Iberostar Origin Laguna Azul: Pick Laguna Azul for a Great time!

If you wanna go to have fun, drink lots and enjoy the beach I would recommend this hotel. They have many activities to offer, fantastic drink menus and the beach is pristine. As a partial vegetarian, I look for a variety of salads and dishes without meat and to my surprise there was delishish salads! When it came to housekeeping, my room was kept neat and clean, and if I needed fresh towels, I got them. It also helps to bring little gifts (from the dollar store) for the house keepers to show you [... read more]r appreciation, and OMG the coffee in the lobby bar is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! My favourite coffee drink is the cortado. Anyways, a few minor hiccups like the public bathrooms were smelly,dirty and without TP and the hotel uses little plastic spoons in the coffee to stir a HOT beverage, yet all in all i enjoyed my stay at Laguna Azul!

Iberostar Origin Playa Alameda: EXCELLENT!!!

My husband myself and two daughters, ages 7 and 5 stayed here for a week from May 22 to the 29th. The weather was undountbly amazing during this week. We were not sure what to expect as some said it would be extremely hot and some said differently. But we loved every minute of it. The pool did keep us refreshingly cool to say the least. That amazing pool side that had great activities that ran every day and had us all amused and laughing through it being a funny show or games or just the chance  [... read more]to learn how to do the salsa pool side. Peke and Gorki made sure you were involved everyday and making sure you were having a fantastic time. Especially when it came to the night time as well. The shows and live entertainment rocked the house!! Which followed by the most amazing bartending, From Colon at the front house Owen at the pool side and Yuceil, they had talent and customer service that truly went over and beyond!! They made you feel like a part of there family and had known you for ever and would do whatever they could to make you feel happy!! For the food service..well I am not sure if our family could even say enough! The food was amazingly delicious!! From the fresh fruit to all the fresh veggies and the outstanding grilling!! I cant say I have tried grilled turkey like that ever before. YUMMY And again from the most outstanding customer service from Roberto, Yinny, Carlos the most talented Jadinen who grilled my husband the best tuna, salmon with always a smile and an honest interest of how our day was!! I also cant say enough about Roberto who made my omelette every morning!! LOVE is all I have to say. THANK YOU ALL!! Suly is yet another great lady who spent some crucial time making our girls have just an fantastic time at this resort. They could not wait for disco every night !! We would hands down recommend this resort to you!! The rooms my not be up to full standards and my need some upgrades. The rest of the resort and the people are truly the BEST part of your trip. I wish or we could say more...but we as a family LOVED every minute of it and will go back!! I must not forget to mention, that my daughter turned 7 while down there and the staff and resort truly went over and beyond to make her feel very special. From a surprise plate in our room to signing to her twice and a surprise cake!! It truly was a very special day. Thank you all from our family to you all!!!

Hotel Los Cactus: Would not go back

My friend and I were looking for a resort that had entertainment, decent food, somewhat busy with guests and overall an enjoyable place to stay at. We did not have any of that so we decided to call sunwing and switch hotels and ended up staying at Iberostar Laguna Azul which was amazing!!!! Definitely a hotel to stay at with lots of entertainment, the crowd was amazing, lots of variety when it came to food and overall an unforgettable experience! Breezes varadero had only one pool to choose from [... read more], no swim up bar, no beach entertainment and the selection of food was limited. I would only suggest the hotel if you want something extremely quiet. My friend and I have been to Cuba many many times and never had this issue to switch hotels. We actually heard of a few people switching from their hotels that week due to bad maintenance service, food etc.

Melia Las Antillas: First Time to Cuba....

I stayed at this hotel with my sister in law as a girls vacay from May 21st to May 27th and our first impression was great! The resort was large and spacious and very clean. We got to our Junior Suite room with a balcony and the room was the same as the resort, clean and spacious. The following day we both experienced back and neck pain from that hard bed and pillow. We went for breakfast at the buffet and I must say that we had already been warned about the food in Cuba so we went straight to t [... read more]he omelet station where they prepared a fresh 2 egg omelet in front of you. Everything else in the buffet was either room temperature or cold! The coffee at the buffet was like dirty water with bits at the bottom of the cup and the milk was watered down. We went back upstairs at the bar for a real cup of coffee...we had "corditas" (espresso with milk) and cappuccinos throughout our stay. They were sooo amazingly good! You must try! The beach was absolutely stunning, looks like a photo with the different shades of blue and no need to get up early for a shaded area as there are lots to choose from. The beach itself was always warm with small waves. We stayed in there all the time. We went on the Jeep Safari and Havana excursions which were different. The Jeep Safari is a must! Snorkling, real Cuban dishes and driving 40miles on a speedboat...Oh, and you get to drive your own Jeep too (if you can handle standard) The Havana excursion was more of a tourist type of trip where we had to stay in a group and follow the tour guide as he pointed out and explained each building...for some people it was great but for us not so much. Oh, and watch your purse and wallet while your there as you get people following you asking for "tip" all the time...Not a great experience at all. Also, make sure you bargain really well at the flea market as they sell the same items all over for same price or cheaper. We also took the double decker tourist bus to downtown Varadero for $5CUC return where we had the most amazing lunch right across from the bank. They had a smoker outside and cooked all the meat, fish and lobster in it and OMG! The absolute best food I had in Cuba! The disco on the resort is pretty pathetic! You actually have to tell the DJ what you want to hear but we went every night and made the best of it! We had a blast! And the drinks are AWESOME!!! they are extremely generous with the alcohol here just drink at your own risk lol The negatives on this trip for us was the lack of great customer service. We had 3 major issues with our room on 3 different occasions and the front desk ladies had a don't care attitude. We had no electricity one day, no water the next and a flood from the leaking a/c unit. Calling the front desk and guest services on multiple occasions with no answer then going down there seeing them just chatting with each other was a huge issue for me. I paid $ to be here and to experience these issues in my room with no care from the workers really was upsetting. Nonetheless, all issues were resolved. For this being my first trip to Cuba I'm not sure what all the fuss is about. I've been to Jamaica, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago, Bahamas and Dominican Republic and I've never had more negative experiences than positives. I wanted to know what the hype was about with Cuba. The last straw for me was the exchange rate...I don't understand how my Canadian dollar was worth only 73 cents (CUC) to me that was ridiculous!!!! Cuba for me has great beaches and drinks! That's it! If you decide to stay at this resort, Keep the drinks coming and Good Luck!

Hotel Bella Costa: Relaxing Vacation & Wonderful Stay

My sister and I stayed here in May 2015 for four nights. It was the perfect length of time for a little getaway. The beach is beautiful and well kept. The staff were kind and hospitable. The resort itself is a bit dated and has a bit of wear and tear from over the years, however it was constantly cleaned and the staff did their best to keep it maintained. The drinks were great, and the machines were wiped down and washed daily. Glass and silverware was available in dining areas. The food was goo [... read more]d, and much better than other Cuban resorts I have stayed at. Because the resort is a bit smaller, the food is not made in as much bulk, and you receive more attention. The cooks are wonderful and make your experience more enjoyable. We spent most of the time on the beach and had amazing weather. The beach was cleared of garbage and cups regularly, and there are bars in close walking distance. We never experienced any issues securing chairs in the sun or the shade. There is beach volleyball and pool volleyball, and once a day a wonderful staff member encourages participation in other games such as bocce ball on the beach. The small catamarans and kayaks are included at no extra cost. To go snorkelling by the reef on the small catamarans is an extra 20CUC and very affordable. There is a show every night on the grounds by the pool, and they do a great job entertaining the crowds. Overall we enjoyed our stay and would likely go back for another mini vacation.

Blau Varadero: A FaBLAUous Time

Wonderful stay...no real complaints...hotel rooms are simple but nothing bad...food was good, always found a choice...wished bars made drinks using blenders rather than direct ice mixes...also beach bar was not in service due to staff shortage (was told that from staff)...beach beautiful...did encounter situation with lounge chairs bring reserved very early in morning (6am)...wished towel place was open later...animation staff friendly...Overall superb Lots of smokers :((

Royalton Hicacos Resort and Spa: Sandals was better than Royalton

What used to be Sandals Royal Hicacos, now Royalton Hicacos has lost its heart and soul. Since the transfer of ownership, things have been taken away. Little things like a bottle of wine and rum in your room upon arrival and a tissue box in the bathroom. We had to ask for an iron in our room that used to be already there. It's turned into a North American corporation that has no heart and soul. It's all about the money now. They added a nonsense 'Diamond Club' element to the resort whereby a qua [... read more]rter of the beach is allocated to those whose choose to upgrade to the Diamond Club. This is unnecessary b/c it's empty, with the exception of maybe three couples. Also, on the beach, they've created these 'eye-sore' umbrella posts for security with a large sign that says 'Security'. They can actually obstruct your view on the beach, depending on where you sit. The 'Beach Grill/Hut' has been renovated for the better, with the exception of the 'registered' (?) interior designer selecting improper water facets for the new relocated bathrooms. The other cost cutting mechanism that the new Canadian company implemented (subsidiary of Sunwing, also owns Memories) is that the resort has not had Maple Syrup for a year. Maple syrup is plentiful in Canada and here is a Canadian company who is either too cheap to supply it to their resort in Cuba or can't be bothered.

Valentin El Patriarca Varadero: The Cockroach we found in the room made it very ba

I found a big Cockroach alive in the room. I took a picture for it with my camera. I show it to Air Transat representative in the resort in Cuba. My wife and I were moved to another room after two days. If that happened in the rooms, how about the Kitchen??!! the food was good but we lost our appetite. We paid $2,200 for one week ,,, we found that other two couples paid $1,600 for the same week.

Royalton Hicacos Resort and Spa: amazing resort

The beach hut got improvement with new washrooms. The lobby bar: I didn't like the new glass dividers; preferred more open and breeze look from before (under Sandals). The butlers service was a bit intruding, preferred concierge service from before.

Hotel Los Cactus: Stunning resort

I went with low expectations and was blown away with the beauty, the kindness, the entire experience with Breezes I cannot wait to return and bring my husband along to see exactly what I've been raving about since returning!

Hotel Los Cactus: To our liking!

-We just returned from an awesome week at the Breezs Varadero. -The grounds are just beautiful, and well maintained. -The food was very good for example the Friday evening gala with lobster tails, shrimp, crab legs etc. The Italian à la carte was not only a super ambiance but very good food. The fish was good very day in the buffet. -The beach was awesome with lounge chairs and plenty of shade for everyone. The pool was very nice too, although we only went twice, as the beach with it's gentle b [... read more]reeze was fantastic. -The garden rooms were very large, with a good air conditioner, very clean and cozy. - All staff were friendly. -Our only critic is that the bathroom under the buffet restaurant never had paper hand towels all week, and some days no soap. On the other hand the bathroom in the reception lobby was super clean,with all nescescities present. -We would return to his resort with no worries!

Palma Real: Value

Still cheapest resort generally in Varadero. As a result you get what you pay for. But a recent stay was with the hotel 1/4 full or less and service, of course, much better. Excellent location. It's a three block walk to the beach. But it's also only about a 3 block walk to several great restaurants and some of the best live music venues in Varadero. And the evening live entrainment at the theatre exceeds some of the much more expensive resorts down the beach.

Blau Varadero: Still very good

The Blau is still a very good resort and the lobby bar staff would put most Canadian bar staffs to shame. They work extraordinarly hard. I would be curious see the count of how many drinks are served each evening. The ambience of the 14 storey atrium hotel is very impressive. But if you're looking for Cuban ambience you won't get it. It's much more like a North American hotel. Overall a very good place to vacation but it's troubling to see some very key members of the staff leaving. Including t [... read more]wo major players on the guest relations staff. And a couple of key customer service bartenders. And there seems to be no plans to expand from the only 2 Ala cartes. It's as if senior Blau management feel since they operate at 95 per cent capacity there is no need to improve.

Hotel Los Cactus: Beautiful Resort, Amazingly Friendly Staff

The hotel was clean in all areas. The rooms are spacious and we'll laid out. The staff are friendly and welcoming with the exception of one man in the dining hall. The a la carts were amazing. I would pick all three at the majhito if I could. Plenty of food selections but the buffet could be changed up a little bit more. I would definitely come back. It was a great experience. My biggest complaint is the air conditioning. We changed rooms twice because of the air conditioning not working. Before [... read more] we moved to the second room we checked the a/c only to find out it did not work. Then maintenance came and "fixed" it so we took the room and had to be call ed back to fix our toilet. It was still broken. All 7 days we stayed in rooms with no a/c. I think the whole block f was like that. They were moving other people for the same reason. After we were in the second room for a few hours. I was in the washroom and could hear people. I opened the bathroom door to strangers in out room. Their air conditioner or toilet did not work so they were moving them to our room. It was a mistake made by the front desk. I know it may sound like a horrible experience but really it was a great time and I would do it again. If there was 2 things I would change at the resourt it would be fix the a/c and add a/c to the main dining hall. With our a/c not working and no areas using a/c except 2 a la cart restaurants, we had no place to hide from.the heat.

Valentin El Patriarca Varadero: Excellent resort!

It's rated as a 4 star resort, I fully agree. It still has a relatively new feel to it. If you have any concerns the staff are quick to react. They're friendly people, who seem to like Canadians and there were certainly a lot of us there! Rooms are spacious and well looked after. The pool and beach areas are great. The large theatre, near the pool, features excellent nightly entertainment. The food at the buffet leaves a little to be desired, but the 3 a la carte restaurants are very good. and t [... read more]he pool snack bar was our best bet at lunch time...sandwiches, pizza, burgers, hot dogs and fries. All in all it's nicely laid out and you don't have to do a lot of walking. If you're a coffee lover be sure to check out Mike's!

Occidental Arenas Blancas: Best two week stay!!

We spent 15 days at Barcelo Arenas Blancas for our Honeymoon!! Had a great time from the moment we got to the hotel until the moment we left. Our superior room was over looking the pool and very loud at night. We did not mind and sat on our balcony one night and watched the performance at the theater. We prefer the noisy side. The music in the morning was about 10 or 11am. Again very loud but that was our fun wake up call. People who don't like the noise I would recommend asking to be on the ot [... read more]her side of the building facing the street. Buffets were pretty good. Would recommend seating in the same area for breakfast and get to know your wait staff. They have a good memory of what you like to drink in the morning and will have it waiting for you when you return with your plate. Very good staff. The staff in the gift shop were very helpful. I couldn't find my dental floss and they didn't sell any. The lady behind the till grabbed her purse and got me dental sticks. I was digging for pesos and she would take them. She then directed me to the pharmacy where I could purchase my own floss. Also my husband forgot his cell phone charger and the lady at the front desk let us use her own charger. We left for lunch and we came back with his phone fully charged. Very helpful! Our favorite place to hang out all day is by the pool at the swim bar. Orrestas was the best bartender very charismatic and happy all the time. The food served at the pool bar was awesome bacon cheeseburgers with POUTINE! might need to stand in a line up for that but worth the wait!!! Solymar is next door and that's where we ventured too for the Italian À la carte very good and all drinks included. The Mariachi Mexican À la carte was beyond amazing. From the nachos to the quesadillas and enchiladas perfecto! Unfortunately drinks were not all inclusive. No worries the rest of the resort still is. We were at the Mariachi 4 times it was sooo good. Then off to lobby bar for drinks and performances. Lots of top 40 music! They play Latin versions of our songs, lots of dance music, and R&B. We brought our portable speaker and didn't have to use it. Lots of daytime games and dancing by the pool. The beach was awesome we always found chairs to sit on and the ocean water was warm. Walking to the beach wear your sandals there are little prickly balls that fall from the trees Ouch! For those going take lots of sunscreen, aloe and bug spray. We got so many mosquito bites the first couple of days. I will definitely go back again and again! Stay in the same room do the same routines over and over again!

Be Live Turquesa: Good if you like Cuba, nice beach & all inclusive

The beach and sea are perfect. You can eat good here (good for Cuba conditions), draft beer is perfect, local wine are poor, bars are OK. Hotel rooms are old but passable, the only important irritant was the low constant noise from air conditioning. Evening shows are very simple, not as seen in other Be Live hotels.

Barcelo Solymar: All depends on what you are looking for

If you are 18-25 and looking to get drunk partying with 'bros' from Toronto, then this is the place for you. If you are anything but, then your time at Solymar won't be as much fun. Don't expect any miracles from the local cuisine. This is Cuba, eat what you need to eat in order to survive. Anyway, no one who goes to Cuba goes there for the fine dining. They go there for everything else it has to offer, which is above average relative to other resort destinations. And cheap. A huge bonus is th [... read more]e affiliation that Solymar has with Arenas Blancas next door. With a Solymar bracelet, you are entitled to pretty much everything that Blancas has to offer. The open bars, the restos, services... everything. This makes for a great escape if Solymar itself is overrun with 'Bros'. The '3' rating I gave Solymar should be taken with a grain of salt. It's all a matter of perspective. I'd go back. Although I'd book at Blancas instead and go over to Solymar should the 'Bro' element be at a minimum.

Mar Del Sur: ok

well it was ok but rice and beans is not my food the room was good for a old hotel did need some maintenance on it but have stayed in worse and paid a lot more money in Canada and the USA bar open 24 hrs and they have coffee there

Palma Real: Amazing Resort

,Enjoyed staying at Palma Real, great location near shopping etc. Great food, lots of fresh fruits variety of everything in large dining room good service at bar Jesus and Carlos dining room. very good music in lobby and dining room .Clean rooms and friendly staff,