Grand Memories Oct 5th

After a few weeks back finally can write a few words about the grand. Arriving at 9.15 at night we were quite tired and check in went pretty smoothly.The person at the reception was Leydi Landa and wow what great service to start your holiday .She greeted us with a smile and processed us with ease..you can tell she's a pro at what she does and her English is impecable i would hire her in a minute...Our room was a standard and no complaints as our maid ( Mayrit) i probably have it wrong but she w [... read more]as an absolute gem there were a few small issues with that room but we didn't want to change as we might have lost her . (room 21110).The food was par for Cuba but we never went hungry..If you want a Filet mignon go to France and pay big bucks don't come to Cuba.I got the grill man to put things on the grill for warmer dishes after giving him a few dollars he had no probs doing it all week.The dinning staff (as you walk in to your left near the window) made our stay even better as they were all a delight morning till night could not complain one bit.( You guys were awesome) ;-) The staff working the bars , cleaning and the grounds crew were also good..the towel guy the Dj the dancers i could go on and on about the staff as this resort has one of the best i've been to.The only complaint i would have and this can be rectified is the pool..Needs to be looked after with love and care with this being said we would go back (better cleaned pool) without a second thought. Wishing all our Cuban friends a big Ola and thanking you for all the great times at the Grand your the best..To Management your staff is amazing don't lose em. Jp/Sandra

Great Resort! Amazing Staff!!

Grounds - were well kept Food - Good Variety and Tasty Pool - Big and clean Concierge Staff - Informative and Friendly Animation Staff - EXCELLENT! and Entertaining getting everyone involved. Worth the Money!

We had a great week!!!

My wife and I have never been to Cuba so we did not know what to expect. Everyone seems to complain about the food but we found it fresh and healthy. I think the lack of salt and preservatives throws everyone off :) The room was very nice, but we did not spend a lot of time in it. We tended to relax by the beach and pool most often. The beach was only steps from our room, block 33, and was beautiful and clean. The pool was very clean and warm. There was one section of the resort that was closed  [... read more]because it is considered "off" season when we went. The staff was very friendly, and even more friendly if you tip them :) Its not them, its the Country they live in. The drinks were plentiful, especially if you enjoy Rum. We booked 2 excursions. One was the Jeep excursion and the other was the Havana bus tour. The Jeep excursion was amazing. You get to drive a Suzuki Jeep all over Cuba for the day and it includes snorkelling, cave swimming, horse back riding, speed boats on a river and lunch. The Havana bus tour was good but be ready for a lot of travelling that day. All in all we really enjoyed it. We would definitely go back to that Resort.

Good Vacation with a few issues

We traveled with a group of 7 ranging from 7 months to 48 yrs. Check in was quick and luggage was at our room before we even got there. The 24 hour snack bar was much appreciated, as we arrive at the resort well after 10 p.m. The staff is fantastic and always eager to assist. Our room was in good condition and house keeping did a fantastic job everyday. Food was comparable to other resorts in Cuba. The staff in the main buffet and snack bars are great. A very special thank you to Tamara for br [... read more]inging us bananas from home for the baby. It was very strange not to find any bananas at the buffets. Our only real issue was with a sewage back up that the resort did not seem in any hurry to correct. Our room was in building 21. The main entrance to the building was directly across from the pool bar. Each morning we walked out to a view of the bar with over a foot of sewage water. The smell would wake you in the middle of the night. Being so strong in the room that it would actually cause you to choke. One night we had no water in the building which I am assuming was connected to the same issue. We avoided this pool completely and ventured either to the beach or the other pool on the opposite side of the resort. It is understandable that such issues do arise, but to not be in any rush to correct such a problem is crazy!

Great vacation

This resort was beautiful, clean and well maintained. All the staff were amazing and some even knew us by name. The food was good for Cuba and the rooms were comfortable. The resort seemed to have a sewage issue while we were there. Our block of rooms did not have water one night and the rooms stunk of sewer gas the next morning we found that the dry area leading to the swim up bar had flooded with sewage water. The pool was still open but the bar was not. The flood did not get cleaned until lat [... read more]e that afternoon and the same thing happened the day before we left. For four days the swim up bar was closed at the main pool and they did not open the swim up bar at the other pool for two of the four days. Other than that was and all around great vacation

Huge Resort

This is a fantastic resort. Great service, very clean, especially all adult section (Sanctuary). About 35 minutes from the airport. Bring bug spray because they do have the "no-see ems". Very easy booking on Tripcental website and thanks to Sunwing also for a great flight to Varadero and back home.

Watch out!! This is an honest review

My recent experience with Grand Memories Varadero was an mixed experience. I should mention that i traveled with my wife and 5 month old Son I will start with the positives. Cuban food has a reputation of not being great. This resort did have a good buffet that I would compare to buffets at other 5 stars in other countries, the sit down, restaurants however are not as good. The Staff at all the restaurants are amazing. The place is very nice, the rooms are in good shape and the building are al [... read more]so very clean and well kept. The pool is beautiful Now to the other side. The first 2 days of house keeping service was ok at the best. She came very late and the maids spent most of the day yelling back and forth between balconies. On average they would spend 2-3 hours parked in front of a room with the door open but not cleaning. This to me was a security concern as i would often see the door open with cart in front and the maid on another level socializing. To get better service i decided to deliver a large tip directly to my house keeper. Well big mistake. I did not get ANY service at all for the next 2 days. You should have seen the pile of dirty diapers. The other issue we had with this was resort was, prior to booking we confirmed with out travel agent and I even have an email from a manager at the hotel confirming they have a Baby Club for infants that runs 9-5 everyday at no charge. This was the reason we booked this resort. Well we get to the resort and they do not have baby club anymore and have not had it for 2 years. This dramatically changed our vacation not being able to have at least a couple hours to ourselves. Entertainment SUCKS!!!! The Entertainment staff was nowhere to be found, till about the 3rd day when i found them all drinking for hours behind the Beach bar, that explained why we had no pool games and an unmanned DJ booth with music on shuffle. The Pool Bar was also closed for 5 of the 7 days. I know they had sewage problems (really gross but i know these kinds of things can happen) filling the bar for a couple days but the was fixed and then the pool bar was re-opened only to close the next day again. Last but not leased watch out for bait and switch and math errors. It happened a few times to us on the trip. We would go out for a meal in town and then the bill would be higher than it should. Did the math and they added a couple dollars, Same thing at the airport. The other problem was with the Hotel. My wife went for a $58 massage and they insisted it get charged to the room and we couldn't pay on the spot. Well they billed the room $62 an insisted that was the price of the massage at check out. It was 7:00 am at check out so the Spa was closed and we could not go back to them. Overall this was an honest review and i would stay away from this resort unless you are ok walking a mile for a drink, want no entertainment so you can sit and read all week, and your ok with cleaning your own room.

Has potential

Resort is in good condition, nice grounds, large clean rooms with cold A/C. Beach is decent, but after heavy rain, the ocean isn't very clean. Service at the swim up bar is great and the pool(s) is/are huge and sparkling clean. Food is OK for Cuba, but food safety is very cavalier. Hot holds have no heat and food is allowed to go to room temp. Raw chicken cooked alongside beef at grilling stations. Staff expects a tip in the buffet or zero service. The resort passed from RIU management to Mem [... read more]ories earlier this year.

Fine resort well kept.

Friendly staff and prompt attention to requests.Public washrooms need fix up. Night snack restaurant may offer enhanced options.Add another night snack bar. Question to ask ......May be worded as " HOW YOUNG ARE YOU " ?

People were very friendly and resort was great

This resort was amazing always clean and all the staffs was always friendly and helpful, I stayed here from September 13-20 and never had to wait for breakfast, lunch or dinner which was awesome. If you ever visit there hook up with the bell boy George he's just one of our favorite person there and made us feel like home.

Lovely beach, terrible food, unfriendly staff

The beach was about the best and only thing great about this resort. The food was always cold, the drinks were warm, you could tell the food was probably re-used from the night before as it wasn't fresh. My boyfriend was sick for 4 out of the 7 days we were there because of the food. It was such a disappointment and stressful vacation overall. I would probably visit Cuba again but certainly not this resort even though it's supposed to be a 4 star hotel. Don't get me started on the tiny rooms eve [... read more]n though I upgraded mine to a 'superior room'. :-(

Beautiful resort

This is a renovated resort, stunning job on the rooms and grounds Rooms above clean, beautiful resort very clean Food was good, anything you coudl want hugh selection. And No i did not get sick , All the staff was helpful and extremely nice. I was in building #21 right by the pool. Had an amazing time, Loved it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Surpassed Expectations

Following a couple of less-than-stellar experiences in 2011 and 2013, my wife and I decided to give one last chance to Cuba as summer break destination. After doing a lot of research, we opted for a two weeks all-inclusive trip to Grand Memories Varadero. If I’m to summarize our experience, I’d say it was unexpectedly positive. The hotel really knows how to cover the essentials: safety, comfort, food. It’s common knowledge that Cuba is generally a very safe country for tourists. However,  [... read more]the hotel went the extra mile ensuring that only registered guests, vendors, and entertainers got entrance to the grounds. The management was always present in the high traffic areas, virtually 24 hours a day. The 3-level buildings are relatively new and well maintained. Most importantly, the in-room air conditioning worked, flawlessly. Beds were comfortable and the mini fridge was stocked daily with bottled water, beer, and soft drinks. Whenever we needed help (de-magnetized access cards, fresh towels) the receptionist made sure our requests were addressed promptly. The biggest surprise during our stay was the food. I am no nutritionist, but it seemed to me that most of the ingredients were organic, low fat, and the buffet choices were varied and balanced. The Cuban specific dishes (pork, rice, beans, avocado, tomatoes, peppers, tropical fruit) were simply divine. Complement those with Spanish paella and beef, as well as lobster, crab, fish, shrimp, and clams, and you’ve got yourself a recipe for plumping up. Paradoxically though, I got back home weighing the same as I did when I left. Wish someone can explain this to me… If I’m to venture a guess, I’d say it’s the hotel’s management team that made all the difference. Cuba is not a country of plenty, but somehow the GM and his people were able to hire a great staff and provide them with all that they needed to do a great job. I can’t wait to return!

Grand Memories Varadero

Stayed at the Grand Memories at the end of August 2015. Noticed the same concerns as others have already mentioned. We were 3 days waiting for beach towels and the food is average at best. The beach is very narrow and lots of shells. On the upside the pools are great and no problem finding loungers. Our room was adequate, great and quiet A/C, but the beds are firm. Have also stayed at the Memories Varadero and would recommend this resort over the Grand Memories.

Great Resort for the money

My partner and I had our first holiday together at Grand Memories and thoroughly enjoyed our stay. The resort and all it's amenities were fantastic; beautiful beach, nice pools, gorgeous gardens. While the food wasn't all that great (although there was a lot to choose from), that is no reflection on the resort itself, most of the food in Cuba is pretty bland. Our room was nice, nothing crazy but comfortable and clean. The only negative was that our toilet was missing a seat, which we notified th [... read more]e front desk about right away but nothing was done about it. Besides that, the staff were all very courteous and accommodating. Overall we had a fun and relaxing time on vacation, especially during the Michael Jackson tribute show, it was definitely a highlight of the trip!

Big resort

Very large busy resort. Beautiful beaches. Hard to get a chair most days. Lots of couples and families. Friendly staff. Some days there wasn't a lot of food selection. Long waits for fresh eggs or meat.

Grand Memories (Varadero) - Excellent Resort!

This resort deserves a 5 star Cuba rating. BEACH: The resort has direct access to the beach and includes some water activities e.g. paddle boats, kayak. They are located on the 24th km of the 35 km beach that stretches across Varadero. POOLS: There 3 large pool areas (2 general + 1 adult only) -- all well designed to cater to an assortment of guests e.g. singles, couples, families with young children. There were shallow areas, shaded areas as well as elevated areas. The pools were very well ma [... read more]intained and clean. ACCOMMODATIONS: Better than expected! We got 3 beds for our family of 4 as well as room that had a walk out to our own little backyard where we set up lawn chairs to dry our swim gear. The washroom was spacious and the water temperature and pressure exceeded some hotel chains in Canada (e.g. Delta!) FOOD: A good selection -- even for vegetarians. Well presented and good. Bring your own ketchup for the kids (Heinz!) and be ready to shake on some salt and pepper here and there. The lack of variety near the end of the week was the weak point. And the regular fly shooing. STAFF: Friendly overall, some much more than others. Our maid was super friendly and we had brought old clothing, shoes, toys and stationary for the staff (tip from a TripAdvisor.ca reviewer -- thanks, Susan!) TRAVEL: We went with Sunwing Vacations and they did a great job on the plane and on the bus shuttle. The ones in the resort could have used a little of their other colleagues' enthusiasm. BOOKING: We booked through TripCentral.ca and we will definitely do so again ... they have THE BEST laid out site and is easiest to navigate and select.

Great place to go and enjoy your vacation

Check in was easy and simple, we had our luggage taken to our room by hotel services person. Our room was nice and clean, the maids did good job. The beach and pool area were awesome and the entertainment there was the best. Resort food was good and they try to reach all the standards for four stars resort. Night entertainment was also great and it felt like it didn't stop until was time to go to the disco. The disco was great especially when someone from the entertainment stayed late to enterta [... read more]in the guests. Overall great place to spend your vacation.

Amazing resort

This was our best holidays for years We've been upgraded without asking, the maid was excellent very kind and lovely, hotel personnel was very professional and helpful, even the manager was always around asking if all is ok and helping. This was our best beach ever, the kids were very happy we only stayed at the beach all the stay ( 2 weeks ). The food was ok for the taste in general but if you like fish this was the best, we've always had lot of choice and this was one of my best in Cuba Overal [... read more]l as I said this was our best holidays in years and I will return gladly.

Great time at Grand Memories

I stayed at the grand memories varadero from june 28-july 5 with my fiance and another couple we were all between 22-25. Over all a great hotel, big hotel, easy to get around we stayed in room 21310 and it was a nice room the bathroom was clean always hot water. Fridge always stalked, and my room was always cold! Our room was right infront of the pool so it was great we stayed at the pool almost everyday. Breakfast was good, omlet station was good. Lunch was amazing in the buffet it started at 1 [... read more]. There was a meat bbq and a fish bbq station which was awesome. No salad though, i felt like i didnt eat any veggies the whole trip and no salad i enjoy salad with my meals. The snack bar was also good, but during lunch the staff was really rude, we always had a problem with the servers at lunch at the snack bar. I really enjoyed the Hawaiian pizza and the french fries of course. Dinner was not that great, lunch was much better. We only had 1 al la cart, but booked for 2. First one was italian we ended up going there and it was gourmet which was french, we were upset we were looking forward to the italian. So we ended up at japanese which was booked for another day and it was not that good so we didnt go for the one we booked. The drinks also were not that good. Pina coloda was always watering. They didnt have any strawberry maragritas or different kinda of fruit drinks only lime slush and watering pina colodas. I ended up drinking sparkling water at every meal and lime drinks and mojitos which were really good with fresh mint. We booked a excursion the bus didnt even end up picking us up it was 45 minutes late then we found out it wasnt coming. We got our money back. The weather was AMAZING !! so hot everyday, it was amazing the weather. The staff were really nice. The entertainment staff were really nice and funny. The bartenders at the pool were also really nice. The evening staff at the snack bar gave us a hassel with taking food when we wanted to eat it in our room we seen locals walking away with bottles of ketchup and food in napkins lol. A nice man i believe named giuliano was very nice and was happy to wrap up some food for us to take to go. I spoke to him for a little i was happy to leave him a nice tip. I dont think i need to leave people tips who dont deserve it , sorry i dont feel bad if i dont leave it if i dont think your kind and deserve it. If i am waiting for a drink for longer then 5-10 minutes and i see you walk by me a few times serving another person and you know im waiting , thats very rude. Over all i had a great time i would give this hotel a 7.5/10, the ice coffees and cappucinos were amazing loved them ! I would recommend this hotel its a great place for a great week of relaxation in paradise !!