Stayed here for 8 nights in March. From the start we knew is was going to be good. Met by our Butler, Juan at reception who showed us around the resort and took us into our room(622), WOW is was stunning, a large living area, two double beds nice size bathroom, with outdoor shower, dressing area and plenty of room for storing your clothes and overlooking Sunset beach. We had another butler, Sergio who was equally as good. Arranging laundry for you, always asking if you needed anything in the room. I did ask for teabags and milk, and every time we saw him he asked if we needed any more. Asked for more shower gel, and it was there by the time we got to the room. Both of them also made our dinner reservations, apart from the first night we used La Caribes restaurant because the menu changed daily. I'm a fussy eater but always found something to eat and also tried a few new things, our waitress for the whole time was Saily, what a delight a 21 one year old beautiful young lady, she looked after us really well, even decorating the table for us on the last night and making sure we had a bottle of sparkling wine, as she knew this was my favourite. For lunch time we didn't go in the buffet restaurant but ate at the pool bar, this again was a great experience, the chef cooked excellent pizza, chicken, hot dogs etc. The bar staff, including Lester, Erik, Dauerty to name but a few were a joy to meet, kept us amused whilst having a rest from the sun. The entertainment in the evening at the Lobby bar was soo good, even one of the bartenders doing the Salsa. It made my night. I could go on with complements for this resort but you really need to try it for yourselves. Unfortunately the hotel closed 4 days after we left because of Coronavirus, I wish all the staff and management good fortune for the future and hope when this is over they will be able to open up again and give many travellers and excellent holiday as we had.

We recently returned to the Melia Buenavista for our second visit. The first was September 2019! The resort is just as lovely as we remembered with manicured gardens, two pools, and three beaches to choose from, who wouldn't be satisfied. The Buenavista offers large, spacious rooms ( our housekeeper Lianny everything clean daily :) with an incredible outdoor shower and huge tub to wash away the day's saltiness acquired at one of the three white sand beaches. The snorkelling here off the middle and long beaches was some of the best we've done so far in all of our travels with sightings of barracuda, lion fish, a white spotted blowfish, and even a reef shark, along with numerous schools of beautiful fish. We thought we were in the most abundant natural aquarium. Although the grounds and beaches are phenomenal, it's the staff that elevates this resort to a cut above the rest. From our pre-trip dialogue with Yamile in the booking department to our daily interactions with our great butlers Sergio and Ramon, we felt welcome and valued. Joan and Armando checked in with us often even though they buttlered in other sections. The pool bar crew (Yeri, Lester, Yoandry, Pedro and Pitti), Andres at the long beach, and our waiters Carlos, Yoan, and Yoel L kept us fed, watered and entertained. I visited the spa several times during our stay, where Elroy happily arranged my massages with Lester. He was professional and offered an array of helpful therapeutic choices. Nayy tailored his yoga class to the client's skills and requests. From the bar staff to the front desk personnel who helped us on numerous occasions, especially the last day when our flight was delayed. Everyone did their best to assist with our requests and make our stay memorable. Nightly entertainment was delivered in a small patio setting just off the gorgeous lobby bar. This intimate environment enables clients to experience the world class musicians up close and promotes mingling on an international scale. We met some wonderful friends! Although we don't go to Cuba for the food and having previously vacationed over 30 times and understanding the difficulties with supply chains, we were still very disappointed in the food and beverage quality. During our previous visit, the food was top notch with many delicious choices. This visit left us dissatisfied after many dinners over 14 days (breakfast and lunch were repetitive, but generally fine) and pondering Melia's five star rating as well as the higher vacation costs they charge. Perhaps reintroducing an international manager would help. Overall, we would recommend the Buenavista for those craving beautiful beaches, a restful, relaxed setting with low key activities, and most importantly great Cuban people who appreciate tourists visiting their island. Gracias por todo! Jim and Cindy

This is already our second visit to Melia Buenavista (MBV) in 2022. We loved it so much the first time, we simply turned around and went back. Many of the people you meet at MBV are also repeat customers. It is simply a superb place to go if you are looking for a tranquil holiday in a pristinely clean environment. MBV is located away from other resorts and offers three unblemished beaches to enjoy. The resort itself is lovely, but it is the staff who make the experience. From the moment you arrive, you are welcomed, embraced and nurtured. Every morning at breakfast we were met by either Daymi or Lili, our butlers, who organized and took care of our daily needs and activities. They were constantly available from early morning until late evening to make certain we didn’t want for anything. A stroll to the pool had you greeted by Lester and Yery at the pool bar. Their generosity of spirit, kindness and empathy was shared with each and everyone of us. They were both interested in us and interesting to speak with. There were no requests too big or too small. Livan couldn’t have been kinder and more accommodating as he took care of us at the pool and quiet beach - always making certain we were happy. Pedro had a constant smile for us at the snack bar where he prepared our frequent pizzas. There are many activities to participate in - yoga, dance lessons, aquafit, and short lectures/tastings. While all instructors were wonderful, Navy was exceptional as he shared his zest for life, enthusiasm and professionalism. Many a night, he brought us all to the dance floor where we practiced the dance steps we’d learned during the day. We ate most of our meals at the Los Caribe’s restaurant as it featured local and Latin foods that we enjoy. We always sat in the sections Ailan and Yobani were assigned to given their warmth and kindness. Of course, the day wouldn’t be complete without recognizing Eduardo who made certain we always had water and coffee in our room and offered to bring a variety of other beverages at the same time. Maria, our housekeeper, added extra little touches so that we had fresh flowers and towel art to look forward to as we returned to our room. As you can see reading this, we only have positive memories OLG the resort, however, it is the staff who enriched our memories and will bring us back.