Truly Thriving Resort in Varadero

Nice relaxing resort for a winter vacation. Foods are acceptable. Most of the staff are working hard to serve and please vacationers and some do not show much enthusiasm about his or her work. The beach is not as convenient as the other resort in the area though. It needs a short walk to get there but it is worth it as it is gorgeous with clear water and plenty of sun. However the hotel is very close to the market.

Only a little concern

The resort has had a few improvements since last year, the rooms were clean, but would be a bonus to have an iron or coffee machine in the room. The food at the buffet has improved. The elevator in the area we were was not working and walking up to the third floor to reach your room was tiring, and I did not understand why we had a room close to party central when we are older that the college and university student on break to be woke up every night or very early in the morning, some considerat [... read more]ion for who they are placing were should be a factor. Most of the staff was very pleasant.

Needs some TLC. Great location!

The location made the trip. Lots of things to do and see in Varadero. As for the resort...it was okay. Not fancy, and definitely well used, but the rooms were clean and the beds were comfortable. The hotel grounds were okay. A coat of paint would go along way! The beach was nice but was off the resort(3 minutes max). Here there is a bar and snack bar with washrooms. The lineups at he beach bar get pretty long. The food was edible but we didn't eat anything that we were looking forward to eating  [... read more]again. After the 3rd day the buffet was getting repetitive. There are many good restaurants near the resort that have great food and are reasonably priced. The biggest con we found was the lobby. We are non smokers and it was nearly impossible to get away from cigarette smoke! Because of this, we will no longer be travelling to resorts that allow smoking. So, to sum up, if you are looking for a place to party with little to no frills and you don't mind cigarette smoke, this would be the place for you! It isn't bad, but it is certainly not good!

Good Time

I traveled with my Father to Cuba in February 2016. When we arrived at the hotel it was in the early hours of the morning, about 2AM. We had to wait about 20 minutes to get checked in as there was a group who had arrived before us. Our room was in building 2 on the 2nd floor. We had a view of the quiet pool (the other pool had more people and swim up bar). The rooms were Cuba average - very dated and simple. That being said we had a safe in our room, hot water with good pressure and the room was [... read more] clean. The beach was great - Varadero has the nicest beaches! You do have to leave the hotel to walk to the beach but it's only a quick 5 minute walk. You cross a street so you do have to be aware of traffic. There is a beach bar for Palma Real guests. There are limited chairs so if you plan to get one you need to go in the morning. The location of the hotel was great for use because you can walk right into Varadero within minutes. The people there were so nice. We made friends with some of the staff - especially Moses, Johanna, Yanelis, Daisy, and Jesus! There were some nights that there were long lines to the 24h lobby bar, usually between 10pm-12am. This is because after 10pm it's the only open bar on the resort and so everyone comes there for drinks. I would suggest to the hotel that they keep at least 1, if not 2, of the other bars open till 12pm (especially during peak season). The resort had a good variety of alcohols and bar mixes to please every kind of drinker. The food was great at this resort (mind you I am not a picky eater). My dad and I always found lots of different choices that looked and tasted great. There were always at least 3 meat and fish option at dinner, plus seafood. Even for picky people, there was always simple things like plain potatoes, pasta, all the topics for a salad and good fresh baked breads (the butter is also really good from Spain). They always had bowls of fresh fruit, the papaya was to die for. At lunch and dinner they had really yummy ice cream and desserts. We went to two A La Cartes (there were three but the hotel was only giving two reservations per room the week we went). The International one was great, we got Chicken Cutlets and they were very tasty! The Piazze (Italitan) was also really good, with pizzas, pastas, and mains. Overall, we went to this resort because the price was right for us. We were hesitant because of the many questionable reviews. In the end, we were satisfied with our stay. Definitely not a luxurious hotel, so don't expect to much because you'll just be disappointed. They're working on improving the hotel but, like most things in Cuba, progress is slow.

Not Bad.......Food Needs Improvement

You get what you pay for I have heard. The positives: the people (met many great people), the pools, the location (close to shopping, Club Havanna, Beatles bar, House of Rum, the beach ), the evening shows, the staff, the coffee, drinks are plentiful and tasty The major negative was the food. The buffet was pretty much was all the same which gets tiring. Plus, many things we just couldn't (or didn't feel comfortable) eat. Only a couple of times were there shrimp or mussels.

Close to down town

This is my third time staying here. Very close to downtown walking distance to beach and disco. staff friendly, food is to be expected for what you pay for.I would go back. There is a snack bar, store and entertainment

Dissatisfied, disappointed!!

Do not believe the resort pictures, must have been taken years ago. Resort is very tired, and crumbling, the staff so there best with what they have to work with but here are some of the things we found. Our room, hole in ceiling that drips water on floor in front of bathroom door (nice surprise at night), only one light working in bathroom, door in bathroom that accesses sewer stack and water lines did not latch and blew open and closed when windy outside, some black mold on wall, warm water at [... read more] best to shower, only bedside lights ceiling lights and patio lights never worked, one mattress of the so called king bed had three broken springs poking threw the bedding when laid on. Wall safe broken (no door, would not repair) Complained twice to desk staff with no results, complained to west jet rep, he did get them to check and replace the mattress. Pool tiling and walk way tiles falling off and lose, best to wear some kind of foot wear. Dishes at buffet line often not clean, have to pick threw to find acceptable, food stays the same day after day. The hallway to our building had a large section of the ceiling fall on the floor one night, pot lights left hanging by wiring. The staff tries hard to keep things clean, can't give them enough credit. Would like to say we are not fancy people and understand that things in Cuba are not like you would get in a richer country, but this was our third trip here and this resort was by far the worst we have stayed at and the first we have complained about. I feel that it should be rerated to a lesser grade and new pictures posted to show what you are really getting for your dollar.

Great location!

The hotel was within walking distance to the Main Street and the beach. We felt completely safe there. We enjoyed going to Havana for a day trip. It cost $100cdn each and that included a lunch. We had to switch rooms 3 times because of mold and poor view. They were very accommodating about this. More so than we expected. Bring your own travel cups for drinks and water bottles. Do not have any mixed drinks outside your resort...made that mistake! Should have brought a pillow from home since there [... read more] was only one each. Tip your maid and you'll get better service (and towel creatures). Food wasn't terrible. We stayed away from the jellied salads which were the leftovers. The bread was fabulous!! Loved the omelette station in the a.m. We stayed in building 4 on the 4th floor and the 1 elevator that was working broke down half way through the week and never got fixed. We got our exercise! Loved the Black & White bar in building 4. Quieter and much nicer. They served our drinks in glasses rather than the small plastic cups. We would stay here again if we wanted to go for a cheaper vacation. We went over New Years and paid $1500 each. A week later and that's half the price. We didn't have that option though.

Awesome resort

In my opinion it was a very very awesome time the hotel was great service was really awesome and they tried to make everything work perfectly. At the end it always comes down to how and the way you want to spend your time i mean its cuba not miami or some crazy fanzy place if you expect a top top service and hotel for this price then trust me you will have a rough time, just enjoy the good and dont look for the bad because its a beautiful place dont ruin your stay and everyone else if you are a  [... read more]negative person, but yeah awesone plase and i would defenately would go back again.

Horrible resort

There was no hot water, we stayed on the 4th floor and the elevator didn't work. It rained and the ceiling leaked throughout the building, and the beds felt well used. I will never stay here again!!!!

FOR THE MONEY IT WAS GOOD

The service was slow. The food selection was poor especially after 11pm u could only get a hamburger or hotdog or cheese sandwich and one night couldn't even get a hotdog. There were times were you couldn't get food. The pool bar was awesome the beach was amazing u did have to walk to it but it wasnt that far and there was a bar right there. Was without hot water for like 3 days. This place was cheap but i paid like $600 for the week and was great for what it was a party place for me and my frie [... read more]nds and also included free admission to Club Havanna although the times we went there it was a sausagefest. I would recommend for party people .Its not for couples looking for 5 star bc it is anything but great but the location is awesome walking distance to town and you can eat out rather than have the same boring buffet menu.

Let's say the hotel is a little tired

The hotel needs some maintenance. The grounds are well kept and the pools are clean. Everything in our room worked, and we lacked hot water only one day. Not a big deal for us. Food was quite good and comparable to other three star hotels in Cuba. Lots of fruit and vegetables each day. Service was slow in the dining room and staff did not seem to happy with their work. Sadly this hotel was overrun by many Canadians from Quebec who behaved very badly, including fighting and arguing loudly in the  [... read more]hallway till 4:00 and 5:00 in the morning after partying all night. They would also urinate in the gardens at night, both men and the women!!!!!! During the day these poorly behaving quests would take over all seating in the lounge and bar areas and smoke so much we could not make use of these areas. Groups of these French Canadians also set up tables and chairs on the sidewalks outside the lounge areas and block traffic forcing others to walk through the grass to get by. We met some other tourists from Quebec who were embarrassed because of the bad manners of their countrymen.

Terrible Resort

Rooms at hotel had visible mold in them and they would not change them, received one bottle of water and if you wanted more you had to pay for it. Not sure when you book what "All Inclusive" means. Hotel was run down. Would not recommend this hotel to my worst enemy.

Very nice

Outdated but very clean and nice location. You need to walk across the street to the beach but its not a long distance. Beach is totally beautiful and has a beach bar. hotel is located only a couple of streets over which a short walking distance to the outdoor street club in the evenings and is very safe to go to.

Good spot!

This is the second time to this resort...you really cant beat the value..cold showers a couple of days..but hey...you are in cuba! The location of this resort is fabulous..2 minutes to the beach..and all amenties are walking distance..bank and two great local bars..staff are very nice..Our lock was broken on the room they checked us into. They had no problem moving us to another room.

Below expectations

Went Dec 3rd, 2015. My wife and I have been South 16 times and are not fussy travelers. We had read the reviews and decided to give it a try. The hotel is very run down but our room was not bad. Beds very uncomfortable though. Had a broken water pipe in the wall one evening. Not good!!. Food the same every day and nothing that good. No fries or pizza anywhere. And no internet at hotel. Could go on but just very sad. 3 star at very best.

Not thrilled

unable to take a shower clothes got stolen, the staff was very friendly, entertain was ok surrounding clubs were excellent. water on the floors in the halways, elevators didn`t work half the time............................

The shining stars say it all

This resort purports to be a 4 star, however, at night only 2 of the 4 shine bright - a much truer rating. Things are pretty shabby: broken bed spring, temperamental air-conditioning, peeling paint, constantly running toilets, flooding of hallways and some rooms when it rains, in the main many areas are suffering from deferred maintenance. The grounds are well kept however. The resort is not directly on the gorgeous beach. The walk is not far but be prepared to pass stinking garbage bins on the  [... read more]way to it. Location is great if you to live it up in town and not hibernate in the resort. That being said, the quality of the evening shows is very high and well worth watching before heading out to the street. The food is OK - nothing to write home about but edible, sometimes, more sometimes less. The bars are understaffed and the takeaway plastic cups are small and flimsy and not environmentally friendly. So bring your own insulated drink container. Would I stay here again? Yes, because for the price we paid it was great.

Best ever

The rooms were spotless, in good working order. Food was good with lots of choices and location couldn't be any better. The city was within walking distance as well as all the clubs. Buses were accessible and option for taxi or horse and buggy. The price was so very reasonable . No complaints at all and we were going group of 9 people. All s dancers late 40's to 80 year old. We all enjoyed the trip and defiantley be back. I myself hav been to many resorts in Cuba fron havana, cienfuegos, moron,  [... read more]santa maría and another o in varadero and Palma Real has beat them all. The flight was great as well!

Amazing vacation spot

I came to this hotel because it is within walking distance of the beach, shopping and entertainment district. I was with 8 friends to celebrate a 50th birthday; and we all had an amazing time. The food, friendly staff and cleanliness of my room surpassed all my expectations. I am vegan, and I had no problem finding healthy food options that satisfied my pallet. The food was truly delicious, fresh and very tasty. The beach was long, clean, picturistic, and the water very shallow.