Amazing Resort !!

ALL IN ALL IT was an amazing time everything was close clean and the people were amazing! We didn't stay at the Grand Cribe we were at Club Kawama!!! Staff were friendly and always had a smile Entertainment every night

Beautiful people :)

The resort we stayed at had some amazing staff. The hotel grounds were well taken care of very well kept. The rooms could use a little TLC but overall I had an amazing time of sun amazing beaches and met a lot of nice people from all over the world. Thank you :)

Not what expected

The grounds kept well. The hotel is run down. The food was horrible in the main dining area and the smell in there was so bad. The Italian restaurant was pleasant. Most staff were friendly. The disco was fun but should be included. The pool is in poor condition but swimable. The beach was great.

This is the worst Resort

This is the worst hotel I been in the 5 time that I been to Cuba the food was bad the service was bad they run out of plates and glasses no soup bowls , the beach was on the other side of the street the bars were not opened at the times they said .they run out beer sometimes they had no ice no more Vodka , and the rooms were terrible they look nothing like the picture they show online they have no keys for the safety deposit box in the room I will never stay there again

Sunbeach Hotel, Varadero

Location was excellent and the grounds fairly well maintained with good access to a beautiful beach Having said that the room was very basic, blankets and sofa upholstery was torn and should have been replaced Elevator was not clean, common area, pool and lobby washrooms were a disaster( filthy, no TP) There was no maintenance staff for upkeep Food, though basic, was enjoyable but the plates, cutlery and tablecloths in the buffet area were very unhygienic There should have been snack b [... read more]ars available at all times in the day Evening entertainment was passable What made the stay bearable was the staff and their friendly attitude, however, there should have been greater focus on cleaning

Perfect for us!

The SunBeach is not a luxury hotel, that we knew from the start - even before going. But, considering the price & the location, it was a 5 star vacation for us. Being return guests, we did get an ocean view room with balcony. What else can we ask for? (Oh yes, I would just ask that they clean the tables / tablecloths, a little better at the buffet & that would earn them one more star from me.) Thank you Dianne Abrey, your help was precious. Diane & Erik

Overall good experience

This hotel is best suited for the easy going traveller. Everything was ok, not spectacular. The noise was a bit loud at night when trying to sleep. I’d recommend a higher level and a room away from the street traffic. Having said that, the grounds and beach were beautiful! Well worth the money we paid :)

Great resort

Was great a had a good time good was not that good except for one night they had a pig roast that was great the cleaner was nice never did I have to worry able things going missing all the staff was nice and helpful the location is the best I will be back

Sunbeach-2.5*

Basic accommodations at an unbeatable price. Not luxurious by any stretch but bug free with comfortable bed. Buffet had a terrible stench but snack bar served decent sandwiches and lots of cheap local restaurants nearby. Can't complain- so close to the beach and local activities.

Amazing time

We are Russian and live in Toronto. ended up in this resort because brother and wife took trips here. Fortunately, I did not see a big difference from a five-star hotel, and the money savings are obvious. The only thing I would not advise is to sit in the lobby, because there are fleas in the armchairs that bit me. And everything else was cool

You have what you pay for

It is not for sure 3 star hotel They have problems with basic service like having ice , ,drinks ,spices, snacks,Small stuff which can be eazy fixed .If you ask they ignore you or tell you they will do it later.Never happen

Great stay!

We stayed at Sunbeach for 4 nights. Our room had a beautiful ocean view and it was very clean. This is a two star hotel and it shows it for the amenities offered, yet it was nice. The food in the buffet was ok. If it wasn't for the rude tourists that liked to stack up the dishes with food and therefore there was not much available for others after, it would have been more enjoyable. Seemed like these people were starving back in their country and went there to satisfy their hunger. That was ann [... read more]oying!. We had the opportunity to meet with the GM and Front Desk Manager, both very nice and professional ladies and shared our views with them. The staff in general was nice. The location is perfect for those who like to walk around and see locals. The market is right next door as well as other shops and restaurants (not part of the hotel) The beach is amazing, very clean and there are plenty of chairs for the hotel guests. Beach towels are offered in the hotel (for a fee). We also booked a Catamaran excursion with the Cubanacan Tour Desk in the hotel and it was amazing. Highly recommended this excursion!!

Very excellent resort.

It's acceptable especially for a short vacation.people are friendly, honest,poor,contended and hard working. Reception should be more welcoming to first time new comers and give an explanation,to the procedures etc.instead of having to figure out things by themselves.

Gran Caribe Sun Beach Resort

UNEXPECTED SURPRISES They say LIFE happens when you LEAST expect it And I BELIEVE that to be true For yesterday was a PERFECT example One which made all OUR DREAMS come true We took a taxi ride in a Baby Blue 1950 Chevy A one hour drive to Matanzas; the City of Rivers We arrived on the block where our Cuban family lives And climbed the stairs to the very top; the 4th floor Of their grey concrete apartment building Each balcony painted in DIFFERENT festive colors Their balcony overlo [... read more]oks the Crocodiles Baseball Stadium The Mahogany door opens & we knew we were home Mommy was already in the kitchen, prepping dinner She is PETITE & BEAUTIFUL with a smile so BRIGHT Two older Brothers are introduced & MANY hugs shared Then Daddy returns home from a day of farming He's 76 & greets EACH ONE of us, in his OWN unique way They don't speak English; however they UNDERSTAND us With only ONE that speaks Spanish fluently We connect on a totally DIFFERENT level News quickly spreads that the GUESTS have arrived Friends of the family that reside in the building ONE BY ONE come to meet the foreigners from afar We're offered REAL coffee, served in the tiniest of cups A bottle of Spiced Cuban Rum is divided equally And we SALUTE all together as ONE Music is playing & the BOYS each take their turn Dancing with Mommy, who is SMILING ear to ear We're eager to see the neighborhood To explore REAL CUBAN LIFE We ALL walk together to fetch the kids from school We're quickly surrounded by kids eager to see The foreigners who've come with fancy cameras Everywhere we walk, THEY follow OUR lead Begging & PLEADING to be included in OUR pictures We return to the place we now call our SECOND home Dinner is ready to be ENJOYED All of us gather in a circle, ALL OUR HANDS JOINED We give THANKS to our Heavenly Father For bringing us once again, ALL TOGETHER Mommy has prepared Chicken, Yellow Rice, Yucca & Salad Dinner is DIVINE & hits the right spot This is REAL LIFE & what we came for This day won't be forgotten, anytime soon With our bellies full & the SUN quickly setting We enjoy ONE LAST coffee on the balcony It's time to gather ourselves, as our taxi is waiting A horse drawn buggy will carry us to the center of town The MOON & STARS shine bright, as the sun has now set We wander the cobble stone streets exploring Matanzas Stopping to capture photographic memories of the night And of OUR TIME together Each corner there's something new to see We say Hola & Buenos Noches to everyone we pass The Michael Jackson tunes we're play'n are pump'n loud We witness many Cuban's DANCING along in the streets To the foreign, but familiar BEATS Music, is the UNIVERSAL language The baby blue 50's Chevy sits 'round the corner Waiting to return us back to Varadero I feel tears coming to my eyes As I don't EVER want this night to end I BREATHE DEEPLY & take it all in It's not GOODBYE; it's UNTIL NEXT TIME We thank God for THIS DAY & Unexpected Surprises This poem called "Unexpected Surprises" was written while I was sitting in the lobby of Gran Caribe Sun Beach Hotel. The day before I had been treated to an adventure that I'll never forget. Gran Caribe Sun Beach Hotel is the only place I'll ever stay when I go to Varadero; my reasons are simple, it's because of the people that I've come to know, the ones that I speak about in my poetry. Cuba has become my second home & these people are now my family. It's never 'goodbye' when I have to leave, it's always 'until next time'. I've booked my last 3 trips (Nov 2018, Jan 2019 & Apr 2019) with tripcentral.ca. Just call & ask for Sara at Extension #7158.

You get what you pay for, not bad!

My review is based on the hotels 2 star rating - I didn't expect more than that on arrival! I was there for a short time, April 5th to the 8th. The staff are extremely friendly and helpful, the lady at the front desk was cheerful and patient every time I saw her. The hotel and rooms are clean, very clean! I have been to higher rated hotels in Cuba that are not as clean. The food was not bad, it does get tiring after a couple of days as a vegetarian (Beans, Rice, Salad and Yams - repeat) [... read more] but as a meat eater, my boyfriend enjoyed the food! Each meal was something different (Fish, Shrimp, Ham, Steak) at the grill! There was a different fish every day and quite an assortment of Salsa, hot sauces and salad dressings. The Snack Bar had only ham and cheese sandwiches, but you could always switch it up with a ham sandwich, or a cheese sandwich (lol). No fries or burgers. There is no 24 hours bar and each bar closes at certain times of the day. You'll have to walk to one of the 3 bars on the resort. The lobby bar will serve coffee and water all day, but alcoholic beverages only part of the day. The pool was beautiful and clean. It wasn't highly chlorinated either. The beach is just across the street of the resort, a 5 minute walk away. The sand was clean and there are no rocks. It was quite shallow for a way and there are sand banks about 20 meters out from the shore. At certain times of the day, fish nip at your feet! It was a trip, because you can't see their white scales against the white sand! The resort is located in the middle of town, there is a flea market on the right and a variety store on the left, just before the beach. If you walk farther down, you will find restaurants, bars and shopping, though we didn't go that far. Overall, I would recommend this hotel to the thrifty vacationer or someone who would like to experience Cuba. It was a good experience for me - though all I care about is a beach, some rum and a snack!

Wonderfulland heart warming

I enjoy every time I go back to this resort as for the staff I can never say I bad review..this is why I keep going back and still will be in the future.I love the location also the guests who are around to talk too.

I fell ill.

Unfortunately i fell ill due to the unsanitary conditions. Other then that i very much enjoyed the beaches and peninsula. It seems the best way to eat is at restaurants outside the resort. Also my room did not get cleaned.

IT was BAD!

Wow where do I start?! First: They switched our hotel from what we booked at Gran Caribe Sun Beach to Gran Caribe Puntarena Playa Caleta because the elevators weren't working. When we arrived at MIDNIGHT the hotel Gran Caribe Puntarena Playa Caleta didn't know we were switched and they didn't have a room for us, in fact the receptionists exact words were "who told you that you could come here?". After standing at the reception desk for a long time they found us a room. Second let me tell you  [... read more]about the room: The door wouldn't open easily and you had to violently put your shoulder into it and force yourself in. The toilet would not flush properly or at times at all. The bed literally had spring poking out, the TV didn't even work and an exposed wire was hanging out for you to trip on. The bathroom sink didn't have a stopper so if you dropped something into the sink it was gone! We brought these issues to the front desk and the whole 7 days we were there nothing was changed or fixed. ( we didn't care much about the TV, but the other issues could have been addressed.) Third the food and drinks: The food is not great, it's tasteless and the alcohol is watered down. The bars were rarely stocked with anything (except Rum) so if you want a margarita, this hotel will not have it. The tables in the dining spaces were gross, their were stains on the table cloths which made you lose your appetite, the waiters would not approach you or bring you water if you didn't have tip to give them. Fourth the pool: the Pool bar was never open and the ones close to the pool were never stocked with anything. Overall our experience at Gran Caribe Puntarena Playa Caleta was absolute SHIT! Would not recommend you going, it's also pretty far from downtown Varadero. You can take a shuttle from the resort that only has two times a day that it leaves at 11 am or 3:30 pm. You will also need to change currency to CUC if you plan to spend money on anything, which you can either get from your resort or the bank (the bank requires your passport and will make you wait a good two hours). Although, the beach was right behind the resort, so if you're looking to just lay on the beach this is a good spot. For the price we paid, we may as well go somewhere else and pay just couple hundred dollars more for a MUCH better experience and time.

Puntarena Playa Caleta

Originally booked for SunBeach, but because both elevators were under repair we were offered our 7 night stay at this resort. It was not in the location we had preferred. (it required a taxi to get to the end of the line for the bus) but it had a number of things we appreciated. On the beach is the best part. The sun chairs behind the Caleta building were in terrible shape, compared to those behind the Puntarena. We had our choice of two main restaurants (one in the Puntarena building [... read more] and the other in the Caleta building. Originally this was two separate resorts.) The food selection was really great. We have been to other 2.5 and 3 Star hotels and this was by far the best we have had. Unfortunately, the food was always lukewarm as there was no hot water under the metal food trays. The wait staff were very friendly. I had noticed that no one else seemed to be leaving a tip at the tables (a practice we have done on every trip) I was told that basically it was the Canadians who tipped. The majority of the clients were from Russia and "they never tip". I found the same thing with the house cleaning staff. We tipped and left gifts but other nationalities did not. The rooms were bright, included balconies (some hotels do not) and cleaned well every day. The pools were beautiful as were the grounds. Well cared for.

So so resort

I was transferred from Gran Caribe downtown to Puntarena because the elevators weren't working. At Puntarena, only 1 elevator was working. The food was good but you get tired eating the same food everyday. I couldn't swim because there was a tornado. It got better only 2 days before I left. The $5 bus hop in hop off to downtown doesn't pass here. You had to pay $5 for a taxi to take you where the hopin hop off double decker. So to go downtown Varadero you had to pay $15. Or negotiate with a taxi [... read more] driver to take you downtown.