TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

My son and I had a wonderful time at this hotel. Everyone made us feel welcomed. I highly recommend this resort to anyone looking to have fun and relax without worries. The beach was marvelous, and its strategic location close to the delphinarium was a bonus. A special thanks to the amazing animation staff, Leo, Edouard, and Vladimir, for their exceptional work! ??

Our trip to Varadero, Cuba, booked through Red Tag and flown with WestJet, was an absolute disaster from start to finish. Having visited Cuba multiple times before, staying in different regions and hotels, we expected a decent experience, especially since we booked this trip in September and ensured everything was in order for traveling with our 6-year-old. Considering it was an Iberostar property with a 4.8 customer review rating, we believed it would meet acceptable standards. Both Red Tag and WestJet assured us that the hotel was family-friendly and would provide a satisfactory experience. Unfortunately, their assurances couldn’t have been further from the truth. We liked that it was a smaller resort, thinking it would offer a more intimate and manageable experience for a family. Instead, it turned out to be a deplorable and deeply disappointing choice. Despite receiving an "upgrade," our room was borderline uninhabitable: Security and Safety Concerns: The room door lacked a proper lock, leaving us feeling vulnerable throughout our stay. Malfunctioning Amenities: The TV didn’t work, the safe was non-functional, and the sliding door was nearly impossible to open. Health Hazards: Black mold covered the lampshades, and ants in the bathroom. These conditions were unacceptable. Inconvenient Placement: Our “upgraded” room was directly above the disco, subjecting us to loud music well past midnight. While this might not bother adults, we had a young child trying to sleep—something the staff knew but ignored. The lobby was under construction, leaving debris in shared areas. This created an unwelcoming and unsafe environment. The dining experience was nothing short of horrendous. Most restaurants were closed, leaving only the buffet and a snack bar, both of which were subpar: Terrible Food Quality: The limited food options were bland, poorly prepared, and often cold. A cockroach spotted in the buffet area underscored the lack of cleanliness and hygiene. Unhappy Guests: Guests at the buffet appeared visibly miserable, resigned to choking down whatever they could tolerate. The atmosphere was grim and uninviting. Minimal Choices: Fresh fruit and vegetables were nearly non-existent. Our son had to survive on stale breadsticks and buns, which was distressing for us as parents. Awful Drinks: Even basic beverages were disappointing. Pina coladas lacked ice and were essentially lukewarm juice, and coffee—a simple expectation—was often unavailable. The resort’s amenities were equally disheartening: Freezing Pool: While people gathered around the pool, hardly anyone ventured into the water—it was unbearably cold, far beyond a refreshing chill. Beach Conditions: The beach was covered in seaweed, and while the ocean was slightly warmer than the pool, it was still cold and rough. These conditions further diminished the experience. Leaving Early: The Final Straw By Monday night, it became clear that staying any longer would only worsen our frustration. While we initially considered asking for a new room, the overall state of the hotel left us doubtful that any other accommodations would be better. Ultimately, we decided to cut our losses, pay for new flights, and leave on Tuesday night—just two days into what was supposed to be a relaxing vacation. Final Thoughts This trip was a colossal letdown. Despite trusting Red Tag and WestJet’s assurances, we encountered problems at every turn. The outdated and unsafe hotel, lack of basic amenities, abysmal food, and unusable pool made this experience utterly unacceptable—especially for a family traveling with a young child. The misleading claims about the property’s quality have left us deeply disappointed and hesitant to trust recommendations from Red Tag or WestJet again.

LOVE will not be enough to describe my feelings for this place. I have a lot to say but I'll summarize it with key words :) Gorgeous grounds with palm trees, big resort so you'll never get bored, gorgeous huge pool, clean clean clean! the most friendly staff I've ever met in my whole life. I literally gave them a hug everyday, staff works 24/7 in the rooms, lobby, grounds to maintain the place, this resort is geared more towards families and I really felt safe and it was also super cute to watch the kiddos play and chase each other, every possible alcoholic drink you can ask for (at least 3 places you can get them from daily: near the pool, lobby, by the beach), lovely beach (no question in that lol). I won't comment on the food because it's a very subjective topic. But honestly the buffet has a lot of variety so you can for sure find something to eat. The restaurant staff are just incredible with their attentiveness. I wish I remembered all their names but Daisy is one that comes to mind! Such a kind soul. A huge huge huge thank you to both the daily entertainment team (Vladimir, Leo, Eduardo) and the nightly entertainment team (so many names I can't remember haha). Both teams basically run the whole resort with SO much activities that will keep you occupied (dance lessons, foam parties, competitions for adults and kids, etc.). Their smiles and professionalism is intoxicating and I really think this resort has really hired the best of the best. They deserve a raise :) I personally will not be going to any other resort. I did a lot of research and this resort has the most gorgeous grounds that cater to me so I'll stick to it. Hotels like Melia and Blau have a very modern look and honestly I see enough modern buildings in Canada so I wanted somewhere with a tropical vibe. Tainos is the perfect mix of tradition and modernism. Just a tip to future travellers: paying extra for the bungalow pool view suites is SOOOO worth it. So much privacy, music playing all day long, gorgeous view. Lastly, thank you so much to both the hotel management and sunwing. We actually requested a transfer to Tainos after staying at a horrible resort for 23 hours. Tainso accommodated our request, provided us with their most upgraded room at no cost, and made our vacation so memorable. I will definitely be recommending this place to all of my friends :)

This hotel is great! The food is amazing, the rooms are great, and the service is even better. Everyone makes you feel welcomed no matter what part of the resort you’re on. There’s lots of entertainment and things to do throughout the day. I would recommend this resort to any kind of family looking to have fun and relax without worries during your vacation??

Best hotel i’ve ever stayed at! The food is great as well as the drinks. The workers make you feel like family while you’re there. The beach is beautiful. I’d recommend to families or people without kids as the hotel is very accommodating to both. There’s lots of entertainment throughout the whole day, which is great!