Paradisus Princesa Del Mar: Nice resort

Room was clean and well kept, bar fridge as well. Grounds cleaned up well after hurricane season, trees hit hardest, but the beach is still littered with twigs, etc and not being attended to. The staff were very friendly with or without tipping most of the time. Entertainment was great once, average most nights, and limited for 5 stars. Food was sketchy at the buffet, timing is everything, and a la carte restaurants were ok. Toilette paper needed, bring your own out at night.

Iberostar Origin Tainos: Quiet Good Relaxed Resort

This may not be the world's fanciest hotel, but it certainly is in decent enough condition compared to some others that we drove by in Varadero town area. It is clean, the staff from all departments were super nice and helpful, and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay. There are more expensive options and certainly cheaper options in Varadero, but we are very content with the value-for-money for choosing this resort. The place is not mega huge, like some of the newer hotels, so easy to get aroun [... read more]d and you get to know the staff, etc. But still big enough to have all you need. It has a relaxed atmosphere, and the hotel arranges activities/competitions throughout the day that you can partake in if that is your thing. But at the same time, they are not overpowering or too loud for those of us who just wanted to chill. If you are fidgety there is enough basic activities to do, but if you want quiet this place is ok too. Entertainment was ok. Outdoor music is decent most nights, and stops early enough that it is not too loud in your room for those with kids or sleeping early. The evening show indoors had a different theme each day and the staff put their hearts in to it and seem to be having fun. The kids club is very basic, so if you are planning on dumping your (especially younger) children for the day and getting alone time, this is not the resort for you. On the plus side, because it is not a 'Disney style' resort fully oriented to kids, there are not that many kids running around screaming! :-) Enough kids for our kids to find a friend to play in the sand with, but not so many kids that you go nuts. Food was ok. But my expectations were set low because all my friends said food in these Cuban resorts was 'not good'. We thought selection and quality were fine, and for the week that we were there, we were ok with it. It is not Michelin star food, but again, I revert back to the 'value for money'. I have not stayed in any other Varadero resorts, so this is only my opinion. But if your budget allows, sure, try one of the 'nicer' 'larger' 'fancier' options on the strip. But if you want to save a little and use that money while in Cuba to go off resort instead, then this is a perfectly safe option without going down to lower 'stars'. Hope this helped.

Iberostar Origin Tainos: Basic Good Laid Back Resort

1st time Cuba, so comparing to global resorts, not Cuban: Not fancy, some small rough edges, but great staff, laid-back atmosphere, clean, safe, fantastic beach, decent food, Great Value 4 Money. DoIt

Barcelo Solymar: Solymar

This is my third time to the resort and I keep coming back as it i the party resort of Varadero. I must say it has changed a lot. There were a lot more families then I am used to seeing and it was very mellow. Not a lot of activities going on be made our own party. We met lots of friend and there was still a good vibe when the sun was out. When it rained or was cloudy it was ghost town. The beach was clean and the water ocean was warm. The food is not good at all. It used to be bad but has gott [... read more]en worse. They really need to fix that. A lot of people i knew there got sick. i wasn't one of them but I definitely lost weight while there. If you are looking to party, and be able to walk to clubs off the report then this is the spot but pack some food and if you are a picker eater this may not work for you. The staff were very friendly also.

Paradisus Varadero: Amazing resort

It was our first time in Cuba , and we went at Paradisus Varadero 5 ⭐️ hotel . The only thing I have to say , is that it was amazing, people were very friendly and always ready to help , rooms were always clean , the outside environment was always kept clean , the beach was grate and clean . Many people told me that the food is not good there , I don’t know why they said that , the food is amaizing , and something that surprised me it was that the cook talked to me in person because he saw [... read more] me having a 9 month old baby and he asked if I want any special menu for her , I told him what I want and I had it , I had every meal special food for my baby . We had a great time there and I recommend to many of my friends .

Blau Privilege Cayo Libertad: Great room but....

I’ve stayed at the Blau Marina 4 times but this was my first time on the island. I was pleasantly surprised to see so many of the staff from the Blau Marina but I soon learned why they were now there, the Blau Marina was closed! They are doing a lot of renovation work due to the hurricane damage and have been closed since September! This meant that we had no access to the bars, a la carte restaurants or buffet that we normally would. It also meant limited activities, entertainment and be [... read more]ach access. We were limited to the restaurant and a small open air buffet complete with birds trying to steal food! I’m not upset with the resort or the staff, they outdid themselves to make our stay the best they could but I’m very disappointed in Air Transat for not telling us! Also they charged us for the island yet sent their Marina clients at a lower price! I’ll be sure to check with Blau management before returning to ensure the Marina is open and up to the standard I previously enjoyed, or better, before I return!

Hotel Bella Costa: 2nd time

Was there in July-they have had a 'cyclone' since. Now there Nov 25-30. But there was no difference except one restaurant being damaged. Food is very good, being Cuba. Lots of fruit, veg, coffee meats and bread. People are very friendly and helpful. Dairon at the front desk knew my name and always said hi. Mayi at the pool bar was friendly fast and informative. Tania, the bingo/entertainment person was so funny-she needs more bingo cards because people loved playing with her!! I had a proble [... read more]m with my room and the customer service woman (sorry I forget her name) went out of her way to help me get a new room in a timely fashion. A lovely week

Starfish Varadero: Wonderful Resort

We had an amazing time during our stay. The food was good. The staff was friendly. The decor is currently in the process of being updated to a modern feel so I anticipate in a very short time it will be completely re-done.

Iberostar Origin Laguna Azul: Beautiful Resort

The resort was beautiful. Very well laid out. The food was below average. A la carte dinners were amazing. The beach was beautiful. Very friendly staff. Rooms were clean. Pools were fantastic. Could have some more entertainment.

Barcelo Solymar: Convenient and friendly

Middle of the road (Cuban standard) offerings. This, close to Varadero night life resort is for those who’ve wish to walk the town and beach and not rely on taxis or buses. Don’t expect everything to be immaculate or the resort dining to be first class......This is Cuba after all and the true value is in the experiences.

Resonance Blu Varadero: Pretty darn good resort

I am very happy with our stay at Memories. This resort compound is very large and required a lot of walking but we were all up to the fun. I travelled with my girlfriend and two children ages 10 & 12. They loved the place and want to go back next year. The flights were on time and our transfers all connected as expected. Check in took about 20-minutes to get through and we were all greeted with a non-alcoholic drink while we waited. I thought this was a nice touch because the flight w [... read more]as long and the kids were reaching their limit. The drinks perked all of us up. We stayed in building 33 (33208) and were immediately pleased. The room was right next to the beach. This meant we had to walk the furthest to get to the lobby and the buffet but this was no problem for us. Being beachside was awesome! The rooms are basic but was provided as they promised. It's a 3-star room (3-star in Mexico) so please go with those expectations. The food was plentiful and always available. Seafood, beef, and chicken served daily. We were never hungry. The beach was clean and awesome; everyone really enjoyed the waves crashing over our heads. Honestly, that was the trip's highlight for me. The pools are fun, the slide is okay but a little slow. The drinks were average. We brought our own mugs and it appeared everyone else was envious that we did. We were asked many times, "Hey, where did you get those mugs?" The main residents at this resort are Russian, I'd say about 75% Russian. So you might want to expect unexpected language barriers and different behaviors than what you're use to. I would rate this hotel as a 3.5 star, perfect for my budget and the needs of the children.

Royalton Hicacos Resort and Spa: Honest review

My wife and I stayed in room 0103 Nov 23rd to Nov 30th 2017. Upon arriving at this resort you feel you have just walked into a tropical, çolonial village that is partially built over waterways. It is a beautiful setting and you can tell that the design concept was to awe you. Check in was smooth and quick, very professional and classy. The cool towels and sparkling wine were nice. Our bags were brought to our room very quickly. I've read complaints from other reviewers about poor air conditi [... read more]oning: Not in our room, it worked great and the mattress was fine, bedding very clean. The room itself was clean and our room maid tidied it and made our bed everyday and left us towel art to admire. Our Butler George was there for us if we needed anything which for us was not much. We are very independent but he had to book the Al'carte restaurants. Pros of the Resort: #1 is the staff. Unbelievable service and friendliness. Everyone from the cleaning staff to cooks, entertainment team to store clerks were the same; top notch. Special mention to all bartenders who work their asses off for very very long hours. Rufolfo in the main bar; I pray your dreams comes true, you have more ambition and charactor than any North American young man of your age, you deserve what you are working to achieve. # 2 is the beach. OMG! Beautiful, clean and inviting. Its the Caribbean. #3: The pools. Although they are not heated, they were refreshing free form that you could spend all day enjoying. #4: Activities and theme days. Each day has a theme. Cuba Day, Canada Day, Fright Night (like Halloween), and a few others. The decorating and entertainment teams do a great job at this as well as this provides guests with a change up of different styles of food in the Buffet. This is a great idea. 👍 #5 is the Cuban Sandwich.🍔 #6 is the Ice Cream. 🍦 #7: I hope you like strong drinks...🍹 #8: Although the food is hit and miss, it's generally really good. Though don't expect a juicy tender Lobster or Crab. Cubans over cook and a lot of the food in the Buffet sits on warmers for long periods. There was no shortage of anything except some fresh vegetables such as peas and beans were substituted for canned. Post Irma some items are rare. Tomatoes and Onions for example. Not the Resort's fault. Resort Cons: This is tough because the resort has very limited resources in construction material and fittings. It's not the fault of any one who works there. #1 is poor condition of plumbing fixtures, in suite lighting, and appliances. Many towel racks and faucets really need changing. Our mirror was pretty corroded as well. The fridge worked but the shelf was broken and the bottom of the fridge was pretty rusty. #2: I question food safety: ie: The cooking station chefs load raw meats onto the grill and then with the same tongs will pick up your cooked meat and place on your plate. YIKES! MANAGEMENT: PLEASE HAVE YOUR COOKS USE SEPARATE TONGS FOR RAW AND COOKED MEATS!!! My wife and I both had the runs for several days. 💩 Would we go back? Yes. Mainly to support the hard working staff and enjoy the beach and pools. Would we recommend this resort? Yes, this is the best Cuba has to offer.

Hotel Los Cactus: Good time had by all

The resort is dated, but clean and has a lot to offer. Staff was great and a plus is you don't have to tip to get smiles. Beach is fabulous, lots of chairs and umbrellas. Food was somewhat plentiful, but did lack flavour. Bring a thermal mug as the glasses are small and collapse easily. Money, airport was .7, hotel was .71 and the bank was .76. Rate at time of exchange was .78. Recommend going to a bank and try not to use a credit card. They convert the Peso to American dollars, then bac [... read more]k to Peso. When you get your statement they will take the peso amount and convert it again to American then to Canadian, Whey, that is a lot of converting and cash loss. I recommend a trip to old Havana but not the Tropicana show. Expensive and very poor seating. You cannot get up for at least two hours and cannot move, very tight.

Sol Varadero Beach: 3 star don't expect much but nice

Old and run down. Grounds are tidy but walk careful the grounds are uneven. Rooms in main hotel are completely run down but clean. Building 4 rooms in the 4200 are updated and nice. Pool and swim up bar were good. Buffet was not very good but always found something to eat. Al la carts good and could book one everyday for the next day. Snack bar basic and not open 24hrs. Beach bar good but no bathrooms near beach so you have to go back to pool area. Every Friday there was a barbeque by the pool,  [... read more]food was really good, we had a pig roast. Super fun lobby bar at night and service was excellant. Staff really do try to accomadate. Not very many beach umbrellas so get up early to get shade. Elevators don't work so expect to walk the stairs or get a lower room! I won't go back but I did have a good time at this resort. Will try a different one next time!

Iberostar Origin Laguna Azul: Stunning View

I really enjoyed my time at the resort, the service was outstanding. The restaurants available had a wonderful selection of food however the buffet was lacking. The 24 hour snack bar was very convenient. I would definitely recommend this place for the amazing amenities and service but be careful what you eat.

Hotel Bella Costa: Great time!!

Had a fantastic week at the Bella Costa. Staff are wonderful! Food was plentiful and so good. The room we were in does need updating but I'm sure that will get done when they are able. The beach was beautiful and they were hard at work rebuilding the beach restaurant.

Iberostar Origin Laguna Azul: Very Nice Resport... However

Staff was very friendly. Drinks were cold. Water was beautiful and beach well maintained. Food was ok. I ended up getting stomach sickness on my 3rd day and did not eat much afterwards. Beds were hard which is not a bad thing but my fridge was super loud and would make a huge noise every 45 min all night long. I would suggest unplugging it during the night. A few friends were eaten alive by sand fleas or no seeums when on the beach. Bug spray would have been a good idea. Nice place a [... read more]nd I would return to give it another shot. Keep in mind they are still dealing with the aftermath of the hurricane that hit the area a few months before so bugs could have been an additional environmental hazard that they were dealing with.

Barcelo Solymar: what did you think it'd be?

I had an awesome time at Barcelo Solymar. Initially disappointed in the room - tile instead of carpet, a few bugs here and there, in need of repair in and around room - it was still serviced very well and I remembered why I was here. The resort is a very social place. I met some of the best people ever and the pool was great. A short walk got you to the beach and to the Barcelo Aranas (sp?). The beach....WOW. Spectacular. The cleanliness around the resort was top notch. I came for the ch [... read more]ance to unwind, meet people, enjoy the atmosphere and it didn't disappoint. If you come to cuba for the room and stellar food, I suggest a different country. If you come for the friendliness, safety, views, beach, pool, people then you've hit the jackpot. And you won't starve. it's not fantastic food but it's decent. I'd go again in an instant.

Resonance Blu Varadero: Great value for money

We stayed at this hotel on three different occasions when it was Serenis la Salina. On a need to improve note, we found that there were only three A La Carte restaurants. The Italian restaurant was horrible, all they had was lasagna and it was way too salty.The public washrooms were not cleaned often enough and there was a lack of toilet paper at the public locations. The restaurant bar that used to be used by the ocean for breakfast and lunch was closed. The small money exchange was always out  [... read more]of one dollar coins. Check in was as slow as it had been on previous occasions. On a positive note, the staff was friendly and helpful. the rooms were clean and everything worked, the maid was awesome. My four requests were all met when I arrived. The grounds were being worked on and there were a lot of gardeners. The food at the main buffet restaurant was good and there was a lot of choices on what to eat. The Japanese restaurant was superb. The beach area provide ample lounge chairs. We did not take in any shows as they only started at 9:30, too late for us. We were very happy with the quality of service for the money we paid. Unfortunately not enough people tipped, these workers could really use the extra change.

Playa Vista Azul: Great Week!!!

Check in was fast....First night there...no hot water....rooms smelled bad with a combination of diesel and humidity....got switched the next day.....rooms still had tge smell however not so bad...hot water was luke warm but better then cold....Overall resort is beautiful. Entertainnent staff was awesome....food was great. ALL Staff .... like every other 3 resorts we have been to are AMAZING AND FRIENDLY!!! Rooms were very clean....need puffier pillows :) Buffet needs a change up sometimes... [... read more].was always the same but great! As for A La Carte we didnt try any Beach ..... one to the left too crowded and rocky....one on the right ....couple minutes of walking but way better.....if you plan on doing norning walks on the beach....u cant go very far! HOWEVER Cuba Beaches are beautiful! Not too much shaded areas around the pool. U have tonask for an Umbrella early or u will have none! Overall.....a great week with lots of sun ;)