Melia Las Antillas: ok for the price

Arrived very late at night and was given a basic room on the lobby level overlooking the top of the building facing the pool area, tiny deck with no view whatsoever, unless you count crates stacked behind the restaurant below. The next day I was upgraded, no charge, to one the of the bungalows closest to the beach - this was much nicer. The food was just ok, lots of variety at the buffet. Service ranged from so-so to excellent, especially at the lobby bar (many of the restaurant servers seemed t [... read more]o spend a lot of time chatting amongst themselves). Housekeeping did a good job, although they did have an annoying habit of yelling back and forth to each other from building to building. I definitely would not rate this a 4 Star "plus" relative to a 4 star in Mexico or Punta Cana but it was decent and the beach was beautiful. Overall I would say that if you are looking for a decent adult only place this is ok but I think it's fully, if not over, priced for what it is. For another $150 I would probably upgrade to the Paradisus next time.

Paradisus Princesa Del Mar: Fabulous resort!

Outperformed our expectations! The resort is very clean, the pool area is very relaxing, the beach was awesome........the a la cartes are amazing, the main buffet always had a somewhat different approach every day...would go back in a heartbeat.

Resonance Blu Varadero: Not impressed

Bad service from people. Carts were unpredictable as to when they would arrive to travel the distance of room to food. The gym was so hot it was unusable. Bad food but good deserts. Activities ended too early at night time. As 18/19 year olds we found there was nothing to do between 6pm to 9pm. And there was only one bar open late? We wanted to drink so it wasn't well thought through. No food available late at night which was frustrating for us as we had arrived late to the resort and wanted foo [... read more]d.

Grand Memories Varadero: OFF Season WOULD NOT RECOMEND!!!

I was with family and friends, a group of nine, that booked a trip to Cuba June 19th, we arrived at the Hotel Riu about ten thirty at night. By the time we got settled it was 12:30 am,and too late to do anything. The next morning after breakfast, we went to the main The pool was so disgusting, and full of green algae you could not see to the bottom, it looked black, no one told us about the problem and the pool was not closed at that point.We found out latter that they ran out of chemicals to tr [... read more]eat the pool,but yet the Deluxe pool was fine!!?? We had a three year old child wanting to go in the water,and had to tell him he could not! he was not happy and cried. My daughter and a couple of friends went to the pool at the Deluxe which was fine,so they did have chemicals to treat the Deluxe pool!!,but not the main pool!??HOW COME??,and this is suppose to be a five star resort?, they were only there a little while when they were told by security to leave because they did not have the right tags on there wrists. Now i went to the management with Joan and complained, and we spent hours at lobby,more than once fighting with the management over this and various other issues that came up. Finally they closed the main pool and let everyone go to the Deluxe side pool without the wrist tags. In the evening we decided to get a drink in the only other air-conditioned place on the resort,the DELUXE CIGAR BAR,only to get watered down drinks!!WHAT GIVES WITH THAT??? Later on we went back to the lobby bar and got REAL DRINKS THAT WERE NOT WATERED DOWN,how I came to realize this was I drink brandy,and at the DELUXE it was weak and almost tasteless compared to the lobby,which was the real deal!!,just too bad that there was no fans or air to keep things cool!! The food was SUB-PAR the same old thing every day. Other people must have been complaining as we were told by many people from Toronto that all the supervisors were in the dining room watching on the Tuesday, they said that was the only time the food was good, we missed that because of the wedding and the reservations we had at one of the fine dinning spots, and by the way they were also sub-par!!,and badly overcooked! It was so boring after dinner not much music any where in the day time, other than a bit of it at the beach,and only at nite for an hour from about 8pm to 9pm, and if you came late to dinner you would miss out on the band.Music at the main pool was when it finally got up and running. My family and friends had to leave on the seventh day,so they did not get to enjoy much of the swim up bar which closed at 6pm??!!WHY!!,also the Disco was WAY TOO HOT!!,it had air conditioning,but was not put on!!??,as well the main lobby also did not have air-conditioning,or ceiling fans HOW COME??. The only two places that you could get cool was either in your room,or at the main restaurant! UN BELIEVABLE FOR A 5 STAR RESORT!!! This was my second trip to Cuba and the very worst!!, I think I deserve way better!!,due to the lack of quality of a *5* resort. In my humble opinion this resort would make a *3* resort look like a *5* resort! Under these circumstances I would not recommend this resort to MY WORST ENEMY!!!

Royalton Hicacos Resort and Spa: Nice resort!

This was our first trip to Cuba and we chose this resort because it was an adults only, not that the kids really bother us, but for a change. We were very impressed upon arriving here. Staff were very friendly and check-in was fast since they had the rooms already set up for us. Our first problem was dirt in the first room and they quickly got us into another room. So they put us in the new section for the first night and had us in a closer section to where we wanted by the next day. All week th [... read more]e front staff knew our names and greeted us! This resort is under repair and has been purchased by another company and will be fully updated in the next year. The architecture and gardens are beautiful. I can't say a bad word about the place except the cockroach on our final night when my hubby had arranged the room to be covered with rose petals and champagne but we also got a cockroach delivered! I was not impressed and had them come get rid of it ASAP but I barely slept. They explained the sewer treatment centre is across the street but they are spraying and getting a handle on the situation. I was to receive an email for a discounted next stay for this but have not. Hopefully it's coming because I would go back! The rooms are a great size and the balconies are great for enjoying ur morning coffee or evening glass of wine! The food is delicious. Those that say Cuba food is bland will be impressed by this resort. We did find that the buffet was the best place to eat. Although breakfast at the beach bar is heavenly!! Unfortunately we discovered their amazing Crepes on the last day or I'm sure we would have had those every day!! We were very impressed with the entertainment team. Having live singers each night in their dance routines was amazing. Being a competitive dance Mom I was extremely impressed with the quality of their performances. We only missed a show the night we went to the Tropicana!! The beach is beautiful but the sand gets real hot by noon! We walked for miles each day. Oh and sunset is spectacular especially when having dinner at the beach! There will always be something at any resort that someone will complain. But this resort is clean and they have a lot of staff working day & night to keep it up. I look forward to seeing the changes and will definitely be back.

Grand Memories Varadero: Disappointment

We were so excited when we booked our trip, it was our first time with Riu and Cuba.Our room was clean and the beach...well the beach was incredible. Unfortunately, the hotel was run down. The water falls broken, garbage everywhere and I think there were cockroaches. The bathrooms were disgusting and broken. I WAS NOT IMPRESSED!! We still had a great time but I wouldn't do Riu ever again.

Punta Peninsula Varadero: Amazing resort!!!!

I enjoyed my stay so much that I will be returning. The staff are friendly and outgoing and very helpful. There was always a great selection at the buffet. The beach is fantastic and clean. There were no problems with the room and it was always well maintained. Would recommend this resort to others.

Club Kawama: Not quite as planned

I was booked into Kawama from April 21-27, 2014. When I arrived at the hotel, I (and others) were told that they were overbooked and that we were to stay down the road at the ROC Barlovento. Long story short, I didn't like the Barlovento but was able to get a wristband so that I could use Kawama's facilities. I cannot comment on the rooms as I did not get to stay there, but I did see inside two other guests' rooms, one in the 4000s and one in building 16. The room in 16 was "nicer" and overlooke [... read more]d the pool, but the 4000 building had its merits, too; it had its own pool, bar and restaurant and felt like it was its own hotel! The room was not as "nice", but was doable. The staff:Awesome. I had smiles from everyone. The ladies at the front desk were charming to me, and I was amazed at the buffet staff, too (I only ate in the buffet twice for breakfast, at at El Brocal for another). The omelette guy was a sweetie, and the wait staff was efficient and friendly, the exact opposite of those at Barlovento. The food: I only had three breakfasts here, and ate lunch at the snack bar a couple of times. I was very pleased with everything I had. Apparently the food in the buffet goes downhill at every meal, but I've found that to be true at any AI. The beach: Absolutely beautiful. Lots of shade under palapas, and many chairs, though some were in dubious repair. I hit the beach early, so I was always able to find one in good enough shape. The drinks: Very good! My favourite bar was the lobby bar, though it would have been nice if the "no smoking" policy had been enforced. Cuba sure attracts all of the smokers of the world. :o( Anyway, they made a lovely sangria and always with a smile. Fernando at the beach bar was a great guy to spend time with as well. No beer at the beach bar or lobby bar--you could only get that at the pool bar. The entertainment: They had live music everywhere. I'm not sure if it was due to the conference going on or if that's the way it always is, but it was nice to sit at the buffet at lunch or in the evening, listening to the band. Location: Fabulous! So nice having the bank, shops, and restaurants so close. Try Kiki's or La Sangria for great pizza and lobster. I would like to get to Kawama again and actually stay there. I was impressed with the beach and the people.

Starfish Varadero: Bungalows are the best, food is the worst.

As we all know, the food is horrible in Cuba and this is the third resort I've been too and it was the worst. But the bungalows closest to the beach are amazing. Best rooms ever! The staff is great. The beach is fantastic, of course. I would reccommend this hotel if you're looking for a cheap getaway but you have to get the bungalows.

Paradisus Princesa Del Mar: Wonderful Adults Only Resort to stay in Varadero

We have stayed at this resort 3 times and we love it! It is our favourite place to stay in Cuba. We have become friends with many of the amazing & hard working staff. We are upgraded to the new buildings and they are modern and are close to the beach. We were able to experience the new Royal Service on our last stay and ate at their restaurant and the food & service was wonderful! You cannot stay there without going to the teppanyaki restaurant (ask for Emedio). It is a ton of food but worth eve [... read more]ry morsel. So entertaining and interactive and makes for a fun night! You site with others so it is nice to meet new friends! Also visit the 24 hour snack bar for a great hamburger and Yicel's famous banana mamas.The resort is always clean but as with most visits to Cuba (no fault of the resorts) they can run out of supplies and certain types of food. The buffet is very good with a wide variety of dishes and theme nights. They could change things up a tad but there are many choices to select from. I have never had a bad food experience at this resort nor any of the other places in Cuba as we have been 7 times and are returning to the Paradisus Pricess Del Mar for a 3rd April in a row in 2015. The beach is beautiful with many spots and great for walking. You feel safe here but the security is not "in your face". It is almost at the end of all of the hotels along the beach so it is nice. If you want to venture into Varadero (highly recommended) it is easy to get an antique taxi and the great guys at the front will help out with that for you. The only downfall with this resort is the gym does not open until 7 am and I enjoy a very early work out so i can be on the beach early. I do participate in beach activities and my husband plays beach volleyball everyday.They do not have a large number of a la carte restauants and we only go to a few but the meals are always enjoyable. I can go on and on LOL. I always refer this resport to friends who want to visit Cuba and a few have gone and thanked me for sending them there. Overall if you are wanting to experience a wonderful adults only resort with amazing staff & service then you have to visit here.

Resonance Blu Varadero: Great hotel & beach, poor food.

Overall, the hotel was quite nice. The rooms were comfy and very clean. The beach is WONDERFUL. Unfortunately, the food was poor. We found that there were very few choices. We have heard that Cuba is known for its "bland" food but the food we had while staying at Memories just didn't taste good. Others who have stayed here have really enjoyed the food, so perhaps we just came on a bad week. When we went off resort to eat, it was wonderful.

Iberostar Origin Laguna Azul: It had its moments

I travelled with my wife and 13 yr old daughter to this resort. When we checked in, I was told the suite that we had paid extra for, was unavailable. I asked how that could be, and got a blank look back, and they said the suites were full for the next couple days, then we would be moved into a suite. Calmly I suggested that this was not acceptable, and they assured me the room would be nice, and they would send another bed up, as there was only a king bed. They showed up an hour later with a hom [... read more]emade looking wood slat, with a small foam pad, threw a blanket over it, and left. I went back down to the counter and suggested that this would not work, and they sighed and said that someone would make it right. I was then directed to our travel representative if I had any more issues. The Transat rep was quite upset at the situation and spoke to the manager, who offered up massages, and extra al a carte dinners for the inconvenience. A couple days later when we did move into the suite, we were much happier. Other than that the food was alright, shows were alright, and the service people were always smiling and super nice. We would probably return.

Hotel Bella Costa: Wonderful Staff

This hotel is in need of an update. Someone needs to come in and spend some money on this resort. It has a perfect location!! The beach is amazing. The way the tide is, creates a sandbar like none I've ever seen before. The staff is wonderful, the food is consistent with the rest of Cuba. The lunch bar has a stone pizza oven for individual pizza's. Grab some items from the buffet there and add it to the other items they have available. Most days we grabbed 2 each and wrapped one in the fridge fo [... read more]r late night snack. They also have Panini's in the lobby late at night which not many are aware of. The beer was cold, the beach was unbelievable & the staff is amazing. I would recommend the Villa's. Not the hotel. It is decent value if you don't pay full price.

Sirenis Tropical Varadero: Second time around and still amazing!!!

April at Allegro Varadero was a dream come true...14 days and nights in a relaxed and gorgeous setting. Our oceanview room view was all we hoped, pretty and spotless, with the sound of the waves lulling us to sleep at night. Staff went above and beyond to ensure our comfort and enjoyment. We will definitely be going back, and 2 weeks were so much better than one. All we can say is GO...GO...GO to Allegro Varadero.

Grand Memories Varadero: awsome vacation

great resort we stayed in the adult section the food was great service is very good pools and beach are clean room are spacious and clean just a shortage of loungers on the beach drinks are very good including capachino bar lots of good entertainment shopping in Veradero is awesome Havana toor is a must to see taxi and bus available at entrance we were there for two weeks febuary 19 to march 5 weather was outstanding we enjoyed it so much we are aready booked for another two weeks around the sam [... read more]e time if your interested in going read the positive reviews I would not want to go anywhere if I would go by the negative reviews don't worry about food or drinks you will find something to eat or drink .we have stayed at latoc sandals in st lucia .riu in orcha rio .majestic colonial in Dominican they were all different but great resorts .but if your looking for a very affordable vacation Riu Veradero is an excellent value for your money.we met a lots of Canadians from all over the country just a great two weeks

Mar Del Sur: You get what you pay for

First and most important, the beach is a block away and is absolutely stunning! There is also a bar there open until five but does not serve beer! The staff is pleasant. They are a little less ambitious because they do not receive many tips. Especially, compared to other hotels. The rooms need to be upgraded. The room I was in had older sagging beds with no fitted sheets. The curtains needed to be washed. The maid did not do a through job even though I tipped. The air conditioner worked great an [... read more]d the room was large and had a separate kitchen with a fridge, no stove. There is a very small safe available in the room. The pool was quite yellow on the bottom but was cleaned while I was there and looked much better. People seemed to enjoy the pool area, bar and lounge chairs. The people working at the pool bar, snack bar were happy and friendly. Drinks were house brand liquor, and they had good draft Cristal beer. The grounds were kept up nicely. Lots of trees, plants and flowers. There were places to sit every where and enjoy. There was lots of food at the buffet. Nothing special but good. There was always a large variety of vegetables, cooked and uncooked which I very much appreciated! There was also a vast assortment of bakery breads and desserts. There was a fruit table as well. Usually three or four different fruits at a time. The wait staff were nice. The snack bar set ed panini like sandwiches with a little meat and cheese also once and a while hamburgers. They taste like they were made from ham. Very good though! No Wi-Fi and phone calls are expensive. There is Wi-Fi available at the end of the street. There was security and the security people were polite and good at their job. I enjoyed myself and you cannot beat the price! The main thing I wanted while traveling solo is safety and I felt safe there!

Palma Real: Very clean.

Our information regarding distilled water was not good. We just used bottled water and really cleaned our sleep apnea machine when we got back to Calgary. We were upset coming home in Toronto- the hassle we got about carrying this machine with us a carry on luggage. The only problems we had with the hotel was to get a converter for the machine but a girl at the desk was able to get one from another hotel the next day. We had a leaky toilet that took all week to get fixed in fact the last night  [... read more]was the only night we did not have a swimming pool in the bathroom. The food was good, The service in the hotel in general was great. The maid was excellent and the soux chef was extremely polite and told us of good places to visit while in Varadero.

Valentin El Patriarca Varadero: Ocean Varadero El Patriarca

I'm not much for writing or reading but reviews on hotels I like to visit, I do pay attention and yes, you can't believe everything you read. Never went south in June but my friends visiting us from Europe liked the idea of 3 hr flight and you are in Cuba, nice. It was a beautiful display of colors on shrubs and trees touring Varadero on a double decker bus, you don't see this during winter trips. Ocean Varadero El Patriarca is a beautiful hotel, the room, food, shows, beach and most of all, all [... read more] the staff were great. I don't want to forget the bars, we had fun in the lobby, beach and aqua bar. I do believe the saying 1 tequila, 2 tequilas, 3 tequilas floor is correct, I wasn't that bad but slept like a baby. On the day of my brothers (from another mother) birthday (good friend from Austria) we had nice cake with a candle in the Italian a la Carte restaurant with lights down and singing happy birthday, he enjoyed the moment, especially a kiss from the waitress. We like to say a special thank you to Yaremis and Liberto at the aqua bar, it was wet on the outside and they kept us cool on the inside and to Gricel our maid in bungalow 31 for putting up with me and to all the staff in restaurants, bars, beach and lobby, I can't remember all your names but Gracias. It's all positive on the hotel except some tourists, not mentioning any specific country like Canada for all places. I like to thank the people in bungalow 31 for hinging a provincial flag, that helped me to find my room but not for the noise and mess you left behind over night. Till next time, tus amigos Susan & Stan, June 14, room 3124

Valentin El Patriarca Varadero: amazing beach

The grounds were well maintained, the buffets were less then desirable, the beach was beautiful, the towel service was inconvenient. The staff was friendly. The room was clean, we had a lot of little aunts in bathroom but other then that the trip was excellent....beautiful hot weather.

Roc Arenas Doradas: Very nice beach (not enough huts) and pool

The beach and pool were very nice, exactly what we went for but not enough pool chairs or beach huts to go around. The rooms were below average and the food was bland, had to get use to the food as to what you liked. Did not like the birds flying around the food.