BEAUTIFUL Resort - MANY Issues...

We (f/27 & m/27) stayed at Warwick Cayo Santa Maria from Dec 29th to January 5th (booked with Sunwing). Flight was great (on-time) and trip to resort (1.5hrs) was very quick, thanks to on-board beers and an awesome/very knowledgeable tour guide. We were greeted in the beautiful resort lobby with drinks & checkin was quick and painless - took maybe 15 minutes. Our room wasn't quite ready, so we went and had dinner at the snack bar. Now - the snack bar is an absolute joke (sorry). If you sit down [... lire plus] and wait for someone to take your order, you will be waiting eternally (we waited about 30 mins). I got impatient so I stood up and grabbed a waiter to take our order. Food took another 30-45 mins to get to our table (a "sandwich" which was a hotdog bun with some pickles, coleslaw, and cucumbers). For the duration of our trip, the snack bar took AT LEAST an hour to get any food (even if it was nearly empty). The snack bar also very commonly ran out of almost all of the menu items (fries, pizza, hamburgers, etc), so we were only able to order hotdogs most of the time. We checked into our room and it was AMAZING! So modern, simple & comfortable. My boyfriend tried to take a shower but the water wasn't working. So I called front desk and they let us know that the water hasn't worked for over a day. How are people showering? How are cooks washing their hands? The water was finally turned back on the next day but always shut off like clockwork (for the whole resort) at 5p. This was TOTALLY disgusting... The pools were absolutely beautiful with tons of wicker loungers always available and a lot of bars to get drinks. The beach was just stunning! White sands, turquoise waters... it was like a dream! The looks of the resort, the pools & beach are what saved this resort from being a COMPLETE disaster. Resort entertainment was good - a show every night at 9:30p (and the shows were GREAT! Really talented performers!) We had a lot of fun playing pool & ping pong (with a drink in hand). Be sure to check out the bar beside the cigar room - they make THE BEST drinks (ask to see their drink menu!) The staff here were very, very nice. The buffet.... oh man.... it's not quite as bad as the snack bar (nightmare) but it was bad. If you want your food cooked in front of you (omelette, pasta, fish, meat, crepes, waffles) you will be waiting at least 45mins in a very long line full of hungry people. There is one staff per food station (sometimes they had 1 staff for 2 food stations). I felt so terrible for the staff! They didn't get a break... just cooking nonstop over a hot grill ( for breakfast, lunch & dinner) for a huge lineup of hangry people. Even when I waited over an hour in line for an omelette, i'd still tip the cook - it's not his/her fault that whoever designed the food service area REALLY didn't know what they were doing... The food on the buffet line was OK - just be careful with what you choose. When we returned home, both my boyfriend and I got very sick. This lasted about 1.5 weeks - I took antibiotics to finally get rid of whatever virus I contracted in Cuba. TL;DR: Don't go to this resort for the food (or basic amenities like running water...). You will be SORELY disappointed. Go to this resort for the pools, the scenery & the GORGEOUS beach!!!

Fantastic Resort, Had a Great Time!

The staff were very helpful and friendly, our daily room cleaner Miguel was a great guy and the team serving us daily in the buffet were a lot of fun, Johnnie, Judy, Alice to name a few. The grounds were well kept and very nice. The variety of a la carte, beach bbq, poolside snack bar, roast pig there was never a shortage of good food (improvement - Rancho outdoor foods like all resorts need to be covered ). Whatever we needed the staff did there very best to accommodate and make our stay enjoya [... lire plus]ble. Great beach, take some snorkel gear if you are in to that, some good spots right on the beach to have some fun. Recommendations for improvement would be much better internet or at least inform the guests the best service is to purchase the access and use the desktop units available, the internet is very unreliable. Improvements for the path lighting in many areas is inadequate. Ensure the lighting is working and or add additional fixtures.

Disappionting stay

I will start with the positive. The grounds were lovely, the rooms where clean, maid service was good, pools were well maintained lots of chairs. The beach was a little rocky but overall not bad. The restaurants, the buffet was a total disappointment nothing from the steam table was hot if you were lucky it was lukewarm. If you wanted something hot you had to go to the grill and wait forever in line. The a la cartes were alright, the Fusion was the best of the lot, including the service by this  [... lire plus]incredible waitress. The lobby is lacking in any feeling of comfort, the seating is a depressing lime green fake leather that are so deep most can't even touch the floor. We didn't get any banking services for four days when asked they said we could hire a taxi and go into the shopping area where the bank was. Speaking of shopping you would not believe what they had there, the store was so small only one customer could go in at the time, the rest of us had to stand in line outside. Entertainment, none or none worth talking about.

Worst vacation ever

beautiful looking hotel that is it food service not good food below average was disappointed with the way they ran hotel management nonexistent was almost killed by speeding bug spray truck ended up in bushes off path when complained manager nowhere to be found also workers in food services need more English lanquage lessons. please do not stay here.

Amazing resort! Super friendly staff, good food)

Love the decor, my room was super clean, very friendly, polite staff! Lots of space to seat and enjoy conversations and drinks! Amazing pool! Lots of chairs around the pool and in the beach, it was nice not to have to "compete" for a chair on the beach.

Had a good time

The resort was clean and the staff were helpful. A few bugs to work out being new and all, but my boyfriend and I had a fun time. Buffet got repetitive, but the a la cartes were great, especially fusion. The rain showers in the room are the BEST.

Very BAD….Bad, bad service and insects bits

We are group of people just back from Warwick on January 12th 2016, it was the worse service we had experienced in Cuba. Zero attention from serving staff in this hotel. Everybody on the Bus the way back to Airport was complaining about the same problem. Bad Management and bad service and lots of insects bits some people was saying bed bag but it was sand fly they are every where in the room, under the table in the buffet and all setting areas, sprays doesn't help.

Great vacation

We travelled January 5 to 12 with a group of 12 people, children and adults. We saw the reviews turning negative before our trip. We had no issues. Our check in and checkout was painless and quick. Our room was very nice with a beautiful shower and an even more beautiful ocean view. The property is beautiful and all the staff were pleasant. I do agree that some additional lighting would be a good idea down the paths as it is dark, this was not an issue but a good suggestion. The buffet was a bit [... lire plus] lacking in selection but we all found something to eat. There could be some improvement here. The snack bar was a great perk and the BBQ sandwiches on the beach grill were yummy. The A la cartes broke up the week for a change from the buffet and were decent. Again, staff all pleasant here too. Gorgeous pools and a beautiful beach. We were all in agreement that we had a wonderful time.

Not a 5 star

The hotel itself is very nice but needs a lot of work when it comes to customer service and food. I have been to Cuba many times and understand that when visiting, the food is very bland but when it comes to choices of what to eat.... did not enjoy the food at all. Being a new resort it is understandable that communication will be tough. Very few workers spoke any English or understood it. Whether it be front desk or house keeping. The lock on our room wouldn't open and we tried 4 times with dif [... lire plus]ferent keys before they moved us. We had to pack up two rooms and move to a different bungalow. Here we had an issue with the shower draining, the water just backed up into the bathroom. At this point we just gave up as it was difficult to find any help. I think in a couple years, this resort will be better but I would not recommend it to any of my friends right now. I do have to thank the Air Transat employee on site as she did whatever she could to help us.

Service terrible

Grounds and room wonderful, but service of hotel and food area are terrible. Money exchange closed from Jan 2 -Jan 6, then opened 1 Day and ran out of money.Reopened Jan 8. How do they expect you to leave tips if you can't get money. We have been to Cuba for the last 10 years and have never experience this problem. Pool in shallow end very dirty, was never cleaned. Bandages, garabage etc in pool. Of course, the weather was wonderful as always. Wait 1 yr before you go th the Warwick. No managers  [... lire plus]around and if they are, the staff doesn't tell you. We expected better from the Warwick chain of hotels. Shame on you.

Nice Resort

We travelled from December 11th to December 18th.The Resort is very nice and the Staff are very eager to make sure you have a great time.I know you don't go to Cuba for the food but there was very little to choose from and we have been to Cuba 10 times and never had a problem.The beds are very hard so we had to use the blankets in the closet to make it more comfortable.On a positive note,the pool is beautiful and the service was exceptionable around the pool and at the snack bar.The beach is ver [... lire plus]y nice on the right hand side but there was no bar or food service but on the left hand side they had a bar and snacks,hamburgers ,hot dogs and sandwiches .Over all it is a beautiful new resort and I'm sure they will work out all the kinks in time.

Not perfect but very good

The Warwick is a brand new property. The public areas of the hotel (lobby, diningrooms, pools, landscaping) are lovely. Parts of the walkways were a bit dark and could be better lit so be careful while walking at night (perhaps bring a small flashlight). The rooms are clean, bright and spacious and the bathrooms are very nice with a very large walk-in shower with rainshower head. View from room is not greatest (over mangroves). Our housekeeper was a very cheerful fellow who did an excellent job  [... lire plus](although a "do not disturb" sign would be helpful). We do not watch much TV but there were quite a few stations available in different languages. Check in/out process was fine - maybe a bit slow on check-in. The beach was very nice - rather rugged in parts. Bars were available on the beach and they even had servers. Kayaks and small catamarans were available on the beach also. Lots of chairs but shade was at a premium (there were some inconsiderate shade hoggers - you know who you are). Food was good (by Cuban standards) - lots of variety and the a la carte restaurants were a nice change from buffets. Several restaurants and bars on the property - service was prompt and cheerful although not all hotel employees spoke perfect english it was perfectly fine (when you are travelling in a different country it is rather arrogant to expect everyone to speak perfect english). Great coffee (including fancy coffees) particularly in the lobby bar (although they do not have the snacks as listed on the signs so perhaps signs s/b removed in order to avoid confusion). The entertainment was outstanding - aquatic show, flamenco show, Cuban night - all first rate. The music played around the pool and hotel was great - mostly Cuban salsa and not too loud (maybe could do with a bit less reaggaton/tegue). We loved the DJ (Jorge) who was very friendly. The towel service was a bit confusing as it was our housekeeper who swapped them for us rather than as is usually done at all-inclusive resorts swapping out at the pool area. There are some mosquitos in the evening so, if they bother you, bring repellant (and try to avoid being outdoors at dusk when the property is "fogged"). Two minor complaints is wifi is spotty at best (very frustrating for my husband who was trying to work) and the stretch class was done in full sun by the pool - I would suggest clearing out one of the nearby dining kiosks to use for stretching classes (there are many so I'm sure one could be spared). There are many complaints about the food but please be realistic. All-inclusive resorts in Cuba are generally very inexpensive and include flight, hotel accommodations, meals, alcohol and bus transfers. Also, there are many foods that are simply not available in Cuba. They do the best with what they have and we have never gone hungry - it is fine. Also, please be sure to TIP the staff and you will find your experience greatly enhanced - a little generosity is greatly appreciated. Overall it was a lovely hotel and a very nice trip that we enjoyed very much.

Great week at the Warwick

Fantastic week at the Warwick. Beach is amazing. There are 2 main beaches however if you venture behind building 14, it is not rocky as some people commented on previously. Food in general in Cuba is not the greatest but there is always grill options such as steak, shrimp, fishes etc. The resort is new so the rooms are extremely clean. Only issue is getting the mini fridge stocked regularly - I typically had to go to the room maid and request for it to be re-stocked.

The hotel is too new- work in progress!

It is a new hotel, clean, but it's a work in progress. I love Cuba, people are friendly,happy and I do feel safe there. I have been many times in Cuba, but first time here at Cayo Santa Maria. I am not sure if I can make any recommendations at this time. Travel time from the airport- it is more than 90 min given the road conditions. As everyone is using the same road, the driver has to drive slowly and accommodate all types of vehicles. Beach - Not many beach umbrellas for shade, although they w [... lire plus]ere working on it while we were there. The build is very primitive but they are doing their best... It's Cuba! The better beach ( no rocks) is on the right side and is very far from the bar and the beach restaurant. They started building more bars now and hopefully they will be ready in the near future. Food - same menu for lunch and dinner. Many things are canned i.e. sups, red papers, beat roots, mushrooms etc. There was always a fish selection at the grill and lots of shrimp. They had nice prosciutto meat selection. Wait line for cooked bananas/ other fruit was too long ( like 20-30 min) as the guy is only cooking one order at the time. ( One banana, than again one banana... instead of 5-6 bananas at the same time to serve more guests). Some of the servants were very polite and gave their best. Restaurants- went only to La Mediterranean as I read better reviews, but didn't like it. The 24 hour one has nice pizza, french fries and some sandwiches. At the end, they had roasted pork at the beach and for dinner served lobster at the restaurant. Entertainment - don't recommend any of the show. Need better staff for sure. After dinner, we stayed at the bar down, there was a live band and that was OK. We were 3 couples so we had fun. Otherwise, after 11 pm there is bus that takes you to the local night club. Internet- 2 pesos for 1 hour. It doesn't work all the time and its slow. Don't recommend if your require an access while on vacation. In overall, we had a good time and enjoyed our stay. The ocean was beautiful, we were swimming and enjoyed our time under the hot Cuban sun.

Line ups for food killed it

The lineups for food were at least 1/2 hr long to get simple food items such as an omelette or pasta, or a waffle. Most of the time the buffet was understaffed and we were scavenging to find a half clean table, look for clean forks, glasses. There were food shortages all the time.

Good times

Great hotel....only problem was the mosquitos.i must have more than 50 bites while some have a few! I tecommend this resort but dont forget the nosquito repelant. Nice beach and clean pools. Good service and nuce staff.

Beautiful resort just needs some polish

Beautiful grounds, beach, and accommodations. Food lacks still and service is not great either. Some staff were amazing but most were not sure of their jobs it seemed and lacked desire to help out. Entertainment crew was not as good as I have seen. MC was annoying and self absorbed with same old routine. Not much to do since you are really isolated but I had a great relaxing trip with my wife. Not a fan of all the Quebecers that are there. They are fairly rude and ignorant to resident staff. Ove [... lire plus]rall for the price I paid it was above and beyond what I expected though.

BEST CUBA VACATION

This is one of the best resorts that I have ever been to in Cuba. Food, alcohol, service, beach, pool all were above what I was expecting. Been to Varadero twice once at a 5 star and this resort was 10 times better.

Would go back

The resort is very nice. Great pools with lounge chairs that are nonadjustable so you can't sit up even if you want to. Great bars including the coffee bar. The rooms are comfortable. The buffet is very good but the a la carte restaurants need improving. Nice touch with the live music while you eat. The staff is very nice. Nightly entertainment is the usual except for a rock band called Grease and the pool show that was pretty good. There are a lot better beaches in Cuba. This beach is narrow at [... lire plus] hi tide with sand and rock. The resort is new and they are making improvements. I would recommend this hotel at the right price.

OK resort, but avoid Cubana air!

First the flight. We were redirected from Santa Maria to Havana due to a storm. The baggage for approximately 30 people was lost for 2 hours. No one from Cubano air was at the airport to provide assistance for 1.5 hours. Then 3 people still did not have luggage for a few days. We then waited 2 more hours for buses that had mechanical issues and arrived at the report at 4 am rather than the expected 8 pm. When we arrived we did not get any of our special requests, but changed our room the next d [... lire plus]ay to get them. The staff were very nice. The beach had good parts. The food was tasty but never varied so it got old fast. The resort seemed to have some sewage issues. A few buildings were getting their sewage pipes worked on. The black flies were very active. Everyone had a lot of bites. Overall OK vacation, but nothing special.. I would not fly Cubano air again though.