El Presidente Posted Tuesday at 07:59 PM Share Posted Tuesday at 07:59 PM At the moment. it feels like I could put up three of these stories each day. Canadian Tourist Slams Varadero Hotel Conditions: "Worst Experience of My Life" Monday, June 24, 2024 by Alex Smith A Canadian tourist showed the deplorable state of a hotel in Varadero. - Image © Collage Facebook / Joe Eastcott A Canadian tourist who spent two weeks at the Barceló Solymar - Occidental Arenas Blancas resort in Varadero described his stay as “the worst experience of his life.” Joe Eastcott, a resident of Surrey, Canada, shared his ordeal in the Facebook group “Barceló Solymar — Occidental Arenas Blancas” along with photos showcasing the severe deterioration of the facilities and the poor quality of the food. “The food was barely edible, and most of the time it wasn't,” said Eastcott, who added that this situation forced him to eat outside the resort for most of his stay. The disgruntled tourist noted that he couldn't understand why the food had been enjoyable at other hotels during his previous visits to Varadero, but this time it was different. To make matters worse, according to Eastcott, “the staff seemed more concerned with helping than anything else.” Additionally, he found it incomprehensible that he was constantly required to switch bars when he wanted a drink and had to change locations for meals. The snacks consisted of “day-old dry rolls, raw hot dogs, or a single slice of meat,” Eastcott pointed out. “No ketchup or mustard,” he added. “I was served raw chicken and rice with stones in it,” the Canadian tourist complained, showing photos of one of the "finds" hidden in his food. He also noted that the resort was in a deplorable state: “Broken or damaged items everywhere.” “I never received the minibar that was supposed to be in my room,” added Eastcott, pointing out that he was only given one bottle of water per day, something he found absurd and indicative of the crisis facing the Cuban hotel industry. “I suggest a different resort for your vacation,” the tourist concluded. Complaints about Cuban hotels have become frequent, particularly regarding the food and recreational facilities. “Scarce food and lines of up to two hours to get a piece of meat,” described some tourists last May about the situation at the Meliá Las Dunas hotel in Cayo Santa María, located in the northern part of the Cuban province of Villa Clara. A customer who visited the facility reported to CiberCuba that the situation there is “shameful.” In February, a relative of Russian tourists stranded at the Cayo Coco Airport in Ciego de Ávila complained about the mistreatment suffered by their relatives due to an 18-hour flight delay from this location to Moscow. “They were not given water for a long time and were not informed about what was happening,” explained Dmitry to the Russian portal Belgorod No. 1, whose family was among those affected by the flight delay. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Canadian tourist who spent two weeks at the Barceló Solymar - Occidental Arenas Blancas resort in Varadero described his stay as “the worst experience of his life.” Joe Eastcott, a resident of Surrey, Canada, shared his ordeal in the Facebook group “Barceló Solymar — Occidental Arenas Blancas” along with photos showcasing the severe deterioration of the facilities and the poor quality of the food. “The food was barely edible, and most of the time it wasn't,” said Eastcott, who added that this situation forced him to eat outside the resort for most of his stay. The disgruntled tourist noted that he couldn't understand why the food had been enjoyable at other hotels during his previous visits to Varadero, but this time it was different. To make matters worse, according to Eastcott, “the staff seemed more concerned with helping than anything else.” Additionally, he found it incomprehensible that he was constantly required to switch bars when he wanted a drink and had to change locations for meals. The snacks consisted of “day-old dry rolls, raw hot dogs, or a single slice of meat,” Eastcott pointed out. “No ketchup or mustard,” he added. “I was served raw chicken and rice with stones in it,” the Canadian tourist complained, showing photos of one of the "finds" hidden in his food. He also noted that the resort was in a deplorable state: “Broken or damaged items everywhere.” “I never received the minibar that was supposed to be in my room,” added Eastcott, pointing out that he was only given one bottle of water per day, something he found absurd and indicative of the crisis facing the Cuban hotel industry. “I suggest a different resort for your vacation,” the tourist concluded. Complaints about Cuban hotels have become frequent, particularly regarding the food and recreational facilities. “Scarce food and lines of up to two hours to get a piece of meat,” described some tourists last May about the situation at the Meliá Las Dunas hotel in Cayo Santa María, located in the northern part of the Cuban province of Villa Clara. A customer who visited the facility reported to CiberCuba that the situation there is “shameful.” In February, a relative of Russian tourists stranded at the Cayo Coco Airport in Ciego de Ávila complained about the mistreatment suffered by their relatives due to an 18-hour flight delay from this location to Moscow. “They were not given water for a long time and were not informed about what was happening,” explained Dmitry to the Russian portal Belgorod No. 1, whose family was among those affected by the flight delay.
NSXCIGAR Posted Tuesday at 08:50 PM Share Posted Tuesday at 08:50 PM Cuba is the wife beater of the world. No matter how badly they treat people they inexplicably keep coming back. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teamrandr Posted Tuesday at 09:03 PM Share Posted Tuesday at 09:03 PM 12 minutes ago, NSXCIGAR said: Cuba is the wife beater of the world. No matter how badly they treat people they inexplicably keep coming back. Well they have good cigars. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris12381 Posted Tuesday at 09:06 PM Share Posted Tuesday at 09:06 PM Few thoughts scare me more than an emergency dental visit in Cuba. Rice with stones in it? Sheesh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puromaniac Posted Tuesday at 09:08 PM Share Posted Tuesday at 09:08 PM 37 minutes ago, chris12381 said: Few thoughts scare me more than an emergency dental visit in Cuba. Rice with stones in it? Sheesh. Yeah, good luck finding any lidocaine in Cuba. Or a lot of other meds. You have to feel for the people. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NSXCIGAR Posted Tuesday at 09:27 PM Share Posted Tuesday at 09:27 PM 21 minutes ago, teamrandr said: Well they have good cigars. People going to the all-inclusives aren't going for cigars aside from picking up a box of fakes on the beach for their uncle. Besides, there are so few cigars in Cuba now it's not worth going even if you are looking for cigars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzboypro Posted Tuesday at 09:53 PM Share Posted Tuesday at 09:53 PM I was in Varadero in last October. We spent 9 days at the Blau Varadero resort. We had a very pleasant stay. Planty of food everyday and the installations were clean and in working order. The mini bar was filled everyday with beer. Maybe it was because it was not the high season for tourists. There was no waiting line anywhere. I guess things have changed a lot since then. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teamrandr Posted Tuesday at 10:07 PM Share Posted Tuesday at 10:07 PM 10 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said: People going to the all-inclusives aren't going for cigars aside from picking up a box of fakes on the beach for their uncle. Besides, there are so few cigars in Cuba now it's not worth going even if you are looking for cigars. True, I think many have a romantic notion about how dilapidated Cuba is. I personally would still visit just to see the tobacco and hopefully get to hang with a farmer or two. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ha_banos Posted Tuesday at 10:11 PM Share Posted Tuesday at 10:11 PM 42 minutes ago, NSXCIGAR said: People going to the all-inclusives aren't going for cigars aside from picking up a box of fakes on the beach for their uncle. Besides, there are so few cigars in Cuba now it's not worth going even if you are looking for cigars. Not even the farm rolls? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NSXCIGAR Posted Wednesday at 02:13 AM Share Posted Wednesday at 02:13 AM 4 hours ago, ha_banos said: Not even the farm rolls? Traveling 300 miles from Varadero or 500 miles from Cayo Coco out to Pinar isn't really why people are going to the all-inclusives. I'm sure they assume there'd be cigars in the resorts. 4 hours ago, teamrandr said: True, I think many have a romantic notion about how dilapidated Cuba is. I personally would still visit just to see the tobacco and hopefully get to hang with a farmer or two. I'm there quite a bit and enjoy it but I'd never in a million years recommend it as a vacation destination. I think everyone should go once to experience its uniqueness but for a vacation try the DR or Mexico. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avitus Posted Wednesday at 01:01 PM Share Posted Wednesday at 01:01 PM I just don't get these people who pay $580 USD per person for one week of all inclusive, flight and transfers included, and then complaining about food and facility. Show me better place for the money please, I really really would love to go there. Oh and by the way, you can always go to the brand new Melia International where you'll get nice food and service, but it will cost you $1055 USD, so you just get what you pay for, that's it! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chitmo Posted Wednesday at 01:28 PM Share Posted Wednesday at 01:28 PM 16 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said: People going to the all-inclusives aren't going for cigars aside from picking up a box of fakes on the beach for their uncle. Besides, there are so few cigars in Cuba now it's not worth going even if you are looking for cigars. There’s actually a pretty healthy supply in the duty free at the airport. A friend of mine was just down there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amberleaf Posted Wednesday at 02:05 PM Share Posted Wednesday at 02:05 PM 23 hours ago, jazzboypro said: I was in Varadero in last October. We spent 9 days at the Blau Varadero resort. We had a very pleasant stay. Planty of food everyday and the installations were clean and in working order. The mini bar was filled everyday with beer. Maybe it was because it was not the high season for tourists. There was no waiting line anywhere. I guess things have changed a lot since then. I've heard good things about the Blau, shame that it looks like a nuclear power plant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzboypro Posted Wednesday at 09:56 PM Share Posted Wednesday at 09:56 PM 7 hours ago, amberleaf said: I've heard good things about the Blau, shame that it looks like a nuclear power plant. The interior is very nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SUP8333 Posted Wednesday at 10:08 PM Share Posted Wednesday at 10:08 PM 9 hours ago, avitus said: I just don't get these people who pay $580 USD per person for one week of all inclusive, flight and transfers included, and then complaining about food and facility. Show me better place for the money please, I really really would love to go there. Oh and by the way, you can always go to the brand new Melia International where you'll get nice food and service, but it will cost you $1055 USD, so you just get what you pay for, that's it! Is 1055 for a weeks stay? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GerardMichaelTX Posted Wednesday at 10:26 PM Share Posted Wednesday at 10:26 PM Damn, 580 all inclusive is a good deal as long as they keep the alcohol flowing and there aren't any rats/roaches. I wouldn't want to eat at a hotel anyway most of the food tastes like gravel at hotels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avitus Posted Thursday at 02:54 PM Share Posted Thursday at 02:54 PM 16 hours ago, SUP8333 said: Is 1055 for a weeks stay? Yep, per person per week. I see even a bit cheaper prices depends on the date. With 4.6 rating on Google its probably the best place to go for your buck. Also they have pretty nice cigar lounge on-site and LCDH Varadero is just around the corner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salomones Posted Thursday at 05:46 PM Share Posted Thursday at 05:46 PM I am happy with Guardalavaca. Varadero is less Cuba for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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