For context, this is our 5th time returning to Iberostar Origin Playa Pilar (Nov 29/25-Dec 6/25) in the last 3 years. It is now our "segundo hogar!" (second home). Pour a drink and kickback this will be a long review and can hopefully give you an expectation of IPP. It is perfect for us but may not be for you. In the past four years we have also been to much more expensive all-inclusive's in Antigua, Jamaica, Cozumel and the Dominican however we always return to IPP. We always book using Tripcentral.ca and choose Air Transat. The Trip central website is excellent to use, and the aftercare provided by your personal travel agent is amazing. Air Transat is a financially stable airline and we have found there check in, boarding and on-time service delivery exceptional. We always but the Option Plus package that provides for priority boarding and an extra 50lbs checked bag. Because we have been 5 times, we have made lasting friendships with many of the staff who we talk to throughout the year. ill talk more about this later in the review. Please read the previous reviews and apply copious doubt as to their authenticity as some of the comments are ridiculous. LOCATION This is one of the most confusing subjects for some. IPP is located on Cayo Guillermo which is a 45-minute bus ride from Cayo Coco airport including several stops at other resorts enroute. It will likely be the last stop as its located near the top of the Cayo. The resort itself is on a sheltered bay unlike the other resorts that are on the east side (look at Google maps). The main feature of the waterfront is an elevated boardwalk with Cabanas. This is where we spend most of our time during the day. There is a convenient bar right in the middle. Access to the water is from the pier or by the water sports building. The water itself is crystal clear warm Caribbean water with a coral and sand bottom. You can walk out 500 meters at low tide and still be knee deep. There is sand behind and around the elevated boardwalk however it is on top of coral. It is not like a conventional beach where your kid can dig a hole to China with their bucket. there are plentiful loungers as well and Beisel and Andres will help you with picking the best spot, they are the best! If you still arent happy with the IPP beach, the good news is Playa Pilar beach is only a short 15-minute walk up the bay or a $5 cab ride ride. There is also a trail in behind the watersports building you can take. I highly recommend meandering along the coral and in the water during your stay. Playa Pilar beach is stunning and is much better than Varadero. When there you may want to rent a palapa for $5, beer $5 and there is a restaurant where you can get a lobster lunch...Never had it but I have been told it is $30 and exceptional. FYI, Canadian and American currency is generally interchangeable. If you are told $5, you can pay either....just my experience. FACILITY Iberostar Playa Pilar is approximately 10 years old based of what I have been told. Cosmetically, in some areas it is worn. There are broken tiles and hardware throughout the property but the staff do their best to keep the property very clean. I have been told that the property is jointly owned by the Cuban gov't and Iberostar (Spain) and supply chain issues are very complex. A solid investment would make this resort spectacular. During our stay we had several minor issues that were promptly taken care via the amazing Olivia Hernandes, Customer Service manager. During our visit, there were approximately 120 guests, and the capacity is over 800 people. There were zero lineups or waits for anything! One of the main reasons we come here is because it is so quiet! The grounds for the property are kept in great shape by workers like Yaniel! They work exceptionally hard and are extremely friendly. Please make sure you say Hola to them if you see them working. ROOMS This visit we were in an Oceanview Junior Suite in building #4 (416). The OJS is a very cheap upgrade and definitely worth it! They are a good size, clean and the bed was decent. We were hoping to get building 11 however a family of 30 took precedence over us, no big deal! Compared to many other resorts, IPP is very well designed and you are not far from the main building or beach regardless of which building you are in. RESTAURANTS The main building has the buffet restaurant which is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It is a large space and anytime we have been there during our 5 visits, it has rarely been even close to half full. There is a 24 hour snack bar located down behind the beach. You can get an variety of sandwiches, hot dogs (good!), hamburgers (not good) and fries....and an ice cold beer! There are several ala carte restaurants and lucky for us, Olivia had pre-scheduled 4 of them for us on our arrival: Japanese (2x), Mediterranean and Creoli. The Japanese restaurant is a bit of a show and a lot of fun! The food in the ala cartes is very good! FOOD As previously mentioned, IPP definitely has supply chain issues however they have definitely improved over our past 5 visits. Yes, you can go to other islands and be a gluttonous slob and eat till you explode. When you are at home, do you have 3 meals a day? 3 egg omelets with bacon every morning? Probably not....IPP has enough choices for just about everybody. I am a picky eater and always find enough to eat. I usually lose a few pounds each visit and this time I lost 5....which was a surprise. You need to lose weight too and you know it! Allthat being, bring said, bring condiments from home if you like mustard/ketchup/jam, salt and pepper etc. as it is rare to find those. If you have never been to Cuba, don't believe it when people tell you the food is terrible....they are likely comparing quantity over quality. Yes other islands have massive buffets with a hundred choices, but this isn't 1970 Cuba, you will survive. ACTIVITIES There is a watersports building at the boardwalk where you can use a paddleboard or a hobbie cat. You can also have one of the staff take you snorkeling to a nearby sunken ship off the coast of Media Luna Island. For $60 we went snorkeling and finished off on Media Luna with a lobster lunch and a few beers all included! There was no rush and it was very enjoyable afternoon! Johnny and Eduardo were great to deal! You can see Media Luna Island from the boardwalk. The pool is a very good size, clean and with a swim up bar. There is a spa onsite where you can get a massage and lounge around their private splash pool after. There is also a small gym located in the spa. EXTERNAL ACTIVITIES IPP is located on an isolated part of the chain of islands. Moron is the closest town, and it is 90 minutes away by car. This is where most employees live and are bused from everyday (2-hour commute!). You can hire a driver and do a city tour if you wish. We have not done this yet but may do so in the future. We did go Scuba diving at Coco Diving Centre which is only 10 minutes from IPP. We did a 2 tank dive on the Acuario and Servimar reefs and had an "interaction" with a 9-foot silky shark! We also saw some 2-4 foot Blacktip reef sharks. If you want to see my shark video it is on IG at john2266 . It cost $110 for 2 dives which is exceptional compared to what we normally pay on other islands. Every week, one of the local hotels hosts a party night at the nearby Plaza Hemmingway! Transportation, booze and food all included! If you are at IPP, this is a must do! MONEY/TIPS/GIFTS Do not worry about converting your money to Cuban pesos. This would only benefit you if you were travelling outside of the resort system and throughout the non tourist areas of Cuba. Canadian and American money are the norm. I brought US $1 bills and $5/$10/$20 CDN for tipping.....yes you can also tip with CD loonies and toonies, but the staff end up having to trade them with other tourists for paper money as they are worthless in Cuba. I don't mind taking the exchange rate loss and budget accordingly. For reference, the Cubans we have befriended over the years have disclosed to us that their monthly salary is the equivalent of $25-$35 a month! Most of us make more than that in an hour at work so please keep that in mind. Also, the employees will never have their hand out for a tip, they are a very proud people and grateful for anything offered. Because we have befriended many staff members over the years, we know what their needs are and bring clothing, medications, sports equipment etc. for them. We also bring full cases of assorted gifts and stuff they would not be able to get themselves. Even if they have money, it is impossible for them to get some things. If you visit IPP, take the time to get to know some of the staff! STAFF OK, almost done and saving the best for last! The staff are amazing! Olivia Hernades (Customer Service manager), Beisel and Andres (Beach), Yaniel (grounds), Luis (security), Jorgito (lifeguard), Anarelys (manager) Oney (cigar bar) are just some of the great staff members Iberostar is very lucky to have! CONCLUSION IPP is the perfect resort for us, it checks all the boxes and grounds us in what is important in life. If you want to party, drink and eat like a fool, stay away from my IPP! If you want to relax and have a serene time in paradise your next stop is trip central to book. The staff are the real reason we keep coming back! The waterfront and cabanas over the turquoise water help too! I only hope that upper management at Iberostar take my comments into consideration and give this property the care and investment it needs.

This resort is well cared for by friendly staff. It appears due for renovation, however all areas are clean and tidy. Was fairly empty when we were there (less than half full), which made for easy use of the buffet and snack bar. Buffet food was good for breakfast, okay for lunch and dinner. Not a lot of fresh vegetables (my first time in Cuba). Two a la carte restaurants, Japanese was quite good, the other switched between Mediterranean and Spanish, although the food for each was quite similar. Theatre onsite was seldom, if ever used during our week long stay and no night club, so after dinner the place was a ghost town at night. Beach cabanas were quite nice and the bay the resort is located on was nice, but quite shallow (so safe for those who dislike deeper water). Catamaran rental for snorkeling and lobster lunch at Cabo Media Luna (2km away) was a highlight of the week.

horrible resort rude attendant bad food bad breakfast bad cleaning the resort needs maintenance cold food horrible sandwich everything ended nothing there was the snack bar attendant was a rude man never came the same

Buffet needs more variety - red meat/steak...different types of fish other than sea bass (ie smoked salmon..tuna) mini bar was never stocked iwth pop /beer like in previous Cuba Iberostar resorts Every bar was running out of beer and 'cocktails' every day..very strange as this never seemed to be an issue at previous Cuban Iberostar resorts previous years buffet restaurant was too warm..a/c did not work well..along with too many flies landing on food/table face etc. disturbing every meal More variety at breakfast..no smoothie station.. Pools were way too warm..never swam in them..algae build-up noticeable as well..swam in ocean everyday

The resort was absolutely beautiful. Grounds were beautifully kept. Rooms were very clean. The dinning room for the buffet was a quite warm -a/c was not working properly during our week stay and had a lot of flies flying around our table and bothering our mealtimes. The beach was absolutely amazing and tranquil..spent most of our day there instead of pool decl/ The pools' temperatures were way too warm and needed more cleaning as algue was clouding the water. It would have been nice to have more 'staff' to engage guests in beach/pool activities during the day (like bingo/games)..this only occured at the tail end of our trip

We, ( a family of 4) just spent a week at Playa Pillar resort in Cayo Guillermo. A quick note: we have been to a number of caraibean resorts before: DR, Cuba, Mexico. Overall: Great experience, a pleasant surprise, so here is why: 1. The beach is typical “post card” Cuban beach, just that because for the majority of it it has Rocky enter into the water, the hotel built a big deck on top of these rocks which serves now as enter to the water because multiple stairs into the sea but also equipped with beds for laying in the sun/ shade. Behind the deck there is the sandy beach with tons of umbrellas and chairs. Also this hotel beach is located into a golf which is a blessing when the wind picks up in the area. The neighborhood hotels had huge waves conditions when we had the calmest water on earth. AND great for snorkeling. 5stars 2. Food What a great pleasant surprise. As I am always aware that Cuban resorts don’t excel in food, this resort produced a great surprise. Definitely the best food I had in Cuba. With 2 grill stations and stations for : salads, cooked meals, deserts, breakfasts, I believe it checks all boxes. I could clearly see their effort put into elevating the quality of the buffet restaurant. They also had a snack &grill restaurant by the beach wich was opened 24 hrs (!!!!) AND a great Japanese restaurant that can compete w any I have seen in North America 4.5 stars 3. Rooms Initial rooms we got were not prrfect: ground floor that my wife hated plus maintenance issues with sliding door latch, bathroom door that got my daughter locked in, etc… We complained at the front office and they changed to two connecting rooms with an ocean view in an impecable condition. 4 stars 4. Entertainment Poor design, limited resources. Same 5 dancers every night doing pretty much same thing. One night they had a hard rock band with pieces from 80’s which I thought was inappropriate for a crowd that comes to a caraibean land expected to immerse in a different sound. 2.5 stars 5. Service and cleanness Great. Everyone at the resort is very willing to help, they all put a great effort to please. Just keep in mind that these employees go back home to a place that has no electricity for a number of hours every day. 6.Bars/ restaurants Great service but they are face with shortages of supplies so to see days with no Mojitos or Cuba libre, in Cuba, it was shocking. But they had alternatives. And eventually mojitos re appeared. Japanese restaurant:5 stars, the other two restaurants: 3stars. Overall I would give this resort a real: 4.5 stars rating.

My parents have been to Cuba 11 times, we came as a family for the 3rd time together and unfortunately it was objectively the worst experience we’ve had. We are not picky but the 2/5 rating is based on the customer service and upkeep of the facilities. Due to the nationwide food shortage Cuba is experiencing, it wouldn’t be fair to rate the food. Pros: - lovely gardeners, very friendly, lovely landscaping, helped us source coconuts - beautiful water, cold though in March-April Cons: - my bed broke and collapsed on one side just before I went to bed (I weigh less than 120 lbs) - toilets flushed only once every few hours (…“if it’s yellow let it mellow”) - for about 18 hours our entire building ran out of water - internet was out for several days, therefore unable to use credit card for late check out payment - glum looking staff who seemed annoyed with requests or questions - all towels and bedsheets were stained with old makeup or what looked like blood - multiple rounds of keycards not working - front door handle fell off - previous guest’s hair was on the shower wall and remained there all week Honestly.. it was not a relaxing vacation at all, we just waited for one thing to go wrong after the other. Perhaps this is now the case for resorts across Cuba post pandemic but we certainly wouldn’t come back here.

Overall, not a bad resort. Staff very friendly. Food was good. No shortages on anything. Was disappointed that it was advertised resort had a disco but there wasn’t one.Would have liked more of a night life. The nightly shows were decent

The hotel itself is nice and clean however the grounds are not so much. There was broken glass on one of the pathways off to the side and it never got cleaned up, there were cups and utensils all over the resort, the pathways the beaches etc that were there for a few days. There was next to no entertainment. A couple of days at the pool didn’t even have music playing. Obviously problems with staffing and last night we were there there was obvious drama with the entertainment staff on stage. The manager herself ran off and didn’t stay for the last dance with everyone and the same for one other dancer. Overall it was ok the worst thing I can comment on is the rude staff. I have never gone somewhere where the staff were Soo rude and unhelpful. In the dining hall we got ignored every single night, we had to get up and approach someone to get water. Service was terrible.

As a frequent visitor to Cuba to various areas and different resorts I can safely say that I will not be returning to this one. I won't be repetitious and complain too much about the food as I am aware that Cuba is currently experiencing supply issues but this was my worst experience with food in the 25+ years I have been traveling to Cuba. I think what was the most disappointing was the lack of beach. With Pillar Beach within a 30 minutes walk (bring water shoes) I was expecting a beautiful stretch of beach not a small patch of shipped in sand over grass and rocks. The boardwalks were lovely if you could get a spot. The rooms were adequate but could use some updating and the beach views were great. The resort appeared to be understaffed so line ups were the norm. I did enjoy the one excursion that I went on which was out of the resort on a small catamaran to an island for snorkeling.

Waiting around for stuff to start. Constantly chasing to lobby for wifi connection. Uninterested in shows from the beginning, hopefully they got better we never stayed through one bc they were not that interesting. Water off in rooms for toilets flushing between 12-6am. Food never hot. Pictures didn’t make it seem that far from a good beach. But to the larger beach it was a 5 min bus ride.

So I have traveled to Cuba about 7 to 8 times and I have never had such a bad experience. The maids stole from us as well as they didn't really clean the room. There was even one day my door wouldn't lock. There were three staff members that were amazing. There were also some rude staff members. I am used to Cuba standards but my toilet wouldn't flush and in the room my boys had the shower would flood. I would not recommend going here.

My wife and I just came back home from a 5 days stay at this resort. This is a beach front property with a boardwalk that will take you right into the warm, beautiful turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea. Our room was kept nicely clean and tidy by the housekeepers of Bungalow 5, (thank you very much Lia, Lauren and Carlos). The food was delicious, varied and abundant, and we got to enjoy many different Cuban Cuisine dishes. There was plenty of fresh veggies and fruits, that made our meals very delicious and healthy. The grounds are well kept and clean. I really have to commend the hard work and friendliness of the staff at this resort as they made us feel welcome and appreciative of our stay. This is definitely a place I want to go back soon again.

This is our 7th time in Cuba, third time at this resort. We have always been successful with our travel in Cuba, beautiful people and great weather, a few drops of rain are refreshing. Food in Cuba can be hit and miss, come with an open mind and willingness to be open to new cuisine. This resort does not have typical beach, however the water is calm allowing you to see the starfish and other sea life. Please remember we are the guest, the starfish and most shells are living and should not be removed from their homes.

The resort is good maintenance, very calm beach, room is OK , food is well cooked that I have no problem even I have very sensitive stomach. Staffs are very nice to help in need. The price for 7 days all inclusive is very resealable.

Ok been there before and cuba 8 times No supplies no food no one at hotel 150 out of possible 100 Staff could care less if you were there Cuba is done for Poor buggers Wont go back !!! !!!!!!!!!🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺200 characters why ?

The grounds are immaculate; Playa Pilar is fantastic and by far one of the nicest beaches we have been to; it’s a four minute ride from the hotel. The beach at the hotel is decent and once you are past the coral it is clear, beautiful and shallow. Service was impeccable. Food options are at the lower end of the scale however we were prepared for this and the beds could have been a little more comfortable. Our room was cleaned daily and towels were replaced daily unlike North American hotels

Thank you TripCentral Ocean 10 People 10 Checking in 2 Late-night staff at the snack bar 1 Accommodation 7 Room cleanliness 5 Bar staff at the beach 10 Spa Pool 9 Other pools ? Kitchen cleanliness 3 Clean beach towels 0 Flies 10 Mosquitoes 8 Property fumigation 1 This place could be a lot better if the upper management take more care of the place Cuba : Yes Iberostar : No

We ( eight of us) just came Back from spending one week at the Iberostar Playa Pilar resort in near Cayo Coco. Not sure what the issue is, but the resort had an infestation of flies. There was also an issue of cockroaches in the Main buffet. I witnessed a cockroach running across the counter where the hot food was stationed as well as on the floor. I do believe the Iberostar should look into why they have this issue. I have been to Cuba before and did not experience anything like that. On a positive Side cuba has beautiful beaches. The sea at the hotel is calm and serene. However, if you are not fortunate enough to grab a Cabano bed at the seaside, you will be sitting without shade. The staff at the hotel are friendly and helpful. The hotel is in need of a renovation. I have no doubt that when it was built, it was a five-star resort. Now I would give it a three at best. We booked dinners in the A-la carte restaurants. They were in a closed area, so there was no fly problem. We especially enjoyed the Japanese restaurant. We spent one day at the spa. The staff there were truly customer service oriented. The food is kept covered and the pool is a quiet place to relax. Their washrooms are much cleaner than the main lobby. All in all we made the best of it and enjoyed each other's company.

The entertainment, the pool area, the beach are all great. Great. The à la carte restaurants are very good too. The buffet and snack area are not good as they are full of flies. The buffet area even had roaches on the floor. The food in the buffet area is not even covered which would help prevent flies from landing on food.

The main hotel lobby, dining areas, bar and entertainment area were esthetically superb. The pools, lounges, pool beds and pool bar were wonderful. The pier at the beach was well done. The tiny sand entrance to the ocean water was not sufficient. To have to go so far to get to the main beach was ridiculous. The snack shack had extremely poor service. Accommodations were poor. At first we were in building 01 which was too far for me, my daughter and granddaughters to go back and forth to the the main buildings and pools. There was no running water in my room. The toilet was disgusting- plugged with you know what. I asked to be moved to a room closer to the main area and with running water. This happened the next day at 6 pm. Very bad to lose a whole day. Compensation required. The new rooms were very nice- spacious and clean. They didn't have amenities such as shampoo and soap. Tripcentral would have known this beforehand and could have let me know so that I could have brought a bar of soap. Poor. An all inclusive 5 star hotel should have had a minibar stocked with water, pop and beer. This one had nothing. There was one bottle of water in the room and when that was gone I had to go all the way to the lobby bar to get a glass of water. They didn't give out bottles of water. Poor. The food was terrible and I'm not a fussy eater. Example- the bacon was basically raw and if you wanted it cooked you had to get in line at the omelet station. The main buffet area was nice but it was filled with flies. You had to constantly swat them off your food and that was a losing battle. I've never had to deal with this before anywhere else. The long lineups at the lobby bar were too much. One bartender most of the time and people ordering specialized coffees and specialized cocktails which take prep time. Sad and frustrating. The hotel staff were very nice. The desk people worked very hard trying to deal with everything and I give them a lot of credit. Generally speaking the resort wasn't ready to be open and this should have been communicated. There is no way I received value for the amount paid. This was my first time in Cuba so my expectation level was based on Cancun and the DR. I won't be going back. Note: I am not a fussy or difficult person whose expectations are high. I am no perfectionist in any way and I have never had to write such a poor review. The airline was terrific. Very pleasant flight attendants, nice clean aircraft and flights departed and arrived right on time. Full marks to Sunwing. Eliana at TripCentral was a delight to work with. She got back very quickly several times with answers to my questions.

It seems that they have great issues securing basic supplies for cleaning and maintenance. The food at the buffet is full of flies, the cucarachas are running on the floor and the walls by the trays with the food. There is no awareness about dietary or ethnic restrictions. Unless you are at the buffet when it opens you don’t find some of the basic options or you can’t eat it anymore due to the bugs. The towels or bedsheets are not being changed the whole week. The hotel has no beach or access to the beach. It has a strip of sand behind a deck. The pools were decent but they had no products to clean the edge of the pool so that was yellowish. No pool service, no drinks other than rum. Everything is old and not maintained. More than this it is obvious that they have limited training or awareness of safety practices. They use glass even by the pool and a few times when things broke they picked what was visible and pushed with their foot the small pieces to the drain or side area.

Although the resort itself was fine, the food and drinks were not. No milk for cereal, no butter, usually no milk for coffee, no roasts, etc. Not many drinks available so usually drank beer even though normally it would be mojitos or pina coladas. An abundance of house flies as well. Staff were great though.

Room-Swim out suite with personal Plunge pool building 7 Pool on front side/beach party on back side. Private but not the quietest. Suite was amazing, 2 bathrooms,double sinks,2 tvs only one worked. Lights in closets but not working.Air conditioning worked great!No issues with water at all at any time. Plunge pool was not cleaned once not clean nor usable. Reported and requested but not addressed. Maid service-basics completed daily, had to ask to make sure water restocked. Friendly service. Buffet-Typical Cuba menu, rice,chicken,fish,papaya, pineapple some days. We did not go hungry and love Cuban food. Since covid. Lots of shortages. No milk a few days,no beef,no variety or consistency. Best chocolate ice cream. Al la Carte(Gourmet) Very nice, good food,great service Lobby bar- Poor service, seemed very unattentive and disinterested in any requests. No consistency with coffee or mixed drinks. Each mojito and coffee made differently and often did not have what you previously ordered. Front desk- Sometimes okay service. Again showed disinterest in what you were asking. Did not receive our wake up call, when we mentioned this were told l,sorry no bellboy until 7. The entire resort had a major house fly issue. Hundreds in buffet, lobby areas. Pool- Clean, fairly small but sufficient. Pool bar seemed great. Music played from 10am-430pm daily extremely LOUD. Entertainment- We did not attend but heard great things SPA- services reasonably priced, wonderful staff 24 hr Snack bar- Most times offered only one thing. One day was a giant bun with a half a piece of cheese. Only fries 1 day out of 7, hotdogs no bun one day, deep fried chips one night Main Buffet- great,friendly old school happy welcoming Cuban service from Ideky and Luis. They made our trip. Boardwalk- Different than we are uses to but loved the wildlife and nature. Pelicans, fish,great white herons,amazing snorkeling,lots of fish,starfish Pathways-Low lighting at night Mostly sounds negative however overall this resort had everything WE needed. Most of the things didn't bother us or affect our over all trip. We felt the impact of covid on the people of Cuba and the economy. Shortages,lack of resources for workers, understaffed.

2nd time at this resort since March 2020 when Covid shut it down. We were 2 couples on vacation for a week and enjoyed the dining, a la carts, amazing beaches, entertainment, bars and staff. We were in the furthest bungalow #1 on the 3rd (top) floor. The walking and climbing stairs was fine but at night the stairs were very dark and we needed a flashlight. Our room was great but the mini fridge was empty and they told us that they do not stock the fridges. Well, they did in March 2020 so we were disappointed but what can you do. Otherwise a great week in the beautiful sun and turquoise waters of the Caribbean in Cayo Guillermo. We will definitely be back soon for a 3rd time.

Food was OK, mostly bland but knew that from previous visits. Shortage on lots of items. No eggs for breakfast. Staff was great, but there were frequent power outages, and they turned the water off between 2am and 5am. very inconvenient. Resort definitely needs a reno, lots of broken things, no handle on patio door, with no handle made almost impossible to latch. Low water pressure. Room very dark, some lights worked others didn't. Toilet not secured to floor properly, and shower control handle keep falling of. Nightly entertainment in the front lobby was great, to bad they don't enforce the no smoking rules in this area, had to leave because of the cigar and cigarette smoke.

This was my 5th trip to Cuba, so we are used to the nuisances that come with travelling to this area. That being said, I was disappointed with a few things, some of which may be covid related supply issues. The buffet had extremely limited menu options which only changed once, possibly twice while we were there. While we don't watch much tv while we're on vacation its a nice feature to have between beach time and dinner or going out, or just relaxing at the end of the night. Our TV was broken, we asked them to look at it, and it was fixed once. However turning the TV off reset whatever repair was done. We asked multiple times if they could look at it, but no one did. Staff on certain days were slower than the normal Cuban lifestyle. Every resort I've been to always had beer and pop in the room fridge, but this resort didn't. Could be a hotel thing or a supply chain issue, just another one of those nice to have things. The good, it had a cool boardwalk, the pool area was interesting, its a smaller resort which we liked. The Japanese restaurant was pretty good. Limited menu, but the entertainment was excellent.

This hotel is in such a beautiful area, water is so clear you can see all the fish, Baracuda, stingrays, needlenose fish, etc. Playa Pilar is a must do. The staff try so hard to please us with everything, yet people still complain. Shortages of food and supplies are real, but maybe if people didn't waste so much food, they wouldn't be running out! People also leaving their dishes and glasses all over the place, clean it up! Staff have enough to do. Overall we had a great time and will be back.Be prepared and know where you are going.

We travelled to Iberostar Selection Playa Pilar Jan 7th – 14th 2023. After 25+ trips to Cuba this was our 4th time to this beautiful resort and as always it didn’t disappoint!! With beautiful surroundings and genuine people! you cannot go wrong with choosing Playa Pilar to spend your vacation! Very nice accommodations, great ocean views from most rooms, a good selection of food to choose from and of course the weather is much nicer than Eastern Canada at this time of year! We found the effects of COVID to be minimal during our time here, a couple of supply chain issues like what we have at home but not a deal breaker. With that in mind just come prepared with condiments you like such as ketchup, mustard, relish etc. Maybe pack some tissue, an extra beach towel and you are good to go. But as beautiful as this resort is it is the wonderful hard-working people there that make it a Gem in Cuba, folks such as Wilber, one of the bartenders at the Snack Bar, always a “Hola” and smile, quick with a special drink and a story. My friend Yadier on the front desk, funny, caring and always helpful to everyone. And of course, Yenia in customer service, she is one of the most caring persons you will have the pleasure of meeting here! A definite asset to the Iberostar Team and they are lucky to have such a person. We will be back!! Cheers!! Dapa81

In one word, I would have to say the resort experience here was underwhelming. I had never travelled to Cuba and though I was lowering my expectations, so to speak, from other all inclusive resorts, this resort was simply “okay”. Our room was clean enough and stocked with necessities (hand soap and toilet paper). The patio door did not lock though being on the third floor it wasn’t too much of a concern. Not enough loungers by the pool - many were “reserved” in the evenings by people placing a towel and a rock on them. Pools were a generous size and the boardwalk/beach area was beautiful, though again, lacking in seating. You could walk out in the ocean quite a ways and it was definitely the highlight of the resort. Wifi available in the lobby only and this was very spotty at best. Food wasn’t labelled in the buffet, the variety of beverages was lacking and there were always constant lineups. Waited in line for everything! Only one food option available during the day - when the buffet was open the snack bar was closed and vice versa. Would often order food at the snack bar and after 20 mins or so, would still not have received our order. Constantly running out of food (fries and hot dogs). Very limited options at the snack bar. Again, a lot of waiting! Could never get a towel poolside…recommend you bring your own. Could only book one a la carte and the food quality was simply fine. The resort “shop” sold not much more than cigars and cigarettes, so pack your necessities and change of clothes/footwear in your carryon in case your luggage is lost/delayed. Playa Pillar beach was stunningly beautiful and a short walk away. While it was nice to get away from the frigid Canadian winter and spend time with the family, the resort services were just “meh”.

Terrible experience. Food is poor, same every day, hard to get food between meals. Buffet is disorganized, not enough tongs, guests are generally rude and push you around. Not enough pool/beach chairs for the number of guests. Smoking EVERYWHERE, you can’t get a drink from the lobby bar or line up for the buffet without inhaling a bunch of smoke. Grounds keepers are creepy and will peer into rooms when nobody is there, presumably to see what they can steal, they will also try to sell you off brand cigars, etc. if you drink, don’t expect much selection. Coffee is either too weak, the staff don’t even tamp the grinds for espresso so it’s basically coloured water. Pools are okay but small. If you have a bad weather day, there isn’t much to do. There are no trails or anything adventurous much to do in the area unless you want to spent a fortune on an excursion, there’s one road with a bad camber, it’s safe to run on but gets boring quick. Would never go back here, and definitely would not recommend.

Been here a few times, staff are great. Some small detail care like paint, caulking, mirrors without rust would go a long way to make it really nice. Our AC didn’t work, told them a few times and it never got fixed. Food has gotten better over time, drinks are good. There was no cola but that is t a resort issue it is in shortage in Cuba. Better lighting along walkways is needed for heading back to your room. But overall a decent place to spend a week.

The hotel itself was not as pictured. To begin with, the swimming pools were close to green dirty colour. The food selection was not enough and when they salt the food - they put tons of it. The a-la carte restaurants were not great as well - it’s the food they serve in the daily buffet but just placed it in a nicer portion and plating. The workers maid, servers and gardeners were amazing people. Would I come back to this Hotel? No I would not and would not recommend it to anyone.

Hotel not terrible but could be better Pool with swim up bar turned green day 2… the rest of week everyone went to beach. Beach/boardwalk nice…great snorkelling and lots of shade Rooms - you had to use 2 hands full strength to open patio doors (a friends room the handle broke because of the force required) patio doors didn’t lock and there was climbable metal lattice up to them No handle on the patio doors from outside so you couldn’t close the door if you wanted to sit out. Toilets barely flushed A friends safe didn’t work In His room. When he went back to room mid day he found the maid with his back pack open in her hands. when he returned later. He counted his money and found she had skimmed $80. He confronted her…long story short she eventually admitted it and gave it back. (How many more did she take from) Had $20 skimmed from our locked safe. Met 2 others who had money stolen from their safe I will give them credit - they did take a report and were investigating the thefts. Seemed to take it serious Food not the best. They did have a grilling station. So you could get by with chicken or pork with salt and pepper. Good bread! Pretty much had the same thing every day In their defence it was off season and the resort was maybe at 25% capacity. So I can see limiting the options to prevent waste A little disappointed with the beverages although all the bartenders were super friendly! First drink I ordered was a strawberry daiquiri and they didn’t have it…never knew what was available day to day/bar to bar Also, there was no consistency in how each drink was prepared, you never knew what you were going to get…too sweet, to tart, watered down or just right Again the options I can understand as supply availability is still an issue. The resort does have potential… If you are thinking of going try it in peak season. I think Maybe the combined off season/COVID effects were the majority of the problem which I can completely understand. Just keep an eye on your money, and hope they have addressed this issue

We spent our 7 days at the Iberostar Selection Playa Pilar and were pleased with the overall infrastructure and service of the resort. All the staff are exceptionally friendly, helpful, and hard working. We were very grateful for every measure of due diligence in attending to our inquiries, requests, and sincere efforts in accommodating our concerns. There is however an evident shortage in a few things. Please bear in mind that in light of the pandemic, this resort and its staff have given 100% of their very best. It would be helpful to carry these items for your comfort: - toilet tissue (runs out during the course of the day in the main lobby areas) - paper towel/dinner napkins (if you consume/rely on a lot of serviettes while dining) - wipes (baby wipes, or sanitizing wipes) - condiments of your preference - water/thermos bottles - snacks that will fit in your luggage (especially if you have children) & cup noodles (wish I did this!) - first aid kit & medications, extra hygienic items, etc. The resort itself is a great size. You don't feel crowded or lost by the layout of the whole place. We had a large room with 3 beds and it was comfortable. Bring a comfy light sheet. The beach is beautiful! A lot of fish underneath the staircase leading down into the water. IT IS NOT A STRETCH OF SAND FYI. It would help to bring water shoes so you don't get cut by the beautiful corals. The food is fair. I stuck to a lot of grilled pork chop, and grilled tilapia with rice, squash, and avocado; fruits: I had a lot of guava, and mango/guava juice to drink. Thank you Iberostar for a wonderful week with my family!

Beach, pool, bars are great. Food is regular Cuba resort minus the free lobster. My other 7 Cuba resorts have at least 2 lobster dinner. It seems there was no attempt to control bugs such as the many flies in the buffet area and sand fleas which are hard to detect. The resort is subpar for an Iberostar. there was a lack of maintenance such as sliding doors which do not lock, safe with no battery, the toilet design (brand) is bad, and maintenance of the toilet is badly needed. The room itself is quite spacious and nice. There is no disco but the nightly entertainment was quite good.

Hotel service in general is struggling. We had several issues however we made the best of it. 1. Room towels were limited. We had to speak to management to get some and when we finally did, they were not replaced everyday. 2. Beach towels, same as above however these were not replaced the entire trip. 3. We had 2 rooms 318, 319. Both rooms had the following issuses. A. Shower heads did not have cold water. When you switch on the cold water, nothing came out and hot water basically trickled out. We needed to bath kids using a glass, we would fill water from the fauset and carry it over to shower to rinse. We complained and on the 4th day, we finally moved into other rooms which had running water coming out of the shower head. 4. Phones and room safes do not work. 5. We believe we had some sort of bed bug in the first two rooms. Bites all over legs. 6. If you like beaches, DO NOT GO TO THIS RESORT. I cannot stress enough how this beach is not your typical sandy Cuba beach. There is no sand ANYWHERE, Just rocks where theyve built an elevated walk way. If you want beach, this is not the place for you. 7. Main pool was green when we arrived. They unfortunately did not have chlorine and cleaning Agents until day 3.

Let me start off by saying the staff was wonderful at the Buffet and beach bar. The room was a good size but could not open the screen or patio door half a roll of toilet paper one bar of soap in seven days my towels were never changed in my hotel room. I got my beach towels changed only one day. If you enjoy long walks on the beach don’t bother staying at this hotel because you cannot walk on the beach you enter the water from a pier. The staff work so hard the problem is management. I would not recommend this hotel

I have never written a review on a hotel except for this hotel. We just returned from a ladies week away. Save your money or choose another hotel. Hotel rating given is a one star at the very best. We believe that the higher star reviews have some how been paid for from an inside source. Issues: poorly set up check in process, no air conditioning in the buffet, flies landing on the prepared food, some of the staff seemed very, very unhappy and not easily approachable. We saw time over time that Spanish speaking people were served before the Ontario ladies. The rooms: Upon check in, one of my friends was placed into another building. My other friend found someone else’s hair on her floor. I had bugs jumping on me. My pillows smelled like vomit. The balcony door could not be opened. My electricity in my room kept on shutting off. They actually ran out of toilet paper. Many other shortages. No diet pop only Coke, Sprite and Orange. If you are diabetic, good luck! They refused to hand out plastic bottles. but they gave you one bottle of their purified water, per day. Pool: Main pool turned green and they did not correct the problem for more than two days. Beach towel service was almost non existent. During our week I could only exchange my towel once, as they stated they had no clean towels. Walkways at night had little to no light. Very dangerous to walk our friend to her building. Beach: Athough they built a nice pier, the steps to get into the ocean were very green and slimy making it very dangerous to get in and out. Why would the staff not clean the steps?? Shame on Iberostar for not properly maintaining this property! Shame on Iberostar for making our time in Cuba horrific.

The location is great! The beach is absolutely stunning and has great snorkeling right off of the beach. IMO no need to even go to Pilar beach next door as it's the same beach quality. Diane at the swim up bar and Yenia at customer service were super nice and very helpful. I would recommend going here but my only complaint is the food. I'm not sure you can fault the resort itself as I know supplies are hard to get in Cuba and food is not ever a highpoint in any Cuba resort review. A la carte restaurants were average. The buffet was lacking in variety. We had omelettes for breakfast daily which were the best choice in my opinion. However lunch and dinner were scarce for options except for the last few days we were there they were grilling chicken at the snack bar for lunch and that was good. Snack bar only had ham and cheese sandwiches / french fries as their only options the whole week we were there. Overall if you're willing to skimp on the food options and choices the resort and beach are extremely worth the visit.

The resort itself is amazing , most of the staff in the restaurant with you don't give them a tips they will never give smile not even to greet you. The foods are the worst !!! I NO MANY OPTION ,NO ENTERTAINMENT ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY NO ACTIVITIES DURING THE DAY MAYBE BECAUSE ONLY FEW PEOPLE IN THE RESORT .. the internet it's amazing the signal is excellent !!!! bit they give you only 3hrs ,but you can sign in just to go to the front desk they unlock you .. But don't expect that during YOUR check out just like us our flight is 1030Pm and we need to check out at 12pm ,NO INTERNENT SERVICE !!!! I DONT NO WHY ?? IMAGINE ALL DAY WE DONT USED OUR PHONE ,BUT WHEN YOU COMPLAINED THEY DONT KNOW THE REASON !!!! THAT WE CANT LOG IN !!! THE BEACH ARE AMAZING DONT EXPECT THE SAND DONT EXPECT THAT EVERY MORNING THAT YOU CAN ABLE TO DO YOUR MORNING JOGGING BY THE BEACH .. It's rock surrounded by the beach !!! it's not worth it to for my money for this resort !!!!

Our trip to Cayo Coco this April 2022 was great, staff all wear masks, guests are only asked to wear them around the buffets. Anybody planning to go to Cayo Coco for a family vacation, I would recommend!

Had a great trip. The room and ocean view were amazing. Food was good with very attentive staff at the buffet. Food was served by the staff which was nice and your hands were sprayed with sanitizer before entering any dining areas. All staff were masked. The grounds were well maintained and well laid out. There were plenty of chairs and palapas on the beach. We didn't use the pools but they were nice. Yenia in customer service was amazing and helped us with all our requests. Every staff member was friendly with a ready smile. The animation team always had something on the go. The drinks were great and red or white wine were always available. The only thing missing was tea but the coffee was great of course! The covid antigen test was easy to have done at the hotel.

The grounds were well kept and the employees do the best they can with what they have. I had a suite 605. The view was beautiful but that’s it. The sliding doors were extremely hard to slide open and you could not lock them. One of the screens were immovable. The curtains were dirty and had paint on them. Both our toilets did not work properly. I had to remove the lids and fiddle with the valve to get them to fill up again. The ac was leaking into the room. The ac in the bedroom barely cooled the room and we sweated every night. I slipped and luckily I didn’t hurt myself but it could have been very serious. I went to the bathroom half asleep and stepped on the puddle and slipped. My maid never cleaned the toilets or sinks. The bed was so bouncy and felt like you were sleeping in a jungle gym. The pillows were flatter than the prairies. Our sheets were changed on the day before we left. They turned yellow from all the sweating we did before they were finally changed. The fridge froze my water but I’ll take that over too warm. We didn’t have towels to shower with fir a few evenings. I had to keep my beach towel for a whole week cause no towels were available. There was no milk, no gin, no vodka and no olive oil on most days. I won’t mention the food because what’s the point. The place is run down and in need of serious maintenance. It is not a 4 star and more like a two star at best At the spa, the pool had an oily slick and didn’t filter properly. The steam room had a pipe spewing really hot steam at your ankles which can cause a very bad burn if you weren’t aware that it was there. Honestly, an accident waiting to happen. I was happy to go home. I went there for the beautiful blue water but this was my last trip to Cuba. I realize they are having hard times. I wasn’t expecting it to be this bad. I was looking for a bit of pampering and oh boy, there was none to be found. I can’t believe the amount I paid for this vacation. I feel duped. I heard other folks paid a third less. So feeling like a fool for believing the reviews.

2nd time at the IPP Feb 2020 and never disappointed. I love this resort Yami, Babo made things fun with their games, personalities and warm hearts. Roiny, Adrian for good drinks, cute smiles and awesome personalities, the gardener for working so hard to keep the grounds beautiful for us & Janet for all our requests, you made everything happen as we wanted and we are so thankful. We will return Aug 2020!!

The hotel itself is nice, some of the rooms we were told are a little dated, but ours (a junior suite) was fine. It was clean, had a king size bed (the mattress was not the greatest but we slept ok) had a shower, tub and dual sinks. There is also a safe in the room to keep your valuables in although we have never had an issue in Cuba and have been five times. The resort is Ocean front but not beach front, there is an area with loungers and shade near the ocean but the boardwalk obstructs the view. You can get a lounger on the boardwalk if you’re r there early enough.Playa Pilar is only a 1km walk away and is gorgeous. You don’t even have to walk all the way to get a great view of the ocean. The buffet is the main restaurant at the resort. The food was decent but not spectacular, the second night we were at the resort they couldn’t keep up with demand and we went away a bit hungry. They try and cater to everyone which is difficult and some people do complain about the food. We got three “a la carte” seating throughout the week. Twice we went for the Japanese which was great and fun for everyone and the other was the Mediterranean which was again good, but not spectacular. The grounds of the hotel are gorgeous and the pool is good too. The staff at the pool and beach were great. Special shout out to Miguel who made our time at the beach awesome. Front desk staff was courteous, we had a slight delay checking in and getting our room but not as bad as some that we heard of. The entertainment team was on point, the shows were pretty good and had the Cuban flare Cuba is known for. All in all it was a good trip , the only complaint we really had was we had to ask several times for our mini fridge to be restocked. Good family resort , go for the beaches, the people and the sun.

I had a great time at this resort! My friends and I spent our week sitting on the pier by the water and absolutely loved it. The food was good for Cuba, and the Japanese restaurant was amazing! Our only complaint was the washrooms. All resort washrooms were dirty almost all the time and never had any toilet paper. We were quite upset that we had to pee in the ocean to avoid the uncleanliness of the resort washrooms. Overall a good trip though.

The resort was beautiful. I liked the pier on the beach that you could walk along. The room was ok, the beds and pillows are not the best. The staff were very friendly and helpful. The pool was amazing. The food was far better then I expected.

Recently returned from a 7 day vacay to beautiful Iberostar Selection Playa Pilar. The weather was perfect, only 1 windy day. We are a family of 4 with a 4 and 7 year old, and all had a great time. Approx. 30min bus shuttle from the airport. Pros: - Well kept grounds. Newer resort so rooms, restaurants, lobby etc are showing no tiredness or wear. - gorgeous private bay with seating (covered beds and loungers) on a boardwalk and free paddleboats and sailboats to use. Reserve for 1 hour blosks. Bar on boardwalk! - hotel staff were always friendly and kind. No pushy salespeople for excursions, memberships, etc. - Ample selection of food, never went hungry. - Cigar bar - Kids club and private pool and play area. Kids club staff very friendly and assisted with an excellent adhoc birthday party for my 7 year old son and another guest. - additional pool beside the swim up bar that was great for kids. - pools always clean and well maintained. - 20 min walk from resort beach area via trail to Pilar Beach - bar tenders/servers very polite and efficient and never begged for tips. - Not a busy resort, very chill especially down by the beach. No other people from other resorts or salespersons walking on the beach as beach front is not connected to other resorts. - fun to feed to fish near on the boardwalk with bread. - good snorkeling in the bay, saw at least 20 starfish the first day and small reef on right side of bay with more fish to check out. Cons: - A few minor things could of went a long way. - more bowls and spoons in the buffet, would have been helpful, not sure why these were hard to find at times. - salt shakers could use some rice, clogged usually. - some parts of the boardwalk had inadequate boards, not strong enough or damaged. Take your time walking on them, no running. - could have been a better fresh fruit selection (typical of Cuba), only papaya, pineapple, and guava mainly. - resort could not seem to find a bathtub drain, despite advising them 3 times. Eventually made my own solution with bar soap plug. Had to make use of the great tub in the gorgeous bathroom! - MAKE RESTAURANT RESERVATIONS ON YOUR FIRST DAY! Made reservations on day 3 and were only able to make one on our second last day, very disappointed. Went to the Creole restaurant, food was great, excellent soup, however desserts should not have been the same as the ones at the buffet IMO. Conclusion: Pros outweigh the cons which are minor in the grand scheme. I would recommend for families and would come again. Went on a deep sea fishing excursion with my son via the Air Canada rep (Reps meet with you soon after your first day to tell you about resort, area, available excursions, etc.) and we had a blast catching barracudas!

We had a great week. The food was excellent, the grounds were well kept, the staff was phenomenal. however the lack of any beach front or ocean swimming on the resort was shocking. Given that it’s called Playa Pilar one would only assume it’s a step to playa Pilar, but instead you must take a bus that is usually too full or a taxi which costs $5 American per person (so for 5 people it’s $25 AMERICAN!) for the 4 minute drive! Walking is not really a safe option.

We were a party of 12 for a friends and family vacation. This was our first trip to Cuba, and it won't be our last. We were very happy with the resort - not too big, and not too small. The grounds were well-kept, pool was sparkling clean, and rooms were clean and comfortable, even though a bit dated. No one in our party had any issues with their rooms - all was in good working order. The a-la-carte restaurants were very nice - The Tapenyaki (Japan) restaurant was by far the favourite with our group. The'beach' area we actually were very happy with, even though there is only a small portion of actual beach that goes directly into the water. The rest of the beach area is covered with a dock, with steps directly into the water. Our party actually preferred the dock area - this way we weren't getting sand where it didn't belong. The steps from the dock into the water were in need of repair - a couple steps missing and one that was only half attached - but certainly not a deal-breaker! The ocean was gorgeous! The water was so clear and the bottom was soft sand. We could see many different starfish and conch shells in the water. The snorkeling was great too! Just down from our resort was Pilar Beach - it truly is one of the most beautiful beaches! The buffet restaurant was ok..... We were told that the food wasn't great, however we found that there was always something to eat, and never went hungry - even the picky eaters in our group were ok with the food. We will be back to Cuba, and would like to go back to this resort. The staff were so friendly! Thanks for a wonderful vacation!

This was my second time going to Cuba but my first time in Cayo Coco. I loved it! The Iberostar had amazing service and is such a beautiful resort! My favourite part was the Dock on the beach! Drinks were amazing & food was good especially at the grill in the snackbar ! On our last day we had to checkout at 12 but our bus didn't pick us up until 7, the front desk gave us somewhere to hold our luggages safely and a place to shower as we spent the whole day on the beach. I will definitely be going back there every year!

The resort was great. Loved the place, people, sea and pool. The food was ok, not great but ok. I think more effort has to be put into the presentation of the food. It tastes better than it looks. The staff are all great. One rip off though is the exchange rate from American dollars to Convertible peso's. It should be 1:1 and not 0.80 convertible peso's to an American dollar. This is ridiculous. How can the peso be more valuable than the American $... Also the no smoking sign in the lobby has to be more conspicuous. People aren't aware of this or they don't care so there needs to be more compliance regarding this - have a designated smoking area!!! Also the room had a coffee pot on the first day but no coffee - after I requested this it was supplied. The pillows also need to be normal sized pillows - not body pillows.

Plenty of food to pick from. The restaurants a la carta were also nice and clean. Rooms are clean and well maintained. Good place to spend your vacation. Grounds are nicely landscaped and managed. Would go back for sure

The front desk, bar staff and recreation/entertainment staff were amazing, friendly and so helpful; they made the trip. The rooms however were not always serviced properly. When I checked into my room there were stained sheets on the bed that were not changed even after the room was serviced. There was no water at all for a couple of days straight, could not even flush the toilet. Overall the food was ok but I do think there should have been more frequent kid-friendly staples, eg hot dogs and hamburgers. Nice spot for a cheap student trip but be prepared to take a whole suitcase full of snacks, t.p and soap. Pilar beach was beautiful and just a short walk. Friendly people and beautiful views but hard to really enjoy the trip without reliable access to a shower or working toilet.

Very good resort. But we stay in the ground level, at the first night my friend leave their beach shoes and some wet swimming shorts on the balcony, and they all gone by next morning.so take care of your belongings.

We have stayed at IPP three times over the past few years and it never fails to please us. It is the wonderful staff members we encounter at each visit that keep us coming back here not to mention the beautiful grounds, buildings and boardwalk. Cheers Dapa81

This resort is a 4 star. It’s location is good, beach and water area was one of the best i’ve visited in Cuba. Rooms were comfortable, staff were friendly. But the food was not up to 4 star standards, no croissants in the morning, had bacon only once in the 7 days we stayed. The grill on the beach served the same food every day. Buffet lunch was always the same fish, chicken and pork. No themed lunches. I recommend the Japanese A La Carta not the other ones.

I , my husband & my daughter stayed in this hotel from march 31 to april 7, it was very disappointing bec they gave us room that is 1 bed only that accordingly, the 2 bedroom junior suite that i paid & booked was not available when we arrived! we've waited for 3 hours yet still my room wasn't available!the housekeeper did a good job on making blanket arts animal but poor in cleaning the room! the management should keep checking the rooms of the hotel to make it sure that its always clean! they shoukd implement thorough cleanliness of the rooms. bathroom floor & sink are filthy! they should do dusting, mapping the floor & wash the sink & the shower room sink with detergent! poor quality of cleaning. over all, all staff, workers were fantastiko! the kids club are amazing! amazing staff! thanks to Ketty, Yelene, Mely & the other girl( forgot her name) for taking care well of my daughter, she had fun with them every minute! all the food are very good( im not picky eater) all the chef's were very patient & kind & also all the servers,the beach area at the hotel was a bit lacking yet its good for snorkeling & theres alot of chairs with umbrella shades around.the swimming pools are beautiful. there is a another beach called pilar beach was only 15 minutes walk from this resort, its a cristal beach indeed! its breathetaking beach! i wasn't please with the coctail bars... the management should limit serving of alcohol drinks, i saw drunk people in the swimming pools while many kids around, drunk people in the beach & during the night of entertainment. its fun to drink but there should be limit of serving drinks. the LOngina, international buffet is very good! variety of food. the sukiyaki restaurant food is not really good, but the chef presentation was amazing! the cuban restaurant is fantastik! the GOUrmet restaurant is bad! bad service & bad tough beef steak! we went to eat there on april 5 at 7:30 pm, the bad waitres put us in a very inconvenient place where our table is beside the kitchen door- ( table for 2 people only yet we are 3 peole that has been reserved/booked!) our table is far away from the other costumers tables, yet theres alot of empty tables that available until we finished our dinner. we feel that the waitres treated us differently from the other costumers! i paid so much money for this hotel & not expecting to be treated that way. during our stay in this hotel... we are a very generous giver / tipper to all the staff & workers in this hotel. The Cuban restaurant is fantastik! the waiter & the waitress are very polite.the entertainment were amazing! Above all, despites of those issues... we had fun with food, in the swimming pools & in the beach.

People where friendly, Food could be better. Housekeeping great. The mini bar never stocked. ie. No water as well had to consistently ask for more toliet paper. Not a great experience. One great experience was at the beach playa pilar. Amazing. Definitely would not rate this hotel as a 4 star.

Rooms were dirty and worn. Holes in the walls - unfinished paint - cracks etc. We had a pull out bed for our kids and the mattress didn’t fit. They also didn’t have pillows. Food was decent for Cuba - but not enough selection. Nightly entertainment was terrible - very amateur. Beach was nice Staff were amazing - kids club girls were amazing

We got to the resort in the afternoon. We had a quick check in and were able to hit the beach within a few hours. Hector was courteous and pleasant! The food was good, fresh and plentiful! One could not starve at this resort! The grounds were meticulous! Ernesto and his crew do an awesome job at keeping everything beautiful! The resort takes pride in their cleanliness and do just about anything to make sure you are happy and content. I cannot wait to go there again soon!

The hotel has a pleasant area to relax and play cards and spend time with other guests. The food is very good, a great selection for all tastes. The staff is very friendly, and helpful. I am looking forward to spend another vacation here.

If you have traveled to Cuba you will understand my comments. Food was satisfactory and generally the same each day. Restaurants were ok. The rooms were clean and roomy. The beach had rock buried in the sand so you need shoes. There really isn't a walkable beach. You can get on a bus and go to a very nice beach and it is only 3 to 4 minutes. The restaurant at this beach although it doesn't look like much had very good fish and lobster. I would recommend this. Bring toilete paper. And yes you can run out of paper at the resort in the lobby washrooms. Always have a napkin with you. The people were great and provided very good service. Pools were nice and have some algae on the walls. No walkable beach on site as I mentioned. They have a bar and kind of a boardwalk on the beach. You can walk out into the water which is nice. I would recommend it with an explanation.

Better than expected ! Was a little disappointed with the fact that beach was limited ! But after a couple of days realized it was quite beautiful cause it's secluded in a little bay and no big waves and turbulence !! Excellent swimming conditions and crystal clear water !! Love it !!Would defenatly go back !!

We thought the resort was a really beautiful property with access to clear water/beach area and pools. Despite most people warning us about food in Cuba not being so great, we thought there was a decent selection and the food was good. There was a good variety of activities for guests to enjoy whether it be tennis, pool table, kayaks or even group activities like water games or zumba. Rooms were clean and housekeeping staff very pleasant. Overall was a really relaxed atmosphere and excellent value for money.

This is a typical Iberostar hotel. Overall decent, clean hotel and most of all very friendly personnel. Went there with my whole family. My two kids, who have been entertained every day by absolutely amazing entertainment stuff, were delighted with pleasant activities. Our room was ocean view upgraded without any additional charge, clean and spacious for a family of four. In terms of food, really stand out the complementary Japanese Restaurant with not only very tasty food, but also entertaining chefs prepping your meal. Overall we were very pleased with our stay at the Iberostar Playa Pilar.

Room hotel was clean, but beds and pillows very uncomfortable!! food was good, they should work on drinks more, entertainment was really nice. Beach was rocky like u can see on the pictures, but weather was really nice, what I didn’t like was reserving beds on the beach, it was sign to “do not reserve” and people were doing this anyway, they came for one hour in the morning then they disappeared and showed up again afternoon, all day bed was taken, they should do something like reserve in the reception or something. Pilar beach was beautiful! Recommend to everyone! Overall was really nice

Aside from the fact that our first room was mouldy and had the patio door screwed shut, or that our second room stank like urine unless we covered the drains, the fact of the matter is that this resort is not set up for familes with small children. Dinner starts at 6:30 pm - way too late. Lunch starts at 12:30 - way too late. Snackbar, which is supposed to be 24 hours, is not alway open, and when it is open it serves only two things - hotdogs and hamburgers. This resort is inexpensive, and you go get what you pay for.

Pros: Close to playa Pilar beach. Friendly staff and always ready to help. Kid friendly food items. Great view. Staff always willing to help. Cons: Pools had green goo on sides. Had numerous ants in building 5’s top floor. This was also a complaint of other guests (to the point where a whole window was covered in ants) but hotel not interested in changing rooms. Towel was stolen on day 1 (2 hours after check in) while in the pool and hotel wanted $30 pesos (not to mention towels are frayed and have holes). Food made me and my whole family react...

Overall, our stay was a good experience. Only a few annoyances, crying toddler next door, safe not working and very loud music (standard for most resorts I hear). But the staff was great, grounds well cared for and a beautiful location (amazing beach within walking distance). Also, staff didn't pressure for tips which was wonderful and actually made you want to give more.

The hotel was nothing special. My fridge was not stocked daily, my balcony door did not lock and my toiletries were not restocked daily. I did find the beds very uncomfortable after a couple days. The resort itself was nice and staff were friendly. My only complaint os that there was nowhere to buy bottles of water.

the hotel was very nice. The service was great from all of the staff. They were very helpful, friendly, and willing to help wherever they could. I'm happy we chose this place. The grounds were very well kept and clean. The pools were very nice and clean.

FOOD: was okay, but food in buffet was often cold. A la cartes were okay, but Asian was the best. ROOMS: oceanview is a must!!! Rooms kept clean by amazing staff. RESORT: Overall, I would give this resort a 3 or 3 1/2. I have been to other resorts in Cuba that had better food, however, the staff at this resort were amazing! The pool was great and the drinks were very very good.

Resort very clean, beds are comfy, water pressure is great and always lots of hot water. Staff are very friendly and very helpful, Food was not very good at all. Have been to numerous resorts in Cuba, and the food here was the worst. There was fruit and salad, which was good, but veggies and potatoes were always cold. That being said, we still had a great time

It was a beautiful resort. The pools are kept well and clean. The staff were energetic and fun. They engaged everyone during the evening shows. The food wasn't bad. There was something for everyone. Excellent place to bring kids. I would definitely go back again.

We had a fantastic vacation at Iberostar Playa Pilar. The grounds were in fantastic condition, and our rooms were always well-cleaned every day. We had no trouble getting water from the housekeepers, or at the bar/restaurant. The pool was amazingly clean (grimy/dirty pools would be a deal-breaker for me) -- sometimes a bit chilly, but that could have been more from the wind than the actual temp of the pool. The food wasn't bad. We had been told the food in Cuba isn't fantastic, but we always found something to eat. We especially liked the pizza, the omelette grill, the fresh-made pancakes, and all of the ice cream. There is also an ice cream and churro bar near the main pool, which was awesome. The staff were also very liberal with the coffee, which was very appreciated. The only drawback is that there is a charge if you lose your towel. I understand why, because with people going on excursions and stuff, they must have been losing a tonne of them. So if you're someone who doesn't keep track of things, maybe bring your own towels. Finally, the staff were AMAZING!!!! I cannot say enough good things about them. They were energetic and attentive, and so, so much fun. My kids (9&6) felt so special because they paid special attention to them :)

Food was not very good Lack of toilet paper Fridge did not work Asked three times to get it fixed tomorrow ............................................... ...............................................

Hi my stay at resort was great loved the people. Food was ok however the safety devices are all destroyed which need to be replaced. Example if you were to throw somebody this donut in the water and they cut themselves on it while you’re trying to save their life they will probably turn around and sue you because they got cut. You’re saving the life tools should be top notch at all times. Including a response time of medical help. Both treadmills in the gym didn’t work for a Beautiful little gym. The Gardner could use new tools to work with. Over all your resort is great and clean and the employees are very friendly Yanisey in customer service was very helpful and went beyond to help us when things went wrong. Thank You The rooms were really nice and clean and I would definitely stay again at your resort

Beach - really isn't one.....if you like to sit on the beach and have the ability to walk into the water to cool down then back to your chair, that isn't possible here. There is a beach and a lot of chairs but you have to walk on a pier and then down stairs to go for a swim. This is because the shore line is all rock. Rooms - are all very nice and they all face the ocean which was a plus. Food - boring. we have been to Cuba 10 times and this was probably the most disappointing for buffet. It wasn't even very warm and it didn't change much in the 4 days we were there. The cook stations were all very good and the staff were great. We went Dec 7-10 for a quick weekend get away, this was the first time we have done that as we normally stay 2 weeks. I am really glad this was a short stay. We were told this is part of their low season so they had fewer staff, this may explain the lack of drink variety and food. We would not visit this resort again.

Over all a good vacation, staff are the best asset to the resort. Pool, rooms, lobby and beaches in the area are very good. Not a lot to do outside of the resort, our 5 day stay was the perfect amount of time for our family.

The resort was lovely and the people were even better. The food was not so great, typical of Cuba. The pool could have been vacuumed as there were crabs and cigarette butts on the bottom. I can’t say enough about the staff. My son made friends with one of the bartenders and when we left she gave him a gift. So sweet!

The resort was very beautiful considering they had a hurricane last year. The room was very specious and clean. Our maid did an excellent job with all of decorations on the bed etc. We had an end unit in bungalow 2 and it was away from everything and the noise. The pool was a bit of a disappointment. We could not use the pool for one day since it was being cleaned. It was pretty green on the day we arrived and needed to be cleaned. The other two pools were not that great either. One of our friends fell through the grate beside the pool and had to visit the doctor. She was ok but had a pretty big bruise. Another person in our group got an swimmer ear infection. We did not use the beach very much as the water too rough and you could not walk in. We had a toddler in our group and she could not play in the water. There is no beach for walking. Lots of chairs to sit in but no one was using them. There where always a lot chairs at the pool as well. The food for the first few days was good and then it went down hill. I am not sure what happened. The main buffet was closed from October 30th until we left. They were painting and repairing. The reason we keep going back to Cuba is people. We have been to Cuba about 30 times and this resort has the best people. They are so friendly and they seem to enjoy working there and they remember everyone's names. It is like one big happy family. I hope Iberostar gets their act together and gives these people appropriate tools or these wonderful people will leave. Which would be such a shame. There was 11 of us and we were not feeling well through the week one way of another.

This is a beautiful resort with great amenities and incredible staff. They were so friendly and couldn't do enough for you. The pools are gorgeous except that the large, main pool was closed almost everyday......so no swim up bar! The beach is incredible and, just as the photos in the website depict, you take a long walk on a pier and use stairs to enter the ocean. Just a bit different but it doesn't change the beauty. The food was as expected as it's Cuba and they just don't have the resources or quality that we do but they certainly do their best with what they have. The highlight of our trip was the exceptional staff and in particular the beach bar guy named Eudis. He made our stay so memorable and fun and he's such a great person and and amazing bartender. We would definitely return just to see him!!! Thanks to all staff and hopefully see you again soon.

We stayed from October 22-29 . Check in was smooth .. we had to wait for our room but not long. Very nice ocean view room . Great week at the resort and beach area was amazing! The food was the usual Cuba food some days good some not so good ! Think if they had more variety it would be a plus for the resort. Entertainment was also very good . Bar staff were very nice and fast with drink. In all we would return to the resort .

Had an amazing time at the resort. The people are very friendly and will make your stay enjoyable. Good food. Try the 4 resturants, they all had great food and service. Pool was warm and so was the ocean. Rooms were big and clean.

I loved the pools all separate children’s pool and sport pool and bar pool Great trip my son and daughter took to Dolphin and boat trip Joyce was great from the hotel who sold trip to us She even checked on me when they went on trip to see if I needed anything The food was fine and the ladies cleaned our room were great and the waitresses were great very helpful Peter and Entertainment group were great The ocean was great All round great vacation

We just came back Sept 1st stayed for 1 week. We were returned customers went last year around same time. This time we are disappointed with the stay. Hotel overall : we booked for Ocean view room we were given level 2 ocean view..half ocean and half building view. We were given bungalow 2 level 2. Last year we stayed at bungalow 14 level ocean view overlooking the ocean..it was perfect and beautiful . Cleanliness of the room was good..it was well kept clean. We travelled with our son and we were given only 2 pillows instead of 3. Buffet food: very disappointed ..no lobster or shrimp this year compared to last year. Selections of food has decreased. Too many flies flying around due to they had the door open . Not too happy with the flies..and saw tiny crocroaches crawling around bread section. Ala cart - Mediterranean very very bad .. ordered shrimp pasta..shrimp was okay but pasta we're too soggy and tasteless. Don't bother going to Mediterranean ala cart. Ocean swim was great..saw alot of fishes, star fishes, sea urchin and sea cucumbers. Enjoy swimming with the fishes. Bring goggles a d snorkel set to enjoy . Also bring water shoe.. this will prevent stepping on tiny rocks and you will be able to walk to Pillar beach. Overall we don't think we will go back to this resort.. their standard has gone down compared to 2017.

I new the grounds would be well kept and up to Iberostar standards. The location was beautiful and the water was like stepping into a lagoon. It is not your typical beach front property so I missed being able to walk along the beach shore. I was disappointed in the availability of standard items (towels in the room, no tissues, asking numerous times for an extra pillow, or just getting the room cleaned on a daily basis). I believe having more staff in the buffet dining area serving at the grills would cut down on extremely long wait times of 20 minutes or more to get an omellete or grilled chicken/steak/pork etc. at meal time. The resort could do with another bar area and more servers at the bar. The small bar space in the lobby was always very congested with few people behind the bar serving. Also, most of the staff were very young and inexperienced with hospitality. They spoke very little English which was frustrating especially when a good portion of their clientele are English speaking visitors. While I am not a picky person and enjoyed our stay, I felt frustrated with the mentioned deficiencies. I have been to other Iberostars in Cuba and Jamaica in the past so I expected better from this holiday experience. I would not go back to that Iberostar location but would try another Iberostar.

Very nice organized , very clean and comfortable . Most of the people were very polite. Food wasn’t too great, but its because the overall limitations the country has. Other hotels like iberostar daikiri was better in terms of food quality and beach service

Beach was beautiful; white sand, clear water and lots of tropical fish to view when snorkeling. The staff was very friendly and fun. The rooms were good; comfortable bed and thick walls (quiet). The food sucked though. The only decent food was at the Japanese restaurant.

Awesome trip with the family. Had a beautiful seaview room with a fantastic view! Food was good and pool was clean & comfortable beds. Couldn’t ask for more. What really sets this resort aside was the people who work there! They are such hard working sweet people who will help you with whatever you need. We will definitely be there again!!❤️❤️

De retour de Iberostar playa pillar encore sous le choc. A une heure de route de l aéroport.Tres bel hotel avec une architecture design. nous avons été tres bien recu et ils ont respecté toutes nos demandes pour la chambre .Buffet tres bien ,restaurant pour ma part c était divertissant sans plus.Théatre surprenant tout les soirs.Déception ..... pour la plage ,ce n est pas la plage que j ai connue en 2009.Bruit ,trop pres de la route et futur hotels en construtions.... .Le personnels est tres serviable et chaleureux .Propretée dans la chambre négliger,le mur coté lit était couvert de poussiere,la douche style pluie tres inconfortable si tu ne veut pas mouillé tes cheveux, nous avons manqué d eau chaude ils nous ont offert une autre chambre mais elle était juste a cotée de la route et avait plus de poussiere sur les murs ,service tres rapide au bar du lobbey ,tres grande piscine et les touristes de la Grande Bretagne ,Canada,Espage .....participent pour le plus grand bonnheur des annimateurs qui travaille tres fort mais il faudra qu ils amménage mieux la plage avant que nous y retournions.

Hotel is located in an amazing large shallow lagoon that can be considered a private large swimming pool with ocean water but no waves and no rocks.options are to swim or walk or just hang atound with a drink or play with the ball. Gym classes in this marvelious secluded lagoon are amazing experience for seniors, middle aged people or youth program is made for all generations. Staff is pretty extraordinary when compared to other exclusive resorts. Nobody is asking for tips or “ too much into your face”. Entertainers are there and in hood number but if you feel you should be left alone, it is well respected. The amazing staff in the restorants is however exceeding all expectations. The three guys grilling fish on o n order and all the staff in the restaurants are not only the best I have seen in Carenbeans but even in all Iberostar resorts. There is something in the water of that town they all come from. They all feel like family and pretty quickly one feels like their own family. Rooms are clean and well lit unlike usual not very good lifting insides even dining room and redemption are nicely lit with new leaf lights so one has a feeling of a modern new facility.there is no luxioury, it is a small “ everything is close” type of a resort, you would not want anything else as the size matches wild rare beauty of the bay, it’s natural sand dunes and rocky parts. It is that such resort also attracts nice middle class audiance that does not need to be reminded not to litter. Everything stays clean all the time including the public bathrooms. If weather gets stormy it is a pretty dramatic skies we all watch from the lobby. Staff gets us into some sort of entertainment immediately. One takes loving memories from this amazing location and the team that hosted us. I have not used the pool but the largest group was always there and I have not heard one complaint. We had everybody in the resort from babies and toddlers to seniors and invalids. Total healthy happy mix. I would go again and happily recommend to friends.

Grounds were well kept, the staff was working continuously everyday. Beach is amazing and there is lots to see snorkeling just off the boardwalk. The staff were amazing constantly interacting with the guests. I've been to a bunch of resorts but the shows I seen here are by far the best I've ever seen. Done the Dolphin excursion and would highly recommend it. Food was a little repetitive but the Hurricane hasn't helped with that, but if you enjoy Chicken, rice, fresh fish and pork it was good. I would definitely return to this resort.

Great hotel, grounds are beautiful and well kept. The pools and beaches were great, the staff was excellent especially the entertainment staff. Unfortunately the food was poor definitely not the resort to go to if you want good food.

We traveled as a group of six (ages between 61 and 71) after doing a lot of fact finding and research. This is our 14th visit to Cuba. We knew going to this resort, that there was no beach to speak of. In fact our Tripcentral Representative repeated this comment three times to me before I booked and I did the same with the other couples I was booking for...so no surprises. There is NO BEACH but there is a fabulous boardwalk and entry into the most beautiful, crystal clear Caribbean ocean water, filled with lots of things to see when snorkeling. Not the easiest way in, however they are working on an access to the water for those who find it difficult to navigate the stairs into the water (elderly and small children). I heard on the bus on our way back to the airport that people were disappointed with the food. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the food. Its a buffet, with food that appeals to so many different nationalities, so if you see something you don't like, don't choose it. There was plenty of "regular food" for Canadians who are used to bacon, eggs, cereal, fruit, pancakes, chicken, pork, pasta etc. without having to try the more adventurous items on the buffet. We are way too hard on our Cuban friends. They are catering to many, many different palettes. The service was impeccable, the staff super attentive, and every single person we met went out of their way to get us what we needed or wanted, even without having to ask. Cappuccinos and black coffees delivered to our waiting table of six each morning. Be nice and you will get fantastic service. Be rude and you will still get service, but perhaps not as quickly. Make sure that you visit the Cigar Bar in the evening...Onei the bartender is awesome! The rooms were clean, bright and well stocked every day. The beach bar waiters delivered your drinks to your chair, with a smile, all day long. The snack bar at the beach, a few yards away from the chairs and palapas was an awesome place to take a break from the very hot sun and enjoy a quick bite and an ice cold beverage. A huge hats off to Yadir, who took us on an emergency "dentist" excursion off the resort and waited for us and acted as our interpreter, problem solved, and delivered us back to the hotel all withing 45 minutes. If you expect to have the same foods and experience as you would in a hotel in the city where you are from, then I would suggest you stay home. Cuba is a beautiful gem in the Carribean filled with beautiful people. Miss it already! And yes I would return to this resort in a heartbeat.

It’s still young, but the grounds are great, people even better. Love it We plan our next trip to the same resort, I highly recommend it. Pilar beach is cool, bit of a walk, but having the actual beach on a board walk is kinda neat

Grounds are beautiful, lots of new plants/trees etc. since hurricane, once they mature it will be gorgeous! Resort is perfect size, never had to reserve a chair although that didn’t stop some crazy people from reserving a cabana with their towel and proceeding to lay a lounge chair on top of it in the cabana! Food was decent. You know going in it’s not going to be like home but the seafood was really good. You can certainly find something to eat for a week, and for those who complain constantly about the food I would say you are focused on a food holiday and maybe a cruise is the way to go, I was here for the beaches and beautiful water. The Japanese and French a la cartes were the best. Ketchup was hit and miss, no Diet Coke, and watermelon was the only fruit we ate, however the coffee/cappuccinos are amazing! It’s true they do not have facecloths so prepare for that. We would walk to Playa Pillar beach, it’s a bit of climbing rocks and substantially easier at low tide but we went whenever. Unless you are unfit or have mobility problems, anyone can walk there along the beach, runners would be best but we managed with flip flops too. We loved this place and definitely will be back.

This hotel is the perfect size, not too big, not too small. The grounds and common areas of the resort are well maintained for Cuba standards. The staff are friendly, attentive, helpful and accommodating. We had some early isssues with our rooms upon check in but the front staff worked to find us an acceptable solution. The beach and ocean are absolutely stunning. It took my breath away each and every time I saw it. The way to playa pillar is short and by far the most spectacular environment I’ve ever seen in my life. Our family made the walk there and back a daily event.