Cuba Holiday Reviews

A great resort if you're looking for a week or two of doing not very much. The ideal place for chilling out on the beach by day and eating and drinking by night.

We didnt really go out of the hotel other than to Havana so it would be unfair to pass any comment about Varadero, other people we spoke to seemed to like it.

If you are looking for a great beach this could be the place for you. We travelled along the peninsula and found the best stretch of beach to be just outside out hotel, the Barcelo Solymar. The sea is an amazing turquoise and the sand is white - pure heaven in my book, although not as good as outside the Bahia Pricipe Punta Cana! You can take a bus which runs 24hrs all the way along the peninsula for a few pesos. It allows you to see the town, the hotel zone and we even stopped off at Al Capone's house - now a restaurant right on the beach. There's plenty of shops if you're after souveniers, but no major shopping, although the large market is fun. You can walk, take the bus, a taxi or horse and carriage - all reasonable. There are a few bars - Calle 63 was good with live music most nights. We didn;t eat out in town, but there were plenty of places if you wanted. I suppose Varadero is commercialised by Cuban standards but it;s still very Cuban. If I were to return to Cuba I would probably try an island for total relaxation and isolation. Be aware that tipping in many places and hotels is getting out of hand. When in all inclusive, although I do tip, I don't want to feel I have to tip every time I head to the bar.

I cannot speak highly enough of our brief time in Havana. It is difficult to describe the experience - all I would say is that if you have a chance of visiting - do so!!! The city is jam packed full of places to visit - it is pointless for me to list them all - any travel guide can point them out. We fitted as much as we can into our 3 days and were not at all disappointed in anything we saw or did. It was amazing. Among our favourites - although it is hard to narrow down were the museum of the revolution - an amazing collection - El Capitolio - we were allowed into Casto's study and sat in his chair - and Revolution Square where again we were able to sit in Castro's chair. By Revolution Square is Jose Marti Memorial at around 140m it gives amazing views across Havana and beyond. We hired a private guide for our first day and she was amazing - she fitted in all we wanted to do and more - she took us to little known places, showed us what tourists don;t usually see, gave us an amazing insight into life in Cuba and Havana in particular. She showed us ramshackled houses in a really rundown part of town. We spoke to one resident selling trinkets in front of his house and he told us 17 families shared that house - sometimes more than one family in one room with only paper separating their own areas. We saw where buildings had just fallen. We saw areas we were warned not to return to without her and certainly not at night. We felt we saw beyond what the average tourist sees - certainly better than a group tour. We even ate in a restaurant within a resident's house in Chinatown. She buzzed up and we were told to wait. Ina while we were shown in, up some stairs to the 1st floor restaurant which was full of locals. Without doubt a walk and also an opentop car ride along the Malecon is a must - it is so amazing. At present UNESCO is undertaking a massive restoration project that will protect and secure the amazing architecture around the city. I will definately return in years to come, but hope that the inevitable opening up of Cuba to Americans does not spoil the character of such an amazing place.

The resrot is to die for! I would definatly go back there if i had the money. I loved this place the sands are amazing the people are friendly too! Defo worth a visit!

Something that is definitely a plus of the hotel is the good prices of the bar and its location -practically two minutes walk from anywhere in the old havana. I would recommend it to anyone because the pros of this hotel are more than the cons, i'm just writing both so i'm fair, but it's definitely worth it spending a few nights there next time you're in havana vieja.

Its a little far from Habana Vieja, the historical center, but Melia Habana offers free shuttle to its customers. For me its the best Hotel in Havana and the best option too.

Did not really see much of the resort as this was an all inclusive package therefore the majority of the time was spent in the hotel (unfortunately). Would recommend the Jeep Safari tour but avoid Havana - dirty and full of beggars not the busy vibrant cosmpolitian city it is marketed as.

hotel- mixture of terrible bits and lovely bit. ok beach and some good trips. It's a real shame as it could of been lovely but being ill every day ruins the fun.

Stunning Beaches! White sand with lovely views,ideal for a relaxing holiday! The resort is just like being in paradise!

Warm Sunny happy chilled atmostphere most of the time not a bad resort as it goes it was near the dolphins which were great and only an hour from the airport it was just what we needed to relax

The resort is wonderful so picturesque. Plenty of Water Sports. Dont go to the Sol Cayo Guillermo though there are three other Hotels to choose from

If your looking for history then Havana is the place, on the sea front although not a beach resort there is plenty of sightseeing, shopping and sun. would definatley go back.

Old Havana is still wonderful and worth any amount of time you have available. We chose to skip the beach scene this time and concentrated on culture - in and outside Havana. The old city is wonderful in many ways - but there is some "bad" ... poverty, begging, tired old buildings and many old cars ... which all add to the scene that is Havana. Don't miss it. One day is not sufficient, but is better than none. Plan on walking - it is the best way to see it.

There was not a great deal to see in Varadero, however the beach was superb. Cuba is very cheap to eat out in, and a day trip to Havana is a must. We took the bus oureslves from Varadero, costing approx 15CuC each for a return ticket. Advised to book hotel in Havana on internet before you go to rip off guides!!