DO NOT STAY HERE

This resort is easily a two star. It should never be considered a five-star resort. The Buffay had cockroaches. Rooms have leaking, ACs, bedbugs, and no toilet seats. The staff are not friendly, and the grounds are not well capped. The hotel needs an entire renovation. There were a lot of unhappy guests during the week that we stayed. We had to be moved twice, and our room door would not lock. The beach is beautiful but other than that there is nothing nice about this resort. I would recommend g [... read more]oing somewhere else as the photos are very misleading.

Dirty and disgusting!

I was at this exact hotel 12 years ago and it was nice. Unfortunately we were Mislead by whoever was paid to give good reviews. I am not a high maintenance person, I have travelled 7 countries all across south east Asia with a back pack and stayed at Hostels for 8 dollars a night Canadian. This hotel was disgusting, bugs, cockroaches, at the buffet people were using one small server for 8 different items, causing cross contamination of food. The tables lacked napkins, forks, knifes and mostly sp [... read more]oons, as I was there 11 days and never saw a spoon. They served ice cream for the kids who had to use a fork. The buffet was always dirty and lots of flies, and we had to wait for plates numerous times. Water was served warm, no ice, the coffee, drinks and wine were all watered down. The maids were lazy, rude and not helpful, three days it took to get a clean towel, and rarely came to make bed or clean as they claim they could get into the rooms, locks were not functioning. I heard about the toilet paper , but some guest had problems getting that, so I brought my own. All areas had at least a mens or womens bathroom screwed shut and not able to use. I arrived 1st day and noticed debris and dirt and a unique broken piece of plastic on the floor of the hall leading to our room. It was still there 11 days later. I had a massage and was told that I could pay at check out in Canadian funds. Because of the lack of communication from sunwing, our flight was delayed and we stayed in our room until instructions from sunwing. Nobody from Sunwing advised or told us what was going on, at 6 pm we attended at Lobby to pay for the massage and were told we owed for late checkout 120.00 American. I was very disappointed and agreed to pay for massage only, however things escalated and I was forciblely confined to a private area, and was not allowed to leave, and a security guard prevented me by standing inches away from me to go to lobby to get my partner and wait for manager. They tried to intimidate me and threaten to call immigration.I then told them to call police and they refused to call them. The manager ended up coming and he agreed that there was no communication and we were allowed to pay for the massage only. There were not enough lounge chairs at pool or beach. The beach was full of cigarette butts and plastic cups! Trust me this is not over, I am contemplating getting a hold of the media to let Canadians know what has happened since Covid.. every Canadian at the hotel was complaining as well. This hotel was a 4.5 .. es at fa…..rip-off ! It was a 2 at best! The rooms have mould and heavy smell of mildew and caused my breathing and throat to go horse! The Sunwing rep confidentiality stated he would never go to that hotel, they also had nerve to charged American money at the money exchange and gave us it in peso equivalent to Canadian funds. You may see a lot of complaints! My sister and her husband had a flight just before us and her rum, perfume, cologne, and nail clippers were stolen from her bag. I will never fly too Cuba again, sad as I have been there almost 15 times.

Grand Memories Varadero

This resort from the entrance looks beautiful, once you check-in is where you start to see how poorly maintained, understaffed, and dilapidated the hotel is...Rooms; musky smell, missing toilet seats, mold, vents poorly maintained and moldy, ac units dripping water, safes not working, no water or toilet paper in-room upon check in, bath tubs so high, I can only imagine how difficult it is for the seniors that were there. Overall rooms were not good at all... Grounds; need to be better mainta [... read more]ined, as you can see the age and deterioration on the grounds, tiles broken by pool areas, wood on bridges broken or severe tripping hazards, and very poor lighting throughout the resort, some areas that should have water, were empty and disgusting... Beach; beautiful, however, not enough chairs to facilitate the amount of guests at the hotel...waking up at 6am to bring ur towels to get a chair is not my idea of being on vacation... Entertainment at beach was amazing....better bar facilities also needed. Alcohol was literally beer and rum only...no other options avail. Food: I understand the supply issue, but alot of other hotels were not experiencing the issues this hotel was.. Food in buffet was horrible, and ridiculous line up for anything grilled... Al la cart: this was problematic bc again, alot of space was not being utilized because of lack of staff, therefore getting a time slot for the days you were there was frustrating. This hotel should never be rated as a 4 or 4.5 star. This hotel is nothing more than 2.5. Entertainment was mediocre. Management with the exception of one, were absolutely useless... It appears staff is overworked and exhausted at this hotel.

Amazing Resirt

I found the grounds to be so beautiful. The staff is beyond helpful and friendly The pools and beach were perfect and easily accessed. The nightly sows were also very entertaining. Rooms were very clean and everything worked perfectly. I would have liked regular schedules for the carts but there were alot of benches for resting

Things have changed

I stayed at this resort about 10 years ago when it was a Rui Resort and loved it. I'm sure many of the issues are due to COVID, but it was a bit disappointing. The first room was a bit run down (building 14) (balcony door wouldn't open, no towels, etc.) and it is located a long way from the beach so I paid to upgrade to building 22 which is closer to the beach. The room was much better, but the safe didn't work. It took 4 days of going to the front desk twice a day to get this fixed - a bit frus [... read more]trating since I had to carry all of our important stuff with us (passports, cash). The front desk staff didn't seem very interested in getting this fixed. The service was lacking, but I'm sure that that the employees are under a lot of stress since so many people seemed so angry and unhappy. I've been to Cuba many times, so I was very prepared for the food, but supplies seem to be in short supply so the options at the buffet were less than the last time, but still able to find something to eat. I was there with my daughter and being a teenager, she is much pickier than I am so she struggled with the food issues more than I did. There seemed to be other shortages as well - pina colada mix, daiquiri mix, towels, napkins. I hope with time, the supply issues get better and with that, hopefully the service along with it. The beach and the pool were amazing and we couldn't have asked for better weather.

Poor resort

The rooms at this resort were very dirty and old. We had the same towels for 7 days and not even enough towels for the people in the room. Poor food, long line ups for food that wasn’t even very good. Pictures make the resort look way better.

Disaster

The grounds, pools are excellent. It's the rooms. We had a 3 ft wall around the tub to climb over to get in tub. No safety bars in tub. Totally unsafe. Two towels for the week. No face cloths. Did not change sheets for the 7 days we were there. At the buffet they'd run out of coffee, orange juice by 830 am. Also no glasses for water or juice. No butter. To go to theater you climb about 12 marble steps No railing on either side. Just a nightmare. Very disappointed as this was rated 4.5 stars. I [... read more]'d only give it a 1 star.

Nice gardens -rundown resort

Grand Memories was probably gorgeous when new -The gardens and palm trees are beautiful , the beach is amazing -white sand and turquoise water - although a fair hike from our room in building 14 . The hotel is very run down ,our room had a horrible moldy smell that we couldn't get rid of - We had one sorta white towel in the room - and never got a clean one for our 10 day stay -the hard bed was made twice - we had to beg to get our 2 blue beach towels -that they charge you for if you don't have [... read more] them when you leave .the sink didn't run well -the toilet ran all the time and you had to open the tank to pull the flush- the shower was nice and hot although the side of the tub was a real climb to get into .the balcony door didn't lock and the front door after the first 7 days wouldn't lock either -open all the time -at least our safe worked -many didn't . The buffet was clean and pretty and the made to order omelet in the morning was great - the other food was very bland -no beef or seafood at all , only pork and chicken in various stewed things - rice beans and mashed potatoes ,there was always olives and fresh watermelon and pineapple ,sliced spam and salami etc. very poor , and even the 3 al-la carte restaurants served just dressed up buffet fare with nice linen LOL The two pools were really nice and the swim up bars were nice - all you could get was rum -no other liquor available The 3 other bars served pina-coladas in the morning till they ran out -then only rum and coke or punch The bathrooms in the common areas -had broken seats, if they had seats at all - all the door locks were missing or broken and they were always out of toilet paper -I brought my own and carried it with me .there was hardly ever soap -no paper towels and no disinfectant anywhere My partner and I both came home with horrible colds - took tests -we are both positive for COVID. The service staff in the restaurant were very nice , the others we encountered -the maids etc.not so much . we went on a couple excursions which were affordable and fun -including a day in Havana with the TROPICANA show - amazing !! this was my 1st trip to Cuba and my partners' 3rd not sure we'll ever go back

Alright resort!

This resort is definitely past its prime. When we checked in, we were given a room that had no A/C or hot water. Fortunately, the next day, we were switched to a different room. The housekeeping staff kept the room really clean, but getting clean towels seemed to be an issue. Also, the food was the same stuff every day, and there was no variety.

Grand Memories sanctuary. My home away from home

This resort is one of the very best i have ever been to! I have visited this resort many times and will definitely return! Although cuba is having a very hard time getting past the pandemic, the staff bends over backward to make sure we are well cared for! The restaurants are amazing, the pools are clean, pool towels are always available (unlike other resorts i’ve been to)! The staff are sincere and caring( Yamaysis, Leddy, Norvi, Darlay, Odette,…just to name a few) I will cherish the me [... read more]mories i’ve made here forever! I brought my family including my two grandsons 3 yrs and 5 months to this resort because i feel very safe here and i know from experience if they got sick Dr. Ruth would take care of us like we were family! Thanx for a wonderful and full-filled vacation! See you again soon!

Grand Memories

Hotel was dated and in need of repairs. Rooms are old and musty. Our first room did not have hot water and very little water pressure. The rooms were clean.The beach was nice and the food was good. They had fresh fish and chicken cooked on the grill each day. Food quality good. Ride on and off bus comes to the front gate. $5 cost so that was good.

Grand Memories Varadero - Well well well - Big

1. Grand memories - Property is very big. They have a 10 seater gold cart that pick you up and drop you off on the resort depending on the block you stay in. We were block 15 close to the quiet pool but far from the beach and halfway to the party pool. 2. The locks on the balconies did not lock. they remained open the entire trip. They closed but the manual chain locks were broken in a good portion of the resort. Ground floor not recommended for this reason unless your sliding door locks.  [... read more] 3. Toilet paper and water were scarce on the resort. We paid our cleaning services to leave us enough toilet paper and water daily. We found that we were hiding toilet paper in our luggage and safe so we would have enough each day and to be able to carry it with us at night going to the main lobby bar and disco. Trust me there was none at night in these 2 spots and this is where the entire resort hung out in the evening. so rather than trekking back to your room carry it with you so you don't have a problem. The water they were only leaving 1 for 2 in a room. So we spoke with them tipped them well and we had enough for the week. *IMPORTANT FOR THOSE WHO WANT BLENDER AND SPECIAL DRINKS* Beside the disco and the italian al la carte is a lobby bar. The drinks are amazing and the bartender is Awesome. Tip her well. (Mel)She will make you some pina colada s that you will crave daily. 4. Food not fussy trust me i can get by. NO WINE, FRIES, BURGERS, on this resort. NO WINE!!! purchased for 15.00 off the resort in the cigar smoke shop downtown varadero walk to the back. Resort did have wine for sale only Red sold out of white. BUY BUY BUY BUY your wine at duty free the cartons its your best bet if your a wine lover. The food was the same daily however if they had bread they had no butter if they had coffee they had no milk, bacon no eggs (oh get your coffee every morning in main lobby bar it was the BEST but there is a time limit cut off. 5. Party pool had some plumbing issues at the swim up bar. Not in the actual water but the bar itself was closed for 3 days so they made a pop up bar station under a palm tree where the selection was slim which means you had to walk to the 24 hour snack bar to get tap beer. 6. Block 15 is across from anyone that paid the extra to have premium room. Don't do it not worth it as the rooms are just as far from the beach and alcohol wasn't stalked daily in the room. you might have to push to get it. BLOCK 10 or 20 central.. 7. 24 hour snack bar is quite the walk at the end of the night specially if your in block 15 and surrounding area, so flag down your cart he will drop you right at the door. 8. I am sure you all know to be up early to grab your beach chair. The entertainment on the beach is so fun and you should participate. breathing exercises and stretching in the morning, zumba, dance lessons it was so fun.... get it on the fun don't be shy. ENTERTAINMENT was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. remember at 3pm they move from the beach to the main pool. 9. Beach bbq daily was the same every day. Bring your toilet paper as the washrooms here had nothing. You ask and they didn't have so carry it with you. The bbq daily was good but patience is key as they only put so much on at time. so your waiting and the smell is making you even more hungry. 10. Wasnt planning on watching TV but they didn't work on those days i needed a knapp. 11. Towel Exchange was at the main pool. you could do this daily. 12. Take a walk on the beach after midnight to check out the glowing specks in the sand its quite cool. 13. Wifi was ok. you get a small slip that once activated lasts for 4 hours of use. Once expired just go to the main lobby and get a new one. They did say a few times that the systems were down but persistency always wins and we were able to get new passwords. 14. Cuba is definitely a safe space. 15. Hour bus ride from the airport. Maybe 45 mins with a few drop offs. I want you to know i had a great trip however these are the things that stuck out., therefore if i can make your trip and safer, sanitary,enjoyable and comfortable these are the things that i would want to know. was with 4 of my friends and after ironing out the problems with the rooms we had a good time made lots of memories at Grand Memories. The people on this resort from all over were super friendly and now have friends. Room Quality - same as most - somewhere to change and sleep so lower the expectation. Cleanliness - they cleaned it every day. Upon arrival though the tub wasn't clean and we had no towels. Once addressed the towel issue was fixed and tub cleaned. Affordable with a gorgeous beach and good entertainment at the beach, party pool and shows. Somewhere to lay your head and shower at the end of the day and you can spend your money on other things like dolphin swim, catamaran horse back riding any excursion just remember to negotiate price. They always come down. ** whatever floats your boat** Cuba is affordable with the best beaches ever. So if your not picky you'll enjoy it. As long as the hotel is clean your good to go. Fancy and elegant you should travel somewhere else. Good company, clean hotel, food to eat and drinks your all set. Nice public areas on the resort. you wont be board and I truly had a great time. Don't rate your hotel on 5 star rating some 3 star hotels are nicer than the 5 star rated ones. HIGHLY RECOMMEND going to other resorts while your out and about and asking if you can have a quick look around to decide if that's somewhere you will want to stay. Totally worth your time and they welcomed it no problem or hassle. Travelled from Nov 28 to Dec 3 2022. Sincere and honest review from Rica I enjoyed my trip and so will you!!!!!

Great Time But Will Not Return To This Resort

Coordinated a Girl's Trip and stayed at Grand Memories for the week of November 26, 2022. We enjoyed our stay and made the best of some of the limitations at this resort. The beach was beautiful as expected and the staff was lovely and accommodating. There was a lot of walking as we were situated at block 15 but nonetheless, we were next door to a nice pool and a great bar where the drinks were on point. Some things that I did not like...... it is a given to tip your maid and write notes [... read more] to ensure you get everything you need in your room like multiple waters, towels, and toilet paper. If you're coming to Cuba, pack a towel and a couple of rolls of toilet paper. If you like premium alcohol, buy it at duty-free and bring it along. They did not have tequila and vodka was very limited. Wine on the resort was very limited as well. The only place that I could get a glass was at the a la carte restaurants. Otherwise, you need to travel to a liquor store on the strip and buy a couple of bottles for your room. The food was okay but the variety was very limited. Some days there were no eggs but there was bacon. If I came back an hour later, there would be eggs but no bacon. They picked and choose when they would serve items that you expected to be at the buffet. Some days I just ate fish and vegetables. The entertainment was good. The majority of the time we stayed in the lobby and mingled with other guests in the evening. All in all, we met a lot of great fellow Canadians at the resort and had a lovely time. I would definitely come back to Varadero but would probably stay somewhere else.

Ok resort

Well I didn’t have hot water and my television didn’t work at all; and my balcony door was broken and couldn’t close properly or lock. Overall it was ok but I didn’t like the room and food ; service was good

..

You get the same food everyday and it really sucks . The rooms have no cable and need to be updated a little but other wise the resorts a solid 4/5 with everything else . Would recommend to someone else

Beaches, pools, and staff were amazing!

Our room had some issues which required attention. Some that could be fixed and were attended to right away once we made management aware. The food was tasty in the Ala carte restaurants and various dishes in the buffet were enjoyable. Service was great and the staff were so friendly!

A beautiful resort that has seen better days.

The staff were always courteous,polite and friendly.The grounds were groomed daily & all facilities were close walking distance. The food was not very desirable but I heard Cuba was know for this. Covid 19 affected everyone & this resort is showing it. For the price I paid I would go back just remember to pack more snacks.

Amazing Resort

It was my first time in Cuba I enjoyed very much people are very friendly and the resort is beautiful. I would try it again and again. I went for a trip to Havana and it was amazing and wonderful one day visit. I loved everything about Cuba and if you are not a complaining guy I will enjoy it food wasn’t very good but you will always find something to eat I enjoyed everyday show at the resort specially Marcelina she did a great job

Great resort!

We had a great stay at Grand Memories resort with all the comforts of home. Really friendly and helpful staff.We spent every day at the pool and enjoyed the short distance to the beach. I only wished we had stayed a little longer. We will definitely be back!

Happy to be back at the same Hotel

Hi just to say a few things about my stay. I've been to this hotel four times and each time I stayed it was amazing. About the second day in on my trip we noticed roaches in the buffet room. I tried to put this in the back of my mind and carry on my vacation but it was hard. It will not stop me from going there again. But I hope as a travel company you might make a suggestion to the resort to spray. Other than that looks amazing thank you for making this trip so easy and pleasant we will deal in [... read more] the future again.