TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

It was a while ago but the resort was very good. We went just before Christmas. Friendly staff and food, especially seafood was a pleasant surprise for Cuba. Beach was good

wonderful experience! the resort has a very relaxing atmosphere, with great staff who made sure we will have a comfortable and enjoyable stay. It starts from the staff at the reception/lobby, friendly, and helpful. The restaurant staff (waiters, waitresses, kitchen crew), are very professional and attentive to our requests. The gardeners who surprised our kids with handmade crafts, are very friendly. The beach staff, providing drinks and snacks, others very patiently attending to leisure activities ie kayak, pedal boat, catamaran rides. Poolside activity animators are fun! The evening entertainment was superb! Our kids enjoyed the Mini Disco portion of the evening, animated by Miguel, who was tireless, approachable, engaging, very patient with the kids. Room attendants were also very friendly, and kept our rooms clean and with adequate toileteries. Overall it was a very good resort that became great because of all the hardworking staff! We will surely recommend this resort to friends!

Over all I would rate the Iberostar Selection Varadero 4 Star resort (For Cuba). Check in was fast and efficient (we took a cab from the airport, rather than wait for the bus. This allowed us to arrive before the rush of guests on the bus). We were too early for our room so they put our luggage away and gave us a courtesy room to change into our bathing suits. Same thing for the day we left, we checked out at 11 but our bus didn't come until 5pm. We were given a place to store the luggage and change into travel clothes. They also allowed us to keep our bracelets on so we could still use the facilities (food, drinks etc) Food: Unfortunately, Most of the Food was COLD. At the Buffet and the Snack bar. It is such a shame because there was a good variety of food and lots of effort was put into preparing the food. They really need to invest in some hot plates/chafing dishes. I do realize that fuel is not readily available, but they often had the gas stoves on with nothing on the burner...should have offered a quick warm up for guests. And so much food was wasted because people were throwing out the cold food. We still had full bellies and found our favorites to eat. Just don't go in with high expectations of food being hot. There was lots of variety and no shortages that we were aware of. Except Bananas..no bananas :( Tip: Go to the cooks that offer the "fresh" pasta and the freshly made eggs. You may have to wait in line, but it is well worth it. The Burgers at the Grill by the beach were always hot and delicious. They also served either a rice dish or a noodle dish and if you asked the cook, he would warm it up for you on the grill. At the snack bar closer to the pool...if you are polite and ask nicely, and leave a tip as they are working long, hot days and many guests were rude and impatient...the guys will warm up the fries for you by throwing them back in the deep fryer for a few seconds. Kico and Chino were really great with my daughter (she has a disability and wanted hot fries everyday haha) Sweet men and very kind. The ice cream was delicious!!! Don't forget to tip the Ice Cream lady. We ate at the Japanese a la cart. It was fun and the food was OK. It was hot. The Mediterranean a la cart was delicious! We had the Stewed beef and it was so good, it came with yummy mashed potatoes. The Cheese cake was also delicious. The Gourmet a la cart was also very good and the service was great. Drinks were good. Lots of variety. Even prosecco! And fantastic espresso martinis! If you like rum, especially spiced rum...ask about the Black Tears brand. Coffee shop/cafe (I believe it is 24 hours). Has wonderful coffee options (cappuccino, espresso, Frappuccino) and little sandwiches and pastries. Beach: Beautiful! Lots of seating. And two life guards on duty. Look for the flags that show if it is safe to swim. Pool: Large, clean and really cold. But after a few minutes you get used to it. Pool Bar: Staff at the pool bar were wonderful. Special shout out to Michael and his wife Danielis...such a lovely couple. We will miss seeing them every day. Pool Entertainment staff: Fun and energetic. Loved that they had fun activities and music, but it wasn't annoying and out of control. Just the right mix of entertainment and relaxation. Towels: You get a receipt for pool towels on the first day and can exchange them for clean/dry towels at the end of the day. Never had a problem getting new towels. Room: Exceptionally clean. comfortable beds. Lots of bottled water left in the room each day. Always toilet paper stocked up. Always had clean towels to use as well. The air conditioning/fan is quite strong and the highest it can be set is 24 degrees. We found it cold a couple of nights when the wind was high/chilly out. Bring track pants or ask for an extra blanket. Working hair dryer and iron for clothes in every room as well as robes and umbrellas! Very nice to have. Nightly Entertainment: Exceptional! Such really great talent! There was a show every night. I would pay to see these shows if they were offered here at home! WIFI: Spotty or not available in some areas of the resort but always worked perfectly for us in the room or in the lobby - lobby bar area. Staff: wonderful, kind, fun, and helpful! Spa: We all had a massage, and it was very relaxing. Do try to book well in advance as they were very busy when we were there. We had Emisey and Lesmy - both great xo My daughter had her hair braided and they did a fantastic job. Trhank you Nameisi xo Public bathrooms: Usually ok but many times they were all closed at the same time do to flooding/plumbing. Don't wait til the last minute to use the bathroom in case you have to run back to your room lol. AND again, not always stocked with toilet paper or paper towels and rarely hand soap. TIPS: Bring little Kleenex packs to have as there isn't any available in rooms. Also good to have because we found the washrooms didn't have toilet paper all the time. Even at the places in town! OR, some places have a lady that hands you a couple of squares of toilet paper when you walk n but if you need more, your gonna be stuck without lol. So having kleenex on hand is important. Bring some snacks for late night munching if you think you will be hungry. Nuts, granola bars etc. Bring bug spray. Mosquitos were out at night. I got about 25 bites and I was wearing bug repellent My husband and daughter didn't get any bites though. Bring hand sanitizer as the public washrooms don't often have soap. If you are coming from Canada...either bring American dollar and two dollar bills for tipping or $5 Canadian bills. DO NOT tip with loonies or twoonies as these are completely useless to the Cubans. They can NOT use them OR exchange them - banks do not accept them. Consider bringing extra bills too...if you are in a position to offer to exchange their Loonies for bills, it will be much appreciated. Don't bring large bills, $20, $50 etc unless you already know you have large expenses. You will most likely get your change in Peso's and may not need or want them. BRING more cash than you think you will need. You CAN NOT get more Canadian or American money there. The only thing you can get are Pesos and they are not widely accepted. Trust me on this. You do not want to run out of cash. You will not be able to charge your phone or use a curling iron etc unless you bring an adapter with you. We went to Cuba many years ago and never needed an adapter, thank goodness we brought one this time! Be kind and patient and polite. You are on vacation, relax.

We have been to Cuba many times before but none of the resorts we have been to can even come close to compare to Iberostar Selection Varadero! It was an exceptionally well managed resort!! The hotel architecture, the cleanliness, the gracious staff, the abundance of good food, the drinks, the pool, the pool bar, the a la carte restaurants, and of course the beach, ALL EXCEPTIONAL!!! A special thank you goes out to Mily, our cleaning lady, to Cristian and Danielis at the pool bar, and to Indira, our lovely waitress at the buffet!! I have zero complaints about this resort, if anything, I would rate it 5 stars in all categories!

My wife and I recently spent four weeks at this hotel. This was our sixth visit to Cuba and our second stay at this particular property. We are well aware of the pros and cons of the Cuban hotel system, and we chose Varadero specifically for its stunning sea and beaches. Once again, Cuba did not disappoint. The Iberostar Selection Varadero 5* is one of the few — if not the only — hotels where you can comfortably spend an entire month. We opted for the STARPRESTIGE package and couldn't be happier with that decision. Our room in building #20 (first floor) was immaculate, featuring modern plumbing and air conditioning that worked perfectly throughout our stay. Dining: We alternated between two à la carte restaurants (exclusive to STARPRESTIGE for breakfast and lunch) and the main buffet. Every day featured at least two different meat options (pork, beef, chicken, or lamb). The food was well-prepared, with a necessary (though limited) selection of fruits and vegetables to maintain your dietary needs. A pro-tip for future guests: bring a salt shaker with a tight-fitting lid. Given the current food supply challenges in Cuba, it is truly impressive how the management has managed to maintain such a high standard. Amenities & Entertainment: The beach is pristine, the sea is warm, and the STARPRESTIGE pools offer luxurious sun loungers. The evening shows were, as always in Cuba, spectacular. Even when the program repeated, the performances were so high-quality that we didn't miss a single night. (Note: reserved tables are a great perk for STARPRESTIGE, but don't forget your mosquito repellent for the evening!). Service & Management: Housekeeping was top-notch, with towels replaced twice daily. However, what truly sets this hotel apart is the management's attentiveness to every request, wish, or whim — we never heard the word "no." I want to express my deepest gratitude to the Resident Director, Daniel Suárez. His dedication is extraordinary; it felt as though he was on-site 24/7. Whether it was the restaurants, the spa, the beach, or the evening shows, Daniel was always there from early morning until late at night, personally ensuring everything was perfect. We would like to thank the entire leadership team, including the General Manager and Resident Director, for their tireless efforts in maintaining Iberostar Selection Varadero's position as the premier hotel in Cuba. We look forward to returning!