Name: Hotel Villa Cuba
Address: Avenida Las Americas Reparto La Torre, Varadero, Varadero, Varadero, 42200, Cuba
Rating: 7

24-hour reception

Garden

Terrace

General

Accessibility features

Accessibility

Laundry

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Restaurant

Meals

Internet

Multi-language staff

Languages Spoken

Private beach

Pool and beach

Pets allowed (under 5 kg)

Pets

Location

At the hotel

Juan Gualberto Gomez Airport

Hotel Villa Cuba

Varadero

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harbour-view

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smoking

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safe

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kitchen

I liked the hotel's animation theme, it was very entertaining and the food was very well prepared. The rooms are old and lack remodeling but the room service is very good. The only problem that bothered me the most was the ranchón at night time with the lack of service and the two men who were with a terrible lack of courtesy and terrible service, sitting without attending to the people who were there

Hotel villa cuba

Lessons learned will be at the bottom, if you're looking for tips regarding a trip to Cuba from a first timer! 

It was my first time in Cuba, and the group I went with is already planning our next trip back. I'll rank different aspects of the resort, but I want to begin by highlighting a few of the staff members that made the trip memorable. 

Jorge Horrego from the lobby/coffee bar. Our group ended up going for coffee several times a day and very often found ourselves served by Jorge. I've worked 15 years in hospitality and found Jorge to be as personable and top notch with service as the top people I've worked with. 

From their public relations team, Thalia and Adryan were exceptional in doing what they could to enhance our stay. We travelled from Canada, during the Stanley Cup playoffs, and we were struggling to get the game on a screen larger than an ipad. They spent quite a bit of time helping us to get a smart tv in a business conference room in the hotel to work with our devices so we could stream the game. Technological challenges aside... we did end up being able to watch the games while we were at the resort. 

Yailin from the Sunwing Experience was also very helpful for our group in planning excursions. I know that she wasn't technically a resort employee, but I definitely wanted to mention that she did contribute to our positive experience overall. 

Okay, now for the experience at the resort: 

Food 4/5
There are shortages at this time, and while this was felt, the food was nonetheless quite enjoyable. The bread was amazing. As good as the best buns or loaves I've had at top restaurants, and that both surprised and delighted me. Loads of fresh vegetables, fruits, and beans, and assorted rice dishes. Chicken and pork was present, but no western foods like hot dogs, burgers, or anything... which was fine to me! Breakfast was probably my favourite... there was a great omelette station, and a crepe maker. There were sausages as well. Oh, a varied and delicious dessert pastry also, though I rarely indulged. I probably haven't eaten as healthy three meals a day as I did here. There was salt and pepper available, and often other condiments as well. Our group occasionally seasoned the food, but it was mostly unnecessary. 

The a la carte restaurants were good, if only for a bit of a change of pace from the buffet. The soups were quite good at both of them. The asian themed restaurant, Bamboo, had the best sweet and sour pork I have ever have. They used a pineapple sauce mixed with... I cannot recall if it was with guava or papaya, but the sauce was easily the best sweet and sour sauce I've had. 

Shortages for food: Potatoes only 2 of 8 days we were there. Same for fish. 

Shows: 5/5
Every night the hotel had a show around 9:30pm. We didn't make it to every show, but the ones we saw were impressive, and there was a variety. A dance troupe one night, a water dance/acrobatic group, a magician, a romance themed show, and a participation (crowd work) show were the ones I was aware of or saw. 

Also, one of the nights we were there, the hotel extended an invitation to us and the other Canadian guests (they did this for other guests on other nights) for a special dinner with live music. I wish I got the name of our singer, he was so talented! I initially thought I would find the event to be somewhat corny, but it turned out to be quite the highlight. 

Rooms: 3/5 
The room is nothing special. Two beds, a bathroom, air conditioned, and a balcony. It did have a safe and a mini fridge. There was a spill on night two of some cola, and that's how we did discover there were ants, but they did not bite/bother us. Water pressure was a little low, both for the toilet and the shower and sinks, but not to the point that it was an issue. 

Drinks: 4/5 
To be fair I am not a heavy drinker, and I was personally completely satisfied with the coffee, beer, and mojitos that I had. Truly, the mojitos were phenomenal. A couple in our group were disappointed that the rum used wasn't as good as they expected in Cuba (some days it was Havana Club, but most days was not). One pleasant surprise was that Moosehead was one of the beers available! They did run out of cola for mix for two of the days we were there. One of the guys on the trip brought a 1L pepsi with him for just that possibility, and we managed. 

Beach: 5/5
Words will not do justice to the beach. The sand is white and soft, and the water is so clear that you don't even notice how crystal blue it is until you're waist deep in it. It was warm and comfortable, and we ended up in the ocean every day for a lot of hours because it was the most perfect beach any of us had ever experienced. On our last day it occurred to us that we had only actually used the (perfectly pleasant!) hotel pool only once the entire trip! 

Tips and Lessons Learned

Prices: Cuba is not as cheap as you have heard. The last several years have changed things. Inflation is not something that passed over this island. It hit this island hard. I came with some silly notion of spending $50 USD for a box of cigars, and that was off...by 5x! 

Currency: Do not bother exchanging any money for Cuban Pesos. We did not encounter any vendor in Varadero or in Havana that priced anything in Cuban Pesos at a rate that was beneficial. You will have offers to exchange at high rates (1 USD = 250 pesos) but will be charged by vendors prices that are 1 usd = 350 pesos. 

Just use Canadian or USD. Do not bring coins. 

If you're feeling nice toward the locals, bring some larger denominations to exchange with them for their coins (which their banks won't take) or damaged/older bills (same issue). 

Sunscreen: We were good all trip, but on one day I spent so long in the water that I didn't take any breaks to reapply. Don't convince yourself this is okay. I only got a burn on that one day. Just apply and reapply your sunscreen. 

Cigars: The best price I had for a box of cigars was at a government store. They were about 15% cheaper than a cigar shop in Varadero. For cigarellos (the cigarette sized mini cigars) the same was very true... $20 USD pack vs $32 USD at the hotel. 

For cigarettes, the best price I saw was actually on the airport on the way home. If you buy cigarettes from the hotel be sure to ask specifically for Cuban cigarettes, if that's what you're trying for. I did not (I do not smoke, wanted them as a gift for friends) and ended up buying Swiss cigarettes... whoops! 

If you care about getting a genuine cigar of a brand you want, do not buy any off the street. They WILL be cheaper. They only MAY be genuine. 

Tipping: You don't have to go overboard. But you should be consistent. We used $1 USD and just tipped each service staff member that helped us. With 5 of us there, 2-3 of us would tip each meal, but one of us would tip the omelet station cook, for example. When we would go to the coffee bar, same thing... we'd drop 2-3 bills as a group. We tipped our cleaning staff each day. Tipped a bartender when getting the first round. Tipped again when getting the last round. 

You'll see some reviews where people mention service suffering if they didn't tip. You decide your thoughts on tipping, but your decision on this matter will be reflected in your experience. 

Souvenirs: Consider bringing something to leave for the staff. It's friendly, kind, and could be more useful to them than you may think. Brought Tylenol with you? Consider leaving the bottle. I saw a review that said I should bring my own towel. I brought a brand new towel and it went unused as the hotel provided... so I gave it to a staff member. Save room for the things you're bringing back, and provide goods to the people who hosted you for an amazing stay!

Villa Cuba May 2024

This place was stressful! We had to change rooms 4 times in 5 days because one room was disgusting dirty, we asked them to clean it but nothing was done. The second room are AC blew up in the room and smelled like burnt wire at 3:30am. The third room had ants coming out of the sink and no hot water. All the toilets leaked sewer and the resort smelled horrible. We also had to pay an extra $75 dollars for a better room the first day, which was ridicules because we already paid $1700 EACH to be there. Customer service sucked, No manners, didn’t feel like a vacation!

Horrible

Unfortunately for both the staff and guests, this resort gives the appearance that it is increasingly being pushed out of business by its newer and more upscale neighbors and competitors along the same road.

Ideally, the Hotel Villa Cuba resort should actually be torn down and totally rebuilt from scratch, because the property and beach that it sits on are absolutely magnificent with huge raw potential to attract visitors for generations.

The old Varadero Tower also sits just across the road from the resort, which adds an interesting visual and historical ambience to the location that could also potentially be leveraged one day.

This review will be kept short, as there are too many details to cover, but in general, listed below are the key summary observations to note:

1) the Villa Cuba resort is considerably lacking in a lot of areas, including food, beverage, and restaurant options
2) the resort appears to be lacking in various supplies and amenities, both inside and outside of the guest rooms
3) the resort has various areas and objects that are aged and/or in a state of disrepair, both inside and outside of the guest rooms
4) some of the staff are heroically supportive, friendly and helpful, but some are understandably not at all enthused about working there
5) most of this resort's visiting clientele is now made up almost exclusively of Russian and native Cuban vacationers, with a few Canadians and occasional Germans, and almost no younger partier types
6) Internet Wi-Fi functionality is extremely unreliable for those seeking this kind of feature
7) the newest renovations built at this resort appear to be the bridge-style walkways that lead to accessing the beach area, and the fire extinguishers on each floor

Conclusion:
There is much unlocked potential at this resort property, but the Villa Cuba resort itself in its current form won't justify even a nominal cost for most people to visit considering the range of more upscale competitor options in the immediate vicinity.
One visits this resort coming away wishing they were personally wealthy enough to acquire it and rebuild it properly from the ground up, so that it could one day become a crown jewel and central point of interest and international attraction for the entire Varadero strip.

Beautiful beach, but time to rebuild and boldly move into the 21st century

Since May 1st 2023 the hotel chain of Be Live Experience have left Cuba.  This hotel is now known by its original name of Villa Cuba Hotel or Hotel Villa Cuba.  This is a hotel through all of the trials and tribulations of the past year which has plagued Cuba is still an outstanding hotel run by the best and most caring staff. There are difficulties and the biggest one is the elevators that have a mind of their own as to whether they will work or not. A word to anyone mobility challenged this may not be a perfect match. Saying that while we were there in April we saw 2 families who had family members in wheel chairs and some how they managed to get up and down. Once again the beach is spotless and tourists are helping by picking up after themselves. The gardens have never looked lovelier with flowers in bloom all over the gardens and the scents of them wonderful.  The rum and beer was flowing and no shortages here. Eggs served every which way possible available at breakfast even crepes if one wanted to line up. Flour is in shortage but fresh breads and buns served at breakfast and lunch. No french fries, hot dogs and  hamburgers but restaurant on the beach El Sitio ( maitre Ramon ) had a nice buffet and al la carte, pool bar Yoskiel and Taimey ) had sandwiches and omelet's to tempt everyone.  Buffet at lunch had pasta's with all sorts of tempting sauces. The new director of the hotel is trying hard to make this hotel home to everyone encouraging repeaters to come out and enjoy events. A wonderful meet and greet at the pool bar with great music and dancing and cocktails to whet everyone pallet. ( thank you Dania and Madelyn for arranging that event )  It was wonderful to talk to friends we have met over the years and listen to great Cuban music. The Canadian dinner was delicious and served perfectly. New entertainer sang beautifully. The lobby coffee bar is a great place to meet and plan the day.  And the lobby bar a great place to just relax before or after dinner having a wonderfully prepared cocktail. Thank you Corso, Evidio and Gordeio. Yes, its an old hotel 1997 and it has some issue's but the people of Cuba, the beach, the gardens we 4 are already planning 2025.   Thank you one and all for a wonderful 2 weeks.  Even the weather was perfect. gracias.

Hotel Villa Cuba since May 1st 2023.

Pros:

- The hotel has a good setup with rooms and restaurants that are not too far apart. Everything is in walking distance.
- The location is good as it is near downtown. Walking distance for sure.
- My room (supersaver) was okay. It was clean and the air conditioner worked fine.
- The internet was okay. Connections weren't as strong though.
- The food was okay. It was the same choices everyday but it was good. Chicken, beef, pasta, rice, etc.
- The beach is beautiful as always. The hurricanes caused many rainy days and wavy waters.
- The service was okay.
- The cats and kittens were cute and it was a delight to see them everyday.

Cons:

- There were no Canadians nor foreign tourists. It was vast majority Cubans. This is not a bad thing but it does set a divide.
- The internet wasn't strong with constant disconnections.
- No beach parties.
- The beach bar was too far from the beach and there was no grill, shower, nor toilets on the beach.
- No wooden trays underneath the beach huts.
- No handsoap anywhere.
- Roaches in the buffet restaurant were visible but not a serious emergency.

In conclusion, it was just too boring. Cuban hotels are fun based on who is staying at the resort. $1400 for 2 weeks was not worth the price. The hotel itself can be FIVE star if there were more younger and exciting crowds but this hotel is meant for Cuban families and couples. NOT for singles nor foreign tourists. *IMO, Starfish Varadero is the best hotel for the beach setup and price. 

August 19 - September 2

Everything was great here, friendly staff, pool and beach are amazing.
food is, well, Cuba, but we ate what we liked, bring condiments you like and you'll really love the food. Rooms are nice, nothing fancy but very comfortable. Everything is close by, great entertainment and bars everywhere, A/C is wonderful and works great. Lots of things to see close to hotel and we feel very safe exiting the resort to stroll down main street to shops, bars, restaurants, ect.
I recommend this hotel and will definitely return

Loved it 

My experience at the Las Morlas Villa Cuba resort was truly remarkable. The host's hospitality Mayelin Arias and team members were outstanding.  The beachfront home "3410" was simply stunning. The ambiance was perfect for relaxation, and I had the pleasure of meeting wonderful people during my stay. An unforgettable getaway that I'd love to repeat!
Gracias a todos en Las Morlas Villa Cuba, un fuerte abrazo. 🇨🇺❤️ 

👁️ ❤️ 🇨🇺

Amazing Hotel, sensational experience. This Aug, 2023 was my family's 2nd trip to Varadero. Phenomenal service,  friendliness and hospitality is what keeps us coming back to Complejo Las Morlas. This time around we were fortunate and grateful to have stayed at The Morla's resort home "3410". A perfect 6 bedroom layout, complemented by an amazing open view contemporary living room, brimmed with natural light. Mayelin Arias and the rest of her housekeeping staff kept our stay shiny and clean. Special thanks to Ulises Gomez for introducing us to this wondrous paradise.  Our sincere gratitude and appreciation.  Thank you Las Morlas! 

Las Morlas!!  #1 Varadero Vacation Destination! 

This review is hotel Be live Las Morlas. But I would like to thank Dania from Hotel villa Cuba, passionate and helpful lady.
Stayed at Las Morlas resort from Aug 6-13, group of 7: 3 kids and 4 adults. Diani from public relations made our experience a positive one because of her and Dania I am leaving this rating as 4. Hotel could do a lot of upgrades but the room we stayed in was big and beautiful with high ceiling and very comfortable, the AC works perfectly. Food was good there is always something new at the buffet. My favourite was the seafood risotto with lobster and the roast pork on Cuban day. The service staff: bartenders, servers, kitchen workers are all lovely and attentive serving with a smile on their faces special mention to Kari and Milagros at the pool bar. For what they have, they try their best with it. Entertainment could improve, only saying this because we found that they cater mostly to Italians, esp day time entertainers would be nice if they include all guests from different countries, you can see they value the other group more it’s apparent. The entertainers at night especially the 3 girls dancers they are exceptional!! We loved watching them every night.  All in all it was a nice stay. When you come bring tips in US $1 bills as it’s hard for them to exchange CAD coins at the bank. The beach, is MAJESTIC unmatched and the reason why we keep coming back to Varadero. Come with an open mind and enjoy the beach

Hotel Villa Cuba

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