Roc Barlovento

Great help and people from moment we got there. Rooms were clean everyday. Buffet had food shortages but plenty of different food. Buffet and bar service polite and professional. Everyone friendly,great shows at night, activities during day . Bingo everyday. Like being home again with family. Sad to leave will be glad when I return!!! [Details]

The staff are amazing .rooms are clean evertything works. [Details]

It was a very enjoyable experience. [Details]

The Staff does its best to run this hotel with what they are provided. Lobby Bar Staff very uninviting( put a smile on your face ) you are the face of the hotel. Hotel Needs a new coffee system. We always had to wait 20 min to half hour for coffee. That's not acceptable on an expensive holiday. Outside Grounds were kept up but the hotel Railings and steps need work. Safety issues. Bathrooms could use some updating. We were never given soap in our room for our whole two week stay. The pools, beach, and location are its best features The guests make this place enjoyable I would rate our stay a 6/10 [Details]

Upon arrival was very stressful as could not give us our upgraded room and was no view off balcony which we paid for. As we arrived late and everything should have been ready ... nothing was. The next day we could not get our upgraded room as new people arriving were getting them. Had to ask for beach towels and toilet paper!! Never did get better room or any money returned. Can't see that I would return for a third visit. First trip 7 years ago was good but this experience was not. Coffee was like mud.. [Details]

We have travelled to this Hotel over 40 times since 2004.The staff are amazing!! We are looking forward to our next visit early March. [Details]

My 3 visit to this hotel, so I knew what to expect. The location is GREAT! You can walk to the 'souvenier' market, past restaurants and bars, even to the Beatles bar (if you dont mind a long walk). The beach is wonderful, the ocean is turquiose and there are tins of palapas and loungers. There is a beach bar but the beer was for sale in cans. This was a first. But you can sttoll back to the pool bar and refill your beer and it was good and cold. Pools were wonderful, and lots of loungers and chairs. Not as much shade as before, az they dont seem to have unbrellas anymore although the stands are still there. The staff is what makes this place wonderful. They are so helpful & caring. The buffet is ok, the ala cartes are good, you will not starve. Drinks are drinks, but their coffee bar is wonderful. Rooms are clean, and there always seemed to be enough toilet paper in public washrooms. Entertainment is resort type stuff, just go & enjoy. Rooms absolutely need REAL renovations. They cannot keep advertising "renovated" rooms but never having any. Things are falling apart around the resort but no one seems to fix them. Doors dont close, locks are broken, urinals had cardboard over them the whole time in public washrooms, toilet seats missing, burnt out lights where they need to have lights, crumbling walkways and balconies. These are things that can be fixed. Fix them. Paint stuff. Upgrade rooms. This place was probably a beauty in its day. Make it that way again. [Details]

good hotel is all about the staff very friendly and helpful
great beach
easy access to the town for shopping nite life and
good nearby restaurants
will go back again [Details]

Roc Barlovento: Older Hotel Enjoys High Repeat Rate

Located at the start of Punta Hicacos peninsula, the Roc enjoys a high repeat rate for an older hotel up against the newer, more luxurious hotels further down the strip.

Yet, with its smaller scale, adults only clientele, good evening show entertainment, nice layout and stretch of beach, the Roc is a decent alternative often at a decent price.

If judging a hotel is done by sizing up its bathrooms, Roc earns 4 stars! Conscientious staff kept them clean and stocked with all the essentials. OMG, even the hand dryers work! Likewise, the pools, grounds and common areas were kept clean.

Nicer, smaller scale means you're not going to wear out your shoes walking around, and yet you'II still have enough space to escape the resident yahoos (the Quebec separatist who scared a la carte restaurant diners shouting us other Canadians who according to him "don't pay enough taxes!"). Sole exception is the lone lobby bar, oh well, you can run but you can't hide, lol, although "the boys from Saskatoon" politely asked him to keep it down and to himself!

Anyhow, here for the first time, Dalia and Zady were great! We got our room request, dinner reservations and complimentary bottle of rum (not at check-in but later, on request, which was fine, if not better).

Taking up the ROC PLUS $140 per couple upgrade meant "renovated rooms," the rum, daily water, 2 a la carte meals and special pool and beach areas reserved for us "green wristband" guests (similar to G.M. Sanctuary, Cayo Santa Maria although there, it's actually enforced).

Judging by the overwhelming "gold wristbanders" (repeaters) it was clear they like the Roc but few pay for the upgrade. Good for them too that they still enjoy access to the restricted pool area and designated ROC PLUS beach area even though this benefit seems rather dubious.

As a result, I had problems settling in and felt more like a "gold wristband spectator." Part of this was my fault, sure, but with only 13 lounge chairs at the Roc Plus pool - I never got one all week, and forget about "their pool," every square inch was marked like a dog. And although there's numerous 'upright chairs' at the Roc Plus pool, it's just not the same. Those would be better on the beach where sitting up, watching the water and stuff is great.

The UPGRADE - Renovated rooms or not, we still encountered unhinged, heavy closet doors you couldn't easily use, a TV remote control that didn't work (drove us batty!), a faucet that sprayed water all over if you weren't careful, and an air con unit with a broken swingdoor that also wasn't good enough (yes, Mr. Klaus we brought some stuff up with staff but the problems weren't resolved). Is it worth an extra $140 per couple per week? Likely not but I never saw the unrenovated rooms.

MORE LIKES - The friendly pool bar and nightshow bartenders. The buffet restaurant staff and omelet Cook, as efficient as anyone I've seen in over 10 years going to Cuba! Lots of ingredients too. The chambermaid service. The BBQ chicken and the El Ranchon lunch alternative. The snack food and 24 hour bar.

Carlos Morales, the middle aged "chair guy" who works the beach. Hard work getting them out and setting them up for people throughout the day, then stacking 'em up at days's end yet he does it all with grace, and believe me, he's the first to get me a pair of lounge chairs in Cuba. The convenience store and my Cuban menthol (Fresh) cigarettes!

Oh, among the friends we made, a shout out to Cindy and Andre from the Laurentians in Quebec, it was dynamite socializing with you! Hope we meet again one day. To my buddies from Milton, you guys rock and to "crazy Patsy" and Rob from Winnipeg, you guys split my belly with laughs those late nights, watch out though for "inverted nipples" going forward Patsy.

DISLIKES/ AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT

Scarce chicken and no pasta station at the buffet restaurant. Beef that needs to be tenderised or pounded heartily.

No pizza snacks, service at the Ranchon (slow, very forgetful), and the worst cappuchinos I had in Cuba.

Lobby bar staff were seen using the same coffee grinds twice and not bothering to whip up the milk. "The machine" got blamed but my morning coffee was much better after I complained how bad it was etc.

Having to ask for ashtrays and left waiting to ask ... holiday's are too short for that, just leave them on the smoking section tables or bar counter.

Vehicles stopping at the entrance and leaving their engines running.

Disappointing lobby bar entertainment, solo artists - nothing beats the traditional Cuban music bands!

Summary - For an older resort far from midtowne Varadero, the 3 1/2 star Roc is a decent, if not good alternative to other more expensive, modern hotels. There's just no guaranteeing everything will be great but then that likely goes with many other hotels in Varadero I suppose. All in all though, it might be worth trying. I confess that if the price is good, I may even return.

Bon voyage, Steve Anthony of Toronto! [Details]

Nous avons transférer d'hôtel après trois jours, la senteur était très désagréable. [Details]

We have been going to The Roc twice a year for the past 5 years . The Roc is our home away from home . Every year it just keeps getting better . The food is nutritious, fresh , well prepared , rooms are clean , water is plentiful . Outside the pools are clean and well looked after , as is the beach area. There are outside bars, recreation areas and lots to do.
The Staff- just cant say enough ! Best of the Best.. Legna , Liven , Mario , Hilda , Idribar ( cant remember how to spell his name !) The fellas the the pool bar ! [Details]

If you are picking a hotel to stay at Think Roc Barlovento why because the staff are friendly you are close to everything in Varadero you will have a very good experience being at the Roc
We have been going to this resort for the last 3 years and will i try somewhere else and the answer is NO i LOVE going to Barlovento because the experience is good. Shows are good everything you need is at this hotel [Details]

I was very happy overall with the hotel and I have stayed there for the last 7 years at least. I bring numerous gifts for the maids and tip as well. However, I'm 99.9% sure I forgot my Apple Ipad in the room. I remember taking it out of the safe and checking that it was empty. I remember carefully packing fragile items in the suitcase. I do not remember packing the Ipad. The color of the cover was close to the wood in the room. I must have missed packing it. I contacted the hotel the next morning by email but they advised nothing was found. I was very disappointed. [Details]

We stayed here in April 2018. From the moment we arrived until we left we had no complaints. All the staff were super, even the entertainers were really genuine and friendly. We would like to especially mention Itayna who works at the reception desk. She was so kind and helpful. It was nice to have a go-to person that we could rely on for any questions we had. The beach was perfect! We are not the kind to sit on the beach, but it was hard not to, the water was clear and the sand soft. Everything was centrally located and we often found ourselves in the lobby area where people mingled and chatted into the evening. It's also a bonus to be so close to town where we could safely walk around any time. The food was typical fare for Cuba and we never went hungry. The rooms were clean and comfortable. We enjoyed many a rum coconut cocktail as all drinks were included. The service we had at every turn was always prompt and courteous. We are headed to the same resort this April. See you there! [Details]

We had a very enjoyable visit with all facilities being very neat and clean , cleaning lady was awesome.
The door staff were not really very helpful or overly friendly( your dealing with tourists) but we still managed to adapt as having been in the area before.
The beach was very convenient and staff there were very friendly and helpful.
Overall a great experience [Details]

Food and Restaurants, room service and cleaning excellent service by staff. Security visible and beaches clean. Pool and Grounds well maintained.
Disappointing with the reception offered by the female receptionist, who gave the impression, "we have your money, live with it or move, it is all a joke. [Details]

Enjoyable stay at the Roc! Rooms were comfortable and easily accessible with all connecting to main building! Nice not to walk forever. Beach is very close and absolutely beautiful. Several shade areas available and lots of beach chairs. Buffet and other restaurants were very clean and food was good and always plentiful. Good place for a relaxing trip! If you are a cat lover, I'd recommend bringing cat treats to help feed the kitties!! [Details]

This was our first time at Roc Barlovento and we weren`t disappointed the staff were great and friendly, the pools were great and the beach was beautiful . We were really impressed with the comfort of the beds and the cleanliness off the rooms , clean towels every day and always something good to eat . We would stay here again and strongly recommend this place If you looking for a good price and not a huge resort this is the one for you so thanks Roc for the great stay. [Details]

The Roc Barlovento is a GREAT value packed and beautiful location. The adult only criteria, and facilities, and best of all the BEACH are great. No real complaints; this is not Florida or Maritime food...it is different and if you are going to Cuba for the food...you are probably going to the wrong place. If you want a beautiful beach and water, close proximity to Varadaro...walking close, night life and yep internet slow but does work for $1 CUC /hr...it's your place. Also..had occasion to use the onsite medical doctor and great and prompt service and very reasonable. Staff good as well...a few bumps cut I would rate 4.5/5. [Details]

This is the 4th time at this resort and for good reason, the resort has the best staff a resort could offer. Right from the front desk staff to the cooks, maids,servers, bartenders and all other onsite staff. Always friendly and helpful. The food has improved a lot since the first time there. Also close to downtown. The resort was under renos to replace sidewalks and do some painting but the inconvenience was minor, never too far to walk around the work. Next year will be our 5th time there and we have decided 3 weeks instead of 2. [Details]

This is a great adults only resort it is small and feels like a home away from home. The food is excellent, staff is amazing and the facility is clean and well keep. This is a cat friendly resort, there is only a handful of cats that live on the resort and they are all spade or neutered and vet checked. Visitors find the cats calming and they are not bothersome at all. There is a new manager (Klaus) that is always out and about to offer a smile handshake or a hug, It makes the hotel feel warm and hospitable. [Details]

13th time to Roc Barlovento and once again many great improvements. Brand new pool and new water ballet show. Staff once again the best service. Renovated rooms and the most beautiful beach. [Details]

This was my first visit to Cuba and I was given an idea of what it would be like by my travelling companion (girlfriend) who had been to Varadero once before.The hotel itself is a little dated and could use some more renovations, judging by the Roc Plus room we were given. As it was, the room appeared to be clean and in fair to good repair. We were provided with two doubles beds where one queen/king would have be more to our liking. We ended up sleeping in separate beds so as not to knock the other one on to the floor. We were put on the 3rd floor which we liked as it was quieter in the evenings and gave us some additional exercise on the stairs but would not recommend for anyone with mobility issues (no elevator). The shower in our room was substandard with very little pressure and frequent loss of hot water, again we did manage to make do with what we had. The pool, dining, and common areas were great with plenty of room and lounges available. The beach was also spectacular and very well kept. As we are non-smoking health minded people we found it almost impossible to escape the second hand smoke, even in the small 8 - 10 seat NON-SMOKING section of the Lobby Bar. The staff seemed to not enforce this at all as almost all patrons were smokers. Unfortunately this is the main spot for the pay-as-you-go WiFi and would have to put up with it. Thankfully all the dining areas were completely non-smoking and we found ourselves lingering there for a drink or two to avoid the smoke. The buffet food was decent although a little repetitive which is understandable as access to a lot of foods in Cuba may be limited. If you were patient you could have a fresh omelette / pasta made to order. We had two a la carte meal selections for the week, a Mexican and a Fusion with the second to be more enjoyable. Finally, the shining star of this resort were the staff. They were all excellent, catering to all your needs whenever possible. Our personal favourites were Iris - Betty in the dining area and Miguel - Joel in the lobby bar. I would recommend this resort as good value for the money especially adult smokers. [Details]

The Roc Barlovento hotel we will definitely will be going back to , the staff were great and appreciated us being there, the food was good and of course the beach was amazing. It was Adults only hotel so it was quiet which made it very relaxing. [Details]

Mediocre experience I would rate this hotel as more of a 2.5/3 stars, not 3.5, based on our experience!

I would rate this hotel a 2.5/3 stars, not 3.5 based on our experience! Here's why:

BEACH:
The beach was infested with sand ants so you couldn't lounge on the beach. You had to run from the ocean to the poolside to avoid getting bitten! It was very frustrating and not enjoyable at all if you enjoying sitting on the beach to read/lounge. No opportunity to dry off except if you didn't mind standing along the shoreline where the waves come in to air dry a little. You definitely needed some footwear while walking (...no, hustling) along the white sand. We brought lots of Deet so we were good. There is a plane that passes overhead to help keep the mosquitos at bay.

The water was a gorgeous turquoise color, that was cooler in the mornings but got very warm in the afternoon. It only rained one day, but June is their tropical storm season. The rain typically lasts only for about 15min intervals.

FOOD:
As for the food, it was mediocre - same items for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Wanted to reserve the Sushi bar but it's only available Monday evenings - would have liked to have known that beforehand. Then reserved the Mexican restaurant for Sunday dinner for 7pm, as it was the only availability. When we arrived it was closed the whole day with no sign of setting up. We went to the Concierge to inquire, who seemed surprised. She called the restaurant and was told it had been switched to another option "upstairs". We opted out and just went to the buffet instead. No surprise as to what was on the menu - leftovers from breakfast and lunch! Too bad as I think it would have been a nice experience.

The cappuccino machine in the restaurant was broken for 2 days so you had to get your coffee from the bar to bring with you to the buffet. The area for the ROC Plus seating never felt the AC so it was a miss sitting there! The 24-hr bartenders were very friendly and the housekeeping staff was very nice too. The Concierge was always ready to help!

The Beach Bar was never open during the daytime when we wanted something to eat so that was annoying. We had to hustle to the buffet, assuming it was during their operating hours.

AMENITIES:
On Sunday afternoon I purchased a small painting from Sili, the artist, and it was beautiful - freshly painted as it was still drying! (LOL!). I left it in my room to air dry some more and I loved it! Small ones are 10 CUC's and the large are 25 CUC's. The market down the street was great and we went twice! There was an annoying beggar who didn't want to take NO for an answer so we finally left. Too bad for that, though. There are cats around the site and they love meat, so don't bother with bread. I guess a carb-free diet helps keep them lean and trim! They are so cute!!

ROOM:
There are no screens on the sliding doors so you can't open the door for fresh air if you don't want mosquitos or ants getting in. That was a disappointment as we prefer to have the window open and AC off at night to enjoy the tropical breeze. [Details]

We had not travelled to Cuba before but had been to the Dominican Republic so consequently knew what to expect. The hotel is exceptionally clean (the pool is especially so - not one grain of sand in it, I swear). The rooms are fine but not especially well maintained; this is typical in countries where basic supplies can be difficult to get. But the beds were clean and comfortable and the a/c worked. What more does one need?

Everything you hear about the food in Cuba is true; do not expect delicious meals and be prepared to improvise. We usually had omelettes at breakfast and then would often make a sandwich (plenty of cheese and bacon available at breakfast) rather than come in for formal lunch. The snack bar near the beach is good to grab a quick lunch, especially on Cuba days (Thursdays). For the most part the service is good, but remember that Cuba is a tipping economy and be sure to carry lots of 1-CUC coins. I strongly recommend changing money at a bank or using an ATM rather than changing money at the hotel. There is an ATM that takes cards from Canadian banks just a few blocks up from the hotel.

The staff is friendly (esp. if you tip) although customer service is not a concept that exists everywhere in Cuba. Don't expect N. American style attentiveness from everyone, though within the hotel there is definitely a service mentality.

Activities at the pool were mostly an annoyance, but the Hobie sailing at the beach was fantastic, and the snorkeling trip well worth the $20CUCs.

If you want to do some adventuring do your homework ahead of time and book from Canada; on-site tours were double the price of what we booked from home. And if you want true flexibility, rent a scooter. $35 CUC/day $25 per day subsequently. A great deal.

Overall we liked the hotel very much. It is not the Four Seasons, but the public areas are very pleasant, the rooms are fine, the food is ok, and the service is very good overall, with some exceptions. The biggest bonus is you are right in town and can walk all over the place. I'd recommend the hotel and would go there again. [Details]

The hotel was rustic with well preserved architecture. Some painting being done while we stayed. Everything was centrally located so you didn't have to walk for miles from point a to point b. [Details]

We thoroughly enjoyed Barlovento for its laid back and homey atmosphere not pretentious which made it very easy to get along with the other patrons of the hotel. The rooms were basic, very clean and comfortable enough had plenty of hot water, no worse than staying in a cottage at the lake. The food was far better than I had expected.
I found the staff to be extremely friendly and engaging. Beach, grounds and location was ideal. I truly believe that for Cuba this hotel deserves 4 stars. We plan on going back for 2 weeks next year. [Details]

This was my second visit to the resort.
It is adult-only, not in the party-party sense, but the luxury of relaxing sense. My rooms, all the grounds and public areas were very clean and pleasant.
On checking in, ensure the fuses are all activated, so that all the lights turn on, and that the fridge is on.
The maid is responsible for your daily bottle of water, please tip her well.
I came for much-needed peace and quiet, plus a dash of fun, and that is what I found.
The service is very attentive.
I took the sight-seeing bus around Varadero and found fun souvenirs at the market.
I went on an evening trip to Havana for the show at the Tropicana, a fabulous show under the stars. The drivers and tour guides are very informative.
The beach was fantastic, like a postcard.
The staff do lovely things to delight you, like weave grasses into souvenirs and fold towels and blankets into flowers and swans.
There are biting insects, bring antihistamine and afterbite or calamine gel. If you forget, there is a nurse on duty who can help you.
The sun is strong, bring sunscreen and aloe vera.
I had a massage from the hotel masseuse, it was fantastic. [Details]

The lethargy and indifference of the staff is quite noticeable. Probably a result of the (communist) political system. One day there were no coffee cups, next day no spoons, no towels replaced, etc. Coffee comes from (if you can believe it) two pushbutton operated machines that make one cup at a time. One was often out of service. You can imagine the lineups. Maybe we should tell them about urns. Water is not served automatically, you have to ask for it. And you're lucky to get it by the time you finish your meal.
Stray cats and dogs are running around freely on the property. There are only a small number of chairs on the beach; you have to get up at 4am to get one.
We were lucky, but some people had no toilet seats in their rooms.
Tried the Fusion and the Sushi restaurants, both not worth the bother. Everybody liked the salmon in the Fusion, though. The main buffet is not bad; best to stick with that.
The resort makes no effort to control (spray) insects; there's lots of mosquitos. Don't open your balcony door at night! We did and we have the bites to prove it.
Smoking is allowed everywhere except in the rooms and dining rooms. Apart from ourselves and a few German tourists all the other guests were from "La Belle Provence". And they took full advantage of that freedom smoking constantly. [Details]