The resorts is a very good resort the staff is very friendly and helpful. The only complaint I had was the area we were first staying in was not very well maintained but the staff moved us to the room we stayed in last year and the whole area was very clean.I would recommend this resort to anyone.

There shouldn’t be any saving of chairs on the beach and people who are registered at the hotel should get priority on chairs on the beach. It was very difficult to get a chair on the beach and it was annoying to see people walking down from other resorts and having some of the best chairs saved.

My partner and I were at the Sol May2 - May 9, 2024. It was our 4th visit at the Sol and were very pleased with the renovations. The bungalows were all freshly painted on the exterior and the rooms were updated and very modern. Unfortunately,the hammock style chairs on the balcony were very uncomfortable making it very difficult to get up from, so we hardly made use of the balcony. Furthermore, we encountered a strong smell in the room due to strong sewage fumes coming into the room through the AC unit and also in the bathroom. I had to hold my breath as long as possible in order to use the bathroom. My partner was ill from inhaling the fumes during the night as well. I'm guessing that the renos were mostly cosmetic, but the infrastructure needs revamping as well. On the positive side, the beach was fantastic and the staff very accomodating. This will be our last visit to Sol.

We had a fantastic, unforgettable, time in Cuba, March 27-April 7, 2024. (long review, multiple Sub-Topics). Beautiful beaches and fantastic weather. In regards to the resort, we can only compare it to our experience from last year at a 5-Star Resort, Melia Buenavista. Both resorts are small and are Adult Only. SOL changed from family after Covid. Both have Naturist beach sections. Of course it is an unfair comparison but the resorts are near each other and both operate by the same Foreign Corporation. First, I should point out I did a surprise Marriage Proposal while in Cuba. A country we are both truly happy and ecstatic to visit. EXCURSIONS We met the Air Transat Representative the first morning. The times he is there are posted beside the lobby desk. We immediately booked the Tuesday, Sunset Lobster Dinner Catamaran Cruise and it is when we got engaged to be married. NOTE, sunset was on the Catamaran and dinner was at One Gallery Resort at 9pm. (bring snacks). A heads up to everyone regarding the Saturday, Havana Bus Excursion. We spoke to the Air Transat rep, Rusbel Santiago, and told him we wanted to go to Havana. He said there was a Saturday bus tour going. We said we would prefer to fly there. He said Air Transat does not support that tour. We asked how long the bus ride is each way and he said 4.5 hours, in fact it is closer to 5.5 hours. Again we said we prefer plane. The total excursion was 21 hour trip (Rusbel had suggested it was 15 hours). I asked for link about the tour and I never received it. I also asked if the price was Canadian and he said yes. After the credit card alert came through it was US$. During the trip we spoke with our tour guide, I discovered that the SAME TOUR GUIDE does the Wednesday Havana Plane Tour Excursion, 12 hour total trip! And the difference in cost was only about $20 more each. I was furious that Rusbel did not have the courtesy to tell us about it. He knew about it because he is friends with the tour guide as the tour guide joked that Rusbel has a huge appetite. The guide kept referring to Rusbel as one of his Salesman! You cannot believe everything Rusbel tells you. He skirts on the truth, I believe he had personal interests in having us book through him on the bus verses on the plane through someone else. I kick myself for not doing research and having blind faith that everyone is looking after your best interest. That is certainly not the case in this experience. My Fiance did not recover from the grueling long bus ride for another whole day. For the Havana Plane Tour go next door to Melia Cayo Santa Maria (CSM) at 9am and speak with their Excursion Representative at their desk in the main lobby. ROOMS The rooms are newly renovated, they look fresh and modern. They have these cool blue LED lights around the room, NOTE, they can be turned off; there is a small metal button on the wall (near the lights) that looks like a dime inside a quarter. You need only TOUCH them to turn OFF/ON the lights. (capacitance switch). NOTE, they are still running on the infrastructure of 70 years ago (I do not think the sewer stacks were changed inside the building; an oversight they may regret in the near future). The hot water supply/pipes are old, one room barely had luke warm water. Unfortunately, we had to change rooms at SOL three times for various reasons. Yes, an inconvenience but was worth it as we finally were happily settled after the fourth night. WIFI Unfortunately, WIFI signal strength varied, room to room. If you require a good signal, check it before you unpack. WIFI was great in the general lobby area and buffet restaurant. FOOD I did not have any issues with food there for both years even though I'm a fussy eater; I go to Cuba expecting less due to possible shortages and prepared for it. (more later in this). My beautiful Fiance on the other hand had issues last year at the 5-star and no issues this year. We were there for 11 nights and eggs were not available on only two mornings. That's incredible considering the neighbour Melia CSM never seemed to have any eggs! Bring your own Ketchup. SHORTAGES Items mentioned below occurred during our stay but keep in mind that things change on a daily and weekly basis. COFFEE Coffee on the other hand was less available. We knew this might be an issue because we joined an active FB group, "Friends of Sol CSM". So in preparation we purchased a 220V portable kettle and McDonald's instant coffee from Amazon. Best thing we ever did. Made coffee in 4 minutes every morning! PIZZA I give this a separate topic because it was something that was mentioned numerous times by many repeat guests. The SOL has an actual Pizza Building on the resort with tables and chairs. Unfortunately, it was not open during our stay. We heard it was open earlier in the year but it closed because they lost their water supply to that location. The SOL main restaurant/buffet building also had a Pizza Oven! But again it was not being used. A guest that was there in December said it was working then and there were constant long lines for their delicious pizza. WATER There is another shortage that was not mentioned. Bottled water. Our first day, we were provided in the room, a large bottle of water, the next day, two small bottles. After that none. Each night we had to scout places and ways to get water. Not the easiest task. There appears to be internal struggles between the front desk, bar and restaurant. Instead of helping front desk with client requests, they do not share the valuable commodity. So seek your own source of water and remember a tip goes a long way. TOILET PAPER Toilet paper is a rare item throughout Cuba as we discovered on a day trip to Havana. Bring a couple of rolls for back up, even for your room! Ladies may want to carry the Kleenex travel packs with them at ALL times. FRESH BREAD/BUNS Fortunately, this is baked daily at SOL and there were never any ingredient shortages. And wow, their buns are delicious. REPAIRS Repairs /maintenance seems to be hit or miss. Usually miss, but that is expected as it is a small resort and it is likely not feasible to have a full time handyman. FRONT DESK Speaking of front desk, the STAFF really tries hard to help you but it seems that they are not given the AUTHORITY to actually get things done. Each request seems to pass through one manager to another and then await approval. Unlike last year at the 5-star we had two butlers assigned to our needs, (alternated days but they communicated to each other); there, all of our requests were taken care of immediately without question. DOCTOR There is no doctor on-site. The on-site Doctor at Melia CSM next door is available for SOL guests; ask front desk for a shuttle ride; 24/7. I used this service for a broken blood vessel that kept getting bigger and also had a cut on my foot that needed disinfecting. There was no charge for the service but the Doctor glady accepted the $5CAD tip that I insisted she take. And since the bell boy, Raul, waited for me and drove me back, he got a tip too; it was late evening and the Melia CSM 24 hour restaurant was not busy so I got two pizzas to go! Staff & TIPS Take the time to talk to the staff and learn a bit of their way of life. It may open your eyes to their struggles and it makes your minor inconveniences seem petty. We were constantly looking for ways to tip and which dollar store gift to give to whom so they appreciate it more because they really needed it. You can really tell when you give a gift that they needed; their reaction and smile is very heart warming. Currency When it comes to money, bring bills that have NO CREASES, rips, cuts, pen marks, etc. The Cubian banks are very, very fussy and will not accept bills with visible worn creases. One guest we met actually ordered new uncirculated $5CAD bills from the bank a week before going. LOONIES & TWOONIES Sure, you can bring loonies and twoonies for tips but you better buy them back with bills when you get asked. Personally, we prefer using US$ bills as it is less weight and cumbersome. Just before you leave to come home to Canada, go around and offer to purchase old bills or coins from the staff to help them. So bring extra new looking $20 bills for this purpose. FLEA MARKET WARNING, if you go to the Flea Market, they do not have credit card POS terminals. Cash only, US cash to be specific. Most places will charge you DOUBLE the US price if you pay in CAD$. CREDIT CARDS Oh, all purchases with credit cards will require your signature even though you have to use a PIN. I suppose the banks want that extra security in case you dispute the charges. And they do not give you an itemized POS receipt like they do here. It's just a copy of the credit card slip. If you like keeping track of purchases, bring a pen with you. PALAPALAS ON NATURIST SIDE A strange thing started happening on the Naturist beach. There was always overflow in the number of people verses Palapalas. We started waking up at 5am to reserve a place we preferred. Each time I ran into 4 or 5 others at that time of morning doing the same! The Naturist sign position has become Dynamic in that it seems to move daily. But each day you can see there is overflow into the Textile section. The Naturist side has grown significantly compared to last year. It spans almost to the Beach Bar now. REIKI MASTER If you have a minor health issues, book a Reiki treatment with Roberto in The Gym. He is a 19-year Reiki Master and receives yearly, a two week refresher/update training, from his Master. Without knowing in advance Roberto told me of what he found with my body! He even mentioned something I did not know and will have to get checked by an MD here. GYM If you are a fitness fanatic, they have a state of art Gym with the latest new equipment! Super surprising considering the shortages of consumables they experience on a daily basis. New equipment arrived while we were there! EVENINGS There are biting insects when the sun goes down; bring insect repellent with you. We used Muskol, others had Off. If it has 15% Deet, it works well. ENTERTAINMENT There was no April calendar of events (saw one for March). It seemed hit or miss if there was going to be a 9:30 show. It seems they try to book shows but they may not show up. At the minimum there was usually music and line dancing lessons. YES, We recommend going there if you are a Naturist. Remember, you are going for the sun, beaches, weather and kind hospitality of the Cubans. Do not expect to have unlimited options in food choices. Do not expect to have all the amenities you have in Canada. Be thankful for what you do get and enjoy yourself. SOL, has the potential to be much more for Naturist. But limitations from the government may not allow it.

Rooms very comfortable, freshly renovated ,modern bathrooms, Hot water -no problem. Fantastic beach, with long naturist section. Plenty of palapas and sun beds. Food; repetitive and could use some improvement. Zero eggs for breakfast for whole week. Same everywhere in Cuba. Bar; relaxing but not always fully stock.

Hi there how are you i love all you people the bar staff is great to me always i love them my room was better the food is a big thing with me a lot of other people i am sure it will get better were i am naked a lot i in joy the nude beach i meet you the last time i was there you seem like a great person they keep my room nice who ever i meet there are so nice to me i am a kind happy guy always i hate to say it but the washrooms need some help other then that say hi for me BOB to the lobby staff and i hope to see you all in JANUARY SO BE HAPPY CHEERS .

the Staff, the food, the rooms every thing was super, This was my 3 rd time and didn't disappoint me. I can't say enough about the staff they are always there to help you no matter what it is and always with a smile.

Well....Cuba beaches are still the best....for sure. Drive was smooth to the resort....good tour guide on the way to the resort and back as well. The food was basic and very limited...breakfast was good...outside of that...the next 2 meals ...noon at the beach bar and supper was different every night due the low numbers of people at the resort. Room were nice ...basic but nice... Entertainment was nice...very limited but they always had something at the lobby bars. The bartender were excellent...quick service...minor issue ran out of beer one night and rum another night but was filled up by next morning . Question...would I go back,,..I am one to always go elsewhere but what this resort offers and the nice quiet time... I would go back.

This review is strictly our personal opinion. We do not recommend anything to anyone because every person has its own priorities and ideas about good and bad vacation. My wife and myself had stayed at this resort 10 years ago. It was in a very desperate condition. Recent reviews were saying WOW about newly renovated hotel SOL. It is a way exaggerated. The resort was reopened at the end of Nov.22 and it seems that everything was done in a hurry. Everything was repainted with ugly white paint which seems to be just super cheap or expired primer paint. In many places you touch the painted surface and you can see traces of paint on your fingers. Inside the room ( We have seen three) the surfaces of the entrance doors and sliding doors to the washroom are all hand stained and maids do not care to do anything about it. The rooms however were renovated. It is true. Only some rooms have new AC. Most AC are old and it is a good chance that you get a bad one. We had to change our room once due to non-functional AC. In general, if everything is functional, we do not care much about rooms and grounds. Our priority is deep enough ocean to swim. This is the oldest resort on CSM and it has the best spot in regards of the ocean. Beach is cleaned very badly. Over two weeks period we have seen only one person that tried to clean the beach which is probably about 500 m long. He seemed to be more preoccupied to hang around naturist beach to collect his tips for cleaning beach chair. The beach of neighbouring resort Melia Cayo Santa Maria was cleaned by 7:30 every morning. Probably 80% of tourists are going to naturist beach but they have only 20% of the hotel beach dedicated to them. Why not let people enjoy the whole beach the way they want. Btw, there are many tourist that coming to sunbath on SOL naturist beach from other resorts. We stayed at textile section of the beach which was mostly empty, no loud music at all but gentle whisper of the ocean - perfect! 32 times in Cuba (all over Cuba) and we have never had any problems with food. In fact, we consider Cuban food way better that Canadian food which is full of artificial flavors, antibiotics, trans fats and God knows what other chemicals. The official statistics says that 65% - 70% of adult Canadian population is obese. Maybe it is because of "great Canadian food"? Everyone is tipping with Canadian coins, which workers later exchange to bills with the help of tourists. A quite efficient system. The choice of alcohol was very satisfactory: rum, beer, red whine, "river" of Spanish champagne. We do not care much about mixed drinks. This is not party resort, thanks God. Mostly older people. Again, no kids. We do not care about pool. With resort capacity of 300 something rooms there was about 90 -100 tourists according to the receptionist. The number is going down as she said. Again, perfect for us. It is was a very first time that we have ever seen managers eating in a buffet (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and drinking in the bar. I guess, everything is perfect at the resort and there is absolutely nothing else left to do. One more thing. The English of the personnel is extremely limited or nonexistent. Not sure about French. Most tourists are from Quebec. Despite all the mentioned negatives, we will return to this resort when the price is right.

If you are looking for relaxation and utter beauty, than the newly renovated Sol, Cayo Santa Maria should be considered as your next holiday destination! We travelled at the end of February, beginning of March. I will share my impressions with you. The Beach: aquamarine ocean, cool, soft, white sand beach, blue/lilac sky...perfection! You can walk along the beach to find your own private spot, or settle down on a lounge chair under one of the palapas....no need to play the ''towel game'...there were plenty of chairs to go around, when we were there, at any time of day! The Resort: The gardens were lovely, colourful and well maintained. The pool was beautiful with a unique snack bar located in its centre! The Restaurants: The buffet was spacious, the Italian Ala-Carte had an intimate feel, and the beachfront Ranchon had the most amazing view of the ocean and beach! Service was professional, yet warm and personable. The lobby bar also needs a special mention for creating wonderful cappuccinos and mojitos, (they always had mint when I was there!) The Food: When I travel to another country, I always try to dine on the food of their culture. I absolutely enjoyed the Cuban choices. Favourites included the homemade soup, homemade bread with plenty of cheese and butter, (no butter shortage here), rice with beans, bbq chicken and pork, guava, watermelon, pineapple and other fruits, stirfried vegetables and plantain...not to mention the delicious, creamy icecream. I enjoyed the buffet, more than the Italian restaurant, but that is just my preference. On one evening they had a Cuban dinner by the pool, with entertainment! The Rooms: The rooms are completely renovated! There is a walk-in shower with a rain-head, a true kingsize bed, a balcony with comfy chairs. The room was always cleaned each day My only suggestion: I would appreciate if management could post daily, at a convenient spot, if there was going to be special entertainment, or food. Twice I missed something special, that I would have made an effort to be at. This small, boutique resort offers quality service and a stunning location. I would not hesitate to recommend it!

The nicest room I have seen in my many trips in different area of Cuba. The workers worked hard to embellish the landscape. The staff was friendly and attentive to our needs. The food was good but little selection. It’s Cuba, it’s to be expected. The beach was amazing Overall it was an enjoyable trip

staff was very friendly and helpful, always smiling and genuine. the beach was great, quiet (no annoying music by the water) and really enjoyed the nudist side. beyond that, everything else is a bummer. many things broken in the room (outlets popping out of the wall, sink not draining, sheets with holes, moldy smell) and all around the resort (none of the fountains work, planks missing from the boardwalk, half the resort cut off with sheet metal fencing...). food was ok during lunch bbq, but quite bland and very few fruits and vegetables.

Amazing place. You got three pools to jump into plus the beach not too far. Diversity of foods is awesome. There's markets around for you to go browse some souvernirs. The staff is really nice and helpful.

This was our 4th visit to this resort and I have to admit that the resort is in need of lots of upgrades. None of the water features such as fountains and pools were not working, but the landscaping was beautiful and lush. The lighting in some areas was poor making it a bit dangerous walking along the walkways at night. With the American embargo being in place and being in the path of hurricanes, one can understand the slow progress of renos and the lack of some food items. Staff is always accomodating, friendly and ready to help. I'm not sure if I would go back to be honest until upgrades are done.

Unfortunately this resort fell a little short. Having travelled extensively to Cuba, we know what to expect and decided to venture here as we couldn’t pass up the price for a quick getaway. We keep returning to Cuba for the amazing beaches and this resort is situated on one of the best beaches in our opinion. The people at the resort are beautiful, however we would not return nor can we recommend it. Too many negatives to list here. The grounds are very lush and mature, however some serious investment is needed to bring it back to life!!

This Trip was my husband and my first trip by ourselves. We got to the resort the room was not ready but that was okay with us we could go to the beach or pool until ready. When we had got the room there was the Bathroom window was a floor to ceiling with a white thin shower curtain that didn’t cover the window at the sides and you could see in when going to the bathroom or showering so showering needed to be in the night with the light out. The porch and pathways had no lights to room and fear of tripping on the stairs. Bathings in the resort either had no toilet paper or smelled or urine. They had no pool towels for 3 days after we got there. In the mornings they had no coffee at the resort many times ran out of beer and liquor during the day (there was water luckily but even that was running low) Room keys had to always be reset in order to get in the room. The staff was great but not knowledgeable about much. The food was the same and not too good. We ended up spending days at the Melia and only sleeping at Sol. This is an all inclusive resort that did not have sail boats and snorkeling as they didn’t pay the contract. The resort needs a major update. Not a enjoyable trip also hola sun reps were never there to sign up for the excursions(waiting for 3 hours after the time they stated they would be there and no show day after day. We didn’t bring children and I’m glad we didn’t there was a nude beach right beside us and absolutely nothing for kids to do. Same Cuban music over and over. I do not recommend this resort to anyone we are not picky at rooms or resorts but this was a total waste of money. Pictures are definitely from years ago.

We visited this resort back in 2015 and that is why we chose to return to this specific resort but we were disappointed this year.... Half the resort was closed which translated to at least half the services..... it should have been advirtised that it was half closed. A lot of the staff were busy on their phones or talking to each other....We didn't get beach towels for 4 days, had to fight to get bottled water in our room, had to change rooms twice because the first one wasn't what we had booked and the toilet wouldn't flush in the second one, and after 4 days of calling reception for maintenance (very unpleasant experience) with no resolve and the sewage smell all over our bungalow - we had to file a formal complaint with the resort's customer service and had to request to be moved again. Staff also didn't change the bedding. We also had to walk out of the a la carte créole restaurant where we had reservations as they refused to serve us!!! never heard if this happening before!! we had to go to the buffet!!!! It was more stress for us and back to customer service!! We enjoyed the beautiful beach, the pizza restaurant and the staff at the beach and pool bars and the buffet but might not return to this resort

We visited this resort back in 2015 and that is why we chose to return to this specific resort but we were disappointed this year.... Half the resort was closed which translated to at least half the services..... it should have been advirtised that it was half closed. A lot of the staff were busy on their phones or talking to each other....We didn't get beach towels for 4 days, had to fight to get bottled water in our room, had to change rooms twice because the first one wasn't what we had booked and the toilet wouldn't flush in the second one, and after 4 days of calling reception for maintenance (very unpleasant experience) with no resolve and the sewage smell all over our bungalow - we had to file a formal complaint with the resort's customer service and had to request to be moved again. Staff also didn't change the bedding. We also had to walk out of the a la carte créole restaurant where we had reservations as they refused to serve us!!! never heard if this happening before!! we had to go to the buffet!!!! It was more stress for us and back to customer service!! We enjoyed the beautiful beach, the pizza restaurant and the staff at the beach and pool bars and the buffet but might not return to this resort.

After an absence of a few years since my last visit to Sol Cayo Santa Maria, I found the resort a bit tired and in need of upgrading. Almost all the water features (fountains etc.) on the site were dry and needed upgrading. Of course, I'm sure the resort suffered much damage from Hurricane Irma and maybe this could have been the reason. Nevertheless, the grounds were beautiful and well manicured, the staff was wonderful and friendly but the food was mediocre. The only annoying thing I found were the multiple fly bites I suffered while there. The itching became unbearable. I had previously planned for a two week stay but glad I was only there for one week.

Everything was clean and tidy, staff very friendly and always trying to improve your day. Lots of restaurants and bars. There is also a pizza place. The nude and standard beaches are clean. If you get a chance it's a nice place to visit.

Much of the staff couldn't speak English but they were always friendly. The grounds were well maintained, beach was very nice. The room was not well maintained, smelly & the food was by far the worst.

We had an amazing vacation at this resort. The white sandy beaches and beautiful ocean views. Staff are super friendly, knew us by name. Took the time to say goodbye at 6am to us when we left. Loved it!

This resort was so beautiful. The staff were absolutely amazing. The food was good. I loved it there. The beach was the best. I would absolutely go back there again!!!! I have been to a lot of places but this place by far is the best

The resort was not luxurious- but it was beautiful, clean, and quite perfect for me, my mom, two boys. The staff are so kind, and always went above and beyond anything we expected. The entertainment was awesome, and the planned activities for the kids were always a hit. I felt like my kids were safe at all times. The food wasn’t the greatest, but my kids still loved it- and we never went hungry. The beach was in a convenient location, and was the most stunning one I have ever seen.

Just came back from Sol Cayo Santa Maria our stay was from April 25 to May 04, 2018. this was our third time at this resorts. We had a wonderful relaxing week. I will say the room was dated, but the staff is super friendly. At the buffet they were very helpful especially Oscar The A La Carte Poncho supplied a very good service. The Lobby bar Sandy was exceptional The food was good. We would go back in a heartbeat.

We went back to Sol as many years ago we had the greatest experience of Cuba here in this resort - we loved everything , the people, the grounds, the vegetation, the food. Now, we must say with heavy hart that many things have changed. And it is not only Irma that affected Sol.. I think it is the way the resort is governed. People are working very hard but it is an obvious lack of personnel. The part of the resort that is open to tourists has the most affected vegetation following the hurricane last September which make no sense from a client perspective. Spanish is a must as there are not many English speakers.

We were at this resort on March 21 2018 . I travelled with my 72 year old mother, a friend and her 76 year old Aunt . This resort was by far the worst I have ever been to and we travel 3 or more times per year . We book vacations that are $ to $$$$ and we are fully aware we get what we pay for . Our expectations for this vacation were not high. We wanted sun , sand , a clean resort with edible food . The first rooms they gave us had broken A/C and ants , so they moved us to rooms 2 which had a broken non working toilet and no A/C and ants , then to rooms 3 . It was ok but it was not clean and 1 of the rooms had a broken toilet seat which they removed so there was no toilet seat . The curtains ( or blanket ) was nailed to the wall . The patio doors could not be opened . There was cockroaches. The dining room was filthy, with flies on all of the food . My pasta on the first night was given to me with a dead fly on the top , the chef picked it off and handed me the plate . The silverware had to be checked for dried on food and the glasses for lipstick marks. The service was very poor . The beach was red flagged so we stayed at the pool . On the first day at the first pool a mother took feces out of a small childs swim suit (No diaper ) and it fell on the walk way . The child stepped in it , the mother washed his feet off in the pool and the feces remained on the walk way for 3 days . So off to Pool 2 we went . That afternoon a guest vomited on the bridge over the pool and into the pool . So there was no swimming for us as we did not see anyone clean the pool while we were there and it had cigarette butts, napkins and plastic cups in it every day . The washroom by the pool had a sink off the wall and the toilets did not flush yet there was no sign . On day 4 we went to see our travel rep - Thank goodness she was AMAZING !!! She has us and the hotel service manager walk her to the ares we were concerned about . After 4 days the feces and vomit were still there. The manager tried to say someone cleaned the pool and the surrounding areas but it was obvious it wasnt being done . The rep told us that this resort has a very low booking rate so the open it up to the cubans , it is also due to be closed and renovated . I am unsure how this resort has any positive reviews . I expect they are generate or solicited by the resort in exchange for remuneration. I feel this is information that the travel agent should have been aware of . The excuse for most of the issues was the recent hurricane , but all the damage had been repaired . The issues were all due to neglect . We were moved to the resort next door which was attached to the SOL and it was 100% better . Please dont waste your time or money by going to this resort . PS. Flabia at reception did help us as much as she possibly could and was very helpful and understanding .

This resort is by far the worst resort I have ever stayed at. I've stayed at many 3 and 3 1/2 star resorts as well as 5 stars and have never experienced anything like this. The rooms are awful..In total we moved 4 times for various reasons: ants, no working air conditioners, broken toilet seat, no toilet seat, cockroaches, giant spiders, broken safe, patio door wouldn't lock, the rooms were so dirty and mouldy.. the list goes on. I had to share a bed with my 74yr old aunt. The public washrooms never had toilet paper or soap and most of the time wouldn't flush. I booked this trip based on the reviews on the trip advisor and the trip central website and I have to say I'm sure they are being edited or put on by the resort. This is the most unsanitary place I've ever stayed... we witnessed someone vomiting on the bridge over the pool and into the pool, a man helping his grandson pee into the grate at the side of the pool..another person urinating into the bushes behind us, a child pooped his pants it fell out of his shorts and onto the walkway, he slipped in it and his mother washed his feet off in the pool. The pool was full of cigarette buts, plastic cups and straws leaves and other debris..nothing was cleaned up until after we met with our Air Transat representative a few days later. I know this is a 3 1/2 star resort and my expectations were not high but we actually felt unsafe. We Spent the first 4 days of our short 7 day trip moving rooms and making trips to the front desk to report the problems. We weren't able to go in the ocean because it was red flagged and couldn't go in the pool at all. After we had a conversation with the Air Transat representative she got the guest service manager and we took them on a walk around the resort to show them the problems. I know the rep was surprised at the conditions and had us moved to the sister property next door as soon as she could which wasn't until the following day. I never been to a resort where most of the guest were Cuban locals and I believe this contributed to the problems. I was told by the rep that they are planning to close this resort and do a major Reno and reopen as a 5 star property. This is why only half of the resort rooms are open and they haven't put any money or effort into restoring it after the hurricane. They put out offers to Cuban families at very low rates to fill the rooms available. Trip Central and Air Transat should not be recommending this resort at all.

First, I have to admit I read the reviews before I travel so to me it is worth it. This hotel was fantastic, we had a great time and I just had to write a review, also sorry if I spelled any name incorrectly. I have been to Cuba several times and even to Cayo Santa Maria but I have to admit the Sol was by far my best time. The staff were amazing. Yes, the drive is about an hour and a half from the airport but the cold beer 2 for $5 Cdn and tour guide made it enjoyable. I cannot really complain too much. Rooms: Had lots of windows and a balcony overlooking the jungle I would say. There was a king bed and a twin. Room was always cleaned. The room had working AC and fridge, a safe but it was not bolted down and came with plenty of towels and body wash and shampoo. No hair dryer if that is a big deal. We always had hot water. The resort did lose water twice during the week, longest period was several hours but it was manageable. There was two very solid rocking chairs and a desk with a chair. TV worked and had a variety of stations in various languages, nothing amazing but enough for entertainment for sure. The room had enough plugs to charge all of our devices. Overall no complaints. Beach: Its a long beach with some areas better than others. Plenty of chairs and cover for us to lounge around. They maintain it well and there was very little garbage left around. There is a nude section but its marked so there will not be any confusion and it is located on the far end so no issue there. Beach was lovely overall. Food: Its Cuba so let’s not be overly picky. Buffet had enough variety for every diet and food was very edible. I loved the grilled chicken, breakfast smoothies were great but not available every morning, the pizza/pasta bar was very good. I can honestly say the buffet was good. You can get grilled sandwiches/burgers/hotdogs at the pool bar, sandwiches from the lobby bar at night, beach par had a fantastic BBQ lunch with fries. The pizza restaurant was amazing plain and simple, best pizza and pasta I have ever had in Cuba. They had two a la carte’s and both of them had great food. You will not go hungry at this resort and I enjoyed the food very much. Bars: No shortage here, lobby bar was 24/7, pool bar, beach bar and even the piano bar. The bar staff that was great. Plenty of cold drinks and superb coffee all with great service. No complaints Entertainment: Mini disco every night even if there were no kids, plenty of shows, they even brought in two singers and a variety of musicians. Music was constantly playing in the background and they even had a DJ. The animation team entertained us all but did not bug you so a big shout out to them. Service: I am going to say the best thing about the Sol was the people. The staff were so friendly and helpful. They made our stay that much more pleasant. It is a holiday so enjoy it and enjoy their hospitality. Overall: I know this is the oldest resort in Cayo Santa Maria, they have done many upgrades since Hurricane Irma I was told. It is not too big and in fact the numbers were low so we never had any long lineups ever. They have stray cats that are so sweet and friendly. I cannot recommend this resort enough and can understand why so many people keep going back. It was a great week and we will be back for sure.

Rooms where comfortable. Need to offer more storage drawers for clothing. Shower needs to be updated., suggestion.,walk in shower and remove narrow bathtub. Very unsafe having to climb into a tub with shower curtain inside tub to shower. Safer to just step into a shower. Also put frosted window in shower or just remove window. Rest of resort great . Staff very friendly and loved personal servers delivering cocktails to us..

I'd love to describe my stay and pass on pictures but we stayed at Pelicano on Cayo Largo...................................... ............... ............................................... ...............

Let’s start with the obvious trip central agents are based on commission so if there are problems with the trip they don’t try to help you out instead they charge you more to make it work My flight was cancelled from timmins to Toronto Missed flight to Cuba asked for a credit or change dates would not do that instead cost me another 1635 dollars to get to Cuba and my trip became a three day stay from a seven day booking I will never recommend your company or Air Transat to anyone The three days in Cuba barely worth going for

It is a beautiful resort even though lots of work still is being completed. They have recovered fast considering it was the most affected area of Cuba that was hit by Hurricane Irma. The food is repetitive only due to the Agriculture being affected as well, but there still is a variety of food at the buffet and the A la Carte Restuarants. The Entertainment at night was in the lobby due to the stage still being repair but was still fun and interactive. All the waitresses, waiters and cooks in the Restuarant were very nice and customer service from them amazing had great laughs with them all. The maids can do a better job, changing the sheets and pillow cases as well as not forgetting to leave toilet paper and washing of the tub and floors. The Reception staff and Reiner we attentative to my needs, and performed great customer service. Reiner and I had some great laughs on my last day, Hop on his Party Bus to take a ride around the resort and go shopping at the market at the Resort next door. Ho see the Pirate ship and get your picture taken. The Bartenders and the service waiters around the lobby bar were very friendly and would not allow you to try and serve yourself, which I thought was relaxing. The Resort as a whole was beautiful, with a great atmosphere, relaxing and humble.

The hotel was just fine recovering from a hurricane a few months ago. The big problem for everyone was the bugs I believe sandflies. We were all suffering from bites and itching afterward even though purchasing bug spray it was extremely uncomfortable but not sure how u would control that. We had to change rooms upon arrival but once that was done all was well. Beautiful beach great weather service was good!

Sol Cayo Santa Maria the hotel is amazing, i like the second floor rooms. The room services are great, our maid was really nice and cleaning the rooms on time everday. The resort is beautiful and clean. All the workers in the resort are extermely nice. The entertainer of the resort was amazing and the dancer performers were arranging wonderful shows every night. Overall, it was a great experience.

Enjoyed our stay at the Sol. Great service, good food, great beach. The rooms and grounds need to be renovated and upgraded. Areas around the pools where cement is broken and makes it dangerous to walk. Lots of light fixtures broken around the complex, hard to see at night but overall a great week and good value for the price.

Oldest hotel in Cayo Santa Maria.The infrastructures all need some updating and some TLC. Beach is great, lots of chairs, lots of palapas for shade. Great service all around, great staff. Awesome week.

Every review you read talks about this hotel needs a little TLC and that is so true but if you look closely you will see that they are trying. For example over the last couple of years people complained about the boardwalks to the beach, well while I was there they were just about to finish the last of 4 new boardwalks and after touring the three closest resorts they are the best of all three. That being said there is still a LOT of work to do. We had no water issues but I do not think the hotel was any where near capacity. The food is Cuba, I have been to Cuba 4 times and all at different places and only once found better. It is what it is, but you never go hungry. I have to say one thing, the management has GOT to get the birds out of the buffet hall. I am not fussy but it was just unacceptable to see a bird eating the hard boiled eggs at the buffet, can you say "cannabird" The staff are the most wonderful part of the resort, the welcome and smiles never stopped, they were super! The beach is beautiful as most of the beaches in CUBA are. Water was a little rough most of the days except for two calm days. The resort is a bit quiet but being 62 years old this was just fine for me. I won't mention all the other good things about this resort just check some of the other reviews for those details. If you are satisfied with nothing but the best do not go to this resort, but if you want a quiet relaxing low cost 3 star vacation give it a shot.

For our first time on Cayo Santa Maria island, we chose the Sol resort for its smaller size and attractive price. There we found a friendly atmosphere with pleasant staff, good service and all the amenities we needed. The front desk personnel were particularly helpful in answering our questions and accommodating us with a room of our choice (room 2807, higher floor and ocean view is perfect!). The maid service was impeccable and timely. The food was fine, with adequate eating venues and meal choices; the only eating place we found disappointing was the Italian restaurant, which does not not really offer Italian dishes and just serves ordinary food. Entertainment wise, we much appreciated the dancing group’s evening shows, as well as the occasional social dancing with the participation of the pro dancers. One thing that was missing maybe is information on the different shows and activities taking place in the resort during the week; a posted schedule of those would help the vacationers to better plan their day. This however is a very minor thing! Overall, we are very satisfied of our stay at the Sol Cayo Santa Maria. Obviously, expectations of quality for a 4-star hotel in Cuba has to be different from what they would be in North America or Europe. Yes, buildings and rooms at the Sol could use a facelift… But for us, all our priorities -and more- were fulfilled in this resort. As for the beach experience, it was fantastic… spectacular stretches of fine white sand, not over-developed, not too crowded, and bordering crystal clear water. A great and very enjoyable vacation!

We enjoyed many aspects of this resort. Other than the lack of water from 12 am to 5 am, we enjoyed the resort. They have excellent service and food at the buffet morning noon and night. The staff in general were very friendly. The beach is exceptionally beautiful. They had great shows at night, especially the aquatic show. The rooms were clean, nothing too fancy but clean. Place is very laid back and you can have an enjoyable time.

The grounds and the general lay out of this resort is better then most. The staff try their best to provide excellent service and if you like a piano bar this the resort for you. The food is average and the bar service good to very good-the bar in the lobby is the best. The resort is older and has some problems. In our first room the toilet leaked resulting in a wet floor which was not fixed so we were given another room which did not have hot water. The staff tried to fix the problem but were not successful. Our daughter in a room near by experienced no problems with her room. The rooms were always clean as was the resort but most of the public toilets had problems like no seats or locks on the doors. This resort needs upgrading and if this is accomplished we would consider returning. We do not recommend this resort at this time.

i liked it better when it first opened,i was there in 2002 and the animation team they had then got people up and doing things and the place wasn't run down.there wasn't many people at the resort so easy getting things you wanted,the staff was friendly and helpful.it seemed like the staff was mostly young people just learning how things were to be done.i didn't get the rooms i asked for so that started my time there on a bad note but the rooms i got were good and joined together and they explained to me that one of the rooms i wanted i could have but the joined room was under construction at the moment.i did meet up with a couple of the staff i knew from before so that made the trip worth while.maybe next time i might try one of the other newer resorts in that same area.

Booked this resort in May and on July 9th arrived at the resort only to find out we were not booked at this resort. Got moved to Melia Cayo Santa Maria. Don't like paying out lots of money to have our vacation plans changed because the resort booked the S-Trip Graduate experience group there. The hotel was still under construction for the pipes to the bungalows and safety was definitely an issue there. Many of the students were complaining they had no water, the toilets would not flush and the showers did not work. We have friends that work at the resort and were so looking forward to spending time with them and couldn't as a result of not being booked at this resort.

BOOKED THIS RESORT ON MAY 13TH FOR JULY 9 TO JULY 16 AND ON ARRIVAL DAY GOT TO RESORT ONLY TO FIND OUT WE WERE NOT EVEN BOOKED AT RESORT. RESORT WAS OVER TAKEN BY THE S-TRIP GRADUATE EXPERIENCE WITH 583 STUDENTS BETWEEN THE AGE OF 16 TO 18. AS A RESULT WE WERE MOVED TO THE RESORT NEXT TO SOL.

Unfortunately there was an issue at Sol so the Melia group of hotels upgraded us to Las Dunas. The service was friendly, the resort was well maintained. We would definitely return to Las Dunas again!!

Relatively old resort! The water facility was broken when we signed in. Lucky we got upgraded to Melia Las Dunas which is 2 km from this resort. Air conditioning was broken in my last visit and I had to moved to another room. Some of my friends had been moved more than one time.

It took some time for me to write a review because i was so disgruntled. Went to Sol Cayo April 30th/16 Travelling alone tends to make a person more tolerable of a bad situation. I made the best of a very poor quality resort. Very poor to no lighting at all for the exterior of the building and no lighting to find my room at 12:30am upon arrival made for an interesting first night. There is condemned out of order bathrooms at the pool area and pool bridge railings that were rotted off completely, path ways to the beach roped off because the wood is so rotten there are full sections missing, the path ways that are open have rotten boards that are loose with nail heads sticking up lord help anyone with kids that are excited to get to the beach it is trouble waiting to happen, these are just a few indications of how in dire need of repair all of this resort is. The "night life" is non-existent except for the wild life lol. They advertise the Sol Melia and Sol Cayo as being adjoining properties but if you try and go through the open arch way to the sister property you will probably be met by a guard telling you that your not allowed, go around in behind the buildings or out the road way to the front entrance and through the lobby. Running out of ice at the pool bar for more than half a day not just a few minutes or an hour when the place is at maybe 25% capacity, really! Food was good for the most part, but when you change an a la carte dining location the signage should be changed also or you end up in the middle of another "out of order" area where there used to be a restaurant, easy enough to ask just an added proverbial thorn. Beach was enjoyable and good food there. You get what you pay for, a place to sleep which was actually a very good room, sun was bright water was wet and beach was sandy ;-)

We have travelled to Cuba many times and the beach and staff are always amazing but this resort topped the list in these areas. The food was typical Cuban resort for the buffet but their al la carted were amazing and also offered the beach bar and a pizzeria which were amazing. Entertainment and entertainment staff were well organized and put on an amazing show ever night with something different each night of the week. Would travel again to this resort. Probably the cleanest of any older resort we've been to. I felt comfortable in bare feet

Personnel is very friendly, ground is nice. Food is decent. There was problem with hot water. We had it 3 days of 7. Room was clean. Cleaning lady was nice and did a good job. But room amenities are old. We had problem with bath.

Hotel needs a bit of TLC...a little run down. The staff was very good. Food was quite good... but not a huge selection. Very little variation from night to night in the buffet. Both a la carte dining was quite good. Beach was great...beautiful water... my main reason to go to Cuba.

The resort is beautiful the grounds are well cared for the food is excellent the servers could have some English lessons The maintenance people are the only problem there they don't fix anything that needs to be fixed The beach is beautiful I was very impressed with this resort I will come again and I will recommend it to all my friends

My first thought was "this place needs a coat a paint and some new fixtures", but it grew on me. Overall, this is a good place for the price. If you have not stayed on Cayo Santa Maria, you should know: it is 90 minutes from the airport. Just getting to the mainland is a 50km drive on the causeway. That means if you want to do something off resort other than the dolphin show or the shopping "village", you are going to have a long drive. If you're looking for action, go elsewhere; if you want to relax on the beach or at the pool, this is the place! Rooms: The rooms are decent-sized, with a big balcony (a plus when the kids go to bed early!). If you are a family of four, I recommend asking for two extra cots/beds. The "double" size bed is not really double. Our kids are still small, so we managed fine with just one extra cot. The beds are hard and the pillows, well, not very pillow-y. But after playing in the sun all day, we hardly noticed. Resort: As stated above, the resort needs a bit of a refresh. Nothing is horrible, just a little dated. It seems like some of that is in progress - there was a crew painting the beach restaurant; and another group going around with clipboards taking notes of things that were obviously in need of repair. In another year, my comments may not hold true anymore! The pool and pool area is huge with a decent amount of lounge chairs around. I wish they cleaned the pool a little more often since the palm trees around tend to shed leaves into the water, but it's not a big deal. Staff: The staff was amazing, especially with the kids! Entertainment: We didn't really partake in most since the kids were in bed early. Food: At the buffet, the food was plentiful, with a good amount of selection; and at least part of the menu was rotated. At every meal, there was an option for something prepared fresh - omelettes/crepes, fresh pasta, fried rice, and a selection of meats and fish cooked right in front of you. Lunch and dinner usually had a roast of some kind - turkey, pork, beef, etc.. There was usually pizza and pasta available for picky kids. The pizza/pasta restaurant (Los Flamencos? - on the West side of the resort) is open for lunch and makes a good pizza! My only complaint about food is a lot of it tends to be overcooked. I assume this is a food safety thing. On the bright side, with the fresh grilled meat/fish option, you can tell the staff when to take it off the grill.

Grounds, rooms, public area needs TLC. From replacing and adding lights to cleaning beautiful tiles around pools. Food is OK. Resort staff is amazing! Missing a lot Cuban music! Missing also Creole and la Picua restaurants.

The weather, Ocean and beach were wonderful. We don't go to Sol Cayo Santa Maria for the facility and it's comfort. The food was OK and the staff were great. The entertainment was good. The facility is not well maintained with many obvious weaknesses. Repairs are being done poorly. They made an attempt to deal with the "no see ums" (biting fly's) but with little success. Those almost ruined our trip. There were very few supplies or practical items at the gift shop.. mostly gift items and drinks.

Good buffet with lots of choices, but I was not impressed with the food in both a la carte restaurants. Club Cubano Los Flamencos near the beach had great pizzas and pasta. Very friendly service.Good evening entertainment.

Been 4 times now using trip central, amazing agents and quality service. They were dedicated to my planning and spent the required time to make my experience enjoyable. Dedinitely would recommend using them

Staffs are helpful and friendly. Overall the Resort and room are kept clean and have a beautiful beach. The buffet food could be better. My main reason for Santa Maria is for fishing.....it was amazing, worth the trip!

Sol Cayo Santa Maria was our second time stay. Our first trip was ocean view this time we also got ocean view for free! We been to Cuba 6 times!! It is definitely our hot spot! We spent most our time at the beach. Water is amazing! Only flaw was both of us getting stung by a jellyfish. Ouch! Varadero is my greatest liking! Overall this is a great place to see!!

Beautiful beach, clean room. 1st few days resort was packed with Cuban government guests and food was disappointing, plus staff didn't seem too happy. When they left 2 days in, food and staff morale improved dramatically. Overall great value, and snorkeling was good on the rock shoals accessible right off the beach once you walked past nudist section. Great value.

This hotel was a nice small size, good for family with younger children. It needs some updating, but the rooms were clean. The buffet restaurant needs updating very dark and gloomy feel. Add some nice colour to it and table clothes would help. Plus a good cleaning. Its was not appetiting to see dirt on the Handel's of the juice containers. This tells me the lids never get a good scrubbing. The food was ok for Cuban standards, we could always find something to eat. More English speaking waiters and staff would be helpful, it was hard when no one could ask questions to any of the staff as they could not understand you. Main pool could be deeper. No night life, shows were very lame. They did have a beach party one night that was fun. Beach is amazing and does have snorkeling just past nude beach. All and all its an ok resort. I would go back if they update the place some.

If you are born to royals you might have some issues. For everybody else with minimum amount of common sense it is a great place. Personnel working there so nice and helpful that I never seen enywhere else. Most likely will go back in the future. Beautiful beach and the water color You would wish your wife's or girlfriend's eyes could be.

Check in was quick, an envelope was already prepared. The room was huge disappointment, nothing could open/close. curtains were stained, walls damaged. Moved to another room, which was better, but next day toilet did not work. It was fixed on 3rd day after complaint. Food was very average, but you can find something to eat. Two grill stations in a buffet, one for fish, one for meat. Employees were polite, grounds nice. Beach was the best on the island, water color stunning. Nudist area is annoying, it is part of the hotel beach, not near it as some reviews said They should make east side beach presentable, it is very depressing. There was always enough chairs in the shade, you did not need to wake up early. It is my recommendation that AIr Transat/Trip Central do not offer this hotel until seriously needed renovations are performed.

We were originally booked to stay at the Sol Santa Maria but on our way to the resort we were informed that we, and all other Sol guests on that bus, had been upgraded to the Melia Santa Maria (a sister property). We were never given an explanation as to why we were upgraded, but after walking over to the Sol to check it out we were very happy that we did receive the upgrade. The Sol looked like it was in need of some updating and the pool was green with algae in some areas. The Melia Santa Maria was very nice and the staff were both friendly and accommodating. The property is mid-size and kept very clean, the grounds were beautiful. The food was good, on a scale of 1 to 10 I would give it a 5. The front desk staff were friendly, but there was a bit of a language gap at times.

The Charm of the Resort, the friendliness of the staff, made for an amazing belated honeymoon. The resort is older, but that just adds to the charm, the beach was fantastic, the overall experience for this first time vacationer was fantastic...

For a last minute trip it was a great price and everything was great, as long as you remember it is not a 5 star resort. Food was decent, beach was amazing, but very windy. If you want a 5 star experience go to a 5 star resort. You get what you pay for.

Positive: Fantastic beach, beautiful grounds, delicious capucinos at Lobby bar. Negative: Food and food services at all locations were terrible. Tea cups were chipped, glasses were stained.Tea and coffee were not served at lunch and dinner. Room: curtains were falling apart, sink was cracked !shower curtains and blind were old, dirty. Some staff were extremely friendly and competent. Others were not so happy to be there.The place needs to be renovated and the food service staff needs training in food safety handling( one cook sneezed,then wiped his nose with his hand and using the same hand he touched the meat to serve guests)

Very clean, I like the small units no elevators, very spacious rooms and nice balconies, very good food. and friendly people staff, Ocean was a bit raff, because of the cold front, close to couple shopping centres. Transportation bus stop at the hotel double decker bus Vowwwwwwwwwww.

This was the first trip I took to Cuba. The bus ride from the airport to the hotel is about 1 hour.... On an old bus, which I am sure hit every pothole on the causeway. Not a pleasant experience at all We had asked that the 4 of us get rooms in the same building. We were told that the place was packed and the best they could do were rooms in buildings across the walkway from each other The first rooms that we were given were ATROCIOUS! There was mould in the bathroom, the blind behind the tub was covered In mold and slime. Our room was dingy and looked like it hadn't been cleaned in weeks. Our friends' pillow cases had blood stains on them. We spent some time on the phone trying to explain the situation, but got nowhere. Finally, we went to customer service...... And there we met Lily, the ANGEL of service reps. She listened to our complaint. And took us to another building, where, miraculously, we did get rooms on the same floor. These rooms were at least habitable. I found that the converter I brought would not charge my low voltage items... Laptop, batteries, phone. I talked to Lily, and she loaned me her personal charger. When this worked, I asked her to purchase me on and I would reimbursed her....Lily insisted I use hers for the duration. See.... An angel. The food at the buffet was plentiful, and there were several choices each meal. But... There was very little change from day to day, each meal (breakfast, lunch and dinner each day seemed to the same foods) for that time of day. The á la carte restaurants were tired looking, and the selections were not very far above the fare at the buffet. I will say that each and every wait staff we encountered was professional, cheery, courteous and attentive. The cooks, once they got to know you (a 1 peso tip each time helped) took extra care prepping your choice of meat. There was always beef ( which had a different texture than ours and was always, to my standard at least, somewhat tough... But still tasty) chicken, fish, and (at least 4 of the days) pork to choose from. There was a good choice of complementary sides as well. Desserts were plentiful, and I discovered a variation of rice pudding which was VERY good...... One odd thing we encountered.... you CANNOT get milk for coffee or tea during supper..... We solved this by buying milk at the on site store and bringing it with us. Oh, and BRING KETCHUP! They don't know what it is for some reason.and PEPPER... although they have pepper I didn't like theirs. The grounds looked depressed, although this may have been because this is their winter as well. There were always groundskeepers doing cleanup... Everything just seemed shabby. The beaches were nicely laid out, although you had to of get there very early to obtain a shaded spot... Same as at any other resort I've been to. There was nightly entertainment, and it was very good. We were entertained each time with the troupe entertainment. The piano bar was a grand room.... But it stank from cigar smoke. This was a problem, as none of us smoke, and my lady has a breathing proble. But the music was excellent. Nightly entertainment at the bar varied from a pianist one night to a guitar and cello player the next. Very good to listen to.

Our room was kept very clean every day. The staff was very courteous and friendly. Although the food is good, just redondant during the second week! We always sat in the same area to have the same waitresses who gave us good service. I would squeeze lemon in my water. Once they got to know me, they would have it ready for me! We were happy to tip one peso each meal.

Just returned from our week at Sol Cayo Coco. Started the late night check-in badly: although it says "ocean view room.......that doesn't exist! There was no water at all in the room. The phone didn't work. The blind covering the huge window in the bathroom was broken. The safe didn't work. The airconditioner didn't work. Not to impressed . But, the service was very good and very quick!.......All issues were fixed before immediately, or by the next morning. My husband improvised with the broken blind. The grounds must have been beautiful when new. The lay out was nice and interesting, with quiet spots and action areas around the pools. There was a lot of shoddy workmanship everywhere, buildings and rooms were dated and showed lots of wear and tear. Food was not that great, but the attempt was there. By the end of the week, though, most issues are forgotten since the service and the beach and water far surpassed any other issue. You also get what you pay for, so remember that.

hotel is the oldest resort on the keys,workers are fantastic they go out of their way to make you happy. Rooms are clean, resturants are nice, sometimes to many flies food was good every time I take someone new they just love it Ive been 18 times in 3 years

Grounds were lush with greenery which provided privaCy in the room and balcony. Food was varied and quite good In the buffet. The restaurants were very good. Service at the resort was good. Issues with water in the rooms was an issue for our first night but solved. Beach was beautiful

Enjoyed our stay at the Sol Cayo Santa Maria. Clean rooms, typical Cuban food, great staff! Usual disconnect in communication between resort & original booking - went with a handicapped traveller (in a wheelchair). Resort did not provide walk-in showers and.2-3 steps up into rooms. Luckily traveller was able to walk a little. Nice a la carte Cuban restaurant.....Italian not so good. Friendly and helpful staff, better than average contact with Sunwing rep at the resort. Great beach for adults....quick drop-off for young children. All-in-all, a great vacation spot!

This was by far the cleanest resort we have been to In Cuba (over 20 times to different resorts, all categories). It helps that there are enough waste recepticles. The men cleaning the grounds are extremely unobtrusive. Unfortunately, it was quite windy the ten days we were there, so we spent very little time on the beach (although it is amazing, and the water is nice for swimming). The pool area was nice and secluded, enough lounge chairs. Rooms were spacious and clean good matress. Trip to the airport somewhat long (over two hours on the way back in morning "rush" hour. Overall a good vacation.

well maintained, easy access to facilities, there is a long beach to walk or hang out on, there is also a small nudist part of the beach if your into that. the pool water was a little too cold for me but all in all we were satisfied with everything.

Needs quite a bit of maintenance. Buffet lunch was cold. We got there at 12:30 and had to wait for our room til 4:00. Was not impressed by that. I worked 2 12 hour shifts prior and was up all night prior to going to airport. Found receptionist rude. Our ocean view room was far from being ocean view. The pools were great and people were friendly. Most of our meals were great after the first day.

Returned last weekend after spending 12 nights here at the Sol and can honestly say you wont find better value in Cuba than this! I made it a point to see every hotel on the Island either by foot or bus and although you will see new Resorts looking modern I can rest easy by saying you will never find staff in all areas even close to the Sol !! Being smaller and obviously well managed adds up the the best service you can get. From food to rooms all was very nice. Beach also wonderfull.. So will end by saying thank you everyone at the Sol for a great Holiday... See you all Soon !!!!

I have been to Sol Cayo, Santa Maria 4 times now (just got back on Monday) and absolutely love the Resort. The staff are friendly and always remember you, the rooms are clean and large and the food just keeps getting better - AND, THE BEACH IS SPECTACULAR!!. I have travelled all over the Caribbean (and Cuba) and it is truly one of the most pristine. I'm going back in January 2015!

This was my third visit in the last year. I just find it such a great place to spend a week. The food is good, the staff is excellent and the rooms are large and well maintained. The bus drive across the causeway is visually entertaining in itself.

The hotel was great, staff were amazing! Rosa, our event coordinator was awesome. Grounds staff were excellent. Food was good for Cuba. The staff went above and beyond our expectations and I am very happy we chose this resort for our vow renewal. The only downfall was that we could not get to the beach at all during our stay as the wind was blowing too much and waves were too rough, but that has nothing to do with the resort or the staff. Thank you to Rosa whom made me feel like a princess the entire week.

We had a VIP room, nice room, large and clean but very limited view of the ocean. The fridge and coffee were not always restocked but customer services was helpful and very nice. We have been traveling for 30 years and have been to Cuba on many occasions and I am sorry to have to say that the food at this resort is the worst we ever had. The buffet food was barely warm. My husband was sick on 2 occasions which has never happened before. The food at the a la carte restaurant, either the Italian or Cuban menu, was for the most part pitifull. I would have appreciated a disco at least a few times during the week. The piano bar is nice but not lively at all. Finally, service at the bars was excellent, even service on the beach at time. Very pleasant and always smiling.

Sol is older, and not the fanciest, but it is a great place to relax. The beach is outstanding, uncrowded, plenty of shade palapas, snorkelling right there in wading distance. The rooms are fine, everything works (water, etc) beds aren't bad. Booze is plentiful and staff are generous with the pouring. We like the spaghetti bolognaise and the pizzas near the beach. Uncrowded, relaxed, great beach, no hassles.

ExamIple: What did you think about  this hotel? (grounds, public areas, rooms, dining, features, etc.) I truly enjoyed this hotel and I would recommend it to anyone. The dancing crew is totally amazing and very very friendly......I will definately go back in the near future

This hotel was absolutely disgusting, the food was horrible, rooms AC did not work, staff was not friendly or efficient, would never go back, waste of money. The only thing nice was the beach. Thats all

I really liked the layout of this resort, lots of vegetation, bungalows of 4 or 2 rooms. The staff are very friendly and helpful. The weather was teriffic no rain. The Italian and Grill restaurants very good food and service. Great place to relax.

I had a great say at the SOL Cayo Santa Maria. The hotel was old (oldest in the cayo) and in need of repairs for the service was five star the whole way. I asked for a wheelchair accessible room. It was in good repair everything was functional. A handle fell of the dresser but when reported to management it was promptly repaired. The service was awesome. I was traveling with my daughter (9 months) and everyone was so helpful. Both in the mini club Jeny was great but also at the restaurants. The chefs (Marbelio in particular) were so accomodating with helping find food she could eat. The serving staff was there to make sure we had all we needed and at quiet times, they would even hold and talk to the baby so I could eat. I will definitely be returning!!!

Nice stay at this resort, simple, small & intimate resort. The staff at this resort is what makes your stay so special. The food was so so but then again it is Cuba. We didn't get sick which is the main important thing. The beach absolutely amazing!

The people working at this resort make it a truly exceptional place to stay. The beach is incredible, the resort is comfortable and the food was very good. It is easy to stay at this resort and be very relaxed enjoying the paradise that you are immersed in.