Grand Aston Varadero Beach Resort: Great place to unwind
We just came back from a great stay at an awesome place. The staff at the Grand Aston Varadero were so much fun and helpful. The room was kept very clean and the grounds are beautifully maintained. I just cannot wait until we can go back and enjoy it again.
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Private -
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Sol Rio de Luna y Mares: Sol Rio De Luna y Mares
This was a great resort it was a smaller resort which I really like. A group of 6 ladies went on this trip the beach was very nice there are quite a lot of stairs going to the beach but it also has a smooth walking path if you can’t do stairs. There is a nice restaurant on the beach with a bar so you don’t have to go to the buffet for lunch it is sit down and you are served the staff are so lovely.
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Private -
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Paradisus Rio De Oro: Different-Not for seniors!
Upon arrival, no greeting or refreshment as at other resorts.
Room-up 4 steps w/o railing into building, Then 2 steps from floor with bed down to living area and patio door!
Hot tub-NO handrail!!
Walkways good and mostly level
No information received about the resort or it's events!!!
12 hr excursion was over 13 hrs and was not able to keep reserved supper reservation!!
Bus and walking excursions not suitable for seniors.
No assistance on or off the bus at any time throughout visit!!
On [... read more]excursion there were people hanging around asking for $. At no point did bus driver or tour guide stop them from harrassing us!!
VIP lounge at airport was included in an excursion-poor snacks, alcohol but no mix for it. Was not told what else was available. Exculator going up but had to do stairs going down. Hard to find seats to wait for plane as people had their bags on the seats. No one willing to allow 2 seniors a seat!!!
Fitness area and spa quite a ways away. Would have liked to exercise every day. Had to go down a number of stairs for massage. Limping all the way!!
Had to use a number of my Canadian credit cards to pay for massage. Kept being told not approved! Even tried a different machine. Thanks for blocking the cards that I tried!!!xxx
We are both over 70, my husband is 86!!
Unable to go down to beack as for walkway!!
It was so humid that feet & legs swollen very badly!!
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Lorraine -
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Iberostar Origin Bella Vista Varadero: Amazing people, country,resort
The resort is very well run by talented caring staff who really enjoy their job.
The rooms were clean with an eye to detail.
The food was very good.
The swim out pool was huge and very clean.
The bars were well stocked. They occasionally ran out of vodka and mixes but were usually replenished the next day.
My only complaint is the inconsiderate guests who throw cigarettes off their balconies to the ground and patios below, and think nothing of walking across other patios to get to their o[... read more]wn. The swim out pool is for adults only, but parents seem to think if they are with them their children can use it.
I have a great stay and hope to return in the fall.
A special thank you to Diana the Concierge and Dihana( sorry if I spelled it wrong) the bartender in the Privilege lounge on the 11th floor. You each made my stay very special with your kindness and professional service.
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Joanne T -
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Sol Palmeras: Amazing resort- 2nd home
Sol Palmeras is an amazing resort. This is my second home, visit 3 times a year. I’ve lost count of how many years I’ve been coming here. Consistently for at least the last 5 years.Family and friends have joined me on many trips here and are now repeat guests also. The staff have become family to us, Odarmis, Caridad, Idelmis and Yahimy to name a few. They have all welcomed us into their lives outside of the resort and love getting to be a part of their families.
We love staying in the bungalo[... read more]ws, as they feel more like our little homes. Large living room, updated bathrooms and good sized bedroom. Wifi does work in the bungalows. And you can sit on your porch enjoying your morning coffee.
The beach is the best and the longest we’ve seen. Lots of activities offered throughout the day on the beach. There is two pools that also offer activities during the day.
The buffet has quite a variety offered and the staff are very friendly and attentive.
Ala-carts very with the time of the year. Usually at least three options to choose from. Italian, Chinese, Latin, International, Tex Mex. My favourite is usually the Latin.
This is great for couples, families or young adults. There’s something for everyone.
If you’re coming from Canada please don’t tip with loonies or toonies as the staff needs to exchange them into bills from guests. The banks do not accept the coins. Bring $5 bills or tip with USD $1’s.
Remember that the hotels need tourists to continue to visit the resort and that electricity isn’t an issue. Generators are used if there is any issues with their electricity. Rotating blackouts don’t affect Varadero as they have their own substations.
Hope this review helps to clarify any confusion when deciding on which hotel to choice. Sol Palmeras should be the choice!
Can’t wait to be back in November!
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Sandy -
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Resonance Musique Varadero: Loved it
Love this resort.. food was actually better than expected.. the snack bar had best hotdogs and ham and cheese sandwichesk, if you didn’t like what was at buffet. Japanese a la carte was the best by far. Staff were very nice and accommodating.. dealing with what they have.
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Private -
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Melia Peninsula Varadero: Amazing beach & property..but the entertainment not so much!
Our flight, airport, bus transfer and check in were easy. The food was really good (minus the Italian a la carte..it was almost inedible), but the buffets, snack bar and other a la cartes were all very good ..the Cuban soup was delicious!! The beach was so pretty, the sand was white, entry into the ocean was smooth, water was warm and clear. We did the snorkeling from the resort, the guys running it were very nice, saw tons of fish..it was a highlight of our trip. The pool was our favourite po[... read more]ol out of all the resorts we've been to...very clean, warm and very pretty landscaping. The entire resort was well maintained and the buildings look in good condition. The rooms are very old and dated, but we weren't in there much, so not a big deal. The beds could be bigger, they were a double.
Overall we loved a lot about the resort, but we would never go back and the reason is the entertainment....it was very disappointing in all aspects. There was one day of beach/pool entertainment which lasted 20 minutes, there was pretty much no lobby entertainment and that is huge for us. The actual evening entertainment was pretty bad, not worth walking to it.
Also, this didnt really matter to us, but there weren't many English speaking people at the resort ..the guests were mainly from Peru, Argentina, Brazil and Russia...we didn't meet any other Canadians, which was different.
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Anub -
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Grand Muthu Cayo Guillermo: Wonderful stay
The stay at the hotel was really good. The ambiance was wonderful. The staff was really good as well. The room was nice and clean when we first went in all the staff members were really welcoming, and I had a really good time at the pool as well as they have a lot of activities for kids and all the people to do.
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Private -
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Melia Internacional: I expected more for the price
Great hotel rooms and sights perfect maid was perfect also few issues taken care of but one that was not handled properly lady was rude.Grounds and beach fabulous Snack bar lia staff exceptional they were all great Real bad issue the food as no real eggs just liquid eggs no sausages or potatoes..I only saw hash brown pucks in the morning and hard like pucks to eat food is below average considering we spent near 5 grand for 2 Melia you need to do better with that aspect like other hotels much ch[... read more]eaper than yours provided unfortunately wont be coming back..We have been to Cuba at least 20times 3 stars to 5 and this was not up to a 5 star
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Private -
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Barcelo Solymar: Be aware . Pictures doesn't mean always reflectsThousand words!!
Hotel :Barcelo SolyMar - Varadero
Update :End of May/2025
Stay: 7 days
Room: Upgraded Ocean View
My feedback is not about what Pictures show: the Beach,how Close to shopping or Entertaiments is an opinion about the Resort itself.
For such a large list of conveniences ,no locations are provided on arrival,instead Discover at own time.
Reception was approached 4 consecutives days for :
Room Service:
Private Ocean View Balcony: Heavy Sliding Door with no Exterior handle making it ver[... read more]y hard to operate .
Minibar: No existance
Mini Fridge: for storage of Fresh daily bottle of water provided.
Flatscreen TV: Poor Quality images if any.
Just 1 Bottle of Water
Housekeeping : Bed Sheets:Don't get replaced same for Toilet Paper unless you ask often.
Faucets partially blocked providing minimum water pressure.
Facilities:
Elevators Stoped working mecanically for 3 out of 7 days.The use of Stairs denoted "loose" glass-metal railings,unsafe to lean .They were aware of this too but un-resolved
Service:
for " A la Carte" Meal reservation , only 1 hr per day provided to make reservations,if you miss out ,choice for Buffet : Here is were Services stand out: for 3 days we did not know of other places but the one across from Reception ( no others were disclosed to us)
we hardly found kindness and quality of basic services,unless.... you Tiped !
Once seated with food on the table: delayed Utensils,Napkins, Water or Juice ;Wines & Drinks are diluted too.
Not a pleasant experience,since Management didn't acknowledge our concers and Act on them. Does it really Feels they care ??
Name withheld.
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Private -
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Grand Aston Cayo Paredon Beach Resort: Amazing resort
hotel and staff was amazing, our room was clean every day and we had good ocean view, food was good, had lot of variety to chose, lot of fruit, for drink you can chose what you want. We had good time, whether was sunny every day no rain, thinking going back again
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Susan Pottinger -
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Starfish Varadero: Beautiful Resort
Beautiful Resort. Manicured grounds and beach. Well maintained pools and jacuzzi. Clean spacious rooms excellent a la carte restaurants and buffet with vast variety of foods. Friendly and courteous professional staff Excellent entertainment for all ages… Truly A Great Experience
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Dawn -
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Sol Cayo Coco: Awesome Trip and stay
My Family and I had a great stay at Sol Cayo Coco. The staff were all fantastic; the beaches were awesome. We enjoyed snorkelling, and the kids spent a great deal of time in the pool. Our hotel room was clean from the start until the time we left.
A lot to choose from at the buffet, and the hotel grounds well kept and maintained. I would recommend this Resort to anyone. My family and I felt safe
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Angela -
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Grand Aston Varadero Beach Resort: Even for Cuba it could be better here
My Take on This Resort, after staying here I have pros and cons Pros: Rooms are spacious, water pressure and hot water was no problem. The Hotel in itself is modern and inside kept clean. The drinks in the sports bar are the best on the resort, and Air Conditioned. The Cappuccinos, coffee and Frappuccino delicious. The cons: on this place were do I begin....The grounds are in[... read more] need of upkeep, the swim - up pool was gross and had an algae problem. Never really seen the Animation Team except aqua fit. The bartenders pick and chose who they are going to serve( yes I tip ) The beach lacks shade and a bar. They do not serve around pool so you need to get your own drinks. They run out of liquor and pop. Only 1 bottle of water in your room. The food was awful.....you had to wait 20 minutes for an omelette or pasta at night, everything else was terrible. No potato, no pasta salad or salad, no condiments or even salt or pepper. The flies were terrible and everywhere, even in your food. The bathrooms lacked toilet paper and paper towels, I will not be returning...
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Private -
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Grand Muthu Cayo Guillermo: GREAT RESORT
ONE OF THE BEST RESORTS IN CUBA.
Very friendly staff .awesome beach grate for kids easy to get in and out of the water clean sand.
food was good always had fresh meat and fish on the grill and at the buffet.
I went there for scuba diving the dive shop is about a 30 minute walk down the beach .COCO DIVING,
very good staff an some of the best diving in CUBA. we seen a lot of life including groupers baracuda
turtles and sharks .I can't wait to go back.
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JmcB -
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Melia Costa Rey: Amazing resort This resort
This resort, is just fantastic in every way, beautiful rooms,pools,beach,restaurants,people,everyone can’t do enough to make sure you have the holiday of a lifetime,the only thing negative thing is repetitive food menu. This was our second visit here.
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Private -
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Grand Muthu Cayo Guillermo: Amazing Resort
The staff was very friendly and helpful. The room was clean and I had no problem.
The grounds are very well kept and clean. The pool area is very nice and I had no problem finding a Palapa or some shade and ofcorce the beach is the best for me the water was clear and clean and you can walk out quite far and you don't have to run to reserve a Deck chair because there was plenty of them and a lot of shade.
The food has lot of variety but it is Cuba. I never had any problems eating.
I recommend[... read more] this resort for any body and it is kids friendly.
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Playa Luxury Cayo Las Brujas: We had a great time
It was just cool !
It was our third time and we like it more and more !
We hope to return for one more time.
Electricity had no problems,
Stuff was super friendly and food and coffee were tasty!
Room is modern and big with a beautiful look out to the ocean.
Two weeks in paradise.
Just go over there !
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Private -
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Melia Cayo Coco: Amazing Resort
This was my second time travelling to this beautiful place. Everyone is so friendly and helpful and the resort is so immaculately kept!!
The food is very good! There are alot of different things to choose from. Lots of cold beer and various cocktails are available too! The service is excellent!!
I feel very safe and comfortable when I am here and have already booked my 3rd trip for November.
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M & O -
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Royalton Cayo Santa Maria: Royalton Cayo Santa Maria, Cuba – A Sunny Slice of Paradise
Travel Dates: May 17–24, 2025
Travelers: My husband and I
“They say laughter is the best medicine—unless you’re at an all-inclusive, then it’s probably the piña coladas.”
Resort Overview
Royalton Cayo Santa Maria is a spacious, beautifully maintained resort with plenty of room to roam. From lush grounds to a beachside bar and a 24-hour snack shack, there’s no shortage of places to explore—or eat!
Food & Drink
• Buffet & À la Carte: Great variety—fish, chicken, lobster, meats, fresh v[... read more]eggies, fruit, yogurt, and juices. Presentation was top-notch. Hats off to the chefs!
• Snack Bar: Open 24/7 with pizza, burgers, fries, hot dogs, and other quick bites. Perfect for a midday nibble or late-night craving.
• Bars: Fully stocked with a wide selection of alcohol. No shortages here—cheers to that!
Accommodations
• Spacious ocean-view room with bathrobes and slippers—a classy touch!
• Everything functioned well, though some furnishings could use a refresh.
• Two large pools with bars, loungers, and cabanas made for perfect lazy afternoons.
Beach & Activities
• The beach is stunning—wide, clean, and perfect for sunbathing.
• Daily activities included stretching, games, and surprise snacks like mini sandwiches and fruit salad served in spoons. A delightful way to stay energized!
• Animator shout-outs:
o Blanca – You rocked that dance party!
o Yadian (hope we spelled that right!), Meliza, and Karelys and one more guy whose name we didn’t capture (sorry!) – Your energy could wake the dead. Seriously, you all were amazing!
? Diamond Club Perks
As Diamond Club members, we were treated to butler service — and it was fantastic.
• Javier – You’re basically a vacation ninja. One moment we’re wondering where to find something, and poof!—there you are, smiling, cracking a joke, and making it happen like magic. Your cheerful energy and sixth sense for guest needs made us feel like royalty (but with better cocktails!).
• Maria Rosa – Thank you for your kindness, patience, and always being ready with a helpful answer and a warm smile. You made everything smoother and more enjoyable.
Together, you two turned great service into something truly memorable. We felt so well cared for—and genuinely appreciated.
Service - That Sparkled (and Folded!)
Room service was prompt, courteous, and always on point—but one star shone extra bright:
• Hayulis – You’re not just a housekeeping pro, you’re a towel origami artist! The adorable towel creatures you left in our room were so good, they practically needed their own Instagram account. (Seriously, one of them got more likes than my beach selfie. Rude, but fair.)
• Staff across the resort were friendly and professional., and always ready with a smile. It felt like everyone was on a mission to make our stay unforgettable… and they succeeded!
Final Thoughts
This was our second stay at Royalton Cayo Santa Maria, and it won’t be our last. Despite Cuba’s economic challenges, the resort delivers a high-quality experience with charm, efficiency, and heart.
Highly recommended for anyone looking to unwind, indulge, and maybe dance a little on the beach.