Melia Marina Varadero: We got by!

We had a few deficiencies to deal with upon arrival. We had "The Level" privilege package but with elevators being out it was 6 flights of stairs for every meal with a bum leg. The resort was nice, needed more attention though. Learned that this was last resort to reopen post covid so all the other resorts hired the best people. Melia Marina got what was left but they tried hard. A couple stood out, Joanna and Vladimir, our concierges. upon checkout, our bus ride to the airport was a no show and [... read more] cost us USD $50 for a cab to the airport. Who is going to reimburse us for that? All in all we made the best of our time at Maria Melina but it was a bit of a let down.

Paradisus Rio De Oro: OUTSTANDING HOTEL

Paradisus Rio de Oro is great, the grounds are kept immaculate, the food is really good at the buffet as well as the ala carte restaurants. The infinity pool is amazing. The staff at this resort are so accommodating they all went above and beyond to make our holiday great. We have been here many times and hope to return many more. We took a horse and buggy to Guardalvaca with Adrian, he took us through the village, stopped at the market and then he took us through a tour of his village. We ha [... read more]ve taken the bus to this market before but the horse and buggy was much nicer. The rooms are quite large with 2 decent closets and the washrooms are nice with a large walk in shower. This resort is large enough that you can escape to the quiet if you need to but small enough to be within 5 min of anywhere you want to go. We have been to a couple of other resorts in Cuba but we will go no where else now!

Blau Varadero: Wonderful resort

The Blau was a wonderful place to spend the week. The staff were very friendly no matter what part of the hotel we were at. The food was delicious, some repetition but that was to be expected due to supply shortages that Cuba faces . There was plenty of activities and entertainment throughout the afternoon and evening. A great place to stay!

Memories Flamenco Beach Resort: Resort grounds and Beach are Great!

Resort grounds are lovely and the beach is great, lots of loungers and palapas. The food was not that great, even for Cuba. Most of the toilets in public areas did not work, it was unpleasant. Noticed they were starting to renovate. Had to advise reception many times to get things done, ie. toilet didn't work, but did get fixed after a couple of days, lack of toilet paper, most light bulbs were blown in room and never got replaced. Music at pool was extremely loud, couldn't even hear my nei [... read more]ghbour talking. It was much nicer at the beach. Staff were friendly.

Royalton Cayo Santa Maria: Beautiful grounds, beach & pools but rooms are starting to show there age

The grounds and pools are very well kept really great beach with lots of loungers. Or course the pool chairs are gone by early morning with towels on them. The butlers Ariel, Marisbia were very attentive to your needs. The bad was the lack of certain foods but that is problem all over. I guess we didn't have as many food problems as other resorts. The only bad thing that happened was I went to move a coffee table a bit closer to the couch and it collapsed, this was because there where no s [... read more]crews holding the 3rd leg in place. The table being very heavy and the top of the leg went down my shin, They did take me to the doctor at a The Memories resort and he cleaned it up. Salt water was the best treatment for it. This was fine for the first day but the second day the winds really picked for about 3 days, venturing into the waters would have led to a bigger problem. All in all was a nice time away, great water show the one night.

Memories Cayo Largo: So below our expectations, very sad...

Accomodation found old but fairly clean, people are very friendly, Sunwing both fly delayed, food is terrible and dangerous as it was served for lunch at dead cold temperature, no resort beach at all, washed out.

Sanctuary at Grand Memories Santa Maria: not very impressed

hotel was clean staff was wonderful not a safe place for people with disabilities or mobility issues bathtub was very deep difficult to get into grab bar was too low and it was loose toilet seats did not fit the toilets and were not tightened therefore sliding all over no food shortages but we both became very ill....food borne illness hot food was not kept hot enough thermometers should be used to ensure food is safe it was a waste of money i lost 2 days of a vacation because i was sick [... read more]/ Coffee was not hot

Grand Aston Varadero Beach Resort: not for us

hotel was very noisy, understaffed, not one of the nicest beaches in Cuba. Food was mediocre, often low end foods. However the rooms were lovely, new, everything worked. Not nearly enough loungers or shade by the pool or beach. Not five star at all.

Club Amigo Atlantico Guardalavaca: Amazing Dramatic Decline...

I know that entire Island of FREEDOM is in some sort of deep crises, but in the chipper resorts it is most obvious... I am a 15 years Veteran here, with 2 trips every winter... so I remember much better days, now it is Totally Terrible... I always praised this resort stating that it is "1,5 starZ hotel, 10 stars People & 11 STARS Beach", but now I have to take OUT that 1,5 and reduce it to ZERO... Marks for People & Beach REMAIN the same, so I will not write about that... this time was like in  [... read more]last November, on my first visit this winter - only WORST... new "specialty" is getting Cappuccino served in VINE Glass :-( ...on the other side, "positive" is that they don't know what else to do with those glasses - since THERE IS NO VINO to find anywhere anytime, with some short exceptions (when they get 2 - 3 bottles say in "La Nina") ... also - NO Mojito, NO PinaColada, NO Yogourt, NO Pig Roast in front of "Santa Maria", NO Foam Pool Party at "La Pinta".. Luckily, at least, decent quality BIER is available everywhere - to help you Forget all of the above... so called "food" is below any description... TasteLess and NO Variations... for me - only SOUPS & Salads were acceptable, and Breakfast is almost OK... so called "food" in "24 Hours" & "Santa Maria" SNACKS are identical, LOUSY and unacceptable for human consumption :-) ... Evening Shows - almost NONEXISTENT, saw ONLY one Live Band ("COCO Yambo") ONLY once during 7 days stay... I better STOP now before I say something politically incorrect :-)

Playa Pesquero: Fantastic Resort and amazing trip

This resort was fantastic, very clean, great staff always willing to help and make your stay the best possible. The beach was fantastic, awesome watersports always available for your pleasure. The room was very nice and cleaned everyday with fresh supplies, our cleaning staff were amazing! We were warned before our trip that we might experience shortages and we were expecting to be without many items according to some reviews we read on Cuba. I can honestly tell you that there was some shortag [... read more]es but nothing to be worried about. I wish that there would have been maybe more choices in the buffet, more fruit and veggies but there was still lots to choose from and it was pretty good so we never went hungry. The a la carte restaurants were wonderful, we had lobster twice nice grilled steak and chicken with salads so no complaints there for us, we really enjoyed the meals. Where we experienced the worse shortages was the lack of bottled water use at most of the bars. The filtered water they were using had a smell and taste that we did not like at all so we adjusted and enjoyed drinks that were made with soda or beers and wine, We just stayed away from drinks made with the filtered water like their juices . The coffee bar was amazing! we enjoyed all different types of coffees and we especially enjoyed the ice coffees (Yum). Overall for the state this country is in and the shortages they are experiencing this resort did a fantastic job of stick handling these concerns and made the best of it. I have no complaints and would return to this resort for sure. I would give this resort a solid 4 star and can only expect better if they can have their supply chains opened up so they have no constraints on what they can provide. I hope they keep up the level of service as this was the most obvious plus that made this resort fantastic. Keep up the great work! C & J.

Starfish Jibacoa: Starfish Jibacoa resort

On first seeing this resort it seems a little tired and in need of a refresh, but once you are there for a while you come to realize it's a nice little, quiet resort. The room was in need of an update, but it was always very clean, and the lovely lady that cleaned my room always left a cute little towel animal on my bed! The beach is wonderful, no fighting for lounge chairs, great sandy beach with good snorkeling. The pool was warm and clean, and quite often empty which was nice for a morning [... read more] swim. The food is ok, but you don't go to Cuba for the food, I never went hungry. There were some days where there was no milk, but my friend brought powdered so all was good. The staff was exceptional, always friendly and accommodating. Good wifi in the bar and reception hall. If you are an animal lover, there are lots of cats and some resort dogs to love. Overall I had a good experience here. If you are more into a fast pace resort with music, entertainment, games etc, I would suggest going next door to Memories, which is a more higher end resort, also more costly. For me this was a good experience for the price I paid.

Melia Cayo Santa Maria: Melia Cayo Santa Maria!!

I have been to Cuba almost 30 times and this resort has to be the best I’ve ever been to all thanks to the service, the staff and the management. The only downside is the 1.5 hour bus ride from the airport but the Hola Sun guides were very informative and funny. First off, wifi all over the resort with great connection, even at the beach. Just unbelievable and great for people who are used to being connected. Food was great, didn’t go hungry at all, especially when there is a 24 hr snac [... read more]k bar with pizza, burgers and hotdogs. Only thing was no eggs at breakfast but wasn’t a problem. The beach lunch bar was amazing as well. The buffet was always full of food with something to eat. The chefs were so sweet and friendly and always offered something that wasn’t at the buffet like fried fish or chicken which was delicious. The room was phenomenal, lots of space, king sized bed, hot water and great room service from the cleaner Yanelys. Bottles of water and pop were brought daily. Building 20 room 2024 not oceanview but was perfect and quiet. The entertainment staff were just unbelievable. I want to send a shout to out Victor, Adrian, Ariel, Darbel, Antonio and Nayibi who made our two weeks the most fun and enjoyable time together. They are just so sweet and so much fun! They are the reason we would definitely come back to Melia Santa Maria. The bugs weren’t too bad on the beach or on the resort even though we used Off. Pretty sure they sprayed in the mornings and definitely worked considering how much greenery was on the resort. The shows were decent but the Michael Jackson show was the best. Every one of the entertainers try their best and was much appreciated. The bar staff were always accommodating and they were always very helpful and polite. I have to thank Lupe for his excellent management as he oversaw everything. He’s a great leader and has great staff to work with.

Sanctuary Cayo Largo: I wish I could bottle Cayo Largo

This was my 7th trip to Cayo Largo since 1988 and the 3rd one to this property. The rooms are an oasis; large cedar cabins with genuine King beds, a sitting area and massive bathroom with two shower heads, and an additional shower on the back porch for cleaning off the sand. We bring camping hammocks to string up on the generous wrap-around deck where we sway while reading and enjoying the beautiful weather. The food was very good for Cuba. This year there was evidence of shortages of so [... read more]me items, such as fruit, butter, mint and white wine. We couldn't order a la carte at dinner this year, and the selection of appetizers was quite limited. We weren't served or offered lobster at all. We only saw ice cream once in two weeks. However, the cappuccino was divine, and there was always something good to eat. They made us a special anniversary dinner, as we got married 9 years ago (in Cuba!) on January 7th. The people were amazing, as usual, and the scuba diving was worth lugging all that gear down. The dive team is truly exceptional and they did everything they could to accommodate my recent knee replacement including helping me get my buoyancy compensator on in the water so I didn't have to try and stand up with my tank. We spent one day at Playa Sirena and one at Mal Tiempo, and both were wonderful. It's too bad there is no real beach at this resort, but that's the case everywhere at Cayo Largo since hurricane Michelle. The new "sandy area" is nice, but not worth it for me. The little beach near Caprice is a little better, but we didn't bother with that either this year. We did the Super Reef excursion and although it was a bit windy that day, it was a fun day and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. It was a great trip and I'm sure we'll be back.

Hotel Playa Coco: Can’t wait to go back

This hotel, although 35 years young, provided us with great lodgings, the quality of the food was very good and as usual the staff was amazing and friendly. The beach is very wide with lots of seating for everyone on the resort and the same applies for the pools, which were very clean. Can’t wait to go back. On a last note, The community manager as well as the managerial staff were at our service, and this, with a beautiful smile.

Selectum Family Resort Varadero: Absolutely Amazing

This hotel / resort is absolutely beautiful. I just can’t say enough about it. So clean and modern, no shortage of food. The staff is always friendly and willing to help in anyway. The only downside if the beach is very rocky but I heard that they are planning to fix that. We are already planning to return same time next year.

Valentin El Patriarca Varadero: Alegance section : A definit must!

The personnel assigned to the Alegance section of the resort was amazing!!! Caring, attentive and helpful resolving issues, if any. A private pool, bar and restaurant make a big difference if you're looking to escape big crowds and loud animation! Note : The following star rating will be relevant solely on the Alegance option.

Sanctuary at Grand Memories Santa Maria: Doing the Best They Can.

This is the first resort my wife and I have been to in Cuba. It was about what we expected. The beach and ocean were beautiful and the staff were good. Everything else was just OK. The food is alright.

Resonance Blu Varadero: It’s Cuba babaay

It’s Cuba yall, the food will keep you alive but that’s about it. The people here were amazing, coffee was great, pools were nice and the swim up bar was great too. Keep in mind there are some shortages down here, and they are doing everything they can to keep us happy. We did the Jeep Safari and it was possibly the best day of our lives, and we were on our honeymoon. The worst part by FAR are the obnoxious tourists who are rude and don’t understand Cuba and what’s going on. Keep an open mind, l [... read more]et some stuff go, and enjoy your week in the sun with a cold beer.

Aston Costa Verde Beach Resort: Nice resort

Clean rooms, no insects visible. The buffet has enough dietary and meat dishes. The staff is polite and pleasant. The beach with white fine sand is convenient for swimming and long distance walks. The only thing missing is evening performances at the theater.

Starfish Cayo Largo: Glad we came back!

Animation staff: very welcoming, talented, (especially the dancers) and everyone seamlessly took on various roles. “Butler”: Wilber was extremely helpful and answered any questions we had. It was nice to have someone assigned to us. Resort: Just the right size, lovely room on first floor with patio looking out towards the ocean, handy to everything. Good cleaning staff. Beach: the ocean brought in lots of beautiful beach the first week and swept it away again the second week. Big waves were gre [... read more]at to watch and there is lots of sand on the ridge above the shore. Nice to have Playa Serina “train” and taxi van options. Nice pool to swim in on red flag days even a working jacuzzi. Excellent bar tenders especially at the lobby bar. Excellent wait staff. Fantastic band. Each member very, very talented. More than adequate buffets plus pizza bar and bbq sometimes. Helpful folks on the beach to bring chairs and plant umbrellas. A power outage presented a challenge but food was made available as soon as the power came back on. We stayed 2 weeks this year and look forward to coming back again. Only problem was a two hour wait for our luggage to be brought into the airport after we landed in Ottawa. Also it would be nice to have a shorter wait at the airport prior to departure. Processing everyone didn’t take very long. The seats on the flight home were worn out to the point of being very uncomfortable even for a relatively short flight. This needs to be addressed. All and all, a lovely, sunny, relaxing vacation in January when snow and freezing rain were happening at home.