Loved this resort. Food was plentiful and good. Our room was great, situated right by the pool. Our butler Rolando was awesome. He made himself available all day and would check to see how our day was going. Very professional with an amazing personality. He would make sure our dinner reservations were set and if we needed towels or anything regarding the room, he was on it. Would definitely love to have him as our butler again. What can you say about the beach. Incredible. Will definitely go back.

This was an amazing resort, grounds were clean rooms were clean all amenities were well kept and clean. We were able to visit other resorts as well and enjoy their amenities but to be honest ours was probably the best in terms of amenities. The food was delicious the 24-hour snack bar with room service was a good add-on I would highly recommend this to anyone who would be willing to take the 90-minute bus ride from the airport to this hotel.

This was an amazing resort, grounds were clean rooms were clean all amenities were well kept and clean. We were able to visit other resorts as well and enjoy their amenities but to be honest ours was probably the best in terms of amenities. The food was delicious the 24-hour snack bar with room service was a good add-on I would highly recommend this to anyone who would be willing to take the 90-minute bus ride from the airport to this hotel.

Upon arrival, we were not assisted with our suitcases up the stairs, even though we had walking canes. Very disappointed.. Pool was so cold and did not even one person in the pool during the one week of our stay. I like the 24 hour snack/food availability . . I feel that breakfast could be extended to 11 am. I think dinner should start at 5:30 pm. I thought this vacation was a 6.8 out of 10.

It was a last-minute family trip, that we did enjoy, the facility was very clean. The food was good entertainment was much better than Mexico ones. Transport was punctual comfortable a little bit long from Royalton hotel to airport.

We very much enjoyed Royalton Cayo Santa Maria. It was our first time at this resort and we would return. As far as a Cuban resort goes, this is the best we have stayed at in Cuba, we've been to several others in Veradero, Cayo Santa Maria and Cayo Coco. The pros: Beach is spectacular Service is fantastic, lovely people. Butlers are waiting for you and happy to assist. Food was above average for Cuban resorts, they have condiments, salt and use some garlic marinade at the beach that guests raved about. We always bring chips and snacks for the room, it makes all the difference. Rooms were quiet and AC worked well. We were on bottom floor building 10, totally fine, no bugs in the room. Would choose this location again, found it convenient. Resort wasn't at capacity, so getting beach and pool chairs never an issues. The resort is for people that want quiet, no loud thumping party music, music by the pool at reasonable level, music on the beach, for a few hours, not all day, and lots of 80s music when we were there. Seems they cater to their crowd, which is an older clientelle. They accept CAD happily. The cons: Smokers, they can't at home, so they do here and they have no regard for others in their vicinity. Lots of butts left in the sand on the beach too, just ignorant travellers. The travel time to get to the resort is about 1 hour 45 mins. It's a long bus ride. Take is as a tour and listen to the tour operator and it becomes quite a bit more interesting. We asked about a cab ride, it was $100 CAD or $80 USD, same amount of time, but they would get you out of the airport faster than the bus waiting for stragglers. There are no-see-ems, or sand flees or something, not mosquitos. I didn't see or feel bites, but I came home with a lot. Husband has none, so they have a blood type preference. We travelled for a quick weekend getaway, it was what we needed. We travel quite a bit, wouldn't stay in Cuba for a week, but for 3-4 days, it's a great refresher on a top beach in the world, doesn't get much better than that. I will comment on Diamond Club as we typically book this level if we can at other resorts. We didn't miss it here. The Diamond Club people used the regular side of the beach more than their dedicated section. Service seemed great with out it. We weren't there to drink, so didn't care whether we had top shelf liquor. No lines at check in to need any priority service. We liked our room location, but if a top floor is a preference, you may have a better shot at it with Diamond Club. Certainly they reserve those for returning guests. I did all the things to get a top floor and they said they were full, even though they weren't, so they do protect those rooms, which is good in a way. If you are planning a trip to Cuba, make sure you are able to accept the challenges their country faces, with a little understanding, you will appreciate what they are offering and have a great time.

The grounds, room and service was amazing! We really enjoyed our stay! The people were so helpful! The entertainment was good as well! But the best of all was the beach! Amazing! The lobby bar was excellent. Definitely will return! We had so much fun!

I loved everything the 1st time that is why we returned.The rooms, pools and beach are great.The staff are really friendly especially the entertainment team and the butlers, very helpful.I would prefer it not to have Diamond Club,it is not needed and only makes returnees annoyed.There are only 122 rooms , I think larger hotels need a special club but not here. We may return, not sure.

The hotel was nice unfortunately it has changed dramatically since my visit in 2020. The resort is to small and limited restaurants to incorporate a diamond club. We never had our mini fridge restocked after asking several times. Also wrote a bote and placed it in the fridge. We never had our pool towels changed and a limit on bath towels. We had issues with our safe also had a leak in our ceiling. We also asked to have our rooms beside each other before we arrived and were placed in separate buildings. all the food had changed since 2020 and very repetitive. I know Cuba is known to have limited food but unless you were diamond club it seemed very limited for a five star hotel. Also seen favouritism amongst different people. Had to ask for everything nothing was offered. In the past everything was explained and clear as to what was included with our stay. This time it took two days of complaining to our butlers to get anything we wanted or needed. When I spoke to different people about the drastic change in the service since 2020 I was told the hotel was under new management. We had six in our party and we made the best of it. The beautiful beach and hard working staff did their best to make our stay a memorable one. I feel bad that I highly recommended this resort to my family because of My past experience only to be sadly disappointed.

Beautiful resort. Grounds are lovely and well maintained. The size of the resort is great if you like small and short walks between amenities. It was quiet which was also our preference. The rooms are very nice and well looked after. Our room cleaner was amazing. Also, our butlers Javier and Maria were exceptional. Genuinely caring and helpful. Most of the staff were fantastic. The beach is absolutely spectacular. You cannot beat it. There were always plenty of chairs and help to get a spot/set it up. Massages on the beach were a treat! This resort would be perfection if not for the food. We had higher hopes for the Royalton. The food was not only often inedible but we got very sick on our return. I hope that this can be rectified - we would go back time and time again if we had more confidence in the food. Thank you to the engaged and helpful staff who made this beautiful resort a welcome and enjoyable stay.

There was hardly any fruit to eat. No lettuce or salad or any food for a vegan other than beans. 2 of the workers brought me fruit from their home town yet the resort had only papayas and once gave me a tiny plate of mangoes and underripe watermelon. Star fruit and Guava were very bitter. Orange juice tasted like powdered Tang with sugar and water…there were no smoothies or fresh juices available. Butler upgraded us to a diamond member for free which made absolutely no difference other than being able to use the beach restaurant for breakfast and lunch and sitting on the right side of the beach. Maids could not provide clean towels, hand towels,floor mats or beach towels when requested as they said there was a shortage. Room service brought coffee in small plastic cups and said there was a mug shortage. The 24 hour restaurant ran out of fries and pizzas on a daily basis and seldom had any ketchup. Enclosed Restaurants were infested with flies all over the food and buffets. The mosquitos were really bad that my group bought some repellent at the market which was very expensive. The beach was awesome and the beds were comfortable and the sheets were changed daily. Expect to have a few large cockroaches sneak into the room along with geckos. The adjoining rooms can get very noisy depending on who your neighbours are. Entertainment was a hit and miss every evening although my 88 year old mother enjoyed watching them. The modelling show at the beginning of each show was to sell beach coverups which are more than half the price at the local market. The staff were all friendly and tried to help whenever they could but their hands were tied from shortages or late shipments….we weren’t sure of how or why there were no towels, or food shortages and mug shortages.

The Royalton Cayo Santa Maria is in same state as previous years except the Company has introduced their Diamond club level. Resort is too small for this and it has changed what once was! Sadly will not return!

14x to Cuba coackroach infested rooms lobby. Room change second floor storm came door unlocked wind blew all bugs in room works on bed. Pillow had works during the night still. Very unsettling. Food repeat everyday night. Stale bread buns.

Travel Dates: May 17–24, 2025 Travelers: My husband and I “They say laughter is the best medicine—unless you’re at an all-inclusive, then it’s probably the piña coladas.” Resort Overview Royalton Cayo Santa Maria is a spacious, beautifully maintained resort with plenty of room to roam. From lush grounds to a beachside bar and a 24-hour snack shack, there’s no shortage of places to explore—or eat! Food & Drink • Buffet & À la Carte: Great variety—fish, chicken, lobster, meats, fresh veggies, fruit, yogurt, and juices. Presentation was top-notch. Hats off to the chefs! • Snack Bar: Open 24/7 with pizza, burgers, fries, hot dogs, and other quick bites. Perfect for a midday nibble or late-night craving. • Bars: Fully stocked with a wide selection of alcohol. No shortages here—cheers to that! Accommodations • Spacious ocean-view room with bathrobes and slippers—a classy touch! • Everything functioned well, though some furnishings could use a refresh. • Two large pools with bars, loungers, and cabanas made for perfect lazy afternoons. Beach & Activities • The beach is stunning—wide, clean, and perfect for sunbathing. • Daily activities included stretching, games, and surprise snacks like mini sandwiches and fruit salad served in spoons. A delightful way to stay energized! • Animator shout-outs: o Blanca – You rocked that dance party! o Yadian (hope we spelled that right!), Meliza, and Karelys and one more guy whose name we didn’t capture (sorry!) – Your energy could wake the dead. Seriously, you all were amazing! ? Diamond Club Perks As Diamond Club members, we were treated to butler service — and it was fantastic. • Javier – You’re basically a vacation ninja. One moment we’re wondering where to find something, and poof!—there you are, smiling, cracking a joke, and making it happen like magic. Your cheerful energy and sixth sense for guest needs made us feel like royalty (but with better cocktails!). • Maria Rosa – Thank you for your kindness, patience, and always being ready with a helpful answer and a warm smile. You made everything smoother and more enjoyable. Together, you two turned great service into something truly memorable. We felt so well cared for—and genuinely appreciated. Service - That Sparkled (and Folded!) Room service was prompt, courteous, and always on point—but one star shone extra bright: • Hayulis – You’re not just a housekeeping pro, you’re a towel origami artist! The adorable towel creatures you left in our room were so good, they practically needed their own Instagram account. (Seriously, one of them got more likes than my beach selfie. Rude, but fair.) • Staff across the resort were friendly and professional., and always ready with a smile. It felt like everyone was on a mission to make our stay unforgettable… and they succeeded! Final Thoughts This was our second stay at Royalton Cayo Santa Maria, and it won’t be our last. Despite Cuba’s economic challenges, the resort delivers a high-quality experience with charm, efficiency, and heart. Highly recommended for anyone looking to unwind, indulge, and maybe dance a little on the beach.

The resort is quite small which I like it. The services from butler’s, restaurants, bars, room attendants and beach personnel are amazing. They will do as much as they can to provide you and exceptional service.

The Royalton was a nice resort to spend our time. The beach other than Royalton patrons was very quiet and empty. It seemed the other resorts had much less travellers. The food was fine and they made extra effort on our last night which was greatly appreciated. Staff was friendly and accommodating with all request, except one. Beach was beautiful the water was very wavy as the winds were strong for the entire week we were there 20 plus kph. The attached market connecting to memories was almost deserted everyday due to the lack of visitors. I was disappointed given my late flight at 4:50pm that they didn't accommodate for my request for a later check out. Currently having a medical issue to manage, resting is very important and this request was denied and absolutely no extension was provided. This made my trip home more difficult. Given that i came on a late checkin past 9pm and cleaning staff work until 5pm. This didn't see reasonable to me. The night entertainment was typical of resorts with one night being much better than the others. The resorts needs some upkeep especially bathrooms near the quiet pool. Overall we had a lovely time.

From our arrival to departure- exceptional! The staff…all of them are so friendly and helpful. The resort is beautiful, the rooms are in good shape, the pools are beautiful, the beach is stunning. The food was good but the menu was repetitious. I highly recommend this resort. The nightly entertainment was the best ive seen at any resort. Everything was wonderful.

Hotel was beautiful and grounds well kept. Staff very friendly and helpful. Food was good and had a variety. Beach beautiful and lots of chairs available. Breakfast by the beach with diamond club was great, saw a dolphin

Friendly greeting upon arrival with a welcome drink. Our assigned butler took us on a tour and then to our room. The staff and the beach are what makes this resort. The food was decent for Cuba but very repetitious. There are no menus since they don’t know what they will have available for that day. The waitress tells you upon sitting what is available. Always eggs and bacon available although the bacon was rationed. Absolutely no jam or peanut butter. The best evening show was on Sunday evening with a Michael Jackson impersonator. Poolside entertainment started shortly after 3:30 and was entertaining but nothing special. Bring lots of donations for the staff i.e. clothes, shoes, toys, Tylenol, toothpaste, etc. Believe me, it’s so appreciated. They get to keep material things but all tips are shared. The entertainment staff were very warm and friendly, Yadian and Karley are the best!

My first room was incredibly musty/mouldy! So bad it was hard to breathe. We were able to change our room and it was much better, but still musty. My friends changed their rooms because the air conditioning was not working well, and it was constantly 25 degrees. Too warm. Their second room was perfect. No mould, and good air. Ask for room 806! Mine was 805, and it was still musty. I had to wash my clothes twice when I came home to get rid of the smell. However, I have to say, the resort was beautiful, and the beach was gorgeous! The staff were more than pleasant and eager to help! They made it worth the stress when things were not comfortable. 24 hour room service was a plus for sure! Tip these wonderful people at least $1-5 USD per room service delivery. They need it and appreciate it. I also brought clothes to give the maid staff, that I no longer wanted, and they were delighted to have something new and different because they do not have much choice or money to buy new clothes. The food was very good! I loved all my meals, and cannot complain about it. They made a big effort to make meals special in the dining rooms, and that was not unnoticed! Thank you Royalton for the service and effort you put out there. You certainly aim to please and rectify any concerns of your guests! I will return!

The Royalton exceeded our expectations! The rooms were clean and spacious, the food was tasty and plentiful and the staff was friendly and attentive. Having a butler added to the experience. Over the week we had Omar, Michel and Javier taking care of us. Each morning they connected with us to see if we needed anything and checked in again at the end of the day. The level of customer service at this resort sets it apart from the rest.

The rooms were dated, need paint and new furniture, the beach was beautiful and the pools are pretty good, but missing tiles, and in need of repair. The staff is very attentive, however the food is terrible, and the lack of types of liqueurs and common mixes for typical drinks is very disappointing

Grounds were well kept, lobby was clean had a nice breeze and overlooking the infinity pool, room was nice and clean bed and pillows were comfy, a/c worked fine. Food seemed repetitive. Staff were always courteous. Butlers Maria Rosa and Javier were very helpful. Ran into a couple of issues in our room and they were addressed right away. Anay from housekeeping was awesome always gave us what we needed.

Pros: - Service and the people who work there are wonderful - Beach is excellent - Lobby bar is great. - Maids and butlers are wonderful. - Snack bar grill is good. Cons: - Food in general...... but this is not a problem for me, and understandable after the pandemic. - Cockroaches, many of them, in our rooms, in the lobby, everywhere. Got bitten by them as they were inside the bed, on the walls, around the floor, etc. This creates a major health hazard, hygene concern and many other health related challenges. - Run down rooms, grey worn down towels, linen have holes. - The manager chooses who to speak to while he does his rounds talking to the tourists......he targets a specific kind of tourist....there is preference from his part.....would be good if he talked to a variety of people there. He is nice though. I do hope things improve as this was a very good resort before and now at the most a 3.5* maximum given the present circumstances. Sunwing should warn tourists about the cockroach infestation.

Royalton great resort, service is impeccable .this resort has wonderful staff and they all speak a perfect English. I would like to thank OMAR our room butler and JASMIN from housekeeping for their devoted service. The beach with the white sand and the ocean with the clear and amazing water was out of this world. Food and beverages were very good .This is definitely a 5 star resort. Bus ride from the airport is long but once you arrive at the resort it is worth it. Highly recommend the Royalton Resort.

Best resort I have ever been to! Everyone is so friendly and go out of their way every single day to make your stay a wonderful experience! The beach is beautiful! I travelled with friends although it is considered an adult couples resort. We enjoyed our trip!

The Royalton Cayo Santa Maria is one of the most stunning beaches and compares to Turks. You can walk easily on the white sand for hours. You can get a palapa on the beach or pool at any time of the day. The pools offer spacious beds and surrounded by palm trees. The garden is lush with vibrant colours. The butler service Michele made our 23rd wedding anniversary very special from ballon’s, flowers, cake and bubble bath. There is an abundance of food leaving you satisfied. Highly recommend the cappuccinos, croissants in the morning, quesadillas by the beach and fish options. My hubbys favourite dish was octopus with pasta. The staff is exceptional, friendly and keeps property clean. We had to use the medical services which were also available, quick and rectified our hiccup. If you’re looking to retreat to a quiet adult only property this is great one. Recommend bringing a bubba for the beach, bug spray and sweater for breezy evenings.

Just got home from The Royalton Was there for a week I am going to try and give my most honest review we arrived late Sunday night March 31st we were greeted by our Butler Omar he is an amazing Butler. A cart took us to our room. When we got to our room it smelled very musty ensure you take air freshener with you we opened up the patio door be prepared there are no screens on their patio doors we did have a toilet seat in our bathroom and more than enough toilet paper for the week we didn't notice food shortages. Eggs were provided for breakfast six out of the 7 days there was no shortage of any types of alcohol both pools were wonderful the ocean was quite stunning if you have mobility issues ensure that you take a pool floaty for yourself as the resort does not have any to offer when going to the ocean the walkway is very uneven it's definitely a tripping hazard we tipped with American money and gifts on a daily basis the one thing we found was requested by the wonderful Cuban people was medicine we plan to go back next year for a week

The grounds were beautiful and very well taken care of! Although the rooms are a bit dated, they were always clean! Despite some shortages, the lunch and dinner food was delicious and there wasn’t a single meal we didn’t enjoy! The beach… one of a kind and absolutely stunning! Lastly, the resort staff, these are the most hardworking, genuine, fun and wonderful people I have ever met!

We had the best time at the Royalton in Cayo Santa Maria. The attention to detail and customer service is second to none. The food was excellent with numerous options each day. The beach is amazing and there was never an issue finding lounge chairs or a cabana for the day. This hotel provides each room with butler service. The butlers go out of their way to attend to all of your needs and the managers are constantly checking in with all guests. We will return without question!

I sent a previous review, but I don't think it went through....so here it is again. We spent 10 days at Royalton Sante Maria (March 2024) and were taken back by what we experienced. The resort was more than we expected. Our room was great, very clean and looked after superbly by the cleaning staff. The two butlers we had; Andrew & Ariel were so helpful and provided us with everything we requested. The service staff especially; Leticia & Lilibet at the Eggcelence restaurant were both fantastic servers. All service people were (English speaking) and conducted themselves perfectly and made your feel most welcome. Special 'kudos' to Leo the Entertainment Manager who turned out to be a super friend. He provided the guests in the main lobby with various entertainment ensembles each night. And, Danillo in the Jungle bar was so nice to us and even provided a cribbage board for me to beat my wife on. The beach area was beyond beautiful - the nicest beach we ever had the chance to enjoy in our 21 yrs of traveling in the Islands. The food was very acceptable. You could always find something that pleased you, especially pizza for lunch and soup for dinner accompanied with various meat / salad selections. Hats off to Alex (resort manager) and his management staff who took total care of everything in making us feel special. We will definitely be returning every year now that we found a resort second to none!!!! Paul/Maya McCarty Grimsby ON. Canada

The hotel is very well managed. Important to note, this is a 5* for CUBA. There are definitely shortages of food/drinks, toilets break down regularly, all toilet paper must be placed in waste baskets, room smells like sewage. Rooms are very large and comfortable, though tired. These are nobody's fault; this is just realistic for Cuba. The staff are incredibly hardworking and friendly. Having said that - there are MANY repeat travelers which reflects well on the resort but can feel a bit cultlike and if you're a first time guest you tend to feel a little 'less than'. Not a big deal. One evening, the table beside ours sent their food back because it came out 'cold'. Not something we would ever do. The general manager Alejandro and the chef came out and spoke to us, asking how the food was and advising if I didn't like anything to def. just send it back. The chef was shooting daggers - this was at Eggscellent. I didn't understand, yet, that he misunderstood and thought we were the couple that sent the food back. Again in the evening he approached and asked if everything turned out being okay and it was okay to send the food back. I explained it wasn't us who'd sent it back but he wasn't listening and just carried on walking. That morning, at 5 am, we received a room service order that we hadn't ordered, so - loud knocking at 5 am. I didn't think at first that this was related - and I hope not. You will not find a more beautiful beach at his cost so if that is your priority and you don't mind overlooking some shortages, okay food and tired but clean and spacious rooms, this is it. While it is a beautiful resort, I wouldn't return. Would give beach/pools 5* but lower pool is cloudy and not clean as the top pool is. The beach is a 10 out of 5.

If you are focused on perfection and updated decor, abundance of food choice and unwilling to appropriately tip the hard working staff then The Royalton Cayó Santa María is not the resort for you. If you admire the beautiful tropical grounds on this smaller property, the cleanliness of the resort, the friendliness and accommodating staff then continue reading. My husband and I who are in our early 60’s from Kitchener, Ontario just returned home from our second stay at The Royalton. Both visits were in Feb for 2 weeks and we absolutely love this resort! Situated on one of the most stunning Caribbean beaches, the sand is so white and soft and the water so clear and warm. There’s miles of beach to walk. We were always able to find a palapa. The resort has two beautiful, clean pools that are appropriately water filled as this is an adults only resort. The staff are amazing! At The Royalton you’re assigned two alternate butlers. Their job is to make your stay memorable. They are your “go to” people. On our first trip we were assigned Michel and Omar. On this latest trip we had Lester and Diana. All excellent and thorough. Both stays we had a junior suite which were comfortable, clean, had a good sized bathroom with shower and soaker tub. Each night we slept very well on the comfortable mattress. The rooms are dated but that didn’t bother us. More important was that we had a working toilet, hot water, safe, fan and a/c. Wifi was available in the hotel rooms but the service could be intermittent at times. Stronger wifi could be found in the lobby, lounges, and restaurants. Our maid Alina was the best! Aside from always providing a clean room, her towel creations and daily notes were inspiring. The culinary staff continued to offer tasty and nutritious meals despite the food shortages and supply issues currently affecting all of Cuba. Each dinner a new entrée was available. I would suggest taking small gifts for the Cuban staff, for which they are very grateful. Items we Canadians take for granted aren’t available to them for purchase especially medicines, shoes, clothes, hygiene products. There is a reason why The Royalton has so many return guests. This truly is a Cuban gem property!

From the moment we stepped off the bus, we were treated royally. Every single staff member was warm and welcoming. Although the rooms could use a bit of a facelift/refresh, they were very clean, and the bed comfortable. People say the food in Cuba isn't good, but the Royalton definitely proves that wrong. This isn't a "party" resort although they do have wonderful entertainment throughout the day. It's a perfect place to go to relax, enjoy the amazing beach, and soak up the sun!

2nd time at the Royalton and definitely will be returning. Amazing beach, rooms and food. Oven side grill was great for lunch time quesadillas. Butler Omar was awesome and took care of us all week. Highly recommend.

The grounds and pools are very well kept really great beach with lots of loungers. Or course the pool chairs are gone by early morning with towels on them. The butlers Ariel, Marisbia were very attentive to your needs. The bad was the lack of certain foods but that is problem all over. I guess we didn't have as many food problems as other resorts. The only bad thing that happened was I went to move a coffee table a bit closer to the couch and it collapsed, this was because there where no screws holding the 3rd leg in place. The table being very heavy and the top of the leg went down my shin, They did take me to the doctor at a The Memories resort and he cleaned it up. Salt water was the best treatment for it. This was fine for the first day but the second day the winds really picked for about 3 days, venturing into the waters would have led to a bigger problem. All in all was a nice time away, great water show the one night.

We had a wonderful stay at the Royalton Santa Maria! I definitely recommend and consider staying again. The resort was very clean, the people were extremely friendly and the food was magnificent! The cleaning staff were wonderful especially Aleida who always kept our room clean and grabbed us everything we needed. Our butlers, Mairobis and Ariel were amazing as well. Always ready to make certain that we had the best time and were catered to.

Great boutique resort, easy to get around for someone with mobility issues as the property is fairly small. A lot of seniors vacation here so they need to up their game with the addition of railings to a lot of the stairs to hold for support. Bathrooms around resort very clean but not all always open and some of the handicapped ones were missing a toilet seat. Food a little boring as no buffet (except for a small one at breakfast) and only two ala carte restaurants, but tasty. A lot of people still playing the towel game. We did manage to finally get lounge chairs around the lower pool and a Bali bed after complaining to the manager. He quickly rectified the matter by setting aside two beds and loungers with a handicap sign for ourselves and another couple, thank you for listening Alejandro!! Butlers were amazing, I have been to other resorts with butlers , but this resort you could always find yours, they knew who you were before you arrived, always attentive, and will bend over backwards so you can enjoy your vacation. Special shout out to our butlers Javier and Maria!! We tipped in American and Canadian currency, bills and coin, and it was never a problem. Try to bring a lot of over the counter meds for the Cuban people, Advil, Tylenol etc. they really need them.

We spent two weeks over Christmas and New Years. A small, adult only resort with great care and attention by all staff. Alejandro (General Manager) and Micaela (Assistant GM) were ALWAYS present and checking in with guests. Our butlers, Maria Rosa and Javier took awesome care of us - confirming dinners, booking massages, etc. Executive Chef Jesus and his staff presented food beautifully. We loved the Quesadilla Snack Bar at the beach - awesome chefs Rosemary and Oslay (married couple). Each order is custom made - the hot sauce is wow! Enrique, the bartender at the Seaside Bar took excellent care of us and was our Spanish tutor! All the staff were friendly and welcoming - always smiling and always greeting you. The food was good and generally available. Quality was good. The beach is the reason to go. We walked daily and never came to the end of the beach (4+ km). The ocean is a pallet of aquamarine. This is our third visit - we will return.

I am saddened to say that the trip I just took to the Royalton was without a doubt the worst in 32 years of traveling south, including Cuba. Despite what we all know about Cuba (so-so food, lack of certain things), we used to return to Cuba because it's a country we love, with people and history for which we have a real admiration. Our last trip was in 2021 during Covid to Paradisius de Oro (RS). It was memorable despite the ever-strengthening embargo, and despite the shortage of foodstuffs (even pepper). At the Royalton, things were also missing, such as eggs. But that's not what had a lot of influence on the negative opinion of me and my partner. First of all, it's the obsolescence of the place, including the rooms, and the feeling that the hotel owners don't really care. For example, I took photos of places where a simple brushstroke would have hidden mold and I saw this urinal separator wall which is held in place by 2 pieces of plastic screwed together with 4 screws because it came off the wall (and we are talking here about the toilets in the main lobby, those close to the restaurants). But above all, it was the presence of cockroaches (large and small) in and outside the rooms that I could not accept. In 32 years of traveling to the Caribbean, this is the first time I have seen this. The fact that food was only in restaurants (no buffet) didn't help either. It's difficult to have to sit down each day to order the same food, wait for it to arrive, and realize that it's a small variation of what we were served the day before and that we didn't like that much. With a buffet, it's easier to snack a little without agonizing over the whole thing. The existence of butlers is also in total contradiction with the crisis which is raging from my point of view. We did not feel the need to approach them other than to ask for what we are owed. Certain rooms did not have wifi for instance. As for the staff, Alexis is a superb butler. The manager of the Royalton, Alexandro, does his best and is constantly making his rounds talking to customers. For the rest of the staff, it depends. We have found that younger people do rather rough work while older people are totally dedicated to their work. I sincerely hope that things change in Cuba for the better!

Loved the beach, ocean, food, resort, servers, drinks, and maids. It was a wonderful experience except for the cockroaches in our rooms! There were 15 cockroaches in our first room and we were worried they’d get in our luggage, so we asked for another room. We thought we’d get at least another room like the one we had, sans bugs, but we were given a room with burnt out lights, missing lamps, broken safe, fuzzy tv, and more cockroaches! It was a room for the workers. This was a serious slap in the face and accentuated the apathy. You’d think they would give us a new room that was perfect in order to show their concern for us having to shake all our belongings out to make sure there aren’t any bugs in them. Pack all our stuff. Move all our stuff. When we should have been enjoying the resort. The apathy and nonchalance was gross! Why didn’t we ask for a third room? Because we wanted to enjoy the beach and we’re sick of wasting time!

This was our 14th trip to Cuba, so we are familiar with the food and shortages of goods. This hotel was a very good smaller hotel. The service is second to none, and everyone is so pleasant and accomodating. The grounds are well maintained and quite lovely. The beach is spectacular (although rough at times - which was a surprise). While there were shortages (no eggs, no gin, ran out of keg beer and serving from bottles, no shrimp, no white wine at the lobby bar one evening) we ate well and enjoyed a wide variety of drinks to satisfy our tastes. Overall we enjoyed the restaurants, but found the fare no better or worse than most 4 or 5 star hotels in Cuba. Our room was clean and adequate. We were given beer in our fridge 4 of the 7 days of our stay (even after asking our concierge to ensure we had some). Our housekeeper was excellent and always left our room spotless.

Santa Maria Royalton the grounds are so beautiful. The food was unbelievable. No buffets and warm food so tasty. The chefs were amazing. Bbq lunch at the 24hr Sunset Grill everyday was great. The lobby bar Cafe was great. Nighttime music the piano lady was our favourite 2x over the week. The maid Ana was very effient and thorou. The pools were very nice. We enjoyed our week because the Cuban people at resort work as a team and you feel the love of them serving you. Can't wait to come back.

Second visit to this resort. Already planning on returning in 2024. Amazing staff, amazing resort, pool and beach. Food was fantastic no matter where you ate on the resort and always great selection. Butler service is amazing, we had the same Butler Omar Alcantara for trip two. He made our stay comfortable and took every opportunity he could to make it special as well.

The staff treat you like family. Everyone is so friendly. Check out the Nativa bar, Danilo is amazing. The room is ok, kind of old and run down, not first world 5 stars more like 3 stars. But I guess for Cuba it's good. There were bugs. They spray for mosquitos on the resort each night which is gross. The food wad ok. The bbq at snack bar is best bet. Everything else is pork, chicken or fish cooked the same way. It prevents overeating. Beach is the best part. If you're looking for a low key resort it wad great.

It’s a small resort, therefore the personal attention is superb. Shout out to Andres, Ana,Amy, Silvia, and the entire entertainment team. Just need to improve Wifi;cost us extra and a better drink menu.

Can't say enough about this resort. Excellent service, beautiful beach and the property is immaculate. We ended up upgrading our room to ocean view and it was so worth it - definitely recommend it. Excellent house keeping, private butler and bellboy were always available and they make sure your stay is nice and smooth. Food is excellent given it is Cuba. Staffs are extremely hard working, nice and professional. Nice entertainment at night. We had the best stay at Royalton Cayo Santa Maria and we cannot wait to go back!!

It was our honeymoon, people were amazing top service. 2 servers one older at the bar in lobby not too friendly even though $5tip here and there from us didn’t change his behaviour. Quiet place not for parties. Make sure you see Antonio for cart service. Plan him Le Taxi song and he will give you the ride if you like fun.

We went in mid-May with some friends and had a great time. Beach was amazing. Resort was very clean. Staff were great—big shout out to Javier and Maria Rosa our butlers—they were amazing hosts. Darian at the lobby bar and the guys at the beach bar were always keeping us hydrated. Jorge was also great working the towel area. Yulia our cleaner kept the room very tidy. Lunches at the beach and bbq were great. Dinners were OK but from what I have heard good for Cuba resort standards. Highly recommend—looking forward to returning.

Excellent service, hotel are elegant, beautiful beach... Good house keeping, the beach are beautiful and very clean . The maid and Host are always available. The Bell boy drive us around resort are extremely professional...

Beautiful beach! Buildings, pools, gardens...all look very attractive! We were greeted with champagne and great hospitality. The food was a little less than before but we knew that before we booked. Breakfast was my favorite meal, pastries, eggs etc. And the fruit was amazing! Entertainment at night was wonderful! Overall a very nice stay!

I can't say enough about how lovely this resort was! The service and people there were so accommodating and lovely and went above and beyond to make us feel comfortable. The beach is the nicest, most clear beautiful beach I've ever seen! Definitely the highlight of the trip! The food was pretty good and the quesadilla at the beach bar was delicious. Our butlers Javier and Marie Rose were amazing and always made sure we were taken care of. It was our anniversary and we were surprised with our room decorated and a bottle of rum which was so appreciated. Thanks again Javier! Can't say enough good things about this place except I can't wait to return!

Service was great plenty of food and drink choices, the pool and beach was fantastic, rooms were clean everything in working order. A two hour drive from the Airport but well worth it. We were there two weeks and want to go back again. John/Fatima

Very nice vacation the staff at the Royalton are very friendly and go above and beyond. Beach was best ever. Food was good no issues . Just a couple of suggestions: 1) restaurants should post the menu each day so the wait staff don’t have to struggle. 2) more veggie options The resort is 2 1/2 hour bus ride from the airport . Guillermo and Maria were great.

Beach is stunning, gorgeous and clean. Staff is very friendly. Food selection limited. Disappointed that guava was not served every morning. Eggs should be served right away instead of asking once plates filled at breakfast buffet and waiting for attendant to ask if you want coffee. Being served eggs once I've finished my plate lessens the experience. I'm okay with eggs being rationed (beyond the resort's cobtrol), it's just the sequence of when they're served that could be made better. Long bus ride from airport (90 min). Room could have been cleaner when we arrived. No cream liquers available. Don't bother with the pizza, not their specialty, its really bad LoL. Very quiet and calm resort, party is at other resort which you'll have access to, 5 minute cart ride. Despite the limitations it was great for a short vacay. No sargassum on the beach, just white sand and turquoise water. Beach with some rum and coke is all we really needed.

A week at the Royalton was absolutely amazing. We went there to celebrate our honeymoon and babymoon. The beach was breath taking and the staff were amazing and kind. The general manager went above and beyond to make our stay amazing and we appreciate him so much! We can't wait to return next year to this beautiful resort. We miss it already.

Had a wonderful week at this Resort. Great staff doing anything they can to accommodate you. Drinks and food were the best I experienced in Cuba. The beach was crystal clear and beautiful sand. I would return.

The Beach was beautiful! The Staff were very friendly and helpful. Due to the ongoing supply chain issues in Cuba, dining was not expected to be gourmet, even for a 5 star rating but the presentation was very nice. I did not care much for chemical spraying of bugs without warning every night around supper time. I’m sure it was necessary but being outside inhaling the fumes was not pleasant. The resort is nice but is definitely showing its age. It could do with some repairs and upgrades. In its current condition, I would personally give it a 4 star rating.

This is a beautiful small resort on one of the most beautiful stretches of beach in Cuba! Miles of soft white sand and the warm turquoise ocean, with plenty of beach chairs and palapas for shade (although it helps to get there early to secure your spot). The service is out of this world! Every guest has their own "butler" who is there to look after your every need or whim. All of the staff are delightful - very friendly and professional. The food was mostly very good, especially the lunchtime Cuban barbecue - my husband's favourite meal of the day! The spa, which they share with the resort next door, is beautiful and our massage was truly restorative. We have always loved Cuba and have been several times. This resort will be our destination of choice from now on!

The resort was clean and the people were warm and friendly. I had read that you needed to bring your own salt and pepper, but you didn't need to. The food was surprisingly good and nothing like what I had read from other comments. The resort does need upgrading; it is dated. But, considering they were shut-down for 2 years, it was kept clean and they did their best. Our housekeeper was the best - Alina. She went above and beyond for us. It is a quiet adult resort and it was actually what I was looking for. If you want to party - this is not the place for you. But, if you want good food, wonderful staff, clean rooms, and peace and quiet (in the evenings), this is the place for you.

Not our first trip to Cuba but certainly the best. Resort was great. Small, great staff, clean, beautiful beach. Greatest surprise was the food was amazing. Quesadilla grill on the beach was a daily must. Definitely going back.

Our stay at the Royalton, exceeded our expectations! This was our 6th time in Cayo Santa Maria, but our 1st time staying at the Royalton. We were very happy with our hotel room. We received 5 STAR customer service, from check in-to check-out (from all of the employees). The food was the best that we have had in Cuba. We had a nice variety, each day. We were a group of 4 (age ranging from 23-57). We all enjoyed this resort, to the fullest. We are already planning our next vacation, at the Royalton. Thanks for the amazing week!

My girlfriend and I stayed at the Royalton Cayo Santa Maria Feb/Mar 2023. All in all a wonderful stay and it deserves the 5 star review. Just a couple things for future guests. As a Canadian our smallest bill denomination is 5 dollars. We have one and two dollar coins which you can use for a tip, but it's harder for staff to exchange. We did not bring coins and they did not have a money exchange. So when we tipped it was 5 dollars minimum. That added up quick so we tipped every few drinks or so. It appeared that the service was worse when we did that so in order to get the "best" service from staff we had to tip 5 dollars for everything pretty much every time. We saw people using American one dollar bills and moving forward that's what we would do. We spoke to the check in staff and there was no money exchange at the resort. According to her. It is an adults only resort and from front lobby to the beach was a two minute walk. Very small which we loved. All in all we loved our stay. I had been to Cayo Santa Maria previously and was able to exchange my Canadian money to Convertible Pesos on the resort but again that is NOT an option. So my suggestion would be to bring lots of Canadian 5s and American ones. Use the American cash for drink tips and 5s for meals and maid service. Other than that we loved our stay. Food and service was 5 star. Facility was 5 star. Beach was beautiful and I would give it 6 out of 5 stars. So beautiful.

Pros: amazing beach and the best staff. Cons: resort needs some repairs, the rooms need to be cleaned and found many bugs in the bathroom, the resort sprays pesticides every morning and evening at 6. Not sure what it is, but smells like burnt diesel fuel. As far as the food, you should know there is not a buffet and choices are limited. I went because of the beach and staff

First time in Royalton Cayo Santa Maria resort and definitely not last. Relaxing,smaller resort, very clean. The beautiful beach,white sand, turquoise water(no loud music on the beach),lots of palapas. Me and my husband walk for miles every day, enjoy the one of the best beaches in the Caribbean. Food was very good,you can order a la carte or go to BBQ station for lunch. Supper; elegant, like fine dining ( with excellent Spanish wine). All meals well prepared and testy. Thanks to the Chef and his team. Lobby entertainment was amazing. Very talented people, all of them; musicians, dancers. Great entertainment team, we enjoyed every moment. General Manager Alejandro is welcoming and spoke to guests daily, he is like all his Team; friendly, always smiling, make sure you are happy with the service. To Manager Mark; Mr.&Mrs Google is saying thank you for your hospitality and care. Thank you all the staff for making the best Valentine’s Day for us. From the morning breakfast with amazing music, beautiful decorations, to the lobster supper with the classy service. And…to our maid Janet and our butler Omar; not only you are really fantastic team, great workers, sweet and caring; the Valentines decorations in the room and washroom was the really beautiful surprise. Wish we stayed longer!!! ❤️

Royalton Cayo Santa Maria Absolutely stellar service from start to finish. Our butlers Michel and Omar went out of their way to accommodate our group of seven. Food was great with lots of options. Beachside quesadillas and burgers were a big hit and attendants and servers were abundant with cold drinks and loungers. One of the best beaches in the world, in my opinion. People need to understand that they are in Cuba and not everything we take for granted is available there. That being said, I had lobster dishes four days out of seven and the food was outstanding. I have to give a big shout out to the unbelievably hard working staff from the groundskeepers and maintenance staff to the servers, chefs and bartenders who keep the party going The entertainment was excellent with a variety of extremely talented musicians and performers who delighted everyone in attendance. Excellent resort and I highly recommended it.

Very clean resort; pools, beach and grounds were cleaned constantly. Rooms were dated; they really need to be upgraded (there was noticeable rust on bathroom fixtures, for example). However, they were kept pretty clean, and any small issues with the room were addressed quickly. The beautiful beach was the star of the show; pure white sand, turquoise water, lots of palapas, bar service on the beach (a server would come by to take your drink orders and return with them). Service throughout was outstanding. Despite signs by the hotel indicating that "reserving" bali beds and loungers was not permitted, and that items would be removed, there was strong evidence of "towel wars" at this resort. However, guests are getting fed up with this practice, and I witnessed several people reclaiming "reserved" beds/loungers after they hadn't been occupied for hours. I'm glad to see there is starting to be some push-back on that. RE: Covid. We had completed our Cuban government health form on-line prior to departure (which included information about our our vaccination status). Upon arrival at the airport, our phone with the QR code we were sent was scanned and we breezed through customs. Travelers who had not completed the form online had to complete the form in hard copy at the airport before they could leave customs. We had been advised in advance that there was random Covid testing at the airport (both RAT and PCR), but we did not see anyone get tested. Staff at the airport were, for the most part, wearing masks. Although we wore masks on the plane, in the airport and on the transfer bus, we were in the distinct minority. Most travelers were not masked. At the resort, guests were not masked and neither were most of the staff. Staff who were masked were noticeably sick (with a cough), but there were not many. Guests had the option to eat outside at both a la carte restaurants. Both restaurants inside had high ceilings, good ventilation, and tables not set too closely together. This was much appreciated.

The Royalton was an incredible place for some relaxing R&R. My wife and I went for our anniversary and we absolutely enjoyed every minute of our stay. The Royalton is a smaller and quieter resort, which was exactly what we were looking for. The service was exceptional, and the beach/pool is to die for.

Our second time visiting this resort. Still enjoyed it immensely. The staff are amazing. They are very attentive, and engage guests on a personal level. The gardens are well manicured by very hard working men who give a smile and wave to all. The food is great. Well presented with options for everyone. The rooms are spacious and cleaned meticulously daily by very cheerful people. Sliding doors could use some maintenance as difficult to open and close and main door needed new weather stripping. The pools and areas were clean. The beach was well maintained as well. Loved the service at the beach. The staff that help arrange chairs and the bartenders who served us right at our seats. What more could you ask for? Ask your butler. Javier and Alexis were so helpful and friendly. The people really make the difference here.

By Cuba standards I would definitely say this is a 5 star. Please remember where you have come to visit. Food was very good, especially the soups and quesadilla's. Resort is extremely clean and grounds are exceptionally well kept. Staff are very attentive and friendly. The assistant manager and manager were always visible and checking in to ensure your needs were taken care of. There are some staff that went out of their way to make you feel like you truly matter. A shout out to Omar and Michele our butlers. Dialya (not sure if I have her name correct) from the lobby bar was the sweetest, as was Natalie our server at the Sunset. The negatives would be lack of hot water and clean beach towels available to trade in. We enjoyed our stay here immensely and look forward to returning.

This was our second time at the Royalton, Cayo Santa Mari (Adults only) resort. We enjoyed it so much the first time we decided to gift our adult children the vacation for Christmas. We were 8 and were well served by all. Received a nice beverage when we rolled in Michel our butler took care of it all. It was great from day 1 to day 7, convenient late check-out and everything in between. Omer was our second butler and they were attentive to our needs and assisted with any questions, dinner reservations and transportation to adjacent resorts. Thank you, gentlemen. Our room was wonderful, clean, and fresh towels everyday (p.s. they do not have face cloths) This is a charming (small) resort, with well kept grounds due to the hardworking gardeners but my favorite was Luis he would bring me flowers and say hello every day. This site is lovely, has two pools, one for relaxing and the other were you will meet the entertainment team, Lis is the best and has a contagious smile, loves music . But it all gets more breathtaking when you see the white sanded beach and crystal-clear water. Every day José was at the beach, he set us up with a beach chairs, swept off the sand, placed my towel and table under a palapas. Another, service I didn’t expect. He ran back and forth, providing as many guests as possible with the same A+ treatment and yet again, another employee with a contagious smile. The food is very good. The beach bar and grill made great quesadillas, Enrique/Norge served up fantastic drinks, the sunset grill was our breakfast spot (open 24 hrs), with the sweetest waitresses Beatrice and Marysol. The cuban grill spagetti bolognaise and the fish and chips were my fav. There are two other a la carte restaurants that we visited for our supper which had equally great food, with tasty soups and mains. Overall, we had a great group experience , its an excellent small, clean and perfect to celebrate a quiet, relaxing family vacation. The staff at the Royalton are all great and the General Manager Alejandro is very present, welcoming and ensuring that he spoke to guests daily.

The Royalton is a small resort perfect for R & R. Variety of Food that is excellent and plentiful with lots of variety. No buffet, however, you could always ask for seconds or even thirds. The drinks at the main bar where outstanding. Loved the 24-hour snack bar and drinks. Clean and well-kept grounds and rooms. Butlers, maids, waiters, bar tenders, gardeners and Manger go above and beyond to service you. Beach is beautiful with white sand and crystal-clear water. We loved that the beach was quiet and if you wanted music you could go to the main pool in the afternoon. Finding a sun bed/chair was never an issue. Very safe resort and the lifeguards saved a man from drowning in the ocean when the ocean was very rough one day. They were always on the lookout. Entertainment was good. Suggestions and Cons: They should have dancing music after the entertainment finishes. There are limited beach towels, and you need to go early to replace the one you have. There is no Ocean View and the ground floor rooms sliding doors open to bushes. There should be signs to tell you want the entertainment is every night. I would definitely return to the Royalton in Santa Maria mainly for the Service, Food, Beach and a perfect resort to rest and relax.

Cuba’s beaches on the Cayos (islands), in this case Cayo Santa Maria, are beautiful - sand like light beige icing sugar and the smallest amount of seaweed (not like the Mayan Riviera at all). This small, adults only resort is very quiet, relaxing and laidback with entertainment every night and a staff that can’t do enough for you. Will return.

Great place to stay, make you feel wanted, warm reception, food is good for Cuba, very nice beach, from the moment you book in your looked after and in style. Can’t say enough about our personal attendants Javier and wife Marie Rosa. They went out of their way to look after us both, because of our age we had a couple of difficult moments but they took care of everything can’t thank them enough.

Had a great week at the Royalton Cayo Santa Maria a couple of weeks ago. A hidden gem. The resort is lovely as is the beach. It's smaller, adults only with lots of shady palapas. All meals are a la carte (no buffet). There's not a lot of choice but all meals are well prepared, presented, and tasty. Definitely one of the best in the 12 visits to Cuba all inclusives that I've had over the years. And a review would not be complete without mentioning how welcoming the staff are: from the gardeners and security personnel to the concierge/butler, maid and wait staff. Director Alejandro was always out and about, talking to and checking on his guests. A shout out to Alina, the maid, butlers Diana and Lester who looked after reservations and special requests/concerns, and waitress Marisol who you would be sure to meet. We have booked an encore: another week in November!

Like all the Royalton there's a certain reputation to live up too. There was no difference with the Royalton at Cayo Santa Maria. The room was very generous in size, bed linens were excellent. The sunken bathtub and stand up shower added to the ambience of the room. AC worked great and all over cleanliness was impeccable. The staff at this resort were amazing. They were always willing to please and never stopped at good always excellent. The grounds were impeccable and clean. The beach is one of the best I have been too in the Caribbean. The food was more than mediocre and the drinks on point.

This is a very long but thorough review! This was our experience at The Royalton! Depending on what time of day you read this review of our recent stay at The Royalton, you'll need to put aside some time.....hopefully it'll convince you to give serious consideration to booking your next holiday at The Royalton in Cayo Santa Maria! So grab a coffee, or some popcorn or a glass of wine! Because you don't want to miss this! This posting is going to include our review, as well as some important information regarding the use of different currencies, and what you might consider bringing as Thank You gifts to the employees while on vacation in Cuba. This will be helpful to both you and be greatly appreciated by the exceptional staff who work at The Royalton. As you read this, read it with an open heart and an open mind. If you are fortunate enough to visit The Royalton, be sure to treat the staff as if they were your family....because that is exactly how they will treat you. Like family! Here we go! In the middle of September 2022 we booked a last minute 7 day vacation to The Royalton. This was our second time visiting this resort. We did look at other Cayo Santa Maria resorts to do a comparison before booking. Our decision was very easy to ONLY select The Royalton. Nothing compares! We went back to The Royalton because we knew we would have 7 days of relaxation in paradise. We came back to The Royalton for both the scenic beauty and the most amazing hospitality! The Beach You won't find a more stunning beach anywhere in Cuba! And dare I say in any other part of the world! The sand is so white! The beach is kept clean every single day! And this gorgeous beach leads into some of the most spectacular Blue colors in the world! The ocean waters are calm most of the time. Plenty of beach chairs, all under palapas. When you arrive at the beach, one of the beach staff may follow you to make sure your chairs are well cleaned off from sand and they'll place your beach towels on your chairs. There's a Bar & Grill at the entrance to the beach. You can take your drinks and food "To Go", grab a seat to eat lunch, or a stool at the bar. Pools There are 2 pools at The Royalton. One just outside the lobby and the larger Party Pool is down the central pathway. Both of them are so blue and beautiful! Always clean and a perfect temperature. They both have bars! The larger Party Pool closer to the beach has a few more Pool Beds, providing more shade from the Sun. The way the resort is positioned on the island provides you with gorgeous sunshine....from morning to late afternoon! When I describe the larger pool as the "Party Pool", I mean that around 4:00PM music starts and then there's some entertainment, to get you exercising. Some games and great DJ music! Start to finish is about 1 hour plus. Accommodations We stayed in a room on the second floor of Block 6! Rooms are spacious, comfortable and very clean! Everything you need is in these rooms! Comfortable bed, closet and storage space, a bench to place your luggage, TV, fridge, safe and living room area. And yes....the AC works very well! If you are fortunate enough to be placed in a second floor room...you will have access to a balcony that overlooks the ocean, where you can see the gorgeous horizon! I may be a little biased but I think Blocks 5 and 6 (Second Floor) are the very best in accommodations! Blocks 5 and 6 are so incredibly close to the large pool. A direct line to the main path which leads to the Main building, and the path that leads straight to the beach. The Food (Keep an open mind - this is Cuba.) The food at The Royalton is really quite delicious. As you're reading this from your home or office in Canada, keep in mind that Cuba is restricted to many things, especially after Covid. With what they have on hand, you'll enjoy pastas, pork, fish, chicken, beef and quite a bit more. The Chef and his team put together tasty meals every evening! You will not be hungry! Eggcellence & Senses The Royalton has several places where you can eat. Near the lobby are their 2 main restaurants: Eggcellence and Senses. Eggcellence is the restaurant that serves breakfast from I believe 7AM to 10:30AM, as well as lunch. The pastries and fresh breads are so delicious! There's a small buffet with a variety of meats, cheeses, different fruits and other selections! I had omelettes made to order. They were perfect for me. They didn't have Orange Juice, but they do have Mango Juice and Grapefruit Juice?! Eggcellence and Senses are also the 2 main restaurants where your Butler will make reservations for your dinners. You have the options to eat inside the restaurant or outside on a patio. Both restaurants serve tasty, A la Carte meals. Your waiter/waitress will offer you a selection of about 5 different options each night. The Sunset The Sunset is the Restaurant right beside the larger pool. We enjoyed their pasta as well as their cheeseburgers. They'll make it as you like it! There's also a BBQ Station beside The Sunset, open from 1:00PM to 3:00PM daily. Different meats, fish with rice and a variety of vegetables! The Sunset is open 24 hours so if you need something to eat outside restaurant hours, you can always head to the The Sunset or Room Service will bring you whatever you'd like to have. The Lobby Bar has coffees, teas, pastries in the mornings and of course a full bar! If you find it too hot outside, you can always cool off with a drink in the Cool Lounge! The Grounds & Gardens The property is simply stunning. Gardeners are constantly working to maintain gorgeous grounds and gardens. Beautiful flowers and palm trees. You'll admire the dedication that these gardeners demonstrate while you walk throughout the property. The Staff As I mentioned, we stayed in Block 6. We were taken care of by our butlers, Alexis and Ketia. They work tirelessly and enthusiastically to make sure that you are well taken care of. Always with a smile and making sure that you are enjoying your room, activities, and arrangements for dinner reservations and special requests. Alexis and Ketia take great pride in their work and making sure that you are truly enjoying your vacation at The Royalton. "Alexis & Ketia, thank you so much for everything you did for us while we were on vacation! You are so kind, wonderful and remarkable at your jobs. Our vacation was not only spectacular because we were in paradise....but because you went beyond expectations to make sure we were delighted with everything that we could ever need or want. We consider you friends and we thank you very much!" While we stayed in Block 6, our room was always lovingly cleaned and maintained by our room attendant Jenilet. She was always smiling, caring and understanding if we needed something additional, were missing something or needed a little privacy, so we could sleep in! "Jenilet, thank you very much for taking care of our room, while we enjoyed the Royalton. It was truly appreciated how hard you worked to make sure our room was comfortable, clean and stocked with what we needed." The staff at the reception are always available. There's always someone at the front desk to assist with resetting your access for the WI-FI, exchanging currency and answering any and all questions! Always polite, friendly and willing to help with whatever you need. As soon as you arrive at the resort you are greeted by welcoming staff and those friendly faces are there to greet you throughout your entire visit at The Royalton! A very special thank you to Dania, Denis and Daisoris at the Front Desk! "You guys are amazing and so friendly and helpful! Thank you so much for welcoming us and always available to answer our questions and assist us with little requests!" As I mentioned earlier, there is entertainment at the larger pool for about an hour every afternoon. There are 3 women and a DJ named Anibal who keep the party going for some fun and exercise in the pool! DJ Anibal plays some great Dance Music, some that you may not have heard of! He's always willing to share with you the names of the music artists and names of the songs...PLUS if you have any favorites that you'd like to hear, Anibal will try his best to find and play your favorite song, as he did for us! "Anibal, thank you for playing great music every day! You made the afternoons so much fun at the pool! And to the 3 women whose names I don't know (Sorry!), except one that addressed the losers of the Pool Games with 'Ciao Ciao Mickey Mow!'...you know who you are....you made the afternoons at the pool a lot of fun! Thank you very much for making us smile and laugh every afternoon!" Lobby entertainment offers a different performance every evening! There was one night where there was an acoustic guitarist, playing modern, current songs! He was AMAZING! Really talented! For the first time ever in our travels to a resort, we saw daily, the Director of the resort! The Royalton is under the careful care and watch of Alejandro. You will see him daily, either when you're having dinner, or in the lobby. Alejandro has an 'Old World' charm about him. It shows in how he interacts with the Royalton guests, and his staff. He will approach you personally to ask about your day at the resort, "Do you have everything?", "Are you enjoying your stay?", "What can we do to improve?!" We've never seen this before. Anywhere! He takes your enjoyment personally. "Alejandro, thank you so much for your kindness, attention to detail and taking great pride in The Royalton.... as if you're welcoming us to your personal home. The resort is stunning and beautiful! But what truly draws us back to Cuba, Cayo Santa Maria and The Royalton, is your friendly, dedicated staff! It really shows in their interactions with the guests. Although we don't know or remember the names of every single staff member that we interacted with, we truly appreciated every thing the Royalton staff did for us! Will you please thank everyone for us?! Congratulations Alejandro on providing a magnificent paradise at The Royalton! Once more Alejandro, the service that you and your staff provide are exceptional!" Thank You Gifts Canadians are always treasured by Cuban people for their generosity and thoughtfulness. Clothing items, toothpaste, toothbrushes, sunscreen, bug spray, even over-the-counter medication such as Tylenol, Pepto Bismol, Antihistamines, DOVE Soap, Body Wash, Deodorant and school supplies are just some of the things you might bring down to leave for the Royalton staff. Just like everywhere else in the world, Cuba has been affected greatly by shortages. Money/Currency 1) Before you leave Canada, prepare to go to the bank and exchange money for your trip for such things as tipping and "Thank-Yous" 2) There are two currencies that the staff appreciate and that you can exchange at the Lobby for Cuban Pesos....US Dollars and Canadian Dollars. 3) At the Lobby/Front Desk you can only exchange Canadian or US Dollars for Cuban Pesos. Dollar bills only. Please don't bring Loonies or Toonies. Cuban citizens aren't able to use Loonies or Toonies in their personal lives when they make purchases. Bring with you dollar bills in US or Canadian currencies. 4) At the Lobby you will get a better exchange rate when you convert US Dollars into Cuban Pesos. At the time of our vacation, we received 100 pesos for 1 US Dollar. When we converted Canadian currency we received 92 pesos for 1 Canadian Dollar. 5) The Lobby doesn't have a Credit Card terminal for you to purchase Cuban Pesos. So, you can only convert paper money for Cuban pesos. 6) There's a Bank at the Market next door to the resort. They are open from Monday to Friday from 9am to 3pm. Bring your passport. You can use your credit card to exchange to Cuban pesos. 7) During Covid, Cuba stopped issuing and using the Cuban Convertible Pesos that tourists were issued during transactions. If you have them...you can no longer use them. Don't bring them with you as the currency no longer exists. Important Note If I can offer some humble recommendations regarding tipping, tip graciously whenever possible, preferably in US or Canadian currency. Before leaving Canada, consider estimating the dollar amount that you would like to bring for tips and "Thank-Yous", go to the bank and prepare your money. With US currency you can tip with $1 dollar bills....the smallest Canadian denomination is a $5 dollar bill. While you can still tip in Cuban Pesos, it is much more appreciated and useful to tip in Canadian and US currencies, as the Royalton staff can shop in their personal lives, at local, Cuban town stores where they can buy what they need, using US or Canadian money. Please remember that as you prepare your currencies for tipping to the Royalton staff. That's it! Hope it helps with your decision to visit and love The Royalton! Thank you!

This is our first time in Royalton but not last time for sure! Everything is spotless clean in and out in this resort. Service quality was excellent, personnel works tirelessly from top to down. Especially Hotel Manager Alejandro take cares of everyone personally, makes sure all the guests feels welcomed liked their own place. Javier, Maria, Maruis, Tony, Lilien and many others - can’t remember names of all - greets everyone with genius smile and greetings every morning. I have been in Cuba more than times including Royal services in similar resort, Royalton is the best one so far. I highly recommend everyone this friendly place.

Loved the rooms very clean pool was amazing service on the restaurant was great enjoyed working out daily in the fitness room ocean was spectacular the grounds were well kept the butler service was great the visitors were enjoying the place also

Thank you to Rachel & Heather for booking our fabulous vacation. I just arrived home from the Royalton, Cayo Santa Mario a few days back.  I was there in March 2022 with my husband, and we had an amazing 10 days.  I was lucky to return last week.  We were the Mother Daughter Duo and once again had 7 fabulous days!!  I want to thank all the staff, kindest most hard-working people I have met! They all go above and beyond to provide you with any request as much as they are able, zero to complain about!!  Our room was perfect, we lacked for nothing.  We enjoyed pool days with music and fun, we enjoyed the most beautiful beach playing in the waves and tanning and we did the all-day catamaran excursion, we love snorkeling, amazing lobster lunch and a swim of the boat at a beach.  It was all really just a great trip that this Momma got to enjoy her kiddo for a full week of fun in the sun together.  Until I see you all again my Cuban friends, Thank you!!

This hotel exceeded my expectations, I have been to Cuba - Cayo Coco, Holguin, Santa Maria around 11 times, however have never experienced a hassle free vacation like this one at the Royalton. Services by maid, butler, waitress and front desk was efficient and friendly. Food is very good for Cuba, very tasty. Beach is amazing. we stayed at the beach all day. The gardens and surrounding areas of the hotel was immaculately kept, clean and very lovely. Cant express how friendly, caring, efficient and helpful the hotel staff are, even the manager. This gets a 5 thumbs up from me and would definitely be heading back

Royalton is the best hotel I’m Cayo Santa Maria, we have stayed at several and this is top shelf. The food was a little inconsistent and not a lot a variance in menu selection but by far this is outweighed by all of the positives that make up a very special resort. The staff were the very best I’ve experienced . We were indeed treated like royalty and always with a smile.

The hotel was modest in size, lovely main pool if that's your thing. Beach is soft white sand, shallow water and very clean. Lots of chairs available, beach bar service. Quesadillas offered at the beach lunch station are delicious! Grounds are very well kept, tip the gardeners, they're out there every day to make sure your views are as beautiful as possible. The butler service was very good, not too pushy and they were very good at anticipating the need to have your dinners booked; our first introduction was to Ketia who was very helpful, kind and genuine. She took care of everything for us, so when Mario came the next day ( as they alternate) there wasn't much to do. The main bar is very well stocked. Nice Spanish wines were served in both dining rooms. Service staff were very good, hardworking and always busy cleaning or clearing tables to ensure no guest had to wait for a table. The bed was comfortable and the room very large. We were situated in room 0106; perfect location for us. The resort is aging, but still in decent condition. With the gap of tourism over the last few years it is understandable that repairs will take a while to get done, not only because of supply but money needed to undertake them. The reception desk staff were helpful and courteous. The general Manager, I think his name was Francesco...was so kind and always present. It was refreshing to see someone in his position so very much committed to his guests and their experience. The Spa was very nice, clean and the massage therapists there were good. The only criticisms I can point out, is the food at the 24 hour snack bar is "typical Cuban", not so good. Fries were not prepared freshly, but seemed to be reheated. Best thing at the snack bar was the ice cream...and the grilled lunch service. The wait staff there are good but not as efficient as the main dining staff. Also, getting fresh beach towels, especially on the last 3 days of our stay, was impossible as not enough on hand. The loungers on the beach will need updating over the next year so the guests don't all destroy their backs. Thank you so much to Anna , our chambermaid, she was so happy and pleasant. She did a great job and our room was always clean and towels positiioned in new towel art daily. My husband and I have visited Cuba since 83, and would definitely return to this particular resort without hesitation, but not in May. Mango was plentiful but with the rains the mosquitos were as well. Woudl have been a perfect vacation , if only we didn't experience a 2 hour delay on the way there and a 7 hour delay on the way home. With Cayo Santa Maria being a 90 minute bus ride away from the airport, it makes for a long "travel" day.

Hotel is rated 5 star and has many many great reviews, I think mostly from return guests who seem to love the place. This was our 9th trip to Cuba and will be are last, we did say that after 8th. Things that stand out that make us not want to return. NO shade at the quiet pool, both pools were missing many of the shade cabanas, they were never replaced as you can see the footings. NO vodka for most days, NO clean towels in room or beach towels for many days and worst was the 630pm truck driving around resort spraying a cloud of insectiside as guests tried to run and hide from the poison cloud. The building all have butlers, sadly ours were invisible and not very helpful. Lester just looked disinterested, Diana at least was friendly. The staff continually ask guests to post good reviews which we found desperate, clearly the Cuba people are just trying to survive. They are always friendly and doing their best with what they have been given from resort. The Managers walk around constantly asking for feedback, they are the appeasers, really dont fix anything but make promises. The staff seem afraid of them. The lobby and dining rooms are tired and have very uncomfroatble chairs, needs a make over. Most connecting resorts are closed and just collecting dust, very misleading to say you can use the other close resorts when they are closed down. The mosquitoes were butal most nights and prevented any outdoor dining. We traveled with another couple , their first time in Cuba, they were disappointed as they had been in Mexico last December at another resort. There were very little in the way of special at this resort. The bus drive is 2 hours and this resort was the 5th drop off, made for a long drive in and out. The beach is amazing, the cuba people are special. It was good to get away after 2 years, this resort is small and try to make the guests feel special. We enjoyed the Iberostar resort down the ocean much better. We dont want the token response from hotel managers, just advocate that the owners of resort fix some things to ensure the fine workers continue to have a job.

Just few days ago I and my wife come back from Royalton Cayo Santa Maria. I was really impressed not only by the place but also by the team, by people. They are doing everything what is possible to make us feel good, to enjoy this place, to relax, to have fun but also to have peace for reading and “meditation”, if that’s what you like. I believe here the cleanliness is high priority. Place is spotless. Alejanrdo and Michaela are taking care about team and about clients (directors?). They are talking to us asking for our opinion and feedback. High class approach without being annoying – always pleasant conversation. Very professional people! They are fluent in many languages so there is no problem with communication. Our angel, person who is helping us in case of any question was Katia. She was sweetheart and she was very nice (her helper – too). There is a gardener, with characteristic dark hat, a titan of work, always - always busy, making “his” garden looking beautiful. So, we spend a beautiful week and we strongly recommend this place.

We had an incredible time at the Royalton. The resort is small, clean, and beautiful. It never felt crowded, and was always relaxing. We spent most of our time at the quiet pool, which was usually almost empty and had lots of shaded space (which was important since my husband and I are both incredibly pale). The beach is also stunning—even on “rough” days it was totally swimmable, and the sand was super soft. Our room was great too. It was large, with a peek of the ocean from the balcony, a bathtub, and standup shower. The food was surprisingly good. We never had a bad meal, and the lunchtime grill was a standout with excellent pork, seafood, and local specialities. We had the best calamari we’d ever had from the grill. For drinks, all the bars were good, but our pre- and post-dinner hangout was always the lobby bar, which was by far the best. We also felt super safe in regards to covid. I’m recovering from cancer treatment so was slightly paranoid, but the staff was consistently masked, all meals were a-la-carte so never over crowded, almost everyone wore masks on the buses, and we were outside for pretty much everything else. I felt totally comfortable the whole time. But what really makes the Royalton so awesome were the people. Absolutely everyone was so friendly, saying hello and stopping to chat if they could, from the GM and AGM to the gardeners (special shoutout to Luis). Our butlers were Michel and Omar. Both were excellent, surprising us with chilled champagne and a drawn bath, or helping us out with any questions we had. Omar especially stood out as absolutely top-notch—just a super nice, funny guy and always there if we needed him. He almost instantly made us feel right at home, and it felt like we’d known him for years. Andy, the community manager, was also great, stopping to chat with us poolside. Our servers and bartenders were fantastic too, remembering us and any special requests we had made previously. Really great service all around. We’ll definitely return to the Royalton and recommend it to all our friends. It was a wonderful time! The only (relatively) negative experiences we had (and like, how bad can it be when you’re sitting on a beach for a week in Cuba, right?) were: the catamaran sea tour, where we were inexplicably left on an abandoned, garbage-covered beach for an hour (it was weird), and Sunwing delays and confusion (which seems par for the course with Sunwing). These had nothing to do with the Royalton though, so we’ll be back!

The Royalton is a beautiful and clean resort. We loved all the staff and the food was great. The beach is the best EVER!! Clear, turquoise water with sandy bottom and you can walk for miles. The bar staff on the beach did a lot of running for everyone and they had the drinks all organized with your own cups. Loved it. The little snack bar on the beach was so yummy - quesadillas, grilled sandwiches and hot dogs. The staff there were also amazing and worked so hard. The staff at the restaurants were all so nice and efficient. Our room was spotless every day and the cleaning staff were great.. The entertainment staff were lots of fun and the shows in the evening were great. Loved the aqua show!! I would highly recommend this resort. The staff are so happy to be back to work - bring your tip money in Canadian or US. Make sure your bills are crisp with no tears or they cannot use them. The Cubans are beautiful people. Lets help them get back on their feet.

The hotel was very nice and well kept. The service was tremendous and the staff were exceptionally friendly. All wore masks inside and out. The entertainment staff work very hard to keep you entertained.

We stayed at the Royalton Cayo Santa Maria after not being to Cuba for 13 years. The reason we had not returned to Cuba was primarily lack of comfortable accommodation and good food. I must say the Royalton was a lovely surprise from every aspect: ROOMS: spacious, clean and comfortable beds FOOD: varied and plentiful (they do experience shortages, but they cope very well with what they have); we always ate all our plates and there was a good variety GROUNDS: stunning! well kept gardens, not too big of a property BEACH: spectacular! STAFF: beyond compare! each and every one of them special in their own way Would not hesitate to go back again.

This hotel was absolutely beautiful. Staff members are exceptional. The grounds are well kept. The beach is stunning with many palapas available. The main pool was also quite lovely and very clean. Food was very good with many choices to suit everyone. Management was also great and remained visible and available to help out if necessary. We were very pleased with our stay here. Definitely would return.

This was definitely the best resort we have stayed in in Cuba. The food was served hot and tasty. The pool and grounds were well maintained and the beach was lovely. Since most resorts still haven’t opened yet in Cayo Santa Maria we had the long beach to our selves. We felt very safe at this smaller resort with 122 rooms. All staff wore masks indoors and out. Our butler Alexis was so personable. The manager and assist manager spoke with everyone daily and chef Jesus did his rounds as well. The most touching was as we left the butlers, management staff and entertainment people all waved as we left. So many resorts offer you no help on home day but this was the opposite!! We will be back maybe earlier in the year to hopefully miss the pesky little not-see bugs, we are still feeling their love. Really only down fall is the 90-120 minute bus ride. At least the bus had a bathroom

We received a royal welcome when we arrived at the Royalton with a glass of champagne and plenty of smiles. The service, atmosphere and friendly atmosphere at this cozy resort made it a pleasure to get up every morning! From the gardener, the room maid, the butler, the waiters and even the resort manager Alejandro and assistant manager Mikaela! The beaches are the most beautiful we have seen at any resort! We would return in a heartbeat!

This hotel has many of the features that I really enjoy. First of all, the beach is very wide and has soft, flour-like sand and you can walk out in the water for what seems like forever. The resort is smaller, and boasts pretty, two storey bungalows. The property is well laid-out and well-maintained. Service is excellent and you will be greeted in the morning by one of your bungalow's butlers; ours, Lester and Diana, were both right on top of any requests we had and seemed sincere in their interest in ensuring we enjoyed our stay. The food was good and the best we have had in Cuba. Meals were a la carte, with a couple of small buffet sections. I don't know if that has always been their approach or whether it is a Covid response. It was a small frustration to go without hard copy menus (a Covid measure, I assume), but the servers were good to explain the choices. It is not a wild, party place although, one day, things got rowdy at one of the pools; I feel as though the majority of the guests, like myself, were annoyed by this so if you want to party hard, this is probably not your destination. We changed rooms after the first night because our first, ground floor room (0701?) backed very closely onto dense shrubbery and trees, which I found, made the room dark and claustrophobic. The room they moved us to was perfect. While visually appealing, the hotel is on a bit of a hill, which might present a challenge for anyone with mobility issues. In terms of Covid-related practices, during our stay (March 9-16, 2022) all staff, from gardeners to bar tenders, wore masks at all times. Guests were required to wear masks indoors unless eating or drinking, which I believe, only involved two restaurants and one bar. The buffet-selection for breakfast add-ons (fruit, baked goods, etc.) was staffed by servers who place your choices on your plate while you stand behind the taped line on the floor (which most people seemed not to notice). There were always house-keeping staff outside washrooms and I saw frequent cleaning of the facilities. On the day before our departure we were shuttled to a neighbouring resort to have our Covid tests done; it is my understanding that this will no longer be necessary after April 1st. If you like Cuba, you will love this resort!

This hotel is small and perfect for those looking for a quiet intimate getaway. The food was delicious the staff was very helpful and the beach was just incredible you can get around the hotel easily and all the meals are à la cart. I was impressed by the food as I’ve been to Cuba many times and this was the best place by far

The General Manager Alexandro.is there and interacting with guests and there to help when you need it. They also have a 'butler" for each set of rooms..Mine were Liam and Alexis and they were amazing. Their English is great so they can help with anything you need. The rooms are excellent. They're huge, clean, with comfy beds. The bathrooms have a walk in shower with a separate soaker tub and I was staying in the lowest.price room - the garden view room. The food was incredible. I was pleasantly surprised given the pandemic and all. They didn't have massive buffets but they did have a la carte with some buffet options. Some highlights was the tuna steak, potatoe soup, tortillas by the beach, caramel icecream, and all the chicken dishes. A girl I met there had severe food allergies and they catered to her every need. The beach is second to none. I've traveled all over the world (Thailand, Greece, throughout the Caribbean, etc) and there is nothing like the beaches in Cuba in my opinion. Finally the atmosphere was just soooo chill. It was like everyone there was on the same wave length. There were party areas and quiet areas so it there was a place for whatever your mood. It's a smaller more intimate resort but not too small by any means There were a lot of solo travelers but it didn't matter if you were solo or not everyone socialized and mixed a mingled and got a long It was all Canadians so it was just a great vibe. As far as covid. There are no entry requirements except to fill out an online form..So super easy to get in. All staff where masks everywhere whether inside or.outside. No one had tested positive on the resort since Dec. They check your to.when you get off the plane and they do.the PCR test.at.the resort for $30 USD. All.and all just what the Dr ordered. Absolutely perfect vacation.

This resort was a definite a 5/5! The Staff, beach and food were amazing! Unfortunately getting there and returning was stressful! Sunwing was absolutely horrible! We will definitely be going back to this resort only with a different airline! Ana our chamberlady was so sweet and hard working. Noelvis and Diana, our butlers, went above and beyond the call of duty. Dialys and the kitchen staff were excellent! Bravo Felix for running a top notch resort!

We stayed at Royalton, Cayo Santa Maria, first week of December 2021. From the get go, this place worked hard to make sure our stay was perfect. This is a smaller adults only resort. Check-in was quick and hassle free. Welcome, give us your passport, here's some champagne. No paperwork. 10 minutes later we were being led to our room. The person doing this is called a butler. They will look after your needs and issues throughout your stay. Staying in the background, but there when needed. Every morning you are greeted by your butler, outside near your room. How was your night, any issues, have a great day. All employees at this resort were extremely polite and helpful. The resort was just open for 2 weeks when we arrived. It was very clean and very well looked after. Everyone from the gardener, cleaners, wait staff, and management, all wore masks properly, without exception. Beach, long, walkable, powder white sand. Note that as the winter season starts there is an abundance of seaweed washed up daily for the first couple of weeks in December. It is cleaned up daily. Turquoise waters and shallow sandbar. You can walk out quite a ways and still only be 3-4 feet deep. Resort has 2 pools, an upper quiet pool and lower busier pool, but remember no kids. Pools were not heated so were a bit cool. However given some time and warm weather, they should not be an issue. Bars at both pools, beach and lobby, all well served. Some inconsistencies in recipes, but totally palatable. Maid service was excellent. They cleaned up very well, making sure we had lots of everything we needed. Rooms cleaned early in the day, fridge filled, and of course a great display of characters and flowers on the bed, curtains, tub and sink area. We had swans, scorpions, teddy bears, frogs to name a few. They paid attention to the details. We had 2 issues with our room that were corrected immediately. There was a squeal in the air condition fan and we had no face cloths the first night. A quick mention to our Butler and all was looked after immediately. A quick shout out to our butlers Mario and Lester. The manager, who introduced himself our first night Alejandro, was constantly seen around the resort making sure all was running well. He introduced himself individually to all new arrivals at either dinner or breakfast. He put in very long days There at 7am when we went for breakfast and still there when we finished our last drink at 11pm. The next person who influenced our stay very much was head chef Jesus. He was also there the same long hours. He took personal interest in all meals being cooked and served. I am a fussy traveler when it comes to food. When we go to all inclusive resorts, one of the saving graces for me is the buffet. I do not do well with all prepared meals. With Covid, there was no buffet. Meal selection, while it would do most any normal person well, did not always agree with what I was able to eat. Jesus came out and we discussed what I could handle and he had the chefs prepare me a special meal. He was present at all my other meals and made sure I was looked after. In a busy place like this at mealtime the last thing they needed was to go out of their way for an individual, but they did. Give them full marks for everything they did. We would definitely do this resort again.

Arriving in Santa Clara airport, everyone received a Covid PCR test. Very little delay in getting through. At the hotel we received the results within 18hrs. Required to wear the face masks until getting the results. We took a private transfer to the hotel and upon arrival, my wife and I commented that here must be some VIP's coming, as there was all of the hotel staff 100+ waiting to greet us! We were quite literally the first guests in the hotel since they shutdown 9 months ago! The staff were all amazing and attentive from the GM Alex to the Butlers, who had alternating days of work. In the hotel and throughout Cuba it is mandatory for all to wear the masks. Staff was constantly topping up sanitizing dispensers, restaurant and lobby areas were sanitized after each use. The main washrooms by each the restaurants/pool had full time attendants sanitizing after use. Social distancing markers were placed in areas were lineups may occur. QR codes are on each table with the menu of the day for each restaurant. We really...really enjoyed this hotel and were 100% comfortable and very impressed with how The Royalton/staff are dealing with the guests and handling the constant cleaning and sanitizing through these crazy times!

Such a beautiful property. From the grounds to the beach. The beach is UNREAL! The service was AMAZING! Our butler Jazier was the most friendly, amazing person ever! Because it is Cuba , they run out of things here and there but no big deal, we just found something else. The beach grill was SO good! Thank you to everyone at the Royalton for making our vacation so memorable!

We spent a glorious week at The Royalton in Cayo Santa Maria. This is an all adult boutique resort with the best beach we have seen. The sand is like icing sugar, and you can walk for miles. Our room was very spacious and clean. The grounds were like a tropical paradise with lots of vegetation and all of the buildings were within a reasonable walking distance. There were 2 pools to enjoy and lots of chairs available at each location. There was plenty to eat at the a la carte restaurants. However, there is NO buffet. We had access to 2 nearby resorts, so there was lots of food choices. We had an amazing butler named Noelvis, who treated us royally. Shout out to Liz in Eggsellence restaurant for her excellent service. It was an amazing vacation and we would recommend this resort to adults wishing a quiet, relaxing holiday. We will be back!