The staff were incredible. They were very kind and friendly. I felt very relaxed the entire time. The beach and pool were both amazing. The food was also very delicious and was served at a timely manner. The hotel was very clean and they were very attentive of our needs.We enjoyed our stay there and would highly recommended.

I travel to Holguin every year because I have a sister there. I was very excited to stay at this hotel for the first time and brought 5 friends along with me. I was very disappointed with the level of customer service we received with our Royal Service package - I don't need much but any time we asked for something that was included in our package we were turned down. We paid an extra $960 CAD for a special birthday dinner which was to have different food from the resort restaurants ( said the manager and chef), except it was the same food as the rest of the resort and we were asked to get our own drinks from the lobby bar. We were absolutely taken advantage of with this price. Lots of people were requesting bottles of Rum, wine etc for their room in Royal Service, so on the last day my friends and I wanted to enjoy some drinks on our beautiful room's patio - I called for a bottle of rum. The hotel manager knocked on my door and said this was impossible, they couldn't do that. I was stunned. Few hours later I saw and heard three separate older white men request rum - which was followed by " of course sir right away" I couldn't believe it. I should mention I am an Indian woman and I was travelling with two white men - anything they asked for they got - but anything I politely asked with a tip, I never got. Right before we left I requested to touch base with the manager - calmly, I work in customer service and understand how demanding it can be but this had now become a series of events ( I have not listed the numerous additional issues) and I had to talk to him and just at least make him aware of how inappropriate this all was. I saw this man all day every day on the resort and at this time he was " unavailable" so I spoke to the wonderful food + beverage manager who made me feel seen and heard ( he was such a pleasure while we were there) and took down my room number so that they could contact me at a later date - its been almost a week later and I haven't heard back. So the hotel is beautiful - the customer service was terrible - but maybe you'll have better luck if you are a white male. I also never write reviews but this really was disappointing and I will never spend my hard-earned money at this resort again. Do better!!

5 star experience despite current shortages and economic situation. Seems like the resort is un-impacted with all the efforts they spend to ensure they have everything . Just got back this week , would 1000000% return. Silvio- gardener and Eddy - server/bartender were both extraordinary workers! They went above and beyond every day to make me and my family's trip great. Thank you! Food - we never starved. All a la carte restaurants were open, and buffets were well stocked with a huge assortment, including meat Toilet paper - abundant! We never ran out or had any problems at their public washrooms in the resort, highly advise for you to bring if you are leaving the resort - there is a blatant shortage and lack of existence of toilet paper. However, we had 4ply in our rooms..... It's better than I have in Canada Beach - very clean! Go early to grab a spot - bring the beach team some gifts or tip- they work hard and are outside all day! Wish I brought gloves for the guy who picked up the seaweed everyday tough job, and our beach is spotless! Note- it is rocky and has a lot of wildlife on our side of the beach in the water. Be careful where you step . Walk to the left for calmer waters and more sandy entrance :)

It was our first time in Cuba. From the time we arrived we were treated like family. The staff was friendly in a very heart-warming way. The service at the resort was by far the best l've received at any hotel in all of our travels, not just Cuba. Everyone was very friendly, thoughtful, and very eager to ensure that we were enjoying our time there. We went to celebrate my fiancé’s birthday and we were incredibly happy to have chosen this hotel! Everything— absolutely everything was outstanding! The architecture and decor are beautiful. Authentic, yet comfortable common areas and rooms, the landscaping is gorgeous (you gotta visit their botanical garden), the swimming pool overlooking the sea, and a gorgeous open-air lobby and an open bar area for entertainment during the night along with loads of tables for those who want to enjoy a cigar/tea/drinks or simply play card games or connect with family over Wifi (which by the way, was so much better than we expected!). Here are some more in-depth details of our trip: Room The room was huge with two double beds, I really appreciated having a high pressure shower, it was relaxing and felt like I was at a high-end hotel. We were at the #35 building between the pool/beach and the lobby (probably the best spot to be in my opinion). We had a garden view from our balcony and would spend about 30min just listening to the birds and sinking in the nature before going for breakfast every morning. There was only shampoo and body wash (make sure to bring your own lotion, tooth paste and others). Beach Not having to wake up early to get a chair at the beach? WE SURE LOVED IT! It was a treat to have a spot available under the shade even when arriving past 10AM. There aren’t too many huts but there are also palm trees that offer shade near the water. There were a ton of activities available at the resort but at the same time it was a very quiet and relaxing place (and no pushy animators like some other resorts!). Since we are two beach bums, we would only go to the pool for a bit after lunch (the bartenders were amazing there!!!) so we would pass by throughout the day to get a drink/water and then back to snorkeling at the beach! We rented a scooter for a day and went snorkeling/freediving at Guardalavaca beach, but honestly, the reef at Paradisus is much bigger and has a lot more types of fish for you to see. BRING YOUR SNORKELS! Restaurants We reserved the Mediterranean, Japanese and one meal at the Royal Service (for my fiancé’s birthday where we had the yummiest lobster, ocean views and impeccable service along with a birthday serenade by the musicians which brought me to tears). All three of them served fresh and delicious meals and desserts— that were wonderfully decorated too! We also ate at the buffet and the pool’s snack bar. Food was always plentiful and superbly prepared. It was noticeable that there were some shortages, but the food was well prepared, visually appealing, and truly better than expected. Gifts/Tips I HONESTLY overpacked and wish I had brought a whole luggage with gifts for them instead. We left any medicine and toiletries we had left at the end because we realized how impossible it is for them to get anything, really. So if you’re wondering, bring clothes, hats, thermos bottles, school supplies, tooth brushes/paste, razors, tampons, shampoo, lotion, candies, toys. They will really appreciated it. We passed by the grocery store in town and saw how they barely had any supplies for the locals. No one expects you to tip and are extremely considerate if you do. I recommend $1 USD for tipping and $5 CAD, also DO NOT TIP with coins as they can’t deposit these. We offered to exchange coins for bills a few times and the gratitude was apparent. So be kind! It’d like to leave a special thank you to a few of the staff we met who went above and beyond in every sense of the word; Yaicel, Lorenzo, Lazaro, David, Rolando, Silvio along the rest of the staff who I can’t remember their names but remember their faces and smiles! GRACIAS POR TODO! We will be back!

Great place to stay if you like insects, mosquitoes, cockroaches, giant ants, giant spiders, frogs, lizards, birds. You will stay in a hotel like in jungle and you can see a lot of creatures around you. + Hotel is very old + Poor internet + No hot water sometimes + Always have your cockroach friends in room party with you + Service is good. Staffs are very friendly. Photo attached for the bugs. From small to giant, you can find any size of cockroaches you like here.

I've been to Cuba many times - Varadero, Havana and most recently Holguin, and never thought anything could surpass my experience in Havana. I was wrong. My bestie and I chose Paradisus Rio de Oro for our inaugural, annual Girls' Trip, and the bar has been set high. Cuba is stunning and topographically diverse coast to coast with stunning beaches and landscapes. Paradisus offers a beautiful, tropical environment with duplex, 4 or 6-plex buildings offering private and large rooms, comfortable beds, and a multitude of amenities including several beaches, saltwater and chlorinated pools, a spa, bars, a discotheque, and various a la carte restaurants and a buffet. What REALLY sets Paradisus Rio de Oro apart from other resorts and other experiences I've had is the staff. I have never EVER been to a resort for 7-days and had the majority of staff know me by name and greet me by name within 24 hours of my arrival. There's something special when people recognize you and acknowledge you by name. I felt more a friend than a tourist or guest. And it was genuine friendships that were being developed. The entertainment team is spectacular - and warm, friendly and enthusiastic. Vasti and Deyane (spelling?) ensured we were participating in various activities and encouraged us to join them in rum tasting, dance classes poolside, volleyball, and dancing in the disco! Vasti's energy and enthusiasm is mind-blowing. Can she ever dance! If you think you'll be a wallflower - she won't let you which is wonderful because living is experiencing! Then there's Vladi, the DJ extraordinaire, who welcomed my list of songs and played them for us! Who doesn't love dancing to Rasputin!? Darwin, a sweet 21-year old with a heart of gold and smile at all times, is part of the entertainment team, and got us up doing water aquatics and laughing all the while. Be sure to swim up or sit down at the pool bar and meet Osmany and Lorenzo. Both lovely, and we spent most of our time chatting with Lorenzo who was working the majority of our week at the resort. He's been with the resort for close to 24 years and is multilingual, kind and lovely and caring. He saw I'd had too much rum after the rum tasting, and when I thought it a good idea to have more rum, he took the rum away from me saying it won't be good for me. He gave me water instead. For that, I'm grateful. He was watching out for me like a father watches out for his daughter. It meant so much to me. Then there are Rubi and Jimmy on the beach! Want to go snorkeling with an expert navigator of the coral reef surrounding the beachfront? Speak with Rubi! You can't miss him! Rubi is at least 6' tall and has a broadcaster's voice - deep and happy. Jimmy is from the area and can tell you all about it. You'll spot Jimmy b/c he has a large tattoo of the Toronto Blue Jays on his calf done by a talented local artist. Making our way to the lobby bar, you'll be greeted by more smiles and care from a fantastic cocktail-making team including Denis and Yasmelti (who we call "muneca" which is doll in Spanish). Whether you feel like a coffee, espresso, cappuccino... or mojito, espresso martini and much more... you can get them at the Lobby Bar. There are many members of the Paradisus Rio de Oro team/family whose names I'm overlooking in this review. Suffice to say, the entire team is warm, welcoming, friendly and GENUINELY interested in offering an unforgettable experience.

Our family of four repeatable guests of this hotel. Considering that we have been at Cuba minimum fifteen times before. Every time we come to this manicured property, we enjoy the hospitality of the management and staff. If you want to skip the lines at the restaurants and bars and you don't like to wake up seven o'clock in the morning just to reserve your favorite place at the beach, but enjoy the beautiful beach, restaurants, spa, etc... this is the place you want to visit! Calm and friendly atmosphere, good food and accommodations, amazing spa with awesome relaxing massages! Special thanks to Yasel, manager Jose Luis and Leonardo, who have made our vacation very special and unforgettable! We are planning to return coming winter to enjoy our most favorite place in Cuba!!!

This was my first time in the carribean and I absolutely loved it. The resort was absolutely beautiful, beautiful surroundings and views. You couldn't wish for more. It's also my first time at an all adults resorts as I normally use resorts that cater for children as I have a daughter but this place was so nice to switch off and have some me time. The food was lovely and the restaurants were all delicious. The pool was amazing, so relaxing and so chilled and the Spanish music was just at the right volume, just loud enough. The beaches were to die for, the views were so beautiful, it felt like you were in another world. The rooms were spacious and the layout was perfect especially when sharing with a friend. The entertainment at night was always a good watch and there were plenty to do and see from early evening until late. The resort was stunning and I would definitely like to return one day.

Stayed this past week, and will be returning. Awesome resort. Beautiful beach. Clean pool and room. Decent food with a buffet and some a la carte options. Good entertainment with a variety of shows. Snack bar with limitless and late-night food (24 hrs). And good drinks. Particularly the snack bar pina colada’s were amazing, as they were chilled. Amazing staff who love to work together, and so focused on providing great service throughout our trip. A special thanks to Ilema, Marisol and Dayana. Illema and Marisol ensured provided great service… they continuously checked in on us to ensure that we were enjoying our meals and drinks and we were fed well. Dayana hosted some great shows, and always made sure that we were included in the activities and having fun. So glad I found the deal on SelloffVacations and got my passport in time. Can’t wait to return in the near future. Will probably even get 2 WEEKS to have even more fun. Cheers! M

Just returned 2days ago, everything was Amazing we had a fabulous time, I was told by many people from other hotels and places that Cuba has a poor reputation of food, NOT the case with Paradisus , highly recommended, felt safe , hospitality was amazing, snorkeling was absolutely the best(bring gear) . There’s a reason guests continue to return to this spot, we met a German couple, who had been there 28 times, 3weeks at a time, also many,many others. I’m sold on this place.

One of the best resort in Cuba, highly recommended. One fact worth to mention is the size of the whole facility. It is huge. If you like hiking, this is the best resort I had stayed. Due to pendemic, facilities are out dated, food quality is less than my expectation. However, I still recommend thus resort.

We just arrived home from a two week stay, our second time at this beautiful resort. The next time we are planning one month. This alone should tell you something. Visually stunning with amazing lush grounds, clear turquoise water and lovely cove beaches, it is a tropical paradise. The staff are the most professional and kind We have ever encountered anywhere in our travels. Simply the best, management should be incredibly proud of them. Our ocean view room in RS was superb. We found the food wonderful and while a few items were missing for a few days, it had zero impact on our vacation. Drinks were cold, the sun was hot and the water was warm. Thank you to Alexei, Dunieski, Lina, Rolando, Junior, John and many many more! **we found a great riding stable just across the lagoon bridge. Across the road from Luna y mares. Horses are well loved and well cared for. Owner rescued 5 dogs and is an animal lover. Go take a trail ride, visit the ranch, and take some treats for the doggies!

Lots of walking . Good food.. It is very tasty and well made . Huge variety. . Do not bring your culture food traditions and expect them to follow. Do not expect gravy for meat, or hot sauces . Not their culture and costs too much to ship in. Snorkeling out of 4 different beaches, 24 hour coffee and liquor bar. A 24 hour snack bar that also has drinks.. Great friendly staff.. Please tip... The more you tip..the better your vacation.

Absolutely amazing place! From beach to food, to service and staff - everything was great. It was my first time in Cuba and I fell in love with this place - will definitely be back one day!

Absolutely amazing time at Paradisus. We were lucky enough to have the option to upgrade to Royal Service because there was an opening and I would highly recommend it. The resort is beautiful, the staff so kind and attentive. Will definitely return and would recommend it to anyone

We were there in April 2022, This was a very nice Resort will help you connect with nature and life basics and reset your life, away from hustle and bustle. Beach is nice and private in centre part and is rocky on side which add to beauty to resort. Catamaran boat ride was the best part Very many thanks to Martha, Diana, Vulio and lot others for their mindfulness and keep us occupied Only one issue resort is only for Adults, no kids allowed and they can improve evening performances

Just got back from a weeks vacay!! The beach is beautiful and the staff are all great. The rooms need to be updated. The only issue I had was the beverages. They run out of alcohol like vodka and tequila and there are not tropical drinks. Also, no seafood! But the fish was very good and the a la carts were also good. If you are looking for a relaxing place to go this is the place.

Beautiful resort with good food, great drinks and amazingly friendly staff! We had a few little hick ups but nothing the customers service team could resolve.. I would strongly recommend this resort for a nice adult only trip.. we will be back next year!

I'm not sure where all these 3 or less reviews stayed, but it wasn't at this hotel. My wife booked this trip as a surprise birthday present for me and we loved it! The pros: The staff are excellent, always friendly, beyond helpful and always going the extra mile without being asked The rooms are large, well maintained and clean, clean, clean. Our bed was larger than the king-size one we sleep on at home and the bathroom shower could fit a family of 4 comfortably. Plenty of hot water anytime we needed it The specialty restaurants serve some of the best food we've had in the Caribbean. We've been to Cuba many times and they serve better food than the others. They even surprised me with a birthday themed table including a surprisingly tasty birthday cake when they found out it was a birthday dinner. Lots of activity options throughout the resort those of you that can stand doing them in 38 degree heat. For us, going down to the beach was enough lol Needs improvement: The supply of fruits was disappointing but we found out that its a supply issue throughout the country and not something the resort can do much about. The beach could use some maintenance. This is the only issue I found that the resort could do something about. There's a walkway down to the beach that used to be used for photos that looks like it's been left to degrade to where it's unusable. The beach is long with plenty of umbrellas and chairs, but only a portion of it is rock-free enough to get in and out of the water easily/safely. It needs a good raking to remove the rocks and level off the incline to get out. Lastly, there was no wifi access at the beach as promised and it turns out that a router/tower that provided it was removed. That needs to be returned.

The place is amazing, rooms, service, housekeeping, everything. I cannot wait to go back. The resort is an adult only place. We upgraded to Royal service with room service. The food was good.

It is a wonderful hotel. From the moment you arrive you feel a lot of peace, it is a very warm and welcoming place. With a wonderful staff. Its director is a wonderful person, very attentive to all his clients. I think there is no better place than Paradisus Rio de Oro

Stayed here in December 2014, was amazing! Went Dimond Club and had a wonderful time. Staff were very nice, food was great. Resort Beach has some good snorkeling.

I stayed at Paradisus Río de Oro Resort & Spa for almost a week and disagree with many high reviews placed here. Here's my experience. Pros: Hotel stuff was very friendly and tried to accommodate as much as they could. I had all inclusive package from Transat and organization of traveling was perfect. Food was ok, although nowhere near the food I've seen even in 4 star hotels in Canada. The nightly shows and dance classes were definitely fun and entertaining. And existing pool tables and tennis courts were great! Cons: Hotel is very old and definitely required some maintenance. I had four family members staying in two rooms and none of them had doors in washrooms :( One of them didn't even have a curtain there. The pool was beautiful, but very cold in December. Same applies to couple of open hot-tubs- you can hardly call them 'hot' :( The beaches were amazing, but sea was very windy entire week- you can't even dream on snorkeling on these dirty waters

This resort is a true paradise! It has a beautiful view of the beach overlooking the cliffs and an emerald colour of the sea with little colourful fish. I was especially happy with the animation crew. Daniel is full of energy, experience! The other anination staff were also great, and added so much fun to our stay! At the pool bar, Marise and Lorenzo attended to us so well. At the beach bar, David was so friendly and warm. The waitresses at the beach restaurant were also great! At the buffet, Maria was so welcoming! Thank you to everyone for a wonderful week! ❤️

Its pros and cons. The beaches and pools were good, staff was quite helpful and nice, resort was good but the food was not good compared to other carribean all inclusives. options were limited for everything on the menu from dishes to fruits, veggies, desserts, snacks etc. considering they charged more than average resorts in Cuba and had more restaurants on the resort itself, I imagined they would have more. I liked the taste of their milk, it was good. Our junior suite room’s washroom had no door to separate washroom from actual room. That was an inconvenience. Other than that, they accept cad or usd in tips. If you want to spend foreign currency outside the resort, a passport is required as Cubans cannot transact in foreign currency there.

Great hotel, one of the best for me in all cuba. Service needs to improve. Looks like they are short of people. Several times need to call or chase the waitress for a drink. Rooms are great however the air conditioning is very weak and not sufficient for the heat. Food is good, more than is really needed for a vacation. The access walkways need a little more lighting specially with the amount of elderly people visiting the hotel. I am surprised not seeing any accident. Also the electric buses should go slower, they look like a racing track. The beach was fairly clean but still room to be much better. I personally cleaned a lot and found a blood capsule sample in the sand, it is dangerous if someone step on it and break it. I gave a típ to the cleaning guy as he was doing the best he could with that equipment. The specilized restaurant are great, i didn't go to the Japanese so I can not comment on that. There is lack of rum variety. No ingredient for mojito.. Generally speaking is great. I have been almost 7 times and is very consistent

Our amazing vacation in Paradisus Rio De Oro. Me am my wife we have just return from Holguin Cuba. We spent unforgettable two weeks in wonderful resort it is called Paradisus Rio De Oro. It was not our first time in this resort but this one was really the best one. Because everything in our staying there from the very beginning of our arriving to the our departure was covered by care of people working in this beautiful hotel. During all these two weeks every day and every hour we feel like were staying at home with our relatives and friends. All of these guys working at this hotel work as a one great team to offer the best service for their customers. Of course we would like to say our big thanks to all of the workers and personal stuff working there. All of them without any exceptions did their job perfectly and professionally. But especially we would like to emphasis the great attitude from main manager Jose Luis. It looks like there is nothing impossible for him. He is always working with customers and always available for them. Also we were impressed by work of Olga Torres she is working at customer care. She is so, attentive, patient and kind to all the clients. There is no minor questions for her. She is always trying to help. On the reception desk we would like to mention about very nice person his name is Lazaro. He is a real expert. He does his job fast, nice, easy and always with a beautiful smile. He is a very pleasant person with a big open heart After visiting Spa and Gym we were totally and completely happy and satisfied. Stuff working there was very very nice too. They were the real professionals and the service provided by them was great. Also we would like to mention about works of plumber, electrician, technician ( guy did safe opening) all these works were made fast, nice and easy. At the end finishing this review I would like to say a big one huge thanks to all the people working in Paradisus Rio de Oro .You make our vacation great and unforgettable. Please keep doing what you do and you will make other people happy. We would strongly recommend people to visit this beautiful and lovely place . Best wished and best regards for everyone!!! Igor and Anzhelika Panchenko. 27 of November 2023

Old beds place needs a major renovation , very old mattress, very noisy bed frame , great location , amazing staff . Food was good but bellow other country’s standard. Not much spices are used in Cuba , what I don’t understand is why they don’t serve the chicken thighs only breast and drumstick so strange and unfair . Cubans are great people and sanctions are hurting them and we must support them .

The only complaint we had about our week here was that it was too short! We stayed in the Royal Service. The staff, food, room, service, pools, beaches etc were all amazing. We will definitely be coming back.

Amazing place! Great food, very accommodating and friendly staff, beautiful grounds, wonderful entertainment. Will definitely be going back.

Friendly staff, clean rooms and beautiful beach. Being able to snorkel right off the resort was a huge bonus. The food is okay, no different than any other resort in Cuba, but everything else makes it sooooo worth it!!! To add, I am a picky eater, my fiancé loved the food!

excellent for relax，people are very nice，hard working，strive to live。room need upgrade. Beach access is narrow but snorkeling right off the cliff side is good.

Lovely resort. Cuban supply chains are sporadic; so be prepared for some shortages. Entertainment staff is very obliging and fun. Special mention to Vasti who is a true delight; made our 2 weeks outstanding!

My husband and I were very happy with this adults-only resort. We liked our room, the huge pool and the beautiful beach. I liked the fact that there is a club house with various activities. (Note: For booklovers, there is the opportunity to leave books.) We loved the fresh and varied food in the buffet. We liked visiting the a-la-carte restaurants. The 24/7 snack bar was a bonus. The only negative was the cigarette smoke EVERYWHERE! When we first arrived in our room, I could smell cigarette smoke and then throughout our stay. (It would be better to have villas for smokers and non-smokers.) Unfortunately, I could not enjoy the nightly shows at the theatre due to people smoking cigarettes AND cigars although there were SMALL non-smoking signs posted, which the smokers ignored.

It seems to me that the hotel has spectacular service, although the month of December seems to be the best option in terms of prices and services. I loved the green and recreational areas, especially for the silence and tranquility they possess. The commercial service shows many varied and attractive offers for the visitor. It was a pleasure to get to know Cuba in this way, I hope to return very soon!