We spent our vacation at El Senador Resort last December (14-21) 2003. The resort is quite beautiful, new and clean. People working there are very friendly, helpful and they do work hard for their livings. Food is excellent and catered to Westerners' taste. The only down side is the cool weather for mid-December and jellyfish!!! It's pretty painful if one gets stung.I would like to offer a few tips. They could be useful. -Upon arriving at the resort, at the reception desk, remember to ask for safe key (no charge), extra room cards if needed, coupon for beach towels, and enquire about resort facilities (which restaurants are open and if there's any change in the locations of the restaurants). That will save you a few trips going back and fort from your room to the reception desk. Because of low season during the week of Dec 14, the VIP restaurant was moved to share the same location with Seafood restaurant, the Steak House was moved to share the same location with Cuban Restaurant and nobody informed us about the changes. -Most of the services (Animations, Towel Service, Kids Club ) close for lunch 12:30 to 1:30. -There are mosquitoes at the restaurants at night, remember to cover up and have insect repellant on hand. -From the Information brochure provided in the room, the resort management states clearly that tips are not included. I also go back to those ads from Air Canada, World of Vacations  they do not mention anything about  tips included . If you could give half of what you usually give for tips in Canada when you are satisfied with the service, it would be greatly appreciated by the people working there. -When you go to buffets for your meals, it s not good idea to wait for waiters to approach you, it could be forever, and they are always busy. We usually come to one of waiters and kindly ask for a table. We always get our table right away. -There are connecting rooms for the junior suites. For example, if the building number is 37, then the room 3702 and 3703 are connected, same for 3706 and 3707, 3710 and 3711, 3714 and 3715. It s good idea to call or send email to the resort requesting connecting room in advance and a friendly reminder a few days before your arrival date. -At the buffets, there are different themes for each day of the week. Enquire about the themes so that you could decide which days you want to dine at the buffets. Even though the reservations are assigned to you (4 nights at 4 different a la carte restaurants), you can always change them if you want to but it s first come first serve so do the change as soon as possible. -Check weather forecast if you want to sign up for a tour. Cold days could be good for sight seeing Trinidad (or other cities), calm days could be good for snorkeling -Remember to ask about you check out time (when do you have to check out, where do your luggage go, when do the bus come to take you to the airport). If your flight back is in the evening, you are entitled to a courtesy room (for an hour) to shower without charge After our trip to Cuba, when our friends asked us about Cuban food and Cuban people, we ashamedly realized that we have learnt nothing much about Cuba with our own experiences. We will come back to Cuba (but to different city) to see more of Cuba (people and culture).

Hello. Just came back from El Senador in Cayo-Coco in Cuba. I was there for a week from 12/27/03 through 01/03/04. My experience at this resort was a good one with some adjustments needed to make it a Very good one.
First, the check-in and check-out was simply the best I've seen. You almost get the keys at the airport and you go straight to your room upon arrival. Rooms are very clean and maid service is promply made everyday in the late morning. The only problem with the room is getting Hot Water and Water pressure in the shower. I got a few cold showers during the week. Thank good I wasn't in Alaska in January with that shower. The hotel is extremely secure and even the insecure person can go there as the Cayo-Coco is a private island for tourist without any residents living there beside staff. Beach is clean on most day as the remove Sea dirt in the morning and no solicitor will come to see you(No Jamaica here!!!). Food was better than average in others resorts I've been. Try the Cuban restaurant, it's simply the best and surprisingly, the less crowded. Simply avoid the Italian one as Pasta wasn't cooked and the service terrible and crowded. At lunch time, either Grill Restaurants are good choice but the service is really slow(Tips: Spot server 'Mario' at the grill and be really friendly with him with an occasionnal US Dollar and service will be tremendous). The only problem with the restaurants is the quality of service. Workers are doing the best but are simply understaff in all restaurants. Service at the bar is again slow depending on the waiter but spot a server you like(Check 'Freddy' at the Lobby Bar, is simply the best out there with some acrobatic moves with the Glasses) and service will be good.

Animation in the club is a big Zero as they don't really do much. After speaking with some Animation team members, you feel theirs hands tied by management and they can't really join the customers in any activities as don't have the right to fool around with them. To theirs credits, the complex is a large one and it's extremely hard to have all the people one in place with many choices at night to have a drink(Cuban Cirage Lounge, Oasis Bar, Lobby Bar, Discoteque). Nightly show at the main stage is really at the Amateur Level so don't except too much there. The average customers at El Senador is couple in the 40's/50's or family. Ain't really a place for single person looking to party all week but I was travelling solo for a few days and meet some real nice people and had a good time and some good memories.

In conclusion, I will maybe be back out there if I want to relax with few distraction but If I want to party at high-Level, I will definitely go somewhere else.

Our trip to Cayo Coco, El Senador resort was in November, 2003. Overall was a GREAT experience despite the bad weather that lasted for almost the whole week. The check in and check out procedures were the best I've seen. You practically get your room key from the airport, and the map of the resort is very clear to figure out where you are going to stay. GREAT rooms! If you have the chance to find it available try room #2036 at the Laguna. It has a great ocean view and it is an end unit with great windows. GREAT roomservice! GOOD food! I personally love exotic fruits, and here I had the pleasure to experience a new fruit that I have never heard of named GUANABANA. For those who love exotic fruits, I recommend it. It is delicious! GREAT variety of fine cheeses! GOOD cuban wine. I enjoyed the white one. The bar was OK. I've had better cocktails in other places. The bartenders need a little more trainig in preparing the drinks. Their goal is just to serve everyone in the shortest time which in not always for the best. GOOD fitness room with AC, water, TV. GREAT tennis courts! GREAT games room! NICE outside jacuzzi! GOOD shopping! GOOD night ntertainment! NICE and private tobacco house with pool table, bar and nice settings to enjoy a good cigar. VERY CLEAN resort, spacious, with great landscaping. GREAT long beach! Excellent for walking too! GREAT water! WONDERFUL view! EXCELLENT pools! The music around the pools could be improved. The lights inside the resort could be improved. I found it quite dark at night. And that's about all I could complain about the resort. We had a really nice time and I would definitelly go back sometime in the future. I STRONGLY recommend it for a 4 star resort!

El Senador A newer resort owned my Ex NHL hockey Players of the Montreal Canadians. We met many famous hockey players. The food was amazing. We had plates piled high with Lobster, and Shrimps. The cigar lounge was very relaxing. The staff spoke was great and very accomodating. The pools were beautiful, sight-seeing was great... The international drinks were great. The only things is it was cool in January and their were a lot of Jelly Fish on the BEach and near shore.