Villa Sotavento

The Hotel was ok , the room was clean enough with a very nice lady that is patient and can clean so many times a day your room if requested. The food was not very good and you have to eat the same food again and gain morning afternoon and evening. the internet access is for all Cuba you have to purchase a card for 1 hour and the access is only in the Lobby and you can not have it in your room. Drinkable water you need to go to the restaurant to ask for cup of water, but there is a guy in the Bar close to the pool he will sale you only the bottle of water or you can go outside to bring your own bottle of water. But the security in Varadero was very good and you can walk anytime night or morning. [Details]

We traveled to Varadero, knowing that we might find some things at this place in poor repair. But we also knew that cleanliness is a separate issue. (Cleaning and security are related to employee care and relative-connectedness, rather than the alienation that the strictest-maintained top of the line places might encourage.) Compared to the other places I've stayed in Cuba, Sotavento was in the middle of the pack, and about what I'd expected. Someone in our party had only a single light working in their room. And neither door would lock very well. And both toilets were running constantly and flooding the septic system in the back yard. (Repaired after 3 or 4 days, but they still stuck open sometimes.)

Food and service were excellent. Drinks were plentiful and weak enough to allow you to have one whenever you wanted (though quite over-sweet, mostly). Towel service was so peculiar we never rented them; bring your own maybe? The beach was well tended. And the place was cheap enough we sorta didn't mind abandoning it for a couple days to visit elsewhere.

Low-level, very sociable escort work seems to go on, between the elderly fellas and their temporary mates. It almost seems like they're making pretend families, with the young kids included, etc. (No, it wasn't something I minded discussing with my 12yo boy; we want him to know how the world really works.)

The quintet that played a small-ensemble live acoustic set on Sunday night was completely excellent and intimate. Otherwise the music was loud and mostly ordinary; the dancing which included pink cowboy outfits was astonishing and fun. [Details]

PROS: Went all out with the supper on New Year's! All other meals were better than I had expected, but nothing exceptional. The morning omelets were pretty decent if you can wake up early enough! I think I'd stay here again because of it's relative close walking distance to the downtown area. Great fellow tourists all about as well!
CONS: The inclusive bar never could make me a mojito because they never had any mint, nor any inclination to get some for that matter! The food staff never smiled nor were available to serve at the hot plate area. Tough to find someone to get you a glass of vino during dinner. [Details]

There are two parts to the hotel: the main Acuazul hotel on First Avenue and a line of several older two storey bungalows on Camino del Mar close to the beach. The bungalows are about a block from the hotel and are referred to as Villa Sotavento. All of the houses have unused living rooms and kitchens and four or five rooms each with baths. There are locks on the main door and on each individual room. The room was small, clean, and comfortable and the aircon worked although a bit noisy. The bathroom had no shower curtain and no toilet seat. The shower head sprayed in all directions and I had to use a spare towel to mop up so I wouldn't slip on the tile floor. They also don't supply shampoo so bring or buy your own.

The meals were pretty basic and a bit repetitive. Best things on the menu were lamb, pork, chicken, and Cuban ice cream. The salads and vegetables were plain but all of it was edible and I never got sick. The dining room and bar are in the main Acuazul hotel.

On some nights there was a show in the pool area which was pretty good and on other nights a local music group played in the bar, also good.

I think the hotel is more appropriate for an older crowd and for those going solely for the beach. It's a very quiet area at night and a long way from the hotspots which are at the center and eastern end of town (taxi required – it's too far to walk). An unexpected pleasure for me was a group of local Cubans who played Son at the bar across the street on some nights. There was a older gentleman from Santiago with a superb voice and excellent Tres guitar skills. I had a good time ordering a Cuban pitcher and practicing my Spanish. What I refer to as a Cuban pitcher is a bottle of rum and a bottle of coke plus several glasses to share it. It usually costs less than ten bucks in the small corner bars. It's a great way to make some new friends and is less than the cost of one drink in almost any bar or club in Canada. [Details]

Everything is good, if you are not too pretentious. [Details]