Sol Rio De Luna Y Mares

Amazing first trip to Sol Rio, no regrets, Hotel meets all expectations. Attentive employees, excellent beach. Best regards to Cecilia, the queen of dancing and her team.
Despite doubts, food also was good in all kitchens. Public bathrooms are cleaned 24 hrs a day, Hotel is taken care of.
Special gratitude to David, you are doing a job, the only request, just to continue working on buffet improvements, and I will be definitely one of your devoted visitors.
Best regards from Joseph in Montreal. [Details]

Gracias - Thank you to everyone at the Sol Rio de Luna Y Mares Resort (home away from home) for yet another wonderful vacation! The people that work at this beautiful resort are more than friends, they are family, making this a home away from home. Yet again, everyone's friendly smiles, laughter, attentiveness, and excellent service made every single day a happy one. Time spent with friends old and new made this vacation the best ever! My tears were sincere when I said goodbye. I miss you all already!
Just back from a wonderful two week vacation at the Sol Rio - I was sad to leave and can't wait to return! This was my 8th time staying at this beautiful resort, 3rd since the renovations, and I have seen the changes over the years, both positive and negative. I'll start by saying the positive definitely outweighs the negative. So many improvements since the renovations, including the air-conditioned buffet dining room, 24-hour snack bar, and the new Pinta beach grill. This resort is located in one of the most beautiful areas in Cuba. I love the bus ride from Holguin airport! It brings you through the city, towns, villages, and countryside, with farms among the mountains and valleys. The beach of the Sol Rio, Playa Esmarelda, is spectacular, and the snorkeling is amazing. Unlike the long beaches of Cayo Coco or Cayo Santa Maria, miles long with shallow waters and dozens of resorts, this gorgeious beach is in a cove with only two resorts. The reef has beautiful coral and a great variety of fish. It is actually where the catamaran excursions drop anchor for tourists to snorkel. There is a nature reserve to the right of the resort, where the trail leads to a lookout over the beach, and a nice walking bridge to the left, over a lagoon. Both are easy hikes.
My room was on the 4th floor, and the air-conditioning worked very well; it is pre-set, so you only need to turn it on or off. I turn it off while I am at the beach, and it only took a few minutes to cool the room when I returned. There was only one afternoon that there was low water pressure - other than that, there was always hot water to shower. I rarely spend much time in my room, so to give the housekeeping lady a break, I put the "Do not disturb" sign in the door most days. I often ran into her in the hallway, and she always asked if I needed anything like toilet paper. I only needed clean sheets and towels maybe twice a week, so I'd leave the "Please clean room" sign in the door, and she would give the room a nice refresh.
Regarding the food; I gained 4 pounds. Please note that any lack of food is not the fault of the resort, as this is the result of outside issues beyond their control. Chef Luis and everyone in the kitchen deserve kudos for making so many tasty dishes. One of my favorite dishes is the roast pig that they prepare on Friday, to celebrate Cuban Day. It is served in the lobby area with side dishes, but I hardly look at those, I just love the juicy pork and crispy cracklings. Of the 14 days, there was only one morning that they ran out of eggs. I don't eat eggs every morning at home, so sometimes just toast and cheese and fresh fruit was enough for me. Bread was just a matter of timing; One day, we arrived at the buffet at 8:45, and there was no bread left, however they brought more out at 9:00. There are some items that I enjoy that were not always available, like the chorizo sausage, but there was always a nice selection of deli meats and cheeses. We often ate lunch at La Pinta beach grill. The soup is always a favorite, and the pork or chicken fajita is also very tasty. Alina was always there with her beautiful smile, and Oscar Luis mixing great Pina Coladas. The pizza at the 24-Hour snack bar is good, as long as they have the crust available. If not, the pita type base gets soggy. Supper was often the A La Cartes, booked in the check-in area by Ronald Toledo, always so friendly and helpful, and the dinners never disappointed. Personally, I love the options in the buffet, especially breakfast, and the grilled meats and pasta. A special mention for Yaquelin, she makes delicious omelettes! What made me sad was seeing guests waste food - taking a lot more than they ate, leaving heaps of food on the table. Shocking, and such a shame.
My main reasons for going to this resort is to spend time on the beach, enjoy the amazing snorkeling on the reef, and enjoy evenings in the lobby with good friends. That being said, it is made all the more special because of the people that work at the Sol Rio. They are not only friends, but like family. I can't possibly name them all,...but I'll try;
Upon arrival, we are greeted by the friendly check-in staff, and of course friendly, smiling Fonsy, who gladly helps bring luggage to your room. From the early morning greetings and kisses from sweet Paula at the coffee bar, making the best cappuccinos this side of Rome, to the refreshing drinks served with a friendly smile by servers like Yusimi, Oscar Luis, Orphelina, Praxi, Katia, Yanelis, Yanet, Giselle, José, Orlando, Pablo, Jorge Luis, etc.. Other memorable people that make our stay so enjoyable are Clara and Eduardo at the 24-Hour snack bar, and in the buffet, Maiyelis, Josefa, Lucibel, Leticia, Evelio, etc.. Also, the housekeeping ladies are always so friendly, asking if I need anything, always with a smile.
Often you will see Customer Service reps such as David Rodriguez and Yunier Zaldivar greeting guests, asking if everything is okay. Also, Belkys and Arelis were always there to make sure everything was fine. They will always do their best to make your stay a great one.
Anyone that has negative remarks about this resort does not have the experience to judge. After several years as a repeat guest here and at other resorts, I have witnessed the struggles that the Cuban people are facing. The fact that they are able to provide such great service, meals, and entertainment with the daily challenges they face, is testament to how friendly, caring and resilient they truly are! [Details]

Ceci fut mon 9e voyage à cet endroit et j'adore tout. Le personnel sympatique, la propreté, la plage sont quelques raisons pourquoi moi et des centaines de personnes retournent chaque année. Oui, c'est vrais qu'il y a des manques de certaines choses mais rien d'assez important qui m'empêcherais d' y retourner. Ce qui est offert est bon et savoureux. Si vous recherchez de la gastronomie, dépensez des milles dollars de plus et allez ailleurs. Pour moi, l'accueuil chaleureux de mes amis cubains et la plage de toute beauté sont mes priorités. Un gros merci à Belkys, Kirennia, Osmany, Alina, Dourjya, Clara, Ruby, Jose, Orphelina, Praxides, Adrian, Yunier et tellement plus de gens incluant le nouveau gérant général qui se dévouent pour nous. Je planifie déjà mon 10e voyage <3 xoxo [Details]

Lovely resort at beautiful location.
The food was good, although there were some shortages, like a few days with no eggs, but didn't find that to be a problem for us. If you have to have Ketchup, you may want to bring your own.
The Staff are excellent and very friendly and courteous.
We had an excellent vacation and will surely be back. [Details]

Outstanding experience. The beach is incredible and the people, service just unbelievable. We will be going back 100% [Details]

Great week at this resort! Amazing weather, great upgraded room, amazing service! [Details]

Loved staying here. I'm a long-time traveller to Cuba and have stayed in many resorts. I would say this is one of the better ones. The wonderful staff here really make your stay. I loved that I had unlimited internet for free and that you can have it in your room and at the beach. [Details]

I am so happy and relaxed when I am at the Sol Rio de Luna Y Mares! Everything is wonderful, from the welcome at the check in, until the day of departure, when I am already looking forward to returning. This was my 2nd vacation at this resort since the renovations were completed, my 6th in all, and it only gets better each time. The people that work there have become such special friends, we keep in touch all year until we can be together again. The service is unbeatable, with happy greetings and friendly smiles. Everything from the lobby, the rooms, the pool, restaurants, and the beach - is just wonderful. I just can't wait to return. [Details]

Had a great week at Sol Rio de Luna y Mares. This is a beautiful resort with great views, and amazing beach. Cuba is suffering from shortages (but for us was not a problem). Always had sufficient quantity and quality. By vacationing there you will helping their economy and improving the lives of others. The rooms and common areas on Mares side are freshly renovated, and they are working on the renovations on the Luna side at this time. The staff here are amazing and second to none, they surely make this resort top of my list. Can't wait to get back. [Details]

Good vacation in a very nice hotel, the room was renovated, hotel grounds are well maintained, food was good with fish, veggies and fruits being served every day, the beach is nice and clean, please note that at the beach the water gets deep very close to the shore = not kids friendly, there is work ongoing on the Luna side but the noise rarely goes louder than the ocean noise. A big thanks to all the people working at Luna-Mares, naming a few: Noelia, Santa Yamelis and a special "thank you" to Marle at the buffet. [Details]

overall great stay, much enjoyed. rooms were clean, spacious, well temperatures, updated renos and good shower. Staff was friendly, accommodating and helpful. It is a more quiet lowkey resort, but if lucky you may find some party friends. Excursions offered were great and well priced. Resort was Close to local towns and cities. [Details]

All I can say is it's well worth what it cost !
Fonz is the best he was very helpful with any questions . He spoke English well. The workers were always there to help . I had an issue with air conditioning and they fixed it the next day. The food ….. well they did good with what they had , most days were ok . But I knew that going in to Cuba so I was fine with it . The resort is clean the rooms are nicely decorated and pleasing. The shower was the best didn't run out of hot water for 14 days I was there . The beach was the best the water was crystal clear no seaweed . The only thing I didn't like is that very little internet service I would of liked to stay in contact with my family and monitor my security cameras back home using my tablet like most resorts I went to in Dominican Republic . It would be ok if I had my cell phone. Then again another huge cost for 14 days [Details]

When in 2019 we chose a holiday in Cuba for the first time, we went with mixed feelings. SRLM surprised us with a clean hotel, good food, nice atmosphere, always smiling and ready to help employees, and unforgettable beautiful beach. The magic of this resort worked like love at first side.
We promised we would come back and as soon as the resort came back to life after the pandemic closures, we came back too.
We were aware that the long closing time may surprise us with large restrictions. How great was our surprise when, apart from the newly renovated and very clean rooms (our again with a beautiful ocean view ), we were surprised with the cooks creativity, despite the global crisis.
The cordiality and dedication of employees makes up for temporary shortages of some products. My group enjoyed every meal, but the fondest memories are left of a magical Italian dinner as well as the dinner night of returning customers.
In addition to beautiful sunny weather, always clean beach, warm and relatively calm water (January), with full stomachs, we were enjoying every evening filled with entertainment combine with sweet Cuban drinks and the unforgettable taste of Cuban coffee.

Every person working in SRLM from the gardeners, cleaning lady's, waiters, cooks, customer service and ending with the main managers deserves our bow and thanks for our great vacation time.
I could mention here dozens names of people thanks to whom our holidays were once again great, but being afraid of forgetting someone I will limit my great thanks to two people thanks to whom I believe this resort has its magical power.
BELKYS REYES and YUNIER ZALDIVAR
your dedication, respect and providing the best customer service deserves special mention. I think on behalf of hundreds of thousands visitors whom you are trying to provide a magical stay in SRLM I can say from the bottom of my heart THANK YOU and see you soon. [Details]

The hotel was clean and staff extremely friendly, pool was nice, beach is unbeatable. If you have mobility problems getting to/from beach will be difficult as there are over 50 steps going down but once there it is magnificent. You don't go to Cuba for the cuisine!!! Buffet was the same every day with limited option. Bring a bottle of ketchup and some Franks red hot in your luggage. [Details]

Hi my name is Mike my stay at this hotel was very good besides a few hiccups but what can you expect after 2-1/2 to 3 years of pandemic and no traveling. [Details]

My wife and I have been at this resort 19 times. Obviously we love it; our “home away from home”. [Details]

Hotel still in renovation mode so not many options for different eating locations. Beach was great and water sports easily available. [Details]

Hi,
This was 11 times visit. One of the best resort ....price to quality
We do not use the restaurant service, just buffet /exceptionally restaurant on the beach for launch.
Prefer the Luna section where we look for silence /3th floor with ocean view/
Staff are very friendly and we like to come back year after year
bring always some gift for them
-The bathroom should be update/ ......prefer the shower corner/
-Since the visitors are going older, .. and they have problem go to the sea......I recomend instal solid wood post on the beach and attached the strong cord leading to the sea... just 20-metrs/ or 50 feet and attached the end to the buoy...so the older people has some support when going to sea and out of water.
The cost will be minimum and this can help solve the present problem.
-Spa centrum....here it shoud be increase the temperature in the sauna..... since the 60oC is not enough/ recomended at least 80 o C. and automatic switch after 3 hours of use.... [Details]

First and foremost my review may well be biased because this was my 8th visit to this hotel...……..consequently I was treated to preferential experience but that apart the hotel may suffer from being old and therefore renovations are undergoing as I tell. I have just come back 23rd February after a 2-week memorable stay . The infrastructure may be old but what makes the difference is the people that serve you ………..they are so pleasant and appreciative!! I think the management is responsible for creating this demeanor within the personnel but the best aspect is the beach which is pristine and clean...……….the sand is like icing sugar!!!!!!! [Details]

Sol Rio de Luna y Mares: Heavens Above!

Christopher Columbus on arriving not far off the shores of this area in 1492 called it, "one of the most beautiful places" he'd seen. Today, this 4 star rated resort will likely satisfy visitors but be prepared for lots of walking especially if you're located in the far reaches of the Luna section beyond 5000 block. Though some like that "faraway, quiet place," others don't. Lucky us, we were relocated from a bland room of disrepair in 8000 block (on day 3) to the Mar's 2000 section and much better room with a great balcony and ocean view that Columbus would still marvel at today.

THE GOOD STUFF

The choice of resorts offering you an amped-up activity and entertainment section (Mares or Mars) and quiet, relaxing alternative (Luna)!

The lovely views esp. from the Mare's hilltop resort and our room, among the best we've had in Cuba.

The spacious, stylish, breezy 24 hr Mare's lobby bar vs the cozy, intimate, sheltered lobby bar at Luna.

The 24 hr Luna snack bar with great French fries, good cheeseburgers, chicken sandwiches and pizza (but only between 12 and 3 P.M.).

The table service at the lobby bars and cleanliness of these areas, common areas and bathrooms (free of those fast running critters). Nice to have dry, clean real ashtrays too.

The excellent Cuban bands playing "traditional Cuban music" (at the Mar's section mostly)! Plus, kudos to the very good Girl Band playing pop music.

The largely bug free holiday! No black flies, no apparent sand fleas, and no mosquito issues (except for the snack bar bathrooms).

THE NOT-SO-GREAT

Not knowing the Mare's El Ranchon restaurant (a feature website photo) and Luna beachfront restaurant would be closed. The Mar's beach grill restaurant was thus so busy you couldn't get a table most times. Plus, the Mares convenience store was closed all two weeks with repair issues.

The expensive tour operators' excursions incl the Holguin day trip that cost $100 Cdn per person! Try the other local providers whose signage o/s the buffet restaurant offers lower cost alternatives that sound good.

While the pools are big and have lots of loungers, the sprawling beach offers poor palapas' shade and finding chairs where you want them difficult. Dragging them to where you are, can be a "big drag." Just don't see why the guys in charge of the chairs, don't just leave them where they are as people leave those spots?

The rough water beach with its sinking sand shoreline and fast drop-off although this may had been due to the stormy weather of our first week.

The one, very busy buffet restaurant with lots of fish and organ meat but far too little chicken, precooked or grill. You can get an excellent breakfast here but otherwise food is merely okay. Ice cream good as always though.

Running out of sparkling wine on day three and the a la carte reservations guy who didn't warn me I needed long pants at the Int'l restaurant. Not fun running back to change esp when it was the last seating. Substitute pants had a broken zipper and didn't fit, lol.

Mould (green) on cooked pizza one day and "musty tasting" shrimp one evening at the otherwise pleasant Italian restaurant. Credit the Food Manager, he investigated immediately and was gracious.

The "asthma inducing," pesticide spraying (in Block # 2000 at least) at the Mare's resort. My second last day was the worst as I returned to the room just after they sprayed. This ill effect lasted a full day, including thru the next 5 A.M. wakeup, go home day. Mind you, they needed to spray and I asked them too, no choice though.

In CONCLUSION, this older hotel has its share of maintenance issues and closures right now but it's a SPECIAL place with something for everyone and hard working, entertaining and pleasant staff. Among the standouts are Praxilenes (Proxy), the coffee maestro and BEST lobby bar server, Dora from the snack bar, Minerva, our chambermaid, the plumbing staff, and Jacqueline, simply the best Rep we've had in over 20 years of visiting Cuba! Plus, who can forget, the scenery and beautiful views?

Cheers, may your travels be merry!

Steve Anthony, Toronto [Details]

My 15 year old daughter and I just returned from this hotel. The service was great. The staff especially the entertainment staff was always helpful and ready to go above and beyond to make our vacation great. [Details]

A lot of changing. Rooms are better. If all bathrooms will be renovated would be even better. Nice to see that small plastic cups not used anymore. Thank you to all staff for hard work! Was very busy time and no holidays for them. Can't wait to come back. [Details]

My husband and I had a great experience at Sol Rio de Luna y Mares. The beach was fantastic with plenty of space and loungers no matter what time of day you got there, and clean throughout the whole length of the beach. The pools were well maintained and clean too. The rooms/bathrooms are outdated in look, but functional and clean. The public washrooms throughout the resort are clean and stocked with toilet paper. The restaurants were great and the buffet had a good variety of food. If you are looking for a quieter stay, the Lunas side of the resort is best. We will definitely be back again! [Details]

Just got back from 1 week xmas vacation, I was a returning guest and i can see quite a few changes from 4 years ago, all are bad. To start with the first bad one , the whole resort looks sad, old, outdated, rundown. My room in block 5 was not clean,very old looking, water on floor in bathroom from leaky toilette , AC wasn't working well, very noisy to the point of not being able to sleep.
Something to note, the Hotel is undergoing some minor renovations, I was able to see some workers and a blocked entrance but don't expect
too much out of it.
Restaurants/buffet , HYGIENE is one big thing to mention, they have not been able to set simple rules, no covers or specially made food displays . There is always something missing , food and supplies.Hard to get plates, bowls, you need to waste your time waiting for all these things, management doesn't care that you have a short vacation and you don't need to waste your time on their incompetence, that's not why i'm paying for my vacation. Fruits? Forget about it! Same papaya every day, no edible grapefruit, water melon, ah, you get bananas! Desert also something awful, some ice cream, some sweet bread with some cream on top or used as layers, the rest of food nothing bad nor good, chicken, pork, beef as you choice of grill prepared meat . Some fish, tilapia is king.
The beach is nice as always, need to improve on chaiselongs , not enough of them, very old but why repeat this word? Everything is old in this hotel! Don't forget to get back your ticket upon returning your towels, a lost one is probably 25 pesos.
Service is sometimes good sometimes bad, generally speaking service was better than everything else.
Internet is also a fraud from what i've experienced , i've bought the service and regularly paid time to keep replenishing an internet account that would quickly go to zero , so from a 3 hours paid time you actually get to use 50 to 60 % out of it, the rest is being stealed from you.
Another way to make money is at the check out time and departure time, i've paid 4 more hours to keep the room , make sure you pay for the hours you really need , not reimbursable fee.
Front desk on the departure day was not in the mood to even say thank you for your stay or any other comments.
Bottom line, i won't recommend this hotel but if you really find a good deal and you don't mind all of the above, go for it. [Details]

I just came from two weeks stay at this resort and I enjoyed it very much.
The beach and property were amazing.
The grounds all over the resort are beautiful and well-kept by busy grounds' staff.
The beach is long and sandy with crystal clear waters and lots of room at any time. It has many trees which provide additional shade and comfort, besides having plenty of men made shades.
The food was also good! The buffet had different kinds of meat: fresh fish daily, the most amazing chicken, beef, pork, pasta- all prepared in front of you and to your liking. Loved juicy hamburgers at the Luna snack bar as well.
My room at the Luna side was spacious, spotlessly clean, quiet, with beautiful view.
The personnel truly makes this resort unique. They all (from those at bars & coffee stand, to servers in restaurants, maids, entertainment..) were amazing: courteous, patient, very attentive, and efficient. They always had a friendly smile no matter how busy they were.
Special compliments go to Irina, Spanish language teacher! You are wonderful: beautiful, patient, helpful!
I must also mention Robert- an excellent tour guide, with vast knowledge of Cuba's history, of nature (which he selflessly shared with us), and of rum and cocktails.
Overall I loved my stay here, thank you Sol Rio de Luna y Mares, and I thank all your hard working staff! [Details]

We visited this resort the week of Nov 30-Dec 7. Again, it didn't disappoint. I have read reviews about this resort, and yes it does need upgrading. They are currently working on 100 rooms and doing some touch ups around the Resort. BUT that is not what gives this Resort it's charm. It is definitely the workers. We brought our Grand-daughter for her 8th and 9th birthday. It just couldn't be any better. Irina and Jessie made sure her party was perfect. She spend every day with Irina and I have to say, this woman is truly a super-hero! Our grand-daughter attended Mini Club every day and loved all the activities that were planned. Irina pays so much attention to the children and it is indeed an important job. We totaly trust her with our grand-daughter and we feel that she is just as safe as if she were with us. Irina and the rest of the Recreation crew truly makes our stay unforgettable. They are constantly involved with the vacationers and have lots of things planned for us. My grand-daughter has formed a bond with Irina and she loves her very much. The staff truly makes this resort unique. I did experience something that upsetted me terribly though. The day before we left, my husband and our friend returned our towels to the towel shed on the beach. He was given a return slip BUT the guy working in the shed, George, I believe must have failed to mark off that we returned our towels. He did, however, give us our part of the return ticket. Unfortunately, that night my husband was tidying the desk and must have inadvertidly thrown out the ticket stub. The next morning, upon checking out, we were informed that we HAD NOT returned our towels. No amout of arguing was going to fix this problem. The front desk clerk and the customer service rep, including security, forbade us to board the bus to the airport until we paid for the towels (that we had already returned). So $50 US later, and an hour lost, we headed for the airport. So lesson learned. Either take your own towels or take a picture of everything thing you do as proof that it was done. I am terribly disappointed that this happened to us. Otherwise, we had a wonderful stay and everything else, including the entertainment, was awesome. [Details]

I have been to Varadero 26 times and got talked into going to Holguin to this resort! Never going back to Varadero this is authentic Cuba! The staff at this hotel were amazing and we're not after tips like in Varadero [Details]

Luna Y Mares resort is well located in the Playa Esmeralda beach next to the Dolphin in ocean aquarium, close to the Guadalavarca market, horseback riding right out front of the hotel to the caves, and nature trails through a preserve right next door with great photo lookout points over the entire bay. Service in the restaurants is excellent and attentive. Front desk check in is slow, so be prepared to wait. Beaches are clean and snorkeling is lovely by the wall near Rio D'Oro resort in the bay. [Details]

great hotel. but needs some renovations and upgrades to rooms. beach is the best. service is good. [Details]

It is the only resort we have gone to 3 times so that says it all. [Details]