Beautiful beaches!

This is our 2nd time at this resort and 5th time in Cuba. We love Cuba for the beaches, amazing people and service. The service at this resort was great especially at the breakfast buffet, a la cart restaurants, and beach restaurants and drink service. Mixed drinks too strong, but the beer is adequate. The wine is pretty good as well. The beach is stunning and the staff always set you up in your lounger. Our butler made 2 reservations for dinner at the beach and Caribe.  [... read more]That was nice noting we were not diamond club and therefore not able to make reservations. The a la carte restaurants had nice service and food was ok to good enough. Again, remember it’s Cuba. The food is what we expected. Fresh fish at dinner, and eggs for breakfast are always my go to, and you can’t go wrong with these. Lots of fresh vegetables and fruit. Limited bananas. Also if you like meat at breakfast, there is only lunch meat, chicken nuggets and wieners. No surprise for us, and we just stuck with eggs, fresh crepes, which were very good, chickpeas and fruit. Good selection at the buffet for dinner, and we enjoyed eating at the beach for lunch. The fried fish and salad were great. Overall quiet resort, but some of the live entertainment at restaurants and lobby bar were quite good and enjoyable to listen too. Good mix of age groups The staff really like American and Canadian dollars vs. Cuban pesos. (No coins) I am not a pool person, but it looks fine. Rooms and balcony are big but tired looking and everything worked well. Other highlights : Ice cream bar (guava, peanut) Freshly pressed sugar cane juice Sunwing rep service was great and we got a private transfer for our return trip to the airport which I would highly recommend. This resort is a safe bet and good quality overall for Cuba which is why I came back and brought some friends too.

I would go back.

We had a nice getaway. People helpful and friendly. Food ,not great but good. Our room and maid were good. TV reception weak. The beach was fantastic, lots of palapas and loungers. The entertainment was good in the evening. Also at the restaurants the music was very nice.

Royalton Nicaso Luxury resort and spa varadero cuba

We had many problems at the hotel, first they could not supply us with a room with 2 beds and we viewed 5 rooms and none were any better than the next.so they had to bring a cot in and set it up in the seating space. The resorts rooms are very dated with showers all rusted , patio doors very very hard to open, was not able to control air conditioner in your room set at one temperature always which during the day made it very hot, and the last day our air conditioner decided not to work. The bl [... read more]ow dryers are ancient and burnt my friends hair pieces of her hair came out. None of the bathrooms on the property other than your rooms had toilet paper , ran out of all different kinds of liquor, juices fruit, would not recommend this hotel as a luxury hotel maybe a 3star

Royalton is Amazing

This was our third year in a row. Had an amazing vacation. We were not disappointed. We look forward to returning next year. The staff are amazing. They went above and beyond to ensure that our stay was unbelievable. From the butlers, grounds people, maid services, cooks, dining room staff...all were outstanding.

Was OK ..

Not as good as in the past. Beach was beautiful as it always is. Staff were great. But the food was terrible. Worst I’ve ever had in Cuba and have been going for well over 35 years . Rooms I was given both had significant issues.. Was moved several times. Not what I had hope for but made the best of it . Nice to relax in the warmth and escape winter.

Wonderful Resort!

Quicly check in. Very well kept grounds, trees, gardens and cleanness, not showing it's 23 years old. Beach is amazing! Rooms (ours) no complains about our bed and AC, never run out of hot water, and excellent water flow, never run out of drinking water in the fridge. Buffet very repetitive, but abundant on everything including wine, cloth napkins, (something I haven't seen in a long time) waiter and waitress very attentive, unfortunatly if you are not on diamond club you are unable to reserve  [... read more]a specialty restaurant. Great Sunwing flights and kind flight attedants. Overall, great 7 days!

Older Adults Resort

The resort itself is really nice and very clean. But the staff is not very friendly, you can’t make a reservation at any restaurant and we were turned away a few times. The bar and a few restaurants don’t have music. They also don’t have a DJ at their club. The entertainment and the resort vibe is really lacking. It’s a resort for older adults in my opinion

A very nice resort on one of the world's best beaches in a beautiful country.

We two seniors just returned from our first visit to the Royalton Hicacos (a local shrub's name) Jan 9 - 16; our 10th Cuban trip to various resort locations on the island. The resort was less than full during our trip, and had guests mostly from Canada, plus a few Brits and even some Russians. Overview: A lovely, convenient location and a very pretty resort. That beach and warm sea! Great and responsive staff. Undergoing gradual renovation to modernise the site. Spacious room and bathroom  [... read more]with good housekeeping services. Excellent bars and small stores in the central area. Good value overall. Just don't expect the food range and cooking expertise of Mexico, DR or other Caribbean places. Best things: The Sunwing flight left on time and was only 3 hours 10 minutes long. The Cuban people, whether they were the folks working on the resort or those we met outside, were friendly, kind, smiling, invariably polite and helpful. The location: not far from the Varadero airport, pretty, compact and easy to navigate around. All the buildings are only a short walk to the magnificent beach with its shallow blue water and powdery sand. The Jazz Bar near the buffet: a great pianist, excellent service and a nice intimate break. The room: spacious and comfortable with lots of storage and no problem with hot water. The front desk staff and the butlers: great English, easy to deal with and responsive. We had to move rooms from our original, very newly renovated room (its fresh paint smell set off my wife's allergies) to an older but very functional room of the same size. The "Bistro" aka Snack Bar runs 24/7 and the staff were wonderful; great fries and Capuchinos too. And the ice cream outlet opposite has lovely flavors we don't get back home. The Sunwing reps: very helpful, easily available to guests, and with lots of good suggestions. Brenda assisted us very efficiently with getting our room changeover completed by the front desk. The main pool area bar staff - especially the hard-working ladies there - who were quick, fun and were fine with serving the better brands. Our drinks (beer, brandy, red wine and Champagne mostly) were excellent everywhere. Lots of ripe papaya in the buffet; most of the fruit was good there. The breads, yucca and sweet potatoes were tasty and the salmon was surprisingly good. The combo that played each night in the main pool bar (which is so pretty) was good, playing a nice range of mostly Latin music. The Nexus tour local excursion - to the sugar cane plantation and factory; rum distillery and shop; and cigar bar with cigar rolling demonstration - was very enjoyable. The complimentary cigar and bottle of rum for each person were unexpected and very appreciated, as were the generous rum tastings. The most interesting sight? Seeing workers going to their morning jobs in a traditional horse and buggy (as well as mostly using Chinese-supplied buses, of course) while checking their smart phones as the horse trotted along. The very old and modern all together; go figure. What we did not enjoy so much: The flight to Varadero was cold. Crazy to see lots of people wearing their winter coats inside the plane. The flight back was the same, until lots of folks complained. We were told only the Boeing 737's pilot could control the heating. If true, it is probably because jet planes use extra fuel to heat the cabin; so cheap. We took lots of small, everyday items down with us to give to locals. I asked Sunwing beforehand if we could perhaps exceed the 50 pounds checked bag limit very slightly if necessary. I got back a very firm "NO" email, ironically from the "Sunwing Cares" email address. The way the buffet was set up led to needless line-ups and could be organised much better. The older cooks used excessive salt on everything and cooked food for too long, although we found a younger cook who was great. Butter was available at breakfast; not at other times. But I was able to get a staff person to find me some little butter servings in the kitchen when I asked. The entertainment was limited but the Opera Music night sounded good, the dancers are very good at everything they attempted, and the Water Ballet was the week's highlight. But we were driven away from the shows because the sound level each night was way excessive, far louder than would be permitted in any workplace in Ontario. Why pay good money to damage your hearing? Best to take ear plugs. The same complaint applies to the combo that played in the main bar: the music was great but do they ever need to turn down that volume; folks go there to socialise and chat, not to shout at each other to be heard. The music at the beach, which is often one of our favorites, was poor. Most of it was not Latin music, just the monotonous, computerised stuff teenagers back home seem to like now. Where were the lovely Salsa, Bachata and Meringue tunes, etc. that let you know you are in Cuba? Bottom line: A very nice resort on one of the world's best beaches in a beautiful country that somehow retains its humor, warmth and social cohesion. And all this despite living under communism for 65 years while still waiting for the revolution's benefits to arrive. The Cubans we met travelling around know the regime's days are numbered and change will come. They also know the US embargo has back-fired, by giving the regime a constant excuse to hide its own faults and flawed socialist ideology. Go visit Cuba soon, while it is still unique.

Amazing experience!

The grounds were beautiful, the employees treat you like royalty. Highly recommend Royalton Hicacos! The beach bar makes the best drinks! Gladys was an especially special part of our trip. Her demeanour is so welcoming and warm.

Met Expectations

We had a good trip, and the resort largely met our expectations given the price we paid. The beach was amazing, with beautiful sand, and the water was clear. The room was clean with a big bathroom, and had nice amenities such as AC, a minifridge, and AC. The food was passable; they seemed to do their best with limited ingredients. The food served at the buffet was hit-or-miss in terms of flavour and quality, so it was important to arrive early enough to get the better dishes. There was  [... read more]some variety. The service was generally good. Wifi was limited outside of the bar and the buffet area.

Beautiful and relaxing resort

This resort is clean, beautiful landscape, the workers are nice. Satisfied with the food, they have grilled seafoods everyday, fresh lobster night at the buffet, They have Italian resto but can accommodate just few guests. We didn't able to book for dinner because they always filled out. They can handle only two people per table. They also have Mexican resto but always filled out cannot accommodate big group, they give priority to Royalton club. We ended up always at the buffet every dinne [... read more]r. They have fresh fruits like guavas, pine apples, mangoes, star fruits. lots of disserts.

Quiet resort

The beach is amazing, the bed mattress is really hard, food limited and shortage for many days, but didn't go hungry basically the same thing every day. No accessibility to elevator it was broken having to go to la carts or buffet there are many stairs so if you have any disability challenges, I can say it would be with a lot of difficulties, very friendly staff. Remember you're not in Cuba for the food. Lack of daily entertainment

Amazing resort!

The hotel was overall very nice. The drinks were flowing, the vibes were vibing, and the staff was exceptionally friendly and helpful. We had a fantastic time, and highly recommend this resort to anyone considering visiting.

Nice and relaxing trip- beautiful beaches

The hotel was great, especially since we had paid for the Diamond Member. You get exclusive beach access, restaurants and butler service. The staff at the Diamond member private beach were phenomenal l, amazing hospitality l. Our bartender was so friendly and attentive. We loved this resort and will be back again. Also our Butler Marianne was so accommodating and hospitable. We will miss Cuba! See you next time.

Lovely vacation

We spent a week at Royalton Hicacos. I've been to Cuba many times and I think it's one of the best Cuba has to offer. The grounds are so well kept with mature vegetation, beautiful flowers and exotic plants. I loved the cottage feeling of the resort. There are plenty of intimate spots, caves, beautiful furniture and a gazebo. The food was good. The buffet area is very spacious, there are different stations where they cook to order fish, meats, omelets, pasta, pancakes, and fruit smoothies. I [... read more]t wasn't crowded, so we never had to wait long. Mangoes are so delicious at this time of the year! The ice cream shop is wonderful as well! We were blessed to have Naylet as our butler, she is such a delightful young woman, who genuinely cares about guests having the best time. She organized all our a la carte dinners, decorated our room for my birthday and set a beautiful beach seafood dinner for a romantic night. I felt very special! She was always checking on us if we needed anything! All of the workers are very welcoming and always greet you with a smile. Special thanks to Sonivid at the buffet restaurant, she's a gem! She was our favorite waitress! We were not a part of the Dymond Club and never felt excluded. Mosquitos! They are there, we put deet 30% spray, and lotion and still got a lot of bites! It's better than in Cayo Coco but still take care. There's a pharmacy where you can buy basic medications such as Ibuprofen or Benadryl and hydrocortisone cream. The beach is gorgeous, it's a paradise! The guys always help you to set up the umbrellas with sunbeds. Right on a beach there's a hut with drinks flowing and if you want they bring drinks directly to your spot. The lobby bar is very modern with great service and a variety of amazing cocktails and coffee. Loved the musical bands every night and the opera night. Very talented artists! If you like Cuba you'll enjoy your vacation. It's a Cuban 5-star hotel, not a world-class luxury, keep it in mind. We met a lot of cool people from all over the world. I recommend!

Amazing resort

Everything was nice - clean, lots of green areas, people are very nice and attentive. Beach area is superb! THe only problem I had was mosquitos, didn't use the pool areas as beach was great and very short walk from the hotel.

Relaxing resort with an amazing beach

The resort was clean with an incredible beach! We had the Diamond Club package which allowed us to go to a sweet beach bar. Great bartenders and the most amazing BBQ out the back. Our most favourite meal of the day! At the lobby bar we received the best coffee on the resort from friendly staff. Our housekeepers kept our room in tip top shape.

Amazing resort

The hotel is great ,staff are very friendly , very good food , rooms are clean and an exceptional, beautiful beach Can’t ask for more Thus was the third time to visit this resort and definitely I will be back

Highly overrated resort!

It is difficult to find what should be first topic to discuss. In general, to assign star rating, several factors should be considered and compared across travel industry, including at least Cuba, Dominican Republic and Mexico (most common destinations for Canadians). No excuse should be given for embargo, political reasons/government, etc. As such, I would give to Royalton Hicacos 3 star rating at the best. It is very dated resort will all amenities requiring complete renovation. There are 3 po [... read more]ols and I have not seen a single occasion of water treatment. Our room was in is quite area with a small pool nearby and over our stay only once water was added to the pool and it was cleaned once at the same time. There is no water circulation at all. Mattresses and pillows are very dirty, perhaps from the time the resort was built. Towels and bath robes were with untreated stain spots and room service was irregular. There is lack of everything-food, beverages, even ice from time to time. Food is especially limited to chopped salads (cabbage, zucchini, tomatoes), proteins-chicken drumsticks as the best option, some grilled chicken breast strips, pork and simple fish. Our return flight by Sunwing was delayed and rerouted through Punta Cana (shortage of fuel and defects with aircraft) and we arrived to Toronto almost 24 hours behind the schedule. In Punta Cana, Sunwing arranged our rest (only a few hours but thanks for that) in Paradisus Grand Cana resort and this resort was huge contrast with Royalton providing impression what 5 star resort is about. Everything was exceptional and I will not think a second to recommend this resort. Lots negative can be said about Royalton for exception of the beach. I summary, when Tour Operators provide information about destinations/resorts including star rating, it would be good to arrange a tour for their staff to have better verified information on resort conditions and service.

Meh

First the people are exceptional everyone was so nice and accommodating. The resort itself amazing and the beach out of this world. The food was ok I'm not picky but it was pretty scarce to even make a decent salad and even the basics were abcent. Absolutely no condiments hardly butter for toast. Honestly this was the highest price I've ever paid for a resort in Cuba(1700) and the worse food Al la cartes were sad except the Cuban amazing. My friend and I had fish tacos and I was in bed for t [... read more]he last 3 days of my trip vomiting,shaking and diarrhea the plane ride home was horrible. I lived in Kuwait for 6 months travel extensively and this has never happened. I heard people throwing up on the plane all ate at the Italian. Obviously food safety and handling is an issue. There are diehards to this resort some who have gone 20 plus times can you imagine. I was following their page but the min you say anything negative your met with its you not the resort vibe even though I had food posinging along with many others. Sorry Cuba 4th time and my last