Frommer's Review
One of the finest and most luxurious all-inclusive resort hotels in Cuba, this Sol Meliá flagship hotel is perched above a low, rocky cliff overlooking Playa Esmeralda. Set amid lush, meticulously landscaped gardens are handsome two-story blocks of rooms and slightly more exclusive casitas, consisting of two apartments with separate terraces and outdoor showers. The rooms are very large and well appointed, with separate sitting areas, balconies, and large bathrooms. Of these, those on the second floor have higher ceilings than those below, and those on the corners have larger balconies. There are also two massive private oceanview villas, with private swimming pools, that are easily the top accommodations in Guardalavaca. Walkways wend through lush vegetation and around ponds; scattered about the grounds are private sitting areas and hammocks strewn lazily between trees. A couple of the specialized restaurants are in high demand, so it's a good idea to make reservations for the duration of your stay upon arrival. The restaurants' selections are considerably better than most other all-inclusives. The superb main beach is a short walk down some stairs built into the cliff, but the hotel also features three nearly private, tiny cove beaches accessed through the gardens (few guests seem to know about them). A serene, blue, wood bridge over a large pond leads to the other two Meliá hotels on Esmeralda. At night the bridge is illuminated and is a particularly good spot if you're in the mood for a romantic walk after dinner. This hotel was recently reserved for adults only, and there are plans to greatly improve and expand their spa facilities, including some open-air massage gazebos built out over the ocean.
Facilities: 5 restaurants; 4 bars; nightly show; 2 outdoor pools; 3 lit outdoor tennis courts; gym; Jacuzzi; sauna; watersports equipment; bikes; game room; concierge; tour desk; car- and scooter-rental desk; salon; massage; babysitting; 24-hr. room service; laundry service.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
