1627 reviews
Beware of personal belongings
We arrived for the first time visiting this resort in Holguin. July 2022
Check-in: Quick
Room: Good size, clean, 2nd floor, good air conditioning, wifi worked in room, water temp good - con: shower had one of those hand held shower heads. A bit difficult to navigate while showering.
We wanted the second floor, glad we did. We met people on the ground level who had uninvited critters in their room. On two occasions guests found a big spider waiting outside their door - later found out it was a commonly known Cuban Bronze Tarantula, tarantula that is endemic to the island of Cuba.
Pool: Awesome, sparking clean and tons of loungers
Beach: Beautiful and lots of shaded loungers available.
Water: Calm and warm.
Grounds: Awesome to walk around - well manicured and beautiful flowers everywhere.
Food: 1 Star: Horrible. Not much variety, very little. Breakfast only good.
Al la Cartes: A joke. Poor Chef had to do his best with nothing.
Beach Grill not open while there.
Beach Ranchon open but horrible.
24 hours snacks: were horrible (at the beer garden)
Beer Garden: No canned beer only kegs. It was still chilled mugs though.
Ice Cream Parlous across from Beer Garden was very good: Chocolate, Strawberry or Vanilla. I had one every day.
We were told by repeated guests we met there how disappointed they were with the food quality and availability. We were told it was so much better pre-covid. No lobster, shrimp or barely seafood. Some fish cooked at dinner.
Second last day there I was hungry and we ate at the Beach Ranchon Restaurant. I broke my rule traveling and ordered Pork and Rice off the menu. I don't normally ever order meat in Cuba off a menu unless its grilled in front of me. Needless to say I was violently ill within 2-3 hours after eating lunch. I didn't leave the room from 3 pm on a thursday until 3 pm our getaway day. I barely made it home. I did not alert the hotel Dr. as I didn't want to be held in Cuba - with some nonsense it was covid or try to scam me. I just wanted to get home. It lasted 5 days after I returned home.
Also, because I was so sick getaway day, I had a window of time to pack my suitcase. Threw everything in that wasn't in there already.
Sad part is that when I returned home I was missing $20 in toonies and loonies I changed for gardeners for bills, ray ban sunglasses, a small crossbody purse, a bra and I don't know what else.
I did alert the resort when I returned home once I realized what was missing in my luggage. I got the generic answer that their resorts prides itself with good security. Borderline accusing me of lying.
They even questioned me about why I didn't see the hotel Dr. no record of it, why I didn't report the theft. Well that's because I wanted out of Cuba and I didn't notice anything gone until I got home.
Anyways, I expected that I'd get a generic answer as every resort prides itself it security, but lets face it, theft happens in every hotel around the world, whether reported or not noticed.
Watch out for locals swimming in the ocean in front of hotel trying to get money from you. Sob stories hoping to get some Canadian dollars. Also, security was allowing local people not staying at the resort to use guest loungers. Not a safe environment for your belongings. I know its a public beach but they should not be using loungers amidst hotel guests with all the bags left unattended, and lifeguards and security sleeping under the trees.
Anyways I don't want to slag the resort too much, as it was beautiful, just my mishap of getting sick and a thief getting my stuff.
It did not happen at the airport. My luggage is locked inside the suitcase on one side and the luggage itself. Nothing was rifled through when I opened it the next day at home.
Just don't expect pre covid food availability and don't bring anything you don't want taken.
BTW we had a burger one day at the Beach Ranchon and it was disgusting. Somekind of mushy meat, it looked raw inside but that was the colour of whatever meat it was. We were not the only ones shocked at the quality of the burger. Pizzas also were awful. Eating a frisbee. Thank god we brought with us chili flakes and tabasco to flavour our meals. No shame in bringing spices, you'll need it.
BTW the entertainment the week we were there was childish. No good shows. Just game shows.
Also not a place for young people, nothing to do at the resort and surrounding towns.
Kudos though to the Cigar Lounge. Best place to get a good shot of rum and air conditioning, good music until 10:30 pm. After that is a disco.
