#4 of 26 hotels
The Monarc.ca popularity scale (#1/15) classifies all the hotels of a single destination according to the number of grades received on 5 and the total number of reviews.
in
Cayo Santa Maria
Was there Jan 10 - Jan 17. Definitely recommend. Adults only, quiet, compact. Lived above buffet. Very convenient - two steps for everything. Morning wend down and jumped into swimming pool. Nice view from the balcony. The lobby bar was good: gin tonic, daiquiri. The food - strong 4 out of 5. The food in 24 hours bar - good burgers and good pizza. And good drink. Entertainment in the lobby bar. Three times a week very good piano player. Almost every evening dancing. The beach is not bad, rocky in the beginning but good at the end. Beach chairs - a lot of broken. Restaurant Ranchon on the beach was closed (not enough tourists), but Grill, burgers, hot dogs on the beach. The drink on the beach was also good. Two hours from the airport. [Details]
Room
Quality - Price
Front desk & Reception
Beaches
Location
Bathroom
Staff / Crew
Cleanliness
Food & Restaurants
Sanitary measures
The strong points
Quiet, adults only. Compact but there is a trail from one end to the other. Food is good, drink is good.
The weak points
long drive from airport - 2 hours. The good part of the beach (the bottom without rocks) is quite far away. A lot of broken beach chairs. Piano bar was closed, they moved piano to the lobby bar where is too noisy for playing and listening piano.
Sanitary measures
good, very clean
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Angsana Cayo Santa Maria
Regina Gierlak, Ontario, ON
2024-06-27
Very good experience. Friendly staff with good good communication skills. Very approachable. Special thanks to Oldrin customer service representatives. People orientate, resolve any concerns if any. Was sorry not see my friends from the staff like Neydis and Yoilet they're off because of low occupancy. Food was great and tasty. Fresh fruit on breakfast. I was missing fruits at lunch time. All waitress staff extremely nice and fast. Again Pocurull and Reiner at the bar served my tea and other drinks quickly and tasty. If it comes to the sea and beach. Water pristine clean, turquoise. White sand beach. Overall excellent resort [Details]
Dear Regina Gierlak, Thank you for your kind comments regarding our associates, for us, is very satisfactory to read their names. We are so proud of them!!. We loved that you enjoyed your trip and we hope to host you in a near future. Sincerely, Angsana Family.
Angsana Cayo Santa Maria
C & L, Saint Colomban, QC
2024-03-31
This is a nice hotel, however, was smaller than we had expected. If you want to have a very quiet place to vacation, this is the place. Mostly seniors book here. Not much night entertainment or at the beach. [Details]
Room
Quality - Price
Front desk & Reception
Beaches
Location
Bathroom
Staff / Crew
Cleanliness
Food & Restaurants
Sanitary measures
The strong points
Nice resort.
Nice quiet beach.
Good for snorkleing.
Dear C & L, thank you for your kind comments about our beautiful property, it motivates us to improve our services.
We hope to host your hollidays in a near future.
Best Regards, Angsana Family.
Beautiful place
Erin, Kanata, ON
2024-03-19
The hotel is a small boutique style resort, it's a perfect size the beaches are beautiful everything is close to the resort it's quiet relaxing the entertainment shuts down by 11pm [Details]
Dear Erin, Thank you for choosing Angsana Cayo Santa Maria for your vacation.
We are aware of the vast array of options for accommodation in the area so we feel privileged to have been chosen by you, and thank you for taking the time to share your experience.
Knowing that you were satisfied with your stay makes us feel very proud of our hotel and the staff who make it all possible, striving to provide our guests with genuine attention from arrival to departure.
Looking forward to welcoming you back in the near future!
Sincerely,
Familia Angsana.
Lovely hotel and people
Vincent Murchie, Kitchener, ON
2024-03-16
The staff made our stay enjoyable. We liked the size of the resort as everything was easily accessible. It was great to have medical staff onsite to help with minor ailments and consultations.
Your people.
Our butler, Oldrin was always available and helped when needed.
Bar and buffet staff made our time there great.
The weak points
Shortages of toilet paper and some foods, but these were understandable.
Entertainment venue could have been better as it would have been hard to see the entertainment from the back of the lobby bar.
Dear Vincent Murchie. Thank you for recognizing our staff and our installations. We hope to welcome you back here again in a no longer future and thank you for choosing Angsana Cayo Santa Maria for your vacations. Best regards, Angsana Family.
Relaxing week
Alina Chernyak, Vaughan, ON
2024-03-13
A relaxing week at Angsana Please note that every review should be taken with a grain of salt. Everyone have different views, expectations, standards.
I have travelled alone to angsana the week of Feb 23. It came highly recommended from my travel agent, and it was a great one. all the staff were amazing, warm and welcoming!!!!
I arrived early at the hotel and had to wait for my room, which was a bit tiring but i enjoyed sitting in the lobby talking to people. my room was in block 8, third floor overlooking the ocean and the view was amazing. the room was very clean, comfortable and spacious. The negative was: Bed sheets had stains on them, but its was like burns from pressing too hard. nothing that deterred me from sleeping on them, but yes it was unpleasant to see. My maid was amazing and i thank her very much for the thorough work she did
Food: all in all, food was plentiful. there was plenty of meats and fish on the grill, pastas, fresh salad bar, fruits, desserts and more. there were also condiments such as mayo, mustard and ketchup. there was no fresh eggs, but there were powdered ones. the taste was ok and a decent substitute. we had butter for 3 days and it was the best. Their bread was amazing and i couldnt stop eating it. I visited 2 a la carte restaurants: the italian which was amazing and delicious, and I visited the international one, where i liked the food the least, it just wasnt for my tastes. there was a simple coffee machine in the room, coffee in the restaurants and lobby bar so no issue with that. the beaches had a snack shack with hot dogs and burgers that were tasty the snack bar by the lobby also had great burgers and pizza!!
Beach: beach towels were found in my room upon arrival, you can exchange them daily at the spa. the hotel had two beaches, one at each end of the hotel. I liked the smaller beach better as it was quiet, relaxing and when the tide was low, you can walk deep into the ocean and it only reaches your waist. beaches were clean but i found many of the loungers broken and uncomfortable. bring a pillow or something for your back.
Entertainment: lacking.. there was an amazing piano player and she played beautifully, but it was the same songs over and over. i went to bed early as there was not much else.
a negative i wanted to mention for the hotel to improve is the main area washrooms. They had no toilet paper, broken door locks and broken faucets. I went once, and after that only went to the washroom in my room.
All in all, i had a very relaxing time, the hotel is perfect for that quiet, peaceful vacation. It had many great spots for pictures.
I didnt do any excursions so nothing to note about that. I did book the VIP airport lounge and it was ok, some food and drink but it was filled quickly with people and some people had no where to seat.
Tips: bring american money, thats what they wanted the most. i brought many dollar bills and it was received the best. No Canadian coins as they cant exchange them
also, visit the block 8 third floor balcony to see sunrise/sunset and get amazing ocean view and pictures. [Details]
Room
Quality - Price
Front desk & Reception
Beaches
Location
Bathroom
Staff / Crew
Cleanliness
Food & Restaurants
Sanitary measures
The strong points
Clean rooms
Peaceful location
Breathtaking views
The weak points
The grounds need maintaining
No toilet paper in main washrooms and they need upgrading
Dear Alina Chernyak. Thank you so much for sharing us your experience with us and we are so glad to know that you enjoyed your vacations here in Angsana. Hope to see you very soon here in your home! Best regards, Angsana family.
Ansanga Hotel Cayo Santa Maria
Charles Danells, Saint John, NB
2024-02-23
My wife and I stayed for a week at this hotel and enjoyed the entire time. Staff are always friendly and helpful. Rooms are clean and well kept. The food is plentiful with many choices to keep most happy and well fed. [Details]
Room
Quality - Price
Front desk & Reception
Beaches
Location
Bathroom
Staff / Crew
Cleanliness
Food & Restaurants
Sanitary measures
The strong points
Well trained staff, friendly cheerful. Scenery is absolutely breathtaking.
The weak points
Shortages in a few menu items at times can be a turnoff for some but nothing that can not be overlooked.
Dear Charles Danells. Thank you for sharing your experience here in Angsana Cayo Santa Maria. We hope to welcome you back again here in a no longer future. Kind regards. Angsana Family.
Excellent vacation during a trying time
Tomjc43, Trenton, ON
2024-02-21
This was our second visit to this resort. Even though Cuba was going through shortages the staff covered well. First time I've had an omelet made from pancake batter when eggs weren't available. Lots of food good preparation love everything. [Details]
Room
Quality - Price
Front desk & Reception
Beaches
Location
Bathroom
Staff / Crew
Cleanliness
Food & Restaurants
Sanitary measures
The strong points
Beach, Staff, Size, Close to ocean in all rooms, doctor and nurse in residence.
Dear Tomjc43. Thank you for choosing Angsana Cayo Santa Maria as your vacation destination. Your ratings motivate as there is nothing more satisfying that to receive the praise of our valued guests. We look forward to welcome you soon here in your home. Best regards, Angsana Family.
Lovely Quiet Resort
Leslie Ann Mcintyre, Stirling, ON
2024-02-18
This was our second trip to Cuba and Angsana. We love this quaint quiet resort. Friendly & helpful staff, beautiful beach, food was plentiful, spa massage was amazing. We met some amazing new friends while visiting and will return again. [Details]
Dear Leslie Ann Mcintyre. Thank you so much for choosing Angsana Cayo Santa Maria for your vacation. We hope to see you here back again in a near future. Best regards, Angsana Family.
2 weeks in the Sun!!
Geoffrey Fraser, Whitby, ON
2023-02-16
The hotel was in very good shape, we stayed in Cabana 3 which is nice and close to main beach. Shower was really powerful with rainforest head, awesome. [Details]
Dear Geoffrey Fraser, thank you for your kind review, we are commited to the guest satisfaction, we hope that you come back in a near future.
Best Regard,
Angsana Family
Incredible Vacation
moraiscj, Havre Boucher, NS
2023-02-06
My husband and I travelled to Angsana last month (Jan '23) for a week long vacation. Let me start by saying, "a week was definitely not long enough at this resort." We arrived at Santa Clara airport slightly after lunch, bought a couple cervesa for the 1 1/2 hr bus ride to the resort. I know some people don't like the travel distance but personally we enjoy seeing the towns and listening to the tour guide give some Cuban history.
ARRIVAL & CABANA(our room):
We were the first stop of all of the resort drop offs to the Island. BONUS We were promptly greeted by a Lobby Bar Staff Member who gave us all a nice refreshing welcome drink. Check In was very quick and we were extremely happy to have our room ready immediately. The Bell Boy then drove us and our luggage to our Cabana in his golf cart. We stayed in Cabana #1, it was the Cabana closest to the main beach and one of the A La Carte restaurants. The room was huge with a king size bed, living room area, shower, separate toilet from the bathroom area, double sinks, and a jacuzzi tub. On the second day i realized that the plug on the hair dryer would not work for any of my hair tools or phone charger so i went to Customer Service to see if they could help me out in any way. Nedayis was an absolute savior. She immediately sent a technician to check the plugs and then found an adapter that she could loan me for the remainder of of my trip to use. After trying the adapter it still did not work so she immediately moved us to another Cabana (#9) where the plugs worked. We went from garden view to Partial Ocean View. The layout of the room was exactly the same as our room in Cabana 1. The only downfall was that our tub did not work. With that being said I didn't plan on having a bath anyway so it really didn't matter to us.
BEACH:
In my opinion, you can not beat a Cuban beach!! The Main beach was gorgeous with nice white powdery sand and turquoise waters. Greeting us everyday at the beach was Feliz (Freddie), he greeted us with a big wave, an even bigger smile and a huge Hola!! He asked if you wanted sun or shade and then we were off down the beach to find a spot. He would get our loungers, dust them off and then set our towels up on them. It was never an issue finding a spot to plunk our butts for the day. There was some small shells and pieces of coral on the beach that you had to walk over to get to the water but no big deal for us. we would stop and pick shells on our way out of the water. There were some areas in the water where there was some coral, plant life, sea urchins, and tropical fish but again it didn't bother us as we were intrigued to experience it. There was a Barracuda just hanging out one day about 2 feet away from us which was a bit nerve wrecking but he eventually swam away after a couple of min. The quiet beach is just what it is..a very quiet beach with come sun huts, a beach bar, and you can walk for miles in the water and still only get up to your knees. We spent one day there and enjoyed it. We took our Bluetooth speaker with us so we played our own music while on that side. Just down from the quiet beach is a bit more secluded area where there was a few nudes walking around. On your way from the lobby to the quiet beach there is a little path that goes to the beach. This area is excellent for snorkeling.
FOOD:
The #1 complaint everyone always seems to have is that the food is horrible in Cuba. Well we have to say that the food while we were there was absolutely delicious. The buffet, the snack bar, the A La Cartes were all fabulous. There was never any shortage of food and we always found something to eat. Salad bar, fruit bar, and dessert bar were always fully stalked. Some of our favorites were the soups, beef done on marinates, the BREAD ( to die for), omelets, and the little chocolate balls added on top of our ice cream. The staff in all of the restaurants were always very friendly and made sure your glass was always full of water, your coffee was always topped up, and asking if everything was alright. Watching some of the bosses in the buffet area you can absolutely tell that they take great pride in making sure the restaurant is clean, the dishes are clean, there is food in the trays, and that the guests are being taken care of. Great Job Louis with your staff.
BARS:
There is the Jazz bar, the Snack bar, the beach bars, and the Lobby bar all of which we hung out at and got drinks. Our favorite by far was the Lobby Bar. Drinks were so yummy, always great entertainment and the staff were ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!! Nalli (my new sister), Victor, Lachy, Peppa, & Pocurull were always smiling, happy, welcoming, working hard, entertaining behind the bar, and chatting with the guests. I seriously can't say enough good things about these folks..I LOVE them, they are our new family members.
We did the double decker bus tour to the market. Sit up top if you can. It s $5 there and back per person. It takes you in and around each resort on the island and you get to see the lobbies, drops you off at the market and then will come back and pick you up. I believe it is every hour they come back (Cuban Time). haha We had couples massages at the Spa on the resort. If you have the chance to go, you definitely will not be disappointed. Yandry did mine and he was fantastic.
I really can't say enough good things about the staff at Angsana...we have been on many trips and i have to say that this Resort topped them all. Go see Yailet and she will get you hooked up with your A La Carte reservations. A special mention to Odalis the Nurse at the Resort. It was such a nice treat seeing her and the Doctor walk arm and arm around the resort throughout the day and see them in the buffet restaurant eating with everyone else. When Odalis found out that i was a nurse she came and found me later in the day and gifted me one of her Nurses hats to bring home with me. She even pinned it in my hair and i wore it all evening. So grateful for such amazing humans.
I know this was a long review but i really wanted to highlight our trip and show the appreciation that we have for all of the staff at Angsana and the people of Cuba. We will definitely be back for a vacation and we will see you for a visit when we come back to Cayo Santa Maria in April. ~ Crystal & Joel ~ [Details]
Dear Crystal & Joel,
Thank you for choosing Angsana Cayo Santa Maria as your holiday destination!
I also want to take this opportunity to thank you for this kind review, Your ratings are motivating as there is nothing more satisfying that to receive the praise of our valued guests.
We do our best to ensure that our guests are taken care of from the moment they arrive to the moment they check out and I am very proud of the great feedback about the staff that you pointed out. I will personally pass your comments on to them.
It is always a great motivation for the team when they are recognized by guests and it gives them a sense of pride that they have provided the service that is expected.
We look forward to welcome you soon in Angsana Cayo Santa Maria.
Kind regards,
Angsana Family.
Great value for the money paid.
Manitoban, Oakbank, MB
2023-01-22
The staff go above and beyond.Very friendly and have a good grasp of English. The room attach by door to the room next to them and sound carries through that door. Not good for privacy. [Details]
Room
Quality - Price
Front desk & Reception
Beaches
Location
Bathroom
Staff / Crew
Cleanliness
Food & Restaurants
Sanitary measures
The strong points
Friendly helpful staff.
Beautiful beaches
Well appointed rooms
The weak points
Lack of privacy in rooms. (can hear everything in next room)
Food is quite boring and lacking fresh fruit and a variety of vegetables.
Sanitary measures
Some staff wear masks nad there is some sanitizer available.
Dear Manitoban,
Thank you for choosing Angsana Cayo Santa Maria for your vacation, we are deeply sorry that you had some problems with the privacy of your room, we apologize for it. Your comments will help us improve the guest experience, we hope you give us another chance to pamper you at our beautiful property.
Best Regards,
Familya Angsana.
Quiet Gem in Cuba
Shelley Young, North Bay, ON
2022-05-16
Angsana Cayo Santa Maria was the perfect Post Covid getaway for us. The smaller resort hosted a variety of areas to enjoy. Most complain about the long bus ride from the airport, but it was interesting to see the small towns and villages along the way along with the extensive causeway that leads to the resort. With two white sand beaches complete with beach bars, and access to an abundance of chairs and sunny/shaded areas, it made for a perfect getaway. Going in May, there were not as many visitors which made it very comfortable and enjoyable. The food at all areas (restaurant/buffet/snack bar) was as expected - Nothing extraordinary but very well done and presented. Pizza, chicken, beef (steaks) pulled pork, cheese, several types of juice and an egg chef were all had. The dinner theme nights are a must for a slightly higher quality dining experience. Cuban night hosted a pig roast with all the extras! All the staff were on board to make this night special for everyone. The cabana we stayed in had some slight AC issues, but this was fixed in a hurry with no other issues. All the staff went above and beyond to make our stay enjoyable. Snorkeling at the beach was exciting as we saw several types of fish and coral areas... no need to pay for all day excursions ! Found a star fish at the "secret beach". Overall, this resort is a hidden gem for those wanting to relax without the "party goers" and loud younger crowds found at some other resorts in Cuba. I would go back and would definitely recommend this resort to those over 30 or anyone wanting to chill and take it all in. [Details]
Room
Quality - Price
Front desk & Reception
Beaches
Location
Bathroom
Staff / Crew
Cleanliness
Food & Restaurants
Sanitary measures
The strong points
Beaches, smaller resort, 24hr snack bar, cabana ocean view rooms, secret beach, dinner theme nights, cuban celebration pig roast.
The weak points
AC was broken in our room when we arrived and needed to be looked at several times before it was fixed (the fuse breaker kept popping). Food is "average" for Cuba. You had to keep going up to front desk to renew your internet (5 hr password).
Dear Shelley Young, On behalf of the entire Angsana family, we would like to thank you for sharing your experince, the beauty of the resort and its staff, but also the aspects in which we can improve as the A/C. Day by day, we do our best to make each of our guests feel at home, so your detailed review it is a plus to move forward and improve ourselves as much as possible. We will be delighted to welcome you again at Angsana Cayo Santa María, your home, so that you can enjoy an even better experience than the previous one. With our best regards, Familia Angsana
Angsana Cayo Santa Maria Positives and Negatives
Anna Noctor, Toronto, ON
2022-04-15
We visited Angsana Cayo Santa Maria from March 18-April 8, 2022-a 3 week stay in total. We did our homework in regards to reading all of the rave reviews about Angsana Cayo Santa Maria on this platform as well as different FB group pages prior to booking, having said that we chose to do a lengthy vacation due to the great reviews by return visitors.
Our Room: Upon arrival we were shown a partial oceanview room which had a musty odour and because we were having a lengthy stay decide to upgrade to an oceanview suite in the main building-the cost of the upgrade was $ 495 US funds which we were told was the price of 2 weeks instead of 3 weeks, we were appreciative. Raymondo brought us to the room.The room was beautiful, overlooking pools and ocean, and did not have a musty odour. We settled in and noticed the room had some issues. The refrigerator was leaking all over the floor, there was no light in the water closet, both handles on the sliding doors to the bathroom area were not screwed in so came off as they were pulled, and the air conditioner wasn't cooling the room. We popped by the customer service and spoke to Naydis in the morning to explain the room issues-she had them looked after right away-the only thing that wasn't resolved was the air conditioner would not drop below 20.5 and we needed to keep the fan on above the bed during our stay. Yani was our chamber maid most of our stay, she was exceptional and went above and beyond in every way!! On our last night she surprised us with a romantic bath with flower petals-such a kind gesture!
Elevator Issue: On our 2nd day-we we're trapped in the elevator for 25 minutes. Upon entering, the doors closed and the buttons in the elevator didn't work. We pressed the alarm button which you can only hear inside the elevator which we were told went to a computer system which no one was manning at the time. The doors eventually opened when others pressed the button in the lobby but we asked them not to go in and we went immediately to the front desk to Norberto. We furiously asked him to have the General Manager call us in our room. He did call with sincere apologies as we voiced our concerns. Over the next few days customer service reached out to us to make sure everything was fine and offered us a complimentary massage and romantic dinner-which was very kind. The elevator was out of commission for several days and was fixed. However, prior to our departure of the hotel on our last morning-we were again trapped in the elevator, but this time under 10 minutes, and we reported this to Raymondo.
The Resort: The resort itself was quite beautiful as it is fairly new! The 2 pools were lovely, and the main beach was gorgeous! Drink service was excellent at the main pool as it is in front of the lobby bar-Nali, Pocurel, and others made sure to make their way around that pool often. The smaller pool near the snack bar didn't offer pool drink service when we happened to be at that pool-but was steps away. Drink service at the main beach was also excellent, as there were servers as well as the beach bar.
*A few days into our trip there was a break in the water main to the resort. There was no water to shower or flush. These things happen. For two days after we strictly had cold water, then only scalding hot water for the rest of our vacation.
Alcohol: Although we are not big drinkers-there was shortages. There were times during our stay that there was no vodka, gin and certain mixes for 3 days at a time-and I heard complaints about beer short term shortages. I will mention that the international wines served at dinner were always fantastic!
Food: This is where we were most disappointed due to reviews we had read, and the fact that it is 5 star Cuban resort. We have travelled to many other 5 star and under Cuba resorts with fantastic food. We were told it was because it was post COVID and difficult to get provisions, but toward the end of this food review you will see that is false. I do feel that because we were at Angsana for more than a one week stay our review of the food may be harsh-but I'm being very honest.
The buffet food was almost the same everyday. A few styles of rice, same vegetables day after day, usually two types of soup, minimal salad selections, sometimes no oil and vinegar, yes there were bread and butter shortages-sometimes none, beef, pork and chicken to grill(watch for food handling at this station), usually a few types of fish, once there was fresh squid to grill on the buffet, we saw bacon on the buffet twice, always sausages, an egg station, toward the end of our stay a pasta station was added, desserts were minimum, ice cream, rice pudding and a few cakes.
The 1 available ala carte restaurant revolved nightly between Cuban, Italian and International. The menu for each of the a a la cartes rarely changed, I say rarely because the International offered squid one night but not regularly-which happened to be our best dining experience at the resort(squid ceviche appetizer and grilled squid in white wine for the main). After dining at the Italian a la carte many nights, I fine tuned my dinner selection which I had several times over our stay (bruschetta, caprese salad, half and half cream of tomato/cream cheese soup, chicken milanese with a side of lasagna bolognese). The Cuban a la carte was not at all to my liking-it offered one meal of what seemed to be what was available from the food warmers on the buffet. One main complaint we had was that food was just barely warm- Yurchemy and his staff really tried their best at the a la cartes and made sure to get our meals to us hot.
The Romantic Dinner we were given complimentary that we were looking so forward to, sadly was a cold meal. It consisted of bread and butter, minestrone soup, lobster, rice, and vegetables. The manager Lucien did ask us how it was but we were honest about the dinner. Service was fantastic by Nali but our entire meal was cold. He did say he'd look into it and we heard from other guests that theirs was good and hot after our experience.
The Snack bar by the pool was hit or miss. We had breakfast there most days after wandering through the buffet for a possible change in food availability. The snack bar served breakfast until 11am. Sometimes hash browns were available there but not in the buffet, bacon was available there but not in the buffet-sometimes we brought out to the snack bar additional items from the buffet when they were available at the snack bar (toast and butter, sausages, fruit). For lunch when Alfredo was working he would make bacon cheese burgers-he seemed to be the only one to do that during the day, he must've had a secret bacon stash. Here would normally work at the snack bar at the quiet beach. Pizza was sometimes available and sometimes not. We were told pizza was not available after 5 pm., however we ordered pizza earlier in the day several times but was not available. Chicken tenders were good. You could also get battered fish pieces, fried plantain and sweet potato, and ham and cheese sandwiches.
The Snack Bar at the beach was better. Grilled burgers, hot dogs, chicken skewers and of course-ham and cheese sandwiches. Once ordered the grill man delivered right to you once done, we appreciated his service at the beach. Also to note-Freddy who we gave the title of Beach Ambassador helped us with beach chairs daily and found us aloe Vera for our skin, just an amazing person to get to know during our stay.
*After having eaten the same food over and over again and having voiced our opinion several times to Lucien the general manager , we learned that there was no food and beverage manager nor an executive chef. Lucien arranged in our last week to visit several other resorts for dinner with another couple. This is where we found that the selection of food at other resorts in the area had so much more to offer.
In conclusion we feel the resort was beautiful, the staff was amazing, the general manager went above and beyond to make our stay most enjoyable. Had we booked a one week stay, food availability and preparation would not have been an issue. But I would not recommend this resort be a long term destination. [Details]
Room
Quality - Price
Front desk & Reception
Beaches
Location
Bathroom
Staff / Crew
Cleanliness
Food & Restaurants
Sanitary measures
The strong points
New smaller resort approximately 200 rooms, great staff, excellent wine selection, beautiful beach. Recommended for short term stays only.
The weak points
Should not be listed as 5 star in Cuba. Food selection and preparation not acceptable for this rating.
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Certified
Will definitely go back!
Aundria & Tony, Hamilton, ON
2022-03-13
This was our first vacation since the start of the pandemic. Resort is beautiful with a breathtaking view of the ocean as you step into the lobby. Rooms are a good size, staff is phenomenal with a personal shout-out to Yipsy, Yailet and the lobby bar staff. Can't forget my morning cappuccino, a great way to start the day! [Details]
Room
Quality - Price
Front desk & Reception
Beaches
Location
Bathroom
Staff / Crew
Cleanliness
Food & Restaurants
Sanitary measures
The strong points
Hotel staff went out of their way to make our stay memorable. My husband loved snorkelling every day (coral & colourful fish). Amazing ocean view (Cabana 9, room 908) and a fantastic rainforest showerhead. Great couples massage.
The weak points
Nothing to do with the resort but the no-seeums were thick the week we were there and they do love to bite!
Sanitary measures
Felt very safe, staff always wore masks. Guests wore masks walking into the restaurants, bars or while up at the buffet.
Dear Aundria & Tony, thank you so much for a nice review about our Product & Services and specially our Staff. We hope to welcoming you back in a near future.
Gracias!! Familia Angsana
Friendly staff, great snorkelling, quiet and not too busy.
The weak points
Windy and cool for three days.
Long drive from airport- 1.75 hours
Internet inconvenient to get onto having to log into every time
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Certified
Amazing beach
Nb Canada, Dsl De Drummond, NB
2020-02-27
Nice resort ,nice people and beautiful beaches but the food not always hot ! The snack bar at the pool was great and the Asian restaurant also but not the buffet! [Details]
Room
Quality - Price
Front desk & Reception
Beaches
Location
Bathroom
Staff / Crew
Cleanliness
Food & Restaurants
The strong points
Beach ,pool and service
The weak points
Food
0 0
Certified
Will not return to Angsana Cayo Santa Maria
Turnwick, Berwick, NS
2020-02-16
Some great memories during our week at Angsana, but many disappointments as well. This resort is a 3/5. Poor food, cheap drinks with limited choice, as well as repeated issues with hot water and the internet played havoc with our vacation. There are much better organized and smooth running resorts in the area and we will be visiting them next time. You get what you pay for. [Details]
Room
Quality - Price
Front desk & Reception
Beaches
Location
Bathroom
Staff / Crew
Cleanliness
Food & Restaurants
The strong points
Beaches and the everyday working staff, as well as the
clean rooms are definite strengths of Angsana
The weak points
Food: limited supply of fruit and vegetables
Drinks: cheap quality liquor, limited mix options
Hot Water availability poor
Internet availability sporadic
Management was all talk and no action
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Certified
Awesome Time
Rmoore, Brandon, MB
2020-02-15
We enjoyed our time at Agnsana. It was everything we hoped for. The service was top notch. Starting with the lobby bar, Nalli was awesome! She was fun loving and kept the drinks flowing. Often came by with a new drink for us to try and they never disappointed. The snack shack was one of our favourite spots. The food was amazing! I suggest you try the Fish Fingers.Vivian, Maité and Alain offered great serice always smiling and willing to please. We had wonderful meals at the Seafood/Italian a la Carte. The head waiter Ramon looked after us and suggested delicious wine options. Our server Hendry went above and beyond to make out dining experience wonderful! At the small beach we would like to mention Alexander and the crew. They provided us with excellent service! The chicken skewers were delicious as were the drinks. They were always smiling and friendly. We can' t name all the staff but everyone was friendly and helpful. All in all we were VERY happy with our stay at Angsana. We will be back!! [Details]
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The strong points
Outstanding service. Staff very friendly and accommodating. Clean and well kept.
The weak points
No bathroom beside the small beach. No schedule of daily events/shows
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Cuba One of our best trips
farmers, Toronto, ON
2020-02-03
The hotel is very clean and inviting. The staff is wonderful und super friendly. [Details]
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The strong points
Beach is beautiful. Very good for snorkeling and swimming. Very clean. Multiple beaches to go to. Food and drinks at the beaches are great. The rooms are clean and modern. Comfortable beds. Room service is excellent. All wheelchair accessible.
The weak points
The drinks are good but not very consistent, every drink a surprise!
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Certified
Beautiful, relaxing adult resort
Sheila B, St. Catharines, ON
2020-01-05
This resort is beautiful, very modern and clean. The staff were all very friendly and accommodating. We celebrated our 10th wedding Anniversary while there and were asked if we would like cake with our a la carte dinner that day. We absolutely said yes, but did not receive any kind of special dinner or dessert. To be honest, I was a little disappointed. The food in the buffet was pretty good, a pasta bar would have been nice. The only pasta available was the same rigatoni each night, sometimes with a different sauce. There was only one restaurant being used for a la carte dining. When we were booking our meals, they didn't let us book too many days in advance, as they hadn't decided yet what they would be serving. Have never experience that before lol. All in all the food was flavorable (for Cuba), we were never hungry and always found food to eat. The 24 hour bar had good pizza and the beach snack bar had awesome chicken skewers! The beach was beautiful! When in front of the lobby looking to the water, if you walked to the right you would come to the small private beach. We were always greeted by the bartender and lounge chair guy. Chairs were brought to wherever you wanted, sand brushed off and your towel placed on it. This beach was very shallow and super quiet. If you wanted a larger beach, you walk to the left and come to a beautiful sandy beach with lots of shady areas to relax. Again the lounge chairs were brought, brushed off and towels placed. Music would usually be playing here and you could also snorkel in some areas. The pools were shallow, well maintained and very clean. Bar service was brought right to your chair. Our room was beautiful, large king bed, walk in shower and large bathroom. Only thing that could have made it better would have been some towel art and flowers left in our room. When speaking to other guests they apparently had these things daily. We tipped every day and left items for the maid, but only received a swan on the bed for our anniversary. Not a big deal, just a little disappointing, as I feel these are the touches that make a resort 5 star. The resort is adults only and extremely quiet. If you are wanting to enjoy shows at night, music around the pool or throughout the lobby, this is not the resort for you. There was a piano in the lobby bar and the pianist was fantastic but that was it. Two of the nights there was a bit more entertainment with dancers one night and a Michael Jackson show the other. But no large shows happening nightly. All in all we had a good stay, met some amazing people both tourist and workers. Would we go back again, if we wanted complete quiet and relaxation yes. Would we recommend Angsana to others, yes, again if they wanted quiet and relaxation. Maybe at a different time of year, there would be more activities. [Details]
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The strong points
Modern, clean, friendly staff. Food was good, beaches are beautiful, can snorkel as well. Hobbie cat and paddle boats available each day for your use. Excellent coffee/ cappuccino.
The weak points
Inconsistency in the drinks from bar to bar. Bartenders free pour so you could get super strong or barely none. The resort was too quiet for our liking.
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Certified
A TRUE FIVE STAR PARADISE!!!
Eduardo & Carmen, Ottawa, ON
2019-12-31
THE BEST HOTEL FOR COUPLES IN CUBA. EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT: STUNNING LOCATION, GREAT LONG BEAUTIFUL BEACHES AND POOLS,MODERN DESIGNED GROUNDS AND LUXURIOUS ROOMS, WONDERFUL SERVICE, GREAT FOOD CHOICE, AND GREAT MUSIC IN THE LOBBY BAR WONDERFULLY MANAGED BY ERIC. THE NEW CHEF RICARDO HAS CREATED VERY SUCCESFUL AND SUCULENT A LA CARTE MENUS. THE SUPER PROFESSIONAL MANAGEMENT LEAD BY LUCIEN, AND ULISES AS HEAD OF CLIENT RELATIONS CATERED TO ANY WISH MAKING OUR STAY PURE HEAVEN FOR HONEYMOONERS. WE CANNOT WAIT TO GO BACK! [Details]
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The strong points
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE, ROOMS, A LA CARTE RESTAURANTS, LOBBY BAR, 2 BEACHES
The weak points
ABSOLUTELY NONE!
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Amazing Third Visit
carolann beeby, Dollard-Des-Ormeaux, QC
2019-12-15
The resort was very clean... The staff amazing...This is a very laid back resort for adults.. There is entertainment at night but no large shows put on. Most music is played in the bar area and is quite good.. The pianist is wonderful......THis is not a loud resort at all and some may find it too quiet but it all depends onwhat you are looking for. There is no loud music at the pool area or loud music at the beach.. They do play music however.....They have stretching classes and dance classes as well..... [Details]
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The strong points
The staff by all counts are the best that i have encountered in over 20 years of going to Cuba......
The weak points
Although they have come a long way in food preparation the need to have fresh herbs would be so much appreciated......
The staff are truly amazing. They will do anything in their power to accommodate. I also love that there are only 250 rooms. It really personalizes your stay.
The weak points
The food isn't great. There's a lack of fresh vegetables in comparison to other resorts. I could always find something to eat though. The 90 min drive from the airport is long but that is beyond the control of the hotel.
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Certified
Angsanas future???
robert chalasinski, Toronto, ON
2019-04-18
There is lack of management and ideas how to govern this kind of business . As for now this resort does not deserve to be mark as 5 stars , max 3?? Food : repetitive , lack of professional and skilled cooks. Maintenance : both pools need to be take care off regularly. In our 2 weeks stay have not been cleaned or vacume once. Entertainment: none. Lobby bar: lack of professional and wall trained servers. Jazz bar: it's a joke!! They need to hire professional DJ. Present one have no clue how to entertain people. [Details]
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The strong points
Location: beutifull peace of land and beaches.
The weak points
Management, no business plan at all, price way to high.
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Belle vacances reposante
Meld, Mascouche, QC
2019-04-07
Nous avons voyagé plusieurs fois a cuba et notre sejour au Angsana est de loin notre préféré. Il fait savoir d'abord ce que vous recercher comme ambiance. Ce resort est très tranquille, calme sans animation ( ou presque) J'aurais parfois aimé que les animateurs soit un peu plus présent. Il n'y a pas de spectacle tous les soirs , nous en avons vu q'un seul durant notre voyage. La plage est magnifique mais apporter dea souliers d'eau, il y a plusieurs coraux qui blesse les pieds. La nourriture est bonne, j'ai apprécié les deux restaurants a la carte. Le buffet est petit mais on manque de rien. Le snack bar est aussi très bien, il manque par contre souvent de nourriture ( parfois la pizza, les frites etc) assez typique a cuba. Les chambres sont spacieuse belle douche de pluie toujours de l'eau chaude et de la pression. Le service est tout simplement impecable. [Details]
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The strong points
Le service
La plage
Les belles chambres
La tranquillité du resort
The weak points
La plage est moins belle qu'à cayo santa maria
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Angsana Cayo Santa Maria
Kevin Marshall, Alliston, ON
2019-04-01
Great relaxing vacation! Food was excellent. Service was excellent. The room was always clean. Staff made sure you were taken care of. [Details]
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The strong points
Food and rooms
The weak points
Trouble converting CDN to CUC at hotel. They did not get their bank delivery. Pool and beach towels were in short supply.
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Certified
What A Week! I travelled solo and had a great time
Sandy Vogel, Nepean, ON
2019-03-15
This resort is by far number 1 on my list of resorts. It's quiet, new (opened in October 2018), small (only 250 rooms) and best of all adults only. This was a very relaxing vacation. If you just want to relax and enjoy the sun and a good book or two this is the place to go. The lobby bar staff and drinks are amazing. They have all the alcohol you will ever need. They will make any drink you want. If you want them to make you a ceasar, bring small cans of Motts Clamato. They have everything else. There are two beaches. One you share with a neighbouring resort and the other is small and private with a sand bar that you can walk out quite far. There is awesome snorkeling right in front of the resort where there are rocks and coral. They have barracuda, star fish and all sorts of colourful ones as well. Bring your mask and water shoes. The buffet is good with lots to eat. It doesn't change very much. Pretty much the same every day but if you try something new every day instead of loading up on everything you will be fine. The wait staff are very good. The wine is better than all other resorts I've been to. I ate lunch almost every day at the snack bar. It's not your common snack where you have to stand in line. It has a menu for breakfast, lunch & supper. They still have burgers, hot dogs and pizza but on a higher scale. You sit down with glass plates, silverware and are served your meals. They have burgers, real chicken & pork sandwiches and best of all they have poutine, with real gravy. They also have a bar and are open 24 hours a day. If you react to bug bites, you might want to pack some bug spray, benedryl and after bite as I saw about 4 guests that had their legs covered in bites. The staff said they were mosquitos but I believe they were either sand fleas or something called chiggers. I can't say enough about this resort. Book it! You won't regret it. [Details]
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The strong points
The rooms are very nice, beds are comfy, hot water everyday. The lobby bar staff are very friendly. The snack bar is awesome. The private beach is good to sit and watch the pelicans dive for sardines but only in the morning.
The weak points
They have wifi available everywhere but will only give one hour at a time. You can go back many times during the day to reactivate your account. Since I was travelling solo I promised hubby and kids I would keep in touch everyday.
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Certified
Great Staff, Some Challenges
Bernie D., Sarnia, ON
2019-02-16
The resort is nice overall and though this was an adults-only spot, it was regularly quiet. The entertainment by the pool and at the bar was good most nights. One thing that we were surprised by was that the resort does not directly face a beach, but a rocky reef, and either ends of the resort had beaches - these were nice but not the best for swimming. The main beach is shared with another resort and taking a walk down it was a good experience. Only two restaurants, but they were better than the buffet restaurant or the 24-hour snack bar. The buffet spot felt more like a cafeteria, with line-ups and run-outs happening frequently. Shortages of bread, butter and milk occurred during the week. The 24-hour snack bar menu was hit-and-miss; it didn't change but run-outs happened almost daily. To their defense, this may have been due to the tornado in Havana affecting their supplies. Being in the middle of nowhere, any shopping, even for chips, chocolate bars or over the counter meds (ibuprofen, etc.) requires a taxi ride. The resort shop had none of these.
Though we would likely not go back to this spot, it was nice for our first trip to Cuba. [Details]
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The strong points
Staff is fantastic, from the managers to the gardeners. The room was very comfortable.
The weak points
The Resort information said "Sail, windsurf, paddleboard or kayak..." but no such things are at this site specifically. Maybe they're available through the resort at the other end of the beach? Food was okay, but shortages of staples occurred.
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Certified
Best Resort Ever!!!
Toad00, Oshawa, ON
2019-01-09
Travelled to this resort over Christmas...resort opened mid October, so I was a little hesitant as it was so new.. so I stumbled on this group chat on face book, and I booked 1 week later. Staff was so amazing and genuine, went above and beyond. When I first arrived it was Paradise... only in the magazines Rooms were top notch and food was amazing, The restraunt staff were impeccable, I met up with 2 ladies that were having birthdays around same time as mine. Customer relations last at front desk set up a special birthday dinner.. upgraded Champaign special desert and actually sang to us all. Table even decorated.
Entertainment at night was amazing, singer, guitar playing to Piano playing plus; pool shows at night. Few little problems that occurred, they were Adress right away. Always approachable and available for any questions.
Trust me I will be returning again and again [Details]
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Na
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Click to see hotel on Google Maps
Cayo Santa Maria's best
Overall Impression Quality vs Price Food & Restaurants Beaches Couples
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Good hotel.
Adults only, quiet, compact. Lived above buffet. Very convenient - two steps for everything. Morning wend down and jumped into swimming pool. Nice view from the balcony. The lobby bar was good: gin tonic, daiquiri. The food - strong 4 out of 5. The food in 24 hours bar - good burgers and good pizza. And good drink. Entertainment in the lobby bar. Three times a week very good piano player. Almost every evening dancing. The beach is not bad, rocky in the beginning but good at the end. Beach chairs - a lot of broken. Restaurant Ranchon on the beach was closed (not enough tourists), but Grill, burgers, hot dogs on the beach. The drink on the beach was also good.
Two hours from the airport. [Details]
Angsana Cayo Santa Maria
Angsana Cayo Santa Maria
Beautiful place
Lovely hotel and people
It was great to have medical staff onsite to help with minor ailments and consultations.
Facility was well laid out. [Details]
Relaxing week
Please note that every review should be taken with a grain of salt. Everyone have different views, expectations, standards.
I have travelled alone to angsana the week of Feb 23. It came highly recommended from my travel agent, and it was a great one. all the staff were amazing, warm and welcoming!!!!
I arrived early at the hotel and had to wait for my room, which was a bit tiring but i enjoyed sitting in the lobby talking to people. my room was in block 8, third floor overlooking the ocean and the view was amazing.
the room was very clean, comfortable and spacious.
The negative was: Bed sheets had stains on them, but its was like burns from pressing too hard. nothing that deterred me from sleeping on them, but yes it was unpleasant to see.
My maid was amazing and i thank her very much for the thorough work she did
Food: all in all, food was plentiful. there was plenty of meats and fish on the grill, pastas, fresh salad bar, fruits, desserts and more. there were also condiments such as mayo, mustard and ketchup.
there was no fresh eggs, but there were powdered ones. the taste was ok and a decent substitute. we had butter for 3 days and it was the best. Their bread was amazing and i couldnt stop eating it.
I visited 2 a la carte restaurants: the italian which was amazing and delicious, and I visited the international one, where i liked the food the least, it just wasnt for my tastes. there was a simple coffee machine in the room, coffee in the restaurants and lobby bar so no issue with that.
the beaches had a snack shack with hot dogs and burgers that were tasty
the snack bar by the lobby also had great burgers and pizza!!
Beach: beach towels were found in my room upon arrival, you can exchange them daily at the spa. the hotel had two beaches, one at each end of the hotel. I liked the smaller beach better as it was quiet, relaxing and when the tide was low, you can walk deep into the ocean and it only reaches your waist.
beaches were clean but i found many of the loungers broken and uncomfortable. bring a pillow or something for your back.
Entertainment: lacking.. there was an amazing piano player and she played beautifully, but it was the same songs over and over. i went to bed early as there was not much else.
a negative i wanted to mention for the hotel to improve is the main area washrooms. They had no toilet paper, broken door locks and broken faucets. I went once, and after that only went to the washroom in my room.
All in all, i had a very relaxing time, the hotel is perfect for that quiet, peaceful vacation. It had many great spots for pictures.
I didnt do any excursions so nothing to note about that.
I did book the VIP airport lounge and it was ok, some food and drink but it was filled quickly with people and some people had no where to seat.
Tips: bring american money, thats what they wanted the most. i brought many dollar bills and it was received the best. No Canadian coins as they cant exchange them
also, visit the block 8 third floor balcony to see sunrise/sunset and get amazing ocean view and pictures. [Details]
Ansanga Hotel Cayo Santa Maria
Excellent vacation during a trying time
Lovely Quiet Resort
2 weeks in the Sun!!
Incredible Vacation
We arrived at Santa Clara airport slightly after lunch, bought a couple cervesa for the 1 1/2 hr bus ride to the resort. I know some people don't like the travel distance but personally we enjoy seeing the towns and listening to the tour guide give some Cuban history.
ARRIVAL & CABANA(our room):
We were the first stop of all of the resort drop offs to the Island. BONUS
We were promptly greeted by a Lobby Bar Staff Member who gave us all a nice refreshing welcome drink.
Check In was very quick and we were extremely happy to have our room ready immediately. The Bell Boy then drove us and our luggage to our Cabana in his golf cart. We stayed in Cabana #1, it was the Cabana closest to the main beach and one of the A La Carte restaurants. The room was huge with a king size bed, living room area, shower, separate toilet from the bathroom area, double sinks, and a jacuzzi tub. On the second day i realized that the plug on the hair dryer would not work for any of my hair tools or phone charger so i went to Customer Service to see if they could help me out in any way. Nedayis was an absolute savior. She immediately sent a technician to check the plugs and then found an adapter that she could loan me for the remainder of of my trip to use. After trying the adapter it still did not work so she immediately moved us to another Cabana (#9) where the plugs worked. We went from garden view to Partial Ocean View. The layout of the room was exactly the same as our room in Cabana 1. The only downfall was that our tub did not work. With that being said I didn't plan on having a bath anyway so it really didn't matter to us.
BEACH:
In my opinion, you can not beat a Cuban beach!! The Main beach was gorgeous with nice white powdery sand and turquoise waters. Greeting us everyday at the beach was Feliz (Freddie), he greeted us with a big wave, an even bigger smile and a huge Hola!! He asked if you wanted sun or shade and then we were off down the beach to find a spot. He would get our loungers, dust them off and then set our towels up on them. It was never an issue finding a spot to plunk our butts for the day. There was some small shells and pieces of coral on the beach that you had to walk over to get to the water but no big deal for us. we would stop and pick shells on our way out of the water. There were some areas in the water where there was some coral, plant life, sea urchins, and tropical fish but again it didn't bother us as we were intrigued to experience it. There was a Barracuda just hanging out one day about 2 feet away from us which was a bit nerve wrecking but he eventually swam away after a couple of min.
The quiet beach is just what it is..a very quiet beach with come sun huts, a beach bar, and you can walk for miles in the water and still only get up to your knees. We spent one day there and enjoyed it. We took our Bluetooth speaker with us so we played our own music while on that side. Just down from the quiet beach is a bit more secluded area where there was a few nudes walking around. On your way from the lobby to the quiet beach there is a little path that goes to the beach. This area is excellent for snorkeling.
FOOD:
The #1 complaint everyone always seems to have is that the food is horrible in Cuba. Well we have to say that the food while we were there was absolutely delicious. The buffet, the snack bar, the A La Cartes were all fabulous. There was never any shortage of food and we always found something to eat. Salad bar, fruit bar, and dessert bar were always fully stalked. Some of our favorites were the soups, beef done on marinates, the BREAD ( to die for), omelets, and the little chocolate balls added on top of our ice cream. The staff in all of the restaurants were always very friendly and made sure your glass was always full of water, your coffee was always topped up, and asking if everything was alright. Watching some of the bosses in the buffet area you can absolutely tell that they take great pride in making sure the restaurant is clean, the dishes are clean, there is food in the trays, and that the guests are being taken care of. Great Job Louis with your staff.
BARS:
There is the Jazz bar, the Snack bar, the beach bars, and the Lobby bar all of which we hung out at and got drinks. Our favorite by far was the Lobby Bar. Drinks were so yummy, always great entertainment and the staff were ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!! Nalli (my new sister), Victor, Lachy, Peppa, & Pocurull were always smiling, happy, welcoming, working hard, entertaining behind the bar, and chatting with the guests. I seriously can't say enough good things about these folks..I LOVE them, they are our new family members.
We did the double decker bus tour to the market. Sit up top if you can. It s $5 there and back per person. It takes you in and around each resort on the island and you get to see the lobbies, drops you off at the market and then will come back and pick you up. I believe it is every hour they come back (Cuban Time). haha
We had couples massages at the Spa on the resort. If you have the chance to go, you definitely will not be disappointed. Yandry did mine and he was fantastic.
I really can't say enough good things about the staff at Angsana...we have been on many trips and i have to say that this Resort topped them all. Go see Yailet and she will get you hooked up with your A La Carte reservations. A special mention to Odalis the Nurse at the Resort. It was such a nice treat seeing her and the Doctor walk arm and arm around the resort throughout the day and see them in the buffet restaurant eating with everyone else. When Odalis found out that i was a nurse she came and found me later in the day and gifted me one of her Nurses hats to bring home with me. She even pinned it in my hair and i wore it all evening. So grateful for such amazing humans.
I know this was a long review but i really wanted to highlight our trip and show the appreciation that we have for all of the staff at Angsana and the people of Cuba. We will definitely be back for a vacation and we will see you for a visit when we come back to Cayo Santa Maria in April. ~ Crystal & Joel ~ [Details]
Great value for the money paid.
The room attach by door to the room next to them and sound carries through that door. Not good for privacy. [Details]
Quiet Gem in Cuba
Angsana Cayo Santa Maria Positives and Negatives
Our Room:
Upon arrival we were shown a partial oceanview room which had a musty odour and because we were having a lengthy stay decide to upgrade to an oceanview suite in the main building-the cost of the upgrade was $ 495 US funds which we were told was the price of 2 weeks instead of 3 weeks, we were appreciative. Raymondo brought us to the room.The room was beautiful, overlooking pools and ocean, and did not have a musty odour. We settled in and noticed the room had some issues. The refrigerator was leaking all over the floor, there was no light in the water closet, both handles on the sliding doors to the bathroom area were not screwed in so came off as they were pulled, and the air conditioner wasn't cooling the room. We popped by the customer service and spoke to Naydis in the morning to explain the room issues-she had them looked after right away-the only thing that wasn't resolved was the air conditioner would not drop below 20.5 and we needed to keep the fan on above the bed during our stay. Yani was our chamber maid most of our stay, she was exceptional and went above and beyond in every way!! On our last night she surprised us with a romantic bath with flower petals-such a kind gesture!
Elevator Issue:
On our 2nd day-we we're trapped in the elevator for 25 minutes. Upon entering, the doors closed and the buttons in the elevator didn't work. We pressed the alarm button which you can only hear inside the elevator which we were told went to a computer system which no one was manning at the time. The doors eventually opened when others pressed the button in the lobby but we asked them not to go in and we went immediately to the front desk to Norberto. We furiously asked him to have the General Manager call us in our room. He did call with sincere apologies as we voiced our concerns. Over the next few days customer service reached out to us to make sure everything was fine and offered us a complimentary massage and romantic dinner-which was very kind. The elevator was out of commission for several days and was fixed. However, prior to our departure of the hotel on our last morning-we were again trapped in the elevator, but this time under 10 minutes, and we reported this to Raymondo.
The Resort:
The resort itself was quite beautiful as it is fairly new! The 2 pools were lovely, and the main beach was gorgeous! Drink service was excellent at the main pool as it is in front of the lobby bar-Nali, Pocurel, and others made sure to make their way around that pool often. The smaller pool near the snack bar didn't offer pool drink service when we happened to be at that pool-but was steps away. Drink service at the main beach was also excellent, as there were servers as well as the beach bar.
*A few days into our trip there was a break in the water main to the resort. There was no water to shower or flush. These things happen. For two days after we strictly had cold water, then only scalding hot water for the rest of our vacation.
Alcohol:
Although we are not big drinkers-there was shortages. There were times during our stay that there was no vodka, gin and certain mixes for 3 days at a time-and I heard complaints about beer short term shortages. I will mention that the international wines served at dinner were always fantastic!
Food:
This is where we were most disappointed due to reviews we had read, and the fact that it is 5 star Cuban resort. We have travelled to many other 5 star and under Cuba resorts with fantastic food. We were told it was because it was post COVID and difficult to get provisions, but toward the end of this food review you will see that is false. I do feel that because we were at Angsana for more than a one week stay our review of the food may be harsh-but I'm being very honest.
The buffet food was almost the same everyday. A few styles of rice, same vegetables day after day, usually two types of soup, minimal salad selections, sometimes no oil and vinegar, yes there were bread and butter shortages-sometimes none, beef, pork and chicken to grill(watch for food handling at this station), usually a few types of fish, once there was fresh squid to grill on the buffet, we saw bacon on the buffet twice, always sausages, an egg station, toward the end of our stay a pasta station was added, desserts were minimum, ice cream, rice pudding and a few cakes.
The 1 available ala carte restaurant revolved nightly between Cuban, Italian and International. The menu for each of the a a la cartes rarely changed, I say rarely because the International offered squid one night but not regularly-which happened to be our best dining experience at the resort(squid ceviche appetizer and grilled squid in white wine for the main). After dining at the Italian a la carte many nights, I fine tuned my dinner selection which I had several times over our stay (bruschetta, caprese salad, half and half cream of tomato/cream cheese soup, chicken milanese with a side of lasagna bolognese). The Cuban a la carte was not at all to my liking-it offered one meal of what seemed to be what was available from the food warmers on the buffet. One main complaint we had was that food was just barely warm- Yurchemy and his staff really tried their best at the a la cartes and made sure to get our meals to us hot.
The Romantic Dinner we were given complimentary that we were looking so forward to, sadly was a cold meal. It consisted of bread and butter, minestrone soup, lobster, rice, and vegetables. The manager Lucien did ask us how it was but we were honest about the dinner. Service was fantastic by Nali but our entire meal was cold. He did say he'd look into it and we heard from other guests that theirs was good and hot after our experience.
The Snack bar by the pool was hit or miss. We had breakfast there most days after wandering through the buffet for a possible change in food availability. The snack bar served breakfast until 11am. Sometimes hash browns were available there but not in the buffet, bacon was available there but not in the buffet-sometimes we brought out to the snack bar additional items from the buffet when they were available at the snack bar (toast and butter, sausages, fruit). For lunch when Alfredo was working he would make bacon cheese burgers-he seemed to be the only one to do that during the day, he must've had a secret bacon stash. Here would normally work at the snack bar at the quiet beach. Pizza was sometimes available and sometimes not. We were told pizza was not available after 5 pm., however we ordered pizza earlier in the day several times but was not available. Chicken tenders were good. You could also get battered fish pieces, fried plantain and sweet potato, and ham and cheese sandwiches.
The Snack Bar at the beach was better. Grilled burgers, hot dogs, chicken skewers and of course-ham and cheese sandwiches. Once ordered the grill man delivered right to you once done, we appreciated his service at the beach. Also to note-Freddy who we gave the title of Beach Ambassador helped us with beach chairs daily and found us aloe Vera for our skin, just an amazing person to get to know during our stay.
*After having eaten the same food over and over again and having voiced our opinion several times to Lucien the general manager , we learned that there was no food and beverage manager nor an executive chef. Lucien arranged in our last week to visit several other resorts for dinner with another couple. This is where we found that the selection of food at other resorts in the area had so much more to offer.
In conclusion we feel the resort was beautiful, the staff was amazing, the general manager went above and beyond to make our stay most enjoyable. Had we booked a one week stay, food availability and preparation would not have been an issue. But I would not recommend this resort be a long term destination. [Details]
Will definitely go back!
Angsana
Amazing beach
Will not return to Angsana Cayo Santa Maria
Awesome Time
The snack shack was one of our favourite spots. The food was amazing! I suggest you try the Fish Fingers.Vivian, Maité and Alain offered great serice always smiling and willing to please.
We had wonderful meals at the Seafood/Italian a la Carte. The head waiter Ramon looked after us and suggested delicious wine options. Our server Hendry went above and beyond to make out dining experience wonderful!
At the small beach we would like to mention Alexander and the crew. They provided us with excellent service! The chicken skewers were delicious as were the drinks. They were always smiling and friendly.
We can' t name all the staff but everyone was friendly and helpful. All in all we were VERY happy with our stay at Angsana. We will be back!! [Details]
Cuba One of our best trips
The staff is wonderful und super friendly. [Details]
Beautiful, relaxing adult resort
The food in the buffet was pretty good, a pasta bar would have been nice. The only pasta available was the same rigatoni each night, sometimes with a different sauce. There was only one restaurant being used for a la carte dining. When we were booking our meals, they didn't let us book too many days in advance, as they hadn't decided yet what they would be serving. Have never experience that before lol. All in all the food was flavorable (for Cuba), we were never hungry and always found food to eat. The 24 hour bar had good pizza and the beach snack bar had awesome chicken skewers!
The beach was beautiful! When in front of the lobby looking to the water, if you walked to the right you would come to the small private beach. We were always greeted by the bartender and lounge chair guy. Chairs were brought to wherever you wanted, sand brushed off and your towel placed on it. This beach was very shallow and super quiet.
If you wanted a larger beach, you walk to the left and come to a beautiful sandy beach with lots of shady areas to relax. Again the lounge chairs were brought, brushed off and towels placed. Music would usually be playing here and you could also snorkel in some areas.
The pools were shallow, well maintained and very clean. Bar service was brought right to your chair.
Our room was beautiful, large king bed, walk in shower and large bathroom. Only thing that could have made it better would have been some towel art and flowers left in our room. When speaking to other guests they apparently had these things daily. We tipped every day and left items for the maid, but only received a swan on the bed for our anniversary. Not a big deal, just a little disappointing, as I feel these are the touches that make a resort 5 star.
The resort is adults only and extremely quiet. If you are wanting to enjoy shows at night, music around the pool or throughout the lobby, this is not the resort for you. There was a piano in the lobby bar and the pianist was fantastic but that was it. Two of the nights there was a bit more entertainment with dancers one night and a Michael Jackson show the other. But no large shows happening nightly.
All in all we had a good stay, met some amazing people both tourist and workers. Would we go back again, if we wanted complete quiet and relaxation yes. Would we recommend Angsana to others, yes, again if they wanted quiet and relaxation. Maybe at a different time of year, there would be more activities. [Details]
A TRUE FIVE STAR PARADISE!!!
WE CANNOT WAIT TO GO BACK! [Details]
Amazing Third Visit
Amazing small resort
Angsanas future???
As for now this resort does not deserve to be mark as 5 stars , max 3??
Food : repetitive , lack of professional and skilled cooks.
Maintenance : both pools need to be take care off regularly.
In our 2 weeks stay have not been cleaned or vacume once.
Entertainment: none.
Lobby bar: lack of professional and wall trained servers.
Jazz bar: it's a joke!!
They need to hire professional DJ. Present one have no clue how to entertain people. [Details]
Belle vacances reposante
Angsana Cayo Santa Maria
What A Week! I travelled solo and had a great time
If you react to bug bites, you might want to pack some bug spray, benedryl and after bite as I saw about 4 guests that had their legs covered in bites. The staff said they were mosquitos but I believe they were either sand fleas or something called chiggers.
I can't say enough about this resort. Book it! You won't regret it. [Details]
Great Staff, Some Challenges
Though we would likely not go back to this spot, it was nice for our first trip to Cuba. [Details]
Best Resort Ever!!!
Rooms were top notch and food was amazing, The restraunt staff were impeccable, I met up with 2 ladies that were having birthdays around same time as mine. Customer relations last at front desk set up a special birthday dinner.. upgraded Champaign special desert and actually sang to us all. Table even decorated.
Entertainment at night was amazing, singer, guitar playing to Piano playing plus; pool shows at night.
Few little problems that occurred, they were Adress right away. Always approachable and available for any questions.
Trust me I will be returning again and again [Details]