A pleasant stay

Rooms were infested with flies. The condition of suites not he greatest Not enough towels per occupants Toilet flushing very poor Curtains could be refreshed Some new paint could be applied Close to ocean and city might life Mostly friendly staff

Fun stay at palma real

once again i had a great stay at palma real in varadeo. the staff is amazing and always helpful the beach is fabulous and always have great weather in april. took a while to get hot water in the room but hey this is a 3 star in cuba! i could always find something to eat at the buffet that suited me. the grounds are always kept up and the resort location is second to none. if you want a fun stay at a good price then this is the place for you!

Great price not really what we expected.

Rooms were not really what we were expected. There were marks all over the walls that should be painted over. Hot water was a on and off thing but I heard problems with this at other hotels. We were there for two weeks and after we knew were everything was we got used to it. I am more of a wine and beer drinker and some bars didn't sell beer and just hard stuff but when you get to know this you adapted. Beach was great but sometimes hard to get chairs or places with shade but you adapt to t [... read more]hat also. We prob won't be back but you never know great prices are sometimes hard to pass. Pool was great and always chairs so sometimes the good things outway the bad ones. Always seem to be lineups and you have to wait but hey you are on vacation. There is entertainment in the lounge every evening which was nice but always the same ones playing. Anyway wouldn't advise anyone not to go but don't pay big dollars.

Same resort...same beaches

The hotel itself was repainted on the exterior but the same from inside... you should not go to this hotel for the nice rooms... but is Cuba, so enjoy the beach ...the music around the pool in the afternoons and the night club which is owned by the resort so you'll save 1o cuc every time on entrabce fee. Food is also up to the local standards ..so if you are not too picky ..will find something to fill your stomach... Elevators are random.. . Like hot water ... Rooms cleaned daily...tips app [... read more]reciated.

Great time away!!!

The hotel is under repair in certain areas. However the room my husband and I stayed in was very clean and free of mold and bugs :) The staff were very friendly and did what they could to accommodate guests. The towels and bed sheets are not changed however the rooms were well cleaned. Towels provided for pool/beach are rare and the beach is off resort just a 2 min walk...l Bars were busy and the one in building 4 is the best service least ppl but no cervesa :( Resort is close to all the s [... read more]hopping and tourist desires needed including tattoo shops, Beatles bar and a beautiful park. All in we had a blast and were not expecting a 5 star resort.

Did not meet expectations

Going to Cuba we knew we couldn't expect the same standards as the all inclusive hotels in Mexico. This review is after taking that fact in to consideration. Pros: The location of the hotel is excellent. Even though it was not beach-front, it was a block from the most amazing beach and a few minutes from the Beatles Bar, Calle 62 Club, restaurants and craft shops. There was a wide selection of fresh food, basic preparations but that was expected of Cuba. A few of the restaurant staff were ve [... read more]ry friendly and helpful, even before tipping. The in-house entertainment was very good for a few days only then it was audience participation. The pools and the pool-side entertainment was quite good. In our building rooms were mopped and cleaned every day. Cons: The staff at the reception were not very friendly. They took for ever to book us in on arrival. They did no advise us what the meal times were until we asked. The dinner buffet closed at 9.30pm. We finished checking in around 9.05pm and went directly to dinner at 9.10pm. The restaurant staff was very rude and didn't want to seat us as they wanted to close up. The snack bar had only a couple of choices. The room was very basic. The lights were so dim that our room was very gloomy. The hair dryer was broken in our room. Our room door couldn't be locked and that night we had to sleep without locking our door. The next day we were able to get someone to fix it after some hassle. Even after tipping the housekeeping on the first day and reminding her to leave our complementary bottle of water, until we complained to the reception a few times, the water was not supplied. Towels were clean but had stains. As the hall ways are tiled, every time someone checks in or out, the wheels of the baggage being dragged on the tile floor makes a huge noise that it wakes you up. We had requested a pool-side rooms, which we didn't get. Subsequently we checked if we could have one and the reception asked us to first go check out a couple of rooms before moving.They were even worse than what we had, so we stayed put. Shall not go there again.

Amazing location

This is a 3.0 star resort...It is okay, a little run down but what can you expect when you have crazy hurricane weather one day and then extremely hot sun the next!...The location of this Hotel is amazing!...you are connected to The Havana Club which is free for people staying at The Palma Real and is happening every night except Mondays and then they open a club called The Cave which is amazing also but a 15.00 dollar taxi ride there and another 15.00 back, also 10.00 per person to get in!...Th [... read more]is hotel is down the street from Calle 62 which is always a street party with entertainment and no charge, you continue down the street to a bar called The Beatles Bar and that is also free to get in with locals playing all old time Rock-n-Roll...Incredible voices for sure!!!...This hotel is across the street from the most beautiful beach there is and people from 5 start resorts taxi over to our side of the Island for this beach, apparently theirs is not as nice!...All in all it is Cuba and the food is bland but can be good with hot sauce...lol...bring your own!

Location Location Location

Nice to see renovations. We stayed building 4 always had hot water. Elevator works. Location is everything. Buffet was repetitive but could always find something. Lots of nearby restaurants. Barbacoa was amazing. Beatles bar and Calle 62 a short walk to a great night. Get beach chairs early as there isnt many but never seemed to be a problem. Afternoon pool entertainment was great. Pool bar staff could smile a little more :)

Good 3 star resort

as always i had agreat time staying at the palma real. the staff is always friendly and helpful the grounds are clean and the beach is amazing. food is average at best but who goes to cuba for the food. i wish they had new beds but this is cuba. all around it was a great experience.

Great location for visiting town of Varadero and walking on beach.

Great location, but dated. Mold smell in room we were in but otherwise clean. Pool areas clean but needing some tlc. Beach access good. Shortage of chairs on the beach. Staff was very friendly and helpful.

Good resort for price

This resort is in a great location in varadero cuba. Buffet was good but no french fries. Some renovation to the room would be needed but the lobby and pool area were great. Overall it was a nice resort, the staff was very friendly.

Acceptable in the past ....Disgusting Now..!!

This time was the third stay in this hotel.! In the past it was somehow acceptable..!..In my past review i have mentioned about tens of dogs on the hotels beach ....But many of them are still there .. Is a real DANGER of contaminating the beach...At this time: No towels for the beach and limit of two for the bath (Sorry ...The Laundry is broken) They say. At the Lobby Bar: If you don't offer higher tip than 1 CUC....You have to wait longer to be served, and served in plastic cups ...Beer al [... read more]cohol or Coffee( Disgusting) In the Restaurant Buffet: They are asking you to offer them: expensive perfume or other staff ....Same with the Maids....If you forgot to live daily gift on the bed ....You will see a dirtier room after cleaning than you left.Every night drunk people are coming to the rooms at 3 or 4 in the morning with a big noise,fighting or smashing doors...I have complained many times ...But next night was the same ....What else to do if you are not a heavy drinker....Than stop going to this Hotel..!!

The worst resort

We have been to Cuba before and this was the worst place we have ever stayed in. The beach was so far away from the hotel that we were unable to walk to it due to mobility problems. They should have offered some form of transportation as you had to cross the highway. As it was a public beach, it was difficult to get a chair unless you went early in the morning to save one. You had to put a $25 deposit down if you wanted a beach towel, to be picked up when you left. As they did not have enoug [... read more]h towels you were unable to exchange it when needed. The food was terrible in the buffet dining area. It was unseasoned and had no taste. The rooms were substandard. The first room they put us in was not for a disabled person and smelt of mold. It was also very dingy and noisy. The second room had no hot water all the time we were there. Nor did we have bath towels most of the time. The cleaning staff were not very efficient. My sister had something in her bed, as she had bites all over her arms and legs, She went to public relations to let them know about a chair collapsing on her the person could have cared less.

Disappointed / Saddened

This being our third visit to the hotel/resort, I was hoping that some upgrades may have been made with all the Canadian money going in. Heck they could rebuild the country with the amount of pecos being paid out to pee where ever you go. Excursions, Havana excellent, tour guide phenomenal, Sugar, cigar rum way to much driving. Jeep tour painful 90% driving, no information of what or where we were going and again having to put out all that extra money for stops to purchase their goods here and [... read more] there. NO stops to pee so when you got to the destination and you don't have a spare pecos pee your pants or use the bush. Toilet paper is always optional there to take your own. Room ok, without hot water 3 of 11 days. Water pressure sucked. Food much more bland than past two visits. When they say don't eat off of the resort it is probably so you won't figure out food is better off the resort. Staff mostly great and friendly, encountered some you we taken aback to. Will I go again NO

Downtown Resort

Overall a nice resort. Our room was clean but the safe didn't have a lock plus there is a 2 CUC per day charge. The service at the buffet was very good however the food was cold. The only time we could find a chair at the beach was after 3 PM and many are broken. A beach towel is only available with a 20 CUC deposit.

Great resort!

Friendly staff, resort and rooms were always clean, food was good. Perfect location to area restaurants, flea markets and Beatles Bar. Only complaint was there was never enough chairs at the beach and were taken first thing in the morning.

The Perfect Blend

This was our first trip to Cuba and our first stay at an all inclusive. We were told, 'travel to Cuba for the people and the beaches but not for fancy rooms or dining'. From the moment we landed the hospitality of the Cuban people was outstanding. They were warm, personable, and helpful. The hotel staff, Cuban shop owners and anyone we passed on the street was genuine in their desire to ensure we enjoyed their Cuba. The water was clear, the beaches clean and never over crowed. We were impr [... read more]essed with the level of respect shown to the beach and other beach goers. A book or pair of glasses placed on a lounge chair was enough to show it was occupied. Personal music and conversations were kept appropriate and within a group. The space was made for all to enjoy. An impressive accomplishment given the variety of cultures, age groups and personalities that were in attendance. As for the hotel and food. The 'warning' we were issued for friends and visitors was moderately accurate. The state of the hotel as not pristine and the food not extraordinary. But the entire hotel was clean, our room comfortable with air conditioning, hot water and a tv with English speaking channels. There was a wide variety of food for both those who wanted to be adventurous and those who wanted to play it safe. There was casual dining and quieter more intimate options. We were never hungry. The layout of the hotel was excellent. There were two pool areas. One that offered games and music the other, on the other side of the resort, allowed for quiet readying or resting. This is a family resort so the pools were closed at 6pm which seems early but guests either lounged in the main lobby or walked into town. We never heard a complaint about it. We were also surprised that despite the 24 hour bar the atmosphere remained family friendly. Our only struggle on the whole trip was with the flights, delayed both directions. The fight out of Toronto boarded on time, pulled from the gate but during checks found that a battery needed to be replaced. The crew was apologetic and prompt in the repair. As someone who does not enjoy flying I did not mind the delay as I figure the best time to discover a faulty part is on the tarmac prior to take off. The return flight was also delayed but the reason was not disclosed. On the whole we will defiantly be returning to Cuba, and Hotel Palma Real many times in the future.

Not The Best

The facilities are very clean and the rooms are clean also. However, the food is absolutely awful. Cold and always the same thing. Even the a la carte restaurants (if you want to call them that) are the same. The staff is NOT friendly at all, so you don't have to worry about tipping if you don't want to. Never met my maid, but she was excellent. The beach is extremely small with broken chairs. If you want a chair, get there before 8:30 as you will have none. Air Canada Vacations are the  [... read more]worse that I've been on. Me and my husband never got to sit together all the way back on the planes. Luggage was ruined also.

Great for the price you pay!

All in all for the money we paid: this resort was clean, the staff was pretty friendly (considering how much they have to do for the guests) and the beach was just a 2 minute walk away. The food was so much better than 2 years ago (owner change) and the pool was clean. The downtown location can't be beat as we were so close to many restaurantstudents, clubs, market places and the carnival (awesome fried chicken there) I was greeted by the same friendly staff from 2 years ago...they remembered [... read more] who I was!!! Location, price, hospitality and all inclusive can't be beat at the Palma Real!!

Decent Stay

The hotel was definitely nice enough! Service could have been a bit better, and it isn't exactly close to the beach. Buffet food was very repetitive and not the best, but that can probably be said about most buffets. I got a super saver room, and I think the stay was worth the money I paid.