Date of review:1 Oct 2011
For a truly superb holiday, in a fantastic location, with superb food, branded drinks, attentive staff, wonderful a la carte retaurants, even a coffee perculator in
the room, this holiday can't be bettered!!!
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Date of review:1 Jul 2011
hotel good but rooms dated.food average.some staff unfriendly unless tipped.normally go to mexico would only rate hotel as 3 stars plus
Date of review:1 Jul 2011
Booked this on the merits of a newspaper article about Cuba and it was a good call. On arrival we asked for 1st floor rooms but, as none were available, we were give
n 'superior' rooms instead. They were a good size and more than adequately furnished. As the hotel was only at 60% capacity, not all A La Carte restaurants were open, but we tried all that were, and found them excellent. The buffet restaurants for lunch, and dinner, had plenty of choices for even the most fussy eaters. Due to 95% humidity, and temperatures in the high 30's we did not really make use of the activities on offer, and, a first for us, we stayed by the pool rather than go to the beach. The pool area was excellent and there were always sunbeds available, although not always in the best condition.. All areas of the hotel were spotless and the staff could not have been more friendly or helpful. I would certainly go again, but at a less humid time of year to really appreciate it.
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Date of review:1 May 2011
do not take any notice of the bad reviews this is a fab holiday place people friendly and the food well you name they made it this is the first time we have been awa
y and not had tummy upsets we have been all over the world we always stay 4and 5 star and this has been the nicest place so far i was hear 4 years ago at hotel brass this is far nicer and the staff will do anything for you we was a family of 7 4 adults and 2 grandchildren 4and 7 and everybody enjoy
the dolphins are expensive but well worth it for all only one thing if you want to see Havana suggest you go high up the island
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Date of review:1 Mar 2011
A fabulous hotel and holiday probably one of the best we have had, we are returning guests and will definately be returning again.
The staff are so friendly they mak
e you feel very special
The hotel facilities will be hard to beat. The swimming pool area is amazing with king size canopyed beds to laze on, a swim up bar, entertainment in the pool and waiters serving you as well while lazing around the pool. The beach is super with plenty of beds and facilities including beach bar, snack bar and restaurant not forgetting the lovely sandy beach and also plenty of places to be in the shade.
There are numerous restaurants in the complex so you don't feel you are eating at the same place all the time and not just buffet.
The entertainment in the evenings is very professional and varied. You will find musicians playing music around the complex outside and in the lobby area all times of the day they also serenade you at your table at the various restaurants which is a lovely touch.
The bedrooms are nice but maybe that is what should be improved on, slightly understated for a 5 star resort and the beds are not the best.
Overall you will not be dissapointed 5 stars all the way
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Date of review:1 Feb 2011
fantastic holiday, plenty of bars and restaurants to keep even the fussiest eater happy (including me!) All areas kept very clean and tidy and pools well maintained.
All of the staff friendly and welcoming, one of the maids was a bit cheeky though asked if she could have things for her daughter!!
We would certainly go back and have already recommended to others
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Date of review:1 Feb 2011
This was out 3rd visit to cuba and the same hotel, we was so excited to be going back, but when we got there so sad to see the place full of french 95% of french the
re seem to take the complex over, very very busy waiting for dinner drinks at the bar, hiotel great but will not be going back again, and FOR SURE will NOT be going with thomas cook again we traveled with first choice twice before and 100% better airline, thomas cook staff on the plane would be better working in a cafe, plane very very uncomfy and tight when you are flying 10 hours you want and expect to relax, but no you do not get this with THOMAS COOK, i would give the airline and staff, 0 pilot 10 has he got us home lol, but no will not be going ther again such a shame when you get the french filling the place, but did have a great time for the 3rd vist, but will be our last,
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Date of review:1 Feb 2011
We enjoyed our second visit to Playa Pesquero just as much as the first. We think that the choice of different eating places especially at lunchtimes is exceptional
when compated to eqivalent fully inclusive resorts. Mostly the quality of the food was also good to very good especially if you like seafood.
Last year we travelled with First choice and this year with Thomas Cook and although once off the plane the service was identical, the comfort of the first choice plane last year was far far better but unlike last year Thomas Cook was much cheaper for this holiday.
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Date of review:1 Feb 2011
First time we have travelled with Thomas Cook and were very impressed with all aspects of the flight and rep overseas.The hotel and staff are amazing.Hotel,excellent
value for money.Fab pool area,plenty of loungers. buffet restaurants very good,minimal queues,plentiful food and choice,like the fact they will cook you a steak or fish or pasta in front of you. Any kind of drink available and a waiter to bring it to you wherever you are in the complex.Tips dont seeem to be expected although the staff are worthy of your appreciation! Rooms fine,nice and clean. Our only criticism is a privacy issue as we had our 13 year old in a bed right next to ours so think a room divider or even a curtain to draw across would be better. plenty of trips available. 2 of our party made the 2 day excursion to Havana which was well worth the money.We went horseriding and used the land train to Guardalavaca.The pre bookable restaurants were all very nice,thought Yarayel was the best. The daily craft market on sight was a nice touch,watersports availability no problem. Dont miss the Mojito bar! Cant rate this hotel highly enough and we will definitely return.
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Date of review:1 Dec 2010
each time we return we are greeted like old friends, even when there has been a year gap, we can never fault the food, but on this visit found the rooms needed some
maintenence, curtains not drawing properly, and decor, and bathrooms looking tired, but maids could not be better,bedlinen and towels are clean and fresh, fridge is stocked every day, always a large bottle of water, beer & soft drinks
great pools, and shows, also beach is clean and plenty of sunbeds. in all a great holiday..We always visit at Chrismas & New Year, and it is wonderful!
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Date of review:1 Nov 2010
traveled solo as the wife had other things to do, frendly holidaymakers never on your own also plenty of other solo people, staff were excelent very friendly i was i
n room 1216 where the room was spotless the maid really did her job. The biggest disappionting thing was the food, never warm the same thing everynight with the diffrence of a change of roast,by the time you waitedfor one serving then Q to put something else onthe plate get back to your table your dinner was cold it was never warm to start with. The evening entertainment wasnt to bad waiters walking round most of the day to serve you with a happy smile. The quality of the drinks were 1st class, the beach and the facilitys were excelent, but if you dont like trips as you are in the middle of nowhere which i found good value for money Santiago was very good, but the weather can alter if the trips run or not which happend a few times,still had a good holiday pity it was food that didnt give this hotel the full marks it deserves.1 rep let the side down.
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Date of review:1 Sep 2010
We arrived to rain! Were not impressed after long flight from the UK but were hopeful it would get better. The apartment was lovely, spacious. First night encountere
d a crab, I screamed the room down, especially as I had lost my voice. The pool was lovely and beach was great. Water was warm in sea and in pool. Staff were lovely and friendly, The food was a bit disappointing, especially the buffet cos after a while it became boring!! One night my partner had ice cream for dinner! Not enough fruit and salad - no lettice - unusual cos I didn't think you could make a salad without lettice! The meals you had to book were nice though and the staff in the Sea Food Restaurant were especially nice, Kat for instance. The ice cream parlour was nice too and the best lunch was in the Beer Restaurant. Got sick of :Lobster in the end -dreaming of steak, which is no good here at all, even in the steak restuarant, too salty.
The trips out were nice too. The only problem we had was that the hotel was too cut off - should have known really looking at the map so would not return. All in all, we both had a lovely holiday. The Rep was good too from Thomas Cook. Very informative.
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Date of review:1 Sep 2010
We were a bit dubious about going to Cuba but had listened to good reports from friends.
To start with being over 6 feet tall we decided to book the extra leg room
seats for both flights on the internet. This was at an extra charge but well worth it.
The flight out from Gatwick left on time and arrived on time, the cabin crew were very efficient and always helpful, lacking on some other airlines we have flown with.
On arrival the Reps were very helpfull. The transfer to the hotel was about an hour due to the rain. Check in was excellent, although there was about 50 people checking in it only took about 10 mins due to the amount of staff laid on by the hotel for our arrival. After the long journey (about 19hours for us) we were welcomed at the hotel by a waiter giving out very cold flannels, nice touch.
The accomadation was very clean, towells and sheets were changed daily if required at no extra cost.
A ticket was given to us a check in for beach towells, again these could be changed daily if required, again at no extra cost.
The hotel has 8 restaurants that need to be booked in advance although you are only allowed to eat in them a certain number of times. When we were there only 5 of the resturants were open due to to it not being high season.
After that there is the buffet or 24 hr bar to eat in.
The food in the buffet seemed blaned at times although there was plenty of variety.
The pool facilities were excellent and very clean, waiters came round every half hour or so taking drink orders and delivering them.
The trips that were on offer through the travel companies at an extra charge looked to be good value. We went on a couple and really enjoyed them. These were swimming with the dolphins and a paradise island trip on a boat which included snorkeling and a very excellent buffet lunch.
All of the staff at the hotel were very pleasent and helpful, although it helps to tip at the bar to jump the line for being served !!!!!
Everything from start to finish about the holiday was excellent in our view and will definatley consider a return trip.
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Date of review:1 Jul 2010
We have just returned from our holiday at this resort after having been to Dominican the last two years.
At first it was dissapointing due to the level of humidity i
n the bar area, which made the nights very uncomfortable . All of the restaurants are outdoors and very humid apart from Romantica which was lovely. The food in all the restaurants was lovely but small portions, we have since read it is advisable to tip prior to the service if you want bigger portions. The food in general was very good and the accommodation clean. The staff were very friendly. The toilets everywhere were extremely hot and stuffy. Beach is fantastic and pool lovely. General tips for the resort would be more bars please as the snack bar which is 24hrs only has wine and beer and soft drinks otherwise it is the entertainment area and lobby which is like a sauna.
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Date of review:1 Jun 2010
We are frequent travellors to Mexico. This was our first holiday in Cuba. We knew that we couldn't expect the standards of Mexico. The resort is beautifull and the b
each is very nice. But with a few alterations it could be better.
Check inn:
Perfect, we had to fill in a form in the buss and at reception it was just 5 minutes before you had your key.
Gardens:
Beautifull
Beach:
We are beach people. First day there was a bar, very convenient to get your drinks.
Day after it disappeared. Now a waiter came and ask what you would like to drink. Problem was he only came twice a day and most of the time he forgot your drink. Rest of the day he was lying between bushes.
The beach guys are friendly and fetch you your chairs. As it was not so busy they didn't have much to do so also lied around a lot. No problem but the gras area was full of waste (paper/plastic etc.) It was there the first day we arrived, still there the last day. You would say they see it lying just clean it up.
Beach and see are beautifull and full of fish (lionfish).
Bars/restaurant :
Was all nice, but the food is sometimes overcooked. Food they prepared fresh was good. Was just a bit the same every night. Breakfast was very good.
Drinks are good and they serve you everything.
Negative was that there were no fan's (ventilation) in restaurant, lobby bar etc. As it was warm and humidity high this was a very negative point. Everybody was complaining about this. Apparently last year they were there! I must admit this spoilt it a bit because it was very uncomfortable.
Entertainment:
Daytime if your at the pool the animation team organised things.At the beach we haven't seen anybody.
At night is wasn't very high standard, but they did their best.
Music overall (bars) was lacking. Just during dinner there were some cuban bands playing. Afterwards in the lobbeybar there was nothing just television.
Disco was OK.
For some strange reason also the waiters disappeared at approx. 23.00 hr. and then there would only be 1 barman to serve >100 people.
Pool:
Was 9 days closed as they had problems with the water, it turned green. They were very busy with it but couldn't solve it.
As we are beach people it was no problem for us but lots of people complained about this.
People:
Cuban people are very friendly. In the resort, in village everywhere. You feel very safe and nobody is hassling you. Also the police/security were very friendly.
Thomas Cook representative:
We were very impressed by him. Very good, arranged anything you asked and gave lots of information. Was always there and always asked if everything was ok and if you had remarks he would gave this info to the hotel.
Overall we had a good holiday, we met nice people. If they would alter some of the things I would go back again.
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Date of review:1 Jun 2010
This was the first time I had gone on holiday by myself.
Like most people I looked on various websites for feedback from other holiday makers. Although this holiday
did have a few bad reviews most of them were excellent and/or good. Please don't take any notice of the bad ones, Playa Pesquero is a brilliant place to say. The staff are so friendly you don't feel like you are ever alone and it is so beautiful down on the beach it just makes you smile all the time. The food was fabulous, I love sea food but I must admit if you are a big meat eater you may mot think the same although the meat I had was tasty even if a little chewey.
My room was very good, and spotlessly clean. I did have a couple of problems with the room but as soon as I mentioned them to the staff they were fixed immediately, and lets face it, things break from time to time.
I definitely will go back there some time, sooner rather than later and I would recommend upgrading your flight to premium class too and in my opinion it was well worth the extra cash.
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Date of review:1 May 2010
I have travelled to Cuba on more than one occasion and it never ceases to amaze me. I absolutely love the country and the people. It was my first time staying at the
Playa Pesquero hotel but I was not disappointed. The rooms were large and very clean, the pool was also very large and clean. The food was excellent and plenty of choice. Roasted pig every day around 4pm if you choose this for a snack. My daughter was married at this hotel and the staff made our day really one to remember. They made it so special. She had a choice of venues to be married at and chose the gazebo. This was dressed to my daughters requirements and a band was playing. A photographer followed us around and took plenty of photos. We had our meal in the Romantica restaurant where the pianist played here comes the bride as we opened the doors to the restaurant. They had made a really large wedding cake which was wonderful. The hairdresser did an amazing job on her hair, it was beautiful. It was also my 30th wedding anniversary in the same week and we had booked in at the fish restaurant and they had dressed the table and brought champagne and also an anniversary cake which was quite unexpected. The only fault with this hotel is that there was not air con in the main bar at night and the humidity made it quite uncomfy but you cannot let that ruin what was a really truly wonderful holiday. I am booking again for next year.
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Date of review:1 Apr 2010
This is my fifth time at this resort and my 15th time in Cuba. Playa Pesquero was built some 10 years ago and is very well laid out. The pool is free formed and well
used by the guests, there is plenty of room, with shallows and some deeper sections. There is a swim up bar, that is frequented, by the "merry holiday makers"! There is a beach with a number of water activities down on it. The beach is also the place where many people get married, however, in my opinion it is not a very actractive location, there are nicer ones throughout the grounds, something to think about.
There are pleanty of places to eat and there is a 24 hour eating place with a limited menu. We mainly eat in the buffet restaurant. One of our many Cuban friends is a waitress in one of the restaurants and thinks that the Bristish are the most polite of all the guests that go to the hotel.
Please note that most Cubans are very poor and have a limited diet, so be aware that in their eyes, we appear very greedy, taking too much food and leaving too much!
Rooms are clean though the air conditioning is not of the best.
The hotel lays on daily and nightly entertainment, there are also mini excursions run by the hotel entertainment staff and these are normally free, there is a notice board near the lobby showing the events.
My advice is hire a car to get out and see the sights, roads are safe to drive on with the odd pot hole to contend with. Car hire starts at about 50 Convertable Pesos a day and with three days hire you get unlimited mileage. The local town Holguin has a great night life of traditional and modern music and many sights to see. Guadalavacca, has a beach party most nights, with a Cuban Rock Band, "Banda America" playing on a Monday night.
Santiaga De Cuba, about 3 hours drive is a must, on the Caribbean coast, very beautiful and lively. If you can afford it, try and get to Havana, I don't have the words to describe the magic of Havana, can you tell I love Cuba?
Please try and speak a little spanish, the locals will admire you for it and respect you for trying, the basics are very easy and there are lessons given in the hotel.
Finally, meet the locals, enjoy their country, enjoy the hotel, but it is not Cuba. Feel safe, because Cuba is a safe country to visit and take a little Cuban spirit and sunshine home with you ... we did ....
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Date of review:1 Apr 2010
We stayed in Hotel Playa pesquero Cuba in April 2010 . Had read up on the reveiws before going,most seemed fine a couple of not so good one's. Was a long flight whic
h we knew but wasn't helped much by the in-flight entertainment very poor,and with two children this was not good. Once we reached the hotel we had a fast check in, staff very nice and helpfull. We had a superiour room which was great plenty of room very clean everything we needed. Towels in room, hairdryer shampoo,soap's body lotion,safe in wardrobe,tv with english channels. The complex is very big,but everything is very well planned out. The main pool is huge with a swim up bar.and they have an activerties pool where there is always something going on. The entertainment team are great and my two children loved it,big thanks to Alex for his hard work. The beach was fantastic the water crystal clear and warm, plenty of sun bed's and umberella's very clean loved it. There are two main buffet restaurants,we mainly ate in the smaller of the two,and if you went around 8.45 you had the whole place to yourself and plenty of choice fresh Lobster,giant prawns,fresh fish, steak,fresh salad's,cheese's the choice's were excellent. There are seven resturant's which you do have to make reservation's for but that was no problem. All very good our favorite was the sea food excellent food and the staff were great. There is an icecream palour which is part of the all inclusive deal no extra charge so this was great for the children and for me as it was lovely icecream. The evening entertainment was ok they all work very hard, the band are very good,and the Shrek show they done where they get the children to join in was very good. All in all we had a fantaastic holiday, it is a great resort for family's and we would go back again it felt very safe and the people there are very nice. We were there when the volcano in Icland erupted so we were delayed in getting home by five days, but Thomas Cook picked up the tab and dealt with the situation very well so we were more than happy not to be going home. A fab holiday will be returning.
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Date of review:1 Apr 2010
what a great place ,best holiday ever, food was just so good,all i can say is we are going back next year ,just wish i could go back now,the only thing that was wron
g with our holiday was the flight servis was just so bad,but still i,m sure that will get sorted for next time
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Date of review:1 Feb 2010
perfect holiday for families. plenty of activities to do and plenty of food and drink all day. nice sandy beach with beutiful sea.
Date of review:1 Jan 2010
Well, this was my first time to Cuba, i must say that what a fantastic holiday we both had , we stayed in the Playa Pesquero hotel in Playa Pesquero the hotel was fa
b the people and the food i would definately recommend this place to anyone who is thinking of going to cuba. We had should a good couple of weeks we are thinking of going back there next january. we have only just returned back well a week ago, Our rep Luis Carlos he was very helpful at all times and all the staff speak english, so for those who do not speak spanish its no problem ................. We did opt for the upgrade on the flight which is a must ............ hotel pools and beach were so lush i am sure you would not be dissappointed ......................
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Date of review:1 Dec 2009
We went to this resort for the first time in December 2007 to celebrate our ruby wedding anniversary and my husbands 60th birthday, and we have gone every year since
, we also have it booked for this year 2010. The hotel has everything from really laid back carribean relaxation to crazy watersports and everything in between, bars, 7a la carte restaurants,disco and shows even beach parties and a street party with a pig roast each week.
The staff are brilliant, very friendly and fun loving, nothing is too much trouble, we have made many friends there among the staff and other holiday makers from Canada, so much so that 8 of us meet up there each year 2 canadian couples and another english couple it really does make you feel as if you are going home to family and friends.
The hotel itself is superb the service is really good ,first class without the snobbish feeling you can get with some top hotels every thing is done to make you feel comfortable and welcome.
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Date of review:1 Dec 2009
We absolutely loved the Playa Pesequero hotel and resort. I have been to Cuba before and stayed 3 star in Guardalavaca in the past and enjoyed it but it in hindsight
the stay could have been better.
You could see, sense and taste the difference in this hotel as a 4* plus immediately on arrival. The central part of reception and lobby bar has a spanish/asian feel with lots of fish laden ponds, plants and dark wooden floorboards and walls. The 6 restaurants we ate in around the resorts were all really great. Both of us are ex-chefs so when we say good we mean it! The two best eateries were the seafood one on the beach and the other was The Romantica ( real shellfish luxury!). The quality of taste and appearance of the food was way beoynd what you would normally get in an AI package.
The beach is a lovely, quite busy, stretch of white sand nudging up against the main strip of the hotel which is lined by a number of bars and restaurants and ice-cream stands for the kids. The sea is clean and very very calm so ideal for even wee children and the elderly.
We went on just one excursion this time, the Suncruise dolpin and diving trip. My partner is a financial advisor and he felt it was great value for money so I was reassured by THAT! for only an extra 10 cuc's you could have a water gymnastic "foot push" from two of the dolphins which is an experiemce soaring through the water, 10 foot of the ground I would have paid 100cuc's for! This whole excursion was aboslutely brilliant and my lobster lunch finished it perfectly, we all completely recommend it! even for the children it suited as they had child sized flippers and snorkels and the catamaran was really safe.
We loved the holiday and I can honestly say it was great value for money and the best holiday we have had. I was utterly relaxed throughout the holiday and as a control feak neurotic who is generally very stressed out that is saying something! This was our first holiday as a family as I have a new partner this was the first time he and the kids were thrown together for longer than 2 days- he still said it was the best holiday he had ever had and we have discussed coming back next November!
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Date of review:1 Oct 2009
It would be incorrect to say this is a bad resort, but, due to the restrictions that Cuba presents do not expect the usual Carribean quality of food and drink. Thoma
s Cook advertise premium internation drink but none were available and the food was plentiful and fairly well cooked but somewhat samey even in the A La Carte restuarants.
The resort is clean and well staffed and the pool was great.
Overall a good holiday but not the premium one expected.
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Date of review:1 Oct 2009
This was our 2nd trip to the very same hotel as we went in april 08. We were concerned about the natural beauty being devastated by Hurricane Ike but the resort had
had a 'haircut' and not been shaved. Our room was a little musty - but with numbers being down I expect it hadn't been used so much, once we let the air in for a few days it was fine. The T Cook reps Osmel and Luis Carlos were great and really helpful in booking our trips and making sure we got our gold wristbands and treats for returning customers. Everything about the hotel was just as good as last year, service is excellent and the staff so friendly at this hotel. The snorkelling is just as good and there are hundreds of fish just waiting to be fed. I strongly recommend going out with a 'crusty end' from the bread - you wont be disappointed. We did the 2 day trip to Havana, cost about £280, but well worth it. We didn't go last year as we had teenagerswith us, but would not have missed it this year. It was excellent. It's not just old buildings and history, it's got such a completely different atmosphere to other cities in Cuba. So much to see, if you can get to the Camera Obscura in Old Havana you must - 2 pesos for an amazing experience. 10/10 We also did the Cuba Inside - steam train through farming land, cigar factory and Holguin city - 7/10, the Horse riding and fishing in Roca Azul park - excellent 9/10, the Catamaran snorkelling day which was disappointing as the sea was very rough and the meal afterwards very grim - 4/10 and the Dolphin swim which was sooo good, 4 of us with 1 dolphin due to the 'low season' numbers 10/10. Would we go again? Yes, Same hotel? yes.
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Date of review:1 May 2009
We had the most amazing holiday in Cuba and one we will remember forever. It was the first time we had been to Cuba and it was totally amazing. Our accoommadation wa
s clean and comfortable. The staff couldn't be more helpful or friendly. The resort was well kept with lots to do. We got married whilst we were there on the most beautiful beach - our day was made really special from start to finish without any stress. We enjoyed the food and we liked and visted all the a la carte restaurants - the romantica was our favourite.
The dolphin trip was a must and apart from getting married it was the best experience of my life.
We are saving to go back next year for our second anniversary.
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