Beautiful beaches

I went with three friends,we had a great week. The resort itself was beautiful. The grounds are very clean and well kept. The staff are amazing and friendly. They go out of their way to accommodate every guest. There were a few issues in the rooms and the main lobbies. Bathrooms - plumbing mainly. Some days the lobby bathrooms were closed due to the staff trying to correct and fix the plumbing issues. Laundry sometimes is an issue. The comforters should definitely be changed between new guests  [... read more]arriving and leaving. I did call down and they sent someone up and she changed the bed sheets. People need to remember though that when you travel to other destinations, they don't have the same quality of services that we take for granted. Laundry services are contracted out off all of the hotel grounds so if there is a lack of laundry at your hotel, it is across the whole island that is affected. The food at the grills and staff are great. We enjoyed the international a large carte. Food and atmosphere were great. Beaches are absolutely beautiful. The nicest and cleanest on the stretch of hotels. The staff on the resort work very hard and have amazing attitudes and work ethics. The are so outgoing and try to accommodate you . Overall the few issues we had, did not change the amazing time and memories we have. We lucked out and also had amazing weather. Sun, sun and more sun. Thanks for a memorable vacation once again Cuba ☺

Good value for your money

To start I was surprised about the resort. I had visions of something less. The resort itself needs a face lift. It is showing its age. Rooms were very clean and not missing much. The grounds are very well maintained and beautiful. The food well it's typical Cuban. The beach is one of the nicest beach I have been on. The bartender on the beach is great. So all in all its ok

Disappointing

Accommodations leave much to be desired. Bathroom was covered in black mold, twice we had no water. Bed was broken. Food selection was very limited. Public working bathrooms were scarce. Grounds are well kept. Pool and beach are beautiful. Staff are fantastic.

SOME CAUTIONS

This is a beautiful resort, so much potential! Unfortunately, poorly managed in some aspects. Fabulous beach, well maintained grounds, clean rooms but the food well below par (even for Cuba). We didn't go hungry, but the food was not good or plentiful, even the restaurants ran out of food. Plumbing problems (many toilets on the grounds out of service, not good when you have stomach issues) Room towels were at a minimum. We enjoyed our speed boat excursion.This is a definite value vacation!

It was ok

Since I've been to Cuba 9 times. ..this resort wasn't as good as the other 8 I've been too. I'm not picky...but the food wasn't as good as what I've had...meaning the selection! ! I've never been to a resort that didn't have simple things like pizza...pancakes. .just no variety.

Absolutely disgusting

Food was disgusting!!!!! Some meat that was there still had hairs on it and were cooked. We witnessed the staff taking plates of food and hiding in the corner to eat it. The rooms were never cleaned and floors were not swept. We had 1 clean towel all week, and when requested more clean towels no one ever came to the room, while I waited there for a few hours one day. When we asked for extra bottled water we were told no. Like honestly I don't mind paying but for them to refuse us was absolutely  [... read more]ridiculous. Even when we asked for water at the pool bar, they almost refused me, until i raised my voice a bit, which I shouldn't have to do in the first place. My group each paid $1315 to come on a vacation and I'm not sure what that paid for exactly. Because it certainly wasn't for the room, food, or toilet services. Because the toilets didn't work for 2 days when we were there. Couldn't flush anything. And no showers for 2 days as well. What a waste of money!!!!!!!

A good time was had by all !

The weather was fantastic and the beach was THE most beautiful beach I've ever seen. Lots of chairs available although shade was at a minimum. The food at the resort was lacking selection the first day or two, but by the end of the week there were lots of tasty options and we couldn't get enough. Popular food items that Canadians enjoy (bacon, french fries, pineapple, etc) tend to go quickly so get to the buffet early. Most staff were friendly and helpful. Its a good idea to practice a few Spani [... read more]sh phrases or watch a little Dora the Explorer before you go. The pool was huge and clean, the grounds were well maintained, we had hot water every single day and the AC worked so good in our room we even had to turn it off a few times. If the price was right, I'd definitely go back to this resort !

Great Trip!

We wend to Starfish Cayo Santa Maria. We had an amazing experience, the bus was waiting for us at the airport, the resort was exactly as it looked on the advertisement. Weather was amazing, and service was good at the hotel. I expected a better food variety. Other than the food the experience and the service was amazing!

Overall Great Resort

Rooms, pool, dining areas and grounds were very clean and maintained. The daily entertainment was fun and the staff were very friendly and accommodating. Good mix of all ages staying as well, would recommend.

Beautiful resort. Amazing beach. Great pool.

The hotel however was rated as a 4 and it's a 3 at best. The washrooms in the common areas (near the buffet and in the lobby) were almost all out of order and we had to go back to our room to go to the bathroom. The food is average. There are not many activities during the day. I was disappointed that there was no aqua fitness.

Wouldn't go back

This is the only resort in all our years of travelling that we won't be going to again. We have been to Cuba numerous times so we know what to expect. Food was blander than usual and overly repetitive at every meal....and hot stuff was far from hot...lukewarm at best. Our room was clean and everything worked well. The public bathrooms were terrible...rarely cleaned and never seemed to be fixed. Someone has posted since that the old manager has returned and things will get better which is good as [... read more] this could be a fantastic resort if food and washrooms were taken care of.

Beautiful Resort: Lacking in amenities

My husband and myself decided on a 3 night/4 day getaway Feb 6 - 9th preceding a week booked at the end of Feb with family and friends. To be sure, the travel time was lengthy especially with the 1.5 hr transfer from the airport to the resort. We knew this ahead of time and decided to go given a very reasonable price point. Pros: The resort itself was quite beautiful; pool, gardens, pathways, and especially the beach itself. White flour sand and very turquoise crystal clear seas not unlike the  [... read more]Bahamas. Our room was ocean view, king bed and very clean. We requested the room placement and bed size with Trip Central rep and got it which was great. Our rep is Karl Charesa who is very good and we have always used him for all of our group vacations every year (6 years) to Cuba. Poolside entertainment was very good which we caught at end of beach day around 4-5:00. Music, rock band, acrobatic bicycle rider (quite good) and, of course, typical dance lessons. (Word of note: not a good snorkeling beach if you are considering bringing your gear.) Cons: Very slow drains in the bathroom (like all night for the tub to drain after a shower) and vanity sink. Very dim lighting in bathroom area. Only food available was ham & cheese sandwiches and "interesting" hotdogs (Cuban style) at the pool and beach grills. The buffet was really disappointing and keeping in mind we know and accept Cuban fare as we have been many times to different resorts, just not comparable at all and we are not picky eaters. We don't go for gourmet but seriously, this wasn't good. The 24 hour snack bar advertised is NOT 24 hours, no french fries or pizzas. Functioning bathrooms were rare, 1 open in the lobby out of 6 (for the women's anyway), no working bathroom at the pool for the guys. One bathroom at the beach, usually a line up. We didn't attend any nighttime entertainment, usually after dinner drink and socializing in the lobby so cannot attest to that. The bus ride to and from resort was just too long. We are used to Holguin/Cayo Coco resorts where it is less than half the time. Santa Clara airport was a complete dump (again, who really cares) but just leant to travel woes with amount of time spent in it.

It was okay, but we won't be back!

After an approx 2hr transfer from the airport to the hotel - which I do not recommend if travelling with young children... no bathrooms on the bus, and even kids who don't get motion sickness may vomit due to the style of roads and driving in Cuba (ask me how I know!) - here's what I noticed about the resort: - Many of the toilets in the public washrooms either had no toilet seats or were out of order. - The staff, although pleasant, seemed overworked and it was often tough to find a cleared ta [... read more]ble to sit and eat at during the buffet hours. - We often observed lineups outside the building to get into the buffet at peak dinner hour, and lineups for food at the snack bar during lunchtime. Meal times were an absolute feeding frenzy with everybody looking out for themselves and cutting in line (for the fries especially). - Food choice was somewhat limited, unless you were willing to line up for the stations serving omelettes, chicken, fish, or pasta. A lot of "mystery meat" floating in sauce, and the same kind of cake (tasted almost like cornbread) just with different "icing" at the dessert table. Many of the fresh fruits were also unrecognizable. - The pools were lovely (albeit cold). - The beach was gorgeous (although we weren't able to enjoy it due to the cooler weather, so don't fall into the same trap we did and pick a resort based solely on its amazing beach!) - The grounds were very well-kept by friendly groundskeepers. - Our room was clean and tidy (the resort staff even provided an extra bed for my 3yr old daughter which was unexpected but appreciated) - The bars were good and the wait to be served was typically quite short (not the case with the swim-up bar though). - Still not sure about using the tap water even for brushing teeth, as I had an upset stomach every single day of my stay although I can't trace it back to anything specific (I seemed to be the only one in my group who suffered from this, though). - The daily lobby entertainment was enjoyable and what I would imagine to be typically "Cuban". All in all it wasn't the worst resort we've stayed at but it wasn't the greatest either. I wouldn't recommend it only because of the state of the washrooms (imagine running back to your room any time you needed the toilet!), the feeding frenzies at the buffet, and the miserable drive to and from the resort (which we did in the dark, both times). As I'm a traveller with young kids, I'll stick to Cayo Coco next time (bless it's 20 min transfer!). Hope this helps someone, I've tried to be as objective as possible in my review!

Not a 4*...perfect 3* !!!

Just returned....2 weeks...totally wonderful...BUT.. NOT AS A 4 1/2* as advertised !!! It is a 3 1/2 with huge potential for being a 3 1/2*. Negative points first....lighting in room so bad you cannot even apply make up. Towels almost NEVER changed...even if you leav hie them in a wet lump on the floor...they are refolded. Bed not changed often (if at all). Many lights on fixtures and in chandeliers burned out...all small things that they are presently working on changing. Now....Positive points [... read more]....beautiful well kept grounds, nice big (90%) clean rooms, fabulous staff, continuous entertainment all day (poolside fun, nightly entertainment. Different groups in restaurants, lobby's, bars) food...typical Cuban. Beach is the most beautiful we have ever seen...sand is white and soft like floyr. Water is unbelievably crystal clear and turquoise. Soooooo...if you want a fabulous vacation and can overlook the small things and expect a 31/2....Starfish is PERFECT. If you want perfection and 4 1/2*....wait till they bring it up to that standard.

Beautiful beaches and people

The white sand beaches were breathtaking and immaculate. Every staff member was beyond friendly and helpful. The nightly shows at the theatre were extremely entertaining and if you're looking for the perfect drink ask for Robin..his friendly service was top notch.

Wonderful Once Again!!

This was my 3rd time to Starfish Cayo Santa Maria and it was still great. It is on the nicest stretch of beach on Santa Maria. The rooms are basic but very clean and really how much time does one spend in their room?! The pool is beautiful and like i said the beach is like no other. The buffet could stand to be a little more organized but there is a good selection of food. The waiters are always smiling and wanting to please you. They work very long days. The lobby and lobby bar is a great place [... read more] to enjoy a specialty coffee and live music before the show. I highly recommend the Brazilian coffee!! The entertainment at the theatre shows is some of the best i have seen and even after being there 3 times and the shows being the same, it is still enjoyable. The a la carte restaurants are all good and nice change from the buffet. Bartenders are very happy and make some delicious drinks, and even remembered me which was nice! The only thing i feel needs some attention is the public washroom area. Many of the stalls were not working and most were missing toilet seats, however that is a common occurrence throughout Cuba. Overall despite the age of this resort, it was very clean and workers always making improvements. I won't hesitate to return!!

Best Cuba has to offer.

I found this hotel and grounds to be the best I have seen in after 7 weeks In Cuban resorts since 2013.The beach and swimming are the best. Powdery sand, Azure blue water, stunning location. Food was really Good for Cuba, with a great selection of fresh seafood,fountain of fresh orange juice in the grill was. Never empty and the bread was fresh baked on site. Junior suite was better than expected with table rattan sofa, balcony And new flat screen with 40 channels in all languages.Staff was a re [... read more]al reflection of the character of the Cuban people,very serious about their jobs and really warm and welcoming, way above average.Entertainment was world class, best 4 piece jazz band I have ever seen in lobby one night, Took a request to play Coltrrane and really did a fine job of it, lots of entertainment for those who need entertaining but the big attraction is the Beach if you are bucket listing a trip to paradise I would suggest the Starfish.Hasta Luego Amigos!

Worst resort we have ever visited

We have travelled to Cuba many times and love it. This resort really changed our view. The welcome was probably the best thing from our entire stay. To start, this is an all inclusive resort, but your room fridge only comes with a bottle of water. If you want it stocked with anything else, you have to pay. Mold is common in warm countries, but our room curtains need replacement. Beds were nicely made with characters but our linens were never changed our entire stay. Our towels were not exchange [... read more]d unless we soaked them wet with the water that spilled onto the floor from the shower. The shower when warm- we had no hot water for 3 days- the tap fell off when we started our shower. We did find cockroaches. Pool towels was hit and miss. Some days you could get fresh ones, other days you couldn't. The pool: Was pretty and freezing. You don't need to apply sunscreen. When you dive into the pool you are covered by sunscreen. There was plenty of it in the pool. Was cleaned around the pool. Someone constantly picking up garbage. No one walking around to give you drinks. Pool chairs full of mold. Food. Lots of it. Chicken was good. Omelettes were good, but 7 days of the same food every day, all day!! Be careful eating fish - bones are in! Service. Ha! What service?? They are so disorganized! No one seated you. When you did find a table, good luck getting it cleared and someone staying long enough to get you a cup of anything! I asked 3 people for a cup of coffee and never got it. We waited 20 min before I complained to management who did nothing about it! If you are a large group, don't attempt putting tables together. We got yelled at that we couldn't do that!! Rude staff and no one who cared to serve you. For my husbands birthday we requested a piece of cake. Told they would gather staff and being something out and sing to him. We waited for over half an hour. When I questioned someone they went to the kirchen who told them they didn't know anything about it (we arranged it when we arrived in the dining room half hour prior) and would send something out. We got a cake. No singing, no candle, not even a happy birthday from the person dropping it off. Beach was clean but not fully. The walkway to the beach had broken side rails. Lots of bugs. So bring lots of bug spray. Overall this resort was rated a 4. Even in Cuban stars I wouldn't rate it a 4. More like a 2.5-3 Cuban stars. Disappointed that this cost us as much as it did.

Saw some very unsavory sanitary conditions

Very understaffed, staff was very nice. Saw a higher up kitchen spervisor(with the walkie talkie on their back) pick up broccoli from the floor and place in between serving tongs on the tong holding plate. Same tongs used to handle cooked and raw chicken at the Grill during lunch another day. Most Toilets in lobby were out of order for our 4 day stay.

Good value for I paid.

Room fairly clean, towels mostly old and worn. Grounds clean, alleys very dark at night. Service very good at both, pool and beach bars, less so in the lobby. A heartfelt thank you to Nelson, the restaurant manager and to Anier, Rafael and Robert, all bartenders. Very friendly and professional as they can get.