This was our 26th time to this resort. Some may say we are biased but most people we have met there are repeat guests. It is an older resort but built with Spanish architecture as opposed to a condo style of a newer place. Depends what you are looking for. The beach was great the first week and then the winds came up and it washed away our 2nd week. Didn't matter. The sound of the waves thumping onshore with a drink is very pleasurable for us. As far as food goes food is food. Even if you pay 2-3 times as much for a 5 star we will never eat as well as we eat here. Me being the cook in the family. If you are pool people the pool is kept very clean by Alfredo. Noel Yanny Ernesto and Griffith do a great job at the beach buffet and bar. Starfish has started a butler service and Yuni the manager Eliza Yunet and Daughrie do a great job making sure to help you with any problems. Case in point on our arrival our room had a new doorknob which was loose. Asked Eliza to have the handyman to tighten it up and it was done right away. For drinks they never ran out of beer wine or rum. If you're OK with the basics then all is good. So this review isn't to say it's Paradise. But it is a very relaxed atmosphere. The workers are very nice and make an effort to make sure you are happy. As I started 26 times to Starfish but another 10 elsewhere in Cuba. So as a final note the beach to the the left is for all around suntan or halves and to the right is with bathing suits. Completely apart and your choice and very discreet. There are no security guards saying do this or that, just mutual respect. Already planning our next trip.

I go to this resort 4 times per year. Sometimes with my daughter, sometimes with my husband and often by myself. I have physical limitations and love the fact that everything is accessible on the resort. The rooms are dated but are extremely clean and very comfortable. The food selection is great. I always eat very well during my stays. The staff is absolutely the best. So friendly, helpful and always smiling. I enjoy the pool every day and the beach view is incredible. The entertainment staff is very creative and offer show's that are very entertaining as well as fun poolside games and activities. I just came back from a 2 week stay last Wednesday and today (4 days later) I booked my next trip in May.

We didn't expect to eat well, we are not fancy eaters neither but this time around in Cuba the food was not good. It was ok for first two days and after it was the same thing from the day before just preheated. Last three days we were eating only pizza because all the food was fermented. Last day there was no more cheese for the pizza. I fell bad for people who working there because its not their fault. The amount of plastic bottles and flip flops on the beach (outside of resort) is unbelievable. The area in front of the room was clean but lots of garbage in the backyard. We rent a car and went to for a ride around the island. We found a pig farm. What a terrible picture to see. The condition the animals live in are unimaginable. They eat garbage and drink their own urine. We didn't eat the meat for the rest of our stay which was 5 days. There was also a lot of cats, they look like they starving. They should be neutered also and there was couple of them with very bad infections of the skin.

Our experience was amazing. It was our first tropical trip and it did not disappoint! The Super Reef excursion was totally worth it. And the resort staff was friendly and fantastic! I wish there was a clearer itinerary for free busses and shuttles. A schedule for events/shows happening would have been nice as well but all in all it was a great experience! Would definitely go back to the island and to the Starfish resort!

First time at Starfish April 10 – 17, 2024 HOTEL: Older, updated resort with Cuban charm. Well-kept. Walkways in good condition and well-lit. Lovely landscaping. Plenty of seating outside. Hotel room was clean, everything worked well. No hassles about anything. BEACH: Beautiful, sandy. At high tide, chairs are on top of a bluff. A great way to enjoy the lovely scenery and admire the waves. Went almost every day, by air-conditioned bus, to Playa Sirena, the most gorgeous, calm, natural beach – no other like it. Only wish the drinks and food would still be free. Cafeteria and Beach Bar Restaurant: Food was good, with enough variety. However, we missed the bread, ice cream, pastry desserts, pina coladas and Spanish coffees - which was good for our health. Beer, wine & other drinks were readily available. Appreciated the cloth napkins. Quickest service ever from waiters/waitresses. BARS: Efficient and most friendly service, except for the pool bar. Due to the lack of supplies, they never had anything we wanted, be it drinks or food. MOSTLY APPRECIATED: Very quiet resort. Never any loud and constant music, resulting in a very relaxing vacation. ALL employees were super friendly and offered good service. We look forward to visiting this resort again. Bring you bug spray though – needed for two hours in the evening. P.S. Congratulations and thank you to SUNWING for your punctuality, and even being early!

Mum and I had a relaxing week at Starfish but I would not recommend for elders. Mum hurt herself a few times tripping on the uneven walkways and trying to get down the bluff to the ocean. We got a gastro from our last breakfast and have been very sick for the last week.

I have been to Cuba more than a dozen times to many destinations. This was my fourth time in Cayo Largo. The people and beach are amazing. The shortages that they are experiencing are unacceptable. We arrived early Saturday after a 3.5 hour delay leaving Friday. Sunwing gave us a food voucher for the delay. There was no tomato sauce for pizza and pasta. The pizza bar never opened during our one week stay. Tomato sauce arrived on our third last day which was available for pasta but pizza only lasted 2 days at the buffet. There was no bread or desserts for any meal for the last 4 days of our stay. There were no ice cream for our entire stay. We did not receive toilet paper for the last 3 days of our stay and no fresh towels for the last 2 days. I went to the front desk to get clean towels and toilet paper. I also spoke to the Sunwing representative about the shortages and he said they were working on " a deal". I told him with 4 plane loads of tourists (one from Toronto, one from Ottawa and 2 from Montreal ) a week to this resort Sunwing should help out by bringing essentials such as toilet paper and bread. Beer and soda other than cola ran out for 2 days. On our last day I asked for water at breakfast and was told I had to go another section since my section didn't have any more bottled water. Also I was told that the tea and coffee tasted salty since they didn't have bottled water to use to make them. This is a sorry state of affairs. Shame on Sunwing and all tour operators for not giving aid which is so desperately needed. We heard there were "shortages" but no specifics. The shower ran brown water on our last two days for a short time. So sad.

We have visited this resort several times when it was as called the Pelicano and expected to find the same quality and standard of rooms, service, food, drinks, etc. No travel agent should be recommending this resort. Cuba and its people are going through terrible times with massive shortages. Sunwing should be ashamed of itself for promoting this resort while not helping out to ensure that its customers at least get the everyday amenities liked, for example, toilet paper and clean towels and untainted shower water, etc. We experienced 7 days of significant shortages of bread, fruot and vegetables, drinks and liquors. The resort also was low in bottled water and had to use sea water for coffee, tea; and ice cubes (we were very concerned about this and wondered about our safety) . The water from the taps and shower ran murky dark and limey the last couple of days. As an engineer I suspect that the water pipes on the resort were being flushed and cleaned. The customers should have been advised and warned in advance. We should have been advised to run all the taps for a significant time. As an engineer concerned about the safety and well being of people, I would have shut down the resort to ensure the cleanjng and flushing was done properly, We advised the other guests that we had visited the resort before and that this wasn’t typical. Shame shame shame on you Sunwing and anyone promoting this resort!

This was my first time staying at Starfish Cayo Largo. I booked an ocean view room that did not disappoint with the most stunning view of the ocean. Everything was clean and the bed was comfortable. I had no expectations and had an open mind to the fact that I was visiting Cuba and there are many supply chain issues. Yes, the food situation was quite frustrating (but got better as more variety of food was added) but the resort is trying to do its best. I brought snacks, toilet paper and spices for the food. I wish I had brought instant coffee as they did run out. The alcohol is plentiful and they have wine. The staff are great, amazing people especially Eliza. The cleaning ladies were also wonderful. The beaches are stunning and the reason you go to Cayo Largo. I could not get over how beautiful the water was and how you can find complete natural solitude by just walking 30 minutes down the white sand beach. If you like snorkelling, there’s great reefs off the beach. I will definitely be returning to this piece of absolute paradise one day.

Unfortunately Sunwing cancelled our vacation to Cayo Largo. We were looking forward to returning to this resort. Instead Sunwing diverted the bookings to Cayo Coca and/or Cayo Cruz. We are very disappointed with the customer relations with Sunwing. Next time we will book with a carrier that keeps their customers interest in mind. Rating is from previous stay at this resort.

Weather and ocean were fabulous - the beach has eroded but plenty of sand and umbrellas to take in the sun and ocean breezes. On windy days when the ocean is choppy Playa Serena and Playa Paradiso are good options. The rooms are dated but clean - some buildings are under renovation. Even though we come prepared, the shortages were very noticeable this year; no cheese (so pizza snack bar was closed all week), some days no eggs, no ham, no vegetables, fruit, pop, beer, toilet paper, hot water…. We along with other guests got food poisoning from something we ate and it wasn’t fun - we resorted to bread and butter for a few days. Staff were friendly and accommodating and try their best despite all the limitations. Our butler Daviel was fabulous. The fuel in Cayo Largo was contaminated so we had to stop in Varadero to refuel on our way home. We’ve been to Cayo Largo many times and this by far was one of our worst experiences BUT we love the island and its special charm and I’m sure we’ll be back again and will pack more snacks and toilet paper just in case.

If you are looking for a variety of drinks and food this is not the place. Shortage of many items starting with the first day with no toilet paper available. Resort is old and tired and in need of many renovations. The staff are amazing and go out of their way to accommodate the guest the best they can with what is available to them. Sunwing and Blue Diamond should be ashamed of themselves that they are not living up to the contract they have with the island of Cayo Largo.

This was my 5th time since January 2023. I’m already looking forward to returning in the next month or so. The grounds are very clean. The rooms are very comfortable and clean. The staff is extremely friendly and helpful. There is a good variety of food choices. The weather was wonderful. The pool is beautiful and the beaches are breathtaking. I highly recommend this resort. It’s the perfect place to relax and soak in the rays.

Animation staff: very welcoming, talented, (especially the dancers) and everyone seamlessly took on various roles. “Butler”: Wilber was extremely helpful and answered any questions we had. It was nice to have someone assigned to us. Resort: Just the right size, lovely room on first floor with patio looking out towards the ocean, handy to everything. Good cleaning staff. Beach: the ocean brought in lots of beautiful beach the first week and swept it away again the second week. Big waves were great to watch and there is lots of sand on the ridge above the shore. Nice to have Playa Serina “train” and taxi van options. Nice pool to swim in on red flag days even a working jacuzzi. Excellent bar tenders especially at the lobby bar. Excellent wait staff. Fantastic band. Each member very, very talented. More than adequate buffets plus pizza bar and bbq sometimes. Helpful folks on the beach to bring chairs and plant umbrellas. A power outage presented a challenge but food was made available as soon as the power came back on. We stayed 2 weeks this year and look forward to coming back again. Only problem was a two hour wait for our luggage to be brought into the airport after we landed in Ottawa. Also it would be nice to have a shorter wait at the airport prior to departure. Processing everyone didn’t take very long. The seats on the flight home were worn out to the point of being very uncomfortable even for a relatively short flight. This needs to be addressed. All and all, a lovely, sunny, relaxing vacation in January when snow and freezing rain were happening at home.

Starfish is a nice, small and accessible resort. The pool is fine, the beach is great. You have choices for snacks like a pizza place, pool bar open all the time, the buffet, another reservation restaurant and the beach restaurant. And it’s in Cayo Largo! Gorgeous water, beaches, tiny relaxed island where nobody really lives. All workers live in Isla de la Juventud or Havana with 20 day shifts. They work night and day and the tourists who return over and over go for the beach but mostly for the relationships they have created with Cuban staff members. I saw lots of hugs and people bringing in necessary items. Cubans do not have access to so many things. Yunet was my mayordomo, butler which every one is associated with and they get you whatever you need. She goes above and beyond and I would say most staff I met are friendly. The reality in Cuba now is food shortages. All over Cuba and especially in CL as everything is brought in by boat and barge. If the water is rough, the stuff does not come in. Things don’t often gets fixed; food runs out; food is rationed to make sure there’s enough throughout the week. We had butter a couple of days, sometimes no bread, no fresh fruit except watermelon for 2 days and apples on New years eve. The food was mediocre most of the time, no fresh veggies at all and it’s repetitive. Good fish and chicken. It was ok but I recommend bringing a few snacks and maybe some hot sauce. There was no mayo, sauces… I didn’t find the evening restaurant really worth it. Same food as the buffet. Wifi is very good in most parts of the resort, even at the beach. I would return as it’s like returning to the cottage. I had an ocean front room which was so lovely. So… enjoy Starfish with all the complexities of being a cuban resort during this time period.

The resort is very clean. The restaurants and buffets have a very good variety of meals and the food is delicious. The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful, always smiling. The rooms are very clean and the beds are comfortable. There is free wifi throughout the resort, even on the beach. The beach is breathtaking, white sand and turquoise water. I look forward to going back soon.

Hotel is renovated so it is in great shape. Restorant has Ac. Nudist beach is great. Food is ok if you are not picky. Staff is great. They have big kindergarden, and kids pool too. It is wheelchair accessible. Playa Sirena is super, but after 3.pm sand bugs start to bite. Transport is free, or taxi 2.dollars each way pp

Room was good,new king size bed,clean a d chamber maid was great. Worse part of trip was no beer,red and white wine Last 2 full days of our vacation. Not all guest drink rum drinks. So we paid to take taxi to marina to get purchase wine and beer. Understand shortages, but blue diamond plus Sunwing need to really try to prevent this to occur. Food was sparse. Overall we love Starfish Resort, cayo largo and will return.

This hotel was recommended to us. Unfortunately it didn’t live up to our expectations. This was my husband and my first trip since 2018 and we brought our daughter for her birthday. We requested ocean view rooms which we got but upon entry to the room was awful. The air conditioning wasn’t on, no bottled water, no toilet paper and no shower curtain, dirty floors and balcony doors wouldn’t close properly. We immediately went to the front desk , spoke to our butler Elisa and Daniel the general manager. They were very helpful and changed our rooms which was a great improvement. The food was very repetitive and not plentiful. The 24 hour snack bar had no snacks. On a good day you might get a burger or ham sandwich. The salt water pool was very large but full of algae. The tiles on the ground around the pool so chipped and not level. There were no lights at night outside your hotel room door. The store on the property very low inventory but mostly rum. Couldn’t even buy sunglasses. The nightly entertainment was pretty much non existent. However Lazarita was very lovely. They seemed to be very skimpy handing out water bottles at the bars. There is a turtle sanctuary in town which is cool and also they brought baby turtles to our beach. We got to do a turtle release in the ocean. The hotel needs a lot of work and repair. The ocean was beautiful but the beach very small, lots of rocks and stairs very unsafe. My husband was upset they ran out of Cristal beer. The only thing he drinks. My daughter and I did discover Spanish Coffee which we loved! For the first time in my life ever travelling anywhere including other parts of Cuba had I ever gotten eaten alive by sand fleas. So so bad!

we have wonderful time for our vacation and will come again .Weather was good sunshine water was rugh bu we went to Playa Sirena beach. covid was not problem nobody talking about it neither wearing musk like we in Torontoroom was very clean and changing linen every day in our resort food was some days good some not , but was O kay

Resort The resort is small, so walking from one place to another is easy. Our room was tiny, as in there was just enough space for a queen size bed and two small night tables. The staff were very accommodating however. Food We never go to Cuba expecting great food. That is simply just not part of the experience. However, on this visit the food was God awful and for the most part inedible. We were warned before hand that there were food shortages on the island, but we did not believe it was as bad as we were told. It was worse. For the first few days we simply ordered hamburgers (not so sure of the composition) from one of the snack bars. After three days we were told that they had run out of these, leaving us with nothing more than grilled cheese sandwiches. There was only one meal at the sole a la carte restaurant available during our stay. Pool When we arrived, the pool looked like a swamp. There was algae on the walls and the floor of the pool. On our third day the pool was closed due to bacteria. The next day the pool was shocked with what smelled like chlorine. That smell was pervasive for remainder of our trip. Since we wanted to keep our skin, we did not go in. Not having the use of the pool at a resort on a vacation is unforgiveable and a fundamental breach of contract with the vacation provider. Beach The beach was shorter than expected and the shore had more of a slope than we were used to. Some days had an accumulation of seaweed that was not cleared away. All of this is to say that Sunwing should be ashamed of itself for marketing a vacation package that they could not deliver upon. We love Cuba and have lost count of the number of times we have gone there for our vacations. We will certainly think twice about this in the future.

Returned from the Starfish on May 13th 2023. This resort is not for everyone. This was our second visit and we went because the weather at home was not great and the price was right (650 cad per person). PROS. the weather was great..nice pool. Quiet because there is only about 20% capacity. Playa Sirena is still amazing. CONS The beach at the hotel is minimal having eroded away and this time there was lots of seaweed. The hotel (and I assume the island) is suffering from shortages of everything so the food was not good (we don't expect a lot in cuba for 650.. but it was Not good). They run out of wine and liquor. The staff did not seem nearly as friendly as they did on our last trip in January. We were ready to come after about 5 days. It is a unique environment and if you are prepared for a Gilligans Island experience..Go for it.

Second time at this wonderful resort. Still a very special place with the greatest and proud workers I've ever met and makes me ashamed by what we as privileged Canadians take for granted, especially after our government workers strike and settlement. Greed is a word that these special workers know nothing about. Very hard workers at all levels trying their best at all times to do whatever they can to make your vacation work for you. Tips are greatly appreciated but are not demanded as at many other resorts. Had a real blast with renting an ATV for 2 days. Think of travelling on the same island as past pirates and explorers and how fortunate in this day and age doing it on an ATV. A very special thanks to Monica for arranging the rental, with Maykel and Juan Carlos helping out and taking care of all our needs. Also thank Harold, our young butler (a nice extra) for his help and knowledge making thing easy during our stay. Thanks to Reynaldo at the buffet for taking care of our needs when dining. Never can claim starvation at this resort as there was a wide variety of food at all sittings although if you want steaks you might as well stay home. Remember that for the price and benefits, this resort can even surpass 5 star resorts in other countries for what it has to offer. We go especially for the people, beaches and weather and these can't all be met by most resorts. Thanks to Roger and his crew for arranging the special dinner for return clients. Much appreciated. Also a thank you to the Lobby Bar servers for their prompt and friendly service. We thoroughly enjoyed the entertainment of enthusiastic dancers, band and singers and with Larisa as MC under difficult circumstances. Thanks to Larisa for leading the children's entertainment segment and how she communicates and gets the children involved. Can only imagine the dynamics involved once their theatre area is completed. At home, still enjoy watching and listening to the music and dance routines we recorded. One note on security. I lost my key and had it replaced at the lobby without difficulty. The next day upon entering our room, the key was on the desk by the TV. Olivia (our maid) had found it between the double beds in our room. She could have easily kept it and taken whatever she wanted but showed how honest these workers do their job something other resorts have a hard time dealing with. A special thanks to the hard working gardeners doing their job in the heat, etc. beautifying the landscape of the resort always greeting with a smile and an "hola" and willing to share their tips and knowledge. Also met an Italian couple at the beach and without knowing each others languages, maintained a conversation for more than half an hour with similar work experiences, etc. A big thanks to Cornelio and Rene for their help in baggage handling and Cornelio's fishing prowess. A plus on their driving skills around the resort. Lastly, a special thanks for Alfredo and the Starfish lobby crew including the lobby bar servers for their diligence and professionalism in making our stay special and memorable. Would recommend this resort to anyone willing to learn the people, culture and enjoy the ambiance of the resort. Don't be shy and use whatever means to communicate with the employees as well as with clients. You'll find a thrilling and memorable vacation as never before. Will no doubt return as this resort and its employees have become a part of our family and wish all of them the best.

We stayed in block 49 April 14-21. Our view was amazing the butler was the best.it was our anniversary and he se our room up with flowers, some decorations and champagne . The food at the resort was delicious all the staff were great to deal with. The pool was gorgeous everyday.

Been here several times. Ã’verall good. Maybe need a bench by the showers when you come from the beach.you can then sit and dry off.Many workers have been there several years. Good to see after covid.

We just came from the Starfish Hotel with Sunwing airline from Ottawa. We stayed for one week where everything was good: service, hotel except no cheese and no papaya and no white wine :( Walk from Starfish to Sirena beach was amazing!

IT MET ALL OF OUR NEEDS AND MORE. THE POOLS WERE VERY LARGE WITH THE BAR CONVENIENTLY LOCATED BESIDE IT. OUR ROOM WAS ON THE LOWER LEVEL AND FACED THE BEACH SO WE COULD HEAR THE WAVES ROLLING IN. IT WAS CLEAN THROUGHOUT THE RESORT AND THE SERVICE WAS EXCELLENT. THE ADDITION OF A PERSONAL BUTLER SIMPLIFIED THINGS FOR US. GREAT WEATHER WAS THE ICING ON THE CAKE

What I like the most about the hotel and resort was the service and entertainment that everyone gave us. I wanted to thank everyone for their services they where a great team. I miss everyone I have met and enjoy their company .I can’t wait to come back an enjoy another few weeks with everyone again and I hope it will be the same people we met .

Wonderful time, the staff is lovely. They take Canadian coins for tips. The sea was beautiful at the hotel for the 2 days but mostly rough- then everybody took a taxi to Sirena, the train ride there is a bit bumpy. Nothing special about COVID protocol, nobody thinks about it. The ocean view room was the best I had in Cuba- no musty smell at all. Those rooms seem to be renovated. The best cleaning lady I ever had. It is my 18 th time to Cuba, second to Cayo Largo. They ask a proof of vaccinations at the airport, but not at every flight. Food is Ok, I missed cottage cheese and ice cream.

We stayed at this resort for a week...and the beaches and water are stunning...The beach at the hotel has been eroded but there is still plenty of room for your chair and umbrella...The beach guys were always helpful setting up...they do work hard. The hotel is not a 5 star but we found no issues at all with the room...it was basic but we were not there to spend time in the room...Gardens were well maintained and always a smile from everyone who worked doing this... The hotel staff was AMAZING...we have been to more than a few islands and this resort was stellar for their staffing...everyone seemed happy and engaged in wanting to make our experience a good one..The food was OK nothing special but would be nice to have fries and ketchup..The pizza was terrific but could have used a bit of shade while eating there...Overall we would go back again...it is worth the trip...

I didn’t expect much from this trip at first, but it had to be one of my favourite trips. I needed rest and figured I’d take a last minute vacay. The staff was my fav part. The beach was a 10/10. The staff made my experience feel safe, I felt taken care of, they always were on-top of every inquiry made. I am def visiting again.

At first introduced with hospitality and kindness. Many staff members went out of their way to assist or answer questions. The guests had a great sense of humour. I will be back. Mike. Aka. Miguel

This was my first trip to Cuba. I didn't even know that the island of Cayo Largo existed until I discovered this resort through a "last Minute" website. I wanted to escape work, computers, cell phones and the city for a while and just sit on a beach. This is exactly what Starfish offered. The entire island has been closed down for almost 3 years following a Hurricane and then of course Covid-19. It is obvious that the owners have invested a lot of money on the property. Most of the resort is still closed as they continue to repair, repaint, renovate and refresh the property. I had a very nice room, (a little small, but I didn't got there to stay in my room). There was a problem with hot water for the first few days as they were still struggling with their reopening plan, but it was fixed and there was always lots of hot water after that. I had been warned that Cuba is not know for their food, but I was pleasantly surprised at the selection at the buffets and the food was tasty. I had no complaints. The beaches on the island are beautiful, however, there are some areas where the beach has been washed away, (but not the Starfish Beach). All of the staff were friendly and helpful, (even the construction workers. All in all, it was an excellent trip and I was very happy. HOWEVER, there were a few things that could be better. 1) The wi-fi service is terrible! I had to go to the front desk every day to get my log-in credentials reset. You had to re-sign into the network several times each day, sometimes, every hour. Very frustrating. 2) The main dining room acoustics are terrible. It was very noisy at meal times and was difficult to have a quiet conversation due to the noise. They need to install acoustic baffles or fabric to absorb the noise. 3) It would be nice if they put signs up over the food selections so that you knew what you were eating.

I could not really tell who rand this resort..key fob said Ibeorstar the sign said Grand Caribe and some things had Sol on them. Who ever has the management of this one needs help. We were there for two weeks and had no white wine for most of it. No beer a lot of the time.This is the first time we have been asked to pay for the safety deposit box. The draws in or closet were eaten by ants so that only the top drawer worked.The celling in the bathroom was collapsing. I do not go to Cuba with great expectations on food;but the buffet was the same everyday for all three meals. We ate at the beach ; and PLEASE buy a second toaster; waiting 15 min for a piece of warm bread is not right.

Beautiful beach, food's okay, rooms are pretty good, staff is friendly. Very short if any wait for bar service. Looks a little rundown due to sparce grass on green areas. Airport is very handy and was in hotel 1/2 hour after disembarking. Designated full nudity beaches. No bicycle rentals but Quad rental is quite reasonable.

The Hotel Pelicano seems to have recently been taken over by the Melia chain which may be a good thing as it is next door to one of their other hotels (Sol) which is also more expensive. Anyway the staff are wonderful, friendly and helpful to assist with everything. Unfortunately Cuba seems to be suffering from the US embargoes and tourism is down. This means that there aren't as many guests in the Cayo Largo hotels and sometimes there were food deficiencies but the beaches are still wonderful and with fewer guests lots of space on the sand. We will definitely be back. This was my third time to Cayo Largo and would definitely love to come back. I should also mention that unlike most places in Cuba there are clothing optional beaches here but they are inoffensive and mostly away from the main public areas.

This is our second time at this resort and we are so happy we chose it again. Everything was great: long beach and so beautiful, hotel grounds and rooms kept clean, meals: many choices. All staff was working hard to make everyone’s vacation the best experience. Thank you Sol Pelicano, we had an amazing week.

Our room was clean but dated and needed some repairs. The grounds are clean.... nothing spectacular. The beach at hotel pelicano was one of the only beaches on the island where you could actually lounge on. The ocean was to rough to actually swim in while we were there. There was only fanta and coke available for drink mix all week. Unfortunately we don't drink either so we really didn't get to enjoy to many drinks. As well no red wine for dinner service all week. The snack bar didn't have fries until the last 3 days of our trip. The buffet was pretty much the same every day with a few exceptions. Canned fruit most days with very little fresh fruit. The power went out a couple of times during the week. No water one day for about 8 hours. We got a great deal on the vacation and would've been really disappointed if we had paid full price.

My wife and I returned to 'Pelicano' April 2019 after a 4 year absence. trips to Cuba 17-18 over last 8 years With many fond memories of the hotel and the beauty of Cayo Largo we were excited to come back to a resort that somehow, instantly feels like home. Less that 10 minutes from airport!! Many of the rooms are updated inside and out, the beds and pillows were comfortable. The housekeeping staff are simply outstanding. That can be said for ALL staff as they put in many hours and are on the island for 20 days on and 10 days off. Many will double shift, to help others, some will perform double duties, but all are only concerned with your satisfaction and happiness. The beach is gorgeous,( some of the best in the world on that little island) the sand is powder like, and like many in the Caribbean will have some days with seaweed coming ashore, the staff work tirelessly to try to keep ahead of it but they are fighting Mother Nature and we know who wins! The beach at Pelicano has not suffered as much erosion as some of the other resorts but they natural small bays for water access mostly free of seaweed. The food is much improved and consistent, in fact was some of the best I have had anywhere in Cuba for taste, and presentation. The Rancheon beach bar is a favorite for lunch for fresh grilled meats and seafood, get there early to enjoy. Remember you are on an island so food assortment may be limited. So think about how you want to eat at each meal. You do not need to stack your plate with EVERY item on the board. I could not find any food I had any issue with. Buffet and "Carte's' were outstanding. Service was above expectations and indeed a nice surprise. Please take some time and visit the Marina and take in the Turtle Sanctuary ( please Donate and\or bring turtle food from home ) and the Cigar Museum, cap this little tour with a cold one and small pizza at the little cantina. Meet the staff of the hotels here on Wednesday nights for some music, dancing, etc. A great Natural location. Yes... Natural, nudity is acceptable so get over yourself before you go... After the first 10 minutes you will have acclimatized and will just enjoy ALL of this islands scenery. We will be back soon!!! Thanks to all staff and management for an outstanding vacation.

Another great vacation at Pelicano. Our room was on the second floor as requested with king bed; the maid service was good, our room was kept very clean and we had plenty of fresh towels. We had hot water consistently. Food was good, selection sometimes limited. The only downside was the lack of adequate palapas on the beach which causes issues. The beach is why we go but when there are not enough palapas it's a problem

This was our 3rd vacation at Hotel Pelicano and for the most part we were satisfied. The beach was as beautiful as ever and was raked and the seaweed buried daily. As long as you marked your lounge chairs early in the morning you were guaranteed to get a spot if not they were few and far between. Chairs at the pool seemed easier to reserve but not always was there an extra umbrella to keep you out of the sun. The food was good, no one went hungry! At the buffet we had the best waiters Yaimet and Pedro who never let our water/wine/coffee go empty and always had our table ready for us. The Ranchero restaurant on the beach was the best for lunch and for a special sunset dinner we couldn't have been better taken care of by Yanni. He is truly a class act. The pool was clean and the activities fun. The shower temperature was hot and the air conditioning worked. The dance/entertainment staff were always friendly and helpful. Our air Transat rep Jose was excellent and booked us in on the sunset Cruise which was a lot of fun and I would highly recommend. Now for the things that we thought needed improvement , The pizza bar although good wasn't as good as it was before, the crust being more like a pita than pizza crust. Communication with the lobby staff was again difficult. There was one young girl who shouldn't be dealing with the public at all and unlike most hotel staff seemed disinterested in her job. We arrived on a Friday night, on Saturday I spoke to the lobby staff to ask for a different hairdryer because the one supplied didnt work. After 3 attempts throughout the week I finally gave up. All in all we had a wonderful trip and will certainly go back.

Hotel, food, drinks all acceptable. We have been here 6 times now and enjoy meeting many of the same stuff each time. The beach is the best one on Cayo Largo. Great place to rest, read and enjoy nature- pelicans, iguanas, starfish and spectacular flowers.

Another great vacation. Hotel pelicamo is a beautiful resort . Rooms are super clean staff is wonderful. Food was good. Loved the bbq and pizza. Pool was lovely entertainment staff are so friendly we have made some new friends or Cuban familt. Until we meet again. Miss you all already.

I love this resort but there is a major mosquito problem in lower rooms as well as evenings around bar. I would suggest that they dry up the water closets beside the rooms. I would open them to allow them to dry. They are a mosquito magnet. The beach needs to be cleaned up.

We've been here too many times now to recall the actual number. It's true that the infrastructure is ancient, sometimes there's no hot water, the food selection is limited, they run out of stuff rotationally . . . yes even beer or red wine. But we still go back; the rooms are tired but kept really clean. Food selection is sometimes limited but usually cooked very well. There are a lot of repeat guests because the staff are amazing. This creates a real sense of community and belonging. And to top it all off the beaches are awesome! We'll be back again.

been several times to pelicano. Aways a good time. No crystal(cuban beer) but Sol(mexican) a good substitute. Staff is friendly. Like walking from one resort to another to check progress each time we come. Ask other tourists how they like resort and most due and would come back if it's their first time.

the geography is stunningly beautiful. the beaches are nothing short of amazing. highly recommend renting an ATV or scooter and exploring the area. ocean is magnificent and lots of wildlife to see in the water a safe distance from the beach. the resort is tired, dated and weak. the only pool is very old and has a liner that is ripped in more places than one could count. in the places where it is ripped, behind the liner, lots of green mystery goo. no central bar or meeting place, not much of a community feel to the resort at all. staff is decent, if you are tipping. if you don't be prepared for the cold shoulder. explored to resorts adjacent to ours and found the conditions and services to be very similar. talked to several couples from other resorts, that were exploring the pelicano or while we were at the other resorts, and they had the exact same experience and feedback as ours. food is decent by Cuban standards, but not great by any stretch of the imagination. the rooms are clean and orderly, but obviously dated. not much effort has gone into the infrastructure and it shows. we went without hot water for 5 of the 7 days we were there. no effort or explanation was made with this deficiency. stairs to our second story room were rikety, borderline dangerous. it's not a bad place, but absolutely overpriced for what it is. we will travel to Cuba again, but definitely not to Cayo Largo

Not a bad place to go for the price. I would recommend to vacation here for a family vacation. This island has the best beach this year. White sand and lots of it. Beach bar. It was amazing. Green flag every day this trip so good to go for the beach as waves were awsome

We love Hotel Pelicano - in fact, this was our 4th stay there. The rooms are a generous size, clean, and the beds are comfortable. Having sent a request for a specific room a month or so prior to arriving, we were very happy that we got it! Check in went smoothly, except for the fact that the bus took off with our carry-on bag. The front desk called the Sol (the next stop for the bus, thank goodness), but they really weren't much help. Hubby grabbed a cab and found it at the Sol . Make sure you have counted your luggage before the bus leaves...our bad...LOL! The beach was superb! We stay on the CO side, which has been relocated to the west side, closer to the Sol...not much walking back and forth for exercise! The staff, as usual, were friendly, and a few were still there from our last 3 times. They seemed genuinely happy to welcome us back! Now, the nitty gritty. Why, oh why, can the kitchen not manage to keep the buffet food hot? Is the water under the food trays not kept hot by electricity? Other than our morning omelette, and pasta on our last night, not ONCE did we have anything that was even luke-warm! For breakfast, the "hash browns" tasted like they just came out of the fridge! I can't even comment on dinner! This has certainly changed from our previous visits. We will continue to visit Hotel Pelicano every once in a while, but I think we will start exploring "mainland" Cuba for the next few trips.

Amazing resort employee are very nice and will help as much as they can Will return the beach is great white sand Only 10 minutes from the airport Restaurant a la carte are very good The only negative is the should have 2 bars open at night

This was our first trip ever to any carribean resort. It was a lovely experience hotel staff and food exceeded our expections. We felt safe at all times and returned home relaxed. Would love to do it again. Tks to all.

This was our first time visiting the Pelicano Hotel it was ok, with one good size pool although the liner was ripped in many spots and is in need of replacing. We would have enjoyed having music playing throughout the hotel grounds as it was quiet for large portion of the day including around the pool. The dining facility was disappointing they scaled back to approx 25% capacity with limited food selection. Regardless of the time of year selection should still be there for paying customers. The beach was nice and close to the hotel however the customers from the Sol hotel the next resort down populated a large majority of the Pelicano beachfront so getting a chair was very challenging unless you were prepared to wake up at 4:30am and walk down to get a chair... which we did each morning. The beach staff worked hard to keep it looking good each day (seaweed, garbage removal) however the majority of the Palapas were not set up all week... until you paid for them to be set up. The entertainment was good each meal live music you cannot get better that. I will say the staff was amazing, friendly and funny!

We love this resort since it is peaceful and quiet. This is what we need. The only negative aspect is that even though the hotel has been sold in the last year or so, there doesn't seem to be any renovation going on. The hotel is dated and in need of a fresh coat of paint all over. I wish there will be renovations done do this resort in order to continue attracting people and be safe. Pool also needs major repairs.

This was our 12th time to Pelicano so that says a lot in itself. The beach is still beautiful and the Ranchon Restaurant beside it still has the great and friendly staff to take care of us. There were some issues with supply problems but nothing we haven't seen before. We go there for the tranquility, beautiful beach and friendly people. The island is supplied by boat so when there is a shortage of something just adapt and enjoy the spot. We have already booked our next trip. John & Sylvie

It has been 6 years since we have been to this resort and we forgot how relaxed it is there. The people are exceptional, beach is amazing, food is good. Although the rooms are clean, the hotel definitely needs updating and reno's. The hotel was full and There are many repeat guests and with proper improvements would only improve tourism in Cuba. We come from ND and this paradise island is one of Cuba's best secrets.

This is my third time to the Pelicano I will not return unless some changes are made.It would be so simple for them to fix it up .Examples ; put some fresh paint on the room blocks with room numbers on them , take the palayas/ man made umbrellas that are laying on the left side as you walk to the beach and burn them they are all broken and laying there .It would be so simple while the staff that are supposed to entertain for them to weave or build some umbrellas to sit under that would certainly freshen things up.Get rid of the blue umbrellas they have it spoils the beauty and look of this amazing beach. Could they please bring the real tomatoes and the real tomato sauce back they had at pasta bar.Pizza is awesome . No juice only lemon aid there use to be fresh real juice it was amazing.Tourists should not be allowed to smoke on the beach there should be a smoking section so many french people women smoke it's horrible to come to a beach and smell smoke.No bananas and the butter was bad maybe it sat out too long but it was horrible. Only one dam toaster BUY ANOTHER toaster! They use to have pickles and more variety it's went down hill.Sad ! The coffer is horrible I even brought in stand and asked for hot water it was actually salty tasting they are definitely using there water a boiling it o coukdnt even have a coffee ask for a hot water and taste it. Luke warm water in the shower hardly warm enough to shower so fir what I paid which was high not fair !!!

This was our first trip to Cayo Largo and we would be happy to return again next year. The hotel is dated (25 yrs old) , but the grounds and the rooms are kept clean. We found all of the staff to be pleasant and helpful. The gentleman at reception and the two waiters in the main part of the dining hall were exceptional. The rooms are average size, with enough storage space for your belongings in case you stay for two weeks. Our bathroom had no tub, but was the shower was updated. We found that water pressure was good during the day, but weak very early evening. The lobby washrooms were always clean and (usually had t.p.) Fresh beach towels were not always available (not the hotels fault, they are at the mercy of delivery times). We did not eat at the a la carte restaurants , but we can say that lunch at the pool bar/barbeque was always excellent. The buffet at breakfast and dinner always had a wide selection .. for example, our last dinner there had pizza to order, fish on the grill, roast pork, chicken and pasta station. The entertainment at night was okay . The beach is beautiful!!!!! You can walk for miles, but people need to respect how strong the waves/undertow can be. The main pool was kept clean, but I never saw the childrens' pool being cleaned. Two issues which I wish the hotel would look at: 1. the lobby bar has long line ups ..... perhaps open up the bar which is beside the pizza ovens and 2. guests who play the "towel game" .. leaving your towel on the beach chairs overnight and then not showing up until noon hour is just plain rude and inconsiderate of others. This resort/beach is fabulous for relaxing and taking a mental break.

Hotel Pelicano has a spectacular beach that is a joy to see at any time of day. While the resort is showing its age, it is very clean and well kept. The best part of this resort however, is the staff. Every person we dealt with made the effort to be sure we were having a good time. The Pelicano staff could give customer service lessons to lots of service people in North America. The food was pretty much as one would expect at a 3 1/2 star resort. The a la carte restaurants were good, as were the "made to order" food stations (e.g. omelettes, stir frys, pasta, grills, pizza). Definitely a good place to kick back and enjoy the beach and sea.

Pelicano Cayo Largo is in much need off upgrade and refurbishment. The Hotel is dated and so are the linens , towels and decor. We were a group of thirteen on a weeks vacation Feb 27 to March 3. The Resort ran out of beer four times in the week which was pathetic. The liguer at the Resort is really nothing to mention couldn’t find a premium brand anywhere . The man made rum cream was disgusting made of some dark syrup with chocolate just awful . Unfortunately tipping was how you would get served and I’m not in agreement with this I don’t drink a lot and would prefer to be served in order of how you appear at the bar not because you have a peso hanging in yur hand . The Resort closed the pool bar three consecutive nights early during our stay to accommodate return customers this was rude because we were also paying customers and had to leave the pool bar that we all frequented on these nights so they could wine and dine their return customers. The towel situation is ugly as we didn’t have a beach towel for three days and when we did get them we had a change once after that they never had any clean ones blamed it on the laundry service . The Hola Sun representive was only at Resort for one hour a day between four and five pm this made it difficult to have any issues resolved . We were five couples and only one couple got a king bed the rest of us had two single beds pushed together very uncomfortable I might add . The linen was thin and stained . We occupied the area of 42 and 52 I stayed on the ground floor of 4204 and there was a stench that never left much worse at night . I believe it was the sewage drains that were close by our room it was awful I couldn’t stand the smell daily . A number of us had issues with our room keys wasting our time going back and forth to the front desk to have our keys re programmed . I wouldn’t return back to this Resort . Not sure about the bugs at this time but all of us were covered in bites that would welt up and caused a lot of itching and discomfort . The sand fleas were bad also leaving their ugly purple red marks on our feet . The usual low water pressure and cold water coming out of the archaic plumbing that housed the showers. Only one beach shower worked the others didn’t the same at pool only one worked. The Resort should deside if they want to remain open with better quality Resort or close it down and let tourists like us getter a better bang for our buck .

Gorgeous beach! Meals were often better than expected! Hotel is dated but clean and functions well. Staff (about half) were unfriendly. Unhelpful. Served Spanish and Italian speaking people ahead of English people. Not even discreet about it. In your face.

The beach was wonderful. Pool was good. Food ,ground & dining was fair to good. Pool bar was closed for 3 nights for private party. (only 1 bar was open for whole resort &ran out beer many times). Payed for ocean view was told fridge would be stocked daily.(only got 3 cans of pop for whole week). No beach towels 4 days. Had problems with door & safe locks.

We were pleasantly surprised by the high quality and variety of the food at this resort as we had been led to believe that food served in Cuba was limited and bland. Not so here. The staff at Hotel Pelicano are great - cheerful and helpful. It would be helpful if the reception personnel were a bit more fluent in English but they do their best. The room was always clean, the bed comfortable. Unfortunately the A/C controls were broken and when the A/C was on it was noisy - we only ran it when we were away for breakfast, otherwise kept the balcony door open. The long, clean beach was inviting, however Mother Nature and the Caribbean Sea are making a combined effort at reducing the beach - while we were there a full section was washed away! The pools (including the smaller children's pool) were cleaned daily. The only thing I didn't like was the loud music right at poolside.

The room in which we stayed had black mold around the air vent and ceiling edge. The water closets beside the rooms were filled with mosquitoes which came in the room through the vent in the bathroom. Otherwise we were very pleased with the food, grounds, staff and beach. We will return but not on the bottom floor.

When we arrived I was a little taken back with how this resort needed some maintenance, but after only a couple of days I came to appreciate the beauty of the island and it’s people. I would go back time and time again. Cosmetics meant nothing to me after experiencing the food the people and all the Beauty this island has to offer. Best trip ever!!

We had read and heard some good things about this hotel so were quite surprised when we arrived and saw the poor condition of the resort. We had a ocean view room close to the beach, large enough but found dead bugs under the bed, windows were rattling in the windy conditions, nothing in the room really worked the way it should. We were 5 days without hot water, rest of the days with warm water, only a couple of days with proper hot water. Our friend who lived under us woke up with flooded bathroom, repair could not be done, she had to move to another room. The biggest problem for us was a food or lack of it, fruit was non existent except for very green and sour pineapples, during our visit they ran out of bread, crepes, pizza, cereals and hygiene in the dining room is non existent. Hundreds of flies sitting on all buffet food constantly, at the end, I lost 4 lbs because I couldn't force myself to eat in those conditions. We both had a serious food poisoning the second day after we arrived. The a la cartes were disappointing. The beach snackbar doubles as an a la carte. Service was quite slow (what the ``hey`` you're on vacation) but the food was far from appetizing. In the 2nd one we were in and out in 30 mins. The man who greeted us at the door also seated us, gave us the menus, brought us water and took our orders which a waiter brought us a few moments later. Talk about fast-food. They also didn't have half items from the menu. They rush you to collect more money in tips. The beach is quite nice but we had a red flag 10 out of 14 days we stayed, unable to go swimming. We made a trip to Sirenna beach a couple of times, that is a beautiful beach and we were able to swim. Staff used to be very friendly in Cuba but not any more. It is very unpleasant dwelling on the negatives as I've done but that's the reality of the situation. Would I return? No.

The grounds were spotless, the rooms the same. We enjoyed everything about this resort, it was all we expected. We came back relaxed, tanned, refreshed! In fact we said we were going to return next year, to same room!

The best place to go to Cuba in Desember-February is Cayo Largo. We've been there three times and go again. Two times stayed in Pelicano Hotel and never sorry of that. Food is not so picky, but prepared well. Rooms and common arias clean. Staff helpful and pleasant. Unfortunately evenings intertaiment shows getting more and more Western stile. It was more attractive to watch shows based on local Cubans culture with elements of classical ballets.

We loved it , very good food , friendly people, beautiful beach . The rooms need some upgrades but they were very clean , great shows at night . Place for great relaxation, definitely would recommend and I would visit again.

It's one of the most beautiful beaches I seen, over 20 KMs of glorious white sand. The Hotel was clean but a bit dated, the staff when out of their way to make everyone feel at home. Could always find something to eat on the buffets. Had a minor concerns about towel exchanges & beach chairs but that aside would go back just for the beach.

We stayed at Hotel Pelicano in Cayo Largo. Friendly staff, beautiful beach, very clean, food was quite good. it needs a little external paint and TLC, but quite an enjoyable stay. This was our first visit to Cuba so i don’t have anything to compare it to, but when visiting other resorts in the area, ours by far was the best bang for your buck.

We had a wonderful time at this resort, staff is executional, food was great, beds are comfortable and all and all awesome resort with a beautiful beach. Loved this place thinking of going back in March.

have been at this resort several times. beach was great. lots of lounge chairs, umbrellas and thatched covers. could have been better buffet selection; salads, meats. service good. no french fries anywhere on the island. because of hurricanes and problems in veneswala could be issues in future.

A group of six of us just returned from a vacation at the Pelicano Cayo Largo. We have gone to several resorts in the past 10 years in Cuba but I must say that this one was the best so far and we are already booked to go back in February 2018. The grounds are clean, rooms are well maintained and maid service is excellent. We had minor problem with a slow draining shower and by the time we walked from the front desk to our room the maintenance person was there to take care of the problem immediately. All the staff at the resort are super, very friendly and they strive to make your vacation a very memorable experience. A special thank you to Julian, the resort manager and Sunamis at guest services who went out of their way to ensure our group had a pleasant return dinner experience at the a la cart restaurant "La Yana". I highly recommend this resort for a relaxing enjoyable vacation. We stayed in room 4213 from November 3rd to 10th, 2017. Martina & Rick

thank you for such an amazing holiday was treated like a king great food great customer service truly a 5 star resort in my eyes thank you henry at front desk and roger and everyone who really went out of there way. to sum it up amazing beautiful and full of love. Thank you James Pellack and David Howell Toronto

when you arived at resort latino music and dance i danced with the group latino club welcomed the guest at the beach the same every day , i enjoy dancing .i like that resort small everything is close frendly people very long beach, good service good food .it was my second time at pelicano and i will go again.thank you vera my email is; vera.jankov3@gmail.com

Nous avons passé la semaine du 12 au 19 août à l'hôtel Pelicano et c'était la première fois que nous allons à cet endroit au mois d'août. Très belle température, très beau et chaud. Les chambres sont toujours propres mais la piscine laissait à désirer, ce qui n'est pas le cas quand nous y allons dans un autre temps de l'année. Nourriture très bonne mais quelque fois il manquait de provision. Drapeau vert sur la plage pendant toute la semaine et nous en avons profité pleinement. Nous avons hâte d'y retourner.

Hello everyone.....this little run down of the resort will be short and sweet......the place itself is some what runned down....they have upgraded some of their rooms.....the older room s are really bad.....many thins are either broken or about to break.......the swimming pool is okay but beware of the water for they use ocean water inside.......never ever seen this concept before.......the ocean is okay but once again you have to be carefull with the huge waves in the water.....red flag is very common in this area of the ressort......the food is okay too but once the run out of something you have to wait for them to recieve more by ship.....could take some time to receive their shipments......the animation team is very good....these workers do almost everything in the ressort....its not uncommon to see the the person in charge of the towels also play in night shows or help out in cleaning tables at the buffet....their staff is at a minimum....people in Cayo Largo work 20 straight days and sometimes more...in the month of August the weather is extremely warm...with the humidex it could easily reach 45 C.......I tip my hat out to these Cuban workers who work very hard to please thier guest at the ressort......all and all we passed a very nice vacation at the Pelicano...... thanks Cuba.....you always manage to do things the right way even if the ressort is a little old......the potential of this place is huge if someone will one day decide to upgrade it the right way.....Cayo Largo is a small island with a great future.....lets hope they see it and make it grow into something really big....would go back if they decide to build more hotels or renovate those that are already thier.....

The rooms are older but clean. The grounds are very well maintained. The food was very good in all the restaurants. The staff are very very friendly. Beach lots of seaweed but cleaned everyday. Hotel just needs some upgrading that would make it a 4 star. Would I go back probably not but a place for a quiet vacation. Thank you O'Neil for your help in booking.

The hotel is older (like most Cuba hotels) but very clean, we had a beautiful ocean view with balcony doors. Our friends did have to move rooms due to the air conditioner not working but the staff made is stress free. Grounds we nice, entertainment ok but we had blast with the activity staff and all our new friends we met. If your looking for a quieter type of resort or have kids this would be a good place to go. Beach wasn't as smooth as beaches on the main land but the waves were awesome to play in. As for food, besides the boring breakfast this has been the best we've eaten at. Fresh fish, lobster and calamari, even their Cuban soup had flavor!! 7 of us went down and would we go back? All of us said yes, a real good bang for the buck.

Off season, so I don't expect much. Looks like the supply boat didn't come in for the first 3 days, so no cheese for the pizzeria, and no fresh fruit or veggies. But I don't go to Cuba for the food. Really dumb evening shows, or maybe I'm just getting old. Or maybe it's because I really liked the band, as I have other bands I've seen in other parts of Cuba, and we wondered why they didn't just do a concert so we could dance. Some OK table service, and then some pretty bad table service (like, "you're fired" kind of service"). I guess it's something you have to learn somewhere and Cuba isn't the best place? Of course, the life of a server on Cayo Largo probably sucks big time. I go for the diving and the music. They don't disappoint.

RETURNING to the pelicano hotel after 23 years (march 94) was quite a surprise.... The service given by any of the staffers was excellent... very courteous especially at the restaurant also in any of the hotel sections) The food was surprisingly good with many choices (Compared to other hotels i have been in ciuba) , Very clean rooms Out of about 30 beaches i have spent time on This was the most wonderfull beach i have been so far...

I stayed at the Hotel Pelicano last week and I didn't want to leave! The hotel is not the fanciest and the food is not the greatest but the beach is spectacular and the staff are wonderful. Everyone was very welcoming and attentive to my needs, which was what I was hoping for since I was travelling alone. There is an awesome 7-piece band that plays every day at the beach restaurant- the flute player in particular is talented beyond words. My room was comfortable and Letitia the maid did a great job of fixing it up for me every day. The activities people were great fun, I played pool volleyball and danced with them every day. Wilfredo Jr. at the front desk was very kind, making sure that all my needs were met. I will definitely return to this little piece of paradise!

This was our fourth time to Cayo Largo, first time in Pelicano. Comparing to the other resorts, I would say best and happiest staff, very relaxed atmosphere, good food and lots of options, the best beach, clean grounds, nice pool (no pool bar).

We stayed at the resort in April 2017. Great value for the Money. I would recommend the resort. Friendly staff, good food, I will definitely return. Please note: that Cayo Largo seems to be "the" destination for nudists. It didn't bother me that there were many nude people on the beach, however I heard from several fellow guests with children that had they known about the nudists they would have chosen a different location for their family vacation...

A 3.5 star hotel with 5 star personnel. All the employees work with a smile and are happy to serve you. The buffet was fantastic, especially the pasta bar at diner time and the pancakes in the morning. The lobby bar has great cappuccinos and Spanish coffees. We were there in late March so the grounds were dry and everything was clean. Our room was in good shape, everything worked. The beach was in good shape too. A bit windy so the waves were quite large with a couple of days of red flags. The walk to Serena Beach was only a couple of hours and worth the walk. Just walk a bit farther and find star fish and conch shells. Great beach, I would estimate one of the nicest I have seen.

Beach narrow and only two access points, but flour soft sand, ocean was un swimmable as it was to rough and pool had an algae problem that lasted all week. Food is bad even for Cuban standards (we have been to Cuba 12 times so we know of what we speak) if you enjoy hot dogs prepared in 3 different shapes to fill up room on the buffet then you will love it! thank goodness for deep fried frozen fries. Even the fish was cooked raw or over done to the point of it being so dry it was inedible, if you go to the pasta station take your drink with you, there is usually quite a line up. Staff were not friendly and welcoming but not rude either. Customer service was definitely lacking. Hotel room was very clean and grounds neat and tidy except for the public washrooms that sometimes left a lot to be desired. I would not go back to this resort and know of many resorts that cost less and would give me a better experience. BTW Do NOT fly Cabana Air even if it is cheaper. We had 5 hour delay in Toronto (pilot problems) and 13 hour delay returning home (mechanical problems). We were thankful to land safely back home.

Simply great resort, family friendly, clean. Simple but delicious foods. The beach was excellent, although we would prefer that the red flag wasn't seen that frequently. Personnel was very welcoming and cooperative. We were not looking for 5-star luxury, and our expectations were matched perfectly. Comparing to the neighboring Sol, it's less fancy (less vegetation, unpretentious pool, older looking buildings) but more lively (the band that was playing and dancing every night was worth that alone). And it's also less crowded, which is a big advantage from our perspective!

My husband and i enjoyed the stay At the Sol Pelicano resort,, Beautiful resort, Loving people. Awesome food, Place is well kept,We stayed for one week, we went to the Serena beach. Most beautiful beach. Can't wait to go back.

This is our 3rd visit to Cayo Largo and this was the best resort of the two. We have visited many provinces of Cuba and by far this resort offers the best beach, beautiful white sand to squish your toes in. The resort offers umbrellas for the guests to use at no charge for the beach or to take to the Serina beach on the bus/boat trip. My advice to you if you want to visit Serina beach, just take a cab, you will get there so much faster for a mere 2 pesos per person. The resort grounds are lovely, lots of little hidden treasures for those that love to take pictures. The food was excellent, so much to choose from, from salads, breads, soups, meat (all meat groups) rice, potatoes, pastas, which I might add their version of mac and cheese at the Rachon restaurant was amazing!! We had blue sky and sunshine the entire week, temps ranged from 24 to 27 C. We highly recommend this resort to all. There is a great kids club too, we don't have small children but they do offer a great pool and park area for the little ones.

Beautiful hotel ,very clean friendly stuff . Most beautiful beach ever you have to visit playa sirena . Sand feels like icing sugar . Good selections of food and amazing bbq everyday by the pool . Bartenders are amazing .

Hotel is well maintained. Shows age with class. Delicious food warm friendly staff and moments spent with animation team that won't be forgotten in our life times. Wow factor beaches. Will definitely return.

This has been our 2nd time at this resort. We thought their may have been a few perks as a repeat customer but no, their was nothing. We found a few changes that wasn't for the better: 1- they had a safe deposit box in the room but you had to pay 2 pesos to have access to it. 2- nothing after supper in terms of entertainment and have to wait until 10 for any entertainment to start, by that time we are tired and ready to go to bed.

C'etais la cinquieme fois! Simple, propre, tranquille, personnel accueillant et serviable. Tu veux te reposer, c'est la place. Plage extraordirnaire! Pas trop achanlandé en novembre! Bonne bouffe, bon restaurant à la carte,

Flew with Cubana which was unfortunately 2 hours delayed. Flight was straightforward tho, please note that there's no TV on the flight so have your iPads/tablets for entertaining the little ones. My 2 year old was asleep on my lap and the flight attendants luckily gave me a whole aisle to myself, on both flights (even tho the flight back to Toronto was almost full). Resort is only 6-8 mins away from the airport. Check-in was fine but please note to line-up in the appropriate line (one for check-in and one for check-out as the staff will ask you to move if you happen to be in the wrong line). Beach of this resort is the BEST in Cayo Largo out of all the 3-5 resorts there. The food was good and resort is dated but everything is functional. Had hot water and AC was working. We didn't have a balcony tho but we have a quadruple setting (2 kids, 2 adults). No complaints. Paraiso and Sirena beaches are only a few minutes away for 2CUC each way. We also visited the Turtles, good info. However, 2 years ago we travelled to Cayo Largo in November and we were able to release the baby turtles back to the ocean. So if you'd rather have that kind of experience, go travel in the Fall. Overall, what made this trip really amazing is the staff! We've been everywhere in Cuba (Varadero many times, Holguin, Cayo Santa Maria, Camaguey and twice in Cayo Largo - Playa Blanca last time) and by far this resort has the nicest, friendliest staff ever! They always greet you with a warm Hola and go out of their way to make you feel "at home." This resort that seems to have a very active animation team with activities all throughout the day and night!!! We really had a fabulous time here and would really like to go back again!

I have just returned from Cayo Largo - Sol Pelicano. We spent a great week swimming in the ocean, reading and relaxing. Or room was terrific (4929) and the beach spectacular. The grounds were well kept and the food was pretty good. Unfortunately, the access to the swimming pools was limited with no hand rails into either pool and no steps into the children's pool.

The property at the Sol Pelicano resort in Cayo Largo, Cuba is dated, but it is well-maintained. The grounds have a desert-like terrain feel to them with some very beautiful vegetation, such as flowering bushes. The rooms are clean and in good order. The windows and doors to the balconies and terraces have locks and they come equipped with air conditioners. Unfortunately, because the air is so humid in Cuba, the bath towels don’t dry too easily despite the A/C, but if you request a change in towels you will be provided new ones. There is cable TV in the rooms, but the choice is limited for English-speaking travellers, as most channels are in Spanish. The public areas, such as the bathrooms are clean and well-stocked for the most part. On one occasion, the women’s washroom near the salt water pool (bonus!) and the snack bar had run out of toilet paper and the towel bar had run out of clean beach towels. The resort property was devoid of litter; however, the beach was slightly polluted primarily with cigarette butts. This was due to disrespectful tourists and bears no reflection on the staff at the Pelicano. The food at both the buffets and the a la carte restaurants were more than adequate, but the fine dining restaurant could step it up a bit. Gordon Ramsay would not have been impressed. Bananas, real orange juice (not the drink they say is orange juice), and a milk alternative for the lactose-intolerant at the buffets would be a nice addition. Introducing authentic Cuban cuisine to the beach resorts would be refreshing. There were line-ups at the egg and pasta stations, and there was a line-up to use the toaster as well. The toaster did not work very well and eventually broke; it needs to be replaced and there should be more than one. Rooms come equipped with security safes, but unfortunately there was a fee to use them despite the trip being “all inclusive”. A new 1.5L of bottled water was provided daily and you didn’t have to ask for it. The staff were friendly, particularly the men if you were a woman. Some staff members did not seem to speak English well or at all; many were fluent in Spanish (obviously) and French, which did pose a bit of a problem if you, as a traveller, have limited Spanish or French skills. The resort was quiet and never felt overrun by tourists. There was a clothing optional beach, which was amusing when you first stumble upon it as you walk along the beach, but it quickly becomes old news unless you’re prone to prudishness. Overall, the Sol Pelicano is a very good resort. I would recommend it to others looking for a quiet, stress-free vacation and I would stay there again.

WE had a wonderful holiday at the Sol Pelicano resort in Cayo Largo Cuba The buildings were a little "tired" but we felt that added to the charm of the place. It was impeccably clean and well looked after. The staff were friendly, and helpful. The food was acceptable. Drinks were fine. It was the perfect spot for our 4 year old Granddaughter and I would recommend it for children of that age. Large, foot deep pool was perfect for her to play in without too much worry on parents. Wonderful play area right beside it. The beach was fantastic, and a great place to walk everyday.

Fabulous beach, tho fun waves will be too much for smaller children. Lots of chairs, palapas & portable umbrellas. Lots of opportunity for walking. Fabulous staff, too. But the resort is somewhat dated... "quaint"...& 5 mins from airport.

Lets start with the positive. Amazing beach!!! Room on second floor good,clean and updated recently. Pizzeria located outside main bar had very good pizza and service. Buffet due to our waiter Victor made our breakfast and dinner experience excellent. Unfortunately for the negative. Please take into consideration I have been to Cuba over 12 times in many different locations. We have also been informed the resort has been sold to Memories during the vacation . Trip Advisor had rated this hotel second best out of 7 so I thought we were going to have a good experience. Selection of food at the buffet poor and many items undercooked. Buffet not big enough for the amount of people at the resort. Lunch was a nightmare everyday. A few items at the beach restaurant and not enough seating. We could never get a seat!!!. The pool Bar was absolutely disgusting both service and food. This was a family resort with no French Fries or Ice Cream!! Our only option was half way across the resort was the Pizzeria. Lobby Bar was the Everything Room that not much happened. There was no 24 snacks. Not enough seating for the size of resort. One to two bar staff serving drinks. At night this was the only bar opened and was very frustrating when you wanted to get a drink. You could be waiting up to 30 min. The bar staff that worked evenings were Great!!!... and oh so overworked!!!! They did their best given the situation. Frequently running out of drink options. Nighttime show was dancing almost every single night. Needed to change it up. Pool liner in desperate need of replacement. The all inclusive water-sport was non existent. For 2 peso a person you could take a taxi shuttle. Let me tell you it was an absolutely Terrifying experience!!!. 14 people, no seat belts, and seats that were held together by tape. It was a horrible 20 min drive, my husband hit his head on the roof and I got mild whiplash, and when we got to the beach, it was nothing special. We left 20 min later. Luckily the taxi on the way back was newer with a good driver. Hopefully the new owners will turn things around. This resort does have the potential to be a good resort. We were approached by staff asking us to write a good review for the hotel for Trip Advisor. I guess thats why it was rated #2.

Let me start that I have been to Cuba 7 times now, so with that said We Love Cuba. The good part of the resort is if course the beaches they are all really nice,white sugary sand and crystal clear waters. This resort was the same. This was the first and last time I'll go to Cayo Largo but plan to go to Cuba mainland again. This resort was small but very nice and clean, rooms were clean as well. Although asked to have our bed stripped as the sheets didn't look clean at all. Looks like someone had slept in it at least a night or 2 as there was sand etc in the sheets! Spoke to the maid and she said ok I'll do for FREE! Well I hope so as this is the job you do, so with that she did a great job although she used the same mattress cover as the one I took off had a cigarette burn in it. Anyways we gave her a nice tip the next morning. The resort it self needs some TLC but Iam sure this will happen now since Memories has just taken it over, which is why I believe the rest of the issues happened. The Cuban people that work there rant as friendly as the ones on the mainland if Cuba. They also had very little English speaking Cubans. This resort seems to have 99.9 % of the visitors come from Montreal and rude wow it's embarrassing!! The workers would speak to us in French automatically and I would correct and say NO English! We would ask a question in English and they would answer us in French! If Iam speaking English I would expect you to answer me in English not French what's with that. Very frustrating after a fee days. Other employees would ignore you completely, like we were invisible ! Very disappointing! This happened to all of us on many occasions. The most friendly person was Victor in the buffet. He was wonderful and we tipped him nicely everyday for his efforts. The main bar at night was a night mare if you have epilepsy run before disco starts as the stove light in there is meant for a large room not the tiny room and caused many to feel dizzy as it was so intense. The poor bartenders are so over worked in that bar. There sometimes was only one bartender for the 600 people that were crammed into this what we called everything room. This resort doesn't have a large enough gathering area, all the resort we have been too have large main bar areas with lots of seating etc and more than one poor bartender. I read the trip advisor reviews and though this resort was perfect. But in actual fact we were approached by one of the night time entertainers (same thing every night for the show) he came up and said can't you give us a good review on the trip advisor and we said we will see. And he put his hands together like praying and a sad face and a tear as his English was more French/ Cuban than anything. So this explains all the so called great reviews. Well I won't be bribed to say things. So this is my honest option of this resort. Also the food was fine other than they ran out of most food like Fries but they had potatoes and ketchup but said they had no fries. They were none existent since we arrived which I found odd as we saw them peel potatoes everywhere. Every resort I have been to always had fries. They ran out of lots if stuff, they did have bacon but they don't seem to know how to cook bacon, it was almost raw but you could stand in the lineup and have it put on the grill, the toaster needs to be replaced you could stand in line and wait for a long time as even putting the bread in the toaster 5 times didn't toast it. Just made the bread hard and not cooked. Crazy! Other than these issues, we made the best of it. We are not high maintenance people and we have all travelled to Cuba many many times. If I can give anyone any advice I would say DON'T go to this resort maybe wait and see what happens once Memories has taken it over and had time to get it ship shape. Glad to come home for the first time ever from Cuba! I recommend going to Varadero,Cayo coco or Holgin. Been to each if these places 2 times and would go back again and plan on it. Another thing don't go to the playa or Serena beaches the one at the Pelicano resort is better and free to get there. Don't pay the taxi guy for both directions as he jammed 14 people in a van an took you on a sand road that was extramly rough and we flew over a bump and our friend hit his head on the roof and hurt his back and neck, his wife also had whiplash, very scary ride to a beach that was less appealing than the one at the resort. The resort beach was cleaned up this one was not. 2 poor dolphins trapped in a small area that must have wanted out as they had wounds in them that they put oniment on. Felt terrible for them. We just turned around and paid another taxi to take us back. Not recommending this little trip.