Paradisus Princesa Del Mar: Nice

We did not have a great beginning or end to trip. No room that we booked when arrived and no private car to leave. Royal service was ok at best. Out butler tried to make it better. If your looking for a true ultra inclusive. This is not one. Ok for Cuba.

Starfish Cuatro Palmas: Pleasant vacation

We stayed at SCP from August 8 to 15, first time at this resort, third wisit to Cuba. We were a group of five adults and two teenagers. This was our first time to stay at a 3 star resort. The facilities are 3 star: one pool, no swim up bar, no jacuzzi, no specialty restaurants. There is a good jim, massage and sauna which I enjoyed daily. We stayed in Quatro Palmas rooms and found them to be outdated, run down, but clean and suficcient, since we didn't spend a lot of time in the rooms. One coupl [... read more]e stayed in Colonial section, rooms were newer and in the quieter area of the resort. I would recommend this section. The staff was very pleasant, helpful and accomodating. Since it is a small resort, the food in the restaurant was fresh and there were several good food choices. This is the first time in Cuba when none of us had any stomack issues. One staff member helped us organize a private tour to Havana. The guide spoke excellent English and was very knowledgeable. We all loved the tour and hope to go back to Havana in the future. One thing I liked very much was that the resort is in Varadero, which gave us additional activities such walking after dinner, sightseeing, shopping...There were several good restaurants accross the street from the hotel. There were also some bars which played loud music untill late at night. Lackily our room was facing the pool area. If you decide to visit and do not plan to visit the bars make sure your room is not facing the street. The hotel entertainment was good, especially the evening shows. Dancers were beautifull, well trained and there was a different show every night. We also took a snorkeling katamaran toor from the beach and were not amazed. The next day we went on a snorkeling half day trip to visit the reef. We all liked it very much, and if snorkeling is your thing I would recommend this tour. The beach is absolutely beautiful, sendy bottom but there is no snorkeling. Most of the people who stayed at this time were from Italy, France and Germany. Before we booked this resort I checked the TripAdvisor and found that it was #8 out of 62 resorts. Many were returning customers and I was curious why? Even though it is a 3 star and lacking some of the facilities and luxuries, our overall experience was very good and we'd go back to this resort.

Barcelo Solymar: Awesome place!

This resort is big with many pools to enjoy, a beautiful beach, and excellent service. The staff was always friendly, and the restaurants and food was pretty good. One things I liked a lot was that the buffet and restaurants are air conditioned unlike other resorts where I've been to where I have had a difficult time keeping my appetite due to the heat, but that was not a problem here.

Playa Vista Azul: Ocean Vista Azul

Very clean hotel in general. Rooms are very nice and clean...nice big showers! Staff is very friendly. Restaurants a la carte were very good and no reservations necessary which was nice. Pools are beautiful. Beaches are nice and no need to reserve beach chairs...always fiind a free space. Everything is close by so not too much walking distance between rooms, reception, pools, restaurants and beaches. I would rate this hotel for Cuba 4 to 4 1/2 star.

Playa Vista Azul: Ocean Vista Azul

Very clean rooms and nice resort. Restaurants a la carte are very good and great since no reservations are necessary. First come, First serve. Very nice shows at night, great dancers. 2 Beautiful pools. Everythjng is close by and not too much walking, so everything is accessible without needing a "caro". Employees very friendly. I would rate it 4 to 4 1/2 star).

Grand Memories Varadero: Great getaway!

From the very beginning this trip was fantastic. Our trip central agent Nicole was so helpful, I have travelled to the Caribbean many times and so far she has been the best of all my experiences. Loved all the additional destination info and support! Now for the trip itself! The grounds of Grand Memoriws hotel are very well kept and the trees, shrubs and flowers are beautiful. Our room was close to the beach, was kept very clean, and had everything we needed. An added bonus was the AC was very [... read more] efficient so walking in from the hot sun felt so refreshing, great for sleeping. Keeping in mind that this is Cuba and food options may be limited, or different to what you are used to, the food was quite good. You could always find something to eat, and the lobster lunches at the gourmet restaurant were superb. We loved our dinner there and at the Italian restaurant the most of all. But thise lobster lunches truly makes this resort something special! The animation staff are friendly and enthusiastic, but not pushy, a huge bonus! Loved the pool foam party, it was lots of fun! The pool bartenders were amazing, super fast and very friendly. We did the catamaran day trip as well which was great, loved the dolphin experience!

Hotel Villa Cuba: A few adjustments needed to be a 4 star

This resort could easily be a 4 star with a bit of attention to the rooms , a la cartes and inconsistent staff. We stayed in a Supersaver room which had not yet been renovated. The air conditioner worked but only on one temperature (cold) and quite strong velocity. I slept with 2 blankets. Our cleaning lady was lovely, did a good job and was very appreciative of the new children's clothes and shoes we left daily. The beach was amazing and Rolando, who handled our loungers was friendly. The wait  [... read more]staff in the buffet were amazing and we thought the variety was good for Cuba. There was nightly entertainment and small groups in the lobby bar. We found it too hot to hang out there. A few fans may help this area. The pool area was well maintained however I found the pool bar people very cool to us. No smiles there even when we tipped. The a la cartes need some new recipes and need to learn how to use spices.We had 3 massages this week. They were decent massages , quiet area , with good air conditioning. This resort is close to town and you can take a Hop on Hop Off Bus for 5 cuc for the day. Unfortunely you need to go to town to exchange money or get ripped off by the exchange at the hotel desk. The other option is to exchange enough money at the airport. We booked the Buena Vista Social Club excursion for 32 CUC and enjoyed this very much.

Melia Las Antillas: Would go back and would recommend

For those of you not keen on knowing the details of my stay let me say that I throughly enjoyed my stay at Melia Las Antillas, will likely stay again and would recommend it to others. For those of you interested in more details... SERVICE: The service is good, particularity at the buffet and a la carte restaurants. I was impressed with the service in these areas. The service at the outdoor bars was okay, but nothing great. The service at the main indoor lobby bar was also mediocre. The se [... read more]rvice as the front desk was also okay, once again not great. I would've appreciated if the workers seemed a little happier. ROOMS: Our room was extremely clean and well taken care of. No issues with bugs or dirt of anything of that sort. Martha was great. I wouldn't say the rooms are dated, but a few updates wouldn't hurt...however, when I'm on vacation I don't worry about my room as long as it's comfortable. The AC works extremely well, so well in fact we had to turn it off at night, and considering we travelled in mid August a strong AC was appreciated. FOOD: I've been to Cuba before and stayed at a Melia that time as well, and the food at this hotel was much better. The buffet food was very good considering my expectations were low. There is a good selection of food, and if you eat seafood like my mother and I do you'll be pleased. If you don't...there's still a decent selection of items. For our a la carte dinners we went to Conuco and the Italian restaurant Both were good, but Conuco being outside in August was relatively painful. The mosquitos had a feast We should have thought about that before we booked though. The bbq area by the beach is good for a quick lunch if you don't want to go back to the buffet and leave the beach or if you're hungry at a time when the buffet isn't open. BEACH/POOL: Awesome. Lots of chairs at both locations (but we did go at off season). Both locations are well kept with absolutely no garbage or anything of that sort in sight. They play music in both areas but it isn't overbearing - perfect volume to relax to. The beach is gorgeous and is where we spent most of our time, you can paddle board or go on a catamaran free of charge, but we did always tip, both are a great experience. It's honestly picturesque. EXCURSIONS: We took the day trip into Havana - it's a must do. We booked with Sunwing when we arrived, it's 59 CUC. We took the double decker bus into downtown Varadero - also a must do. However...do NOT get on the bus if it's heading the opposite direction (like we did after being encouraged to do so by the driver). If you do you will be taken to every single hotel on the strip and stop at every one to see if there's passengers waiting, a 15 minute ride ending up taking 90 minutes. It was a nice tour, but completely unnecessary. It costs 5 CUC to ride it all day. SOME ISSUES: The lobby isn't air conditioned, nor is any other area in the hotel other than the restaurants and hotel rooms. This is an issue in the summer, and unfortunately we found ourselves going back to our room early to escape the heat. Bring bug spray. They seem to not be bad during the day but they make up for it at night. The coffee at the buffet is awful. Be sure to get your coffee from the main bar lobby. It's amazing! Other than that I have no complaints whatsoever. As I said earlier, my stay was great, I'd stay again and will recommend!

Playa Vista Azul: Great resort

Our stay was for 5 days, August 7-11. We loved this resort. The rooms were clean. The food was good. We ate everything in moderation. We liked that you can choose your fish/seafood or meat and have them grill it in front of you. The espresso's were good. There are 2 beaches (left and right side). The left side was a little crowded and noisier (games etc...). The right side was spectacular. There were plenty of huts and chairs and it was less crowded. On this side, you find the pedalo's, kayak's  [... read more]etc..just a beautiful beach! We preferred the right side. The staff were attentive. We were a family of 4 (two of which were teenagers). I would recommend this resort.

Royalton Hicacos Resort and Spa: Fantastic Hotel

Amazing resort, great rooms, comfy beds. This was our 4th visit to this resort and it keeps getting better. The addition of the ice cream parlor was a fantastic idea and tasty. This resort just keeps getting better.

Roc Arenas Doradas: Great Fun!

The resort was quite nice, not too big so that getting to the beach, pool, restaurant and other amenities from your room wasn't a long trek. The room needs some upgrading though. The headboard was missing an art panel. The whole room could've used some art work. It was too dim at night because it only had one table lamp, so we compensated with the entrance and bathroom lights along with the tv on. The beds were sleepable, but you'd probably hurt yourself if you jumped on it. There was still a us [... read more]ed tissue and debris underneath while I was searching for a lost shoe. The bath tub had corrosion, and the toilets didn't flush down properly, so the bowl didn't clean unless you use a toilet brush or spray it with the shower head which, by the way, had almost no water pressure. The soap and amenities weren't replenished, like the complimentary water bottle. I had to take the empty to the bar and refill it myself everyday. No minibar either. Also, saw a couple of cockroaches near the bed. The safe was not complimentary either. Overall, housekeeping was ok at best, and our stay was relatively pleasant. I just wish the restaurants and other indoor public spaces were air conditioned more. The only relief I got from the heat was from the beach, pool or our room. Despite all that, we had a terrific vacation. We love Cuba and the people, and we'll keep coming in years to come.

Playa Vista Azul: Great resort

The hotel is nice, although the amenities could use an update such as the tennis court and basketball. Dining rooms were nice. I like the fact that we do not need to book reservation for a la carte. Swimming pools were great especially the infinity pool. Beach was amazing! It was great price for the value. Cubana airline actually impressed me.

Melia Marina Varadero: Nice resort bad service

The hotel was 5 min walk to the beach, we had nice weather in August (it only rained twice out of 7 days during the afternoon). The food was ok cheese tilapia & mango were delicious and the omelette was good.. Stay away from the Asian and Latin restaurants.. The French one was the best for their service and food. The service at the resort was mediocre, poor towel service, horrible pillows (bring your own) and Internet works only at the lobby. No entertainment at night. The resort was 2.5 hours f [... read more]rom Havana by bus so it was worth to go outside of the resort and see all the classic cars and Spanish architecture.

Resonance Blu Varadero: Incredible Resort/Trip

This trip was amazing. It was my first time anywhere tropical but for some of my friends it was like their seventh. Our resort was very accommodating as we were 9 people and they got us rooms all on the same floor close to each other. The buffet was actually quite good. There was a large variety of food to chose from, it doesn't really vary from day to day but it's everything you need. They actually had ketchup. Not a lot of it, but they had it. Just be prepared to tip everyone no matter how big [... read more] or little they help you. Our maid was incredible, we stayed in rooms 27109, 27110, 27112 and 27115 and she always had our rooms clean. Our stuff was never misplaced or stolen and she was so friendly. The jeep safari tour was absolutely incredible, we went snorkelling, swimming in a cave, horse back riding, and more. If you get the chance to do it you must! The animation team was beyond amazing. There was always something to do at the pool or beach during the day and the activities were a lot of fun. The other guys said this resort was the best one they've ever been to because of the activities. We also rented to scooters and went to downtown varadero, where the water was crystal clear. We honestly had the time of our lives. If you're planning on going to cuba go to memories. you wont regret it.

Muthu Playa Varadero: Meh! Bah! Bleh!

NOT A 4 STAR! Food....Horrible! Horrible! Horrible! Always sharing your food with the birds....food always cold....if you like stewed liver....or stewed beef tongue.......this is the place for you!

Club Kawama: Club Kawama

As I have travelled in the Caribbean before, I knew what to expect. I liked the resort with it's cottage style rooming arrangement. My family were a little taken aback, as there were many renos going on as well as street construction at the front door of the Club. The food was a little bland and no variety: that was a surprise. I have been to Cuba before and have eaten well. The A-la-Carte restaurants were better, with *El Risolino* surpassing the rest. The rooms were spacious and clean. The  [... read more]beds were very comfortable. There was hot water for the shower at any time of day. Then, the beach!! The beach was wonderful and the ocean was warm and welcoming! There were sufficient lounge chairs under palapas for everyone all day and all week. All in all, I liked this place very much and would return in the blink of an eye!

Iberostar Origin Laguna Azul: Very Good Amenities, and Frienly Staff

We enjoyed our stay in this hotel it has excellent amenities, such as the Pools, beaches, and Activities. The Food at the buffet was surprisingly good for Cuba, although, we wished that they had Lobster. The Staff are very friendly, although there were a couple of Front desk staff who were a bit snappy, luckily you do not have to interact with these individuals a lot. The staff that you do interact with are very friendly. The one short fall that I have to mention was the condition of the rooms [... read more]. The rooms could use some updating and fixing. The sliding door to the patio in our room was hard to open, as a matter of fact you could hear which guests were opening the Patio doors. The sheets had stains, the Furniture in the room had stains, and numerous other deficiencies. One has to accept the fact that the room is there to sleep, bathe, and change in, and not there for one to stay in all the time. This is Cuba, and one has to realize that they do not have access to the same resources/materials and standards that we are accustomed to here in Canada. Get past this point, and this is a very good Hotel/resort. My suggestion to anyone thinking of going to Cuba is to leave Canada with an open mind, and do not be too critical and remember where they are. Do your research with the currency and culture, remember that the CUC is pegged to the US Dollar, so if the Canadian Dollar is low, you will suffer with the exchange rate. The Cuban people are genuinely friendly, and lead simple lives. Cuba is a very safe country to visit, I would not hesitate to go back to Cuba with my family again.

Blau Varadero: Excellent time!

This was our second trip to the Blau. The staff is exceptional. The hotel is very nice but in need of some upgrading. Overall though no complaints. Food is good and the variety is decent. Lots of entertainment. We travelled with two small kids and they loved it. Would definitely go back again!

Iberostar Selection Varadero: Good Hotel

My wife and I have visited 37 countries and this was our 2nd visit to Cuba (Santiago de Cuba previously). This hotel met all our expectations. Pleasant staff, good meals clean rooms and great facilities.

Club Kawama: Club Kawama Review

Grounds: Overall the grounds were nice. They were a little run down looking, but every building was close to a pool and the beach. Thank goodness the A/C worked well! Staff: For the most part the staff was wonderful. Always for attentive and willing to help. On the other hand, my family and I found that the staff working in the main building (lobby and lobby bar) were not overly friendly and often looked annoyed when asked for help. I found this strange as they are the first staff members tha [... read more]t guests see. Beach: This beach is the most gorgeous piece of land (and ocean) I have ever seen. Absolutly gorgeous beach. 10/10!!! Opportunities: The location of the resort is very convenient if you want to go into Varadero. There is a bus stop close, or you can walk (a bit of a walk but worth it). The expeditions the resort was offering were ok. Not a lot of variety. I went on the Jeep Explorer Tour, and would highly recommend it if you want to see more of Cuba and experience many activities in one day. Food: I will just say that I ate to survive and not because it was good. I did not like the food at all in the buffet. There are only two "A la carte" restaurants associated with the rest. The international restaurant is off the resort and was not impressive. Half the items on the menu were not available and the food was mediocre. The staff at this restaurant were not friendly. The Italian restaurant on the resort was my saving grace!! It was delicious! I would have eaten there every single night if I could. The staff were great. We also had to travel off the resort to get drinking water (on our own dollar) because the resort did not provide any for free. Overall I have a wonderful trip but would not go back to this resort. Although going back just for the beach is tempting, there were too many negative aspects of the resort for me to stay there again.