Barcelo Solymar: Not a terrible resort...I would go again

The Barcelo Solymar wasn't terrible however there were certainly a few things that were unsatisfactory. The biggest complaint I have would be with the people at the check-in/out desk. When we arrived we were early so we knew we wouldn't get our room until after the check-in time. This was fine because we were able to store our luggage in a safe spot. What wasn't fine was when we finally got our room. The room itself was pretty standard for what you would expect at a 3.5 star resort (beds were no [... read more]t that comfortable, bathroom needs to be upgraded as it's weathered, nice pillows) but we only had a fitted sheet on our bed. We went back down to the front desk since they would not answer our 3 attempted calls and let them know we didn't have any bedding on our beds other then a fitted sheet. The lady there told us they were aware but someone would be up to give us one in a couple hours. We went back to our room a few times and still there was no other sheets. Again, we attempted to call down to the front desk but no one answered, so again, we went back down and let them know we needed some sheets. After our 4th time doing this and we were ready for bed they finally had maid come to our room. The maid showed up with ONLY a thin sheet for each bed. This was certainly NOT enough to keep us warm. We tried to explain to the maid that this thin sheet was not enough to which she became angry. We finally found some old looking blankets that were not even large enough to fit the bed and used those for the entire week. The resort itself was clean, the rest of the staff was extremely friendly. Try to tip the cooks, the staff that goes around the pool cleaning it up and the cleaning ladies on the first floor that clean the floors and bathrooms! The food was not great but that's Cuba. Go out to the restaurants or get the street meat. We went out every night to the bars/clubs and had the best time. I will probably look at another resort however what I did really like about this one was the location and of course the beach!!

Melia Peninsula Varadero: Not a 4 star

The resort is an older one. Some parts of the resort were dangerous with nails sticking out of posts. There was a rickety rotten bridge that we had to cross twice a day to get back and forth from our room. I twisted my ankle twice while I was there. The hotel kept running out of essential items. No bowls or spoons at the Breakfast Buffet. No tonic at the bar. There is only one coffee machine for the whole of the resort so if you wanted coffee at lunch or dinner you had to line up at the bar. [... read more] The bathrooms in the lobby kept running out of toilet paper and there was only 1 soap dispenser for about 10 cubicles. On the upside the landscaping was well kept and lobby is very comfortable.

Iberostar Origin Laguna Azul: Disappointing

Iberostar Laguna Azul is definitely not a 5 star hotel, at best, maybe a 3 star. The hotel rooms are run down with mold in the bathrooms and some rooms have no working air conditioning or ceiling fans. Our bathroom had no bar on the wall to hang the shower head on, so showering was a challenge. In our first room the air conditioner did not work and when we complained the front desk staff was rude and unhelpful the first day, said they would send a mechanic to fix it, no one showed up. The next  [... read more]morning we were more forceful and insisted that they had to move us to a room where it worked. The railings on the staircases are broken and very loose. The pool had many missing tiles and broken tiles were left on the bottom so you had to be careful where you stepped. There was a lot of algae in the pool which made the tiles slippery to walk on. overall the pools needed work. The grounds were very well kept and beautiful. The food was plentiful and varied. There was always something for everyone to eat even if they were a picky eater. The desserts were amazing. Lots to choose from. Plenty of different juices and smoothie type drinks. Overall the staff were very friendly (except the front desk check-in girl) and extremely helpful. Even the Air Transit rep was friendly and helpful. We had to cancel a trip because of stomach issues and got a full refund. Would I return to this resort? Never, I paid for a 5 star and feel it was very misrepresented. Many of the people we spoke to felt the same way. This is my 5th trip to Cuba, and my first time booking a supposedly 5 star hotel.

Playa Vista Azul: Not impressed

Beach was far away with no washroom close by. Pool bar and lobby were nice but I love my beach time. The food was cold unless you stood in line for the pasta, stir fry or omelette😳 A la carte were on a first come first serve so unless you were priveledge it could be a long wait with nothing special on your plate in the end.

Hotel Bella Costa: Lovely stay

This resort was really nice. A great location on the beach, good amenities, and the food was surprisingly good! Staff was really nice. Unfortunately they always ran out of mint for mojitos but the ones they did make were the best! The rooms itself were run down: ceiling caving in, bathtub had pain chipping, couldn't keep shower head standing up, water constantly running, soap was cheap and awful. I would come back again, but only if the rooms were nicer. Otherwise there are so many other  [... read more]resorts you can go to.

Hotel Tuxpan: Great resort, Fabulous vacation!

This resort provided an amazing get away! Did I go in expected a 5 star Hollywood hotel? No. The rooms were comfortable, without being over the top (note: you do not care about the room once you experience the pools, beaches, and people). The staff was AMAZING all week. The food was great, even though I expected subpar cuisine–thanks to many friends' experiences at other cuban resorts (The man who made omelettes every morning was a force to be reckoned with). The resort is beautiful, the pool  [... read more]is well kept, the beaches are unbelievable, the staff were so friendly and truly took the time to get to know you. I honestly cannot say anything negative about this place. My lessons from my first time in Cuba? Stay on the resort to eat more, because the food is at par with the restaurants you pay extra for; you don't always have to go to the beach–the pool is beautiful in its own way and you don't end up with a swimsuit full of sand; and relax, have fun, enjoy the atmosphere and family/loved ones. The shows each night were magical, the drinks were always flowing and even the men who clean the windows take the time to get to know you. I will never gamble on another resort, this place is underrated– which I kind of hope it remains (although these employees deserve the world). Most people only take the effort to review services when they have a bad experience, I felt compelled to express my gratitude to this resort. Thank you for making a week to remember!

Melia Varadero: Beach was gorgeous!

The hotel was fantastic! My friend and I went for 7 days and had the greatest time. We met so many people because we had an open attitude to saying hello to all the friendly travellers and employees. Employees , especially the daily bartender crew were so great! A trip we won’t forget. I’m happy we went into downtown Veradero too. One thing I would say is the bar could use a general upkeep and cleaning as bugs were crawling around. More entertainment needed at the resort. Room had dirty sh [... read more]eet and moldy cup holders but after that everything fine and bathroom was spacious. Enjoyed the volleyball on the beach! Would definitely return to this resort.

Punta Peninsula Varadero: Disappointed

The beach a 5 star, the hotel a 2 star. The hotel and grounds were very nice. The staff very friendly. We did not have high expectations of the food as it is Cuba. What we did not expect was lack of staff, the buffet food ran out and was cold and over cooked. The washrooms throughout were dirty and never had bathroom tissue. This resort has so much potential but a long way to go. Way overpriced and would not return again. Such a shame.

Valentin El Patriarca Varadero: Amazing Resort

This place is awesome. This was our first time to Cuba and this resort was great. The staff were polite and friendly and the food was awesome as they had a great buffet to eat from which included homemade French bread, pizza, pasta bar, seafood bar, dessert bar and many many more food options. The bungalows were clean and well kept and the grounds were very clean and the gardens were looked after very well. I would definitely recommend this place to people.

Melia Varadero: Wonderful time away

Melia Varadero was one of the best resorts I’ve stayed at in Cuba! From the beautiful well-kept beach to the great adventures downtown Varadero, there is something for everyone. My friend and I went mid-March and had a wonderful time. We had a standard room which was nice, bed was comfy, kept very clean, only downfall was the calcium buildup all over the sink handle and in the shower. We did also experience small amount of mold on the cup coasters, otherwise the room was just right! As for [... read more] the rest of the resort, very well kept and clean, service at main lobby bar was ok during the day (bar tenders could have been a bit more lively), but the bartenders at the pool and beach and at the lobby bar are night were incredible, friendly, out going and fun! The food at the buffet was really good, variety was goodt, and service wonderful. The a la carte were very tasty and again service great. The daily entertainment at the beach included volleyball tournaments and aqua aerobics which were a lot of fun, from kids to the elderly partook. The nightly entertainment unfortunatrly I would say the biggest downfall of his resort. The nighty shows /events were not that good, not wel coordianted, and overall boring. In addition for those younger folks (20-35), the resort gets quiet really early around midnight, and the piano bar closes at 1230 AM. However there is a 24-hour snack bar open around the clock with food and drinks but I would advise against the food, not very good. Also, getting to downtown Varadero couldn’t be easier. With a hop on hop off bus for 5 pesos all day (rate and times change at night time) a block or so down the resort, easy and quick to get there and explore the markets and restaurants. And for those interested in the night life in downtown Varadero, couldn’t have asked for more safe and fun experience as 2 young women. La comparsita, la cueve de la pirata, and la bamba are great spots for either live salsa/Latin bands, salsa shows and dance clubs, respectively. Some other highlights: beautiful villa called Masion Xanadu just down the beach past the neighbouring resort (Melia las americas) provides one of the most stunning views I’ve ever seen overlooking the golf course and ocean from the roof top patio in a historical, world heritage site! Shout out to few of the nightly bartenders Dayan, Onedio, and Alexander! So much fun, attentive to service delivery, and kind.

Melia Marina Varadero: Melia Marina Varadero

The grounds were nicely kept; our room was clean and well serviced. The food was flavourless and not well cooked, although there was a wide variety. One had to add black pepper and salt in most cases. PLEASE PUT HOT PEPPER SAUCE ON THE TABLE to give the food some kind of taste! The people were quite friendly, but you got better service if you tipped the bartenders more often. Everyone had their hands out for tips! Tourists are not all RICH people. Many of us have to scrimp and save t [... read more]o have a holiday. And especially since the Cdn dollar is lower than the CUC! So-called, clean towels in the room and for the beach did not smell clean, and looked very grey instead of their intended colour: WHITE! I would recommend this hotel to a friend simply because it is nicely set up, lots of comfortable seatings and has a welcoming feel to it, BUT I would definitely warn them about the food.

Melia Marina Varadero: Nice resort and clean rooms.

The furniture was very dated for just a five year old building. Employees were very nice. Forgot how bland the food is in Cuba. Not very hot either. No music at piano bar. Would be nice to have some kind of entertainment there.

Royalton Hicacos Resort and Spa: Amazing Resort

Recently vacationed here for 9 days. Nothing bad to say. Wonderful people, food and weather. Beach is amazing. Resort easy to get around. Lots of music and entertainment. Thanks to our Butlers Pablo and Angel.

Iberostar Origin Tainos: Tropical paradise

Excellent staff made us feel very welcome and comfortable. The bungalow had good AC, plenty of hot water to shower, and a pretty comfortable if excessively bouncy bed. Our energetic and friendly maid Anna kept it very clean and amazed us with her towel and blanket sculptures. The beach is spectacular and the hotel location halfway down the Varadero peninsula is ideal. The pool area is a tropical paradise, and the staff at the poolside bar (especially Julio) will take great care of you. They wor [... read more]k very hard but love their work and remember to have fun. The grounds are very pretty and well kept. The only downside was our stomachs had a hard time handling the food. It was plentiful and nicely displayed but seemed to disagree with us. We would still return.

Playa Vista Azul: Just Ok

Hotel itself was clean and well maintained. The food was bland and cold the majority of time. Reservations at ala cartes were nor allowed so had to stand in line ups to possibly get in. The beach is on the adjoining property and not out front of this resort and although quite large there is about 12 palapas total so minimal shade and no kayaks or paddle boats.

Muthu Playa Varadero: Our stay was great

The rooms were a little old but the people and the food were great. We met a lot of people and the shows weren't bad. We are going back again in the fall. It was a little cool at the beach but around the pool it was hot. Rooms are close to the beach so not alot of walking. We fould there was a lot of return people that just loved it there.

Hotel Acuazul: Horrible Resort

We got at the hotel at 1am - the room had two balconies.both doors were broken. The glass door of one of the doors was replaced with a piece of wood and the second one was smashed and covered with tape. The headboard of the bad and the bad were broken. The next day after I complained I was given another room but with no water- after I complained again they gave me another room with running water but the room was inhabitable due to the mold. They ended up giving me two rooms - One where to sleep [... read more] and the another one with mold where to shower. Not to mention the food and the dirthiness of the restaurant. Hola Sun rep couldn’t do much on Sunday but on Monday my wife and I moved to Kawama resort paying another $121.54. I need to launch a formal complaint not only to be reimbursed for my extra expenses of changing the resort and the transportation but also to make sure not to send customers to that resort. Looking forward to hearing from you. Lahouari Nimour 647 276 0135

Melia Peninsula Varadero: Not The Best

The Melia Peninsula Varadero seemed to be worn out. The buffet served did not have very many options to choose from especially in the morning. I was expecting wonderful fruit choices, but only had mango and guava. We didn't see a banana the whole week there. They ran out of French fries, hamburgers and hot dogs at the 24/7 snack bar, and could only offer pizza. The bed I slept in was not comfortable at all Holes in lampshades, bathroom door handle broken. The room did not smell fresh. I w [... read more]ould go back to Cuba, but would chose another resort to stay at.

Melia Marina Varadero: Great resort

Dining was okay.The beef was a bit rough.The washrooms need some renovations.Most of them were broken, the locks.The condos were very spacious,but there was a smell of musk. The beach to far.sometimes could find Anyone to drives us.

Iberostar Origin Playa Alameda: FANTASTIC

Rooms were clean, staff were fantasitc, food was great, access to buses to go to town very easy. Highly recommend this resort!! Beach was clean and everything was easy to access. Front staff were very helpfull.