The ROC Arenas Doradas is an older resort that is well maintained. They keep everything spotless.The beds are comfortable.we has many food choices. (ROC Plus) The people who work here are the Best you could ever meet. We made many new friends and will definitely be returning.

This was the worst hotel I ever seen in my whole life I been travelling that’s like over 35 years this hotel needs to be shut down for tourist 2 days after we booked Paradiso varedero resort and spa was incredible stunning everything about it was beautiful I will go back 10000 times over , but this garbage hotel roc arenas was brutal

Run down resort, missing stairs in pool ladder. Broken railings to go up stairs to the restaurant. No food as the place is over run with Cubans and Russians grabbing food from the buffet and dumping it in their bags. Resort EVEN RAN OUT OF SUGAR!! Bottom shelf liquor, you have to leave the buffet to get coffee as there is no coffee service. The Cubans guests are so LOUD in the morning waking everyone up shouting and have no control over their kids. I encountered them begging/demanding things from guests which was very annoying. I know things are rough for the Cuban people, but just think... if these Cuban hotel guests can afford a week at an all inclusive resort with all of their relatives in tow then they must not be very poor at all. The resort is infested with roaches. Card key turned off numerous times and was blamed by the front desk that it was my fault! Found numerous guests at the front desk complaining that they too had their key card deactivated. My advice spend the extra $100.00 and go to Mexico or Jamaica. At least you won't starve there

This resort was pretty good. The food was tasty, but very repetitive and they would run out of certain food pretty quickly. The beach is absolutely beautiful- the star of the show!!!! I found the pool a little dirty, but nothing that I wouldn’t swim in. Just not a clean as I am used too. The entertainment was different than I am used to, but all the entertainers were very talented. Our room was clean and our maid was sooo sweet! She always took good care of our space. Most staff were very friendly. We even made a few friends. Overall, we really enjoyed our stay and we enjoyed visiting Cuba a lot! We definitely will be back, but will probably visit another resort/hotel or Airbnb.

The staff are super friendly. The resort is small so easy to get around. The beach is beautiful and the ocean superb. This is a must go to for those looking for value. It is good for singles, couples and families.

First time visiting this resort and we were pleased! The beach was very clean, and a great location just a few minutes walk from the resort! The grounds of the resort were well maintained. We stayed in building number 2 which was a little dated but we didn’t mind as we don’t spend much time in our room. The location of everything was very close which we liked!

Very good location and beach. Grounds are very nice and kept clean all the time with lot of trees and greenery. Rooms has nice balcony's or patios but in usual condition for Cuba and few times during the day you will be missing water pressure or no water in the tap at all. Very week entertainment team and 2 star night shows comparing to all resort we visit in the past 10 years with very old and run down theater , which may explain level of entertainment. Food was good but Cuba still straggle with past covid times but you can always find food you like. Excellent and quick service at all bars but no service by the tables at the lobby area or coffee shop even after staff received tips from customers. After all of that we had good time and coming back to Varadero but will try find another resort.

If you decide to go to this resort be sure to choose Roc Plus or the upgraded room at time of booking in Canada. This is definitely a situation that requires a renovated/ superior/ upgraded room. Upgraded equals a painted room with a bathroom renovation. Unusual situation on site, indifferent staff regardless of tipping , makes no difference with the exception of one bartender- Daniel, one housekeeper, Annamarty? and one lady that makes milk shakes and sandwiches Martalys? Three staff that delivered an enjoyable experience. This was my 4 th time visiting Cuba and compared to previous resorts I would not recommend choosing this particular resort.

Hotel is good,Superior rooms are great.Food is average,Beach is great,Staff is very friendly.Only thing we didn’t like is its we never get beach towels in our whole visit and Very hard to get reservations for restaurants.We went to book the reservation very first day they said everything is book.I will give 3.5 Star to this hotel.

We loved the beach, pool, room stewards, and the dining room wait staff. We also like that it was a family friendly place, as we had an infant with us. The grounds were pleasant and well kept. The first room we were assigned had the electrical wires exposed, ceiling tiles hanging down, and wallpaper hanging off the walls. It was very discouraging. After bringing this to the attention of the client services manager (who was very friendly) we were granted a much nicer room with no issues. Most of the staff were great, but a number of the bar tenders, coffee bar staff, and pool snack hut were rude and not very pleasant. The food was ok, nothing special, but a decent variety. The hours and food quality and variety of the pool snack hut was not ideal. They served unappetizing sandwiches, and even though they could serve French fries they told us on a number of days that we were too late in the day for fries, even though they would not tell us the hours when we could get fries the next day and it was still in the posted meal times. It would be easy to serve a better variety of food at the pool snack bar, such as burgers, fries, sandwiches for the posted hours. Very disappointing. Overall we had a nice experience at the resort.

Thanx to Tammy B for all the arrangements++..This is a Great resort. Two story guest buildings; well presented, landscaped and maintained grounds. Grand reception area ; coffee bar with out side seating patio; covered but open to the outside lounge area; small bandshell with seating for the well presented evening dance and music reviews & adjacent disco lounge. Pathways with stone work made it easy to move about. Very pretty overall...!!! Meals generally with variety and safely presented. Control with staff also clean and safe. Several dining rooms offering "al la carte" options in addition to the main dining room with a marvelous beach front open area option Great pool with swim up bar; great beach with options for skin diving/catamaran sailing/kayak paddle/++ Everyone friendly and helpful. Continuing to rework some of the older buildings but our rooms were modern and recently renovated. We were accompanied by our family in separate rooms including a young child. All was well for everyone. Family resort it is but NOT an issue for all ages to book in!

Leaving tomorrow. Enjoyed everything this hotel had to offer. Roc plus rooms had great showers and plenty of hot water. Bring snacks and condiments. Pool and beach amazing. The staff was super friendly and very appreciative of gifts we brought. Varadaro is close by and has a ton of markets. Took the bus from here and came back in a lemon car for $15. Bring American for tips and canadian for everything else. Excursions take credit card only same with gift shoppe in hotel. Bring lots of sunscreen its hot hot hot and you can't buy it here. Aaa batteries, essentials (soap, shampoo, shoes, clothing, tampons are appreciated. All in all fabulous spot to vacation and we will be returning.

This was out 30th trip to Cuba, but our first at this resort, great size, very good service, we did have a lot of fun with most of the staff. The food was good, we have to consider this being Cuba, usual lines (omelets, meat etc.) were almost inexistant, which I enjoyed. The beach was beautiful with plenty of chairs and palapas. The grounds were immaculate. Rooms, we had the ROC plus, I recommend, out room was freshly renovated, I think we were the first ones in. Basic rooms but clean, excellent mattress with nice shower with good pressure.

This resort by no means is a 4 star resort, it’s the worst all inclusive I have ever stayed at by far. My husband and I arrived with our two kids 8 months and 32 months and were checked into an outdated room with mould on the lamp shade, no toilet paper holder, AC only functioned at high blast, paper thin comforters with no warmth, broken playpens for cribs that the bottom touched the floor. The food was selection was awful (no cereal, oatmeal, pasta, salad dressing, cheese, only fruit was unripe pineapple and papaya, almost no vegetables, fries only one time and the list goes on) Everything was salty and they would mix ham/pork in almost everything from salads to rice etc so if you have dietary restrictions be prepared to go hungry often. They would reluctant make you a vegetarian option even at the grill station. I was genuinely distraught after the first night so i spoke to the sunwing representative and client services the next day requesting to be switched to another resort. All that was offered to me was upgradibg us to the ROC plus plan which included an upgraded room and unlimited dinner reservations at the a la cartes as the buffet was beyond terrible. Despite being an upgraded room the patio door did not lock, I called and they said maintenance would come, no one showed up. The sheets were stained. Coffee maker in the room, but no coffee or filters. No room service. The Cuban restaurant was actually just a buffet with less option than the main. The italian and international a la carte had more decent food but even there the meats were overcooked and tough and very little selection. The plates in the buffet were often dirty, they ran out of beach towels for a few days, ran out of bath towels and only had hand towels, no cups at the pool or beach bar ( we read the reviews and brought our own) Drinks: wine only at dinner, no mixed drinks like daiquiris, Margaritas, mojitos etc, basically had rum and beer. Be aware there’s sand fleas on the beach. The pros: beach is beautiful, the staff are exceptional, coffee bar has great cappuccinos Overall: would never return to this resort and I’m dissatisfied that sunwing offered no assistance in switching resorts.

The resort room was great, fantastic staff, friendly although it would be better if they could communicate better with their English. After all most tourists are English speaking or can speak English I have found. The grounds are well maintained. My biggest issue was all the cutbacks in the dining area. After speaking with other people from different resorts they didn’t have any cutbacks at all. I definitely would not recommend this resort to any of my friends.

I wanted to share this review of Hotel Roc Arenas Doradas on Tripadvisor: https://www.tripadvisor.ca/ShowUserReviews-g147275-d151592-r875858754-Hotel_Roc_Arenas_Doradas-Varadero_Matanzas_Province_Cuba.html

Beautiful beach. Friendly staff. Outdated rooms in building B11. Stains on bathroom towels and beddings. Very limited variety in food. No milk and cereals in the morning. Well maintained landscaping. Lots of smokers. Great coffee bar. I would not recommend this hotel for families with babies.

I have been traveling to this hotel for decades, and it has always met or exceeded my expectations. I have always found the staff helpful, and welcoming. They are slowly renovating some of their rooms, and you may get a dated one, but they are still clean and comfortable. The grounds are exceptional, and well kept. The front desk staff is friendly,and will help you with anything you need. There is a new GM, and he is always ready to have a chat and a smile. It's a smaller resort, so less hassle to get around. Perfect vacation spot!

I have to start this review by acknowledging the great management from the hotel director Fernando! I was there the week that Hurricane Ian passed thru Cuba at our resort everything ran so smoothly that the guests didn’t have to do without anything. Also have to mention the Chef Guadalupe and Chef Santos the food was delicious every day and a great variety! A special thanks to the entertainment team that keeped the guests entertained thru the bad weather they were facing (YuYa, Yas, Yordanka,Gretel and the rest of the team) don’t want to forget the ladies at reception always professional and willing to help! Roc Arenas Doradas is the hotel to stay in your vacation in Varadero Gracias

I've been to this fantastic resort numerous times, and will definitely continue to go back! The staff are definitely the top selling feature! Every guest is treated like family. The rooms and the grounds are kept immaculate, and the food is fantastic, given the lack of supply. Can't wait to go back!!

This was my second time to this resort and I have been to Cuba many times. I will continue to return to this resort as the staff are amazing as well as the walkability of the property. The bars and amenities are fantastic and in my opinion this resort has one of the best beaches in the area.

I have returned to this hotel many many times. I love it here! The staff are all so nice and accommodating. The grounds are well looked after Some of the rooms have been updated. They are in the process of upgrading the others. But old or new, they are all still comfortable. The beach is beautiful. Hot white sand! There are 3 bars which are easily accessible. It is a smaller resort so you get to know the staff and they get to know you! I know, everyone wants to hear about the food! I never went hungry. There is always pasta, pork, fish and chicken. And I am going back as soon as I can. It is my home away from home!

This resort is #1 as far as I am concerned. I have returned to this resort almost 30 times so that it speaks volumes. The rooms are clean. Some rooms have been renovated. The grounds are kept up. The staff are amazing! The food is good! You will never go hungry! It is a smaller resort so it is easy to get around.

And so brightly lit!! As always, I love Cuba for the beautiful Cuban people. This hotel is a good choice for people that like meeting Cubans, as there are many staying there. I felt mostly well taken care of by the staff especially Elizabeth who kept my nice room immaculate. Amaui and Oreley helped me find (vegetarian) food to eat. The 2 Israels made sure I was safe at the beach and catamaran. As always, I found it easy to find new friends and enjoy myself. The drawbacks were the dining and lack of organized entertainment or things to do. The main buffet is run more like a cafeteria, with long disorganized lineups, bright lights and SO NOISY. The first night we waited in line for 40+ minutes to eat. There was only one guy cooking meat to order as well as serving the hot sides. People wandered in and out of the queue (in other words, budging). and sometimes they were out of items when you got to the front. It was chaos. They need to run it more like the beach restaurant, with a grill off to the side. When I tried to eat at the a la carte, I was told they couldn't make anything vegetarian (although I was offered the salad bar). They offered Spanish lessons, and one day there were stretches on the beach. The catamaran is included with your stay, which I really liked doing. They sometimes had Cuban dancers and a singer. Once they had a terrific Cuban band. Otherwise they played really loud old pop music. They need more things to do such as dance lessons, exercise, Cuban music, informational sessions and the like. The beach is incredible. The pool was too noisy, I tried to sit there and couldn't even hear the people sitting with me. The lobby and other seating places look great. But they turn the lights on full at 5 pm, which doesn't make for a nice atmosphere. Cuba is what you make it, and I do love the beach. But if you want something more, I suggest going elsewhere.

We booked the resort only because our trip to Cayo Largo was abruptly cancelled so we hadn't had much time to research. Having said that we were pleasantly surprised with the beautiful surroundings and amazing beach around us. Swimming in the sand bottomed ocean was such fun wether it was still or full of waves. We rode the free catamaran through the waves and back... And chilled on the beach in the sun or under the straw umbrellas. Entertainment was always available at the beach or by the pool. The common areas were clean and well kept, and you could tell that they were in the process of updating parts of the resort. Having said that, we were in a building that was clean but quite dated and tired looking. if you had an issue with your room, the staff was quick to come and take care of it. I understand that some of the buildings (rooms) have been modernized but I didn't get to see them. The staff was always receptive, some friendlier than others, some abit slower than others but usually willing to help. The buffet always had fresh cooked options and I was able to create a different meal daily. We went to the Italian a la carte and thoroughly enjoyed our dinner. Drinks were usually good quality, wine with dinner but they ran out of wine at the bar in the evenings, so it was Mohito time !! There were lots of families there and they seemed to be well accommodated. Not a wild party resort but a relaxing enjoyable vacation was had by most of our group of 12. Great value for $$$

The hotel was clean, and budget friendly. The food was not wonderful, But we always found something to eat. Service everywhere was friendly, but not quick. The rooms absolutely need updating. The coffee bar Was delicious, and the staff wonderful.

The resort is smaller and low key, which was a positive for me. The staff was friendly. Breakfast and lunch were amazing. There's a bbq by the beach that has great offerings. Dinner was ok. The free bus to Varadero was great, and of course the beach was amazing! Lots of chairs available--no need to go down super early and secure the chairs like in other resorts. We stayed in a renovated villa, so showers were hot and the room was big and clean. Swim up bar was nice, but I preferred the beach. It seemed like there were lots of activities for kids. My bf is gluten free, and didn't have any issues with the food at all.

The ROC Arenas Doradas was completely fine, nothing really outstanding except the beach! The entire resort was clean and well cared for. The food was fine, certainly not great but not bad either. Most of the staff were friendly and just went about their work. I think being perfectly fine is what they are trying to achieve with no surprises.

We enjoyed our stay, the rooms we fine for size. Wish we had a dresser for our clothes and a proper rod for hanging our clothes, other than that the beach was amazing and the staff were very nice. First time in Cuba and all inclusive. Food was not bad. Didn't loose any weight , so we ate pretty well...

This was our second trip to the Arenas Doradas. The hotel, staff and meals were great. A special New Year's eve buffet was very good. The grounds are beautiful, and as always, the beach at Varadero is outstanding. Always lots of beach chairs. Would definitely recommend if you are seeking a smaller, friendly resort.

This was the 2nd time I have been Ro Roc Arenas Dorado and I loved it, so much so that possibly back there again in April 2020. The staff at the front desk were amazing and very helpful as for the Buffet and the snack bar. The best part is that the staff serving me from April remember me and where very happy to see me back again. The animation was great especially Yaz, he is amazing so much energy and so pleasant especially to us Canadians. Also the cleanliness of the rooms and the friendly maids exceptional.

This hotel is in excellent location, the beach is incredible, we had very gentle waves, white sand bottom, crystal clear aqua blue waters. It was perfect for young kids and elderly people. I liked the smaller size to this resort and the friendly staff. The pool is excellent with lots of shade available. The rooms are very outdated and in desperate need of updating. We were in block 7,super close to beach and pool. Apparently block 3 is renovated and really nice but according to customer service not allowed for families, bummer!! Food is satisfactory, they do have a nice coffee bar in the main lobby. I’m not sure I would return because I like a nice room and really got tired of the food.

It was my daughters first Cuba experience and my second. We had the time of our lives. The Roc Arenas Doradas resort was a beautiful well kept fun for all experience. The staff and activities were next to none. Beautiful people with the biggest smiles every day. I would highly recommend this resort to all for the best Cuban experience. Thank you all for everything. See you all again soon. 😘❤

This was our 3rd visit. The staff are amazing and ratings are not overstated. This property is perfect for those who like small intemit surroundings, under 300 rooms and a short walk to all amenities. The coffee bar and mornings in the garden were so relaxing. This review wouldn't be complete without mentioning the beach, fantastic!

Older resort but very well maintained.....it was late in the season not alot of people however the staff was super friendly and made us feel comfortable... Daily and evening entertainment was great.....food rooms beach were amazing as well...would definitely return

The staff are wonderful...especially Reuben at the Buffet! The rooms and grounds are clean...the grounds keepers are excellent and supply coconuts to enjoy! Swim up bar and restaurant is great. Say hello to Jesus while having a burger! The ocean and beach were pristine! Great resort and the staff make it better!

Great staff, clean, good food!!! Loved it! We would go back the beaches are amazing and things for all ages to do at this resort. ROC is a great place for family and young adults as well as couples.

I love Cuba and don't expect much as I go for beach and relaxation. Lovely grounds but for us personally I did not like that there was not a 24 hour snack bar and only late bar was lobby bar. Was not alot to stay entertained in evening at all. Rooms, especially bathrooms need updating but it is Cuba and not much time in rooms. Only main complaint was only one hot shower all week, rest were cold water. Grounds are nice but I will not be returning simply because not enough to keep you awake at night so kind of boring.

We were very happy with our accommodations. We were in a newly renovated block with easy access to lobby, pool, restaurants and the beach. Rooms were large, bright and comfortable. Bathroom was amazing! Very clean and well-maintained.

The reviews for this hotel are extremely accurate. To sum it up, this is a smaller resort with easy access to everything. The food is quite good, especially if you like fresh fish, and the service is very good as well. Everyone is so friendly and helpful. The coffee bar is to die for, best coffee I've ever had on vacation. They work very hard there. The beach is just stunning and you can walk a long way on it. There is no rock or coral so there aren't any fish. We did see some white/yellow fish and some turquoise fish I call "needle nose" because they are very long. Always a place to sit at both beach and pool and lots of shade. The rooms are a great size although there isn't anywhere to unpack your clothes so we just lived out of the suitcase for the week. They are generous with bottled water but no beer/pop is available for your fridge. You have to buy it from the store. For the most part, you have to get your own drinks, there isn't service around the pool or beach except at the beach restaurant. Even in the lobby it's mostly self-serve which is completely fine, good to get up and move. I've been to the Caribbean 18 times now and this resort falls somewhere in the middle range. I enjoy quiet pools so I wouldn't go back to this resort but do recommend it for anyone who doesn't mind the loud, party vibe. A few negatives were that although we had a coffee maker in the room, there were no filters or coffee. To buy a few packs for the machine, they wanted 6 pesos. So we filled a large bubba with coffee everyday from the coffee bar and filled the pot and just tipped well. Lack of soap. The beach restaurant is a buffet and there was no soap 6 of 7 days in restroom. I travel with hand sanitizer which came in handy. Overall the resort is lovely but while we were there, it got very rowdy in the pool so we spent all of our time at the beach to avoid it.

This resort was amazing, the food was fantastic, the room was newly renovated modern and clean and the maids were awesome. You were made to feel like family by all staff members of the resort right from the front desk to the waiters and waitresses, maids and even the gardeners, we had a lot of fun by the pool with the animation staff they are a real hoot, and the night shows were great. Will definitely make plans to return. Thank you Maya.

Hi there, we just got back Wednesday,,,We were hereat Roc Areans last year,,,looks like its going down hill from the food wich was terrible ,,,,room wasnt bad,,,we dont care about fancy ,,,all the workers very friendly,,,, beach beautiful,,,,,We went to a specialty restaurannt on the Friday eve (husbands birthday),,,,when we got back around 11:00 from the lounge hubby said he was feeling funny,,,like heartburn and he went to bed,,,3:00 am he started vomiting and the diharhea so bad it was terrible, he was sweating and had a headache,,,i gave him imodium and got tonic water he had the runs for 3 days,,,i also had the runs but not near as sick as him....I asked them for more toilet paper the cleaning lady said later i will bring,,,i said he needs it now,,,so i went to th public washroom and kept pulling the roll so i had enough,,,I went to the Sunwing lady and she called the girl and he brough 2 rolls,,,It was like pulling teeth, Sungwing lady said to go to Dr ,,,even with insurance they want cash..Worst experience ever,,,,wasted our money,,,Its was def something we ate the dr said today,,,we are now on antibitoics...i think a lot of food is left in the open,,,Not sure, but i hope no one else gets this,,,,we ate dry toast and black tea so we could make it on the plan with oout causing more stomache upset,,,sorry but this is our holiday story,,travelled for 20 years it never happened before.

The hotel and grounds is one of the best We have stayed at. The food was the best we have had . We would recommend it and make a return visit. The beach was great for long walks . The pool with the swim up bar was clean and a nice size .

I had a great experience for the first time being in Cuba The only complain was I only stayed one week instead of two The resort was amazing The staff did everything to make my stay a good one Food was great (may have gained a few pounds)

Not a high end resort, but we had lots of fun and completely enjoyed ourselves. Only problems we had, was the first day, we could not get beach towels till after 1pm as they didn't have any clean ones. People were friendly. We absolutely loved our two servers, Roberto and Arasay!!! We did find at the hotel desk, the girls had major attitude!! You went to get $$, and the one wouldn't even look up at you.No greeting with a smile, even when we were checking in. I've worked customer service, even on a bad day, you greet the next person with a smile and a hello. It was like we were bothering them. But the customer service rep, Yoli, was great, always a smile on her face and helpful. Rooms were basic, but they served the purpose. As I said in title, we would go back again.

Rooms were very basic but spotless, with fresh bottle of water daily. Customer service rep Yoly was awesome. Also Roberto and Arasay in the buffet made us feel as if we were welcome every day! Will be returning for sure.

What can I say about ROC Arenas Dorades... It was AMAZING.. the place is amazing, we had such a great time... The staff there are like family and they treat you like family. Our room was in building 2 nothing really wrong with it other than it's dated... I see building 3 is renovated but for the amount of time you spend in the room it's great. The beach is great water is so clean and clear... If you are a beach person you will absolutely love it and never want to leave. The pool is big and was never crowded. Only downfall there isn't enough shade around the pool so if you want a shade spot you need to grab the chairs early in the morning under the huts. They do have umbrellas around the pool but as the sun moves you will need to readjust. The food can be as expected... Never went hungry that's for sure but some things need more flavour. The Mini club staff are amazing they love the kids and make it fun for them . I went with a 9 & 6 year old and they had so much fun. Best lunch spot is the BBQ by the beach... Fridays Cubana day was so much fun as well! I can't wait to go back will definitely be booking here again... Just an FYI. Bring extra sun screen and if you are the type of person to get bitten by sandflies definitely bring bug spray and itch relief cream. I was eaten alive but out of 7 people on my trip I was the only one!

This is the second time back to this resort and we were not disappointed. The grounds are always kept immaculate and the staff are helpful and friendly. We had to change to another room due to needing a tub vs shower and they were very accommodating. They are starting to do major reno on the buildings which will be refreshing. The buffet choices are good they switch it up some but not a lot. The New Year's dinner was great. The beach access and beach itself is very nice. Lounges could be updated.

It was a nice resort. The staff were wonderful, the food was good. The rooms were clean. The beds could have been better and the shower upgraded but besides that it was fine. The size of the resort was good.

Everything was great . Drinks,food,grounds, staff was great. Coffee ladies are the best. The rooms were good as well. Everyone very friendly courteous helpful in all areas. Would definitely be going back .

L hotel ete en condicion tres tres mal...la nurriture..ca ete degolas et en plus la clientèle..tres brouillant..pour prende la nurriture il faudra faire de long file..en resume je le conseille pas..je passe un semaine ..vraiment pas bonne

Great hotel, clean pool, close to beach, food was ok but it was expected. Great staff and service overall. Night entertainment was good with variety of events. Easy access to downtown. I would recommend

No lineups, lots of hospitality with friendly service always!!!💞Food and coffee services were excellent!Drink selections were second to none ! Very clean even though could use upgrades to rooms and bathrooms....would then be surely a 5 *

very good restourant and food rely good some public area not clean around buildings some garbage remain there for two weeks park area beside beech nobody cleaning some small bugs entering to the room and biting over night very friendly staff I like this resort this is some recommendation what should be improved

Stayed april 14-21. Was a great vacation. Hotel is nice. We stayed in block 5 great area close to pool and beach. Food was very yummy. Then again I never complain about Cuban food. Pool is a good size. Lots of chairs. Beach was amazing. Wasn't hard finding chairs on the beach. Grounds are very clean. Check in was crazy. Ending up checking us into a dirty room. Then bell boy was rude about it when we appeared upset. Mexican À la cart was delicious. Disco is not a real happening spot. Handful of people there.

Our stay at ROC Arenas Dorodas was wonderful. The beach is beautiful, the staff very friendly and lots of variety for food. We did the Carillo and Mexican a la cartes, preferred the Mexican. We were expecting the resort to be small but it was a perfect size with a great layout. Food at the buffet varied a bit each night which was nice as you didn't always have to eat the same thing. Food at the beach barbecue was very good and the pool snack bar served great burgers and fries. We had an evening flight so we requested a late check out, no issues with keeping the room. They do charge 10 pesos for each hour but it was worth it. Overall we had a very enjoyable vacation.

This hotel was a great time. Beautiful beach, lots of loungers all the time, turquise ocean, food was very good, specialty restaurants very good especially the Italian...Rooms were clean and nice, not fancy but very good beds and clean bathrooms. Coffee bar was really good have to try it yourself. Wouldn't think twice about going here again..., we are going to take more people next time. Was great place to travel to...Also short cab ride to downtown Varedero. The beatles bar is a lot of fun, good music...Karen &Brian don't miss this resort

This was my second time coming to arenas doradas for vacation. The beach was awesome, food was good, al a cartes were amazing (we were able to try all of them). The resort was clean and well kept. The chocolate ice cream by the pool was very refreshing and tasty. Yoly (customer service) treated us so well and made our vacation everything we could have asked for. Leo and Rosanna in the natura and Italian restaurant are really great people. Super friendly and kind. We did snorkelling right off the resort as well as fishing with Danny where the catamarans are. This was a great experience and a good price. We caught 20+ fish! The resort also has a free shuttle that goes into town every few hours which is a nice option so you don't have to pay for a cab or double decker bus each time.

This resort was very clean the bathrooms were always shiny clean with fresh flowers . The staff was very friendly always remembered you . This is not a complaint but if anything needed to be improved would be a bit more variety at the buffet. The food was always hot salads were very fresh bread delicious.

We spend a very good time in the resort for a week. The beach was amazing! The staff was very kind and helpful. The kids had wonderful time in the Mini club. Special Thanks to Eduardo from the restaurant that he was always with a big smile and always on time with our drinks :-)

Food Beach and service was great. Rooms wasn't what you expect from Cuban resorts. Everything was working and in good condition. Staff was friendly and most of them yang people with smile on their faces. Best guys in the kitchen are Eduardo and Milena.

When I read that an all inclusive vacation is listed I tend to think that the offer is all inclusive.Truthfully I have experienced the "all inclusive " rarely.This vacation was a continual dip in the pocket but in a nickel and dime fashion. From the elite plus seating Sunwing flight where 2 bags of chips cost seven dollars to paying fifteen dollars for a 5 day rental of the safe at the resort.Cubans have really become "tip expectant".However the Hotel was exceptionally clean although dated.The food was a 2 star and sometimes of a questionable origin.The people were sweet and warm but management mostly unseen or in the shadows..The beaches were beautiful and the water crystal blue .The trip was worth getting away ,albeit for only 5 days just to sit on the beach and shed our winter clothes.

Beach and pool very nice, you could always find shade and chairs. Food was fine. Everything in our room worked except the last few days had cool showers. Our maid Yackeline was excellent and Eduardo in the buffet was exceptional. Unfortunately the rest of the buffet wait staff gave the appearance that this was the last place on earth they wanted to be. A very unfriendly crew. Also the lobby bartenders were pretty sullen, a smile probably wouldn't have killed them. The staff at the coffee shop were also very friendly and always pleasant. A few times the lobby bar said they ran out of wine, although there were many bottles at the buffet! One day when Air Transat reps came to inspect the resort things were much better such as extra staff at the buffet and everyone got silverware, things got painted, flowers in the lobby bathroom, etc. The very next day when the reps were gone, everything went back to the way it was before. Obviously this hotel does not care about their guests as much as trying to make a good impression on the travel agencies.

The hotel grounds were well kept however service was rude, the key cards failed repeatedly to the point where we just started using the patio door. Food was horrendous. Bars and activities at pool side was very acceptable hotel seemed to be highly recommended and was a disappointment.

The hotel grounds were beautiful , the hotel rooms Were good, the key card suck big time . We had to get them re done practically everyday , had the kids go through the patio doors sometimes cause we were sick off getting the keys fixed. The food we Didn’t like but we stuck to the basics and got through it. The bartenders are amazing and the grounds people were very nice and friendly Every morning . Maid service too was great. Our bathroom did start to leak in the ceiling the day before we left cause there was a Bad patch job but none the less we didn’t stay Much in our room Except to sleep. Would we return yes but we would go into town to eat and o my snack on little stuff at the hotel

Cosy resort that needs to be updated Food was ok nothing special Beaches in varadero are beautiful Itailian restaurant was actually very nice and the food was good Mattress pillows and bedding in our room was terrible Stained sheets and very old uncomfortable mattress No washrooms close to the beach Main lobby bar was not equipped with sufficient amount of alcohol. By 9:00pm there were not serving moijitos or they were out off dark rum. This was the one and only bar opened in the evenings. Management of this resort needs to be changed They are rude and simply don’t care. We had three days of cold and rain during our stay. People were bored There were no activities/games inside One cuc currency = $1.42 Canadian ☹️ I would not recommend this resort to anyone. One last important thing. Absolutely no drinks in the refrigerator in the rooms. There is a coffee maker but no coffee provided. Limited to only one bottle of water a day. If you need more you have to buy it at the store inside the resort. Safety deposit box 2 cuc per day. This is not a 4 star resort at advertised Tips are expected !!!

I truly enjoyed everything about this resort. The staff are very friendly and always helpful. Also, the staff is always smiling. Some days it took a while for them to get to our room and clean it but when it was done it was great. Really enjoyed my favorite waiter Amauri - if he serves you he is wonderful and very friendly, also Maria A at the coffee bar.

This is the second time we stayed at ROC Arenas Doradas. We again got a good price and enjoyed our stay. Most of the staff were very nice. However, we did not have a working TV and nor a working phone from our late Saturday arrival until mid-Wednesday when we were finally moved to a new room. We were subsequently told all the units in our complex (12 rooms or so) had problems with their TV. Did they not know this when we first complained on Saturday? Thankfully, we had befriended a senior member of the staff who finally escalated our concerns. Still, since TV is not that important on a Cuba vacation, we still had a good time and were treated quite well. The nightly entertainment was good although the same dance troupe did 3 of the 5 shows we saw. The beach was great and perfect weather made it even better. Buffet restaurant was ok. I'm a picky eater and found things too different from my Canadian palate so tended to have the same "safe" foods (ie. pasta, buns, ice cream) over and over again. My wife is less picky so she thought the buffet was fine. There were also 4 a la carte restaurant options which you could reserve on 2 occasions. I enjoyed this more but my wife preferred the wider options in the buffet. Recreational events were provided but we did not make much use of them. We went on a couple of cost-based excursions (Havana and a tour of some caves) which we enjoyed. If we go back, there were other cost-based options (sailing, horse-back riding) which we might try. All in all, we had a good time and would go there again. That being said, after 2 trips to the same location, its more likely that we will try another location in Cuba outside of Veradero.

This was my second time to this resort and I was pleased again. The resort is not too large and is very clean. It seemed like they had put a fresh paint of coat on most things so it looked nice and refreshed. My friends and I thought the food was good both at the snack bar and the buffet. We also ate at the Italian restaurant and we enjoyed that as well. The other restaurants were booked so we couldn’t try them. The gym has a few cardio machines and a universal pull up and dip machine. It was very clean and well air conditioned. I would definitely return and my friends said they would as well.

This hotel is very nice, friendly staff, a lot of Food and drink options. There is a free bus into town and back everyday. It is very clean, they give you a big bottle of water everyday. Nice pool and beach. First time in Cuba was a good experience.

Food good.returner week was great.free catamaran ride.could get a chair and umbrella anytime of the day. The beach was perfect....................................................................................... .

We just returned from two weeks at Arenas Dorades (AD). While we were there we walked down the beach and visited some of the neighbouring resorts to see they had considerably more damage then AD. In fact, except for losing the beach-side bar and some thatched-roofing, AD has done a great job and bringing their grounds back to a nice level. The weather thefirst week was 29-30 degrees so it was OK the AD pool was "chilly". However, by the 2nd week, the weather had cooled to 26-27 degrees and it was no longer comfortable to use the pool. We opted for the beach and the ocean - which was warmer than the pool. I would hesitate to book a winter vacation here until I knew they were going to turn the pool up. Two weeks of eating at the AD cafeteria grew thin. In fact I would engourage Sunwing to do soething about their partner's food. Sunwing is promoting their " new on-board menu inspired by Celebrity Chef Lynn Crawford". Well, send Lynn Crawford down to your partrner hotels and inspire some edible food. The quaility of the food in Cuba has long been a weakness - its time to fix it. Overall, we had a very affordable two-week vacation at a nice resort that is working hard to recover from Irma. I would go back to AD but I would eat out at Veradero a few more nights.

My husband and I have been to this resort every year since 2012 and last year twice. Every year we come they have made some kind of improvement, whether it be that they are updating the guest rooms or they have improved their menus. This year unfortunately hurricane Irma threw a wrench in our travel plans and we had to reschedule for the week after originally booked and they put us at a different resort.Well one night there and I was on a mission to get to our beloved Arenas Doradas. Our Air Canada rep in Cuba, Osvaldo was wonderful at helping us get everything switched from the original resort to Arenas Doradas. We love all of our friends there and they get so excited to see us too. All though the resort did suffer some damage they all work as a team to get things guest ready and we did not want for anything,all the a'la'cartes were receiving guests where the original resort was not. The beach bar was damaged so they got a temperary one ready until the new one is built , and by the time we left it was half done.This resort is our cuban home we love our people there.

Just returned from the roc. Stayed Aug 12 to 19 in two rooms building 8 lower floor,. Pretty nice place with an amazing beach. No, real fighting for beach chairs but, get a blue one. The water is crazy warm could sit in it all day. This place has never heard of a shot glass, they pour until they see the whites of your eyes. Do yourself a favour and bring your own bubby cups. Pool bar has the best drinks Towels seem to be at a perium, so bring your own just in case mid doesn't leave any. That happened twice to us The food is slightly disappointing,, beef is a little tough, but ever chicken dish was excellent. You will always find something. The oddest thing is that their is no air conditioning in main buffet ....breakfast was real good They people who work there try really hard and are very nice. So all in all, I would give the roc a sold 3.7...I would just watch what you should pay 900 off season maybe 1400 high season.....we would go back

I had a wonderful time in Arenas Doradas. The beach is fantastic, the food was rich, organic and very tasty, there was entertainment every evening, the staff was friendly and helpful. The gardens and parks are well maintained and beautiful.

Very friendly staff, beautiful beach, exciting events on and off the resort. Plenty of transportation into varadero. Both the buffet and the specialty restaurants are good quality food with very friendly and quick service. Overall amazing experience.

we loved everything was perfect,we will come back again for sure.we have a good time.muito bommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Went back a 3rd time for the people & the beach and, I wasn't disappointed. Eduardo in the buffet, Jesus & Arelys at the snack bar & Yuya & Yuliere at the towal cabana truly made our trip. What wonderful people - polite, friendly, helpful with great smiles. They work hard and somehow are always smiling - even with those that are rude to them! The hotel and the rooms are showing its age...outdated. The food is ok (you wont starve). The a la carte restaurants use to be better...the new TEX MEX a la carte was NOT GOOD. The manager walked around the resort, always said hello with a pleasant smile. The yellow beach chairs need to go - they are old and not comfortable. The grounds are well kept. Entertainment was decent. Again, for a 3 stars, the beach and the people; you cant be the price.

The Arenas Doradas was a nice resort. It's Cuba. So yes the bed wasn't very comfortable, if you looked closely there is some cracks, dirt/mould in the ceilings etc. the sliding door had one handle missing so there was an open space to the outside (I just shoved the curtain into it to keep out bugs), the phone didn't work, my bar fridge didn't work until I unplugged the TV and plugged it into there so I chose having a fridge over the TV for the trip.. I'd put the bath towels into the tub to get washed and never got the larger towels again until about the last day.. so things weren't perfect. But the room was always clean, the AC was very good! It had a remote and was very handy for changing the temperature if you woke up hot or cold. I HAD towels they just weren't the larger ones but you air dry quickly in the heat anyways! The food is not good. I tried to get something from the grill in the main buffet as much as possible - having them make something fresh was best. The breads are good and I didn't starve. We brought our own peanut butter and some snacks for the room and that really helped. I found the food at the beach bar and the pool bar to be very disappointing. We stuck to the main buffet. I'd stayed somewhere else in the past that had good pizzas and nachos/cheese and I missed having that as an option for a snack/meal at the beach. We did the Italian and the Tex Mex a la cartes and they were very good. It was nice to have a change from the buffet. The beach is beautiful! The sand is gorgeous, the water was fantastic. There were always lounge chairs at the pool or the beach in the shade or the sun whenever we needed. We didn't need to go and save spots although we were usually down there by 9-930am.. The grounds were beautiful and well kept. Any issues were mainly due to ignorant people - the toilets were plugged a fair bit in the lobby or at the beach - but you shouldn't put paper down them there. There's garbage cans but people aren't used to doing that and it causes problems. Also, at the beach people leave cigarette butts or cups or coconuts everywhere instead of using the garbage cans. The staff maybe should've been cleaning that up a bit more but people should also take some care to clean up after themselves. We were in building number 2 and it was definitely noisy at night - you could hear the entertainment and the disco. We tried to move and weren't able to the first day and never tried again but i'd definitely recommend being a bit further away. The bathrooms at the beach weren't good at all so being in the building 6 or 7 near the beach would be better. The staff for the most part were very good. The maids were lovely and really appreciated the little gifts we left. We left gifts as tips in the buffet also and if you sit in the same area and do that you get good service. The front desk staff was quite rude. I didn't complain about any issues with my room but felt I maybe should've let them know to fix it for the next people but they were so unapproachable I didn't even bother.

I found this hotel and staff very welcoming and warm. They could not aid you enough. Very friendly, clean and accommodating. The food was very good at both the a la carte's as well as the buffet. The beach was very clean and the water was amazing. We had a great time with our friends. The coffee bar was amazing.

This small resort gives you all the amenities of a larger resort. The resort was clean, staff were friendly and the food was better than expected. The towrls in the rooms could be a little bigger.A 3.5 star that feels more like a 4.

The Resort is small and has very friendly staff. Good was very good and lots of variety. Great shows and family activities. Nice Sandy beach with lots of water sports voting on. Would highly recommend this resort.

We found this resort tired and in need of updates. Some of the employees are friendly and some not at all. We all had stomach issues at this resort. The food was very repetitive. The resort is very well kept however and some staff try very hard.

Resort was okay. Beach is gorgeous. Food was okay as well, we were able to find things we liked and stuck to them all week. The service in the buffet was disappointing. Dirty dishes would mount up on the table before they would clear them and rarely took a drink order. Pool area was nice, lots of lounge chairs, music playing, good and fun vibe. Rooms were very outdated. Beds and pillows AWFUL! Beds hard and springs sticking out and pillows were ridiculouslying flat, couldn't even call them pillows. Maid service was so so. If your looking for a nice beach and a place to relax and chill it's an okay choice but if your a foodie and need an actual pillow to have a good night's rest you might want to consider a different resort.

We are return customers, but I should say I was a little disappointed this year. We had a few complaints where we did call the front desk to have the issues dealt with, smoke alarm going off, not enough towels for the number of people in the room and additionally a large infestation of some type of wing shedding mosquito that took over our bathroom on the last two days of our stay, and sadly no one even came to check out this more serious problems. We killed a dozen or more bugs our second last day and on our last day, when we awakened, the bathroom was covered, counter, toilet paper, towels, our travel toiletry bags, everything in that room. We had to immediately remove all items from that room and take them outside to try to clean them. We closed the door and tried to get our things packed and away from that area. The infestation still had not been addressed when we checked out.. I have recommended the resort in the past, but I wouldn't recommended it based on out most recent visit. I do love the staff!

The grounds were beautiful and very well kept. The hotel was kept very clean and had that Spanish charm but it could use some minor repairs. The patio doors did not lock and we had to change rooms because of termites in the closet and bed. The staff was not really telling us that it was termites but we recognized them on the white sheets. The staff were friendly, helpful and quick to please. I would recommend this hotel, it was well laid out, efficient and very safe.

This hotel although older (some renovated rooms) is very clean, the grounds are beautiful and the staff very helpful and courteous. I've been staying at this hotel for many years and there a multitude of reasons I keep going back. I have often traveled there as a solo female traveler and have always felt safe and due to its smaller size meet many people.

This was our first time in Cuba. The staff at the Arenas Doradas are just amazing! The beach was beautiful, the food was good, and the entertainment was just wonderful! The resort is an older one, so if you are looking for new...stay home! The rooms are clean, always had hot water, towels and bottled water. The staff go out off their way to make you happy. I would recommend this resort and will be returning next year.

This is our third time to this resort and it only gets better each time we are there. We stayed Dec 8 - 15/16 and found they have completed room improvements - like new mattresses, new sheets, new towels, new drapes along with wonderfully quiet air conditioners. There is new furniture in the lounge/bar area and the main buffet area has had a renovation in the food area. This is an older resort, but is it kept very clean and the staff is amazing. The beach is one of the best on the strip - with little shell and coral wash up. We have always found the food to be good to very good. The quality of beef served has also improved. Next time we go we plan on staying at least 10 days. The front desk ladies, Onys, Marelys,Mirian are wonderful and so helpful. The staff in the restaurant, especially Islay, Yulianna and Vladimir and the rest are just the best. Can't wait to go again.

Totally loved my holiday at this beautiful hotel. It was very quiet since we were there during the days of mourning after Castro's death. No music or entertainment. But, it was a great experience just the same, The staff are friendly and helpful. The grounds, rooms, buildings, beach, are all spotlessly clean. The food was much better than I expected after reading other reviews. There was a lot of variety, fresh fruit, meat, veggies, and an amazing selection of cheeses. The Cuban and Italian a la carte restaurants were excellent. Don't bother with the bus tour to Vardero. It is a tour of the other hotels. Take the shuttle into Vardero instead and walk around and shop at the markets. We had only good weather and spent most of the time at the beach.

Nice resort,friendly staff. I will go back there again.The food was okay and they make great drinks. The beach was clean with lots of chairs to relax on. So far the best resort i have been to in cuba.

The overall hotel was 2/5. Food wasn't the greatest, room/suits are decent. Beach is nice, scenary/landscape is very pretty. Maids/staff are friendly. Entertainment and attractions need improvement...

First timer with friends that are return guests. For my age of 88 years it was easy to get around with flat sidewalks that were well maintained.The pool had easy gradual access, and every staff member was polite and acommodating.I had no problem to get on or walk the beach..piano music in lobby was soothing and refreshing to the ears.I thank my friends for showing me this hotel that caters to the elderly.Senior Paradise!

Having been to the Roc we knew what to expect and weren:t disappointed. everything was perfect as every other time.The only gripe was at the pool that the music was to loud at times and some mellow music at times would be nice to relax. all in all it was the best as in other years .will return.

This is a great hotel, the grounds are kept clean as is the pool, dining room and our room was very clean. The rooms are basic but the a/c works great and we had lots of hot water. The food was good and much better than when we were here two years ago. The staff are friendly and always smiling. Milady and her partner at the beach bar are super friendly. Giorgio and Rudy at the lobby bar were awesome. Daisy at the pool bar was also very friendly. The evening shows were good, the Rock and roll show and the magic show were very entertaining. We really like this resort because the staff remember you and welcome you back.. We are already looking forward to going back next year.

We visited this resort back in 2014 and noticed a lot of improvements. Great new buffet, new air conditioners and Flat panel TV's in rooms. Very clean public washrooms. A la cartes were all great! We only found issues with Internet spotty but hey you are on vacation!

We spent five days at this resort and we really enjoyed ourselves. For what we paid we were very satisfied. The beaches are beautiful, the pool is awesome, always some sort of entertainment, in the pool during the day and shows at night. The only complaint we had for our trip was the food. It was pretty average for Cuba so we knew what to expect but the buffet was usually cold. The restaurants were much better though. We would definitely go back!

The resort was nice in Cuba standards. The food was ok to good, better if you like fish. A visitor from the resort next door came over one night and she had been at our resorts a couple years ago and said the renovations were nice and the food a lot better than the other two resorts she stayed at last year and this year. Recommend to not use a groud floor room as ants and other critters can get in through cracks in the door. If you get those pesky ants, I found a quick instant way to kill them by using SPF 50 spray on sunscreen :-). The beds were actually not too bad (best ones in 5 times in Cuba) and the rooms were cleaned daily, although the towels were hit and miss sometimes (see bellow). The beach was beautiful with a lot of nice white sand. HIGHLY recommend two essentials to pack in your luggages besides the obvious... A beach towel and an insulated cup. Towels are often not available and the pool and sometimes for the room and the reason given was an apparant issue with the company cleaning them. As for the drinks, the plastic cups you get are very small and you will spend a lot of times going back for refills or if you are a slow drinker, your drink can get warm fast. We did the delphinarius (show and swim with dolphins). We also did it 12 years ago but they are not getting extremely greedy on their price and if you want a picture afterwards (no camera allowed btw) you have to pay 30 cuc (30 US) and 35 for the video. The hotel has a very good feature with its free shuttle to the town of Varadero, but make sure to be at the pick-up at least 10 minutes ahead of time. The one we took back left 5 minutes early to go back to the resort. There is a nice pool and the bartenders are great (Daysi, Lissette and Roly). The entertainement staff was outstanding and always trying to make sure your experience is as memorable as possible. Go YUYA! Kids area is mainly for smaller kids (up to 7 or so) but my 10 years old daughter liked it and it gave us a bit of alone time for me and my wife. All taken into account, I would recommend this resort. Enjoy your trip, we sure did!

We just got back from the Roc Arenas Doradas. The resort is good but average. The best thing about it is the beach which is spectacular. The rooms are tired and dated but liveable. The A/c in our room was really good. We had a room close to the beach which we really enjoyed. The grounds are well kept and the pool area clean and good. The food was not great. The buffet was difficult to find things to eat. The Italian a la carte was the best. You only get 2 a la carte's per week so difficult to know how good the others were. The coffee bar in the lobby was really good. The staff although nice do not go out of their way to ensure you have a good stay. The entertainment staff is great and work hard to ensure you have fun. Although adequate I would not stay there again.

The resort was quite nice, not too big so that getting to the beach, pool, restaurant and other amenities from your room wasn't a long trek. The room needs some upgrading though. The headboard was missing an art panel. The whole room could've used some art work. It was too dim at night because it only had one table lamp, so we compensated with the entrance and bathroom lights along with the tv on. The beds were sleepable, but you'd probably hurt yourself if you jumped on it. There was still a used tissue and debris underneath while I was searching for a lost shoe. The bath tub had corrosion, and the toilets didn't flush down properly, so the bowl didn't clean unless you use a toilet brush or spray it with the shower head which, by the way, had almost no water pressure. The soap and amenities weren't replenished, like the complimentary water bottle. I had to take the empty to the bar and refill it myself everyday. No minibar either. Also, saw a couple of cockroaches near the bed. The safe was not complimentary either. Overall, housekeeping was ok at best, and our stay was relatively pleasant. I just wish the restaurants and other indoor public spaces were air conditioned more. The only relief I got from the heat was from the beach, pool or our room. Despite all that, we had a terrific vacation. We love Cuba and the people, and we'll keep coming in years to come.