My husband and I have traveled to three different destinations in Cuba: Holguin (Guardalavaca – three times), Cayo Coco – once), and Varadero (twice). We are 47 and 53 years of age.

Flight to Varadero - We arrived on Feb 16/07 at about 9:30 p.m. direct from Toronto via Skyservice. The flight was typical –very little leg room and a light snack. Very polite and boarding on and off was very quick.

Varadero Airport - Very quick. We were the only plane in Varadero who arrived at that time. We picked up our luggage, golf clubs and went through customs in approximately 20 minutes. Our luggage was not weighed and we then headed out to our bus. Money exchange went smooth too.

Check in - Hotel transfer was very quick. The front desk staff was very pleasant, polite and their English was good. There is an interesting atrium in the lobby with 40 foot long plants hanging down to the second floor. We did not see a bellboy who could take our luggage. We had hoped we could follow the signs to our room. We were wrong because our room # was not on the signs. One of the workers helped us and we were then led to a ”cottage like building” right on the beach. We stayed in room #4001 and it was right on the beach. The bungalow room was spotless, very spacious and very quiet. Décor was plain but we had a front door and a back door and windows on three walls of the bedroom.

Resort - The resort had a very nice layout and is wheelchair accessible. During our stay we saw three guests in wheelchairs and the staff was most helpful in any assistance that they required including taking them to the beach and ocean. There was the main hotel area which included the main buffet restaurant which was open for breakfast and dinner (not sure about lunch). There was a 24 hour lobby bar, a piano bar (evening entertainment every night), indoor theatre type room for the shows, computers set up for guests ($10 CUC for 60 minutes), fitness area, sauna (extra $), massage (extra $), hairdressers (extra $), general store, cigar store, money exchange, medical centre and clean washrooms in the lobby. The two hotel pools and grounds were exceptionally clean and VERY beautiful. Neither pools had a swim up bar but there were bars with food that you could enjoy throughout the day and/or night. The main pool had a sit down area as well as menu for late breakfast, lunch and dinner. The other pool was open for food all night and during the day. There were plenty of chairs at the pools – never a problem getting a lounger. The pool activities were at the smaller pool while the main pool was pleasantly quiet. There were always grounds keepers working to keep this a very clean and tidy resort. Our chambermaid Belkis Castro (no relation) was a sweetheart. She was polite, professional and clearly wanted us to be comfortable. She would ask us if we had any special requests i.e.: for the mini bar, extra towels etc… The room was left perfect every day.

Hot Water - We did run out of hot water on several occasions. We don’t know whether it was because we were in a separate building (2 rooms). They immediately fixed the problem. I think this problem was frustrating to the workers but it was always fixed right away. The showers were great once we had the hot water. The other buildings did not have this problem.

Beach - All we can say is WOW. We walked for hours every day on the beach. There was music all day long at the beach. If you didn’t want music, there were many areas that were quiet. The music was not too loud but created a lovely atmosphere. All the activities that would normally be at most resort pools were also at the beach. Try the aquafit in the ocean and dance lessons right on the beach. The beach was very clean and there were many receptacles for garbage. The beach was very large and wide. Never was crowded even though the resort was full. We never had a problem getting a lounger or shade.

Food/Restaurants - Roast beef, pork, lamb and of course many different varieties of fresh fish and chicken. The veggies were plentiful as well as many different salads, both green and of the pasta varieties. The fruit was limited. We always had bananas, pineapple, oranges, grapefruits, papayas and one other pink fruit with seeds. It wasn’t the season for watermelon or mangoes. There was also an excellent assortment of cheeses and ice cream. Good deserts especially the banana Fosters in the main dining room. The main buffet breakfast had ham carved on the bone one day, nice omelet’s and nice granolas. A handsome man greeted us every morning waiting to prepare our eggs. Very fresh orange juice with Champagne was served each day. Fresh breads with nice German butter were available in all the restaurants. Try the little long peppers that look like green beans. Linen tablecloths adorned the tables in every restaurant. The food lines in the buffets moved quickly. The restaurant staff was very friendly and acted like they remembered us on every visit. The main buffet was very well staffed.

The Italian A la Carte was quite good. Real Italian dishes etc. Very nice atmosphere and service was slow but we found it very relaxing. The Seafood A la Carte was great, especially the prawns and lobster. We had lunch in the seafood restaurant every day. The buffet included bar-b-q meat and sausages. Food selection and quality was excellent. One of the things that we liked is that since this restaurant was right on the beach, you did not have to dress up in shorts – you could go in your bathing suits with cover ups and sandals and eat there. This was a major plus since we stayed on the beach all day. Washrooms were also provided in the restaurant beside the beach. Very accessible. The seafood paella in the big wok looked nice, but was empty every time I went which must be a good sign. There were cats wondering around in the restaurant but not bothersome. The Cuban A la Carte was the only one that we were not crazy about. The service was regimented – not the type of service that you would normally receive in Cuba. Fish was very nice as well as the Cuban bean soups. Overall the food was way above the norm for Cuban resorts.

Bars - Our favourite bar was the lobby bar – open 24 hours and made good Mojitos and better Pina Coladas. Count the number of bottles above the bar in the afternoon because they are almost all gone by morning. Where could they possibly go? It was a nice meeting spot. The beach bar was also excellent – Jorge makes great drinks at the beach but of limited selection. No problems having travel mugs filled. The piano bar was a relaxing bar with live entertainers, a sitting bar, tables and rocking chairs. It is a nice place before or after the show across the hall. Excellent Mojitos.

Off the Resort excursions - The location of the Barcelo was EXCELLENT. You could walk into town in approximately 6 minutes. Check out the rum store just before Calle 62, they give you free samples of some fine rums not commonly available. For a real treat, try the “sweet rum”. Calle 62 is nice outdoor café. There is live music with dancing in the streets between 9pm-midnight. There are many craft markets just down the street. Josone Park is wonderful (calle 61) – it’s only a15 minute walk from the hotel. They make the best pina coladas at the little bar beside the lake. Take the double decker bus tour – 5 CUC takes all day (9-9 p.m.) You can get on and off as many times as you want….lovely way to see Varadero. Havana is a must tour - 1.5 hours away.

Varadero Golf Club was better than I ever expected. The course conditions were close to perfect. The layout of the course is both fun and challenging. The rental clubs were Taylor-mades and the power carts quick. Take the package deals offered at the course for the best deal unless golf is included in your hotel stay. The course plays very hard on windy days. The back nine holes are the best. Do not use your credit cards at the course…they mark every price up by 12% if you pay by credit card. My only small complaint is the pro shop items (balls, gloves) had a small selection, but at least you can buy something there. Tee off times were never a problem, people just arrived by taxi (only 4 cuc + tip from Solymar) and were on the course in minutes. If you are a golfer, this is a must play.

Walking around Varadero is easy and safe. Great for the senses, nice aromas from the little restaurants and bakeries, feel the sand on your feet and the sun in your face, move to the music, see the sights and meet new friends.

Check out - Quick – we stored our luggage in a locked room and were able to access during the day. During our stay we also made many local telephone calls – it was .15 cents for one minute – very reasonable.

Transfer to the airport and return to Canada - My husband had a swollen knee due to torn cartilage (but he still did golf). The Sunquest rep. noticed that he was having difficulty walking off the bus and immediately made arrangements for a wheelchair. We whisked through customs in approx 15 minutes and they even made arrangements for an excellent seat with plenty of legroom on return Skyservice flight. Upon arrival in Toronto, Skyservice assisted us with a wheelchair again and helped us quickly through customs and ensured my husband’s proper care in Toronto.

My husband and I have traveled to three different destinations in Cuba: Holguin (Guardalavaca – three times), Cayo Coco – once), and Varadero (twice). We are 47 and 53 years of age.

Flight to Varadero - We arrived on Feb 16/07 at about 9:30 p.m. direct from Toronto via Skyservice. The flight was typical –very little leg room and a light snack. Very polite and boarding on and off was very quick.

Varadero Airport - Very quick. We were the only plane in Varadero who arrived at that time. We picked up our luggage, golf clubs and went through customs in approximately 20 minutes. Our luggage was not weighed and we then headed out to our bus. Money exchange went smooth too.

Check in - Hotel transfer was very quick. The front desk staff was very pleasant, polite and their English was good. There is an interesting atrium in the lobby with 40 foot long plants hanging down to the second floor. We did not see a bellboy who could take our luggage. We had hoped we could follow the signs to our room. We were wrong because our room # was not on the signs. One of the workers helped us and we were then led to a ”cottage like building” right on the beach. We stayed in room #4001 and it was right on the beach. The bungalow room was spotless, very spacious and very quiet. Décor was plain but we had a front door and a back door and windows on three walls of the bedroom.

Resort - The resort had a very nice layout and is wheelchair accessible. During our stay we saw three guests in wheelchairs and the staff was most helpful in any assistance that they required including taking them to the beach and ocean. There was the main hotel area which included the main buffet restaurant which was open for breakfast and dinner (not sure about lunch). There was a 24 hour lobby bar, a piano bar (evening entertainment every night), indoor theatre type room for the shows, computers set up for guests ($10 CUC for 60 minutes), fitness area, sauna (extra $), massage (extra $), hairdressers (extra $), general store, cigar store, money exchange, medical centre and clean washrooms in the lobby. The two hotel pools and grounds were exceptionally clean and VERY beautiful. Neither pools had a swim up bar but there were bars with food that you could enjoy throughout the day and/or night. The main pool had a sit down area as well as menu for late breakfast, lunch and dinner. The other pool was open for food all night and during the day. There were plenty of chairs at the pools – never a problem getting a lounger. The pool activities were at the smaller pool while the main pool was pleasantly quiet. There were always grounds keepers working to keep this a very clean and tidy resort. Our chambermaid Belkis Castro (no relation) was a sweetheart. She was polite, professional and clearly wanted us to be comfortable. She would ask us if we had any special requests i.e.: for the mini bar, extra towels etc… The room was left perfect every day.

Hot Water - We did run out of hot water on several occasions. We don’t know whether it was because we were in a separate building (2 rooms). They immediately fixed the problem. I think this problem was frustrating to the workers but it was always fixed right away. The showers were great once we had the hot water. The other buildings did not have this problem.

Beach - All we can say is WOW. We walked for hours every day on the beach. There was music all day long at the beach. If you didn’t want music, there were many areas that were quiet. The music was not too loud but created a lovely atmosphere. All the activities that would normally be at most resort pools were also at the beach. Try the aquafit in the ocean and dance lessons right on the beach. The beach was very clean and there were many receptacles for garbage. The beach was very large and wide. Never was crowded even though the resort was full. We never had a problem getting a lounger or shade.

Food/Restaurants - Roast beef, pork, lamb and of course many different varieties of fresh fish and chicken. The veggies were plentiful as well as many different salads, both green and of the pasta varieties. The fruit was limited. We always had bananas, pineapple, oranges, grapefruits, papayas and one other pink fruit with seeds. It wasn’t the season for watermelon or mangoes. There was also an excellent assortment of cheeses and ice cream. Good deserts especially the banana Fosters in the main dining room. The main buffet breakfast had ham carved on the bone one day, nice omelet’s and nice granolas. A handsome man greeted us every morning waiting to prepare our eggs. Very fresh orange juice with Champagne was served each day. Fresh breads with nice German butter were available in all the restaurants. Try the little long peppers that look like green beans. Linen tablecloths adorned the tables in every restaurant. The food lines in the buffets moved quickly. The restaurant staff was very friendly and acted like they remembered us on every visit. The main buffet was very well staffed.

The Italian A la Carte was quite good. Real Italian dishes etc. Very nice atmosphere and service was slow but we found it very relaxing. The Seafood A la Carte was great, especially the prawns and lobster. We had lunch in the seafood restaurant every day. The buffet included bar-b-q meat and sausages. Food selection and quality was excellent. One of the things that we liked is that since this restaurant was right on the beach, you did not have to dress up in shorts – you could go in your bathing suits with cover ups and sandals and eat there. This was a major plus since we stayed on the beach all day. Washrooms were also provided in the restaurant beside the beach. Very accessible. The seafood paella in the big wok looked nice, but was empty every time I went which must be a good sign. There were cats wondering around in the restaurant but not bothersome. The Cuban A la Carte was the only one that we were not crazy about. The service was regimented – not the type of service that you would normally receive in Cuba. Fish was very nice as well as the Cuban bean soups. Overall the food was way above the norm for Cuban resorts.

Bars - Our favourite bar was the lobby bar – open 24 hours and made good Mojitos and better Pina Coladas. Count the number of bottles above the bar in the afternoon because they are almost all gone by morning. Where could they possibly go? It was a nice meeting spot. The beach bar was also excellent – Jorge makes great drinks at the beach but of limited selection. No problems having travel mugs filled. The piano bar was a relaxing bar with live entertainers, a sitting bar, tables and rocking chairs. It is a nice place before or after the show across the hall. Excellent Mojitos.

Off the Resort excursions - The location of the Barcelo was EXCELLENT. You could walk into town in approximately 6 minutes. Check out the rum store just before Calle 62, they give you free samples of some fine rums not commonly available. For a real treat, try the “sweet rum”. Calle 62 is nice outdoor café. There is live music with dancing in the streets between 9pm-midnight. There are many craft markets just down the street. Josone Park is wonderful (calle 61) – it’s only a15 minute walk from the hotel. They make the best pina coladas at the little bar beside the lake. Take the double decker bus tour – 5 CUC takes all day (9-9 p.m.) You can get on and off as many times as you want….lovely way to see Varadero. Havana is a must tour - 1.5 hours away.

Varadero Golf Club was better than I ever expected. The course conditions were close to perfect. The layout of the course is both fun and challenging. The rental clubs were Taylor-mades and the power carts quick. Take the package deals offered at the course for the best deal unless golf is included in your hotel stay. The course plays very hard on windy days. The back nine holes are the best. Do not use your credit cards at the course…they mark every price up by 12% if you pay by credit card. My only small complaint is the pro shop items (balls, gloves) had a small selection, but at least you can buy something there. Tee off times were never a problem, people just arrived by taxi (only 4 cuc + tip from Solymar) and were on the course in minutes. If you are a golfer, this is a must play.

Walking around Varadero is easy and safe. Great for the senses, nice aromas from the little restaurants and bakeries, feel the sand on your feet and the sun in your face, move to the music, see the sights and meet new friends.

Check out - Quick – we stored our luggage in a locked room and were able to access during the day. During our stay we also made many local telephone calls – it was .15 cents for one minute – very reasonable.

Transfer to the airport and return to Canada - My husband had a swollen knee due to torn cartilage (but he still did golf). The Sunquest rep. noticed that he was having difficulty walking off the bus and immediately made arrangements for a wheelchair. We whisked through customs in approx 15 minutes and they even made arrangements for an excellent seat with plenty of legroom on return Skyservice flight. Upon arrival in Toronto, Skyservice assisted us with a wheelchair again and helped us quickly through customs and ensured my husband’s proper care in Toronto.

I would first like to set all the skeptics minds at ease. My wife and I have traveled to 4 different destinations in Cuba: Cayo Guillermo, Cayo Coco, Holguin and now Varadero. Our travel companions, 6 times to Varadero. We know why they are so adamant about returning there. We are both 40 and our travel companions are in their early 50’s.

Arrival:
We Arrived on Jan.5/07 at about 11:00p.m. direct from Ottawa. We flew with Sun Wing Airlines and let me just say everything was fantastic about the flight. Quite decent Champagne for starters, excellent food and wine for dinner, great movie with headsets that worked, and you didn’t have to pay extra for, and really pleasant and professional staff at your service. Oh, did I mention that it was a balmy 29 degrees Celsius? Yah, we knew we were in for a rough ride on hearing that.

Check in was the best we had ever experienced at any hotel in Cuba. The staff were very pleasant and polite, and their English language skills were very good. The bellboy took our luggage to our rooms with a smile.

We stayed in the Bungalows in rooms 3219 and 3222. These rooms were spotless, very spacious, but most off all, away from the noise of the disco. This was great if you wanted to retire early, or just sit on your balcony at night with a drink. Our chambermaid Yamari was a sweetheart. She was polite, professional and clearly wanted us to be comfortable. She would ask us if we had any special requests i.e.: for the mini bar, extra towels etc… The room was left perfect every day.

Resort:
The resort in general was just great. It was really kind of fun arriving into the lobby to be greeted by a huge 18 foot Christmas tree. You see, they still had all the Christmas stuff up because of the upcoming Ukrainian Christmas. They clearly are very sensitive to all of their guests celebrations and customs. Outside behind the main pool stood a Christmas tree most likely 30 feet high. It was magnificently decorated as well.

Plenty of chairs at the pools if you’re into the pool thing. The pools were quite nice. Great area for families with young children too. Of course you can’t have a pool without a Bar and a place to eat as well. Well not to worry, they were there too.

Beach:
All we can say is WOW. We walked for hours every day on the beach. You can pretty much get a real feel for all the hotels, even a sneak peak if you are discrete about it. We even had a couple of drinks at one of them. The one and only complaint about the beach in general is the slobs, oh, I meant tourists that can’t seem to put their plastic drink cups in a garbage can or their cigarette butts in an ashtray. There is no excuse for this. You can pretty much trip over one every 50 feet. Please people, bring a travel mug from home, but most of all if you’re walking down the beach, don’t kick a stray cup, pick it up and toss it into a trashcan along the way. This would improve the beach immensely for future tourists and their families.

Food/Restaurants:
Lets cut to the chase. You always hear how people can’t find variety at the buffets. Even the fussiest of diners would have been pleasantly surprised. Roast beef, veal, roast turkey, lamb and of course 20 different varieties of fresh fish and chicken. The veggies were plentiful as well as tonnes of salads, both green and of the pasta varieties. The fruit was fantastic for the time of the year. Keep in mind people, it is winter there too, and they are under a bit of an embargo! And lets not forget about the incredible cheeses and ICE CREAM. I don’t know what it is, maybe the lack of chemicals and preservatives, but wow, you can’t pass on these. No shortage of yummy, high calorie, high fat, high cream deserts either. A true vacation must. Forget the diet, you’re on holidays.

The Italian A la Carte was quite good. Real Italian dishes etc. The Seafood A la Carte was great too. You have never seen lobster tails this big. You know the kind that 2 adults can share? The Creole A la Carte was the only one that was kinda blah. But it’s not like you didn’t have any other options. If anyone complains about the quantity, quality or variety of the food at this resort, I don’t think you’re the type that could be pleased anywhere, that goes for wherever you come from as well.

Bars:
The lobby bar makes the best cappuccino hands down. Especially good with a shot of Triple Sec. They also make a mean Mojito. Whichever bar you choose, the drinks are always cold, especially the beer, and in abundance. Each staff member often will suggest something new to try. Go for it. What have you to loose? Just remember, show some class and manners wherever you are. Cuban people are very proud and polite. Most of all they are very educated. Your bartender is probably a lawyer or engineer. He just has a better chance of supporting his family by working at a resort. Your chambermaid is probably a nurse. Don’t forget to bring things for their children. The things we take, or our kids take for granted. Crayons, pencils, pens. Ladies, bring hair elastics, scrunchies, any stuff like that. They appreciate it so much. Toiletries, ladies feminine products, Tylenol for kids and toothpaste. These are all thing we can pretty much buy at a dollar store, but they just can’t afford. Excursions:

We strongly recommend the Havana Special. Book it through you tour rep at the hotel. This trip is worth every dime. Of course you also get to see the original Tropicana Show. It will blow you away. Fantastic sights and of course great food and Rum. This trip is a must.

Do the Catamaran if you can too. You swim with real dolphins, this alone is totally amazing and worth the money for the excursion. Next you go snorkeling at a great reef. Then you are treated to another amazing seafood lunch at the beautiful island of Cayo Blanco. This is the best $80.00 you’ll spend.

Downtown:
Nowhere else in the Caribbean do you have the freedom to walk around off your resort and feel this safe. The local people are pleasant and very friendly. There are a couple of great craft markets on the main street. Just remember, the price they ask is usually a place to begin the negotiations. Don’t be a rude fool though, show some class.

Go to a little club called Calle 62. It’s a mere 10 minute walk from the hotel and it is one of the most entertaining evenings you’ll spend in Varadero. The locals come to this club with their families, to share in some fantastic music and dance. This is a great place to mingle with these unbelievably warm people. They might even show you a few dance moves.

Staff:
The fantastic staff at this resort make it what it is. They are very pleasant, professional but most of all very thoughtful. Remember to be kind. You know, the way they treat you? If you have the pleasure of meeting Carey, a waitress in the buffet, give her a hug. Tell her, her dancing friends from Canada from Calle 62 said hi.

Our family trip, my parents decided that they were going to go to Cuba as part of a winter getaway with a group. My brother and I decided to join them together with my daughter, my other half, my sister-in law and my niece and nephew, My parents were staying to 2 weeks and my brother and I were only staying for 1 week.

The trip down wasn't too bad, we boarded on Cubana Airlines, I have been on planes and always knew that the plane food was nothing to brag about, but on Cubana Airlines - it's a taste of the bland food that you will be eating on the resort. I have never been on a plane where drinks are not included, (OJ and pop 1-2 dollars)

The resort, first impressions, very nice.................... that was all.

I have travelled to Cuba twice before this trip so I knew what I was getting into. We decided to tip on the first night, 1-2 dollars at the snack bar - due to arriving after 10 pm that was all that was open, thinking that we MIGHT get better service NOT!!!!!!!!!!!! that was it for tipping.

Maid service, we tipped 2 dollars the first day, thinking that maybe we would get better service, NOT - the whole week we were there, she cleaned our room 3 times. We had to ask for toilet paper, water and towels almost every day. She would come around to clean everyday around 3-4 pm (that was usually the time my daughter would go down for a nap),

Buffet restaurants, not much of a selection unless you liked fish. Unless you drank wine or tipped very generously, don't count on getting refills of juice, pop or water. The thing that bothered me about the service was if you don't tip they do tell the others and your service isn't at all friendly - ( I did understand spanish when they would tell the others don't expect a tip from that family)

I have been to other resorts where the shows and the entertainment staff made all the difference - the shows were awful, and the one time there was a good show (Magic show - I missed it because down by the snack bar there was another show at the same time),

My overall impression of this resort was a 3 star. Would I recommend this place to others - it was okay if all you were looking for is some rest and relaxation and not much to do.

We visited this resort from August 11 – August 18. My group included myself, my husband and 22 month old son. My sister, who is in her early 20’s came a few days later with a group of friends.

Check in at the airport
We flew to Varadero the day after the travel restrictions were put in place. What a nightmare that was. All liquids and gels had to be packed in our luggage. They did allow me to bring a bottle of milk for my son but not without hassle. Because we didn’t purchase a ticket for him, our bags were 10kg overweight which we had to pay for. The check-in attendant was nice enough to reduce our charge from $100 to $60. Definitely watch the weight of your bags.

Arrival in Varadero
The flight was great. No turbulence, just smooth sailing. Customs is always fun and takes some time. Retrieving our baggage is where our fun began. We checked in 3 luggages plus a stroller. We received the stroller and two luggages. One luggage is still missing in action. Of course, this is the case that held all of my son’s and husband’s essentials. Diapers, swimmers, formula, shorts, t-shirts, my shoes and all of our toiletries were in this luggage. What a disaster. We had to fill out a lost and found report and go to the hotel. We were told that many flights were coming from Toronto and that our luggage may be on one those flights. That was just wishful thinking. We still haven’t received anything. The Signature Vacation rep was awesome. She made contact with us everyday. Even though the luggage never turned up, we were able to buy what we needed from the local supermarket (another adventure).

First impression
My first impression was great. I did lots of research on this website as well as others before we made our decision and I am so glad that I went with my instincts. Many people have commented that the staff at the reception desk were rude. We really did not encounter this. We arrived at the hotel at about 10:30 at night and they were very friendly. I guess it depends on who is there and how you speak to them.

Room
We stayed in bungalow 2109. This bungalow was close to the hotel, one pool, beach and buffet restaurant. I was a bit worried because I read that some people had complaints about the smell. I can’t say that I experienced this. I think in general, traveling in August you get a lot of humidity which of course is in the air. I found that when we hung our bathing suits or towels up, they were not dry by the morning. The bungalow seemed a bit older than the hotel rooms but all in all, we can’t complain. The maid did a wonderful job of cleaning and leaving us nice towel structures on our bed.

Hotel
The hotel is very big. There are two pools, a buffet restaurant, two bars where you can order food, a lobby bar, a piano bar, 3 restaurants and a pool bar. The week isn’t long enough to enjoy what each attraction had to offer but we did our best to enjoy as much as we can. The landscaping is beautiful and there were always people cutting grass or pruning. Lots of shade near the big pool. The second pool near Las Dunas did not have any shade at all so we didn’t do much swimming in this pool. The pools in general were great. The deepest spot in the pool was about 4ft. Again, great for children.

Food
The food always seems to be the biggest complaint. Yes, the selection is missing but we never went hungry. My son who is a picky eater ate very well and that was one of my biggest concerns. We really enjoyed eating the Cuban restaurant and the Italian restaurant. We skipped the Seafood restaurant because it wasn’t air conditioned and it was too hot to not have A/C.

Beach
Words almost can’t describe how beautiful the beach was. You could walk in for a really long time before it got deep which was great for children. The only thing I didn’t like about the beach being asked for things by some of the locals. We brought tons of stuff to give away and I really didn’t like this one day we were in the water and this lady came up to us and said she had a small child like mine who needed stuff. She basically asked me for my son’s bathing suit. Never mind that I hadn’t received my luggage so I had no other bathing suit for him, but I didn’t like the feeling of obligation of having to give this lady something. Most people in Cuba were not like this. Security was always on the beach so this wouldn’t be a problem but this lady was in the water. That turned me off a bit but please don’t let that discourage you.

We did not do any excursions as one it was too hot and two, our son was too young. We did go to the town of Varadero. You could walk to the first market in the town on 1st street from the hotel but we took the Varadero Beach Tour bus. It cost 5CUC/person and you can get on and off however many times you like. We went to the furthest and biggest market on 1St and 16Th.

A quick word about tipping. You really should tip for good service. The people working at the hotel go well beyond what they have to make your stay a good one. Think about how much you would tip someone in your country when you go out for dinner. One peso here and there is much appreciated.

We gave a lot of toiletries and such to the staff but I was told later in the week that there is Catholic Church in the Varadero that accepts donations of any sort and gives it to the most needy. The priest that runs the church is Canadian. He is only there on Sunday but the church is open from 9-12 Monday to Friday. They really appreciate medications, clothing, shoes, toys, really anything you can spare.

My Best friend and I have been home just a week from our stay at Solymar, and this hotel is everything you read and more!! I have really nothing negative to say.......food was okay but not great but we all know that when planning a trip anywhere in Cuba! The italian restaraunt was Fab however, and would have eaten there every night if we could have. Onay the waiter is great, and he truly makes you feel like you are "fine dinning" with a reasonable tip he can get you booked for more than one night, which is well worth it compared to your buffet options!

We origanally booked a Bungalow, but had to wait 2 days before one was availabel due to "over-booking" when they finally moved us, we hated it on sight, it was in a horrible location, and smelled really bad, now I know that we met other people who loved their Bungalows, so just be particular when you are booking and ask for one closer to the Hotel, pool ect..... otherwise it is quite a walk everytime you want to go to the hotel. We requested our room back that we had previously occupied and it was not a problem at all....if they can accomodate you they will. The grounds are beautiful, and the beach amazing........just remember about those nasty little sand fleas, we didn't have one bite all week long and we were by the beach everyday, but on our second to last night there we played some beach volleyball, at dusk and I guess that is what strirs them up and although you don't feel them biting you a few days later you will be scratching like mad.....I am still scratching a week later, and it is an itch like you have never felt before! So remember to cover at least your legs with bug spray if you are digging or dancing in the sand for any reason at all! We did the Catermaran trip, which was a blast..... We booked it with the bounus sunset tour so that we could see the Dolphin show (which is really only about 10 min long) but the hightlight was having your pic taken with them, so remember to bring your camera and for an extra 5 dollars they will take your picture with the dolphins....they jump right into you lap, it was truly amazing to hug such a beautiful animal! Also while on the Catameran, they have a person going around video taping, and for an extra 30 peso's he will bring a copy of the tape to your hotel the next day, so that you can have those memories for those that don't bring a camera.......you can easily talk them down in price, we paid 20 peso, and know of another couple who went previous to us and paid on 16 peso's....so keep that in mind!

One more tip....we went on the horse and buggy ride, and our driver gave us a tour of the town of Varedaro, took us to the market and then made a few stops along the way......so one of the stops was the Havana Cigar Shop.......DON'T BUY YOUR CIGARS THERE ( I think that they are in buisness together and benifit from ripping off the tourist) ...... we got ripped off big time, we had no idea about prices and what not, the guy seems legit but totaly doubled his price as to what you will pay anywhere else, I paid 40 peso's for a box of 10 cigars that anywhere else would have cost me around 20 peso's, so be aware. We stopped at a local liquior store and her prices were half of what he was charging for the exact same cigars.......if you have doubts wait until you get to the airport, or buy from you hotel.....the prices are pretty comparable.

Another thing I noticed as far as bringing "gifts" yes they are all quite poor in Cuba, but it doesn't look to me like its the ones that work in the hotel who are suffering.....I noticed they all had nice jewlery, clothing, shoes, etc......they still appreciate everything you give them, so still of course tip a little or give a little to each, but what I became aware of is that it is the vendors on the beach who need it more than the hotel workers.......We met a wonderful Vendor and his son, we bought all of out trinkets from him, they would sit in that hot sun 12 hrs a day with only 1 bottle of water, and alot of times nothing to eat, so have a heart and if your going up for a drink....bring them an ice cold lemonade, they reallly really appreciate it! Sometimes I would bring muffins and whatnot from the buffet for them to snack on, on our last day there I gave them everything we had left......ball caps, umberallas, sunscreen, bug spray, gum, candy, soap ,shampoo, frisbee.....and our insulated mugs.... (a must have if you don't want to make 10 trips an hr to the bar) well they were so grateful I thought they were tearing up......these truly are the poor people struggling to make a living, not educated enough to work in a hotel so they must fend for themselves on the beach...so keep this in mind when handing out gifts. I bought 3 Bongo's from this gentleman and he was kind enough to bring them home and burn each of my niece's name into the drum and bring it back to the beach for me the next day, and would not let me pre-pay him ......truly trustworthy.

You can buy almost every souvenier you need on the beach, by bartering, I still paid peso's knowing how bad they need the money, but if you bring some decent stuff down everyday, that is just as well appreciated. Just be generous with your items instead of cheap, you have no idea how badly some of these items are needed, and you will find great joy in giving without always reiceving something for it.

Also you can barter with most of the street vendors with clothing shoes, and children's items...we received 10 straw hats , for a few clothing items and kids trinkets.....they love that kind of stuff. Bring all sizes though because they are particular about it fitting them! Shoes are a big thing there, and you will always be able to barter with a cute pair of flip flops, also sun glasses I noticed not alot of the locals were wearing them, and when I gave a pair away, they were extremly excited !!

All in all it was a fabulous stay the hotel lives up to your expectation and I have already began to save again so that I can take my 2 daughters there in April!!

Learn a few Spanish phrases before you go, you would be amazed at how far it will take you, because some of the locals can barely speak English.

Hope any or all of this advice is useful to you future travellers!

P.s.....if you are animal lovers like myself, you may want to bring a bag of Dog/Cat treats, do not bring rawhide or pigs ears anything like that or you may have a problem getting through customs , ( a girl on our plane had wrapped up her in flight meal which was a ham&cheese sandwich, and was stopped at customs, taken aside, questioned, and filled out about 10 forms because they accused her of smuggling meat into the country!!) but a sealed bag of treats Dent-a-Bone's or whatever is okay, you will fall in love with each of these gentle animals on site! If I could have I would have rescued each and every one of them!

We visited Vardero and the Barcelo Solymar on March 27th for a week.

The tip to keep a hold of your baggage as you exit the Veradero airport terminal is good advice. The bus is 20 feet away tops, so no need for help as they will charge you 15 CUC or more.

Arriving at the hotel, the trick is to get to the front desk to avoid the line from your bus. The hotel front desk staff are not too friendly, more of a cold indifference. They rarely look up to ask if they can help you, unless you are changing money at the side counter. We stored our bags until the rooms were ready at 4pm. The bell staff are nice enough guys. They don’t expect a tip, but are grateful if getting one.

Our first two nights we had rooms overlooking the lobby bar. The main lobby is a large cavernous place with a skylight and vines hanging down from the top. You can’t see the lobby from most of the hall floor space that lead to the rooms, but you can sure hear it. Our main lesson, and best advice. Don’t stay in a room that is over the lobby bar, unless you want to party in the lobby bar until you drop. This bar is open 24 hours I think. Point is, even if there are a few people speaking loudly in this bar, the sound carries up to all the rooms that overlook it. We tried to put up with it for two nights, but it was like having ghosts in the hall, and loud drunk ones at that! Our Air Canada rep was very good and on orientation day we told him about the problem and he got us a new room way down the other end of one of the hotel wings. Nicer view, quieter, except for the sound of the generator that controls the air conditioning for the entire hotel. At night, with the balcony door closed, it was only a low hum. We compromised, as it was quieter than our first two nights.

The grounds are beautiful, with one exception. There seem to be a lot of cigarette butts in the brown gravel that surround the pool areas, and in the sand on the beach. There are no ashtrays, so people just drop their butts when they are finished. This makes the whole place seem dirty, especially to a non smoker. They just need someone walking around scooping up the butts, but there was no one like that anywhere. Plastic cups seem to be everywhere too. Maybe it was just the week we were there, but it leaves a bad impression, when it is so easily dealt with. The drinks are definitely watered down, maybe for god reason. There probably many people who don’t know when to stop drinking, and this may be how they deal with that. If you want to taste decent rum in your drink, bring it with you or buy a bottle at the departure airport to bring. We did like the free cold beer in the rooms and at the outdoor bars though. Fridges are re-stocked with water and beer each day in your room.

We did a day trip to Havana in a government cab arranged for us by the Air Canada vacations rep. Again, this rep was very good at customer service, and he was there for an hour in the lobby every day at 12:30 to deal with people’s issues. We had a great day with the cab driver, he was very friendly and fluent in English. We gave him toys and stationary (don’t forget paper) for a local private school that he visits. We gave the maids gum which they loved. They asked for music, but we had no portable players or tapes. If you have a cassette walkman and some modern tapes like Michael Jackson, or want to give them some cd’s with something to play them on, they would probably cry with joy. They also like magazines a lot. They like distractions from North American culture, especially music. Many don’t read English so magazines with lots of pictures are better than books to give.

We did ok at the restaurants on the Solymar resort. The staff have this same cold indifference, and I think it is an act they put on. I’ve had this same attitude in New York, so we didn’t take things personally once we understood the game. If you make an effort to joke with them, they soften a little. The food they serve is rarely warm. I think they are always trying to save power, and they have no microwaves to be sure. Much of the food is bland, probably to satisfy the majority of customers. You’d be wise to take your favourite spices if you hate bland food. Even pepper would make a difference. The seafood restaurant near the beach is nice and has breakfast for the late risers from 12-3 each day. We found the buffet boring so only went when we had nothing else planned. They do have great vanilla ice cream, for some reason. If you only have what they cook in front of you at the buffet, like eggs, it will be hotter and fresher than the bulk food in the pans under the heat lamps. We didn’t have the patience to wait for what seemed like forever. The sandwiches at the pool bar are a good option also - as is the breakfast of bacon and eggs. Remember, they move quite slowly compared to our culture. There’s no point letting this bother you, as they won’t move faster because you are aggravated. They actually tend to move slower just to teach a lesson.

The entertainment is ok, but we preferred walking on the beach and strolling the grounds at night. This place is much more of a daytime place than a night party place. The sun, the beach, the daytime activities are how you get your moneys worth, not the resort disco.

We have been home from Varadero for almost a week now and wish we had a month there.

First of all, the positive reviews of this resort are correct and for those who were negative, stay home. That’s all I can say on that.

We were 13 persons who left Halifax, out of a group of 38 that went to Solymar for my son’s wedding which took place on April 27/06.

We flew both ways from Halifax via Canjet. Flights were normal with a little turbulence especially over a few spots in the USA. As I said, normal.

Arrived at Varadero airport around 9 am and went very easily through Cuban customs with no problems. Changed over some money for pesos and went to our bus. Half an hour later we arrived at Barceló Solymar. Check-in was very quick and very smooth. Our only problem was that our rooms would not be ready until 4 PM which was a little inconvenient. However there was a room with attendants who stored our luggage for us as we headed to the buffet for lunch.

Barceló Solymar is a rather large resort with a 4-floor hotel and quite a few bungalows. It has 2 swimming pools and from the hotel it is about a 5-minute walk to the beach. No big deal there. Definitely need the walk for some exercise.

Food
There is a buffet restaurant in the hotel lobby and adjoining it is the Italian a la carte restaurant. There is also a Cuban a la carte as well as a Seafood a la carte at the beach. The Seafood is also a grill and buffet during the day and an a la carte in the evenings. Also there are grills at both swimming pools. The grill at the 1st pool has a breakfast menu from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm for anybody that ends up sleeping in and then it has a lunch menu for the afternoon. It is open until 11 PM at night. The grill at the second pool is not open until 11:00 pm for food and stays open until 7:00 am. It only has French fries, hot dogs, hamburgers and grilled ham and cheese sandwiches. But that is great for those who need a snack at night. I think there was a consensus that the Cuban a la carte was the best of all of the eating places.
The only complaint regarding food for some of us was that the buffet in the morning did not cook their bacon well enough for most peoples’ standards, but some found that they would put it back on the grill at the omelet station if you wanted it done better.

Rooms
Normal hotel rooms, some have king-size beds and some have 2 double beds which can be pushed together to make a really big sleeping area. The room was always kept spotless by our maid, “America” who we left small gifts and a peso every day for. Water pressure was very good even by our standards. Room has a safe included with your package and a bar fridge which is replenished every day by the maid. Satellite TV, phone and balcony with small table and chairs. We were on the street side of the hotel, which didn’t bother us at all, as compared to an upgraded room on the pool side facing the beach. Must say that those rooms had the best view, but we were quite happy with ours.

Beach
Not too much you can add to any other review of Varadero Beach. It is sandy and warm and has some of the best colors in the water that you will find anywhere. There are plenty of palapas for shade, although during this particular period, you definitely had to go there early and reserve a spot with some towels on the loungers if you wanted shade when you decided to go there. We did this on several occasions and there appears to be an unwritten law that says it is yours as long as you have it reserved. We found this to be the same situation at both pools.

Bars
There is a 24-hour lobby bar, a bar at each swimming pool, a beach bar, piano bar, sports bar, as well as bars in each restaurant and another one in the theatre at the nightly shows. No shortage of drinks for certain. We managed to visit each of them regularly. More than enough places to get a drink.

Wedding
My son was the one getting married, so I can’t comment on as much as he possibly could. But I think Mayelin, the wedding coordinator did an excellent job in arranging the marriage. It took place on April 27th at the gazebo which is at the edge of a small bank overlooking the beach. It was done up with flowers and veils and looked very nice indeed. At the wedding, there is a trio which serenades everyone and plays “Here comes the bride” when she walks from the street inside the resort, down a sidewalk to the gazebo. The wedding was performed in Spanish by a justice of the peace or a lawyer and is translated into English by Mayelin, the wedding coordinator. It only takes about 10-15 minutes once it starts and then you are married. Once the ceremony is over, there is a wedding cake cut by the newlyweds and everyone gets some, along with champagne for a toast. Then the newlyweds must traditionally have their first dance in the gazebo as the trio plays.
As we were a large group of 38, it was decided to have the wedding supper in the seafood restaurant which could accommodate all of us at one sitting. We had their ‘surf n turf’ which was their version of lobster and a filet mignon steak. I never heard a single person complain about it so it must have been good. I know I enjoyed mine as well as my wife’s lobster which she does not eat. Steak was done to perfection too.

Hola

We just came back from Barcelo Solymar Resort from April 13th to April 20th.

We went with another family, and overall we all enjoyed our vacation very much! The flight there was great, Air Transat was very good.They Provided Subway sandwiches and a great movie. We arrived at our resort pretty late (probably around 9:30pm), the check in was good. Because the buffet closes at 10:00 and we were hungry, we ate before heading to our rooms (Bungalows). They didn't seem to mind. Our room was in a great location, right next door to the pool. It was always kept clean. Everyday we would leave a little something for the maid, she wrote us notes every once in a while.

The Beach
The beach at Barcelo Solymar is absolutely amazing!! We always had really good weather, and there was SO much to do! THe water was refreshing and we didn't have trouble finding chairs. One day we noticed that there were little Jellyfish in the water. But by the next day they were gone.

The Activities
There was always something to do at this resort! At the beach, they have peddle boats, kayaks, catamarans. We really enjoyed the kayaks and peddle boats, the catamaran was a little slow, maybe because the water was very calm... The Banana Boat is a must, it was extremely fun!! We went on it three times because we enjoyed it so much! THey also have archery, which was also fun as well. The shows were awesome!! They were all great! We saw a show almost every night and they were awesome. The comedy was hilarious and the magic show was good, and everything else was excellent too.

The Pool
The pool here is great! THere are actually 2. THey are both clean and the water is always beautiful! The one near the lobby isn't used as much, the other one seems to always have more people. We all loved the pool! It's shallow but not too shallow. It was always a warm but refreshing temperature. We usually spent the morning at the beach and the afternoon by the pool.
The only problem with the pool is there isn't usually a lot of shade, we always seemed to find a spot but sometimes it can be hard.

The Food
Well the food was good. It deffinetly wasn't a highligh of our trip. The buffet is okay, we often ate here for breakfast and sometimes dinner. It was always pretty good. We all enjoyed the snack bar next to the pool for lunch. The food there was always good, especially the fries. The A la Carte restaurants were okay. We didn't really enjoy the Seafood, the food just wasn't that great, and there were cats & dogs walking around in the restaurant. But we really enjoyed the Cuban restaurant, we were pleasantly surprised of how good the food was here. THe Italian restuaurant was also very good.

Day Trip to Havana
The day trip to Havana was great!! It was quite the experience. We were a little disapointed with the shopping, but everything else was amazing! It's wonderful to see stuff outside of your resort too. The day we went was extrmemly hot so we had a bus tour. The Havana trip is a must.

I am a tour operator out of Edmonton, Alberta Canada and very seldom will I ever issue a negative review of a property unless it really irritated me. I understand that when we travel to another part of the world we have to remember that it is not home and wouldn't want it to be.

Every year I escort one or two groups to Varadero, Cuba, with each group numbering 40 passengers and for the past 4 years have stayed at the Barcelo Solymar and have been quite pleased.

Up till last year I was very pleased with the resort and the services it offered, except for this year. The food was not up to the standard set over the last few years, but even that I could accept.

What irritated me the most was the front desk staff and the so-called manager.

They had placed me in a hole of a room where even the window was not visible from floor level, it was like a jail cell. I went down to the front desk and informed them that I was in charge of my group and that more often that not my clients would join me in my room to discuss minor problems or to praise the resort and that I would appreciate a room with a patio door, preferably overlooking the pool, or even the parking lot but with at least a patio door. very few rooms do not have the patio door and that is where they stuck me.

When I went downstairs and asked the front desk staff if they could move me I was asked, not with words but with gestures for a "tip", like rubbing his fingers together while looking from side to side to see if anyone was looking.

This I refused to do. He was determined he was not going to find me a room. If it wasn't for the Nolitours representative I would have been stuck there. She found a decent room for me.

The manager makes sure she is never available to the general population and makes haste whenever approached. She is quite a work of art compared to the young man that managed the resort a few years ago, he was very approachable.

The staff are very cognisant of supplying service to tourists, good service results in good tips.

No complaints with any staff members., restaurant, bar, house cleaning, groundskeepers, all great.One problem, and it again hinged on the front desk staff and in particular the manager. every night after 1 am a group of young people would gather at the pool bar and would hoot and holler till 5 or 6 in the morning, having fun is one thing, making total idiots of themselves is another. they would throw chairs into the pool, rip coconuts off the trees and again throw them into the pool and in turn simply make a real nuisance of themselves. reporting this to the front desk resulted in nothing. It went on for 2 weeks with no action from the resort management.

4 of us stayed in the Barceló Solymar, Varadero, 4th to 11th March 06. (All of us early to late 30's.) Overall, I would say that this is a really nice hotel, rated 4 star, but remember this is Cuba. The hotel was apparently built within the last 4 or 5 years, and it looks it – it’s in excellent shape. 2 of us stayed in a bungalow, which I loved, and 2 stayed in a room in the main building, which looked nice, since they had an ocean view. The staff is friendly, some very, very nice. Thank you Luis. But there are a few problems. First, 2 of the 4 of us got sick there, requiring medical attention. One was vomiting with diarrhoea, the other got diarrhoea with fever. We overheard another couple there with the same problem. We think it was the food. So while the food in my opinion was not terrible, we figure that 2 of us got sick from it. Not good. One of us does not want to go back to Cuba because of it. Having said that, I ate like a pig at a trough and was fine the whole time. I ’m just very careful about what I eat, and eat only small portions of each thing I choose. If something doesn’t taste right, I don’t eat it. I would recommend this hotel, but have to be honest about the food. Why are so many people getting sick? This is very serious.

Holasun, Cubana Air
This year we travelled on Cubana air, via Holasun. What a catch! We picked up our tickets, no waiting, we picked up our boarding pass, absolutely no line-up! We were through security within minutes, and that was it. The whole thing maybe took 10 minutes. And we took our time. The plane was an A320 and in excellent condition. No worries. Last year with Sunwing, there were huge line-ups for every step. On the return, we had our own minivan for the ride back to the airport. Would definitely recommend Holasun.

The Hotel
The hotel is new, freshly painted, and well maintained. I didn’t have any problems with things not working. The pool and grounds were well maintained. When the pizza oven broke down in the snack bar it was fixed promptly. I felt totally safe there. The electricity is 220 V (Canada is 110V), and they have universal plugs so any type of plug will fit (except Canadian type A, 3-prong grounded, which will not fit). The elevators seemed to work fine this year. They have motor scooters to rent, and free bikes from 9 AM to 5 PM (not all of which were in working order). The rooms have room service, so if you need a snack you can pay a small amount to have something sent to your room. Maid service was excellent. Overall much better than Arenas Blancas (see my review last year), and well worth the extra money. Internet worked about ½ hour the whole week we were there, which allowed me to read one email. Too bad you have to pay for an hour! Not worth it. There is a safe in each room, bu t I don’t completely trust them.

The Weather
The weather was slightly disappointing. Last year we travelled 1 April for a week, and it was hot. March is dry, so sunny all the time, but windy. April is the beginning of the rainy season, so it will rain at some point. But it is usually just showers. Our travel rep said that by summer most Canadians find it too hot in Cuba. I think the best time to travel there is the end of March, beginning of April. I found it chilly in the early morning, quickly warming up, and hot by the afternoon, but cooled down by 5 or 6 PM, if you’re on the beach or pool. Most nights were warm. I never used my sweater. The beach pretty well emptied out by 5 PM, I think because it was “chilly” by then, especially if you’re wet. Chilly is all relative, I was fine, some loved it.

The Beach
Solymar has one of the nicest stretches of beach on the strip. It seemed narrower this year. Did Katrina wash some of it away? (All the palapas at Arenas Blancas next door were blown away, and not replaced!) Solymar has plenty of room for the 5 or so rows of palapas (no problems getting a palapa here, even by mid afternoon), plus volleyball nets, and still room for playing in the sand for the kids. This year the water got deep faster, but sand dunes are always on the move. It’s a great beach. One of their best selling points. Apparently much nicer than Puerto Vallarta. But guess what folks, the ocean was a little chilly! Once you got in you could swim for quite a while before getting cold, although it is windy in March, so it gets chilly. Kind of sad that it wasn’t really warm. Last year in April the water was like warm soup. I loved it, it was perfect. You could jump right in and swim for hours. If you don’t mind it a little chilly, March is OK, but if you like it warm or ho t, April is better.

The Food  The food is the big problem here. (As in most places less than 5 star in Cuba, and even some 5 star.) While I didn’t find it revolting (like I did at Arenas Blancas), I enjoyed it only one night. The rest of the time I found it really bland, just not right. And most importantly, 2 of us got quite ill. We assume it was the food. This is very serious. We figure one got sick from the Seafood restaurant, although I was fine, and one from the Italian (salmon salad). Another problem that aggravated me is the way they book the restaurants. When I checked in, the receptionist said that I had to book the restaurants on the day I wanted to go to them. In other words, she said I couldn’t book in advance. What a surprise when I went to book a restaurant 2 days later to find that they were booked up for the rest of our stay and we wouldn’t be able to get in at all! I want some money back for that. The only one that doesn’t book in advance is the seafood restaurant, the other 2 do, and they book up fast. Very disappointing considering how bland the buffet is. Another problem is the chaos in the buffet area. There just didn’t seem to be enough seating there. Especially when there were 4 of us trying to eat together. And no one helps you. I think if you give a big tip, then maybe, just maybe, one of them would put the tiniest bit of effort to clean a table for you so you could sit down and eat. Not impressed. (With exceptions, like Luis.) They are really nice people, and they work hard, but they could put some effort into cleaning tables for people to sit when it’s busy.
You can get food at almost any hour. When the buffet is closed, there are two small outdoor snack bars, that serve relatively good food, in fact some was better than at the buffet. Here you can grab something and head back to the beach. Or order from your room. The best place to get coffee is at the piano bar in the main lobby, although unless you sit (if there are any chairs), be prepared to wait, and wait, and wait.
I only made it to the Seafood Restaurant. It was nice. I loved the wild cats. Some nights were better than others. The lobster could have been a little softer, but it was grilled. Bring a snack from home, especially if you’re a chocoholic like me. Or try the dark chocolate I found only at the Plaza Las Americas.

The Pool
There are 2 pools. I didn’t swim in either – why bother with the beautiful ocean steps away. Some people did, mostly in the afternoon. I found them a little chilly. They have shallow areas for the kids, with deeper parts for swimming. You can use scuba gear in the pool to practice, which was a nice touch. Maybe they have lessons.

Entertainment
We didn’t see much of the entertainment at the hotel. The best was in the main building, if you like that sort of thing. The entertainment staff was really nice. I liked seeing entertainment in the main lobby. There is an activity board near the buffet that lists all the classes and activities they offer at the hotel during the week. Quite a full schedule.
Walk to Calle 62 and watch the locals dancing Salsa, Meringue, Reggaeton. It’s a blast. Totally different dancing styles than in Canada. Down the street is the Havana Club, a nice disco (10 CUC includes all you can drink, if you can get one), and a lot of people having a good time, in a non-judgemental way (how refreshing). La Rumba is further up the peninsula (in the hotel region just before the golf course). We had a really good time there. They played just about every kind of music you could imagine. (Weekends 15 CUC for all you can drink, and it’s much easier to get drinks there.) A big place right on the beach, with a nice view of the ocean. I walked home through Varadero one night at 3 AM, and felt perfectly safe, but taxis are plentiful.

Excursions
This year we did the Jeep Safari. It was good in some ways, bad in others. I liked that we did a lot of different and interesting things (snorkelling in a barrier reef, driving through the heart of Matanzas, horseback riding, swimming in a huge cave, and visiting a farm), I could have done without all that dusty driving back bumpy roads with little to no view of anything interesting. But you might like that. They are not jeeps, they are Suzukis. And they are standard, so I didn’t drive. Bring some items to give away to the locals, and don’t wear white!
We did the jet ski adventure. That was fun. For 39 CUC we jet skied for 2 hours on the ocean through little mangrove islands. The stop for the so-called zoo was a joke. That was unnecessary, and in my opinion a waste. Would have preferred to keep jet skiing. The jet skis are wide ones, so they don’t tip easily. Well worth it. In Wasaga Beach they cost $250 an hour. So enjoy the almost free ride.
This year we did the Catamaran with the dolphin show (as opposed to the catamaran with swimming with the dolphins). How do the 2 compare? The snorkelling was better this year (I actually saw fish this year), the beach was much better (absolutely gorgeous), (the lobster on the boat was better than on the island, but an additional 10 CUC), but the catamaran ride was shorter so that they could bus us to the dolphin show. The show is nice, but way too short. I would rather have swam with the dolphins. Is there a way to go to the nice beach at Cayo Blanco, as well as swim with the dolphins? (Of the 2, go with the beach.) There is a north side and a south side. I think the nicer beach is on the north side of the island. Ask your rep. The other beach was not impressive.
Last year we went into Havana, and it is a must see. Just hope your tour guide actually speaks English and can offer some information. An overnight there would be preferred.
Take the government taxis or tours anywhere in Cuba. Avoid the local taxis – they can’t go everywhere the gov’t taxis can, and besides if you support the government taxis you support the whole economy, not just an individual.
The motor scooters were a blast, but watch out for those potholes. Also, not all intersections are clearly marked, so be on the watch. I would suggest doing as much of the Varadero peninsula as you can (wear a helmet for sure). The bikes are nice too, if you want to go slower. The horse and buggy ride is calming and fun, maybe even romantic, depending upon the company you kee