Great experience!!!!

We were 3 adults and 5 kids under 9 years old.We all had fun!! The room are nice,clean and we had a surprise a ocean view.The buffet good variety not too much line up at the grill or pasta station.The beach is nice but rocky,they were creative with the elevated terrasse and the stair to go in the water..Overall very good vacation and the service everybody was wonderful.. We wouldlike to go back.

The best resort ever

The resort is absolutely beautiful. The amenities amazing, but the best part of all THE PEOPLE!!! Cuban people is amazing, I have no words to express my gratitude and my desire to comeback as soon as possible

Stunning

Initially they sent us to another persons room, so they upgraded us to junior suite. Weather was perfect. It was the furthest hotel from the airport, but very worth it. It was only about 50 minutes. Very new. The food was better than other hotels. The beach isn't very nice but the water was, so that didn't matter. Crystal clear water. They weren't any hotels on either sides, so that was nice. The staff were fast friendly. Staying here again for sure.

Really nice resort

Loved the pier system on the beach, water was wonderful, food was really good. The only thing I did not like as many people have mentioned was the non-private bathroom due to the glass plate window looking into the room. WHAT were they thinking? The shower area is very dark even with the glass so perhaps that was the plan but it is not very effective and frankly I don't think anyone would be ok with it. What if you were travelling with teenagers? Do you think they want to be on display while sho [... read more]wering to the rest of the room?

We loved it!!

The Iberostar Playa Pilar is very new. We were there April1 - 8, 2016 and we loved it! Our daughter says it is the best place ever! The food was very good. The Japanese restaurant is exceptional as is the Mediterranean. There was always a good selection of fresh foods at the buffet. There was always fresh meat to choose from that could be grilled as requested. Our favourite druing the day was the restaurant near the beach. It had a smaller selection of the main buffet, plus hamburgers, hot dogs  [... read more]and pizza. It was nice to sit in the open air, feel the ocean breeze and have beautiful ocean views ! Our room was lovely. Our 11yr old daughter was with us. We had read some complaints about the glass wall/window into the bathroom area (really the shower). It didn't bother us. The pool area is stunning. You do need to rise early and select a spot if you want some shade during the day! We loved swimming in the ocean and snorkeling, but other than that, we really didn't spend much time at the beach as there is very little shade. The water at the beach is crystal clear and beautifully warm! We also enjoyed kayaking and paddle boating. The drinks were fabulous! Blender drinks are just that - fresh from the blender - not pre-mixed slush! Although there was plenty of slushy drinks for the kids and adults alike! And the bar staff are all friendly and very knowledgeable of their drinks! Our daughter never had trouble getting drinks for herself at any bar. The night time shows at night were good. The music in the main lobby beforehand was even better - especially when it was Cuban style music! The grounds are lovely but will be even nicer once they mature and grow. All in all, we had a great vacation and would love to return to the Playa Pilar.

Wonderful Cuba Resort!

This brand new resort had many wonderful features - rooms, views, the staff, food, entertainment, etc. Would definitely recommend to family & friends. Not a big beach area but totally private. Gorgeous!

Yes Amazing resort.

We had no complaints although it was our 50th Wedding Anniversary and I did ask for a sea view which we did not get our view was rubble and a bit a sea. On the other hand we had so much fun met nice people. Food was excellent with variety, ala carte especially the Japanese night was outstanding. This was out 7th time to Cuba we would return to this resort without hesitation.

Beautiful resort!

Stunning resort in a remote location, minutes from Playa Pilar. Amazing service, animation team, beautiful modern rooms and overall cleanliness are just a few perks of this resort. Definitely a 5 star for Cuba. Food was generally quite good and varied. We even had lobster at the buffet. Playa Pilar is one of the most beautiful in Cuba. Can't decide between that one and Cayo Santa Maria. And it is actually connected to the resort's beach which disappears for a few hours in high tide and reappear [... read more]s at low tide. So you have the option of walking through the water or taking a light hike on the cliff looking over the beach. I mainly go to Cuba for the beaches. I would say no place compares to them except maybe French Polynesia which is much farther from Canada. The rssort itself features a dock with loungers overlooking the sea and a small beach right in front of the aquatic center. But if you are like me and enjoy long walks, and love feeling like you are on a private island ( not surrounded by crowds) you will adore this set up. We spent everyday at the beach half way between the resort and playa pilar and our only companions were cheerfull birds minding their own business. At night the entertainment and disco were fun and a nice opportunity to interact and make new friends. Overall highly recommended! We will definitely be back. I traveled with my husband ( we are in our early thirties).

Needs work

The hotel is visually beautiful when you first arrive. I have been to Cuba over 8 times and I have stayed at Iberostars before so I feel I can give a honest review. This property needs to work on there service and cross contamination which was so evident at the buffet I was floored. There were no signs on the food items at the buffet I don't have allergys but just knowing what the food is is important and if I had a food allergy that is a huge problem for food not to be labeled. The worst part w [... read more]as the cook that prepared the meat used the same tongs to pick up the chicken as he did to pick up the beef and pork. Then when he was wanting to pick up the vegetables to fry with the meat he used the exact same tongs he picked the meat up with as I work in the food industry at that point we decided to not eat meat this could lead to a very serious illness. And overall just the lack of tongs for all the food items they were having guests use a singe par of tongs for multiple items. We are beach people so the lack of beach was very disappointing. And I am used to seeing the decks of pools being washed down every morning I never saw that once when we were there. All in all its a nice resort would I go back only if the price was to lower and food and service issue are improved

Beautiful resort

The lobby of the hotel was beautiful , and the ground where kept in perfect condition .food was fabulous always find something to eat . We had a ocean view room with a breathtaking view . Room was amazing . The dock area was my favourite part watching a sunset

Would return in a heartbeat!

Iberostar Playa Pilar is in it's infancy stage, just opened in December 2015. We were there March 19 - 26, and would recommend this to anyone wanting a peaceful, sunny vacation. It is a beach resort, keep in mind that it is a 40 min drive from the airport, and at least an hr drive to the closest town. The pools are beautiful, the food is excellent, and the staff are very accommodating. The resort has a small, very clean beach, but has made up for this by building a grande pier and swimming platf [... read more]orm with plenty of comfortable loungers and queen size beds under shaded cabanas. You can also use their kayaks, paddle boats, or take a guided hobie cat, for 20 pesos, over to the island across from the resort where you can snorkel. You can change your money over to Cuban Pesos at the front desk. The famous Pilar Beach is just a short walk from the resort. There is entertainment poolside daily for children, and nightly in the lounge and the show room for the adults. I would say this is a resort geared for the 30 plus crowd. Everything is comfortable and classy, you will not be disappointed. We spoke with many Canadians that vacation in Cuba yearly, that said this is the best resort of all that they have stayed at. We will be returning.

Beautiful Resort

I had a great time at this resort. I was traveling with my mother who is a senior, I wouldn't rate this resort as a senior friendly resort but the staff were so considerate and helping. And my mother became so popular in no time. If it is possible to make the cars more available and use more comfortable chairs in the lobby. The only disappointment was the beach, there is no sandy beach there but the water makes up for it. They do seem a little short of staff (specially English speaking) though.  [... read more]which makes me little worried about the future of this resort. Also I did some snorkeling, these waters are so pure and clean, and there is actually a thriving reef colony too close to the beach. If they invest on maintaining it , it can become a snorkeling haven and make it more popular, which I think they need it since it is the last hotel in the island and there is nothing around it. Food was great too. the vegetables were always very fresh. I like to see more local fruit and vegetables even food. meat seems like it need more time to be cooked. some things were very tasty but they looked not so good that I was avoiding them at first. So maybe they can work on presentation. The guy at the BBQ works hard and needs a fan, it seems too hot there! The small buffet also needs more ventilation. The doctor there though, to my surprise he does not speak a word of English!!!! makes me question his title. The staff knew more English than him. How can we rely on this doctor in case of emergency? But over all I had a great time. If I need another lazy vacation I will go there for sure. But seven day might be too long. Thank you Shabnam

One Of My Very Favourite Resorts In Cuba!

I have also been to Melia Buenavista in Cayo Santa Maria and The Royalton Cayo Santa Maria. Iberostar Playa Pilar is definitely in the running with these two 5 start resorts. Iberostar Playa Pilar had outstanding service, friendly staff, cleanliness, very good food, a GORGEOUS ocean view from nearly all of the rooms, and a mile of unbelievable walk-able white sand beach that stretches from the left side of the resort. Playa Pilar is also within walking distance (along the beach and a trail) and  [... read more]is a fun little day trip. My only complaints were that the beds were uncomfortable, I could have done without the entertainment, a few minor repairs needed to be made in our room throughout the week, and that there were no "adults only areas" (not even at the spa!).

Favourite Cuban vacation

Great service, Food was good too! Staff very accommodating and spectacular view and beach area. Room was clean, however if you're not a couple then no privacy for showering with ocean view rooms. beach area is a little small but beautiful white sand and turquoise water

Isolated, but a complete Paradise

We stayed for a week, Mar6-13. The resort is beautiful and wonderfully laid out. The employees made the trip a fantastic experience, and although you can tell they are new, they did a great job of it. Yudi (entertainment staff) was unbelievable. The amount of energy this girl has really brought people up to join in the activities, and still manages to make it out to the disco after a whole day of work. Yudi and Jose will show you some crazy cuban dance moves if you have the energy to keep up w [... read more]ith them. David (chef at the Ranchon beach grill) was excellent, serving up amazing chicken and vegetables. The beach is one of the best I've been to, the water was exceptionally enjoyable (no waves, warm to swim in) and the dock they have is actually a refreshing change, especially if you dont want to get too sandy at the beach that day. Nice cabanas at the beach and pool to grab some shade at high noon. Great choices of alcohol, drinks were made very professionally. Mojitos had crushed sugar and real mint leaves every time. We will definitely be coming back.

Wonderful week

The new Iberostar Playa Pilar is clean, modern and well laid out for easy access to the main buffet and pools. We stayed the week of March 6th to 13th, 2016 and enjoyed the Buffet food (did not go to speciality restruants) and entertainment, especially the early lobby muscians, bands and singers, they were very high quality performers and usually two different performers each evening. Our room was in #8 and was lovely, even face clothes. The pools were lovely and never many users. All Staff and  [... read more]service was excellent. I am a beach person so was happy when the tide was out and there was lots of beach, my husband does not enjoy sun, sand and salt so enjoyed the deck above the beach. Our only concern was that people save their beach & pool loungers with their towels and never seem to use them. Staff always moved loungers into the shade for us. We wish the current Resorts on the lovely beaches of Cuba were better maintained and that the beautiful Pilar Beach was left pristine and quiet for all to enjoy. It is now crowded and lined with loungers.

Excellent resort

We very much enjoyed our stay; however, we did make a point of going almost daily to the Playa Pilar beach by taxi (5 minute ride) or walking (25 minutes). You can go to the resort's beach which is not as beautiful as the famous Playa Pilar Great pool! Food was excellent by Cuban standards and we were pleased to hear Cuban music. For some reason there is a tendency for Cuban musicians to play popular American tunes but most people come to Cuba for Cuban music and their amazing live musicians. We [... read more] enjoyed our stay and are told they are building up the resort's beach area in the coming months. Bottom line: very nice and close to one of the world's most beautiful beaches: Playa Pilar.