Iberostar Selection Bella Vista Varadero

Just got back yesterday and had a great week at the Iberostar Bellavista! I was pleasantly surprised by the level of care and sanitation starting from the airport to the hotel. Of course we didn’t know what to expect post covid. Cuba lives off tourism and is trying hard and taking the proper measures to get it back. Every tourist is required to take a temperature and covid test at the airport, results are given within 24 hours, the bellhop disinfects your bags upon arrival, temperature test again at the hotel, constant hand sanitation, all staff is wearing their masks at all times, guests should wear their mask when in close proximity such as elevator rides or walking into the restaurant, etc. I had read a lot of negative reviews before leaving but I was very satisfied with my stay. I’m not sure if certain things changed post covid, if service is better bc the hotel is less full or some people really expect too much or because there is a big price difference right now. The rooms were very good. Very clean, modern, functioning, spacious. Ocean view is definitely worth it. Food was great, tasty, plentiful and there was a wide variety. As well for vegetarians and gluten free options for my friend and i which was a first in Cuba, the chef actually came up to me and asked if I was intolerant. I was so happy he understood! A la carte restaurants were very good. I really felt that there were very good chefs behind the scenes at this hotel. Another thing that impressed me so much was that the staff was so accommodating and above all NICE. U always get some super nice staff at the hotel and then some less, but everyone was so nice, and professional from all the bar staff, to front desk, to kitchen and servers, to snack bar staff, animators, maids, doctors, internet guy, it made the week so pleasant and made us so appreciative and happy to tip for their great service. Wifi was free and available in all areas of the hotel. That was a pleasant surprise. The view on the 11th floor at the Panormatic restaurant is exceptional... I would definitely recommend this hotel!!

We stayed at the Iberostar Bella Vista during the week of Nov 21-27. Check in was quick. The resort is very beautiful and the staff is amazing. The ladies at the pool bar go above and beyond to make sure the guests feel great. I especially would like to Thank Dayma for always remembing our orders and making my son feel special. At the snack bar the staff is equally amazing and professional. Thanks to Luis for all your attention. The entertainment staff - what can I say they keep everyone constantly participating and do anything possible to make sure everyone is having a great time. Thank you to Lea and Yandy for hosting the kids nightly show even though my son was the only child at the hotel. Osvaldo & Luis - you guys are amazing. Thanks for the dance classes, ping pong and all the entertainment. Rossely at the lobby bar is so sweet and Always has our nightly drinks ready. I'm sure my son and cousin will miss you. Juan Manuel and all the staff at the a la Carts always 5* service Our cleaning lady always did amazing towel art and had our room spotless. Thank you Iberostar Bella Vista we will definitely be back.

We stayed from Nov 14-21 and this resort gets a 5 star from us from the checkin to our beautiful room on 5th floor facing oceanview/pool the staff went above and beyond the food was served professionally and tasted sooo good the staff constantly cleaning. Our room cleaned everyday drinks by the pool so good and entertainment was great .my fiance entered the dance competition and won ...I want to thank dadi lea I think the one server yani is her name Louis in entertainment and most especially degalis we will be back ...

My husband and I plus 3 friends stayed at the Iberostar Selection Bella Vista for the first time but had visited other hotels Varadero and areas in Cuba. PCR testing of tourists at the airport was quick, as was the bus transfer to the hotel. When we arrived at the hotel, we had a welcome party including two people dressed as Banana men just a shame it wasn’t as good as other tourist from other countries got lol (nip picking ) Check-in was quick and everyone was offered a drink on arrival. Our room was lovely and clean and was kept this way the whole two week we were there by Elaine and Merlin who surprised us every day with some wonderful towel art. Regarding Covid the hotel ensured there was protocol for all their staff most tourist wore masks there was a few guys who were constantly drunk walking around without masks which was not so good. There is hand-sanitizer outside of the buffet and restaurants, and the lifts, which everyone used when entering and leaving, The service in the buffet restaurant on our first morning was not good I had to ask 5 time for a coffee which by the time I had finished my breakfast I still hadn’t received, when leaving the restaurant I spoke to the restaurant manager when we return for our lunch the service was 100% better would like to thank Yolaine for her lovely service each day. Due to the weather not being so good the first week we were there we spent a lot of time in the lobby bar the service there was impeccably many time we didn’t have to ask for drink the staff would drink them over to us they are the most friendly and happiest people I would like to thank everyone individual Dairys, Rosely, Romelio, Leonardo, Yaima, Guadalupe, Massiel, Adrian, Pedro, Addier, Yordanka and Juan Manuel in the rooftop bar, having been to Cuba many time these are the best staff we have had at a hotel and have become lovely new friends. ask for a special shotter/shot drink that the staff made for us on request which my friends i went with had came up with it is called The Hulk. With not many tourist at the hotel many of the restaurant were not open in the evenings they would open two of their restaurants that you could choose from; the Panoramic, Cuban or Italian which shortly changed to either Cuban or Italian, the menu’s never changed as I didn’t like what the Cuban restaurant was serving I found it very repetitive especially as we still had a week to go. The Hotel Manager was very visible around the hotel and very approachable we had spoken to him a few times about small issues which he fixed straight away when I spoke to which him regarding the restaurant, he helpt to fix this. Mileisy at the customer relation desk was a star helping us to get a menu sorted for the Panoramic restaurant the chef done great job (sorry I didn’t get his name). in the Panoramic restaurant the service wasn’t the best we seen a few people walk out I think this was down to not enough waiting staff as those who were serving were ran off their feet I would like to personally thank Rey, Caridad and the other who took our orders. Due to Covid you are unable to get menus at the restaurant which the staff have to read this out to you sometimes this can be a bit awkward as they are quiet spoken with masks and visors on hard to hear, if the hotel could have put something outside each restaurant on the wall so you could read and make your choices before you go in would make it a bit easier. We loved the Singing cleaner Yasmines up at the Panoramic restaurant she was always happy working away. There is a 24hr snack bar serves pizza, hotdog, beef burgers toasties and fry’s the waiters Ernesto and Alexander were on the ball. On our last day we did go and ask for fries which they came with fried banana which I love but my friend didn’t the person serving that day didn’t explain that’s all they had which would have save food being wasted. We spent most of our day time by the pool due to the sea being ruff due to the weather, the pool area was clean a few leafs in the pool but that down to the weather the waiting staff around the pool where also friendly Lea, zaimar,yuly dayma (sorry if I missed anyone name) kept the drinks flowing. For beach towels you must pay a deposit at reception of $15 then you get your towel from the towel hut. There is a small currency exchange shop plus a small shop where you get a few items drink and sweets. The entertainment team were friendly we had a few things going on at the hotel, but not much. night-time entertainment was virtually zero. On the day we were leaving they had aerobic in the pool shame it was when I was getting ready to leave. My negative for this hotel is that there were men there with what looked like prostitutes’ girls some were on a balcony naked, also drunks laying down and falling asleep on the loungers in the bar not a nice sight for a family hotel. In our room we had no TV working for the last four days which was an issue for our friends. There was a lot of maintenance work getting done while we were there. The staff make this hotel what it is. Please tip them for the excellent service they provide Hopefully like to return in the future.

My husband and I stayed at the Iberostar Selection Bella Vista, after not visiting Varadero for a full year due to the pandemic. Processing and testing of tourists at the airport was very smooth, as was our bus transfer to the hotel. Really no hiccups at all. Check-in was quick and everyone was offered fresh juice as they entered the lobby and waiting at reception. This hotel is fairly new and has a beautiful wide open view from the main lobby of the entire property, and the beach and sea. Because of hurricane Eta, we were getting some bands of very rainy weather for the first 4 of 7 days, and so we couldn’t really be out by the pool much during that time. That’s nature, there is nothing you can do about that. But people were hanging out in the lobby, having drinks and socializing on rainy days. The WiFi is also excellent here, and works in all of the rooms and outside. Regarding health & safety, everyone was wearing a mask whenever not outside or in their room. Obviously, if you were having a drink in the lobby, the mask could come off, but aside from eating and drinking, in shared or crowded public spaces, everyone wore a mask. This might also be because it was almost entirely Canadians staying in the hotel, and we don’t have a huge “anti-masker” culture in our country, and we all know the drill of proper mask usage. There is hand-sanitizer outside of the buffet and restaurants, and the elevators, which everyone used when entering and leaving, with attendants to dispense it into your hands for you. There were also a nurse and a doctor walking around the hotel and available to anyone who needed them. Workers wore masks at all times without exception. Tourists who go to Varadero and stay at an all-inclusive, are supposed to stay on the hotel grounds for the first 24-48 hours (it seems to vary by hotel and tourist accounts), and after that you’re free to go into town or do whatever you want off-resort. If your COVID test is negative and you’re fine, you won’t hear anything -no news is good news. I suggest getting a COVID test within a week and isolating a few days before going to Cuba anyway, just to make sure that you won’t arrive there asymptomatic and spend your vacation in quarantine. It’s also just the respectful thing to do when travelling to another country. Bella Vista was at low-capacity when we were there, as we were the first flight from Canada to come in and things are going to take months to ramp up to normal tourist levels. The service by the pool on the nice weather days was excellent, and they were serving people right at their lounge chairs. I felt like I was at a patio in Toronto having afternoon drinks lol. Lots of people used the pool since the ocean was a little rough some days due the tropical storm having passed through. There were a lot of pelicans flying and diving for fish, which got pushed closer to the shore because of the storm, and that was cool to watch. We did swim in the ocean on the last 2 days, which were full sun and beautiful, and there was some poolside animación on those days too. For breakfast and lunch it was always buffet or snack bar, and then in the evenings they would open two of their restaurants that you could choose from; the Panoramic, Cuban, or Italian. I believe this hotel has other restaurants, but they weren’t operating yet. On our last day, and the best meal we had, we had a Cuban lunch at the snack bar, and it was absolutely delicious. Please remember to tip for all service. Cuba needs foreign currency very badly, due to the pandemic shutting down tourism for so long, on top of brutal U.S. sanctions placed on the country that are killing Cuban businesses and importing capacity. USD is best by far, but CAD or EUR would be fine too. Always tip with cash, not coins, and make sure your bills are crisp and not ripped. Sometimes they can have issues depositing bills at the bank if they’re in rough shape. If you want to bring gifts or supplies, think toiletries and over-the-counter meds: toothpaste, bar soap, toothbrush, sanitary pads for women, deodorant, shampoo, Tylenol, Advil, razors. There are shortages of this stuff right now. My husband and I were impressed by the professionalism and the positive demeanour of all staff at Bella Vista, and we will return again some time. Overall, we had a wonderful experience; we will be going back to Varadero after Christmas to stay with family in Cuba, but another Bella Vista stay is definitely in our future for 2021.