Hotel Review: Sol Melia - Paradisus Rio de Oro, Holguin Cuba - Plus Pictures and Video

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We travelled to the Paradisus Rio de Oro in May of 2005 to attend a wedding. Our stay lasted one week and we intend to return.

Despite positive reviews found online prior to our departure, this was our first trip to the Caribbean in 15+ years and we were worried about every possible problem (getting sick or injured, food poisoning, malaria, you name it). I am pleased to report that our concerns were unfounded. We had a wonderful time.

Before you leave, go to http://www.solmelia.com/sol/mas/jsp/CMasSubscription.jsp and sign up for the Sol Melia frequent traveller program(me). You get at least one perk at the hotel... Free late checkout (a big deal). You'll get a confirmation email. Print it out and take it with you. You will need it to claim your late check out benefit.

The ride from the airport takes slightly under an hour. A tour guide is typically provided to tell you a little bit about the area as you drive. I suggest sitting near the front so you have the opportunity to ask questions. Prior to your departure from the Holguin airport, exchange some currency to Cuban Convertible Pesos. Be sure to get at least 20 single peso coins... this is the most important denomination for tipping. The Cuban Convertible Peso is pegged to the US dollar (valued slightly higher). Bring Canadian, UK, or EU currency... US dollars are subject to an additional tax on exchange. Before you board the bus, it may be a good idea to grab a beer or two from a vendor. Cristal (the tourist beer) is priced at 1 convertible peso per 355ml can.

When you arrive at the hotel, assuming you have two or more people in your room, send one person ahead with all your paperwork (confirmation, etc) and have them get in line at the specially set-up check-in desk. They will give you room keys and basic info packages. They will then drive you to your room (without your luggage). Take some time to discover your room while you wait for your luggage. Tip 1 peso to each guy who delivers your luggage. Ask them for directions to the pool and beach so that you can get your bearings. There is a map on the back of your check-in package, but it isn't the best.

For evening arrivals, the buffet restaurant will still be open. You should head there for a quick bite. The buffet is very well run and we ate there 90% of the time. Dress well for dinner (no tie required at the buffet). More on eating later.

Rooms are fine. "Junior Suite" is good. If you upgrade to the Superior Junior room, you'll be sorry. They are on the main floor and (I hear) smell musty. We had a standard "Junior" room, on the second floor (that's as high as you can go!) and it was perfectly fine. Rooms have TVs and phones. The TV has plenty of American and European programming. We enjoyed VH1 which is perfect for when you only have 10 minutes (we don't get VH1 at home in Canada).

The toilets are interesting.... They are a European design. I'll find a picture eventually. Due to the extremely low water level in the bowl and the general shape of the bowl... It's skid mark city. Could be very embarrasing if you're there for a romantic vacation. Go to your local Walmart or Target or whatever and buy a $3.00 toilet brush, bring it with you and leave it there when you leave. You'll be glad you have it.

Garden Villa

The Garden Villas are amazing, but at $1700 a night, they're very very pricey. Dedicated staff just for you. Multiple buildings (all for you). A lookout tower (just for you). A pool (all yours). A Jacuzzi (yep, all yours). An oceanfront lookout overhanging a cliff (amazing, also all yours). If you can afford the villa, even for 2 nights, go for it.

Tipping

Okay. Pay close attention. Tipping will make a big difference at almost any resort in Cuba. Take the first 1 or 2 days to gain an understanding of who works where. You'll want to concentrate your tipping on staff that can make a difference to your stay. Tip 1 convertible peso per drink/service. You can occasionally spike it up to 2 or 5 to make sure you stand out and they remember you. Insist on dealing with the same staff member each time to develop a rapport. After 2 days or so, the "switch" will flip, and you'll get outstanding service from that point on. Bottles of rum will get delivered to your room, you'll get the fancy Cognac without paying extra, etc. Please post a comment with your tipping advice and experience.

Walkie Talkies. Seized when you arrive at the airport.

I was asked for more details about walkie-talkies being seized at the airport. Several people in our group brought walkie-talkies to keep in touch with each other while at the resort. When you arrive at the airport there are two screening points that you must pass through. If they discover walkie talking type devices, they will take them away from you and give you a claim slip to get them back before you board your return flight. A few of the people in our group had a bonus interrogation added on to the seizure. They didn't seem very upset about it, so it must not have been so bad.

Anyhow, I brought my walkie-talkies in a carry-on bag that was absolutely loaded with electronics (camera, video camera, iPod, speakers, and a bunch of power supplies), plus two apples. The apples caught the attention of the screeners and they made a big show of seizing the fruit. But I think they were too distracted by the fruit to notice the walkie-talkies. So I managed to make it to the resort with my communications devices.



Click here for a video of the pool area.


Crude Map now available! Unmarked black rectangles represent the standard 16 unit room structures.


If you have any questions about this resort - please post a comment. I'd be pleased to answer.

Here is a list of topics I will cover on future edits:

• Weddings
• Pool, cabanas, lounge chairs
• Sauna. Always available when we were there because nobody used it. It was very nice.
• Hot tubs
• Beach Towels, provided in your room. You can exchange for dry ones at the activity centre. Don't lose them! You have to buy them if you lose them.
• Exit tax
• VIP room at airport - Smells smokey. No real food. Don't do it.
• Bank at hotel, exchanging money
• Cigars
• Rum
• Shows
• Food - overview, cleanliness, service, choice
• Water
• Lobby Bar
• Buffet
• Shellfish allergy. My wife is severely allergic to shellfish. The staff understood the shellfish allergy and took it very seriously. No problems at all.
• Japanese Restaurant
• Mediterranian restaurant
• Cuban "Creole" restaurant
• Poolside BBQ place
• Beach restaurant
• Fun Pub... Too smokey for me.
• Room service
• Other hotel
• Activities, general advice
• Castro and Che souvenirs, buy them and wear them at home... Not in Cuba. They won't help you make friends.
• Tipping guidelines