Our 5th time at this resort , was there in May 2025- at this time the AC did not work anywhere and the food/drinks were limited but this time Nov 2025 things were alot better. Rooms- were very clean, the AC did not work well they changed our room and it still wasn't working that well. Beach- Amazing, sand is soft like flour, always place to sit on the beach in the shade Food- was very good, fries, chicken nuggets (like Mcd's), pasta, hamburgers, hotdogs, rice, stew, awesome Bfast, plenty of food ect.. every day, Drinks- always something to drink Staff- Very nice and helpful Would highly recommend and we will return

This is my second trip to this resort. I have returned because a lunch buffet with a good bathroom is right on the beach. The rooms are large and well supplied with balconies overlooking the pool. The grounds are well maintained with flowering hedges everywhere. Only a few steps from the hotel to The Varadero Boulevard and The Beatles Bar.

The rooms were terrible, but who cares about a room in sunny Veradero? The beach was incredible. And the food was actually pretty decent. For the price you literally can’t beat it. The staff were also very friendly, especially at the Seafood restaurant and the A La Cartes.

I realize you go to CUBA for the beaches and the friendly people...but...hotel needs a major upgrade...1 elevator out of 4 working....buffet..repetitive choices every day.. you could use buffet at SOLYMAR once you turned wristband around...back to CUATRO PALMAS next trip...centre of town and great staff

We had a very nice time. The hotel was very clean. The beach and pool were beautiful.Staff was very friendly. Lots of food to eat. The only shortage at times was ice. I would recommend this hotel. Felt very safe at all times as well.

I am a repeat customer at this resort. I was there Sept 13 - 20 and the food, in my opinion, was so much better than the last time I was there in May. The wait staff as well as the front desk staff were great always there to help and same with the wait staff. The location is right downtown Varadero which is a great feature. The rooms are dated and need updates but as ar as cleanliness and the room itself it was great I had no issues with the resort.

Very good care, a cordial and respectful treatment, excellent supply and abundance, in all senses, in the breakfast, the amuerzo and the meal. Very attentive staff. Only many mosquitoes at dawn and dusk. I repeat my visit and will recommend this hotel to my friends and family. I am sure to return soon with friends and family.

It's the worst hotel on the peninsula. I don't recommend it. The buffet has no air conditioning and all the windows are sealed. Not to mention the terrible food. Be prepared to eat ground beef; that's what they offer every day: fish with tons of bones and chicken bones. The staff does everything in their power to provide you with good service, but the place is ready to be shut down. If you don't want to waste your money, don't go to this hotel.

The biggest plus about this hotel is the location and the added bonus of being able to use a second hotel on the property. We have been frequenting this hotel for years mostly because of location and wonderful staff. We just returned (April 2025) and must say they have really improved on their food offerings, there was variety and plenty to eat. We cant wait to go back in December.

Overall it was a great trip. Quiet hotel, friendly staff. Food was good. Huge spread on Christmas Eve. Obviously there were some shortages of certain food supplies. But this didn't matter to us. We went with the flow and were grateful for such a great holiday. Nobody bugs you to buy stuff on the beach. We felt incredibly safe. Met some amazing people and went on a couple of great trips.

It wasn't a horrible trip, but I will never go back. I would also not recommend this trip to a friend or family member. Guests brought by 'Aeroflot' emptied bars. There was no alcohol. They smoked everywhere. And staff persons were grabbing food straight from the food stations by hands touching dirty dishes. Mornings were even more dissatisfied because a person responsible for making fruit juices just used powder and water for payed guests and for her co-workers she used real fruit like: bananas, pineapple, watermelon and papaya. So many extra cups were there in the mornings. A la carte restaurants were over booked for me, because management decided to eat at the same time.

Many things were missed even though the staff was extremely helpful and friendly. The place was good as a stay and location within Varadero. However, many elements were missing or incomplete, such as the phones that never work, dining in restaurants that were never explained well so a week of restaurant booking is missed, dining rooms that are not kept in healthy conditions affecting the food safety and making the dining experience to the tourists extremely exhausting and uncomfertable, not giving a tour of the grounds and explaining what is available to do.

The resort was clean. i’ve been to many different countries Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Vadero has the best beach They were doing some update repairs, you need to remember you’re going to Cuba. The food is the food and yes, there is shortages of drinks, food etc. but we go for the beach, to disconnect and relax so it suits our purpose 100% and we will return. If you are going to Cuba for the food and drinks party, etc. This is not the country for you.

Our visit April 2024 was amazing. We went prepared for the worst and got above and beyond service from the resort. Yes the resort is in a process of repairs. To be expected after a lengthy time closed to tourist due to Covid with the added many tropical storms on a already weakened economy. Anyone would be hard pressed to be perfect. The staff at the resort made us feel at home and welcomed. The food was delicious. It's true that they don't have bread and other typical Canadian staples everyday or at all. But we never went hungry we tried new things. We even tried food off resort and at local restaurants. The only issue we had in our room was TV was out when we arrived. We didn't go to watch TV though. My hubby likes the noise when I get ready to go out. Also our safe didn't work. Not a deal breaker I was prepared for everything. I've read other post with people complainants about bugs and stuff. Every tropical place we have been to had had some form of bugs. In the room or lizard. What do you expect the place is built in tropics and on sand? On that note never even seen an ant in our room. Our room was clean the bed was brand new and more comfortable than my bed at home. The AC was in top notch working order as well. I love the fact of how close the resort is to all the shops along the main drag. How convenient it is to get taxi and other forms of transportation. There are shortages but always had drinks and fun to be had. We will be back again. Can't wait to see what all changes with the repairs. The rep for Air Transit could be more friendly and actually pretend to get your request looked after for excursions and Airport VIP room. We will come back again. She kinda reminded me of how it felt in Mexico that your an annoyance to their day. As for the reps poor service I do not hold it against Air Tansit their planes and overall I have found to be way better than others like Sunwing.

We've been there already in November /December of last year and now in April 2024 again. Very close to the beautiful beach and constantly renovations. The staff was great and given the overall situation of shortages in Cuba, the food was plenty.

My family and I had a great time at the resort. The rooms are great and the food is edible, we were told to bring salt and pepper and hot sauce to spice things up. We don't have any complaints about Occidental Arenas Blanca. People are awesome the beach is to die for. Varadero is safe outside the resort. We did some great tours to Havana and Matanzas Yumuri tour, the guides were awesome. Do some snorkelling, It'sAwesome. Buy some Cuban rum and cigars. We will definitely go back to Cuba

The staff is friendly, the food is local & fresh . The drinks were excellent. The beach is exquisite…the cleanliness of the resort was exceptional. Courteous & helpful staff make all the difference. Will definitely book again

Dining did not have variety and had poor selection of food. Some was leftover and was not even reheated to serve because it was cold. Service was super slow for coffee and drinks because they were served at table and staff would forget to come by and ask. No coffee for 2 days. Beach was 5 star and room was reasonably good and clean.

This was our 4th time to this resort and our first post covid. Things are not the same things run short including the Rum on TWO (2) different days. Everything was OK but as another couple said it Needs a Refresh and We agree a couple of huge windows in the lounge area were missing but on our last day they were working on one so. The Coffee bar was yum the entertainment was fine especially the 2 pcs string group in the coffee bar they are awesome. the BEACH was incredible as ever . The pool was great until the entertainment group cranked the Stereo to 10+ . None of our group went Hungry or Dry but don`t expect Pina Colada`s anymore and think of basic Drinks as the Coconut Liquor and others are not available anywhere even at the tourist shops or the Duty Free. In talking to other people all the resorts seem to be short something for us no Pasta or French fries.. For others no maid service for 2 or more days one resort was short of Toilet Paper.every resort had something short or an issue like no elevators. So No pasta and running the bar s out of Rum was on the whole we did OK. PS the sailing and snorkeling trip had french fries and pasta that fixed that craving oh and Lots of RUM.

The hotel and grounds were fine. The food was almost exactly the same every day for lunch and dinner anyway. The staff were okay for the most part. We were under the impression we could go to solymar also but were told no. That was another disappointment. Overall not a really great vacation o

The resort is completely run down. Our door barely opened, the inside handle fell off the first time we tried to get out. Toilets wouldn’t flush, patio door barely opened and mold on ceiling. Air conditioner didn’t work. Maids would t change sheets or towels and forgot to fill water every 2nd day. When u called the front desk, had to call 3 times before got anything. The food was horrible ( worse then used to in cuba) and they ran out of all booze daily except rum. Do not recommend!

Beautiful beaches, wonderful people, majority were very congenial, one exception at the front, check in perhaps it was an "off" day for him. Food, considering the difficulties as expressed by the locals, it's difficult to be objective about the food but you do not get good value at the buffets or a la carte! Excelent fresh bread! Hard to get beach towels and bottled water in the room was very scarce! Wine is not available (looked like a few guests had taken their own) frequently run out of beer even ron (rum) seemed to be in short supply! At one of the a la carte restaurants, the head waiter was very clear there was no wine or beer but he would gladly provide us with the beer glasses for us to go get beer at the bar by the pool (he was not allowed to do it), definititly not getting what we thought we paid for! The day trip to Habana was paid separate, the airline rep. re-iterared lunch and drinks were included, at lunch we were allowed one small glass of beer each and paid for drinks at the stop on way there and mid afternoon downtown Habana! Please keep going to Cuba, these amazing people need our support and you will enjoy the beaches...

The Good - the beach, the pool, some (just a few) of the staff. The Bad - No coffee in the room. I brought my own but the coffee pot won't work and several trips to the desk with no results. The stage is right at the pool and right in front of the rooms, way to loud all the time so you can't relax at the bar or the pool. Yes it's Cuba a Spanish Colony but 90% of the games, entertainment and announcements in Spanish so no-one has a clue what they are saying. The Hotel is old. The rooms are OK and Lobby areas OK but our 3rd floor hallways were VERY much in need of repair. 2 Elevators at our end of the building out of order 2 weeks we were there. 1 of the 2 main Elevators in the center core also down for 2 weeks. Most of the coffee I got was Luke warm and usually full of coffee grounds in the cup. No Coke for 10 out of 14 days. Butter only 2 out of 14. Ran out of many things. No orange juice or pop at any meals. TV remote broken and no results from attempts to get one. No face cloths or shower mat and same 2 towels for 2 weeks. You do tramp sand and dirt into the rooms but never cleaned the floors for 2 weeks. Food, not too bad but we both lost weight after 2 weeks of Buffets so go figure. Actually there were 2 or 3 days of pretty good food. Entertainment started at 10 and after a day in the sun we wanted to sit on our balcony and rest but way to loud to relax. They offer free Hobie Cat sail boats yes, but can't take them out yourself without a Captain who wants $$$ to go. They use flimsy plastic cups for beer and drinks and garbage 1000,s a day. Should switch to washable hard plastic glasses. Yes more washing to do but very bad for the environment with what they have. The Sister resort, Barcelo Solymar, that we could use was much better and the 3rd resort we could use was shut down. No spoons at counters or tables! If you get soup or Ice Cream etc. good luck getting one. We got a couple and kept them and washed them and used for most of the trip. You could wave down a waiter and they go find one for you. Why not have spoons where the soup is?

The grounds are pretty well maintained, the hotel it self is dated and the rooms could use a little perk ups, but everything was perfect. For the price your paying you are treated with respect and clean rooms.

My partner and I became very ill from the food on our 3rd day at this resort. We remained in our room for one entire day and could not eat anything and had severe diarrhea that continued upon our arrival home. After the 3rd day, the only thing we could eat was pineapple or watermelon, nothing pre-pared for fear of getting sick again. I understand that the pandemic played a role in the deterioration of services and that inflation and supply chain issues continue to do so, especially in Cuba, however, I wholeheartedly disagree with the 4* rating you give to this resort. As a former travel agent of almost 20 years and based on my many trips to Cuba I would rate this resort a 2 1⁄2 * star at best.

The beach was definitely the best part of the resort. Absolutely amazing. Staff are friendly, work hard and do the best with what they have to help you out. Facilities is in need of maintenance and could use a good refresh and deep clean, but didn't spend much time in our rooms.

This is a great place. We got to enjoy the beach with such a short walk. The staff are always busy working and smiling. The food was ok, we didn’t starve. We got to eat, swim and drink at the solymar and Palma real with this package. Everything is super close and central. For the price, you can’t beat it!! Book it

The night life in Varadero was amazing and the people even more amazing. The weather is April was hot everyday. You dont have to get pesos anymore which made it easy The snack ateas on the strip were a lot of fun to eat at at beer was inexpensive. The Beatles bar is a must to go to fir good rick and roll music.

Really enjoyed the hotel. Staff at front desk was very helpful and efficient. The food was OK considering post pandemic situation. Some rooms were better than others, staff did their best with available supplies. Loved all the staff because of their easy going attitudes. Had a wonderful vacation with my friends...would go back anytime.

The resort itself was fine, a little dated such as the tub/bathroom but otherwise it was fine. The pool and beach were great. The service was not good. Many of the service people would not even give us the time of day. We waited for drinks more than we drank except at the poolside bar area. There were a handful that were actually pleasant. This was disappointing because we had heard the people of Cuba were very nice. We did not find this. The food is an issue. There were many times that there was nothing available. Not much to choose from either. They ran out of cups and alcohol a few times in our short stay. The plane trip was great although any food came with a charge. Cuba airport was good coming back - terrible going in - long time through customs and they all looked like they hated their jobs. Toronto Pearson was a nightmare only because of volume - the staff there try their best.

Second time visiting Cuba, would not go back to this resort. Service was non existent Ran out of alcohol & glasses Workers were rude, felt like you were bothering them Food was blah Run down resort

Need maintenance, everything falling apart entertainers are great. Food is terrible beach is the best of all. Going outside is not much better than staying inside. Show at the hotel are great. You can have fun at the beach. There is no much to shopp around , everything seen to be empty

We had a great time at the occidental in cuba. People were so nice. Beach amazing. All the crystal beer you can handle. All rum drinks too. Pool and bar so much fun. Food was ok especially breakfast. Rooms were cleaned every day and fridge stocked with water. 32 degrees and sunny. .

Beach was absolutely beautiful. Hotel was run down not taken care of. My kids are not picky eaters at all and didn’t eat the food. Didn’t even have simple things like French fries. International restaurant had spaghetti in juices from meat no tomato sauce. Service at the cafe was bad wouldnt even look at you unless you had cash on the table. Amazing beach but that’s about it!! Very disappointed. Been to cuba numerous times so it’s not like our expectations were high at all. Wouldn’t recommend this resort.

Our experience was amazing! We had no complaints other than the building itself being a little run down. The staff was great and the food was decent for Cuba. If you like rum, meat and potatoes then I would highly recommend this resort.

Resort was not bad, a little tired. Probably needs a little paint.The employees are unbelievably nice and appreciative. Very polite and always had a smile. FYI they really would rather have Canadian money than US. The location is perfect. Steps to the beach and steps to the town of Varadero which has numerous restaurants, bars and shops, most of which are excellent for food and drinks.

This hotel declined alot in service and cleanliness, I had been there numerous times before staff were nice and courteous but the resort itself. Restaurants for a la carte closed no more disco, bar closed at 11pm no more access to food for 24hrs had diffferent drinks on a daily basis ie: fanta, rum, water no beer everyday it changed, no cola just lemonade!!! Well it was an experience one I do not want to experience again.

I've been there six times now and things has change so has the rest of the world.The resort is clean ,staff is very friendly even though there are less than before to do the same work,the food is better than before covid,some people will complain no matter what and the beach is always wonderful.We had access to Solymar and Palma Real resorts but not much happening there ,the buffet at palma real was very good,The ranchon resto (beach restaurant was close but they a BBQ on beach every dayThe waiters at lobby bar and buffet were all nice Thanks to Lazaro for being special waiter The resort is close to town varadero ,now they have more to do ,chip stand,small flee market etc. With the new currency lots of people have problem with money exchange.They accept U.S. AND CND money the peso is worth one canadian dollar.But over all every day is a new experiece and I would go back to this resort again

I honestly have to say that this resort brought such great vibes and really brings a lot of fun and entertainment! Don’t look at all the negative reviews about the food or even the hotel. It’s cuba what do you expect? You pay for what you get and honestly I went by myself and had such an amazing time and experience. Met great people, the entertainers made it super fun and I ate more In cuba than I did back home in Ottawa hahaha. Like I said, if your not a picky eater and you can live below your means and don’t plan on staying in the hotel room unless you plan on sleeping, this is the resort to be at! Only feedback was the alcohol at times ran out with mixed and they offered rum and Fanta or rum and coke which was not the best mix and gave some heart burn, but thankfully the hotels were affiliated with other blancos resorts so we ended up going beside the affiliate and still enjoyed the drinks. Live entertainment was super fun, beaches were beautiful, and Cuban workers were extremely nice. When I first started reading the negative reviews of some people I laughed historically after coming back. These people exaggerate too much. Again, my thoughts may be different from others but I will definitely be coming back to this resort. Grateful for the experience and the price! Best bang for your dollar for sure! I my advice is bring clothes and items for the workers, the money and tips are nice for them but they really appreciate items and clothing. Please make sure to give to these amazing workers, they do a lot and take a lot of bs from negative people. They would really appreciate it.

If you enjoy crystal clear beaches, resort entertainment and walking distance night-life parties, then look no further. This resort is located central downtown so you are 2 minutes from the district and 10 minutes from commercial shopping centre. The most popular cigar store is across the street. There is daily games on the resort and the beach, nightly entertainment and friendly staff all around. Went in January 2023 and though food quantities were even less than before, keep in mind COVID shutdowns took a huge toll. Excursion must would be Cayo Blanco cruise where you will have interaction with dolphins and a private island leisure where you can eat the most delicious Lobster tail. This resort is even better than Barcelo Solymar (sister resort next door) and amenities are shared (except for buffet). Great resort for adults and children!

Arena is a nice but dated hotel in a great location. The pools are huge, well maintained with deep and shallow areas suited for both adult swimmers and little kids. Beach area is really nice but beach chairs are mostly broken. Food is very poorly managed, lineup for one little tiny grill that is only hot enough to cook an egg with a very small surface...unfortunately we had to feed the food to stray dogs in multiple occasions since it was raw chicken or pork and was not safe to eat. The gril starts only after the buffet opens so most people feel fed up lining up and just resort to other very limited options. My boyfriend got very sick. No food safety check is done by management since it was on multiple occasion we noticed uncooked meat was served. Staff are really nice but they could only do so much...our room was well ventilated but very dated, one small towel each and it was impossible to change to a fresh one. We tipped the maid well but she said she is not allowed to give fresh towels. No place to exchange beach towels! We used wet towels in 7 days and everytime we asked they said maid does it if you place them in the room but maids were saying they have no access to beach towels and refer us back to the reception...this is of course not staff fault and you could see the greedy management behind it trying to cut cost and corners. Ground was very well kept. Beach bar was closed...snack bar had no food but ham sandwich with one layer of mystery ham Overall we had a positive experience but we noticed a big negative change that was not staff fault.

What a beautiful place to go on a trip with the Kids. It might not be a 5-star hotel but our room were kept clean, and the sheets were changed every day. The personnel is so pleasant, and all our needs were met. The Buffet was fine; everyone found something to eat at every meal and the hotel has a great location. The beach is beautiful and calm on most days. I would go again that's for sure.

The hotel itself is very worn down. 3.5 stars at best. There were more Cuban visitors than i have ever seen before, few Canadians. Food options were very limited if they weren’t sold out. Beer ran out fast, meats except ham were sold out at the 24hr snack place. At the pool bar, if you don’t speak their language, you won’t get served as fast.. need to be pushy & aggressive. It was also my birthday & i was hoping to be entertained but everything closed before midnight? Even the pool table closes by 5pm 🤷🏽‍♂️ We didn’t realize parties continued downtown at the locals bar until last couple days! A positive was the excursion to Havana, which has changed & reminded me a bit of Montreal. This resort also gives you access to the resort next door. The service is a bit better along with the food👍

This was my second stay here, the resort is fair. I would not call it a 4 star though. If you go with the mind set that you’re going to Cuba for the beach and to relax then you’re good. We the food was acceptable but they need to work on their costumer service skills.

Good set up although personel at reception desk were rude most of the time except at the day of arrival. . Service and food average and again missing wine for 4 days. Shows were good with great dancers. Advertised as a 4.5 stars at booking but to me only a 3 stars.. Olkis at the supper diningroom was the most helpful waiter to guide us and answer all our questions of all the rest of the staff! Loved Varadero Cuba but will not go to this resort and will choose a 5 stars resort for sure.

Occidental was a decent resort, somewhat welcoming but rooms lack comfort. Bed very uncomfortable and the room is still very humid despite air conditioned. Beaches are beautiful and drinks are okay. Food was hit and miss but we never went hungry. Check in was 4pm despite website stating it was 3pm. Some workers were very pleasant and others not so much, or very helpful. Snorkeling off the resort was okay, however those spending extra money for photos received extra attention. Therefore be prepared to spend extra if you want decent experience, otherwise expect the bare minimum. Minimal activities on resort and entertainment. First time to Cuba and this resort in particular we won’t return to given our experience.

We had a amazing trip. In Cuba one of the very beautiful beaches is Varadero location. Absolutely gorgeous, people are very friendly and it is safe in Varadero. The view of the beach is stunning very friendly for families in Varadero Cuba. They really look after the tourist over there the whole Area is designed especially for Tourist.

Simply excellent, from the resort to the staff everything was excellent! What to say about the beach simply flawless it was a very memorable experience. A special thanks to staff Jessica, William and Ivan thank you

This hotel is not a luxurious hotel, but it's o.k. Near downtown Varadero, at few minutes by walk. Room, restaurant, pool and gardens were clean. Service at restaurant and bars was ok as well. The buffet, ok as well. Beach and sea. Wow ! It's Varadero. I had a problem of leaking water from the top of the bathroom in the middle of the night. And I had a really good service by changing of room on the spot. More, the day after, in the new room, I had ants problem in the bathroom. And again, they change for a much better room again without the need of arguing. I really appreciated. In conclusion, I recommend, but with keeping in mind to not have big expectations. It's a low cost hotel, and it's o.k..

Beaches are amazing, best I’ve ever experienced. The staff is very friendly & knowledgeable. The rooms AC was not good, so we were pretty hot most nights. Big con is the food, below average, especially the buffet. Often had to eat outside the resort. Overall good experience.

Our beds were like sleeping on wooden pallets, the lobby bar and bathroom smelled like vomit. Speaking of vomit, I spent day 3 in bed and over a toilet vomiting all the horrendous food they served at late hours snack bar. Otherwise the staff tried hard and the beach was phenomenal. Again you get what you pay for!

The resort itself was in a good location and the beach is always so beautiful in Cuba. The rooms were okay, the bathroom in particular could of used a little ‘facelift’ but we didn’t spend much time in our room anyways. We were a little disappointed with the food. I’ve been to Cuba a few times before so I know what the food is typically like. we also had access to the resort next door and it was just odd that the food over there was x10 better than at the occidental. I just didn’t understand why they couldn’t have just as good of a spread? So my family ended up walking over to the Barcelo Solymar for all our meals. The pool also could of used some work as more than a few tiles were missing off the bottom. I also didn’t like the fact that there was no bar right on the beach, walking back and forth for drinks got kind of annoying. Overall the resort was decent.

Everything on the resort was rundown there was no water slide as stated on website or pool bar the food was bad ate out all the time there was no fruit there should be a refund for I’ve been to Cuba many times and never seen so many unhappy guests

Our stay with occidental arenas Blancas was terrible our rooms didn’t look anything like pictured, nor did the resort. Our room was filled with ants, they were in our baby food and they were all over our beds and crawled all over and bit our babies and us while we slept. We will never stay there again and we’re so disappointed we spent all that money and had a horrible stay. Very poor selection of food as well

Hôtel commentaire positif ,emplacement bien située personnel agréable bien disponible lors de demande pour avoir des choses pour le frigo,les employés sont avenants et essaie de rendre le séjour le plus agréable, essaie de te comprendre dans ta langue

Beautiful beach beautiful pools but no activities no animation Terrible food in all the restaurants Rooms dirty and mattresses gery unconfortable Terrible smell all over the hotel Bad service people are rude Terrible drinks Only good thing is being joint with the Barcelo able to eat something at the snack bar and sometimes get a good drink at the lobby bar

The Occidental Arenas Blanca is the absolute worst resort I've ever stayed at in Cuba and I've been to Cuba 12 times! There were tiny red ants in everything in the rooms. My entire body was covered in bites when I woke up the first night. The sheets were stained and disgusting. There were cockroaches in the room and the buffet! We had no bath towels or pool towels for 4 days! There were rats in the lobby! The pool is nothing but a hazard, broken/missing tiles, no grates or broken grates around the entire pool. Our cups in room were not washed, floor not swept or mopped. Tub not cleaned! WORST EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE! THE PLACE NEEDS TO BE CONDEMNED!

The beach at occidental was amazing, the night life outside of the resort is one of the best. 5 minute walk from all the bars and restaurants. We had a few issues with our room but when we talked to guest services the manager took care of everything by getting us a new room, making sure this room was up to our expectations. Anything we needed we were taken care of like we were family. Our plane was delayed and when we talked to guest services they gave us a late check out at no cost. Would recommend this resort 10/10. Thanks too all who made this trip enjoyable! If you need a taxi call Pedro with the convertible amazing taxi and also does tours around Varadero!

We were charged for a broken TV that we have nothing to do with, it was already broken when we arrived. The hotel charged us $515 US for an old TV and we were not given a chance to defend ourselves. We do not understand the language and they were just taking one side of the puzzle. We do not recommend the hotel to anyone who wish to go to Cuba. We are not going back Cuba at all.

the service is great, it’s been my fifth time going and I would definitely go back again. It sits on a big land with lots of greenery(palm trees, cactuses, tropical plant). Almost like a botanical garden.

Never been disappointed in a vacation before arriving at this resort. I dont expect much but you should get at least close to what you payed for. Kids playing beer pong in the front lobby,garbage everywhere. This place is like a scene from a horror movie. Broken toilet seat, no blankets. The room was supposed to be for 3 adult women. We got a king size bed and a cot. Front desk staff was also annoyed by our request of blankets and pillow for the cot. We asked for this around 10pm, they came to our door at 1am. the worst customer service I've ever received or lack there of. Snack bar worker didn't even acknowledge us just pointed. Only great thing is the sun wing rep Yordi. He made arrangements for us to move and made our vacation a great experience..thanks Yordi.. I could continue with the things that made me unhappy upon arrival but I'll focus on the fact that we got moved to Grand Memories and had an amazing vacation.. Never would I reccomend Occidental to anyone..disappointed our agent didn't warn us!!

So disappointed. I have stayed at several Occidentals, never have I been this disappointed. The front counter people were so rude upon our arrival, hallway to our room, it was so dirty, unsafe looking. In our room, you could see thru into the hallway around the door. Our toilet seat was broken, shortage of towels in our room. We went back to the front counter to report the toilet seat and to get a couple of more towels as there was 3 of us in the room. Sorry, no staff to give you towels tonight. Maintenance came to fix the toilet seat at 1:00 am. We asked about a snack bar and all they had was hotdogs/hamburgers and no drinks. Needless to say we called our Rep right away. And we moved to another resort the next day.

We had a great time in Cuba. The pools were great Close to the ocean. Nice to have access to two resorts. Food was ok. Night life was fun. Rooms were ok. Service was great We would go back to Cuba 🇨🇺

I've been to Cuba many times and this time was not amazing. I've stayed at 3,4 and 5 stars. Started off with NO towels in the room. Then I thought ahh forget it; it's late so I'll get them tomorrow and I'm on vacation. Let's have a drink. We go down and the bar that is supposed to open till 1:30am closed at 12??? The snack bar had no more drinks for the night??? This is NOT a four star at all

the Hotel is dated but clean - the buffet could be bigger overall the food was fine - very close to down town and walking distantance of the Bealtes bar what a great night that was swiminig with the dalfins was great what a rush varadaro cuba is one of my most favorite places to go and would return again in a heart beat.

We arrived late on Sat. night (1130 pm) and the lobby was open, but it was lifeless and badly lit giving off an institutional vibe. We were escorted to our room promptly by the bellboy but found it was more like a college dorm room than a hotel room in a tropical resort. There were no room towels and not enough beach towels for the three of us. The double bed mattresses were so tired my body rested on the boxspring and my husband woke with a spring poking in his back. Pool tiles were all missing around the edges on the bottom and sides of the pool and the water was cloudy. Only two elevators worked, one of which broke down. The late night snack bar had the feeling of being a prison cafeteria line-up. There was always an interminable line-up for the most popular item, be it coffee, snacks, pasta chef, pancake chef, the bar, there were never enough staff to support the busy times around the resort. No one smiled, there were no maps available for guests to use, and the guest services person who demanded that all issues be presented to him, deferred every single query that we presented to him. We arrived Saturday night and couldn't book an a la carte until Tuesday and weren't successful getting a booking without firstly trekking over to Barcelo, then back again to Arenas Blancas, and finally escalating the issue - first to guest services, who was useless, and then to the Sunwing rep who took pity on us and found us a couple of bookings. This process occupied over half a day of our vacation. Then on Thursday Corporate office reps appeared out of nowhere and distributed satisfaction surveys, and suddenly the animation reps were doing their jobs and putting on the pool and beach activities, there was a buffet maid walking around cleaning the buffet stations and making sure there were plates and cups, there were chefs and bartenders everywhere, it was like night and day seeing the staff suddenly smiling and willing to help and serve you. I could go on and on... The resort needs to better equip and support their staff. The resort has good bones but maintenance has fallen off their radar. I do NOT recommend this resort the way it is. The beach is amazing but just find another hotel

This hotel is located right on a very beautiful beach and just one block from the town of Varadero which is awesome. I also liked the large pool. The beach and pool were always busy but we could always find a couple of deck chairs too. The amenities were not the greatest as the hotel is a bit older and it has not been maintained as well as it could be. I hated that the air conditioner would not adjust its aim and I had to move the bed around to avoid being pounded all night long; but it was good that the air conditioning worked! The food was just ok, especially difficult for me as a vegetarian; the specialty restaurants were definitely nothing special. The best day was when we hired a private driver (Angel 52586667) to go to Mantanzas, checked out the real Cuba lifestyle, then had lunch at a lovely private (vs government) owned restaurant called Litoral Matancero, after which we did the deep cave tour (biggest cave I've been in), and finished with a dip in the fresh water at the base of a small cave near the airport in Varadero on our way back. Awe, good times!

Hotel is great staff were awesome love the beach bar service food was good good entertainment love how close the resort is to the beatle bar . The only thing we feel the resort might need a little up keep paint etc

I had brought a first timer toCuba with me on this particular trip and we stayed at this hotel and the results were very positive.The grounds , pool and beach area are pristine and the staff are very accommodating to say the least.The rooms are dated , but were clean and comfortable and the view was spectacular.It is a sprawling resort a joined to another which is accessible as well.Plenty of things to do if you want to and certainly enough quiet private space to just enjoy the climate etc.

Overall it was a great experience, staff was amazing, the bar and beach access was awesome! Only down side was some issue in the rooms and food variety. Our room had a leak, and a balcony door that did not open. Similar issues for the rest of our party in the hotel.

My partner and I went here for our spring break. Clean rooms. Amazing grounds. Beautiful beach. Pretty solid food. Great service (shout out to Haiti at the buffet). From the moment we stepped into the lobby we were taken care of. Just wish our excursion packages could have had better half day options. We can’t wait to come back.

Although the hotel is older and needs an update, especially in the lobby, the staff was great and the beach was idealistic! We had a fantastic time and made some wonderful memories. We would recommend to anyone looking for a stress free vacation.

I am a return customer and therefore know what to expect from Cuban resorts. Unfortunately the hotel seems to have let its upkeep, grounds and rooms, decline to an unacceptable state. As has the buffet which has become mostly uneatable . ( Usually you can find a little something to sustain life, this trip it was questionable ). The staff has also become so unacomadating, throughout the entire week I met only three workers who were smiling and seemed to enjoy there jobs.

Beach was amazing, the pool not so much. It was super easy to explore Varadero. The drinks were awesome but the food was not good, and not available 24 hours. Felt like the place was closed for winter.

Rooms were not updated and the flush kept leaking water It was clear that the rooms needed a lot of upgrading The towels were not changed, neither was the sheets Food was OK Beach was really good Location was the saving grace

The hotel was very dirty. The room very dirty food not good at all . The restaurant was not clean and full of insects. The hotel was 90%with Cuban people and they drinked a lot and vomiting inside the elevator. Please don't send Canadians anymore there.i had to switch hotel.

I've been to Cuba many times - never to Varadero though. No all inclusive is "perfect" - each has its pluses and minuses. Still a good deal through Sunwing - compared to other holiday destinations. Re this hotel - close to town - which we liked - our upgraded ocean view room was nice - big, comfortable bed, great pillows, nice balcony with view etc. One bank of elevators out of commission to get to our floor however, meaning we had a longer wait each time. Common areas - bit run down. Pool was out of commission for part of the week! Beach was fine. However - no place to get a drink on or immediately adjacent to the beach. Food at the hotel was horrible for the most part (there were a few exceptions here and there). Other resorts have had BBQ areas and beach front restaurants that are open all day with fairly decent food - not this place. there was a beach front restaurant - with an absolutely disgusting mystery meat "buffet" served for a couple of hours each day. There was also an "after-hours" eatery - with boiled hotdogs and hamburgers - that made us sick one evening. Other restaurants could only be booked between 2 and 4 pm daily - a weird time! Hotel sponsored entertainment - given the size of the complex - wasn't very good - seen much better at lesser star hotels! No on-site dance club. All in all we'd rate the hotel as average - except for the room. We wouldn't return to this particular hotel. No reflection on the travel agent - he was very pleasant and helpful to deal with and we'd book through him again.

The location was great as it was very close to the beach, lots of activities on the beach (snorkelling, kayaking etc...), and close by the city. The food was decent, however the food at the buffets was not clean since there were flies in it and birds eating it as well. The rooms were not too bad, though they do need renovation (ceiling in the bathroom was falling down), and there were cock roaches in the hallway which entered the rooms. Overall, we still enjoyed our time in Varadero!

Occidental Arenas Blancas was a family friendly resort that had everything for everyone. The pools were fantastic & so was their service. But, the rooms could’ve been cleaner & better maintained. They would sometimes forget to put clean towels, or would refold the ones that were already used. It depended on who cleaned the rooms too. The buffets had a variety of food and the two restaurants that we went to (Spanish & Italian) were professional and tasty. The buffet near the beachfront, La Caribe, had a nice lunch, but the birds were always eating the food. I think they should put covers and stuff on their food so that birds don’t eat it or sit around in it. Otherwise, I really believe that Arenas Blancas is an up and coming resort that can live up to its neighbour Barcelo Solymar.

This hotel had the most beautiful beach, only a few short minutes away from the resort, clear blue waters and soft sand. The beach made everything that seemed bad at first, okay. The food was decent, not bad but not the greatest, enough to keep me going. The main selection of food was buffet style with various varieties, I would recommend taking your own condiments and spices. The restaurants were very nice, with live music in some cases and I would recommend booking reservations on the day of arrival. The hotel was relatively clean and the outside looking amazing however some areas were leaking and it could use some renovations. The service was good and all the workers were very kind and promptly helped when needed.

The resort was clean. But had a lot of building issues. I stayed on the top floor. Every time it rained (everyday) the roof would leak in the hallways. Then water was running into the rooms. The maids tried to contain it for the most part by laying old towels everywhere. But it was non stop. They’d run out of dishes every night and towels were scarce. Not once did they replace the towels in the room. Staff was friendly and accommodating except for the front desk people. They seemed uninterested in anything. I wouldn’t stay there again or reccomend anyone to either. I’m pretty easy going and don’t expect much. Just this resort didn’t seem to keep up with the necessities.

We had a great time at the Arenas Blancas. The food was good for Cuba, the staff helpful and friendly and the beach is second to none! The location is one of the main reasons for staying there; it's a short walk to shops and markets and the Beatles Bar and if you want to explore farther you can catch the bus or grab a cab along the way. We had beautiful sunny weather all week. I would totally recommend this resort.

Hotel is older. Rooms not so nice. Mold in the shower. Was eating in one restaurant looked over and saw a roach. I’m not a very picky person when it come to the hotels but this place was not so nice.

This was a decent resort. Rooms are definitely dated, but liveable. The Beach is absolutely beautiful, but you need to get there 1st thing in the morning if you want to get a lounge chair to sit on. The pool is a great spot to sit and relax and enjoy the fun daytime entertainment. The staff at the pool bar are wonderful and friendly. Much better than the other bars. The evening entertainment is hit and miss, but what you would expect. The buffet is amazing!! I enjoyed the food immensely. Did not enjoy the service at all. People are very unfriendly and like to ignore you. Buffet staff do not allow you to keep your glasses and remove your plates before you are even done with them. Not a very enjoyable experience. We will not be returning.

I recently went by myself to this resort as a last minute gift to myself. I booked 12hrs before taking off :) I was on a restricted budget but knew I wanted a 4 star resort. I really enjoyed my stay here. The grounds are beautiful and well maintained. The pool is big and cleaned every morning. The beach was great and groomed as well... The rooms are dated but totally functional and I appreciated having English TV in my room and a patio overlooking the ocean. I got used to the rooster waking me up in the morning after a few days lol... What I appreciated the most was that I felt safe there - as a woman travelling alone, I was never treated inappropriately by any of the staff, and I soon befriended the waiter working on the beach who always made sure I had a drink (or two) in my hand :) The food is good - I enjoyed my meals there even with the limited selection. I always went to the grill for fresh meat, fish and good egg omelets in the morning. One of the definite perks is in its location in Varadero. The weather was not great during my visit but being able to walk around Varadero definitely helped me get through the rainy overcast days. The city is friendly and once again, I never felt unsafe being alone. I would definitely would go back to this resort and would recommend it.

Where to start... I had stayed at this ‘resort’ last year. It was not quite up to snuff then, but this year was very sad. I have been to Varadero about 6 years in row (at some other resorts). Usually a 3 to 4 star hotel is relatively fine. I had booked through Tripcentral, as I was able to have an agent arrange my booking and let them know what I was looking for in a room. Getting in late, I found my room - musty and dingy, balcony overlooked 4 charming, whirling AC units. Got hotel to change the room, unfortunately where I was last year - over the kiddies pool. This, again, is why I used an agent so this would not happen again. THIS WAS NOT THE AGENTS FAULT. The hotel is decrepit, lobby paint peeling with water stains. The lobby bar/espresso bar closed for reno’s. Why on God’s earth would they close something like that, and not do it off-season. Admittedly, they had opened the pool bar which was under construction the previous year- quite nice. The Arenas Blancas was associated with Barcelo Solymar, where you had the use of both hotel facilities. The AB was bought out by an outfit named Occidental, and at their whim, you could still use the facilities of both but, AB guests could no longer use the buffet at Solymar - just out of the blue. HMMM All and all, the star rating for ARi is extremely false. I’m well aware,you do not go to Cuba for the resort food, but every lunch/dinner was identical to the day before - 1/10. Some of the grill cooks had major attitude!!!!!! The 24 hour snack bar had discusting dried out weiners and hotdogs and mayonnaise with a scum on top and not refrigerated! The guests... mostly Long Term Care and couples with children, many under 3 or 4 months old being pushed around the paths in double-wide strollers. Just like a nursery. One thumbs up were the well kept grounds. Honestly, I could go on, but I think you got the drift. STAY AWAY!!!

My husband and I really enjoy this resort. A beautiful stroll on the beach each morning and then back to a lounge chair to read a book while the waves are crashing behind us. We never went hungry and the service and staff are consistently amazing. Rooms and decor could use a refresh.

Room was never properly cleaned. Bathtub was dirty. Towels were never changed. Buffet was lukewarm or cold all the time. Was never offered a la carte restaurants. Hamburgers were bloody awful. No snacks or anything to munch on between meals. No show in the evening except kids show. I wouldn’t consider this hotel again. Hotel lobby was flooding when it rained. I would rate this a 1 star I like Cuba and I know what to expect I have been to Cuba before. I know Cuban hotels, I would rate. It maybe1 1/2 compared to other Cuban Hotels

when we first arrived at the resort, we were told we would have to check in at the sister resort. We thought we would have to walk to ours, however, we were happy to find out that we were upgraded to that resort. We loved the ability to enjoy the amenities at both resorts, while getting a room in the better one. Staff were friendly, and food pretty good considering it was Cuba. The town was a short walk down the street, where we are out at restaurants and bought souvenirs. Overall, loved it!

The cleaning and serving staff were great and very helpful. The resort was kept very clean. The washrooms were kept very clean and the common areas were kept in great condition. The cappuccino was was great and the service at the bar was prompt. The food was good and had a good variety. The location close to town was excellent and the beach is the best in the world. Had a great seven weeks.

This has been the 13th time in almost 20 years that we have stayed at the Arenas Blancas in Varadero, Cuba. The staff have always been very accommodating and friendly. The grounds are brautiful and well maintained. Shopping in the area has grown as it has all across Cuba. The food could use some improvement and the a la carte restaurant that we ate at was not as good as in the years past. However, this trip was a little off season. Usually we go in February. Still, the trip was well worth the money and was a very affordable trip. Going back again in the winter.

Barcelo Arenas Blancas was fantastic! Grounds were beautiful, food was good, best location, amazing beach of course, incredible view from balcony and staff were very friendly! Our 4th time to Varadero and we finally found our resort of choice! Can't wait to go back!

I had a superior room ocean view but a lot of trees were in my way of my view. King size bed flat screen tv with English channels. I have been to Cuba 6 times and this was one of the nicer rooms. The shower is outdated but functional! Clean. AC worked fine hot water worked fine. Buffet was ok. I didn't starve. Not a pool person but the pools did look a little cloudy. One thing I will complain about are the damn roosters that woke me up between 4 to 5 am every morning and won't shut up! My room was 4245. Staff very friendly. 1 bell boy between 2 hotels isn't that efficient. Walking distance to restaurants bars and night clubs. Had a great time :)

it is needing new leader ship and new chef and the service need to learn how to work with people . the only nice thing i have to say the sunwing rep was great there answered all my questions and one of the entertainment person was great

Food is terrible, chicken never cooked, bacon in the morning is always raw, same thing every day for the buffet. Good beach and location, no I would not stay here again... bad alcohol and no ice blended into piña coladas or margaritas so it's really gross.

The swimming pool was beautiful. The Italian food (a la carte) was yummy! The buffet had lots of options! The maid did an excellent job of making our sheets and cleaning the room! The staff were very friendly. Thank YOu!

We had a great time at this hotel. This was not our first time to Varadero but was our first time at this hotel. We were able to see a lot of our old friends while there plus we made a lot of new ones.. Everyone of the employees were very accommodating and friendly. Plan to come back during the winter months with a few of our friends.

Walk to town, friendly guests. Don't choose this resort for modern amenities, great service or great food. Choose it for the amazing fun atmosphere, short walk to town, best beach, great amenities that are actually used. I couldn't ask for a better vacation.

My third time staying at this resort. Improvements are constantly being made. Great beach. Great food. Great night life. Great variety of pools Can be tough to get drinks at night without tipping. Staff are mediocre. Location is as good as it gets. Resort land is well kept

The grounds were neat and clean of garbage and the pool area was very picturesque and well kept. The beach was in walking distant and there was a lot of lounging chairsas was the pool area. There was 2 bar areas and service was good and the server's were very kind and helpful and the drinks were delicious!! It was my first experience to a tropical island but I would love to go there or any where in Cuba again!!