Given the state of maintenance from a phone which did not work and could not be repaired, to not having consistent hot water, I would not give it more than 3.5 - 4 stars. It was my second visit, and I would not go back.

The tastes from all restaurants are good, but the texture of chicken and pork a bit rough. Seafoods are great but not the crabs, it was dead and the meat is poisoning. I found Beachside Bar has the best taste of all restaurant. Room is old but very clean. Overall very good

This had changed our mindset on Cuba. Tge resort was great. People very friendly and helpful to make sure you are having a great vacation. I highly recommend this resort. Diamond club crew were amazing and helpful.

PROS: Beach- Awesome white sand clean beach, water clear Staff- Most are pleasant and helpful Food- Diamond side beach bbq - Excellent, Cuban night - Excellent, Buffet - Good Cafe Latte & Cappucino - Great Grounds: Well looked after and lush CONS: Beach: Beach is nice. Always lots of chairs available. Diamond upgrade side there is no bathroom so if you need to go you either pee in the ocean or walk down to the Beach Grill restaurant on the regular side- which is an issue for those with mobility issues - Shouldn't Diamond side have a bathroom since you are paying for an upgrade? The facility is actually there but boarded up and from what we understand has been for quite a long time Drinks: Beer & wine is good and maybe Pina Coladas (depending on who is making it). The rest of the drinks were not good at all. Ordered 2 margaritas and one glass came half full and both were sour and awful. We realize that there is a shortage of some things but honestly we know better drinks could be made if the effort were put in Coffee: Regular coffee in the buffet was the worst we have ever drank. Imagine pouring water through the same grinds 5 times - that is what every cup tasted like, weak as dishwater. Guaranteed there was only 1/4 of the grinds that should have went in to make a pot of coffee. Cappuccinos and Cafe Lattes were really good, thank goodness Food: The food served at the Diamond side noon bbq was excellent. Buffet is good IF you get things cooked directly in front of you. Like chicken & pork ... all good. The items in the serving trays were often terrible. Meatballs that were so overcooked they were hard and dry. Alot of what we didn't like was the fact that it was cooked badly (way overcooked), not what was served. The a la cartes: the only one we enjoyed where the food was good was the Tex Mex. The others were awful. Special mention to The Pearl where we were told when we sat down they had no chicken (but the buffet had all kinds) so we had fish or beef to choose from. We ordered the beef stroganoff. It was the worst meal we have ever had. It was beef grizzle chunks in beef packet gravy. Neither one of us could even chew it because it was literally all grizzle. Dessert was good though lol The special Christmas Eve dinner was interesting. The A/C was so cold in there everyone was using their napkins as shawls lol. We were served a scallop in a shell that was so overcooked it was hard as a rock. But we got a piece of beef at the next course that was excellent. Out of 5 courses 2 were good - the beef and the soup. One evening they did an open air Cuban night. Now that was excellent! They had pork and chicken, shrimp etc and all cooked beautifully so I am sorry but there is no excuse for some of the terrible food served at the Pearl and Grazie. We are very understanding of shortages, but not understanding of being served something that not even a dog could eat. Consistency would make a huge difference. Front desk staff: When we first arrived they were pleasant but when we tried to get information when we were about to leave about what time the bus would arrive to take us back to the airport they looked at us like we were bothering them. Room: We had a superior room and everything was fine with it except for no hot water for a few hours one day but that was remedied quickly. The housekeeping staff were excellent. Overall, we enjoyed our time away and the beach bbq and Cuban night saved the day as it made this trip nice. Would we go back? No. For the price we paid we expected more. Yes, yes, this is Cuba and expectations have to be kept lower... however, some things were just too ridiculous. There are alot more places to discover and this was just so-so.

Resort shows some wear, but for Cuba it's in great shape. Beach is amazing and staff are very friendly and helpful. Food was always plentiful. Resort shows some wear, but for Cuba it's in great shape. Beach is amazing and staff are very friendly and helpful. Food was always plentiful.

Staff and facilities were excellent. Room clean and well equipped. All resort staff went out of their way to be friendly. Beach is beautiful. Food was OK. Unfortunately, I got diarrhea late in week and we only ate at resort. Wife was fine.

Even though the resort is dated and in need of some renovation, the employees make it up for it. Wonderful service, friendly and respectful people. Food was always available and good for Cuban resorts. We loved every minute of it, and the beach is our favourite place. I’m sure we’ll go back to the hotel in the future.

A quick summary : We booked the Diamond club superior room. Resort is very nice, Room was fantastic, beach is amazing and the food is Cuban quality. I will also say that bug spray is a must if you want to spend time outside in the evenings the mosquitoes were an issue for us.

I didn’t enjoy this hotel at all for the following reasons: - I found it dirty and not spik and span. Floors were grimy, doors were worn out and grimy which could be fixed with a fresh coat of paint - the pools had a film and debris in them. I don’t see anyone cleaning them the entire time I was there - the food was horrible, even for Cuba. - the washrooms lacked hand soap and paper towels. I’ve stayed at other Royalton properties in the Caribbean and this one was by far the worst one. Will. It be returning and don’t recommend.

The hotel is nice but too much mosquito. The food is correct in anyway it’s Cuba. The beach is wonderful and the service is perfect. We have a nice week of vacation. I will return to this resort for the next vacation.

Staff are amazing. Very friendly and helpful. Food was quite good in the a la carte's and the buffet. Beach is beautiful and clean. Pool was clean and warm. Mosquitoes were really bad, likely the worse we have ever experienced in the Caribbean. Be sure to bring insect repellent. No air conditioning in the buffet which is disappointing. Our room never got below 22 degrees but the ceiling fans work well to keep you cool. This was our 2nd time at Royalton Hicacos.

Most beautiful resort in Varadero, came here for second time, last time was in August 2024, very nice staff , nice upgraded rooms close to the beach,delicious food and drinks.My favorite is bistro Cafe as it's opened 24 hours serving tasty coffee or cappuccino with options for sandwiches and delicious pastries

I've been to Cuba 15 times,this was my 16th trip. Complete disaster I paid same amounts for other hotels but gigantic difference between this and the others bad room service dirty rooms which were not cleaned every day cockroaches in room as for the food it was a complete disaster restaurants same problem breakfast was okay but the rest were terrible ,unfortunately I ruined my well-deserved trip by going to this hotel . To top it all I had to pay almost $110 baggage fee back and forth . Please be aware of going to this hotel or reserving with WestJet because there're hidden fees . Unfortunately in the reviews you have to put one to five stars if there was negative star I would put it.

Great rooms, excellent food, amazing service. Beautiful beach with lots of available cabanas and chairs. Sand is immaculate, service is truly spectacular. Would definitely recommend to anyone wanting a romantic getaway as this is an adults only resort.

I really don't have a high expectations when it comes to the resort. The room is up to my likings, it was clean and nicely done. The washroom is clean, which is so important. There are couple of observations in this resort that I believe needed attention and improvement: A) There was a foul smell by the pool. At one point we thought it was the sewers. B) Too many birds by the dining area.These birds would fly, land on to the food and feed on the foods, which is unsanitary. The staff should pay attention and be vigilant on keeping the area/food clean at all times. C) The tour to Havana was too pricey, not worth the trip. The lunch provided was not appetizing. The tour should have included the visit to the local vendors, where tourist could bargain some Cuban souvenirs like arts etc.

Overall, I enjoyed my stay at the Royal Hikakus Hotel. Of course, it’s a bit different from Blau Varadero. Blau Varadero has more activities and a tall central building where you can see everyone, which gives it a more social and lively atmosphere. At Royal Hikakus, the layout is different—the cottages are spread out across the property, so there’s a bit more walking involved. The food was excellent, and I really appreciated the 24/7 coffee service—that was a great touch. At first, we were given a room that we didn’t like. It was quite dirty, with stains all over the walls, and the TV wasn’t working, so they had to replace it. Eventually, they moved us to a better room with a nice view of the pool, which we liked much more. The shows at the hotel were okay, but they were mostly the same each night and focused mainly on singing. It would have been nice to see more variety in the entertainment. As for the services, compared to Blau Varadero, Royal Hikakus doesn’t have a sauna, and the massage services are paid, which was a bit disappointing. But overall, it was a good stay, and we appreciated the improvements after the room change.

Booked a last minute trip to escape our weather at home. Blessed with great weather, friendly people and surprisingly good food and drinks , the beach was amazing. Hoping to return in the near future

Beach was great. Staff was very helpful. Somewhat of a maze of buildings but eventually figured out how to get around. Food was as good or better than other 4- and 5-star resorts in Mexico or the Dominican, etc. Caribe and the Pearl where the best food of all. I was able to get in to them without being a Diamond Club member. Had to wait 1/2 hour or 45 minutes but went early enough to get my reservation in and then go for some drinks. I would definitely return

Ok for Cuba. Royalton has a good reputation and we have been in a few of their different locations. So generally when we choose our destination, Royalton is the first one we consider. We love Cuba, the people and Varadero beach is one of a kind. Positive for Hotel, really liked the service offered by Rene and Roberto to be the point of contact. The information they offered were extremely helpful. Kudos to whoever came up with that idea Main areas of the hotel kept clean, and maintained. The stair cases and hallways of the building we stayed wasn’t clean. Staff were friendly and accommodating if they were given tips except the bartenders and servers at the main bar. They were not happy even with the tip. Not approachable. Not friendly. Lots of attitude It seemed they really didn’t want to be there except only one short hair blond lady server a bit older. She was smiling and super nice. It seemed the young dark hair server and the bar tenders needed a bit of a pick me up drinks or we didn’t tip enough - not sure what the issue was !! Negative : supplies - No one goes to Cuba for food and this is not our first time going to Cuba either and we are fully aware of the economic hardship over there but if you are running a resort in Cuba you have to at least have some fruits. The fruits being sold by the farmers in town were great and it seemed they had plenty. Not sure how the Royalton can’t afford a ripe Papaya, and watermelon or enough supplies of mangos. Overall the hotel was good unfortunately won’t go back to Cuba for various reasons but if we did, we probably choose Royalty again. Also our arrival time was late , past midnight, the service could have been a bit better. We had to carry our own luggages to our building which was far. A buggy ride would have been useful

13th time in Cuba, 1st time to this hotel and an adults only in years. Pros: - beach down this end of the peninsula is beautiful - probably 3 km long, 200' wide and pristine sand - very spacious room and most comfortable bed we've ever had in Cuba - grounds are gorgeous and very nicely kept, lots of trees for shade and ambiance - immaculate tennis and pickle ball courts - no shortage food staples with eggs, meat, fish, fruits, fresh breads available every day - staff are very attentive, polite and friendly - Diamond Club - for us, worth the value - access to Italian restaurant for breakfast & lunch breaks up the monotony of 7 days of a buffet, exclusive access to 4 a la cartes, conceirge and lounge were great if you decide to use the services, free boat excursion (which we skipped) CONs: - very minor but short on some basic supplies in some places (e.g. napkins and ice cream spoons) - a la cartes pretty generic but again, break up the monotony of the buffet If you've been to Cuba and understand it's limitations as well as it's redeeming qualities, I would recommend this resort

This is our 2nd time at this resort and 5th time in Cuba. We love Cuba for the beaches, amazing people and service. The service at this resort was great especially at the breakfast buffet, a la cart restaurants, and beach restaurants and drink service. Mixed drinks too strong, but the beer is adequate. The wine is pretty good as well. The beach is stunning and the staff always set you up in your lounger. Our butler made 2 reservations for dinner at the beach and Caribe. That was nice noting we were not diamond club and therefore not able to make reservations. The a la carte restaurants had nice service and food was ok to good enough. Again, remember it’s Cuba. The food is what we expected. Fresh fish at dinner, and eggs for breakfast are always my go to, and you can’t go wrong with these. Lots of fresh vegetables and fruit. Limited bananas. Also if you like meat at breakfast, there is only lunch meat, chicken nuggets and wieners. No surprise for us, and we just stuck with eggs, fresh crepes, which were very good, chickpeas and fruit. Good selection at the buffet for dinner, and we enjoyed eating at the beach for lunch. The fried fish and salad were great. Overall quiet resort, but some of the live entertainment at restaurants and lobby bar were quite good and enjoyable to listen too. Good mix of age groups The staff really like American and Canadian dollars vs. Cuban pesos. (No coins) I am not a pool person, but it looks fine. Rooms and balcony are big but tired looking and everything worked well. Other highlights : Ice cream bar (guava, peanut) Freshly pressed sugar cane juice Sunwing rep service was great and we got a private transfer for our return trip to the airport which I would highly recommend. This resort is a safe bet and good quality overall for Cuba which is why I came back and brought some friends too.

We had a nice getaway. People helpful and friendly. Food ,not great but good. Our room and maid were good. TV reception weak. The beach was fantastic, lots of palapas and loungers. The entertainment was good in the evening. Also at the restaurants the music was very nice.

We had many problems at the hotel, first they could not supply us with a room with 2 beds and we viewed 5 rooms and none were any better than the next.so they had to bring a cot in and set it up in the seating space. The resorts rooms are very dated with showers all rusted , patio doors very very hard to open, was not able to control air conditioner in your room set at one temperature always which during the day made it very hot, and the last day our air conditioner decided not to work. The blow dryers are ancient and burnt my friends hair pieces of her hair came out. None of the bathrooms on the property other than your rooms had toilet paper , ran out of all different kinds of liquor, juices fruit, would not recommend this hotel as a luxury hotel maybe a 3star

This was our third year in a row. Had an amazing vacation. We were not disappointed. We look forward to returning next year. The staff are amazing. They went above and beyond to ensure that our stay was unbelievable. From the butlers, grounds people, maid services, cooks, dining room staff...all were outstanding.

Not as good as in the past. Beach was beautiful as it always is. Staff were great. But the food was terrible. Worst I’ve ever had in Cuba and have been going for well over 35 years . Rooms I was given both had significant issues.. Was moved several times. Not what I had hope for but made the best of it . Nice to relax in the warmth and escape winter.

Quicly check in. Very well kept grounds, trees, gardens and cleanness, not showing it's 23 years old. Beach is amazing! Rooms (ours) no complains about our bed and AC, never run out of hot water, and excellent water flow, never run out of drinking water in the fridge. Buffet very repetitive, but abundant on everything including wine, cloth napkins, (something I haven't seen in a long time) waiter and waitress very attentive, unfortunatly if you are not on diamond club you are unable to reserve a specialty restaurant. Great Sunwing flights and kind flight attedants. Overall, great 7 days!

The resort itself is really nice and very clean. But the staff is not very friendly, you can’t make a reservation at any restaurant and we were turned away a few times. The bar and a few restaurants don’t have music. They also don’t have a DJ at their club. The entertainment and the resort vibe is really lacking. It’s a resort for older adults in my opinion

We two seniors just returned from our first visit to the Royalton Hicacos (a local shrub's name) Jan 9 - 16; our 10th Cuban trip to various resort locations on the island. The resort was less than full during our trip, and had guests mostly from Canada, plus a few Brits and even some Russians. Overview: A lovely, convenient location and a very pretty resort. That beach and warm sea! Great and responsive staff. Undergoing gradual renovation to modernise the site. Spacious room and bathroom with good housekeeping services. Excellent bars and small stores in the central area. Good value overall. Just don't expect the food range and cooking expertise of Mexico, DR or other Caribbean places. Best things: The Sunwing flight left on time and was only 3 hours 10 minutes long. The Cuban people, whether they were the folks working on the resort or those we met outside, were friendly, kind, smiling, invariably polite and helpful. The location: not far from the Varadero airport, pretty, compact and easy to navigate around. All the buildings are only a short walk to the magnificent beach with its shallow blue water and powdery sand. The Jazz Bar near the buffet: a great pianist, excellent service and a nice intimate break. The room: spacious and comfortable with lots of storage and no problem with hot water. The front desk staff and the butlers: great English, easy to deal with and responsive. We had to move rooms from our original, very newly renovated room (its fresh paint smell set off my wife's allergies) to an older but very functional room of the same size. The "Bistro" aka Snack Bar runs 24/7 and the staff were wonderful; great fries and Capuchinos too. And the ice cream outlet opposite has lovely flavors we don't get back home. The Sunwing reps: very helpful, easily available to guests, and with lots of good suggestions. Brenda assisted us very efficiently with getting our room changeover completed by the front desk. The main pool area bar staff - especially the hard-working ladies there - who were quick, fun and were fine with serving the better brands. Our drinks (beer, brandy, red wine and Champagne mostly) were excellent everywhere. Lots of ripe papaya in the buffet; most of the fruit was good there. The breads, yucca and sweet potatoes were tasty and the salmon was surprisingly good. The combo that played each night in the main pool bar (which is so pretty) was good, playing a nice range of mostly Latin music. The Nexus tour local excursion - to the sugar cane plantation and factory; rum distillery and shop; and cigar bar with cigar rolling demonstration - was very enjoyable. The complimentary cigar and bottle of rum for each person were unexpected and very appreciated, as were the generous rum tastings. The most interesting sight? Seeing workers going to their morning jobs in a traditional horse and buggy (as well as mostly using Chinese-supplied buses, of course) while checking their smart phones as the horse trotted along. The very old and modern all together; go figure. What we did not enjoy so much: The flight to Varadero was cold. Crazy to see lots of people wearing their winter coats inside the plane. The flight back was the same, until lots of folks complained. We were told only the Boeing 737's pilot could control the heating. If true, it is probably because jet planes use extra fuel to heat the cabin; so cheap. We took lots of small, everyday items down with us to give to locals. I asked Sunwing beforehand if we could perhaps exceed the 50 pounds checked bag limit very slightly if necessary. I got back a very firm "NO" email, ironically from the "Sunwing Cares" email address. The way the buffet was set up led to needless line-ups and could be organised much better. The older cooks used excessive salt on everything and cooked food for too long, although we found a younger cook who was great. Butter was available at breakfast; not at other times. But I was able to get a staff person to find me some little butter servings in the kitchen when I asked. The entertainment was limited but the Opera Music night sounded good, the dancers are very good at everything they attempted, and the Water Ballet was the week's highlight. But we were driven away from the shows because the sound level each night was way excessive, far louder than would be permitted in any workplace in Ontario. Why pay good money to damage your hearing? Best to take ear plugs. The same complaint applies to the combo that played in the main bar: the music was great but do they ever need to turn down that volume; folks go there to socialise and chat, not to shout at each other to be heard. The music at the beach, which is often one of our favorites, was poor. Most of it was not Latin music, just the monotonous, computerised stuff teenagers back home seem to like now. Where were the lovely Salsa, Bachata and Meringue tunes, etc. that let you know you are in Cuba? Bottom line: A very nice resort on one of the world's best beaches in a beautiful country that somehow retains its humor, warmth and social cohesion. And all this despite living under communism for 65 years while still waiting for the revolution's benefits to arrive. The Cubans we met travelling around know the regime's days are numbered and change will come. They also know the US embargo has back-fired, by giving the regime a constant excuse to hide its own faults and flawed socialist ideology. Go visit Cuba soon, while it is still unique.

The grounds were beautiful, the employees treat you like royalty. Highly recommend Royalton Hicacos! The beach bar makes the best drinks! Gladys was an especially special part of our trip. Her demeanour is so welcoming and warm.

We had a good trip, and the resort largely met our expectations given the price we paid. The beach was amazing, with beautiful sand, and the water was clear. The room was clean with a big bathroom, and had nice amenities such as AC, a minifridge, and AC. The food was passable; they seemed to do their best with limited ingredients. The food served at the buffet was hit-or-miss in terms of flavour and quality, so it was important to arrive early enough to get the better dishes. There was some variety. The service was generally good. Wifi was limited outside of the bar and the buffet area.

This resort is clean, beautiful landscape, the workers are nice. Satisfied with the food, they have grilled seafoods everyday, fresh lobster night at the buffet, They have Italian resto but can accommodate just few guests. We didn't able to book for dinner because they always filled out. They can handle only two people per table. They also have Mexican resto but always filled out cannot accommodate big group, they give priority to Royalton club. We ended up always at the buffet every dinner. They have fresh fruits like guavas, pine apples, mangoes, star fruits. lots of disserts.

The beach is amazing, the bed mattress is really hard, food limited and shortage for many days, but didn't go hungry basically the same thing every day. No accessibility to elevator it was broken having to go to la carts or buffet there are many stairs so if you have any disability challenges, I can say it would be with a lot of difficulties, very friendly staff. Remember you're not in Cuba for the food. Lack of daily entertainment

The hotel was overall very nice. The drinks were flowing, the vibes were vibing, and the staff was exceptionally friendly and helpful. We had a fantastic time, and highly recommend this resort to anyone considering visiting.

The hotel was great, especially since we had paid for the Diamond Member. You get exclusive beach access, restaurants and butler service. The staff at the Diamond member private beach were phenomenal l, amazing hospitality l. Our bartender was so friendly and attentive. We loved this resort and will be back again. Also our Butler Marianne was so accommodating and hospitable. We will miss Cuba! See you next time.

We spent a week at Royalton Hicacos. I've been to Cuba many times and I think it's one of the best Cuba has to offer. The grounds are so well kept with mature vegetation, beautiful flowers and exotic plants. I loved the cottage feeling of the resort. There are plenty of intimate spots, caves, beautiful furniture and a gazebo. The food was good. The buffet area is very spacious, there are different stations where they cook to order fish, meats, omelets, pasta, pancakes, and fruit smoothies. It wasn't crowded, so we never had to wait long. Mangoes are so delicious at this time of the year! The ice cream shop is wonderful as well! We were blessed to have Naylet as our butler, she is such a delightful young woman, who genuinely cares about guests having the best time. She organized all our a la carte dinners, decorated our room for my birthday and set a beautiful beach seafood dinner for a romantic night. I felt very special! She was always checking on us if we needed anything! All of the workers are very welcoming and always greet you with a smile. Special thanks to Sonivid at the buffet restaurant, she's a gem! She was our favorite waitress! We were not a part of the Dymond Club and never felt excluded. Mosquitos! They are there, we put deet 30% spray, and lotion and still got a lot of bites! It's better than in Cayo Coco but still take care. There's a pharmacy where you can buy basic medications such as Ibuprofen or Benadryl and hydrocortisone cream. The beach is gorgeous, it's a paradise! The guys always help you to set up the umbrellas with sunbeds. Right on a beach there's a hut with drinks flowing and if you want they bring drinks directly to your spot. The lobby bar is very modern with great service and a variety of amazing cocktails and coffee. Loved the musical bands every night and the opera night. Very talented artists! If you like Cuba you'll enjoy your vacation. It's a Cuban 5-star hotel, not a world-class luxury, keep it in mind. We met a lot of cool people from all over the world. I recommend!

Everything was nice - clean, lots of green areas, people are very nice and attentive. Beach area is superb! THe only problem I had was mosquitos, didn't use the pool areas as beach was great and very short walk from the hotel.

The resort was clean with an incredible beach! We had the Diamond Club package which allowed us to go to a sweet beach bar. Great bartenders and the most amazing BBQ out the back. Our most favourite meal of the day! At the lobby bar we received the best coffee on the resort from friendly staff. Our housekeepers kept our room in tip top shape.

The hotel is great ,staff are very friendly , very good food , rooms are clean and an exceptional, beautiful beach Can’t ask for more Thus was the third time to visit this resort and definitely I will be back

It is difficult to find what should be first topic to discuss. In general, to assign star rating, several factors should be considered and compared across travel industry, including at least Cuba, Dominican Republic and Mexico (most common destinations for Canadians). No excuse should be given for embargo, political reasons/government, etc. As such, I would give to Royalton Hicacos 3 star rating at the best. It is very dated resort will all amenities requiring complete renovation. There are 3 pools and I have not seen a single occasion of water treatment. Our room was in is quite area with a small pool nearby and over our stay only once water was added to the pool and it was cleaned once at the same time. There is no water circulation at all. Mattresses and pillows are very dirty, perhaps from the time the resort was built. Towels and bath robes were with untreated stain spots and room service was irregular. There is lack of everything-food, beverages, even ice from time to time. Food is especially limited to chopped salads (cabbage, zucchini, tomatoes), proteins-chicken drumsticks as the best option, some grilled chicken breast strips, pork and simple fish. Our return flight by Sunwing was delayed and rerouted through Punta Cana (shortage of fuel and defects with aircraft) and we arrived to Toronto almost 24 hours behind the schedule. In Punta Cana, Sunwing arranged our rest (only a few hours but thanks for that) in Paradisus Grand Cana resort and this resort was huge contrast with Royalton providing impression what 5 star resort is about. Everything was exceptional and I will not think a second to recommend this resort. Lots negative can be said about Royalton for exception of the beach. I summary, when Tour Operators provide information about destinations/resorts including star rating, it would be good to arrange a tour for their staff to have better verified information on resort conditions and service.

First the people are exceptional everyone was so nice and accommodating. The resort itself amazing and the beach out of this world. The food was ok I'm not picky but it was pretty scarce to even make a decent salad and even the basics were abcent. Absolutely no condiments hardly butter for toast. Honestly this was the highest price I've ever paid for a resort in Cuba(1700) and the worse food Al la cartes were sad except the Cuban amazing. My friend and I had fish tacos and I was in bed for the last 3 days of my trip vomiting,shaking and diarrhea the plane ride home was horrible. I lived in Kuwait for 6 months travel extensively and this has never happened. I heard people throwing up on the plane all ate at the Italian. Obviously food safety and handling is an issue. There are diehards to this resort some who have gone 20 plus times can you imagine. I was following their page but the min you say anything negative your met with its you not the resort vibe even though I had food posinging along with many others. Sorry Cuba 4th time and my last

Beautiful, large resort with unique boardwalk throughout the grounds. Very spacious and clean rooms with large balcony and separate bathroom so others may still be getting ready at the sink or shower. Friendly helpful staff, especially Bryan, our butler (customer service rep). We enjoyed yoga, pool fitness, volleyball, dance lessons and lots of walks on the beach. Tex mex was the favourite restaurant. Don't worry about upgrading to 'diamond club'. We were able to get into any restaurant by just lining up 15 min early. No problem when you have a pina colada in your hand and you're meeting new people. Many shade structures available. No shortages on food. Bring tissue to the beach or pool washrooms. Toilet paper does not get replenished there as often. Maids do a great job in the rooms though. Lots of entertainment in the main bar and restaurants. High class resort. Well maintained and attention to detail.

The trip we took in April of 2024 was amazing at this resort. Thankfully the mosquitos did not bother me but my friend did get bit, I maybe got 3 but that has nothing to do with the resort. The beachfront and beach bar/restaurant are both beautiful. We booked the Junior Superior room which is one of the newly renovated rooms and it was amazing. The only hitch is the butler didn't show us how to work the lights etc. so it was by trial and error. We also didn't get a proper tour of the resort. We were told our orientation by Sunwing was in the lobby the next day only to find out it was at the sunwing office located on the resort after waiting 15 mins in the lobby so we missed that as well. I will never fly Sunwing again, 2 hour delay departing and absolutely no entertainment on the plane, not even music. The buffet and food was always plentiful, room was made up everyday, staff are so helpful. Shout out to Marion who went above and beyond to arrange a reservation for lunch in Varadero. One other perk was our room was decorated when we arrived for my friend's 50th birthday. Well done!!! I most likely will go back but typically I don't like to go to the same resort all the time.

As the title says the beach is amazing and the resort is very nice but at dusk the mosquitos are awful!! The room and its service was very good. But I go south to enjoy seafood not chicken, beef and pork. The seafood selection was minimal. Breakfasts were good! They have no real "coke" so unless you want the coke they make at the resort ?? which tastes flat and awful - a rum and coke is out of the question. Even the rum and fruit drinks weren't good. The beer was fine! I don't understand with a huge % of Canadians there at the resort they couldn't have at least one Canadian channel on the TV. (ie for news)

We just came back from visiting the Royalton Hicacos for 7 days (Mar. 3 to 10). This is a Large Resort. There was nothing missing .... Plenty to eat and Drink... Plenty of Chairs, Polapas, Umbrellas and room for all on the Beach... The Staff were Incredable and Kind as usual.... the a la Cartes were Great, Amazing Delicious Food. The Butlers met us daily to see if they could help us in any way ... I would go back ....Cheers to All the Staff ...!!!

Positives - the people. DC Butlers like Omar, Leo, and Laura will do their best to care for you, but some things are just out of their control. Omar & Betty were always available, asking if we needed anything. Their efforts were appreciated. They looked after all the al a carte bookings (we ate al a carte almost every night, for 2 weeks), and helped us book excursions (golf & Havana) Raul at the buffet (outside on the patio) is friendly & polite. Jessica, the maid, was attentive and kind. The room was fine. Some things broken or very tired. The room had a decent shower (hot water & pressure) and a reasonable bed. It was all we needed in a room. The unfortunate thing about our room was that we were in a building with mostly smokers, who would sit on their patios and light up. Meaning we were driven inside, which was too bad. It would be great if non-smoking buildings were an option. The best highlight (other than the staff) was the beach. The water is warm and clean. Beware of glass as you walk the beach…we picked up a fair amount of it. Now the disappointments, there are several, and some are beyond the control of the staff. Buffets and A la carte restaurants would run out of food menu items or drinks. One night whiskey sours were not available, next night no white wine. One morning there was no bread. The Italian restaurant has 5 options for main courses, one night we were there 2 of them weren’t available. You have to just roll with it, and make the best of the situation. We never went hungry. We needed water one evening and all the bar could offer was two small glasses (maybe 8 ounces total). My wife was sick in bed….that wasn’t going to cut it. A visit to the diamond club lounge and Omar saved the day. It took some effort but he came through with 2 precious bottles of water. We were grateful. There is no milk…just powdered milk. Coffee therefore is awful. Bar service is generally very slow, including the beach bar. We did venture into Varadero and Havana. Note to anyone who plans to do so….bring lots of US or CDN cash. 3 times we dealt with vendors who basically did not accept their own pesos as currency. We had lunch in Havana and the bill came to $85USD. They did not accept credit cards, and if we were to pay in (the current) Cuban pesos they were going to charge us 3 times the price, so an equivalent to $240usd. That’s Nuts! Our worst ‘hangover’ is the bugs. We’ve been back now for a few days and we’re still scratching! We were eaten alive by something. Mosquitoes were ever present, but I’ve also read some reviews that mentioned sand fleas. Not sure what got us, but we are covered in bites! There’s more I can say, but you get the idea. The pandemic, US embargo, and current economic issues have significantly and negatively impacted Cuba, on and off the resort. You feel for the Cuban people!

In bad need of upgrade.diamond club a complete rip off. BUTLERS do nothing for you. Food terrible. Staff not as friendly as I have experienced elsewhere in Cuba. Access to restaurants not easy and the same awful food everywhere

Our room was very comfortable, quiet and clean. The grounds were immaculately maintained and the staff were, warm, friendly and energetic. The nine thirty show was consistently entertaining. The resort is a great place for couples to relax and have fun but it is a civilized place, not a crazy party place.

This is a tired, poorly maintained resort. The staff is great and the beach is excellent, although over crowded. The food for Lunch & Dinner is not good. Meat is over cooked. Lacks flavour. not enjoyable. Breakfast is OK except when the eggs were substituted for powdered eggs The water pressure on most days was poor (trickle of water). The water temperature was cold in the shower on 10 out of 14 days. drinks were limited to rum punch, beer and wine. White wine was not always available. Vodka was nor available. Overall, well below expectations

This was a thirteen day visit. We were at the same resort one year ago. We have absolutely no complaints. We will come back in 2025. From our maid room service to the buffet staff, everyone was so helpful and pleasant. Sonavid, our server during the day is an amazing person. She goes above and beyond to meet the needs of the patrons…absolutely fantastic. Annia, in the lobby bar is also outstanding. No complaints about the food…we certainly did not go hungry. The beach Resturant was also great. Amazing staff. We enjoyed the beach and the pool… The lobby staff was always courteous and helpful.

Was very pleased on the entire trip. The grounds were absolutely stunning, the staff was friendly and the room was very clean. What attention to detail! The food and drinks were great, will be back for sure!

Royalton has the nicest beaches, incredibly friendly staff, rooms are wonderful, good value for your dollar. First time in Cuba and will definitely come again soon. This is undoubtedly the best accommodation in the area.

Overall I would say the Royalton is a good resort, it does look a little dated, the beds are very firm and the tub/shower is a little awkward, but we did have warm water every day. If people have mobility issues, the shower could be an issue for them, as well as the elevator that does not work, so they would have to get up to the buffet and a few restaurants by using the stairs. We had no complaints about the food and were pleasantly surprised by the options available. They have a crepe station in the mornings, eggs being made to order, as well as many other options. They don't have the typical juice options like apple, orange, etc., but they blend fresh juice every morning with what they have, often watermelon, pineapple, guava, etc. We were able to get into all of the al le carte restaurants for dinner and only ate at the buffet twice for dinner, but again lots of options. They had salad options everyday, and they even had leaf lettuce. They had decent wine, red, white, rose and most places had sparking wine as well. A lot of reviews I read said that Diamond club was a must, we did not get diamond club and am glad that we didn't pay the extra. They had a person on our side of the beach that would come and take drink orders for us, and then deliver our drinks. Like I said, we were able to get into all the restaurants without having to make a reservation. I don't know that there is a big difference in rooms for diamond club vs regular? A few people that we spoke to that had diamond club said they didn't get any different booze options. We also have access to butlers, they are there to answer any questions, help with excursion bookings, etc. They were able to book us into a restaurant for our anniversary. We went to Havana for a day trip and booked with Explore Cuba with Lucy. We had a classic car for the day with a driver and Lauren was our guide and she spoke excellent english. It was a full day trip, but she gave us lots of info and showed us all around. Overall it was a good trip, we enjoyed our time away.

First trip to Cuba and won’t be the last to this resort ! I found the Cuban people amazing , so nice ! People working at the resort tray one another like Faniky and also treated us like family. They appreciate visitors and try their best to make you ahve a great time! I felt the all who work Here take great pride in their work! From our butler David, Barbara on the lobby bar, Javier from grounds maintence and Marcelo who is their to greet you and bring your bags to your room all Amazing people. I didn’t find any shortages and enjoyed many good meals. The resort is beautiful the grounds are impeccable! I am So Glad our agent recommended this resort ! Rooms are very clean.

Hotel setting was great , beach was fabulous ,soft sand , clear water , very few sea weeds. no big waves services was great but the choice of meals was OK and needs improvement in that the stations at the buffet were the same each day both for lunch and dinner. The restaurants were not outstanding but provided a change. We were told that you did not need reservations for the restaurants, it was first come basis ,but the Diamond club members could walk in at anytime and this was not fair especially if you have been waiting for 1/2 hour to get in and then refused entry. They should make the reservations ahead so that we know if there is a possibility of getting a table. Wifi was very difficult and we had to go the front reception area to get connected. The elevator was out of order and that made it very difficult for people who had physical problems and were using walkers. The buffet , and 3 other restaurants were all located on the second floor. We enjoyed our stay . We would give this place 4 stars

The resort very clean, staff wonderful. There was no shortage of beach loungers either at the beach or pool. Food was good, had a variety at the buffet. The food was tasty and the restaurants were lovely and food was good.

This was our second trip to the Royalton Hicacos in the last two months. We returned so quickly because we enjoyed ourselves immensely! Our review in short order: best strip of beach in Cuba, amazing and attentive staff all around - butlers, servers, cleaning staff, management, cooks, and so on, and remarkably well resourced restaurants with little evidence of any shortages. Rooms are clean and well maintained. The upgrade to a Superior room is well worth it - buildings 1-4 are renovated with all the modern conveniences and styling. The resort has special perks for returning guests, and treated us superbly. Special mentions to JB and Tatiana in the Pearl Restaurant, Annia at the Lobby bar, all the staff at the Pool Bar, as well as butlers Betty, Laura, Leo and Omar, and Naylet.

The Royalton is an exceptional and quality resort that stands out in Cuba. For those of you who know Cuba well, this resort has all the boxes ticked. Great service. Great beach. OK food. No complaints here. This place is a keeper. We will return !!! Diamond Club is fabulous.

We had a very nice and memorable week with direct flights between London, Ontario and Varadero, Cuba. Hotel facilities were excellent, beautiful smooth sand and clean beach and ocean water.. Excellent friendly staff. Food and drinks quality and availability was a bit disappointing, but we did not starve and we did not expect the best cosine, so in all we would go back

We were very happy with the resort. The best thing about the resort is the staff,very friendly and willing to assist the guests. We have stayed at other resorts in Cuba and Mexico which we enjoyed but your staff surpasses all others.

Overall it was a nice resort. I'll outline the good and the negative sides: Intro to all guests with a glass of sangria The jr. Suite, very nice size, no need for diamond club...but i needed a additional plug attachment for my flat iron which maid gave me for the week Grounds very well kept, very nice staff, all workers were friendly and helpful, Raul at the buffet was awesome amazing work ethic, Beach was beautiful but 2 days were overcast and rough water waves. But 3 1/2 days were amazing sunny 29 degree beach weather. Buffet very good for Cuba Had crepes, papaya, guava lots of salad and good seafood. Pasta i did not like. No lemons, no oatmeal or fibre cereals, or fibre breads, and no heinz ketchup. The Peso and currency issue They try to sell you peso on the bus to hotel, which is not a deal All i can say is buy peso small amount at a time at resort ... use it for tips at buffet, restaurants, maid and beach staff ...most important deal in your own currency Canadian. Every place like the market hotel restauants all have varied rates on peso ...no consistency with the .peso ..as the peso is worth nothing outside of cuba, so only use it for tipping. Also butler service ...was not good ,(did not bother tipping him as he basically did nothing over and above his job ...only thing he did was book us in 2 alacarts...and gave my partner wrong advise that the restaurant outside resort would accept creditcard....and they did not So had to pay in combo of US cdn and peso ..(was not prepared) .because if you give 100 canadian they will change you back in peso ...so bring multiple denominations of 5' 10 and 20 in canadian ...or go to establishments that accept credit cards or pay in your own currency ..canadian only (no need for US) Also at airport coming back they dont accept peso just creditcard or cdn or US currency Overall i would rate the whole experience 3 1/2 out of 5 stars.

As first time travelers to Cuba with much advise from other frequent flyers we were more than skeptical of what to expect. Not only did this Royalton resort meet but it surpassed expectations on the all-inclusive experience being in Cuba. From the well maintained amenities to helpful staff, and great food options! The al la carte restaurants all had a variety of delicous options and will definetly be missing that antipasta bar at Grazzie. Great location and excursion options offered both through sunwing and the butlers recommendations. All in all we were very pleased with our stay and would definetly recommend to anyone who wants to take their Cuba trip to the next level with this luxury adults only retreat!

Things to note - Vapes are illegal in Cuba - prepare to have them seized at the Airport when your arrive. Resort was great - staff were friendly - supply chain issues make every day a new adventure - some days they have things some days not. Internet is not available in the room - lobby bar and bistro cafe have repeaters - anywhere else is a blessing for line of site - something the resort needs to fix.

3 fairly good restaurants, evening and lunch buffet awful. Breakfast was okay thanks to the wait staff, no bacon or fruit all week constantly run out of plates. The pool area was dull no entertainment. Grounds and buildings need maintenance and repairs. Check in was a major issue - never before seen anything like it - assigned butler what a joke.

It’s all about the people. We were made to feel welcomed right from the moment we stepped on the bus from the airport to hotel. Nothing was too much trouble for the team at the hotel. The Hotel was well run, clean and comfortable. Our Room was well appointed with easy to adjust air conditioning, clean and comfortable towels and linens. Regular serviced by friendly maids. The Entertainment was exactly what we wished for, high quality musicians, singers and dancers offering a good selection of Cuban culture and music as well as international. We just loved the music and atmosphere in the bar in the evening. The food was tasty and plentiful. Just remember you are visiting a foreign country, food may be prepared, look and taste different. The Beach was beautiful and although we visited for 2 weeks ‘out of season’ the weather was bliss. Just be ready for ‘liquid sunshine’ falling from the sky a couple of days. On those days you can visit Havana or Varadero. We would recommend the catamaran day trip. Beautiful scenery, fun crew, just sad that the reefs were bleached with very few fish or coral. We look forward to returning!

What a beautiful resort. The grounds are pristine and very tropical - everything that you want from a Caribbean Resort. The beach is GORGEOUS! There is no reason to leave it. There is food at the beach. There is a bar at the beach. There are washrooms at the beach. We spent every day from 8am to 6pm at the beach. The water is GORGEOUS! Warm and the most beautiful blue. The resort is a great design, where everything is fairly close. It brings people together - without being too much. The food was good, and plentiful. Obviously there are a few 'hiccups'. The wifi is ok - mostly available in the common areas (not rooms). This wasn't bad for me as I need an excuse to not have my phone with me. The pools are just ok - but who cares when the beach is so beautiful. The people are amazing and certainly contribute to a great experience. This is my second Royalton resort - looking for my 3rd.

Hotel was very good , communication was not great. - we were not aware in advance , Hobie cat sale boats were only available if staff member accompanied you. Personally traveled there to use and enjoy on my own. - very difficult to find out daily activities - butler was non existent Positives : Room was great Food was best we have enjoyed in Cuba Beach great Service very good We would return if the Hobie Cats were available for customer use as i have enjoyed at all other Cuba resorts and other Caribbean countries

I booked the stay to celebrate my wife birthday. Since first minute we feel a warm hospitality. Our butler Tolon did an amazing job in welcoming us, understanding our need , organizing our events. He is the best. Everyone gave to us the best service. I can say that was our best stay out of the 5 times we stayed in Cuba. We are much thankful to everyone who served us and made our vacation unforgettable. Neil the bistro waiter, Carlos the beach bar tender, and all the crew special thanks to all of you.

Royalton Hicacos is a wonderful Resort! We were welcomed at check in with a glass of wine then escorted to our room. As it was a birthday trip, the staff was aware and dinner was arranged by the hotel. The waiters poured wine and served cake, they cheered and celebrated with us in the international restaurant. The beach at the hotel is fantastic and the property is magnificent! It was a wonderful trip, we enjoyed every minute. We will be back!

Very nice and well maintained grounds Staff was extremely friendly. I will mention here just a few:Laurita, Barbara, Maria and Ana. Food was normal for Cuba, but the lack of AC in the buffet made eating unpleasant. AC in the room was all the time above 25 Celsius, which was at the limit for being comfortable.

We were pleasantly surprise with the beautiful room. The food at the Italian restaurant was amazing and was our favourite. The ice cream in a fresh made waffle cone was so good. All of the staff were so kind and pleasant. The diamond club was worth the extra. Nicer beach beds, good service on the beach, better liquors to choose from, also before booking inquire about the updated rooms. I read reviews about lots of mosquitoes and tasteless food. Not my experience, salt and pepper on every table. Food was very nice without adding salt and pepper. Mangoes were delicious. Lacked in fresh vegetables such as lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers. No bugs or mosquitoes. Special shout out to Salsa who BBQs daily on the Diamond beach and Joey who puts the umbrellas up for you. Overall we had a wonderful time and would recommend this hotel to others.

The employees make this place great. Everyone was kind and quick to get us anything we needed(we tipped at pretty much every interaction) not sure if that had anything to do with it. The hotel is kept well but the pool is shallow and pretty dead in the day probably because of the amazing beach a few feet away. Food was tasty but lacked variety at the buffet. The a la cartes were good especially the Tex Mex and Italian. The only reason I would hesitate to go back to this resort would be the lack of a/c not sure if it was broken or just super low but we were sweating at every meal not very comfortable or relaxing. Also there isn’t much to do at night no casino, no sports/karaoke bar. There was a jazz bar but only had a pianist one of the nights otherwise it was silent not even playing music over the speakers. But all in all the drinks were strong, food was good and beach was beautiful we were not disappointed.

Fantastic property but in need of urgent improvement in areas of the management, coordination & renovation. We used to come to this hotel during Sandals & it was our 11th time this year. When we arrived we couldn't get a room that we wanted & indicated during our booking with Trip Central back in February. The first room that we've got had a broken safe, no balcony screen & sunken bed/mattress on one side. The second room that we've got had no balcony screen (but they managed to bring one to us), without 3 towels per person as it is standard in all hotels (but only 2 during our entire stay), had broken roof & a flood happened during a heavy rain. The food was basic in comparison to the previous years, lack of variety. Sunwing who apparently has some shares in this hotel as well, obviously doesn't care too much about addressing & fixing the current issues. Too bad for this fantastic property with great location & landscaping.

The change in management of this hotel is hurting the historical reputation of this hotel. The Canadian management is inferior. It is all about the money .. in their pocket. They do not do anything for the traveler/guest. They have this ridiculous butler system that was incorporated a few years back. A butler is instructed to accommodate so many guest units. They hang around your unit in the morning, noon and night. They ask you if there is anything they can do for you, so you tell them, and they don't follow up with you. They don't get back to you .. because they don't care, but expect a tip at the end of your stay. A tip for doing what? We have been going to this resort for 11 years, but never again. It was better under the Sandals brand. Sandals was not broken, but Royalton is. Maybe when Sunwing completes its sale of aircraft to Westjet it may have a better influence on the management of this resort. What do Canadian companies know about managing resorts in Cuba. Absolutely nothing. They are like American companies, using the money model, and not the customer model. We requested a certain room in 2023 that we have preferred and obtained in the past. But not this year. We even had a second option that we did not get .. and we booked our trip 2 months ahead of time, like every other year. Look, this resort doesn't care about you and me. They care about the almighty dollar. We spoke with the so-called senior management and it's nothing more than lip service. As a loyal guest for many years we did not feel special in the least. Just another number. We have better things to do with our money than to give it to a management team that doesn't care. Sandals went beyond the call of duty for their guests, Royalton .. absolutely useless.

This hotel is comparable to any in Europe south of France etc. grounds are exceptionally pretty and clean. The food is the best in Cuba however still needs a lot to be up to Canadian standards, the fruit and green salads were fresh and very nice. I would stay here any time.

The Royalton is truly home away from home for us. Beautiful grounds on a beautiful beach. Warm friendly staff who want you to enjoy your time with them. Some rooms are updated and modern, some are in need of a refresh but you get that old Havana feeling. Food was pretty good considering the shortages they have to deal with. Go with an open mind, don’t expect perfection and you will love it. We did.

Our room was not very nice but they are renovating rooms so ask for a new renovated room if you book. The beach was very beautiful and the sand was soft. Food overall was good, and some of the restaurant were excellent. The staff are friendly and helpful and always have a smile Ask for Diamond club if you want to have reservation at restaurant or book a suite with a butler

This hotel was not full due to renovations in some areas. There are plenty of restaurants, however those guests who were not in the Diamond Club could not make reservations and therefore it was “first come, first served” to get into anything but the buffet. The buffet had good selections, you would not go hungry, however I felt the prepared trays were always only “luke warm”. There was a good selection of salad, sandwich ingredients and breakfast items available. The grounds were lovely and clean, the gardeners were very good. The beach was amazing. I still do not like the fact that people play the “towel game” to reserve palapa on the beach. This is not fair and should not be allowed. We were guests for two weeks and the beach BBQ became tedious as the menu was exactly the same every day. The animation team were wonderful - a really good group of people. We would especially like to acknowledge Veronica (morning yoga practice) along with all other games. Victor, Jimmy and Duran would did pool games, aqua fitness, Cuba day, Foam party, and nightly entertainment. The public area washrooms were clean, however, additional toilet paper was required many times and this should have been addressed. We enjoyed ourselves and would recommend this hotel. Wifi some days was “hit and/or miss” very slow.

This resort is close to paradise. Grounds are beautiful and take your breathe away every time you walk through the walkways. Flowers and greenery are all around you - above, below, along all the sidewalks - and kept meticulously. And at night, there is a rainbow of lights on the garden & water ways and it makes a beautifully warm & welcoming atmosphere. Our room was very comfortable. We had a ground floor unit with a de-humidifier which kept out any dampness often found in tropical accommodations. Very spacious suite - with King bed, large closet and separate living room/seating area - but hey - who stays in their room with so much to do on the resort? We always had hot water for showers and air conditioning worked as desired.Our deck had a beautiful garden view over looking a small private pool - however we spent most of time at the beach.One complaint - floors were not barefoot clean and we had to ask for a special cleaning. The beach area was perfect - soft, fine sand, a long walk-able (always clean) beach front with an water access that you could walk out forever - with sand bars and shallow waters for a great distance. And staff were always there to help with chairs, umbrellas, beverages. Staff at this resort are amazing - always willing to help/serve as best they can with what they have to work with. Very friendly and very accommodating.Only challenge is service at the main bar in the evenings - can be very slow getting a beverage. Food was good - and we had no problem walking away satisfied after every meal. Breads, rolls and cakes/breakfast sweets are homemade everyday. Their ice cream was a special treat and enjoyed almost every day. Yes, beef & potato dishes are very limited and there was no bacon, but food was prepared and presented with lots of choice. Plenty of fish, chicken, pork, rice dishes, eggs & ham; & salad fixings. The specialty restaurants had very tasty meals & we enjoyed everyone. Things like peanut butter, jams, relish and mayonnaise are not an available option, so if you want these items - best bring them from home. We also brought vinegar - there are french fries, hot dogs & hamburgers at the 24 hour booth. They do have ketchup and mustard. Warning - even with a converter - the 220 the hydro will blow out your hair dryer. There was a small hairdryer in our room. Entertainment - the 1st night was OK - and needed some additional practice (Cuban history) however all other presentations were very well done and the OPERA night & ROCK night were both exceptionally well done. Overall this Resort was GREAT and we would definitely recommend to any needing a reference - even though we have no other CUBAN resorts to compare to. After three years of no/limited travel it was so great to go where the surf, sun and accommodations were just what we needed. And as an added bonus, we made some really great friends while on vacation; and look forward to staying in touch once home.

My husband and I recently stayed at the Royalton Hicacos Resort and Spa for 10 days and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We were given a newly renovated suite style room in block 200 which was quite nice and a short walk to the Diamond Club private beach. We did spend a little more money for the Diamond Club treatment and it was worth it. We always got loungers at the private beach, had our own butler, received a free catamaran excursion, all our à la carte reservations were given to us on our first day. Many perks!!! We always had an abundance of food and a good variety at the main buffet. The staff was always very friendly and helpful. The beach was amazing, blue, turquoise water and many miles could be walked on that beach. We enjoyed the ice cream bar and the 24hrs snack bar. There was always live music at the bars and buffet. The nightly entertainment was good. The dancers were very talented but would have been nice if there had been more variety; not only dancing every night.

The Royalton has experienced 4 difficult years since our last visit. Years in which COVID reduced tourism to a trickle and Cuba's income was hard hit. Nonetheless the Royalton came through it well and we were delighted to find the Resort little changed. The Grounds were in great shape, the Staff as willing to help as always, our Room the same as ever and the Restaurants well stocked. Some shortages sure but that was to be expected. In short - the Royalton lived up to it's diamond rating. We would definitely recommend it to our friends and relations.

this is a hotel that is not boring, with good staff and buildings, with a good selection of food and alcoholic drinks, the beach & ocean - amazing. The territory of the hotel is very green with water canals throughout the territory. Every evening there is entertainment and music events.

We've been to this resort 4 times previously. The returning guest program has really declined and not very organized. We requested ground floor due to medical conditions and were given 2nd floor upon arrival. Rooms not ready until after 4:00. No bacon, french fries, oranges -orange juice, bananas the whole week. Money is confusing and leaves you distrustful. Shops in resort will only take American or credit card - and charged us almost 50% on Canadian dollars. A lot of "side" business going on - and after every performance - including the nightly entertainment, the hat was put out for "tips". Rooms are getting very very outdated and housekeeping does a bare minimum - have to "ask" butler for everything. We talked up this resort to our friends who were hesitant to retry Cuba. They came with us this trip and they had a dehumidifier in their room that THEY had to empty 4 times a day. We were quite embarassed at the "downfall" of the resort - not Royalton standards. Although I must say, you can see they are trying to get the resort back up to par - just not fast enough. Their wooden walkways are a hazard with missing, cracked boards. Blood stains dripping on back of stairs leading up to buffet. The beach and buffet waiters were great - the lobby bar and lobby staff and store employees can learn a lot from them - tourists seem to be a "bother" to them - and talk down to them. Not the Cuban people I remember - and definitely not the resort I remember.

This is a great resort, the staff are very accommodating and really aim to please. The resort is clean and the beach is beautiful white sand the alacarte restaurants are good and the seafood is very good. Drinks are amazing lots of rum and local beer even some import beer and whiskeys. We will return.

Great destination for Montrealers who are looking for a quick flight to a tropical destination and an outstanding beach experience. Staff are professional, helpful and courteous. Food is very good. Grounds are immaculately kept. The only thing I missed was a good red wine. Turned to white which fared better. Came back feeling rested and relaxed. Mission accomplished. Thank you Sun Wing. Customer service was excellent.

I wrote a severe critique of this hotel/resort that can be found at Tripadvisor. The link is included. I have also provided the full text below for anyone not wanting to click the link. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g147275-d270082-Reviews-Royalton_Hicacos_Varadero_Resort_Spa-Varadero_Matanzas_Province_Cuba.html It's my opinion that Tripcentral did an inadequate assessment regarding the flights both too and from the resort. The rep, Louise Endean should have realized and communicated the fact that check-in and check-out times were way out of sync with the flight times and thus 2 of the 14 days were partially wasted and caused needless difficulties. Clients should not arrive exhausted and then be made to wait in tropical heat for most of the day before their room is ready for occupation. (see Issue #4 below) It's also apparent that she had limited knowledge of the actual resort and should have counselled me to stay somewhere more restful as per my needs for a quiet and relaxing vacation. Because of Ms. Endean's apparent inexperience with Royalton Hicacos, I can assure the readers of this review that I will not use Tripcentral 'experts' again to book future vacations. The full text of my review follows: EXHAUSTING ORDEAL NEVER TO BE REPEATED “I spent 2 very expensive weeks at this hotel. By the 11th day of 14, I couldn't wait to leave. Four major issues, any one of which is a deal-breaker. 1) Noisy beyond belief. From the rumble of huge laundry carts past your door at 6:30 AM, you'd think there's either an earthquake happening or a huge thunderstorm setting in. The tiled floors and pebbled concrete echo the noise all along the structure. The housekeeping staff, gardeners and repair staff yell to one another from one end of the bungalows to the other. There is no decorum or consideration for guests still sleeping. (It's like living in a barrio bajos (slums)) The doors on the bungalows do not close quietly. They must be SLAMMED to get them to close and lock. Planning a siesta for the afternoon? Forget it! The noise goes on all day to well after midnight when drunken, noisy guests return to their rooms or new guests are being brought to their rooms. At best, you might get 5 hours sleep. Walls are paper thin, you can hear your neighbors scrape their chairs across the floor or open and shut the dresser drawers, drapes. The sliding doors rumble like thunder. When I think of high-end hotels, I think of blissful quiet excapes. This hotel doesn't even come close. It's a cacophony non-stop. This is not a hotel to go to for a rest. The only way to get some rest is to bring sleeping pills, a set of earplugs and/or drink yourself into a stupor so you can pass out. 2) Unsanitary conditions. I brought a hand-held UV light with me, like the type housekeeping services uses in my country to check on cleanliness. I wish I hadn't. Bright glowing stains from bodily fluids were everywhere, Walls of the bathroom, on the toilets, waste buckets and worst of all, on the pillows and beds. Though the pillow cases are changed daily, the bed sheets and mattress protectors are not. Lift the mattress protector and shine your UV light on the bed and prepare to vomit. Human stains, old and new, are what you're going to sleep on. The down pillows themselves are covered with fresh pillow cases but the stench of the mold and mustiness seeps through easily. So do the bedrolls/bolsters. Again, you're sharing your pillow with hundreds of guests who were there before you. Serious advice, use a towel over your pillow to avoid waking up smelling rancid and foul. Wear pyjamas and socks. Check the fresh towels every day that get delivered to your room. On at least 2 occasions, I got manchas de mierde (check google translate for that one) on my towels, sometimes lipstick and often rust. Not sure you'd want to wipe your face on some of those stains. I had to call to reception to get mine replaced. Took them over an hour to get that done. I never once heard or saw a vacuum cleaner anywhere at this resort. Do not walk barefoot in your room or anywhere else at this resort other than the beach. Further unsanitary observations: birds fly freely inside the buffet area, crapping into the light fixtures, alighting onto the buffet areas and pecking at some of the food. Flies are settling onto food everywhere. The cushions in the reception area are never cleaned. Chairs around the bars are seldom wiped down. 3) An abominable lack of fresh fruit. During the two weeks I was there, I never saw: lemons, oranges, grapefruit, bananas (this is the only Caribbean island I've ever been to with no bananas), no coconut, no plantain, no limes, no nuts. What is available is raw, unripened pineapple, so tough you can barely cut it with the dull knives they give you, unripened tomatoes, unripened watermelon, unripened starfruit, fruit juices so watery that they're more akin to ther runoff from slicing them open. They have no flavor. Other foods fare no better. Baked beans are done in catsup, not tomato sauce. The tilapia fish taste like mud, the pork is so tough that when you chew it, it chews back. There is no bacon anywhere. Having complained to Jose Martin, the hotel manager, his reply was "I haven't seen an orange in 7 years. I'm from Spain". That was the extent of help I received from him. Excuses he has, solutions he has none. 4) One last caveat about travelling to this hotel. Check your flight times and compare it to the check-in/check-out times for the hotel. I got delivered here by SUNWING at 10:00AM but wasn't allowed to check-in until 4:00 PM. If you're not ready for it, that's 6 hours without air-con, suntan lotion or lighter clothing. You are walked around the sweltering complex and then left to your own devices until your room is ready, if you can find it. Front lobby staff are surly and command you to sit down and wait. After 6 hours of profuse sweating, I felt like I was born in my shirt. It's the same on exit. Check-out is at Noon and if your bus arrives at 7:00 PM, be prepared to sit around while front desk staff do nothing for you. For all the attention you got when arriving, you can expect to be disdainfully ignored when you leave. Whatever her name, whether Luzia, Luzora or Lucifer, the older woman at the front desk was particularly rude and dismissive. If Hicacos is the best that Varadero Cuba can offer, then you can be assured it was the last trip I will ever take, not only to Hicacos but to Cuba. I heartily recommend avoiding this island altogether. p.s. I never heard a single cricket ot tree-frog in the evening. Again, the only Caribbean island where I've never experienced this. Something really wrong with that.”

Our trip started on a sour note. We had booked in late October, flying out of North Bay to Varadero. Sunwing cancelled the flight, and we were contacted by Tripcentral, and told that we would have to rebook for an alternate departure location, and Sunwing would not honor the original trip cost, and wanted an additional $ 3000 to rebook at the current price in effect for the Royalton out of Toronto . We found out from acquaintances that had booked their trips through CAA and Mayne Travel of North Bay that they were being allowed to just reschedule out of Toronto for travel on the same day at no cost difference than their original booking. After three days and many hours of disputing this with Tripcentral, they finally agreed to allow us to reschedule out of Toronto at the same price. It seemed as if Tripcentral was actually working for Sunwing's best interest rather than ours. Very disappointed with tripccentral, who we booked through yearly for over a decade. We have travelled to Cuba several times in the past, and since we were going for two weeks, selected the Royalton as an upscale place based on reviews that we read. The resort itself was fine, the beach was fantastic, but the food was not great. Always the same bland variety. The Covid and sanitary precautions were non existent. Glasses at the bar would receive a quick rinse before being reused. They washed the dishes and cutlery one morning for the beach restaurant in the foot wash area (cold water) down at the beach. It was evident, based on prior visits to Cuba, that the country has not recovered yet from the pandemic. We have visited the Dominican and Mexico as well in the past year, and they were fantastic in comparison.

Overall, We spent a fantastic week. There were some amazing areas that we enjoyed. The staff are friendly and amazing. However, there are many services to improve. The resort is a bit outdated and to get the superior rooms, they ridiculously charge you per person per night significant US dollars. The food was of limited quality and repeated every day with the same choices! The beach service for food and breakfast is very basic and limited and not a 5-star hotel. A discriminatory service called DIAMOND is just very annoying for where they treat few people (Presumably paying more) differently and they got priority in restaurants, seating ...etc as if the rest of the resort are economy class!!

The resort is striking upon entering and being so quickly greeted by the staff gives you a special feeling of knowing you are going to have a wonderful vacation. Special thanks to Matty and Ronald for their hospitality and availability. The resort is one we will return to without a doubt. Its offers everything one could hope, such as; magnificent beach, staff, drinks etc. As I write this I am longing to return. Hoping this review helps anyone who chooses this resort. You too will be impressed.

Beautiful grounds Spacious comfortable rooms Amazing staff Gorgeous beach The buffet food was very good Some fruits were not available due to supply issues beyond their control Entertainment team very engaging Loved dancing classes on the beach and yoga Music in the main lobby bar was pleasant and got us dancing

We stayed at the Royalton and found it to be exceptional in all ways . People who know Cuba can take a good message from this description of an all around great place . It excels in every way right down to the mojitos and yes mint !!!

My husband and I just returned from this beautiful resort not only feeling relaxed but sad we had to leave. This was our second visit to the Royalton Hicacos. We could not have had a more wonderful time. Cuba has most definitely won our hearts. Anyone who visits Cuba falls in love with the clear turquoise water and white sandy beaches, and Royalton's beach is Exceptionally spacious and immaculate. This is one of the many reasons you will love it. We spent many days on the spectacular beach and enjoyed the outdoor Barbeque grill of chicken, pork, fish and Paella available for lunch each day. Daniel and Leonis were always available and work so tirelessly to serve everyone's need. I was touched by both their attentiveness and kindness. Every afternoon we headed back to the pool for party games and the weekly foam party; which always was so much fun! We met great people from all over the world at the swim-up pool bar, Ari and Omar "at the pool bar" need a special shout out for always welcoming us with a smile. (As there were sometimes many many of us!) Royalton’s buffet always offered a variety of items and smiles; the only issue we had with the food was we often ate too much of it. I'm certain even the pickiest of eaters can find something, However, you may not see Michelin stars or every thing you're used to but remember where you are. It's the best of their best. Everything was Excellent and always plenty of it. We thoroughly enjoyed the variety of talented musicians that performed in the evenings at the Lobby Bar and A-La-Carte restaurants. They were also often accommodating to our group allowing us to join in the fun. Nightly the Lobby Bar was our favourite place to be. Iced coffee in the mornings and Spanish coffee at night. Try a mulata. Sangria is also a lovely change. We owe many thanks and praise to the lobby bar staff, including, but not limited to, Eduardo, Yenifer & Cheily but the entire team are outstanding and kind. This time, I actually made it out to Yoga in the garden. It's held in the shaded gardens daily and is a beautiful way to start your morning with some meditation and stretching afterwards on the beach. Stephanie Olive of NRG2GO was an especially competent and knowledgable yoga instructor; she made easy enjoyable and fun! Stephanie was always available to assist, adjust and answer any questions we had. NRG2GO and it's instructors definitely add an extra bonus to the Hicacos resort. Once again we enjoyed a Cuban Rum couples massage in the resort spa, and it was as always fantastic, such a relaxing, calming experience. Treat yourself to one it's definitely worth it. Of course, what really keeps us coming back is the staff, they are a loyal, hard working and family oriented people. We enjoyed getting to know many; there's truly too many exceptional individuals to mention. Everyone at the resort makes you feel welcome with smiles and treat you as their friend with many who have become family, not only our friends. My advice to travelers is to take the time to talk to the staff and Cubans you meet in your travels so you can learn about Cuban culture and their way of life. Thank you to Royalton Hicacos Varadero for the perfect holiday We will be back again some day ☃️

We upgraded to the Diamond Service and felt pampered. They provided a free excursion with the Diamond Service and we chose the snorkle/diving tour. I am not that into snorkeling so I just stayed on board with the awesome Captain George for the short snorkle stop and then off to a beautiful island barbeque. We found the food at this tour and at the resort to be very tasty and of good variety as we booked a different night at the various restaurants at the Resort. We especially loved the Cuban Restaurant which provided a unique menu of Cuban dishes. There were lots of other places to grab snacks including icecream and other snack stations. If you love seafood the lobster apparently was absolutely amazing... I couldn't eat it due to allergies but others were really impressed. A very special part of the Diamond Service is your assigned Butler. Ours was Marty - a lady who would go above and beyond to ensure all of her assigned Diamond vacationers had all of their concerns addressed. Ronald was our other Butler for Marty's day off. Equally friendly. All of the staff really went out of their way to be friendly and helpful. The bellhop Raul at the front desk was particularly helpful to us arranging transportation, assisting with luggage. Servicing staff went out of their way and we had three special employees that would see us coming and quickly find us a table and bring us the drinks they remembered we liked: Thank you to waiter Raul and waitresses Jenny and Anna. The bar staff, pool bar staff, entertainment and so on, were very welcoming. The main reason I booked this resort was the beautiful pools, with many bridges, tiny waterfall, swim up pool bar and the many thatched roof buildings. I think if they removed the beauty of the thatched roofs I may have overlooked it. But the photos definitely resemble the beauty you will find at this resort. We loved our room, it overlooked a beautiful garden area. The nightly entertainment was a surprise. Shows were provided in a large outdoor theatre with awesome performances, good sound quality. Beach had warm silky soft sand with private beach bar for Diamond Members. If we are lucky enough to go to Cuba again I would definitely book this resort. Only 15 min into Veradero in those cool old convertibles - awesome location. The only thing we found lacking was the Diamond Service said there would be beer in our room fridge daily - but this service was only provided on the first night. We checked every day with Diamond Club and they were always waiting for a shipment. Wouldn't deter me from going back.

Great time at Royalton Hicacos. Friendly staff, lots to do, fantastic beach facilities. Loved the jazz bar and variety of shows they brought every night - especially opera night. Had so much fun. Will go again ASAP.

I love Royalton Hicacos and spa for it's impeccable service,maids for my room were just the best you leave a Service my room they do it promptly, and when I ruffled my bed before supper, I came back to my room and they re did my bed wow, food for me was great 👍, staff and managers at front desk were very helpful and friendly always made shure I was satisfied, bravo team Royalton, bravo,5 star plus for me!!

The hotel was really big but nice. All Entertainment Team was fun, energetic and had a variety of activities. The service at the buffet was good. Staff were very friendly friendly. The pool and the beach were clean and well maintained. The housekeeping service left a little to be desired. We ran out of tissues (small package) and body wash and it was not replaced. We were initially given face clothes, but after the first day, none were to be seen. There were also ants in our room.

We went to this resort for our honeymoon between September 25- October 2, 2022, and we made great memories. We stayed in the Diamond club garden view room 1311. Some parts of the hotel looked a bit run-down, like the boardwalk, patches of removed paint from the walkway, slightly eroded tiles in the swimming pool area. However, we overlooked it considering the fact it can be easily renovated if the situation favors them. The overall experience was good considering how Cuba is suffering economically, and you can feel that when certain food items are limited, or at times not available. We experienced heavy winds from the hurricane Ian; however, the entire resort was with power- we didn't even feel a thing with electricity despite the whole of Cuba was out of electricity for days due to the aftermath of the hurricane. They made sure we were fine, and despite the staff facing power outages for days in their homes, they put on a smiling face and focused on entertaining us. This shows their level of commitment to running the resort. The Diamond club was worth it only because we got a good deal like we paid around 200 CAD extra in total. However, please do not overspend on it. Our diamond club butler made sure that things were taken care of and made reservations at the Ala Carte restaurants in advance. Therefore, we didn't have to worry about getting a seat in those restaurants. This is not available for non-Diamond guests. Non-diamond guests can use the buffet without reservations. The catamaran trip included with Diamond club was worth it. The secluded beach for Diamond club, we didn't like it so much because it looked less appealing, however, you can use the Balinese bed, have drinks and grilled food by the beach. Non-diamond guests can use the buffet without reservations. Our room was clean, wonderfully comfortable although it looked quite dated. There are some rooms that are recently renovated but we didn't upgrade to them. They are called Superior rooms, if you can, get those as they look modern with newer furniture. We chose the garden view, which is beach facing but you can't see the beach as the view is blocked all through by large trees. Wi-Fi access was a hit or miss, it is free for Diamond club guests and exorbitantly pricey for non-Diamond guests. You get 35 hours of access, which you can top up for free from the reception (Diamond guests). Do not rely on their Wi-Fi if you are thinking of working online from the resort. Wifi signal is good from the main lobby and bar. Rooms that are closer to amenities or the lobby area have better wifi signals, otherwise you won't get Wi-Fi in your room like they originally advertise. Flood is bland. Please bring hot sauce/spices to make it tastier. This applies to all the restaurants including the buffet. Also, bring your own snacks like chips, cookies etc. as they don't have them. If you are a vegetarian, you might struggle with finding tasty food, however, if you request the restaurant in advance, they can plan for you. The night shows were very engaging. We loved it so much. The staff was amazing. They went over and beyond to help make our stay enjoyable, especially receptionist Alberto and butler Carlos. I recommend this hotel only for those who can deal with some imperfections while visiting Varadero.

Tammy selected this hotel for me as I said I wanted somewhere with a great beach. I was not disappointed. The beach was beautiful, well maintained. The room was spacious. The gym was not busy, and had a good selection of equipment present. The staff at the resort were fantastic, always greeting you with a smile, and very keen to help. I travelled solo, and felt safe the whole time I was there. I would come back to this resort.

The hotel is beautiful, but dated. The AC in the rooms barely works and there is no ventilation- there was mold in the bathroom. The hotel also doesn’t give guests water bottles beyond two in the room each day and the water otherwise served is in bottles some of which seem to have been refilled with other water (labels no longer attached to the bottles etc). But the beach is the best I’ve seen and the staff are great. Restaurants don’t require reservations technically but there is an unofficial reservation system with the hosts of the restaurants which is extremely frustrating.

I can honestly say that I highly recommend the Royalton. I was a little bit iffy about Cuba, as most are. But this place was amazing. From the front staff to the entertainment staff, everyone was so very nice and accommodated. Room are nice and clean with a great view. Can't wait to go back ! Thank you so much Yainen and Marion. You both are so very welcoming!

Not sure if more needs to be said, we saw a live roach in the breakfast station. I was scared to eat after that. Maybe I should add that there was hair in both of our soup and most of the food had no taste. Beach 5* Drinks 1* Room cleanliness 4* Hotel cleanliness 4* Food 3*