Paradisus Rio De Oro Resort & Spa

We’ve just come back from our fifth trip to PRDO, always on the Royal side. The beaches are stunning: quiet at the Royal, while the Main side is livelier, more active and has bigger waves. The people are amazing and make the experience; the whole team makes a huge difference. Food was plentiful. We loved the omelets and sandwiches, the a la cartes were great, and the main buffet was well stocked. It’s not really a foodie resort, but I didn’t notice any major lack of food or menu choices. Wi-Fi was generally fast and available all over, and the power flickered once overnight without affecting us. Mosquitoes only bothered us after some rain, when we sat under an umbrella. PRDO is showing the effects of Cuba’s decline over the past few years. Some rooms and areas could use paint or have bolts and hinges tightened, but none of that affected how much we enjoyed ourselves or our plans for trip number six.

We’ve just had another lovely week in Cuba at the Paradisus. It’s a beautiful, smaller adults-only setting with spacious rooms, reliable internet and wonderful Cuban people. We didn’t run into a mosquito infestation, blackouts, food shortages or the other crises some fearmongers have been talking about. The weather was lovely, the entertainment was fun and drinks were plentiful. The a la carte restaurants were quite good, and the buffet was solid too. If you expect boutique-modern rooms, Michelin-style food or high-maintenance service, this may not suit you. But if you do your homework and pay a bit more for a higher-quality resort in Cuba, Paradisus is great value. Prices in Cuba are very inexpensive compared with other sun destinations. We love spending time here and will keep coming back.

I spent a week at this beautiful hotel on my own and felt completely safe. There’s a good range of activities, the staff are amazing, and the scenery is stunning. The food was okay, keeping in mind that I’m vegan. Special mention to Elana, who looked after my room during my stay.

This was our third year in a row celebrating our anniversary at Paradisus, this time for eight days. It keeps getting better, and it’s become a tradition we’re already looking forward to repeating next year. The entertainment crew is a big reason we return. They bring a fun, welcoming feel with excursions, daytime pool activities and well-run evening shows. They also remember us and are genuinely happy to see us again, making each visit feel personal. Dayane and Sheila welcomed us back, while new team members Alex and Luis helped make the trip so much fun. We eat most meals at the buffet and have been pleased with the food getting better each year. There was a good variety of well-cooked meats from the hot buffet and cooked to order, plus plenty of excellent fresh and cooked vegetables. The pasta station and on-site pizza are great, and the buffet has enough choice and consistency even though we’ve enjoyed the a la cartes too. We don’t drink alcohol and were happy with the non-alcoholic options. Leo at the pool bar made us virgin Pina Coladas every afternoon. On our anniversary evening, the PRO team went above and beyond with a special dinner, a beautifully decorated table and a lovely cake. It was thoughtful and made the night memorable. A heartfelt thank you to the whole team for another wonderful stay.