Valentin El Patriarca Varadero: Still as Great as Ever

Our fifth time at Ocean Varadero Privilege and once again it did not disappoint. Service was outstanding, food was great and of course the staff were the absolute best. Big shout out to Jorge (Privilege Pool Bar) Ayda (Privilege Restaurant) and Jay (Privilege Butler) for doing such a great Job.

Grand Memories Varadero: Awesome vacation resort !!

Lots of activities during the day , staff , servers, cleaners , gardeners are all friendly , the office personnell acknowledges vacationers when they meet them , however i noticed that the Buffet manager is selective as to who he will greet and acknowledge :( during our one week stay never did i see him greet us only tourists that probably are frequent customers of the resort, i feel that shouldnt be the case, he has to still acknowledge all tourists either newcomers or regular customers,

Melia Marina Varadero: could use improvement

We initially booked a classic marina view room. Once we got there, the room was very warn down, furniture looked really worn and old, rusty bins and refrigerator. it did not seem very clean either. We asked to see other rooms. We were told upgraded rooms were on The Level, and extra $400. We picked a room on the Level. First night and we had ants in our bathroom, bedroom, including in our bed. We were moved to another room. This room was fine. Very spacious, clean, great view of pool are [... read more]a and ocean in distance. The bed is NOT comfortable, very hard and just a thin sheet instead of blanket. The hotel overall is only three years old, but one would think its over ten! major maintenance is needed all over the place in the hotel. The staff in the hotel are great, cleaning ladies, concierge, wait staff.. however the bartenders at the bars outside in pool and oceanside bar, barely paid any attention to you. Drinks were good and strong however. Food is a miss at the oceanside restaurant and 24hour poolside restaurant. Buffet had pretty good options, pizza guy will make you a personal pizza, just had to ask. Great desserts. The a la' carte restaurants are not worth the reservations except the Asian restaurant, great sampling menu. The V Lounge at the Level is also great, nice Lobster dinner! and their take on eggs benny for breakfast was good. Also the wait staff in the V Lounge was wonderful, however they could use training on waiting tables effectively as our dinner as well as everyone around were their almost two hours waiting for drinks, then appy's then finally dinner.. But that is a management problem. The beach is beautiful. Most times there was a cart offering rides down to the beach. The pool is great, clean. The entertainment is really lacking, if not extremely boring. The fact there is no disco, is a major downfall. Nothing do do after 9pm.

Muthu Playa Varadero: Beautiful beach!

Playa D'Oro was a great resort. The beach is excellent and the water is crystal clear. We really enjoyed our stay at this resort. The restaurant on the beach was amazing and we really enjoyed the open air barbecue. The entertainment was good and the house band as well. All the staff were very friendly and the "animacion" did a very good job entertaining people and engaging them in activities such as dancing and stretching. We would go again.

Resonance Blu Varadero: After 8 years finally a disappointment

We love Cuba and the people. The last 8 years in a row we have gone to Memories Varadero in September. We were very disappointed this year due to being inundated with a mass of Cubans for the week ends. These Cubans were pushy, filled there plates high and seemed to devour the buffet leaving very little. At the end of the weekend these Cubans filled bags with butter, bread, food also filled jugs with beer to take home. At one pool bar there was no beer for over 24 hrs. due to these Cubans.  [... read more] Also, there seemed to be less staff, we had lunch in an al-a- carte that took 2 hours due to only one wait staff on. We asked others from different resorts if they had weekend Cubans and they said no. So it appears it was only Memories. Diamond Club privileges meant nothing to the Cubans they used them even though not Diamond Club. Canadians beware.

Club Kawama: Amazing trip!! :)

The resort that we stayed at (kawama) was over all really good. The food was good. The rooms were good. The 24 hr snack bar was good. The only not so good thing was no Strawberry daiquiris . Haha. But the pins coladas were very yummy. We give them 4 stars! We also recommend this resort . If your on a budget but want a great time this is the resort for you.. :) they really do treat the customers amazing.

Starfish Varadero: Very nice resort !!

Had a very nice week at Aguas Azules. Our first room was a bit noisy ( situated over the entertainment area, and the 24 hour bar !!) but they changed it for us, the following day, to one on the opposite side of the building, with a large balcony overlooking the pool....very nice !! The room was clean and spacious with excellent a/c. The bathrooms were very nice, lots of hot water, good water pressure and a good supply of fresh towels when needed. Our mattresses were new and very comfortable, and [... read more] the bedding was crisp and clean. There was, however a lack of drawers in which to put our clothes, and only 4 coat hangers to a room !! Also no bath plugs ( we took our own ). The food was quite good, lots of variety, and some good desserts. We had some nice fish and seafood, lovely bread, and plenty of it !! It would all have been much more enjoyable if the buffet had been air conditioned.....both guests and food suffered from the heat. Even a few more fans would have made it a little more comfortable. The beach is absolutely gorgeous, and there is easy access to the crystal clear ocean.....beautiful.!! Lots of palapas for shade, but more beach chairs are needed, there were many broken ones , (although while we were there some effort appeared to be being made to clean them up ). There are two pools, one close to the buffet and bungalows, the other ( quieter) one tucked away behind the main building. We preferred the latter. The staff are very friendly and helpful, and the Manager is very approachable and ''hands on''. The women on the front desk are friendly, and our maid, Miriam, was lovely. This is a very accessible resort, as long as you stay in either the ground floor of a bungalow, or in the main building (#6) , as we did. This building has two elevators ( the only building that does ) and there are ramps everywhere. We saw a number of guests using either wheelchairs or ( as I do) walkers, and managing quite comfortably. The grounds are spacious, attractive, and well kept, for the most part, with the exception of an oddly derelict courtyard on the way to the beach ( I think it's called the Colonial Plaza), which could very easily be turned into a very attractive area, with some seating, extra plants etc. It has a sort of gazebo in the middle......could be very nice, with some attention. There is obviously a big effort being made by both management and staff to bring this resort up to a higher standard, and the potential is definitely there. It has recently been taken over by Memories, and is being marketed as a Starfish resort, so will watch with interest to see how this develops !! We had a really nice time at this hotel, and would like to thank staff and management for their hospitality!

Sol Varadero Beach: DISGUSTING RESORT - UNSAFE - AND BAD SERVICE

THE CLEANERS AND HOTEL RESTAURANT STAFF WERE KIDN - HUMBLE AND FRIENDLY HOWEVER THE HOTEL MANAGEMENT WERE NOT GOOD AT ALL. VERY ABRUPT,. A GERMAN MAN FELL TO THE GROUND OFF 2ND FLOOR AN DHIS HEAD WAS SMASHED - HE WAS DRUNK AND THEY STILL CONTINUED TO GIVE HIM MORE ALCOHOL THEN HE WENT TO HIS ROOM AND APPARENTLY JUMPED THE BALCONY... THERE WAS BED BUGS IN THE BEDROOMS, THE ROOM THEY GAVE US WAS NOT WHAT WAS SOLD IN THE PICTURE. IT HAD BEEN PAINTED AND THE SMELL WAS SO BAD I THREW UP.. THE FOOD WA [... read more]S BAD - NOT PRESENTED WELL, DIRTY KITCHEN., FOOD WAS COLD WE HA RUNNING TUMMIES AND THROWING UP ALL 7 DAYS.. MI TOOK &$1500 US DOLLARS AND UT IT IN TH SAFE AND CAME BACK TO ONLY 800 DOLLARS I WAS VERY UPSET,. BUT THEN CAN U BLAME THEM AS THEY GET $25 A MONTH.. I BROUGHT ONE SUITCASE FULL OF CLOTHES AND STUFF TO GIVE AWAY AND THEY WERE HAPPY BU I GUESS ITS BECAUSE THEY NEVER SAW SO MUCH MONEY AND TOOK IT..THE LIGHTS WERE OUT FOR ONE DAY, THE TOILETS WERE STINKING AND COULDNOT FLUSH, AND THE WATER WAS BAD.I HAD TO PAY US$103 TO BRING A FRIEND TO THE HOTEL AND THE GUARDS WERE PRETTY ROUGH..I WILL NTO BE RETURNING THERE AND AIR CANADA VACATIONS SHOULD NOT SELL ANY PACKAGES TO THIS HOTEL.. THE BUILDING IS OLD AND MOULDY AROUND IT. GRASS NOT CUT. SOMEONE POOPED IN THE POOL AND THEY LEFT IT THERE. THE FOOD IS COOKED IN DIRTY OIL. AND THE DRINKS ARE WATERED DOWN.

Sol Palmeras: Wonderful place

The hotel itself, rooms, public places are all good, bars everywhere, snacks and delicious ice cream served almost all the time. The only problems are lot of mosquitos in rooms (we stayed on the ground floor) and mojito with too much sugar in it:) 4 stars for food because some restorants don't cook delicious food (ex. mexican. but italian and seafood serves realy delicios food). The beach is amazing!!!

Muthu Playa Varadero: For 600$ ok

Used to be nice hotel, but i guess its getting old, If you're going to this tesort expect : neglected leak in bathroom, burned lights, some of staff rude and lazy, food cold or sometimes way too salty. Beach was beautiful but often annoying people always asking to sell you same thinngs. I went to some others 4 stars resorts in Cuba and had better experience. If you can get cheap package go for it, if not look for better resort.

Barcelo Solymar: Barcelo solymar Cuba

The hotel and amenities were good. The food could've been better regarding quality and selection. There were only two restaurants so not much selection. There weren't any nightly events that I was aware of and the front desk attendents were not very attentive. They wouldn't answer phone calls externally or from my room.

Muthu Playa Varadero: Good value!

Nothing special but the beach area is great! Don't come for the food but you may want to bring your own hot sauce. Bring your own pillow and your own beach towels. Don't expect your bed sheets to be changed or your bath towels.

Club Tropical: Really amazing hotel with great staff, facilities, beach, and close to everything

Club Tropical was an exceptional hotel with super accommodating and warm staff. It’ll always be a 5 star in my heart! As soon as I arrived at the hotel, I was greeted by the front receptionist which asked me if I wanted dinner. The hotel restaurant had already closed, but they still let me in so I could eat! I'm in my early 20's, and I’ve never traveled alone before. But at no point during my stay did I feel unsafe or alone. The staff were amazing and made me feel like I’ve known t [... read more]hem for years. Everywhere I went, I was greeted with a smile and “hola”. The staff even learned my name, and would talk to me whenever they see me. Some even taught me Spanish, and gave me hugs and kisses when I left! The Hotel buildings has vibrant colours and was very cozy. There are no elevators, but I love stairs so that wasn’t an issue. I got a pool side room on the 3rd floor, which had amazing views of the ocean, pool, and entertainment. The room had everything I needed: clean colourful bedding, A/C, a flat screen TV, lots of mirrors and closet space. The bathroom was very clean, with ample toilet paper, soap, and a nice warm shower. The maid was amazing! She restocked the toilet paper everyday, mopped the floors, made the beds and left cute towel arrangements on the beds. The food was fabulous! There is one restaurant at the resort, with plenty of variety for breakfast, lunch and dinner and desserts. It is buffet styled, and there was even a grill guy at the end if you wanted omelets, or special lunches/dinner (like pasta or grilled shrimp). The café late in the mornings are so good! It’s a must try! There was also a snack bar near the entertainment area, but I never ate there because I was always full from the buffet. The entertainers at the hotel are amazing! I went in low season (September), so they only had shows on Friday and Sunday nights. But there were lots of other activities during the day. The music was always lively, and always ended at 11pm so people can sleep. From my room, you can barely notice the music unless I was out in the balcony. Friday night they had a Cabaret show, and on Sunday night, there was a live band with incredible singers. Both performances were well worth my time. You can tell that the entertainers put a lot of effort into organizing the shows. The bar is 24 hours, and the bartenders were quick and generous with the drinks. One time, I wanted mojitos, and the bartender made me a special mix. The Cuba Libre (coke, rum and lime juice), pina colada, and Rum Punch were my personal favourites. The beach is right at the hotel, it is beautiful and clean, and just like what you imagine from the pictures. There are tons of beach chairs and sun shelters, and it was never too busy. The life guard was very friend, and security at the beach would bring me a beach chair as soon as he saw me. The water is so blue and clear, and with goggles, you can see fishes and little jellyfishes (the little ones don’t sting). There are paddle boats, kayaks, catamaran, and even snorkeling available right at the beach. The hotel is right in the heart of Varadero, and is close to lots of souvenir stands, grocery stores, bars and restaurants. The clubs are not too far either, but that's because I enjoy walking. It is about 5 CUC if you want to cab there. There is no wifi at the hotel, but the staff were super helpful in letting me know how to get access to wifi elsewhere. The people staying at the hotel was the only slight down side for me. Most people were older (50s-60s), or families with children. From my whole trip, I only saw about 3-4 people my age (20s). But it’s because I went in the off-season, so this was expected. The people were friendly regardless, so it wasn’t an issue for me. I’ve stayed at a so-called “4 star” hotel before, but the service itself knocks it down to 3 star or lower. This hotel is rated 3 star, but it was nothing less than 5 star for me. I came in with an open mind, as I saw mixed reviews. But once I experience it for myself, I was shocked at how people can say such negative things. A guy at the bar was trying to tell me how he disliked the staff and food and facilities. You have to remember that what you expect is what you’re going to get. I expected greatness, and I got nothing less than that. I would choose Club Tropical for my next vacation in a heart beat. Thanks again to everyone there! Gracias amigos!

Club Kawama: Beautiful Resort

Pool, grounds, dining room, beach and ocean wonderful. Rooms left a lot to be desired. Our first room was what I would consider a two star, 3 double beds, with skinny 6 inch mattresses, and a vertical blind strip was missing, (about 4 inches wide), and when I went to adjust it, as it compromised our privacy, and a second strip fell to the floor, opening a wide gap. I reached up to stabilize the long covering box that ran the length of the blinds above it, and the box fell on my head, The sink wa [... read more]s between the wash room and beds, and I turned on the light switch, and the light didn't come on. I took the bulb and put it in another socket, and it came on, so it was the switch. I went in the wash room, and there was no fan, so I went to open the windows, but it was sealed shut (no ventilation). They gave us an upgrade room the next day, but we're reluctant to fix any breakdowns we encountered. I felt like I was looked at as the problem!,,, .

Valentin El Patriarca Varadero: Good resort

Pleasantly surprised by the quality of this resort and would recommend. Buffet was adequate and a la carte restaurants were very good. Very clean resort and room was well maintained. Pool is very shallow and gets very warm so not much break from the heat in the afternoons. Lots of beach chairs and shade.

Starfish Jibacoa: Great Location for R&R

This resort is awesome as far as beach, snorkelling, drinks and staff go. The only negative would be the food. I would suggest that the hotel at least label the food to advise what exactly they are serving. Bungalow was great.

Palma Real: The best location hotel

This hotel is the only one l go to in Veradero now it is all about the location the super friendly staff and the cleanliness of the hotel that brings me back it is just a super place to go l been for one , two, and three week stays l would highly recommend it

Melia Las Antillas: Good Holiday!

Older hotel and needs some upgrades and maintenance which they are working on. We had a great room in the main building; close to the restaurants and coffee bar. Fantastic beach - very clean clear warm water. Be aware; smoking is allowed in pretty much any out door area and we found this great for us and from the looks of it many other appreciated the freedom to smoke. Food is a bit of a shock; really weird items on the buffet; but once we found what we liked it was fantastic! Weird that y [... read more]ou could only get beer in the buffet - no mixed drinks; no coffee other than at breakfast; I guess they want you to use the coffee bar. Lots of pool and beach chairs; but as usual there were towel hogs; one thing that we noticed is that some people hogged chairs at the beach and the pool - come on; let some one else have a chair - you don't use 2 at a time. All in all we met some great staff and had a great time.

Royalton Hicacos Resort and Spa: The Staff and facilities were awesome!

This was our second time at this resort! Both times we were in the Diamond Class levels. The resort was great. The people were great! The restaurant food was better this time then the last, especially the Italian restaurant, mmmmmm! We could really see that they were making a huge effort in keeping the place a 5 star resort! We stayed mostly at the beach so I can't say much about the pools, but by the amount of people around there, it must have been good! A couple of down falls, was one night [... read more], there was a dinner for the Diamond members by the pool, and the chef ruined the beef completely. The top staff were well aware and were planning a do-over the next night to make up for it. We were leaving that day, but it showed that they cared enough to do something about it. For me, that enough to tell me that upper management really cares about taking responsibility for the quality of the service. The second issue was with the travel agent. They did not transfer our requests to Sun Wing or the resort. I will not be using the same agent again in any of future travels!

Occidental Arenas Blancas: Amazing

loved everything! will go back soon people are friendly and the food is delicious good service! the ocean is crystal clear and clean and nobody bothers you we had a really nice time I just wish there was more entertainment!