Los Delfines: Home sweet home

We have been coming to this resort for many years. We keep coming back because of the location, staff and the friends that keep coming back just like us. The location is perfect for us as it is located right in the middle of town where we have many choices for eating out. The food is decent, I never leave the buffet hungry. The beach is second to none around varadero. We have also gotten to know the staff here and they are mostly excellent. The rooms are a fair size and the beds have been upgrad [... read more]ed since the last time we were here.

Gran Muthu Almirante Beach Resort: BEAUTIFUL RESORT, BUT BE AWARE!!!

This brand new resort is beautiful, however, unless you upgrade to Elite rooms, expect food to be questionable at best. Also, due to Cuba's economy, Cubans fill the resorts, up to 99% FULL of Cubans who receive money from Canadian or American family to eat and drink for a few days because their shelves are empty and exorbitant prices. They come with many children and family members. We were definitely the 1% at most. After talking to our Air Canada Vacation rep, we were moved to Elite "restau [... read more]rant" and food was improved. The employees of the resort are incredible, kind, and very helpful. Always a smile. Resort is extremely clean. Beach is beautiful, but jammed packed with locals. Also be aware of the black market exchange!! You will be expected to pay (in pesos) based on black market. Pay only in CANADIAN DOLLARS.

Paradisus Rio De Oro: Very nice resort

The resort and hotel are very well maintained. The staff was excellent during our stay. The beach is quite nice as well. The only complaint was there was no beer in the room fridges which we are used to. When we asked for some it came warm.

Playa Costa Verde: Life After COVID

After finally securing Out of Country Medical coverage……which by the way….is difficult when you are old and have health issues…..we had a very lovely relaxing week in Cuba. Playa Costa Verde is a special place because of the staff, the natural protected mangrove, the birds, and spacious rooms. Considering the severe shortages of food etc in Cuba, it was a miracle that our buffet was as good as it was. We always had great choices, helpful staff, and the staff continue to do the service [... read more]. I hope this continues even after the COVID rules relax, it works well, is safer, controls the portions better, and less waste. We would recommend this location for a relaxing couple weeks. However, because of the dreadful lines in all airports, it is better to go for more than just one week. LJJ

Grand Muthu Cayo Guillermo: Fair

Grounds-Easy to get around. Poorly light at night. Gardens poor. Public areas - good and well kept. Rooms - first room did not have working air conditioning and they moved me. - second room safe did not working and they fixed it the next day. Also the frige did not work and was never fixed. Dining - it was spring break in NB and the buffet was busy and line up very long. Poorly staffed. when everyone left on the Sunday it was better - food okay Bea [... read more]ch - was okay but it is a 5 min. walk Pool - good Shade - little shade and everyone was looking for a space with shade around the pool.

Hotel Playa Paraiso: Beautiful Resort

We loved this resort and all the staff. Rooms were clean and the view we had was fabulous. Beach was amazing! Our only complaint would be the store was small and didn’t have to much variety. But overall a fantastic resort!

Club Kawama: Resort in need of maintenance

The greatest need for improvement is in the maintenance of the guest rooms. Some of the problems can easily be corrected simply by replacing light bulbs, replacing batteries in T.V. remotes, replacing broken shower heads, replacing used up pillows. Management should deal with mold and rust in the bathrooms as well. Hopefully the beds and furnishings will be replaced as the resort sees more business post COVID. The reception requires more training and organization. The pathways to access the  [... read more]guest rooms are in need of lighting in many areas and many walkways are quite hazardous in the dark. The rooms we experienced wouldn't likely rank over a 1.5 star rating in Mexico, USA or Canada. However the pool area is very good as is the beach area. The restaurants are reasonably good with slightly less than average food. Many of the staff are delightful, but not all. You will have an enjoyable time at the resort while not in your room.

Melia Las Antillas: Cuba and Cubanos are wonderful BUT

The Melia Las Antillas is a very nice property and resort! I think the four star rating is an accurate reflection for the most part. I will provide more detail. To qualify this review I will advise my wife and I have been travelling to Caribbean, Mexico, Venezuela, Honduras and other Central America for 40 plus years and approximately 50 trips. I will ensure that I compare apples to apples. This was our first trip to Cuba. The Melia Las Antillas in Varadero Cuba is a nice 4* resort with go [... read more]od facilities and a beautiful beach. The resort is starting to show some sign of age but is very clean and well kept. Entrance and lobby area are welcoming and present well. The staff at check in and check out were excellent and efficient. Most spoke English quite well so communication not an issue.. We stayed in a junior suite ocean view on fifth floor for a very reasonable price and this included a concierge service. Elizabeth was our concierge and did a remarkable job. She worked long hours and always went out of her way to assist us and offer her expertise and services. I know I am speaking for many who received Elizabeth's special service.. The room was clean with excellent maid service from Nuceris. Room nothing special but compares well with similar 4 * resort. Very clean, no bugs, comfortable bed with OK sitting area. Adequate washroom and shower. Small patio to sit out for two people only. The pool is quite large clean and well set up for some sports and activities. Music around the pool was reasonable with some variety and common sense. Night time entertainment shows were typical. Couple good with a couple not so much....only my opinion.....LOL Travelled in to Varadero and we felt safe and welcomed. taking a ride around in one of the old convertibles is a nice diversion. Currency issues have to be rectified. The official rate for C$ to CUP is 18.5 to 1. On the bus to resort "guide" is offering 30 to 1. In town 50 to 1 and I even heard 70 to 1 was being offered. American $ widely accepted and some stores only have their prices in Us $??? Most Cuban stores in Varadero do not accept CUP. CUP is Cuban peso official currency. This is frustrating and a pain when you are on vacation. Fix this! The beaches of Cuba are spectacular and even nice/ safe to swim in with soft white sand. The beach we were on Tainos Beach and Vardero beach are both spectacular with beautiful aquamarine colours. Cubanos (Cuban people) are very, very, very nice and I must admit comparatively the most genuinely friendly and accommodating of all the places I have visited. I don't like to generalize but I did feel the warmness. The food issue is real. Lack of variety and some quality issues ....again comparatively to other similar resorts in sunny south. Lack of fruit and salads for sure. Now we could always find something good to eat but a lot of chicken and pork every day. Seafood and fish not as good as I had hoped. When evaluating you have to keep in mind they are preparing food for Canadians, Cubans, Poland, Russia, Argentine, Greeks that we met and undoubtedly many other nationalities we did not meet. So many pallets to satisfy! Positive notes I ate lobster twice. They also hosted a wonderful outdoor lunch pig roast...and chicken of course at an outside area with live band entertainment that was greatly enjoyed by most. Received excellent dining and bar service from Robert, Elio, Dayli, Yordan at pool bar restaurant, omelet cooks and fresh grill cooks. The price comparing apples to apples is approximately $200. C$ per person less expensive in Cuba with the shorter flight time being a positive as well. Soooooo I hope this helps. We will probably not return ....only because the food is not to standard. Roberto y Victoria

Gran Muthu Imperial: Amazing staff

The resort was clean and absolutely beautiful. Food was tolerable, the staff was outstanding but there was a toilet paper shortage, safe was broken in our room, shower leaked everywhere leaving our bathroom always flooded, and they never brought us new towels

Memories Flamenco Beach Resort: It was a well overdue vacation

We enjoyed our well overdue vacation. Certainly the resort had its challenges ie: ran out of eggs, bread, cheese, water for coffee one evening and water pressure was very poor, but the staff were great, sun was shining and the beach was amazing. We benefitted from the Diamond Club upgrade as most things listed above were missing at the buffet the majority of the week. Highly recommend the “Cuban restaurant “ as the a la carte option. If you need an antigen test to come home, get in line  [... read more]early, like 6:30-7:00am. You will still have to wait 2 hours, but at least you don’t loose half your day in line on the last you have at the beach. Do not recommend the “Market” not much happening! And finally but most of all…. If you buy something at Duty Free at the Cayo Coco Airport, ensure they use the proper bag (it has a green circle with a green check mark inside the circle) AND that they put the receipt in the bag before sealing it! We got caught not knowing this and security in Toronto took it away, even though we had never left a secured area and had cleared customs with no issues! (I will also mention we had a connecting flight, no idea if it would have been ok if Toronto was our final destination) Unless you know what to look for, you are simply buying it to hand it over 3.5 hours later! Lousy way to end the week! Overall, we needed to rest, relax and enjoy the sun and that we did do!

Iberostar Selection Ensenachos: Huge resort, lovely beach

The hotel is massive, and with the limitations of access to parts , the inter hotel transport leaves much to be desired for anyone on a schedule. Allow 40 minutes to an hour to get a ride from the main lobby to the Coral lobby. The guest services butlers do the best job they can with what is available. The issues of Cuba remain supply chain. You certainly can't make any crisicisms of the beach and water. They have plenty of Palapas and although the beach loungers have seen better days, they [... read more] do the job. No chairs on the beach, so take care of your back. All of the staff, with the exception of one, were more than helpful. Very engaging and appreciative of any tip or gift they recieve. None is expected. Note take Canadian currency, and tip in US ones. Since using coin is not good. It's heavy to carry and the Cubans can not change coins in any Bank. As is normal for all countries. The ride to the hotel(90 plus minutes) from the airport is long, but the tour guides usually do a good job at educating you on the cities, towns and history of Cuba. The Coral level is very quiet, the hotel was not at capacity, so one physical restaurant managed to morph into 3 or 4 different a la carte dining places. To be very honest, try the buffet. The food options are many, even though it is hard for them to get supplies. Feel free to instruct the chefs cooking your chicken, pork or beef to not over cook. Meals can become repetative, this also speaks to supply and reduced numbers of guests. Check in was a bit confusing, there seems to be simple solutions to streamline processes. Consistancy is key. Mask wearing was generally done by most guests and all staff. Enforcement was a bit spotty. But you never felt unsafe. The cigar lounge was not open, to my dismay, however the lady workign in the shop is most helpful and pleasant. Do not buy the cigar torches there, they're better priced at home ( $40.00 USD) get the regular lighter for $2.00 USD. The beds are firm and comfortable. Our towels in Coral level were changed daily and the beach towels were in the room and also changed daily. The jaccuzzi was great! A lovely way to watch the stars and sunset. The rooms in the Coral Level were amazingly Huge. The beach at the main building was wider and busier than the Coral level, the bar and lunch area at the main beach were hoping and service was outstanding. Food was good. I've been to Cuba pretty much every year since 1983, seen a lot of hard times, and a lot of better years. The people the safety and the water and beach are all worth the trip. This was our first trip in 2 years, it was interesting how I almost forgot travel routines and how to pack. But the rapid testing was efficient and the need to ensure you complete your Arrive Can , get your emailed reciept! is essential. The WIFI, not surprising is best in the main lobby. Coffee is delicious and don't forget to check out the 24 hour snack bar behind the lobby bar. The Spa is beautiful and my husband took advantage of the massage. This resort may get a second visit from us in a few years...or at a lower price. Have to mention a special thank you to Augustin at the beach bar at the Coral. He did a great job, became a fast friend and kept pace with delivering drinks to you on the beach. He's a sweetheart! Diana and Yandry are butlers at the Coral level, are sincere and not overyly enthusiastic. The bartender Anile( sorry I'm sure that's not how you spell your name) was excellent, very attentive and a true tallent. Thank you for the dance Yamilla! Unfortunately I lost my rings at the hotel, and they were not recovered before I left. One was my father in laws which was the major heart break. I hope some kind soul finds them and I get them back. Next trip , jewlery stays at home. OH the best improvement is the wrist bands so soft and comfortable. The only way to improve them is to put a chip in as your door key. Beautiful gardens and it was winter. Gardeners work hard, reward them. They don't get tipped...so make the change and give them a few of your tip dollars. The pools should be salt water. very clean!

Melia Costa Rey: Best around !!

I have been to Cuba 7 times and this was by far my favourite resort ! Yes covid has hurt Cuba but it did not stop them from trying and making sure it was an amazing experience . Specially entertainment team Julia and keyner were amazing , the shows at night were breathtaking. Cuba needs tourists to survive. The food was number one AMAZING. Lobster at A lacarte restaurants and steak were amazing. Beach was amazing No complaints we had an amazing trip no complaints .. yes they need to fix [... read more] some paint and exterior things but that doesn’t bother me. That’s not why we go , also rooms were always perfect .

Hotel Blau Las Morlas Varadero Beach: Great resort

Could have been a better choice of canadian food rooms were good staff were great could offer a package alcohol free they could offer more canadian channel's on the television along with the remotes for the TV

Iberostar Coral Holguin: coral level at Iberostar selection Holguin Cuba

The hotel was excellent in all respects. The wait staff, housekeeping, bartenders, butlers and reception were so accommodating responding to any request with a smile. The massage professionals were fantastic. Better than many massages I have had at home in Toronto. The food at the various restaurants was excellent.

Playa Vista Azul: Playa Vista Azul

I had a very nice time at the resort ! The beaches and the pools are very beautiful :) Customers services was good, people were kind. The only problem is that it says that they are very careful with covid-19, but they’re not really and a lot of people was inside without their mask.

Playa Pesquero: Great resort 👌

Excellent resort with amazing staff. Bad reviews are from people who haven't been to Cuba I'm assuming. Best food I've had in cuba you can always find something to eat and the a la carts are super good! Beach was amazing with Crystal clear turquoise water. They did not have any vodka at all but I was there during the Russian/Ukraine ordeal. They have a great coffee bar with tons to choose from lattes and capichanios included. Things they need that are very helpful from Canada to use for gi [... read more]fts or tips, clothing anything used is great,toothpaste and brushes, they really need children's medicine they mentioned also. It seems like 60% of people were repeat customers and I can see why. This is a no brainer for a resort on a budget.

Royalton Hicacos Resort and Spa: Best beach and service.

Everything was really good. The only thing to stop me from going back would be the old bed in the room. Hard on the back. But I understand they are renovating, hopefully this includes new beds. The hotel has amazing staff, always working and very nice. Food was plentiful.

Royalton Hicacos Resort and Spa: Sun, sand, and relaxation

We had a wonderful trip, the staff were outstanding. A special thank you to Dennis, and Lazaro for making our trip unforgettable. Dennis is the head butler who walks 20 miles a day, he never stops. Lazaro runs the cigar lounge, he was always welcoming and remembered our drinks from the 1 day we were in, we were a group of 7. The beach was perfect with water sports if you are inclined to participate, or just basking in the sun. The food was a not as good as I had hoped, but over all I will return [... read more].

Club Kawama: The kitchen Cuban invasion

This review is based on my recent experience at the Club Kawama February 24 - March 6 2022. First of all, I would like to clarify that I am a big fan of Cubans ( the people, the language, the culture, the music and that l come to visit Cuba since 2000 every couple of years, to enjoy the beach and the culture; however during this vacation I had experienced lots of Cubans at Club Kawama that overtook the hotel , specifically the dining facilities. Lines of people waiting for food , taking too  [... read more]much on their plates, waisting food, rudeness in lineups etc The food was scarse, no butter, no cheese, no oil or condiments. The beach and the water made up for the other misery…..

Royalton Hicacos Resort and Spa: Outstanding Facility

Rooms, Grounds, and Ambiance. Were all terrific The most important thing about The Royalton, is the people. Starting with the cleaners and moving to all levels of service and management, everything was terrific This was my second time at this resort and it was better than the last