This resort was beautiful and clean. The staff were outstanding. Beach was beautiful always lots of lounges. Rooms were nice and modern. Restaurants were great. We had breakfast and lunch at the snack bar everyday, food was made to order and no line ups. Main lobby bar had entertainment every night met lots of people from all over Canada!

We stayed here from June 1-10, 2017 in the privilege section. We loved it. The resort itself is beautiful. Unfortunately for us one section was closed for upgrading so we had a bit of a walk to get to the other side. But that was a small thing. Our room was beautiful, the view amazing and the staff cleaned our room every day. There was never a day we went back to our room that we were not happy with the job they did. Food - this always seems to be an issue for people but for us it was quite good. We spent time between the buffet and the 24 snack bar for breakfast and were never disappointed. Dinner at the buffet was just fine...the grill always had fresh meat and seafood. We did the al a cartes and were quite happy with it. The lobster dinner was the only thing we were not happy with. At the beach we always got a cabana and they served us drinks and the grilled sandwiches were amazing. The beach itself was absolutely beautiful. We are sorry we didn't discover it before hand. The lobby bar was great, drinks and coffee were amazing. There were negatives but they were small. We spent a lot of time at the pool with the swim up bar. The resort must learn to clean the pool every morning. There were many days it had not been skimmed. Regardless of being off season this is something they must do. Mosquitos were bad...but then we went at the worst time of the year. Going forward we would not go so late in the year because of that and the heat. Bathrooms....you need to ensure they are cleaned and stocked consistently. Staff....they were amazing. At every turn the staff was helpful. I recommend this resort. I recommend going privilege as well. This is a new resort but they will have to stay on top of the little things going forward as the competition in the area is about to get very busy.

had a great time. Resort was beautiful. Lobby was very comfortable and airy. Food was good, had no complaints. Rooms nice, bed very comfortable. Buffet good selection. A la cartes pretty good. Pool nice, bars provided good service. Beach beautiful!

Been home a week and still itchy. Not sure what kind of bugs they were but not only were they outside they were also in our room. It's hard to have fun when you are constantly scratching and being bitten. I will say, though, the staff was very good and helpful. We could always get a ride back to our room or to the dining room. They were always pleasant. The front desk staff was also helpful. The food was pretty good especially at the French and Italian a la carts. They even supplied a birthday cake for us one night.

The hotel was quite beautiful. Very unique with the different little buildings all over the grounds. The beds were very hard, and the toilets were a disaster, and the drive was long (2hrs). The food was decent, but the a la cartes were tasty. The pools were lovely, and the entertainment was outstanding! The Michael Jackson show was amazing, and the pool entertainers were fun. We had a great time!

It was my boyfriend and I's first trip down south together, he has never been and I have been to Varadero twice before. I wanted the trip to be perfect and the beach was the top on my priority list. It is safe to say Cayo Santa Maria is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. We found a part of the beach that was secluded and we spent most of the time there. The water was the most beautiful blue I have ever seen and the sand was as white as our ginger skin! :) There are somethings that frustrated me about the resort, however they aren't even worth mentioning.The resort was very nice and big and I found it very clean...as well the drinks were plentiful. The cameraman excursion was amazing and so was the dolphin show. The food was alright, My boyfriend enjoyed it, I played it safe and stuck with pizza and pasta. The 1.5 hr drive to the resort is not a reason not to go to this resort. We looked at it as an excursion, it was very interesting to see all the villages and learn about the Cuban culture. I was sad to leave, and would recommend this resort to anyone! We will hopefully be back sooner then later!! :)

The resort was pretty nice, beach was amazing, Pools were amazing, staff was pleasant, bars and drinks were great.. food was crappy but that's Cuba.. lots of mosquitoes while we were there, so bring bugspray.

The resort grounds were beautiful, the beach was a little rocky in places but goes on forever. The staff were great for the most part and we made friends with many of them. The food was average, what you would expect from a Cuban resort, but the drinks were very good. The privilege package was a little bit of a disappointment, there are really no "private" beach areas for you and the privilege bar is cold and no one goes in there. The lobster dinner that was included was amazing though and the massage was relaxing (though would have been nicer in the outside massage area and not in a hotel room). It's unfortunate there is no longer a disco as there isn't much else to do in the evenings there after the entertainment is done.

First and foremost resort was beautiful relaxing lots of fun people were nice. There were lots of pools to go in ocean was clear blue white sand amazing. For sure there's lots of walking but nice there are golf cars to get around but sure is nice to walk. Food was great buffet is always safe restaurants French Italian Spanish was the best. Would I go back definitely will go back five stars for us.

My wife and I have been enthusiastic Patrons of Cuban tourism for the past 7 years and were looking forward to another relaxing and refreshing week in Caya Santa Maria. There were 2 hotels listed on trip central in Santa Clara: Valentin Perla Blanca and the higher priced Valentin Perla Blance Paraiso. We booked a week vacation with Perla Blance Paraiso thinking it would be a higher standard hotel. On our arrival, we were surprised to learn that the two hotels were one and the same. We felt cheated yet hopeful that this would be quickly forgotten because of previous positive experiences in Cuban resorts; we were to find that the concerns with the Valentin Perla Blanca would be compounded however. Major concerns during our stay involved cleanliness of the room, buffet and main bar, Customer service, long lineups, poorly serviced and disappointing facilities and almost ineffective security In terms of cleanliness, we opened the sheets on the bed and noticed dirt in the sheets; since we arrived late, we were too tired to have the bed remade so we simply took blankets from the cupboard. in the morning we stripped the bed of all sheets and left them on the floor. When visiting the buffet, we frequently had to wait for tables to be cleaned and when they were cleaned it was with filthy rags. The food selection was sparse and when there were dishes that were palatable, they often did not last long and were not replaced prior to the end of the service. The cleanliness from the bar was just as harrowing; we watched as an unused Pina Colada was presented to an unwitting bar patron. We also received glasses which obviously had not been cleaned; in one instance there were lipstick stains on a fresh glass. When checking out, a 2 inch long snail had somehow made its way to the front desk and we pointed it out to the front desk staff He smiled but did nothing. The snail then began to move towards one of the guests who was checking out. It was almost crawling on her sandle when we called it to her attention and of course she was startled; again no response from the front desk clerk who watched the whole incident an continued to check out another couple. There was no lineup and every reason to act. We finaly removed the snail ourselves and set it outside. The customer service was also very concerning. At the main bar it was difficult to get a drink. There were 2 waitresses serving about 150 people and the bartenders did not smile or make eye contact and in some instances sullen. There was also no uniformity with the drinks; you might get a decen spanish coffee from one bartender but the next might choke the drink with too much alcohol or coffee. Other examples of poor service occurred on our checkout. It was raining and so we requested carts for our luggage and we were assured a cart would be forthcoming. We waited for about 25 minutes and since the rain let up, we decided to walk to the main lobby. we discovered in discussions with 2 other couples that they too had requested carts that did not show up. Throughout our experience, staff seemed unwilling to assist even when pressed to do so. Lineups were everywhere at the Perla Blanca. We waited in a line for about a half an hour to register and lineups through out our stay for drinks or food. The most infuriating lineup was in requesting foreign currency; we waited a half an hour to exchange canadian currency into pesos. We were at 2 couples away from our turn whn the window suddenly closed without warning. We checked at the front desk and the clerk told us he head no control over the currency and that the currency exchange ahd probably run out o money. (?) Believe it or not, this was later confirmed by the currency clerk. They rarely had peso coins. so we were forced to request change from the hotel staff. in terms of the facilities, the beaches were not very wide. there was a nice stretch of beach at the far end of the resort but there were hardly any shade huts and the pathway to the beach was a dirt path cut out of bush. The shower drain was plugged in our room but was quickly repaired. Our friends at the far side of the resort told us they had no hot water. There was no "Mike's Coffee Shop" There was also no music after 9pm and no disco. Internet was also laughable; you paid 1 and a half pesos for 1 hour of internet and it frequently went down. When we asked forhelp from the man who sold the internet cards, he told us he was not responsible for the reception and only sold the cards. The most concerning aspect of our stay was the close to ineffective security. During our stay, there was a bar brawl in the resort. First in cuba for us . We witnessed the after effects an were told security did not show up until 30 minutes later. One evening around 9pm we did however witness a very very young man who was obviously very drunk. He challenged the entire main bar to a fight and at one point was about to expose himself when one of the other patrons stopped him. When he stumbled down the stairs to the main lobby I went to the main desk and sugested the clerk cal security. The clerk told me that security was contacted about 15 minutes ago and I suggested the clerk call again right now. The clerk went to the phone and made a call while the drunk continued to harrass patrons ad stumble about. Security arrived 30 minutes later.

This was our first time at this resort. We purchased the Privilege Oceanview room. Well worth purchasing the Privilege upgrade. Although, when we got off the bus, it is not easy figuring out where we needed to go as the person already went inside with the sign for advanced check in. Also book with our agent, she was able to request "highest floor" and "King bed" which was key. Positives of the resort: True adult only resort. It has two areas with two different types of adult life. There is the "party pool" with swim up bar, snack back and tons of entertainment, volleyball, dancing, exercising and loud music. Then there is the "relax pool" on the other side of the resort that has a swim up bar and some activities, but definitely more for reading your book while having Mojitos. The food choices were wonderful. 3 a-la-carte dinners and a lobster dinner. So 4 total. All restaurants were really well done and service was wonderful. As well, we get a-la-carte breakfast EVERY morning which was wonderful. We never went to the buffet for breakfast as there was never a line, or anything for breakfast, and the staff at that restaurant was phenomenal. Privilege lounge was also wonderful. They have scotch, aged Havana club, Chivas, bigger selection of beers and the best bartenders on the resort. This was always free for privilege members. The beach at the resort was amazing, Santa Maria is known for the beaches. We spent every day on the beach at some point and one of the days dolphins swam up about 20 feet from the shore and were fishing for about 20 minutes (before other tourists "NEEDED" to get closer and in turn, the dolphins left due to them) Room and resort is all relatively new and upgraded in comparison to others. Meaning that the rooms are all more modern and the restaurants are as well. The pictures are exactly what you will find, they are not misleading at all. We booked with Sunwing, and had such a wonderful experience with them. I feel like we got lucky as everything went EXACTLY according to plan. I definitely would recommend booking with them. Resort is massive. This is either a pro or a con. We enjoyed the amount of walking and exercise we actually got there. Negatives: One issue is every once in a while there is a sewer smell at the resort and near the room's toilet. As well, after about 3 days of showering, the drain was fairly clogged or backed-up or something, not too sure and it kept taking a while for the water to drain. Room service was nothing special. Our issue was they were constantly inconsistent with the timing they would clean our room. One day it was 3pm and another it was 11am. So that was annoying as we needed to be out of our room for them to do their thing and we couldn't predict that. Cigar selection is VERY weak at this resort. Apparently at the market there is a better selection, but also the chance of fake cigars is very high. Duty-free before going home has some good selections. Bus ride is 1.75 hrs. It is not bad when you first arrive as you get beers and you're all excited and the tour guide on the way is usually very entertaining. However, the ride back at the end of your week it is exhausting and feels forever. Also, if you book the early flight (11am) remember, the flight back you leave your resort about 5 hrs prior to your flight time. ie, check out at 5:30am and catch the bus to the airport at 6am. Overall: Overall we were very happy with this resort. Adult only so no children running around and lots of booze flowing. I highly recommend the privilege or silver package, it is well worth the extra money. And the concierge will help you book everything, any issues and supports you very well when you're there.

This hotel had the best lobby I have EVER experienced. I believe the lobby is the heart of the hotel and we had a 2 level lobby that everyone hung in. There was entertainment every night and we didn’t once go to the theatre for the shows. The food was good. I didn’t have one meal I didn’t enjoy but the set up in the buffet could have been a better thought out. The beach was beautiful and we basically hung there most of the time. The pools were well kept and clean. I liked my room but the house cleaning wasn’t the best. My maid was lovely but I think she just had too many rooms to clean. Over all I would say that this was a GOOD hotel that I would go back to if I decide to go back to Cayo Santa Maria.

We were very disappointed having been to Cuba 16 times. We had made requests in October 2016 when we booked our trip and this hotel did not honour even one. First impression mean a lot to us..we arrived late at night..lots of drunks..lots of smoking..lots of bad staff employees golf cart drivers. Then were put in first floor stale stinky room with two beds pushed together and told there is your king size. Not a good sign. The staff were miserable looking, not helpful ..ladies bathrooms continuously without toilet paper..honestly why would that happen..over and over. I could go on but I won't.. I just won't go back..maybe Cuba has lost its shine for us..not the Cuba and the people we fell in love with several years ago.

The resort is huge and requires a lot of walking to get anywhere on the property. It is new and modern and beautiful. I loved the high ceilings and open and airy feeling it had. The staff were friendly and attentive. We rarely had an issue with the employees. If we did, it was mostly due to the language barrier. Our room was nice and clean and modern. The shower was great. The only issues in the room were the ceiling fan didn't work, and the blanket on the bed wasn't washed. My key card also stopped working every couple of days and required me to have it reset at the front desk throughout the week. Our building was perfectly situated in the middle of the resort with easy access to the buffet and lobby and beach. It had great views of both the resort and the beach. The grounds are beautiful but because they are a newer property, they aren't very lush yet. It will be beautiful in a few years when it has the chance to grow. The loud areas of the resort aren't bad for the most part but it's a bit excessive at times. Especially at the pool when people are just sunbathing or dining at the snack bar and there is blasting music and no one is participating in the activities. Same with the beach area. It is a bit much. It vibrates throughout the resort and can be toned down a bit. The front desk is understaffed and check-in and check-out is a long process. And if there is an issue and you require the front desks help, it is a long wait. Booking a scuba diving excursion was extremely complicated. It shouldn't have been as difficult as it was. Our Sunwing Rep recommended the Carnival excursion which turned out to be an awful event and not worth the time or money. It unfortunately cost us a lot of pesos that we could have used elsewhere. The food is not good. We were told that we would not be getting good food in Cuba so we were prepared. Even at this new 5 star resort the food was not good. Instead of getting Cuban food in Cuba, which would be fantastic, we are given food that they think we want to eat. I'm not quite sure what food we are getting in Cuba. It is not appetizing at all. It has no flavour, no seasonings, it is not visually appealing, and is very difficult to eat at times. Hot dogs are used much too often at the buffet. It was hard to find something appetizing at most meals. The food was heavy and oily and we did not feel great after eating. We left the resort and at a Cuban restaurant one day and it was the best food we had during our week. The coffee at the resort was fantastic. The a la carte restaurants have a great atmosphere and dining in those restaurants was nice, but the food is not much different there. Still difficult to eat most times. A resort that size should have more than 4 a la carte restaurants. And guests should be able to book more than 3 a la carte's over the course of a week. The buffet does not vary enough. It is the same food at every meal for the most part. The drinks weren't consistent. They varied from bar to bar and bartender to bartender. It was clear that there is no bartending training. Sometimes the staff members were guessing what to do. The majority of the drinks were great but they were never the same twice. The lobby bar was very nice with lots of seating. It was so open and airy and had a great vibe to it. The bathroom facilities throughout the resort (excluding the hotel room bathroom) aren't the greatest. The entire week I did not find a bathroom stall door that closed or locked. Toilet paper and soap are scarce as well. The pools are odd at the resort and did not look inviting so we did not use them at all, but used the beach instead. The majority of the guest at the resort were French. We rarely encountered English speaking guests. They were not the most pleasant guests to be around but the resort cannot prevent that and the review of the resort should not be based on other guests behaviour. The food and the rude guests would probably keep me from visiting Cuba again but we had a great time during our week and would recommend the Valentin Perla Blanca to others.

The resort was modern and beautiful! We loved the small pool it was quiet and great bartenders! Beaches were lovely, there was a big beautiful beach with a lobster lunch, the middle beach was smaller but really lovely and the gentleman kept bringing us good drinks 😊 Food overall was good! Loved the French restaurant. Overall it was a good resort 😊

The airline should improve the services for Vacation Flights as to going back to larger seats so people are not crammed in like cattle and the airline authorities should bring back the service of a meal when the flight is a long one. They should take into account that the 'cattle' have already been at the airport for 3 additional hours before departure. We enjoyed the resort as a whole but there were some things that could be improved as follows: The privilege amenities were not in the room when we arrived and were not provided until the next day after 2 phone calls were made. Door to the balcony would not lock and they would not fix it. They booked our free massage for a day that they are closed and it was a long walk from our bldg to the parlor. We were compensated with an extra free massage later on which eased the pain (lol). However we were not impressed with the masseuse who demanded a larger tip than we were prepared to give. The masseur later stepped in to the argument and things were resolved. The concierge (Janko) told us to come see him on Wed for a booking into the Italian Restaurant as we told him on the first day that we wanted to eat there. Wed came and on looking for him, guess what......it was his day off. However the 2 other concierges that were on site that day resolved this (most thanks to them). At the pool every day was an experience trying to find the attendant responsible for the "pads" to lay on. It could take up to an hour to find him and half the time he was not on the site at all. Other than these things, the Privilege is the only way to go as long as the prices are kept in check to make it worthwhile. The staff were very friendly and were grateful for the tips provided which in turn made for better service (a little goes a long way). We sure enjoyed the beach, pool, heat and listening to the ocean. Our room location was as nice as could be expected face on and overlooking the pool. Overall it was a nice experience.

As above. Wish there was more shade at the beachfront as several were unable to find same and wandered as we did - but otherwise a simply amazing resort. Somewhat put off by the accepted practice of saving pool chairs by using hotel towels and then not coming to use them for hours and hours while others do without. Somehow there needs to be a better system. But, we will be back!

Arrived late April 5. Check in was fast and was taken to our room. We were in bungalow 24, Great location. Close to 24 hr grill and the beach. Hamburgers were great, Service was great there and the omettles were tasty in the morning. Our room was dirty when we arrived. Toilet seat broken, strong smell of urine, lip marks all over shower window. Our fridge was empty as well, broken safe. I told them the next day and the safe and fridge issue was resolved. Our shower was a window so my husband got to see me shower and use the toliet all week lol. My friends room had a coated shower window. The only thing the maid did all week was make the bed. Lip marks and broken toilet all week. Resort is Beautiful ... pools and beaches, amazing entertainment, the Cubans were amazing as always. I tipped but when I didn't it was never an issue. This was our 6th time to Santa Maria. Stayed at different resorts. This resort had the best food. In all honesty they are all the same. If you go to the right of the beach to the end you can go naked. Lots of topless people on the beach. Loved that it was adults only. Service was really good. The only issue was the cleanliness... the room and bathrooms on the resort. Something really needs to be done, it's disgusting. We noticed on the drive back to Santa Clara the amount of garbage everywhere. Something that was never an issue before. I'm not a picky person and love santa maria but things are going downhill. Doesn't take much to clean. We also found it windier at this part of the island Tips: take cleaning wipes, bug spray, 60 sunscreen, hat. Hand sanitizer. Only use the internet in the morning, and it does work from your room. 1 hour 1.50 peso card. If you upload pics it drains your time. They don't give 1 pesos at the hotel bank. Go the the market bank and change your money there for tips. This way your not giving put 3.00 tips at a time. If you vape there was no issues going through customs. We will go back but to a different resort. It's was a great resort just needs better cleaning.

This was our third trip to Cuba and our first bad review. The Valentin Perla Blanca hotel and facilities are new and well designed, and the beach, one of the 10 best I've seen anywhere. The food was, at best, 2 or 3 star and we had a major unresolved dispute over our room. We were booked for a MINI SUITE OCEANVIEW. The view we got was the main buffet restaurant. (Please ask me for photos) At 6 every morning, I awoke to the clatter of plates, the scrape of chairs, loud talking.... etc. All night till 4:30am. there was a parade of drunks past our window. Because my wife has claustrophobia, we had to keep the balcony door open, so I got no more than 2-3 hours interrupted sleep per night. I tried to get the room changed, but the concierge insisted we had oceanview, because if you lean out from the balcony, you can see the ocean. You can not see anything but the restaurant from anywhere in the room, and it was a room, not a suite. We were there for 2 weeks, but I would have loved to have been able to change resorts after the first night. The management (Valentin) and their front desk staff were the problem. This could be a 4 or 5 star resort if it was run properly, but they did not maintain standards, training or quality as one would expect. The staff, and all the Cubans we met throughout the country, as always, were delightful and motivated.

Rooms were clean modern &spacious. Well maintained grounds. Beach was one of the most beautiful we have ever been to. Pools very clean. Excellent entertainment. Buffet was average didn't change much all week. Restaurants were very good. Friendly staff. Lots of garbage cans around the resort which was great to see. Only one thing I think would improve the resort is washrooms closer to the beach.

Amazing beach, great entertainment, friendly staff, A La Cartes were very good.....but buffets left a lot to be desired. No variety and every meal was the same..... not even good by Cuban standards. Beds and pillows were hard, and bathroom towels were not changed regularly and not easy to replace beach towels.

I have just returned from a 10 day vacation at this wonderful resort. I travelled with my brother. The grounds were well kept but grass was dry since they have not had any rain. I am sure in another year all of the plants will be growing to full potential since this hotel is just into its third year. I did not make it down to the beach since I need a cane to get around and found some areas were rocky and the dunes were deep. What I did see was quite beautiful. My brother enjoyed it and walked daily along the beach. The buffet was very good and had a wide assortment of food for everyone's taste. Breakfast and lunch were also available at 2 restaurants one by the quiet pool and one by the 24 hour snack bar by bungalow 24 and fhe activities pool. The al carte restaurants that I went to were the Spanish, French and the Italian twice sincs it was so good I recommend the lasagna. Since I had the premium package it also included a lobster dinner so I did not go to the seafood restaurant. My room was large with a king size bed and a sitting area. The showers were huge. My room was cleaned and the fridge was restocked each day. I found the staff all friendly and willing to assist you and even go that extra mile if needed. A special shout out to the concierge Jordan and all the staff in the Premium lounge for their assistance with my special needs. The entertainment was the same as most. However I enjoyed the shows that were in the main lobby the most. Some evenings there was a piano player, and there was a jazz band, a quartet and Cuban bands. These shows however started earlier and if you had dinner reservations for 7 pm you would miss the show. This was the first time I have been to an adult only resort and must say that I enjoyed the quiet but dont get me wrong I dont mind having children around either but it was a change. I will definitely go back to this resort next year you get great service and value for your money.

Honestly, this resort was absolutely amazing and beautiful. It really exceeded my expectations. The only thing negative was the lack of wifi but a very well run hotel that I would highly recommend and return too!!

ust a little feedback from our trip to Valentin in Cuba. Overall the trip was good. Flights were on time, which has never happened before. The resort was nice. The rooms were clean and housekeeping did a good job. The beach was nice but water was shallow. You could walk a hundred feet off shore and the water was only waist deep, at least in the part we were at. It was kind of a blessing though as it was very windy the first 5 days and the red flag was up for most of the time. If the water was deeper we would probably not have gone in. Bar staff as a whole was good and wait staff in buffet was excellent. All staff including front desk were great. If you do not like lineups and waiting this is not the resort for you. When arriving at around 2 PM we were hungry and went to the pool snack restaurant for something to eat. It took about an hour to get our food but that was the only time there was an issue there. They had chicken strips and fries that were excellent. Food was good and we had no issues which has only happened one or two times before. The first morning I waited in line for about 15 minutes for fried eggs and didn’t even bother to try to get toast as bread had to be run through three times in order to be toasted. There were 2 buffets but for the first 5 days only one was open and the lineups were long no matter what time you went. On the 6th day they opened the second buffet which was right next door and it made a great difference. The resort was at capacity, so we were told and I can’t understand why both weren’t opened right away. Also the way the buffet was set up was what contributed to the mob that was in that area. With a little better planning it could be laid out better. Lineups to covert money as well. Hard to get small pesos which was frustrating if you wanted money for tips. There were a lot of things going on that we were not aware of- a beach party, cuban sandwiches at the pool, sandwiches at the beach in an area far from where we were. Should have been made better aware of what was going on. Waiters on beach was a good thing. Went on one excursion, rum, sugar and cigar- good excursion and each got a bottle of rum and a cigar. Long drive to resort but was made better by the guide we had on bus, Ernesto. He was very informative and funny. Nice entertainment in lobby in evening. Overall a great vacation. Alan and Carolyn LeBlanc

Food was great. Beach was beautiful. Staff was great. Pools are beautiful. Rooms were modern and clean. The main lobby was awsome with great nightly entertainment and lots of places to sit and have great variety of drinks

We enjoyed our stay!! The food was amazing, the beach sand was so soft and the water was so clear!! However, 2 hours from the airport is too far! The entertainment was top notch!! All that was lacking for a 24hr drink and all adult resort was adult entertainment!! Nothing much happening after 10:30pm and no disco on the property. Also, the desk and concierge do not answer the phones and we feel that we bought privilege for nothing because the added service was simply not there! If you like a nice relaxing place to go and you like to go to bed early, then this place is for you!

We just loved this resort from the first time entering the beautiful lobby.. The landscaping ...flowers,plant etc I have to mention the gardners who look after everything out in the heat all day with always a welcome and a smile...The staff were friendly and always remembered us ...check in was a breeze as was check out...Food was good ..we liked the specialty restaurants as a change ...There was a problem with a few of public washrooms but we always had our room to go to... Beach ,pools service wonderfull... Could have music ,dancing a little later into the evening as it is an adult resort But other than that we loved our two week stay

Beaches: White sand, crystal clear water, lots of shady areas. The long beaches made for wonderful evening/morning walks. Pools: Well kept, unique design, clean. Relaxing pool on separate side of resort from the activities "party" pool, made it easy to enjoy whatever mood your in. Grounds: Beautiful Gardens, paved pathways, simple design (easy to navigate), multiple access points to the beach. Main lobby building is large, open and well situated. Rooms: Modern, Air conditioned, Balcony (paid for garden view and still had a view of the Ocean) Cleaned daily, Bar fridge was re-stocked daily. Food: We had a la carte breakfast at Rachon Tobacco most days (Privilege Package Perk) the selection was good, the food was very good. Buffet had a large selection including fresh grilling stations, pizza bar, salad bar...it was easy to make healthy eating choices. The Seafood restaurant was very good, French was okay, Spanish was good and the Lobster Dinner (Privilege Package Perk) was very good. I am a total foodie and found my meals for the most part very enjoyable. No complaints about the food which was surprising from what I had been told about the food in Cuba. Staff: Very fun (and flirty), always smiling, very accommodating. I tried my best to speak Spanish with staff (basically learning throughout the week) who were always willing to help me with my pronunciation or teach me new words. Staff were very appreciative of tips and gifts. I would recommend the Privilege Package upgrade. We had a room on the top floor which faced the ocean (Paid for Garden View) Upon arrival we didnt have to wait in line in the main lobby, our concierge escorted us to our air condition privilege lounge, provided comfortable seating and a welcome cocktail. He showed us where everything is on the map, booked our a la cartes and free massage, and escorted us and our luggage to our room.

Lobby is great for the evening listening to live music and meeting people. Entertainment in the theatre is ok. WIFI is extremly poor. Public washrooms throughout the resort are missing alot of toilet seats & toilet paper. Food in 24 hour snack bar and buffet are better than other resorts i've been to in Cuba, a la carte, seafood didn't have half of the menu ended up getting beef skewers, french is terrible very salted with lots of no littl ebugs on table & dishes, Italian was amazing. Beach isn't great, party pool chopped up both areas have alot of broken chairs and having to play the towel game no later than 6am or you'll end up sitting on cement stairs/ landing above the pool filter area. Pool entertainment staff doesn't mingle with clients. rooms are average and clean, mini bar stocked between 5 & 530pm very smart to be able to get more tips. Maid service very good. if your looking for a relaxing trip this a place for you. I wouldn't return to this resort unless it was no more than $800 taxes in. I would rate this resort a 3 1/2*.

I spent the last two weeks of February at the Valentin. The hotel is an excellent place to visit. The check in and guest services were efficient and pleasant. The grounds and buildings are large and we'll maintained. The food services are plentiful and great. The pool have one for a more party atmosphere and one with a more relaxing atmosphere. The room was clean and modern. The beach and ocean were stunning. The people were kind and excellent at their jobs. The night atmosphere was fun and enjoyable. I have been to Cuba near 40 times and stayed at many resorts. I would definitely recommend this resort as a quality place and recommend others to choose this destination to spend their vacation.

This hotel was quite beautiful with it's fine architectural lines and views to the ocean. White against the green of the property and blues of the water. Easy to navigate the property. Choices of boardwalks or forested walkthroughs to the beach. Gorgeous long soft sand beach with helpful and attentive beach staff. Room was comfortable, stocked fridge, big bathroom and shower. Decor was fine. Pool areas were wonderful( my only concern was the lack of availability of changing your beach towel). Landscaping was beautifully done. Buffet well managed for both crowd control and food refills. Staff were all pleasant and pleasing. There was always something for everyone. Entertainment was OK.

Great resort, good food for Cuba, nice room, clean....very little hot water and water pressure but only late afternoon (was ok in the morning). Beautiful beach, great service. Never a problem getting chairs and always someone there to help. Food on the beach was good. Evening entertainment in the lobby was great.

Very nice resort, clean, bright, lots of variety and space to roam or just relax. Great sand, good beach depth for scuba diving and the Hobie cats are cool. Nice rooms, great showers, Only downside; my toilet leaked clean water all over the floor.

The resort is beautiful with all the natural surroundings. This is my third time in Cuba and I have to admit this resort has the best food I've had in Cuba. All the staff were friendly and always smiling and very attentive. The lounge chairs were usually taken if you went after lunch and beach towels exchange was almost non existent.

The hotel was great, we bonded with a lovely server in the 24 hour beach restaurant near the "party pool", Deandra (may have the spelling wrong). Every morning we would have our omelettes and fruit tray, coffee/tea served to us vs lining up at the buffet. We lucked out with beautiful, sunny weather with a few days being windy. Beach was fabulous, a little lack of shaded coverings at times but depending on what time of day, you could find space fairly easily. I much prefer the ocean to the pool so unless it was extremely windy we spent most of our time on the white sandy beach and turquoise ocean. Cuba isn't the greatest with health and safety landscaping, so if you have trouble walking or seeing, you do have to watch out for small rocks popping up in the walkways down to the beach. We found this with other resorts in Cuba. Also the design in the party pool area was not conducive to people that may need physical accommodations. However, the quiet Sunwing pool area was much more accessible. Food at the resort was very good comparing to Cuban standards of generally bland food. We found the Italian restaurant to be the best. We had an ocean view room Bungalow 25, 3rd floor which was lovely, the patio doors did not lock which seemed to be a consistent concern with others. 3rd floor I wasn't too worried. Very clean, good service, the bar was stocked everyday around 5pm with some beer, pop and water and I asked our "guy" for red wine and he promptly delivered it with a smile and then of course we gave him a tip. Overall, this was our fourth trip to Cuba and the best so far. PS the WiFi is useless so we had a tech free holiday which is probably not a bad thing except when you are in your own business and have to check in.

We found the hotel very nice and the people were very nice we had lots of fun the beach was great the only thing was housekeeping was not great didn't make the beds everyday the bathroom was cleaned once the mini bar was never restocked the room was half ass'd clean only when we were there. The a la carte restaurants were excellent best salmon we had in 5 yrs. Things to improve having bathroom closer to the beach, and for the room better beds (like sleeping on a concrete slab) and the fans in the room (bedroom bathroom) didn't work.

WE enjoyed our time there. The food at the buffet was better than at the restaurants. It makes me appreciate the skill of Canadian restaurants in presenting hot meals.The beach was wonderful, clean and peaceful.

We were surprised at the size, expected it to be a bigger resort but that at the end of the day was not an issue. The rooms were very nice, clean and we appreciated our ocean view. The beach was rather small meaning the distance from our chair to the water was a few feet apart in most areas but the water was amazing! We were there for 7 days and were unable to change our pool towels until the second last day because the exchange room was never open. The onsite shop was very small, only 2 people could go in at a time. We have been to Cuba before and had a great experience at the buffets and restaurants, this time not so much 😐

Had a fantastic week at the Valentin. Beach was amazing, pool areas were fantastic and all the grounds were clean and well maintained. Staff was super friendly and helpful. Loved the lobby bar and chocolate tequila!! Would go back for sure.

The resort, and the beach were beautiful! The food, not so much. There is not much variety... same food served for lunch & dinner, they do not change up the menu at all!! A la carte restaurants were completely booked up! My husband and I arrived Thursday evening for 1 week, when Sunday rolled around and we went to book our 2 reservations, they were all completely booked until Friday! They were not accommodating at all even though we were there on our honeymoon. No upgrade to the room whatsoever as it was "booked up" yet we met another couple who came a day after and they were upgraded to a beautiful ocean view. Our room's air conditioning was broken the first couple of days making it hard for us to sleep, they did not want to switch out our rooms. Finally someone came out when I went and complained! The staff are very tip hungry. I overhead a lot of them complaining during lunch and dinner when guests did not leave tips, and a lot of the servers were just miserable! There are a few nice servers which we made it a point to sit in their section daily!! Overall, our experience was not the greatest, will not return to this specific resort and I'm hoping to give Cuba another shot!! Do not go here if you're looking for a full experience by the resort only!! It's also a 2 hour drive from the airport!!!

Cuba = great beach and nice people. They need a new management. The room are not ready on time.First day no electricity in the room, and no cold water to take a shower. They fixed the water after 3 days. Costumer services seemed uncaring to complaints, not even an apology for the inconvenience . On the 3rd day 10 people were in the lobby complaining about cold and hot water. Thank you to the cleaning lady Maria and the icecream boy on the beach Maikel

This is the 4th the time to Cuba for my husband and I. We've now been to 3 different resorts and this was the best vacation in that country so far! The beach was beautiful, the food at the buffet and a la cartes very good, the resort and accommodations clean and the staff very friendly. It is not a 5 star resort, mainly because of a small few details. If you can overlook that, it is a strong 4.5. We would definitely return!

Very good overall. The entertainment was fabulous and lots of variety. More toilets could have been working in lobby area. There were enough toilets but the staff said they were broken (for the two weeks we were there). Also a few more toilet seats would have been nice. The service at the snack bar near the relaxing pool could be improved. The beach area could be cleaned up in one section. Must have been a storm before we arrived. The pools were well maintained and the grounds beautiful.

This is a very large resort and although very nice, doesn't seem to be able to keep up with maintenance issues. Some of the public bathrooms were without toilet seats, door locks, lacking in toilet paper and hand soap and broken faucets. Our room was very nice and was adequately cleaned. We were in the Privilege section and after several days of trying to get clean beach towels learned that we should leave them in our room and the maid would change them however, she took the wet towels off the floor and hung them over the room chairs. Very unprofessional. We had beach towels the day we arrived and found the beach towel area opened once during our week there. We had requested a king bed but ended up with two beds pushed together so not overly comfortable. The food was fine to good and being Cuba, often the restaurants would run out of items (bread one day, French fries one day, shrimp, etc.). Of the privilege package inclusions we didn't receive a refreshing towel on arrival, no "petits fours" in our room, no exclusive invitation to a Managers Cocktail and no assigned area at the main buffet. The beaches were beautiful, the pools looked great, staff was mostly friendly. I would not likely recommend this hotel to seniors because it is such a large resort and a lot of walking.

Great beach area resort was good. Food was good staff was wonderful. Daya from buffet was very nice the bartenders in privileged bar albertico and edwardo super nice guys. There were some problems during our stay beach towels we had to jump through hoops to get some and some of the privileged sections staff let non privileged in. One day our room wasn't done the maid was off but over all I would go back. Main pool area can get loud so if you want quite go to the other side of resort. Public toilets most don't lock some don't have seats or are broken. If your a late night person the disco bar opens after the shows are over. It's loud but a good time. A lot of people said the beach is smaller now it had a lot of erosion and resort is showing signs it needs repairs but no problems getting chairs or a spot on beach.

We have been to Cuba before and can only say positive things about this resort. It is very clean and modern. People are friendly and service is great ! The sand is so soft and beaches are also nice and clean to walk. The water is crystal clear and a nice place to relax or have fun depending on which side of the resort you are located. Being close to the Relax pool was great ! The restaurants à la carte were very nice and food was great. We recommend the Valentin resort !!

it is a new hotel so the place was very clean, room etc.. but it was very difficult to get a chair near the pool (near 24 hr snack area)... was not at all impressed with the nightly shows... maybe 2 out of the 7 were good. I think this hotel has alot of potential if it gets organized but the buffet area was soo unorganized... lines going everywhere...i stood in line for over 10 min for pasta and when i finally got up to my turn they ran out of sauce with 2hrs still remaining in the buffet hours.... Beach is far to get too and not easily accessible... best part of this resort was the overall cleanliness and the amazing pools. The hour and 30-40 minute bus ride was also very long

I was very impressed with this resort. Even with all the bad things people say about Cuba and the food etc. I had no issues with food options and I'm a very picky eater. The room was clean and basic but nice. The back patio door did not lock so we had laid the ironing board along the bottom to keep it shut and told the front desk and they fixed it within a couple hours. Again impressed. The glass separating the bathroom and the beds is very see through so I made sure to bring a shower curtain to hang for privacy. Everything was always stocked. The pools were great. Great and friendly wait staff. All the travellers seemed to be from Canada which was nice. Poolside entertainment should change up their morning dance and exercise routines and songs. Its the same thing everyday. The synchro swimming show was great. Magic show was very cool also. I loved the French and Italian restaurants. The French was very quick for service and food. I did find that alot of the lounge chairs were broken. That should really be taken care of in my opinion. Drinks were great. Beach was beautiful. Could have been groomed a bit more but not a huge deal. Grounds workers were alwats out making sure everything looked great. All in all I had a great experience in Cuba and can't wait to return.

My daughter and I just returned from a week stay at the Valentin resort and have nothing but positive things to say about the food, staff and facilities. The beach is amazing and the cleanliness of the entire place, inside and out, was impressive. Definitely would recommend anyone looking for an adult only get away to consider the Valentin Perla Blanca Paraiso resort in Cayo Santa Maria Cuba.

The resort is beautiful, beach is stunning with a very long distance that you can freely walk and enjoy the soft sand and beautiful scenery. The rooms are up to date in decorations, beds are ok, it's not your comfy bed at home, but whatever! The food is plentiful, again, its buffet style, which is not piping hot and can become repetitive over 7 days, but again, it's is made up in other ways. The staff were amazing, always so happy and helpful, made you feel like family. We had a great time!

My husband and I went to celebrate our honeymoon and had an amazing time. Our only complaint was college students took over half way through the week. If you are looking for peace dont visit during winter break.

Hotel was great!! Clean well maintained and modern looking! Pools were fabulous, beach was small but very clean. Did have a problem with bugs biting the first two days. Would definitely go back. (Esp since it was adults only!) typical Cuba food. Not the greatest.

Really great resort, I don't know where other people stayed to write a bad review, the rooms , clean and modern , the staff friendly and very helpful, food , best I've had in Cuba . I have no problem recommending this resort

The grounds were lovely and well cared for, public area was kept very clean and well staffed, rooms were well cared for and clean. The beds were not that comfortable, a little too hard. I like a firm bed but with a soft top. The dining area was well staffed but some tongs were missing on some of the trays so you had to use the same tongs for 2 different deserts. The coffee was not very good. The special dinners were very good.The pools were wonderful and the beach was excellent, nice to have the sail boats and paddle boats. Entertainment at night was excellent. Because we were the last resort the bus ride is 2 1/2 hours, very long, and tiring.

Check in was two hours and there was no one really checking in. Three floors to climb when we asked for ground due to health issues. No elevators!!!! The resort is huge. Anyone with mobility issues will not like trying to get around. Drinks weak, but do have champagne if you ask for it. Food was fair only. Even breakfast wasn't great. No bread last three days. Hard buns only.Buffet was same day in and day out. Could have filled plate with eyes shut. Many complained their chicken etc. wasn't fully cooked. Beach gorgeous but not visible from resort, you walk through mangroves to get there probably two hundred meters only to find that there are no bathrooms. So you know where everyone is "going". If you have any other issues you are out of luck! Many complaints I read about "rocky beach". No it's a nice sand beach with areas of the island/volcanic rock that jut out. The water is not rocky, nor is the beach for walking. You may have to go over some rock areas if you don't want to be in the water. There is no where to buy bottled water/sundries of any sort. The woman in the tienda sold my sister a pack of smokes for 3.75 CUC when they should have been 2.75. Buy them from the lobby bar seller. You sign for them, and pay on check out. They send minibar service, but five nights out of seven I had to call at six p.m. since we had NO water to drink or brush teeth with. The one chap who showed up was so RUDE because I saw him coming with cart but he was going into a room with it, and I think they were his friends. He hollered at me "what!". When I said "pardon" he screamed " WHAT????". Not what I expect at a 4.5 star! I wanted to report him but didn't. After he begrudgingly gave me water he entered their room and closed the door. Rooms nicely appointed. Hard beds! We were bit all over by something. I suspect it was in the room. Others who sat with us on beach/out at night/during day, had no bites! Last day my bed covered in ants. It may have been December that was reason for so many chigger/ant bites. Pools nice on left side. Quiet. Bathroom at pool had no seats/no SOAP or way to dry hands/no t.p. Disgusting! Got tired hearing about how their wage is poor and they depend on tips. Golf cart drivers who are going by expect a tip every time you sit on a cart. We gave nice stuff/brand new all week to maid and others plus they tapped out fifty CUC from us. We totally understand their plight but really who wants to hear it? The bus ride was HORRID! 2 hours! I wouldn't ever go back for that reason, plus the food stunk really. I've had better in Hoguin at what was once called a three star. I've been to Cuba ten plus years in a row, am not a high maintenance person and really think we got okay value for what we paid at 745. The place was half full only and they were running out of food etc. So not sure I would want to be there at high season. If you go for the beach you may be disappointed not being able to see it or stay on it if you don't want to use the water as your toilet! For walking the beach it was an amazing stretch! It's more like a four star at best!

Valentin perla blanca paraiso Returned yesterday from this resort relaxed and well rested. Everything was fantastic at this resort. Clean well maintained property with excellent friendly staff. We booked the privilege package which was so well worth it. Aylis privilege concierge was very helpful. We had a couple of fantastic massages from yarri and her famastic team. All in all excellent resort great vacation.

Let me start by saying I have been to Cuba approximately 20 times and have travelled extensively around the world. Your vacation is what you make it and we have never had a bad one. Having said that, my husband and I were at this resort November 18-25, 2016. The pool that we hung out at (quiet one) was beautiful and we loved that there were built in beds in the infinity pool and I used them often. We had a pool view room and it was very clean and because the resort is fairly new everything was clean and in good working condition. As for the beach, it was beautiful however, very narrow between the water and the tree line. There was a bar on the beach but it would be quite a walk to get to a washroom. Our fridge was refilled every day with water, pop and beer. The lobby bar got quite busy in the evenings but there were enough bartenders to support the amount of guests so there was no long line ups to get your drink. There is a snack bar beside the pool and although the food was fairly good at it you could only get lunch until 3:30pm because it turned into an a la carte restaurant in the evening - we prefer the 24hr snack bars but it was no deal breaker. What was nice about the snack bar was if you missed breakfast at the buffet you could get breakfast at the snack bar until noon. The buffet for dinner got quite busy between 7:00pm and 8:00pm so we waited to eat a bit later so it didn't feel so overwhelming. The waiters / waitresses were very pleasant and always smiling. We would both return and would recommend this resort. Be aware that Santa Clara is approximately an hour and a half from the airport - not a big deal for us.

Review of Valentin Cayo Santa Maria, Cuba Nov 24th to Dec 1st 2016 solo trip Took Sunwing this time, paid for Elite plus. Flight down was good except for some reason our plane had not had any "entertainment" loaded and I was a bit taken aback, also landing was rough. Trip back was uneventful thankfully but I think the runway at Santa Clara needs to be fixed. Never did get my "free" headphones. That was 2 strikes, really makes me think twice for next time as to the airline to use. At least had the extra baggage weight and quick check-in. Santa Clara airport isn't too too big, but customs was pretty fast as was luggage unloading. Found our rep and then our bus pretty fast. Long trip (almost 2 hours) to the resort but I was aware in advance. For once we had a bus with a working toilet (probably the first one in 10 trips). Exchange rate was still quite bad, 0.71. Don't they realize they are only hurting themselves by not giving us Canadians a break? They don't like US$ so why compare to it? Less tips and less souveniers then. Check-in was great as I raced to the front, but there was only like 2 people at the counter. I had paid for Privilege and was not surprised to not see a separate check-in as advertised. ROOM: I had paid for, and received a pool view room (3rd floor). The hotel has 2 sections, one pool is Activity, one Relax. My room was at the activity pool. For the first time ever in Cuba my bathroom had face towels. Bed was hard (no surprise) and a lack of pillows (also no surprise) but I liked it, it was roomy, very nice bathroom and everything worked. Shower was rain style, and hot water was too hot! Burned myself a bit but that's my own fault, they even have stickers that say 50. Safe included as was mini-bar which was restocked daily. The A/C was good and cold too. GROUNDS - very well kept, lots of gardeners keeping it up. But said gardeners seemed to lurk around entryways a lot looking for handouts. Have noticed that at the last 3 trips to Cuban resorts now. BEACH - The beach was nice, nicer than Melia Las Dunas (went there Jan 2016) but there was more large rocks so water shoes was the norm for me. But the sand was gorgeous and water quite clear even though the waves were rough. POOLS - One is the quiet pool only and the other is for activities, both are configured very different and both have swim up bars. Both have snack bars too which is nice, along with bathrooms etc. Good number of loungers and lots of shade with permanent umbrellas. Pools were pretty clean as were the decks around them. BARS - in general all were quite good. There was wait staff service, especially at the main lobby bar, which was very nice and appreciated. I found the bar staff to be very professional, fast, and easy to get to know. SHOPPING - pretty much non-existant. Go to a market, there are 3 on the island (2 CUC there and 2 back by bus). BEACH SNACK BARS - I never got to use but wish I had as others said how good it was. BUFFET - in general not bad, stations were a bit slow cooking and things did run out but that's normal. Was very happy with the temperature of the food trays. As a Privilege member we had a reserved section of the buffet and got more personalized service, another nice feature. A LA CARTES - I had French ala carte at the Oh La La restaurant and enjoyed it very much. The lobster (privileged class), seafood, and Spanish all were at the Ole restaurant. The lobster was quite good, the steak that went with it was very tough, yet the next night when it was the seafood there was a steak with it that was done very good (med-rare). I did not do the Italian ala carte but some loved it so much then did it twice. I prefer ala cartes over buffet and enjoyed the atmosphere and food at the ones I went to. MAID SERVICE - very good and attentive. New towels frequently, bed made well every day and floor well cleaned. Restocked the mini-bar and ensured we had water every day. This was a breath of fresh air after our trip in Jan to another resort where the maid service (and customer service) was deplorable. ANIMATION STAFF and SHOWs I cannot comment on due to the fact that everything was shut down for 9 days of mourning after Fidel Castro passed away which occurred on my 1st full day there. PRIVILEGED - I saw lots of reviews that said to not get this, it all depends upon what you are looking for I guess, to me it was money well spent. I paid about $120 extra for this and this is what I got/should have got. - welcome drink - it was non-alcoholic but it was offered (to everyone regardless) - private check in - didn't happen...maybe because it was late? - late check-out - after confirming with the Priv Conceriege this was done, so instead of paying $10 an hour for 3 hours it was included - Concierge service - in the priv lounge and she was wonderful - luxury amenities - not sure what they meant by this but maybe the bath products were better? - fruit basket upon arrived - never saw this - petit fours once per stay - never saw this - beach towels in room - had to ask the priv concierge to intervene and she did it very quickly - lobster dinner - booked ahead of time - 4 ala cartes - priv concierge did thiws for m - exclusive access to Privilege Lounge - best thing of all! hours are 10am to 10pm, not 7am-11pm as shown someplaces online - reserved area a the Rancho Playa for breakfast - a godsend as far as I'm concerned...it was ala carte too - reserved beach area with personalized service - yes, there were a couple of areas, too bad the non-priv people would steal loungers or just sit there regardless even with the big signs - happy hour by the pool - due to passing of Fidel this didn't happen - outdoor white and black pool party - due to passing of Fidel this didn't happen - 30 minute massage - another awesome part of the package - reserved pool area - never saw this - champagne breakfast on request - yes, did this :) - fruite brochette around the pool: twice a day - never saw this Please feel free to contact us for any questions. Stayed Nov 2016, travelled as single would return with the wife.

The grounds are new and they are so beautiful! The beach was white and the colour of the water is something you can usually only dream of.... every morning looking at the water was so relaxing and it was so beautiful it almost looked fake. The people that were there are so fantastic! The service didn't make a difference whether you tipped every time or tipped every once in awhile... NOTE: DO NOT TIP LOONIES AND TOONIES!!! I made friends with a few employees and they are too nice to disclose to people they cannot exchange it. They take it with a smile and appreciate the gesture but it just accumulates until a nice Canadian will change it to bills for them. One bartender had accumulated 120$ in loonies and toonies👎🏽 ....overall I would 100% visit this resort again👍🏽👍🏽 Food is pretty good.... it's Cuba.... but there was never a time I was left hungry due to lack of options... and I would say the area is beautiful but there's a smaller airport about 20 mins away I wish that was where we landed instead of the 2hour bus ride but the resort was so beautiful it was pretty worth it

The resort is amazing. It was our second time there. Its on an island with other resorts and nothing else. No stores, no nothing unless you take a taxi into the closest town about an hour away. The food is great. Lots to choose from. You will not go hungry. If anything, you will gain weight. Any vacation is what you make of it. only complaint is the weak wifi. But its Cuba. I love the resort, but not its location.

This is my 3rd time in Cayo Santa Maria. I really enjoyed my stay at this hotel. The grounds were impeccable, the rooms clean and the beach spectacular. The food was plentiful and very good. I don't get why people complain about the food in Cuba, I've never had any problems. There are 2 large pools one quiet and one with more activities. We enjoyed the quiet side with soft music. The service was also very good, especially in the buffet, servers were very attentive. I would go back to this resort.

I have been to Cuba several times. And I have to say this was the best food I have had. The resort is amazing. Clean and friendly staff. The beach is amazing when the tide is down there are several sand bars that form on the beach. There was always something to do whether at the beach, lobby or nightly entertainment at the theatre.

We have travelled often to the Islands but never to Cuba. Mainly because of all the negative reviews about Cuba. Well we loved the Valentin Perla Blanca. The rooms were beautiful with all amenities. Beautiful grounds. No bugs! The food was great....and lots of variety ... The Cuban people are kind, and warm. Pleased to help you at any time. Try their very best to please you, and help you. Their smiles light up a room - so genuine. The pools are beautiful and clean. Gorgeous waters. Excellent service at beach! Yordy and others made sure your drinks were always topped up, and Luis came and took orders at your beach lounger for lunch. Delicious BBQ chicken, pork, fish and fresh veggies. Talk about pampering - wow! Any advice - embrace the Cuban culture, enjoy its differnces, its' food flavours and specialties.

The resort is only a couple of years old so they still have some kinks to work out. Overall, the place is well kept and the rooms are nice and clean, spacious and mostly everything works. We had issues with the water, no water for a few days or very poor pressure and sometimes no hot water at all. Pool is very nice and it is GREAT that this is an Adults only resort, nice to sit around relax and not hear screaming kids! They did have an issue with pool towels running out, again some kinks to sort out. The food was not bad but they had problems running out of things at the snack bar and not all restaurants were open even though it was after November 1st. We did the privilege club so worked better for us because we had more A la carte meals which was better since the food there was much better than in the buffet. The people were amazing, we loved all the staff in the Privilege lounge especially Jiordano and Alberto....great service all the time all around from everyone! We will definitely go back but they do need to improve their buffet food, the issues with running out of stuff and overall availability of services.

This was by far the best resort I have been to in Cuba...The resort was beautiful and modern, the grounds were well maintained and the food was surprisingly plentiful, flavorful, and great overall. The a la cart restaurants were so good, we did French, Spanish and Italian and the serving staff was great There was no shortage of anything during our stay. Coffee is soooo good! Lobby bar makes some super fancy coffee drinks. Upon arrival, we were greeted with drinks and our check in was very quick and efficient; our arrival group was not very large, so I would say they do the best they can with larger groups. Our room was very clean and nice. The beds were a little firm, but we had no trouble sleeping. We had no issues with any of our accommodations. The pool was great,..Daniel at the pool bar makes the best Mojitos! The staff was wonderful. The entertainment was good, however we didn't make it to many of the shows. The disco was so much fun, but very hot and smokey at times. My advice would be...make sure to bring a flashlight as some of the lighting was inconsistent. It was very dark in some areas and a flashlight would have been really handy. Most can use their phones, however I would much prefer to lose a flashlight than my phone. Make sure to visit the beach and go on the catamaran sails...bring tip money! The beach was nice but not a lot of space. Some areas were mostly rock, but we never had any trouble finding a spot. The ocean water is just to die for! I am sure there are things people could find reason to complain about, but all in all, for the money we spent, it was so worth every penny!

This was my first trip to Cuba, I went with a few friends and my husband for our 5 year wedding anniversary. We had an amazing time. The resort was absolutely beautiful, the beaches were amazing, the food was very tolerable, everyone in our group that had been to Cuba before expressed this was the best food they had had at a Cuban resort! The staff was amazing, so friendly, and went out of their way to make every experience the best! Our vacation was during Hurricane Matthew and even though we were not in it's direct path the resort and the workers did everything they could to make us feel comfortable and not nervous about it! I would definitely recommend this resort to anyone and would for sure go again if I was able to!!

All I can say is WOW. What an amazing time spent with my other half and a few friends. The resort exceeds the photos that have been posted, the Buffet food was pretty good, for Cuba but the a la carte restaurants were amazing!! Italian was the best! The Staff were extremely friendly and accommodating. The staff went above and beyond to insure we were safe IF the hurricane came our way. (We lucked out and only had a cloudy day 1 day) I would definitely go back to this resort and recommend this resort to anyone.

My first time in Cuba was last year, my wife and I stayed at the Cayo Coca Melia. We had a lagoon room and our stay was 11 nights. The lagoon room was way too far away from the main lobby, the pool and the beach. Our first night, we were very hungry after travelling and ate at the main buffet. The air conditioner was not working, finding out from current but previous guest that it was down for over a year plus. We ate prawns which were not on ice and in a non air conditioned. We were sick for a few days after that.Mostly all food that we tried to eat tasted fishy and salty. Other than that, our stay at the Cay Coca Melia was very enjoyable. The staff were amazing and friendly. Now our stay at the Valentin Perla Blanca Paraiso was a couple of notches up. The food at the main buffet was enticing with a lot of selection, ( NO fishy smell or taste). The entertainment during the evening was great. The beach, was incredible. We did change our room, the day after our first night. The reason was that I paid full price, approx. 3 months before our trip, to have a ocean view. But, what we ended up with was a view of the tops of the trees at sitting level. I had went to the front desk the next day and had it changed from building 24 to building 29. The room was 3 level, not 2 and had a incredible view of the ocean. Plus building 24 was way to from to walk to the main lobby. We had a 3 rd party going with us, but cancelled. Again, I was the first to book a seat on Sunwing. On the way back, I thought that I had a window sit, but I did not. A bitter older drunk woman purchased my window seat at the airport last minute in Cuba. I would recommend to anybody to go to the Valentin Perla Blanca Paraiso. I myself may go back there in the near future.

The staff was out of this world. I've been to 2 other resorts in different cities of Cuba and this had the best staff I've had the pleasure to meet. The whole resort was spotless and the beach was breathtaking. A superbe time!

Very nice resort; Grounds were very neat & kept tidy. All personnel very friendly & spoke english well. Rooms were clean & kept up well other than 2 light bulbs out.; Lobby bar, Buffet, other restaurants very clean & good food; However, the pool bar was closed at least 2 days that I know of; The snack bar & Bar area was very stinky most days. All in all very nice resort. other than these 2 complaints.

The rooms were new and modern, but the beds were nothing to write home about. One squeaked so bad that it would wake you up in the middle of the night if you happen to move. I am not one to complain, but this is possibly the worst hotel we experienced in 13 trips to Cuba. Food was scarce and the buffet was so tiny that you had to bump your way through dozens of folks to get close to the food. Plus not a piece of bread to be seen in 7days - the only thing we found were hard buns that were blue in color. We took pictures of the buffet crowd as it appeared to be some type of food frenzy. Then there was the staff - no customer service whatsoever. If hubby stood at the bar, they would serve young women and ignore the men. Plus the young ladies didn't even tip. Getting to the beach was an adventure - you walked on the grass behind one of the buildings, then you climbed a little cliff and then trekked through the jungle - we had never seen anything like it! Also there was no where to eat lunch other than the buffet or pool restaurant and bathrooms were really scarce as well. I actually lost weight and I am definitely not a fussy eater.

The grounds were beautiful, the beach even better. There is a lack of shade on the beach, but you can build your own shade from lawn chairs which is what our family did. The beach that belonged to the hotel was very large. We walked it every day. At some point we thought we had our own private beach as there was nobody around, we loved that. The grounds of the hotel were very well kept. The buffet dinner was a very large room, seating always available, allot of choice of food, but it was a little bland, not much flavour. The deserts were delicious, the coffee excellent. We ate fish and chicken and pork and that was very good. Their pizza was ok. We experienced a couple of a la carte restaurants and they were just OK. Not really worth going to them. You can get the same at the buffet, so I would recommend just that. This hotel is in the middle of nowhere. There is not even a store on the property. The only little store they had sold Rum, Cigarettes and Cigars and that was pretty much it. The rooms were very comfortable and clean. They do NOT restock you with clean beach towels. We all used the same beach towel for the week we were there. Bathroom towels are also not replaced daily. We found out only near the end of our stay that if you throw them on the floor, you will get fresh ones. They also do not replace your shampoo or body wash, you pretty much have to ask them for that. The people working at the reception desk should learn to speak English a little better. They are not very efficient. We complained about our balcony door not locking. We were on the ground floor and I had a problem with the door not locking. It took the hotel 2 days to fix this problem. My son's toilet leaked the entire time we were there. The air conditioning unit is above the front door as you walk into your room. My son's unit was leaking. When his fiancee walked into the room at the end of our beach day, she almost broke her back slipping on a large puddle that had collected at the front door because the AC unit was leaking water all day. Maintenance is not very quick at repairing things there. I think there is a lack of maintenance people working there and I strongly suggest they hire a few more for all the units that could experience problems. All in all the Cuban people are very appreciative of anything you do for them. They are very friendly at all times (except for the staff at the reception desk), they could benefit from a customer service course. I do have to say that besides of a couple of issues, we had a great holiday. The weather was perfect, the beach was perfect, the grounds beautiful, you can't ask for more. Oh, I have to comment on the shows at the theater in the evening. They had dancers every night. I believe they were the same group of people every night. They were very very good, however, after 2 nights of dancing, would have been nice to see something a little different. There was a "magic" night which was very good and we enjoyed that. I would rate the shows 6 out of 10 compared to other resorts. I would definitely go back to Cuba, however, I would want to experience a different resort next time, but I would recommend this one.

not good service grounds dirty not enough chairs and palapas on the beach everything was reserved for privilege not a good idea for everyone people feel left out, buffet too crowd only half open run out of bread toilet not running in the lobby ,the only thing good about is the rep. of sunwing Naomy that helped us with our staying or else i was going to change hotel.

Beautiful beach and grounds ! Spotless resort with great service ! The 1 hour and 45 minute ride to the resort was accompanied by a knowledgeable tour guide. Nightly entertainment was fantastic and many events during the day to keep busy.

This hotel is beautiful and very clean.. Our room was always made up and clean towels everyday.. But they didn't change the sheets all week but that was OK The beach is amazing.. Great if you like walking the beach.. We paid extra for the ocean view and the privilege club and found it was worth the extra money...having a private area for a nice quiet breakfast and lunch was worth it..we liked the privilege beach area too..the privilege staff couldn't do enough for us booking our dinner reservations , our spa massage, and arranging our luggage pick up at 6am... Now I have mobility issues and this was very frustrating for me ..the resort has at least 12 carts and benches all over the resort so they are set up for transporting guests but they don't have a regular schedule for pick ups..you hardly saw a cart unless you ordered one! My phone didn't work in our room so I wasn't able to call for a pick up so I had to go to the lobby to get rides to the beach and the restaurants... One night the restaurant called 4 times for me to get a ride we waited for 40 minutes for a ride !!!!!! That was very frustrating for me.. They have the system in place they just need to implement a daily schedule it will make a lot of guests happy... If you can walk this won't effect you:) The food was good lots of selections...

First off, upon arriving the staff are very helpful and super friendly. The hotel grounds was very well kept. I was surprised at how modern the rooms were. The food was good, you can't expect five star meals at the buffet. the al la carts dinner were really good and tasty ( in particular the Italian restaurant). The pool is absolutely beautiful. Beach is of course the best part of it, although there were a lot of rocks and what not. Downside however is that the resort is quite large so lots of walking, which I didn't mind. Lots of mosquitos and I would not recommend staying on the first floor. We had issues with mice a couple of times. Overall, I would recommend this resort to friends but I probably would not be back. A lot of guests were of the older population. So we felt a little out of place (maybe it was the time we went). However, Amazing staff and beautiful place!

Hotel is easy to navigate as it is a large resort. Grounds were very well kept Gardners were out every morning. Staff as good. Beach and water amazing. Theater shows every night to keep you entertained. Overall good experience.

The resort was laid out well easy to find your way around. We had purchased the package with the upgrade to privilege I wouldn't recommend that there wasn't a huge difference. It was hard to get a decent chair on the beach but the beach is absolutely beautiful!! I really have nothing bad to say about the resort, we had a good week...thanks !!

if you like a lorge resort this could be the place for you no pool towels for three day the beach was not that great very few cabans for shelter from the sun the water was beautful the room was good some rooms had some problems had a great ocean view alot of walking would not go back thank you

Very modern resort With a spa feel. Quiet and relaxing. Beautiful beaches where you can snorkel. The food is what to expect for Cuba. The service is very cordial. The restaurant à la carte Oh la la was suprisingly good.

Layout of resort was great. Not a lot of walking compared to other resorts we have stayed at of the same size.Lots of staff at beach, pool and lobby. Everyone very pleasant and helpful.Beach beautiful and staff bringing us drinks and food we ordered was so nice. Typical Cuban food at buffet, we could always find something to eat, but could could benefit from more of a variety.

Beach was absolutely stunning. Water is turquoise and clear, sand is like flour and it's so quiet and relaxing. Beach hut with food had great food, especially chicken on a bun and staff was great. Best mojitos anywhere and staff, Torras, Chorro, Jose and Randy rock. They also have another bar much further down beach. They need more beach bars and definitely another food option on the beach. Loved the catamaran rides daily with the very capable staff. Coffee bar in lobby was another favourite of ours and the staff Alberto, Yanier and Adyslein. Best cuban speciality coffee!! Lobby bar staff and entertainment was outstanding. David and Tony. Buffet and a la cartes were good and staff wonderful. Dianya and Yali were the best waitresses and coffee girl in buffet. Complaint is with front desk staff, no experience and not pleasant. Maid service was not acceptable. Lack of toilet paper, clean sheets and towels simply beyond frustrating. Resort seems to have some water issues when showering between 4-6 p.m. which would be peak shower time. Towel hut at pool was always out of towels or simply not open with no sign advising of no towels. All issues were housekeeping and reception, everything else was wonderful. Get some staff over 30 years of age at front reception as everyone is too young so therefore not the experience required.

The resort was big and there was a lot of walking which was ok for us. The rooms were clean, water and beer in our fridge every day. Towels were hard to find. We didn't leaves our on the floor every day to be cleaned but the other couples traveling with us did and didn't have towels after a day at the beach. Beach towels, hard to get a clean one. We only saw the hut open one day. Food, you could find something to eat however you had to stand in line to get hot food. Only one person cooking at a station so the line ups were long. The beach bar/restaurant we went to near the end of the week was good. Restaurants at night were good except the seafood. The beach was great, went for a walk a couple time a day. Drinks and ice cream was good. Bought the privilege package, not sure if it was worth it but got to keep our room until 3 pm on the last day. Everything is slow pace except their driving. The drive fast and always expect you to get out of the way. No warning when they are coming up behind you. Went to the beach party and one backed up right into my husband as we were walking up the path. Went to their market off the resort. Nothing special, just a way to get people off the resort and spending their money.

Hotel look ok be prepared to clean your table get owne silverware .chase down staff .staff responsible for filling mini bar comes to unit leaves nothing .beach towel exchange open 30 min in 7 days .Buffet soggy lettuce mystery cheese the main dishes hot dog winners done several ways.no bread to toast.coffee machine only pours same on all buttons pushed.one tray of bacon fist open then replaced with hotdog winners. Large Line up for fried egg or omelette due to bad buffet . Snak bar sometimes have hamburgers but only the lucky ones get a bun mostly not available.sea food sauce ketchup and mayonnaise mixed.Beach with lots jellyfish.Had trip booked with next tour /sunwing. They fails to leave paper work at main desk . No refund. Had to fight to trade for something else even when they admitted it was thier fault.back to resort .We survive the key is eat at Snak bar at quiet pool Chechen fingers and regular hot dog with bun . Booked dinners at other places at resort big disappointment .Only mashed potatoes that look like grits.41/2 star l don't think so. 2is to much l have stayed at other resorts in Cuba. Big disappointment head office of this chain probably does not know what's going on

Travelled to Valentin Perla Blanca the week of March 3rd to 10th 2016. Purchased the privilege package - well worth it. The resort is large but very well laid out. For a new resorts - seemed to be in need of some repair. Grounds are beautiful and well manicured. The real jewel is the beach. To the right of the resort is a conservation area.....you can walk for miles along the beach without seeing a soul.

The resort was very clean. Meals were better then expected, the staff were very pleasant after going to varadero so much happier to go back caya Santa Maria area.the beaches are so white and very spacious .

Food exceptional!! Grounds lovely, very clean! Room very spacious and loved the ocean view balcony! Great service from all staff. Very helpful! Great pools but our favourite is the ocean! Gorgeous sunsets!!! Suggestion - need more shaded areas on the beach. Definitely a favorite and look forward to returning for another great vacation!!

Hotel and grounds were nice, the pool could use some work, the beach was amazing. The people who worked at the resort where very helpful in nice. The food was ok. I brought hot sauce and used the entire bottle. It was difficult to get change for tipping the first few days.

We booked a 10 day stay from Feb 22 to Mar 2. We read reviews and liked what we saw, and since it was new, it was appealing. Being over an hour and a half from the hotel was not great but we did know about that. It was nice and clean but we had to ask twice for our room towels to be changed and only after the second time asking and physically waiting we finally got two fresh towels. So they were changed only once in the 10 days! Not what i would have expected! At first we thought it was nice but soon realized quite a few downfalls. My biggest one by far was that my husband started out with a lot of bites, which is usual for him but not for me. Then I was also covered. We had about 30 bites each. We hadn't seen any bugs or mosquitoes so we were questioning what they were. After researching, we found we had bedbug bites!! Not impressed!!!!! I went directly to the front desk and they changed my room with no problem I asked if they get people coming to them about bedbugs they said yes! At least they were honest. After changing rooms the bites stopped. The food at the buffet was always the same. And.... except for a few things, like the fish, which was good, it was not good. They never had salt on the tables and when you asked, they would have some poured on a saucer and plunked in front of you. One time I asked for salt and they took the one from the table beside me where the man had been putting his fingers in for his food and gave it to me! You could see the fingerprints where his fingers had been! I told them I was not using that! The Italian restaurant was pretty good and the French was really good. Twice a day, a "fogger" truck went through the resort with a huge white fog to kill insects. Never failed it would go by the open lobby when it was packed full of people covering their mouths because of the fumes. I had to jump out if the way one morning and got fogged myself! It smelled like raid or something similar. We asked about it and they told us it would just kill the bugs and was safe for humans. I highly doubt that!!!!! The pool was nice but if you didn't set your alarm and get down between 6 and 7 am you were out of luck. I would not go back there and would not recommend it to my friends.

Good: Resort and rooms clean and pretty. Fridge stocked daily. Beach towels no problem. Nice pools. Mostly happy staff. Amazing water at beach with panoramic view. Entertainment just fine. Bad: Some staff seemed unapproachable - like they didn't want to be there- regardless of tipping. Nights are cool- I wore pants and light jacket. My first time in Cuba and heard food is not great and bland. I agree. If this is the best food gets in all of Cuba I'd sadly say I'd not go back based on food choices limitations alone. If you've been to Cuba and are ok w their food you'll like this resort though.

Grounds and pools beautiful. Rooms were kept clean. A la carte restaurants had excellent food and burger at 24 hour snack was really good. Very large so had to pick your time for the buffet. Lobby entertainment was very enjoyable. All in all, a great vacation.

It was a waste of our saved up $3000.00 for our once a year tropical trip! Weve been to cuba 6 times and twice to the island of sante marie,this resort is too secluded from anything,the so called beach is full of rocks and weeds,they serve the same food every meal and every day for a week. Me and my husband got ill ..3 days out of 7 sick to our room, couldn't eat or drink during this time, they ran out of baileys on our 2nd day,they ran out of ketchup, no potatoes or fries until the 2nd last day (the only thing we could hold down without throwing up) the huge line ups just to grab food from the ONLY buffet (advertise 2) no such luck...line ups just to get a drink was at least 15mins wait...the bathrooms were locked up most of the time.due to them not flushing.so be prepared to walk to your room . Water issues through out the resort, no hand dispensing soap..just SHARED bars of soap..like were all family. .i did complain of this..nothing was dealt with. The bath towels were taken on day 2 and never replaced...sheets were remade but never replaced with clean ones (in 7 days) you dont have an option to NOT have the maid come every day( to bother you) its every morning about 10am..very annoying especially when you are sick in your room,and no one speaks English! .the resort has the smallest store..can fit 2 people ar a time. .they only carry bottles of alcohol and cigarettes..no snacks..no meds..no cream...NOTHING. .bring your own cough drops..Tylenol. .sunblock. they say they have a small town close by to buy all that, but it costs $2 each adult ONE WAY only, we went hoping to buy at least cough drops or Tylenol with no such luck! No doctor on site at all..not even at the town (which is a fake made up over priced old resort they use as a shopping town) not impressed at all..wont be returning. Also we were still stomach sick for a week after returning home.

Valentin Perla Blanca Paraiso as a very nice newer hotel. My Cuba standards it is clean and fairly well maintained. The fact that there are two pool areas, one for activities and one for quiet leisure was very nice. The hotel lobby/piano bar were excellent and every evening there was quality entertainment in addition to the nightly shows. A great place to sip special coffee and enjoy the music. Staff we courteous and friendly. As is typical with Cuba, the food is always so so. But for the most part the a la carte restaurants were very good. In summary, a great week

This resort was the perfect choice -- the beach, the rooms, the food, the staff. The room was huge and I loved my large private balcony, for when I wanted quiet time on my own. Otherwise, there was the gorgeous beach, two multi-area pools, good entertainment and activities if you wanted to participate. Great value!

had a very nice vacation there, resort was really nice . food is not bad , it was good than expected. room service is ok its because they do not change the pillow cover or bed sheet and you can tell because there are some marks and I felt like they were not cleaning them properly . also there were not enough towels. they will take more towels rather than stocking back new towels. its hard to get massage appointments most of the time they are booked with privilege members. so if you are planning to have massage get the privilege deal. we enjoyed night shows. every night its a different show. the weather was ok we went mid January it was raining. we could spend only 2 days near the beach. keep in mind Cuba is all about tips , more the money more better service you will receive wherever you go :)

Food and service were very poor. Resort grounds were very nice but not cleaned very well.There has to be a problem when you can't get clean towels or new soap.Bathrooms around the bar and dining areas were always a mess

Fantastic beach, great resort layout, not in good condition for a fairly new resort, no toilets or snack bars at beach, food only average except Italian and French a la Cartes. Many public toilets broken or seats missing. Hotel maintenance very poor. Room towels clean but not bleached resulting in stains. Water pressure poor with water going from hot to cold. Excellent lobby and bar area, also nice big theatre. Generally good service in bars and restaurants. Hotel long way from airport, 1 1/2 hrs.

This resort was nice. Food & in house service really needs to be improved. I would never go back. I would not recommend anyone to go to Cuba. Travel Agents should be more knowledgeable on all resorts & services.

The hotel was laid out very conviently, nice main lounge, buffet, theatre and bars. The rooms were a good size but cleanliness questionable. There was NO water pressure in bathroom sink not enough to brush teeth. Shows ice cold after 5:00 pm. Towels grubby when you got them. The beach was beautiful but no washrooms or beach lunch area. The food in specialty rest. good but poor hygiene using tongs handling raw red meat and chicken dirty ones used for both without washing. No great assortment of food, potatoes a couple days. Long drive from airport 1 1/2 hrs

Running out of hot water was not nice and after 2 days the food seemed to be the same every day , food was not hot enough ran out of things like bread and french fries , not all food areas had condiments like ketchup and mustard salt was always an issue they need to put dry rice in with the salt so it doesn't get humid