Brisas Guardalavaca: “Great Hotel, Disappointing Beach Experience”

I recently stayed at the beautiful Brisas Hotel in Cuba with my family. The hotel itself is lovely, and overall, we had a wonderful experience together. The staff were welcoming, and the surroundings could have been perfect for a relaxing family getaway. Unfortunately, there was one major issue that completely changed our experience and is the reason we would not return. The beach area, which should be for guests, was overrun by locals who occupied most of the hotel’s lounge chairs as if they w [... read more]ere paying guests. This alone made it very difficult for us to enjoy the beachfront. What made things worse was the amount of garbage left behind—beer cans scattered everywhere, even floating in the ocean. My kids ended up collecting more than 200 cans from the water, which was both sad and frustrating to see in such a beautiful place. On top of that, we witnessed highly inappropriate behavior, including people washing themselves and even using the ocean as a bathroom. While the hotel itself was nice, the beach situation was so uncomfortable and disappointing that we would not come back. I truly hope the management addresses this issue, because the location has so much potential to be an amazing family destination.

Brisas Guardalavaca: Resort full of Cubans

The resort staff trying their best. Unfortunately, there is not much to offer. The rooms are OK. The food is fair. The only problem there are many Cubans and they trying to get all the food they can. They cut in line and disrespect other people. Cuba is the place we go for beaches. Not this time. We were ther last year in March and came back cause we liked it. Now it was terrible. Locals occupied the beach taking over beach beds and shades. There are so many of them that there were no place t [... read more]o swim. The water is full of beer cans, glass and plastic rum bottles, mango peel, and mango seeds. There are millions of locals and no washrooms beside, so guess what??? They would do number two right in the water. Here.....it floats!!! We talked to managers, but they told us that beaches in Cuba are public and everyone is allowed. That was the first time we couldn't wait to leave, and we've been in Cuba 40+ times.

Brisas Guardalavaca: Cuban resort

We went to the resort in August. It is full of Cubans. They are very loud and sometimes disrespectful. In the buffet they grab a lot of food and stack it into their bags. However, this is a least of a problem. All the beaches in Cuba are public, so...the resort allows locals on the beach. They take it over!!! It becomes loude, busy and very dirty. The amount of beer cans in the water and on the beach is awful. They eat mangoes in the water ans spit it . It was disgusting to step on it in the wa [... read more]ter. And cherry on top was when the poop was floating, few times. Conversations with hotel management did not help. They said that locals were not allowed to sit on the beach beds, but in the evening they occupied all of them. They come with canisters of beer, soups, and so on. I understand everybody needs a beach, but please don't make it a dumpster.

Sanctuary at Grand Memories Holguin: Amazing resort and very friendly staff!!

The place is amazing and they have plenty of food, not like some other resort that we have been to cuba. Place is really clean, staff are very friendly specially our butlers Yosbel & Raciel. They took care our Dinner bookings for our groups every single nights. Definitely will be return back to this place Guaranteed!! 5 Stars!!!

Sanctuary at Grand Memories Holguin: Clean, Comfortable, lovely resort

The resort is well maintained with great staff who are very helpful. Food was good, limited variety but always a few choices and well prepared. It was low season so some bars and restaurants were not open. The pools were nice , we stayed on the Adult side and for the most part was quiet. It would have been nice to have had a bit more music and entertainment but with fuel shortages…

Paradisus Rio De Oro: Calm place for the rest

In the beginning of August Paradisus rio de oro resort was so quite and we didn't have problem with sunbeds at the beach, food &drinks at the restaurants and bars. Snorkeling was amazing, ocean was warm and clear. We used several times kayaks, catamarans and other seaboats. Tips are always welcome)

Iberostar Selection Holguin: Iberostar Selection Holguin

The grounds are beautiful. There was a drought so the fountain features were not working and very dry landscape unfortunately. The hotel rooms were very clean. I did have a pack of hair ties taken from our room, so I would suggest locking or putting valuables and small items away. The water was shut off 3 days out of the week for 2 hours in the afternoons. We were told that was sue to the drought situation. The food was great! The buffet could use ceiling fans though. It was so hot and both [... read more] staff and guest were sweating. It was very uncomfortable to say the least. Due to the gasoline shortage, the resort ran out of popular soft drink our second day there and had still not been replenished upon our departure. We booked an ocean view room, but it was not very nice at all. There were many trees before the ocean was nicely visible. The main beach was more than a 10 minute walk from our room and the shuttles were not running regularly due to battery issues. There were really not enough shuttles for that size of a resort. We had no body wash in our shower and never refilled. The staff was amazing and very friendly. They tried their best to work though any issues. The entertainment was ok. Not much entertainment during the days at all. I did not find the entertainment team very engaging with the guests at all. The Mediterranean and Japanese A La Carte venues were fantastic, but there needs to be more emphasis during the ride from the airport to hotel to pre-book them as soon as possible. They book out very quickly. The tours we booked were great. City and Sunset Catamaran. The cost into the city at $25 pp was a bit much. I gauge it at no more the $15-18pp would be a better deal. We were unable to check into our return flight on the WestJet app or Sunwing web page, but the check in at the Holguin airport was very fast and easy. The resort was clean, and very well maintained. We did have a lovely time regardless of any small inconveniences. I would rate it a 4 star property at most.

Gran Muthu Almirante Beach Resort: Worry-free Complex- Explore and Enjoy

This hotel gives your tweens and teens the opportunity to gain confidence and build character and compassion. They are safe to be on their own, without parents supervising or hovering over them. Everyone looks out for each other. Leaving your cellphones at the dining table, unattended, is common practice while you leave to select food items in tne servery at Las Palmas buffet. I suggest using Whatsapp group chat to keep your family members connected as they go off exploring the amenities. It i [... read more]s a huge complex with beautiful walkways, use the hallways that connect the buildings to cool off. A very clean beach, waves are minimal. Relax and enjoy. Two weeks is best.

Gran Muthu Almirante Beach Resort: Horrible place

Horrible place to go on vacation. The beach in front of the resort is a public beach, so every day you have hundreds or thousands on local people on the beach. The beach is extremely dirty with full of cans, plastic and bags. The water is a floating garbage. One day i saw 6 poo floating on ocean. In the hotel I saw two living cockroach. Half of the tourist from hotel were also locals from Cuba so good luck on the buffet where they don't have any respect.

Paradisus Rio De Oro: Amazing vacation!

My husband and I loved our week at Paradisus Rio De Oro. We stayed in the regular side. Rooms were clean. Food was delicious. We have no complaints. Beach was beautiful but a bit Rocky in some sections. Water shoes recommend. We went off season (July) so resort was a bit quiet but we met some wonderful people. Not too many activities during the day but we were totally fine with that. Would have been nice maybe to have something going on during the evening. Staff are wonderful. We would highly re [... read more]commend this resort!

Gran Muthu Almirante Beach Resort: Infinite Pool overlooking Coral Reef Beach

A family getaway. Beautiful landscaping. Lots of free activities...paddleboat, catamaran, splashpad pirateship theme. Keep hydrated with plenty of bars to serve you. Only complaint...6am towel "reserving" of beach lounge chairs for fix umbrellas.

Iberostar Coral Holguin: Had a fun, relaxing time!

We went on a girls trip and had a wonderful time. The resort is well maintained and we had all the essentials needed. The room was very clean and welcoming. The air conditioning was a blessing, as well as the ceiling fan. It had a beautiful balcony with lounge chairs, overlooking the pool area. We were welcomed kindly at the reception area and brought to our rooms efficiently. Throughout our stay, I found the staff friendly, kind and personable. There was a wide variety of activities, lead by  [... read more]Carlos. We participated in Aquafit and Cocktail making classes by the pool. Carlos was energetic and tried to include every guest. The lifeguards at the pool were friendly and we enjoyed getting to know them, especially Frank.The staff at the restaurant were always there to make sure you were taken care of. The cooks, as well as the bar and wait staff were always friendly and accommodating. The pool was great and the beaches beautiful. We have already talked about returning and look forward to seeing the staff again. We feel like we made some wonderful friends.

Sanctuary at Grand Memories Holguin: Sanctuary! The best resort !

It was my second time to visit this beautiful resort!!!! I spent a week, but I regret not going there for two weeks. Everything was great and specially I would like to mention my butler Ramon who was very helpful and made me feel very welcome. Everything I needed I asked him for and he was always there for me. Because of him I have a desire to come back again. All other staff were very pleasant as well. Room was clean and beautiful. Food was very tasty and lots of choices to choose from. Beach i [... read more]s amazing.

Paradisus Rio De Oro: Great Vacation!!

We got off to a great start weeks before departure when I called Beth at Trip Central. It was a great booking experience that was efficient, quick and informative and she was able to book Club Class seats on both flights. I made use of the Air Transat app and it is one of the better ones taking you through documentation requirements before your trip through online check in, airport transfers, hotel confirmation and return flight. Club Class was a really nice perk. We’ve been to PRDO many times w [... read more]hich is why we chose it. The resort, the rooms, the food, the beach and the pools are always on point. We upgraded to Royal Service upon arrival as usual and it makes our vacation experience even more enjoyable. Cuba is experiencing a six month drought right now which is making the shortage issues even tougher for the resort but I can say that there was always plenty of fresh vegetables, fruit, fish, pork, chicken, breads and desserts. Most of all, the wonderful PRDO staff make you feel at home. They are all truly kind and happy people! We highly recommend PRDO via Air Transat through Trip Central.

Sanctuary at Grand Memories Holguin: Amazing second time in Sanctuary

I just come back from the Grand Memories Sanctuary hotel. I decided to visit again this place and I didn’t regret. I travelled with my Mom and we had an amazing time together thanks to the amazing people who work in the hotel, plus room was so nice and clean, beach is beautiful with lots of trees and food was very tasty with a variety of choices. I will definitely go back again.

Paradisus Rio De Oro: Exceptional resort.

We have stayed in Cuba over 25 time over the last 30 years. This is by far the best hotel we have stayed in. Even though it was July and the hotel was at approximately at 25% occupancy the staff and facilities were wonderful.

Iberostar Coral Holguin: Terrific Resort in Holguin

The Coral Level Iberostar Resort was an amazing place for a relaxing holiday. The rooms were spacious and very clean. The pool and grounds were very well cared for. The beach was stunning! The staff (lifeguards, maids, event coordinator, bar-tenders, cooks, waiters, butlers) were all very friendly toward guests. In particular, Frank, the lifeguard, took the time to interact with guests and Carlos planned fun and engaging activities.

Gran Muthu Almirante Beach Resort: Gran Muthu Almirante Beach – A Wonderful Stay!

We had a fantastic experience at Gran Muthu Almirante Beach and would definitely recommend it to others looking for a relaxing and enjoyable getaway in Cuba. The resort itself is well-maintained, clean, and beautifully laid out. The rooms are spacious and modern, with a powerful air conditioner that kept us cool and comfortable throughout our stay. The service across the board was excellent—friendly, attentive, and always with a smile. A special shout out to Arnoldo and Elianet at the buff [... read more]et—they truly went above and beyond every single day. Whether it was breakfast or lunch, they greeted us warmly, remembered our preferences, and made us feel genuinely welcomed. Their energy, professionalism, and attention to detail made each meal that much more enjoyable. They are a true asset to the resort! The beach was pristine, with clear water that was perfect for swimming. We also appreciated that the pools never felt overcrowded, and we had no trouble finding available lounge chairs throughout the day. However, there is a noticeable lack of shade around the pool area, so be prepared if you're looking for sun protection. In terms of food, we were pleasantly surprised! For Cuba standards, the food was quite good and we never had trouble finding something we enjoyed. A big highlight was the Asian and Indian à la carte restaurants—both served delicious meals and offered a great dining experience. We also loved the outdoor BBQ area next to the buffet, which served tasty burgers and chicken skewers. This became our go-to when we opted for more casual dinners. There were a couple of minor downsides—the main one being the limited drink options during the day. Blended drinks like piña coladas and daiquiris are only available from 4–10 PM at one specific bar, which was a bit disappointing given the heat. Also, we experienced a few short power outages, but they were brief and didn’t impact our trip significantly. One unexpected perk was the resort Wi-Fi—it worked surprisingly well, even down at the beach, which made it easy to stay connected when we needed to. All in all, we had an amazing stay and are already looking forward to returning to Gran Muthu Almirante Beach in the future!

Grand Memories Holguin: Good Vacation

Hotel was great, beach is amazing, food is good, however no fresh produce (tomatos, peppers, lettuce...) And no water sport activities: no sail catamarans and no snorkeling masks. Plenty of pools + hotel activities.

Grand Memories Holguin: Grateful

Grateful for time with family. However the rooms did have cockroaches and the food was bland and limited protein options. The bartender jr was great and we meet our own friends from Toronto that enhanced the stay . Staff is moody n rude