Miranda Bayahibe

Food was generally good, especially at dinner. We liked the French and Japanese restaurants best, and both lunch spots were good too. Breakfast at the buffet was repetitive and the weakest meal, though still decent. The resort's location is lovely, with a gorgeous beach and tide pools, and a national park just a few resorts away if you want to walk trails. Our room was nice, cleaned every day, and the minibar was regularly refilled. Most of the staff were wonderful, and service was great much of the time. The lobby bar stood out because it serves premium alcohol to everyone, unlike the other bars where it's only for preferred members, and it stays open latest. The beach bar was less consistent but convenient. The main hassles were staff and vendors repeatedly trying to sell things, and finding shaded beach loungers when the weather was good. We always managed, but usually went out by 8:30 am. We'd come back.

We came for a wedding, and more than half the group got violently sick, most likely from food poisoning. The hotel didn't take responsibility or do anything meaningful to make it right. The beach was very nice, but that's about the only redeeming point. Our room had a leaky sink and broken locks, and we had to chase workers repeatedly to get them fixed. Food was mediocre, barely more than edible, and the drinks seemed clearly watered down. Some service workers were rude, and the hot tub wasn't hot. It felt like a 3 star hotel, which is why I'm giving it 3 stars, rather than a 5 star stay. I'd look for another resort on the same beach and avoid the headache and food poisoning here.

The rooms were comfortable, clean, and well kept, though finding our way to them felt like navigating a maze. We were a family of 8 adults and 2 kids, and we'd all come back. The staff were kind and friendly, and the beach was incredible. The water was so beautiful that we spent most of our time there, and there was no seaweed while we were visiting. The food was better than at the other places we've visited in Cuba and Mexico. We loved Coco Cafe for espresso and lattes, and it was great that they offered milk alternatives for people who don't have dairy.

Gustavo made the stay extra special. He texted every day to share something special or ask if he could do anything to improve our visit, arranged treats for our room, and checked on us at least twice a day. The poolside ladies were lovely too, bringing drinks and stopping for a chat. Everyone treated us like old friends, and the staff were so accommodating. We were happy with the food, snacks, and drinks. We're picky eaters, but always found something we liked. Sea Side was the best, with great people and food, including steak every night. The room was cleaned and restocked daily, and the housekeeper checked that everything was okay. The grounds were spotless, with people cleaning from 6 am and throughout the day. We were so happy with our stay. Seven days wasn't enough, and we wished we'd booked 10. They treated us so well from the moment we arrived from the airport. I've never been this happy at a place, and I'll return.