Advantages: Beautiful beaches & pretty cheap when you get there
Disadvantages: Lots of begging in Havana

...I went to Varadero for one week in April 2005. First of all, my holiday got off to a bad start with a 10 hour delay with Thomas Cook Airlines (I have written a review of them separately). I went to the Iberostar Tainos hotel in Varadero. I would say the hotel is of an excellent standard, both for food and accommodation. There is a fridge and satellite TV in the room. The bathroom was very clean and modern. The hotel is all-inclusive so food is served on a buffet basis, although there are Cuban and Brazilian a-la-carte restaurants. One negative point I would make is that there were a large amount of guests who think it's acceptable to leave towels on sunbeds at the pool the night before so when I arrived at the pool in the morning, there were NO PEOPLE there but every single bed had a towel on it!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is not fair and I... Read review

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Advantages: Excellent service, climate and people
Disadvantages: menus need a review, water features...

...Introduction 'Welcome to the independent people's republic of Varadero', our driver commented dryly as we passed the security checkpoint at the start of this 20km peninsula of hedonism. 'You are now leaving Cuba'. He had a point, and the point is this: If like thousands of Brits, Canadians Germans and the odd sanction-busting Yank you fly direct into Varadero on a charter flight, you are probably looking for a week or two of blistering Caribbean sun, a few cold ones and the cosseted pampering of an all-inclusive resort. If that's you, then look no further. However - and it's a biggie - if you chose Varadero over, say, Jamaica, because, well, it's Cuba innit, then you might be disappointed. This isn't Cuba, it's bland, sterile, feels like it could be anywhere in the sub-tropics, and outside of the seňor or seňorita who... Read review

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Advantages: No need to take too much spending money!
Disadvantages: The all inclusive can induce 'cabin fever' after a while

...Spent two weeks at the Sol Coral/Sirienus All Inclusive resort on the lovely Varadero beach. The fact that water sports are included in the package means that you can really get away with spending nothing at all during the day. The kids will find it cooler by the sea edge and the water is extremely shallow and warm - v. safe! A nice added extra was that the beach loungers and canopies are also free. My main complaint would be the standard of food - several people were ill after eating under cooked meat and food which birds pecked at. Still, it is was very cheap and I guess you get what you pay for! Our room didn't have the hairdryer it promised nor the fridge, but the later was brought up to the room after we queried this. Unfortunately my hair was a state for the rest of the holiday ( ... what do you mean it didn't make... Read review

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Advantages: Big, stylish and comfortable
Disadvantages: Some design faults, should have 6-speed gearbox

...Firstly I apologise for the long opinion! To make it easier for you, the readers, I have split this opinion up into five parts. These parts are as follows: 1. How I know of this motorbike. 2. Specifications, accessories and price of the motorbike. 3. My boyfriend’s opinion of the motorbike – a rider’s opinion. 4. My own opinion of the motorbike – a pillions opinion. 5. Other learner legal bikes Honda offer, both manual and automatic. 1. I have never actually ridden this motorbike, although from July to December 2002 I was a regular pillion on one. My boyfriend gained his full bike licence in May 2002. He owned a Yamaha TW125 and that was our mode of transport until the Varadero came along. Ever since Honda released the XL125V Varadero in August 2001 my boyfriend wanted one. When he took the TW for a service... Read review

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Advantages: Beachfront Property
Disadvantages: Its A Long Bus Ride into Varadero Centre

...Why Varadero ------------------- Myself and a few friends decieded to visit Cuba (second time for me, all the others were Cuba virgins). We all agreed that we wanted to go to a resort where there was something to do outside of the hotel, and where we could hire a car and explore the local area. Why This Hotel --------------------- We chose this hotel because of its beachfront location, its all-inclusive status and also because we had all stayed at an Iberostat before and we liked the brand/amenities. When Did We Go ----------------------- We all travelled out to Cuba from London Gatwick on 05 June 2006, I stayed for one week, my friends all stayed for two weeks. Nine Hours Later ------------------------ After a good nine hour flight with Monarch to Varadero Airport, we all went through immigration, got our passports... Read review

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Advantages: All round good pick for those wanting Caribbean on a budget. Great beach!
Disadvantages: Probably not quite up to 5* standards like some other hotels, but we didn't mind!

...I stayed at Hotel Palma Real, Varadero, Cuba in September 2005 with a friend. We both had a fantastic holiday. I would rate this as a 3/4 star hotel, as it is typically at the lower end of the pricing for holidays to Varadero. However, don't let this put you off this merely makes it even more value for money! Location# The hotel is situated approximately 150 metres from the beach. Literally cross the road and you are there. Facilities on the beach include sunloungers, parasols, snack bar serving food and drinks, watersports, dance classes. The beach itself is beautiful and is around 20 miles long so you can walk as far as you like. We didn't find a problem with the beach being across the road, if anything it made us explore a little more than if we had been staying at hotel that was on the beach itself. Hotel Facilities... Read review

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Advantages: Well located, Good value, Superb Beach
Disadvantages: Only one restaurant

...We have just returned from a two week break at the Riu Turquesa at Varadero and were generally quite happy with the hotel and the resort. This was a late booking and we got a very good price for a family of four on an all-inclusive basis. We flew with Thomsonfly direct to Varadero from Manchester. Thomsonfly do not provide drinks other than water onboard and you have to pay for headsets. However the flight was fine. At Varadero Airport we joined a long queue to have our passports and tourist cards examined in minute detail - one by one. It was a slow start to the holiday and we were glad to get on the air conditioned coach to be taken to the hotel which is a little over half an hours drive away. The hotel itself is located some distance along the Varadero peninsula, very close to a dolphinarium and Aquaworld which is where... Read review

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Advantages: Good food and drink
Disadvantages: Location is slightly remote - occasional poor buffet experience

...I only stayed at Playa Alameda in February 2006 for a couple of days to chill out after a bit of backpacking around Cuba, and am extremely glad I did choose this hotel. It is remotely located in Varadero and as you will see this has its plus and minus points. It does make it difficult and possibly costly to reach. We paid quite a lot just for a taxi from the coach station to the resort. The resort grounds were extremely well kept. The rooms were clean and had everything you would expect from a hotel of this class. It was furnished with a desk and a couch and the balcony had a couple of chairs you could sit and relax on too. The fruit basket on arrival was a nice touch. Bathrooms had both a separate shower and bath, It is worth trying to get a room with an ocean view. This will mean a slightly longer walk to the reception area... Read review

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Advantages: Very Pretty and relaxing.
Disadvantages: Some poorer parts may put you off.

...Varadero. If your keen to simply lie on a sandy beach and soak up hot rays, Varadero promises you total contentment. This is the island's top resort, consisting largely of excellent modern hotels strung out along the coast. It has 20km of sizzling,soft,white,sandy beach and palm trees dotted around.Turquoise-blue caribbean sea, powdery beaches ,lush greenery, and exotic wilde life will all be waiting for you at Varadero. Its a perfect little hide away,wet still is lively when you want it to be. Thats one side of cuba The other side you proberly wont see (unless you are thinking of taking a trip there) but in most cases this will be a good thing. Some of cuba is very poor and traveling out of your hotels and resort will lead to the poorer part of Cuba. Most of the people there dont earn a lot at all and so... Read review

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Advantages: It was hot
Disadvantages: Everything.

...we go there! We paid £12 for hair gel! They wanted £50 for a snorkle mask and £189 to go out on the boat fishing for half a day! You need an extra £1000 to spend if you want to see everything! On the whole, Cuba was ok, not a place I'd go back to. We flew with Thomas Cook from Gatwick straight to Varadero - a total of 9 1/2 hours. Coming home we had a dreadful surprise. We flew from Varadero to Holguin where we picked up passengers to bring them back to Gatwick. The flight time home was 12 1/2 hours - make sure you check this with your Tour Operator. Please if you're booked to go to Varadero then be aware, it certainly isn't a dream holiday and I'd never go back.... Read review

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