Iberostar Selection Varadero: A magical week at a wonderful resort!

Our recent week at Iberostar Selection Varadero was wonderful. It was our fourth time visiting and our friend's first time. They said they would come back for sure. Since we had been there in 2019 the hotel has had many improvements. Clearly they have used the down time due to the pandemic to spruce things up. Everything is freshened up in terms of paint and furnishings. There is an additional beach side bar with a second level, great for sunset drinks. The whole resort is in excellent shape.  [... read more]The staff were excellent and food the best we've had of the many times we have been to Cuba. The shows were all great but a few were outstanding, one night the show was of Cirque du Soleil level talent! We all look forward to going back and doing the overnight excursion to Havana that includes a night at the Havana Iberostar hotel. Special thanks for making our week so special goes to the dining room staff led by Yohani Torres.

Iberostar Selection Playa Mita: Great vacation

The resort is less than 10 years old so it has all the modern amenities including good wi-fi throughout. Rooms and common areas very clean. Beach very nice with no seaweed...water warm and clear...waves so boogie boards popular...staff at the ready with chairs, umbrellas and bar service. Pool area very large, lot's of chairs and palapas. Found food very good and varied but burgers, fries and pizza always available for the Domino's / MacDonald's crowd. Staff friendly and most speak Eng [... read more]lish and wear masks at all times. Our first trip since Covid and we felt comfortable. Guests do not need to wear masks on beach or common areas but must wear masks when interacting with staff and at restaurants (except while seated). Covid testing available on site for $. Golf course on site and is a nice layout which includes some ocean views (+/- $100.00 USD per round with cart and a bucket of balls). It has been sold recently and transitioning to new ownership which may explain why greens were very nice but traps were not maintained.

Iberostar Waves Punta Cana: Iberostar Punta Cana - resort to come back to...

I chose Iberostar Punta Cana based on it's pools configuration, landscaping details and beach proximity. I was right on! We loved lounging in it's pools, particularly on the steps, partially submerged in the water, sipping on our cocktails. It doesn't have a swim up bar, but that was no problem at all - more the reason to get up from our spot and move to another comfortable location. We were at a great time - Nov/Dec, not too many people yet. The price point was also very good at that time. Sm [... read more]ooth sailing thru Toronto airport, slight delay on departure - wings have to be de-iced. Great transfer to our resort - we were the only ones in our van, and we didn't pay extra for private transfer - maybe it had to do with not too many people going our way yet? On second day there we scheduled our PCR Covid test which was at 2 pm on Dec. 01 /we were coming back on Dec. 03, departure at 4:00 pm/. After congregating at the lobby, @ 15 people were taken by golf carts to a location in one of the Iberostar Bavaro villas. There we paid our fee which was 70 usd per person /cash/. Our results were e-mailed to us next day at 8:00 am. Very fast I would say. Also, I loved eco features of the resort: dispensers in the bathrooms /soap, lotion, shampoo, conditioner, body wash/; air dryers for hands, no paper towels at the resort restrooms; recycling containers in the room and all over the grounds... The resort is also big on QR codes - everything - menus at a la cartes, information, maps etc is done by scanning QR codes, so get your phones ready, lol. But some printed menus were also available. Covid protocols: basically at the buffets and a la cartes only - entering you have to have your mask on, once seated - mask off. But I have to applaud all the employees of Iberostar - masks on all the time! All in all - a very relaxing and pleasant stay, beautiful grounds, great pools, great food... On day number 2 there - I was already planning extended family /more relatives/ possible stay here next year :) And special "thank you" to our Tripcentral agent for being on top of everything and sending us helpful informational e-mails every step of the way and answering our questions promptly. Tripcentral website is my favourite site to go to and explore possible vacations! Great vacation! Makes it easier to go back to work to be able to plan another great stay!

Iberostar Selection Ensenachos: Very good resort.

Everything was excellent. Although it has a huge theater but I think due to Covid night entertainments were poor and were just in the loopy. Shaded areas on the beach are limited. If the hotel were fully occupied, it would be hard to find a shaded spot but because I went on a low season there was no problem.

Iberostar Selection Varadero: Beautiful Resort

This was our first time at this resort and we both were impressed by the hotel, the landscaping and most of all the service provided by the entire staff. No matter where we were the staff always greeted us at every turn and always asked us if we needed anything to let them know. The rooms were very clean and the maids did an excellent job in keeping the room in top shape. The dining was good and the only complaint I have is that the food seemed bland at times. They could use some spicing up. The [... read more] variety was limited but we never went hungry and the buffet dining room was always in immaculate condition. We had a great time and enjoyed our stay.

JOIA Paraiso by Iberostar: Fabulous Resort

Everything was top notch. Food was delicious and a great variety from the buffets to the the restaurants. They were so accommodating anything you needed they were there. We liked that our resort was children free. We used the Tranquil pool which was so relaxing. The grounds are immaculate. This is our third time visiting this resort and will return back next year.

Iberostar Origin Playa Alameda: Iberostar plays alamada

The hotel was amazing. Rooms where spacious and clean. Food impeccable and varied. Beach has beautiful white sand and water was clear blue and serene. Bus came frequently to take everyone into town. Very fun and interesting activities.

Iberostar Selection Paraiso Lindo: A surpisingly wonderful trip!

To preface, my family and I are big supporters of the Royalton chain of resorts so we were visiting Iberostar with much skepticism. HOWEVER, from the minute we walked onto the grounds we were instantly persuaded to think differently! My family landed super late as we took a late afternoon train from Canada, so everything at the resort was closed by the time we got checked in. Our trip REALLY started the next morning at the wonderful breakfast buffet and did not stop being amazing until we h [... read more]ad to sadly depart to return home. The resort was much bigger than we have experienced before (at Royaltons) but with the frequent buggy carts and beautifully landscaped grounds, it did not feel that big at all! Strolling to the 'Mall' area from the beach for crepes and tacos was an enjoyable scenic walk that you wouldn't necessarily get from smaller resorts. Everything was spaced out elegantly and had enough 'breathing' room between buildings and facilities (it felt HUGE but small at the same time!). We absolutely LOVED the themeatic decor of the different mini resorts (Lindo, Grand, Playa & Beach), and the more we explored the more impressive it all became! A+ for beauty and design! Beds and rooms were clean and comfortable - we did not have any special diamond/premium level subscriptions but I did not notice anything lacking from our experience. Cleaning staff was always respectful and friendly and we very much appreciated the constant tidying up and straightening (something about coming to a cool, clean room after a day in the sun that is just so amazing!). No smell or weird stains anywhere - A+ for rooms and cleanliness. Bars and lounge spaces: I picked this resort due to their access to International Liquors (I prefer American bourbon). Not to seem pretentious, but I've noticed the quality of the resort directly depends on the quality of liquor they have readily available... Every bartender was fast, responsive and generally friendly! With such a big resort, we never stayed at any particular bar/area to make anyone stand out but all the spaces that we visited had wonderful staff and a welcoming area to hang out and have some drinks - A+ Beach area: Busy resort = busy beach, BIG resort = even busier beach! Factoring that variable, the beaches were great! Limited shade spaces at BEACH front, but a little further back there were enough natural trees to sit under that still have sand under your feet. Sand was cleaned and didn't notice any seaweed whenever we went. At Lindo there was a beach volleyball court (behind the main beach area), a beach snack/drink stand and some good space for entertainment activities. We LOOOVE going to the beach, and even though we often never got any loungers by the time we arrived, there was no complaints. NOTE: although there were not many loungers available, there were 2 STELLAR groundskeepers that went out of their way (almost daily) to pull up some chairs for us - without being asked!

Hotel Mojito: Relaxed fun with great service!

If vacation means quiet relaxing, enjoying the pool or beach and meeting fun people - you will enjoy the Iberostar Mojito. This is an older hotel - but well maintained. Staff are amazing and will gladly go out of their way to help you no matter what your needs. Food service is not fancy - with several options - but I prefer the buffet - always something delicious there. Food is available 24 hours a day except in low season - drinks are always available in a variety of locations. The Moji [... read more]to may not be the fanciest or most up to date hotel in Caya Coco - but if you want to relax - meet great people and enjoy beautiful Cuba - you may find the price and this hotel is just for you.

Iberostar Origin Bella Vista Varadero: Amazing

Great rooms the wiev fantastic the resort great lots to do it from massages tennis gim walking the food was ok but the employees very friendly and funny the teatre good shows everynight lot to do at the beach from voliball walking on sand meet new people s I was there for a week and I had great time and I will go back again I was at Cuba fees time but this is my favorite resort

Iberostar Selection Playa Mita: Environmentally Focused Resort

Check in at the Iberostar Playa Mita was quick and efficient. We were quite impressed by the service and almost everyone we came across spoke English which made it easier. We were very impressed on how Environmentally focused the resort was. Bravo on that ! Not impressed by the Beach, resort should put more emphasis there, mind you it's great if you like to walk the beach which extends for quit a distance.The pool was great and the pool drink service was excellent ! The resort was extremely  [... read more]well up-kept, very clean .. Buffet was always good, not so much on the A La Carte restaurants. One night we even canceled our reservation to go back to the Buffet.. Entertainment was good, the dancers and singers worked hard and that should be recognized and appreciated. Overall we had a great week, I give it a 4 star rating..

Iberostar Selection Ensenachos: Thoroughly enjoyed myself, but do not like the Cuban Universal Currency price gouging on tours etc

Of note, i am ex military and have travelled the world and stayed in many places of various repute in my 32 years, retiring as a senior officer. This review is in mind of those experiences. Be prepared for up to a 90 minutes bus ride to and from your hotel! Bring European conversion plugs for 220 to 110 volt. None to be had in Cuba! The hotel was a 5 star by Cuban Standards which I found very nice. It would be about a 3 to 4 anywhere else and I got the overall sense that it was on th [... read more]e cusp of a downward spiral in quality. My main complaint that lowers the rating is the poor maintenance of the facilities overall....major holes in boardwalks to beaches and on stairs that were never fixed and were in fact dangerous, potholes at the main entrance, broken furniture, etc and no sign of any repair men during my stay. Noted previous repairs were done haphazardly and noticeably half baked efforts. I enjoyed the food immensely and it was 5 star by Cuban Standards. A lot of broken coffee and other machines were noted. The staff were excellent. Definitely 5 star by any standard. The beaches were fantastic as were the pools, bars and service. Activities at the hotel were not well advertised, consequently we missed opprtunities for scuba lessons for example. The room was a Spa suite which was excellently laid out, very clean and well appointed. The only drawback was towels not changed daily and a broken drawer. The beds were okay, but not excellent or up to 5 star standards. We did the Catamaran/Dolphin tour and the Santa Clara tours....I enjoyed and recommend both. Though I'm told that the snorkeling was a bit of a yawn by those with more experience. The Dolphins were great. As I like seeing how the real people live and a bit of their history, the Santa Clara city and history/factory tour is a must for those of the same ilk. The Cuban Universal Peso is a major drawback. The current rate in Canadian puts it at the scam level. Consequently, tours that would cost you approximately 120 USD a couple in Mexico will cost you closer to 220 USD in Cuba. For instance we went on two tours costing about 220 in CUC, which equalled nearly 480 CAD on our credit card......I'm at a loss as to how that figures given the rate was supposed to be around 1.46 CAD, which is also ridiculous. I guess they are trying to be higher than the Euro. Regardless of the drawbacks, I enjoyed the trip. I will go back again, but maybe to a newer hotel and definitely no less than a 5 Star. Esenachos definitely needs better maintenance, however it is good, its clean and in relatively good order for the bang for the buck at present. In a couple years I expect it's quality will erode. Look for a newer 5 star if a few minor issues will bother you

Iberostar Selection Holguin: Modern clean Room/Resort on fabulous Pesquero Beach

Iberostar Review We enjoyed our 2 week stay here, hands down! Front desk check-in and greeting was very friendly, professional and fast. Assigned room was so comfortable and modern with wifi service, charging station, and a spectacular ocean view!  An additional screened patio door made it perfect for us to enjoy the ocean breeze anytime! Housekeeper Yanelis, kept our room immaculate with all amenities supplied. Accommodations Director Nestor was always present, very personable, and help [... read more]ful in assuring complete guest satisfaction.   The ocean front expansive having two very diverse beach areas. First beach, close by, shallow and nicely sheltered from surf on windy days. Second beach, clear water and absolutely fabulous for snorkelling and water sports. Electric cart shuttle always available and convienant to take us where we wanted. We enjoyed our 4 km, safe, leisure walks along the public pathway of beautiful Pesquero Beach.   Dining room host Uranemi, polite and helpful with our menu selections and reservations. Food of excellent Cuban fare! The good variety of fresh buffet selections and cooking stations were very appealing and tasty. Yainet ready with our morning coffee and glass of sparkling water. We were pleased with our many al la carte meals especially the delicious Lobster Entrees and Milena’s top notch service. IceCreamBar was close to the beach and the server here made this a cheerful and fun stop. Thanks to Arthur and team. “Campari on the rocks, two sparkling waters on the side” yes, BeachBar bartender Henry always showed a lot of class! Swimming Pool lovely, with many comfortable lounge areas and water levels, plus a juggling bartender, wow! Beverage/bar service manager Robert...right on! GM Diego frequently seen around resort, always approachable with a good sense of humour, staying on top. We will definitely return!

Iberostar Origin Laguna Azul: Great Resort - Second time!

Laguna Azul is a great resort. We were there for a second time March 2020 and last year April 2019. Been too many resorts in Cuba and Dominican. We found this resort a perfect size. Lots of beach/pool chairs. Never had to save chairs either time we went. Buffet is good for Cuba food. Very clean resort. Friendly staff. Looking forward to returning next year. They do offer VIP for I believe an extra $10.00 a day per person - looked into it and don't think its worth it. Does not offer th [... read more]e things that I would find beneficial. Really look into it before you purchase. I seldom if at all seen people actually using the perks it offers.

Iberostar Waves Paraiso Beach: Solid 3 Star Resort

-Buffet & a la cartes have a very limited selection, but are high quality. Minimal after-hours options. Shopping centre provides free made-to-order food which is a bonus. -This is one of the lowest levels on a resort compound so you get minimum access to facilities, but have access to all the popular/fun things, so there's no point upgrading. -Resort seemed very understaffed while we were there, so we had no drink servers and bartenders with no cocktail knowledge. Brazilian restaraunt didnt ha [... read more]ve enough servers so we left after the long wait. The folks there were working hard though. -There are only a few bars so without servers it was a pain to get drinks. -Beach was the best we've seen on that coast, lots of waves and strong riptides though. Many people were rescued by life guards.

Iberostar Selection Ensenachos: Unbelievable resort!

White sands and crystal blue beaches as far as the eye can see.....the resort staff were all fantastic, very friendly and always helpful. The grounds are kept in immaculate condition, as are the beaches. We had no issues with hot water, ac, power or bugs although in some spots there are a few (mostly bushes). There are snack bar/restaurants at the beach and poolside that serve great lunches, as well as cigar bar, cigar shop, cappuccino/latte/coffee maker, fully stocked bar. I came in with hi [... read more]gh expectations and can honestly say they were met and somewhat surpassed. I would recommend 2 weeks here as there is a lot to experience at both beaches during both low and high tide, as well as paddle boats, snorkeling, catamarans, kayaking, volleyball etc. There are no locals on the beach nor any other guests from other resorts. Just peace and tranquility.....you will not be disappointed. Can't wait to be back soon!

Iberostar Waves Dominicana: Excellent Resort, Fantastic Beach, Great Location

Overall: excellent quality for money The Room: Ours was in the middle of the building, second floor facing the pool, we could see the ocean from our balcony too. We could hear the entertainment in the evening but never found it too disruptive. Our room had been updated sometime in the last few years. I wish the bathroom had been bigger or that the toilet was separated but it wasn't a huge issue. The bed was comfortable enough though still on the harder side. The Food: The food was fine, a  [... read more]lot of variety but things were often not labeled correctly. Quality was good but not amazing. The a la carte restaurants were also ok but not amazing. I had no stomach issues at the resort whatsoever from either the food or the filtered water they serve. The Beach - AMAZING what a fantastic location and great swimming. It does drop off fairly quickly for folks travelling with little ones but it's a nice sandy bottom. It can get rough but we swam even on the red flag days. Despite the signs, everyone reserves chairs so it's best to get out in the morning and do so if you want a prime spot in the busy seasons like march break. The beach vendors can be annoying but are generally respectful when you say no. We also felt comfortable leaving our bags on our chairs while swimming. The Staff - helpful and friendly regardless of whether you tipped or not (though we almost always did.)

Iberostar Origin Playa Alameda: Resort was Good, Food not so Much!

The Resort was very nice, but as an overall experience, I would only give it a 4-star rating. The food 3+. The Reception area was overwhelmed with those checking in, checking out, exchanging $, etc. The majority of the staff was great, the entertainment was good; there was not shortage of things to do. The old cars were fun to see and to drive in. For more info, see blog sent to Trip Central. My sister, mother and I feel we should be reimbursed for the inconveniences about the room,  [... read more]and the injuries sustained by my sister. We look forward to hearing from you.

Iberostar Waves Paraiso del Mar: Fantastic Resort

This was our 6th visit to the same resort - cannot say enough about it buildings are beautiful and very clean - grounds are immaculate and landscaped well - large resort area to walk around in addition to the large pools and ocean the are great. Food as always excellent. Was very easy to book with trip central and all travel arrangements were good and on time

Iberostar Selection Varadero: Excellent resort

The Iberostar Selection Varadero was so lovely in all the ways that matter. It's a very nicely designed setting that actually has character and is easy to get around. It's a nice size so that there's space for a variety of amenities, but it's not too big so that you feel lost or that you're in an impersonal environment. The food is high quality and it's clear that the hotel takes pride in providing good food, and a variety of it, for guests. The service at meals was very good. Servers are hel [... read more]pful and communicative. The staff and performers are so friendly and attentive. They make the atmosphere very pleasant. There's a community oriented feeling about the place, as it seems that everyone is there to create a fun, safe, laid-back experience. I highly recommend this resort to people who are looking for an easy, pleasant, and comfortable stay. I don't recommend it to people who are planning to party hard for their vacation, because it's not that kind of vibe at this hotel. At least, it wasn't when I visited.