Playa Vista Azul: Great resort

We have booked the Privilege and were very happy with all the extras we got - room service, privilege restaurant and bar, check out at 2:00pm Loved the beach - breath taking, crystal clear water. Everyone is talking about the food - yes, definately they can improve, for example, very low on vegetables and fruits.

Roc Arenas Doradas: To the beach and pool!

This hotel is in excellent location, the beach is incredible, we had very gentle waves, white sand bottom, crystal clear aqua blue waters. It was perfect for young kids and elderly people. I liked the smaller size to this resort and the friendly staff. The pool is excellent with lots of shade available. The rooms are very outdated and in desperate need of updating. We were in block 7,super close to beach and pool. Apparently block 3 is renovated and really nice but according to customer service  [... read more]not allowed for families, bummer!! Food is satisfactory, they do have a nice coffee bar in the main lobby. I’m not sure I would return because I like a nice room and really got tired of the food.

Los Delfines: You Get what you pay for !!!

My First time at this hotel normally stay at the Mellia or iberostar chains, this was a last min trip so wanted to be close to town This hotel is older so your amenities and rooms are what they are. The cleaning of the building was up kept very well. My first day phone in the room did not work, problems with the front door to my suite, and finally put all my documents into the safe locked it and could not unlock it because I forgot my wallet. Security and building maintenance ended up removing  [... read more]the safe from the wall and opening it, and said they would install a new one in the morning, well they never did. The telephone the tech made an attempt to fix it but they knew that the phone system did not and has not been working for a long time. Finally three days into my stay the front door to my unit did not open, i was locked in the room,door handle broke from the inside could not phone front desk ( they never fixed the phone) so I was locked in my room not being able to exit. Since I had an ocean view, I yelled down to the security and asked him to come up and open the door. They fixed the door the following morning. The beach was fun clear and no mosquito Overall it is cheaper and your going to get exactly what you pay for

Memories Jibacoa: Great location to visit Havana

Well maintained rooms and grounds, beatifull beach with great coral reef for snorkling. Food choices limited and quality of food average. Service- hit and miss. Convenient location for beach vacation when you want to visit Havana.

Iberostar Origin Laguna Azul: Great resort

Overall we enjoyed this resort. David Bell our travel agent was great and informative. Things to think about are no face cloths are supplied so bring your own. Food is ok. Servers in buffets and Japanese restaurant are great. Elevators were not working and pools were not deep. Overall we were very happy.

Melia Marina Varadero: A good place to vacation

The service staff were polite and efficient but the rooms were older and did not offer much besides basic comfort. The facilities are amazing and the entertainment was good. No internet in rooms. Internet reception in the lobby was limited. A lot of bugs and the tour guides make u feel uncomfortable with they way they ask for gratuity. But overall a great getaway.

Sanctuary at Grand Memories Varadero: Great Resort!!!!!!

The staff were all so friendly and helpful with any type of questions or requests. This was our first trip to Cuba and were prepared for the food to be more bland but was always able to find good food that was tasty and well prepared. Lobster and shrimp was wonderful! The grounds and pool were always kept clean with plants/flowers trimmed to perfection. We were steps away from poolside and the beach was a 1 minute stroll. The water (pool and ocean) was so warm and crystal clear. A couple [... read more] negatives (which is most likely everywhere in Cuba) was the gratuities are not included in the all-inclusive (had to tip everywhere) and if something in your room or a public washroom was broken (ie: door lock, fan, shower head), it didn't get fixed. We would definitely recommend this resort!!!

Los Delfines: Great value for a great family vacation

Great family vacation. The beach is beautiful. Room had a balcony, a mini fridge, and great air conditioning. The hotel is quaint and the buffet/a la carte restaurant has great views of the ocean. The staff on the beach helped us set up lounge chairs and umbrellas wherever we wanted, all under extreme heat and with a friendly attitude. Fresh eggs, fruit and juices in the morning. Turkey dinner another night, fresh fish made to order. The pool bar had fruit infused water and pizza for snacks.  [... read more] The a la carte restaurant was our best experience, Gustavo, our waiter, was an absolute professional, we were so impressed with his care. The view and ambience at the a la carte restaurant was top notch. Our package included the cave excursion and visit to the city of Matanzas. We loved the experience, the guide was so friendly and knowledgeable and included all the different languages that everyone spoke so no one would feel left out. Great value for a very nice trip.

Iberostar Origin Laguna Azul: Amazing staff but very shy of a 4.5 star

This was not our first time to Cuba but our first to this resort. First let’s start with the positives. The beach was stunning, plenty of shade and lots of space. The grounds were lovely, the food was good (considering it was Cuba) and everything is centrally located. The staff at the resort were incredible, tried to sort out any issues we had and went above and beyond to make us feel welcomed. Unfortunately the rooms are very worn and tired. This resort is in major need of a full renova [... read more]tion. Furniture (throughout the resort+room) sheets and towels all had stains, mold throughout the room, closet doors broken, lock on hotel room door didn’t work, AC unit barely able to produce cold air and created a lake on our floor and the shower head wall mount unusable. If we were to consider returning, it would be because of the staff and a crazy amazing deal!

Paradisus Varadero: A good vacation, excluding food and construction closures at this resort.

Our adjoining rooms were great (clean, spacious, well-air conditioned and comfortable). The grounds were well maintained and the tropical gardens were beautiful. The beach was stunning, but quite a hike from our rooms (carts were available to transport us if needed). The pool was good. The swim-up bar was sometimes open. There were several lounge chairs and cabanas available. Many amenities were closed or unavailable due to construction (sports centre, largest pool and many restaurants were all  [... read more]closed). This offered limited choices. Food was mediocre at best. The buffet restaurant which was the main option for breakfast and dinner was repetitive. Some was okay. Nothing was what you would expect of a 5-star resort. The only a la carte restaurant that seemed available to us was just awful. The worst chicken ever (slimy, chewy and greasy). Our concierge (butler) service was useless. There were 2 who alternated days that were assigned to us. They really didn't have the time of day for us. They did not provide the services that were listed. We had to seek them out to book the a la cartes and this seemed to be a great inconvenience to them. They messed up several times and rather than apologize, they became very defensive about it. If our package was more expensive for this service, it wasn't worth it! There were 4 staff who went out of there way to be friendly and helpful (our maid, our porter/ bell hop, one of the bartenders at the lobby bar and one of the young women at the front desk. I only wish I knew their names so that they could be further commended. Everyone else could take lessons from them about customer service. No one else seemed to care. Our Sunwing rep (Janel) at the resort was helpful. The excursions (Sugar/Rum/Cigar and Havana were good). We had amazing guides. We had a difficult travel day for our return trip. We got up at 5am, expecting a 6:45am pick-up at the resort. While waiting in the lobby, we received a call informing us that our flight was cancelled and we would be picked up at 5:30pm for a 9:30pm flight. We were already packed up and had checked out of our room. We were exhausted. Although we had gained a day in Cuba, it was kind of a wasted day. At the Cuban airport it was chaotic. We waited in line for an eternity to check-in. So slow. Sunwing did not communicate well with us at the airport. The flight was delayed even more. We didn't end up boarding until midnight. What a long, frustrating day! Overall, our vacation left us with mixed feelings. Right now with all the construction and amenity closures this is not a 5-star quality resort. Hopefully this will change once this is completed because there is potential for it to be amazing. Sunwing really needs to work out their flight issues. Too many flight changes, delays and cancellations which is confusing and frustrating for travellers. Also, if someone pays extra for advanced seat selection and pre-boarding on flights, these service should be honoured. Our advanced seat selections were bumped (double booked with other passengers) and the premium service package which we paid for did not easily allow us to pre-board for our return flight. Apparently this applies at the Toronto airport only and not at the destination airport (only Elite plus is recognized as priority boarding). This needs to be clearer when people are purchasing these services.

Paradisus Varadero: Mixed Review

Our adjoining rooms were spacious, clean and comfortable. The maid did an excellent job of making up our room and our mini fridges were stocked regularly with water and other beverages. The luscious tropical gardens were beautiful and well tended. The beach was stunning. The pool was nice and there were lots of available cabanas and lounge chairs. Some of the staff were friendly and helpful, but others were not. Due to construction on the resort, many amenities were unavailable which was disappo [... read more]inting (the sports centre, largest pool and many restaurants were closed). The food was mediocre, with limited options (repetitive buffet, some strange concoctions). Only one a la carte was made available to us and it wasn't very good (worst chicken I've ever had!) The concierge (butler) service was not helpful at all. There were 2 assigned to us for alternating days, but we only met one (the other didn't bother to meet us.) Booking our a la cartes was difficult and she made it seem like we were inconveniencing her. We had to seek her out and when she messed up our reservations she became defensive and lied. We didn't ask much of our concierge, but she didn't deliver at all. This was disappointing. Our flight to the resort was great. The return flight was delayed by 12 hours. We got up at 5am, only to find out that our flight was cancelled and we wouldn't be picked up until 5:30pm. Our time at the Cuban airport waiting for our departure was pure chaos. Poor communication from Sunwing staff. Long delay. Herded like cattle in the check in lines. Overall, we enjoyed things about our vacation, but there were some elements that could be much improved, especially for a "5-star resort."

Valentin El Patriarca Varadero: Good time

Overall taken care of, the gardeners work hard. The rooms could use an update and the maids could do a more detailed clean as in coboards and night stands. Wish the bedsheets were large enough to cover all the body.

Paradisus Princesa Del Mar: 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.

Starfish Varadero: Awsome Resort

Stayed at the Starfish Resort 5 nts beginning June 28th with my Husband and 13 yr old daighter who lived it. We were very pleased with our stay from the grounds to the service to the food. Loved all tne cats on tne resort ...Everyone is laid back genuine and willing to make your stay a pleasant one. Very pleased with Diana at front desk and Paula at customer relations for giving us an upgrade to a fantastic bungalow suit after our first two nights of being in a less desirable room in the Main b [... read more]uilding further away from the action and facing the road. Special thanks to waiters Rolando and Chavelle at the buffet restaurant which always had plenty of food to choose from. My only complaint was that there was never enough ice to go around and drinks were not the best but we came for the beautiful beach and relaxed atmosphere anyway In my opinion the griddle was tne best place for all your meals the cheese display at every meal was amazing so many different kinds, perfect for the cheese lovers and the Mango was to die for perfectly ripe and mealt in your mouth Over all I would deffinately consider coming back to the Starfish Varadero

Muthu Playa Varadero: Worst resort , dirty and the staff will rob you blind

The place was dirty and unkept , food was horrible. I have been to Cuba 4 times before and I never have ever stayed in a place like this. The beds are like bricks ! The maid stole my clothes , wireless headphones and my rum I was going to bring back for my wife. I complained to the front desk my complaints fell on deaf ears . Do not waste your money !

Valentin El Patriarca Varadero: Relaxing week at the Beach

The grounds are well groomed with beautiful flowers and tropical trees. The resort is mid-size and the lodgings are all in 8 room 2 story buildings. We stayed in building 22 which was very close to the main lobby and dining area and about 5 minute walk to the beach and to the pool. The beach is wonderful ...white sand and great for swimming. If you like Beach Volleyball, there is a good net setup for daily games. The entertainment team also runs various games, dancing, stretching and beach footb [... read more]all (soccer) each morning at the beach. The pool is on the small side but it does have a pool bar and volleyball net. The rooms are clean and have the basics. The AC is too loud at night though. The cleaning staff are very friendly and helpful. The evening entertainment in the lobby was wonderful ... great live music every night. There was also a very good magic show one evening in the auditorium. I am always impressed by the talented musicians and dancers in Cuba. As far as the food...I would recommend having an omelette for breakfast, find something simple for lunch and enjoy grilled fish, rice and vegetables for dinner. You don't go to Cuba for the food anyway:) Enjoy 'Mike's' coffee on-site when it's too hot in the afternoon and have a mojito or two in the evening as the music fills the air...enjoy.

Sanctuary at Grand Memories Varadero: Great resort

I will start by saying that over all experience is quite positive. Ocean. Something that compensates any negative thing I can describe below. Ocean is amazing. Beach is private for Sanctuary guests only. Quite enough space under the shades. No words to describe the water in ocean, we were spending hours there. Barmen from nearest bar made rounds to pick orders. Grounds. Sanctuary is a small part (adults only) of big resort Grand Memories Varadero. They grounds are very clean and t [... read more]aken care of. In fact the entire resort is very clean. Room. The rooms are quite big, but not really taken care of. Our room was really "screaming" for renovation. Walls, doors, faucets. Everything requires major repairs. However, room was cleaned daily and cleaned very well. Clean towels, clean bed sheets. Minibar refilled daily. Bedding is very comfy. Facilities. Again, no complains there. However, it is adults only resort. Wouldn't it make sense that pool would have swimming bar? I'd say absolutely. There is no. Quite useless hot tub on the middle and the bar is close, but not swimming. Food and drinks. Lets start with drinks. I can say it was great and I can't say it was bad. Drinks are unpredictable. One time you ask for lets say gin and tonic they make it perfect, other time you can't drink it. And it doesn't even depend on barmen. Same barmen does it differently. Otherwise, no complains. Coffee - only in bars. Whatever they give in restaurants it not drinkable. Don't drink water at restaurants. Ask for sparkling. At least you will be sure they didn't serve you tub water. Food is decent, but not great. We had all meals "a la carte". Breakfast is good. You may order eggs and its done fine. Very little dairy products: no cottage cheese, no cream cheese. Very little vegetables. Lunch and dinner are very much the same. I would expect from the resort of this level a little more variety. Four out of seven days they have lobster on menu. It was pretty well cooked. But no pasta on menu for the entire week. I'm not really picky, but I would take pasta once. Don't take beef, its not good and not cooked well. With fish is also some complications: once it was done well, another time really dry, overcooked. Overall, I can't say food is bad, but it doesn't even come close to resorts in Mexico or Dominican where I've been.

Occidental Arenas Blancas: Not a good experience with the hotel and the staff

We were charged for a broken TV that we have nothing to do with, it was already broken when we arrived. The hotel charged us $515 US for an old TV and we were not given a chance to defend ourselves. We do not understand the language and they were just taking one side of the puzzle. We do not recommend the hotel to anyone who wish to go to Cuba. We are not going back Cuba at all.

Starfish Cuatro Palmas: Pleasant small adult-only resort

We had a two-week stay at Starfish Cuatro Palmas at the end of June 2019. It's located right in Varadero and within walking distance of Josone Park and many ltttle restaurants. We booked an ocean-view room, and the view from the third floor is spectacular. The room itself was small, plain, and clean, although we sometimes noticed a “sewer” type of smell coming from the bathroom. Our room had a king-size bed that was quite comfortable, with clean crisp bedding. The pillows were not so co [... read more]mfortable! We had no complaints about the food—it was plentiful and good, although meals might be a challenge for vegetarians and vegans. We appreciated the varied selections of cheeses and the regular supply of fresh fruit at every meal (mangoes, papayas, grapefruit, guava, bananas). The beach is gorgeous with silky white sand (although tourists are to blame for the many cigarette butts littering the beach), and the ocean was clean, calm and warm. We didn't use the pool much but it looked great and was regularly maintained. Everyone on staff was friendly and welcoming. We didn't go to the evening shows but we did enjoy the live music in the lobby bar around dinnertime.

Iberostar Origin Laguna Azul: Laguna is AMAZING!

The resort was good and the people were AMAZING! We had a great time. Our room was clean and mini bar stocked daily. Yoselin and the rest of the crew at the swim up bar were fabulous! The food was ok but honestly I don't go for the food. I go for the sun and relaxation. Always found something to eat. One night we did have lobster on the grill in the buffet which was GREAT! Overall I would recommend this resort. We have been twice and this time the service and room were better than the  [... read more]first!