Considering the fact [... read more] of what the Cuban people are having right now . We felt truly blessed ! Big shout out to our butlers , Grabiel, Melissa, Hyki, Marlon, Basilo General Maitre . My husband and I are looking forward to returning to this beautiful resort ! Thank you to everyone at the Sanctuary Resort! We love you

Valentin Perla Blanca: A gem!

What's not to like about the Valentin? Everything comes together to offer the perfect location for sun and fun - the stunning lobby that is the hub of the resort, the beautifully maintained grounds, the huge pool area with 2 pools and lots of shade, lovely appointed, clean rooms, seemingly endless beach with powdery white sand, several bars, buffet offering good food, and the staff - well, they were the icing on the cake. We are well aware that Cuba and the locals, are suffering from lack of bas [... read more]ic life comforts/supplies and feel humbled that every effort was made to ensure we had "enough". Thank you.

Sanctuary at Grand Memories Santa Maria: Beautiful resort

Not sure where to start our stay at santuary cayo santa maria was amazing. As for the staff they amazing and absolutely beautiful always ready to help.The beaches had to be the most relaxing part of the trip. I would suggest any one to visit cuba. Lucy Melo

Playa Pesquero: Relaxing and comfortable

The hotel is beautiful, clean and well maintained. the staff are attentive to details and ready for any request. The food could be better for a 4 and half stars. The morning and evening piano music adds a classy touch to the comfortable atmosphere.

Iberostar Selection Esmeralda: Amazing Resort

This was my 2nd time to this resort. I absolutely love it!! Beautiful grounds, very clean, rooms are large and beach is amazing. The staff is very welcoming and respectful from the front desk to the gardeners and everyone in between. The entertainment staff are fantastic and made some lifelong friends and memories. They are what keeps me wanting to go back. Great big shoutout to Angel, Billy, Alejandro, Leah, Jackson, Oscar on the entertainment team for the fun and their energy!! Also, to [... read more] the great bartenders Osniel and Raoul for keeping us hydrated!!! Cannot wait to go back!! Definitely recommend this resort.

Iberostar Selection Esmeralda: Nice comfortable room.

Great resort very friendly staff. Would vacation there again and recommend it too. Great beach. Water is amazing Food was great and plentiful. Very nice pool with swim up bar. Entertainment nightly and nice variety of bars on resort

Playa Costa Verde: Wonderful Holiday

The resort is clean all over and all washrooms are well kept, including the one on the beach.' We had plenty of assorted food, in the buffet and snack bar.We always found something different each night. Can`t praise the staff enough, they are wonderful.! The beach is amazing, lots of chairs and shade, perfect for swimming and all other activities.Music was nice and not too load.The resort could use some repairs, most important would be electrical in the rooms, but this did not affect the wonder [... read more]ful holiday we had,

Playa Costa Verde: Grounds are beautiful.

The resort is lush and appealing. The groundskeepers do a wonderful job. Our room was quite comfortable and nice, everything worked as it should and the maid service was great. The beach area itself had lots of seating but quite narrow. Quite sandy and comfortable to walk on. The ‘wading’ area however is a different story. It is essentially coral covered with sand and hard on the feet. The pool is a large, free flowing shape that is really quite appealing with lots of seating available. It ha [... read more]s a convenient swim up bar and the bartender there , Jesus, is a great guy. Unfortunately the entertainment staff like to turn the volume up to 11 and pump out Cuban disco all day. I, along with several other guests actually went over and tuned it down (or off!) on several occasions. I’m sure we all would have enjoyed ourselves more if the volume was much lower and not blasting all day. We only tried two of the a la carte restaurants, the Italian and the Japanese. The Italian was good and the Japanese was sensational. I strongly recommend that if you do go to Playa Costa Verde you book the Japanese restaurant. The meals in the buffet were limited (it’s Cuba after all) but you won’t go hungry. For the first three days there was no bread or bread products (rolls, etc) available. The check in was painless, the staff were all quite friendly and for the price it was a reasonable deal.