Back from Sol Cayo Santa Maria | Debbie's Caribbean Resort Reviews Forums

Hello all. I never like to post dates on public forums as to when I’m going to be away, so here I am telling now that we just returned. We had a very nice stay at the Sol. While as far as my wife and I are concerned the SCSM is a nice resort with nice staff and a beautiful beach, it doesn’t compare to our fav and many of yours, Cayo Largo. As for the SCSM, we really enjoyed our stay there. We found the staff friendly and attentive, the room was nice enough, with comfortable beds for what I would consider for Cuba. We didn’t really get what we requested for a room, but what we got was perfectly fine. I wasn’t about to complain about it as I’ve seen many do. For the amount of time we spent in the room, it was fine. We did request a quiet room, and that is one thing they gave us. The room was clean with good water pressure, and everything worked as it should. Well, except for the A/C which did work, but the thermostat didn’t seem the control it. It was the first time in 12 trips that we need an extra blanket at night.Before we left, I read many reviews on the SCSM and many talked about the condition of the resort. Yes, it was showing it’s age in places, but it is not in ruins. While we were there, there was quite a few resort staff walking around with clip boards and note pads looking at many of the public areas with problems. We saw some maintenance workers reworking some of these ares. One in particular was the stage. Halfway through our week they closed the stage and tore off the wooden deck. By the time we left the decking was nearing completion. Although, they probably would still need to put some sort of finish on it. Seeing this and the clip boards of notes, makes me believe that the higher-ups are taking notice of the reviews and that those problems areas are going to be worked on.As for the food…Well, I was pleasantly surprised by some and a little dissapointed with others. The beef in the buffet at the grill was the toughest I’ve had in Cuba. This was the first time in a long number of trips where we had actual lettuce available at the buffet. We really enjoyed the a la cartes. We found them better than the buffet. Both a la cartes helped us celebrate our 25th anniversary. One with a bottle of champagne, the other with a small, decorated flan cake. In many of the reviews, travelers complained about the number of birds and flies in the buffet. Well, let me just say, I did not find it "overrun" or "swarmed" like what some have said in the reviews. While we were there, often, staff members would man the door do try to combat this problem. Yes, there were few flies, and yes, there were a few birds. However, the biggest problems has nothing to do with the resort. It has to do with the ignorance of the clientele and their lack of care to close to door behind them. I made a personal note of this on every single day. One of my biggest disappointments about this hotel had more to do with again the clientele than the hotel. I was completely disgusted by how many people left their used plastic cups, plates and napkins by the pool and the beach!!!!! I witnessed I don’t know how many times people getting up from their loungers and leaving their mess behind. It wasn’t as if there weren’t enough garbage cans around as they was many and sometimes within a step or two from those who left. I am happy to say that this was not Canadians who were doing it or at least I never witnessed it. However, I don’t care what nationality you are, leaving YOUR garbage is NOT acceptable!! I even spoke up a couple of times and was rudely told off in some other language. I won’t say the nationality. I was so disgusted by this, I rarely wanted to sit by the pool for fear I might get into it with another guest. I do wish that the resort staff would speak to those doing it. Of course, that would mean that they would have to see them do it though. Maybe a public announcement would help….I don’t know what would help to be honest.All in all, we enjoyed the Sol Cayo Santa Maria and would happily return for the right price. What I mean by that is that the price would have to be a $100+ each less than Cayo Largo.I’ll be writing my full review soon as well as posting pictures.

	Glad you enjoyed the Sol. Sorry some of the other guests were pigs. Just picked the wrong week, I guess. I find clientele at resorts to be quite variable, and often it is the luck of the draw whether you have a good or bad experience with them.

Thank eeeefarm. I certainly didn’t let it ruin my vacation. It’s not that I haven’t seen it before, but this seemed to be the worst I’ve seen it. Canadians were definitely the minority at the Sol during my week. I don’t want it to sound like it was all 1 nationality and all over as it was a certain bunch.

Regardless, we had a very nice stay and would return.

So glad you had a good vacation Geoff!I recently returned from Cayo Largo after going elsewhere for our last two vacations (Cayo Ensenachos and Cayo Guillermo). Indeed, other destinations can be very nice and have positive features, but to me, nothing compares to CL and to the special energy I feel when I’m there.

Hope your hand is getting better!

	Hey AnneM…. Thanks. As much as we enjoyed seeing a new area, and found the Sol to our liking, we really missed CL. Unless prices say something different, I think our next vaca will be back to CL. It just seems like home. Going to Marina, sitting in La taberna Pirata, and just the simplicity of CL. So simple, but so special!

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