Hotel Riu Varadero, Varadero

Instead of being so picky and critical....consider this food for thought. There are people starving in the world and dying for no good reason and then people have the nerve to complain about the service at these resorts, etc. Be GRATEFUL! What you put out into the universe comes back to you. Be kind, gentle and compassionate.

i loved the hotel and the hotel staff were all friendly goin back soon

The Riu Turquesa is a smaller resort with about 200 room or so. This resort was for sure a 4 star resort, with one resturant and one snack bar. It would not take much to turn this resort into a 5. We were there for one week in March. To get the negatives out of the way first; the rooms need up dating. The matteres was old. The food was good for the first couple days then it was time for a change, but i guess thats what you get at a smaller resort in Cuba. There were many little things that I noticed that should have been taken care of, such as the water in our room was not being changed everyday along with the towels. The best way for me to describe the Riu Turquesa is that it needs up dated bad. The good things was the service and the people at this resort were nice and on their toes, willing to do anything for you. The drink menu was great lots to choose from! Best of all was the beach. We took a walk down the beach in both directions and the Riu Turquesea had the nices one we seen. With plenty of shaded areas. Our tourguide was great and could speek excellent english. If you are looking to get away to a quite spot with a beautiful beach this is the resort for you. One tip that I do have for anyone who will be visiting this resort is to bring a pillow from home. trust me, the ones at the resort are hard and flat. Also be sure to tip you maid and waterboy, then you should receive good service. Also if you have extra room in you suitcase the maids always like little gifes such as soap, hair supplies, anything that would be hard to find in a country like Cuba.

The whole experience of Cuba, for the first time visit, was wonderful. Tour guides, staff, location, foods, beach, etc. The only difficulty that one might encounter is the walk for the bus into Varadero. For us it was not problem, but it might prove a hard-ship with tourists that have a problem walking. Looking forward to a return vacation.

The service staff are great. Pool is beautifull. Food was AWSOME. Been to Cuba a couple of times and the best food is at the Riu. Rooms are clean and handy. I especially liked the bungallo style rather than the traditional highrise you get at so many resorts. 1 min walk to the beach. 40 min from airport.

This was our first time to Cuba, the Hotel was great and the staff very friendly and helpful. The food was not too bad, there was a good selection and always something to tempt you. The beach was first class, must be one of the best i have been to so far, clean sand and beautiful clear sea. There is one warning i will give, I had a little accident there (no not drunken) and we rang the reception to see if we could have any first aid etc and was told there is no first aid between 6.00pm and 9.00am which i found rather bad considering the amount of children there. Speaking to our rep it turns out that there is a dedicated number to call for a medical clinic located outside the hotel, but i never managed to get this number. So if you have children please be aware and make enquiries when you get there. Other than that we had a very enjoyable stay in the hotel, it is a lovely lay out and you can always find a quite spot to relax or join in the entertainment around the pool. The evening entertainment was a little boring after the first few nights, but after drinking loads of rum then it didn't really matter what was on. Paul Smith - London - UK

It was our first time in Cuba but were prepared as to expectations. We were not very happy at our arrival, but certainly did not upset us for very long. We checked in at 6:30 am and were told we could not get into our rooms until the earliest, noon. Were told to just enjoy the facilities - nothing was opened. No tour around the resort which was expected so just walked the grounds until the cafeteria opened. The staff are absolutely wonderful and very friendly. Our room was always spotless. As long as you are kind to the staff they will inturn do whatever they can for you. The food was not always good, but expected that. It is a poor country and they are doing their best. Absolutely beautiful beach, great location and loved the set up of the grounds. I personally do not like the high-rise hotels. These were apartment complexes. Great resort for all ages - Just go and enjoy with a positive attitude and trust me, you won't be disappointed. Never used any of our repellents, bug sprays, Imodium etc., all of which was told was needed. Bring little gifts for all the staff, even the gardener. It is REALLY appreciated and it doesn't have to be much.

We had a great time, The layout of the resort was not congested like most of the other hotels in the area, the staff and service were excellent. We enjoyed the food as there was always something at each meal that we enjoyed. The kids too had a wonderful time. The pillows were not the greatest. Would go back again.

Canadian tourists January 2007. Family of 4. Riu Varadero...Cuban paradise. Exquisite beach, wonderful staff. Little concrete, old fashion Cuban decor. Cuban, authentic, glorious, not commercial.

Rooms are one star.Rundown rooms.Receptionist needs training in dealing with people. The service is good only if you give a tip.The worst hotel i have ever been to.The hotel rating is not right.