Melia Internacional: Mixed Experience - overall will not return.

This resort truly has all the potential to be a great one. When booking, I focused on the star rating, modern room aesthetics, food options, reviews, beach access, and pool variety — all of which seemed promising. While the property itself is quite beautiful, I encountered issues almost immediately upon arrival, particularly with accommodations. --- Night 1 – Room 1 I landed late (around 1030 PM due to a delayed flight), and the check-in process was quick and easy when I arrived at the [... read more] resort (around 11PM). However, as a solo traveler, I would prefer if the front desk staff didn’t repeat my room number out loud — a small but important safety detail. Upon entering the room, I inspected the beds (as I always do), and was disappointed to find the mattress in very poor condition — stained and overall unhygienic. Although the decor was modern, the room felt unkempt and worn. The safe also wasn’t functioning properly — only two or three buttons worked, making it unusable. That same night, I asked to be moved. Staff offered to show me the new room first — I appreciated that. The second room had a significantly cleaner mattress, so I agreed to switch. --- Night 1 (continued) – Room 2 This room was an improvement in some ways — mattress was cleaner — but still had issues. The bathroom light was flickering, the walls showed chipped paint and stains, and the shower/tub setup was problematic. Water wouldn’t drain properly (the stopper was stuck), and the shower head was leaking from the side. To make matters worse, I found two ants in the bed — and while I’m not particularly squeamish, that didn’t sit well. The next morning, I reported the issues. Staff responded fairly quickly: the lightbulb was changed, and the plug was removed entirely from the tub and left to the side — meaning baths were now off the table. I was then directed to customer service, who offered me another room. Since I hadn’t fully unpacked, I agreed to move again. This time I was told to hang tight, they would find me by the pool. An hour or so later I walked over to check the status - ran into the CS rep. She took me to the room I OK'd it as best I could in 5 min. She told me she'd meet me by my previous room we could go to the new one together. Somehow I needed up waiting for her for 20min only to find out she got tied up when I went to reception once again all my bags in hand. Waited down there for another 10min - then finally escorted up to my 3rd room. --- Night 2 – Room 3 This room finally felt stable. It had a clean mattress, a working safe, functioning lights, and a standing shower that drained properly. The overall condition of the room felt slightly better maintained than the others. However one common theme amongst the rooms was that the hdmi plugs did not work. This room also had an added bonus of a non-functional tv as it was flashing with lines across it. I hope to use the tv to watch Netflix at night before bed. No luck there due to that --- Night 5 – Still Room 3 By this point, I had tried two à la carte restaurants. The Japanese restaurant was excellent. However, the Italian restaurant (Casa Nostra) was a disappointment. The food was mediocre, but I wasn’t surprised. What was shocking: after finishing my meal, a cockroach ran across the floor from my table to another. Then, moments later, another one. I work in the restaurant industry — I understand these things can happen, especially in tropical areas — but these were not large tropical palmetto bugs. They were standard cockroaches, and seeing multiple in such a setting is unacceptable. I quickly left. Later that night, unfortunately, the roach theme continued — this time in my room. I spotted several (about 3–4) baby cockroaches, primarily around the bathroom and toilet area. At this point, I had no energy to settle for another infested space. --- Night 6 – Room 4 (The Level – Adults Only) The next morning, I returned to customer service. As I approached, a woman at the desk immediately said, “There’s a line” in a rather dismissive tone. Already frustrated, I decided to speak with my Sunwing/Nexus rep instead. She was receptive and friendly, and after hearing everything, she accompanied me to customer service and went directly to the manager. He apologized and finally offered an upgrade — something that perhaps should’ve happened days earlier. I gathered my things and was escorted to the Level Adults Only section. --- Nights 6 & 7 – Room 4 This room was a clear upgrade — cleaner furniture, a better-maintained bathroom, nicer amenities, and better pool and beach access. But sadly, the roaches remained. That first evening, I returned to find three more — one by the toilet, one by the safe, and one near the coffee machine. I used up an entire bottle of body bug spray over the course of this vacation. I kept my belongings packed tightly in my suitcase and did my best to enjoy the beach and daytime activities. Unfortunately, on my final night, I encountered a large cockroach near the toilet — this one with a visible egg sac. I managed to flush it after spraying it with bug spray. Just when I thought I’d seen the worst, I turned on the lamp near my bed to head to the bathroom — and there it was. Another large roach on my nightstand. That was it. I didn’t sleep a wink. I left the lights on all night, and the room reeked of bug spray. Any sense of rest or relaxation this vacation was supposed to offer was completely gone. I have never written a review this long in my life. I truly wanted to enjoy this trip — and the beach and daytime experiences were wonderful — but repeated sanitation and pest issues made this stay incredibly disappointing. With the right investment in room upkeep and pest control, this resort could be a standout. But until those basic standards are addressed, I cannot recommend it.

Iberostar Origin Bella Vista Varadero: Trip with Friends

The photo of the resort is deceiving beach no longer looks like the picture following a storm. Service is hit and miss. Good service in certain areas - snack bar and Star Prestige area but pool bar and lobby bar very slow and tend to ignore you most of the time while they talk. Food in buffet and al carte was often cold. Food in the Star Prestige area was good. Ran out daily of soft drinks and juices but had them the next day. Seemed like they were rationing. Room was tired and run down. T [... read more]oilet constantly ran. Nothing in the room minibar (have never seen that) and in Star Prestige they would not give you drinks to take back to your room. Acquiring fresh towels for the room and beach was difficult. They were always out early morning and nothing further available during the day. The only highlights were being with our friends and the resort put on and amazing Canada Day celebration with good food, music and entertainment and followed a few days later with a Cuban Day. If the rest of the week had been at that level my review would be different. This resort could be so much better if they addressed the above inadequacies. We had only been in Varadero three weeks before st a resort three minutes away and hsd a fabulous time - good service, beautiful room and good food and drinks. Unfortunately, we will.not return to Iberostar Origin Bella Vista.

Iberostar Origin Laguna Azul: Love this resort

Staff is wonderful! The food is what it is but won't starve. Had eggs everyday for breakfast. The have fruit, cheese, pasta, pizza, fish, pork, chicken, all sorts of different salads. Rooms are good. Beautiful pools and beach.

Resonance Musique Varadero: Close to the beach

Room was clean and there was always hot water. Food was plentiful and the ala carte meals were great. The snackbar had a limited menu. Staff were amazing and helpful. Beach was clean. There was no vodka but there was plenty of beer wine and rum. The swimup bar thru the waterfalls and the waterslide were awesome.

Iberostar Origin Playa Alameda: Fantastic service

Resort itself was great. Good service rooms were clean à la carte restaurants were a little tough to get in, but we managed. The only issue I ran into was lack of toilet paper, which I’ve never run into my previous four times to Cuba

Royalton Hicacos Resort and Spa: Nice resort

Overall, I enjoyed my stay at the Royal Hikakus Hotel. Of course, it’s a bit different from Blau Varadero. Blau Varadero has more activities and a tall central building where you can see everyone, which gives it a more social and lively atmosphere. At Royal Hikakus, the layout is different—the cottages are spread out across the property, so there’s a bit more walking involved. The food was excellent, and I really appreciated the 24/7 coffee service—that was a great touch. At first, we were [... read more] given a room that we didn’t like. It was quite dirty, with stains all over the walls, and the TV wasn’t working, so they had to replace it. Eventually, they moved us to a better room with a nice view of the pool, which we liked much more. The shows at the hotel were okay, but they were mostly the same each night and focused mainly on singing. It would have been nice to see more variety in the entertainment. As for the services, compared to Blau Varadero, Royal Hikakus doesn’t have a sauna, and the massage services are paid, which was a bit disappointing. But overall, it was a good stay, and we appreciated the improvements after the room change.

Resonance Musique Varadero: horrible

If you enjoy needing a tip for any service, slipping in vomit and urine, while being served food that is not edible, go there. Take a taxi, 20 US dollars, all the smiles are fake, they just want their "tips". So it isn't all inclusive; you sure do need to pay the staff for basically nothing. While avoiding other Canadians who constantly harass you for cigarettes or cash, as they did not come prepared. Horrible experience,

Sol Caribe Beach: Disappointed

My safe in the room had low battery. I had to call 6 times to get it open. The first time, the technician said that the batteries were low. He just reversed them. The next day again and it was like that for 6 days in a row. They finally put new batteries on the day before leaving. On some of the occasion I had to wait in my room 3-4 hours to get it open. The receptionist was at time rude….. This resulted in ruining my plans for the days. As an exemple, We planned to go swim at the dolphin [... read more]s park, we missed it. My money was locked in the safe. I even missed breakfast twice. The food was not at par for an hotel that qualified themself has luxury. The restaurant a la carte food was horrible and very little choice at the snack bar, like overcooked pasta with plain tomato sauce. I thought Mélia hotel was luxury. I don’t think so. Never again. Book Iberostar, it’s much better. They ruined my holiday. I was very mad and they didn’t even apologize.

Resonance Blu Varadero: Resonance Blu Varadero

Relaxing and Enjoyable Stay – Will Return! I recently stayed at this resort and had a wonderful experience from start to finish. The overall setup of the property is excellent — well-organized, clean, and easy to get around. The beach was beautiful, clean, and perfect for relaxing or taking long walks. One of the highlights was the newly renovated rooms and bathrooms. Everything felt fresh, modern, and very comfortable. The attention to detail really made a difference and added a nice touc [... read more]h of luxury to the stay. The staff were truly fantastic. Friendly, helpful, and always smiling — they really added to the positive atmosphere. It’s clear that the people working here care about guest satisfaction, and it shows in every interaction. There was a relaxed, welcoming vibe throughout the resort, making it easy to unwind and enjoy every day. Whether lounging by the beach, enjoying meals, or simply resting in the room, everything felt just right. Even though not fully renovated yet the renovated part show's quality of the accommodations and the warmth of the people. I would absolutely recommend it to others and look forward to visiting again.

Iberostar Selection Varadero: June 2025 girls trip

Loved this place. Went close to 20 Years ago and loved it and it is just as nice today. The only thing that would make it so much better is if they could figure out how to make cocktails. That was the only disappointment. The place is spotless and has great service from all the staff.

Iberostar Selection Varadero: Fantastic Time once again

It was great to see the improvements just from a year ago. Food seemed much tastier. Pastries were delicious. Omelletes every day. An ice cream truck was just added near the pool and they just finished building a big terrace set up with picnic tables in front of two containers that were serving drinks and lunch. The beach was fantastic, no seaweed and waves only on one day but they were fun! There were mosquitos, but Off worked fine. There was plenty of entertainment. Opera singers one ni [... read more]ght, amazing pianist in the lobby every evening. Live band accompanying the show every night. The restaurant food was much improved over last year, especially the Mediterranean restaurant. The staff were all welcoming and so nice. Yoany in the buffet restaurant should be made manager. I’ve never seen anyone work so hard with such a smile! He never stopped running. Yeny in the reservations office was very helpful. Our maid kept our room spotless and we had turn down service at night so received new towels twice a day where needed. The only drawback was that almost every bathroom only had one working toilet and there were no toilet seats at all in the lobby bathroom. However that will not deter us from returning!

Memories Jibacoa: An unforgettable getaway at Memories Jibacoa!

My stay at Memories Jibacoa was absolutely incredible from start to finish. The resort is perfectly nestled between the mountains and the sea, giving it a peaceful and truly unique atmosphere. The beach is stunning — soft sand, crystal-clear water, and great snorkeling right off the shore. The staff were exceptional: warm, welcoming, and always going the extra mile to make us feel at home. Special shoutout to the entertainment team who kept things fun without being over the top. The food was  [... read more]surprisingly varied for an all-inclusive, with delicious options every day and fresh local ingredients. Our room was spotless and well-maintained with a beautiful view. We especially loved the quiet, adults-only environment — it was the perfect place to relax and recharge. I highly recommend Memories Jibacoa for anyone looking for a tranquil, beautiful, and friendly escape in Cuba. Can’t wait to come back!

Blau Varadero: Blau Varadero is the top hotel

Since January 2025 the hotel improved in terms of hospitality and vaiety of food. It's major improvement and the staff is the reason we always come back to Blau Varadero. It's the staff, it is the entertainment and the quality of food.

Starfish Varadero: Great for the Price

We booked this resort last minute as we needed the beach and this did not disappoint. The grounds are beautiful and mature. We stayed in a bungalow and loved the location close to the beach. As it was a low occupancy week (thus the price) the chairs at the pool and on the beach were plentiful. I think we had the best stretch of beach compared to surrounding resorts. As this was Cuba there were limited selections at the buffet, often no ice at the bar and basically only rum most times. There was  [... read more]one buffet and a snack bar at the pool. We went to the other 'quiet' pool which was empty and had it to ourselves when we needed a beach break. Staff were fantastic and made the vacation.

Starfish Cuatro Palmas: Great resort i am being still going after 10 year!

The hotel staff is great as per the food. The hotel is a bit old but the emplacement is just amazing. The beach is just amazing, probably the best beach of all Cuba with amazing color... Can't wait till I go back!

Iberostar Origin Playa Alameda: Torn

I've been to Playa Alameda many times. The staff as usual are wonderful. Unfortunately, through no fault of their own, the economy in the aftermath of COVID and the relentless suffocation from America has left them with very little to work with with. It is still labelled a 4.5 star but in all honesty, it runs like a 3.5 star: the bedding was never changed, the towels changed periodically, the room filled with mosquitoes, the toilet paper frequently missing, no sugar sometimes, no butter so [... read more]metimes, broken coffee machine sometimes, etc., etc. A person who had never been to this resort probably wouldn't return. Those loyal to the resort and people like myself might also think twice. It's better to label it 3.5 so that people know what to expect and they can accommodate.

Club Tropical: Quiet

Not bad. Small wuiet. Food is not good. Drinks not good mix for drinks not available. Hard to get ice and water. Workers nice and polite. Grounds nice beach nice pool nice but needs food to be displayed . People with allergies have to be very careful eating anything .,

Club Tropical: Quiet

Not bad. Small wuiet. Food is not good. Drinks not good mix for drinks not available. Hard to get ice and water. Workers nice and polite. Grounds nice beach nice pool nice but needs food to be displayed . People with allergies have to be very careful eating anything .,

Starfish Cuatro Palmas: Room

I love this hotel but I didn’t get the room I requested. I had requested standard so that I could be in the main building. I got colonial instead and it was far from the main building. They say it’s an upgrade but it is not at all. I hope that next time I request standard that I receive it! Por favor!

Sanctuary at Grand Memories Varadero: great stay, BUT...

I would love to write a glowing review about Sanctuary at Grand Memories, but one problem stands in my way. Before I address that problem, I wish to say that I am a friend of Cuba, and I do not like to complain. I am in solidarity with the Cuban people. Unlike unhappy tourists, I did not find cockroaches, stained sheets, or faulty AC. My room was beautiful, clean, spacious, and comfortable. The AC was modern. A bottle of Rum was provided as a gift. All of this, at a price that could not even [... read more] purchase airfare anywhere else. I ate at the Ave del Paraiso restuarant daily. The chef, Eduard, was creative and often made something out of nothing.. Every evening, at least one course would have made any top restaurant proud. TIP# 1: Do not tip in Canadian coins. They are not legal currency in Cuba. Since a Canadian $5 bill is a large tip, buy US $ and leave a 1-2$ tip. It will be greatly appreciated. Please do this, so that Good Samaritans like me, don't have to undo your damage by buying up coins with bills. The staff at Sanctuary were most helpful. I would include Rosana and Lia, but especially Jenny. She is a problem solver. When I explained my predicament, she came up with a plan, where the beach, the pool, the restaurant, a bar, and the small Sanctuary lobby were all a short walk. I had everything I needed, but not everyting I wanted. So, what was the problem? The property had advertised shuttle transport for mobility challenged guests like myself. I counted on this. I cannot walk the distance to the main resort at Grand Memories. I only passed through the main resort on the first and last days. I questioned several staff to make sure I had the story right. It would seem that the two shuttle carts have been needing new batteries for 2-3 months. No solution is in sight. I know how many repairs compete for the government dollar, but you cannot afford to lose valuable customers. TIP # 2: If you wish to conplain, go to Dubai and pay for the priviledge. If you have any empathy for the Cuban people, share their hardships. BUT... to the management I would say, tourism has already fallen by 30% this year. Do not alienate your best supporters.