Iberostar Origin Playa Alameda: Enjoyable

What I enjoyed the most about the resort was the layout. I enjoyed the main common area with restaurants, bars, pools and games. This was surrounded by palm trees and several smaller buildings which housed accomodations. Each building with rooms was three stories high and housed I am guessing twelve rooms each. It made for a nice quiet private relaxed setting which to me looked quite exotic. The food was on the plain side but good. There was plenty of variety, everything was fresh, th [... read more]ere were enought dishes that were flavourful that I was more than satisfied. The beach was nice, with soft sand and warm clear water. There was plenty of entertainment. While this is not a big thing for me it was good. Drinks were plentyful and generally good. My only complaint is I do like margaritias and thought I would be able to get a decent one in Cuba. Unfortunately this was not the case and the two that I did have were not great as there were no limes or margarita mix despite there being tequila.

Paradisus Princesa Del Mar: Disappointed, 3 star resort at best

The Good: 1. Beach was beautiful and well kept 2. Pool was clean and great as well 3. Japanese restaurant was by far the best food and experience, wish we booked all 3 a la carts there! 3. Definitely book the private Havana tour, the tour guide was fantastic and the restaurant by the El Cristo statue was by far the best food. We had the surf and turf. 4. The singer for the lobby bar on Wednesday night was absolutely great The Ok: 1. Half the staff were friendly and warm, the other hal [... read more]f not so much 2. Gaviolta tour agent was helpful for excursions The Bad: Room: 1. Do not pay for ocean view... All shrubs and trees are over grown and block 98% of the view. 2. There was NO hot water for showers all week long. That was for all the guests we talked too as well. 3. Fridge was only stocked one time for the entire week we stayed. By stocked i mean... 2 beers and 1 orange pop total 4. The sink leaked all week and by the end of the trip the AC broke and also leaked from the ceiling. Entertainment: 5. Shows were very amateur and seemed dis organized. Shows at 5 star hotels are usually much better. 1 show had teenagers that at the end of the routine ripped of there clothes to there under garments which seemed inappropriate and unnecessary especially givin' there age. Food: 6. Most of the food was terrible even for Cuba standards. I've been to Cuba 3 times now and this was the first time by far I have experienced this. 7. They ran out of food on a couple occasions leaving the only options deli meat which was ... smoked ham, boiled ham, fried ham ... You get the picture 8. A la carts were a huge disappointment other than the Japanese. No options and portions were so small we always ended up at the buffet to try and fill he gap. 9. The main gym had a leak and was closed. There was minimal equipment and space in the aerobic room as a result. 10. Paid over $200 for a couples massage and it was a waste of money. The message was terrible, unprofessional and tables were extremely uncomfortable. Overall, it was a huge disappointment and would not recommend staying here. Experience was so bad that it will be the last time we come to Cuba.

Melia Las Antillas: A fine getaway

Visited in April 2023. I find that people have outsized expectations when a dollar is spent, but there is a reason that Cuba is a thousand dollar vacation and other islands and resorts are double and triple the cost. Flying out of London is brilliant and both the flight there and return were both bang on time and we even arrived early. A 2:50 flight to leave the cold and snow and find 30 degree temps is also brilliant. A mix-up at the airport waiting for someone who had a tough time in cu [... read more]stoms meant a delay in getting to the hotel but check-in was easy as was finding the way to a beverage, food, and the room itself. I did upgrade which included an extra night in a fancy restaurant, a lobster dinner, late checkout, a robe, a bottle of rum (500ml), and an ocean view. FYI, there are no ocean views- although you can kind of see it from the VIP Lounge on the 5th floor! I also received 70 hours of wi-fi and it actually worked the entoire week- the best wi-fi experience I have had in Cuba. The lobster dinner was also the extra night in the fancy which I do not think was explained well enough and was ambiguous at best. I also had to ask for both the rum and robe, but all good, the concierges were great. The other bonus was that all of the reservations for the fancy were made for me, and while I needed to change the times, that too was very simple. The lounge itself had snacks, drinks, books, and usually, someone hanging out. The beach was great as always, Varadero is known for it, and the ocean was warm and clear. We did have a red flag one day after what must have been an overnight storm that I did not hear- 5-foot rollers which were pretty cool, and the tide came up an extra 40 feet so there was some detritus on the beach for the next few days but it did make it easier to find shells if you like that! I walked down to Pardisus that day and saw how lucky Las Antillas was as we still had a beach to use- a few other resorts had water right up to the one row of loungers or their beach bars. While the lifeguards did not allow people to go in at our beach past the shins, further down it was fine as lifeguards were not present at other resorts. The music/fun could get a little loud if you stayed by the entrance to the beach, but if you moved down to the end, no issue at all. Volleyball every day at 11am but for one when only 2 of us showed up. It was the only extracurricular I participated in but the bocce was always full, paddle boats were going out, wind sailing, and of course, all those games around the pool. The restaurants; to me, the best was by the pool. The omelets in the morning, burgers in the afternoon and late evening (or early morning depending on how long you stayed at the disco/lobby bar). or the Cuban restaurant that needed reservations- which I did not find out until my last chit was used up, if I had known, I would have skipped Romantica and the Italian. I always found something at the buffet although I was surprised at the lack of choice of fruits. Breakfast was the usual- omelets or fresh cooked eggs if you wanted to wait, pancakes/french toast etc. Now that I write this, I realize that I did not go to the buffet for lunch at all! Desserts were always aplenty no matter the time of day, and even after the reservation restaurants, I went in to the buffet for desserts. One disappointment, in the Romantico...do NOT be tempted by the creme brulee. I do not think the French translates at all- no carmelized sugar, and the custard was just not good, more like a very cold flan than a brulee. The disco was so so- the dj was unspectacular and stuck on Mambo #5, Cher, and other 90s hits. It is only open from 11pm-1am. The lobby bar was great and open all night- a good view, excellent entertainment, and fast (for the islands) service. Same with the pool bar and the bar that was on the way to the beach but not on the beach. If you are looking for a party, this might not be the resort, although again, in my experience, Cuba might not be the place for that anyway. This was my fourth visit to Cuba and I will say that without exception, everywhere that I have been, the staff has always been great- Miguel at the disco, Yanet at the burger bar, etc...very nice people who will try their best. Overall, you could tell that the place had been closed during COVID- two years I was told, and they just reopened in November. Improvements are being made- paint, plantings, general maintenance, and they are even building a juice bar right by the pool. My shower had pressure, the bed actually made me want a new bed at home, the maid service was super as well. I would go back for sure as the price was definitely right (even with the single supplement). I know that people are talking about supply issues at the moment and I heard stories of places running out of beer and butter, but I did not see that at Las Antillas.

Iberostar Origin Laguna Azul: Relax, Fun in the Sun

I stayed at Iberostar Laguna Azul for April 6-13. The weather was amazing. The hotel staff were very friendly and accommodating to any request. The country is doing their best recovering, so keep this in mind when it comes to food choices. I had fish, chicken and pork available. There was a variety of cheese, cold meats, vegetable, local fruit with dessert/ice cream. Canadians are their number one tourists. I am so glad that we are now able to enjoy their beautiful shores again.

Sol Palmeras: Beyond expectations- a fantastic experience!

Everything was fantastic! Food was plentiful, good, and tons of variety, great a la carte options, top notch drinks, staff are warm and friendly, so much entertainment we couldn't do it all, but also easy to enjoy relaxation and avoid it all of you want (ie: they're not pumping a party atmosphere constantly). A incredible stretch of beach with a natural background of tropical forest, never had an issue getting loungers, free and readily available water sports, view of sunrise and sunset. Resort  [... read more]is a very nice size, easy to get around, we really had no complaints or issues.

Iberostar Origin Laguna Azul: Poorly managed resort

The resort grounds are very nice… The pools, the beach, the gardens…. The rooms show their age…. Poorly maintained… Patio doors very difficult to impossible to open! Maid service is terrible! Rooms were not cleaned daily! Pillows were moldy smelling sand they were reluctant to change them! Had to ask for bottled water pretty much everyday! They spent more time on creating their towel and bedspread swans than they did cleaning the room it seemed!

Blau Varadero: Really bad experience

If something happens to you on this resort - you are on your own. I got my kneecap displaced while swimming in the ocean. Paramedics on the beach are pathetic and didn't know what to do. Since they didn't have medical stretchers, they have used sunbed instead to get me to the hotel. No painkillers or medical equipment for the first aid on the resort. Ambulance had no gas to come to the resort and I was forced to go by the regular car with a lot of pain to the closest medical center where ambulan [... read more]ce had a gas...Resort management were more worried about the extra towels that they have provided rather than me and my injury. They just wanted to move me out as quickly as possible to hide from other tourists. Unfortunately, didn't get manager name (Tall lady in the glasses). When I have arrived to Matanzas hospital it was just a nightmare experience as there is no painkillers or crutches either (i got a piece of lumber from before with nails in it instead, I am not joking). After all this nightmare I got back and on the following day management called me to see if I am ok and to follow up if I have returned the towel...is it a joke? I was "lucky" enough and got a proper crutch rented and on the final day security guard came to take it away from me as soon as he has seen the bus arriving, didn't even let me get in. And the last drop - Westjet representatives who should of done special reservation for me because of my injury for the airplane and who have confirmed that everything is fine and has been taken care of, didn't actually do anything and I got regular seats and has been suffering all the way back to Toronto. Go there on your own risk. I do not recommend Blau Varadero and do not recommend WestJet as your tour provider. Really bad experience. #BlauVaradero #WestJet #WestJet Vacations #StayAwayBlauVaradero

Playa Vista Azul: Amazing resort

This resort was very clean, well taken care of Food was great , wide variety of different foods ( Italian, Caribbean etc) Both pools were very clean ( although there could of been more pool activities at the main pool, instead of just on the premium side) Rooms were clean Staff were very friendly, helpful and appreciative Beaches were very clean , small beach had a bbq and entertainment at lunch time ( food was amazing ) Lots of different places to get food to eat well into  [... read more]the early morning hours Infinity pool off the lobby definitely had the best view of the ocean Shows every night ( Michael Jackson, Grease, comedy etc) Lots of bars around the resort , coffee shop Overall I would definitely go back to this resort I would rate this hotel a 9.5/10

Club Tropical: Great resort

Friendly staff,great food , room great. Near ocean,plus good pool . Rooms kept clean. Any problem e.g. television broken-fixed immediately. Lots of security people ready to help. Grounds kept clean and in good condition, great food schedule for breakfast, dinner and supper,starting at 7 30 am.

Melia Internacional: Beautiful resort!

This hotel was amazing from the beautiful pools to the white sand beaches. The rooms were large and clean and with daily maid services, it was super. There was an assortment of restaurants and staff were friendly, welcoming and helpful. The grounds were meticulously maintained and always free of debris. The entertainment, from the very lively pool-side hosts that got everyone moving and shaking to the solo musical artists on the top decks. It was all fantastic!! Many bars/discos throughout t [... read more]he hotel meant an abundance of choices to have fun in. We were there for a wedding, held on the beach, and even this was well organized, with lovely flowers and comfortable seating, a great feat on the sand! The wedding organizers were super. I would not hesitate to recommend the hotel to anyone looking for a 5 star getaway. In fact, whenever we are thinking of a southern vacation destination, Melia will be foremost in our mind.

Valentin El Patriarca Varadero: Great resort

This was my 6th time at this resort. Stayed in Alegance section and got upgraded to a suite that walks out to the private pool. Great to see Roberto and Jorge tending bar. We enjoyed lobster dinner at the Alegance restaurant and ate in all 3 alacartes. Beach was fantastic. Entertainment at night in the lobby bar was phenomenal and we met lots of great people. The Cuban people are awesome and go above and beyond. Will definitely return!

Selectum Family Resort Varadero: Beautiful Resort

The food was limited but what was offered was really good. The fresh grilled fish at the buffet was a hit with my family. Our room had a hot water issue for the 1st couple days. Being a new resort you have to expect a few issues. With saying that, they were quick to resolve the issue. You will find the staff throughout the resort extremely friendly and willing to help with anything. My one concern was the lack of shade. With only one building currently open, I can’t imagine what it  [... read more]will be like to secure a shaded spot once the resort is at full capability. They would benefit from purchasing a few more umbrella for the pool area. The beach hasn’t been cleared of rocks, my understanding is this should be completed within the next few months. Overall we had a great week and will definitely stay here if and when we return to Cuba.

Grand Memories Varadero: The scoop on the Grand memories

Well the trip overall would be a 3 star group we’re good minus the sewage issue and backpacking ng up around the main pool bar not into the the pool. The better pool for us was the one by the disco or bungalow 10. The food shortage was so so buffet was weak but there were 2 days was ok. Pro tip breakfast skip the buffet goto snack bar for omelets or bacon and egg had all days except 1. Last day the water was shut off for repairs but was back up that night. Room were hot and miss we lucked out [... read more] with pretty good room needed some tlc which most do but some were awful. Seemed like a lot on bottom floor were musty and more isssues Lobby bar only had 2 staff so took awhile for drinks. I wouldn’t upgrade to support room again or do the diamond club no difference and the same service and they gave you top shelf alcohol suvh as absolute vodka and Jamisons. Again ground were great no bugs at all. Service was so so but to be expected with a bigger resort. Shows sound was too loud and tried hard but I seen much better.

Iberostar Origin Laguna Azul: Good resort

Amazing beach Staff very welcoming and helpful . Hard to have rooms close to the people you book with. Restaurants accommodating for celiac people . Air conditioning not working in our room. Buffet not a lot of seafood ( mussels only one day +fish one day ).

Melia Las Americas: Nice resort

Great time overall. Service was exceptional and staff always helpful. Food was very decent for a Cuba resort, couple of times they ran out of condiments but had them back the following day. Drinks were good, but some of the bars didn't have juices for slushie drinks. No tomato juice was available when we were there

Sirenis Tropical Varadero: Better than expected

Beautiful resort, unfortunately some parts are starting to be neglected/abandoned and becoming a sore to an eye. Everything else was good as long as you are not too fussy about your meals and drinks. Amazing americanos, better yet with sambucca. Oh … only the room 3222 smelled, mostly at night and they would not change it for us because they were fully booked. But if you turn the air off as we did and open the door , it is quit nice.

Royalton Hicacos Resort and Spa: Many returning guest hotel

My husband and I recently stayed at the Royalton Hicacos Resort and Spa for 10 days and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We were given a newly renovated suite style room in block 200 which was quite nice and a short walk to the Diamond Club private beach. We did spend a little more money for the Diamond Club treatment and it was worth it. We always got loungers at the private beach, had our own butler, received a free catamaran excursion, all our à la carte reservations were given to us on our fi [... read more]rst day. Many perks!!! We always had an abundance of food and a good variety at the main buffet. The staff was always very friendly and helpful. The beach was amazing, blue, turquoise water and many miles could be walked on that beach. We enjoyed the ice cream bar and the 24hrs snack bar. There was always live music at the bars and buffet. The nightly entertainment was good. The dancers were very talented but would have been nice if there had been more variety; not only dancing every night.

Roc Arenas Doradas: Great location, mediocre service,

We loved the beach, pool, room stewards, and the dining room wait staff. We also like that it was a family friendly place, as we had an infant with us. The grounds were pleasant and well kept. The first room we were assigned had the electrical wires exposed, ceiling tiles hanging down, and wallpaper hanging off the walls. It was very discouraging. After bringing this to the attention of the client services manager (who was very friendly) we were granted a much nicer room with no issues. Most [... read more] of the staff were great, but a number of the bar tenders, coffee bar staff, and pool snack hut were rude and not very pleasant. The food was ok, nothing special, but a decent variety. The hours and food quality and variety of the pool snack hut was not ideal. They served unappetizing sandwiches, and even though they could serve French fries they told us on a number of days that we were too late in the day for fries, even though they would not tell us the hours when we could get fries the next day and it was still in the posted meal times. It would be easy to serve a better variety of food at the pool snack bar, such as burgers, fries, sandwiches for the posted hours. Very disappointing. Overall we had a nice experience at the resort.

Melia Internacional: Hotel Post-Covid

The resort and hotel are huge. The staff is super friendly and helpful. Due to current world affairs, Cuba is lacking in supplies. The Melia International Varadero was short on wine, both red and white, mint for mojitos and daiquiri/Pina colada juice. We were luckier than some resorts further down the beach who were lacking wine, butter, toilet paper and kleenex. The beach at the Melia is absolutely stunning, the best beach I have ever seen/been to. The pool area is lacking proper swim-up bar se [... read more]rvice and shade. But honestly, those are the only "cons" (if you can call them that) that I could find about the place.

Paradisus Princesa Del Mar: Some Problems

The staff at the resort were fantastic. However, there were some drawbacks. The room smelled very musty, the sink and bathtub barely drained and the 110 volt outlet in the bathroom didn’t work. We asked them to fix it but they did not. Also there were cockroaches in the buffet restaurant. The food was highly repetitive. The beach was strewn with seaweed. So all in all the resort was very disappointing and we will not go back. Also the internet didn’t work well and we had to re-sign in each  [... read more]time we wanted to use it