If you know Cuba and it’s political situation you would understand to why people from Canada choose this Country! I love thiese natural, virgin amazing beaches that this Country offers! It’s People is the second reason I visited this place! In varadero - Blau Varadero resort considering the low season and light issues that Country suffers, i really was surprised that we couldn’t tell a thing! The food was as per Cuban standards- not bad, and not great! As per rooms- yes could be outdated but con[... read more]sidering the years that this hotel has, to us was great! What i was impressed with was the towels that we forgot and lost. Sarah, one of the managers at the checkout lobby was more than professional the way she handle it! We didn’t pay the fee of 15$ each towel if lost by the guests! I know that i will go back and if you are considering at this day and age travelling to varadero, Blau Varadero its in the low budget and fun to go.
However Top three resorts depending on your budget staring from most expensive if you could afford are #1- Melia International
#2- Sol Palmeras
#3- Blau Varadero
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Valentin El Patriarca Varadero: Do not book !
I can honestly say , the only thing good about the resort was the beach , the buffet was closed , the cigar lounge was closed, the disco was closed , they had one restaurant for the whole resort and only served chicken, pork or fish every day the same thing , lobby bar closing at 10:30 pm , hardly any entertainment. Got there and gave us room with 2 beds when we are a couple, had to fight for a room , stayed at elegance side a bottle of rum was supposed to be given , never got it , only Yam[... read more]ila and Roxanne were of help and upgraded to a better room , a far from that , terrible experience.......
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Jenn -
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Iberostar Coral Holguin: Had a fun, relaxing time!
We went on a girls trip and had a wonderful time. The resort is well maintained and we had all the essentials needed. The room was very clean and welcoming. The air conditioning was a blessing, as well as the ceiling fan. It had a beautiful balcony with lounge chairs, overlooking the pool area. We were welcomed kindly at the reception area and brought to our rooms efficiently. Throughout our stay, I found the staff friendly, kind and personable. There was a wide variety of activities, lead by [... read more]Carlos. We participated in Aquafit and Cocktail making classes by the pool. Carlos was energetic and tried to include every guest. The lifeguards at the pool were friendly and we enjoyed getting to know them, especially Frank.The staff at the restaurant were always there to make sure you were taken care of. The cooks, as well as the bar and wait staff were always friendly and accommodating. The pool was great and the beaches beautiful. We have already talked about returning and look forward to seeing the staff again. We feel like we made some wonderful friends.
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Sanctuary at Grand Memories Holguin: Sanctuary! The best resort !
It was my second time to visit this beautiful resort!!!! I spent a week, but I regret not going there for two weeks. Everything was great and specially I would like to mention my butler Ramon who was very helpful and made me feel very welcome. Everything I needed I asked him for and he was always there for me. Because of him I have a desire to come back again. All other staff were very pleasant as well. Room was clean and beautiful. Food was very tasty and lots of choices to choose from. Beach i[... read more]s amazing.
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Kman -
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Paradisus Rio De Oro: Great Vacation!!
We got off to a great start weeks before departure when I called Beth at Trip Central. It was a great booking experience that was efficient, quick and informative and she was able to book Club Class seats on both flights. I made use of the Air Transat app and it is one of the better ones taking you through documentation requirements before your trip through online check in, airport transfers, hotel confirmation and return flight. Club Class was a really nice perk. We’ve been to PRDO many times w[... read more]hich is why we chose it. The resort, the rooms, the food, the beach and the pools are always on point. We upgraded to Royal Service upon arrival as usual and it makes our vacation experience even more enjoyable. Cuba is experiencing a six month drought right now which is making the shortage issues even tougher for the resort but I can say that there was always plenty of fresh vegetables, fruit, fish, pork, chicken, breads and desserts. Most of all, the wonderful PRDO staff make you feel at home. They are all truly kind and happy people! We highly recommend PRDO via Air Transat through Trip Central.
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Sanctuary at Grand Memories Holguin: Amazing second time in Sanctuary
I just come back from the Grand Memories Sanctuary hotel. I decided to visit again this place and I didn’t regret. I travelled with my Mom and we had an amazing time together thanks to the amazing people who work in the hotel, plus room was so nice and clean, beach is beautiful with lots of trees and food was very tasty with a variety of choices. I will definitely go back again.
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Ed 7 -
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Paradisus Rio De Oro: Exceptional resort.
We have stayed in Cuba over 25 time over the last 30 years. This is by far the best hotel we have stayed in. Even though it was July and the hotel was at approximately at 25% occupancy the staff and facilities were wonderful.
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Resonance Musique Varadero: Satisfactory
This resort was just okay.
The room was comfortable, the air conditioning was cold.
You only get one towel each for your entire stay. We used the app to request fresh ones and they never arrived. No bath towels or hand towels.
That one towel for the beach, shower, pool everything.
Also, you had to ask for toilet paper for the room everyday or resorted to taking it upon yourself to take it from the shared bathrooms, that were in disarray.
Doors off hinges, no toilet seats.
My major co[... read more]ncern was that the pool music went on at 6:53 am in the morning.
LOUD is an understatement. It was the same playlist everyday, and so loud. No one is at the pool at that time. It was unnecessary. Used the app again to share our frustration, but they didn't care.
It was so loud that the balcony glass doors rattled and you could feel the beat in your body. It was annoying to say the least and made it unbearable to stay in the room. If you are looking to get some sleep in the mornings do not go here. Even during the day at the pool when guests were enjoying the waterslide, the waterfall bar; people were going to the dj board and turning it down themselves.
It seemed that most were displeased at the volume. I get that the place is promoting a good time and music, but it was absolutely absurd. It's not music at that level, just noise.
The food was alright but the chicken was always raw or very much undercooked and the tools used to cook always had raw juices as they sat in the tray with the uncooked meat while grilling.
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Paradisus Los Cayos: Wonderful Resort, will return.
Thank you Manuela at Trip Central for recommending this resort. We stayed at the Paradisus Los Cayos the week of July 19 to 26, 2025. We were upgraded to the Royal section. The Royal section was well maintained and the rooms were cleaned daily. We enjoyed our stay having already been to Cuba before, but this was a big step up from our past visits to other regions. The beach was amazing, water was clear and warm. The Royal section has a private beach and someone always is there to set up yo[... read more]ur chair and umbrella. There is a small bar as well on this breathtaking beach. You can venture for a walk all the way around the next resort where there is another gorgeous beach, call the Playa Las Gaviotas, next to the Wildlife refuge. You can also enjoy a fresh coconut or mango some of the workers bring, they don't charge, but you can give them something if you wish, they really appreciate it.
The rooms were spacious and modern. Water pressure a little low some days and no hot water, but warm. The rooms are air conditioned, it was down for a couple of days but no more than a few hours, there is a ceiling fan in the room as well. We stayed on the top floor facing the forest, so there was always a nice breeze. There is an elevator for convenience. After our beach visit, we would stop at the Snack bar and have fries and pizza (thin flatbread style). Always we were received with warm smiles and greetings. The drinks were served in glasses and very tasty. You can get bottled water as well.
The breakfast and lunch buffet were really tasty and lots of options. Remember this is Cuba, not Canada and US, so food tastes a little different and served differently, but it was delicious. Our butlers Ari, Fidel and Yasser always asked us how we were enjoying ourselves and booked us every night in a different restaurant. We personally enjoyed the one at the Royal building. The servers were for the most part very professional, there are some younger inexperienced staff, but the manager quickly resolved any issues.
We went to the Sky bar a couple of times, it had amazing views. We stayed had our coffee and drinks at the outside lounge in Royal area. Special thank you to Maruan and Osmel who always prepared our delicious drinks and coffee. They both were extremely kind and very professional. Also Lazaro, Armando and all the servers at the Royal were always smiling and friendly. We were very comfortable and always someone attending to our needs.
The lobby had a washroom which a wonderful lady was always there making sure everything clean and well stocked. Understanding that language for some is a barrier, just a smile and thank you goes along way.
The pools were maintained daily, unfortunately some obnoxious visitors kept hoarding food in swim up pools and would drop things in there, the staff you could tell were not impressed, but they maintained their professionalism and cleaned up as quickly as possible.
The Royal was peaceful and quiet, even the main pool in this area was quiet, light music in background. If you like it more upbeat, the Reserve or the other side of the resort maybe for you.
Thankyou again to the staff for your professionalism and attentiveness. We thoroughly enjoyed this trip.
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Iberostar Coral Holguin: Terrific Resort in Holguin
The Coral Level Iberostar Resort was an amazing place for a relaxing holiday. The rooms were spacious and very clean. The pool and grounds were very well cared for. The beach was stunning! The staff (lifeguards, maids, event coordinator, bar-tenders, cooks, waiters, butlers) were all very friendly toward guests. In particular, Frank, the lifeguard, took the time to interact with guests and Carlos planned fun and engaging activities.
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Grand Aston Varadero Beach Resort: Beautiful resort
Hotel was extremely clean...food was great (loved those mangos) ... a la cart restaurants were extremely good...pool was clean..entertainment was entertaining...
If you do not like local drinks, I would recommend you bring your own single malt scotch.
I would definitely go back !
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Clau2025 -
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Melia Buenavista: Amazing Resort!
This place is beautiful, peaceful, with a heart. You can spend the day by the beach, the pool, doing activities. Very clean, amazing personable staff, delicious food, snacks, drinks. A place to relax, enjoy nature, music, people, walks and food.
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SHL16 -
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Gran Muthu Almirante Beach Resort: Gran Muthu Almirante Beach – A Wonderful Stay!
We had a fantastic experience at Gran Muthu Almirante Beach and would definitely recommend it to others looking for a relaxing and enjoyable getaway in Cuba.
The resort itself is well-maintained, clean, and beautifully laid out. The rooms are spacious and modern, with a powerful air conditioner that kept us cool and comfortable throughout our stay. The service across the board was excellent—friendly, attentive, and always with a smile.
A special shout out to Arnoldo and Elianet at the buff[... read more]et—they truly went above and beyond every single day. Whether it was breakfast or lunch, they greeted us warmly, remembered our preferences, and made us feel genuinely welcomed. Their energy, professionalism, and attention to detail made each meal that much more enjoyable. They are a true asset to the resort!
The beach was pristine, with clear water that was perfect for swimming. We also appreciated that the pools never felt overcrowded, and we had no trouble finding available lounge chairs throughout the day. However, there is a noticeable lack of shade around the pool area, so be prepared if you're looking for sun protection.
In terms of food, we were pleasantly surprised! For Cuba standards, the food was quite good and we never had trouble finding something we enjoyed. A big highlight was the Asian and Indian à la carte restaurants—both served delicious meals and offered a great dining experience. We also loved the outdoor BBQ area next to the buffet, which served tasty burgers and chicken skewers. This became our go-to when we opted for more casual dinners.
There were a couple of minor downsides—the main one being the limited drink options during the day. Blended drinks like piña coladas and daiquiris are only available from 4–10 PM at one specific bar, which was a bit disappointing given the heat. Also, we experienced a few short power outages, but they were brief and didn’t impact our trip significantly.
One unexpected perk was the resort Wi-Fi—it worked surprisingly well, even down at the beach, which made it easy to stay connected when we needed to.
All in all, we had an amazing stay and are already looking forward to returning to Gran Muthu Almirante Beach in the future!
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Raven -
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Grand Memories Varadero: Summer vacation for 7 pax
Check-In Experience: Arrived at 9:30pm, waited an hour with only one staff member at the desk to check in newly arrived guests. Many of us were tired and hungry from the trip but due to understaffed check-in, we missed the buffet. It was disappointing because this could have been prevented especially during off-peak hours.
Room Conditions: Room wasn’t in great shape, but the AC worked well on 2 out of 3 rooms.
It was dated with occasional maintenance issues, though cleanliness and air conditio[... read more]ning are usually acceptable. The resort needs a major overhaul.
Wi-Fi & Connectivity: Terrible Wi-Fi. It is unreliable and slow, especially in rooms and even in the main lobby. Wifi at Snack Bar was better.
Dining & Service: Buffet closes at 10pm, snack bar mishandled your order with a 30-minute delay due to poor communication. Service can be inconsistent, with some staff being very attentive and others less so. Food is repetitive but sufficient, and delays in service are not uncommon.
Overall Vibe: Underwhelming service despite low guest volume. The resort has a lively atmosphere and great beach access, but service quality varies, and maintenance issues persist.
We had a terrible experience with customer service during our stay. Upon arrival, we were assigned a room on the third floor, despite having a mobility issue and requesting a ground-floor room. There is no elevator, and we were told to return the next morning to request a change.
The process was chaotic. Staff gave us conflicting times for when the new room would be ready (3pm, 3:30pm, 4pm, 4:30pm). They blamed shift changes and linen delays, none of which should have been our concern. When we spoke directly to housekeeping, they confirmed that two rooms were ready. Upon returning to customer service, staff were angry and questioned how we knew about the rooms—they were saving them for new guests, even though four other room change requests were pending (we saw the sheet).
Eventually, we were given a ground-floor room, but the entire process was unnecessarily stressful and poorly handled.
Customer service was dismissive, disorganized, and unprofessional. Staff were more concerned with internal logistics than guest comfort.
We are a family of 7 and we booked 3 superior rooms (Bldg #23). We do NOT recommend this resort based on our experience (July 21-25).
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Melia Trinidad Peninsula: Beautiful Resort
Location – This resort is 3 hours from the Santa Clara airport. On both trips, to and from the resort, our bus broke down. We were stranded on the side of the road for an hour while we waited for a mechanic to arrive, which delayed our flight home.
Food – the buffet had a great variety, and the a la cartes were excellent. The flies in the restaurants were annoying. The juice was freshly created – no added sugar!
Beach – The beach sand is lovely, but the water was not great. The ground was cov[... read more]ered in seaweed, rocks and coral. There was a natural pool to the left of the resort, but it felt awkward to use since it was in front of another resort.
Staff – Most of the staff was lovely, always willing the help.
Room – Our room was spacious and clean. It was always stocked with clean towels & toiletries. If you are staying with a friend, the bathroom has glass walls, so you will lack privacy.
Fitness/Gym – There was a great variety of equipment that functioned well. Air conditioning, water and towels were provided.
Entertainment – This resort provided my favourite entertainment. They often had a live band/singer in the evening or dancers.
Overall, for the price we paid, I would definitely return & recommend to a friend.
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Cuba Lover -
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Blau Varadero: Fantastic Spot
Just returned from the Blau Varadero. This is a fantastic resort. Nice and compact in size. We had a Select Oceanview Room. Perfect. Great balcony to sit on looking at the pool and ocean. Everything worked great in the room. Air conditioner...awesome!
Beer, Water, and Pop in the fridge. Great water pressure in the shower and hot if you want it. Our house keeper was great. She kept everything nice and clean. The lobby at this place is amazing!!! Totally unique. I’ve been to many different resort[... read more]s. Nothing like this one! We had Select so we also had access to the Chill Out Bar in the evening. Very nice (air conditioned) spot to hang out for a drink or cappuccino (delicious). The staff there are so friendly! Select also has a morning breakfast restaurant. Order from the menu. We went there most days. Food at this resort was great. I’m a picky eater. Lots of selection. No shortages for us. The 2 a la carte restaurant were yummy. The beach….so beautiful! Soft white sand. The water is nice and warm but refreshing. We’ve been to many different resorts in Cuba. 4-5 stars.
The Blau for us was definitely a 5 Star. We’ve never gone to the same resort twice but I could see us returning here.
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Royalton Hicacos Resort and Spa: Great resort!
I really don't have a high expectations when it comes to the resort. The room is up to my likings, it was clean and nicely done. The washroom is clean, which is so important. There are couple of observations in this resort that I believe needed attention and improvement: A) There was a foul smell by the pool. At one point we thought it was the sewers. B) Too many birds by the dining area.These birds would fly, land on to the food and feed on the foods, which is unsanitary. The staff should pay a[... read more]ttention and be vigilant on keeping the area/food clean at all times. C) The tour to Havana was too pricey, not worth the trip. The lunch provided was not appetizing. The tour should have included the visit to the local vendors, where tourist could bargain some Cuban souvenirs like arts etc.
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Blau Varadero: WORST Hotel I've ever been
Washroom door knob fell on my toes, rooms so ordinary, filthy surroundings, Foods taste AWEFUL, Fruit Drinks taste nothing, same shit foods served daily, we ended up buying our food elsewhere, pool opens at 10am - 5pm while sun still up and shining so hotel is quite the whole time, No entertainment , No nightlife at all. We sneak at nearby hotels like Paradisus wherein lots of guess partying and enjoying their stay.
Highly NOT Recommended this Hotel, it's waste of time and money. It's easy to [... read more]buy Good Reviews.
This resort was an absolute gem and far exceeded our expectations. From the moment we were greeted with a private airport pickup, the personalized service stood out. Every staff member went above and beyond to make our stay special—from the warm smiles to the thoughtful touches throughout the week.
The food was exceptional—if you dream of having fresh lobster served to you right on the beach every day, this is your place. Whether lounging by the beach or pool, we never had to worry about find[... read more]ing a chair or palapa. While golf carts were available to shuttle guests around the property, we found everything easily walkable.
One of the highlights was the Pirate Bar—fun, welcoming staff and a truly unique spot to watch the sunset each evening from the deck of a ship. Unforgettable.
A special thank you to our butler and the hospitality team for organizing a beautiful private dinner to celebrate my mom’s birthday. Every detail was thoughtfully handled—balloons, a live guitar performance, and a magical setting that made the evening feel incredibly personal.
Our room was spacious, elegant, and well-designed, with two queen beds, a cozy sitting area, two closets, a separate bathroom area, and a fridge—everything we needed and more. The resort was wonderfully peaceful, adult-only, and perfect for unwinding.
We truly can’t wait to return.
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Rest and relax -
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Memories Caribe Beach Resort: Real gem
I have been to this resort 2x and both times it doesn't disappoint. The beaches are clear blue and very shallow. The rooms are clean, and spacious. The toilets have trouble with the flushing, but not a huge inconvience. The resort is quaint with friendly staff.
The food isn't 5 star but it had a good variety. The ice cream was amazing, so we're the eggs and bread. But I didn't come to eat, I came to relax and reset and that's exactly what this resort allowed me to do.
Even though I didn't [... read more]partake, there were a lot of activities and night events.