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Sol Rio de Luna Y Mares Resort 09/02/2003
Reviewers Rating:  Great
Hola!
I'm still adjusting to the weather and 'reality' that is about to settle in once I came back to TO. It's only been 2 days since we came back from Sol Luna Y Mares. First of all, since this forum allows only 4 stars, and 4 being the highest mark, i had to give this resort a 3, even though it deserves about a 3.5 star rating.
I stayed with 7 close friends (ages 21-26) on the Mares side of the resort. Both sides are very beautiful, and the grounds very well groomed. It feels as if you're in some kind of a tropical rain forest when going to the beach from Mares. So many trees, beautiful plants and flowers, and even some adorable little kittens (they're kind of wild, though, so don't bother petting).
THE ROOMS: were alright, but it didn't really matter, since we only slept in the room. HINT: bring your own hairdryer, cd player or walkman, (these must be requested, and believe me, they are hard to get) and a converter. Also you can request a king size bed from the reception, since you only get two single beds upon your arrival. The bathrooms are large and spacious, and tastefully decorated. No need to bring towels from home, the maid always leaves clean towels for the bathroom as well as for the beach.
We tipped our maid every day. Sometimes with gifts sometimes with 1$ bills. In return, our fridge was always stocked with water and soda, and flowers were scattered throughout the room.
THE BEACH: spectacular! Fine white sand, beautiful palm trees and huts scattered all along the beach, always plenty of shade. FOR THE SLEEPY PEOPLE: those who wake up around noon, you might not be able to find a lounge chair if you sleep in. But this could have been the case because the hotel was packed and at full capacity. So lots of shade, plenty of chairs, beach bar at the left called La Nina (a haaaaa)...Reynald was a great bartender at that bar!
For parents with small kids: the water at the beach is shallow only for the first 2 meters, so keep a close eye on them!
ACTIVITIES: so much to do at this place! Rifle shooting, darts, bow and arrow, beach volleyball, beach soccer, obstacle games (won my first medal there!!!) At night they have a show for kids, and then for adults where they hand out diplomas and medals to all of those who have won competitons by participating in the daytime activities. THE STAFF/ANIMACION is wonderful! Get involved, it makes your stay so much more memorable!
FOOD: ok, I have been to Cuba 4 times, and I know the food is not the greatest. It is buffet food, and we all know buffet does not equal delicious meals. But the food was average: omellets for breakfast, sliced tomatoes, many types of cold cuts, 5 types of cheese to chose from, grilled sandwiches with ham and cheese, fruit, juices, cereals, pancakes...(there is more, but these are what our group stuck to). For lunch: there is a paella station, which is good, they grill calamari, fish, turkey, beef and pork at another station, the rest is salads (use the salsa mayonesa or the salsa rosa as salad dressing, very good!) potatoes, pasta, broccoli, mixed veggies....dinner was similar to lunch, but instead od the paella, there is a pasta station. So the food wasn't the greatest, but we never felt hungry or bored at any time. Plus book your a la carte restaurants the day you arrive at the PR desk.
BARS: the main lobby bar was the best, they had the best selection of drinks/cocktails. If you tip, you'll get served faster. Might sound unfair, but hey, if you're ordering 8 drinks at one time for your whole group, I think the bartender deserves some green. We got to know 2 bartenders one night, we stayed at the bar until 4 am just talking to them. The next night, they would make us drinks even before we ordered them! GREAT COFFEE!!!! I love CUBITA...
The DISCO: la Nina, a haaaaaaa....not bad, on the beach, not full enough for everyone to let loose and dance...We went 4 times during our stay of 2 weeks. We preffered to hang out around the pool, tell jokes, and laugh.
All in all, we had an amazing time. This is not (by this system's rating a 4 star resort) but comes very close to it. I miss it already...
Ana
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