Varadero

This was our second time to Blau Varadero, last time was a year ago. The check in was very quick and efficient, the room was clean and spacious, we purchased the upgrade to ocean view which was fabulous. Always had hot water, great water pressure, tub, shower with 2 shower heads. The staff are just amazing and hardworking. The beach is one of the best we've ever visited, and we've been to, and we've been to many. No seaweed, just a few pebbles and small sea shells on edge of water, perfect for long walks in either direction. Always felt very safe, no one hassled or harassed anyone on the beach. This is the number one reason for returning to Varadero. There are shortages, worsened at the moment. No eggs two days, no problem for us and everyone was kind and understanding, there were lots of other things, like ham, cheese, croissants, and other breads, lots of papaya, guava, pineapple. There was even chicken and vegetable, always sweet potatoes, sausages, even liver in gravy. Anyone going to Cuba will have read about these shortages and should make their decision with no expectations. Lunch and dinner, had lots of braised meats, salads, tomatoes, cucumbers etc Small selection of desserts, home style squares and cookies. Some food is over cooked, the grilled beef is very chewy and they don't have a lot of spices, but always found choices we liked. And their ice cream is delicious. Also, grilled hamburgers, chicken and fish, by the pool. Next time we will bring our own oil & vinegar for salad. Also, no ketchup, mayo or mustard if it's your thing, we don't use it. The drinks we had were good. Pina coladas were the best at the piano bar. One day there was no coke, also not a problem for us. Any tips are so greatly appreciated by the staff. We tipped one us$ when we were served our drinks, and in the morning at the beach for beach chair setup.And $5 Canadian daily for room cleaning lady. We did not buy any pesos, as we didn't buy anything there, and they accept US$, just have the correct amount. There is a hop on hop off bus that takes you to Varadero. We took some used, good condition T-shirts and other clothing, bandaids, nail polish and hair elastic and asked one of the servers if she could use it. She was thrilled, and said they will accept anything and would share with the people in her village. Also take any meds you think you might need, they have shortages in the pharmacies too. We are already planning our next visit next year.

The resort was beautiful and very well maintained. Every amenity was within a short distance to get to leaving more time to enjoy them rather than wasting time getting to them. The beach was awesome! Very long beach with fine sand grain, a pleasure to walk on. The people are very friendly and accommodating. Unfortunately, there was no vodka, tequila, white wine and a number of other alcohols not available to make certain cocktails.

It is truly paradise! Place was amazing, animation team work great and the best part is their beach! It's breathtaking!

95% of the staff seem to legitimately like being there. Rooms were suitable and sufficient for how much time we actually spent in it. Shower was extra spacious and plenty of room for two. Food was better than I was expecting (Set the bar low and be pleasantly surprised if they surpass it). Drinks….nothing bad about those. Beach- phenomenal. Weather- above 22C up to 29C daily. Had a couple of shitty days, but it is Cuba's winter. All in all, great experience and will go back. If going on excursions…make sure that you know if the extra activities cost extra…some are included, but most aren't.

We stayed at this resort twice, in May 2023 and end of January 2024. We love this resort mostly because of its location near a coral reef and also because of a very friendly and welcoming atmosphere there. Although the variety of food has declined since May 2023 we still found enough food to eat, especially lots of different fish, fruits and desserts. Delicious Spanish coffee in the lobby bar. The resort personal are doing their best to make your stay as comfortable as possible. While I cannot name all of them, I want to say my special thanks to Raily from the main buffet and Deni from El Ranchon restaurant for friendly and super fast service; Oralys from Bellini (lobby) bar for her hard work, great and fast service, being super friendly and always smiling; Jeny from diamond club for always being exactly where you need your help. Jeny can be found not only in the diamond club room, she is running all day long around the resort, and checking guests in the beach area, in the lobby, she is everywhere, always would ask if everything is good, if you need any help, how did your excursion go and so on. Amazing energy! Thanks all the staff for making our vacation great!

Overall we had a good experience. We were aware of the shortages before we booked. We didn't see any food shortages but did have to ask and find things like bottled water and toilet paper once while we were there. The entertainment was wonderful, beaches were beautiful and the resort was beautiful. Some things to consider: Mini fridge in room is not stocked, 24hr snack bar does not serve food 24hrs, towels are not plentiful.

We thoroughly enjoyed this resort. In our opinion, the food was good and we never went hungry. The animation staff are lively and fun. The beach is beautiful and secluded. We stayed in the main building which was very close to all amenities. Any room concerns were dealt with by staff.

We had the most amazing seven days at this resort! The staff were superb! Hector working the front desk was exceptional with his customer service and Carlos and the entire entertainment crew were simply amazing! The hotel was clean, well maintained and the service was the best I have ever experienced at an all inclusive resort! We were a family of 6 from age 23-65 and we all agree this was an incredible experience.

Speaking about the Star Prestige adult only section. This upgrade is so worth it. A la carte restaurant for breakfast, dinner and supper. The staff at the Star Prestige restaurant and bar are wonderful. We had so much fun chatting with them. Special mention to our concierge Diana. She catered to our every need with professionalism and made our stay so very carefree and enjoyable. Also Deglis, hotel manager, is a gem. Very kind and professional. We miss all the wonderful people that made our stay so much fun. Even with the economic crisis happening in Cuba we never went without and i highly recommend the upgrade. The beach is stunning as per most beaches in Cuba. Looking forward to our next adventure in this beautiful country. The safety of the island and the people keep us coming back year after year. Till we meet again.

Knowing of Cuba's economic problems, I was impressed that bringing my own toilet paper was all-for-not. Some of the facilities were unavailable, including one of the pools, but who cares? The Beach is gorgeous, the Staff are all friendly, and the rum flows.