Cayo Naranjo, a tourist beach resort in the eastern Cuban province of Holguin, forms part of an expanding strategy in the leisure industry and provides visitors with an incredibly beautiful setting and the surprise of finding an aquarium in the sea.

Up till recently, discerning visitors have bemoaned the lack of a really luxurious hotel in Havana. The Saratoga, which opened in November 2005, has rectified the situation. Standing on the western edge of the Historical Centre of the city, its elegant façade overlooks the other nineteenth—century architectural glories of the Prado and Parque Central.

The Spanish Sol Meliá chain´s deluxe offering at Playa Esmeralda, west of Guardalavaca, is the best all-inclusive hotel in the eastern provinces. Edging up to talcum-fine sands that shelve into waters of Maxfield Parrish-like turquoise blues, it has a superb locale. The snorkeling is splendid. The resort is surrounded on three sides by woodland and a swampy lagoon, good for birding. Families should look elsewhere, as this hotel is for adults only.

The Meliá Las Américas is the glitziest of three Meliá properties all located adjacent to each other on the beach side of the golf course adjoining the Plaza America Shopping Center. It it for for adults only (18 plus years old).

Hotel Barcelo Cayo Santa Maria Beach resort has a privileged location in one of most beautiful islands in Cuba.
This property will eventually be the largest hotel complex in Cuba, with a total of 4 hotels each named after a different Cuban city. The complex will be opened in 4 stages. First hotel – Barcelo Matanzas that offers 624 guestrooms is already opened.

Sol Palmeras is the third property of the string of Meliá hotels, which are located adjacent to each other on the beach side of the golf course adjoining the Plaza America Shopping Center (the others are Meliá Las Américas and Meliá Varadero).

The original Meliá property in Cuba (today the company manages 24 hotels on the island), this slightly aging hotel nonetheless remains a firm favorite of many repeat guests thanks to its tremendous location and range of amenities. We like it for its dramatic circular atrium lobby soaring six stories; vines pour over the balconies, creating a sensational effect. Caged parrots add appropriately jungly notes.

A lovely property, this is one of our favorite all-inclusive hotels on the island, and ranks well against the nearby Sandals and even many similar properties on neighboring islands. Launched in 2005 at the far eastern extreme of the peninsula, this sprawling and gracious resort is centered on a huge irregular swimming pool framed by a faux Spanish castle. There´s nothing outdated here, though.

Purpose-built for the packaged tour group trade, this all-inclusive resort at Playa Ancón opened in 2004. Designed in a quasi-colonial fashion (architectural elements imitate the nearby city of Trinidad´s famous landmarks), it is far superior to the lackluster Hotel Ancón next door, despite its garish color schemes. It makes a big play for families with its kid´s club, children´s swimming pool, and special programs for children.

Perhaps our favorite all-inclusive beach resort hotel in the country, this beauty knocked us out the second it opened in December 2005. As if hinting at its exclusivity, it commands the very tip of the Hicacos Peninsula—a superb breeze-swept location just minutes from the Gaviota marina. Here the winds have kicked up sand dunes along the beach, sheltering the hotel grounds and adding a touch of drama to the local coastline.