Gran Muthu Almirante Beach Hotel — Hotel in Banes

March, 2023

The trip from airport to the hotel it took about 60 minutes. The resort is new, modern, clean and well maintained, with a lot of beautiful green space. The reception desk/lobby is located at the 3rd floor in the main building and the buffet is located at the 1st (ground) floor. All the public areas were clean, including the restrooms.

The room All our rooms were clean, spacious, modern and well kept. The rooms are equipped with quality windows; therefore the noise was not an issue and the AC was working. The blackout blinds in the rooms are very effective. The electric outlets are 230V and can take EU and North American standards. By the bed there are 2 USB-A plugs. The room maid cleaned up the room daily. Same for refilling the fridge with bottled water. The access in the room is done with access cards (only 1 issued/room, but requested a 2nd one).

Internet From the reception desk, each guest can obtain his username and password. The internet is capped to 21 hours, then one must go back to the reception desk to renew it.

The restaurants & buffets The food was a great surprise after reading all the bad reviews. There was enough food, and it was tasty. There was chicken, pork, beef, fish, pasta, burgers and lasagna every day, along with vegetables, soups, cold cuts, fruits, ice cream and cakes. No crazy line ups. The a-la-carte restaurants are ok (the food and the service are ok). The snack bar by the beach is great, this is where I did like to have my morning coffee & omelet and a burger or a sandwich for lunch. And I found all these to be extraordinary considering the situation in Cuba. Expect them to run out of some ingredients for cocktails.

The beach The beach is well maintained with approximately 80 palapas (people are up early in order to reserve those). There are several trees on the beach that can accommodate plenty more chairs. During our stay, they were building beds like those at the pool, probably for rent. During weekends is getting crowded as the people living in the city are coming to enjoy the beach as well (the beach is public, not private). In the afternoon there were artists playing clarinet and armonica.

The pools There are 4 pools, all in great condition, but we did spend all our time on the beach. One of the pools is reserved for VIP members.

The staff The staff was great, they were always polite, smiling and friendly. No body language, no attitude. We had a slight misunderstanding with one of our a-la-carte reservations, but it worked out well in the end. There are security guards all around the resort. I would like to thank all staff for contributing to our great vacation experience.

Entertainment/activities The entertainment was top notch and there were live performers every day at the lobby and buffet/restaurants. I really liked the water ballet and the rock show. Every night there was karaoke at the snack bar by the beach. People had fun and the location was far enough to not disturb those who were sleeping. The entertainment team brought music to the beach several times and engaged people in dancing (I'm not a fan of the loud music on the beach). There are pedal boats and catamarans for rent.

Remarks We had a great vacation, it was way better than our December experience at a Punta Cana resort. There is a flea market 10 minutes walking from the hotel (or can ask the personnel to assist with a raid).

For the management, I suggest the use of the small RFID access cards that can be attached to the guest bracelet. Also, maybe conduct a survey to find out if your (majority) guests are looking for loud music, or for quiet time.

April 2025 update

Nothing changed in terms of accommodation - the resort is clean, well maintained, the personnel is welcoming, the beach is beautiful with plenty sunbeds/palapas. Now they are issuing 2 access cards for each room by default. The food was good, tasty and plenty. No fish but they replaced it with shrimps. It seems that the population is doing worse than 2 years ago - bring shoes, clothing items,...

From the moment my family and I arrived, we were embraced with a sense of warmth and hospitality that made our stay unforgettable. Every area we visited reflected not only professionalism, but also the deeper human qualities of kindness, humility, and mindfulness that truly set this hotel apart.

The Lobby Bar team deserves my deepest gratitude Ariel, Norge, Abrahan, Laritza, Adriano, Yaidel, Harold, Ariagna, Jessica and the many others whose names I unfortunately cannot recall but whose thoughtful care never went unnoticed. Each of them made us feel not like guests, but like part of their own family.

A special recognition goes to Yeny Peres, Food and Beverage Manager, whose guidance and dedication were evident in every dining experience, in each detail, and in the welcoming atmosphere created throughout the property.

At the Cigar Bar, Pupy provided not only excellent service but also a genuine sense of hospitality, transforming each visit into a calm and memorable experience.

The Guest Relations team Patricia, Lisandra, Adannis, Mabel, Luxy, and Tony,consistently showed attentiveness and care, always ready to listen and go the extra mile with patience and a smile. Their sincere concern made every interaction meaningful.

In the Gym and Game Room, Yoandry and Richard fostered a welcoming environment where we felt encouraged and supported at all times.

The rhythm of the evenings came alive in the Night Club, thanks to Pablito, Alex, and Michel, who combined expertise with contagious enthusiasm that made every night a celebration.

At the Snack Bar, Diana and Charly went above expectations with their attentive service and genuine kindness. On the Beach Bar, Yasmany added to the experience with his dedication and friendly manner, turning every visit into something special.

From the Spa Team, Anisley and Marcial, offered true moments of serenity. Their mindfulness and professionalism created an atmosphere of relaxation and renewal an experience that restored both body and spirit.

Dining at the Asian Restaurant was also a highlight. Chef Leito and his servers crafted not only exquisite dishes but also a memorable dining experience, blending outstanding flavors with attentive and heartfelt service.

The Entertainment Team brought endless joy and vitality: Adriana, Lizandra, Sol, Dayani, Yaineris, Cesar, Daikel, Migue, Richard, Danilo, Niobel, and their manager Nolberto. Their energy, creativity, and charisma filled each day with unforgettable moments.

I also want to highlight Rober, the decorator and tour guide, who made our snorkeling adventure to the Cayuelos extraordinary. His enthusiasm and good spirit turned the excursion into an experience we will never forget.

The DJs Disney, the twins, Daniel, Danilo, and of course my brother Alex The best Dj of all times gave life to every event with music and rhythm, while the Dance company Tiempos added elegance, passion, and artistry to each performance. The girls from the Housekeeping Department who always always did a great job THANK YOU SO MUCH!! As well Lazaro and Orlan the Bellboys. They were awesome

I would be remiss not to mention Mara, the Assistant Manager, whose presence and leadership were truly remarkable. She balances professionalism with genuine warmth, always attentive to the needs of guests while supporting her team with grace and patience. Mara’s thoughtful guidance and approachable demeanor create an environment where both staff and visitors feel valued and cared for.

Finally, to all the other members of the staff whose names I cannot recall please know that your dedication, professionalism, and quiet efforts were deeply appreciated. Every one of you played an important part in making our stay not just enjoyable, but truly exceptional.

This journey reminded me that genuine hospitality is not simply about service, but about people and here, every person demonstrated humility, mindfulness, and heartfelt kindness that left a lasting impression. We leave with gratitude in our hearts and already look forward to...

We just visited the Gran Muthu Almirante from Dec 26-Jan 6th 2024

We are food and travel bloggers (@the.venture.boys on Instagram and Facebook- make sure to check us out to see more content from our visit to this hotel) from Toronto.

This will be a long post - look at the heading to see what section you want to read.

Staff: ⁃ Cuba is world renowned for hospitality. We have travelled all over the Caribbean and have never had such great service, or love from staff. We came as guests and left feeling like family. This resort in particular has been very hard to leave on both of our visits. ⁃ The beach staff (Ivan and Ernesto) were absolutely fantastic. They made sure to help us with our seats, cleaned them off and often came to check on us. We enjoyed them very much. If you need assistance on the beach, make sure to ask these guys for help. ⁃ Bar and wait staff - each team member was fantastic. Always catering to needs, wants and overall just were delightful to chat with each day. We enjoyed the time they spent with us and they really are the reason why so many people return to Cuba and to this resort over and over again. ⁃ The management are also very attentive and exceeded our expectations as return guests. Thank you! ⁃ The VIP staff - everyone from the maids, butlers, bartenders, chefs, waitstaff, gardeners and lifeguards were fantastic and helpful- thank you!

Beach: ⁃ the beach is one of the biggest reasons why we love Holguin Cuba and the Gran Muthu Almirante. The colours of blue and green, the softness of the sand, the easy to enter ocean are all reasons we dream of coming back. We also love the clarity of the water and that the seaweed is minimal to none (it really depends on the weather).

Room and VIP experience: ⁃ we have stayed in the Standard Room, the ocean front room, the elite jr suite and the VIP suite rooms during our times at the Gran Muthu. All are exceptional. Extremely clean and the beds and pillows are very comfortable. ⁃ This visit we stayed at the VIP jr suite and a very short visit to the VIP suite. We loved all the amenities, the adults only section restaurant (Elite) and pool. ⁃ The VIP rooms come with a few extra perks. One being butler service (they took care of all our dinner reservations, put our favourite rum and Cava options in our room, offered to bring us room service (which we had in the VIP suite) and also morning coffees if we wished. They helped us with our internet needs (working a bit on vacation) and made us some pretty good cocktails while we waited. ⁃ We recommend (if you and your party are all over 18, to upgrade to the VIP section. It was absolutely worth the $363 upgrade. ($33 per day - returning guest price). The access to the adults only pool at the end of the day (with pool service) and the Elite restaurant were exceptional additions to our vacation.

Restaurants: Please see our posts on Socials regarding the food.

We loved our VIP Food experience. We enjoyed all the a la carts and buffets as well.

Our trip was exceptional because of our VIP upgrade. The Elite restaurant for breakfast and lunch was absolutely wonderful. It just elevated our trip experience so much. We would absolutely do this again.

We have never had better service (at home or in the Caribbean) before. They take exceptional care of guests and really try to accommodate as best they can (even while they navigate shortages).

Advice: Join some of the Facebook groups to get a more up to date sense of the resort.

Dean and...