Sanctuary White Sands Hotel Resort — Hotel in Esmeralda

We arrived on Sunday, Jan 26, 2025 and had a very nice welcome. As we are premium, we were taken inside the premium lounge to be checked in. We were offered coffee and beer while our passports were copied.|We were told our room wouldn’t be ready for a couple of hours, so we went to have lunch at the premium restaurant near the beach and we walked around looking at the resort.|Our room was ready early and our concierge Ledis took us to our room and showed us around. He was so polite and gave us great info. My girlfriend was so impressed, she wanted to adopt him.|There was beer, bottled water and soda in the fridge in our room. It was replenished every day. Our room was cleaned very well everyday and the cleaning lady was extremely polite and always had a smile.|This is a small resort, about 475 rooms in 12 buildings. Our room is spacious with a king bed. The shower and toilet are separate from the sink which is next to the bed in a dressing area. The AC works great and the room is very quiet when the balcony door is closed. Water pressure in the shower is amazing and there is plenty of hot water.|The resort is kept very clean. There is a slight smell of sewer gas every once in a while, but the wind gets rid of it quickly. There are bathrooms available everywhere and they are pretty clean.|The staff is great. Everyone has a smile and an “Hola”. While there are the occasional staff member who does not speak English, the majority speak a little and do make an effort and it is appreciated.|The availability of food here is one of the things people give negative comments about. We never had any issues with not having what we wanted. Plenty of eggs, veggies, salad and coffee. Meat is plentiful and is very tasty, as is cheese, bread, potatoes, tropical fruit and fish, etc.|The pools are beautiful. There are 2 long pools with a bar separating them. The bar is a combination of a pool bar and a surface bar. The water is not heated, but it takes only a few minutes to get accustomed to it.|Lounges around the pool are only a year old as this resort opened on March 2024, but they are falling apart. The brackets that adjust the back angle are breaking making the lounge unusable. There are also bars that cross from one side of the lounge to the other under the fabric that causes you to sit on a crossbar and can hurt.|There are not enough lounges for the amount of guests and people go down early to save their spots. The beach is a different story as there seem to be plenty of lounges.|The beach is beautiful. Powdery flour like sand and long stretches for pleasant walks. Plenty of palapas and comfortable lounges make the beach a nice place to spend a few hours. 10:30 am is Yoga on the beach and Zoomba is at 11.|The water isn't clear lime others have mentioned. But a pale whitish grey as it takes the color of the sand. |Towels are absorbent and large. They are exchangeable everyday at the pool. |With 5 bars on the resort, booze flows uninterrupted. Plenty of choice and lattes available all day and night as the main lobby bar is open 24h.|Soda is Cuban fare and not very good, (in my opinion).|The bartenders need to be shown how to mix drinks. I love Long Island Ice Tea and I ordered 4 of them. They all tasted different from each other and none of them tasted like a Long Island Ice Tea. One time the bartender put chocolate liqueur in there. My girlfriend ordered a sangria and the bartender started to put whiskey in. My girlfriend told him to stop and he said, “its my special recipe”. She had to tell him how to make it. It was also one of the available drinks on the beach bar menu, some should know how to make it.|There are 2 snack bars open during the day. One at the smaller pool that serves delicious hot dogs and hamburgers and a more comprehensive menu at the snack bar in building 8. |There are 4 a la carte restaurants in the resort. Mediterranean, Italian, Gourmet and Creole.|The menu is limited at each restaurant with chicken legs, salmon and pork being the 3 choices for a main dish at every restaurant. Only different sauces change the type of dish served. Chicken at the Italian restaurant is the same as at the Mediterranean restaurant with a different sauce. Every meal comes with mashed vegetables and brown rice, doesn’t matter what restaurant you are at. |The food is basically the same as what you get at the buffet. Being a premium guest, we had a “Special” lobster dinner at the Creole restaurant which was ok. The lobster was overcooked and came with the ubiquitous mashed veggies and rice.|The next day, there was lobster in the buffet and it was better than what we had at the “special dinner”.|Food at the buffet is good but is lacking in variety. Little choice from one day to the next. Bring sauce with you if you like sauce with your meals. Mustard and ketchup is all they have here. The mustard and ketchup are also not very good as they are very liquidy and not very tasty.|There is always a lot of fruit and salad fixings available. The same chicken legs that are in the restaurants are also here and are very good (without the sauce). Rice, potatoes and plantains are also always available. There is a pizza station, fresh grilled fish station and fresh grilled meats, (chicken, burgers, pork), available lunch and dinner.|There is always freshly made soup, (chicken or pumpkin), that imy girlfriend said is excellent. Cheese is in abundance. Some sliced meats including prosciutto are also available.|Eggs were never an issue here. 2 egg stations make omelettes, scrambled or fried eggs to order. Freshly made waffles, pancakes and French toast are also available for breakfast.|My one issue with the food is the way they have a tendency to over cook things. On the other hand, the bacon, which is different from what we are used to, but is very tasty, needs to be put on a grill before you eat it as it’s always under done.|The variety is no where near some bigger resorts, but the food is very tasty for the most part.|The resort is very windy. The wind is around 20 or 25 kmh at all times. The main lobby becomes a wind tunnel and can be a bit unpleasant to sit in.|The ocean has large waves at all times. Some days it’s better than other’s, but it’s still rough. It is fun though to jump around the surf.|There is nothing to do at the beach except sunbathing and wave jumping. No snorkeling, no sailing, no surf boards. There is a volleyball net, but I never saw a ball and no one ever used it. |The beach is about 400 feet from the resort with a walkway leading there. A bar is about 2/3 of the way to the beach down the walkway.|The one area I am mostly disappointed with is the lack of entertainment. Nothing at night except for a saxophonist in the main lobby 2 times a week. He is very good, but plays the same thing both nights. Bingo once a week was also in the main lobby. |There is a theatre and they had a ‘Retro’ night where they showed 80s videos on the screen. Nothing else was done in the theater, so talking in the main lobby or going up to the ‘sports’ bar is what there is to do at night. They have a pool table with 1 cue and the tip is kind of attached and not the right size for the cue. A foosball table is also there.|The resort is about a 90 minute drive from the airport. The excursions are also limited. Camaguey is the closest town to the resort and is a 2 hour drive. One person we know who did the excursion said the 2 hour there, 2 hour return drive wasn’t worth the time in the town.|Traveling 2 hours or more for an excursion isn’t my cup of tea, so we didn’t go on any of the 7 or so excursions offered.|Overall this was a pleasant vacation. We were here for 10 days and with the lack of things to do other than sit by the pool or at the beach, a week would have been better.|Premium wasn’t worth the upgrade as the a la carte restaurants aren’t worth it. Also, I’m not a big drinker and the expensive booze doesn’t make a difference to me. The best part of premium was the personal check in that saved an hour standing at the front desk. A bottle of rum was in our room when we arrived, a nice perk.|All in all I’d give the staff an 9/10, the food a 6/10 for lack of variety and the overall experience here a 7/10.|The Wi-Fi isn’t the greatest. It is non-existent at the beach, but not too bad around the pools. I did have to log in everytime I lost the signal even though my phone was set to auto connect. My WiFi was turned off before we left the resort and our room key had to be reprogramed at noon the day we left, (premium checkout is 2pm) and a resort repairman had to be called to open the room safe as it couldn't be opened after 12 noon. They should know that we were premium and the 12:00 check out didn't apply.|Being in Cuba means not being able to get a local sim card and have data and long distance calling available like I can in Mexico or the Dominican Republic, and that makes a difference when the Wi-Fi at the resort is spotty at best.|I would not return as there are way too many options...

GENERAL| |We spent a wonderful week in early July at Sanctuary White Sands in Cayo Cuz. Cayo Cruz is part of the Jardines Del Rey Archipelago off the main north coast of CUBA that includes Cayo Coco. We landed at the Cayo Coco Airport from Montreal ( 3 ½ Hours Flight) and took a comfortable bus ride to the resort…about 11/2 hours. This included stops at other resorts dropping off guests…You could buy cold cervezas on board…As our bus arrived, we were greeted at our resort by employees as well as the animation team singing a joyful greeting to us.| |We come to Cuba for the people and the beaches. Both are spectacular. We have NOT come across any resort staff that showed us anything but great service wrapped in smiles and courtesy. The Cuban people are so nice and welcoming…| |So much information is available on line about this resort so I have trimmed back some of the details in this review…| |We opted into a Premium Category and lets just say that it is worth every penny. There will be people who insist that they don’t need it but we found it to be a big benefit…|You get the following…| |-Dedicated Check-in when you arrive…You are gathered up by a lady that is carrying a Premium Sign and asked to follow her. You are met with a fresh cool cocktail and taken to a Premium Check-in Room where they take your passports and then they check you in at the main reception. They bring everything back to you including your room passes while you are sipping your second cocktail. No long line ups for us at the main reception area…as would typically happen on a regular arrival…|-You have a dedicated butler…a great advantage…as they can and will do anything they can for you…see example below in our FOOD section…|-They can book you into the 4 A La Carts Restaurants. One of these is dedicated for Premium Guests for Breakfast and Lunch. You don’t have to go to the buffet…|-There are reserved Premium Beach areas where there are drink services that are not offered elsewhere on the beach. They also pass on fresh fruit on skewers in this section…|-The Main swimming pools (2) that are huge have a dedicated Premium elevated sitting areas with Bar Services.|-There are Premium Liquors available at the various Resort Bars| |July is off season at this resort as are many others in Cuba. Capacity of the resort was low and there were times we felt that we were the only ones there. This also means that there are adjustments with what is open a la cart and what is available in the buffet areas. Just go with the flow and enjoy what they do have.| |We brough a large suit case with 50 LBS of gifts for the staff. We brought unused purses and back packs, and filled them with make up, hair clips, toys for their kids and feminine products for the ladies. Our maids scored big time !|For the landscaping guys as well as the guys who clean the beaches everyday we brough work gloves, tape measures, small Medical Kits along with small toys for their kids like Hot Wheels. These were always appreciated by all…and honestly it took so little effort on our part to collect all the goods but so heartwarming at the end. Also: At the end we donated the large suit case that the gifts came in to the resort…in case a guest had a broken one they could take our old one…This meant that we were able to come home with two Carry Ons only…A first for us !!!| |We tip people for great services. We bring 200 US One Dollar Bills…Yes, we have heard the arguments that this is all inclusive and you don’t need to tip but we do as we want to and can afford to do so. You are getting an incredibly valued trip that included your flights, transfers, hotel staff and food and beverages for such a low price. We cannot go to Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal or Quebec City for a weekend non – inclusive stay and then pay them double or triple what we paid for a whole all - inclusive week in CUBA…| |Although it is clearly stated that CUBA does not accept Loonies or Toonies as cash at their banks, some Canadians still insist on tipping staff with them. Note: The average Cuban Resort Worker makes about 20-25 US dollars a month in salary. Tips have become a very welcome addition to their base salaries. Why would you tip an employee with money they can’t use and is not accepted by their banks. These employees are forced to carry this change around with them and hope that they can find someone to exchange the coins for paper Canadian Cash. The excuse we hear is that the people that pay tips in Loonies and Toonies will buy back these with Canadian Paper cash at the end of their trip…This NEVER happens and is frankly BS.| |RESORT| |Sanctuary White Sands is less that two years old and everything is shiny and new. It has all of the amenities you would expect like 4 a la cart restaurants, a buffet area, lobby bar with a smoking section, a 24 hour snack bar, a beach bar and gym, tennis/ pickleball courts, ext.… We stayed at a Premium Ocean View Room that overlooked the expansive beach and ocean. We originally looked at Pool Side but frankly the nose level from the animation teams can get pretty loud…glad we did not book there…Our room had everything we needed. A lovely balcony with a great ocean view… Lots of supplies including toilet paper…lots of hot water under a Rain Shower Head…The resort is considered small however we were in Building 7 which faces the Ocean. To get to the lobby at the other end is a hike… so get your legs in shape ! Our favorite place was the Lobby Lounge just opposite the main reception. What a great place it is and it has a great vibe. There is always a cool breeze running through it and the drinks are plentiful and various. As Canadians we asked for a Bloody Ceasar with Clamato…No such luck ! Also, I have yet to find de-café coffee in CUBA. I get a good laugh from the Cubans on that one…de-café they say, why bother !!! There are the mandatory resort cats, however these looked pretty healthy and not like some we have seen previously up in Cayo Coco…| |BEACH| |What can we say…We are beach people and as I mentioned before Cuba has some of the most beautiful beaches anywhere. Find pictures on line…you will be amazed…There is limited Sargassum but there are resort workers that clean this a few time a day. As noted, we thanked these guys with gifts and we also saw a few other guests get them a cold beer to quench their thirst…such a nice thing to do…The beaches are clean. Very easy walk in with the fine white sand. This is both wonderful and a curse as the sand gets into everything…There are rinse areas…| |FOOD| |We don’t come to CUBA for the food. There are days that the menu changes and some thing show up and others disappear. Case in point. There was no White Wine during our stay which for two White Wines people was disappointing…we noted this to our Butler and guess what she did. She made her way over to an adjoining Resort and got us a bottle of White Wine for our room…|There is always something to eat…the Egg Omelets are amazing, and the Pasta Bars are well stocked. Great tasting Pizza…There are lots of fish and pork and chicken on the grills. Lots of Fruits, Pastries and Ice Cream for deserts. Hardly any vegetables like tomatoes and leaf salads…lots of beans and rice dishes…If you opt for Premium Class you will have a greater variety to choose from.| |CONCLUSION| |You make your holiday, not the resort that you stay in. Temper your expectations to what you do have and you will have a great time. They are building new resorts at Cayo Cruz and we look forward to trying them out next. ...

This is our second time to Cayo Cruz and first to “Sanctuary White Sands”. Just a short 1 hr bus ride from the airport || We were absolutely pleased and will be back 100%. From the moment we arrived we were whisked off to the Premium Lounge, introduced and greeted by many of the Amazing Premium staff and a in-depth tour of the hotel was amazing, by the one and only Amie. Amie was absolutely amazing throughout our whole trip she is attentive and a key asset to Sanctuary, we loved her enthusiasm and her way to read her guests needs. ||Customer Service: | We popped into the customer service office to see some familiar faces, two amazing ladies (Libni & Deimis) they made sure all our needs were met and made sure our stay was amazing. To be honest these ladies are the reason we booked at Sanctuary, due to their exceptional service at a previous resort we stayed at. These ladies made us feel even better about choosing this resort once we got there. If you’re travelling here check in with these ladies they will make sure all your needs are met. ||Room: | We were in block 6 Pool View, (6217) third floor, as per our request. Our room was spotless, mini fridge was stocked daily 2 beer 2 pops, 2 waters which was amazing. Always had a minimum of “ 4 ROLLS OF TP “ in our room at all times, never an issue. Our bed was comfortable, we could have used a few extra pillows. But non the less it was great with a partial ocean view. Even tho we did not use the butler service they were very attentive of our needs if we needed anything. (Led & Freddy) ||Food:| We have to say the food over achieved our expectations. All the “A la Carte “ were delicious we are not foodies but picky and we quite enjoyed the menu the premium dinner added a great touch to the trip. We loved the saxophone during dinner. Lots of red, blush, white wine. We have to give a great shout out to all the restaurant staff for their hard work and quick thorough service. Especially Yoleisy, Elizabeth which served us daily.| The buffet was very good also tons of eggs lots of bread, butter and bacon for breakfast, dinner was good also few different theme nights. Everything we needed plus . ||Pools & Beach | We found there was tons of seating, loungers chairs, palapa’s and umbrellas around the pool. The pool was spotless and areas for everyone. Quiet part, and party side. “Brayan “ Butler from building 8-9 was always attentive to us when we were around the pool checking to make sure we were comfortable. The Beach is very walkable and very clean also very little if any seaweed, water was crystal clear. The wind is a little stronger at Cayo Cruz, but not too much, just enough wind to keep bugs away. Bring bug spray just incase!!||Lobby & Lobby Bar | We found this area to be the go to spot for us for before and after dinner drinks and to enjoy some people we had met at the resort. Very clean, staff was very attentive to guests needs. The smoking area is very small so it was a bit crowded for the most part. One thing would be nice if they expanded that by just a bit would be great. As the huge non smoking section was quite a bit less busy. All guest respected the smoking and non smoking areas from what we noticed which was nice. A huge shout out to the Lobby bar staff “Melissa & Kiam Son“ they always had our cerveza in the evening ready or our fresh cappuccino in the morning ready. Also Jose the bartender/Guitarist who gave a little pre dinner guitar show a few nights we loved the music. |||Entertainment:| The entertainment at this resort is lower key but just enough. We were invited to the group hotel entertainment at the neighbouring resort which we did miss, but heard it was very good with drinks and a snack table. One thing we wish was that the lobby bar had the Saxophone player or a little more live music playing in the lobby, pre dinner and after dinner at night, it would have added a great touch.||Tipping : | Tipping in Canadian and American is great and appreciated by all staff. Even typing in Loonies and Toonies is welcome. Just on your way home please help them by buying back the change with crisp Canadian bills. Exchanging crisp American bills is appreciated also as the banks in Cuba are very picky on quality of bills ||Overview:| If you’re looking for an adults only, chill, relaxing, beautiful pools, amazing beach, a resort with staff that is attentive to your needs. This is the one. When people say the Cuban people are amazing it’s an understatement. We will be back 100%. Thanks to all the staff that made our trip memorable you all deserve a big raise $$$:)...