Palma Real: Relax and have fun

Hotel is a bit dated but you can see they are upgrading [we have been here a few times before] it is diffenitely a step up.Service was good;room was clean;restaurant was buffet;you have to remember it is only a three star and the price was very reasonable what we paid.

Palma Real: Needs Some Improvements

The hotel needs some upgrades like they need to throw out the towels with cigarette burns on it. The sheets was also dirty. The rooms were not of 4 star quality more like a motel 6 quality. The Piazza restaurant changed the meat in the lasagna from ground beef to tuna and didn't tell us. The maids and most servers was very nice and friendly. The entertainment was great as well as the Jeep Safari excursion was the highlight of our trip.

Palma Real: The Palma Réal and Me!

Really enjoyed my stay! The staff was pleasant and professional. The rooms were clean, thanks to Yuni:) The only thing I would recommend are more umbrellas at the beach! The AquaDanse show was stunning! Had a great time!

Palma Real: Very central, very relaxed!

This was our first time in Cuba. We were told that the Palma Real is the oldest resort in Veradero. It does show its age, but it is very clean, and everything in the room works. (air conditioner, hot shower, etc.) If you don't like your room location you can get it changed, although it may take a few days. We ended up with a great room on the third floor with a balcony overlooking the pool and bar where the daytime entertainment took place. Fun! The best features of the resort are the 4 pools, t [... read more]he great bar staff, and the proximity to the local straw markets, restaurants and night spots. We found that the food was plentiful, but just average, with a lot of dishes made from chicken and pork. It was somewhat bland, but the desserts were good. There are a few little idiosyncracies like coffee is only available at breakfast, not at lunch or dinner. However, the drinks are plentiful and the staff is good. They look for tips on a regular basis so if you are a "once time tipper" usually at the end of the vacation you might consider giving your favourite staff 1/2 up front and 1/2 at the end of the vacation. Also, most staff appreciate things other than money, for instance hard candy or childrens' toys . Most of the staff speak pretty good English, as well as French. The clientele is almost all Canadian, with some from Russia. Veradero seems to be a very safe place to vacation. There is a healthy respect for the law, with stiff penalties for drugs and other crime. The beach stretches for 26 kms, and the Bellevue Palma Royal has its own beverage and snack shop at the beach. Very nice. The sea kayaks and small catamarans are included, and the guys are friendly and helpful. We really enjoyed ourselves, met a lot of people to hang out with, and would definitely go back to this resort.

Palma Real: average but needs improvements

Some rooms on the lower levels were musty. The evening we were to check in our travel representative was no were to be found and it took us a long time to get our rooms. The best part of the hotel was that it had great entertainment and was right downtown close to shopping and all the good clubs.

Palma Real: 3rd return trip

Our family of 4, which includes 2 kids 23 and 21, went first week of January. My daughter and I just returned from another week at the Bellevue Palma Real. This was my first trip to Varadero in March. We usually go after Christmas and around New Year's Eve. This hotel is centrally located to almost everything. Although the hotel is showing it's age we heard that it had just been purchased by a Spanish company. I'm not sure if this is true but random guests were asked to complete a questionnaire. [... read more] We did see a large, new air conditioning unit outside of building 4. The same lovely staff are at the hotel. We have always found them to be very helpful and pleasant. The drinks are strong as they pour free-hand so I stayed with the wine and beer. The wine was better this time around. The rooms in all the buildings are the same. We did not have water for .5 day while they did repairs. For the rest of the week we did have plenty of hot water. The food was very good. It is bland but you can spice stuff up but you can't take spice away. I would describe the food as "peasant food". It is simple cooking but we have always found lots of selection. Remember these people don't eat as well as you or I. Their staple diet is rice and beans. They can't afford chicken, pork, beef or most seafood. Yet, I have never seen anyone give a disparaging look at any guest when they didn't finish the food on their plate. Check out Jessome Park, The Beatles Club and the Caille 62 street dance. I can't fly out west for the amount of money we paid, which included a weeks hotel stay, food and drink. Do expect a clean room, decent bed, basic tv ( with CTV in English), and dated accommodations.

Palma Real: Relocated to the Bellevue Puntarena 8 hours before

Canjet relocated us to the Puntarena 8 hours before our flight, At best it wad 2.5 star. Aunts in room, rust in bathroom fixtures. Dirty pools, stained linens. Poor upkeep of walkways, mu husband cut his toe open and could not swim for the last 3 days. No up keep of garbage on the beach. Food was not as good at the Palma Real where we stayed last year and loved it.

Palma Real: A good deal

Second time at this resort.Grounds, public areas clean, always someone on duty washing floors in public areas, washrooms etc. Food was plentiful with good assortment to please everyone. Room was super clean. Amazing variety of shows ie aquatic, variety of dance themes etc. Within short walking distance great nite life: dancing, restaurants. Double decker bus you can ride all day for 5 pesos. Walk to multiple markets or bus it. Ocean gorgeous, could always find a chair. Rep very helpful.

Palma Real: Good basic beach trip

This resort was in a perfect location. Short walk to the gorgeous beach, right in the Varadero pub/restaurant area. Walk to everything. The food, room and service were very basic. Like Motel 6. That was fine for me for the price we paid, but If your into luxury, this isn't the one for you. If you're in for a good time, at a low price, then this is for you.

Palma Real: You get what you pay for

Well most of the reviews were true. Don't pay anymore than $800 for this place. It's run down and need a lot of work. Food isn't the best either. Most times no hot water, towels, and most things are broken.. 75% of the resort are 20 year olds. Guessing cause it's cheap. Pay the extra and stay somewhere else

Palma Real: Nice hotel !

The beach is beautiful, there's 3 pools and lot's of bar. Drinks are good but the food is just okay. Not discusting but not delicious. We went to Havana Club and it was pretty cool. The room are good.

Gran Caribe Sun Beach: very thankful we had good weather

location - good for touring around, very safe to walk around at night, beach - not so great for the beach as you have to walk across a street, no beer or toilet available at beach, the beach itself is fine but not enough chairs room - clean, nice bathroom, not very good bed dinner - red wine was only available at dinner one night of our entire week, totally unacceptable, food was pretty much ok pool - could use a good cleaning staff - most could use some customer service skills, how hard is it t [... read more]o smile? mgmt should watch their staff in action and they could see who makes it nice for guests and who just goes through the motions and who just shouldn't work with the public.... HOLA SUN rep was awful

Palma Real: Wonderful time, we will return!!!

I have been to Cuba 10 times this is the first time I came to this resort my husband and I were very pleased with it, it isn't on the beach but only a couple minute walk which I stayed at many resorts that have a couple minute walk that are advertised as on the beach. The food was great the location was excellent! Went on the jeep safari and locked it! Stayed in room 4127, very clean, pleasant housekeeper. I left her thank you notes and she wrote back and pay so or nice gift for her. She even le [... read more]ft me a gift of a neck lace one time on my swan towel arrangement!

Palma Real: Great trip. Excellent value.

This was our first trip to Cuba so we didn't know what to expect. We have stayed at numerous other resorts with various ratings. For the money, we got exactly what we expected during spring break. The grounds and pools are well kept and clean. The rooms are clean and the beds are comfortable. The AC works fine. The staff are friendly (but you need to remember to be friendly too! I witnessed numerous growly and otherwise over-privleged guests that were treating the staff really lousy. Of cour [... read more]se the treatment you get back can be curt). The housekeeping is great and the kitchen staff are good. Service in the buffet dining can be a little slow, but for the most part they are swamped. At some times in the day there are not enough staff to handle the numerous demands of the numerous guests. Regardless we were pleased. The food in Cuba isn't exactly gourmet. I tend to refer to it as "home cooking". You're not going to get filet mingnon and sushi. So don't go expecting it. The restaurant dinners were VERY good and the service is great - make a reservation if you can. And I definitely recommend the Cuban and International restaurants. The beach is one of the best I've ever seen. But don't be afraid to walk away to either side if you want quiet. The entertainment staff have salsa lessons and other avtivities and they can be loud. Play beach volleyball - it was awesome. The staff at the beach hut were wonderful! They are great at the bar and really fun. Beach food is good, they kept bringing out paella and burgers and fries (I'd avoid the hot dogs). Don't listen to stories about bland food or no sauces or lame ketchup. Their ketchup is fine, they have hot sauces available! Be willing to try and taste new things! Don't be stuck up! =) The entertainment staff were really good too. Look for Alberto! The two evening shows we saw were great, there is a lot of musical talent in Cuba. The other GUESTS were what made the trip a little lousy. We were expecting to have a more subdued trip (We're Canadian, and pardon our prejudice, but we were happy to see no loud Americans) but the idiotic younger girls from PQ and rednecks from ON and rude Russians were just too much for us. This trip renewed my faith in our American cousins. I'll take a trip to Cancun with loud Americans any day, given that the other gueses in this hotel were waking us up at 5:AM shouting and even fighting in the hallway. The Newfoundlanders and guests from Spain were AWESOME! The other hotels right nearby were a little more expensive. I WOULD come back to Palma Real some time in the future. This is good value for the money. Next time we will save up a while longer and visit a more "upscale" hotel.

Gran Caribe Sun Beach: Average resort as we expected for 2.5 star.

The room we had was very clean and sufficient. The grounds were well kept. The dinning room table cloths need attention and should be changed when soiled. The food was as expected but very repetitive. Same old same old. Fish was excellent. Recommend only if they know what they are in for. It is a true 2.5 star. Staff need to be more friendly, found very few you appeared to enjoy what they were doing as well as their guests. It is the service industry after all and one should not be ignored while [... read more] staff chat up their friends. Location is very central to everything if that is what you want. Noise in the evening will probably keep you from sleeping sound but who sleeps on vacation anyway.

Palma Real: good resort

dining area was clean and well organized. Staff very clean. Selection of food was fine. We moved once to a different room because of the loud music at night. Rooms were clean. The air conditioner only worked on full blast.... which was far too noisy. The beach was great and the waves too... went bathing in the ocean in the morning and also in the afternoon. Unfortunately people throw away so many of the plastic containers... garbage cans available but no big signs about clean-up. One person coul [... read more]d easily keep the area clean, including the garbage which lies on the way to the beach. I and some others picke up garbage quite often...... could not let it wash into the ocean..... and the solution is so simple and ceap. The check-in at the counter is very tedious.... all passports are copied again by hand, which takes forever.... very simple solution.... But, we would go again. Arno

Palma Real: Amazing Resort

This resort was super clean, well kept. The food is the best compared to other resorts in Varadero. The workers are also well experienced, kind, and helpful. The resort has many things to do especially since it is located in central Varadero, you get the city experience as well. The beach club is great if you want to go swim in salt water while having a few drinks. I enjoy it so much I keep coming back for the wonderful experience.

Palma Real: a nice resort

it was ok rooms clean, property clean, food ok, staff very nice en other visitors very nice beach was fantastic en had boats to use there was night entertainment that was good weather great rained only once for like 1/2 hr

Palma Real: Not bad for the money paid for.

The hotel is not bad for the money paid for. I traveled with my boyfriend, and found Cuba is quite expensive for foreigners, 1 bottle of mineral water cost about US$3!!! Please make sure you don't make international phone calls from Cuba. It cost us US$40 for 3 minutes call to Canada!

Palma Real: Meh

It was OK. Not amazing (at all) but not TERRIBLE. You have to have lots of extra money to tip or the service is non existent. You pay for what you get, the room was very dated and I don't recommend going there if u want a good night sleep cuz you hear slamming of doors all night long from drunks. The food wasn't as bad as we thought. Third time to cuba but I think we are done with there now.