We went expecting a nice family vacation. We were disgusted to say the least. I read a few reviews before we left and thought people were just being fussy. The people that wrote the reviews were being kind. We got there expecting a nice room, as we booked a 41/2 star, which I realize now seems to change after Christmas. It is now a 3 star some places and a4 in others. I was shocked at the upkeep of the rooms .
Your Arrival
On arrival we got there excited. We arrived at the hotel and the staff seemed indifferent and not really willing to smile. We were given our bands and keys and since we were on the second floor we took our own bags to the room. When we got in our room we were shocked!! Our kids hotel room door didn't even open all the way, and their bathroom door didn't close!! The walls were dirty and it smelt musty. The beds were hard and cheap almost child size. My husband and I didn't even have a bed together which we asked for. We asked for a different room the next day, which they did for us but it wasn't much better but at least we were all together in what they called a suite. But then we had to ask for 2 beds for our kids (they are adults) because there was only 1 king bed in the suite.
Rooms
We had soap and towels when we arrived but not enough. And our towels were almost plastic. They seemed almost synthetic, not really sure how to explain it , but they didn't dry you at all. You were still wet afterwards. We never did get more soap after we ran out. We kept asking but it never materialized.
Restaurants and Bars
Don't even really want to go there but the food was horrible except fot the bread and pineapple which I pretty much lived on the whole trip. There are no peanuts chips or anykind of snacks. Half the time they run out of fries at the snack bar which is the only place to get them. The so called burgers are really soft gooshy pork burgers and they only give you half a hotdog in your bun. Other than hotdog burgers and fries there is no other snacks chicken strips don,t exist there. You can't buy any of this stuff in stores either which are almost non existant. People this is a communist country and is a place you don't want to go. I feel sorry for the people there they are unhappy for a reason.
Beach/Pools/Grounds
Beaches were beautiful. Grounds also very nice.
Activities on and off the Resort/Hotel
Some good snorkeling and water activities, but we didn't even get lucky with the weather, it was 18 and very windy. Never go the week after Christmas either because it,s alwas cold that week they say.so we came home without a tan as well because it was so windy on the beach we couldn't go there.
Other Comments
Trip to Havanna was good because it makes you appreciate everything you have at home. The poverty was increadible, and living conditions deplorable!!!!! In conclusion, I myself wouldn't go there and if you do bring your own snacks, towels, drinking cup (plastic or tin drinking thermos) toilet paper candy and little gifts for the kids there as well as pencils and any good cheap little things you can afford for them We also left magazines for the maids. Bubble gum and left over halloween candy etc,, you get the idea. Oh and the drinks are not good. Don't expect coke or any americanized pop or anything else for that matter they don't have it. Only rum and vodka I barely drank. You can find a good mohito in Varedero at the El Rancho. And if you feel really starved you can go to the Plaza America for Pizza (thin crust) The place is called Pizza Nova
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Try the Starfish and you will be pleasantly surprised. We sure were
Coralia Club Playa de Oro
User Rating:
Patricia >
13 contribution(s) Canada
Jan, 2009
2 people found this review helpful
Arrival: December 19-26/08
We travelled from Kitchener to Toronto and then onto Montego Bay due to "Snowmageddon" here in southwestern Ontario on December 19/08. We were one of the lucky flights to get out of Pearson, thanks to Sunwing and their wonderful crew.
Rooms:
We stayed in Room 538 overlooking the ocean and the entertainment area. Elevators worked well, hallways carpeted in indoor/outdoor carpet, which is great because the hallways are outdoors. Rooms are basic, a bit dated, but well maintained. TV worked, alarm clock, hairdryer, bar fridge with 5 pops in it and 4-26 oz bottles of liquor (rum, vodka, gin, brandy). If you need a refill of one of these, you are charged $7.00 (cheap compared to home), pop is not replaced, but you can buy the 710 ml bottles in the gift shop for $1.00. We had a king bed, very comfy and a twin bed angled in the corner. We found this handy for luggage. Two chairs in the room, and a small patio table and two chairs on the balcony. There is a drying bar out on the balcony as well. Our room was cleaned daily, sometimes in the a.m. sometimes after lunch. We noticed that a lightbulb had burnt out in the bathroom and my husband called down to the desk. No word of a lie, they were up to our room within ten minutes. After being outdoors for the day, we were taking a break and were playing Yahtzee out on the balcony. Big mistake as my husband bounced two dice off the balcony. Luckily the maintenance man was nearby and gladly went down over the Giuseppe Restaurant and got them for us. What service!
Restaurants and Bars:
As far as meals, we ate at the buffet our last night, preferring to take the opportunity to try the ala cartes. The buffet's food was hot, had a variety of dishes, the soup was wonderful. We aren't dessert people so I can't speak to them. Most days we ate at the Snack Bar enjoying jumbo hotdogs, hamburgers, fries, nachos, meat patty things, (with breading around them). There was a lineup for drinks here, but everyone was patient and was served promptly. No complaints here at all. Guest Services arranged our ala carte meals. We ate in the Japanese restaurant twice, hope you have the pleasure of having "Crazy Chris" as your waiter and Dane as your cook. Many laughs and wonderful memories remain of our evenings there. We ate at Guiseppe's one night and it was very good, hot pasta, great garlic bread with pesto, but the Casablanca restaurant was one of the nicest ala cartes we have been to in all of our caribbean travels. You are welcomed with a drink with an umbrella in it, and then seated at a lovely table with attentive wait staff while listening to a white player piano playing romantic songs. Both times we were there, the meals were second to none and we are so glad we took advantage of these wonderful restaurants. Yes there is an added cost to this, but very reasonable (roughly $130.00 for 5 nights of meals for the two of us) Don't get me wrong, the meals at the buffet were very good, but we were looking to spend time with one another this trip and this option allowed us to have some very special meals together.
Beach/Pools/Grounds:
Seaweed would wash up on the beach but the staff was out in the morning to rake it up, but there would always be some that would wash in later in the day. Beach was nice, but was windy, most days we were there so we hung out at the pool. We are in our 50's and got a kick out of watching the kids going down the waterslides, and all the kids around the resort were all happy and playing.
Activities on and off the Resort/Hotel:
We enjoyed playing airhockey for .75 a game, played in Canada for $2.00 a game at a resort hotel there, so the prices weren't bad and kids sure enjoyed the pool tables in the lobby. The bar in the lobby overlooking the pool was nice and relaxing before or after dinner.
Other Comments:
Having just stayed at the new Riu in Montego Bay in October (5 star all the way) we didn't know what to expect at the Starfish. We paid for a 3 star and were pleasantly surprised. The Starfish is very down to earth, fun and more than we would ever have expected. We will definitely return here as we found it a nice fit. All the staff were just terrific and went out of their way to be helpful. A smile goes a long way to make your vacation a pleasant one. Our Sunwing Rep was there every day, Shelley was so helpful. It was nice to know that she was there in case you encountered a problem, which we never did of course. Try the Starfish and you will be pleasantly surprised. We sure were.
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