Such an improvement!

Been 3 times 7 years ago when it was Aguas azules. And it was pathetic. Such an improvement. The food was amazing the a la carte and the service exceptionnel. Pay the extra for the bungalow its worth it! By the way Heather is our rep at trip central... and She is the best.

More than expected

We went 4 of us to this resort, with our 15 and 17 year old. We were very impressed with the overall resort. Our room was updated, clean, comfortable and had all the amenities needed. Next time we would choose a room closer as our room was a little far, good exercise though. The buffet was amazing! We were very impressed with the variety. They had every kind of fish, meat, cheese, deli, breads, pasta station and egg station in the morning. The only suggestion I would have is to have a better [... read more] cooling system for the cheeses and milk, a little iffy on eating them as they looked like they were sitting out for a while. The Sunwing special dinner was amazing, steak, lobster and shrimp cocktail. Very tasty! My girls loved the hot dogs! For Cuba the food was very good and they had food everywhere! Good sandwiches! Sizzlers had the best ham fried rice. The service was very good and there were alot of things always going on to be entertained. I would definitely go again to this resort. They have done a lot of work and still working. It is Cuba, everything is done in Cuba time!

Okay, but won’t be returning

Went here for a week in January on a friends recommendation. I wasn’t expecting much as people have told me not to with Cuba. I see so much potential could happen with this place if the effort was put in to upkeep. Our room was okay, but nothing to write home about. It was a superior room, but nothing about it seemed superior. It was cleaned daily, toilet paper semi replenished, but water wasn’t kept up. We had to go the bar for refills a lot. Staff did seem annoyed the majority of the tim [... read more]e if you asked them anything or even said hello. This was at the front desk, and lobby bar and some cleaning staff. Found the Cabana bar staff and buffet staff very polite though. Food was good, but I did get ill from something I ate. Found all the cheese tasted sour/rotten. We didn’t get a chance to try the a la carte Outdoor lounge off the lobby bar is very nice at night. They had live music. We didn’t make any shows on the stage during the night. Found daytime entertainment lacking. They seem to be trying but doesn’t feel like they enjoy doing it at all. The septic smell was unfreaking believable!! They really need to get that under control. Walking outside it was like waking into a brick wall of gross. Bathrooms were very dirty or malfunctioning. Some construction was gong on. Painting, and courtyard repair. Nothing major. Would have loved to see the man made river working as it would add appeal to the grounds. We won’t be back as we’ve seen, enjoyed, but want to try somewhere more to our liking. I say they need to really overhaul the place and get it running to a way I am sure it used to be. Thanks for the stay. Good luck in the future! Oh and don’t bother mentioning a special occasion if you want it recognized. It won’t be.

Awful and Disgusting nightmare

Truly at a loss for words on how terrible this place was. Room was infested with bugs, (cockroaches) the room looked like some sort of torcher chamber with scratches all over the walls mold on the walls in the bathroom, the food was gross as well, cockroaches also seen in the buffet area as well crawling around the bread area.. I'm extremely disappointed and upset that I followed the recommendation of the agency for this vacation.. I fee completely and utterly ripped off

Very relaxing,nice layout

Our stay at starfish was great. We enjoyed the beach very much, beautiful weather.grounds well maintained. buffet was very tasty with lost of variety. rooms clean. overall the hotel was excellent, Staff very helpful, bartenders very good. The sports bar was nice but could use new pool balls and pool cue, and repair the fuzz ball table.nice quiet location. we enjoyed our stay very much thanks

Completely AMAZING!!!!

We arrived at Starfish in Varadero on Dec 30 for a week. The resort is very clean, staff is very helpful. wonderful people. Helped us get to our rooms, the meals at the buffet were fabulous & tasty & lots of variety. Had lobster new years eve, new years day for lunch and supper. The waiters & waitresses were so nice, really made our stay so comfortable,it was nice that they accommodated 11 people at the buffet. The bartenders were great. The rooms were nice and clean.the maid brought you what [... read more]ever you wanted. The ground were well maintained. The layout of the hotel was very nice as our last evening it was windy, so we moved to the back pool and got out of the wind, was very easy to find our way around very happy, thanks you so much

Under Construction

Every where you turned there was construction ( front lobby ,all fountains, main courtyard tiling and grouting ). They were having major sewage problems. The smell coming from main lobby was overpowering. To get to buffet and only 2 ala carte restaurants you had go down a new staircase that was being painted and welded together as we walked down it. The washrooms if working all had oval bases with tiny round seats on them. Interesting experience. We have been to cuba before and the food  [... read more]was repetetive but not bad. The weather and beach were great to have a family vacation. I will never return to this resort.

Never again at this resort

I have been to Cuba a total of 14 times. 10 of those times were to Varadero so I know what to expect of a local hotel. I received an email advising of construction so I was prepared. This particular hotel has a lot more downs than ups. Pros: the beach, some of the staff, the 2 a la cartes have good food, Oks: rooms are ok but in need of updating which is happening slowly, Cons: sewage smell right as you walk into the lobby, not one bathroom on the resort was working consistently, if it was worki [... read more]ng it was missing toilet paper, soap or water, some of the staff are pushy/rude, no variation of food in the buffet,

Spacious resort

It was my first time at starfish varadero resort. I really enjoyed the grounds being spacious and despite renovations going on I did not find it overly bothersome. The hotel is getting the attention it needs and it will look even better with time. Food is something I cherish in Cuba as the Cubans do their absolute best and i always enjoy the cuisine. Weather waa great and hotel service excellent. Will be visiting starfish again!

Regular resort

The resort is big but it is missing some cleaning and some of the resto there is closed. However, the resort is to reste and for the family, not too much party there. There are great people working there.

Loved the starfish varadero

Great hotel. 3.5 star food and drinks but 4 star experience overall. I can see why people recommend it and keep coming back. They upgraded my mom and I to a bungalow due to her mobility issues and gave us a late check out. The front desk staff was the best I have ever had in Cuba (10th time at a resort in Cuba, 15th time to Cuba). Snack bar was great and lounge area with a terrace with live music. Recently Renovated standard rooms. I had a blast here.

Splendide hotel et acceuil chaleureux

Le personnel est toujours au petits soins et super gentil et attentionné., La plage et la mer Wow un coup de coeur , la propreté et même la nourriture mérite d'aller faire un séjour au Starfish Varadero. Tranquilité assuré si comme moi vous voulez vous reposer ainsi que vous faire traiter comme un reine par le personnel qui est toujours à l'écoute de vos besoins. Des artistes se produisent chaque soir en musique et c'est bien agréable. L'animation est géniale. Ne manquez pas la fête  [... read more]cubaine le vendredi c'est génial! la nourriture, elle est excellente (beaucoup de fruits de mer ,langouste, cochon de lait ,boeuf très tendre....)les vins sont servis en bouteille et de bonne qualité. La qualité du service et le professionalisme des employés dans cet hotel est exceptionnelle. Je recommande fortement!!

Much less than expected

First off, we weren't made aware that half the resort was shut down for improvements. Secondly, first day we had to request a room change due to toilet not flushing properly. Third, not a white towel to be had. Every towel in our room was once white and now are grey and stained. Forth, beach towels were only switched out twice all week. There wasn't clean ones each day, the ones we did get were like the room towels, stained with holes. Last and on a good note, the beach was clean and beautif [... read more]ul, the staff were awesome. Once the improvements are complete, I think Starfish will be a beautiful resort . Right now, it's very run down.

Amazing time

First time travelling to Cuba. Traveled with 7 people everyone enjoyed the week at Starfish. Beach was amazing always clean. The resort was big enough but not to big. The grounds were nice and always kept clean. The rooms were nice and comfortable. The food was very good A lot of people complain about Cuba food there was always something to eat for our group. Eating at a buffet here three meals a day for 7 days could also get repetitive. The staff was amazing they work hard and a [... read more] lot of hours . only complaint were the dogs that come from the beach at night a bit scary. Security was willing to walk you to your room Was nice to have a bus at the resort to take you to town

Excellent Hotel

Stayed in the renovated section, great room. Staff very helpful, food was excellent. Drinks plentiful. Al La Carte worth a visit. Beach awesome. Entertainment well done. You are close to the marina so will need to take the bus or taxi to downtown. Down side, lots of stairs in section 8. If you have walking or knee issues book a bungalow. Water pressure poor and lukewarm water in shower. Cuba is just an amazing country to visit, people are so friendly and you are so very safe to wan [... read more]der.

First and last time to starfish Varadero

When I arrived there, I told the front desk that it was my first time to this resort I have been Cuba several times already. She told me to wait for the bell hop. The bell hop told me directions to my room and didn’t want to take me and my luggage to my room. I couldn’t find my room; so I went back to the front desk. The bell hop was annoyed and reiterated the direction. I finally found my room and there were hallways and stairs. The room was hot and the safe locked. I phoned front desk an [... read more]d no one answered the phone. I went to the front desk again. The bell hop told me that I had to wait for the engineer in the morning. I was tired and hungry and went for dinner. Front desk told me that the engineer was looking for me. So I waited in my room and the engineer finally came to fix the air conditioning and unlocked the safe. First time that I encountered such ‘unwelcome’ experience from a resort. So wanted to go home that night! I kept asking for bath towels 2 days straight. Housekeeping never stocked up coffee despite I left a note for her.

Great resort

Robin thank you so much for all your efforts,I had a great time the people at the resort where great. I will be booking with you again !! I am a man of a few words , not sure if I can hit 200 characters

Dissappointing

The resort is ok, but the a/c in all bungalows need to be checked. When we checked in our first day, we were in building 6. Only 1 room was ready so we decided to keep all our bags in that room and go eat. When we entered the room there was a foul smell, and a/c wasn't working properly because the room wasn't really cool. We couldn't increase the temperature since the knob was broken. Anyway we were there for probably just 1/2 day and then decided to change to a bungalow since we couldn't b [... read more]ear the smell. Anyway they gave us the key to a bungalow to go check it out and off-course those were bigger and closer to the beach so we decided to take that. But when we checked in there again the A/C in all do not work properly. One room was really cool, the second was ok and the third was warm. They don't even have fans. We actually stayed in those rooms for 1 night, but on the second day we couldn't take it and had to request a change. They changed 2 rooms, but off course the A/c in one of them was not really good but was bearable. They gave us a deal pay for 2 rooms get 1 free. It sounded good at the time but not sure if it was actually good since they charged us in US dollars, we only found that out after we got back to Canada. It was $50 for 3 people per day for 7 days. Anyway besides the incident with our rooms the resort is pretty good but I wouldn't really recommend it to anyone since they are many resorts where you would pay less and receive much more. People are pleasant, especially everyone at the Cabana snack bar, near the pool. They were amazing. Most days we enjoyed just having a snack or even lunch out there. I cannot praise them enough, service was exceptional. I don't think I would return to this resort unless they upgrade.

Amazing resort

Good morning, Thank you again Starfish Varadero for my amazing welcome to your hotel. I had the most beautiful vacation and I am greatful to all your competent staff for all the good services. Friendly clarita

Horrible resort now

We have been to this resort when it was called Club Amigo and Aqua Azules. Now that it is called Starfish the services is horrible at this resort. We as a group of 5 people attended are last a la carte on Wed. June 20th it was the seafood a la carte. we got to the restaurant were seated then it happen we were indeed with flies and i mean 100's of them. we were finally asked to go outside to finish our meal as they had to spray the interior of the building. I would suggest to Tripcentral that the [... read more]y cease to use this resort until they start to care about there guests. We have travel many times to Cuba and this was the most horrible experience we have had and it just wasn't us every time you went to the lobby someone was complaining about the service. Bed sheets in our room were changed only once in the week we were there that is because we were in the room when they showed up to clean the room. The wife had an accident on the double-decker bus on Tues. June 19th. She fall on to her knee causing a gash that required 6 stitches to close. The hotel was no help regarding crutches or a wheelchair to help my wife to get around so she was confined to the room from Tuesday till we left on Thursday.