Iberostar Bella Costa

We spent 7 days in January 2026 at Iberostar Origin Bella Costa in Varadero, Cuba, with our 2-year-old son, and regret every cent. The place felt like a complete disaster. It was extremely outdated and neglected, with decades old furniture that creaked and smelled musty, sagging mattresses, leaking plumbing, black mold in bathroom grout and corners, and stained walls and carpets that looked as though they hadn’t been properly cleaned in years. Hygiene was nonexistent. Cockroaches ran across the room floor several times, even on and near the baby’s crib. Small lizards were constantly on the walls and ceiling, including in the shower. There were ants in the buffet food and flies all over the restaurant. Cleaning seemed superficial at best: sheets had old stains, and towels smelled of mildew. Our toddler getting severe food poisoning from the hotel restaurant was the breaking point. After one dinner, he began vomiting nonstop, had diarrhea and a spiking fever. He cried in pain all night. We barely slept, had to look for medical help in a foreign country, and spent days dealing with his illness instead of enjoying a holiday. It was heartbreaking and frightening. Staff showed no real concern or proper apology, just shrugged. Employees at reception, housekeeping, and in the restaurants aggressively hinted at or outright asked for tips, even for basic service. Without a tip, service suffered or didn’t happen. There was total indifference, especially toward families with small children. The pool was dirty and uninviting, sunbeds were broken or missing cushions, and the grounds looked abandoned, with trash scattered around. The whole stay meant constant stress and discomfort. I deeply regret spending money and time here, especially the risk to our child’s health. This property is a serious health and safety hazard, particularly for toddlers. It needs to be closed until it gets a full renovation and real hygiene standards are enforced. Never again. Avoid Iberostar Origin Bella Costa at all costs!

I went from the 2nd to the 9th, alone on my first ever trip, and arrived feeling very nervous. A staff member carried my bags up, showed me around the room, and checked everything. The room was spotless. I have no regrets and will definitely return sometime in the future. For the price, the service is a real steal, and it was a phenomenal experience. I’d especially encourage female solo travelers to consider it, since I felt safe, welcome, and well looked after. Before Cuba, everyone warned me about the food, so I brought lots of snacks and ended up giving them away because the resort food was so good. At the sit-down dinner we had beef steak, and it was amazing. The food went well beyond my expectations. There were so many kind people, both staff and other guests, and the trip was really eye-opening for me.

The food was usually cold and only okay, and water started pouring through the ceiling by the bar on our last day even though it hadn't rained. The building is about 32 years old and badly needs renovation. Our room had no hot water for two and a half days, a broken toilet seat, and a patio door that seemed likely to come off its frame if we opened it. We also found a ball of toilet paper and other mess on the floor when we arrived. There was a cockroach in the main bathroom by the bar, and a dead one sat in the dress shop for six days. The pool and buffet bathrooms were dirty and had no toilet seats. We were moved to a villa at check-in, probably because the main elevators were broken and only the service elevator worked. The steps to the villa had broken tiles and holes that made them dangerous in the dark. This was the worst place I've ever stayed. The bad reviews are right. Save your money and stay elsewhere. Sunwing and Westjet shouldn't promote this filthy, low-grade dump. I couldn't wait to leave and won't return.

I'm only on day one of fourteen, and my family and I are already distraught about spending Christmas and New Year's here. The room and shower are moldy, and the toilet paper is pre-used. At the bar, when I politely asked for toilet paper, the women handed me one napkin without any sympathy. This is supposed to be all-inclusive, yet I'm struggling to meet basic hygiene needs. They aren't serving alcohol, and a large woman watches what I eat. I work in the service industry and almost never write reviews, but I think this place should shut down. I don't know how it's operating. Please don't come here.