Just returned from two week holiday. First week spent in another hotel and second week in Sol Cayo Guillermo asked to be moved from first hotel as it was definatly not up to scratch.

Sol Cayo Guillermo is in a lovely location - the beach is only a narrow strip but plenty of sunbeds so you don't have to get up at the crack of dawn to reserve a bed. Sea beautiful and you could walk out for a good while before it got deep.

Our rooms had been refurbished and we had a view looking out at the beach. Rooms had two double beds, TV, fridge, plenty of space to hang clothes etc. Bathroom was nice, shower and toilet, sink and bidet. Only criticism was you got one bottle of water a day in your fridge. Would have been nice to have some cans of coke etc in fridge. Air conditioning was great and was a welcome after a hot day in the sun.

The place was clean and tidy but some days we did not get any bath towels so had to use hand towels to dry after a shower.

Food - Plenty of choice in the buffet restaurant. Breakfast, eggs, bacon, pancakes etc. Lunch and evening meal - Pizzas, pasta, beef, chicken, shrimps cooked on grill in front of you. Soup, chips, roasted potatoes and a choice of hot food i.e. chicken, veg, salad bar, cakes, ice cream and in the evening banana flamba's (delicious). Although I never had a problem finding something to eat it does get a bit repetitive as you do tend to stick to the same thing that you enjoy.

The only big problem I had was with the flies, jumping on and off the food every day. I know it is a hot country and that is what you get in hot countries but more effort should be made to keep food covered up etc. After a few days meat and cheese had cling film put over it only for people going up to help themselves ripping into the cling film leaving it exposed again for the flies to enjoy.
Needless to say we did all have Cuba tummy as we called it. We never let it spoil our holiday we did not feel unwell it was simply when you needed to go you had to there and then and I won't go into any further detail in that department.

The entertainment in the evening was good the staff work hard. Some shows better than others and once that had finished then the disco was open until two. Did not go to disco much as it is across a bridge and is an outdoor disco with a roof over but no sides. It was by the swampy area as I called it so was great for mosquitos to come and have their meal courtesy of you. I took plenty of extra strength repellent with me, bands, wipes, plug in etc as when I get bitten my bites turn septic and I look awful. I would not bother taking any of these things with me again as they don't work. I would advise you to go straight to the shop in the lobby and buy their repellent in a little orange bottle for about nine pesos. I still got bitten but they didn't stay to feed like they did with the other stuff and I just put on sting relief from boots and that stopped the itching and it coming up septic.

All in all we did have a great holiday the second week better than the first due to our move. The hotel location is lovely, beach lovely, staff lovely, food ok and rooms comfortable and clean. You may get the odd cockroach or crab straying in to your room but they live there so it's only to be expected.

I don't know if I would go back to this hotel again only because I don't usually return to the same place as so many other places to see etc but I did enjoy my stay here.

My last piece of advice - take plenty of over the counter medicines with you dyhoralite sachets and tablets to help with stomach problems etc you will need them. Nearly every person we spoke to had the same problems at some time during the holiday and these medicines are not easy to get hold off.

Enjoy your holiday and make your own mind up. Everybody had different ideas about what a holiday should be and there is always going to be something for somebody to moan about. What you have to remember nobody lives on the island so staff and supplies have to be brought over from mainland Cuba. Some staff having to make a two and a half hour journey before starting a day’s work and then the return journey again in the evening, seven days a week and this they do without a grumble, so if you think you have had good service then please tip as they really do appreciate it.

Also leave your toiletries there when you come home. They are expensive for the Cuban people to get hold of. I left all my sun creams, deod, toothpaste, shower gels, shampoo, conditioner, face wipes, creams etc etc and gave them out to a few staff who we had a good time with and who had made our holiday special.

I also left some shoes and clothes that I thought I would not miss as they are also expensive for them to buy as did my son, daughter and partner. We had great satisfaction giving them away as they appreciate it so much and it just puts everything into perspective when I can run down the asda and get two bottles of shower gel for a pound and to them these items are a luxury.

Enjoy your holiday and have a great time.

We travelled to this hotel in June, the location was fantastic and the weather was great, the hotel was quite nice overall.

Food was a bit poor and repetetive and the drinks kept running out e.g cola & beer.

Trips are quite expensive compared to other places in cuba

You need plenty of repellent if you go here!!!!

p.s take lots and lots and lots more insect repellent than you think you need

The hotel is very tired 10 year old resort.However they keep it quite clean and tidy.The food of very poor standard and quailty.

One toast machine for 300 people which takes 3 rotations to colour your bread.Food open to flys and birds. Cheap bacon and sausages used for breakfast.

Hotel location is in a paradise area fantastic white beaches, but we got very badly bitten by sand flys and mosquitoes. The entertainment staff make an exellant effort of equipment they have.

I spoke to managment while they but things did not get any better.

Sol Cayo Guillermo Cuba 15/10/2006 to 29/10/2006

Flight by Monarch

Well paying to sit up front the drinks were free, food not bad. My only complaint we sat in row 1 there was no bracket for the flight TV screen. Hence at meal times no where to put them, couldn

We flew to Cayo Coco airport to go to the Sol Cayo Guillermo (Cayo Guillermo island) about 45 minutes transfer. The holiday was brilliant, however, our tour operator, Thomas Cook, could have been much better.

We phoned Thomas Cook up 2 weeks before our departure, as my brother had filled in his tourist card wrong, and we needed to purchase a new one, they informed us that we could get it from the airport on the morning of travel for the fee of

We had no problems with the travel arrangements with thomas cook like the previous reviewer but in fact had to be evacuated at the end of our holiday in the hurricane Dennis and they were superb in getting us out safely.

The hotel was good - no real complaints except we personally were disappointed with the standard of food and althougn etxremely careful and seasoned travellers, we got severe tummy upsets after the first week.

Note for everyone - take all your own medecines - however basic - nothiing is easily available in this area of Cuba.

You will also need serious supplies of mosquito repellent -they came close to spoiling a wonderful holiday for us and seemed to enjoy autsan!