Iberostar Playa Alameda Varadero All Inclusive

At our arrival, they gave us two beds for a couple. We asked to switch rooms and were told there was no space, though there were only about 30 people at the resort. The rooms were disgusting, the fridge smelled moldy, and instead of water bottles they provided refillable jugs. Lunch and dinner repeated the same terrible food two days in a row. I've been to Cuba before and the food hasn't been bad, so this was specific to this resort. On the first night, my boyfriend was beaten up. When he got upset, a resort security worker pushed him to the ground. They refused to call the police. His bracelet fell off and the security guard took it. After the guard left for a moment, we later found the bracelet hidden behind a toilet in the washroom, where we think he put it in case he got searched after being accused. We left and went to Occidental arènas blancas, which I recommend as ten times better, with great customer service, better food, and a beautiful hotel. The bungalows were especially spacious and nice. The pictures on the website don't look like the hotel we found. Worst resort. I'd give it one star if I could.

The bus ride to the resort was fun and relaxing, check-in was quick, and our room and the resort were clean. We always had hot water, and the power outage was brief. When the internet went down, I realized I could enjoy the peace without social media filling my phone all day. Next time I'll leave it in the room when I go for food or a walk and take in the beach, nature, and sound of waves instead. I'm hoping to return twice more before winter ends. I've traveled to many places and spent four or five thousand dollars per person, but Cuba feels like my new family and favorite affordable place to go. Iberostar Origin Playa Alameda was my first stay there and I loved it. The staff feel like Canadian friends, and treat you like a fellow Cuban too. They work hard, and it's a joy to see them laughing together. I loved Merlin, my good friend, and all the breakfast, lunch, and dinner staff who look after guests. The food was fresh, varied, and generally steaming hot, though sometimes it wasn't really hot. Some people complain about it, but I eat the same things at home in Canada, and Cuba feels like my new home, so repeats don't bother me. The resort is getting close to needing a major renovation, though everything else was good for me.

The beach is the one real highlight: it's beautiful, with free paddle boats and kayaks, and snorkeling that's decent for an extra fee. We expected some decline given Cuba's current economic situation and compared with past years, but this was still unacceptable. Guests at resorts at similar prices had much better experiences. This shouldn't be sold as a four-star hotel, and we don't recommend it. The entertainment was nearly nonexistent and there was no nightlife. The pool shut at 6 p.m. and games at 5 p.m. The resort looked run down, with dry fountains, broken and closed bridges, and large abandoned areas. Many buildings were condemned because of flooding or cockroach problems that hadn't been fixed. In our musty room, mold stained the ceiling and there was a constant mildew smell. The sheets and pillows were stained, towels were never changed, the air barely circulated and everything felt wet. The shower was rusty and the door lock failed several times. Our key cards stopped working four separate times. Staff hospitality was mixed: some were incredibly kind and helpful, others clearly didn't care. By day three the hotel had run out of pesos, so we couldn't tip, and service noticeably declined afterward. Food and drink options were limited. Only two à-la-carte restaurants were open and hard to book, bars often didn't have many of the limited drink options, and there were no straws. We paid for beach towels but never got them because the hotel said it had run out. The buffet was unsanitary and unappetizing, with bugs around the food. The advertised 24/7 snack bar supposedly had burgers and hot dogs, but actually closed at 7 p.m. and offered only tiny sandwiches, sometimes hot dogs. It was closed entirely on two days. Bring lots of snacks, since the store sells just one kind of cracker and no other food. Canadians should be careful with the inflated, misleading prices. Sunscreen was quoted at $10 USD or $15 CAD, but since card transactions are processed in USD we were charged about $20 CAD. Prices also varied by day and guest. This isn't a four-star hotel, and our stay at Iberostar Origin Playa Alameda was deeply disappointing and far below what was advertised.

The beach was beautiful, and our room was clean, though a bit cold. We had warm to hot water every day. Food was plentiful with lots to choose from, including fresh eggs daily, seafood, fish, rice, noodles, pasta, ice cream, cakes, pastries, and pancakes. The staff were wonderful and made great drinks. Check out the Nativa bar. This was absolutely one of the best resorts there.