Sol Turquesa Beach

The staff were wonderful, and we really enjoyed our vacation with our two children and their spouses. Our room's fridge was kept stocked with bottled water, and the internet was good. Still, the resort had several inconveniences. There are lots of stairs to get around, the lighting is poor at night, and the poolside cement has lost its coating, making it rough on bare feet. The beach is nice, but swimming wasn't possible for us because of the rocky bottom and vegetation. Toilet water pressure was too low to flush for an hour or so on several occasions, and the power went out briefly a few times. Of about 20 tennis courts, only one was mostly playable. Four to six men worked on it all week without much seeming to get done. The resort had reopened just 14 months earlier and occupancy was low, which meant less food variety and limited activities, though the entertainment was good. There was still plenty we enjoyed, but those conditions affected the options available.

The resort was operating far below capacity, with fewer than 100 guests in a place built for 1,500. That meant no competition for pool chairs or beach loungers, and we got to know many of the guests. It made for a friendly, relaxed stay in a lovely setting of coconut trees and manicured tropical forest. Cuba has shortages, but they didn't greatly affect our visit. The staff, including the food and beverage manager, were amazing and went out of their way to help. Many had worked there for around 20 years. The food was fresh and good, and the coffee was amazing. I loved the long sandy beach, clear blue and turquoise warm water, and water activities like catamarans. There can be lots of seaweed, and they're looking into clearing it. There were beach chairs, pool bars, and natural shade umbrellas. Everything was clean and well kept, even though the resort is older. Its elegant charm comes from the way the buildings sit across lush greenery, with small two-story units. Five pools sit at different levels, with waterfalls linking the main three. There are a buffet and several other dining choices. The buffet had plenty of variety, and there was entertainment every night. The quality wasn't the best, but it could be fun. One night we had a huge BBQ in an outdoor courtyard with a lovely singer and dancers. There are lots of things to do offsite too. This is Cuba, a developing country, so it's best to come with that in mind. We felt safe and well looked after in what felt like our own elegant, nearly private resort. I'd go back and recommend it. This place deserves to thrive.

The workers were excellent, always nice and smiling, and the service was very good. But during our stay there were fewer than 100 guests in a huge resort, and our luck wasn't great: the entertainment was lame and the food was pathetic. Chefs should know how to prepare meals even with limited ingredients. Melia, please make changes that really impress guests so we can recommend the resort to friends and family. As things stand, we won't return.

Sol Turquesa's grounds, pools, rooms, location, food, and service were fantastic. The resort spreads its rooms through natural greenery instead of being a cement block on the beach, with mango, banana, and coconut trees all around. The pools are beautiful in that setting, and hummingbirds often came by the 24-hour restaurant. I spent two weeks there in August 2024. Since it wasn't peak season, every meal was served in the à la carte restaurant, and there was always plenty, often more than I could finish. There weren't any real eggs, but that's a Cuba issue rather than a resort issue. Gorge brought us mangoes from his home even though mangoes were out of season. Isbel gave great service and conversation at the pool bar, and manager Juan Carlos was often around to say "Buenos Dias." There are a lot of stairs between the main pool and residence area and the lobby and buffet, since the resort is built on a hillside. You can call for a car or take the longer route along the paths instead. I've visited many resorts around Holguín over the last two years, including some on neighboring beaches, and I'll return to Sol Turquesa often and skip the rest.