Nice Grounds and Pool

The hotel was nice, but needs a little TLC. Our friends toilet was coming off the wall and they secured it with a roll of toilet paper. There were no other swin up rooms available, so they(staff) fixed it as best they could. There was a very large crack in our sliding door, our coffee maker didn't work, the volume on the TV didn't work, we had hot water for the shower one day, the rest was tepid. The staff were amazing and very, very friendly. They made the trip. The food was so-so, but we  [... read more]didn't starve. Wouldn't recommend the saffari excursion, the jeeps shake so bad my friend had 19,000 steps on her fit bit from the steering wheel shaking. The Japanese restaurant was the best! Our chef (Amel - I think that's how it's spelled) was the best!! Our waitress at the Royal Service (Belgis) was so nice and took care of us everyday. She knew our order everyday and never got it wrong. Our bartender Marlene was so good!! she knows how to make the best drinks!! Until they fix a few things in the hotel, I wouldn't recommend this resort.

Great resort and Fabulous Staff

We spent 7 days here in the Royal Service section. Believe me when I say that the extra upgrade is worth every Peso. The food was good considering the shortage that Cuba is experiencing right now. As a very kind intelligent lady explained to us, the Cubans are giving us the best of what they have. The service was exceptional and we made friends with many of the Staff. Nacho and the ladies at the beach bar work very hard to keep the guests happy. The rooms are clean, the grounds are well main [... read more]tained and the beach is fantastic. But what really makes this place special is the Cuban people. Embrace their warmth and kindness. Go and enjoy, You will not regret the decision. Cheers

Lovely staff but repairs desperately needed

The resort grounds are very well kept. We stayed in the royal service area and I would definitely recommend that as the pool is awesome and the buffet restaurant is air conditioned. We went to the main buffet a few times and it was smoky and hot. The al la carts were hit and miss as well. We ended up upgrading our room after the first night because our air conditioning wasn’t working great, our swim out room was much better but our toilet was detaching from the wall and the clock was not w [... read more]orking. The staff was awesome and have no complaints about them at all, they make the resort. My complaints are mainly the lack of repairs and the food. Everyone in our group had stomach issues at one point through the week.

Just Not Sure.... likely no

Thank You for the chance to review this resort after my stay Oct 8-15, 2019 Is this a 4-5 star greeting? On immediate arrival to resort after traveling since 3am I was extremely disappointed in the gentleman who greeted my group off the airport bus. He was more interested in upselling then ensuring a quick and comfortable check-in. He asked for our passports and handed them off to the woman behind the desk, and had us walk off and down a hallway for his sales pitch. I did request numerous times [... read more] for my passport to be returned to me, to which he laughed-off and told me to relax it would be soon. After 4 requests, his small talk and completely being blow off, I approached the woman at the desk and told her I would just like to check-in and have my passport back. I was refused, and she pointed to the upselling gentleman and said she could do nothing until he gave her the okay. While trying to sell to me one on one and numerous other guests at the same time this man would disappear for a few minutes and return, have a few words with me and back to others. I was beyond upset and exhausted continuing to ask for my passport to be returned and check-in, as I was traveling alone, thirty and exhausted. Eventually I had no choice but to walk off to find water and return to be told to go down and find the bell-boy. After locating this person, I was only told to go back to the desk to get further instructions. After waiting again, I was told to go back to the bell-boy and request to be taken by cart to a different check-in area. This all took over an hour. At that point I as walked back and forth to 2 separate rooms to view before finally agreeing on a final place to rest. Just to be very clear - this entire process actually ruined by stay at this resort, especially having my passport taken from me and not returned on request. It took me 3 FULL DAY to be able to relax and let go of what happened at reception. Additional issues in Royal Service area - I was not informed that alcohol etc. and coffee were on request only every single day, there was no milk offered as well. The toilet was not working correctly on arrival, and I requested twice for it to be service over my stay. 1 day the sewage stench from the bathroom was overwhelming. The air conditioner DID work, the bed was comfortable, the balcony and view were okay. The bathroom sink was completely plugged, and I waited until my room was serviced before I was able to have use of sink, instead I used the bathtub to brush my teeth. No coffee on morning in my room even after requesting it. Key cards stop working, beach towel service either not open or out of fresh towels for the day. Its very rare I am able to vacation. I’m just not sure I would spend my hard-earned money for a stressful stay like this again? Be informed that the bug bites were awful at this resort beach, for this reason I did not stay on the beach which was bare likely for the same reason. Bring repellant and after bite and loads of Benadryl Good things, staff (other then reception) were polite, butler service was okay, kind and helpful. Grounds were maintained. Pool was maintained, good music. Bar servers wonderful, entertainment OK. Food was just okay but I did not expect amazing. Note: not visiting Cuba to eat Chinese or Japanese food. Often when ordering off the menu of 4 choices, I was not served what was ordered due to items not being available. Strange that restaurants would be closing for that day when you have a reservation set? In that case it looks like loads of restaurant choices, but you will need to eat at least 3x at one due to closures. I did pack and intend to use the gym and yoga service. 99% of equipment in the gym was out of order, do not count on treadmill and bikes, they are all out of service and looks like they have been for years. Yoga room was overwhelmingly hot, I did one class but could not return, Spa was okay but stood in ankle deep water while showering and could not locate towels. Realizing now I would likely not return to this resort. C

Great Beach - Cuban Food

I had hoped that a 5 star resort would have better food. I guess not. The Japanese Alacarte was great. The International Alacarte was terrible. People were leaving in between their meal, because the food was so bad and the service was so slow. The beach was great. The pool was great. The chairs on the beach are getting old and saggy. The towels were new. That was nice. Our room was OK.

Paradise

Beautiful resort, nice and clean, a bunch of specialty resturaunts. 24hr snack bar (burgers, hotdogs, grilled cheese, sandwiches). This resort is one of 3 in Varadero that has an actual bank on site (24hrs) so you get the best exchange rate. Waiter drink service on the beach, and a beach bar. Beach is all sand, water weed free. Some first floor rooms have private hot tubs outside on their porch. Lobby bar has more variety of drink, but it costs a few bucks (Crown Royal, CC, various other bra [... read more]nds). They give a bunch of coupons and discount for Royal Service and Massages, which I did not take part in so cannot comment. No sunscreen or Aloe to be found on resort or any surround resorts, so bring lots. I have been to Cuba a bunch, this was the best resort yet. Buffet food is what it is, bring some hot sauce or whatever else you like to make it a little more to taste. Enjoy your trip :)

BEST VACATION EVER !!!!

The resort was beautiful and clean. We booked royal service and would recommend The Paradisus Princesa Del Mar to all !! Nothing bad about it. Even the food was not what we were told to expect for Cuba very good selection with the 5 ala carte choices with the royal service. Bars were always good service with very friendly service from everyone especially our butler Yasnivy !

Beautiful Resort

The grounds were immaculate and the staff was friendly. Had a problem with staff honouring our room upgrade. Talked to management, they agreed to honour the upgrade after a discussion. Beach was beautiful. Tempanyaki restaurant was fun. Pro tip: don't order the lobster dinner.

Not a 5 star

This hotel is in much need of an upgrade. I had a great week but def not a 5 star. Rooms and property needs lots of work, pool is full of mold, food is bland and staff seem miserable. They ran of of cola, club soda, brandy etc all the time. Sand fleas on the beach are horrible but the beach is gorgeous.

Fantastic place!

Enjoyed myself immensely with my siblings and partners. The resort staff were very friendly and catered to all our wishes. The singing barman is a crowd favourite. Loved my room with ocean view. Food in Cuba has much improved over the past few years.

Great Vacation

This is my second visit to the resort. I had first visited January 2019. I had stayed on the Royal Service Side both times and recommend the Royal Service Side. Service - 4/5 - Staff overall are awesome. I did not give a 5 as some staff seemed to give more attention to Spanish speaking visitors versus the rest of the crowd. In addition, when I ask for Havana Club rum I kept being served Elixxir while the Spanish speaking/Cubans visiting received Havana Club. This typically happened at the  [... read more]pool bar on the Royal Service Side. Food - 4/5 - Food selections were optimal for Cuba. Chicken, pork, beef, fish all available. Salads, veggies, and local fruit available. I did not give a 5 as the beef was usually tough and dry and the a la cartes were often bland. Room - 4/5 - The room was spacious. The room on the hilltop air conditioning was not working properly. I was moved to a renovated room by the lobby/pool/beach. It is much smaller as it was only a junior suite but closer to all amenities. The air conditioning did not work properly in this room either. Perhaps the units were being overworked as it was hot and humid. The room was not hot it just wasn't cool enough. Also, ground floor renovated rooms are prone to ants entering. Not a big deal but had to put towels down by the doors. Beach - The beach was kept clean and very calm. The water was not clear because of the storms at night. The sand was clean. Plenty of spots to sit and get shade. Overall, I enjoyed my vacation and will be returning on October 2019.

Fantastic staff

The staff at this resort are amazing. Friendly accommodating I cannot say enough about them. Our breakfast/lunch waitress Yirenia was an absolute sweetheart. The beach is beautiful and kept clean. The resort is pretty clean. We were in room 7121. Decent size. But needed work. Issues flushing the toilets. Back of the door not clean. Stocking of the mini bar is hit and miss. We asked for a room with 2 double beds. We got 2 twin beds pushed together. Not cool. On that note theA/C was hit and miss. [... read more] Sometimes we had to go outside where it was cooler. Hot tub didn’t work. It’s hard to escape the heat. Lobby bar outside no ceiling fans to create a breeze. On the other side of the resort that lobby bar was in door. No a/c no fans. The food was mediocre at best. Lunch buffet on the upgraded side ok. The other side had a great lunch. By the beach. But breakfast and dinner not bueno

Very nice resort!

The grounds were spotless. Amenities is good places. However the one note that I can say, new owners are cheap. Food was not close to what it should be. No mint for mojitos. No chocolate sauce for banana drinks. Rumors of them swapping cheap vodka and representing russian vodka. The pool bar staff were top notch and catered to us as best they can with what they had. I may not go back but I still recommend it as a decent resort although perhaps overpriced if they continue to be cheap with food an [... read more]d drink supplies.

Great service and clean

The resort was very nice and clean. The service was great, but the food, so so (it’s Cuba). The vegetable were all coming from cans... no fresh vegetables, except cucumber. But beach, service and the hotel was very clean.

Fantastic resort!

A fantastic adult-only resort with gorgeous grounds. I have been to Cuba at least 10 times, however this resort is the most beautiful. It is a bit older now, celebrating 15 years, but well maintained. Chairs on the beach could use an upgrade though. Many of them have been damaged and are no longer comfortable. Lovely and welcoming staff as well. Looking forward to returning!

Very nice resort.

We loved our stay there! Everything about the trip was amazing and we have nothing negative to say except not comfy and old chairs on the beach.The grounds are very well done. The public areas are clean. Rooms are dated but clean.

Perfect kid-free vacation for couples

Upon arrival you are welcomed into the spacious and alluring lobby/bar. Staff were friendly and polite. Layout of the resort is well done (aesthetically beautiful). Quite close to white sands and awesome beach. Spent more days at the beach than the resort pool. Both had their own bar. Quite difficult to land a poolside bed unless you head out early in the day. People tend to leave towels to keep poolside bed while going off to lunch. I obtained a poolside bed with my girlfriend and 45 mins later [... read more] a married couple and their son claimed to have kept their towels on it but bed was empty and clearly looked available. Family then complained to upper management and because they spoke Spanish fluently, the staff ignorantly sides with them and told us to vacate the bed or we would be removed from the hotel. This was our last night of our vacation so we saved ourselves from a nightmare and gave up the bed and headed to the beach. Complete unfair solution to a problem that we never caused. 24 hour snack bar was convenient. Stayed in hotel # 5 but then requested to switch rooms due to air conditioning problems. Moved to hotel #6 and rest of stay was comfortable. Food was exceptional. Lack of fresh vegetables with a la carte restaurants but better options at buffet. Overall 8/10 with the food. Coffee was excellent. Breads always seemed stale but that’s due to the humidity. Room service was on point. Nightly entertainment was fun and enjoyable. Would recommend to do excursions. Catamaran was fantastic. Definitely need to visit Havana.

Very relaxing vacation

We got in very late (4 am) so there were not many staff on. We got checked in and taken to our room fairly quickly considering. Our first room was not acceptable so we asked for a change when we got up the next day. Change was easy and the new room was significantly better than the first. If we had stayed in the first room, it would have been a crappy stay. New room was good, clean and quiet. This is not Canadian standards for a 5 star but we were not in Canada. The staff were mosty reall [... read more]y friendly and helpful and we had a great time. We went to disconnect from world and reconnect with each other and were successful on both fronts. Don't expect every amenity that you would get in a country that does not have a trade embargo and be grateful that we have what we have cause they don't. The people are so terrific, we had a great time. A good combination of sights, beach and food. Yes, the food isn't fantastic but it is not bad either. We always found something to eat.

Very nice resort

The grounds were very well maintain. Staff very friendly. The food was not what was expected for a 4.5 stars by very far more like a 3 stars. The chairs on the beach needed serious repair. But the Resort was fine

Relaxing

Great place, clean and amazing staff.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................