Hotel Rancho Luna

In my opinion, Rancho luna is the best resort in Cuba for cost. In the past 15 months, I've stayed at Tuxpan, Arenas Blancas, Solymar and Starfish Jibacoa. Unlike, in Varadero, Rancho Luna is a 1200 peso cab ride to a beautiful clean city centre with a vibrant live music scene (Club Cienfuegos Weekends)(Bar Pina Colada any nite). Yes they never had eggs the whole time I was there but maybe to offset it, there was always tons of ham(well a kind of baloney), cheese and bread( all you could eat) which was different then my other hotel experiences where bread was always in short supply. I would bring some syrup because instead of eggs the guy on the grill is making pancakes every day hes also ready to fry your eggs if you bring them easy fix since town is so close. Also, eggs don't need a fridge. Speaking of fridge the room doesn't come with one but you just have to ask then they put it in. The coffee is served in a big soup cauldron and you ladle it yourself into a cup. There's always a pasta bar at lunch and dinner and at every meal there was either roast beef, pork or chicken ample quantity. Unfortunately, I didn't see ice cream ever. You enter the hotel and on your right is reception. to your left is a hallway that leads to the buffet, main restaurant. to the right of that hallway is the lobby bar which serves espresso coffees but not beer. around that bar to the right is the stage for shows every night, there's a group of four girls who sing popular songs very well done, along the right of that area are a bunch comfortable arm chairs ideal for people watching, in fact there are more than sufficient couches and tables and chairs throughout the resort I always found a table and chair at pool bar, tons of recliners around pool and beach, you wont need to fight for a seat ever. To the right of the stage is a ramp or stairs down to the pool area the pool is very clean cleanest i've seen in Cuba. There's a team scrubbing it ever morning. To the left of the pool is the pool bar it has awesome shade and tables and chairs it serves rum and beer and a lunch or late night snack of ham/baloney sandwiches, plantain chips and croquets. (they never ever ran out of beer) on the right side of the pool is a little bar where the guy is making mojitos. past the pool is the path to the beach. the path passes through the row of rooms and once you pass the rooms look to your left and what looks like two rooms is actually the gym there is a tread mill weights not bad. half way from there to the beach is a little bar that serves rum and beer(never ran out) for the people on the beach. Just past it on the left is an a la carte restaurant popular for fish at lunch i never ate there. But it is also where the beach bathrooms are very clean and spacious like the lobby bathrooms. the beach has no surf the corral reef stops waves nice relaxing, there canoes, paddle boards and catamaran are always available and ready to go. My rooms shower was always hot even in the mornin

The rooms are tacky, poorly maintained. The shower had no hot water. The food is just ok but there are no eggs so guests bring their own. It’s all inclusive so drinks are free but limited to beer and rum. For a very cheap stay at the beach you get what you pay for. I’d give it one star, charitably two.

Billed as all inclusive. Horrible canteen style food hardly recognisable. Can’t get a coffee except between 9-10. Drinks available beer. Well when they hadn’t run out. Water only at some bars. Rum. And at some of the bars you’ve might get a coke mixer. Rooms filthy pool unsafe it was green. Front of house staff explained nothing on check in What was available and times. My mum had a crab in her bedroom. Full off people who basically wanted to drink rum from waking up to going asleep. Wild dogs in the hotel howling all night.

For the price I dont know what else you could ask for. Beautiful beach with Great staff that are happy to take one out for a sale on a Hobicat. Comfortable bed to sleep in every night with a ductless split to keep one cool. Entertainment nightly. Good variety in the restaurant albeit a little heavy on the pork but delicious omelettes for breakfast. (hey its Cuba where they dont believe in spices so bring your favourite sauce and condiments, all the seasoned travellers do) The staff are friendly and helpful if they can help and all the refreshing Crystal lager you can drink so bring a travel mug for the beach. Free rum drinks at the bar and a great espresso coffee machine so if that is your thing bring your own coffee mug. Lots of Cubans and others from different Hispanic nations in the Caribean to interact with maybe even participate with in a fun competition. The average age of Canadians mostly from Ontario and Quebec does tend to lean to the older as the two of us are however there is always someone to talk to and enjoy the place with. Bring some books to read or a deck of cards. Cienfuegos the "Pearl of the South" is worth the trip in for a day trip or an evening of entertainment, take a taxi in and share it with friends.(there is often a 1952 Chevy parked outside or within calling distance and they will come and pick you up for your return or get a door person at a restaurant to call someone) Give the upper level of the Union a try you have to walk up the 5 floors but worth going up for a drink and view the sites at night. It is a good idea to bring a flashlight as the city does have intermittent blackouts for periods not the whole city but you might just happen to be in the neighbourhood that is off for a period. Please bring cash for tipping and be generous with beach staff, house staff, maids, everyone. The wages there are very low compared with ours (you would't be able to go there on what they make) $1 USD or larger $CAD Euros but not Loonies they cant change them easily or Cuban Pesos. USD are quoted for many things like cigars or rum some bring extra if you plan on purchasing them and the little convenience store at Rancho Luna only accepts $ or credit cards. You cant buy Cuban money outside of Cuba but people around the hotel or beach can help you get fair trade for your money.