Varadero (Cuba)

Introduction = A few years ago my wife and I were walking from Rotterdam to Vienna. Unfortunately by the time we got to Cologne we received a call telling us we had been burgled back in the UK. Having to cut the trip short and being unwilling to resume the walk we decided to take a couple of weeks in the sun. Looking around for last minute deals we managed to find 10 days All Inclusive in Cuba for £449 a price I doubt you can get unless you are going very last minute (we left two days later). Visas and Vaccinations = There were no visas necessary for entry and because US customs take a dim ... more

We chose Sandals Royal Hicacos in Cuba as our Honeymoon destination. The resort is very nice, but it is not what we expected from a Sandals resort and was certainly not worth the price that we paid for it. We stayed for 2 weeks from 21st July 2003. We booked through The Holiday Place (online) in the UK; we spent many weeks looking for offers for either an all-inclusive or a cruise for our honeymoon. We eventually chose a Sandals resort (this resort was the cheapest) as we thought it would be the most luxurious and pampering holiday from all those offered. From the advertising that Sandals ... more

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 ... more

Fisrt of all I would like to say that this is a review for the Sandals Royal Hicacos and not Cuba or Varadero as a place to visit. I can't fault Cuba as a holiday destination.... it's fabulous! I`ll get straight to the point instead of giving a blow by blow account of my entire holiday. We stayed at this resort of 2 weeks in July 2007. Good Points: The staff were wonderful. Especially the waiters/waitresses and the maids. They are paid buttons and work very hard for tips but they don't at all come across as pushy and never actually ask for or expect a tip. Every day the maid cleaned our room ... more

Varadero is an odd place - it is a beach resort located on the Caribbean island of Cuba, but in many ways it is the complete opposite of everything that encompasses the true essence of Cuba. It is nothing more than a tourist cocoon where people go to soak up the sun and lap up the tropical beach. I visited Varadero is May 2009, I chose the resort as a base to explore the island. However when I left the confines of this man-made tourist trap, I realised what it lacked - character and vibrancy. The resort is set on a fantastic area of beach and most holiday providers have hotels that you can ... more