Paradisus Varadero: Melia Paradisus... I expected more from your chain.

After having had a great experience at Paradisus Del Mar a few years back, I expected better from this Pardisus. So here it is from best to worst: BEST: The location of this hotel is its best asset. The views are incredible and the fully mature palm trees on the property are awesome. The resort is slowly but surely being maintained and improved. No big noisy renos going on. GOOD: The room cleaning service was TOP notch (we were in room 2226). The snack bar staff, service, ambiance an [... read more]d food were our BEST experience. Friendly and happy, they delighted us repeatedly! They kept running out of white wine though. NOT OKAY: The buffet - Understaffed(it seemed) and running out of basics like salt & coffee. Service... what service? The staff walked around like they had weights on their heels and the famous phrase 'one moment' meant: forget about getting whatever you asked for. And, we were asking for coffee at breakfast! Until, until, until... the supervising managers showed up :)! Then we got everything. The pace picked up and 'voila!' all was as it should be. Although the staff was unhappy and it showed. The food varied (egg shells in their scrambled eggs seemed to be part of the recipe). The worst was the custom omelets. The women there had a bad attitide and her omelets not good. Twice we got her replacement and she was really pleasant and nice and her omelets were very good. The best was the fish grill and the pasta station. Both delicious with friendly staff. HORRIBLE: The cuban & Sakura asian restaurants were the WORST. Food was horrible at both. No show at Sakura, the girl cooking was an amateur at best. Miso soup was a simili onion soup. The waitress... OMG... We arrived on time and she told us to wait. I was trying to ask for a glass of wine while we waited but she cut me off and told me, again, to wait (with an upset face). I finally finished my sentence to ask for the wine and she again told me to wait. She was definitely the boss and I was definitely bothering her :(. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend. Sorry to all the nice people there, but you are outnumbered by your unhappy colleagues.

Paradisus Princesa Del Mar: Pretty good resort

Very nice staff and beautiful weather. The room was a little tired and they seemed to run out of things. Beach was spectacular and we had a very nice time. Sunwing plane was uncomfortable but to be expected. The holiday was good value.

Melia Peninsula Varadero: Not a good experience

Six of us spent 1 week at Melia Peninsula and were happy to see the day to leave. One of the couples had been at this resort twice before and had a wonderful experience. This time around they noticed conditions had deteriorated. I have been to Cuba many times before and have never had a bad experience. At this hotel food ran out everyday and was never to be seen again that week. Small portions of meats were put on BBq at a time so you were lucky to get any. constantly out of mojito, Cuba's famou [... read more]s drink and other drinks. Just a few examples of the food situation. Pool was shut down one day for most part of the day to manually clean it. Friends spent 2 days with zero towels and toilet paper even after numerous complaints to front desk. My room had no bathroom door. Must have broken and never fixed. Bar fridge not working. Phones in room also not working. Again just a few examples. Grounds was pretty though. Entertainment was mediocre. I hate to be so negative as I love Cuba and will return but not at this hotel.

Melia Jardines del Rey: Melia Jardines del Rey

During our stay at Melia Jardines del Rey was not too bad..we enjoyed the beach,pools and the sorroundings...the food was okay not as good as we expected..the programs were good specially the night programs... The rooms are very clean except that the hot water at the shower was not constant.. All the staff were very kind and polite...the a la carte restaurants were not serving the foods that we expect too...Anyway overall we had fun and i think of going back there again someday...

Melia Cayo Coco: Pleasant surprise

I was very pleased with our trip. I had only been to Cuba once before and it wasn’t a pleasant experience. In Melia Cayo Coco from the moment we arrived until the minute we left it was amazing. The hotel was very clean and the staff couldn’t have been more friendly and helpful. The rooms were very clean and kept clean every day. Our rooms were spacious and the beds very comfortable. I was concerned about the food because Cuba has a bad reputation for availability of foods but we were very ha [... read more]ppy. Sometimes items weren’t available but we always found something we liked (I am very fussy about my food so was hesitant about going to Cuba). A la Carte restaurants were very good but so was the buffet and the snack bar and beach restaurant. The entertainment was amazing. Bands, singers that were as good as the original artists, violinists at the pool in the morning. I didn’t want to fill this out because I want it to remain quaint and I want it to be available when I want to go again and I will. Oh and the beach was spectacular. Warmer than the pool.

Melia Cayo Coco: Best Resort in Cayco Coco

We had an amazing stay at the Melia Cayco Coco!! Best resort we’ve stayed at in Cuba. It’s all the little extra’s they do to make your stay memorable. Don’t hesitate to stay here. They have none of the problems of the other hotels I’ve read about. You won’t regret if!

Paradisus Rio De Oro: Great resort!

Would say nice 4 star! Not 5 because food at buffet was repetative and cold unless you got them to cook fresh at certain stations. The a la carte's were really good tried all 4 of them. Hard to get reservations for them our Sunwing rep got us them because could only get one ourselves. 4 stars also because the beach is nice but only for snorkeling a lot of rocks. In food and drinks had no bananas or fresh pineapples used can. No orange juice either so couldn't make certain drinks on menu, along [... read more] with no amaretto which is on bar menu also. The grounds our lovely, staff is mostly good but sometimes service was slow in getting water, coffee, or a drink at bar. Nice and quiet resort being adult only. Never had problem getting a lounger by pool or beach, even chair in lobby bar area. Rooms are nice, great hot shower.

Melia Jardines del Rey: Incredible experience

Absolutely beautiful from start to finish. Rooms were perfectly cared for and the staff of the whole resort never dropped the ball once. The grounds were maintained and cared for every day with an incredible group of individuals on their team. The restaurants for sit down 3 course meals and the buffets were excellent with not one complaint from myself or husband, and we both have allergies and the accommodated ya very well. Multiple bars around the entire resort willing to help you with any drin [... read more]king desire. They had a very educated staff able to speak with us in appropriate amount of English. As well as versed in French and many other languages. Multiple day and evening events taking place to make sure you have a wonderful experience with super energetic event coordinators. They also offered many on and off resort excursions as well to meet anyone’s needs/ wants to see the whole environment. Incredible experience through and through.

Melia Marina Varadero: Very Large Resort

The resort itself is very modern and the grounds are huge. There is a shuttle cart that comes around regularly if you want a ride to the beach. Beach was really nice. Staff pleasant and room maid great. The food was terrible except for the egg station in the morning. There were so many basic things missing every day such as sliced bread, condiments (mustard, ketchup, salad dressings, oil & vinegar). Last half of the week there was no cheese, only blue cheese everywhere. I'm glad we got a B [... read more]lack Friday Deal because I would've have been really upset paying full price. Hola Sun good and Air Transat a great airline thats on time. Would not return to this resort as I have been to lower star resorts in Varadero with better food and entertainment.

Melia Cayo Coco: ok but not great

The beach and the live entertainment were excellent. However the food was sub par and the food was often not hot. Even the coffee in the dining room was poor. We went to Melia Cayo Coco as it was recommended by friends. Rather disappointing overall. Enjoyed Melia Cayo Guillermo more.

Paradisus Princesa Del Mar: OK Resort

Bar and wait staff were very friendly, front desk staff was not. Food was edible, but expected for Cuba. At one point we witnessed serving spoons being dropped on the floor and put right back for us to use. Beach was beautiful, Grounds and pool were beautiful Room was run down, and a bit dingy but the maids were lovely and doing the best they could. To use wifi you are only given 3 hours at a time to use in lobby or pool area, very frustrating

Melia Marina Varadero: Just OK.

So glad we upgraded to the Level when we booked. Anyone thinking about going to this resort should spend the extra money and upgrade to the Level. Jorge and Mikael (the concierges in the Level) were fantastic and resolved all our issues very quickly. If we were not in the Level, I don't think they would have been resolved so quickly. There were 4 travelling together and we were suppose to have rooms side by side, which we did not have when we arrived, and in addition to this, we were not eve [... read more]n on the floor for Level guests. Jorge had that fixed the next day. We had rooms next to each other, and we even ended up with Marina view rooms at no additional cost. The food in the a la cart restaurants were terrible. We walked out at the Asian restaurant. (and we are not picky eaters) The buffet was much better. (if you don't mind how loud and busy it is there), as well as the extremely rude guests. The staff were fantastic, it's the guests that don't know how to wait their turn. The atmosphere, service and the food/drinks in the VIP lounge were great. All the restaurants were constantly running out of food. I know it is not the resorts fault, I understand it is all due to the embargo with Venezuela. So be prepared. There was still a lot of food, but maybe not what you wanted that day. There were no waiters around the pool, and nothing on the beach to do (no watersports such as paddle boats, catamarans, snorkeling, etc) It's fine if you just want to relax by the pool or beach. But if you are looking for activities, there really was nothing. I've been to Cayo Santa Maria a couple of times, and there was so much more to do there. The resort is only 6 years old, but is already due for a facelift. The staff really try very hard with what they have to work with. So just be prepared. It is rated a 5 star, but even for Cuba, it really should not be a 5 star. Maybe a 3 1/2 for Cuba.

Tryp Cayo Coco: Almost the same as it was 20 years sgo

I was told that this hotel was renovated after the hurricane. Perhaps we were given a room that wasn’t renovated because i felt like I went back in time. I’ve been to this resort about 20 years ago when it was one giant hotel and I remember it to be almost the same. Bidet next to the toilet, weak water pressure, shower heads that barely worked. I’ve been to Cuba at least 15 times to various resorts and I was disappointed with the rooms. Although repetitive and the same every night, The [... read more] quality of the food was surprisingly good. The staff were friendly and seemed genuine. The beach was as stunning as I remembered 20 years ago. For some reason a flock of pelicans and seagulls frequented the beach and used this as a feeding grounds. I have seen pelicans at other resorts, maybe two or three, but at this resort there were about 20 hanging out and feasting on the fish. Interesting to watch but terrifying for those who are afraid of birds. The pool was also very clean and exceeded my expectations. The representative with air transat, Jorge , was also disappointing. Appearing to be friendly and helpful at first, with his only goal to sell excursions, he was non existent afterwards and didn’t inform us of all information. For instance special dinner for repeat guests. The fact that the buffet restaurant completely shut down one evening forcing many guests to beg to go to a specialty restaurant without a reservation. The staff was accommodating and understood but the hotel and the air transat rep did a bad job of communicating this. Don’t buy cigars at this resort. The staff at the restaurants refused to give receipts for purchases. We couldn’t understand why. They only agreed to give receipts with a passport and if we purchased greater than the maximum limit allowed. The prices were much cheaper at the airport. 25 cuc compared to 34 cuc for the same box of guantanemerra cigars. Same goes for the brand name cigars. Montecristo, Romeo y Juliet etc... the hotel did not have cohibas. Wait till you get to the Jardines del ray airport. Much better selection and much lower prices. Overall I would not recommend this hotel at the price I paid. ($1,000 per person). If I got a deal for $600. -$700 I may recommend but for the same price I would rather go to cayo Santa Maria.

Melia Las Dunas: Great to get away!

All very nice! Some things could be improved though. More variety in the salad bar at the buffet. Web site implied power was 110v but was actually 220v. Hard on medical devices like CPAP machines. Staff were very helpful at all times!!! Buffet hot food displays cooled pretty quickly if you didn't get there when they were first put out. The secret is to ask the grill cooks to heat up stuff. Generally met our expectations and we would / will go back

Melia Las Dunas: Excellent Resort

We just returned from 1 week vacation with 2 other couples at Melia Las Dunas. The a la carte restaurants(Oriental, Mediterranean, International) were excellent. The cafeteria was great for breakfast and lunch with great food and no line ups. Our room was very comfortable in the adult section. The gardens were beautiful and the beach was very nice and easily accessible. We attended great shows almost every evening. The staff is very friendly.. We are booked to return in March.

Melia Buenavista: Beautiful place

We would definitely recommend this resort to anyone looking for a quiet and beautiful beach getaway. The location is spectacular as there are both sunset and sunrise white sand beaches. Amazing snorkeling on the sunrise beach only 20’ off shore. The staff at the resort work very hard to provide the best (food, room, dining, beach, lobby) service we have ever seen at an all inclusive. Those who have been to Cuba before know that it’s difficult for resorts to have a lot of food  [... read more]and drink variety. But with that in mind, we really enjoyed the restaurants (especially fish dishes, lobby bar espresso, beach bar mojitos).

Melia Las Americas: Great Resort!

Hotel was great - very suited to golfers as it is a short walk to the Varadero golf course. The location is great - close to a shopping mall, bus stop and the airport. It has a very nice beach, the water is amazing and very clean. The standard room we had was very nice - lots of storage space for all your clothes, and a great view of the golf course - we saw some amazing sunrises every morning. The food was really good - there was always something appealing at every meal and the wait staff were  [... read more]very attentive. I really enjoyed getting a cappuccino after my meals and enjoying it outside on the patio - the coffee was very good! Also every night after dinner there was always something going on in the lobby - we had singers and dancers one night, opera the following, a pianist, then a fashion show... the arts and culture are very important in Cuba so the level of entertainment was beyond anything I expected. Definitely I would go back to this hotel - and we met so many others who return year after year!

Melia Marina Varadero: The Level saved us

The hotel is looking pretty run down for a less than 8 yr old resort. The Level Rooms on the 6th floor were in good condition freshly painted or perhaps better maintained. Our first room was on the 5th floor and we were told it was a Level overflow type room. It was awful. Mould in the shower, cracked tiles dark hallways to the room, smelly room and so on. The view poolside was great and it was nice and quiet compared to our 6th Marina View room which was very noisy at night. With guests in the  [... read more]lobby and entertainment marina side Service at the Level bar and restaurant was fabulous. The atmosphere quiet. The food pretty good. Often resort is running out of things. Lobster, burgers,wine, bread, pizza, vodka, ice, cheese something different everyday. Al la Carte restaurants are hit and miss and not even close to theme - no pizza or Italian food at Don Pepperonis ( described as pizza and Italian restraint ). No Asian at the oriental. ( says sushi and oriental Food ) it was stir fry frozen veggies. Pad thai made from Spaghetti noodles and Indian food that really was horrid. Buffet food was good. Pasta bar always a good option. But it’s loud and disorganized and often lacks glass wear or cutlery but staff is trying their best to keep up. The Level Upgrade well worth it - if the buffet was too busy or the lobby bar to difficult to get a drink we just went up to the 7th floor bar and restaurant. Always quiet there.

Paradisus Princesa Del Mar: Close to Paradise

A long beach great for walking and shallow warm water to allow you to walk out and swim, lots of beach activities. Pool side could activities are very limited , seems older folks stay by the pool and more active folks by the beach Rooms are clean , liked the concept of smaller buildings throughout the complex, lots of different foods but seems to all taste the same, a bit of spice would help.

Sol Rio de Luna y Mares: great resort

everything was very satisfactory grounds superp staff super friendly Roomswhere a little tierd looking but very cleen Food and drinks where very good Pools and poolservice very good also the Beachservice was exelent