Reviews of Sol Rio De Luna y Mares, Holguin

We have just come back from this rsort having experienced the Hurricane Ike, i MUST say the staff there are FANTASTIC!!!! The resort is ruined, the interior of the hotel is now a shell with the beach bar and beach snack bar all but destroyed with the main snack bar area in ruins. Corridor ceilings are ALL down with roof tiles all but gone Within a few hours the staff had food for the guests arranged and the bar up and running within two days. The same staff work constantly for 3 days after the Hurricane with all the guests helping to clear the hotel of debris.



First Choice however were a DISGRACE!!!! The Rep was useless, never once did she (Monica) come to check on the well being of her guests, no updates were given, no group meetings were held, no arrangements for return flights were issued- in short she nor the company had a clue what to do during an emergency. I know that the 60 odd First Choice guests were furious that they had the misfortune to have such a rubbish REP. First Choice actually sent guests into the Hotel on the Saturday before the Hurricane arrived. I will upload some video footage in due course, My advice would be may First Choice your LAST Choice!!



The 1/10 overall rating is for First Choice - 10/10 for the Hotel Staff!!!

One of the best holidays I’ve had. Wonderful weather, hotel, beach, staffs, entertainers, all inclusive food & drinks 24/7. So I’m just mainly going to agree with the comments left by the previous visitors.



Booking in: - Receptionists do ask you if need help with your luggage! Say yes please, because it would be daunting trying to find block, floor and room, if you never been there before and especially after dusk. Sort out tipping (not compulsory) after you get your £s changed to cuc.



Next day: - Getting wakened up by strange bird calls. Brings smiles to your face even before you open your eyes. Little black birds making amazing enchanting loud noise.



Best views: - When you’re on top of the hotel’s sun deck, looking over the lagoon, rolling hills, white beach and blue sea. Fantastic.



Excursions: - Havana, Santiago de Cuba, dolphin swim and many more are really for people who can stay longer then a week. So much to do already.



Walks: - Best walks are on the wooden bridge over the lagoon and on powdery white beach to hotel paradises at sun set, bang on 6pm.



Salsa: - I was a bit disappointed with the standard of dance lessons or rather the lack of, having done basic Cuban salsa in Manchester UK. It was nothing more then a warm up by the pools by very professional friendly entertainers.



Fashion shows: - Paraded by pretty slim young girls at the Mares swimming pool and bar. Guest can buy any of those rather daring dresses if they wish. Saw one women of size 12 may be 14, trying on each and every one them over her bikini, in vane for over half an hour!



Food: - There was plenty of good food and drinks including cocktails. People were sensible though. I didn’t see much waste, except one did get lured and carried away once, with every intension of eating the lot, then couldn’t.

I do have one complaint to make to the kitchen department. Bacon rashes offered at buffet and still stuck together in 4s or 5s couldn’t have been cooked properly, could it?



Wind surfing: - You’re at mercy of wind and waves at sea. one of the three instructors was cheeky to say the least. After securing my old trainers for him self, he offered me little help rigging up with my board and sail. When I’d finished, he held out two large flasks. Asked me if I’d mind getting them filled up with coke and lager at the bar. He said why not? It won’t cost you any thing.



Free scuba diving experience. Wish there was. Rather large diving instructor, who sat in shade out side his hut, chatting with other helpers practically all of the day, only wanted people to sign up for the four day course.



All in all, it was good and I certainly would go again, to Cuba. Just have to make sure I don’t get taken for a ride. Except on the back of a horse, which was in fact very good.

Just got back from Cuba - had a fantastic holiday !

TheLuna Mares hotel looks very impressing when you arrive, it has a huge, open reception, full of plants and with a view to the pool.

We stayed on the Luna side, which most of the time was the quieter side with regards to evening entertainment. Luna usually had a piano player, while Mares had Cuban singers and musicians. But if you don't like one or another you can always just walk across to the other hotel, as they are joined together. In between the two there is a theatre, which puts on a show most nights. the Cabaret I would reccommend to everyone, the dancers are lovely, and they put on a very varied, fun show. Howeer, avoid Tarzan !! It's dreadful...

On our last night, there was an amazing show - it was by the pool, which was lit by candles, and we were lounging on sunbeds, but others were watching from the tables that are put outsides for the restaurants and were having their meals while watching the show. There was everything from fashion show, to dancers, acrobats and a water dance show in the pool, which was absolutely amazing.



The rooms in the hotel are wonderful, and I loved how the rooms are built, so that the buildings are almost wrapped around the gorgeous palmtrees.

The sea is amazing, Esmeralda beach is really clean, there's at least one goof bar/restaurant, so you don't even have to leave if you want a quick lunch. You can snorkel, take out the padelos, or sail. There's beach football, volleyball, a library (!!), you get clean towels every day for the beach if you wish, and if you start walking along the beach towards Paradiso hotel, there's a beautiful bay too.



We did get some tummy upsets, not sure what caused it. The food was ok, we loved the Mexican restaurant, but the Italian we weren't so impreesed by, as we set there for 90 minutes, but we just wanted a quick lunch, and the waitresses didn't really serve us. Others were sitting down, eating, and leaving while we were still waiting to be served our food. Maybe it#s because we were 5 people in our 20s, but still...



the excursions were really good, the tour guides were excellent, all very knowledgable, helpful, and really took care of us. We did the Sun cruise, which contains going out to see on a boat, sailing by Esmeralda beach, stopping for an hour snorkelling, and then going to swim with dolphins. The dolphinswim was fantastic, what an experience !!!

We also went to Santiago de Cuba. You can do this going by plane or by coach. First, we chose to go by plane, but after a quick calculation, we discovered that the flight would only be a little shorter as you would still have to go to Holguin to catch the plane (an hour away) and then a 90 minutes flight, with the usual airport procedures, it would have been at least 3 hours each way. So we decided to go by coach instead, which took 3 hours 45 minutes each way and we could have a look at the amazing Cuban countryside. And it cost almost half the price !!! We were very happy with the tour, although in my opinion the 1 hour free time allowed in the inner city was nowhere near enough, and they could have easily allowed 2 hours.



You can also visit Havana, as there are one or two day excursions by flight.



At the hotel, there's always music blaring out of the loudspeakers, which I especially loved, as I love salsa music. There was a dance lessons every day by both pools, and disco every night on the beach, where we could dance with the locals.

There's also a fitness centre, with great facilities, a gym, aerobic lessons in the morning, jacuzzis, massage, manicure, tennis courts, and so on...



Anyway, I would reccommend this hotel to anyone, it was great value for money, the food could have been a little better, but still OK, and other than that, everything was excellent.

This hotel has everything to offer from the moment you arrive.



The rooms a very basic but everything you need for a 2 week holiday and kept clean and tidy.



The beach is the most amazing place the water is so blue and the sand so white.

On the beach there are lots of activities for everyone to join in or just watch.



The beach restaurant is lovely with very good service and food. Watch out though lots of crabs are running across your feet and sand whilst your eating its very funny.



The hotel is joined to next door so if you don’t like the entertainment in one you can walk to the other. Just the same with the pools.



If you don’t want to eat in the main dinning rooms there a lots of restaurants but you have to book at reception each morning to use them.



It’s a very well relaxed holiday destination with friendly staff and lots to do would recommend this to anyone.



I have been to the Bahamas, Jamaica twice and this holiday is very good value for money.



The catamaran is also a must as snorkelling is great.



Anyone who loves the white sand and a good time will enjoy here.

I and boyfriend booked this holiday for my 21st birthday as Cuba was recommended by a colleague of his. We were currently meant to be staying at Brisas (so glad we didn't) as it had building work so then we had to change.



Luna Mares was the only one that came up and looked stunning.



The flight I really didn’t like. Cramped but sitting next to my partner, food was ok and entertainment was poor.



When we eventually arrived there it was 10pm Cuba time but 3am UK time, both tired and groggy!



Everything about the place was fantastic and you feel so welcomed when you get there and through out your stay. Food weren’t great but the relaxing pools, beach and weather make up for it.



We are going back again next year and can’t wait. Highly recommend it even for people in their early twenties.

Cuba, where do you begin? Firstly you need to remember where you are going, most Cubans have no idea of life outside of Cuba and even those that do have a big smile on their faces and are very welcoming. If you want a holiday with things to do outside of the complex(not excursions)go to Varadero. If you want a relaxing holiday, beach, pool etc, etc go to Guardalavca.



Airport:- Holguin it's small and you have got soldiers & sniffer dogs, custom officials, smile be polite (hard after 10 hrs on a plane) remember it's a communist state thing are different. You may get stopped but hey you may get stopped at Gatwick coming back.



Transfer:- we traveled with Thomas Cook. About an hour our rep was a guy called Urli and a good rep he was too, nothing too much trouble, very knowledgeable



Hotel:- rooms are basic but clean and tidy, new sheets & towels every 2

Days



Food :- I’ve been AI 5 times before and I thought this was a good standard e.g. fresh fish, meat, pasta, king prawns cooked in front of you even had Parma ham all I will say after a week or so it gets a bit repetitive. The al-a-carte restaurants are fine but have to say the romantico is an absolute must (5*) fillet steak lobster and prawn kebab would be happy to pay £30 per head there



Animacion:- had no problem letting my two 5 yr olds go off and be entertained by Yamima and Anthony. Lots to do games, etc, etc, had a show at theater every night generally good fun



Staff:- waitresses and waiters and all the bar staff are very friendly and a credit to the Cubans people



Hope this helps all in all there are a lot worse places you could go.

What a fantastic place the beach is so beautiful. You just can’t believe it veering was good we stayed in the mares side of the hotel which we was pleased about as the Luna seems to be a lot more slower pace.



Evening entertainment no so good but the days make up for it. Clean bedding and towels every day.



Food good but a bit boring by the second week. But over all a great holiday a Cuba must.

Having visited Cuba previously and thought we had discovered a real jem, it did not take us long to come to a decision to book again but this time at a different hotel - Sol Rio De Luna y Mares.



We stayed at the Mares side although no doubt the other reviews will have pointed out that this is in fact a combined resort so the activities / meals / bars / restaurants etc are all available for the guest's to enjoy. There is a very good beach down a few steps (quite tricky if you are not very mobile but no problem at all for most of us fortunate able bodied people). At the beach there are free sun loungers but on a Saturday and Sunday the beach is busy with locals appearing so you may struggle to get a space on these days.



Outside the hotel there is basically nothing although you will be told that the resort is only a few miles from Guardalavaca which boasts approximately 1 bar and 2 restaurants. Probably not worth eating out though!!



Sadly I have to report that this all inclusive hotel is not of high quality. The rooms are clean but tired with people reporting issues that go unresolved such as no water, no lights etc - pretty fundamental. The night time entertainment is dreary and the food is best described as poor to average with many cats around your feet, on your table, scratching your arms etc as you eat. Absolutely horrible - note that I was not the only person who felt that way since the odd dead cat was found kicked off a wall. A number of guests fell ill during my vacation and I have to say I was not completely surprised.



This may go against the grain of many reviews but I am well travelled and have many years of happy holidaying in the Caribbean at all inclusive including previous visits to Cuba. If you have never been to an all inclusive or never been to the Caribbean then maybe you will think this is fantastic - I just do not think it compares.



I have given this a 5/10 as Cuba is still a fantastic place and the people are all very friendly apart from one waiter who seemed to be in a constant mood but this in itself was funny as the other 99 were perfect.



As a footnote - I felt that Thomson were not represented very well. There was little communication over delays and we were also instructed by the rep not to leave our room under any circumstances during a tropical storm yet the hotel opened the buffet restaurant for lunch assuming people would be coming down. Hungry unhappy customers.

from the moment I arrived in Holguin I was amazed by the beautiful surroundings, but when I got to the hotel, I just knew that it was going to be one of the best holidays I have ever been on.


for the 1st few days I was just enjoying the sun with my family. but being a young male, I made friends with others people around my age group, and we would be loving the sunny weather in the day. when night came that was the highlight, despite the fact that it was much hotter at night than in the day due to the humidity, but at the disco, it was great everyone could listen to the music, drink, and dance, and just generally enjoy themselves.


there is always something to do on the resort, there a range of restaurants, and activities..


I really do recommend Cuba, and the sol Rio de Luna y mare’s hotel, to people of all ages. it truly was the best holiday I had ever been on!

Some really wishy-washy reviews on various sites... honestly, some people really want to get a life!.. this place is fantastic for a quiet relaxing holiday, combined with plenty to do to avoid being bored if you fancy “doing a bit”. My wife and I were there for two weeks from 17 June 2005. Great staff, great food/drink, great location/accommodation with plenty of choice to do what you want without being affected by any of the ongoing activities. Would strongly advise against teenagers/ young adults coming here as fairly limited “excitement” to keep them busy.. not too many children here during our visit and those that were, were well behaved unlike the “unruly-s” so very prevalent in Europe these days... I expect it is only a matter of time before Cuba gets infiltrated with them!!! We have absolutely no complaints... get packing and go!


Other holidaymakers = Mainly English & Canadian with a few other Europeans (few Germans as there is no need for towels on the sunbeds!)


Currency.. take your own currency/cash and change as you need at the hotel (forget about chasing rates.. not worth the hassle).


Luggage.. oh dear! nearly everyone got “stung” either out or back for excess luggage.. £7.00 per kilo! (first choice agents)... stick to your allowance (our hand luggage was weighed as part of the 20 kgs allowance!), they are very strict. you do not need to take any towels, hair-drier, iron, snorkels/mask or “formal” clothing (casual everywhere)... so ladies... DONT PACK THEM!


Airline... use First Choice as they have upgraded all their long haul planes with loads of leg room, own TV screen with remote control for movies, games, TV shows etc.., and avoid moaning like all the Monarch travellers... flight was so comfy! however, go from Gatwick if you can coz Manchester is a complete joke (if you go from Man. get there at least 3 hrs prior as check-in = 2.25 hr in the queue!)



We are extremely well and widely travelled, this place is at least 300% better than any all-inclusive you will encounter in Europe.... forget Spain/Greece/Canaries, go 1st Choice and forget about the flight time... Forget abandoned unruly kids and forget loud embarrassing lager louts. Forget “Full English” and the “Red Lion”.. Honestly, you really wont regret it!

Large, well situated resort in a beautiful setting. Private beach which even in the peak season never seemed busy.



Abundance of activities, free as all inclusive, and places to eat and drink. Wide choice of food to suit all tastes, I am vegetarian and had no problem at all eating in each restaurant or buffet.



Entertainment each night was good fun, nightclub in beach was brilliant!



Rooms were comfortable and had everything you would need. Regular and good cleaning service with fresh towels. All rooms have a balcony or veranda. Satellite TV, a locked safe, hairdryer, kettle, fridge.



Resort is only a few miles from Guardalavaca, a cheap journey in a taxi which the reception calls for you. Here there is other hotels and resorts and a market which has lovely jewellery, wooden ornaments, oil paintings and much more!



Overall a very relaxing and enjoyable holiday, would definitely recommend!

what a delight to go back to Cuba, this being our fourth time in the country. We where a little on the down side when we read a lot of reviews on the hotel, but what a great hotel it turned out to be 4 star a/inc. food was very good 2 buffet restaurants/ 4 al acart / 2 snack bars on the beach for lunch & drinks / snack bar by the swimming pool and not to forget the swim up bar and Nicholas the great bar man at the pool, nightly shows where a very good standard and enjoyed by all, there where lots to do during the day ( pool / table tennis/ shooting /archery/ horse riding / volley ball /water polo ect ect my favourite was all the sailing, hobie cats / lasers / pedelos ect, my thanks to Oscar & Alberto for such a great time, they and the rest of the water sports team was very professional. I must say all the staff in the hotel where every good, what a nice atmosphere to have on holiday.



I could go on about the entire good thing all day, just one more thing the beach was fantastic.



The only let down was the rooms, they where kept clean and tidy but they where a little tired and could do with a good face lift.




Hope to go back for Xmas.