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SOL CAYO SANTA MARIA 10/29/2003
Reviewers Rating:  Excellent
I visited this beautiful resort along with my fiancee and 6 of my family and friends. Here is information and opinions on every aspect of the resort.
LOBBY: Very nice and inviting. It is decorated with bright tropical colours and is open concept like most caribbean resorts. Has a nice waterfall and lots of chairs and tables to just sit and relax at.
PROPERTY: Very pretty. Since this resort is invironmentally friendly, it was actually built without destroying most of the natural habitat. There is a lot of palm trees,flowers,plants and greenery surrounding the entire resort. You can also see many small lizards, birds and cats that reside on the island. There are also plenty of hammocks,palpas and lounge chairs throughout.
POOLS: There are two large pools. We stayed at the one by the main lobby. All the water activities are played there and it is near the pool,buffet,game area and stores. The pools are clean and a nice temperature for swimming.
ROOMS: Nicely decorated with bright colours and very clean. We payed extra ($50 CND) for ocean view. The washrooms are large and well maintained. The shower/bath area has a large window that you can see the ocean from. If you tip the maid ($1 USD) she will make little swans and things on the bed. Very cute!!
BEACH: What can I say but STUNNING!! The ocean is beautiful and clear. One day when the waves were calm it looked like a massive pool!! The best I've ever seen. The sand is white and clean. I have been to Cayo-Coco and found the beach comparable. Although the sand was finer there, the ocean was far nicer here. There were lots of palpas and lounges available, but people like to hog them and leave towels to save the spots. I don't believe this should be allowed if you decide to leave the beach.
FOOD/RESTAURANTS: They say Cuban food is bad, but I actually liked the food here. The buffet always had fresh, hot food with plenty to choose from. I never got sick or starved like some people claim. I guess you just have to adjust and can't be picky. If you are, stay at home!!! The Italian restaurant is excellent!! The Creole one was also good, but it is outside. There is a grill by the beach and another one not far from the beach. Both had fresh,good food. We really liked the pizza, hamburgers and roasted chicken. The fries were also good. Out of all the resorts I've been to, I liked the food here the best.
NIGHTLY ENTERTAINMENT/STAFF: The shows were fantastic!! Boy can Cubans dance!! There is a different theme every night and the costumes were great. Very entertaining.
The staff is so friendly,helpful and warm. We love the cuban people!! They are so happy and yet they make nothing compared to us.
TIPS:
1) Bring mosquito repellant. We all got eaten alive in the evenings, but this is not the resorts fault.
2) Tip the Cubans. They work very hard and deserve it.
3) Sunscreen is a must!
4) Don't be picky and don't complain!! Relax and enjoy your holiday!!
I can honestly say that this resort is worth every penny. Being a 4 star resort, I found the Sol Cayo Santa Maria to be better than some 4+-5 star resorts I have been to and many of the people we met said the same. Great for couples and families, I would highly recommend this resort to anyone looking for a relaxing,fun holiday. If you want to party, go elsewhere. What more can I say? A part of me was left there.
Natascia
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