Roc Arenas Doradas: Roc arenas Dorado - great value

I wanted to share this review of Hotel Roc Arenas Doradas on Tripadvisor: https://www.tripadvisor.ca/ShowUserReviews-g147275-d151592-r875858754-Hotel_Roc_Arenas_Doradas-Varadero_Matanzas_Province_Cuba.html

Memories Flamenco Beach Resort: Amazing resort and crew

Amazing experience and amazing crew. The music should be more diverse. I think more that they should announce in advance what activities will be scheduled the new day because we totally miss the only pool even of the week. We didn't know about the event.

Resonance Blu Varadero: Disappointed

Well let me say first that this was our first trip to Cuba and we were told that it might not be quite up to standards but it was worse than I expected. First, we were a party of 5 in 3 rooms. They housed us in 3 different buildings and told us to come back in the morning if we wanted to be moved to be in the same building. It took almost the entire day the next day to get moved. The rooms were relatively clean but missing items. No shower curtain in one, no glasses, no hand towels etc. Gett [... read more]ing these items was quite a chore and took several trips to the front desk. There are supposed to be 6 restaurants on site but 2 were closed and the ones that were open required booking and were booked up. We did manage to book for 2 nights which was also the limit. The rest of our meals were all at the buffet which had long lines for the grill and basically the same dishes every day. Much of the fruit was not ripe and surprisingly there were no bananas. The beach was ok but unfortunately it was cold (15 deg. C) and windy so we didn’t really stay on the beach long on those days. Swimming was closed due to the high surf. The weather improved at the end of the week so we were able to use the beach. The advertising for the resort said there were paddle boats, paddle boards and sail boats. I wanted to go sailing, however, even though I can sail, I was told I had to have one of the resort employees sail the boat which was just a simple catamaran. Maybe they think you are going to sail to Florida. There were no paddle boards available at all and only 2 paddle boats for the whole resort. There was also a severe shortage of chairs on the beach which resulted in people going to the beach early in the morning and “reserving” their chairs with towels or other items. We only managed to find 3 broken chairs. Many chairs were sitting empty with towels on them but we didn’t want to remove the towels. The resort should manage this better. The shows at night were rather repetitive basically with the same show and dancers every night with different costumes. This resort is quite large so there is a lot of walking. They do have golf carts running passengers around but they don’t run as frequently as they should do when they do come they are often full. I wouldn’t recommend this hotel. They call it a 3-1/2 star but I wouldn’t rate it more than 2.

Hotel Los Cactus: The friendliest resort

Cannot say enough good things about it. The resort was in a great location, close to the golf course and close to Varadero downtown. The beach is stunning, our room was huge and clean. The staff was so friendly and accommodating -the most wonderful people we have met in a long time.The buffet had a large variety of tasty food, many nights they had themes. Great entertainment throughout the day and night. We will be back.

Hotel Los Cactus: Met expectations

This resort like most of Cuba had some shortages but nothing that influenced my stay. Some of the areas are dated but my room was large, clean and fully functional. The maid service and all staff are exceptionally friendly. The beach is also exceptional. Nightly entertainment was mostly dance and singing but were also impressive. The disco was closed and some renovations in progress but no disruption of service. Access to town is easy either by taxi or bus that passes the front entrance. Went wi [... read more]th male friends and all were generally very happy. If you haven't been to Cuba expectations need to be managed. We received everything we expected and more!

Starfish Cayo Largo: Great time as usual in Cuba

Wonderful time, the staff is lovely. They take Canadian coins for tips. The sea was beautiful at the hotel for the 2 days but mostly rough- then everybody took a taxi to Sirena, the train ride there is a bit bumpy. Nothing special about COVID protocol, nobody thinks about it. The ocean view room was the best I had in Cuba- no musty smell at all. Those rooms seem to be renovated. The best cleaning lady I ever had. It is my 18 th time to Cuba, second to Cayo Largo. They ask a proof of vaccination [... read more]s at the airport, but not at every flight. Food is Ok, I missed cottage cheese and ice cream.

Memories Jibacoa: A pleasant and welcome Suprise

This resort was likely a great 5 star in its day. It is a beautiful property nestled between some picturesque hills and the shoreline. The facility is older and worn - however...it is maintained and very clean and the staff are what gives this a big cuba 5 stars plus. The food was plentiful and actually tasty (biggest surprise). Our bed was rock hard and the staff rectified the issue immediately. The clientele were for the most part 50 plus and quieter than at most resorts - you could hear yours [... read more]elf talk..at the pool restaurants, lobby etc. The entertainment was great and there was no over the top excessive noise or drunk rude people. The beach was sandy with some areas more with the tiny broken shells and coral pieces... overall - nice beach. The ocean is a snorkel paradise with an abundance of tropical fish and clear water. We really loved it overall... will definitely go back!.... now - that said. If you are looking for a newer un-aged property with parties and loud music - keep looking. If you want beauty with great food and staff and pleasurable relaxation with respectful older clients - Jackpot!

Dhawa Cayo Santa Maria: Amazing resort

This resort exceeded our expectations for sure!! This was probably our 10th time traveling to Cuba but our first time staying at Dhawa and want to say I couldn't be more happy that we choose this resort!! We didn't have very high expectations(just because we knew that because of Covid lockdown we probably shouldn't expect much) but let me tell you, the expectations were very much met and more! Food was tasty(repetitive) but not blend, lots of options for sure at the buffet. If there was someone  [... read more]there saying they were starving or didn't have a choice, I would say they would be crazy!! Bar and drinks- everything you need, can say I have been to DR where they couldn't make me a gin&tonic as they didn't have tonic water but not at Dhawa!! The hotel grounds, absolutely very well kept and beautiful. I will end my review with saying the people made it all overall one of our best trips, everyone was so nice, friendly and always smiling. Thank you to everyone for making our vacation so special, we will definitely return soon.

Valentin Perla Blanca: Amazing spot! Been twice, will return!

The west side was open, east side still mostly closed. The open side and common areas are in great shape and the beach is awesome. The best quality of this resort is definitely the staff. They are so welcoming and friendly, it seems to put all guests in the same frame of mind. I've made several friends. The food is good for Cuba, few shortages. The lobby bar, snack bar and pool bars are always a great place to visit. Rooms are basic but who goes south to sit in the room? Excellent enter [... read more]tainment, beach parties and 24/7 food / drink. I can't wait to get back there :)

Marazul Hotel: Beautiful Resort and beach

I was very happy with the grounds and dining service. The bar was well stocked and people wet very friendly. My only complaint is the VIP service I paid an extra 100.00 for and I did not receive and of this. No beach towel, no ocean front veiw, fridge was not stocked as stated and no Cartier service or the rum as promised when I booked it and the service e desk should have given more information as to the bar on the beach when I arrived and where to go to get a towel ect......

Club Kawama: Not the Best...

***There were people in our group that have been to Kawama before and we went knowing that it isn't the best, but the entertainment, people and beach made it worthwhile...a lot has changed. I will disclaim by saying that we were in Cuba during a time when the whole island had VERRRY limited resources, which is going on still. This is not a reflection on the Cubans, they do what they can with what they have, and have been doing so for decades, it has never been this bad. BEACH: If you are goi [... read more]ng for the beach, than this resort may be for you. White sand, shallow warm water...beautiful. There isn't much shade on the beach and what shade there is, is taken first thing in the morning. Considering we were there with barely 100 people on the resort, those are not good odds. There were beach towels in our room when we arrived. FOOD: Again, there were shortages, and it is Cuba. It was the same food everyday, no toaster, no butter, and barely any veg, plenty of fruit though. We always bring our own condiments, and that is recommended for any Cuban resort, but there was not much to put them on. The snack bar had only fried egg sandwiches and "grilled" cheese, had sporadic hours, wasn't open daily, and/or closed early. Most servers were nice, and attentive but it really depended on who was working and when. DRINKS: The keg lines for beer were unclean, and there was a horrible smell from them and from behind the pool bar. There was rum and liqueurs everyday, and eventually they did have some vodka and gin, but there wasn't much to mix it with. NO bottled water, NO juice, NO white wine, NO whiskey, definitely NO mint for mojitos )eventually they did have red wine in the buffet). ROOMS: If you are going, splurge for the beachfront rooms, at least the beds are comfy, the views from the upper beachfront properties were quite nice and we had three sitting areas, which was also really nice. BUT....broken (sketchy, dirty) lamps, some doors and windows that didn't open or close, horrible slow sinks that smelled, showers that dribbled (happily there was hot water), drawers and side tables still had garbage in them from the last people, stains, and ripped fabrics, unclean floors, spotty A/C...I could go on, and keep in mind that this is in the updated, beachfront rooms. The maid we had for everyday except one didn't change the sheets more than twice in 10 days. There was an "accident" in one of the beds one of the nights (probably because of the food) and it wasn't changed for three days (finally changed when we had a different maid on our regular maids day off). Towels were hung back up and not changed for days (again, possibly due to shortages, but you could feel the sand on them as they had been on the floor previously). Also, only one key card per room, and horrible front office hours. SERVICE (and MANAGEMENT): This was also touch and go...some staff were FANTASTIC, some...not so much. The management is new and a lot of the good staff have since moved on. The return guests have told us that the new management is...not so great, and it shows. ****Watch out for the "Bar" at the front of the property, at the time it was essentially the lobby bar *I believe it is normally the sports bar/clubhouse and is part of the hotel, it is on the canal side road CAUTION: They will not accept cash here, but will take your credit/debit card and tell you it was declined. They got us three times for one order of 5 cans of beer. If you are going to drink there, **PLEASE NOTE that ACCEPTED on the debit machine is "reconocido" in Spanish, or a similar word that looks a lot like declined in English.** The bartender stole away the receipts so we couldn't see that it went through the first time. Very sketchy. "ENTERTAINMENT": LMAO. *** if you value entertainment…this is not your hotel.*** Same music every night and we saw the same magic show four times while we were there. (The hired entertainers do try, and are very nice, it is not their fault). No disco, no daily activities, other than one bingo game by the pool. One of the "activities" staff is overbearing toward not only the visiting entertaining staff, but the guests as well.The "DJ" wouldn't change the music that was played daily and was REALLLY loud, it was happily turned off by promptly 11pm nightly. There were nights when the guests took things into our own hands and everyone was dancing and having fun, with our own music and all of the lights were turned off on us. GROUNDS: This resort is very OLD, one of the first in Varadero, it is also Cuban owned so they are last to receive any and all goods distributed to hotels in the area which explains a lot of the shortages. They are doing updates to a big chunk of the hotel, and while we were there the lobby was closed (Please see note about the temporary "lobby" bar). The pool bathroom was kept very clean, and most of the bartenders try really hard with what little they have. The only bar and meeting area was by the pool, with picnic style tables and uneven wood floors (be sure to wear bug repellent while in this area as it is plagued by little annoying biting bugs). At night the lighting around many areas is spotty (also please by careful of the "moat" around the pool bar area, it is verrryy dangerous, we saw two people fall into it, and happily didn't hurt themselves, but they really could have). There are broken paths and horrible lighting almost everywhere that is not directly by main areas and I would recommend bringing a flashlight. Our experience with Tripcentral (Heather Felice) was excellent. The flight was good and ontime, the transfers were good. Hotel, not so good. Just one family's humble opinion, best of luck.

Royalton Cayo Santa Maria: Wonderful resort and holiday

By Cuba standards I would definitely say this is a 5 star. Please remember where you have come to visit. Food was very good, especially the soups and quesadilla's. Resort is extremely clean and grounds are exceptionally well kept. Staff are very attentive and friendly. The assistant manager and manager were always visible and checking in to ensure your needs were taken care of. There are some staff that went out of their way to make you feel like you truly matter. A shout out to Omar and Michele [... read more] our butlers. Dialya (not sure if I have her name correct) from the lobby bar was the sweetest, as was Natalie our server at the Sunset. The negatives would be lack of hot water and clean beach towels available to trade in. We enjoyed our stay here immensely and look forward to returning.

Melia Las Dunas: Just the girls

The resort and the employees were awesome. Limited English but everyone was very helpful with any issues we had. The staff are very eager to please. The beach is one of the nicest beaches I have ever seen. White sand and turquoise water. The beach was always clean. Limited chairs available. Food was good. I enjoyed the rice & beans, squash and the chicken and pork very much. I will definitely return to Cuba!

Gran Muthu Almirante Beach Resort: Great resort

We have been to Cuba a few times before just not to this resort, so we did have an idea what to expect in Cuba but it was pre-pandemic. Was there for an inexpensive & relaxing vacation first time since 2020. The resort was very clean, outside grounds as well as in the lobby/restaurants. The maids did an amazing job in our rooms, always had fresh sheets/towels and bottled water. The beach was great, clean and beautiful. Just a couple down falls were anyone with mobility issues this may not be [... read more] the place for you. Lots of stairs, even to the beach you take stairs. Yes there are elevators in the buildings but sometimes they were out of order. Also if you are diabetic Cuba may not be the place for you. No diet pop whatsoever. We did ask our rep as well as every bartender and all replied the same, no sorry none available on the island. We were willing to leave the resort to go shopping for some but nope not available. You must remember you are in Cuba and some food and some daily personal need items may not be available, they are still trying to recover from the pandemic. Felt very safe there. Canadian money is preferred. Toonies and loonies not so much but the bills are. They will take u.s. money also. Overall it was a great trip.

Playa Pesquero: Almost perfect

Everything was even more than expected from a country with a 63 years US embargo. The beach is lovely. The pool area is beautiful and very well kept. The gardeners are doing their job perfectly. The rooms are very good, but for someone who visited luxury places may not like it. Food is good and enough. Just don't go before closing if you want to have a choice. The most beautiful experience was outside the resort when I took a trip to see how the local people live. They never ask you, but if you  [... read more]give them a small gift they are very thankful and you can feel, it comes from their hearts.

Playa Pesquero: 10th time back

just got back from 9 days, was excellent weather, supplies are dwindling, no chicken, beef , only pork, getting little sick of that, breakfeast good, but we come back for the people, most honest and loving people and will do what ever they can to make you time there enjoyable, be heading back in March with family, cant wait""

Iberostar Selection Ensenachos: A Magical Place in a Nature Reserve

This is a great place which we have been to 6 times since we started there in 2019. We have stayed in Megano/Spa section most of the time but did try one visit to the Coral Village last March. While the Village was good, we found it to be a bit isolated from the rest of the resort facilities and the internal shuttle wasn't reliable. Initially the Spa section was adult only but it is now open to families. There are 2 beaches Megano and Ensenachos which are both beautiful and have great snorkelli [... read more]ng. Megano has a great restaurant/grill while Ensenachos has only a beach bar. The pool in the Spa section is beautiful day and night. Staff as always are what makes these places special. The food is generally quite good with lots of choice in the buffet. The a la carte restaurants are limited currently to one with a rotating menu due to the number of guests. We are hoping this opens up in the future as more people start travelling as the Punta Pirata restaurant is really amazing. All in all a magical place for us!

Memories Flamenco Beach Resort: Still drastically recovering from Covid

Unfortunately the Cuba we once knew was no longer represented in this resort. It appears that they are still trying to recover losses during Covid and only had the bare minimum. I will start with the pros: - the staff were fantastic and did what they could with the supplies they had - the grounds were well taken care of and beautiful - the pool was clean - the lounge area was fun - the al-carts were good However that is not enough to cover up the cons: - Our room smelled of mold and [... read more] the blankets were moth bitten and smelled rotten - the buffet was repetitive and not with quality food. We ate cause we had to but it was not an enjoyable experience - they only had rum and coke or coffee drinks. There was no variety or choices. The one day they had juice it was gone within hours - the gift shop offered nothing but cigars or rum - all in american dollars I have never left a review before but I chose this resort on reviews and did not think people were really representing the true state of the resort. Hopefully this will help someone make a better decision then we did.

Starfish Jibacoa: AMAZING TRIP Jan 13-20 2023

Overall we were pleasantly surprised at how Villas Jibacoa met not just our needs but our hopes as well. If you keep in mind that this is Cuba with its charms as well as some defincencies it can be a great place to visit and explore. The resort itself was quiet (not very many people), rustic and clean with a ocean view to the front and a jungle covered cliff all along the back. There are lots of campismos (cottages for cubans) in both directions along the coast but they were mostly empty and in [... read more]teresting to explore. We hiked about 4km both ways and up the trails to lookouts on top of the cliffs. (mapcarta cuba online shows the trails if you zoom in). Interesting views at both ends of our hikes. Also a fishing village for those who are more adventurous to the east. A trip to Old Havana for about 5 hours for 5 people cost us $120 CDN Food was better than expected (nobody butting in line or stealing food) Great service from the staff Beds very comfortable (rooms could use some paint and attention) Money conversion was a little challenging until you figure out who takes what currency There were 6 of us who went and dont have anything negative to say about the place

Playa Pesquero: Wonderful Hotel

A huge resort and at the same time incredibly cosy. It’s the staff From front desk check in to every single employee we crossed over the course of the week, I would say A+. Grounds are kept gorgeous, rooms were kept clean and restocked mini fridge daily. Beach was incredible! One side full of family more with small kids and the other quite quaint and chill in sun or under little almond trees with a great feel. Spoiled on beach by waiters who offer endless smiles and love. Along with your drin [... read more]k order. Tons of free activities all day from pool to beach. Volleyball ongoing, tennis pool ping pong. All under the open warm air. I will bring up the food. There wasn’t a huge variety. In fact I ate the same thing for a week. What I ate I loved though. The COVID really really hurt them there. They missed soda waters, Coca Cola, running out of many things. Choice was pork many ways and fish were sardines in cans made many ways. Papaya and bananas were abundance but no other fruit. We felt for them. Didn’t bother us one bit.