Memories Varadero Beach Resort – Varadero, Cuba
Firstly, my mother says she chose this hotel mainly because of the diversity of activities offered, both for adults and children. And it has to be said, this hotel has exceeded our expectations in terms of entertainment. From morning to night, it’s impossible to get bored, no matter what our interests are. Dance classes on the beach, introduction to djembe, Spanish lessons, children’s disco, volleyball at the pool, pajama party, parasailing, a show every night for children followed by a show for adults: the schedule is very full and diverse.
However, the food was a disappointment. All I ate for a week was chips and olives. The buffet is repetitive, the appearance of the food is scary, the taste is bad and the smell is disgusting. This is really the weakness of this hotel: my whole family was disappointed. At the restaurants à la carte, we could only choose from two. My parents chose the Italian restaurant (nothing much to say…) and the Japanese restaurant which served us the only good meal we ate all week.
Second highlight of the resort: the pools are great! Two enormous pools offer two different atmospheres. A quieter, S-shaped pool is overlooked by two pedestrian bridges, offers a traditional bar in the water, and on the other side has a beach-style entrance perfect for babies like me. I could walk in the water and play without any danger. The other pool specializes in parties with live music, a bar in the water (but in a cave) and a pretty big slide. However, you must be 6 years of age to slide down. The two pools surround a snack-style restaurant, but it’s really a fast food joint. Of course, there is a kid’s romper, but since I had already tried the other two pools, I did not want to go back.


Cuba is famous for its beaches. Our beach had a very nice appearance and was clean. There were a lot of people, but it was always easy to find chairs and a place in the shade. On the other hand, it was impossible for me to wade into the water by myself and even my parents had difficulty. The waves formed a big “hole.” When we entered the ocean, there was a 16 to 20 inch step and suddenly you had water up to your thighs. Not great! Otherwise, the water is hot, the bottom is sandy and the waves not too violent.
Overall, we loved the site, the ubiquitous sun, the entertainment, the pools and the beach. Children were well received wherever we went. We were extremely disappointed with the food and also with the room that had several shortcomings: bed frames broken in two, poor housekeeping, faded paint, a safe that didn’t lock, etc. Feel free to ask to change rooms, but the new room can prove just as disappointing!
Good to Know
When to visit
How to dress
What to do
Things to know
Tourist traps
Cost
Message From My parents
You must bring a stroller if you have children under 4 or 5 years old, because you can easily walk 10 kilometres a day on the site just to eat and swim. There are carts to transport holidaymakers, but they are often scarce when you really need them. As mentioned above, bring some dry food in your luggage for children (and dads!): Cereals, chips, granola bars, etc. It can help! I have seen too many children burned alive by the sun. Please, put sun cream on your children as often as possible. The sun is strong, and the activities at the pools are so intense that it is difficult to get them out of the water. The beach is wonderful, but entering the ocean can be difficult. Beware of jellyfish! We saw one lying down on the sand!