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| Barcelo Cayo Santa Maria |
Dawn & Keith ~ Sudbury |
November 2009
Arrival: November 6 - 13
Airport transfers were very efficient and organized. The trip from the airport to the resort is about an hour and forty five minutes. The literature we read prior to going said it was about forty five minutes, so be prepared for a long drive. No snacks or beverages are supplied for this journey.
Rooms:
Room was clean. The beds are singles, a tad awkward for romantic getaways. They have american satellite, but the signal is very weak. You can't get a jacuzzi tub, they don't have them. Our tub leaked so we had to rig a damn system out of facecloths in order to keep the water from flooding the washroom. They don't replenish soap and shampoo or tissues.
Restaurants and Bars:
The a la carte restaurant is terrible. It is a misnomer that there are three of them. There is only one, and it rotates what it serves day to day. We went on a seafood night. Our food had been precooked and then reheated, so it was served to us promptly, but over cooked and inedible. We ended up crossing the hallway to eat at the buffet restaurant, and passed on our second reservation in the a la carte.
Buffets lacked fresh fruits and vegetables. They also lacked variety. They did a very good job with certain dishes, like the gnochi, and lasagna. However, there were only gauva, pineapple, honeydew and sometimes oranges, and sometimes canned peaches and pineapple. There was never any fresh vegetables.
Everything is soaking in oil or deep fried.
The fresh pasta station was great, the bread was fantastic.
Possibly, due to the time of year, there was only one buffet restaurant opened per meal, even though signs on the restaurants indicated they all should be open.
There was no way to get snacks easily. If you wanted something small between meals, you were told to sit down and be served. You were not supposed to take food outside the restaurants.
Beach/Pools/Grounds:
This resort does NOT have a hot tub. In looking at the website, it said that it provided a jacuzzi tub... There is no jacuzzi tub in any room, and there is no hot tub on the resort...a real bummer on the cold and rainy days.
This resort has a pool volley ball net set up, basket ball nets all around the pool, a mini soccer field, beach and regular volley ball courts, and yet, I was never allowed to have a ball! I went to the room that provided equipment and was simply told "No", they had no balls. So, if you want to enjoy any of these activities, bring your own ball! I saw a ball in their equipment room, but they said it was for professional use. On our last day, a family managed to get that ball some how. It had no air, and was quite old, but it was nice to finally be able to use some of the ammenities the pool area had.
They also do not provide anything on which to float in the pool.
The day we arrived it was raining on and off and windy. The beach was covered in debris, and remained like that for most of the week, however, they did clean it up when the weather was better.
However, in the nice weather, the bugs came out and in the second morning of sunshine, the pool was littered with bugs of all size all around the pool. This was never cleaned up.
Activities on and off the Resort/Hotel:
We paid extra for a day excurssion to Havana by plane. That was well organized and very enjoyable. The lunch provided in Havana was the best meal we had all week. If you go to Cuba, don't go to this resort, but do go to Havana, you won't regret it.
I was told on a calm wind free day, that all sailing equipment was offered, free of charge, to clients, but the next day when there was some wind, and I requested a wind surfer, I was told I could not use it because I had no experience. Saying "NO" seems to be all the people at the resort know how to say.
The entertainment was cheesey, but what I would expect at any of these kinds of resorts. I enjoyed it more than my fiance.
They don't have activities scheduled all day. They had one activity at 11:30 in the morning (unless the power was out, then it didn't happen). Then at 4 they had two guys come out and try to teach the guests how to dance. One day they had a contest for women, but we were at the pool every day, and this was all they seemed to provide in the way of activities.
Every day they promised a pool volleyball game, but it never happened, I believe it's because they wouldn't lend patrons the ball!!
Other Comments:
In short, we believe that customer service is really lacking in this new resort. In places my fiance and I have stayed in the past, if you want a box of tissue, or a ball to play with, the staff will do their best to find a way to make their guests happy. Here, if it wasn't convenient for the staff, the default answer was "NO". The same answer we would give if anyone asked us if they should stay at the Barcelo Cayo Santa Maria.
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| Barcelo Cayo Santa Maria |
Keith ~ Nunavut, Canada |
August 21 2009
Arrival July 18-25/09 :
My first comment is that the resort was only 1/4 occupied this time of year. After leaving 10 degrees in the arctic, it was a shock to be welcomed by 35+.
Rooms:
The room was nicely decorated but could use a finish coat of paint. We had only one small issue with a toilet constantly running. Good thing for doors!
Restaurants and Bars:
Being our first time in Cuba, rumors of the food quality scared us. However a first look at the buffett & all rumors were proven to be false. We actually ate every meal at the buffett & with the great & tastey selection, we felt no need to reserve the speciality restaurants.
Beach/Pools/Grounds:
WOW! Of all the southern countries we have visited, Cuba has to have the most beautiful beaches in the world. And the snorkling was terrific (bring your own equipment)There was plenty of room around & in the pool & it was maintained daily. The grounds were left natural with very little planting which gave it a wonderful rustic, woodsy feel. (no trees where I live)
Activities on and off the Resort/Hotel:
The evening entertainment needs a lot of work. Tours offered were of no interest to us. We are generally beach bums.
Other Comments:
Again, it was July during our visit & with few people around, the satff were more then helpful & accomodating. No line ups were found anywhere & plenty of space to relax which is what we vacation for. I have no hesitiation reccomending this resort before it is discovered by to many.
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| Barcelo Cayo Santa Maria | Bill and Carol ~ Brooklin, Ontario |
April 2009
Arrival: March 27 to April 3
The arrival at the airport went very quickly and soon we loaded our luggage on the bus bought some beer and were on our way to Cayo Santa Maria
Rooms
Our room was in bungalow 7 and provided a fantastic view of the beach. The rooms are spacious colorful and well appointed. We had no problem with the shower as some have noted. The hall is open air at each end and balconies at each end provide a wonderful view.
Restaurants and Bars
The best alacarte is the seafood which truly functions as a full service alacarte. The italian and the steakhouse are converted to alacartes from the grill buffet and would be best left as another buffet all day long.
Beach/Pools/Grounds
If there is a better beach in the world please tell me where it is. They say it is 10 kilometres long and is nothing but pure white sand. The pool was warmer than I have experienced elsewhere but lacks shade for those really hot days. The grounds are coming along very nice and just need time to mature. There are numerous gardeners working away and take great pride in their work..if you take gifts make sure to include them.
Activities on and off the Resort/Hotel
The entertainment in the theatre was pretty hoeky but was impressive around the pool, the restaurants and in the lobby bar. The musicians are very talented and provide both english and spanish pieces.
Other Comments
This was our third trip to Santa Clara. We have stayed twice at the Royal Hideaway and this latest trip at the new Barcelo. We highly recommend either as they both provide a great vacation value. The Royal provides some added elegance and a good beach, the Barcelo provides great food and the best beach we have been on.
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| Barcelo Cayo Santa Maria |
Janice ~ Kirkland Lake, ON |
April 2009
Arrival: March 13 - 20
After arrival at the Santa Clara airport, to our surprise, the bus was very quick to get on its way to our resort. (we almost missed the bus!)From previous experience in Cuba, we figured we had lots of time, so I stood in line to exchange money, then buy a couple cervesas for the trip to the resort! Even though it is 90 minutes to the resort, it went quite quickly.
Check-in was very efficient. You get off the bus and are escorted into a banquet-type of room where you fill in a form, then receive an envelope with your room key, hotel info etc in it. From there you head back to the bus, identify your luggage, which then gets delivered to your room in a very timely manner.
Rooms
The rooms are lovely and spacious. We had emailed the resort about 1 week prior to departure and requested a second floor room with a king size bed, and our request was granted. As mentioned in other reviews, the shower design is such that water spills out all over the floor each time you shower, but nothing that a couple of well placed washcloths could not handle. Housekeeping did a good job on a daily basis, and our mini-fridge was replenished with beer, pop and water daily.My husband tipped the fridge guy the 1st day and he made sure that we were taken care of.
Restaurants and Bars
We ate breakfast and dinner most days at the main buffet restaurant. There was a good variety of choices. You could quickly fill your plate with the food already prepared in the bins or you could stand in line for freshly prepared meats, pasta, seafood etc. Sometimes the line-ups would be long...but we both did not mind this as the freshly prepared stuff was worth waiting for! There was a waffle station in the AM that was great...but again usually a line up. We fully expected line-ups since this was March break week...no problem...we are on vacation....no deadlines, no schedule etc etc.
At lunch we usually ate at the "Grill". This is the restaurant that is just behind the pool. Always good, enjoyed making my own bruschetta each day!
During the day, we usually went to the pool bar. They have 2 guys working the bar and they could seriously use one more person back there. They have to serve the folks on the land side of the pool as well as the swim-up part of that bar. Despite being run off their feet, they always had smiles on their faces.
In the evenings we went to the "lobby bar". They made the best spanish coffees here! Each evening there was some form of live entertainment here...but pretty mellow....definitely enjoyable but not too lively.
Beach/Pools/Grounds
We loved the beach! I could not imagine a beach nicer than Varadero but this one comes pretty close and maybe even surpasses it! It is more narrow than Varadero but beautiful packed white sand at the shoreline for walking and very little in the way of shells or seaweed. I was worried about jellyfish but did not see any at all. We generally stayed at the beach till 4pm or so then headed to the pool for a couple of hours. The pool is large, a little cool early in the week but the weather was excellent and the pool was a nice comfortable temperature after warming up all week.
The grounds were well maintained...my only complaint was finding cigarette butts here and there on the beach....disgusting...ashtrays were readily available but apparently the smokers preferred to litter the beach.
Activities on and off the Resort/Hotel
We did not do any tours...just a week of R&R. My husband played volleyball on the beach each day.
We attended the evening "show" only once and we were kind of disappointed....we usually enjoy the nightly entertainment shows even though they can tend to be a little cheesy! The entertainment complex is a beautiful building that seats hundreds but the night we were there there might have been 40 people there.
Other Comments
This resort just opened a couple of months ago and so far so good. There are 600 rooms now open and the construction is on-going so that it will eventually have 2000 rooms! We never heard any noise from the building of the new section...it seemed like the workers might be on holidays themselves!
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| Barcelo Cayo Santa Maria |
David |
February 2009
This trip was booked through Belair Travel and our regular agent Sylvia at 1-888-776-6885 extension 1017. The trip was provided by Air Transat with the flight being provided by Skyservice.
We stayed at the Crowne Plaza Hotel right near the airport the night before at a cost of $104.00 plus tax of course. This included free parking and shuttle to and from the airport on a twenty four hour basis. If you are coming in from out of town this is the place to stay.
Just so you know
We have traveled to Jamaica(6), Mexican Mayan Riviera(6), Cancun, Cozumel, Progresso(NW Yucatan), Cuba(7), Antigua, Aruba, Bonaire, Grenada, Dominica, USVI, Dominican Republic (4), Grand Bahamas, Alaska, Las Vegas, Maritime Provinces, Virginia Beach , Myrtle Beach, Florida(2), Cape Cod.
Flight
Departure time was changed to 7:30 am a short time before the day of departure. The flight was on time but with taxiing and de-icing we left about 45 minutes late. A movie was shown in flight. The breakfast sandwich was awful. On short flights why even bother with a meal?
Arrival
The airport is relatively new and really quite efficient. Many customs agents were working and we were through quickly. Remember one person goes to an agent at a time and you need to present yourself the way your passport picture looks. Make no mistakes or cross outs on the tourist cards. If you would like your passport stamped you must ask.
All luggage is x-rayed before coming out on the conveyors but did come quickly. Also if in doubt check on the Cuban website concerning what items may be brought into the country. Narcotic drugs are not permitted and may cause you some additional scrutiny or searches.
If you really must, you can exchange money at the airport although the rates are very similar. No money is permitted except the Cuban Convertible Peso. Bring Canadian as USD is discounted by at least 10%. The CCP to Canadian Dollar is not very favourable.
It always seems to take a long time to get the travelers on their busses so the busses can leave. There is a 90 to 120 minute trip to the hotel area. If travelling with children have something new and special for them to occupy their time on the trip. The trip is very interesting.
Check in
The check in is very quick. You are given an envelope with room keys and bracelets; go to the bell boy and you and your luggage are off to the room. There are plenty of the 6 passenger golf carts constantly about on the property. We were whisked of to our room, luggage carried up and AC turned on. A room key is required so take an old plastic card with you or you need to use a room key.
After check in we went to the Pool Grill for a late lunch. Be warned that on a warm to hot day there are flies everywhere and all over the food which is left out in the open. Not very sanitary and an immediate fix is required here.
Room
We were in building 5 Room 538. The Barcelo Chain does not go out of its way to accommodate room and building requests. We made ours at the time of booking and again in email one month prior to arrival. Unless you are mobility challenged, don’t bother making a request.
The room was very nice and open and airy. There is a free to use large electronic safe, TV, hair dryer with 110 volt outlet, iron and board, cd player, mini fridge with water, beer and sodas. Mini fridge is restocked late each day. There are lots of drawer and hanging space. There are robes and slippers. Turn down service was requested of the maid but never delivered. Be aware that the electric here is 220 volts and you will need a converter, but the 110 volt outlet in the hairdryer is good enough to charge batteries, recharge game players and mp3 players. IPods can be recharged at the internet centre.
The room cleaning time varies each day but the work is quick and very good. Sheets are changed by request and towels are changed every day. The halls and stairs are cleaned regularly as well.
The bathtub is of very poor design and water leaks out onto the floor during any shower. Save a towel to dry up the floor. A fix is needed pretty quickly here as the tub in the room next to ours leaked through the floor and ceiling below and into the hallway in the first floor.
At the west entry to our building the floor tiles were broken right at the step edge and this was quite dangerous.
Lobby
The lobby is large and very open and on a windy day there is no shelter. There is plenty of seating although it is not overly comfortable. The chairs and sofas are very deep in the seat. There are some very nice rocking chairs. There needs to be a large No Smoking area in the lobby. The lobby is clean and well looked after although it needs very regular cleaning to keep the scuff marks off the walls and railings and under the couch seating. White paint was not a good choice. The tile floor is not shiny and never looks clean but it is regularly washed.
The lobby houses the front desk, tour operators, restaurant reservation desk, customer service desk, telephones, internet café, money exchange, gift shop and tour operator (Air Transat) desk. The AT representatives are truly great and very helpful. Please introduce yourself to them.
The internet has four stations and costs 6 pesos for 30 minutes and if more than one is in use it is very slow. Get your password from the telephone receptionist.
Any concerns you have should and must be reported to the customer relations desk. It would be nice to have the weather forecast in multiple languages posted every day.
Restaurant reservations are quick and easy as there only three to choose from at this time. Do this early in your stay.
The gift shop is very poorly stocked. The cigar humidor opened late the week we were there. I went to another hotel to get mine. Cigar prices have once again risen to offset the destruction from the last hurricanes. Prices are up ten percent. Other items in the shop are scarce. There were no magazines, drug store type items, sun tan lotions, clothing, and a limited selection and supply of rum and other beverages. Hopefully the stock will quickly grow although there really are very few items to bring back home. It would be nice to see some local art/paintings/sculpting for sale.
There is a very nice lobby bar with evening entertainment of singers and musical groups. Don’t miss Marcel, she has a beautiful voice. The mixed drinks are so-so and tend to lack favour. A very nice feature is a great waiter/waitress staff going around the lobby taking drink orders. They are quick and courteous.
Please be aware that quite often the floor and steps are the same colour of tile and you could easily miss a step and fall. This happened to a man on his first day there and he fell leaving the lobby at the front entrance. He appeared in a cast two days later. A bright red or yellow tape is required in locations such as these and this must be acted upon quickly. This is a serious safety issue in several areas of the hotel.
The lobby washrooms were still locked at 7:45 a.m. on departure day. Why?
Pool
The pool is a decent size for this one resort. The lounges are comfortable. The water is very cold, not very deep and is heated only by the sun and will eventually warm up. There is a splash pool for little ones. There is virtually no shade, although the two pergolas near the sports centre and the kids centre have a meshing on top and this meshing should be placed on top of all the pergolas. If it is not a nice beach day, the pool area is very crowded and by noon it is very much like a can of sardines. The pool area is very loud with the music and general noise from guests who become louder as the beer flows.
There is a good pool/swim up bar with covered seating around it. The pool grill is also very close and serves light lunches, coffee and drinks and is a place to get out of the sun. The sport/game/towel area is right on the pool deck and offers washrooms/change rooms and activities – ping pong, shuffle board, bocce, chess, badminton, basketball (all not ready). There is a Kid’s Club here also but it is not yet totally complete but will eventually have its own pool and play structure and an indoor area for activities.
Watch out for your belongings as some guests would take others belongings from the lounges in order to have them for themselves. There were some skirmishes about this. Lounges are reserved very early in the morning and you really need to put more than one towel draped over two or three lounges. Never leave any valuables.
The waiter/waitress staff is great around the pool and do their best to fill drink orders very quickly. They deserve a good tip and lots of thanks.
Beach
This beach is truly stunning. If you go east (right) it is wide and is a walker’s dream as it is packed and when tide is low offers a greater width for a long walk. There are some shells to be found but nothing out of the ordinary. To the west (left) the beach narrows for a bit and is not particularly nice as there is a berm near the water’s edge and is not nice for sitting. To the right is very nice beach for the kids to play on and the water is shallow and can be nice and calm. This is a great beach for families as the sand is great for castles, the water shallow for a great distance out and not a lot of topless bathing.
Eventually, I hope they will thoroughly rake the beach at least once a day to remove the sea weed using a machine like the one they have at Barcelo Colonial in Mexico.
There are a lot of palapas for shade and they are converting the lounges to the more comfortable kind found around the pool. There is beach bar very close with washrooms attached.
The water sports centre offers three hobie cats and six kayaks at the time. There is no snorkelling right off the beach but there are tours you can take.
There are two wooden walkways that take you to the beach. Be careful for the last few feet as the ramp slopes sharply down and it is steep and tends to get covered in sand making the footing a little slippery. It would be tricky and difficult to get a wheelchair down to the beach. There are showers available on the walkways to wash off the sand.
Hotel grounds
At the outset please remember that this hotel just opened on December 24, 2008 and it is the first of four hotels in this complex which will eventually have over 2000 rooms and a village located in the centre of the four. There is a lot of obvious construction but nothing to bother the guests.
Behind the main lobby and buffets is a magnificent theatre which likely seats in excess of 500 people and contains two bars. The entertainment is nightly but does not start until 10 p.m. which is far too late for many and should start no later than 9:30 pm .
The grounds in general are very pleasant with many lovely bushes and flowering shrubs and new plantings are being done on a daily basis. Much of the original landscaping was preserved during construction. The grounds will look much better and fuller after this year’s rainy season. Gardeners are evident everywhere but not all are working as they should. The grounds are clean but more attention can still be paid to general tidiness.
Lighted tennis courts are located behind buildings 1, 2 and 3.
Walkways are wide and well lighted. Golf carts are available to give you a lift but many drive too quickly, particularly after dark.
Buffet Restaurant
The buffet is located behind the lobby and is open for breakfast from 7 am to 10 am, for lunch from 1 pm to 3 pm and dinner from 6:30 pm to 10 pm . I think lunch could start at 12:20 pm.
I was truly pleased with the variety, quantity and generally the quality of the food offered at each meal. There is something for everyone and no one should complain or go hungry. Yes, there is Cuban flavour and spicing to the food but you are in Cuba and not at McDonalds or the Four Seasons.
Breakfast offers a waffle bar, two egg stations, three toasters, cereals, fruit drinks and juices, cheese, meats, veggies, breads, pastries and some fresh fruit. The fruit is my one great disappointment and is generally tasteless, not ripe, comes from a can or is very mushy and inedible. Table service is quite good and the staff is quick with the coffee and juice. Table cleaning can sometimes be a bit slow. All in all, a good selection to start the day.
Lunch offers a Panini Sandwich station, two grills with steak, fish and chicken, salads, cheese, seafood, various vegetable and meat dishes, deserts, ice cream, breads and cold meats. Beers and wine are available as well as bottled water and soda drinks. There was always a very good selection and no one should be hungry after lunch.
Dinner offers pasta, rice and crepes stations, two grills with fish, steak, pork and chicken and a carving station offering ham, turkey, pork and beef. There is a good variety of salad fixings, cold meets, cheeses, warm vegetables and a variety of hot neat dishes. Bananas flambé are available for desert as well as the offerings at the desert section and ice cream too. The food was varied, tasty and filling. Again, lots of good food for every taste.
Some of the food that should be warm to hot was not and this needs to be attended to immediately. Foods that were to be cold were cold.
The food and presentation of the food was very good and will only get better as the hotel grows and works out some of the minor kinks.
Specialty Restaurants
We ate at the Seafood Restaurant first and have a very enjoyable evening. Tilapia and salmon were our choices and both were cooked perfectly. The service was paced just right. The wine and water glasses were kept filled. The atmosphere was light and lively with the Cuban Trio singing and playing throughout the restaurant.
We ate second at the Steakhouse/Grill which is housed in the pool grill building. The building is open to the elements and the wind tends to make dining somewhat unpleasant. We ordered shrimp and a mixed grill. The chicken on the mixed grill was not cooked, the rib on the grill was over cooked and very hard and tasteless and the three sausages were terrible tasting. All the vegetables were cold. This meal was sent back and rather than asked if I wanted it again or another item they simply cooked another one which was equally as bad. The shrimp were somewhat tasteless and overcooked. Needless to say a disaster, so it was off to the buffet for “dinner”
We did not go to the Italian restaurant so not information is offered.
While at the steakhouse one of the waiters was observed in the cleanup section in the middle of restaurant, pouring himself a glass of wine and drinking it. Also the maitre de was observed smoking in the restaurant. Both issues need to be dealt with.
By the way there is no smoking in any restaurant. Thank you.
Staff
The staff are very pleasant and helpful. Many speak English and some French. Staff are dressed according to their jobs at the hotel and wear name tags. It would be nice to see more management staff out and about and dressed to show guests who they are, with their name tags and positions clearly evident. There are often not enough supervisory staff evident and interacting with their employees.
In General
Barcelo Cayo Santa Maria has begun in the tradition of other Barcelo Resorts and I hope they can continue. The hotel has made a very good start at opening and having the resort and its activities ready for guest. With attention to detail, a good preventative maintenance program and diligent supervision and training this hotel will do very well and may in fact surprise us with its quality.
I would strongly recommend a trip here, but would wait until the fall travel season at least. At this time I would give the hotel a solid four stars and with very little effort this could easily be raised one more star. But we will have to wait and see.
For more information: resortreviews@yahoo.com
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| Barcelo Cayo Santa Maria |
Robin ~ Ontario |
February 2009
Arrival: February 7 - 14
We arrived via Canjet to Santa Clara airport. We had some trouble with our luggage as the exray showed some "object" they were suspicious of. Turns out it was a toy (some art supplies) we had brought for the Cuban children. Once this was clarified we were cleared quickly and got on the bus for the 90 min ride to the resort. We arrived late in the evening but were provided with our keys right away.
Rooms
Our room was centrally located and had an ocean view. It was large with a king size bed, TV, console/dresser and a love seat and coffee table. Lots of pillows and nice fresh linens. There is a vanity area separate from the toilet and bath. There is a large closet with a free safe for your valuables. the balcony has a screen door so you can leave the door open to the breeze at night. There are 2 plastic chairs and a large table on the balcony.
Restaurants and Bars
There are 3 a la cartes, a buffet and the lunch grill. The seafood restaurant is more gourmet, enclosed and air-conditioned. Excellent food and service. Great lobster. The other two are the steakhouse and Italian which are open air. Food was hit and miss at these two. During the day the last 2 a la cartes are the pool grill. Food at the grill was very good. The buffet had good choices but was very busy and noisy as the resort was pretty well full. Long line ups for pasta and fresh prepared items like waffles, crepes etc. Too long. I gave up. Sometimes it was difficult to get coffee and juice in the mornings for breakfast. The staff weren't ignoring you - they were just run off their feet. You can also go to the pool grill for breakfast and order off a menu. Limited selection but quiet and good service. The pool has a bar, as does the grill and there is a great bar at the beach. There was wait service on the beach and at the pool. The lobby bar served cappucinos in the morning and was a great spot for a before or after dinner drink. Live musical entertainment. Drinks were really good.
Beach/Pools/Grounds
The pool is a good size but cold. There is a swim up bar. There is also a children's pool. The beach is spectacular with white powdery sand and turquoise water. It is quite windy on the beach and can be cool this time of year. Lots of chairs but palapas get reserved early.
Activities on and off the Resort/Hotel
We took the catamaran tour and the Santa Clara tour. Both highly recommended. the Santa Clara tour is particularly memorable and you will really get to see how the Cuban people live, their history and their culture.
Other Comments
This resort is excellent value. The people are great and the location is fabulous. Let them know if you are celebrating an anniversary or special event because they will treat you really special. We had some minor issues but all of them were solved quickly. Weather can be cool in winter so take a sweater or jacket as you will need it.
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| Barcelo Cayo Santa Maria |
Radek ~ Quebec, Canada |
February 2009
Arrival:
My fiancee and I just returned from the new Barcelo Cayo Santa Maria (Jan 29-Feb 6), and we wish we were still there! It was her 7th time in Cuba and my 9th time and this was by far one of the best Cuba trips (stayed at 2, 3 and 4 star resorts, see my profile), and had the weather been better, it would have been on top of our list, but we only had 2 perfect days and a the rest were fine but windy days. I will try to be as objective as possible, and use my travel experience from around the world as a benchmark to help make this review fair and unbiased.
We arrived from Ottawa with Air Transat Vacations, via a Westjet aircraft at about 12:30AM and arrived at the Barcelo by 3AM. Check-in took 5 minutes, and while checking in we were served welcome cocktails. Our luggage was taken to our rooms separately by the bell boy while we were driven to our rooms in a separate cart. 10 minutes later our luggage arrived to our room.
Rooms:
We were with Air Transat Prestige, meaning that we received a room in one of the blocks closest to the beach (5, 6 or 7). Very big room with a king size bed, sofa, dresser, TV, iron/board, umbrella, extra blankets & pillows, big safe (no charge), lots of drawers, big closet, stereo/cd player, mini-fridge, coffee machine, hair dryer, brand new towels. Air Transat Prestige perks include bathrobes, slippers, mini-fridge restocked daily (2 cans of Bucanero and/or Cristal beer, water and pop), beach towels upon arrival in room, welcome gift (bottle of rum), concierge service. We were asked daily by the concierge if we needed anything for the fridge. The bathtub and toilet are in a small room, away from the sink, the toilet worked fine all week, as did the shower. We had hot water all week, and decent pressure. Yes the tub is not levelled and tight, so a lot of water drips on the floor, but they provide extra towels, one of which you can strategically place between the tub and wall so it catches the water before it drips on the floor, no need to complain about this if you figure out that it is easy to prevent.
Bars:
Beach bar closes at 6pm, pool bar closes at about 6:30, lobby bar is open 24hrs with live entertainment every evening, theatre/disco bar opens in the early evening and closes when the disco ends (usually 3-4am-ish), plus there is a second 24hr bar at the 24hr grill (by the pool where the lunch buffet and Italian/Steakhouse a la cartes are). It is true that at times the wait times for drinks are long, over 5-10 minutes, but this will improve as they are hiring more people, which you will notice wearing the `student` tags. You are on vacation in a brand new hotel for which you got a deal as it is not running 100% smoothly yet, you are there alongside hundreds of others, so just be patient and wait, what is the rush?
Food:
Of all the times we have been to Cuba, the food at this Barcelo was hands down the best! The buffet had an astonishing selection for each meal time, and no the food is not bland, unless you stick to fries and burgers. For supper they had many types of bean dishes (Cuban specialties), huge selection of seafood, beef, pork, vegeterian, fruits, veggies, desserts etc. Pasta station, grilling station, stir fry station, flamboyed banana with rum station, crepe station etc. Each station uses spices, ingredient you want, wine etc, so again, not bland. Sure it is repetitive from night to night, but how on earth can you taste everything in one night anyway with so much selection? Everything is hot. People who complain that it is cold forget that they picked up some items, then stood in line for the grill for 10 minutes, so no wonder it was cold when they got to their table. The lineups can be long, but there are many stations to choose from, so pick one with less people, and be patient, what is the rush on vacation? Flies? We hardly saw any, except at the lunch buffet by the pool, which is open air and therefore no big surprise. For breakfast there were many choices as well. On top of the usual buffet items, there is a Belgian waffle station, pancake station, omelette/egg stations, stir-fry station. A la carte breakfast is available at the 24hr grill by the pool, fast service and nice selection, good change from the buffet madness. We never ate at the main buffet for lunch, as we opted for the buffet by the pool at the 24hr grill, it was the same every day, but it had all the necessities, including 2 grilling stations – the fish and beef were delicious!
We tried all 3 a la cartes for supper, and it is true that the seafood is the best one, but the steakhouse I think comes in a close second, even the Italian was decent. Just keep in mind that the steakhouse and Italian ones are in the same building by the pool, it is covered but not fully enclosed so on windy/cold days dress up warm. The Entrecote steak at the steakhouse was top notch, as good as in Canada, so tender and juicy it would just melt in my mouth. Just make sure to ask for rare if you want medium, or medium if you want well done. Because they like to overcook in Cuba, so no wonder some complain that the steak was like shoe leather, they probably wanted well done, asked for well done, and got a dry overcooked piece of meat. The lobster is great at the seafood, I also had the ceviche as an appetizer, that was delicious. Service at the a la cartes is immaculate, they treat you like kings, and no we did not find the wait times long, you know, eye-contact works wonders. The wine they serve at the a la cartes is Frontera from Chile, which we can buy here in Canada.
Grounds:
For a resort that just opened a month ago, it was extremely lush, flowers in full bloom all around, lots of palm trees, and huge mangroves. I have stayed at established resorts in other parts of Cuba that were less lush, so do not listen to people who complain about this aspect. The layout is simple and the walking distances are not nearly as big as many of the other resorts we stayed at. The walkways are flat and smooth, perfect for strollers and wheelchairs.
Beach:
The nicest stretch in terms of width compared to the other hotels on the beach and the fine flour-like sand was pure bliss. There is a small beach bar as well as two toilets beside the bar. Plus, for the first time in my 4 star experience in Cuba there was beach waiting service, however it is not fast as they need more waiters. This is more reminiscent of 5 star resorts, so a nice touch. They also have sandwiches by the beach bar, covered and kept warm. Towel game is in full swing on nice days, but should be better with time as more loungers were being delivered at the end of our stay.
Pool:
Big and beautiful, 1-1.5m deep, with a rock/cave structure in one part, small fountain in another part, and a pool bar with 15 stools. Yes the water is colder than in the ocean, but it is still manageable after a minute. There is a small separate wading pool as well. Many loungers all around, and more being delivered during the week we were there. Not a lot of shade yet. Like on the beach, there is waiting service around the pool, again, be patient as it takes a while. When chilling by the pool, you can go to the pool bar or the 24hr grill bar for drinks which helps when one has a lineup and you don't feel like waiting.
Entertainment:
Activity board by the clubhouse close to the pool, stretching in the morning by the pool, organized beach volleyball, pool games, ping-pong, tennis courts (rackets and balls available), small gym, board games, books etc. The children's area is big and well equipped both indoors and outdoors, we witnessed many parents dropping off their kids there. Nightly shows were fun and well choreographed, the theatre is stunning, check out the ceiling! This theatre has a massive stage, loads of seating, waiting service, 2 bars, but the second bar is not open yet as there are not enough people staying at the resort. The Entertainment staff are busy all day making sure activities are happening, from the morning until late at night at the disco which is in the theatre after the show ends.
Other Comments:
In the lobby there is a CADECA for money exchange, tiny giftshop, telephone center, internet center, conference rooms, desk for restaurant reservations, luggage storage. It is apparent by walking on the beach that there is a lot of construction going on, but we never heard anything during our stay. They have a man and woman walking around the pool or beach doing free massages which last 20-30 minutes, just find them and talk to them, totally worth it!!!
Conclusion:
Considering the resort just opened, and that it was clearly advertised in advance that certain amenities will not be available until further notice (ie. Spa, hair dresser etc.) and that for these reasons the price was a lot lower than for the neighbouring resorts, we were extremely pleased with our vacation and found it unfair to complain about issues such as wait times and water leakage from the bathtub. In some areas, like some spots in the rooms and restaurants, it shows that they had to build this resort at a fast rate, but it is not worth complaining about. It is apparent that the staff are working their butts off to please each tourist and to address all the shortcomings and complaints. They always smile to you (unless you look miserable and do not show respect) and make sure you are well taken care of. There were no safety issues (beach ramps are steep so hold the railing, look where you walk when entering room to not trip over the 3cm lip etc. balcony railings were solid etc.), there were many families with children and they seemed very well taken care of and very happy too, and the quality of drinks, food and service offered was outstanding for Cuban standards, and totally up to 4 star standards (and in some areas even beyond - like with the beach waiters), and in our case the best yet in Cuba and this was not our first 4 star on the big island. Once this place is up and running fully, it will be in a class of its own. Go and enjoy but remember to stay patient during the busy times and don't mind the little things, every new place has its opening glitches.
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| Barcelo Cayo Santa Maria |
Shawn |
February 2009
My wife Charlene and I returned Feb. 1 from a week-long stay at the Barcelo. Despite the resort's potential, there was a long list of problems - shared by every other person we talked to - that aggravated us like fingernails on a chalkboard.
We arrived an hour late on Jan. 25th to find the resort unprepared for the groups coming in on a SkyService flight. At first they didn't wish to admit that was the case, but it eventually came out. In spite of Signature Tours having an updated book on the reception counter, the staff mistakenly were expecting us at 11.
We arrived shortly after 8, and we had our rooms by 10. Others, we heard, waited until the wee hours of the morning.
Upon check-in, we were handed a map of the resort with our names on it. We weren't told we had to use the document to obtain things like beach towels.
The main dining hall was an absolute zoo and showed a total lack of order and organization. Instead, it looked as if people had turned to survival of the fittest, and didn't hesitate to throw elbows, jostle other diners and exhibit many other boorish and impolite behaviour. So much for Canadians being well-mannered, quiet and polite!
That behaviour continued throughout the week, to the point where we began to avoid the main buffet whenever possible.
The food, however, was better than decent for Cuba, although the same menu was repeated ad nauseum throughout the week.
Lineups were everywhere, as it appeared the resort just couldn't handle the 700 guests who had checked in for the week we were there.
The lack of pool chairs and beach chairs was also unacceptable. My mife and I wandered for more than two hours our first full day before finding chairs. We went to this resort specifically for the beach and to swim and snorkel, and the frustration of not finding chairs drove us around the bend. It certainly didn't make for a relaxing vacation. Made us wonder why people boast about four and five-star resorts.
People were heading to the beach to claim chairs before six in the morning and would often desert them for hours at a time while leaving personal articles around to mark them as reserved. Many of these same people also claimed chairs at the pool. The customer service manager told me there were more than 1,000 chairs between the two locations to accommodate the 700 people at the resort, and yet the problems persisted. Many people, who paid to enjoy the pool and beach, were left with little satisfaction.
Even a delivery of new chairs did nothing to alleviate the problem the last day we were there.
Last year, we stayed at a small three-star resort in Jibacoa and never had a problem finding a chair at the beach or the pool.
The 24-hour grill was also problematic. It doubles as an a la carte restaurant during the evening, which is fine, but the take-out kitchen closes down during those hours, which means it isn't truly open 24 hours. On Friday, after returning very late from a trip to Trinidad, we didn't want to face the madding crowd at the main buffet, but had to after being turned away at the grill. So much for our hopes of a quiet take-out dinner in our room!
There was also a lack of menus at the grill for the snack bar, and my first visit there late at night had a bartender telling me there was no food available. A second one corrected that mistake after I called the front desk.Small frustrations, yes, but a pattern was emerging.
We loved our room, with the exception of the tub that spewed water all over the floor everytime the shower is used. The bottom of the bathroom door was rotting less than a month after the resort opened.
The mini-fridge was stocked daily with water and drinks, which was a nice touch we appreciated.
Everywhere we went there were lineups, causing more rude and impatient altercations among the mixed groups of Quebecers and English Canadians. The exchange rate at the hotel bank was appalling compared to the rate we had at the airport upon departure.
We had one heavy rain late in the week, which turned the ceramic tile floors at the resort into a death trap. There's a serious safety issue that needs to be addressed.
Among the things we liked was the endless beach - when we finally found chairs - and the swim-up pool bar. Rafael and Crispin rock at that bar!
We also liked the seafood restaurant, although our first night there was better than the second night.
We had studied the reviews extensively before we left, and in hindsight the ones we hoped were just overly-critical grumblings turned out to be the most accurate ones. Also, as a professional journalist with some travel writing background, I found the resort to be a disappointment, although it grew on me somewhat as the week went on.
All in all, the Barcelo has a long ways to go to live up to a four-star resort, much less the chain's reputation. I could keep going but will refrain.
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| Barcelo Cayo Santa Maria |
Marie ~ Boucherville |
January 2009
Arrival: January 12-26 2009
I have been 12 times or more to Cuba and am a travel professional, retired.
We flew Signature Star Class. This is worth it for the 10 extra KG ( otherewise it is $10/KG extra ) special check-in at both ends. The seats are deeper for tall passengers but not much wider. Great service on board Skyservice The arrival was speedy with TransGaviota buses wating. The drive is spectacular and takes 60-90 minutes. Better to arrive during the day to see the view. Great guide on board. Very efficient check-in at hotel. They greet you in a class room and hand out the keys. There are a zillion little trains to take you around the resort or to the theater etc. English is widely spoken.
Rooms:
The hotel is all suites. We stayed in Block 6 third floor Ocean View. We were amongs the first at the resort so we were able to choose. After a few very humid and cold days , we concluded that block 5 or 7 were better because they got sun on the Ocean side. The maids are everywhere and everything is spotless. We had huge our screen doors. This was a first in Cuba. We also had face cloths and bath maths. Everything was new as the hotel openned December 24th. We were in no way bothered by the ongoing construction of the resort. Note that Transat rules and has the better rooms. Satellite TV has CNN and TNT The wall safe is so large it can take a 15 inch laptop. There is cofeemaker and ironing board in the room. We ironed our clothes to dry them out. The plugs are like ours but 220V. So as long as the computer has a converter it's like being at home.
Restaurants and Bars:
By the time we left there were 3 a la carte, 1 enormous buffet in the main area . The beach grill is openned 24 hours a day for a la carte orders. The service is fantastic. Expresso and bottle water are included and replenished in your room fridge. There is no limit. We are not drinkers and usually find it ludicrous that Rhum is free but pay for water. The food was varied and they even made Poutine for all the Quebeckers. Tones of sea food and grills. There is a beach bar with flush toilets.
Beach/Pools/Grounds:
The pools are infinity style and fresh water. There is Beach and pool volley ball and a swim-up bar. The new kids center which is equipped with every amenity has a secure pool for the babysat kids. There is also a huge wading pool.
The Beach, well it id the best in the Caribbean. Endless white sand and turquoise water. No need for water shoes. Although it was cool, the water was warm. No fish. The grounds are being populated and were suprsingly beautiful. We did miss the wildlife of other resorts. The one bee at th beach managed to sting me and die...Lots of flowers are starting to grow.
Activities on and off the Resort/Hotel:
There is a wonderful activities staff. You can learn spanish with Jose and painting with a brilliant Artist called Alex. If you go bring water color paper and supplies. The Tennis courts are brand new lit hard court. 24hours. There is a Boci pit. We did not do tours due to the weather. All that did, found them expensive. You always have to go back to Santa Clara which is 90 minutes away.
The show were fantastic. The have a complete roman style theater with a great bar. As always, there are barmaids serving at tables. The internet center was great with 5 high speed computers. The trick is to be the only one there as the bandwith is split. Hotmail was fast. Gmail was horrible. Cost 6CC for 30 minutes. Telephone service was very efficient but $3.00 CAD a minute.
Other Comments:
This is a brand new resort which is in phase one of four. Everyday something new openned. The goodwill of these wonderful people from Santa Clara made the 2 weeks worthwhile considering we had 5 days of sun in 14 days. But so did the rest of the regions. We tipped everyone small amounts and we know we were making a huge differnce. They need dictionaries. By April they will have a shopping center and a billiard room. I would go back in a heartbeat!
marie@mmgvision.com
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Last updated: August 21, 2009
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