ROC El Viejo y el Mar

The hotel was still being redone and wasn’t open yet in Aug 2017, but the pool and bar were operating. For 5cuc pp, you could spend a day by the pool, have lunch, and get drinks at the swim-up bar. The pool was a decent size and clean, with deck chairs, loungers, and umbrellas included at no extra charge. Bring your own towels and toilet paper.

The food was poor and came in small portions, though I guess that may have been for the best. Two friends got sick after dinner, with vomiting and diarrhea all day. A friend’s cell phone was stolen from his room. My shower was partly broken, the minibar didn’t work, and Wi-Fi, like everything else, was barely functional. This hell hotel is a disgrace. They just want your money and don’t seem to care about making tourists happy. I’ve been to poor countries, and none came close to this lack of desire to look after visitors. The truth is, stay away from Cuba.

The hotel has a great theme and sits at Hemingway Marina. The general manager introduced himself personally and was right on top of the hospitality, even taking me on a tour of the property. We saw the restaurant, pool bar, and conference room, and I knew I’d chosen well. The poolside cabanas were still being built, but the few finished ones were amazing. I was in a Junior Suite overlooking the ocean, and my bags were already waiting in the room when I got there. The sunset was incredible, as were the Mojitos and Daiquiris. Our bartender knew his stuff. New hotel, great service, 5 Star rating.

A beautiful spot, but as of March 2017 the hotel was abandoned. There are guards there, so be careful.