Cuban Hotel Rated the World’s Best for All Inclusive Vacations

HAVANA TIMES — The Santa Maria Royalton Hotel in Cuba ranked as the best resort for all-inclusive vacations in the world, according to the list issued Thursday by the renowned travel site, TripAdviser.

The five-star resort, located to the north of the central Cuban province of Villa Clara, ranked first among the 25 most popular hotels in the world, according to the Travelers’ Choice 2014 awards given by the online page from the criterion of thousands of readers.

The Royalton had already been chosen as the Best Hotel in the Caribbean in 2013, and now exceeds the Iberostar Grand Hotel Paraiso, Mexico; Kurumba Maldives, Maldives; and Le Blanc Spa Resort and Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera, also from Mexico.

The resort is operated under the All-In Luxury Concept by Canada’s Blue Diamond and is designed only for people over 18.

One other Cuban resort, the Melia Cayo Coco, Jardines del Rey, also made the top-25 finishing in 20th place.

The following is the TripAdvisor list of the top 25 all-inclusive resorts around the world:

1. Royalton Cayo Santa Maria, Villa Clara Province, Cuba

2. Iberostar Grand Hotel Paraiso, Playa Paraiso, Mexico

3. Kurumba Maldives, the Maldives

4. Le Blanc Spa Resort, Cancun, Mexico

5. Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun, Playa Maroma, Mexico

6. Luxury Bahia Principe Cayo Levantado Don Pablo Collection, Samana Province, Dominican Republic

7. Iberostar Grand Bavaro Hotel, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

8. Galley Bay Resort, St. John’s, Antigua

9. Rixos Sharm El Sheikh Resort, Nabq Bay, Egypt

10. Excellence Playa Mujeres, Playa Mujeres, Mexico

11. Iberostar Grand Hotel Rose Hall, Rose Hall, Jamaica

12. Secrets Silversands Riviera Cancun, Puerto Morelos, Mexico

13. The Reserve at Paradisus Palma Real, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

14. Sultan Gardens Resort, Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt

15. Salinas do Maragogi All Inclusive Resort, Maragogi, Brazil

16. Andilana Beach Resort, Nosy Be, Antsiranana Province, Madagascar

17. Live Aqua Cancun All Inclusive, Cancun, Mexico

18. Sandals Whitehouse European Village and Spa, White House, Jamaica

19. Cozumel Palace, Cozumel, Mexico

20. Melia Cayo Coco, Jardines del Rey, Cuba

21. Oceania Club, Nea Moudania, Greece

22. The Reserve at Paradisus Punta Cana, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

23. Secrets the Vine Cancun Resort & Spa, Cancun, Mexico

24. Grand Velas Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen, Mexico

25. Iberostar Hacienda Dominicus, Bayahibe, Dominican Republic