Muthu Playa Varadero

It’s in a beautiful spot by the beach, with plenty of shady places and umbrellas near both the pool and the beach. Reception at the front desk was quick and friendly. #Comercial #Community Manager

The beach was the one thing I really liked. When my family and I first arrived, the place seemed nice and the front desk staff were helpful, but the longer we stayed, the worse it got. Buffet lines were appalling. I’ve never seen one so long, and it took over 40 minutes just to get one serving of food. Then you had to queue again for something else. People took multiple plates, so sometimes we had to wait for plates too. I saw someone pile a mountain of food on their plate, and I’m not exaggerating. Reserving a seat at the restaurant was just as bad. Locals would scream and argue that they were first, when they’d really been sitting in the cafe instead of lining up by the door. A group yelled at me, and though staff accommodated us, it happened to my husband, daughter, and other tourists too. They didn’t care if they were yelling at children. The room was relatively nice, but sheets and towels were only changed if we asked, and we had to request water as well. There were cockroaches in the room. Some staff were friendly and accommodating, but some couldn’t communicate in English, which made things very difficult. If you’re a tourist, please find somewhere else to stay. This place is only good for locals.

The stunning beach was a highlight, though bring repellent because there were lots of mosquitoes at night. Our room stayed clean thanks to the maid, the towels were new and changed when we left a note for the cleaning lady or put them on the floor, and the beds were made every day. The AC kept the room cold, which I appreciated, and the workers were nice, hospitable, and hardworking. There’s good coffee at the coffee bar. The building is old, but my room was clean. The elevator didn’t work, though it’s only a 5 floor building, so I can’t complain too much. Food was repetitive during my 7 days there, and I kept seeing it served raw. I know food is scarce in Cuba, but maybe the cooks need to learn to prepare it properly to avoid waste. The disco smelled moldy and the lobby washroom had a pungent smell. The lobby was being renovated when I wrote this. On weekends, lots of locals come and take over the place, which I thought was unfair to guests paying more. I don’t have issues with them, but I saw people take so much food that there was almost nothing left for those still in line, then dump it into plastic and put it in a bag to take home. Being hungry isn’t a reason to be greedy. I’ve been to Cuba before, but this was my first time at this resort. I didn’t come to Cuba for the food and understand supplies are scarce, so if you’re fussy, don’t stay here.

The staff treated us wonderfully, going beyond what you’d expect given their salaries, and seemed ashamed that shortages meant they couldn’t provide everything guests expect from an all-inclusive resort. There were only a few tourists there, and they seemed to be enjoying themselves. I didn’t hear complaints, perhaps because we all understood the shortages weren’t their fault. The buildings need repair in every corner, and they’ve needed it for a long time. It’s a shame, since the place is in an excellent spot on Varadero Beach, an area known around the world. We’d like to come back one day when things are better.