JOIA Paraiso by Iberostar: Joia Paraiso

Have stayed multiple times Great property, excellent staff and food Only issue is that the golf course is ultra busy and are holding tournaments with packages Major carriers are not offering golf packages anymore

Iberostar Origin Daiquiri: Amazing month!

I recently had the pleasure of staying at the Iberostar Daiquiri in Cayo Guillermo for a full month, and it was an absolutely wonderful experience. The staff is truly exceptional—everyone goes out of their way to make you feel welcome and at home. The front desk team is always helpful and friendly, the service staff throughout the resort is amazing, and the bartenders deserve a special mention for their great drinks, smiles, and friendly conversations that make every day even better. This is  [... read more]a place I love returning to, and I’ll be heading back again for another month in just a couple of weeks. I can’t recommend the Iberostar Daiquiri enough for anyone looking for a warm, welcoming, and unforgettable stay.

JOIA Bavaro by Iberostar: Our 2nd time here!

You would be hard pressed to find a resort more relaxing and well-run than this! Grounds are immaculate and service was incredible. Amelin was our waiter on many occasions and would always seek us out to say hi, much appreciated. Samuel as well was always welcoming and helpful. À la carte restaurants were all great quality, the house wine was great, and the bartenders were always charismatic and energetic. The new coffee shop is a great improvement too, highly recommend!

Iberostar Selection Esmeralda: Ok resort

Personally I will not recommend this resort for family with kids, people who doesn’t eat pork or vegetarian. Everything in this resort mixed with pork. Also this resort has nothing for kids to eat beside pasta there is nothing to eat. Extremely disappointing

Iberostar Waves Costa Dorada: Excellent Resort

This was our 13th visit to this Iberostar resort. Almost everything was excellent as usual. Only negative this trip was the huge amount of seaweed that landed on the beach about 8-10” deep and about 10-15’ deep along about 1/2km of the beach directly in front of the resort. We simply swam in a clear area but it made walking challenging. As well we both were sick from tuna steak at the buffet. My husband was ok within 34 hours but I am still feeling nauseous after most meals even though I am now  [... read more]home. First time ever happened to us at this resort. Room was excellent and the new wrist band key system is wonderful! No more demagnetized key cards to worry about!

Iberostar Waves Cozumel: Great resort

We spent a week at this resort two weeks ago, and we like our vacation at Iberostar very much. Transfers, check-in and check-out were quick. We got the room that we asked for. The room was in good condition, hot and cold water had excellent pressure, shampoo and conditioner were of a good quality, beds were comfortable, linens were all nice and clean. The resort itself has been well maintained and makes great impression: jungle like greenery all around the resort is fresh and beautiful. Christma [... read more]s decor in December looks super nice in the evening and creates a very pleasant ambiance. The main buffet and the one close to the beach are both good. The variety of food is great, and all food is very tasty. The only negative experience at the main buffet was cat like animals that get to the buffet at dinner time and make a mess around dirty dishes that wait to be put away. Staff at the buffet tried to keep these animals away but unsuccessfully because there were way too many of these animals there, and their behavior was unpleasant. We didn't go to any restaurants this time because we weren't impressed with food there last year, so we can't comment on restaurants this time. The beach and the Caribbean Sea are lovely at this resort. Water is crystal clear, calm and warm, and there is lots of fish to see right at the dock. Water shoes aren't needed if you prefer swimming off the dock (there are dock steps to the water there).. If you want to go in the water from the beach, water shoes are highly recommended. The resort is a paradise for divers - all places where divers go are exceptionally interesting, and dives are very well organized. Snorkeling trips are amazing, too and highly recommended for all underwater world lovers. Night entertainment at the resort was so-so in general; however, we liked the Fire show. It was really interesting. Service at the resort is fine, in our opinion. Overall, we had a very nice week at this location, and will be back.

Iberostar Selection Ensenachos: Amazing resort, good location and excellent service at all levels of the vacation from the booking to the end of the vacation.

Very appreciate for the excellent service at all levels of our vacation. Resort is perfectly located, staff very professional. Thank you all for the good vacation. No additional comments!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Iberostar Selection Paraiso Lindo: Amazing resort

The resort was amazing right from the start. We were a party of 12, ages from 7 to 67 years old. Everyone found things they liked to do. Everyone was a fan. We would definitely recommend this resort.

Iberostar Selection Esmeralda: Awesome

The hotel was great. Lots of food to choose from. And a fabulous presentation man named jimmy was the best! The beaches were gorgeous! Whole trip is definitely wonderful get away for any age. :) Would definitely recommend and return in by a later year!

Iberostar Waves Costa Dorada: Very good resort

The service,food,activities and bars,workers were all great . Beach was disappointing due to seaweed witch is seasonal but can still swim in ocean at different entry points. The concierge service was excellent Lucy attended to all our needs and more. Rosa the yoga ,Pilates ,Zumba teacher was excellent. Tavares and Mer our regular waiters were excellent and very attentive to all our needs and more. The water system was excellent with no worries re water. Our our room cleaning service was great [... read more] and did a great job every day. Julian the barman at the beach was excellent ,efficient,smiling and attentive to all our requests. We did not attend the pool only the ocean,always chairs available.

Iberostar Coral Esmeralda: A Cuban Gem!

This resort exceeded our expectations. The swim up rooms were wonderful. The pool spotless. The food was good. And as usual, the staff members were pleasant and helpful. Always willing to do more. The butler service (Carlos and Ariel) went above and beyond to accomodate our every wish. The beach was clean, thanks to all the hard work of the beach staff. The gardens were lovely and well cared for, again by staff members. And the calm and quiet was extremely welcoming. We believe this was one [... read more] of our best Cuban holidays, and we've travelled to Cuba probably 15 to 20 times over the last 10 years. And of course, Nicole Deforest from tripcentral.ca ensured we had a seamless holiday, from our luggage to our seating on the airplane and the location of our rooms.

Iberostar Selection Esmeralda: I&AS

Our second time to this resort within a half a year. Needless to say, we enjoyed it just as much as on our first visit (see my June 2025 review). Hotel and beach are fantastic. Could not have asked for better surroundings and service. A special "Thank you" to Israel, who looked after us so well, and to O'Neil, our travel agent at Trip Central, for his excellent service in planning our trip. We liked it so much, that we plan to return next spring.

Iberostar Origin Playa Pilar: OUR HOME AWAY FROM HOME

For context, this is our 5th time returning to Iberostar Origin Playa Pilar (Nov 29/25-Dec 6/25) in the last 3 years. It is now our "segundo hogar!" (second home). Pour a drink and kickback this will be a long review and can hopefully give you an expectation of IPP. It is perfect for us but may not be for you. In the past four years we have also been to much more expensive all-inclusive's in Antigua, Jamaica, Cozumel and the Dominican however we always return to IPP. We always book using Tripcen [... read more]tral.ca and choose Air Transat. The Trip central website is excellent to use, and the aftercare provided by your personal travel agent is amazing. Air Transat is a financially stable airline and we have found there check in, boarding and on-time service delivery exceptional. We always but the Option Plus package that provides for priority boarding and an extra 50lbs checked bag. Because we have been 5 times, we have made lasting friendships with many of the staff who we talk to throughout the year. ill talk more about this later in the review. Please read the previous reviews and apply copious doubt as to their authenticity as some of the comments are ridiculous. LOCATION This is one of the most confusing subjects for some. IPP is located on Cayo Guillermo which is a 45-minute bus ride from Cayo Coco airport including several stops at other resorts enroute. It will likely be the last stop as its located near the top of the Cayo. The resort itself is on a sheltered bay unlike the other resorts that are on the east side (look at Google maps). The main feature of the waterfront is an elevated boardwalk with Cabanas. This is where we spend most of our time during the day. There is a convenient bar right in the middle. Access to the water is from the pier or by the water sports building. The water itself is crystal clear warm Caribbean water with a coral and sand bottom. You can walk out 500 meters at low tide and still be knee deep. There is sand behind and around the elevated boardwalk however it is on top of coral. It is not like a conventional beach where your kid can dig a hole to China with their bucket. there are plentiful loungers as well and Beisel and Andres will help you with picking the best spot, they are the best! If you still arent happy with the IPP beach, the good news is Playa Pilar beach is only a short 15-minute walk up the bay or a $5 cab ride ride. There is also a trail in behind the watersports building you can take. I highly recommend meandering along the coral and in the water during your stay. Playa Pilar beach is stunning and is much better than Varadero. When there you may want to rent a palapa for $5, beer $5 and there is a restaurant where you can get a lobster lunch...Never had it but I have been told it is $30 and exceptional. FYI, Canadian and American currency is generally interchangeable. If you are told $5, you can pay either....just my experience. FACILITY Iberostar Playa Pilar is approximately 10 years old based of what I have been told. Cosmetically, in some areas it is worn. There are broken tiles and hardware throughout the property but the staff do their best to keep the property very clean. I have been told that the property is jointly owned by the Cuban gov't and Iberostar (Spain) and supply chain issues are very complex. A solid investment would make this resort spectacular. During our stay we had several minor issues that were promptly taken care via the amazing Olivia Hernandes, Customer Service manager. During our visit, there were approximately 120 guests, and the capacity is over 800 people. There were zero lineups or waits for anything! One of the main reasons we come here is because it is so quiet! The grounds for the property are kept in great shape by workers like Yaniel! They work exceptionally hard and are extremely friendly. Please make sure you say Hola to them if you see them working. ROOMS This visit we were in an Oceanview Junior Suite in building #4 (416). The OJS is a very cheap upgrade and definitely worth it! They are a good size, clean and the bed was decent. We were hoping to get building 11 however a family of 30 took precedence over us, no big deal! Compared to many other resorts, IPP is very well designed and you are not far from the main building or beach regardless of which building you are in. RESTAURANTS The main building has the buffet restaurant which is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It is a large space and anytime we have been there during our 5 visits, it has rarely been even close to half full. There is a 24 hour snack bar located down behind the beach. You can get an variety of sandwiches, hot dogs (good!), hamburgers (not good) and fries....and an ice cold beer! There are several ala carte restaurants and lucky for us, Olivia had pre-scheduled 4 of them for us on our arrival: Japanese (2x), Mediterranean and Creoli. The Japanese restaurant is a bit of a show and a lot of fun! The food in the ala cartes is very good! FOOD As previously mentioned, IPP definitely has supply chain issues however they have definitely improved over our past 5 visits. Yes, you can go to other islands and be a gluttonous slob and eat till you explode. When you are at home, do you have 3 meals a day? 3 egg omelets with bacon every morning? Probably not....IPP has enough choices for just about everybody. I am a picky eater and always find enough to eat. I usually lose a few pounds each visit and this time I lost 5....which was a surprise. You need to lose weight too and you know it! Allthat being, bring said, bring condiments from home if you like mustard/ketchup/jam, salt and pepper etc. as it is rare to find those. If you have never been to Cuba, don't believe it when people tell you the food is terrible....they are likely comparing quantity over quality. Yes other islands have massive buffets with a hundred choices, but this isn't 1970 Cuba, you will survive. ACTIVITIES There is a watersports building at the boardwalk where you can use a paddleboard or a hobbie cat. You can also have one of the staff take you snorkeling to a nearby sunken ship off the coast of Media Luna Island. For $60 we went snorkeling and finished off on Media Luna with a lobster lunch and a few beers all included! There was no rush and it was very enjoyable afternoon! Johnny and Eduardo were great to deal! You can see Media Luna Island from the boardwalk. The pool is a very good size, clean and with a swim up bar. There is a spa onsite where you can get a massage and lounge around their private splash pool after. There is also a small gym located in the spa. EXTERNAL ACTIVITIES IPP is located on an isolated part of the chain of islands. Moron is the closest town, and it is 90 minutes away by car. This is where most employees live and are bused from everyday (2-hour commute!). You can hire a driver and do a city tour if you wish. We have not done this yet but may do so in the future. We did go Scuba diving at Coco Diving Centre which is only 10 minutes from IPP. We did a 2 tank dive on the Acuario and Servimar reefs and had an "interaction" with a 9-foot silky shark! We also saw some 2-4 foot Blacktip reef sharks. If you want to see my shark video it is on IG at john2266 . It cost $110 for 2 dives which is exceptional compared to what we normally pay on other islands. Every week, one of the local hotels hosts a party night at the nearby Plaza Hemmingway! Transportation, booze and food all included! If you are at IPP, this is a must do! MONEY/TIPS/GIFTS Do not worry about converting your money to Cuban pesos. This would only benefit you if you were travelling outside of the resort system and throughout the non tourist areas of Cuba. Canadian and American money are the norm. I brought US $1 bills and $5/$10/$20 CDN for tipping.....yes you can also tip with CD loonies and toonies, but the staff end up having to trade them with other tourists for paper money as they are worthless in Cuba. I don't mind taking the exchange rate loss and budget accordingly. For reference, the Cubans we have befriended over the years have disclosed to us that their monthly salary is the equivalent of $25-$35 a month! Most of us make more than that in an hour at work so please keep that in mind. Also, the employees will never have their hand out for a tip, they are a very proud people and grateful for anything offered. Because we have befriended many staff members over the years, we know what their needs are and bring clothing, medications, sports equipment etc. for them. We also bring full cases of assorted gifts and stuff they would not be able to get themselves. Even if they have money, it is impossible for them to get some things. If you visit IPP, take the time to get to know some of the staff! STAFF OK, almost done and saving the best for last! The staff are amazing! Olivia Hernades (Customer Service manager), Beisel and Andres (Beach), Yaniel (grounds), Luis (security), Jorgito (lifeguard), Anarelys (manager) Oney (cigar bar) are just some of the great staff members Iberostar is very lucky to have! CONCLUSION IPP is the perfect resort for us, it checks all the boxes and grounds us in what is important in life. If you want to party, drink and eat like a fool, stay away from my IPP! If you want to relax and have a serene time in paradise your next stop is trip central to book. The staff are the real reason we keep coming back! The waterfront and cabanas over the turquoise water help too! I only hope that upper management at Iberostar take my comments into consideration and give this property the care and investment it needs.

Iberostar Origin Playa Pilar: Somewhat tired, but well cared for resort!

This resort is well cared for by friendly staff. It appears due for renovation, however all areas are clean and tidy. Was fairly empty when we were there (less than half full), which made for easy use of the buffet and snack bar. Buffet food was good for breakfast, okay for lunch and dinner. Not a lot of fresh vegetables (my first time in Cuba). Two a la carte restaurants, Japanese was quite good, the other switched between Mediterranean and Spanish, although the food for each was quite similar. [... read more] Theatre onsite was seldom, if ever used during our week long stay and no night club, so after dinner the place was a ghost town at night. Beach cabanas were quite nice and the bay the resort is located on was nice, but quite shallow (so safe for those who dislike deeper water). Catamaran rental for snorkeling and lobster lunch at Cabo Media Luna (2km away) was a highlight of the week.

Iberostar Selection Ensenachos: Hotel should be closed

With a heavy heart I write this review. I am a repeat guest since opening and I will not be returning. I have proper expectations of food but I do not expect to be served spoiled meat on 2 separate occasions. The other protein choices were all fat and we were unable to eat them. There is one working cart so plan on taking all your bags to Your room on your own. The van for Coral guests drives so fast he knocked us off the road twice. All of the beach chairs on Ensenachos beach should be replac [... read more]ed. They are mouldy and broken.The pools used to be very clean, this trip they were moderate at best. The small pool with the hot tub was filthy and was definitely unsafe to swim in. Sadly the only positive is there is way less garbage littered around the beach and walkways. It is a real shame such a stunning property has been allowed to fall into ruins.

JOIA Bavaro by Iberostar: Joia Bavaro by Iberostar - Nov 26 to Dec 03, 2025

This was our first time to this resort. The Joia is a beautiful, well kept resort with excellent service, beach, Food, cleanliness, and accommodations. There were a few minor issues like toilets too low, no wand in shower, insufficient ventilation in bathroom, aging beach lounger pads, and the number of loungers by the pool and on the beach. During our week long stay, you had to get up early to get a decent lounger. Unfortunately, there were those who claimed their lounger first thing and did n [... read more]ot show up for a couple of hours. We observed many returning customers which is an indicator of the quality of this resort is. We found the staff to guest ratio to be one of the highest we have ever encountered during our 20 plus years of travelling to the Caribbean. The price was on the high side, but if you appreciate the finer things this resort has to offer, then it is worth the higher price. Overall, a great relaxing week and we will definitely be returning.

Iberostar Selection Ensenachos: Heaven

What can I even say… it’s always amazing to go back to that beautiful beach and the incredible staff who make it feel like home. Every time I leave, a part of me stays there. That beach is unreal, and the people are even more special. It breaks my heart when I see negative comments about Cuba — knowing what those people are going through, they still show nothing but kindness, warmth, and smiles. Nothing is missing. Everything is perfect in its own way. If someone expects something differen [... read more]t, then simply go somewhere else and pay more — but don’t put down a place filled with so much heart. I was never hungry, never uncomfortable… just grateful. I can’t wait to go back. ❤️?✨

Iberostar Selection Esmeralda: Nice, compact resort

Nice, compact resort that was a little far from airport. With a beer in hand, looking out over the vast turquoise blue waters from the causeway to Cayo Cruz wasn’t a hardship! The new development on the island still leaves some of the island untouched and ready for exploration. It is this, plus great food and service, that made me return (and will return again!). See you soon

Iberostar Origin Daiquiri: Piece of Paradise

We had a truly memorable experience at Iberostar Daiquiri. It’s an extremely family-friendly resort with beautiful architecture and stunning grounds. You’ll notice many repeat guests, especially Canadians, which speaks to how special this place is. The Cuban staff is professional, dedicated, and genuinely attentive. Our room was clean, spacious, and offered an unforgettable ocean view. The bed was very comfortable, and the bathroom was modern and functional. Housekeeping did an excellent job  [... read more]throughout our stay. The resort has mature, lush gardens that are meticulously maintained by the gardening team. Walking through the property is a pleasure on its own. Yanis and Marlie were in charge of the kids’ entertainment, and they were amazing. They speak fluent English and organized many interactive and educational activities throughout the day—percussion lessons, arts and crafts, kids’ trivia, and more. Their energy and personalities really made a difference. The adult entertainment team was also extremely talented. They put great passion into their daily events, making the days fun and engaging for everyone. The food was one of the highlights of our stay and deserves special mention due to how important it is for many travelers. The buffet always had plenty of variety, and everything was fresh and well-prepared. Fruits: papaya, guava, star fruit, sweet lime, watermelon Natural juices: guava, papaya, pineapple Other beverages: cola, lime soda, orange Fanta, espresso, cappuccino, cocktails (mojitos, daiquiris), beer, red & white wine Breakfast: freshly baked bread, pancakes, eggs in all forms, cheeses, deli meats, homemade donuts, syrups, honey, cream cheese, and more. Lunch & Dinner Highlights: Fish grilling station Pork and chicken breast grilling station Pasta station with a dedicated chef Burgers Seafood (calamari, shrimp, baby octopus, clams) Cuban dishes: rice & beans, fufu, pumpkin, mashed potatoes Soups: Cuban beans soup and vegetable soup Salads & sides: olives, artichokes, beets, carrots Desserts: guava pie, Cuban bread pudding, rice pudding, mousse, cakes, delightful pastries Ice cream flavors: guava, vanilla, mantecado, soursop, chocolate, strawberry A special thanks to José Miguel, our waiter, who always kept our drinks topped up and made sure our kids were happy and comfortable. The beach was like a tropical paradise—clear water, soft sand, and perfect for relaxing or spending time with the family. One of the best parts of the resort. --- ? Final Thoughts Iberostar Daiquiri exceeded our expectations in every aspect: staff, food, entertainment, and natural beauty. We look forward to returning and highly recommend it to families seeking a warm and welcoming Caribbean getaway.

Iberostar Selection Riviera Cancun: Wonderful vacation

Beautiful resort very accommodating staff and a chill atmosphere great food choices,spotless hotel great pools and beach front with daybeds ,first come dinner no reservations required great coffee bar open 24hours