Valentin El Patriarca Varadero: super trip!

Would certainly return! Great spot for a family vacation. Lots to do at the resort and easy day trips: including catamaran, deep sea fishing, Havana tour. Resort was well appointed and clean, with super friendly staff. Loved the coffee shop, snack bar and main lobby. Food was good but bring your own hot sauce!

Hotel Roc Casa del Mar: Good resort

Complex to review 5 stars 1, Beach 2. Service (except front desk) 3. Maid service 4. Cuban entertainment every night - amazing 3 stars 1. Pools 2. Food (good for Cuba) 3. Shows/entertainment team 2 stars 1. Like all of Cuba 1hr cards have to be purchased for wifii :( 2. Front desk staff are awful - I wouldn’t hire them for anything? Weird this is the face of your resort :( 3. Big coackroach in our room on final night. Resort was good for Cuba!

Hotel Roc Casa del Mar: The good,the bad and the ugly

We booked our trip through Tripcentral and flew with Air Transat. We arrived on Thursday, March 8th, 2018. As soon as we stepped into the hotel we were off to a bad start. First thing, we didn't receive a welcome drink as advertised. Next thing is we were given door keys that did not work. So, my wife waited in the room while I got new keys for the door. (It's a long trek as we were in the furthest building from the main building) We go in the room only to discover it is not what we asked for in [... read more]itially. We requested a king size bed on the top floor. We got 2 double beds on the 2nd floor. Also, the bar fridge was empty and turned off. Then we noticed the bathroom lights did not work and its difficult to get cleaned up in the dark. Also, the patio door requires a bodybuilding champion to open as it seemingly was off the track and does not lock. About an hour later, the power went out. So, I walked back to the main building asking for someone to repair these items. They said they would send someone over to do the repairs.( I would have called but the telephone was missing from our room.) Nobody showed up. I was able to locate the electrical panel and noticed a breaker was off. So I switched it back on. The following morning, I noticed a bunch of red circles on my arms and legs. it turns out they were bed bugs. I photographed and documented these bites. If you want to book the a la carte restaurant, you have to get in a long line and long wait times. You can only book a restaurant on the same day you are going. So, that means standing in line for everyday you want to go to a la carte restaurant. We booked 1 restaurant at the Romantico and the only time they had was 8:30 or 9:30. We were lucky and got 8:30. The food in the buffet was basically the same everyday. That's normal for Cuba. There seemed to be a shortage of bacon. I only seen it a couple of times during our one week stay. We tried the grill restaurant near the west pool and it was good. They have chicken nuggets and fries, burgers, and beef sandwiches, etc. The food is good and hot. They have bottles of ketchup but really tastes like barbecue sauce. Every morning, we were going to Mike's cafe in the main lobby for cappuccino. We love the friendly staff. They also have fresh pastries there for those sweet lovers. The fresh fruits in the buffet were scarce. They only had papaya and unripe pineapple. Apparently, the Hurricane Irma wiped out most of the banana and mango trees in the north end of the island of Cayo Santa Maria.

Hotel Roc Casa del Mar: Overall a good stay!

The hotel itself is beautiful, I love the layout and the easy accecibilty to all amenities. Seeing as the hotel is less than 5 years old is it understandable that the gardens were not as lush as I hoped but getting there. If you are planning on staying at this resort make sure to plan you dinners ahead and make reservations at the restaurants as the food in the buffet is not the tastiest. Staff is super freindly though and they were very helpful with anything we needed. I would go back!

Ocean Blue and Sand: Great Value Resort

Aside form the undrinkable "house wine" wine and the rooster that woke me up in the mornings. This was a great vacation for me and my family. The resort is very well maintained the staff is great as is the food & restaurants. The plus of having a coffee house was very well received. The kids loved the bowling and kids club. Would recommend for the price we paid.

Hotel Roc Casa del Mar: A very enjoyable week

My parents (elderly) myself and my daughter thoroughly enjoyed our stay. The beach is one of the best I have experienced. It was windy some days and it meant we could whip along on the Catamaran and jump in waves; other days were absolutely still and calm so we could play endlessly. The cleaners in building 4 (esp. the gentleman) were more than kind and responsive. Rooms were immaculate. The food was great for Cuban access to imports. We enjoyed the buffet and then the restaurants at nigh [... read more]t offered great service. In the buffet we were cared for so well by Mariella and Hector. They work so hard and so graciously I am not a pool person but my daughter had fun! Relaxed - no cooking, no driving and no cleaning! I loved the Michael Jackson show but the other entertainment was too loud and needed a bit more variety. Everyone was so responsive and kind. I would return for sure! It is really great that there is a division in the louder section and the quiet section. We stayed in the most serene of buildings! Too relaxed to do the excursions! :)

Hotel Roc Casa del Mar: Beautiful Beach!!!

The beach is probably the best we have seen in Cuba, and we have been 8 times now. The grounds are not mature but well maintained. The resort is still quite new and the recent hurricanes certainly didn’t help. Hector at the buffet was an absolute pleasure and gave us wonderful service all week long. The activities at the pool kept our teenage daughters entertained and there were plenty of chairs available. Our rooms were perfect. The beds were reasonably comfortable and the showers were [... read more] stand-up ones made in ceramic, so not water build-up in a plugged tub while taking a shower (we have experienced this several times in Cuba) The only bad thing we have to say is that there was an unpleasant smell from the bug fumigating vehicle that passed everyday. More specifically during supper time...not too appetizing. Overall we have no major complaints, and we would recommend this resort to our friends and family!

Ocean Maya Royale: Amazing Staff

Grounds very well kept. Clean cared for well. No complaints however it should be noted that the resort is a challenge for anyone with mobility issues. We enjoyed the.variety of food offered and were pleased with housekeeping. Cudos to the amazing entertainment staff who.truly went above and beyond to help make a memorable stay.

Valentin El Patriarca Varadero: Very happy with this resort.

This resort lived up to my expectations. The grounds were kept in good condition, room was fair, food was good and the staff were great. The "Gourmet" a la carte was our favorite. Great resort for relaxing.

Ocean Riviera Paradise: Beautiful resort!

The resort and its staff was just about as close to perfect as you can get. The food was amazing, the rooms were spotless and the staff were always smiling, polite and courteous. The resort is quite large but spread out, so you never feel like it's crowded or busy at any time. The only thing I didn't like was the time share salesmen pressure, but that is only in the lobby area and they respect when you say no. We will definitely go back again

Ocean Coral Riviera Cancun: Nice resort

The food was good in the Buffet, la Petite Creperie (which you are allowed at but it seems like you are not). The shows & entertainment staff were great. If you’re a wine drinker you’ll be expected to buy wine as the house red or white is horrible. The rooms were real nice & cleaned well daily. I’m pretty low maintenance & I’ve never paid so much for an all inclusive so I expected more. Next time I’ll go back into Playa to a 3 Star & I’ll be better off. PS- the Japanese restaurant wa [... read more]s great the 1st time & average the 2nd time. The Ocean had experienced toumoil so the beach was a disappointment...full of seaweed.

Valentin El Patriarca Varadero: Holiday Experience at its best

From the moment we arrived until our early morning departure the staff were friendly, helpful and always anxious to assist us with every whim. The hotel itself was very clean and luxurious in spite of the recent hurricane problems. Language did not appear to be a problem for any of the staff, I watched them jump from German to Russian to English without much hesitation. Our room was more than comfortable with 2 showers in the washroom, a very large bath tub and a large flat screen in the livi [... read more]ng room and A/C throughout.

Hotel Roc Casa del Mar: Very nice resort

The good: This is a very nice resort one of the nicer ones iv stayed in in Cuba the rooms were very big and modern. The staff was generally very nice. The grounds were kept up very well especially for just being hit with a bad huricane in the fall. The beach is nice and has tons of chairs and shade. Never an issue getting a beach chair. The food on the resort is excellent for cuba lots of options for a la carts and the beach huts cook awsome rice and chicken wings. The entertain was top notch on [... read more] the resort. The bad: we had an upgraded room and it had only a small jet tub, no shower so we had to switch rooms. The maids don't leave enough toilet papper and the fridge doesn't get restocked with enough water or beer some days none at all. The courtesybathroom in the main loby for checkout day is discusting. Not even close to enough chairs by the pool. There is an adult pool and a pool for the kids, all the kids were always at the adult pool splashing everyone and swimming around the swim up bar. And the kids pool which is as big as the adult pool was a ghost town. The ground workers were jack hammering cement most mornings at 730 on the walkways on the resort.

Playa Vista Azul: Ocean Vista Azul

We stayed at the Ocean Vista Azul in Varadero, Cuba from March 1st - March 8th. Upon our arrival we were warmly welcomed by the front lobby staff. The lobby, is kept very clean at all times, is brightly lit and overall is a nice, welcoming large space, with plenty of comfortable seating, which also offers live music in the evening. We were checked in promptly and our luggage was taken to our room. We opted for the "privileged" package, which afforded us all of the resort's amenities. We were tak [... read more]en on a quick tour and rundown of what our package had to offer us and were then shown our ocean front view room. Our room was very clean, modern and kept in good repair. Our view of the ocean was absolutely magnificent! The room boasts a nice king size bed, with plenty of extra pillows, a flat screen TV and comfortable seating. We always had hot water for showering and the bathroom was nice and spacious. Our Maid Service was on point and we were always happy to see something fun and unique made for us from our bath towels and fresh flowers. The entertainment was lively and creative and the entertainers were interactive, outgoing and fun. The infinity pool is lovely and the view of the ocean from it is beautiful. The Wait Staff would often ask us if we needed refreshments while lounging by the pool. The larger pool was great; very spacious, with plenty of spaces to find a place to lounge and relax. Pool side activities at the larger pool area were always hopping, interactive and fun. The snack bar located at the larger pool, would regularly run out of fries, but would always try to substitute with something else. The food... (this is everyone's worst fear of going to Cuba lol) but rest assured we always had plenty of options to choose from. With our package we had the option of dining at all of the a la carte restaurants; our first dinner was at Limoncello, which is their Italian restaurant. The antipasto was tasty, which we had before our meal. Both my husband and I ordered very simple pasta dishes from the menu, we were both underwhelmed with our dishes; as they lacked seasoning and flavor, but on the plus side they were fresh and hot and the service was great. Our next a la carte dining experience was at Neptune's restaurant; we both had the Cuban rock lobster tails and they were delicious! We enjoyed every bite and again, the service was on point. Our last a la carte was at the Blue Moon restaurant; unfortunately I can't tell you how the food was because after waiting over an hour and 20 mins for our entree's; with our water only being refilled once, we decided to leave the restaurant and hit the buffet. As for the buffet; The fish grill was great, with a few choices to choose from, it was always fresh and tasty. The meat grill was very good as well, boasting many different meat options and everything was seasoned nicely and was always very fresh. There was a fresh pasta station, which when prepared properly was very enjoyable. There was plenty of freshly baked breads, the antipasto options were great and there was always a nice variety of fresh vegetables. All of the Wait Staff in the Buffet were warm, friendly and attentive. For breakfast we were able to order room service which needs to be booked the evening before. Our first room service experience was great, we got exactly what we ordered and right on time; everything was hot and fresh. However, the next time we ordered room service our order was not submitted and when we called in the morning to confirm our order, I was hung up on 3 times. So we opted for Neptune's a la carte for breakfast instead; which was always good. Fresh omelettes, bacon, coissants, fruits etc. Sadly, our last room service experience was again not that great; our order again was misplaced, but I was determined to get it lol - however, when it arrived an hour late, it was cold and unsatisfactory. In choosing the privileged package, premium drinks and spirits were included. We had a large variety to choose from. One thing I will say about the privileged bar; is that it is so dimly lit inside and out, that it made it feel like it was always closed. So unfortunately that cramped the ambiance for us. We would even ask if they were closed, or just about to close. The beach; it's absolutely beautiful, clean, plenty of loungers available and the water is crystal clear! Plenty of things to do; snorkeling, catamaran and beach side fun activities with the staff. Overall I would highly recommend this resort to anyone looking for a relaxing and fun time away! Definitely not a party type resort; but most definitely a relaxing and enjoyable place to be!

Valentin El Patriarca Varadero: CLEAN AND QUIET

Upgraded to the privileged section and it was totally worth it! Butler service, incredible food, beautiful beach, quiet pool and everyone was exceptionally nice! It was my mothers birthday while we were there and they went out of their way to make her day special.

Hotel Roc Casa del Mar: Great Resort

clean. Always had chairs available around the pool and the beach, even if we were during Spring break. The food was ok for Cuban standard. Did not hear anyone we meet to complain about this hotel. We had a great time.

Playa Vista Azul: New, Clean and Comfortable

The Ocean Vista Azul (OVA) is a new resort (local folks said the second last to be opened at Veradaro). The rooms are lovely, large, and welcoming with a spacious bathroom and shower. I had the king-bed and and the supplied pillows were firm and comfortable enough for a 100 kg. male. The pools were clean and the water temperature was cool enough to refresh. The resort sits on a rocky cliff so you need to walk a few yards left or about 50 yards right to access either beach which are shared wi [... read more]th other resorts. The main beach for the resort is to the right, and is deep, with lovely white sand. Lounge chairs were available even after breakfast at both the beach and the pool. After dinner, travel up to the lounge for live music and a nightcap. Staff in all cases were polite and welcoming. Real coffee (not syrup) and lots of rum. Was OVA perfect? No. Friends had problems with getting the water temperature in the rooms correct (first cold, then way too hot). Not everyone working the bar or espresso machine knew what they were doing - training needed. The food was OK: fresh (locally supplied), in good quantity and well prepared which is all I require. I have had better quality though, so if you are looking for a gourmet experience, this is not for you. In summary, OVA got nothing wrong and most things (all the important things) right. I would go back and would recommend it to others as a really good value.

Ocean Blue and Sand: Friendly Staff

Great staff and always very helpful. The grounds were very well kept and the room was very clean. It was great that every evening you had a choice of either the buffet or one of the a la carte restaurants. No reservation required except for the Japanese . Unfortunately you had to reserve on the current day at 11 am. And we were never able to get a reservation after 3 or 4 tries we gave up.

Valentin El Patriarca Varadero: Very Good Resort for a relaxing winter vacation

The grounds, pool, beach and service were excellent. The food was not very good except in the gourmet and Japanese restaurants. The buffet was fine for breakfast. One must remember that you do not go to Cuba for the food. You will also not starve. The service in the dining room was excellent particularly that provided by Cinthya Dominguez who was very charming and intelligent and shared insight into her life in Cuba. The entertainers were excellent and showed great versatility by performing bo [... read more]th an stage and in the pool. The beach and pool activities were very well organized and Denis Garcia was not only the organizer and leader but a fascinating man to talk to. Excellent work Denis! We had a few minor issues with our room such as an intermittent key card door lock where we had to change our key about 4 times. The balcony door jamb had to be re-attached twice but the response to our calls was prompt and polite. We were in the standard room and it was appointed just fine. Considering that this resort was in the top 5 for damage from Hurricane Irma on September 9 they did a phenomenal job of reparations. One could see roof repairs but that was all. Almost every building had to have top floors gutted and water damage was extensive but on our stay you would never know except for the visible roof repairs. According to staff, everybody pitched in hauling shingles, quite a team effort. I would recommend that for the entertainment that the lighting for the stage need some work as the spotlights did not adequately show the performers. The people using microphones need to put the mics further from their mouths or change the mics. All four of us had a wonderful time. Unlike other resorts in Cuba, El Patriarca has 220 electrical service so no need for power /plug converters.

Ocean Riviera Paradise: Great Resort

This resort was clean and well kept. The food was delicious and there was a good variety of restaurants. They have a coffee shop for your morning latte and an ice cream shop too. We could easily get a chair with shelter at the pool, but it was tough to get a shelter at the beach, they were usually taken, so go early. The water was great for swimming, but there is seaweed on the beach. The hotel tries to clean the beach everyday, but the seaweed just keeps coming! Drinks were good, not wa [... read more]tered down like some all-inclusives. They have lots of fun activities. I learned how to make sushi, did Zumba and yoga on the beach, saw some good shows, went bowling, played pool volleyball, and everyday they had activities and competitions in the pool area. Service was good, rooms were clean. There is lots of walking on the resort because it is built perpendicular to the ocean, which is nice when you spend the week eating and drinking by the pool!!! They are very stingy with the beach towels...you only get one and you have to exchange it for a clean one, everyday and return it at the end of your stay to get a card back for check out or they charge you $100. It would be better if you could get a couple of towels, one to sit on, one to dry off, one for the beach etc. but we managed.