The Reserve at Paradisus Varadero Resort & Spa

We stayed for a second time and would come back again. Our one-bedroom master suite in the reserve area had a swim-up pool and was the perfect size for four people. Concierge Dennis helped us a lot with restaurant bookings and other things. Fuego Restaurant was our favorite. The food was awesome, and Laura, Karina, Gabriela, and Viviana gave outstanding service.

We had an amazing stay, and the best food came from Yasmany, Many, and Dayana. They’re so friendly, sweet, and wonderful. The food and service were five-star. I’m excited to come back to Cuba.

I’ve visited Cuba three times, and I’m sorry to write this, but I’m really angry with Air Transat. We paid for the 4.5-star rating, understanding the Cuban rating system, and didn’t get the experience they sold. We were misled and overpaid for this stay at Paradisus Varadero in the Reserve section. It was low season, and as someone else put it, an “apocalyptic honey pot.” We paid extra to stay on the quieter side, but apocalyptic really is the right word. For the first three days there were very few guests, just two of the 15 a la carte restaurants were open, and they booked only six tables each night. There were no planned social events until day two, and after that the event schedule was almost nonexistent. The pool bar was shut the whole week, so we used the main pool, which was very nice. No golf cart service was available, which was inconvenient for some guests with mobility issues, though we didn’t mind walking. The beach bar and Fun pub were closed too. Good luck getting a Mojito, there was no mint. A guest brought a German Shepherd, and the resort let it swim in the pool. Beyond ridiculous. The food was mostly poor, two stars at best. Canned peas and corn were the main vegetables. Carrots showed up by day four and broccoli by day five. The buffet was awful on our last night, so I skipped dinner. I feel for the Cuban people. If this is what tourists get at a 4.5-star resort, I wonder what locals can eat. Our room was quite nice and very clean, but we had no hot water for five days. Knowing about Cuba’s energy issues, we didn’t complain. Most staff were very nice and ready to help. The Reserve lobby bar was a nice place to watch baseball or soccer. Jose makes the best Margaritas and Ron Collins, and he’s a true gentleman with great conversation. We went to Havana for a guided tour and the Tropicana show. Our guide knew a lot about Havana’s history and architecture. Seeing the poverty was difficult. In Havana, stop at the Central Parquette Hotel for a Cappacinno and Cuban sandwich. Delicious! The Tropicana show was entertaining, with beautiful costumes, amazing singing and dancing. The Catamaran Tour was fun, with a great crew and lunch provided. I’d like to say we’ll visit Cuba again, but Air Transat and other airlines need to do better for consumers. Disappointed.

Writing this from the hotel lobby on day one of our five-day trip. We booked through Redtag/Sunwing, flew into Varadero on Westjet at about 11 am, and the bus operator got us there promptly. We reached the hotel around noon, only to be told our rooms weren’t ready and check-in was at 4 pm. We waited in the lobby until about 5 pm, asking several times for an update before finally getting rooms. It’s been a horrible start to what was supposed to be a relaxing trip. Service has been poor everywhere so far, but everyone has been quick to say they prefer tips in USD or CAD. At this point I wouldn’t recommend visiting Cuba, or at least booking this Redtag/Sunwing/Paradisus Varadero combination.