First time here and I have to say it exceed my expectations. Staff was superb. Facilities excellant. Going back for sure. Many extras included to my suprise. Food was good and the beach great. The new bar on the terrace provides a beautiful view of the ocean and country side

We were moved to the club amigo due to issues at the don lino. We did get a chance to visit the don lino and it was a small resort and the grounds looked good. We did stay at the club amigo and we really enjoyed this resort. The rooms were cleaned and well maintained. The pools were clean and not over crowded. The Cubans that were at the resort were friendly and polite. For whatever reason it was guest from other countries that gave us the evil eyes for whatever reason lol. They always had something to eat and it’s typical Cuban food with the usual taste. The bread was fresh as was the salads. The ice was very yummy and they had different flavour almost each day. The pool bars and lobby bar and the 24 hr bar had all the same drinks and I wasn’t fussy so I drank what they had and enjoyed it. All in all the club amigo was a very well run hotel and I would recommend it as a good destination.

I like this resort. The beach is good. There is coral, so wear your beach shoes. The pool is small. The returning cliental (like myself) love the small village feel. The staff have become friends. It is very rural, but there are horse carts to get around. I took things to the village school, and staff. Some people moved to other resorts, but I stayed. Got a great tan. Swam in the ocean at least twice a day, and got my nails done in the village. Went snorkeling from 3 different beaches. Took a horse cart tour around the coast, to the place Christopher Columbus landed in Oct 1492. Saw friends from other years and met new ones. Good vibe.

Hello Back from our trip here’s our reviews on the two resorts pros and cons : Don lino pros: Beach close to rooms People are friendly Lots of sun chairs available and they are clean. Fresh Eggs Don Lino cons: Rooms are very dated/bugs/ old ac units No water or hot water in our room Had no door knob on the first room we were in Beach has a lot of coral and very windy not the best for swimming English is not very good with Any staff Pool is small Pool bar only open an hour No entertainment at night or at the pool or beach Had to purchase bottled water which was only open for an hour in the am Food was the same everyday not very many options at all Animals all over cats/dogs/goats/ cows/ and feces not picked up or cleaned dogs beg constantly for food Seen the lady at the buffet touching alll the breads to pick out the one she wanted with her hands Had only 20 people there one day all seniors No mix for drinks only syrup coke Had to pay for wifi No hand sanitizer or soap No toilet seats on some toilets Toilet paper limited Sunwing should not sell this even as a 2 star Pcv (playa costa verde) Pros: More people of all ages mostly seniors Beach entertainment Pool entertainment More varieties of drinks Staff speak a lot of languages Pool was nice spread out from kids Beach was beautiful great for swimming Had lots of options for food it’s Cuba food but we were able to make choices Had bottled water Cuban a al cart was delicious Cons Rooms are dated and smell musty moldy We had a leak in our bathroom but maid didn’t know where from No drinks in the fridge Wifi limited Not enough bathrooms around the resort especially near the pool area Beach is a far walk no bathrooms Bathrooms were filthy and stunk of every bathroom smell seen girl wash the toilet then the counter top No soap or hand sanitizer in bathrooms around the resort No toilet seats on some toilets limited toilet paper Would say the resort needs an update and would down grad it to a 3 star We did have a lovely vacation it was sunny and hot but could Have chosen a better resort from the start had we have known better what to expect!

The best, friendly staff and guests. Have been going for over 15 years and will be going back next year. Relaxing place and able to do a lot of things when I want to do them. Can't wait to return next year.

I have been at Don Lino more than 10 times in the last two years. Each time I commented about the lack of accommodation for nonsmokers. I was hoping that the management of Don Lino would designate a little space for nonsmokers. NO such a thing. I suffer from cigaret smoking, because of a bad allergy to cigarette smoke. People smoke even 1 meter from the entrance to the restaurant. All other hotels in Cuba have signs no smoking in all bars and lobbies. It is very hard for me to understand the policy of the Don Lino management. THEREFORE I will never again go to Don Lino.

If you like it simple the DL is the place.Helpful staff the food was good.the first time in 15 years that i could take a hot (not luke warm) anytime of the day. They even found me a horse to ride whenever it wasn t working.

You cannot expect a lot from a 2-star hotel. BUT I could not find even one spot where a nonsmoker can seat comfortably. People smoke in the lobby because there is no sign Do not smoke. People smoke in the bar because there is no sign that do not smoke. People even smoke 1 meter from the entrance to the restaurant. I suffer from a very bad allergy to cigarette smoke. I become coughing when somebody smokes close to me. When I was working and was in a better financial situation I went many times to Brisas Guardalavaca. At Brisas al Bars and Lobbies have a sign do not smoke. We leave in the xxI century when health is very important. However, the Management of Don Lino is a few centuries behind. I hope one day there is going to be one place at Don Lino for NON SMOKERS.

Don Lino is a real Cuban resort where people can find tranquility and peace, away from the city. It has a beach with some stones therefore water shoes are useful. About 2 km away is a very nice sand beach called Playa Blanca with a village nearby. Many rooms are located near the sea and have nice views to the sea as well as trees for shade. Rooms are spacious, clean and well maintained. Staff is friendly and helpful, always available and ready to help. Food at the main restaurant is tasty but repetitive. Better option is an "a la carte" restaurant where food is fresh, very tasty, nicely arranged and served. Only on my last day at the resort I was not happy. I had leave my room with the luggage at 12 noon. My flight was at 9.15 PM!!! the bus for the airport was supposed to leave at 5:15pm, but it was changed to 4:15pm but nobody told ME about it! I almost missed the bus. As for luggage handling. Most Canadian tourists are older 60-70-80 years yet there no help from the staff. It is something management of the hotel could think about for the future.

Everything is good here for a quiet, family get away there is two beach on the property and another beach about one km away l would suggest this resort for anyone whom is looking forward to tranquility, peace and quiet as well as solidarity

I have never stayed at such a quaint, real Cuban style resort. I was immensely impressed with my room, the food and friendly staff. The beach was not what I am used to but only moments are two others. I had the best time ever at what is considered a 2.5 resort.

Nice to be back at Don Lino, almost 3 years since able to travel. Always amazing service and always amazing staff. Vacationers I meet while there are always very friendly. Always very clean and spacious rooms.

all Good,nice beach , great staff,nice weather, very quiet , very clean rooms , very good service , really comfortable mattress , very nice view of the Caribbean sea, nice blue water , a very relaxing time .

I was at Don Lino 5 times in the last 6 months. Each time is getting worst. In my last two weeks at Don Lino, there were two days 20 hours without electricity. If there is no electricity the bars are closed, there is no air conditioning and there is no TV. . BUT if there is power for a few hours there is NO TV. The food is always the same and always cold. The people who plan to go there should be aware of what to expect.

sea - you need swimming shoes, rough bottom beach - sand is outside the water only room - tv wasn't work for two weeks, no internet, interruptive electricity, all bulbs, but one are stolen, AC is ok food - you will not starve weather- warm, windy, unstable main bar on the beach is good, but overcrowded and noisy staff had brought no problems, pretty unusual. pool - more like a tub for three Personal - the location provides the best long distance swimming in my life Clear, calm shallow water, coral riffs, lava rock cost is accessible everywhere.

I have been to Don Lino 4 times in the last 6 months. The food is OK for a 2-star hotel However there ARE NOT vegetables, therefore many Canadian have stomach problems. There is a very limited amount of fruits. I have never seen one banana. The worst of all is that every day there is NO Electricity for 4 or more hours. In the last two weeks of my last stay, there was no TV. When I was at Don Lino in November, after the power was disconnected in about 10 minutes the hotel started its own generator. However later in December, February, and April, the hotel did not start its own generator when was the power failure. If there is no electricity the Bar is closed. It looks to me that the Management is making savings by NOT serving any drinks. Because I have a very bad allergy to cigarette smoke I could not enter the Bar, I could not enter the lobby. People smoke in the lane to the restaurant. Therefore, I strongly recommend for people with a alergy to cigaret smoke stay away from DON LINO.

All Cuban employees of the hotel follow Covid protocol, wear masks everywhere, even outside. Masks have to be worn by all guests in the dining room, except when eating. Resort has been renovated and enlarged, includes several children playgrounds. Several smaller sandy beaches with corals, it is good to wear shoes for water. Trees near the main beach provide shade. NO LIFE GUARD ON THE BEACH, ONLY AT THE POOL! Covered structure with tables and chairs near the beach provides shade. Many Cuban tourist families come to the hotel to celebrate birthdays. Resort is excellent for people who like nature, natural scenery, contact with the locals. Three Cuban bands take turn playing music at the dinning room and at the bar.

As usual the staff made the experience. Difficult times for cuba but the people keep smiling. This is what makes the trips worth while. The real experience here. Not a tourist trap. Just about anything you want to do is here or nearby. The staff will try to accommodate any request. I know things are in short supply but they will put an effort in to help

It was the first time I was in a two-star hotel. I was reading a lot and was prepared for what I can expect. I was the first tourist to arrive in Don Lino on November 1, 2021, after the closure. The first week there was not a piece of fruit only one slice of a green tomato. In the second week, the plate with vegetables had some more slices of tomatoes and even green beans. On the fruit plate, there were a few slices of banana and grapefruit. In general, I cannot complain about the food. However, the biggest frustration for me was getting the COVID 19 test done. A few days before my departure I was given in writing, that my Covid test will be done on Friday, November 12 at 8 am. When I showed for the test at 8 am, I was told, the test will be done at 10 am. When I came at 10 am, I was told the test will be done at 12, later ant 14. later at 15. I was walking 5 times to the Health Center. Finally, I was informed that the test will be done Saturday morning at 8 am. And again I was waking every two hours to the Health Centre. Finally, the nurse/medical person from the International Medical Clinic from Guardalavaca showed up at 12 noon. A similar situation was with receiving the test result. That was extremely stressful for me. I am 83 years old man with a disability, I have great difficulties walking. I would like to warn future tourists to be prepared for this kind of experience. BUT in spite of the bad experience with the Covid 19 test, I am going for four weeks in December. The price is very encouraging.

Don Lino is in amazing place,clean employees are friendly and good people,rooms,dining,activities everything is perfect for a perfect vacation.we love Don Lino Perfect location Perfect and the best place to rest

I have been going to Don lino for years. I love it because it's small and intimate. They are doing a great job on trying to make themselves better, whether it be improving the older rooms or adding a little play area to make it kid friendly.

Relaxing place to visit and will go again. Always new adventures and local areas to visit. Quaint friendly people both on and off the resort. Villages in the area are easy to get to and explore how the real Cubans live.

It's a simple hotel nothing fancy, make sure you bring water shoes as the beach is full of coral and you'll not want to go in the water with out the shoes, food was so so, a la carte menu not much better, nonetheless pleasant but not much to do there or around there.

This was my 8th stay at Don Lino and the buffet is worse every time I go. Cuba was running low on beer everywhere and it was impossible to get gas for the scooter I rented. This might all be due to the US embargo, but either way I will not be returning to Cuba for a while. My tourist dollars are too valuable to waste.

Hotel was clean,friendly staff. Food was not good been to cuba 10 times this was the worst food. But if your looking to just relax this is the place. No taxis to go anywhere no wifi and no excursions. So if laying on the beach escaping the world is what your looking for this is your place.

Beach very bad. Moving sand and sharp stones. To go to a nice beach they ask 5 pesos. To go to the Guardalavaca Market we pay 40 pesos. You pay less for a stay but you spend a lot for a taxi. The food was boring. Short of milk. Short of clean plates, cups. No evening entertainment, only the band and not every day. Pina colada I had a chance to get two times! The ping pong table has broken.

Good service , very nice and amazing stuff , food is great, room clean , beach very nice but rocky ,there's some spot sandy to go in and out easily. Canadian families and local people coming just for relaxing there and for several time . every day music band . wifi 5 hours in 7 Canadian dollar . all the rooms and bars , restaurants steps on the beach . don't forgot to visit where Christopher Columbus landed ,just 1 KM walk besid the resort .

We have been travelling to Cuba for 33 years. We stayed only 3 nights of a planned 9 at Don Lino then paid to upgrade to Playa Costa Verde. The staff were great at this resort but they had so little to work with. No CUCs were available Saturday,Sunday.Monday or Tuesday the day we left. Shortages on the Island really hit the lower star places like this one hard.No potatoes,very little bread or fruit varieties,.No condiments at meals.Middle of nowhere so no alternatives nearby for meals.

Smaller relaxing friendly resort. You can travel alone and always be talking to guests or staff if you want. Very friendly atmosphere. Towns and sites are near by. Feel the real cuba I stay in the bungalows, it feels like you are in a log cabin but with nice tiles on the floors and bathroom but the rooms are clean and nice as well. Always a good variety of food.

everything is close buy food Is very good accommodation look good with small bungalow but we didn't have we got small wood building ground floor not good it was smell from sure we have not been lacky to get beter one weather was warm and 2 days raining we enjoyed weather we saw some small dogs and we feed them every day poor little dogy no owners and made picture with them beach was o kay but couldn't go in water of rocky stones.

Very rural location. A true Cuban experience, nice beach but rocky, rough seas our week, very remote, older lower 1-2 level hotel with some recent upgrades. A variety of building structures. A 24 hour Beach bar/coffee bar with large covered seating area and snack bar right on the beach, always a breeze, the best place to sit. Ok food at the snack bar (forCuba). The staff held a Halloween dinner for all the guests and made a expansive "over the top" effort with a variety of food and desserts next to the beach bar. Halloween decorations, staff wore costumes, live Cuban music and later a local Cuban rock bank that played classic rock (decent effort and we enjoyed them). Buffet was ok by me, large air conditioned wooden building, great serving staff. Beer, wine with lunch and dinner. Limited selection of fruits and vegetables. decent deserts, ice cream a couple of nights. Good breakfast with bacon most days. Lunch and dinner could be up to 3 meat choices chicken, beef (roasted, beef liver, beef tongue all good for Cuba), pork, fish. Pasta allways. Best squash/pumpkin, good typical beans and rice. Lots of choice in my opinion. A la carte was a bit disappointing but once again the staff made an extra effort to please with a outside BBQ and seating and attentive service. Front desk staff always there and willing to help. Very honest, left my wallet on the front desk and when I went back to ask if it was there it was returned to me untouched. Great alcohol/coffee bar (no beer) in the lobby. Another great place to sit. Money exchange at the front desk was a problem for the first couple of days with only 10's and 20 CUCs when it came making it tough to tip. Also there was no bottled water available but you could fill your container with filtered water at either the beach bar, lobby bar or the buffet so take a refillable bottle Grounds were a bit overgrown when we arrived but an effort was being make cutting grass, trimming bushes and borders. The grounds were in pretty good shape when we left. Pool was not the best some days but a constant effort as made to clean, vacuum and chorinate. Decent Pina Coladas at the small bar next to the pool. Cold draft beer there as well. Bicycles (5) with basket a bit tired and in need of replacement or repair. But of the three that we made use of on different days got us to where we wanted to go. Cleaning staff always out doing their best. Maids friendly and always a artistic towel sculpture left on the bed. Good ac and lots of hot water in our room, some rooms apparently did not. Took a horse and buggy ride in to Santa Lucia/Rafael Freyre 8km away, 15 cuc return with a city tour (Mechi, young guy, spoke english), train station, abandoned sugar factory, central square etc. etc. Viewed but did not eat at a couple of restaurants. Yeni's and El Tulipan looked nice inside. Yeni's was recommended. The local beach (Playa Blanca) and small fishing harbour for small local boats approx 2km away (20-30 minute walk) was worth a look. Had a excellent whole grilled fish (snapper?) dinner with rice and beans (best I have ever had), french fries, cucumbers and a side plate of a potato like vegetable (cassava maybe), more sliced cucumber and more french fries for 2 cuc, with a beer (canned ice cold Crystal) add1.25 cuc. This as very small shack with a covered sitting area very, very, very basic. Located right turn at the end of the main road towards the beach approx 200 yards to the right. Very local. In all a good vacation, good value and definitely not fancy in any way. If you want deluxe, luxury or fancy this place is not for you. If you want the real Cuba give it a try.

If you want QUAINT,SERENE,TRANQUILITY surrounded by the white sand ocean Don Lino beach,and natural greenery of Cuba, then this villa living is for you!!! With a small pool but BIG OCEAN, it totally reminded me of cottage living, including a staff full of smiles!! A much much quaint smaller version of a fast pace bigger resort, with everything you need!! I would return in a heartbeat!!!

I was very happy with my stay at Don Lino. There was not a large selection of food but it was good quality because i have a sensitive stomach that often gets upset at food at other cuban resorts but at this one i did not have any stomach issues the whole week. It was a quiet resort with friendly staff. I would reccomend this place for people who would rather have a relaxing vacation rather than a party-type vacation as they didn't have a nightly show. I didn't mind that as that is the type of vacation i like. Overall, this resort is a very relaxing and nice place that i plan to come back to again in the future.

Love this place for its hospitality. It lives up to my expectations of a 2.5 star resort and more. I have stayed here by myself and brought my family a few times and everyone always enjoys their time spent here.

Don Lino is a small, well cared for resort - the staff are very kind and helpful - the meals are very good and the restaurant and bar service is excellent! The beach is lovely but not good for swimming - there are free bicycles and horseback riding - we have been to Don Lino four times now and will return in the future

Accommodations were good. Good rooms. Hot water 24/7. It is a villa not a hotel. The food was ok. Drinks were ok too if you are not picky then you will be fine. Bikes and horseriding included. Beach was not swimmable but decent one 1km away by bike. Overall not bad. You get what you pay for.

My room was setup good and convenient with all amenities around. Clean towels and bed covers with good room cleaning. TV and air conditioner are working okay. Big shower room with hot water 24 hours supply. Good cooked tasty food with great service! Only the ocean is windy, wavy and with coral stones which make difficult swimming.

Positif petit resort mais extremement sympatique, petit buffet mais tres bon et nous avons mange chaud ! Musique pendant le souper et ca continue pour la soiree, mais ca fini tot, ce n est pas un endroit pour faire la fete. Un endroit pour se reposer! Apportez vos souliers d eau pour la plage, sinon prenez une caleche(Alex, le meilleur) pour 6 cuc, il vous amene a la playa blanca(magnifique) a 5-6 minutes et votre taxi vous attend pour vous ramener. Negatif pas de wifi(pour bientot), les chambres auraient besoin d un bon coup de peinture, le dejeuner fini tot

The Don Lino is an excellent choice for a relaxing and budget friendly resort. The rooms are clean and comfortable, the grounds are clean, bar service is great and the beach is lovely. Remember to bring water shoes though. If you are looking for amenities that larger resorts have like swim up bars and multiple pools and restaurants you may be disappointed. The Don Lino offers peace, sunshine and lovely staff. I would return as it is hard to beat at the price point

I was pleasantly surprised by the well-kept grounds. The pool is small, but a larger one will be built within 5 years, along with new townhouse rooms. The buffet restaurant is very nice and there is one a la carte. The food was fine. My main complaint is the unmotivated animation staff. Even after telling the animator of the day (only one on duty) that we wanted to do an activity, he said that because noone else was interested, that he wouldn't do it. We wanted to do the dance lesson, by the pool, and I am sure that others would have come had he started the lesson. This did not impress me. Only 2 activities were done of the 8 or so listed, and only on the afternoon. Also, the only entertainment at night was a house band on 5 nights, and a disco (flashing lights set up at the beach bar and recorded music), 2 nights. There is a nice small stage near the pool, but it was never used - no dancers, singers, comedians. This was disappointing. I would return, because you can cycle to another beach and around the area. A relaxing holiday, but could have been more fun if the activities advertised were held.

I have no complaints. Had 1 problem with the AC .and they gave me a room for the night .it was fixed next morn.great little resort everyone was very polite. The local will do anything to help u .biggie drivers are also very very friendly

Excellent staff, food and resort. Always welcoming when you get to resort and very helpful. New things being added for the customers all the time. Will continue to go as I meet up with people who have been there years before.

We travelled to Don Lino at Christmas - had a wonderful time! They went all out for Christmas dinner - the resort is great and the staff is amazing! Small and intimate - friendly staff who provide awesome service- grounds are well cared for and there are improvements every year

The service was poor, food was so so. Had to change rooms two times,the room not so clean. The light outside not so much. The beach dirty and cant swim in it. Pool area so so, no entraînement pretty boring. This resort needs a lot of upgrades and wifi.

I love the small resort, easy to get around. Other resorts have staff to get a chair, tip is customary. I appreciate not having all the extras. Great music in the evening, kitchen party atmosphere. Short walk to Playa seals the location.

Very nice place to relax if you like quite place, good food and very good staff very friendly and helpful. Not much of entertainment but it is mostly for quite and calm place. Good value for money

Second time at this resort because the first time was great. This time, the experience was very different so something has changed. Tables and floors washed with dirty, smelly water. Every morning at the beach bar for coffee, there was garbage on floor and tables, washroom was disgusting - all not cleaned from the night before. Definitely not as clean as other Cuban resorts I have been to. Staff just stand around and talk to each other while tables are dirty with food and garbage, no clean place to sit...there were no guests to serve so there was no excuse. Food was ok but no bacon, ever, and very few options. Saw a manager standing over the buffet, eating and picking food with his hands. Animation staff gossip about guests in spanish....they should realize that some people can understand what they are saying. They advertise activities on the program board but nothing was actually done that week. Receptionist gives dirty looks when expected to do her job. Staff in general were rude and unwelcoming....I'm not talking about one or two, it was a few staff who treated guests as an inconvenience which created a negative vibe. The beach was too rocky to enter but beautiful to look at. The location, rooms and views were beautiful so there is potential for a better experience, perhaps under different management.

The rooms weren’t that great - we didn’t have hot water all week, however other visitors said most of them did. Some mold on the walls and the safe wouldn’t work. The beach was beautiful and extremely close to the rooms - huge bonus. The staff were amazing - very friendly, helpful, and fun! Tony helped us all week and became our number 1 person to talk to about anything we wanted to do. Renting bicycles was fun and we visited another beach close by that was beautifull. Not a “party” resort by any means but if you’re looking to relax it’s perfect.

My first trip I’ve taken myself without my husband. Wasn’t sure how it was going to be, until I landed at this resort. The Don Lino ..... It was a wonderful place to go for some great R&R. My room was great, the food was good and the were very kind people.The grounds were very clean. The hotel took us on an outing to the Playa Blanca beach which was fabulous. They put on a barbecue of wings, ribs and burgers. Personally I thought they outdone themselves. It was a great time. In my opinion I think this was a great place. The only downfall I had was you couldn’t get in the water on the beach without sand shoes, but one mile away you could go to this other beach which was beautiful. I would definitely go back. I would definitely give this hotel a solid three.

Very kind peaple and nice room. The playa was enough big for us. I think they fixed the place and paint. Perfect view on the sea from my room. I highly recommend this place if you would like to see Rafael Freyre.

Don Lino was known for it's family feel. It used to be like going to my second home. Unfortunately as the resort grows the new staff aren't as welcoming as the original people. I have mobilty issues and asked for something on the ground floor. Iwas placed on the second floor of the furthest untit from the lobby. The roads around the resort look like something you'd see in a war movie take care if riding a bike or scooter. If you are looking for a place to drop out and relax this is the place.

Second time at this resort. Has not changed apart from new restaurant building and additional rooms. Simple accommodation , things have broken and not been replaced. E.g. ac remotes , have to turn on and off at breaker. Fridges missing. Etc. Started off in one of the older rooms but issues with mold and creatures in the roof. Moved to a wooden building but still activity in roof at night, lizards, we hope! Food very repetitive. Will not make you Sick but boring and a week was enough. Take snacks with you? Beach nice although difficult to access water without shoes. Lots of new sun loungers. Playa Blanca is close by for a change of scenery.not a lot to do but if weather good it will be a relaxing stay. Most of the staff are friendly and locals are welcoming and happy to see you out of the resort.

We liked Don Lino very much: small, quaint, beautiful bungalows with view of beach and lovely sounds of waves. Food: little variety and repeats. Good activities. Clean and friendly. Andrea Sills. one hour from airport. Little around to visit. Restful and relaxing.

I booked a bungalow and got a standard room in a 3 room cottage. Book standard room to get a bungalow loll. Some renovations made for a noisy environment near the room. Otherwise all was okay for what it's worth. Staff was outstanding and unobtrusive. Grounds were clean and well kept. I would return in a heartbeat!

Arrival is a bit of a shock, 1 key per room that takes some jiggling to work, seriously dark at night with very few working outdoor lights, rickety stairs with no reality check of who would be using them and poor walking surfaces are your new reality. Do not let it deter you as it does get better. Switching the room was my choice and necessary as we are older with walking and stair issues that were recorded/passed on by tripcentral, thankfully. The move was facilitated beautifully by reception the next morning. The ocean view/breeze from our room was incredible and a blessed memory. The people of Cuba in this area are lovely. The attention given by the horse and buggy driver Autoral unbelievable. Relax, take a ride, enjoy the sights, the delicious, affordable restaurants and the surrounding beaches. If you do that you will have the trip of a lifetime! Expect a cottage type vacation and you will not be disappointed.

No Internet. Bottled water is not free. New bungalows (2 story quads) have fridge no safe, the opposite for ocean bungalows .Mold and disrepair in stone bungalows. Scorpions, tree frogs and variety of insects in room. Very windy resort. Lots of coral and not great for swimming. Half hour walk to another beach.Very few beach chairs and most were broken. Good variety of fresh fruit and vegetables in buffet but most days difficult to find clean table and had to search for clean cutlery,plates and glasses. Poor to no table service for beer or wine. One small pool. Free use of bicycles. Live entertainment nightly. Bartender was very sick one day and coughing over all the cups and glasses. Same night husband got very sick with four days in bed. Three types of meds. Spoke to manager that staff should be wearing masks or go home when they are sick.Short hours on snack bar with not much variety.

Always look forward to a good time there. Meet lots of people from over the last ten years I have been going. New things to see and do in the area as well. Lots of repeat people that return each year.

The people are amazing, The rooms are clean and they try to fix any problems as soon as they can. Sometimes you have to keep on top of them. The pool is small and gets crowded. But a lovely place to visit.

rooms were mouldy big time and in a state of disrepair. 14 days saw no shower for seven! restaurant had brutal service medical staff no ability for even basic english communication. music horrifically loud at pool and was 9am to 10pm atleast. to much sexual tourism including the womans child a on more than one occasion. so sad to see. large groups of cubans smoking, swearing, boomboxes blaring would take over from 9 to 5, too often. the staff seem unable despite a desire to remedy simple problems. big change for the worse in three years.

The hotel or the resort is a nice place to spend your vacation. There are 3 beaches that you can use. Beach or playa don lino, on the right hand side is the playa military, the third beach is proximate to the resort and it is called playa Blanca. The 4th beach that you can go is beach Bariay bay described by Chris Columbus in 1492 as the world's most beautiful sunset. Compare this resort to the other resort in holguin, the beautiful immense or vast carpet green ranches are another world"most beautiful sceneries to behold by human eyes. Clients of other hotels can't see these spectacular sceneries. The group singer at donlino are the best group singer in the entire island of Cuba. Their version of Spanish popular songs are far better than those Spanish songs uploaded on you tube.com. I have been to cuba for many times and I can honestly say that the group singers at don lino are the best. I like the beef that this hotel serves to their customers. I too like the generosity or attitude of snack bar attendants. Given the chance I will definitely come back to this hotel. For the price that I paid to this hotel I got what I had paid for and enjoyed my stay at don lino it is the best.

I read a lot of the negative reviews here before deciding to take a chance on this one. Suffice to say, I was pleasantly surprise. I booked for one week in the first week of Sept, 2017, but stayed only 3.5 days as I was evacuated out due to Hurricane Irma. Rooms: Pros: Clean and habitable with hot water. Just don't expect the Ritz; Expect the same as if you are in a roadside no-name brand motel. Try to stay in the standard room by the pool if you can. They are more modern and open. Cons: Older, no fridge in all rooms, and some rooms are missing the controller for the A/C unit. Also the TV is an older model and may not get all channels like CNN. Food/Restaurant Pros: The same as you will find in all Cuban resorts (i.e. chicken, pork, fruits, pasta) but the taste is above average and not as bland as in some other Cuban resorts. The staff and service was excellent and made up for the lack of variety. A lot of the staff are actually young students in training. Cons: Nothing of significance noted. Bars: Pros: 24 hour service and snack bar. Bartenders were courteous Cons: No Havana Club rum. Beer sometime flat and week. Reception: Pros: Polite and professional. Cons: Could not get change for CUC on one occasion during my week's stay. Pool: Pro: Cleaned daily. Cons: Too small for all the guests, especially when the locals arrive to visit; No swim up bar, not enough tables and recliners (again, especially when the locals visit). Entertainment: Pro: Bikes to borrow. Pool table. Local bands. Water ballet, but due to hurricane I left early so did not see it. Cons: Did not note any dance lessons nor poolside games like other resorts, but this is not a deal breaker as the guests appear to be regulars and were of an older crowd. Overall; I will be happy to return. FYI: If you're single and looking for company, you better bring your own date as this resort is certainly not a party place. But if you just want to lay back and enjoy the beach, read a few books, do some studying, and mingle with an older crowd, this place is for you. The closest biggest town is 8km away, quite small, and there is no disco there and it will he hard to find a 'date'. Sorry to disappoint all you single guys.

We have stayed here 100 times in the past 4 years , usually a week at a time , its one of the few places that do not do security checks on the locals , they allow 90 year old men to check in with 18 year old local girls , there is an age difference with me and my boyfriend, main reason we stay here , , the food is the same every day , the power goes out 2 times aday , , pool is dirty, , never no hot water , tiles hanging off the walls , no A/C , the list goes on and on , if your looking for a hot steamy night with one of the staff or have a record, even if there is 50 years age difference with your partner this is the place for you , ,

A most wonderful and special place. Looking so very forward to going there again. The upper level of the wood framed bungalow is where I stayed. I awoke to the crowing of a rooster and fell asleep to the crashing of waves. The people, particular area and land captured my heart.

We absolutely hated it. Please read our review on Tripadvisor my posting name is K8tieM. This hotel should be taken off of your website. There's poop everywhere, dead animals on the property, the staff are indifferent, especially if one doesn't bring them lots of presents or tip large. They tried to refuse me water. The water is not potable on this site. The Don Lino is a disaster. Cate McKinley and Jacqueline Barker

This is a quiet little resort, set on the ocean side. Staff are friendly and very helpful. Food is good, a wee bit repetitive but good. I'd recommend this resort to those who want rest and relaxation. If your looking for excitement I'd go elsewhere.

The Don Lino is our favourite hotel in Cuba, and we have been going most years since maybe 2009. We prefer the oldest section of the hotel which, by last year, had pushed "scruffy charm" to the tipping point. This year, however, the place has been re-wired: all the plugs work, even an outside one! New paint, inside and out. New bathroom appliances and fixtures. The air conditioner worked. The safe box worked. Please repair the water pipe leak in the wall of room 1024 that floods the dressing room daily, although a beach towel will soak it up. They've turned on the air conditioning in the new dining room. The staff is as charming and friendly as always, the beach beautiful and uncrowded--although if you want to really swim, walk 20 min. down the road to Playa Blanca, a beautiful, protected, deep beach with lots of sea grape trees where, on weekends, Cuban families enjoy themselves. The food remains good--better than at some more expensive hotels. You'll still find the odd farm animal wandering through, although not as many as in the past. The Don Lino is, however, changing from a small, intimate, close to the ground place to something with more grandiose ambitions--to its detriment. Even more two-storey "bungalows" have been added, and there are plans for a new section across the entrance road--more "bungalows" with another swimming pool. It is starting to feel crowded. The new dining hall is an acoustic disaster zone that makes conversation difficult. Its size discourages meeting people and a sense of community. The local musicians are what make the Don Lino shine, and the new dining hall is an impossible place for music. So, as the place expands, it is losing some of its best qualities. It would be nice if, instead of expanding, the same money was put into upgrading and better maintenance of what they have. For all its rough edges, this is a unique place. You can really have fun here.

Consistent with its rating, Don Lino offers the opportunity to venture out to savor the goodwill and sincerity of what may genuinely described as ' experiencing a day in the life of rural Cuba ' The stoicism of people enduring 3 years of local drought is to be applauded, including having to carry water to dwellings inaccessible to water trucks. Apart from the need to have better quality mattress for restful sleep, Don Lino food has improved considerably. We also look forward to the completion of the dining and bar area renovations.

This was my second time to Don Lino and I loved it!!!! I enjoyed the food but I am not a picky eater. Some complained at the that their wasnt a choice. If you take everything every meal then you may feel that way too. If i could get their breakfast sausage " I WOULD". Local band at dinner is wonderful and so is the staff who work their no matter where. I am going back soon and cant wait. If you are looking for a party pace this may not be for you. If you want to relax is perfect. Small village and local beach which is amazing within walking distance. Go and enjoy!!!

had a lovely week at don lino,quiet resort,beach is very rocky and was rough ,however 1km away was playa blanca,lovely beach,bicycles and horseback riding were both free,and utilized them every day,went to the farmers market on saturday in santa lucia and bought some fresh produce as well as enjoyed a tomotoshrimp soup and a roasted pork sandwich,rented a scooter one day $25 cuc for the day and went visiting a friend in guadalaca,nice beach there too,enjoyed a meal ther for about$2 pesos ,for me the resort was great i like the counrtyside,rooms were right on the beach,and i found the food be be very good as i enjoy creole cuisine

If you are not a fussy person you will be pleasantly surprised . Don Lino is a quiet relaxing little resort for the older crowd. The rooms are pleasant but a few things like the tv or phone might not work very well or not at all & there may be the odd crack or mold on the walls but the staff are happy to help. The food is fine but pretty much the same stuff every day. Breakfast was the best . Getting into the ocean is a little difficult due to the rocky coral reef that runs along the edge of the beach so water shoes are a must. There are lots of shells & coral for beachcombers! Most staff were warm & friendly & make you feel very welcome. Weekends & holidays see a large influx of Cubans with a resulting strain on services. I say that when you pay a smaller price don't go expecting luxury & you won't be disappointed.

I am not sure why would any of the travel agencies sell packages for this place. My 2 weeks there was a nightmare. water outages for days, no A/C, no power, dirty and infested rooms, food was the worst and not fresh. There are no words as this place should be closed as a hazard to people.

Our second time at Don Lino and will go back again. The beautful new buffet was a welcome addition to the resort, the food was much improved since our last visit, more choice and lots of staff on hand. The beach is great for snorkeling, but hard to enter so wear your water shoes if you like to be in the water alot. We styed in the little stne cottages right on the oceanfront, 100ft to the water, very calming. They do need to attend the beachbar/ lounge washroom areas better when the resort is full. We used our own cottage as much as possible. Hot water and cold air conditioner, warm ocean and sunshine. What else do you need?

New buffet building which served a good variety for being there for two weeks. The staff were excellent. Getting change was a problem. Beach was OK for adults but not for children. Snorkeling would be good if you can get over the coral in turbulent waves. We were lucky and had no issues with our room. We would go back but only if the price was right.

Don Lino is an average small resort, that has some qualities of efforts and appreciation. Nice that its villas and huts, instead of hotel rooms. Constant renovations around, some water issues to be expected. Repetitive live entertainment, better than none. Stay in room 1008, oldish stone hut across from pool(small). Bring duck tape, seal up window that let in sewers smell? No fridge, and safe didn't seem to work. New wooden villas is said to have fridges. Old ocean front huts looks even smaller. Playa Blanca Beach nearby is worth the walk(shortcut). Pizza at rest is like macain's personal. Paid about $650 each, early March. Would I go back? If I wanted to help out the locals outside the resort, yes.

Basically you pay for what you get. This resort is geared towards travellers who are looking for a piece of mind far away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life... On a scale of one to ten..I will rate it a six. The standard oceanview rooms were in great condition..except there was an issue with water for a bit. That was later resolved. The food was good repeating at times..drinks were always there if you needed one.. There were always cats wondering around...longing for attention... Overall pool was great...beach a bit rocky.. Don't forget to bring your water shoes. .we ended up going to a local beach 10 km away. Lots of local restaurants around the area..fun time...

We travel often to Cuba and this is definitely one of my favourites so far. The food was amazing! The staff are incredible and so helpful and friendly. The beach is quite rocky but it was quiet and relaxing. The rooms were cozy and the farm animals that are all around are a delight. We will be coming back here regularly. We loved it. we took a horse and buggy ride to a wonderful restaurant in town and had the best seafood plate we've ever experienced. Thank you Migel!

My latest trip ……Cuba’s best secret Don Lino a small unpretentious hotel in Cuba. I had looked at this resort many times but never taking the plunge and purchasing a ticket. The beach has coral the full length of it …just have to be careful going in the water Of the 15 or more cuban resorts we have been to this staff is definitely the friendliest of all. The room maintenance is probably the worst I have seen 5 tubes of caulking would go a long way keeping critters out. The new restaurant is serving delicious food maybe lacking some variety Entertainment very good for such a small resort, but the music is way too loud for small spaces Would I go back there? A most definite yes!!!! I have never booked with Tripcentral before this trip. I was a little unprepared for how helpful someone there was…. unfortunately I do not know her name. Next trip I will look at booking thru Tripcentral again. Altogether this was a happy successful holiday Thanks Ken

Things were clean, and the staff were very friendly. The food could have been better and the hours the food was available could be changed. The room was clean and comfortable. The beach was nice, but some newer lounge chairs would have been nice. Most of the lounge chairs available on the beach were broken.

I really enjoyed my stay at the Don Lino; the staff was amazing!! I enjoyed the fact that it was a small resort as we had the chance to get aquainted with most of the other guests that we hope to meet up with next year at the same resort. The rooms were clean and the service prompt. I would definitely go back!!

I got more than I expected. Met new friends, and was able to experience the culture. Within one week, I knew names of people that worked in the resort, and even got a hug. This was a first for me, and was totally in awe with the whole experience.

Being smaller than most resorts, I found everything within reach - the beach, pool, dining and bar areas etc. The staff were extremely friendly and helpful, and the food was good. Of course, the wonderful weather helped make a great week even better.

Villa Don Lino is a small but cozy resort We had more than a very good time, knowing beforehand that Villa Don Lino was a 2 to 3 star property. We found that the food at Don Lino was just as good if not better than many 4 to 5 star resorts that we have visited previously. Included in our trip was a free catamaran ride which was a lot of fun, with a scenic informative drive each way. One day during the week the staff put on a “Cuban Day” showing us how “milk” sugar cane, with an exposition of Cuban music, dancing, foods, coffee and drinks. A simple highlight was a horse and buggy ride to the site where Columbus landed in 1492 and the beautiful Playa Blanca Beach. We enjoyed watching all the animals around the resort, horses, pigs, chickens and a rooster, dogs, cats, iguanas, salamanders. Our one complaint is there was not enough Toilet Paper in the public washrooms. The rooms are clean with lovely balconies or porches (depending on whether you were on the first or second floor of your building), but the rooms can use some repairs, for example dresser drawers may or may not work. Our only regret was that we only booked for one week rather than two. The bottom line is, for the price I don't think you can find a better place.

Room quaint and clean, staff amazing, grounds clean and pretty and I loved the size of the resort. Small, easy to get around all the other guests were either reepeat guests or going to return again. I loved it

Don lino employees where very friendly and also very helpful in and with my every needs! I will consider going back to Don Lino anytime! The food isn't the best but they're is a 24h snack bar open with decent food available

This is a very peaceful resort with super friendly and accommodating staff. Our room was clean and daily visits from our maid ensured we had fresh towels and returned to a tidy room with her creative touch. The food was decent although not a huge variety which lends to being a small resort. The main buffet restaurant is brand new and evening entertainment during dinner was excellent spilling over to the evening entertainment at the beach/pool bar where live bands got all of the patrons participating. Toni and Manuel always checked to ensure we were enjoying ourselves. Toni went above and beyond to explain about where the snorkelling was safe and made sure we had full gear. The beach is natural and clean although not the best for swimming. We were directed by staff how to get to the beautiful swimming beach a short walk through a village and down the road. Locals were super friendly and the horse drawn taxis were always available if you needed a ride into town or to the beach. Amoral one of the taxi drivers even made reservations for a delicious dinner in the village for us one evening. Overall an excellent resort for a relaxing vacation without spending a fortune. We would go back again!

You will read other reviews that speak to the quaintness and friendliness of the resort and the staffs that work at Don Lino. All of this is true. This is not a sour grapes review, I had a fine a vacation at the Don Lino. However, there are four things I think are worth high lighting that may be of benefit to you in deciding to choose a vacation at Don Lino: 1. The buffet food is the same day after day, a very limited selection and frequently the grill selection is very poorly prepared - dry, overcooked, over seasoned with salt etc. We saw lettuce once in 14 days. I know Cuba food is notorious, but seriously this buffet was not ok. 2. Farm animals do roam the property, quaint - yes, sanitary - no. A welcome horse patty in front of the room and yes I did step in it, is not ok. The one large grass area in which you can do activities is frequently a grazing area for pigs and horses. 3. Tips - with a tip I was poured the 5 year old dark rum. With no tip , I heard the bartender tell a student to pour me the low quality Santera rum. Bartenders spend a great deal of time promoting their own side businesses, frequently while clients at the bar wait for service. Don't leave a tip for the maid - you get no new towels and a very basic clean. Leave a tip, get fancy towel art and new towels and a premium clean. There is a bartender at the Don Lino who is wealthier then most of the clients who attend this resort. Please tip, but notice that the maids and bartenders are living a very good life relative to their nieghbours. Management at the Don Lino needs to wind in the bartender greed and set a cleaning standard for the maids despite the tip on the pillow or not. 4. Animation staff - we experienced 6 consecutive days of bad weather, several attempts to have the animation team do something to entertain the clients fell on deaf ears. Kudos to them for an impromptu super bowl party and the Cuban themed afternoon party. Generally, however, they spend all of their time in their little room chatting or looking on their phones. There is no water sports, pool aqua size ( we had guests organizing their own). Bingo is one time a week with one game. Expect to be on your own when it comes to entertainment. Never saw Spanish lessons, saw dance once, etc. There is a list of activities by day that is never followed. We tried to do activities at the set time and no staff in sight or the event was cancelled? This is an easy fix - management sets a standard and then enforces it, simple. This was my second time to Don Lino and yes despite the comments above I will likely go back, but it is because of the people in the nieghbouring area and the lovely natural beauty that surrounds the Don Lino. If your looking for a resort based vacation I would not recommend the Don Lino.

It was the size (96 rooms), quiet (on its own in the country side) and ocean front setting that attracted my husband and me to this resort. Having read many reviews on TripAdvisor I felt confident the Villa Don Lino would suit us. And it did! We had one of the old rooms, 50 feet from the shoreline. The food, although not an unnecessary over abundance of choices, was well prepared and tasty. The service we received in the dining hall and throughout the resort was genuinely friendly and helpful. Our room and bed was comfortable, other than when a smell of sewer gas came up the floor vent. We fixed this right away by placing a plastic sandwich bag between the vent and its cover. Slept so well due to the lullaby of the waves. Ate well, with no "regrets". And enjoyed the horses, bikes, buggies and antique car ride to sight see, I have never enjoyed a vacation more! Regarding the booking process, Trip Central made it simple with their on line booking process, and polite replies when I phoned to ask a silly question. Our e-documents (tickets) arrived well before our flight. Thanks TC. The flights with Sunwing: On the way down the plane was one of their new fleet, lots of leg room and a "new car" feeling. Great cabin crew. On the way home the plane was an unmarked generic with slightly cramped seating and a crew (excepting the cheery audible Captain) seemed tired and eager to just get home. Smooth check ins, customs, etc. both ways.

This small resort is working hard to provide for every visitor need. There is a reason so many visitors return over and over. It could be the relaxing atmosphere, or the great beach, it might be the local folks in the area who welcome tourists, for me it was the snorkeling.

Nice hotel, clean, beautiful with good location to many places. Playa Blanca was a very beautiful beach, 6 pesos carriage rid there and back. Bring ear plugs as the roosters will wake you up all night. Hit the breaker panel, near door to turn on/off the air conditioner and clean the filters in the tub. Food was OK. Older crowd, no pina coladas :( bring insect spray! Hope to return to Cuba soon.

This resort is great for the price. The grounds are kept clean, rooms are basic they were having water issues while we were there but we made do as long as we had warm water. Staff are very friendly. The new buffet restaurant opened while we were there it's beautiful. The food was good for Cuba always something for everyone just bring your own ketchup and hot sauce and your good to go. Beach is nice but u need water shoes your better off going to playa Blanca 15 min walk or 5 min horse and buggy ride. The restaurant in front of the beach has great pizza and seafood. Marlin restaurant just down the road has great lobster. Overall it was a great week minus the rain and awesome place to travel with kids will definitely be returning.

Food quite not that good! The rest was not bad!very calm and pleasant. The Catamaran trip was a problem. The agent responsible with it didn't give us life jackets. Was very windy and rainy, very dangerous!!! people were mad at him, they said would write bad reviews.

Poor food , musty rooms with septic tank smells spoiled an otherwise ideal location. Very competent medical help made it all survivable. Good access to Cuban towns and villages where you meet wonderful locals. No sign of panhandlers, a few jiniteros.

Staff was friendly , but hotel to crowded ,. was not to nice , let us go to the airport and have us wait for eight hour. Other passengers came later and they known the plain would be late and two day earlier people came back to the resort because of the flight delay .

Really relaxing resort, friendly staff and the other guests were laid. Bring your water shoes, and a water bottle. I loved the big waves on the beach and coffee Oceanside in the morning. Food was above average for Cuba and the rooms in the bungalows were nice with a little balcony to sit out on.

We just returned from our third holiday at don lino. The bungalows are very nice. Horseback riding is available for free every day. The tourists who stay here are very friendly. It is not the best beach for swimming but there is a fantastic public beach close by. It takes about 15 walking minutes to walk there or you could bicycle there. The food is just ok but there is always something good to eat.nightly entertainment was low key but very very good. It is not a resort for people looking for a loud disco party. We will go back.

Very basic but still a nice place to visit. All amenities are very right there for you, the buffet and the pool and not to mention basically right on the beach. Moped rentals right on property is a blessing for the more adventerous but otherwise very quiet.

grounds are beautiful,staff are the best I have met,the food was very good this year,service was great,these people really do care about the client,they are really trying to give clients everything they need for a great stay

It is the third time for me in that resort and I will go again If you are picky about food stay at home but if you enjoy different culture food you will love this place the rooms are fantastic and clean you don't have to walk a lot to reach to the beach, bar etc. I recommend to rent a scooter for a 25 CUC a day so you can go around to all beaches of all resorts in Holguin as well as all the shops in the near towns the scenery is very beautiful and people are very friendly and helpful If you want to have a good time it depends on your attitude and imagination and not the resort

This is my third time in this resort, and the last time in April I somebody went in my room on the last 2 hours while I was at the restaurant....when I arrived home in Canada I was missing $ 300.00 from my wallet, plus two memory cards with all the photos that I took,and a pair of Adidas pants all from my suitcase..this time I went back to complain with the manager but nobody would listen to me......good luck anybody going here.....I won't..... This is the typical Cuban resort that would be one star in the rest of the Caribbean, don't get fouled by the staff, every body takes whatever the can take, I saw boxes of bottles of liqueur going to cars, I had to change my room 3 times in one week, the 1st one, had phone not working, TV broken, and toilet loosing water from the bottom, the 2nd one no small fridge and air conditioner broken, the 3rd one I had to fix the shower head, no phone, and the TV was down 4 days out of 7,....the beach was abandoned, dirty, nobody to cleaned, all rocks and the only place at the corner of the beach that you can get in was all sea weeds, only once in the water in one week, stayed at the swimming pool, FOOD?....4 choices every day the same, after 4-5 days you are craving to come back home....watch out for the transportation, they take you to the cleaners because there is no way out of there, they will ask you double every time, the transportation peoples knows this and they are very arrogant too...so be careful...is a junk

Basic small hotel. Very clean and well kept. Located close to the village and therefore feels like you're in a village yourself with cows roaming at night and roosters singing in the morning. Horseback riding is included and is a must! Countryside is gorgeous when you go through the fields. The beach is small and clean, but extremely rocky . No bank at the hotel, exchange at the airport. Same food everyday for breakfast, lunch and dinner. No enterteinment