Playa Vista Azul: Comfortable and breathtaking scenery and ocean.

Grounds of the hotel very well kept. Lobby and surrounding areas always kept clean. Beautiful pool with oceanic scenery. Lobby bathrooms could use a little more attention i e ongoing care. The staff at the lobby, bars, pool coffee shop, late night snack bar, buffet dining absolutely fantastic. Shows were good could use more improvement. However, some negative points 1- Reservations at the restaurant should not be only for priviledged guests, non-priviledged guests had line ups which were [... read more] huge and frustrating, it took us two days to get into Limoncello. I thought that was ridiculous. Staff needs to be more friendly in the restaurants. The only staff that impressed us was in the Caribbean restaurant. David in the buffet was amazing, attentive and always smiling. This young man made our breakfasts very pleasant. He needs to be recognized. 2- Room service - Stingy with towels, otherwise our maid was fantastic. 3- Lastly maintenance - we had no lighting in the corridor outside our rooms (we had 2) this we reported on the first day and till the last day no one came to change the bulbs, poor maintenance and we were always in the dark late at night returning to our rooms. We had to use our cel phone light to fit our room key in the door.

Melia Peninsula Varadero: Awesome Resort

We had a wonerful time..the resort is one of my favorites...the food was great we didn't love everything but enough to keep us filled and happy...the resort is clean.. entertainment was great we enjoyed Alberto very much ...our fridge was stocked daily with water pop ans beer..Liane took care of our room it was always clean and fresh loved her little figures made of towels and blanket I really have no negative comments..I would go back again one day

Starfish Jibacoa: Relax Already

First time at Villa Jibacoa. We arrived late evening from Toronto to our bungalow. As the buffet was closed there were two ham and cheese rolls, a bottle of water and a bottle of rum in the fridge to greet us. Nicely spaced out grounds, good walkways and access for anyone with mobility issues. Food was hot and fresh. Not a breakfast or lunch eater but the lobby bar had the best coffee. Heard some people complain they ran out of eggs at the buffet some breakfast times. The two offsite restauran [... read more]ts offered amazingly huge rock lobster dinners with shrimp or smoked pork or grilled fish with shrimp, fried plantain, salad, traditional rice and beans (con gris) and a drink for 15-20 CUC ($15-$25). Three of us had lobster and mojitos for 42.50 CUC. Please don't forget to tip. One person could not eat out for that in Canada. My friend is a certified scuba diver and said the reef is amazing. Go out with the Master Diver and a small group for 25 CUC (wet suit, tanks and mask included). You won't be disappointed. Took our niece for Reading Week. Her first trip to Cuba. She was blown away by the cultural experiences. And they now have WiFi for those who can't disconnect. Many beach loungers were broken but they were working on replacing them throughout our two week stay.

Memories Jibacoa: Jibacoa - beautiful

The Breezes Jibacoa is a beautiful quiet hide away on the north coast of Cuba. Only an hour from Havana. The buildings are beautiful and not over the top. It is the people that make this such a wonderful place to stay. Is the food the best you have ever had - no. Is it the most modern place you can find - no. Is it a great place for a quiet, warm, comfortable, week away - yes.

Paradisus Princesa Del Mar: Great vacation!

This was my third visit to this resort and absolutely love it!!! Great service from all of the staff. Fabulous beach! Royal Service upgrade is worth every penny. We were made to feel like family.

Iberostar Origin Laguna Azul: No so good

First room smelled musty and mold on furniture - changed room twice - food not good buffet was crazy loud and long lineups for food but friendly staff and loved the beach and pools front desk tried their hardest to please people city bus employees very very rude first but loved seeing the town of veradero

Iberostar Origin Laguna Azul: a lot to love with a few caveats

I don't want to write a complainy review of this resort, we had an absolute blast here, but there are a few less-than-ideal things you should know before booking. starting with the good stuff - the beach is amazing, the food was actually pretty good (I was expecting a lot worse but found something enjoyable at every meal), and the resort is a perfect size for me - big enough that it rarely felt crowded but small enough that it wasnt a pain to get around. The staff are generally really good,  [... read more]a few will go above and beyond to help you out or make you feel special, dont expect them to be tripping over themselves to serve you (this is cuba afterall) but we were generally pretty happy with the staff. the downside is really a shame - Less than ideal is the situation at the lobby. There is nobody around to tell you where to go or where anything is. We werent even directed to the porters and ended up dragging our own luggage accross the resort to our rooms when we finally were able to check in, which took ages as they seem perpetually understaffed there. The only experience I had with a staff person that I would characterize as 'rude' was also with one of the desk staff. And this resort seems to have a lot of rooms that are just plain bad. Like everywhere in cuba the resort is showing its age a bit generally, but there are rooms in this resort that fail to meet even the tempered expectations you should have for Cuba. There is a very good chance that they will put you in a room without basic amenities on your first night. Our first night our plumbing didnt work, our fridge didnt work, and most troubling of all, we were on the ground floor with a sliding balcony door that couldnt lock (there was a rusted metal bar that was jammed into where the lock mechanism should have been, so that was the way to open and close it), and there was no door on our safe. We asked to be moved and they accommodated us with (mostly) no trouble - we had to wait until the next day to move and it really felt like that was business as usual for them, that they use these rooms as 'overflow' while they are waiting to clear out that days check-outs. We spoke to other people staying at the resort and many other people had the same experience, that they were put in an unacceptable room on their first night and had to ask to be moved. So to be clear - the room we were moved to was great and the rest of the experience after our first night was also great, but the first impression you get from this place is really really bad. If I had been prepared for this check-in process and the general lack of service available in the lobby I would have no complaints. Its good value and the fact that the beach, food and service is so good are all reasons to consider this place, but you need to be prepared for your first experience there to be an unpleasant one if you are going to give this place a go.

Melia Las Americas: Lovely setting.

Beautiful beach and swim friendly water. Ample shade areas. The hotel and public areas are attractive and well serviced with bars and restaurants. Our room was showing its age regarding decor and the bathroom is certainly past its prime. Our section of the 3rd floor had annoying odours. The food was better than expected, I particularly enjoyed the grill section for fresh meat and fish. Overall a pleasant holiday.

Starfish Varadero: Never again to this resort

The resort is not suitable at all for a family with children and strollers. everywhere there are stairs. all rooms and buildings are not served with elevators accept one building which has very old rooms with miserable situation but we had to stay in because of the stroller. elevators are super small for a person with a stroller! People there were friendly and trying their best to help. but the building itself is really bad.

Melia Peninsula Varadero: NOT HAPPY GUEST

THE GROUNDS WERE VERY NICE WOULD HAVE HELP IF THEY WOULD HAVE SIGN WHERE THINGS WERE GOING TO THE POOL AREA THE BEACH AREA EVEN THE ROOMS SOME OF THE SIGNS DIDN'T HAVE NUMBER OF THE ROOMS AND THEY ARE ALL THE SAME.. THE RESORT RESTAURANTS WERE GREAT BUT THE DAILY breakfast and lunch or even dinner buffet wasn't very good same food and didn't like the idea that the fish was out and not cover along with the meat they did have cold plates to keep them cold but not cover (with Birds flying over eve [... read more]rything in the food area all the time) didn't see Vegetable out at all. the only meals that were great was when we went to the on site restaurants . the front desk staff were not nice when we got there the rooms were not ready which is ok but we were up since 2 am as we have 3 hrs drive from the airport to be there 3 hrs a head of time we got at the resort around 11:30 am but when we got there they wanted to keep our passport to keep our room which didn't make since we said no we will hold them they said to come back at 4 pm which we did when we got to out rooms in which there were 3 rooms for 7 of us they were not the room that were on there web site when booking nothing was our room didn't have lamps shades, the beds were terrible one of the bed we asked to change as my sister hips were sore after sleeping one night on it ( which they did after telling them ) the housekeeping was ok we were left with no towel the 2nd day I called the front desk 4 time over 5 hrs and we didn't get the towels until 7 pm had to use our beach towels for a shower that night for dinner really not much entertainment was there we were in our rooms at 9:30 or 10 pm each night and the only entertainment that we seen was dancing a 2 songs that they sang they did have music going in front of the food and bar service we did go off the resort and took a bus to town and that was nice when ready to leave we had to be out of rooms at noon and we didn't get our bus back to the airport until 5 pm it was late but checking out we asked if we could keep the beach towels so we could swim and the answer was leave your passport for the towel the towels were worth about $4.00 each didn't make since we check out and waited for the bus for 5 hrs this was my first trip to Cuba and for a 5 start resort it wasn't worth the cost of $1190.00 I was very upset and very disappointed and having the front desk and the housekeeping service the way they were was a disappointment.. I left something for the housekeeping everyday that I took with me and still was treated this way we did tip all the waiters and waitress even after we were treated the way we were not all the staff was bad the bar staff and servers were good very sad having my first trip to Cuba leaving a bad taste Betty P

Melia Las Americas: Loved Our First Cuba Trip

The hotel was good, staff was excellent and made our stay special! We plan to return for another stay in the future!! The rooms were adequate, beds need to be upgraded. The beaches were well keep and very safe. Really liked the fact we could walk to golf course!!!

Melia Varadero: Great vacation!

We loved this resort! The beach was great and was such a close walk from the main building. The water was turquoise with soft sand leading into the shallow area that went pretty far out. The staff was so friendly and helpful anytime we needed assistance with anything. The entertainment was fantastic and the bartenders were skilled (especially the mojitos). We thought the food was good, especially the Mexican restaurant & it was easy to make dinner reservations. It’s not a large resort and it w [... read more]asn’t crowded even though it was at capacity during our stay. All in all a great experience so we will definitely be back.

Paradisus Princesa Del Mar: Great resort

The grounds were very nice as was our room. Food was good and plentiful however not much selection in fresh fruit, other than pineapple and watermelon and very little fresh vegetable such as green lettuce salad. The bread selection was amazing as were the selection of food stations - pasta bar, seafood, grilled meats. No reason to be hungry. I would like to have seen some type of food offering at/near the beach however there was a 24 hour restaurant always available. Excellent entertainment. Goo [... read more]d service. Not much english spoken by support staff. Unfortunately the pool was not heated so although there was a great swim up bar and lots of room at the pool, the water was too cold and very few guests were in the pool.

Barcelo Solymar: Resort to return to

The food was of good quality and extensive selection. There was. O la k of musical entertainment. Staff were all very pleasant. I have travelled to Varadero seven times and this was my third stay at this resort.I would go back again. Rooms are dated and bathroom need some serious updating, but they were clean and functual. If you are looking for a good value for your money this is it

Melia Peninsula Varadero: Disappointing Stay

I found that the resort was very dated and we had issues with our rooms from the moment we arrived. The key cards frequently stopped working which forced us to re-program them, the shower leaked an awful amount with each shower and resulted in the entire bathroom floor to be covered in water, the air conditioning unit frequently stopped working, and the phones did not work which was a huge safety hazard. On multiple days we were not given towels for our bathroom. The maid also did not clean the  [... read more]room once while we were there and simply made our beds and that was it. The fridge was also not stocked for 3 days. Besides the issues with the rooms, the resort itself was very lacking. There was very little entertainment which is a huge difference from other Cuban resorts I have previously stayed at. The 6 days we were there, there was only 1 night where there was entertainment on the main stage. The only options throughout our stay were to go to the beach, the lobby, or the pool. Nothing inherently wrong with this, but it would have been nice to have some variety. The buffet restaurant was also very limited. There was a lack of vegtebale options, and every day offered the same food. The staff was also rude quite often and treated us like a burden.

Barcelo Solymar: Average resort

The hotel is rated 4 stars probably by Cuban standards. I would give it 2 1/2. The staff are friendly especially the ones at the Buffet. Our cleaning person, Judith, did a great job in making sure our room was cleaned properly every day. We were aware of the food before we went to Cuba so there were no surprises. The Hotel seems to cater to a younger crowd which we don't object to them enjoying themselves but running and yelling in the hall at 2:30 in the morning is a little much. The noise car [... read more]ries and I'm sure that the front desk would be aware but security seemed non existent. Our orientation with the Sunwing rep the day after our arrival was more about the tours and nothing about the amenities at the resort. It took us a few days to find out about activities and entertainment, etc. We took a day tour to Havana weren't that impressed with that particular tour and were rushed to get us back to the resort without any break.

Barcelo Solymar: Great Atmosphere!

This hotel was very clean. I think in the last 10 visits to Cuba it was the first time we didn't have to change rooms because of bad odors or awful room. Reception was full of smiles and accommodating. Food was OK, I am not a fish eater so it was hard to find something I liked. The pork and chicken were cooked right. Pasta sucked big time, can someone show them how simple it is to make a good pizza dough and toppings. Over cooked pasta every day. To much tipping was expected from us. The exchang [... read more]e rate was horrible, on th ebus ride over they said it was gonna be .73 cents per dollar, but at the hotel it was .66 cents per dollar and at a closer bank it was .70 Cents. If i would walk a little further to the city bank it would be .73cents. How the heck is their dollar better than ours? The beach and sun was fantastic. CUBA is a beautiful place to visit. I never expect to eat well when we go so I am not missing anything. We go for the sun and beach.

Roc Arenas Doradas: Great time, amazing place, great family

What can I say about ROC Arenas Dorades... It was AMAZING.. the place is amazing, we had such a great time... The staff there are like family and they treat you like family. Our room was in building 2 nothing really wrong with it other than it's dated... I see building 3 is renovated but for the amount of time you spend in the room it's great. The beach is great water is so clean and clear... If you are a beach person you will absolutely love it and never want to leave. The pool is big  [... read more]and was never crowded. Only downfall there isn't enough shade around the pool so if you want a shade spot you need to grab the chairs early in the morning under the huts. They do have umbrellas around the pool but as the sun moves you will need to readjust. The food can be as expected... Never went hungry that's for sure but some things need more flavour. The Mini club staff are amazing they love the kids and make it fun for them . I went with a 9 & 6 year old and they had so much fun. Best lunch spot is the BBQ by the beach... Fridays Cubana day was so much fun as well! I can't wait to go back will definitely be booking here again... Just an FYI. Bring extra sun screen and if you are the type of person to get bitten by sandflies definitely bring bug spray and itch relief cream. I was eaten alive but out of 7 people on my trip I was the only one!

Hotel Tuxpan: One of the best experiences in our lives we hope to do it again at our most favorite resort it was like a little piece off paradise and heaven on earth.

I would like to take this opportunity to tell everyone what a great time we had in Cuba at the Tuxpan. The food was delicious. The staff are amazing and kind. The beaches are awesome. I myself had to have some doctoring while I was there. The doctoring was also fantastic. Never would I be afraid to acquire their help if needed again. Our travel agent and airline were also excellent. Overall we had a fantabulous time. Would we do it again. You betcha in a New York minute. Thankyou for making our [... read more] vacation one we will never forget.

Melia Marina Varadero: Average resort not 5 stars

Excellent beach, very average rooms and facilities, the resort needs upgrading and the service is not up to standards. This resort needs major upgrades both indoors and out doors. The staff need to be trained better on how to help and serve the customers in a proper way.