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 Royal Hideaway Los Ensenachos - Cayo Ensenachos  Location: Beachfront - 115 km from the airport of Santa Clara All-inclusive - Adults Only - 460 rooms - 46 suites Description: Beach front - A member Small Luxury Hotels of the World - 5 a la carte restaurants (Seafood, Asian, Italian, Gourmet and International) - 4 bars (including a swim-up bar) - Snack bar -- Whirlpool - Disco - Cigar lounge - Theatre - Water volleyball - Basketball - Library - Meeting rooms - Business centre  ~ Reviews posted on this page —34  Don't forget to send Debbie your review ~ Reader's Vacation Photos ~ 1, 2 ~ Cuba Resorts Review Index Start your vacation with Westjet.com for less
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Have you stayed at this resort? Share your vacation experiences with others.| Royal Hideaway Los Ensenachos | Stephanie |
My parents, sister and I stayed at the Royal Hideaway Ensanachos from April 26th to May 4th 2008.
Before we booked this trip, like many others, we read many, many reviews and I said that when I was done with my vacation, I would turn around and do the same for people researching their vacations. I have never stayed anywhere outside of Canada since I was about 11, so my opinion is based on only what I experienced at this resort, and have nothing to compare it to. (So take my review for what it’s worth).
Flight: We flew into Cuba with Sky Service. Again I haven’t flown on an airplane since grade 5, but I really was excited to get on a plane and go somewhere. I have no fear of flying, but after a good solid hour and a half of rough turbulence, I was about as fearful as I could possibly be. To quote one man from the plane “It was like riding in the back seat of a Hummer for two hours”.
They offered us a sandwich, which was pretty good. They offered pop, water and a granola bar, plus food, drink and duty free were available for purchase. The in-flight movie was very up to date and kept you occupied. There were zero delays with our schedule to and from Toronto, which was nice because I believe those from Montreal were delayed on their departure from Santa Clara.
The plane is very cramped for space, you feel almost as if you’re packed into that plane like a sardine or something. My suggestion is to keep a few things with you to keep you occupied for the 3 hour flight, and leave most of it above you in the compartment as to conserve leg room. We had no problems at the Santa Clara airport; however it is a little daunting when you’re forced to speak to a customs agent that doesn’t speak very good English.
Bus Ride to Hotel: Surprisingly not that bad. We filled the seats and off we went. Unfortunately when we arrived it was dark and couldn’t see the town which we were passing by. The only upside to the dark trip was seeing the inside of their little shacks because they have no doors. The man who was our “tour guide” told us that it would be an hour and a half trip, but it felt more like an hour and 10 minutes. Since there are hardly any vehicles on the road to begin with, and even less at 10pm, the bus driver was free to speed all the way to the resort. I don’t suggest you bringing a sweater on the ride to the resort as you’ll likely be dying of heat. Perhaps you might want to bring some CUC’s (their currency) and get a pop/water/beer before you board the bus.
Check In: We unloaded from the bus and made our way to a conference room. We were offered Champagne and a small snack if you wanted to be daring. (However it looked like it had been there a while) We sat and listened to a small speech that was almost literally underway as soon as we arrived. The only hold up was the people who would have had rather sat in the lobby and listened instead of joining the rest of the group. We were asked to line up into two lines with Hotel vouchers in hand. After getting our keys we were sent on our way with resort map in hand, and stickers to identify your luggage. You are literally sent on your way, to find your room in the dark... but you could always do what my Dad did... ask the Bartender for the right direction as the map is TOTALLY useless. Our luggage arrived 40 minutes after we found our room, which was slightly annoying since I had NO light clothes on and had to undress into my robe.
Bungalows/Rooms: These Bungalows, as their called, are very clean and beautiful buildings. Two floors of rooms encase a really nice court yard. The sky is easily seen through the top of this structure. I never got sick of walking out in the morning and looking at this living arrangement.
The rooms are stunning. The curtains and bead spreads match, and are accented with really nice dark wood tables and dressers. The floors and walls of the bathroom look like they’re made of marble (very well could be, except I’m not a stone expert). The tub, sink, and shower are stunning, and inside the bathroom is a privacy door for just the toilet.
There is a closet, to hang your clothes, a safe (which is very easy to operate), an entertainment centre which comes with a TV, stereo system – including subwoofer, DVD player, mini fridge, and ice bucket. Our room was on the top floor, so we had a walk out patio with two chairs and a table, as well as a large section of windows by our bed. Our room was in the 2400’s section, so the view wasn’t that exciting, but very private. The one thing I really wanted to have information on before we left was voltage coming out of the power outlets. It’s European, so if you’re from Canada, bring a converter and an adapter and don’t plug anything into the “shaver” plug in the bathroom unless it has a high limit listed on the back of your appliance.
Grounds: So many plants, and all in great shape. The ground staff work very hard in keeping everything trimmed. All the plants have tiny signs identifying what they are. Aside from beauty, I really believe that they put all these plants, and signs all over the place, to keep your eyes occupied while you walk for an eternity to get where you’re going. I haven’t mentioned this until now, but keep the number 7 in mind – because unless you like walking 10 minutes to eat breakfast, or 15 minutes to get down to the beach in the blistering heat, you will want to call a golf cart service to drive you around. I didn’t find this out until it was too late.
Food: Awful!!!!! Food should be worth at least one star out of their 5, making them only a 4 star resort.
I’m fairly picky with what I like to eat... and although I didn’t go hungry for 7 days, I certainly wasn’t satisfied either. I knew going to Cuba would mean that the food would be lacking in comparison to what you get in Toronto, but I wasn’t expecting to eat Olives and cold French fries for breakfast, in order to keep myself going. Breakfast was always a struggle. Two egg stations were set up the first couple of days we were there, but it got cut down to one after a while. Good eggs actually- you’re choice of omelette, fried, scrambled etc. However the egg chef only has the ability to make two at once it seems. At this area, there were crepes being made also. If I had more patience I would have eaten omelettes and crepes everyday for breakfast, but the line ups were unreal most days. Toast, or bread was readily available, however they would run of the butter and not replenish it. No peanut butter is available and I saw some people bringing their own condiments from home. (Obviously professional eaters). The things you would think of for breakfast were not offered, and if they were, they’d be empty. Bacon was available, but it is very hard to separate, seems they throw it into the deep fryer before separating it. Many hot dog variations and many crappy, stale pastries for your eating pleasure. It seemed to me that they would just put out any kind of food as long as they filled up their food stations. For breakfast, they would put out olives, cabbage, salad dressings, cucumbers, tomatoes, spinach croquettes, cold meat and cheese that would be sitting so long, and all sorts of meat shavings they would put under oil. The fruit should have been better in my opinion. They always had pineapple, guava, bananas, watermelon.... but majority of the fruit wasn’t ripe, or was overly ripe. I never saw a pineapple that wasn’t white and hard, and the bananas were growing an abundance of brown spots. On one particular day, they were offering many dishes of canned fruit. Seems odd at a tropical resort...The one thing they did have however was a truck load of cereals and milk.
I never saw the lunch buffet, so I can’t make a review about that – I mostly ate at the beach where they offered BBQ snacks; hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken burgers, and tuna sandwiches. The beach bar and snack bar were mostly a good 5 minutes walking distance from the far away umbrellas and chairs so they would always bring you your food... but order in advance, because it would normally take 30 minutes for delivery.
The Al A Carte dinner that got me going back for more was the Asian one (Azia). The seafood restaurant (Pirata) and the Italian( Palazzo) were garbage!!! We didn’t have a chance to visit a 4th restaurant as it was closed due to the off season. We had 6:30pm reservations for these places, and ended up running to the buffet for more dinner.
If I can recommend anything for the Al A Carte dinners, it’s that you order everything double. These Cubans must eat like birds because they certainly feed you the smallest portions.
In conclusion – bring yourself some snacks; chips, peanuts, candy bars, whatever it is, bring enough to last you 7 days because you will go batty.
Try and eat at the Pool restaurant “La Megano” as they offered the most decent food on the whole resort. Chicken fingers with fries, pasta with 4 cheeses, lasagne, and brownies with ice cream. (Keep in mind too, that nothing comes out the way you’re expecting. I.e. Caesar salad was lettuce, bacon and bread chucks and topped with what tasted like mayo.)
Beach; Definitely a 5 star beach. I couldn’t ask for anything more. The water is crystal clear and you could see right down to the sand with ease. There was no seaweed on the beach, and if there was, it was all gone every day before 10am. They say that you cannot reserve chairs and umbrellas, but who knows if people are, or aren’t. The one thing to keep in mind is that when my family went, they were very much under capacity and a lot of the beach chairs and umbrellas were already filled up. The water has red markers in it, not really sure why since its salt water and you float no matter the depth, but again, no reason for the markers. You’re able to rent paddle boats or sailboats, and during the afternoon hours, the hobby cat boats will show up to take you for a ride. My parents did this sailing trip, about 10 minutes; they said it was a blast. There are two beaches at this resort but I only really saw the one. My sister and I used the snorkels that my parents brought from home and paddle boated out to the sunken ship. Very awesome sights here and I would recommend you bring an underwater camera (or two) if you go!
Staff: I went into this vacation thinking that the staff should know decent enough English as they work at a resort where the majority of the guests speak English... but I was wrong. You’re able to communicate with the staff enough to get through your vacation, but some of the staff only know the words they need to know. We had one waitress serving us dinner, I asked her for pop instead of water or wine... she looked at me blankly and then walked away. We had great maids, they made us tiny creatures out of towels every day, and sometimes they would leave us notes.
Some of the waitresses were awesome, and would try their very best to communicate with us. It was great to see them try, as most of the other staff wouldn’t try that hard. The “tour guide” on the bus ride back to the airport was pretty awesome too. He expressed his love for Canadians and his hatred for Americans, which was funny to hear.
Pool: The pool was great! Always very clean and the temperature seemed to be perfect. There is one deep section, about 7 feet in depth and the rest of the pool is about 4-5 feet deep. The swim up bar is really awesome too. You don’t have to give an arm or leg to get a drink and they offer a menu of drinks if you can’t make up your mind. They offer a couple types of beer throughout the resort, but I think they only have one type at the pool. There are two sections to the pool, we stayed on the section with the bar always because it was bigger but you’re welcome to have a pool boy bring your drinks for you if you’re on the other side. There is a “hot” tub, but I never went in it.... seems kind of pointless since it’s like a million degrees outside.
The pool comes with blue floating mats, but there never were many of them around. People would get one and drag it up onto the pool deck so they could use it again when they got back in the pool. Drove me nuts! But if I wanted to, I could have easily spent the entire vacation in the pool (and some did).
Entertainment: Very little to do during the day around the pool, beach and resort. If you want any kind of excitement or activities during the day you won’t find them here. It was even a treat to hear quiet Cuban music playing at the pool or beach bar. If you're looking to relax, this is the place. No children, no screaming people, no pool splashers, no drunken messes. At night, there seemed to be the most entertainment. If you’re up for it, there is a jumbo checkers board and a jumbo chess board to play on, as well as a ping pong table and tennis courts. Graviota Tours offers the rental of mopeds or bicycles, or even a car if you want. However, unless you’re a 2 sum, with great insurance, I wouldn’t suggest the cars or the mopeds. My parents rented the bikes, and even that was a chore since none of their equipment is in good working condition. One night we heard an awesome band, maybe like a high school band or something. Very great music, but they ended up in the disco just as we were showing up. Always seemed to be band or live music, whether it was in the lobby bar or in the foyer. Sometimes there were shows in the theatre, but I only attended one.
If you’re not into live bands or Cuban music, bring a deck or cards and play in the lobby bar. This resort is mainly for 30-80 year olds, so if you’re gathering up a bunch of young friends to drink your faces off for a week, don’t come here.
Conclusion: I would return to this resort.... but knowing what I know now, I’d make sure to bring the essentials with me. Also, don’t ever go out in the sun for a long period of time without sun screen on. You will burn everywhere!! I sat in the sun on my first day and got pretty badly burnt, and it lasted all week. Also, if you’re booking, send out an email to make sure that you don’t book your trip when the Italians are showing up. On our last night at the resort a whole plane load of them arrived. They were treated like gold... they had better food; better arrangements and they reserved almost the entire buffet seating for them. I’ve read other reviews that said they were noisy and rude... so take my advice and check before booking. Make sure you hit a dollar store and buy yourself a big mug or cup. If you don’t bring this with you, you will be miserable with the plastic cup size... very tiny. Also, try and bring small toys, gifts, toiletries for the staff. They warn you in the briefing about giving all your presents to the maids as they get the best tips, and it’s true. There is many many staff that could use any donations... I always felt sorry for the gardeners or pool bar staff. Again, this hotel would be a great 5 star if they could get their meals and food service together better. Everything is almost perfect, until you have to eat. Enjoy your vacation!! Email me if you have any more questions (Stephanie_n_mann@yahoo.ca)
| Royal Hideaway Los Ensenachos | Brian and Eden~ Hamilton, ON, Canada |
This is our 2nd trip to Cuba -- our first time was 10 years ago and we did not have a good experience then, but many people have told us that it has improved and that we should give it another chance. However we are still not impressed and feel that their food still needs North American influence. We have also been to the Dominican 8 times, the Mayan Riviera twice and the Bahamas twice.
We will NOT go back. We had a good time, not fabulous, but of course we believe in having a good time no matter where we go -- but we will not be returning. It just isn't for us.
We're not fussy people and we realize that this is slow season but we usually travel during the slow season to get the good deals and have never been this disappointed. Others at the resort talked openly about their disappointments as well and said they won't return.
This resort is boasted to be a "TRUE" 5 star and although we got a good deal we do not believe that this should be reflected on how we are treated, 5 star resorts treat their guests with 5 star service at all times, not just in high season, it's why they have good ratings. We do not consider this a 5 star, especially their food. I truly believe that their food would be considered 3 star anywhere else in the Caribbean.
Arrival/Departure -- Check-in/Check-out:
- all went very smooth both ways, no problem there -- Sky Service took us there and Air Transat took us home.
Accommodation:
- we were not given accommodation in the section we booked which is the Royal Hideaway
- the Royal Hideaway (RH) is close to everything, rooms, pools, restaurants, beach and the majority of the rooms in this section have King size beds, their own reviews write: [• 219 King-size bed rooms and 51 double bedded rooms (including 10 Duplex 2-story suites and 5 rooms specially adapted for the disabled) • Duplex suites are two-stories with bedroom, living room, terrace and balcony]
- we were given a room in the Spa area it had 2 - 3/4 beds
- the SPA area of this resort is a minimun 20 minute walk to the BEACH!!!!
- It would have only been a 5 minute walk from the Royal Hideaway section
- they have a person running around the resort with one of those golf cart things, but staff were not in abundance so they were pretty busy with the guests who were coming and going with luggage (and I am certainly not blaming them!)
- I spoke to a manager (there are many, but I did get past those at the front desk) -- I explained to him that we had booked the Royal Hideaway, and requested a room close to the beach with a King Size bed via our travel agent -- he said they had not received any such request, I said that I KNOW our travel agent made these requests and he said that NO they hadn't -- I have been with our travel agent for six years, trust me, she made the request
- I was informed that the RH section was being closed for renovations, and that this was all they had to offer. I said it was professional to advise booking agents of these changes so that they are able to advise their guests of these things before they book. He just said this is all we have.
- I said that since we are being put in the Spa section, by their choice not ours, if that also meant we were entitled to Spa "extras" and he said NO. I said that I believed that this was the least they could do since they were not able to give us rooms in the section we originally booked and that we were being inconvienced. He said they were unable to do anything. Not very professional. their own reviews write: [All Guests staying in the Royal Spa section (7 day minimum stay) will enjoy the following Royal Spa Experience at no extra charge: • Spa Gift (1 per stay) • Massage (1 per stay) • Facial (1 per stay) • Pedicure (1 per stay) • Manicure (1 per stay) • Daily Royal Night turn down and flowers on the bed.]
- I did find that calling home was inexpensive, about $10 for a call that's approx. 5 minutes -- I was told by our rep that the internet service can be very slow and it costs about $8 for 30 minutes so if it takes a long time to connect I thought I'd just call home instead so that was a bonus.
Entertainment:
- there wasn't any
- no pool activities, no bocce balls or horseshoes, there wasn't anyone doing water aerobics, stretching nothing -- this was to take place in the RH area and b/c that was closed for renos th
ey cancelled that too
- NEVER seen any entertainment/activity staff, not evey one person
- beach volleyball was the only thing offered
- I think there was entertainment one night inside a theatre in the main building, but there weren't any staff advertising or encouraging guests to attend
- they did have hobbie cats, paddle boats which we did take out, but it too was at the other end of the resort of where our rooms were, but is close to the RH section, it was a 30 minute walk away from our room
Bars:
- the pool and lobby bars are great, the staff there are wonderful -- great people and lots of variety of drinks -- they seemed to have everything except clamato juice which is only now becoming popular to resorts so that is understandable
Pools, Beach & Grounds:
- their pools and grounds are very clean, and very lush
- lots of shade if you'd like it, some have umbrellas but lots of arbors filled with beautiful flowers or palm trees to protect you from the sun, this part is truly amazing
- the best part of the pools is Albarto, as soon as he sees you he'll be back within seconds with a beautiful lounge pad for your lounger -- he's awesome!!
- my husband loved the beach, it's lovely, the nicest in Cuba (they tell us) but I enjoy the beaches in Punta Cana the most
Gastronomy:
- the food at the buffet is VERY limited and poor, very POOR food
- 2 of the people in our group were served raw food on 2 separate occaisions (cooked on the outside, raw inside, one was chicken fingers at the pool bar dining room and the other was a hamburger from the main buffet)
- poor variety in fruits, warm dishes, desserts (their desserts are very limited)
- had a variety of meat (pork, chicken, hamburger, didn't see any beef -- no steak to be found), fish and salads, but the quality wasn't great
- food was cold -- always cold -- they have warming lamps but don't put the food plates directly under them so they aren't using them to their full advantage
- on Friday night the place was like a ghost town, half the buffet was shut down, what food was there was terrible -- hardly any staff
- Saturday night was better but that was b/c travel agents from Italy were visiting the resort, they even sat them in a section area, blocked to the rest of us, and dressed up very nicely like it was a wedding -- more variety and better quality of fruits / salads / meats etc. -- did not go over well with many of the guests, they also gave them a beach party which guests were NOT invited to and that too did not go over very well with other guests
- on our last day there we went to the main dining room for breakfast, they didn't seat us, they just waved us in so we sat down at a table and went into the buffet to get our food -- when we came out and sat down a guy told us this section was now closed -- there were other people in the same section so how was a person to know it was being closed? we already had our food and it was getting cold, and there weren't any clean tables in the other sectin so we sat down but we were not served ANY beverages, not water, juice, nothing, we were ignored -- however he did continue to serve other people that in were in the same area, other guests were also waved into the dining room, not seated, and they too were ignored -- how is a person to know the area is closed if they don't seat you? -- not impressed
- al a-carte restaurants were fine, lots complained that the Asian was horrible but we actually enjoyed it, Italian was good and the Seafood was just ok
- many people at the resort, including us were really sick, not the normal stuff that one experiences when you go away to a resort, this was much worse
- I know that this is a different country and that the food and beverages there are much different from here but we're pretty used to that, we go south almost twice a year so I think we have a pretty good idea of what to expect, we had our medicine every day and it was late in our vacation when we took sick
| Royal Hideaway Los Ensenachos | Ray |
My wife and I stayed at the RHE from Mar.22 - Apr.5. The whole experience was simply amazing. Here it is
Flight: We flew SkyService. We were a little concerned about them as we read horror stories of them changing times, delays, etc. Our flight had no issues whatsoever. Left on Time, Arrived on time. Down side was leg room, but it is what it is. Won't comment on the food as its airline food and we know better, right? No problems at Santa Clara airport. Customs and security, as well as baggage pickup, went smoothly.
Check-in: Again was a breeze. After our 90 min. drive(air conditioned, of course) we arrived at the resort. We were met by resort staff and taken to a meeting room where we were offered cooling towels as well as a glass of Champagne. A small speech welcoming us and then we formed 2 lines to receive our room assignments. After getting our keys we were sent on our way with resort map in hand. Luggage will be taken care of. A little trouble finding our building, since it was dark and not a lot of staff around to guide you. Luggage arrived 10 mins. after we found our room.
Rooms; Absolutely elegant. Pictures do not do them justice. We were in the Hideaway section, building #41, second floor. We overlooked a wonderful garden. Right on the pathway to beach. Bathroom was great. Separate tub and shower.
Grounds; Simply stunning. They ground staff work so very hard in keeping everything trimmed. We liked the fact that some of the shrubs had little signs telling you what the plant was. Its obvious that the gardeners and groundskeepers take pride in their work.
Food: We tried all the al a cartes, as well as the buffet. The al a cartes were good, however we'd say that the buffet was not up to a 5 star standard , even for Cuba. That's not to say that you won't find something you'll like. As for the al a cartes my wife preferred the Cuban( Creole), and I liked the International, although the others we all good as well.
Beach; Simply stunning. Definitely a 5 star beach in any part of the world, in our opinion. Spent our days on Playa Megano. Didn't go to Playa Ensenachos as we spent our days on Megano. The walk to the point was excellent. Each day brought something new to see. We found that the resort being at capacity there was not enough sun loungers and certainly not enough palapas. You could ask the beach guys to set up a umbrella for you, but those are also limited.
Staff: We had a positive experience with everyone we came in contact with. Right from the guys that rake the seaweed on the 2 beaches to the General Manager. All in our opinion top notch. They are there to help you in any way they can. Can't say enough about our concierge Mikhail. He's one of the good guys. Is there for your every need and want.
Entertainment: This is a area in which we found the resort to be lacking. Very little to do during the day around the pool and at the beach. If you are wanting that sort of thing then the RHE you'll find disappointing. If you're looking to relax, this is the place. The shows at times were non-existent. The concert band was excellent as was the piano player in the lobby bar.
All in All we had a great time at the RHE. Again its big and spread out. For a 5* resort in Cuba it comes really close to the mark with a few minor bumps along the way. This can happen at any resort, but at a 5* its magnified and not expected. Oh and by the way did we mention the beach...lol
| Royal Hideaway Los Ensenachos | Cheryl |
My friend and I were here March 3 to March 16/08. PARADISE. We have decided we will not go anywhere else now, only here. Beaches, water, rooms, grounds, pools, staff, transportation on the resort, all excellent. Italian a la carte particularly good (our favourite) Having your own concierge in each bungalow was a definite bonus. All in all, you feel you are in a 5 star and that you are being treated royally. We met the greatest people and had the ultimate holiday.
| Royal Hideaway Los Ensenachos | Caribbean Queen |
This review is for those who would like to know the difference between the Paradisus Rio de Oro (Holguin) and the Occidental Royal Hideaway Ensenachos (Santa Clara) resorts. We are a Canadian couple in our late 40's, and have travelled extensively in the Caribbean over the last 10 years. The last visit (we've been a few times) to the PRDO was the first week of December, 2007 and our first visit to the RHE was this winter, 2008.
Comparisons: the Paradisus Rio de Oro and the Royal Hideaway Ensenachos
The Check-in
Checkout time was 12pm… we paid $40 to keep our room until we were ready to leave for 6pm. Our concierge arranged this easily the morning of departure. One other thing to mention, at Checkout, we were told that it was up to us to make sure that our luggage got onto the bus, prior to leaving. (?)
Buffet
Booking A la Carte Restaurants
A la Carte Restaurants & Music
Beaches
Rooms
Room Service
Entertainment
Bars
Grounds
| Royal Hideaway Los Ensenachos | Rafal |
Welcome to Paradise!
I know this may sound corny but if I had to use one word to describe the Royal Hideaway Ensenachos I would have to say - PARADISE!
This is an excerpt from their brochure... The Occidental Royal Hideaway stands alone on the virgin horseshoe shaped island of Cayo Ensenachos, Villa Clara, in central Cuba. Nature has bestowed the island with two beaches with crystal clear waters - El Megano and Ensenachos; more than 60 Endemic species of flora and fauna as well as aboriginal settlement. Because of this, these are considered a UNESCO Biosphere Reservoir.
If you are looking for a fast paced, party time vacation this is NOT the place. If you are looking for a Romantic, Relaxing, Recharge your soul vacation, with no timetable this is the place.
You actually land in Santa Clara at an active Air Force Base, which the first time seemed a little daunting but they are all actually really nice. As these islands are off the main land there is an hour and a half drive to Cayo Ensenachos. If you are lucky enough to be on an early flight the scenery and villages that you will drive through are so interesting, as you see the way of life in Cuba, the time will seem insignificant. It is like getting a free excursion.
When we arrived at the extremely elegant Marble Lobby we were met in the main office area with glasses of Champagne and warm moist face cloths while we quickly were given our package envelopes. To all of you that dislike the wrist bands at the All Inclusives you’ll be happy to hear you are not branded at this resort.
Room numbers attached to our luggage we were whisked away to our building. There are three sections at this resort. The Spa, The Hideaway and the Villas. Sting recently stayed at the Villa section and apparently they had a special musical guest for Christmas 2007. Though we had a Spa package we ended up in the Hideaway section and were quite happy as we were near to all beaches as well as one of the pools.
THE ROOM was beautiful and spacious. There is a separate walk-in closet with an electronic safe, the bathroom is huge with a bathtub, separate glass shower and a separate room for the toilette. So ladies bring all those bubbly bath products that you never have time to use at home. Each room has a TV and DVD and the hotel has a library where you can borrow DVD movies or bring your own favourite movie. As soon as we got to our room our building Concierge, Yoandra, followed. She was fantastic, a lovely lady, we had traveled with another couple and she made sure our evening Ala Carte’s were always coordinated and that we wanted for nothing in our room. If you go, take care of these people because once they know what you want everything is done and booked for you and little reminders are left for your return from the beach daily, as to where you will be dining that evening or what time you should be at the Spa for your pedicure or massage after breakfast. You have to do absolutely nothing but show up. As it was our 10th year together one afternoon when we returned to the room and there were flower petals everywhere and Champagne and an almond cake were delivered. The only thing that I did not like was the lack of face cloths and no hand towels. Ask your concierge for more face cloths, though but the chamber maids have to be reminded after a couple of days.
THE BEACHES are breathtaking. Powder white sand and crystal clear waters. There are lots of beautiful fishes who follow you along as you walk in the refreshing waters. On Megano beach, the busiest beach, because that is the beach with the bar you will be served by Joe Pesci, he bares a remarkable resemblance. No matter what you order and how many items, he will find you where ever you have parked your butt on that beach and not an item will be missing. The beach is quite extensive with a sandbar at one point which we were able to walk over to with the camera. The water on the sand bar is warm as it is only about three feet and full of Starfish. There is also a small sunken barge which is home to a colourful fishes and Manta ray who gives all the snorkellers a wink. Around 11:00 a.m. there is either a fierce game of Volleyball or Football on the beach and anyone can join in. There are Hobbie Cats and the guys will take you out as far as you want to go. There are also other water craft that you can use on your own and don’t worry, if you go to far and you can’t get back there is a rescue vehicle. My favorite beach which I walked along a few afternoons was Ensenachos Beach. It is virtually deserted as there is no bar but it is about a two to three mile walk one way. The water here I found to be warmer and though it is clear there is some sea weed. This beach leads to the villas so if you do not want to walk back along the beach there is a paved roadway where you can walk between the mangroves or simply flag a golf cart.
THE POOLS were beautiful and its areas beautifully landscaped. We only used the snack bar at the pools so I can’t comment but the people who opted for the pool all looked quite happy.
THE SPA was beautiful and attached was a gym outfitted with the latest equipment, also another pool for lap swimming. For tennis buffs there are two courts and a basketball court.
FOOD - AMAZING - I have never eaten so much Lobster in my life. There is everything for any type of eater. No one can starve. You can be as adventurous as you want or enjoy a pizza at the pool bar. There are four ala Carte restaurants and four visits to ala Carte’s is included. Though I was not to crazy about the Italian, I still loved them all and our Concierge was able to get us back into my favorite one our last night, Cuban Creole where we had again, Lobster. The resort has many places for you to eat all day and if you get the munchies in the middle of the night there is all inclusive room service and they will even bring you your Pina Colada or your breakfast if it was a rough night. Breakfast is at the main Buffet and extensive. Try the Spinach Croquettes, I got everyone I talked to hooked on them, which was a bad idea because eventually they will become scarce. After that there are many places to eat all day long. The Chicken sandwich at the beach was one of our favorites.
ENTERTAINMENT - In the evening after dinner everyone goes to the Lobby where there is either entertainment in the Main Lobby or in the Auditorium. The Host of the evening show my husband swears looks like a young Michael Buffer and he tried unsuccessfully to get him to say ... Are you ready to rumble...The Lobby Bar is the happening place and if you want to continue to party there is a Disco which was lots of fun. The Cigar bar serves 14 year old rum at night but don’t ask her to add Coke, she won’t do it and is insulted. I swear I was not the one that asked. Their international alcohol selection is extensive.
EXCURSIONS - Before leaving I had discussed with a friend at work the fact that my husband wanted the go out on the Catamaran Snorkeling and that I was not that interested. She told me to go as it would be fun and I did and had an wonderful day. Joel, Boris, Miguel and Daniel kept us all entertained all day. English was not Joel’s forte but his parting word to the Snorkellers at each stop was, ‘When I blow this horn get your asses back here fast.’ The cruise had Lobster, again, steamed in white wine and spices. For non seafood lovers the hotel sends a boat to meet them with chicken. KFC delivery. They told us if we were very lucky we may see dolphins and we did, we had four follow the Catamaran for a bit but of course no cameras were ready. We all thought Boris was joking at first. The day came to an end to fast and if you go try to get out one day on this excursion but take your own snorkeling gear.
Though this resort was almost at capacity when we were there, no where was ever crowded and the rooms were always quiet at night. We were there when a large contingent came from France but we were in no way offended by the extras they got as they paid extra for these functions and the service at all the other facilities around the resort remained the same. We always kept asking, where is everyone. The staff at the hotel were always accommodating and everyone was very helpful and very happy to help. The main gardener will keep you for hours talking about the plants, so beware as the sun time is a wasting.
If you are traveling with Transat Holidays go to Lorraine’s information session, in all my travels I found it to be the most informative I had ever attended. The first day when we went to book our excursion the first thing she asked us is if we were happy with our accommodations and had all our information right at hand. We had travelled with family and they had a concern which she immediately took care of and actually followed up. She is a great, busy lady but you will always see her around and she is very approachable and extremely nice.
The first evening at the resort my husband met Agnes, the hotel manager. At first I thought, I want her job. The actually, as our week progressed and I saw the long hours she puts in and how involved she is from morning to night with the running of the hotel as well as over seeing set ups for special events, then at night she still has her Walkie Talkie with her, I thought maybe not. I am quite content with my nine to five. I hope you read this Agnes because we had a wonderful time of our life. We will be back next year for two weeks. Maybe before next year. We have already recommended it to several people a couple have already booked and will be there in two weeks. The resort is magical and we loved our too short one week visit. The staff and the resort are definitely 5 star plus.
To end I must say I will go back in a Heartbeat, anyone going, please pack me in your suitcase. I never wanted to visit Cuba, this was my second year to Santa Clara and I plan to go there at least once a year. I love the people and I love their islands. So as the ad goes... Cuba Si
To check out more from our trip, our extensive photo gallery, resort map, and in-depth information
visit our unofficial site at www.royalhideawayensenachos.ca
| Royal Hideaway Los Ensenachos | Michael |
This was our first trip to Cuba. We had previously travelled twice to D.R. (Punta Cana). Our package was with Transat Holidays, and this was also the first time we had flown with Air Transat. The flight down arrived at Santa Clara Airport about 15 minutes early and within about 45 minutes from the time we arrived; the bus was leaving for the resort.
We did not see too much on the drive to the resort since we left the airport around 8:30 p.m. We had our room keys by 10 p.m. and our luggage was delivered to our room, we were in the Royal Hideaway Section.
Our representative from Transat Holidays was Lorraine and her presentation was quite good, she recommended some trips but spent more time talking about the resort/country which was a nice change from previous presentations which seemed to be more about selling day trips.
We met the concierge from our building (#39), her name was Yoandra. She was amazing. She took care of making all of our dinner reservations. We gave her our preferred times and left the rest to her. We would come back to our room after the day at the beach and would have our confirmation for a restaurant waiting in our room. No need to go wait in line to make reservations. We were there for Valentines Day and she gave us a beautiful poem as well. We really could not ask for better service.
The beach is simply amazing. The water was calm even on days where it felt like there was a good breeze. There were a lot of people that were snorkelling and the only time you would see a motorized boat in front of the resort was when the wind was too calm and the Hobie Cats could not move. The walk to the end of the beach and back took about 40 minutes.
We ate at the Seafood, Asian, Italian and Grill (this is the restaurant by the pool on the Royal Spa Section). All were very good, although the service at the Seafood stood out a little bit. My wife does not like seafood, but was OK to go to the restaurant since they had other options. The waiter picked up on the fact that she did not like seafood based on her selections and had a special entrée prepared for her. The buffet restaurant was also excellent, and they serve Spanish or Chilean wine. I drink red wine and found it to be much better than the wine served in the D.R.
We went on the day trip to Santa Clara and found this to be a very nice trip. We were give some time alone to do some shopping at 2 different stops. We had lunch with our group at a restaurant in Santa Clara; it was a busy but very nice day.
If you are looking for lots of activities at the beach you may be disappointed – we were not looking for this we just wanted to relax and enjoy the warm weather. The animation staff organizes beach volleyball around 11 a.m., but they are not pushy – so if you don’t want to play they won’t keep asking you. There are the normal shows in the evening and then some people will go to the disco. We went one night and it was not very busy when we were there.
I would recommend this resort in a heartbeat. After speaking to some of the people at the resort and overhearing conversations, it was obvious that a number of the people at the resort had been there before, so I think that this also says a lot about this resort.
| Royal Hideaway Los Ensenachos | Marie and Dave ~ Toronto |
Arrival -
We flew down on Skyservice (Air Transat). The plane was cramped, crappy food, delays, the usual. Air Canada has a flight from Toronto on Thursday. This would be a better bet if you can go Thursday to Thursday or if you are leaving from Montreal.
Once we arrived in Cuba everything was great. We zipped through customs, got on the bus and were on the road withing 30 minutes of landing. We got to the hotel about 2:00am. The check-in was very efficient. They had 5 clerks handing out the check in packages and champagne while we waited. We put our room number on our suitcases and were driven to our room on a golf cart. A nice snack of bread, cheese, ham and fruit was waiting in the room. Our suitcases arrived about 30 minutes later.
Rooms -
The rooms are fantastic. Marble floor, walk-in closet, huge bathroom with a separate tub and shower and a big private balcony. The rooms are in a group of 20 rooms in each building. Each block has its own consierge from 9:00 to 5:00. The rooms have a DVD player and a frige stocked with water, pop, juice and beer.
Restaurants -
For dinner there is one buffet and four sit-down restaurants, asian, Italian, Cuban and Seafood. All are restaurants are very good. You need to make reservations for the restaurants with your consierge. The Cuban restaurant is the only one that is open air and is the smallest. We really enjoyed the food there, particularly the soup. The Seafood restaurant is the largest. Try to go there early, before sundown, the view is fantastic. The Italian restaurant has a woodwind quartet playing classical music, very elegant.
I hope the management will open up the windows, particularly in the buffet and the seafood restaurant. It would be nice to enjoy the evening air rather than air conditioning.
Bars -
One very nice bar in the lobby, on cigar bar with a pool table, two pool bars with swim-up sections and a beach bar. Try a Spanish coffee at the Lobby bar, you get a show as well as a drink. Try a sangria on the beach, very refreshing.
Beach and Pools -
The Beach is amazing. It is in a sheltered cove and is shallow for a long way out. There was hardly any wave action while we were there. Most days there are enough loungers and shelters but there is no other shade on the main beach.
There is a second beach west of the Seafood restaurant. It is supposed to be for the Royal Suites section of the hotel but no-one minds if you go there. It was usually deserted but looked very nice and even had a few palm trees for shade.
The snorkelling is excellent at the west end of the beach. There are lots of fish including some very large and friendly Red Snappers. There is a sunken barge about 300 m off the east end of the beach. You can wade out to it. It is full of fish and a few lobsters.
There is a small but busy beach-bar. They also serve hamburges, hotdogs and sandwiches. They will deliver them right to your spot on the beach.
Grounds -
The gardens are very lush and beautiful. The pools are located in the middle of the buildings but are hidden by the foliage. The gardeners are very friendly and love to talk. They make corsages for the ladies in their spare time.
There are some very large iguana around. A couple hang out by the pool and will take a piece of banana if offered.
Activities -
Very low key. No pressure to do anything. They have a soccer or volley-ball game on the beach before lunch. You can borrow snorkels, kayaks, peddle boats, windsurfers or a sailboat. The guys will also take you for a catamaran ride, usually about 1/2 an hour, much longer if you are a good looking girl in a bikini.
Tours -
Some are offered, but why would you bother, the hotel is as good as it gets.
Conclusion -
This is a true five star resort. The best I've been to anywhere.
A few words of advice:
- Be friendly to the staff. They are really nice and helpful and don't make a lot as their base salary. People who don't usually get tips such as maintenance staff, store clerks and bank tellers really appreciate it.
- Buy your liquor at the airport. It is a lot cheaper there and the selection is much better.
- Ask for a tour of the Royal Suites section. They will often offer you a night in this super luxery section at no extra charge.
| Royal Hideaway Los Ensenachos | My Travels |
Great Resort … Great Holiday
We spent a glorious week (January 7th to the 14th) stay at the Occidental Royal Hideaway Ensenachos Resort. We were extremely pleased with the: resort, food, drink, service etc.
The Service
The hotel was at 1/2 capacity (49.3% - 487 guests) while we were there and the service was incredible, grounds were clean and manicured, dishes removed from table (sometimes before you were finished), short lines at the bars, check-in and out were painless. The service was very good and always done with a smile. Tipping did not seem to effect service as some times I would have money in my pocket and other times not.
Food is an individual and subjective thing but as for myself, I found the food superior to any of the dozen Caribbean resorts we have visited. After eating at all four a-la-carte restaurants we found the Italian to be our preferred restaurant. The buffet food is also very good but lack the presentation and having it served to you. The snack bar at the pool was like none we had ever seen before, linen tablecloths, metal cutlery, china plates and a menu which included items such as: calamari, lasagna, Caesar salad, chicken strips along with pizza and hotdogs.
Dress code is adhered to at the a-la-cart and buffet restaurants, gentlemen bring along long pants.
Mosquitoes & Bugs
During the seven day stay we noticed very few mosquitoes 6 or 7. It might be wise to ensure your shots are up to-date. The rooms were completely free of bugs. The warm weather brought out a large number of houseflies that were just bothersome. One gentleman we spoke to had gotten bitten on the beach by what he thinks were sand fleas. He said it was terribly itchy but after taking an antihistamine he was fine after about an hour.
Handicap Access
The resort is very accessible for those who are physically challenged. There are ramps in most places and an elevator in the main building.
Pools
The pools were gorgeous and kept very clean. They were very quiet, calm and relaxing except when the “Animation Team” arrived around 3:30-4:00PM and played loud music.
Beach
The beaches, both Megano and Ensenachos, are as beautiful as described by others. The east end of Ensenachos beach is an “International Beach” where true naturalists were reported seen strolling the beach. On both beaches numerous jelly fish can be seen but I did not hear of anyone being strung by one.
Clientele
The guests there were predominantly Canadian with perhaps 10% to 15% European. I was told that the reason for the small percentage of Europeans is that the Abel Santamaria airport is not long enough for the larger planes and they have to land in Havana and transfer over to Santa Clara. The average age of clientele was grey to balding.
Nightly Entertainment
The theatre/auditorium was very well equipped with lighting, sound, effects (smoke) etc. The seating is very comfortable. The Cuban show (song & dance) was very professional and entertaining. I heard others talk about orchestras, 2 different ones on 2 separate evenings, which were also very good.
Excursions
Catamaran: Two snorkeling opportunities, lobster lunch and open bar on the boat.
Dolphins/ Cienfuegos: Swim with the dolphins at the Cienfuegos delfinarium followed by a show.
Santa Clara: A guided tour through the city and its central plaza. Stop at the Che Guevara museum and memorial center. Also tour Remedios.
Cuban Night: A night in Caibarien including lobster dinner. Then, visit Remedios.
Jeep Safari: Driving your own jeep through thru Cuban countryside and go horseback riding.
Trinidad: A guided tour through Trinidad
Forest Adventure: Hike through the National Park of "Guanayara".
Sunset Cruise: Lobster diner on board a catamaran while the sun sets.
Aqua Bikes: Ride your own sea-doos/jet-ski.
Deep Sea Fishing Charter your own fishing boat.
2 days in Havana: Discover the Cuban Capital. Visit the fortress (El Morro), the Capitol and Old Havana.
If you should wish more info including prices and/or pamphlets on excursions, email: Mytravels at rogers dot com with Ensenachos in the subject line.
Beach Vendors
There are no beach vendors that you find at most Caribbean resorts.
Cleanliness of Resort
I have to agree with so many before, it was spotless. Rooms were cleaned and mopped each day.
Lounges & Umbrellas – Lounges & Beach Huts
There was never any problem finding a lounge at the pool or a place on the beach under or near a palapa (thatched-roof umbrella). Keep in mind they were at 50% capacity and I could foresee problems when it is full-up.
Liquor Drinks
The drinks are very good and very plentiful. As a result of another Trip Advisor review I tried a chocolate martini (on numerous occasions) and they are well worth a try. Another of my favorites was the “Blue Hawaiian”. The Crystal cerveza always went down well. Practice the phrase “Dos cerveza por favor! (translation two beers please). Of note is that they have a wide selection of international liquors (e.g. Gordon’s Gin, Beefeater Gin, Canadian Club etc.) at no extra charge.
Note: Limit your intake of Pina Cholladas or as my wife coined them Pina-poop-a-lottas … they are a natural laxative.
The Rooms
Many before me have described the rooms and I can only agree they are spacious, well equipped and very comfortable. As for thin walls, I did hear complaints about the noise, we however had no problems, we had room 3625 where there was a storage area on the left and on the right our bathroom and the bathroom of the adjoining room buffered any noise.
Exercise Room
From the outside :) it looked very modern, spacious and clean.
Diabetics
Should you be diabetic, you can always find sweetener in the buffet and you can ask your concierge to arrange for sugar-free soft drinks in your bar fridge.
General Layout
The resort is big, very big … so be prepared to walk a lot. It was explained that the reason they designed it with all the space intentionally to give the clients the feeling of relaxation away from the crowds.
The Cons
I had to search long and hard to find the down side. The thing that irritated me most was the “Animation Team” that arrived at the “Hideaway Pool” around 3:30 PM each day and blared loud music in order to try to interest the guests in taking Salsa lessons. I can only assume that it was for Salsa lessons as they never announced what they were there for but one guy would dance by himself and bounce a volley ball for an hour and then pack-up and leave. A nice way to ruin a quiet day at the pool.
Things You Might Consider Bringing
Large thermal mugs: cups and glasses are small and the mugs can be used for coffee in the morning, beer in the afternoon and drinks in the evening. My Tim Horton’s mug holds three of their cups and the bartenders think nothing of filling it with beer or Banana Mammas.
Cord for a clothes line: In the humidity you are always looking for somewhere to hang clothes to dry, a “Dollar Store” ¼ cotton line comes in handy
Summary
I was more than pleased with the accommodations at the Royal Hideaway Ensenachos. I certainly think it is one of the better resorts and ranks right up there with most in the better Caribbean resorts.
Would I stay there again? I would not have any concerns about staying there but if history holds true, this is our twelfth all-inclusive in the Caribbean and each time we have stayed at different resorts just for change sake. I would however recommend this resort to any one that is considering a trip south, it was one of the better resorts that we have stayed at and we only stay at 4+ star resorts.
If you are looking for info regarding excursions, room service menu etc. visit: http://ca.geocities.com/mytravels@rogers.com/Ensenachos
To view pictures of our trip visit: http://community.webshots.com/album/562189420XhaOJt
| Royal Hideaway Los Ensenachos | Niagara Couple |
What a great vacation!! Everything was exceptionally good. Good food, service, cleaniness of the room, concierge, maids....We visited from Jan 31st until Feb 7th. My husband celebrated his 60th birthday, & that day we received room service delivery of a great cake, champagne, room decorated with ballons, flowers on the bed, all courtesy of our conierge, Joandra, she was great and looked after everything we asked for. The beach is fabulous.
Long white sand beaches, were you could walk for a long way...We had 5 la carte meals, with lobster available at most of them. I was alittle concerned about the bus ride (80 min)
but it seemed to go by fast, with a guide giving you a little history of each place you pass by. I would suggest taking along something to drink in your bag, as that was the only thing I regretted not having available, We arrived at the airport 9:50am, and it was 12:35pm when we reached the hotel. On the way home the electricity was out at the airport as soon as we arrived, and we had to stand and wait for 2 hours before we could check our bags and clear customs. A long wait for the older people and anyone with children that were from a different resort. RHE is adults only... A great vacation and would definitely go back, hopefully next year....
| Royal Hideaway Los Ensenachos | Kim |
Hi all i can say is WOW. Well ill elaborate for you. My boyfriend and i went to Santa Clara Cuba stayed at the royal Hideaway which is a 5 star resort. The hotel is beautiful the rooms are great snd spaciuos bathroom seperate shower and bathtub and toilet area ,all very clean we stayed on the first floor which was fine. Only when you go out on your deck you see the trees but who cares we wernt there for the deck.Our room was 2505 which is about a 4minutewalk from the lobby and i say 5-7 minutes t the beach, 2minutes from the pool swim up bar etc.. 4minutes to the spa. e food was awesome at the a la carte restaurants the buffet was kind of boring and usually the same but the service was very nice. The a la carte asiatic restaurant was so good we ate there 4 times you dont have to switch restaurants each night you can always go the same one if you want, sea food was reallygood i dont eat seafood i had the beef which was excellent at the asiatic, seafood , and italian restaurant chicken is good to.The service is cuban time nothing fast paced here but excelllent polite and curtious staff. We didnt wait long periods of time for anything but it wasnt super fast. the beach gorgeous,lots of chairs someone to always serve you for you snacks or drinks you dont have to go yourself but remember your not alone.plyed volleyball.Did the catamaran 9-4pm AWESOME there were about 15 of us couples the lunch was lobster or chicken both were delicous and lots of rum and coke wine beer juice or bottled water free included in the price which i think was 60 dollars for the 2 of us beautiful snorkeling 2 times and a little stop at a private beach.No kids are allowed at htis resort and the average age of the people ar aroun 35-65 french and english all the people were very sociable if You wanted to be.This place is if you really if want to chill out,relax be to yourself or meet new people.Its very big resort and you can do a lot of walking but we just chilled at the beach or pool in the evening all the action is in the lobby area wher there is a nightclub (notvery busy) a cigar bar (really good quality booze) a theatre were they do their shows (not so bad) and a lounge were people get together and drink or just the lobby with sofas and chairs nightly musiscans.the bank is downstairs and 2 ala carte are downstairs theres alibrary for you to get books or rent movies you have a dvd in your room.you can bring your own cds or dvd's.. Don't go here if you want to Party yiha style .It's very mature good fun.you dont here people screaming inthe night etcc.....Go here if yu want to realx relax relax get away from it all but be aroun nice people NO Americans.Lots of europeans, paris, sherbrook, montreal ,ottwa people.Ther were no mosquitos but flies yes they bugged me sometimes but you get used to it better than mosquitoes i'd say.Supossedly the hotel next door a 4.5 str is just as nice but with a lots of yunger people and not nearly as quiet.There were no topless but ddn the beach or around the bend theres another beach(no service there though). Loved it would return again any day. The water is fine and filtered supposedly they say this is the best hotel in cuba i agree.
| Royal Hideaway Los Ensenachos | Elizabeth and Robert ~ Montreal |
Top of the line in Cuba!
At least that’s what all the seasoned Cuba hands we bumped into had to say. This was our return trip to RH and fifth in Cuba.
It’s all true. No kids. No loud music. Great R & R destination. Excellent service all around.
Look up Yoany, greatest pool bartender on the island.
Will probably be back soon.
| Royal Hideaway Los Ensenachos | Wil ~ Nepean, ON |
I was apprehensive about the 90 minutes from the Airport as stated in the brochure, but upon arrival, with 8 minutes of touchdown, I was through customs, immigration, and on an airconditioned tour bus on the way to our destination. The first thing that stuck in our minds was how truely beautiful and CLEAN the entire countryside was. Everyone we saw was friendly and cheerful, and we never felt anything but welcome. Our arrival at the cayo was via the causeway which had been built to allow the minimum of impact on the environment, and to keep the islands in their natural states. What a treat!
Our checkin was very quick and efficient, and the services impecable. Our consierge was helpful and efficient as well as very knowledgeable about our options.
The pools were beautiful, and very handy to all the villas. The beach was incredible, as there is a snorkel area just off shore, and there is even a sunken barge to house larger fish. The colours are very impressive, and they love to eat bread and fruit. I was even lucky enough to see a small manta ray swimming in the shallows. There are full sized conch and small, medium and large sea stars, as well as sand dollars galore.
The grounds were nothing short of breath taking, and the rooms were impecable. We were well recieved at all of the bars, and were served quickly and efficiently with or without tipping.
The dining facilities are superb. I have not yet eaten as well as I had in Cuba. I believe that every formal dining location on the resort has its own 5 star rating.
Over all, I this has been the best vacation we have ever taken, in the most wonderful location in the carribean. We are returning with our children in 2009, as well as having recommended it to a plethora of family and friends. I have even convinced a co-worker to get married at the Cayo, and I'm sure she will also write a review on those aspects upon her return.
| Royal Hideaway Los Ensenachos | Casavant ~ St Basile Le Grand,Quebec,Canada |
Arrival -
very good
Rooms -
excellentRestaurants -
excellentBars -
excellentBeach and Pools -
excellent++Grounds -
excellentActivities -
excellent
Conclusion -
we will recomment to all your friend,it is a excellent choise,we will be back at this destination,thank you
| Royal Hideaway Los Ensenachos | Ronnie |
We have recently returned from a wonderful two week stay at the RHE. (Oct
12th-26th) Despite encountering a few glitches, this resort is amazing. It truly looks and feels like paradise. The grounds are immaculate, the beach is breathtaking, (in our opinion the best we have seen in many years of
travel) and the pool is a great place to wind down after a long day of relaxing in the sun.
Due to low occupancy, the Spa suites were closed so we had a lovely room in the Royal Hideaway section. It was bright and cheery with a large bathroom, separate walk in closet and a private balcony. The plush bathrobes were an added touch. The housekeeping services were excellent and included the usual daily towel art, with evening turndown and fresh towel replacement.
Osmani, was our concierge the first week and he was exceptional, always there to greet you and attend to any of your needs. He was replaced the second week by a young woman who unfortunately did not meet the standards he had set and due to her absence our bungalow on a few days was left to its own devices to secure the attention of another concierge regarding dinner reservations, spa services etc.
The food for the most part was quite good. Although somewhat limited in choice we enjoyed the breakfast buffet and usually had the eggs or crepes to order. On the mornings when bacon wasn't readily available we had the chef grill some of the ham slices from the cold meat section and that suited us fine. We always had a delicious lunch in the pool restaurant, calamari was a daily staple but the Cuban soup and Mediterranean salad with tuna were also good choices. Our favorite a la carte was the Gourmet restaurant, a true 5* experience in the Royal Villa section, the Italian and Japanese were a close second.
What really makes this resort work is the exceptional staff. They go out of their way to make sure that you enjoy your time with them. They are friendly, personable, extremely attentive and definitely deserve to be tipped. The general manager, Agnes Yousif, is a daily visible presence, and always there, making sure that everything is running smoothly and that the needs of all the guests are being met.
We would not hesitate to recommend this resort to our friends and are already discussing a return trip in the not too distant future.
| Royal Hideaway Los Ensenachos | Eric ~ Toronto |
My wife and I recently returned from almost a week at the Royal Hideaway Ensenachos. When I say almost a week, it’s because we bought one way tickets and took the first flight back to Toronto that we could get, but I’ll get to that in a moment.
We flew in on Westjet who have managed to fill every available space on the plane with seats. There’s no room whatsoever to wait for the washroom, yet they tell you not to congregate near the washroom. The only alternative I could think of was strapping myself to the wing and waiting, but that didn’t seem feasible.
Our arrival at Santa Clara airport was uneventful. Luggage came out quickly and we were through customs in no time. We took a cab from the airport to the resort, cost us 70CUC + tip. I later found out it should have been only 60CUC. The trip, by cab, took 90 minutes. I think the bus showed up 40 minutes later, so be prepared for a 2 ¼ hour ride if you’re on the bus.
When you arrive at the hotel, you immediately get the impression that you’re in an American style conference centre. Marble floors and archways, 30 foot+ ceilings and piped-in Muzak. Unfortunately, we thought we were going to Cuba. We were immediately struck by how quiet it was- there were only a few people in the enclosed lobby bar listening to the piano player play warmed over versions of “Let It Be” and “My Heart Will Go On”.
The rooms are fine and have all the mod cons. If you have to go here, get a suite on the top floor, otherwise you’ll be looking at 8 foot shrubs from your patio.
I should mention that we’ve been to Cuba about 7 times, mainly to the Paradisus Rio d’Oro in Holguin, which is a true 5 star. We’ve also been to Cyprus, Kenya, Thailand, Spain and Japan, so we have a pretty good sense for what constitutes good value in a resort.
The buffet is okay and offers the usual selection of food. You’ll notice some breakfast items making another appearance at other meals throughout the day and vice versa. For instance, one morning, we had fajita fixings available. Curious.
If you’re a big fan of Wagner or Shostakovich, you’ll love the breakfast buffet. In an effort to maintain a veneer of “high class”, management insists on playing some fairly heavy classical pieces at breakfast, which, again, doesn’t quite equate to the Cuban resort experience. We brought some Cuban music with us on an iPod and speakers and the staff loved it.
Regardless of what restaurant you go to, you’ll notice that the staff will kill themselves pulling out chairs for both men and women while arranging napkins on your lap. After a while, this gets a little tired, especially when the bigger problem is either that there’s no air conditioning in the restaurant (and this resort has no fans) or the table only has 3.75 legs and tends to wobble.
The a la carte restaurants are quite good, the food is tremendous. Trying to order wine off the wine list is pretty challenging though (we weren’t able to make it happen in English or Spanish), you’re better off drinking the house plonk.
You’ll notice that security is quite high at the resort even though you’re literally miles away from anything. I passed a security guard in the lobby on my way to the cigarette machine; next thing I know he’s standing a yard behind me, watching intently. Maybe it’s because the airport is a military airport. We heard about some people on our flight being given a pretty rough time by police off the resort and then upon their arrival being subjected to the complete search at the airport.
You can’t change your money at the front desk, you have to go to the in-resort bank to do that. It’s open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. except when it’s not, which is often. Finally we had had enough- we bought a pair of one way tickets to Toronto and headed home.
Summary: It’s a huge resort built upon reclaimed swampland (so expect bugs and lots of toxic fogging), with no guests. The staff try hard, but to call this place a 5 star is being somewhat economical with reality. It might be the best resort in the area, but not in Cuba. It’ll be interesting to see if they’re still around in 18 months.
| Royal Hideaway Los Ensenachos | Janice and Jim ~ Brampton, Ontario |
We just returned from our week stay in paradise! It had been 6 years since we last travelled to Cuba. Previously we stayed in Varadero at Brisas del Caribe. After 5 consecutive years of staying there we took a break. Our choice of the RH was based on a word of mouth recommendation from a friend. It was the most beautiful place we have ever stayed! The very heartbreaking part was that there were only 37 guests in total during our stay. With a staff of 200 working each day, you can imagine the service we received. Of course there were a few modifications to the service of meals, but the resort was wonderful in scheduling us in the a la carte eateries. We ate twice in the Asian and seafood dining rooms. Breakfast was served in the buffet and lunch was avalable at the hideway section pool bar or the beach bar. There was limited entertainment but the piano bar and player were great and the local dancers put on a nice show in the lobby. we often had the entire beach to ourselves.
Certainly we will return to this resort and hopefully for two weeks next year.
We would support all of the positive reviews which this resort has had posted.
| Royal Hideaway Los Ensenachos | Nancy |
We stayed from May 19-26
Our reviews of the features of the hotel.
Beach 4.5
Layout and Clean 4.5
Pools 4.5
Beach 4.5
Buffet breakfast 1.5
Lunch pool restaurant 3
Asian 4.5
Italian 3
Gourmet 4
Seafood restaurant 2.5
Conceirge 5
Entertainment 2.5
Staff 5
Disco 0 largest crowd 4ppl
Fitness room 4
Value for the money good. You get what you pay for. If you want a true 5 star you must pay over $2000 per per for a week
| Royal Hideaway Los Ensenachos | Chris and Amy ~ Ontario, Canada |
Travelled April 14th -- April 21st 2007.
My boyfriend and I, 25 and 27 yrs of age, just returned from the Royal Hideaway. We have been together almost 5 years and this was our first trip together. We had both travelled separately to Varadero in the past so we wanted to travel to Cuba again. We decided on this resort based on the reviews posted on this site. We found it extremely helpful.
Check In:
The Airport in Santa Clara is very small but we got our bags quickly and made our way to the bus. The ride was about 80 minutes long but it went by super quick as the tour guide was amazing and made it so fun and informative. We arrived at the hotel, check in literally took less than 5 minutes. You walk into the office, pick up your envelope with your room keys and luggage stickers, go back to the front where the bags are (with your glass of chilled champagne), place the luggage stickers on your bag and that's it. Your bags are later delivered to your room. We had bathing suits in our carry on so we changed and went swimming right away.
The Resort:
The resort was absolutely beautiful. Another review stated that the Gardeners were the hardest working, I completely agree. We stayed in Bungalow 4103 in the Hideaway section. Our concierge was Mikel -- HE WAS AMAZING. Our fridge was stocked on a regular basis, our restaurant reservations were booked for the times we wanted and he answered all of our questions with a HUGE smile. He really could not do enough for us. He asked if we were celebrating anything special and our 4 and a half yr anniversary (yes I count those special days) fell on the Thursday. So he asked if it was wedding, we said no it was just an anniversary of being together. Well, on Thursday after returning from the beach, the maids placed candles around the room, put flowers pedals on the bed and filled up the bathtub with flowers and candles, it was so nice. There was also a poem from Mikel which ended with lettings us know a bottle of champagne would be delivered at 7:30pm. We also went to the Italian restaurant that night and he had a special candlelit table reserved and for dessert the waitress came out and did a whole flaming cake thing right at our table as the band played behind us….So thoughtful….
Food and Drinks:
It's Cuban food…what else can I say. It wasn't horrible but I found that the buffet did not have a great selection of food. Although there was a restaurant by the Hideaway pool and the pizza was great. Your allowed 4 toppings and it was so filling. The Italian Restaurant was good but the portions are extremely small. Unfortunately my boyfriend is deathly allergic to shell fish so we skipped the Asian and Seafood restaurants -- I found it hard communicating that to the staff, so we played it safe. The drinks are great and they use premium brand liquor. The bar at the Hideaway section was never busy and they made the best drinks. Try the mojito, the miami vice and the bahama mama -- so yummy!!! The bar at the Disco was never busy and the service was amazing. I can't remember the bartenders name but he is an artist by day (trying to get into an art gallery on Queen Street in Toronto) and works there by night. Sit down and have a chat with him, he is so knowledgeable and fun to talk to too, you'll learn a lot. Plus he keeps your drinks topped up!
The Pools and Beach:
The Beach is absolutely amazing and rarely busy. The white sands, clear water, different colored water, left you breathless. Our pictures looked like postcards, that's how nice it was.
We checked out the one pool in the spa section, it was busy and we only stayed for an hour or so. We preferred to stay at the Hideaway pool, the bar service was great over there and it was rarely busy. Water was at a good temperature the pool was extremely clean. Very impressed with both the pools and the beach.
The Bad:
The service could definitely be improved. There were certain parts of the resort where the service was so slow. For Example:
The lobby bar - very slow -- waited almost 20 minutes every morning for a cappuccino
The buffet restaurant - very slow -- you were finished your breakfast before you even got O.J
Room Service - slow -- depending on what time you ordered, also try to be very clear when ordering, twice we received the wrong thing
Other Stuff:
-We never got to check out the Spa. We got so badly burnt (we are actually tanners and of European decent, never did we think that we would burn with SPF 45) on the 2nd and 3rd day that a massage would have been too painful.
-The resort is huge so depending where you stay you could be a far distance from the lobby, pools, restaurants. There is a map that I found through another review which I found helpful. After looking at the map I actually sent an email through the website of the resort and requested the Bungalow that I wanted -- which I did get.
-Bring an alarm clock with you -- none of the rooms have clocks -Tips -- we did tip occasionally but never felt obligated -- if the service was good we would leave 1 Cuban Convertible Peso. We also left little gift bags full of toiletries' for the maids everyday.
Overall we had an amazing first trip and we would definitely go back…..
| Royal Hideaway Los Ensenachos | Jim & Maureen ~ Ontario Canada |
We are a couple in our early 50’s and have traveled a fair bit over the years. We used to spend most of our time in Mexico (1980’s to 2001) but the last few years have we have been vacationing in Cuba. This was our sixth visit to Cuba: twice to Breezes Veradero, three times to Cayo Largo – Barcelo 2x & the Sol Cayo Largo once & now Cayo Ensenachos. Over the years we have met many friends whose company we still enjoy today. Our intention was to go once again to Cayo Largo however at the last minute decided on the Royal Hideaway.
Departure
We have a 2 ½ hour drive to Toronto so we decided to stay overnight in Toronto so that we could be rested prior to departure. Check in at the airport went very quickly with no issues. We actually departed at 06:30 A.M. and arrived in Santa Clara airport at ~09:30 A.M. We were through customs and on our way to Cayo Ensenachos at 10:30 A.M.
The bus ride is ~90 minutes but does not seem that long as you travel through the cities and countryside. Have your camera ready. This gives you a good flavor of how the Cubans live. It is a very interesting & minute look into the Cuban way of life. You then come to the causeway where there is a check point & toll which I will further discuss later. The causeway is 48 kilometers long and there are 42 puntes (bridges) along the causeway. Towards the end of the causeway and on your right your will notice a spit of land being developed for a future dolphinarium . They are dredging the ocean floor on your left (west) and splaying it on your right (east). The Royal Hideaway is about 5 minutes from this point.
Arrival at the Royal Hideaway
Upon arrival your bags are unloaded from the bus. You leave your bags where they are as you will be given a tag with your room number which you then come back and put this tag on your bags. The porter will then take your bags to your room. Do not worry it is all very efficient and you will see your bags in your room.
Back to check-in: You room has already been assigned, we were 3224, and all rooms are very nice. You also receive a glass of champagne upon your arrival. A nice touch. Everyone has a smile and is very accommodating. You will be greeted by you concierge, ours was Hanoy, who will take care of your every need.
As you exit the lobby the Royal Hideaway rooms are on your left and the Spa rooms are on your right. The villas are ~ 1 kilometer past the Royal Hideaway rooms.
Our Room
We were in Bungalow 32 room 3224 which was an upper floor room (only two floors) and we had a partial ocean view, mind you it was a distant ocean view. The rooms are decorated very elegantly. You have a dvd player, a TV, a mini bar (stocked daily with your requirements), a coffee maker, a large closet with an iron & ironing board, an umbrella, your safety box, and lots of room to hang your clothes.
In the washroom you have a Plexiglas shower, a bathtub which has a hand held shower, a weigh scale so that you can watch the weight add up each day…hahaha…….. & of course the square toilet (thought of Sponge Bob Square Pants). There is even a telephone beside the toilet if the need is there.
As you enter your room there is soft music playing for you which is very relaxing and welcoming.
Each day our maids left us a variety of towel art with little accompanying notes.
There is lots of space for your clothing here as well.
Miscellaneous Facilities
There is a well equipped library here that has a good variety of books and dvd’s to be lent out during your stay. There is no charge but be sure to bring them back before your departure. If you have books that you are willing to donate I am sure they will be very much appreciated.
Other facilities include: disco, tennis courts, basketball court, spa facilities, a well equipped gym, gift store, a cigar shop, a large checker board, & the bank is located at the foot of the stairs. Have patience it is a very slow process.
Bars
The cigar bar as the name implies is for smokers. So if smoke bothers you do not enter this area. Connected to the cigar bar is the cigar shop which carries a very good variety of cigars and cigarettes. The bar has a pool table for those inclined.
The lobby bar is very well stocked with local and premium drinks, as are most of the bars. Here you will find a piano player who is very good and will take requests. The lobby bar is fairly active after dinner and prior to the disco starting at 11:00 P.M.
Disco bar is the happening place after 11:00 P.M. Again a good variety of drinks and the music and light show is quite good as well.
The beach bar offers limited drinks: beer, liquor, and a few slushy type drinks as well as soft drinks. They also offer hot dogs and hamburgers, chicken on a bun, etc. They also have a small patio area and will deliver your order to you on the beach.
Pool bars also are well stocked.
We did not frequent the spa area so I cannot offer any information here.
A La Cartes & Buffet
We ate at only two of these: Italian & the Seafood. There is a dress code and if the men arrive in shorts they will be turned away. Jeans are ok but we seen only one person in jeans. The same dress code for the buffet. We found both restaurants to have excellent choices and the food was very good. I am a very picky eater and I found there to be enough variety to satisfy me. If you like part of one choice offered and part of another they will accommodate that for you.
The buffet offered a good variety each day and the seating area was very nicely decorated.
Tips
We did tip but not as much as some and more so than others:
Bar tips – 1 CUC per every 4 or 5 drinks
A La Cartes : 3 CUC
Buffet: 1 CUC
Lunch: 1 CUC
Maids: gifts or 1 or 2 CUC
Beaches
The beach here really is amazing. It is all that you expect of a tropical island paradise and more. There are two beaches here: Megamo (the main beach). We counted ~109 palapas, enough for most guests. The Ensenachos beach a sparsely populated beach with no amenities offered. At the extreme south end of the beach there are ~10 palapas offered for the villa area. At the extreme south point you will find a boathouse for those staying at the villas. We did not see any nudity during our stay, however there were a few ladies that did go topless which did not seem to bother anyone.
At the north end of Megamo beach and around the bend we did see some conch, a star fish & a sting ray. There are lots of small shells scattered about. It is very windy around the bend.
Tours
We booked the Santa Clara tour for Wednesday (English speaking tour). The French peaking tours are on Tuesdays. The cost was 65 CUC each and well worth the cost. This tour was amazing. We departed at 08:00 A.M. and arrived back at 06:30 P.M.
We first traveled across the causeway and past the toll to the small fishing village of Cabarien. Here were taken to the train restoration factory. They were restoring old steam engines that are still in use today. After a brief period of watching the men restoring these beautiful engines we then boarded one and were taken to Remedios. Here we walked through a 16th century church where the huge alter was made of solid 22 carat gold. They have books dated back to the 1600’s. These books carry the records of b