Sol Cayo Santa María ****

Anónimo, CA, 2005-04-19
We stayed at Sol Cayo Santa Maria the week of March 14, 2005 -- myself, my husband and our two children aged 16 and 20. We had the most amazing time! We had so much fun! The beach is absolutely prestine -- white sand and blue water. We did not want to leave. There is so much choice for food and drinks. The restaurant on the beach makes the best cheeseburgers and rum punch. The pool bar is a great place to go after a day at the beach. The people that work at the resort are so friendly and helpful all of the time. For instance, I wanted to get my water bottle filled up at the patio bar before we boarded the bus back to the airport. It was kind of busy, and the bus was about to leave so I couldn't wait for the water. As I was waiting in line to board the bus, the bartender tapped my on the shoulder and had a big water bottle for me. Is that service of what! Please remember you are in Cuba and you are there for a vacation and to relax! Take your time and enjoy the people and the resort. This resort has a lot to offer. I also highly recommend taking the snorkling day trip.
A family of Four!

Anónimo, CA, 2005-04-17
This January (2005) will be my third time that I go to Sol Cayo Santa Maria. The food is good, the place is great and the atmosphere is fantastic.

I have been to other places and I cannot wait to go back to the Sol Cayo Santa Maria each time. Do not expect to be served quickly because it is not in their values to be rushed and to rush. You are on Holidays, just relax...

No you cannot expect bacon and you know what, it's fine. The most important thing is the Human Resources. The staff is very very friendly and nice and they try very hard. So, yes it is a 4-Star.

Please enjoy your Holidays in another country as it should be : a change of scenery and a change in your way of life !!!

Anónimo, CA, 2005-01-12
Just got back from Sol Cayo Santa Maria and can't wait to go back again.

we arrived at the resort late due to a flight delay, they had kept the buffet restaurant open for us. Our keys were handed out on the transfer bus so we knew where our rooms were but had to find them in semi-darkness by ourselves. Our bags came to the room at 2:30am, should have just gone to the bar like some of the others.

The rooms were clean and spacious, took me a couple of days to figure out I could plug in my flat iron for my hair in the bedroom over the dressing table, but watch it because they have 220 volts and my iron melted because I left it plugged in too long. So use a low setting and watch the heat. There is a dryer in the bathroom but it's not very good.

The big window in the bathroom's a hoot but you can pull down the shade for privacy, we had lots of shrubbery outside our window but others were clear for all to see (not that anyone was showing anything!).

The staff were fantastic, everyone from the restaurant staff to the activity and entertainment people were friendly and helpful and all the guests I spoke said it was one of the best places they had been. Many of the people from the 5 star next door seemed to prefer to hang out at our place. There was always something going on from yoga to water gym, Spanish lessons, water volleyball, cocktail contests. You could be really active or just laze by the pool and watch all the activity.

The food was very good in my opinion, I am a non-meating person and there was always fish and shrimp and lots of good veggies and salads. the pasta bar was very popular and one day they had roast turkey. The steak dish in the Italian restaurant got good reports and people enjoyed the hamburgers, hot dogs and pizza at the Cuban restaurant and the beach bars. We got into the habit of having a sundowner in the lobby to catch the last rays of the sun. Also try the Spanish Coffee from the patio bar outside the piano bar, it's pretty good inside the piano bar too.

It was quite windy and the beach was not always the best place to be because of the wind, no-one was using the water craft because the sea was too choppy. But people were in the sea but not out very far.

There were Canadians (English & French), Italians, Spanish and a couple of German, English and Portuguese there. The staff had no trouble communicating with everyone.

There were lots of families with young children but they didn't interfere if you were there for a more adult holiday and the kids didn't seem to mind when we parked our loungers in the middle of the shallow pool.

can't wait to go back next year, everyone said they would like to spend 2 or 3 weeks next time. We rented a moped one day and rode out along the causeway (59km) and into the nearby towns. Not too much there but you can see typical Cuban lives. Another couple rented a car, they got 100km free mileage then I think it was about 35 pesos per kilometre, well 100k only gets you to the end of the causeway and back. We only paid 25 pesos for the whole day for the bike.

The resort is clean, safe, friendly and fun. So go and say "Ola" from me.

Anónimo, CA, 2005-01-09
I've been to Sol Cayo Santa Maria 2 times, and love it! [It is actually better than the sister, 4/5 star, Melia Sta. Maria next door]I consider myself fussy, I like good food ,lovely surroundings and pretty clean and well decorated roon's.... and most important beautiful beach ! Well this you will get there !
The workers are so friendly the resort are just beautiful, the gardens are well taken care and lovely ,the piano bar is amazing ...great baby grand piano, white, lovely ladies playing classical music. The only reason one would not like is, in my opinion: yes they don't have Kraft dinner or rap music. This place is elegant and very peacefully the rooms are beautiful and the washroom has a large glass window from ceiling to tub , bring a candle for romantic bath's! when I was there last time, it was full moon the whole room was illuminated, totally secluded and private !
I do not understand some of these people reeviw..... they did not recognize paradise!
If you can rent a car about $50 us, and go to Sta. Clara see the Che Guevara Museum and the train were the Batista militia was ambushed by Che .this place is were all ended an all began... I love it ! and I'm sure you will.