Iberostar Varadero

Back again for the 30th? Time which says something. The staff here are amazing (except the Food and Beverage Manager who is either asleep, missing in action or just making some bad calls this visit.)Everyone speaks fluent English and are genuinely happy to help you. I had stayed at lots of other places. In those places the services were commiserate with tip which was expected for every service. Buffet will finish renovation November 1st! This should resolve extreme overcrowding at the buffet. There is a fuel shortage but in spite of this hotel is well supplied except as noted. Folks don’t bring your used clothes unless they are in excellent shape! Cubans are better dressed than we are. Shoes are hard to find so if you have ones that didn’t fit you but look new they are appreciative. Also unused cosmetic samples, sealed bottles of Tylenol, Advil etc. Do not give something which open or obviously used. Don’t give that in lieu of tips!!! Don’t give loonies or toonies as the banks don’t change coins!!! Maid 1 cuc per day. Bar 1 cuc per day. As I use all three bars I just tip in two per day. Breakfast 1 cuc, lunch 2 cuc, dinner 3 except in a la carte where 5 cuc is average. First time you use Concierge service 1 cuc. Subsequently in proportion to service. If you use a major bank and have a four digit pin there are two ATMs at the airport and several in town. I got a great exchange rate with my Canadian bank using the ATM at first Avenue and 34th Street. As the Atms charge a transaction fee be sure to take all you need at one time. I always take 500 CUC. Taxis and transport Officially it is 1 cuc per kilometre. Town is about 3 kilometres long. Distance to town is 10 kilometres. Therefore you should pay 10 cuc each way. There is a hop on and off bus for 5 Cuc per person per day. It comes right onto the resort. It runs from about 9am- 7pm. Normally it is every half hour but with fuel shortages hourly. The time unpredictable. On the half could be quarter after. Internet Now they give you five hours per person per room on check in - no more cards, although my cards from a previous visit worked fine. Generally it only works in the lobby and lobby bar but a few nights I had reception in my room. Rooms No change- be sure to bring 110/220 adapter for each person. You can fudge the shaving adapter in the bathroom if need be but that is one device. Adapter from gift shop was expensive and didn’t work and no refund!!!! Beautiful crisp new Snow White towels. Awesome speedy repair of over active A/C Unit! Our housekeeper was fantastic! Not just towel and drape art but seriously clean. Big bath tubs with room for two and a bidet. Separate shower. The toilet is on the other side of partition. Rooms are spacious but decor is a bit ... unusual or perhaps tired. Coffee maker in the room. Grab milk at the bar the night before. Nice little mini bar. No mini liquor bottles though... as repeat guests we got a bottle of rum and white wine in the fridge. The view out of building 20 is such lush grass but it comes at a price. It is fertilized once a week and if you got outside it is smelly on that day. A La Carte Your access varies with your package. You need to book through the concierge. This is when you ought to tip. They cannot create spaces where there aren’t any. Trust me they will book you if space is there even with no tip. They are friendly people who help with car and van rentals, reservations at downtown restaurants etc. However they have the “option” to give you three dinner tickets at a time.... Asian - surprisingly good with gari and wasabi with sushi. Might be worth mentioning your dairy allergy to get more of the tasty rolls. Mediterranean - steak and lobster yum! Actually all the items are tasty! All staff in every restaurant is amazing but these folks are my favourite. Gourmet- a tasting menu... good but book an early seating if your guy is a big eater as he might need to hit the buffet! Buffet Under renovation requiring accommodation of all guests in a much smaller space. Pizza awesome. Real bacon! Sadly no more of the unbelievable Cesar Salad from June. However staff is super slow to clear tables resulting in unreasonable waits for tables. Seems as if the bus staff is not refreshing the carts frequently enough to allow a location to clear stuff too and also the restaurant is chronically understaffed. Service when you get it lovely with a smile. Good varietyreasonable given limited space Sadly outdoors especially at lunch is assaulted by a band playing unnecessarily loudly preventing conversation.Heaven help you if get seated near there!!! Frankly they are so loud anywhere outside is band space!!! Inside is sweltering heat! If A/C is insufficient open the darn windows folks!!! Of course that would let the music in and even the Cubans don’t like it LOL!!! Shame on the Food and Beverage Manager! Repeat guests can have breakfast and lunch on a limited menu in the Gourmet. Previously this was held in the Mediterranean where they also laid out a small buffet. No buffet in the Gourmet. Please return to old system. Plus A/C either doesn’t work or isn’t turned on in Gourmet Restaurant- again shame on the Food and Beverage Manager for ruining a perk of being a multiple visit guest. Just silly change!! Bars Bartenders attentive and friendly but the bars lack basics like limes and mint 7/10 days. Unacceptable. Assistant Managers excuse garden for mint not big enough! So make it bigger!!! Limes are imported- plant some lime trees!!! Or have bartenders visit market on the way to work. Poor management by food and beverage manager again! Concierge and Front Desk Iris and Lily especially but everyone is outstanding. Laura Fidel and Yaxdixy on the concierge service are amazing. I think there are a couple of extra ones but these are the ones I know and love!!! These folks are all amazing- be sure to give a tip and small unused gift! Spa Previous spa visits were wasted money with freezing treatment rooms and staff when faced with lower back pain (sciatica) spend 50 minutes on your shoulders and no amount of prompting changes it... So if you have neck and shoulder pain and like freezing treatment rooms... the pressure is excellent and had this been my situation I would have been well satisfied. All the therapists speak perfect almost flawless English! Had Emise this time. He was careful to keep treatment room lovely and warm 24-25?celcius versus 17. Also he did spend 10/50 on my legs and lower back. Normally I might have resented it but he also gave this amazing 10 minute foot rub which surprisingly really helped with leg pain. He a lovely person. His therapeutic style is much different as he does everything from a little aroma therapy to light Shiatsu. I did feel much better after so perhaps his treatments opened my meridians. He books up early and in ten days I only managed 2 Devine appointments. Next time I will book all treatments on arrival. Had the exfoliating treatment and was under whelmed. The exfoliating preparation wasn’t gritty enough and the application was much too gentle. Also who wants to shower and come out to a room at 19 celcius. Entertainment Staff These folks are talented and work so hard. They are friendly and fun. The shows are very good. There continues to be a cultural issue where volume seems excessive and that heavy bass ruins some outdoor activities but with constant reminders volume and bass limits are respected. Beach The beach is clean and beautiful and completely vendor free. No massages on the beach... Candidly the small palapas don’t provide enough shade. So it is move the lounger every 15 minutes to chase the limited shade. Same issue at the pool. Sunwing According to their literature they take all forms of payments for their excursions. No premium is mentioned for credit cards. Trips are listed in CUC. When I tried to buy a trip they use 61 cents conversion when resort was giving 65 and bank 71 and charge 5% for using credit cards. Use anyone else’s carrier...they let you pay in CUC and no premium- Virgin, Air Canada,Air Transat. Really a rip off money grab!!!!

Came here after staying 3nights in Havana.Stayed here in may and had a brilliant time .we had a updated room which was nice and clean at all times ,we also found the resort very clean .when we were leaving they were just going to start renovating the main dining area .Did find it quite dark in here and more like a canteen .always found something to eat .Did enjoy the little indoor bakery with sandwiches and small cakes,very friendly staff .Nice open reception and main bar ,very light and bright compared to some other hotels.Pool was very clean,never had a problem getting sunbeds..waiter service occasionally round pool .Good outside barbeque. We enjoyed all the entertainment at night thought they did a excellent job. Went to downtown a couple of times at night on the bus and taxi back .Good night in the Beatles bar which was very busy .Went on 1 of the boat trips for a day and had Junior as our host ,he made this trip brilliant atmosphere. Also did Club Tropicana which was ok .Weather was very hot . Great holiday .

This resort is beautiful!! Something for ieveryone in your family!! The food in the buffet is very good! Be sure to make a reservation at the specialty restaurants, you won’t be disappointed! The rooms are clean and spacious! We really enjoyed the evening entertainment! p.s. be sure to check out the coffee shop!!