Playa Luxury Cayo Guillermo

My wife and I went in mid October 2025 with a couple who are friends of ours. I was unsure about returning to Cuba after a bad experience at another resort earlier that year, but Playa Luxury exceeded what we expected. The beach, service, food choices, and amenities were very good, especially considering the limitations in Cuba due to the embargo. We could get lobster and steak at no extra cost, and the rooms had been renewed. It's a very quiet resort, so it's not the place to go for parties or night shows. For a peaceful stay with a pristine beach and ocean, good food, drinks, and attentive customer service, I'd happily book again. A few things could be better. We weren't told about the poolside BBQ day or the included 25-minute massages. The butlers could give guests a better briefing or send daily WhatsApp updates. There's a public beach next door, and people sometimes try to enter the hotel or use its chairs, which made us a bit concerned about our belongings. A dedicated security person watching the beach area might help. Also, while it's not the hotel's fault, an old diesel catamaran leaves from the public beach and leaves oil and diesel residue in the sea. We even saw an empty plastic oil container floating nearby. Thanks to all the staff for making our stay so good. Special thanks to Mariam, Elexis and Adriana at Reaturante tradiciones; Jennifer, Kiki, Yelixa and Ramon at the beach; Yerlin at breakfast; Lenier (aka Rubio), Luis Enrique, Jeanette, Leyanis and Anoraks at the Lobby Bar; Gianca, Carlos, Gustavo and Leo at the Disco; Yadir, Daniela, Gabriel and Reynaldo (cheff) at the Snack Bar; Jesus, Josue y David, the Buttlers; Yarlenys and Al (bell boy) at the Front Desk; and the three guitar players who performed Colombian songs. Sorry if I've left anyone out.

The staff were terrific, always smiling, ready to help, and easy to find. We had heard warnings about food in Cuba, but there was no need to worry. Nearly everything we ate was tasty, and we had no issues afterward. The pizza wasn't great, but the grilled octopus was so good, and the skewers were delicious. The buffet had a strong variety at every meal, and the standalone restaurants were fantastic. We especially enjoyed the beach dinner and felt special at those restaurants. The beach was beautiful, with plenty of chairs and umbrellas. Attendants were quick to bring drinks or get you involved in an exercise activity. Our room was nice too, and while a few amenities could have used minor repairs, the spectacular view made that easy to overlook. The bar had loads of choices, including Cuba rums I'd never seen in Canada. Johnnie Walker Blue! That'll get your attention. We needed medical care during the trip, and the response was impressively fast. A nurse and doctor came to our actual room in under an hour. Later nurse visits at the onsite medical room happened at the scheduled times, and both the nurse and doctor were professional and helpful. We kept hearing other guests say they'd never been to a resort that had certain things, and we had our own repeated moments of being impressed. We'd gladly come back in a heartbeat. A+

We've been here twice this year and it's a wonderful place. The front desk manager is the one who really makes you feel special and adds that extra touch to help make your stay positive. YARLENYS, you're wonderful ❤️. Thank you. The letdown has been the butlers and customer service. They don't really engage unless you reach out on WhatsApp. They should talk with guests more and encourage the full service experience.

Pilar beach is gorgeous, with powdery white sand and warm water, and the resort and surrounding area were very clean. Mosquitos were around, sometimes with as many as ten on you at once, mostly early in the morning or at night. The resort sprays, which I'm sure helps. The staff were amazing and professional, from the grounds crew through to the managers. The spa was a lovely experience, and the butlers helped with requests. The animation team was four young men doing what they could to entertain, but this is an upscale place for relaxing and resting. If you want lots of entertainment, this probably isn't for you. Most people were back in their rooms by 11 or maybe midnight. Food was okay for me. There was always something to eat, and staff tried their best to accommodate. There are three pools, though two were closed for tile work and the third was being refilled when I left. I spent a week there and would go back for another much needed break.