We got at the hotel at 1am - the room had two balconies.both doors were broken. The glass door of one of the doors was replaced with a piece of wood and the second one was smashed and covered with tape. The headboard of the bad and the bad were broken. The next day after I complained I was given another room but with no water- after I complained again they gave me another room with running water but the room was inhabitable due to the mold. They ended up giving me two rooms - One where to sleep and the another one with mold where to shower. Not to mention the food and the dirthiness of the restaurant. Hola Sun rep couldn’t do much on Sunday but on Monday my wife and I moved to Kawama resort paying another $121.54. I need to launch a formal complaint not only to be reimbursed for my extra expenses of changing the resort and the transportation but also to make sure not to send customers to that resort. Looking forward to hearing from you. Lahouari Nimour 647 276 0135

I had a great time. The staff were very friendly and accomadating. The rooms were clean. Entertainment was awesome. Great place to stay. The only thing was that I didn’t have hot water but I know that this is quite common in Cuba. No complaints.

Older resort that is being improved. Great location at the start of Varedero's downtownrown. Walking distance to all the best that Varedero has to offer. Hotel is not on the beach but only a 2 min. Walk away. Food is adequate, breakfast is best. Very helpful and friendly staff. We have been twice and would be pleased to return

The hotel staff were helpful and accommodating but our lasting comment for the stay was, " What happens when it's all broken". With very little resources and very little toilet paper, the hotel was loosing its quaintness. Even the lovely stained glass panels were falling out. My big concern over that was, they would fall on someones head. The food was plentiful but I guess they were accommodating to the lowest of tastebuds. A few local spices would have been nice. I don't think it would take much to refurbish the place to it's former glory. And if so, I would happily stay there again. The location was great. Close to beach. Close to central Varadero.

the grounds，public areas，dining and features are very good。 however，room is not very good，the problems are as follows： 1) almost for 4 days there is no hot water； 2) wash room (on S lever ) seems nobody takes care， taps and toilets are not working well。

Food was worst than worse no hot water toilet a nd shower broken Tried to get help from front desk and all we got was rude customer service And that’s just the tip of the iceberg NEVER GOING TO THAT HOTEL NOR CUBA EVER AGAIN

I have good time at the Hotel. I got room with hot water and food is what you pay for it. Better food will cost more. If you care about food,than this Hotel is not for you. Air Cubana is another story I will try avoid this air lines if I can

nice place if u like fish twice a day your in luck! great staff! lucky if get hot water 4 shower but get what u pay 4 beach is a bit of a walk and no where too rinse feet after getting out of ocean for walk back but we will be staying again on our next trip!

nice quite place if u like fish your in luck! great staff lucky if get hot water 4 shower but get what u pay 4 beach is a bit of a walk and no where too rinse feet after getting out of ocean for walk back but we will be staying again on our next trip!

This hotel was clean and perfect for the needs I required. The food was ok the plumbing could use some work. I enjoyed my stay here and would definitely go again.some of the staff was friendly some not so much.

Hotel was nice , courteous staff and shuttle waiting to transport to hotel.well kept room.all staff hospitable and very attentive to our needs.excellent meals provided, nightly entertainment.nice to have everything available in walking distance.we happy with trip and will use these services in the future

I just returned from 9 great days at Acuazul. I have no issues that would make me not want to go back. The room was fine, little noisy on the street but I got used to it quickly. The food was actually better than I expected. The location is paramount, as it is perfect. The beach set up was great. Great restaurant on the beach you must try. A little local outdoor cafeteria 5 minutes away towards the beach that was amazing for $2.50 CUC. The staff were great and the best thing about this hotel are the guests. I am an Indigenous Canadian and thoroughly enjoyed all the other Canadians and the folks from eastern Europe really made my trip one for the books. I made a lot of new friends and would and will go back to Acuazul. Anthony

I had been to the Acuazul Hotel about 4 years ago so I knew I was getting a very basic hotel that was run down - its still the same. I picked it this time because while run down the people who worked there made us feel welcomed and took care of us. This was not the case this time at all!!! Very poor service, and most of the employees looked unhappy. There was never any toilet paper in the washrooms by the pool and when we went to ask for it we were told they would bring some and 2 hours later it was still not done. This is just one example. Waiting at the pool bar while the bartender/waitress had a conversation with a coworker it took her 7 min to even look at me...I clocked it! Then I asked for a "cervesa" and she put her finger up and said one minute and then decided to clean the sink...while I stood there waiting. I ended up going to the pay bar beside the lobby and bought a beer. When your hotel is run down - air conditioner did not work, safe did not work, shower head broken (and only on the last day did I get hot water! - let's just say I had to hand hold the shower head of either Luke warm or cold water to wash myself!) And when we asked to change rooms we were told they did not have one available - you had better take the service up a notch! Very disappointing. We decided to just make the best of it and we stayed out of the hotel as much as we could. Pretty much ate out every day - we could have found something to eat but when you have to chase a waitress down to get a glass of wine that doesn't even come while you are eating it kind of kills the experience! Too bad. I might have considered going g back again as it was very reasonable and I can ignore and/or live with run down...just can't stand to be around poor service and unhappy employees.

We aimed for the cheapest hotel as in that period (right after new year) nothing was cheap. Our expectations were low but in some moments the reality we met was lower than we expected. The hotel is worn out and it requests a thorough renovation. Almost everything in the rooms looked depressing. However, the employees did everything possible to make us happy. The windows were not sealed at all so, in a windy night, they made so much noise that we had to take our mattresses and sleep in our sons room, across the corridor. In another night, our teenager sons were freaked out by a little lizard on the ceiling in their room. I explained to them that it was placed there on purpose for hunting the insects (wink-wink). The water had very low pressure and it was in majority of the time completely cold. The food was not too appealing and it was kind of repetitive. The bar though, was better than I expected. However, the advertised snacks 24/24 did not have correspondent in reality. But the beach and the water were so good…

THIS VISIT IS MY SECOND STAY AT AQUAZUL AND MUST SAY..THE HOSPITALITY OF THE STAFF FROM ALL SECTORS OF THIS HOTEL ARE VERY HELPFUL AND PLEASANT...I WAS TREATED LIKE FAMILY...THE HOTEL IS A CLEAN PLACE WITH ELEVATORS IN ORDER AND THE ROOM ARE CLEANED DAILY..ENJOYABLE EVENING ENTERTAINMENT FROM DANCERS AND MUSICIANS...A HOTEL TO SPEND SOME TIME IN..

I going to Cuba every year, and few times have been at Varadero. I know what does it mean 3 stars resort. I never had such bad experience with hotel in Cuba like this year. Hotel Acuazul is the worst place in my rich experience. I've arrived 11 p.m. Nobody cares about to give you some snack or food. Everything is closed except the pool bar. By the way it's only single place, which is serving customers. Rooms are horrible. Stinky, dirty, broken. I have tried 3 rooms- all the same. I found huge bugs in the room. Only after I spoke with my representative and required to change hotel, I got the bungalow on the beach,  which is not bad. Service is horrible. When one of the older ladies asked waitress to clean the table, she gave her the sponge. The elevator- claustrophob's nightmare, no light. Water in Cuba is not good, and this hotel doesn't provide water for drinking. This place is highly not recommended. 

i travel for a first time i hade the oportunity to get a great deal for a 10 days vacation at a two star hotel in varadero cuba. from booking online to the flyght and arrival to the hotel everything went easy and fluently nice. at the hotel people welcome me and reconforted me as i wasnt to sure of what i was to expect in a foreinght country. all the staff at aquazul is super frendly respecfull profetional ressourcefull and have alot of experience plus they are all qualified to work in the resort industry as they are also bilingual. the hotel amenitys are very clean 2 bars pool living room with cable tv for sports fans also a play room with pingpong pool tables and minifoot, the hotel have a stage for live shows at night and a dj for music during day and evenings great atmosphere.. also the hotel have a very nice a/c dinning room buffet style were there is all types of food from local to international dishes meat chicken fish pasta bread yogourt eggs delies cakes fruits etc....very nice my room i fiund it was big medium with balcony a safe box cable tv hot water but i found that the room need a liltle work as is outdated old blinds paint was chiping old a/c unit old doors very outdated so i tryed not to spend to much time in the room. the only proble i hade its that varadero is near a petrolium facility wich at night around 2am they exaust gazes in the air and you can smell it in all the varadero area is so strong that i dint sleep for 4days as they relise this gazes every night its really strong that it gets you sick with constipated nose caugth just like if you hade a cold i was there for 10 day the first weak this did not hapen until one night it started and i hade to live my room caus i thaught there was a gaz leak but reception told me it was the petrolum facility and that i hade to get use to...wich not in 100years i could get use to that besides that varadero is extreamly safe frienly extreamly clean fun lost to do lost to walk the beach is amazing varadero is a very lovely place but the petrolium fumes ruins it i never in my life smelled somethig so strong i hope they do somethig about this really quick it is very hazardous

We went to Varadero and stayed in the Hotel Acuazul for the fourth time. We mostly go there for the staff. They are so friendly and accommodating. The rooms are a little run down but you are not in them that long. Food is tasty but not a great selection. The beach is awesome and the people are jus the best. We have made friends there and love to see them. My biggest issue is the lack of hot water so if you don't mind coldish showers it is a reasonably priced holiday.

I love the location however there are some downfalls to this hotel. The rooms have shutters for windows which is very annoying when it is windy as they make loud noise because the hinges are broken in order to close them. The TV's don't work half the time and keep shutting off or not turning on at all. The tub is to high to get into and the shower head does not stay on. Every morning around 400am there is a smell of sewer they must be pumping it out from somewhere and the roosters can be very annoying. The food was ok however it was the same everyday.

Amazing place for the value. we arrive to Varadero on March the 4th and left on March 11th. The hotel is located close to downtown and close to everything that you will need. 2 block walk to the beautiful Ocean. we stayed on the 6th floor and our view was in front of the Hotel so the view was wonderful looking over the ocean and beautiful sunsets. Some of the staff at the hotel does need some skills and need adjustment but a majority of the staff were very pleasant and nice. the food was ok but please keep in mind you will be visiting Cuba so the food is blend so adjust and bring some of your own spices. all in all great place and would visit this hotel again. its great for the value that we paid for well worth it.

Hotel: Dinnnig-OK, noisy hotel (from beside street or from entertaining area), gasoline smell goes in the rooms that are facing street), lukewarm water for shower, cleaning was good, bar good. Beach: Very nice beach, clean, one can take long walks or swim, life guard on duty every day, one can almost pet pelicans :)

Good resort friendly staff, close to everything , souvenir shops etc. New restaurant a la carte good food. Coffee is very good at bar. Claudio always there to help you out. The snack bar is always good. The bingo guy is also very good

I would go back again, the plus... elevator going to rooms ,balcony in rooms over looking ocean or the side where the pool and entertainment is on. , you can watch it from balcony. remained me back in the 50's where the rooms large....bad part the toilets did not flush with with any force and get bucket water to flush it down

Very small resort, only liked the beach across the street. Food ok, had same food everyday. Pool very small and cold. But weather was great for beach everyday, good time if you love thebeach and good drinks

Overall hotel is good, convenient location, great reception, good buffet, large bedrooms, great nightly entertainment , sandy beach was a delight to walk on for long relaxing walks with plenty of room for sunbathing.

24 hours open bar, nightly entrainment, they have private bungalows, nice staff. The beach is literally a 2 minute walk. Close to shops and restaurants as well as a short cab ride to clubs. Beautiful city with beautiful people. The food is just alright at the resort but who's really going for the food anyway.

It as a dump. Jusst an old hotel that was faling apart. Dirty. Bugs were inthe food in the dining room which was very dirty. Toulets didnt flush nd no door knobs on inside of room door. How unsafe is that. Showers were just a hose laying inside a rusty rusty tub with mould on the walls. Please do not send anyon here ever.

Good but amélioration in cuisine Food is not very good........in room the mattress poor.......good music Nice spectacle outside Nice barmaid in the hôtel. .....SMILING People. CLAUDIO VERY smart. Good manager speak in english....

MY HUSBAND ,MOM, SISTER AND I STAY FOR THE FIRST TIME AT THIS HOTEL,WE HAD A GREAT TIME ,ROOM WERE CLEAN,FOOD WAS GOOD BASE ON WHAT WE PAY ,SERVICE WAS GREAT EVERYONE WAS VERY FRIENDLY WE WILL GO BACK FOR SURE.

Staff was excellent especially Cecilia the maid on the 4th floor. She was most helpful after a crack and then a total fall apart of the toilet seat. There is in general a lack of toilet seats in some of the public washrooms in the hotel and places like the Varadaro airport and some restaurants. The toilet seats are plastic and from China with a bad mounting unit which tend to fall off the toilet bowl. It seems that toilet seats are hard to find in Varadaro.

nice clean hotel and good food for a 3 stars....3 min walking to the beach,but smoking cars and trucks very close to the clean pool....good service at both bars,smiling staff!!, i saw peoples cleaning many areas every day...

Toilet would not flush. No toilet seat. Rooms very old and dirty. I felt sorry for the front desk staff. It wasn't much they could do but put a smile on their face and apologise. Food was poor too. Grounds in bad shape. Staff and entertainment was good.

Very simple hotel, one restaurant, one pool and a couple of bars. Beach is across the street a couple blocks away. The food was better than some places I've paid more to stay at. Staff were very friendly and because the property isn't that big, it never seems crowded in the public areas. For the price, it was great.

Hotel is dated but well kept for its age. Hotel staff very courteous and plenty to eat in the dinning room. Beach is across the street and situated on one of the nicest parts of the Varadero beach. Rooms are spacious and clean with balconies.

The hotel as mentionned was a three star and I got what I expected. The room was actually not too bad except the toilet that didn't flush properly due to low water pressure, so we had to keep filling up juggs and dumping it in the reservoir for it to function properly. The food was the same nealy everyday and not too bad, but I didn't go on vacation to stay in my room! The location was wonderful there was good enertainment at the resort and the staff were friendly. The beach is a skip away and the pool was great. The tips that we left were items, clothes and a bit of money. But the items and clothing seemed to be much appreciated. Taken into consideration that it is a THREE star (or a two star back home) I was pleased.

Staff was friendly, facilities needed some maintenance. Overall experience was good, we got what we paid for. Don't leave stuff unattended on the beach. Great trip. Only one restaurant and it was buffet.

This hotel is great for a cheap trip to Varadero. The rooms are large, if a bit run down, and are comfortable. Bring a plug if you want a bath. The lobby is ok, nothing special but they have a nice lobby bar with a flatscreen, if you're into watching sports. There is also a bar at the pool for drinks and sometimes food when the restaurant is closed. The pool is always clean and a good temperature. There is always sun and shade at the pool, depending on what you like. It's less then a 5 minute walk to beach - with a beach bar, lounge chairs and umbrellas. The beach is beautiful - very shallow for a quite a stretch, so the water is never too cold to swim. This hotel is near the beginning of Varadero so there is lots to explore - stores, restaurants, music, bars, craft tents, etc. You can take the double-decker bus for 5 cuc and ride it all day - getting off where you want and hopping back on when you want to go somewhere else. It's cheaper than taking taxis everywhere. All in all, it's a good hotel to stay at if you're in Cuba to enjoy the sun and beach and pool and to meet people - cubans and others.

I paid $364.00 ca. all in. What more could I expect for that amount no complaints about the service or the staff. They should remove all of their 3 star signs that are posted. 2 is my recomendation.CH.

This hotel was perfect for what we wanted . We simply wanted a place to call home while we explored Cuba . Good food( although repetitive) , great location . needs some tlc on some rooms( lots of people complaining about lights , ac, etc ) Friendly staff . This resort is not where you want to go to if your looking for a one stop shop , but it's perfect if it's just a place to go back to after exploring .

The property is a small budget hotel but it offers all you need to enjoy Varadero. We are just back from a wonderful 2 week stay, probably our 14th trip to Cuba. After doing the large resorts the first few times we discovered the acuazul and have stayed there ever since. The location is excellent and thanks to Claudio and his staff we have been treated as family.

Decent place for what you pay. If you're not laid-back though pay extra to stay somewhere else. The phone in our room and safe didn't work, the food was mediocore (much nicer off of the resort), and there were two days when the water didn't work for about 5 hours. The rooms are spacious and clean though, the beach is gorgeous, and the price was low enough that we didn't feel bad staying in Havana for a few nights.

Beds were awful, buffet lacked originality, service was average, many people had no toilet seat and had to flush their toilet with a bucket of water. Many local visitors during our stay. Beach was very nice but beach chair guy was quick at taking the chairs away at 5 pm. There were not bathrooms or food at the beach.

close to everything,wonderful staff but no washrooms @ beach bar/ie beach. 4 minutes to hotel to beach and gorgeous beach.decent food bit bland ,brekkie excelent,close to flea market-right nxet door,helpful staff satelite tv and a/c and lots of hot water.stayed feb 6 to 13 2015,wonderful night time shows 3/4 hr +- street side +- noisy a bit for some people. Very Cheap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This resort was a budget resort. I totally enjoyed myself there. The place was very clean, not too much variety of food but enough to fill anyone. I met a lot of people there and had an amazing vacation. Loved the location - 2 minute walk to the large outdoor market and lots along the way. Room was really large and clean with 2 balconies. Had a problem 1 day with the toilet not flushing but they immediately fixed it. Gave me a late check out for $10 CUCs. Only complaint was the beach chairs were taken away at 5 pm and not put out till 10 am. Beach hut has only liquor and pop...No snacks or washroom. Other than that it was a great place for a budget traveller!!!! I would definitely go back there if the price was right.

Showers heads did not work, pored bucket to showering, had to use buckets of water to flush toilet, no water in the entire hotel for almost 24 hrs. Had to use a garbage can with a bag as a toilet. Cross contamination of utensils when serving the food, 24hrs snack was only at certain time. Using a bucket for bathroom was really the last straw of this hotel.

It is old Hotel, Needs some maintenance, toilet seats are broken or missing, the tub is rusty, broken tile some places, no cockroaches or ants, beds clean and comfy, The food is edible not that great, the location is good, 500 feet to shore and sandy beach, when you are in Cuba, you should not expect much, like here in Toronto,so do not compare,

I think I arrived at this hotel expecting more than I should have. It is a lovely property and the staff are amazing. It's right in downtown Varadero, and walking distance to everything you need. Right across form the beach too! The rooms are very basic but clean. The shower in my room did not drain very well, but it was taken care of.

Though by no means a glamorous resort, Hotel Acuazul offers a homey comfort with friendly staff. This was my first stay at this resort and would reccomend it to all. Located right downtown the resort is close to everything you need to experience the heart of Cuba. With numerous 'Tiendas' and the beach right across the road makes this place ideal for those looking for a getaway with a chance to explore (without paying out for excursions). The staff at Hotel Acuazul are friendly and welcoming to all who enter the doors and provide a comforting sense of home. The rooms are small but perfect for those who need very little. We had some minor problems with the shower drain clogging and low water pressure but those we easily fixed and adjusted before the end of our first day. There were also two lights that did not work in our room but were not needed anyway as each room comes with a balcony and drawing the curtains provides a wonderful wash of sunlight throughout the room. We were located over the pool on the first floor and though slightly loud at night from the entertainment, was the perfect spot for my friend and I. The nightly entertainment shows are fun and energetic, filled with brightly dressed dancers and singers, each night was something different and a new experience each time. Our major 'complaint' (if it can even be called that) was the food. Be prepared for the same selection daily (rice, fish, beans, greens, fruit) and very bland taste. The eggs in the morning made to order were my favourite and the chef who prepares them always seemed to remember my order. Although the food intimidated us at first, by the end of the week we had adjusted and found our 'go to' meals. There is also many restaurants located right around the resort so the option to branch out and try other food is definitely accessible. In short, Hotel Acuazul offers an affordable getaway for those who are not looking for glamour, but looking to experience Cuba and it's people.

This is a no frills hotel that delivers the basics on a constant basis for Cuba. Adequate entertainment on occasions. Good downtown location with access to many venues. Lots of recurring clients giving it a feel home plaçe. Don't expect luxuries.

We booked in from Feb 16-26th 2015. My travel friend and I booked this resort to be a home base while in Cuba and it was perfect for what we wanted. We actually only spent 5 days there as we spent the other nights in Remedios, Elguea and Havana. We read that this was a budget hotel and it is exactly that. The lobby, bars, restaurant and pool are "nice" but nothing fancy. It's authentic Cuba and I liked that. The staff is super friendly if you engage them, try to speak some Spanish to them and just be courteous and friendly. Cubans are very polite just like Canadians and their social etiquette is quite close. Tipping is not necessary but appreciated of course. You can tip in Pesos or little gifts... ANYTHING is really appreciated! Money: GO to the bank at the airport BEFORE you get to your transfer bus or taxi. They will not leave without you! Make sure you do this!!! I cannot stress this enough. The International bank is only open certain hours and once we went early in the morning to beat the 2 hour line and still were left in a 45 min line. There are other banks but some days they accept foreign currency and some days they don't. It's a pain and super frustrating. Bring money to exchange; you will have a very hard time getting money out of your account. They have a cash machine but have low withdrawal limits ($200) and one guy we saw had his card eaten by the machine. He was devastated as he hadn't brought cash and then didn't have a way to get any. CUC is the tourist peso, and the exchange to a Cuban peso is about 1-24. If you go off the Veradero strip or eat at "locals" places ask if prices listed are in CUC or Cuban peso! We got these huge yummy meat and cheese filled pizzas at the market for 1 CUC where others thought they were expensive because they thought they were listed in CUC when the posted prices were in local pesos! When in doubt, ask a local! Make a friend and they can get you beer, pops, food etc at THEIR prices. The Cuban people are just so happy to help if you are polite, friendly, genuinely kind and ASK! Transportation: It is $5 CUC per person for the double decker bus for the entire day (9am-8pm) You can get anywhere in Veradero.. Go to all the markets, see the sites, very cheap! $5 CUC will get a cab from one end of the strip to the other - don't let them charge you more and discuss price before you get in! Old classic cars are $5-$10 depending on how far you go. They have to charge more because they are gas guzzlers and lastly horse and buggy. $5-$20 from a few minutes to the entire shopping strip. We went all the way to Don Quixote for $20 CUC and felt it was a fair price. Rooms: after reading other reviews and recommendations we asked for a corner room on the pool side when we checked in and were given just that. It was a very spacious room with good water pressure, hot water, quiet at night etc. It was on the second floor and unfortunately the elevator cannot be called to that floor so we did a lot of running down the stairs but the one working elevator took us up okay. The beds are typical for Cuba, hard and the pillows are flat but personally I am perfectly okay with that. BRING YOUR OWN TOILETRIES and a cloth! The balconies were small but great for going out to check the weather and applying sunscreen. The maid service was great - Cecelia was friendly and took very good care of our room. I felt our belongings were safe and secure and our room had a good safe. Food/drinks: My friend won't explore Cuban food or other options but Breakfast and Lunch and the snack-bar were great for her. Tons of fresh bread, Pizza, hamburgers, pastas with sauces and ice-cream kept her happy. For breakfast there was always fresh eggs, omelets, some hard pancakes and french toast. ALWAYS fresh fruit. I am much more adventurous with my palate and really enjoyed the rice and beans, fresh fish, beef, chicken etc as well as croquettes, fried plantains, sliced meats and cheeses for breakfast. The Cuban salad is always a hit on my plate too. By the last day (we only actually ate there 5 days) we had figured out making egg, ham, cheese sandwiches on the panini press for breakfast.. they were so so good! We also brought our own condiments so we were quite comfortable. We never made it to the dinner buffet as we always went out on the strip. We found some lovely little gems out there in Veradero and that was our plan when we booked this hotel. We did not drink a lot at the hotel. I am a beer drinker and there was a free flowing tap at the pool bar which I appreciated. The beer tasted good, cold and was not watered down. They had a good selection of booze at the main lobby bar but would give you cane rum if you didn't specify which one you wanted. Drinks were not watered down. I was quite shocked at that but thought it was great. Beach: Down the road there is a lovely beach but there is a lot of sharp little shell bits so keep your shoes on til you're close to the water. Someone had wrote in another review they found drinks. We didn't see where but didn't spend much time looking. The water is absolutely breathtaking and people were kite surfing. It looked like a fun active beach that stretched on as far as you could see either way. Beautiful. Location: Location Location Location. This hotel has it! I had friends to visit in Santa Marta and it was across the bridge in walking distance. There are restaurants in either direction in walking distance. A great handcraft market is one block over perfect for souvenirs or just meeting some locals. People are friendly and little gifts from home - from a towel to a pair of cleats to vitamins and tylenol go a long way! Bring anything and everything from your donations clothes closet and junk drawer, they appreciate it more than you can imagine. I do NOT hand out things to beggars but I do like to throw some items in a good haggle. I don't try to "sell" them my items but just ask for a few dollars off (which they would give anyway) for some stuff from Canada! It is appreciated and goes a long way. Remember - they only make 15-20 CUC per month plus tips. There are some dance clubs on the strip but we did not check them out so I cannot elaborate. Tip: There is a guy at the market beside the hotel that speaks incredible English. He is at the farther back set of shops before the drink stand. It is a little leather shop right in the middle of the shops. His name is Henry - ask for him, everyone knows him. He loves ANYTHING Canadian and has a huge family he supports (older people, little kids etc). If you can spare anything, please do and stop for a chat. For presents, gifts, clothes, toiletries etc. he will help you around with the vendors and show you how to haggle and eat some amazing food for only $1 CUC!!! Ask about the Pizza and Croquette sandwiches! Our leftover household items, electronics, sports gear etc mean so very much to them and go so very far! Do not stay at your hotel! GO OUT, EXPLORE! Cuba is safe and the Cuban people are friendly! The hotel catered to a very broad group of travelers from an array of countries so you could meet people from all over - but me personally - I was there to meet Cubans and I did! If you need to travel to another city, don't bother trying to book a taxi at your hotel.. go to the bus station on Calle 36 and check bus prices then haggle with the taxi drivers after checking. You can get to Santa Clara for $80 early morning or $70 later in the day, Havana for $50 early morning or $40 later in the day. Don't be afraid to haggle with the taxi drivers, you can haggle/trade for old cell phones or good used electronics, good sports gear or even brand name clothes and shoes. Of course you will still pay a fare but you can pay a lot less. I would assume if you are staying at a budget hotel you are a budget traveler and these are some ways we found to get around a little cheaper. Feel free to contact me if you have specific questions and have fun!! Cuba is amazing!

For the price paid it was the best choice, its close to everything, and the people at the hotel are ready to help with anithing!! In the time that i went there it was a little bit chilly, but still much better than winter in canada!!!

Pool was to cold to use. Food repetitive every day. Elevator could not be called for most floors so unless you like stairs stay away. Staff did not earn tips but expected them. Loud music every nite. The only good thing about it was location beach and rum.

Hotel Acuazul is a great budget option in Cuba. The hotel is clean and the staff are really friendly. The food is mediocre at best, but I am told it's like that at most resorts in Cuba. I would have enjoyed the common areas more but the lobby bar area gets way too smokey, so I spent more time in the room than I would have liked. It's a good location in town for going out to more exciting places, so I guess that makes up for it.

OK, this was my 16th trip to Cuba, my 4th to Varadero. This is an old hotel and it is nearing the end of it's life. For the money paid, it's a deal, but don't expect a lot. It's about on a par for a Cuban 3 star.The staff are great, & the lobby area very nicely presented. Generally a very clean place. The room was OK, not great, but you don't spend much time there except to sleep anyway. The beds were comfortable enough, no phone in the room, no hair dryer, no fridge, a TV, but who watches it anyway while on vacation. There are 2 elevators, one of which is permanently broken, so really only one, which tends to stop working periodically. The breakfast is great, with eggs made to request (pretty standard), however lunch & dinner are not quite so enticing. At times they have fresh fish grilled in font of you, delicious! We ate out quite a bit just to sample a few of the local restaurants & escape the generally bland offerings of the buffet. The plates are in the wrong spot (you'll see what I mean of you go), but apart from some extremely rude people from Quebec we encountered in line while trying to get plates, it's not much of a problem. The location is in a word, EXCELLENT! You're on top of a bus stop for the "hop on hop off" bus, a 5 pesos per person (for an all day bus pass) that will take you all the way down the peninsula & back. Cheaper than a taxi for sure. It's also right next door to one of the bigger local markets. Make sure to bargain! ;-) Overall, an excellent location, but a bit shabby around the edges.