Melia Varadero: clean resort

The check in was fast. they had five elevators, but only 3 were operating for our 5 day stay. the Lobby was clean. Lots of seating on the main floor. The lobby bar has the best drinks and bartenders. The room was spacious with decent decor. Nice view of the sea. Rooms are close to elevators too. The Buffet food was okay, good restaurant service. The towel service was quick. Enough lawn chairs outside to lounge. Great music throughout the resort. They were repairing and painting a large portion o [... read more]f the resort, but this was due to the hurricane. But this did not interfere with the stay at the resort. They usually do this during sunrise or in sections not frequently visited by visitors. Along the beach you can see the path of the hurricane. Several palm trees were destroyed, sand from the ocean was dumped on the pavement walking area, and workers were building bamboo hut umbrellas. The water was pretty warm for most of the trip, huge waves. Ample shade if you don't feel for too much fun. The shows were okay, great singers and dancers, but at times the speakers were wayyyy too loud and deafening for the audience. The resort has souvenir shops and a plaza very close by. Great options for souvenirs. There's also a double decker bus that picks you up from the resort and brings you downtown varadero for 5 CUC, which was amazing. You can walk around down town Varadero and visit the local shops.

Sanctuary at Grand Memories Varadero: Sanctuary at grand memories varadero

I thought the resort was very beautiful and not too big to enjoy walks. The beach was wonderful. The sanctuary lounge was a nice touch with ac and live groups in the evening which were very enjoyable. We noticed they didn’t advise of special activities which made it difficult sometimes. The people were extremely friendly with some going the extra mile. The food was okay. This is the only reason I would be hesitant to return. We are not fish eaters and found there was too much. The  [... read more]smells actually over powered us sometimes. Part of this I am sure is due to the time of year and not all restaurants were open. Some because not enough visitors and 2 because they were still doing repairs on them from hurricane irma. Over all I would rate this as a 4 because of not enough variety in salads and other foods. You can only eat so much chicken or pasta. The food we ate was delicious so no problems with the way it was cooked. I might try this resort again in high season to see about the had a great time and the entertainment was wonderful

Be Live Turquesa: Pleasant Surprise

Just returned from Be Live Turguesa and was really impressed with this resort, although smaller in size, has everything you need. The rooms are large, never ran out of hot water and the food was good. You may go for the amazing beach but don't overlook the pool. Large in size and 5' deep, a roped off section for smaller children. The down side,chair hogs, limited activities and money exchange. As a Canadian 100. got us 69. cuc. Don't be concerned with the recent hurricane, the resorts are fully  [... read more]functional and the properties free of any debris. The Cuban people have worked really hard to restore any damage they may have encountered in an effort to offer you the best possible vacation experience.

Paradisus Princesa Del Mar: The devil is in the detail...

...and many details in my opinion were missed on this resort. Now I will begin by saying that the staff in the buffet and serving stations were very helpful, friendly and accommodating. The beachfront was incredible and chairs with shade could always be found. The food though limited in choice, was fresh and well prepared. What affected the enjoyment of the is resort were the many small and large details I believe were missed. I can say that there was value for what we paid and only bec [... read more]ause the buffet staff and bellman were so friendly and helpful. If you are not fussy about food and just want a hot place to spend time on the beach or at the pool and drink, then this is place for you. But I feel strongly about paying more to have the following details addressed and for me I would not return because of the following: 1.) Air conditioning did not work for our entire 4 night stay and the front desk told us that the entire resort did not have AC - poor poor form Melia!!! 2.) Uncover pitchers, containers and food trays in the buffet room - flies are very much part of the environment, but this could be minimized  3.) Front desk staff were not kind, friendly or helpful - some were down right rude and had little info or inclination to provide info about when the bus may arrive, assistance with Wi-Fi, providing change or responding to general inquiries. Front desk is the face of every business and those at this resort set a miserable first impression. 4.) Staff in general (expect for male servers) were not professional in appearance. Uniforms of staff throughout the resort in various roles - especially in the buffet were in poor condition, ill fitted, dirty, shirts untucked - the staff did not appear crisp and professional in attire or appearance and this left a poor impression in general. I noticed this of the front desk staff who in other resorts are very professional and well groomed. Front desk staff here looked slovenly.  5.) Grounds staff or contractors working on the resort looked like a ragtag mob of ex-cons  6.) Garbage was piled at certain points on the resort - in one case I saw bags of garbage piled in the same spot for 2 days  7.) Towels in rooms were tired and thread bare  8.) Mattress was uncomfortable and I could feel the springs, the pillows were laughable - why bother?  9.) Rooms and buildings on the resort in general were tired, dated and could do with a refresh or renovation Thank you Melia for 4 days in the sun. Good steady and diligent management and some funds for a refresh of buildings, uniforms, furnishing and customer service training could save this place.

Hotel Los Cactus: Tired, but clean

Positive The staff at Los Cactus were friendly and helpful. Whenever there was a question or concern they addressed it. The grounds were clean. Renovations were underway to repair Irma's rath. The coffee was great. There were lots of organized activities, but basically the same each day. Negative The rooms were tired, with old decor and non-functioning or half-functioning appliances (fridge, a/c). By Canadian standards, beds were not very comfortable. There was never hot water in the [... read more] morning. Our room had mould on one wall and the curtain rod kept coming off the wall. Generally the food had little or no taste, both in the buffet and in the restaurants. Many times the beef was too tough to cut. Sometime the bars were out of mix for drinks by 16:00hrs. We had no electricity a couple of times. Suggestions Get the room cleaners to make a list of things to be repaired and get it done. Train the chefs! Start upgrading the rooms...new bed mattresses, paint, new linens (sheets and towels), new furniture.

Resonance Blu Varadero: Great holiday

Just got back from Memories Varadero and we had a fantastic time.... Cuba was hit with a hurricane and severe damage was done but the Cuban people have spent every single moment cleaning up all the damage to make tourists feel very comfortable ... everyone there went out of their way to make you feel like you number one.... I have been here twice and I wouldn't hesitate to go back

Melia Las Antillas: In need of major maintenance and repair !

If it wasn't for the great staff and beach area I would never even think about going to this place. Two elevators and none of them working. I was staying on the fifth floor and it was a terrible pain going up five flights of stairs at least four to five times a day ! This is not acceptable for a 4/12 stars hotel, especially when I saw a dead cockroach in the same area for three days ! Moldings in the room are barely hanging on and let's just say that the shower was not much of a shower when the  [... read more]you just have a minor drip of water pressure. The cafeteria has barely any air conditioning and the food is very bland not very creative and always a lack of fruit if not none at all. I was very disappointed with the conditions in this Hotel since I had been going there 11 years in a row, and the drinks in the lobby bar were terrible and often you were not served what you asked for. Very sad to say the least ! Oh yes one more thing, the exchange office was always closed, so you did not get the best exchange, since the Hotel reception was charging an extra exchange fee ! what a rip off !

Roc Arenas Doradas: Awesome as always!

My husband and I have been to this resort every year since 2012 and last year twice. Every year we come they have made some kind of improvement, whether it be that they are updating the guest rooms or they have improved their menus. This year unfortunately hurricane Irma threw a wrench in our travel plans and we had to reschedule for the week after originally booked and they put us at a different resort.Well one night there and I was on a mission to get to our beloved Arenas Doradas. Our Air Can [... read more]ada rep in Cuba, Osvaldo was wonderful at helping us get everything switched from the original resort to Arenas Doradas. We love all of our friends there and they get so excited to see us too. All though the resort did suffer some damage they all work as a team to get things guest ready and we did not want for anything,all the a'la'cartes were receiving guests where the original resort was not. The beach bar was damaged so they got a temperary one ready until the new one is built , and by the time we left it was half done.This resort is our cuban home we love our people there.

Sanctuary at Grand Memories Varadero: First time to Cuba, won't be the last!

We had a wonderful stay at the Sanctuary at Grand Memories. The resort was beautiful, plenty of food options (I am vegan and had a fine time eating enough for breakfast lunch and dinner!). Only complaint would be that of room service, we asked many times for our fridge to be re-stocked and they told us over and over it would be filled but never was. Our stay was only 4 days so this was dissappointing, but not enough to dampen the experience. The beach here is 5 stars. Plenty of space, not crow [... read more]ded, lots of chairs for everyone. The beach is slightly separated so Sanctuary visitors have their own private area, but it is close enough to the music, activities, and beach bar for enjoyment. The wait staff and butler were 10/10. Very friendly, making conversation and attentive to our needs. I would recommend the Asian restaurant, Gin Seng, and also want to commend the guitar player at La Orquidea was fantastic. We will definitely be considering this resort in the future visits to Cuba, but maybe not paying the premium for Adults Only as the room service and fridge perks were not what we expected.

Starfish Cuatro Palmas: Great Resort

Stayed from Oct 1 - Oct 8. It was a great vacation. The hotel and staff are amazing. Fantastic location with an incredible beach. Would definitely visit this resort again in the future and would recommend it to all of my friends.

Hotel Los Cactus: Good resort!

This hotel is pretty standard, my expectations were met. Everyone was very pleasant and the food was good- if you're not picky and are high maintenance. The a la carte was better than I thought, had bigger portions than I expected. The rooms and resort in general are dated and could use a face lift but I kind of like the retro look. Lots of repairs and repainting need to be made in the rooms. But everything was clean and there were no issues at all. The beach was beautiful as can be despit [... read more]e the loss of tiki huts, no thanks to Irma. Animacion in Cuba is always on point, giving it their all and barely anyone cares.

Sol Palmeras: Good choice

Good choice for a relaxing getaway! The staff was really friendly and accommodating. The food was tasty and fresh. The beach was really clean and secure. I hope that everyone can go and visit this beautiful piece of Cuba.

Memories Jibacoa: Tropical Paradise

Before booking my vacation to Cuba this year, I went through countless reviews of many hotels, but the one that stood out above and beyond the rest was Memories Jibacoa. Yes, there were a few negative, but valid comments, but what motivated me to book this hotel, were the number of repeat guests - vacationers have gone to MJ as many as 14 times - that says a lot ! So I decided to see for myself what all the hoopla was about and booked a week to MJ. From the moment I arrived I was impressed [... read more] - fast and very efficient check in, and a lovely gentleman took my baggage to my room - #2131, a gardenview, second floor. My room was spotless with a king bed and fluffy pillows, Beer, cola and 2 large bottles of water were in the fridge and also a Nespresso-like cappucino maker. The next morning I found that i was only one building away from the beach and towel exchange. A quick walk up to the main walkway was the reception/lobby area, with a tiered and covered outdoor eating area. The main dining area was to the right and stores and airline reps were in an area to the left of reception. I also must mention that the lobby and beach washrooms were immaculate - and always plenty of toilet paper :-) Since I gained 5 pounds on my trip, I have to say the food was quite good. Although I didn't see any tomatoes or lettuce, I was impressed with the huge bowels of fresh, perfectly ripened avocados. Although I've never been a fan of Cuban desserts, I was very pleasantly surprised by a creamy rice pudding, and a delicious panna cotta. The cakes and cookies were also very tasty, I ate at one of the specialty restaruants - and had a Cuban meal - it wasn't bad but I preferred to eat in the main dining room. There was also an Italian restaurant and another, which I can't recall the name. One of the reasons I chose MJ was the availability of snorkeling the reef which is just offshore. Although a bit cloudy on the day I went, I heard from other travellers that when the wind doesn't churn up the bottom it can be a spectacular, A group of us took the catamaran out and were dropped off at the reef along with Henry from the Dive Shop. He guided us along the reef and contstantly made sure I was ok. He was a great guide! The beach was very nice, however because it was close to the reef, entry into the water could be difficult if you didn't have water shoes - definitely a must if you go here. There was also a lot of seaweed which washed up every day, so I would say the beaches at Varadero were far superior.. There was never a problem getting a chaise on the beach as there were always plenty available, both in the sun and in the shade. Was nice not to have to rush out at the crack of dawn to claim your chair. The Beach Grill was very nice- hamburgers, hotdogs or fish and chips. The menu didn't change at all, but it was delicious - and right on the beach. One evening I took a horse and buggy up the road to a local lobster place - 15 CUC for a huge lobster dinner, sat with the locals and it was charming. There was usually a beach volleyball game everyday, but staff were never pushy about joining. The majority of my time was at the beach, but did go to the pool for a couple of hours one day, just for a change. I also booked a bus tour of Havana and dinner & show at the Tropicana. Our tour guide was very well informed and it was a pleasure to stroll around the old city of Havana with him. In the evening we had dinner at the Tropicana and then watched a fabulous show - very Las Vegas like but better because it was the Spanish version. Just loved it! And finally, I have to mention the incredible Cuban people who work at Memories Jibacoa: They are: Marcos & Roger at the Beach Grill & Bar Janet - my lovely maid who created beautiful towel scultures Marina - the Sun Wing Rep - who always made time for me Noesky - a great guy who made sure I was always topped up with my Pina Colada Ernesto - the lovely gentleman at the reception bar Kiki - whom I only met at the end of my vacation, but will catch you next time Ernesto! and finally, the lovely, kind and beautiful Olema, who sat with me until 4 in the morning with Marisol and the guy who said he was from Russia. Olema made sure our glasses were never empty. She is such a lovely lady and I'll remember her always. There were also many other staff, who went above and beyond every day, making sure that their guests were well cared for. The MJ is wonderful and I would definitely go again, but the STAFF - they really made my vacation complete. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE AT MEMORIES JIBACOA I

Resonance Blu Varadero: 3rd visit to Memories & still loved it!!

This was our third visit to this resort and i wasn't sure what to expect as our last visit here was about 4 years ago. After reading some of the most recent reviews i was quite worried and that maybe i had made a mistake booking here. All i have to say is i loved this resort then and i still love it today! We had a wonderful vacation! The place is beautiful! Beach is amazing! People are wonderful! Everyone is so friendly and we have made many friends here over the years. This was our first visit [... read more] here with our 2 little boys and they absolutely loved it as well! Such friendly people always giving our boys hugs, playing with them, making them smile/laugh. For us we are simple people and this place is great with a budget price as well! If you are looking for a decent friendly family vacation i would definitely recommend this place! We love it here and we will certainly be back again, hopefully sooner rather then later :)

Paradisus Princesa Del Mar: Nice vacation

We had a great time in Varadero. This was about two weeks after the hurricane. Despite this, everyone was so nice, the food was good in the buffets, but the a la carte restaurants were excellent especially the Japanese. The facilities were nice too, except the smell in the bedrooms. It was a mold smell that never went away. I guess it was the humidity, but for me, it was really difficult to fall asleep because the smell was intense and sheets in the bed felt damp. Everything was very clean [... read more], mind you. I checked because I wanted to see if the place was dirty, but it wasn't. Everything was clean, so I blame the humidity and the room being closed the whole time without air circulation. To me, this is kind of a deal breaker, because it made it hard to rest at night. All of our clothes have that smell now so right after unpacking I had to do laundry here. Other than this, everything was good and we had a great time. The entertainment crew was amazing and very well prepared. Congratulations to them! The food, drinks, the customer service, the pool were very good. Marta, the Sunwing representative was great as well. She recommended us to take the tour to Habana and then go to the Tropicana show at night and it was totally worth it. We are happy, no complaints whatsoever in those areas. If someone tells me they're going there, I'd say it's fine, but I feel I must warn them about the room smell.

Paradisus Princesa Del Mar: Very good resort

I just returned back from 1 week stay at Paradisus Varadero it was our first time after 10 years not going to Cuba. We were nicely suprised what we got for the money we paid.Food is good I would even say better than in Punta Cana,resort is older but kept in good shape,rooms are big and clean,grounds and beach also very nice.Staff very friendly.I would definitely go back over there

Hotel Los Cactus: Good beach

Hotel Los Cactus Beautiful beach but no shade as Hurricane Irma destroyed all the umbrellas. Access to the beach is kinda hidden with trees but find the beach bar and you'll see the path to the beach. Buffet area is huge but no AC. Food is ok. Burger station by the beach bar is good. Two a la cartes Italian and Cuban, not too bad. Guys gotta wear long pants. I've been to Cuba at least 10 times and I'd have to say that this was probably the worst service I've ever received considering this pl [... read more]ace used to be a Breezes resort. The bartenders are alright but seem overworked. A lot of maintenance happening at the resort not sure if it was due to the hurricane but a few areas are not accessible or not being used. There is a gym but it's very old and there are no free weights. Massage area in the gym but kinda scary. Most of the spa services were offered at reception but unavailable. Room 173 block I is a junior suite garden view and it's huge for two people. Cleaning in rooms happen daily whether you want it or not.

Resonance Blu Varadero: Disappointing staff

The hotel and grounds were in reasonable condition. The pool was never circulated. Only skimmed and the deck hosed off. We only found 4 friendly staff in the whole place. No hot water in the am was a real turn off. Most of the food at the buffets were cold. I survived on doughnuts and ice cream for supper and toast for breakfast. Once in awhile you could get hot french fries. The young lady that serviced our room was excellent!

Starfish Cuatro Palmas: Amazing resort

Spotlessly clean public areas stunning beach , excellent staff.....delicious food so many options...definitely try the beach snack bar"........."".................................... already booked my next vacation there!!!

Paradisus Varadero: Definitely not a 5 star resort!

Hotel is save. Beach id beautiful with lots of coconut trees for shade. They had issues with towels though! so hard to get fresh towels. Not all advertised food is available every day. Entertainment is not too much. I would expect them to hire people that actually understand basic English at from desk! We slept on a broken bed for the week we were there and they didn't so anything about it!! Any request you do has to be in a form which takes forever to process. I would have expect [... read more]ed trip central adviser to be knowledgeable enough and actually do research before recommending this resort! I went there for advise but I could easily booked online!