Sol Cayo Coco Hotel
, Cayo Coco
Sol Cayo Coco Hotel reviews
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Thomas Cook
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Sol Cayo Coco was sold as a 4 star resort but it is worth mentioning that Cuban 4 star, is not the same standard as British 4 star and this took some people by surprise.
The resort is only 3 star British standards at best (this is no reason not to go at all and please read rest of review).
However this is no surprise due to the embargo Cuba is imposed with by the US which makes Cuba in effect a third world and very poor country. We have no complaints at all about the resort and would recommend it to everyone from the young to old, singles, couples and families.
I went with my wife and 4 year old daughter on 19th May 2007 and returned on the 3rd June 2007 and I have to say I was impressed with the resort.
The rooms are very basic particularly the bathrooms, hence it’s not British standard 4 star, however they are clean and comfortable which is most important in my mind.
The resort is totally all inclusive and the food is very good and very safe and is mostly all freshly cooked and you can see a lot of it being cooked to and the big seller in this as well is towards the end of the meal periods you can see the chefs and staff eating their own food. You get a good choice of food that caters for almost every need.
The pool is clean and safe and the two beaches on the resort are also clean and beautiful. The best beach is the more secluded one around the rocky headland from the main beach which you get to through the side gate of the resort behind the gym over a small wooden bridge.
This beach has powdered white sands and calm ocean and is sheltered. However it can get very hot on there so have plenty of sun cream. The only downside to it is there is no bar on the beach for drinks so it means walking back to the resort (a three to five minute walk) to get a drink or waiting for the resort waiter to come down to the beach but this is intermittent and cannot be relied upon.
The children’s club is very safe and well run by local Cuban staff. They love children and our daughter kept begging to go as she had so much fun and made so many friends.
The staff are very very friendly and pride themselves on service. Many of them from the bar staff to the bell boys are highly qualified and educated people such as surgeons, doctors, lawyers, lecturers who have come into tourism to escape the problems of the embargo as they rely on tips from tourists to ensure their survival.
However they do not demand tips or beg for them so do not worry. They provide a good service to the best of their ability in the hope of a small tip. The usual is 1 convertible paseo (worth about 60 pence.
We gave odd tips out but mainly waited to the end of our stay and gave good tips to our favourite staff. It is perfectly acceptable and very appreciated as well if any spare or old clothes or toiletries can be left as tips at the end of the stay, as anything other than very basic food and supplies is almost impossible for Cuban people to buy.
The only negatives I have is if you are unfortunate to get bad weather (not very likely) there is little to do at the resort other than sit in the bar and the indoor seating can be sparse if this occurs.
Also the evening entertainment can be a bit poor and repetitive however this is not due to lack of effort. You are also cut off from the rest of the world with no foreign newspapers and poor internet connections.
Overall a very good time had by all and many new friends made. I also recommend the trip to Trinidad despite the 3 to 4 hour coach trip. It is well worth it and an amazing historical place. Pilau (think the spelling is right) beach is also highly recommended and is one of the top beaches anywhere in the world and even rivals Whitehaven in Australia.
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Thomas Cook
Was this review helpful? Yes
Accommodation was spotlessly clean including rooms, reception area, pool area etc.
Very large choice of activities in the day, including pool games, darts, dancing.
Lots entertainment at night, including live singers, dancers and actors.
Fantastically cooked food with very large selection, including 2 a la carte restaurants, buffet and snacks throughout the day.
Service was spot on with all staff, including bell boys, bar staff, holiday rep.
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Thomas Cook
Was this review helpful? Yes
Fantastic resort based holiday. Room was decent air condition worked well. Food was good.
We have stayed at the Melia in Havana, which was 5 stars and this was far superior.
I would not bother with ala carte or Cuban restaurant as set times makes this a bind and food in my opinion is not as good as buffet.
We found getting drinks in lobby slow, tipping did not help, however if you befriend Orlando he will never let your class get empty if he is at the pool bar.
The beech is best point fantastic white sand with plenty of palms to give shade if needed. Plenty of fish. Cannot buy snorkelling equipment so bring own or have to borrow from sailing centre (free).
If at beech use the beech bar rather than restaurant bar, Aldo is great host and we were lost when he had a day off and they closed the bar! Best tip is to bring plastic pint glasses as beer is good and strong but taste rubbish in small plastic cups.
Fish of the Hobie Cats on beach 2 hours for 40CUC (£30pp) Freddie will stay out till you catch something. Caught 3 barracudas & a yellow snapper largest at least 10ib. Saw dolphins and turtles on trip.
A must is speedboat trip very cheap and a real thrill as boats will not turn over despite our best efforts through the mangroves.
Shows are good but lost some outdoors due to rain in evening and these were moved in doors to disco.
Do not go mad on tips I am not sure that you get much better service as we tipped in lobby one week and not in second made no difference. Likewise with maids we brought shampoos, conditioners, and soap and maid did not clean our room twice! I think everybody does the same.
Mossies were bad first two days but after that did not bother us although plenty of garlic at pasta bar could have been the reason. If not make sure bring tropical mossie repellent.
Do two day Havana trip £200 well worth it must be done at almost a cost price as hotel was excellent meals were good and Tropicana show was blinding.
Going back next year.
- Board Basis:Full Board
- Tour Operator:Thomas Cook
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Rooms dated but clean, staff fantastic helpful & friendly. Main reception area pleasant at night, tip regularly never had to go to bar.
Got interesting when it rained, roof leaks. Restaurant no probs, mossies very busy, girls in restaurant desperate for tights 1pr costs approx 1/10 of their week’s wage, make up shampoo, conditioner etc, leave as gifts.
Top tip, took 1pt pots (plastic) small pack from wilkos, could have sold these many times over, only small plastic cups used around the pool. Lots of people had taken thermal coffee cups/ sports drinks bottles etc, these were gladly filled.
Scuba diving well worth doing, my son did this and now wants to take the sport up, see Franklin he is usually around most mornings, very patient and instructive.
Paragliding, great fun, avoid the boat/microlight, heard worrying stories on the last day. Go as a group of people to go on Para glide and haggle a price, should have been 40Pesos each got him down to 30.
Barracuda fishing 270 pesos for 4Hrs,see Paul the rep he will put you in touch with other guests who want to fish (max 4 to the boat) Pay by visa better value $/£ exchange rate in favour. Don’t go if you have a sensitive stomach it can get choppy.
A chap may come around the pool offering a cheaper option; he takes you out on a Catamaran, that's up to you.
Electrics we were informed that they used flat pin plugs, not so, round pin if you could find a socket that it fitted, see electrician who will probably sort you out.
Had to visit Moron Hospital, youngest son got a knock playing, this is when you realise how lucky we are in the UK, (never moan about NHS again) there is not much to see in Moron, but you will see the real Cuba, takes approx 1Hr.
Dr in the Hotel very pleasant, nice guy, Dr in the International clinic very good, this only 10 Min's away. Anything serious try and get out of the country.
First week there temperatures great even cool at night, second week wow!! Humidity+ 36degrees +.
We have been to Spain/Greece and Cyprus on AI.
I wish Cuba was several hours closer. We will be going back!
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Thomas Cook
Was this review helpful? Yes
When we arrived after a 10 hour flight we were exhausted! As soon as we arrived at the hotel, we were greeted by some of the hotel staff that very pleasant.
After checking in to the hotel, we preceded on to our room, we were very shocked by the two queen sized beds and how big the room was. The view was superb we couldn’t ask for a better view.
The pool area was lovely and it was a place you could always go to call down there were always plenty of sun beds available. The beach was fantastic it was better than we had ever been too.
The restaurant food was lovely, you had a wide range of food selection available including superb vegetarian meals and buffet. There were two restaurants you could go to once a week.
We absolutely enjoyed the international restaurant where we had a three course meal that was perfect. The Cuban restaurant wasn’t so nice but still very enjoyable.
There was a wide range of trips to go and all a reasonable price we went on the colour Cuba trip which showed you how the Cubans really live and is a real eye opener!
In the evenings there is entertainment going on with fantastic dancing going on and musicals, there was also a place for the kids to go if they didn’t fancy going to see the dancing.
But overall the hotel, staff and entertainment was excellent and we have booked up to go again this year!
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Thomas Cook
Was this review helpful? Yes
Sol Cayo Coco was amazing. All the staff were so outgoing and always wanted to make conversations, but the pool would get really busy at around 10:00 but apart from that it was brilliant.
All your food was cooked in front of you apart from chips, potatoes and rice but overall the food was delicious.
The rooms were nice but a bit basic, all the linen was changed every day and the cleaner was so nice.
The beach had golden sands and clear, warm water and the watersports were amazing.
I strongly recommend going scuba diving out at the reef this is brilliant.
One word of advice though, don’t fly with Monarch as there is no legroom, bad service and on a 11 hour flight you at least expect your headphones and entertainment system to work!!
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Thomas Cook
Was this review helpful? Yes
The only reason this holiday isn't getting a 10/10 is the food was great but it did tend to be the same thing.
Other than that I had a fantastic holiday met a few people when I was out there, we went to the disco every night which was good although a little on the empty side because of the time of year. Except for Salsa night which was Tuesdays and Friday’s lots of Cubans and residents from other Sol hotels came down to enjoy the night.
The music was good although the Disco does close at 2pm but the lobby bar was open all hours so drinks were none stop until whatever time in the morning. The Staff were great very helpful and they always remembered your face. I even ended up giving half my clothes away as they are rationed in Cuba. (So if you do go any toiletries and spare clothes you have give them to the staff)
The Reps were great especially Henry and Dennis, my brothers and I spent most of our holiday with them, they went out of there way to help you. They even took us to the Cave which is a Cuban club in an underground bat cave. They spent the evenings socialising with us and spent their days involving us in all the Sol games.
The entertainment during the day was brilliant, usually I don't really participate but this year I was playing water volleyball, water polo, darts, aerobics and lots of other Sol games they had thought up. The weather was good, we did have a tropical storm while we were there but it only lasted 2 days and there were still things for us to do.
The rooms were great everything was clean and the maids were in everyday. Overall it was a brilliant holiday so I’m going back next summer. One last thing a warning the mosquito’s eat u alive and the repellent does not work so make sure you take brewers yeast or odourless garlic tablets (Holland & Barrett) a week or two before you go and while your out there. That's enough from me enjoy your holiday.
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Thomas Cook
Was this review helpful? Yes
We went to Sol Cayo Coco for the second time this year and it was even better second time round. We got back 2 days ago and already I have priced up for 2 and 3 weeks for next year!
The staff and hotel are great, they all look after you, we have made so many friends!
The food is great and full of variety. Rooms are clean and spacious, always cleaned every day without fail.
Kids had a great time I never saw them (14/12 and 9).the animation team always had something for them to do and always included them. The youngest used to go horse riding with jumpy who ran kids club, she even took her to the zoo which she thoroughly enjoyed.
We are definitely going back next year hopefully for 3 weeks. Enjoy your holiday as we definitely did!
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Thomas Cook
Was this review helpful? Yes
Cuba is one of those places which like me you have always thought it would be nice to visit but never had the courage to do so. Well this year my partner and I did just that for two weeks in May and had an absolutely wonderful time. Cuba is a place of pure beauty from the crystal blue seas and sandy beaches to the lagoons dotted around the various resorts.
The resort we stayed in was beautifully landscaped and extremely clean and tidy. At a push if i really wanted something to moan about then perhaps the food was a little basic but this is more than compensated for by the abundance of fantastic restaurants in the local vicinity serving up any number of wondrous delights!
Cuba is a beautiful place and all you sun worshippers will not be disappointed - we visited in may and still came back a gorgeous brown colour so ditch those European destinations this year and hop on a plane to Cuba!
- Board Basis:Full Board
- Tour Operator:Airtours
Was this review helpful? Yes
We had a terrific time in this hotel.
The staff were wonderful and attentive nothing was too much trouble.
I had the misfortune of being ill with an ear infection whilst here but thanks to the talents of the GP, who ensured that I received my intravenous dosage on a daily basis. He was very caring and had a very good bed-side manner I have never known anyone able to get it in so effortless before.
I am very fastidious about what I put in my mouth also and the fish chef was a dream. He made sure nothing passed my lips that was distasteful. On some occasions he even came to my room so I could sample the menu prior to the evening.
The animacion team were extremely friendly. They used to argue about who would take me back to my room and tuck me in for the night after overindulging on alcohol.
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Thomas Cook
Was this review helpful? Yes
Upon arriving at the hotel after a rough flight, we were pleased with the short transfer time from the airport to the hotel, approx 15 mins, where we were greeted by the animations teams dancing in Cuban national dress and welcoming us to the hotel, check-in was fast, courteous and well organised.
The rooms are functional, we had twin double beds, the bathroom was small but clean incorporation both bath and shower facilities, large wardrobes including a safe, ironing board and iron, hairdryer and tea / coffee making facilities which unlike some hotels is included in the cost of the holiday.
The rooms are decorated to a standard that you would expect of a Caribbean resort, very bright and vibrant, although they will soon need a lick of paint.
The food, which seems to be a big bone on contentions in all-inclusive resorts, was well prepared and varied throughout the stay, buffet style self service of main dish's and with the addition of cook to order meals ranging from pizza, grills and pasta in the evening, egg grill and pancakes in the morning.
The range of drinks available from the bars is limited and the service was ok. There is a cocktail bar open most evening, near the reception bar, who will mix anything you can think of and if you believe the bar tender taught Tom Cruise everything he knows.
The animation team worked very hard rehearsing all day and performed a evening show, for guest every night, they are the most professional team I have ever encountered, and the standards of the shows and dancing were superb, although I did get the feeling that they are employed more for their dancing skills than anything else, as the daytime activities were very poor.
The pool was clean, but lacked enough loungers and shade, although they were building new gazebo's to add extra shaded area.
I know this sounds as though I am easy to please, and you’re probably right! but there was one main problem with the hotel that I was not comfortable with, that would be tipping, in other resorts I have stayed in the tipping is seen as optional, in the case of Cuba and Sol Cayo, it would seem it is compulsory, we found this out after the first few days, noticing that the people getting the good tables in the restaurant and services at the bar, were the people who were tipping the staff, and if you can't beat em. join em., so we tipped, and hey presto we got good tables, prompt service and in the evenings, never had to leave our seats for the bar, for as soon as we went to go to the bar a waiter was two steps ahead of us.
The other problem with the hotel, was it location, yes the beach's are beautiful and clean, the water is crystal clear and warm, the problem is Cayo Coco is an island, an Island that is some 60km from the mainland and for all intense and purposes a holiday island, none of the locals live there, they are bused in from the mainland to work in the hotels, as a result unless you are willing to travel under your own steam to the mainland there is no local culture to absorb. You can stay in the hotel by the pool or by the beach and that is about it. There are trips available but even those are limited.
As a result I would not return to Cayo Coco, I would go back to Cuba, but to the mainland, I found the people to be very friendly and even friendlier if you tip them!
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Thomas Cook
Was this review helpful? Yes
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A great start to the holiday. Manchester Airport. No delay and off My Family and Me went to Cayo Co Co.
Landed In Jardines Des Rey... Bit slow through customs but no problems.
I tipped Nigel Mansell for transferring us so fast from the airport to the hotel (didn’t think coaches went that fast, but no problem).
Hello Sol Cayo Coco, 17th May 2007.
A fast check in and eagerly upto our two rooms went 2 adults and 3 children.
We headed across the ice skating rink (Lobby Floor, beware) and up the numerous water slides (Landing Floors, extreme caution please) and opened door one (room 2234) and it looked comfortably 3* with a view of the rear gardens, crazy golf course and the beautiful sea in the distance.
I only made one mistake on entering the room and that was breathing through my nose, I couldn't decide if the smell was damp or urine. Being the easy going chap that I am, I compromised and settled for both.
At this point my beautiful compassionate fiancé had an aural spasm, which turned out to sound a little like this... "Well, this is your room!!!" And that was that!
So... In anticipation we ventured on to door number two. (Room 2235).
I must admit, I was a little wiser, I made sure there was 3 children in front of me, between Me and the Mrs when entering the room....
Spasm 2... Sounded a little like this, " four star, four star, more like bloody two star +. What did I say, what did I say?... We should have gone to Spain".
To make this easy for you, I think key points are required:
Staff:
Some of the staff are genuinely lovely friendly people, but if you get over friendly staff (that have the same statistics as you), they want your clothes! Don't be scared. Not your body, just your clothes. There are the polite ones that will ask and the not so polite that will steal your shorts, trainers and even underwear.
The best deterrent is to declare scurvy, crabs, and athletes foot at reception on booking in.
All that aside, they do work very hard and get paid peanuts for the pleasure. Tip little and often for preferential treatment.
In the Sol shops don't expect service with a smile, if you are deluded into believing they are smiling, your wrong, they are laughing at you paying the extortionate prices compared to the price you'll pay for the same items in main land Cuba.
Food:
Do not eat the burgers, because they handle raw meat and cooked meat with the same utensils as I quickly learnt with the runs for 3 days. I did report this to the Rep, several days in a row and then gave up and didn't eat them anymore.
Make sure any other meats that you eat are very well done because, on the (uncovered) trolley trip to the restaurants, I hate to think what else other than mosquito's has a gnaw on it.
Seriously keep your eye out with food.
We saw the roof leaking rain water into the cheese for pizza's and the chef just swilled it round and carried on serving it.
There was plastic in the ice cream. Often the food that was meant to hot, was cold.
Take toilet roll and Imodium for the runs if you are as lucky as us and many others. The lovely after affects of the food cooked so well…
Beach:
On the first week both the small beach at the right of hotel and the Playa Largo, on the left, were spotlessly clean and great to swim in the warm crystal clear waters. (Although you needed an early start to beat the sun bed war).
The children enjoyed the snorkelling, with plenty of fish to keep them amused. Also a good variety of water sports available.
I say great until the rain came and stormy waters. The waters brought in a vast amount of sea weed and plastic rubbish onto the beach at the right of hotel. The beach became not as idealistic as you played dodge the barrier of weed and plastic. This remained for a number of days and no one appeared in a hurry to clear it.
The Playa Largo beach is hard to beat, powder sand and waters you can walk out a good distance. Very safe for the children and a greater expanse of sand for the sun worshippers. We did notice on the last week of our stay that the sea had a strange yellow colour which we couldn’t decide if was just murky waters or lots of people urinating. (It was very warm so we left that to the imagination).
The Pool:
Ok so at 6am you need to set the alarm and sneak downstairs in good commando style to place your treasured towels on your claimed sun lounges.
Please do not take this as the beds are yours as Hotel Sol has English holidaymakers who arise later and claim rights to the bed and the towels you had placed so precisely.
The best of it is that when challenged they deny all knowledge. Best advice is to put your own towels on the beds and not the issued hotel ones as they are all the same so not recognisable. Plus if your hotel issued towel is lost or stolen it will cost you 20 pesos for the privilege.
The pool appeared clean but around the pool are white grills. These pose as danger as many are broken or ill fitted. Many people we met on our 2 week stay suffered bad ear infections and other infections which made us question the pools cleanliness. It didn’t help when a beautifully formed faecal matter floated to the surface of the pool, after about 15 mins a man with a net expertly scooped it up. Hmmm good cleaning method?
Not sure, some parents and individuals steered clear of pool until following day.
Around the pool also is very very very slippy. At least 4 accidents were seen in the first week. Practise walking on ice before going!
Entertainment:
The nightly shows of dancing were a highlight. The dedication of the dancers really showed and apart from being eaten alive by the mozzies while watching, they were watchable.
The downside was when the rain arrived …then entertainment was virtually nonexistent. The teens became very bored in the evenings as the disco didn’t start till 11pm.
But hey bored children never cease to amaze do they? Frog flinging, rock throwing, turtle shaking, and finally who can break the cue and pool table the fastest, all became a feast of their excitement.
It would at this point have been nice to have seen certain parents restrain their children from throwing the frogs and dangling them by the legs, and also the pool bullying etc.
We, as with many other holiday makers would have taken great pleasure from dangling some of the delightful teens and tearaways by their legs and see if they stick to the glass too.
Entertainment is seriously lacking. People watching appeared a good past time for many or eye spy.
The kids club was enjoyed by my daughter although it shocked some parents as it is held in a bedroom so be aware of this. They were safe though and made friends.
The greatest tip to give you for your holiday is...
1. Go on inspection day when the representatives of the hotel management or holiday firms arrive. Then your food will be steaming, the choice of food endless, a fountain in the lobby will flow and if you’re lucky, a table of food will be set up in the lobby with sandwiches and hotdogs to eat away the hours.
Oh yes and if you are really really good, the cocktail bar will suddenly come to life. Oh not forgetting, paint where was once dry will suddenly be brighter, in a wet paint sort of way.
2. If you want to go on trips and you are a family of 5 then save plenty of money for the cost. £500 for a trip to the dolphins… Only time reps appear to smile was when they were sorting trips… Give them their dues though, 53 complaints in one day wouldn’t be a great work day for anyone.
If it wasn’t for the fellow holiday makers and a number of genuinely nice staff we met, then we would have swam home after 4 days unfortunately. Sharks or no sharks!!