Melia Peninsula Varadero: Would not return to the Melia Peninsula Varadero!

We booked through Tripcentral who were very helpful and friendly to the Melia Peninsula Varadero from April 6-13, 2016 out of Halifax. Maybe it was an off week or something else is going on at this resort but the first time in 10 years of travelling to Cuba I would not return to a resort even if it were free. The flight and transfer with Air Transat was great. Arrived at hotel around 4 but our room wasn’t ready so we head out to get a drink and check out the beach…. We finally get to our ro [... read more]om (Building 27) around 6 pm but only to find it had no towels and it smelled like sewage. We were hoping once the air-conditioning was on it would go away. Wrong! Went back to front desk who sent us to to customer service, where I was asked if I had been to Cuba before… They put an air fresher in our room and drain cleaner which helped some but through out the week the smell would come and go. (Gross) I went to speak with the rep Dominique (Who is very rude) the next morning who told me to go to customer service. I found that if you were French or European, you had it made at this resort. They seem to cater to them. My friend (had been here three times with her husband and family), who traveled with us could not believe the decline in food and service from their last visit. (They also just got back from a Melia in the Cayo Santa Maria area in February). This was the first time I’ve struggled to find something to eat at a resort. Everything was cold and not very appealing. There is a beach buffet that was somewhat better than the main one and a snack bar at the pool. I’m not much of a pizza eater but they did have good ones at the snack bar. There was a server who is a treasure to this resort named Yo yo. He who served us breakfast every morning.. Other than Yo Yo at the snack bar, there was a young lady in the coffee bar and young guy at the theatre bar (didn't get their names) who went out of their way to be friendly and made drinkable drinks, but other than that forget about service. Out of three a-al- Cartes we tried (Cuban, Japanese and Italian) the Japanese was the best and the food was hot. If you want smaller change for tipping they will not give it to you even if they have a drawer full of $1 pesos or coin. I think they expect 3 pesos every time you tip. We took the hop-on-hop-off bus into Varadero a few times and hired a taxi to Havana, which was the highlight of our trip. I really liked Varadero and will return but not to this resort.

Melia Jardines del Rey: Nice Resort, Good Food

We just returned from a week at Melia Jardines del Rey (April 2016). The Good - The infrastructure is exceptional by Cuban standards. New buildings, tennis courts, volleyball courts, huge reception area, pools are beautiful, shaded huts on the beach as far as the eye can see. - Food was really good. Lots of selection at the buffets. Fresh cooked meat, fish, pizza or anything you like. 2 out of 3 a la cartes were great. Didn't like Bistro, but Don Perroni and Aqua were great. - Coffee at lobby b [... read more]ar or any snack restaurant (espresso, cappuccino, etc.) - Very clean - Ice cream shop (although it closes really early so make sure you are there before 4:30pm) Not so Good - Golf cart type work vehicles on the walking paths constantly force you to seek cover beside path. This becomes very irritating after a while - Excessive smoking in lobby area a major problem for non-smokers (no where to go) - Wifi (2 CUC per hour) is extremely unreliable - New resort so newly planted trees are still very small. Not lush grounds compared to other resorts. - Water is beautiful albeit quite rocky. You need to walk down to find a sandy area you can swim. Overall, a very good resort. Would definitely recommend.

Sol Cayo Coco: Beautiful beaches

Great food and friendly staff. Overall resort was clean. Great place if you're looking for a quiet place to getaway and relax. Rooms were clean. Front desk was always helpful. Would definitely return to this resort.

Melia Las Dunas: Unacceptable

The food was terrible, the grounds were not maintained, there was no sign of a vegetable or decent piece of fruit, the "fruity tropical drinks" were made with powder and most of the staff treated you like you were an imposition.

Paradisus Princesa Del Mar: We had a wonderful vacation at Princessa Del Mar!

Overall, it was a very nice experience. We normally choose smaller resorts and although this one was quite large; it did not feel that way and it was not crowded at the pool or throughout the grounds. The restaurants were good, the landscaping was very well cared for and the staff were very friendly and accommodating. We would recommend this resort to a couple interested in an all adult facility.

Melia Las Dunas: great resort

the resort is very large great for walking , has 2 large pool areas adults only and family .Great Beach very long excellent for walks waters is very clear. Rooms are tired looking need work washrooms need Up-Date badly. Our 1 big complaint house cleaning service was definitely the worst we every experience in all our trips

Sol Cayo Coco: Loved it!

This was my first time in Cuba and it definitely won't be my last! I absolutely loved this resort and I will be revisiting very soon. The rooms were okay- not the best, the water pressure was really low- but honestly, who stays in their room anyways? I love the small town feel to this resort- everything was just walking distance away which was awesome. The Beaches were Superb! Best beaches I have seen- and you must take a trip to Pilar. Complete Heaven. Food was great, Drinks were great but even [... read more] more important its' the staff that make this resort. I can't say enough good things about mostly everyone that worked here. The staff is why I will come back because I already miss so many of them! My home away from home :)

Melia Las Dunas: Nice time

Beach was AMAZING, service was GREAT, staff was very helpful when needed, rooms were dated but ok, food was not the best but ok. All in all the vacation was good but could definitely improve in some areas.

Sol Varadero Beach: not impressed

late arrival..flight delayed 2.5 hrs..no staff.. waiting for us..45 mins waiting to find out we got dropped of at wrong resort. .another 2 hrs to got what I'm sure was the last room in the resort...noisey air conditioning. .had to have it fixed. .too exhausted next day to change rooms. hotel very tired..from ceiling tiles missing all together and railings broken on stairways...very dangerous. ..overall worst experience yet in cuba...cubana airlines was another 3hrs delayed on way home... in tota [... read more]l lost over 12hrs in delays.

Paradisus Rio De Oro: Relaxing Holiday

This resort was perfect for us. The rooms were clean, food was best we have ever had in Cuba. Lots of shade to enjoy the beautiful weather and the pool was beautiful. Highly recommend this resort to anyone looking for a quiet getaway!

Melia Cayo Santa Maria: Good deal for the money

Facilities are clean, well maintained. Variety of food is limited but quite tasty. Wi-Fi is practically non existent , Stone Age. Do not take Hola Sun and Cubana Airline, it is guarantied not to be on time.

Paradisus Rio De Oro: Amazing Resort

The resort was absolutely amazing. Food was fantastic, service incredible, resort was stunning - very well laid out and spacious. They even have a small reef to snorkel at (we saw many different fish including barracuda, stingrays, lionfish etc). We did not do Royal Service but heard it was amazing as well. The adults only resort is excellent and very relaxing. We couldn't have asked for a better vacation, everything was spectacular.

Sol Varadero Beach: OK for amount paid

Hotel was clean but very old and in need or repairs. Food was also ok. Pool was warm and just perfect. I was there for the beach which was just awesome!!! Lots of chairs. Friendly staff. My only concern was the fact that the balcony doors do not lock. They said they have had no incidents and I also had no problem but they could even have a piece of wood to block the sliding door.

Melia Cayo Coco: Wonderful vacation!!!

This hotel is just lovely. This was our second time to the Melia Cayo Coco and we enjoyed ourselves just as much the second time. The service is excellent, the food is very high quality with international standards, the staff extra helpful and friendly and the grounds are kept beautifully. The beach is superb with warm and calm Caribbean waters and well maintained sand. The pool area is wonderful too and everything is clean. There is great entertainment at night. If you want a change from the di [... read more]ning room for dining (although it has everything you might want to eat) you can choose to dine at one of the three a la carte restaurants which are just lovely and the food is included in your accommodation. I would recommend this hotel to any of my friends.

Melia Las Dunas: Great Stay week March 24th-April 1st

My Fiancee and I attended Melia Las Dunas the week of March 24th to April 1st and this was our first time to Cuba. We are not hard to please people and found the resort exceeded our expectations. The room was clean and spacious, we did have a few bugs and one cockroach when we arrived but that can be expected being our room was on the ground floor. We requested the adult section ahead of time and were very pleased with that, although some music at the pool near the bar would be a welcome additi [... read more]on. I have 0 complaints with the food, it was amazing but it was good. We never starved, had made to order omeletes every morning for breakfast, the beer garden and beach grill had great lunch options and we were satisfied with the buffet and a la cartes for dinner. My one complaint would be the nightly shows. They are something we always look forward to on vacation and here 5 nights in a row was a ballet show. Although it was nice to see once, we would prefer more interactive, tribute or comedy shows. The beach was beautiful. Beach towels were hit and miss to exchange but you don't need a new towel everyday so weren't bothered by this. Would definitely recommend this resort!

Paradisus Rio De Oro: Perfect Spot to Chill

The beauty of this spot is that everything comes together to form a perfect vacation spot. Huge percentage of guests are repeaters - that should tell you something - some folks were there for the 15-20th time. Guest population is a little older - people under 40 seem to stand out. Lots of opportunity to party if so inclined, but lots of opportunity to chill, relax and recharge. All elements of the offering, from food, to rooms to facilities and services are excellent.

Paradisus Rio De Oro: Amazing Resort

What did you think about this resort? Amazing...in everything...people are very warm and friendly, the beach and ocean view are wonderful, food exquisite, entertainment and trips so well planned, staff very professional and nice.Thank you so much, already miss the place..

Sol Cayo Coco: Wonderful vacation!

We just returned 1 week ago from cayo coco and stayed at sol cayo coco. We loved it. It was simple, clean and comfortable. Everyone was always friendly and helpful. I enjoyed the smaller resort, it was easier to make new friends and get to know the employees. They all work so hard. There is acsess to 2 beaches, we spent our entire time on the beach so I cannot really comment on the pool area. Playa Larga was spectacular. I will return again next spring to the same hotel.

Sol Varadero Beach: As a last minute deal, it was okay

This was our 5th trip to Cuba, 1st to Varadero. The Resort is big, it appears to be 2 resorts under one name/management. There is the Coral side and the Sirenas side. The Sirenas side looks to be in slightly better shape, and we noticed guests tended to go to the buffet more so on that side. The pools and grounds looked fairly well kept, as was the beach. Our stay was the week after March break so they may have been in recovery mode, as the stage venue for evening animation/entertainment was clo [... read more]sed for repair, and a few structures looked like they were undergoing so work. From what we could imagine and were told from return guests, the resort glory days were behind them. Either not enough budget or staff to keep up with everything. One wall in our room had water stains down the side of it, the paint on the bottom of all the doors was peeling, the hallway ceiling was missing sections that exposed rusted and leaking pipes. I feel bad that this review has a negative vibe so far, but the truth is we have been to better 4 star resorts in Cuba and had we paid regular price, we would have been disappointed. Most of the staff were great, that is one thing about all of Cuba, beautiful warm hearted people. The good will always outweigh the bad here, and will always keep us coming back. Things to note about Sol Sirenas Coral: WiFi cards 2 CUC each, good for one hour -long off when done or the remaining time will run out. Money exchange at hotel approx 10 cents higher on the dollar, always better to exchange at bank(s) or airport. The coffee bar produces some of the best tasting coffee, became part of daily ritual. Location is pretty much on the water, nice beach with a beach bar. The Varadero strip to walk is a good hour. Double decker day passes 5cuc per person. Reasonable cab rate varies from 5-10 CUC depending on whereabouts on the strip you are heading. If we returned to Varadero we would most likely look to try a different hotel.

Sol Rio de Luna y Mares: Amazing Beach

The hotel itself need a good upgrade , however the beach and the staff are amazing. We did not like the location on our first room (which was just above the main lobby and bar) because of the noise level. The staff were friendly and had no problems finding us a quieter room away from the noise. The beach has lots of shade trees and is so large it never feels over crowded. My husband and I had a nice relaxing week.