Description: IMPORTANT: To improve the quality service of Arenas Blancas Hotel, some renovation works will be done in several areas. During this period clients will be informed upon arrival where they will receive the services that might be affected by the renovation. Receive our apologies for the inconveniences.
This family hotel is located in the best coast line of Varadero beach, not far from downtown. Its infrastructure is a combination of both modernity and comfort.
Do not stay at this Resort. Just trust me.....it is horrible!!!! Everything was nasty!!
Your Arrival
Awfull............No Reception Staff
Rooms
Keep the lights on. Spare the toilet paper....or bring your own!!
Restaurants and Bars
Service horrible, flies everwhere, cats in heat with broken legs wandering in and out.
Beach/Pools/Grounds
Not maintained....I had to clean the cig butts out of the sand for my child to build a sand castle. Broken glass everywhere...
Activities on and off the Resort/Hotel
Even though its adviertised..it does not exsist.....deadbolts and chain on the childrens activity door...
Other Comments
Food - Even for Cuba, it was worse than dog food. If I fed it to my dog he would not even eat it.
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Waste of time and money
Arenas Blancas
User Rating:
Rachel >
1 contribution(s) Canada
Apr, 2010 | Leisure | With Group
2 people found this review helpful
I just came back from Arenas Blancas 4 days ago and unfortunately it was the most horrible resort my group had ever seen.
When we got there it took them over 4 hours to have our rooms ready, in that time we were forced to stay in our travel cloths (hot track pants) and leave our bags in the lobby because they refused to store them for us.
When we actually did get our rooms, we found 2 double beds when we requested 1 king size bed, the t.v was broken,we had a huge rust stain in our bathtub,the pictures on the wall had broken glass in them.
Not a "4 star resort"
They say that what is in your mini fridge is "complementary" mean when that's gone..that's it. We drank all our water within the first 24 hours and they threw away our bottles so we could not refill them, the bar doesn't provided bottled water and the hotel refuses to provide anymore bottled water.
The food was the most vile crap I have ever encountered.
If someone served it to me in Canada I would throw it at them!
We tried to book a la carte restaurants the day after we arrived and they told us we could only book 1 of the 3 because they were all booked, i don't know when they expected us to book these restaurants but.....welcome to Cuba..where the customer is always wrong.
Once we got to the a la carte restaurant we quickly realized it was the exact same gut wrenching food they serve at the buffet only now at least there's good service.
You can't sit in the buffet with being nearly carried away by flies.
Late one night we found cockroaches coming from the snack bar (the only decent place to eat)
The grill, pasta bar, and any other cooking utensils are absolutely filthy!
If you have any type of food allergy or sensitive stomach..stay away from this resort..
they have cross contamination like you would not believe.
"What do you mean you don't want raw fish on your raw chicken"
We tipped every service person we came into contact with and they were still rude!
I work in the service industry and typically you get a tip when the service was good-excellent.
The Cuban people act like assholes at best and still think they deserve a tip!
Our towels and sheets were not changed at all through the week.
By the end of our trip we might as well slept in the sand, which might not be such a bad idea since my boyfriends extremities are completely covered in bites from god knows where from this filthy resort!
We came home and he has not been able to work for 4 days due to the horrible bites and staph infection he acquired at Arenas Blancas.
Because of my groups experience here it's safe to say I wouldn't send my worst enemy to this resort.
I think anyone who liked this place must have severely low standard and/or sniffing glue.
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Don't believe all you read from reviews
Arenas Blancas
User Rating:
Dan >
1 contribution(s) Canada
Jan, 2010 | Leisure | With Spouse/Partner
2 people found this review helpful
We have stayed at this resort 5 times and they treat you well,food is cuban and good.
A little respect to the people goes a long way as they are very polite and courtious.
Any one who wants the ritz should stay home, go and enjoy the people and the country.
Arrival
fast and courtious
Rooms
clean and good size
Restaurants and Bars
Buffet always has something for everyone unless you are a picky eater.
alacartes are very good. Bar staff are friendly if you know how to say please and thank you
Beach/Pools/Grounds
wonderful
Activities on and off the Resort/Hotel
very good
Other Comments
we love this country and the resort treats us very good and the staff are friendly. Don't believe all you hear.
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We just returned from Arenas Blancas on Jan 30. This hotel has gone downhill since the last time we visited 2 years ago. Lets start with the food. The food was disappointing at the least. Not much variety, unless you like fish, which seemed to be served at almost every meal, except breakfast. Now, I know you don't go to Cuba for the food, but at least you should have some variety. The best part of each meal, was the bread.............its incrediable There is a lot of theft on this resort. I left a $250 pair of sandals of the beach, while we were helping the beach guy stack the beach chairs. We walked away and I remembered them about 20 minutes later. I walked back to the beach and the guy never saw them. ............yeah right. I offered a reward to the pool and beach staff to get them back, but it never happened even though you could tell by talking to them, that either they had them or they knew who did. I met a lady that had left her sunglasses on the table in the buffet, she walked to the elevator about 100 feet away, remembered them, went back, and they were gone and the staff never saw them. Tourists would never steal sandals or sunglasses as they usually bring their own.
Your Arrival
Our arrival was ontime and very friendly.
Rooms
rooms were decent. Very old mattersses and fixtures. If you want a nice shower, forget it. The water pressure is non existent and it is iffy if you can regulate the temperature. At one point, our room was full of ants, which the chambermaids didn't care about and either did anyone else. We had to put up with them
Restaurants and Bars
The buffet restaurant was a big disappointement.
The food was way below the quality we enjoyed 2 years ago. If you like fish, its the place to go. There was no quality or selection to any of the dishes.
We tried the Italian restaurant twice, which was a big disappointment both times. The food was cold and bland both times. Don't have the soup, unless you like it cold as was the case with all the dishes including the Canneloni, lasagna, pizza, etc. We kept trying to order the lobster pizza, but it was never available.
The Internnational restaurant was fantastic on our first visit. The lobster was terrific even though there was an extra $12 charge for this, even though it was only a $10 charge for the same lobster being served out the back door of the same restaurant to the beach bar.
Our second visit was a disappointment as we got an inexperienced waitress who messed up all 8 of our orders, then brought a dish that no one at the table had ordered, so, she just left it anyway. The waitresses were supposed to remove the lobster tail meat from the shell, which is a very simple task but being inexperienced, she totally shredded the meat, leaving a pile of shredded lobster on the plate, which could have been used for the lobster pizza in the Italian restaurant.....lol. The other 5 people in our group had no problem removing it. They don't give you any dipping butter, as you don't need it, because of the way its cooked. When done right, its amazing.
The downfall at each of the restaurants is the tipping. You are expected to tip at every meal, regardless of the quality. The more you tip, the better service you recieve. You also have all the staff trying to sell you either coffee beans, or rum, stolen from the restaurants and bars.
Beach/Pools/Grounds
The beach is amazing. All 20 kms of it is groomed every night and the water is clear and clean. You have the lifeguards trying to sell you cigars which are either stolen or made from bannana leaves. You can buy them single or by the box. The problem with buyiing them by the box, if you are thinkng of taking them home, is you had better have a reciept if you get stopped at customs on the way home. The pool is kept clean . the only problem with the pool is they have way too many lawn chairs around it. You are side by side and have no room the move. They don't have pool bar service or recreational entertainment during the day
Activities on and off the Resort/Hotel
There are no activities on the resort that we saw in the 2 weeks that we were there. They would announce different activities by the pool, but they never developed. We didn't see any activities on the beach. The only children's activities that we saw were feeding all the cats that hang around the buffet restaurant. That kept the kids busy after each meal.
Other Comments
This hotel has gone downhill since the last time we visited 2 years ago, It doesn't matter where we went in Varadero, everyone was trying to rip you off. From trying to charge you tax, which doesn't exist in Cuba, to removing price tags if they see you looking at something, then raising the price when you ask about the item, they are all out to try and rip you off, which is very disappointing to say the least, and is the main reason we will not be visiting Cuba in the near future
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Bus picked us up...everything was simple.
Must change money into cuban convertible pesos for the tipping.
Rooms
Rooms were fine. There was absolutely nothing wrong with them. They were clean and completely bug free. The only thing was the lack of heat but that was due to the very cold weather which was unusual. Be prepared for little hot water in showers.
Restaurants and Bars
Buffet food was good. I loved the international restaurant...service was great there. The Cuban and Italian weren't as good. I heard so many bad reviews about the food that i was really worried but when i got there, there was always something good. The snack bar by the pool had hamburgers, hotdogs, and french fries which were all yummy :)
Beach/Pools/Grounds
Beach and pool were GORGEOUS. UNBEATABLE.
Activities on and off the Resort/Hotel
The animators were great...except when the weather was cold they seemed to have disappeared lol. After the show that starts at around 10, the animators announced which club was popular for that night and would invite anyone who wants to go to meet in the lobby at 11:30 ish. If you go to varadero to have a fun time...which me and my friends did...then you have to go to the clubs outside the hotel. Every night was a different club and they were all so much fun filled with both tourists and cubans. The streets are super safe so no worries there. The clubbing made the vacation absolutely amazing!!!!!!!!
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Loved Loved Havana. A must see
Arenas Blancas
User Rating:
Betty from Winnipeg >
2 contribution(s) Canada
Dec, 2009 | Leisure | With Spouse/Partner
4 people found this review helpful
Was our first time to Varadero Cuba. (We have also been to Guardalavaca area . I hour bus ride from Holguin airport.) We were asked to fill out a brief form on the plane from the cubans just asking if we had been in contact with anyone in the past 2 weeks who had a cough or fever. Put down no as the was the case.
When we landed we just handed it to the people at the doors to the airport. The cubans were wearing masks on this side of the entrance but, once through customs didn't see any. Everthing was routine,Grabbed a cervesa or 3 :) and got on the bus. Was about half hour ride.
Rooms:
A little tired but, is a older hotel. They talked about some construction going on but, only observed touch up painting here and there.Had a ocean view which was nice. Hotel wasn't busy. It is really only beginning of charter season right now.
Restaurants and Bars:
One buffet. Was average. You won't starve.Good breakfasts.
2 alacarts. I liked the Italian. They also had a international. See your guest services after your arrival.
Beach/Pools/Grounds:
Was cool first 3 days as it blew down from the states. Pool is nice size. Took to the beach last 2 days. Really nice. You can walk plenty'
Activities on and off the Resort/Hotel:
Now my favorite. Rented a car and picked up a local around Mantanza . We had stopped for the Banos (toilet ) and a fellow pointed to it. My husband heard him speak good English so asked him if he wanted to show us Havana.A memorable day indeed. His name is Hamed and could not of had a better time.
We ended up at the Malacon and realized there was a concert happening by Cool and the Gang . How funny was that. It was free of course and many many Cubans out having a party. Will never forgetthat experience.
Took in a small cafeteria to eat
and chatted to the locals.
Hamed was funny , great sense of humor and great stories .Good and bad We also went back again on the tour to old Havana and the evening for the Tropicana. They gave us a room at the Havana Libre. Formerly Havana Hilton. A tale or 2 there. It was just to change after out and about all day.
The show was fantastic. Costumes galore. Not to mention all the Nice Naglases (Butts) :)Amazing it is still alive and well after 70 years. New dancers of course :) We also did the jeep safari from Varadero. You could drive a boat up and down a small river. The weather was shitty so we couldn't snorkel.They had a small show performing a ritual done by the Aborigines.It was good.
Didn't see any animals on Safari. I think the drive was around the toll booth so we didn't need to pay. :) There is also a sightseeing bus you can ride for 5 cuc all day. Just get on and off when you like. It goes up and down the Peninsula by all the hotels and markets.
Other Comments:
All in all It was a nice visit. Loved Loved Havana . A must see.
I held up the tour bus looking at the old books in the square.
I could have stayed there all day.
Betty and Mike
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Second-worst experience in a Varadero resort since 1996
Arenas Blancas
User Rating:
Michael Barrett >
1 contribution(s) Canada
Dec, 2009 | Leisure | Solo
3 people found this review helpful
I have stayed at a number of Varadero resorts in Cuba over the past dozen years but lately regularly visit only three, including Arenas Blancas which has been one of my preferred destinations due to location, beach, layout and amenities.
Unfortunately, the best I can say after my most recent week, Nov 29-06 2009 is that the resort is still on a nice stretch of beach.
Perhaps I was "a week early".
Problems I encountered
Some of the reviews I've been reading from visitors over the past six months or so have been very negative and I've tended to disregard the usual comments about "bad food", "poor staff attitude" and "run-down conditions" because my own experiences have been contrary. Not this time. This was for me, probably the second-worst experience in a Varadero resort since 1996.
Of course some "deficiencies" are "normal" : the main lobby outside elevators that have a pool-view have never worked as far as I know, the "pool side" extension and serving windows at the lobby bar were abandoned the year they opened and the lobby "water feature" was not working. These are givens. What surprised me was the attitude of many of the staff, even those who remember me from many past visits, the serious lack of maintenance in this ten year old building and the really poor selection and quality of the food.
Now I'm one of those frequent Cuba visitors who hear the complaints about "inedible" food at Cuban resorts and wonder "what do these people eat at home?"
There is always (normally) lots to eat on a resort buffet in Cuba. If you claim to be reduced to eating pizza and cheese sandwiches you are either lying (and I have personal experience of folks who do) or you eat nothing but packaged noodles, Kraft Dinner and peanut butter sandwiches at home.
On this occasion I had been quite disappointed with the buffet fare at my (normally excellent) Havana hotel and was looking forward to the (normally excellent) fare at Arenas Blancas but it was not to be.
The first few days, there was barely enough food available for the "half-full" status of the hotel and the selection and quality were minimal and poor. Granted the quantities improved as the hotel filled over my week, but never came up to the Arenas Blancas "normal" quality and variety I've enjoyed since 1999.
I could continue with a detailed description of all the problems I encountered as a guest (especially a supposedly VIP "returning guest") at what has been a favorite resort but here are some of the things that will make me consider taking Arenas blancas off my Cuban resort list.
Beach bar/restaurant
- the beach bar/restaurant is gone, replaced by a tiny makeshift bar and tables tacked on to the back of the International a la carte restaurant. The once lush grounds between the pool area and former beach bar area are totally screened off, bulldozed up and inaccessible as they construct a massive concrete structure that will become a new beach bar/restaurant complex. this may take years. What a mess.
Elevators
- not only the perpetually "out of service" lobby elevators are broken. One of the two elevators at my end of the complex was marked 'for staff use only' but never worked. The other elevator had a hole in the floor through which you could look down the shaft. By the time I left, you could stick your hand through but not to worry, that elevator broke down too. The elevators on the other end of the building were creaking and groaning. This is a 5 floor hotel.
Room renovations
- despite a major paint job in 2006 and what was reported as extensive room renovations, the hotel is very drab and tired. Dirt and marks on the walls, graffiti scratched in the elevators, ponds dry, no spoons in the restaurant, no ashtrays in the bars.
My own room was almost totally lacking electrical services. When I arrived, there was a working fridge but that failed on day 2 because the outlet failed. They 'fixed' this by unplugging my only working bedroom light to serve the fridge. My bathroom light failed the day before I left. I had no aircon only one day and no hot water only two days so that was a 'plus'.
Booz
- not only has the food situation deteriorated but the booze selection is poor as well. At one time, this resort like most of the all-inclusives above the 2-star level served international brands and a good selection of quality Cuban rums. Perhaps the new 5-star resorts still do but Arenas Blancas does not even serve the flagship Havana Club except the $4/litre Blanco in mixed drinks. Weak mixed drinks.
There is NO 7 yo añejo and the 5 yo is a lesser brand. The lobby bar only serves the really low quality 'Santero' brand that I think was invented for tourist all-inclusives. It's CUBA!!! The rum is CHEAP!
Yes, it's cheap enough that you can buy your own bottle for sipping but then, why are you paying top dollar for an 'all inclusive' package?
Staff
They laid off many of the staff for seven months this summer when the hotel was in 'low season'. I believe that next summer they would do well to totally shut down the hotel during this period and make some serious renovations.
And hey- get L-G to send a couple of guys from Korea to fix those elevators.
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