Club Kawama: Surprising Gem

We were prepared for no frills and were pleasantly surprised. We had stayed at a 4 star in March of this year and I’d have to say this resort was just as good as that one and even better in some ways. Firstly, the setup was great. The lobby, pool area and entertainment area were all together so day or night we sat around the pool which was close enough to the entertainment to hear and see from poolside. Atmosphere was great. The entertainment was great too. Secondly this resort has an incredi [... read more]bly long stretch of gorgeous beach. The resort itself is very long and narrow, and the beach stretches the whole length. At the other resort we stayed in there were never enough chairs on the beach or beside the pool. Not the case at Kawama. We could always find chairs and even an umbrella for shade. Our room was at the opposite end of the resort from the main area which was quite a hike back and forth multiple times each day but just outside our room was our very own often private beach which was nicer than the main beach and made up for the walk. This resort had all the same basic amenities as the four star we stayed in previously, but just not as many. For example, there were multiple bars, but not as many open at any given time, Same with the snack bars, these had limited hours and food choices. This resort is in walking distance of the main marketplace in Varadero and the first stop (15 mins) from the airport. Hot water was hit or miss but the maids are very friendly. Security guards are posted at points along the long walk and are very friendly. Bring something to trade with them as they have a long and boring job. If I were to come again I would bring them some special gifts like decks of cards, T-shirt’s, gum, hats, etc. Everyone brings gifts for the maids but these guys are often forgotten and you see/talk to them everyday. You will need to tip well to get good service st the buffet, this would be our biggest complaint, we were always looking for silverware or water and often going without or having to find our own, so tip well.

Roc Barlovento: Review

We like the Resort, we have been before that is why we returned. It was better before, the service is good but the Mexican restaurant is not as good, the food and the old waiter was much better. The entertainment during the day not very good, it used to be much better.

Club Kawama: Beach was great

The hotel to old and not maintained. I got locked in the bedroom and the guy enter from window to open the lock and made the door unsafe from inside. The tv table was broken. I called the reception three times and did not get any respond.

Club Kawama: Christmas Paradise/ Club Kawama

This was approx our 15th time to Club Kawama and our only destination to the sun for our vacations. We just returned from 2 weeks during Christmas, it was AWESOME!! The food was amazing and the staff could not do enough. This Resort has so much to offer and the reason so many of us keep returning. We are already planning another trip in Feb 2019......can not wait to return.

Roc Barlovento: Smaller property

We enjoyed the smaller property does not seem to be so crowded and found it quiet and a great place for total relaxation. Within walking distance to markets. Food was good and good variety very fresh.

Club Kawama: Really fun vacation

My friend and I went here and we met the most amazing friends! Everyone was really nice. The beach was clean too. Our first room was shitty so they gave us a better one when we asked. We don’t eat meat or dairy so our food options were limited, but the food wasn’t any worse than what I’ve had before at other resorts. Really close restaurant called Kiki’s, and it’s safe to leave. Overall we had an amazing time!

Roc Barlovento: Very good Resort

Most and foremost,all the staff are truly great..very friendly and helpful. The resort is kept clean,the rooms are comfortable and the food for us was amazing. So much to choose from. The long sandy beach is beautiful. Is easy from the resort to walk to Town. This is our second visit and most likely we will come again. Thank you...

Roc Barlovento: Fantastic

The resort is very well maintained and being upgraded inside and out. The pools were very clean and refreshing. The food was way better than I expected. Lots of entertainment and things to do throughout the day. Walking distance to many restaurants, shops and markets off the hotel grounds. Will definitely go back

Hotel Villa Cuba: Good choice

We were happy with our choice of resorts this year. Be Live Experience (Villa Cuba) is a good size resort with a choice of hotel rooms and villas. We had chosen the villas as we like to be outside as soon as we open door of our room, but we were put in a hotel room when we got there around 9:30 in the evening. We protested that we had booked a villa but were told none available at the moment and that we were sure to like hotel much better. Next day, we went to reception to ask to be changed  [... read more]to a villa which they agreed they would do. We were shown a villa which was perfect for us but had to wait until maid had done the room. All in all, we lost more than half a day with this change! We thoroughly enjoyed this room but be aware that it might get noisy as you never know who is in the other rooms of the villa. As for the food, it is very satisfactory, as well as the service. And the beach is great! Thank you to the tall guy at reception, the bellman, and Angela at the buffet.

Club Kawama: Aye Kawama

Welcome to your private little village. Two little gift shops, two bars, coffee shop, two pools, massage, gym and winding paths to two storey quaint accommodations. Oh and miles and miles of beach. Remember you are in the oldest hotel in Varedero and in a tropical climate. It is dated and a tad worn down but who needs more than clean sheets? An easy walk into the main area of town and the market or great access to the hop-on-hop-off bus service.

Club Kawama: Great Resort

This resort is an older resort and it has it's challenges, but you cannot beat the staff for their kindness and helpfulness. It was our 9th time and they treat us like family. Try it with an open mind and you will be surprised and probably fall in love with it.

Starfish Cayo Guillermo: Fantastic resort

All the staff are very friendly and do a good job to make your stay a wonderful time. Clean resort good rooms. food and drinks were also good.lets not forget the fantastic beach they have so you can enjoy the sun and all the fun there is to do there.

Roc Barlovento: More than we expected

Just got back from 2 weeks at the ROC. This is our 4th time to Cuba, but our first time at Barlovento and this resort was our favorite. The location was great, we enjoy walking a lot, so we were able to walk the town of Varadero as well as the small town of Santa Marta. The food was better than expected, bbq for lunch every day and good variety of food at the buffet. Really enjoyed the a la cartes, especially the Mexican. Obviously, the beach was excellent and the pools were the cleane [... read more]st we have encountered in the Caribbean. Our rooms were clean, maids did a great job. The staff makes the resort all the more enjoyable, the smiles, the greetings show that they care. Had lots of fun at aquasize by the main pool, lots of laughs. Appreciated that the manager was hands on, as it made a difference in the quality of our stay. We are looking forward to going back next year.

Club Kawama: Average 3 Star Resort

I have travelled to many 3 star resorts in Cuba so I went to Club Kawama with reasonable expectations. The standard rooms are pretty rough, even by 3 star Cuban standards. The beach is beautiful though it could use a good clean up (plastic litter everywhere). The main pool is quite nice. There is a major flooding issue every night in front of the hotel. You will find it hard to leave the resort in the evening. The reception is another low point. They are quite rude and I am not sure that they ar [... read more]e to be trusted with exchanging money (they were giving 61 cents on the Canadian dollar even though the sign posted stated the exchange rate was .72. They also refuse to issue a receipt). I would be sure to count your change and make sure you ask prices all over Varadero. You gotta watch out for your hard earned money. Food was ok. Plates were hard to come by at the buffet. My 10 year old son spent 24 hours vomiting from a hamburger from the pool snack bar. Would I go back? No. You can do better for around the same price. I hate to give a poor review but in this case I am just being honest.

Starfish Cayo Guillermo: Maintenance issues

Have been to this resort about a dozen times in the past for kiteboarding and don’t expect much but this trip the water in rooms was only available less than half the time ( no flushing, no showers, no clean sheets or towels ). The food also seems to have dropped in quality/ selection. If it was 3 stars before ... it 2 stars now.

Roc Barlovento: Wonderful time all around!!!

We had a great time at Roc Barlovento— everything was wonderful. A nice property, the food was great for Cuba. I regret having to say that last bit about Cuban food. Enough continental and local items on the menu. Like I said, the hotel was nice and not too big. Convenient, being within walking distance to all that Varadero has to offer. Want to go to back. Thanks for your recommendation, and professionalism. Garnet.

Hotel Villa Cuba: Unsatisfied and Disappointed with this resort

First off when we reached the hotel the rooms that we saw online were nothing like this room. Hotel was run down room was run down hotel falling apart. Water stopped running and electricity stopped working at least 3-4times in the section we were staying around supper time when you really want to take a shower and it’s getting Dark outside, like we were rejects cause half of the hotel is Renovated and half isn’t they placed us on the side that was not renovated. I woke up to bugs crawling on [... read more] me while I slept. Spoke to the receptionist who said he couldn’t do anything to speak with “public relations”. Claiming the whole hotel is booked which was impossible. We finally changed rooms the day before we had to leave and even that room had ants crawling every where on the tables the walls and the ground!!! Customer service and management is a big zero. Food wise most items were cold and under temperature. Animation and pool activities boring. No I wouldnt recommend this hotel to anyone. If I had of known I wouldn’t have booked there not how I wanted to spend my birthday week :(

Club Karey: This resort sould never have been offered by Trip Central.

This was our sixth vacation to Cuba. Upon arrival to the resort the staff was accommodating. We were given a unit at the very end of the complex that is about a quarter of a mile distance from the pool, bar, and restaurant. If we were younger people, we would not have minded. Any one with mobility problems are in trouble. Very little and no variety of food and cold. No hot water in units. Not even warm water. No Coke for mix nor beer in any of the two bars. Cockroaches in unit that we were in.  [... read more]Something was chewing all night in the walls. We are not fussy people and have never complained about anything in any resorts we have been in. To make a long story short, if it had not been for our Sunwing rep that got us transferred to an affiliated resort, our one week vacation would have been a complete disaster.

Roc Barlovento: Two wonderful weeks in a very pleasant hotel!

It was our 14th trip to Cuba in 10 years and our first to Varadero (November 4-18, 2018). We picked the Roc Barlovento mainly because of numerous glowing reviews posted on TripAdvisor—and certainly we were not disappointed. The hotel is located very close to the bridge over the Kawama navigation channel, at the very beginning of the Hicacos Peninsula. This turned out to be an EXCELLENT location, enabling us to make a number of strolls directly from the hotel. We often walked on Varadero’s [... read more] main street (Avenida 1ra) for several kilometers and explored various restaurants, shops, parks, hotels, private homes and other landmarks—there was even a Canadian Consulate a stone’s throw from our hotel! We also walked along the channel in the evening, where plenty of Cubans were fishing, and saw Al Capone’s mansion, the Casa de Al. Yet the best walking excursions were to the town of Santa Marta, located just past the bridge. On the other hand, the hotels located more-less east of Calle 64, in the east part of Varadero, might be much more luxurious, bigger and offer a much higher standard, yet they are ‘in the middle of nowhere’ and unless you take a taxi or a bus, there is not much else to see or explore. GENERAL • The hotel is well designed in a Spanish style and quite cozy, no much walking is required to get around. Plenty of nice palm trees & gardens. And it is for adults only—no disruptive and screaming kids! • Approximately 60% of tourists were Canadians (English & French speaking), 30% Germans and some from Spain, Italy and other countries. • There were 3 pools; the very shallow one had no water. There was a Jacuzzi in the center of the pool closer to the beach, but it was not hot. • There is a tienda (shop), with various beverages, rums, vodkas, souvenirs, shampoos, shirts, hats, toiletries, etc. Another stand near the lobby sells books, postcards and stamps—the mail box is at the lobby. On a couple of occasions I saw an artist painting and selling his works. • The exchange rate at the hotel was very poor—just 68 CUC for $100 CAN, whereas the bank offered about 73.50 CUC. Not fair! • A number of very friendly (and chubby) cats roamed the property, especially the outdoor dining area during meal service—and they even had their own ‘cat café’. Unsurprisingly, they were picky eaters! • At 10 am there was half hour yoga/stretching on the stage of the entertainment area, conducted by Zahilys, a very friendly & outgoing woman, who worked at animation and conducted other activities as well. Bring our own towel! Yet there were not too many guests interested in doing the exercises, and quite often we were the only participants. • There was a gym, but we never used it, preferring our morning workouts and swimming in the ocean. • Towels can be obtained from ‘the clubhouse’ near the main square. The club house also has a small library of books in English, French and German. We donated 4 of our books. • Every evening there is entertainment, but the only one we attended was the aquatic show (Thursdays) and it was impressive! The Elvis Show sounded great from our room on Saturdays. • Scuba diving excursions/lessons are available, there is an information stand set up every day in the main square. • Various tours are offered in the lobby area. At the end of our stay there was information about a very cheap bus to Havana—I think it was 40 CUC both ways, or 25 CUC one way per person. OUR ROOM # 333 We had sent an email to the hotel two weeks before arrival, asking for a quiet room on the top floor and indeed, our request was granted—we got room number 333. From our window we could see part of the tennis court—otherwise there was plenty of foliage that made the view quite pleasant. We could hear the traffic from the main street and occasionally caught a whiff of oil/petrol—about 1 km from our hotel, in Santa Marta, we saw two oil derricks. The balcony was very small, but it was possible to sit there and enjoy the sun. There was a small bathtub—later the maid brought a plug. The room was quite contemporary, with 2 double beds, HD TV with about 25 channels. There was the CNN channel (devoting 95%+ of its air time to Trump—boring!) and CTV in English, albeit from Montreal. We had to pay for the safe (2 CUC per day, 28 CUC for 2 weeks). We always had hot and cold water, the air conditioner worked perfectly and it was easy to remotely change the air flow or temperature. The small fridge was really cold and the hair dryer worked. We had some minor problems on 3 occasions (with the safe and falling curtains rod)—within 10 minutes of reporting them a technician came and fixed them. On a few occasions our magnetic cards stopped working and we had to go to the lobby to have them re-programmed. The maid, Norian, was great, always keeping our room spotlessly clean and creative. THE BEACH Large, with white sand. Lots of palapas and chairs, so there was no need to ‘reserve’ them in the morning, some were always available. We could also observe nice sunsets. It was quite shallow for about 30 meters. At the end of our stay it became windy, the waves got quite big and there was a yellow-and then red flag (no swimming). Once an unexpectedly big wave swept the first row of palapas, catching many relaxing vacationers (and their belongings) by surprise. I saw some people snorkel, but there was nothing to see—just some small fish. Kayaks, pedal watercraft and sail boats were available for hotel guests. Beach assistants was great, he quickly brought us loungers. FOOD Another reason that we picked the hotel was the outdoor dining, which surprisingly was hardly used. Not even once did we dine inside! The food was slightly repetitive, but varied and good—often even delicious. For breakfast I always had eggs & bacon—the egg station cooks were very efficient and quick—as well as plenty of fruits, juice and yogurt. Usually we skipped lunch, but when we had it (twice), it was excellent—in addition to the regular fare inside the restaurant, there was a big grill outside, serving delicious steaks, hamburgers, hot dogs and other grilled food. At dinner I always went to the cooking station offering sumptuous grilled pork and beef as well as several kinds of fish, shrimps, calamari, squids and mussels. Another cooking station served spaghetti and pizza. There were also scrumptious stews, chicken, prosciutto, cheese and salads. I did not see any tomatoes, however, which I like very much. I never had to line up for more than a few minutes at the cooking stations and the food was plentiful. Our servers were Leonardo & Janet (breakfast) and Raul (dinner). They always brought us plenty of coffee, juice, wine or beer to our outdoors dining table. There was a snack bar near the beach, serving basic food—hamburgers (very good), hot dogs, ham & cheese sandwiches, fruits and lettuce. Next to it was a bar serving cold beer and drinks and most of the time it was manned by the always smiling Pedro. There were also bathrooms in the back of the bar. The small Bar El Traguis near the wooden ramp to the beach was nice, but the seating area was limited and the beer cost 1 CUC. Mixed drinks were free. The lobby bar was OK, but there were frequently buses or taxis pulling up, so it was noisy and smelled of exhaust fumes. It was almost always crowded. In the evening there was often live music—I loved the violin & guitar players, they were fantastic (they played only on Mondays and Tuesdays, from 7 to 9 pm). The bar in the square (adjacent to the Mexican Restaurant) was great, lots of tables & chairs and never any lineups—we often spent some time there on our way from the beach. We never had an a ’la carte dinner. Once we wanted to go to the sushi bar, yet we were told that it did not server any sushi anyway and it opened at 11:00 pm. The gardeners often bring coconuts to a stand between the beach and lunch area and can cut them for you. THE WEATHER/BUGS Out of the 15 days, 12 or 13 were quite sunny and it was hot (over +30 C). It rained a few times, but it was still very warm & humid and it was not a big deal. Since we often kept the room’s balcony door open, we did see several mosquitos in our room, but otherwise I did not encounter any insects anywhere else. OTHER INFORMATION • On 3 occasions we walked to Santa Marta from our hotel—it is a very nice town, with plenty of restaurants, cafes and casas particulares. Most restaurant offer very varied menu at reasonable prices. Some parts of this town have impressive homes. Following a very valuable recommendation of TripAdvisor’s poster, SWNova, on Sunday morning we went to the Farmers’ Market—what a fascinating experience! • We went to a bank in Varadero (on Avenida 1ra) to exchange money, there were over 10 tourists inside and we had to wait for almost one hour. Passport is required. • We took a taxi to Matanzas (30 CUC one way) and spent one day there, exploring it by foot. Very scenic city, highly recommended! It is also possible to purchase a trip to Matanzas at the hotel, 29 CUC per person, including a stop at the Crystal Caves. • The hop-on-hop-off bus has its last stop just a minute away from the hotel (near the La Sangria Restaurant), it runs every 20 minutes (less frequently in the evening), costs 5 CUC per person and takes you to the very end of the Hicacos Peninsula. If you are planning to return late, last bus finishes at 8:00 pm. Confirm the schedule with the driver to make sure you can still catch it—apparently some tourist had to take a cab back to their hotel. • There are plenty of taxis, coco taxis and horse-drawn carriages in Varadero, offering rides. Beware: once a horse-drawn carriage driver quoted us the price of 5 CUC—but later said it was… per person! CONCLUSION For many years I had been very reluctant to go to Varadero, thinking that I would be surrounded by only other resorts and hotels. I was wrong—the location of the Roc Barlovento allowed us to explore many nearby areas and we never felt we were in a tourist enclave. We absolutely loved the hotel & its pleasant staff and had a wonderful time there. On the last day of our vacation, while on the bus to the airport, we spoke to many tourists about their vacation. Remarkably, we got an impression that we had a much better time at the Roc Barlovento than most of them in their often more superior hotels. The hotel deserves very strong 4 stars and we would certainly consider returning!

Roc Barlovento: Great value

Roc Barlovento is located at the start of the Varadero strip within walking distance to the charming town of Santa Marta.It is Spanish style 3 level with contemporary decorated rooms. Some Balconies can be rather narrow or non existent Beach is excellent with many plapas Staff are very helpful Buffet is well varied and I only ate in outside area I did not try specialty restaurants Two pools seemed nice but I did not use Entertainment seemed good and I did daily yoga .Bars were well located an [... read more]d efficient Guests were German and French and EnglishCanadian and quiet