Iberostar Selection Playa Pilar

It's been a great week, even though Cuba has been chillier than usual. The staff have gone above and beyond to keep us entertained, fed, and supplied with cocktails. The beach is great for snorkeling, and the resort is beautiful, with spacious, refreshing pools. Our room was well looked after, and the few problems we had were sorted out within minutes. I can't wait to return, hopefully with better weather next time.

Our very first family trip, staying at Iberostar Origin Playa Pilar with my five kids, became much more meaningful than I ever expected. I'd spent a long time researching before choosing it, and we arrived late in the evening to a warm welcome. Staff helped with our bags, check-in was easy, and the drinks made us feel at home right away. The best part, though, was the connection we felt with the staff, especially the entertainment (animation) team. They brought so much joy, kindness, and laughter, and made us feel included and cared for. Lachy and Lesbany changed the whole trip for us. They brought energy and real friendship, and made us feel seen. This resort is now a place connected to people we consider friends and family for life. Our room was bigger than expected, clean, spacious, and well laid out. Housekeeping cleaned daily, brought fresh towels and water, and made towel creations the kids looked forward to. The pools were spotless and varied, the grounds were lush, well maintained, and easy to walk around. The beach was peaceful and good for swimming and snorkeling, and staff quickly helped with loungers or anything else we needed. Food exceeded our expectations. We loved breakfast, especially the incredible omelet chef, and enjoyed the fresh food, variety, chefs, and desserts. The Japanese restaurant stood out as both delicious and really entertaining. The evening shows were great, and daytime activities ranged from dance lessons to water sports, so there was something for everyone. We also enjoyed the well-planned excursions with competent guides, which took us to beautiful natural spots and major tourist attractions. We arrived as guests and left with lasting memories and friendships. We're already recommending Iberostar Origin Playa Pilar to everyone we know, and we'll absolutely be back.

I almost never write reviews, but after more than 50 resorts, this was the first stay that made me feel I had to. It was horrible, and I wouldn't recommend this place. The only positive I can point to is that the food was good by Cuban standards. Everything else was deeply disappointing. At reception, staff were extremely unhelpful and knew little about anything. They couldn't tell us about daily activities, entertainment times, bus pickups, or things to do near the hotel. The lobby bar was unfriendly too. About 80 percent of the staff were rude and spoke little English; a small number were okay. The beach was one of the biggest letdowns. It didn't feel like a real beach: you have to go down stairs to reach the water, and it's not suitable for kids. The sand area for children was tiny, maybe 10 by 10 feet. To get to an actual beach, you have to take a bus and pay five dollars per person. If you're booking for the beach, I'd strongly suggest staying away. Towels were scarce despite there probably being no more than 50 guests. We got some on day three and had to keep them for the rest of the stay because there were no replacements. The pools were in awful condition. The kids' pool had trash, cups, and dark debris floating in it, and the play area inside was covered in mold. The volleyball pool looked yellow and poorly maintained. Our room wasn't much better. It came with only two bottles of water, and to get more we had to ask reception, which said cleaning staff would bring some the next day during housekeeping. Housekeeping didn't leave extra water on its own. The minibar was empty throughout the stay, and there was no room phone to contact reception. The blankets smelled like urine, as if they hadn't been properly washed. The balcony door was broken and couldn't be locked, leaving us to sleep with an unsecured balcony, a serious safety concern. We had terrible weather, which I know wasn't the hotel's fault, but there was no attempt to plan indoor activities for guests, especially children. Entertainment was often canceled because there weren't enough people, even though guests still expect some activities regardless of occupancy. I later found out the resort lost many clients in December 2025 because of water problems. I wish I'd read recent reviews before spending so much to stay here. By far one of my worst resort experiences.

We came back to Cuba for our second visit and chose this place again because the service is so friendly and excellent. The food was perfect and they made our vacation great. The warm shower was one small issue, but no big deal. We love this resort and will return.