Melia Rio the Oro (or Paradisus ) - I can honestly say that this is my favourite resort. The one place that I would love to keep going back to. Note- not my favourite destiantion, but my favourite hotel.
I loved this place and stayed here twice so far.
The only people I would not recommand this propery to are the ones with small kids who want to leave their kids in the Mini Club all day and not worry about them. There are very few kids at this resot and if they are active - they will be very bored.
However, if you have kids that you like to keep close and you you want a nice 5 star in Cuba, this is fine.
The rooms at this hotel are beautiful. All Junior Suites with a nice sunken living room, big king size (or two double) bed, mini bar, sitting area, balcony and grand bathroom. The colours are very warm - yellows and oranges with hand painted walls in each room. Very nice:)
The beach is not right infront of the hotel. You will have to take a walk by the pool area and a few steps to the beach. This is maybe 5-6 steps, but it is a vary scenic way. Since the resort is placed on a reef (we are talking 30 - 50 m from the beach) - it overlooks the ocean and it has a great view. During the day, you can chill on the tree filled reef (full of hammocks and lounge chairs) or you can get up early and grab one of the two balconies places over the reef. In the evening, you can take a walk around the whole resort, constantly overlooking the sea and the sky, since they made a path for you to do so.
At the bottom of the steps that take you to the beach, there is a snack bar open until 7pm. It is a la carte and they mostly serve sandwiches, hamburgers, fruit salads, shakes, sweets and such. This is a great place for lunch and the bartenders are very friendly.
The other restaurants, Japanese and Italian a la carte + buffet, are great. The food is freash and very nicely made. The staff is great and you can't help but have fun with them all the time.
The resort has a lot to offer. As far as sports and games, it includes archery, bocce ball, volleyball, shooting....etc. The mail pool has a swim-up bat which is huge and it also has 4-5 different spots where you can take brean and overlook the whole pool area. This are very romantic looking and you have to hurry to grab them if the resot is full. The main pool sort of flows into another one which is just beneath it and it looks like a whole different pool area (quieter).
The beach I thought was nice. It is not like Varadero, it does have a few rocks and stones on the side that might scare some people off, however the water is perfectly clean and the sand is powdery white. This is my favourite beach in Cuba. If you wish to swim, you can take a 50 m walk and be on one of the best beaches in Cuba - Playa Esmeralda or you can take a dive right below the Paradisus Rio De Oro and snorkell over the reef for days. I love to swim and snorkell and this is just heaven for people who enjoy this.
I would go back (and hope I will) to the Paradisus.
I wouldn't recommand it for people who want to party.
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