Vila Gale Cayo Santa Maria: Amazing Beach / Water - OK Resort - BAD Management All Around

AMAZING beach & water - crystal clear, plenty of fish. Resort OK, nothing special, although pretty new (built just before 2020) is plain and ugly, looks unfinished, especially the big swath of land between the buildings and the beach, scorched grass and nothing else. Everything else (bars / restaurants / food) is waaaay below standards, even for the low standards one expects in Cuba... We were unlucky enough to be there (the last three days of our vacation) during the "Santa Clara Music Fest [... read more]" and everything went from bad to worse! The hotel filled with Cuban guests (went from around 45% to more than 100%, they had to send guests to other hotels as far as Cayo Coco in the middle of the night!) - if before the food was bad, at least there was food... The last 3 days were a complete mess everywhere, not enough of everything, overcrowded mayhem is how I would describe it. Huge lineups to enter the buffet, only to find empty trays of food, with boiled plantains, potatoes, rice and pasta being the only options available - plus a mess everywhere. Trying to get a drink in the evenings at one of the bars was a futile exercise too... Luckily they had Pringles and crackers and plenty of Crystal and Buccanero at the hotel shop, so we made it :)... I suggested they order some "I Survived Sirenis" t-shirts - the most appropriate souvenir one could buy after a vacation with Sirenis! Look for something else please - not worth taking the risk with this hotel. Happy travels!

Vila Gale Cayo Santa Maria: Grand Sirenis Cayo Santa Maria resort

We just came back 2 days ago from this resort Aug 23-30. The beach with white clean sand, and the ocean- I would die for- crystal clear water, amazing fishes and ocean life on coral reef that is close to the shore. So many different seashells. Cocktails to my taste were really good. Our room was OK. Rain shower head didn’t work. Everything else in the room was normal. The building itself- staircase and corridors- were very dirty with clumps of dust with hair, cigarette buttes and dead crab t [... read more]hat was in the middle of the corridor for many days. After I complained to “public relations staff “ someone cleaned it. Buffet- most of the days they were opening late by 10-20 minutes and people were just waiting in the heat. NO sauce whatsoever. Food choices very limited. Again- floors NOT cleaned properly. Dust under the tables and around the columns. Servers NOT cleaning dishes on time. They are just standing and chatting and laughing. One server just stepped on the cockroach 🪳 and crashed it and left it there on the spot!! Internet not the greatest but manageable- you are not coming to the resort to be on internet all the time. I would NOT come back to this particular resort.

Grand Sirenis Riviera Maya: Good for Snorkeling

The resort overall was nice. It was big so there was a lot of walking. The room (jr suite) was very nice but the air conditioning did not work very well - not great in the middle of August! We asked them to fix it but learned from other guests that this is an ongoing problem and it depends on what room you get. Also we discovered if we left any open drink or food out tiny any climbed out of cracks in the furniture and were swarming. I guess you can’t get away from bugs but might be a bit infes [... read more]ted. The beach was disappointing as I was expecting a long sandy beach. This was rough sand, fairy short and rocky. Water shoes are a must, but it was ideal for those who enjoy snorkeling. If you enjoy wildlife it was great. Lots of monkeys, coaties, iguanas, and Sereques. I’m the water we’re so many colourful fish, sting rays, and squid. The food was ok. I couldn’t eat much as I am allergic to onions and dairy. They put onions on everything and dairy in all the desserts. My child also got food poisoning. Good points were the big pools, lots of shaded spots to sit, the lazy river was great, not too many people smoking (but there was a man on the beach every day selling vapes and drugs). If you like to exercise they have a nice gym but it is at the far end of the property so be prepared to run or walk out. The shuttle services were almost non-existent. We didn’t run out of things to do. The staff were all super friendly. A nice week relaxing. Would I go back? No I don’t think so.

Vila Gale Cayo Santa Maria: Good Resort

The beach is amazing but not the rooms or units > almost all rooms for all of us are leaking and smell molds. Also, the food in buffet are the same for a week and no difference in their a la carte. Customer Service of the Managers were good but not impressive. Will not take an extra mile to help customers.

Vila Gale Cayo Santa Maria: Great Resort

I was at Grand Sirenis from Aug 5-12 2023 with my mom and my son. We had an awesome time there. The hotel is clean and the ground is well kept. We had issue initially with the room: the AC and safety deposit weren't working but the staff fixed it and they changed our room. There were plenty of activities to do during the day at the beach or at the pool. Food was pretty good for Cuban standard, there were food for everyone. I like the omlette and pancake station at breakfast. Also fish and ch [... read more]icken station at lunch and dinner. After few days, the food is kinda repetitive though. I brought my own chilli sauce and seasonings to add more flavour. We tried 4 ala carte and french and Cuban were ok, it almost like the buffet food, i love the mediteranian since it has lobster and italian was pretty good. Beach was amazing, white sand and clear water. We saw a starfish and fish swimming around. You can get free boat ride or pedal boat included. There are 2 pools and both of them are pretty good and well maintained. The staff are very nice and helpful. I would like to call out Yasmani for helping fixing stuff in our room, Yenima and Dimay for always helpful in the dining room, Duniels, Irina and many other staff that i couldnt remember each name. You can take a bus from the hotel for $5 round trip to go to the market to buy souvenirs. Here are some tips: 1. Bring toilet paper since the public washroom at the hotel or any place outside usually doesn't have one. 2. Bring your own hot sauce and seasonings in case the food is bland. Also peanut butter or nutella since they only have butter for their bread. 3. Bring your own snacks specially when you travel with kids in case you dont like the food at the buffet or snack bar. 4. Bring a bubba mug so you don't have to make multiple trips to the bar. Overall, we were happy with this resort.

Vila Gale Cayo Santa Maria: Great stay at Grand Sirenis Cayó Santa Maria

Great value for money!!! Best beach I have ever been too and I have travelled a lot. Staff at hotel are great . Room was clean and comfy beds. Entertainment was fantastic!!! Booze was good, food was not bad at all and the A la cart restaurants were really good. Only negative was there was always a shortage of toilet paper and to book the a la cart there was always a long line. Hola Sun was fantastic especially Elizabeth .

Vila Gale Cayo Santa Maria: My review

I’m not one for writing reviews, but I think this is one that needs to be read by travelers going to Cuba. First some background information. I’ve been going to Cuba for many years starting in the late 90’s to the present. I always go for two weeks. My girlfriend and I are easy going and well aware of the economic and the living issues in Cuban. With that said, we expect only a few things on our vacation, and that is nice beach, great weather, cold drinks and edible food. We got all that [... read more] and some. Last trip was to Cayo Santa Maria. My girlfriend and I stayed at Grand Sirenis Cayo Santa Maria, from July 26 – Aug 9 (14 days) The following isn’t what I expected. 1. We arrived on a Wednesday. Thursday we were arranging to book our restaurants. Which we were allowed 3 a week. The rep at the booking informed us they were all booked until Sunday, and that we should come back and try on that day. This became a turn off simple because when we went to the buffet that night, the restaurant employees were asking people to leave the buffet to attend the restaurants without a booking. 2. We like Cuban cigars. We went to the hotel store and purchased one box of Cohiba shorts (10 in a box) for15 US or 20 CND cash. The next day when we went to purchase more, a different employee said they were now 35 US for the same box. For the record they sold them at the airport for 15.25 US or 20.64 CND. I bought them at the airport. Note: all items in the shop had prices displayed, except the Cigars. 3. Sexually harassed on the beach by a Cuban employee who worked at the hotels Sailing / kayaking / paddle boat area. I will not go into the details due to it was very embarrassing for my girlfriend. We reported on the above to our Hola Sun Rep at the hotel, Hotel Public Relations clerk, and the Hola Sun Rep on the return bus trip to the airport (only because she asked). This is the response we got: Issue: 1. This shouldn’t have happened. The Hola Sun rep did offer to assist with the booking, but we declined as we were already turned off. I feel for the people who were only there for a week as they would have only had 2 nights at a restaurant if they weren’t full. 2. The Rep did not want to confront the shop employee as they felt they may get fired. I agreed, but felt if not mentioned the person would continue in what I believe was not right. Remember the price went from 15 US to 35 US. 3. As for the beach incident. They really didn’t know what to do other then apologies for the incident. I believe they should have at least let the employees know of someone’s actions so they are aware they are on notice. I’ve been on vacations where I’ve witness similar incidents get very ugly very fast for both parties. Now on the way home the Hola Sun representative did mention two things that caught my ears. 1. This is the off season so hotels are known to jack the prices on things. 2. There has been an increase in Sexual harassments at some hotels, not just the one we stayed at. Now the above incidents don’t surprise me, and I’ve written this so no one else is surprised. Thanks.

Grand Sirenis Punta Cana Resort: Great family resort!

We just came back from a weeks stay with 2 teenagers. We really enjoyed ourselves. Beach was gorgeous after a couple of days due to the time of year. Staff were great and attentive. Food was always accessible and there was a lot of variety at the buffet. We didn’t do the a la carts. We didn’t really use the water park but the girls enjoyed one morning there. The grounds were clean and pretty. We enjoyed a couple of night time shows. We would return.

Vila Gale Cayo Santa Maria: Good Resort

Generally a good resort. The service was good. As expected the food was edible, Cuban food don't have much flavor nor variety. Their A la carte restaurants are OK. Still no real vegetables. Great beach, the second week we were 'killed' by mosquitos. If you are not a foody, then the resort is great.

Vila Gale Cayo Santa Maria: Wasn't too bad

My intention for this vacation was to simply just relax, wasn't looking to do too much. However, in our rooms the shower had leaked and the blanket had a weird odor to it. Not sure if the sheets were changed, I don't think it was. I was disappointed in the rooms over all because I have read some pretty good reviews. On the first day, our shower leaked because it wasn't sealed completely. However the Pedro, the hotel PR manager, was very helpful and had gotten it resolved almost immediately. Goi [... read more]ng to Cuba, I know food isn't the greatest, but I was impressed with the a la carte! We had the Cuban and French cuisine and I enjoyed that, the soup reminded me of what my parents make for me when I'm sick haha. I believe because their was low occupancy, there wasn't too much to do or opened like more options for excursions and a la cartes which wasn't a bog deal for me as I just wanted to be on the beach! The drinks were really sweet but you have to try the cafe Fria, it's amazing and definitely helped in the dry season

Vila Gale Cayo Santa Maria: Great stay

Everything is good, I like it. I recommend to others to go enjoy and relax. Food is good, my room was good. They clean my room regularly. Friendly people. Water was nice. Entertainment was good. I enjoyed myself

Grand Sirenis Riviera Maya: Horrible Service

Food was repetitive. No AC in the room, claims they’ll come to fix and they didn’t Service was horrendous. The shuttle carts never pick you up they see you standing there to wait and they zoom past you and when you ask them to please take you somewhere they say bluntly no. Waiters/servers horrible… you honestly didn’t want to tip them because they rarely came to ask you for drinks or even pick up the plates. We’d have to serve our own drinks basically, and they’d get mad if we as [... read more]ked for wine or something that they had to get. Hotel staff refuses to help in anything. Very unhappy. They only message to tell you sorry for your experience we’ll communicate with the rest but honestly that’s exactly what they told us in person and our issues didn’t get fixed. Imagine? No AC for a week and fecal residue on our bathroom door! We had to clean it up and we told them please there’s still some left and they never came to clean it or even offered to change rooms. That was disgusting to come to our new room to find someone else’s feces hand prints on the door…

Grand Sirenis Riviera Maya: Feces residue in the room, Horrible service (fakes that they’re doing anything about it)

When we entered the appearance looks very nice and rooms look very spacious. However we had several problems as a family (5 different rooms) 2 rooms had AC issue (they claimed to fix it and it didn’t work) we had no AC for the whole week. And the fan is designed in a very strange way it’s on the side where the couches are instead of the actual bed therefore causing no air flow. 1 room had issues with wifi (they kept telling us there was no problems but the wifi wouldn’t connect)  [... read more] 1 room upon arrival they saw feces residue on the bathroom door, no one came to clean up. 1 room had nothing no soap or anything. Mini bar in room is rarely refilled and the water bottles it’s a big litre one that isn’t cold it’s hot because they leave it out in the room. The service at the buffet was terrible, the servers did not approach you or rarely did. Sometimes we even had horrible looks just because we asked for something like a drink. They wouldn’t pick up our plates, plates would accumulate. The Shuttles… honestly I have never been to a resort where the shuttles refuse to take you and even ignore you. Others would just zoom past you and you’d be “wait! Can I get a ride” and they’d say “no, I have other things to do”. So many shuttles and all of them empty most of the time as they don’t take anyone. The food wasn’t too great as well, every day was repetitive. The housekeeper wasn’t very clean, you can tell the room is still dirty upon arrival and during our stay they would not do changes of towels sometimes and other times the bed wasn’t properly made. Unfortunately, we did not have a good experience. Staff were not friendly and everyone seems frustrated. I do have to say that the restaurant a la carte were good and the service is much better there (would recommend the Mexican and Brazilian). However, the bad part is that when we arrived as soon as we got our room number we were online trying to book and EVERYTHING was booked. We then asked and they said they give priority to the black bracelet members. So, you would get these ridiculous late times like 9:15 pm. We would have to be checking for cancellations to get in earlier. I would not recommend this place and do not plan on returning to this resort. It was unpleasant and by the 3rd day we wanted to go back home and didn’t even want to eat their food (which we never experienced before)

Vila Gale Cayo Santa Maria: Great time !

Hotel was beautiful and spotless for the most part woerkers go above and beyond to make sure our needs are met . Great people. There wasn’t a large selection of food but what they did have was food. Never left hungry 😋 alacarts were deliciously beach is 💯 beautiful 😍

Vila Gale Cayo Santa Maria: Amazing resort

Everything in the resort was perfect. The rooms were cleaned daily, the food was very good and most importantly the staff was super friendly, helpful and attentive. I Enjoyed my time there and I Will Diffinetly return.

Vila Gale Cayo Santa Maria: Amazing Resort!

The beach is beautiful!! The beach bar staff was amazing, it particularly Ricky! ❤️ It’s a beautiful resort for families . The weather was hot! ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Grand Sirenis Punta Cana Resort: Good experience

It is a good hotel, family oriented, we liked our stay very much, but there were small things that could be changed to make the resort amazing. First of all, the front desk was not always helpfull, i asked for a room on the first floor, with a bathtub and a crib for the baby, and i spoke spanish (i found that their english knowledge for most of employees was very poor), and the person at the front desk just said ok. When we went to the room, it was at the 3rd floor, with shower and the bedroom [... read more] had 2 double beds, which i did not even request and he did not even ask me. So without unpacking, we went back, and asked for another one, this time the front desk did a wonderful job, to bad i did not retain his name to write a BIG thank you! He gave us a great room: first floor, near the beach, king bed in the bedroom, bathtub in the bathroom. Then, we had to call several times and go in person just to fix tv problems and crib which was brought to our room at 10 PM when we were sleeping, they just opened the door and pushed it in, when we did not answer the door. Second, the waterpark, the water was not cleaned, especially in the kids pool, our baby had the hand feet and mouth disease, which ruined our wonderful vacation routine for 2 days; pretty sure from the water she drank in the pool. The rest was good, food, resort pools, activities, bars, kids club.etc. I would come back, but at least if changes in the 2 mentioned areas will be done. And I would recommend it to families and friends, but advise them of the issues, so they could decide by themselves. The overall rating would be 3.5 stars.

Vila Gale Cayo Santa Maria: A wonderful vacation

Our stay at Grand Sirenis was enjoyable. This is a newer hotel which kept their rooms clean, bars stocked, coconuts available, and no shortage of food. The staff was particularly friendly and attentive where ever you went. Our favourite was Elizabeth who attended to us in the lobby bar. She is very friendly and such a sweetheart! The beach was endless and the water was clear as a diamond, with lots of fish visiting us there were plenty of beach activities we even took a trip on the catamaran a [... read more]nd pedal boat. Planning our next stay very soon.

Vila Gale Cayo Santa Maria: Everything you need is there

Everything you need ito have a very pleasant vacation is there. Nice beach, beautiful oceanfront, clean rooms, satisfying food and most of all, very kind service and friendly atmosphere. Cuba has it's supply limitations and various shortages but package price definitely reflects that. You will not get similar vacation value for your money in other carabean islands for sure.

Vila Gale Cayo Santa Maria: Hotel Could be a 5*

This place could be a 5* if it was kept cleaner. The rooms are very nice, however, not properly cleaned. I don't know if it was just the maid taking care of my section, or if it was a problem all over. My room was not cleaned, except for the bed, for my entire stay. The bugs that were on the floor on my first day, were there for the whole week. The bathroom vanity was not cleaned at all. The hair and the dirty glass was there all week. The bathrooms in the main area were disgustingly d [... read more]irty. I had to walk out when I tried to go use one. The seats in the buffet restaurant were very dirty. The fruit always had swarms of fruit flies on them. The plates always had flies sitting on them. There were always mosquitoes and flies all around the hotel grounds and areas, except for the beach. After dinner we would just to go to our rooms to avoid the mosquitoes. If all the above would be tended to, then this place would be a nice place to revisit. The beach is absolutely beautiful and that's what made up for everything else. I would recommend this hotel because it is nice, but like I said, only if these problems were addressed.