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Hotel & Club TRYP Cayo Coco 06/14/2003
Reviewers Rating:  Excellent
My friends and I have just returned from an AMAZING trip to Club TRYP in Cayo Coco about 2 weeks ago or so. This is a little late but still worth reading! We are all 18 years old and this is my view on the TRYP (which is relatively close to theirs!) We went there from May 18th-25th 2003. We have a site at http://www.angelfire.com/grrl/2hip4u that shows photos and stuff! Check it out too!
We just thought we would let you all know about how amazing it was! This is a pretty in-depth and long review so sit back, relax enjoy! My name is Megan and I will be your guide for this review! LOL!
The Flight There/Bus Ride There
We flew Skyservice from Toronto and everything was on time. Just to let everyone know, they never weighed our carry-ons so if you go over the 11lb limit (which is very easy) donít worry too much. Also my bag weighed 25kg and the max is 20 and you are suppose to pay $5 extra for each kg overÖ. which they didnít careÖ. When we boarded the plane I couldnít help but notice how there was no space whatsoever between the seats! Oh well no biggy it was only a 3-hour flight. Halfway into our flight they brought us out cardboard boxes containing a meat and cheese wrap, pretzels, a chocolate chip cookie and coal slaw. Warning!!! Check the expiry date on the slaw because after we had consumed half of it we realized it had expired like 3 days prior! So the food wasnít that great, but I mean it didnít matter we werenít on the plane to eat a filet mignon dinner with ceaser salad! (Although that would be goodÖ lol) We arrived at the New Jardines Del something airport and when we stepped off the plane holy crap! It was soo hot and humid! (which was amazing!) We went through customs, which was quick and easy although if you are bringing a cell phone and it gets service there they will have to write down serial code and stuffÖ. Anyways, we found our Sunquest/Albatours rep and she was sooooo kind and helped us to our bus that would be driving us to the TRYP. The bus ride to the hotel was VERY short. It didnít even take 10 minutes. (This could be because the Cubans like to drive 100 in the 60!)
Arrival at the TRYP
When we got there I was mesmerized at how picture perfect it was. It was around 8p.m. and it was dark. The sun sets earlier in Cuba than in Toronto and it also rises earlier. The reception is all open there are no doors which are very welcoming and there was also an Internet Caf蠴here. We were told to take our own luggage to our room only because sometimes it took the bellboys a while to get it there. So we checked in, got our room keys and grabbed our bags. Now, the hotel is very large and I have no clue how we managed to find our rooms so quickly. We came to a large flight of stairs and we had to take down to get to our rooms (along with our 100lbs luggageís lol) We were lucky to have a gentleman help us with our bags down the stairs. At the bottom of the stairs were all the vendors. We were surprised to see them there when it was dark. We decided to head out the right and crossed a little bridge over a pool when boom right in front of us was block 6! (our block) Wow... lucky girls! Then we realized we were on the second floor, great more stairs! But we were happy because I have heard problems with bugs on first level rooms! So we climbed up two flights of like 8 stairs and finally found our rooms 642 and 635.
The Rooms
When we opened the door the air conditioner was already on which was nice because carrying our bags up those stair in 40-degree humid weather made us sweaty! Yes, at first the room had a bit of a smell, but I mean it wasnít bad I actually didnít mind it at all. Mind you I did bring 2 stick on air fresheners which helped it smell like pretty flowers. The rooms are very spacious. The beds are pushed together and very large. You could sleep 4 people in a room easily. But 2 are perfect if you like a lot of space. There is also a table and two chairs in front of the balcony and there is a closet, with about 4 shelves and a place to hang clothes. (Although they donít provide hangers, so bring them if you want them) The bathroom is separated by a door (partially see-through) On the one end if a toilet and I think a urinal.. not sure what that was lol, and there is a shower. (Which by the way had better power than my shower at home and the water was always hot) The other side is a huge mirror, sink, and a hair dryer. They also have a mini fridge in the room (it isnít stocked though) satellite TV. (you can get superstation, vh1, cnn, movie channels.. although most are dubbed in Spanish) The rooms were perfect. Nothing super fancy but all we used them for was sleeping and showering.
The Disappearing Colonial Side:
As of May 1st the colonial side on the resort had been closed/sold. (There are 2 sides for those who havenít been a club and a colonial side). Basically everything was moved to the club side. The disco is now at La Vida Loca and they have built a new location for the pizzeria. The colonial side looked very nice and it would have been nice to see it up and running. You can still walk over there, although there is a guard so go in the early morning if you donít want him following you around. I think it was sold to Cubanacan because on their web page they list a new hotel opening this winter called Colonial Cuba 5* resort and the pics are the same as the colonial side of the TRYP. Donít feel like itís not worth going without the colonial side because I think if we were placed on the colonial side it would have been too far to get everywhere. The 24-hour bar and the night shows would be so far away!!! If anyone has any questions about the changes my email is at the end!
The Beach
The beach was beautiful. White sand, crystal clear turquoise water. Wow! The beach is very long and narrow and there are MANY lounge chairs and palapas so you donít have to be there at 8am (as some reviews mentioned) to get one. Although we did go in May when there wasnít full capacity. We never saw any crabs or jellyfish on the beach. The only thing I must say is if you intend on going to the beach early in the morning or late at night cover yourself up and spray on major bug spray. There are a lot of mosquitoes at these times. On the beach you can also rent (for free) non-motorized water sports things such as paddleboats, canoes, kayaks, etc. Just give them your room # and its yours for an hour or so. We took a paddleboat and it was a lot of fun. They always have ìCrazy Gamesî going on at the beach all day. We did this weird catch the ball in a cup- major funny stuff. And they did dance lessons on the beach. It was amazing!
The Grounds/Scenery Etc.
The hotel was always kept up nice by the gardeners. The grass was dead but I mean in 40-degree humidity it is impossible to keep it green. There was so many pretty flowers- we wanted to pick them all! There are LOTS of palm trees and at night was the best. The hotel looks so pretty at night- although we wished the pools were lit up at night!
The Pools
There are 2 pools. One huge one that is like 5 in 1. And there is a quiet pool near
blocks 10-12. We spent a lot of time at the pool near block 6 (our building) because there
Were always games and fun things going on. Plus this is where the swim-up bar is located!
The pools could use a little work, I mean there are tiles missing and stuff but it wasnít a
big deal. There was shallow as well as deep parts to the pools. Warning! I think they put
loads of chlorine and stuff in the pools because I have blond hair and it turned green! So
for all you blonds bring your purple shampoo to help! LOL!
The Food/Restaurants
There are 5 restaurants. There is the International, Seafood, Beach Grill, Pizza
Place and the Buffet. On arrival you get 2 vouchers per room and you can choose when
you want to visit the Seafood and the International restaurant. The buffet is open till
10pm at night and the Beach Grill till 4pm or so as well as the Pizza place. They are all
included in your all-inclusive package. You can only visit the Seafood and International
once though.
The Buffet:
We at manly here. It isnít the best food but who wants to gain 20lbs while
on vacation? LOL. They do have a very large assortment of breads and they have potatoes
and French fries as well as pastas, fish and some weird seafood, roast beef, etc. The
buffet itself is really pretty. For breakfast itís basically get everything yourself and you
can get your own juices. But for dinner they bring you your drinks (they have beer and
wine here for alcohol).
The Beach Grill:
The best place Iíd say. We went here for lunch every day almost.
They have hamburgers, cheeseburgers, hot dogs, chicken, French fries, etc. The food here
is really good and being right on the beach its very convenient. There is also a bar here
with a really funny bartender.
The Pizza Place:
We went here once for lunch. We heard you could order a pizza
and take it to your room but we were unable to. They have two floors to this place and
we stayed on the top floor. Our waiter was really nice and we all had the pizza, which was
pretty good.
The International Restaurant:
This was our first restaurant we stayed at. Our
waiter was awesome! The food here was really good, I had a some pork with a sweet and
sour sauce and potatoes, Maria had beef fajita (which is just a stir-fry because there isnít
any fajitas lol) I canít remember what Brie and Danielle had. Our dinner here was really
good and enjoyable. The restaurant was really pretty and nice.
The Seafood Restaurant:
Okay, we stayed here our last night at the resort and it was exactly where the Beach Grill is. It turns into a restaurant at dinnertime. I am not a
seafood fan so my experience here wasnít that great. For an appetizer I ordered some
fritter thing and what I got was disgusting! LOL It was like a tuna sundae with pineapple,
chicken and shrimp mixed in it. But you couldnít tell what the food was in it until you
chewed it because it was covered in a gray tuna sauce! Oh well.. no biggy. The only downside to this place was that it is an open concept building so there is no air conditioning unlike the International restaurant.
The Weather
For the beginning of our vacation we had nothing but sun sun sun! It was 35 feels
like 45 degrees (Celsius) each day. Near the end of our vacation we had a lot of rain. Well
not a whole lot but it rained at night mostly. And when it rains in Cuba it rains! It would
downpour for an hour or two and there would be puddles up to the middle of my chin! It
was nice though to cool you off. May is the beginning of rain season so we were aware
that it could rain a lot and didnít let us spoil our vacation.
The Night Shows
Every night there was a show going on stage. The first night they chose a ìMr.
Cayo Cocoî it was really funny. Most nights there are dancing and skits they entertainers
do. One night was a couples things and it was hilarious, they had to switch clothes and
do a bunch of ridiculous stunts. They all started around 9:30 (after the childrenís show)
and went till 11:00 max. The night shows were awesome and we went to every single one
of them. One night they had to have it indoors due to rain.
Things To Do/Excursions
On the resort itself there is lots to do. They have 3 tennis courts, a sauna, hot tub,
hair salon, massage parlor, they also have volleyball, ping pong, scuba diving lessons,
aerobics both in the pool and on the stage, there is paddle boating, windsurfing, kayaking,
dance lessons, Crazy games- there is never a dull moment! The animation team will
always help you have a good time. You can also (on Tuesdays) for $3 US take a train ride
to the Sol Cayo Cocoís disco (*recommended for the younger crowd) there are also
excursions you can pay your rep to go on. We went on 3 excursions so I will tell you
about them.
The ìSnorkel Seafariî Catamaran Day Trip:
This was the most expensive
excursion at $69.00 US per person. But WELL worth it. We left our hotel around 2pm I
think and took a bus to this beautiful catamaran called Coco Club. It was almost brand
new and so pretty. We set off and we stopped at 2 coral reefs to snorkel in. The first
there were few fish but the second there were many fish and I also saw a barracuda, which really freaked me out, but the captain told me not to worry as they
wouldnít harm me. When we left that Corel reef we had forgotten someone! (One of the
members on the boat) It as probably a joke and was staged because when we went back
for him he had 2 starfish for us to hold and take pictures with! It was really cool. Our
next stop was an untouched island! It was awesome! We got to touch it lol and play volleyball. My friends and I went looking to seashells and found lots! When we got back on the boat it was suppertime. The chef had prepared lobster, shrimp, chicken, rice,
pineapple and a really good sauce. The dinner was extremely good and all of our drinks
were included (they had pop, beer, and some liquor including rum, etc.) We then got to
see the sunset, and if you havenít seem a Cuban sunset youíre missing out big time! It
was beautiful pure red and pink and orange wow! We arrived back around 8:30 so the
excursion was around 6 hours or so and well worth the money. We actually wanted to do
it again as it goes out Tuesdays and Saturdays.
The Jungle Boat Tour:
We drove to Cayo Guillermo (spelling??) I think and this
was an awesome excursion! For $39.00 US per person (this is adult pricing) it was well
worth it. We arrived and got our very own snorkels to keep for free! As we went to get
into our boats (yes our very own boat that we got to drive) it began to rain! It wasnít too
bad though. Maria and I were in one boat and Danielle and Brie in the other. We drove
out for about 30 minutes or so and it began to rain hard I mean the rain was hitting
me and I donít know how I was able to see where I was going! LOL! It actually added for
a lot of fun because the water was pretty rough and fun to drive the boat in. We arrive at
these mangroves and docked our boats. When then were given flippers and masks to go
snorkeling in the water with. They took a photo of us holding a starfish in the water too!
There is a rope that you can guide yourself through the mangroves with if you need it. I
have never seen so many fish in my lifetime! There was a lot of fish here including parrot
fish and more (sorry canít remember the names!) We snorkeled for 45 minutes of so and
then we got a sweet orange juice to get refreshed before the journey back. The way back
was only about 15 minutes (we took a different route) and when we got back we could
purchase photos they took of us driving the boats and holding the starfish for $5 US each.
This was a great excursion.
The Glass Bottom Boat:
This was only $18 US per person for about 2 hours. We walked out to about waist level in the ocean off the beach and climbed aboard a really nice boat. We drove to a coral reef and got to go snorkeling. By now (since this was our last excursion) we were a little snorkeled out and it took a lot to get us in the water lol, but they will insist until you do! It also had a glass bottom and you could see the fish through
it- it was a lot of fun!
The Staff/Animation Team:
Amazing! They always have things going on and they are all very friendly and
helpful. The animation team also has some good-looking guys (Hector, Marques, Joel
and Juan!) As well as pretty girls!! They are all a lot of fun and will get you doing crazy
things! (such as dancing, etc.) The bartenders there are the best! Hector and Evelio were
among our faves! Hector works at the disco bar and Evelio at the 24 hour bar. They were
awesome and let me go behind and make drinks for other people as well as we one of
them doing tequila poppers with us!!!!!! (yes there is tequilaÖ bug for it! Lol) The staff
and animation team made our vacation. They were so awesome! Our maids were really
friendly and nice too!
The Night Life:
By the nightlife I am talking about the disco! La Vida Loca is now the disco
(since the change) and it was so much fun. It opens at 11PM and goes until 2AM! At the
beginning they play a lot of salsa music but by midnight it is all top 40, hip hop, etc. (they
play 50 cent, a lot of Sean Paul, Kevin Little, and old school) the disco was awesome,
there were animation people there to have fun with you as well. And Hector the bartender
tip him well because he deserves it!!!!
Tipping:
Tipping is not a necessity but it is really nice if you do tip them. We tipped
mostly near the beginning of our week and they really appreciated anything. We also
made gift bags for our maids and left 2 each day for them. They really appreciated it and
left us extra blankets and things. We also bought hats for the gardeners that said Canada
and they loved them! *Go to a dollar store! We only spent $20 between 4 of us and
bought so many cool presents!*
Shopping/Things to Buy:
There are vendor (about 6 of them) that come each day- from 8am-10pm they are
there to sell you cool things (they had necklaces, photos, and hand carvings, lots of neat
things! Prices range from $1-$30 for more expensive things. There is also shops at the
resort. There are gift shops, alcohol and cigar shop (VERY cheap alcohol!) you can buy
anything from shot-glasses to lighters that say Cuba to hats, t-shirtsÖ lots of selection!
Animals:
We saw a really cool peacock just wandering around out front! There is also a
flamingo pound with 10 or so pink flamingos! We never saw a spider although I was
bitten by one! Eww, there are lots of cool lizards, there are also crabs, etc. There is also a
cat that lives on the resort. We have decided to cal him Checkers. (long story) He is very
friendly although donít pick him up because me being the smart one that I am (after a few
cerbezaís) decided to pick him up and he got wet because it was raining and cats donít
like water and scratched me to death! It was frightening! He lives around block 6 and he
loves Doritos! Lol! Thatís about all we saw.
Things to Bring If You Go:
Okay, firstly the toilet paper is fine. It isnít sandpaper as one person said. I
brought extra t.p. but didnít use it at all. My school has worse t.p that the hotel. Here is a
good list of what extras to bring:
ß dollar bill for tipping
ß insulated mug
ß bendy straws
ß air fresheners
ß lots of bug spray
ß sunscreen SPF of at least 30! (trust me- even if you hardly burn at home Cuba is much different!!!)
ß snacks (there is only ham and cheese sandwiches at the 24 hour snack bar
ß dollar store items for the maids, bartenders, gardeners, etc.
ß band aids and medicine (they have them there but cost a lot of $$$$$$)
ß Underwater camera!!! Especially if you are going snorkeling!
ß Washcloth (they donít supply them)
ß Flashlight (for the beach at night)
Other than that you are good to go!
Going Home:
This was the worst experience ever because we didnít want to leave. We had to
check out of our rooms by 12 noon (you can get extended check out for $30 we just
didnít feel it was worth it). Our luggage was kept safe in a room until our bus arrived
around 5:00pm. The day we left it was raining and crappy out so we sat down and drank
some of our last cerbezas before we left. When the bus arrived we packed on our things
and drove to the airport. Going through customs was pretty easy. *BE SURE TO HAVE
YOUR FILM CHECKED SEPERATELY. Sometimes after the film has been used the x-
rays will destroy it. If the film is new it will be okay, just used film especially if it
800iso. They donít mind to hand-check things if you ask. We waited for the plane for an
hour and a half or so. There is plenty to see at the airport and there are many gift shops.
Also a Heineken only cost 2 bucks! CHEAP! The gift shops are relatively the same
maybe a bit more than the resort I found. When we boarded our plane is was raining and
the plane ride home was an awful experience for me. We had a lot of turbulence and
at one point our plane lifted up and free fell in the air. It was horrible, the seatbelt sign
was left on for 99% of the time. Our captain was very assuring and came on the P.A. and
calmed us. It was sure nice to land! Also they had changed the food on the way home.
They got rid of there cheese and ham wraps (thank goodness) and have a new wrap which
is MUCH better! Going through Canada Customs was fairly quick- about 45 minutes for
everything.
All in all this has been the best vacation EVER! We are already planning a trip there next
year- but for 2 weeks because 1 week went by way to fast. For anyone considering the
TRYP it is definitely worth the money. Donít be spectacle because it is cheaper. It is an
amazing place!!! If anyone has any question feel free to email me at
mhickman@sympatico.ca
Megan
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