Hello fellow travelers, I've just returned from my trip to Cuba. I was there from August 22 to 29, 2024. We stayed at the beautiful Hotel Blau located in Varadero Cuba. We were hoping for good weather and, above all, no hurricanes. We were spoiled by the weather during our stay with 6 days of sunshine!
Today I offer you my review of this wonderful seaside resort.
Cleanliness: 8.5/10
Let's start by saying that the general cleanliness of the Blau is excellent. There's no garbage lying around. The hotel staff is very efficient in their maintenance. The ceramics inside and out of the building are spotless. The working staff is busy every morning making sure the water is clean at the pool. The couches both in the hotel lobby and near the main bar are clean. We take one point off because the presence of several birds on the terrace near the pool has led to a few droppings on the chairs. I had the misfortune of sitting on one of these chairs. The result: a nice stain on the back of my t-shirt and some hearty laughter from my girlfriend. Of course, we understand that having cute little birds on site has its charm! The catering areas are also impeccable. Everything is clean and tidy. We are deducting 0.5 points for the presence of small cockroaches in the elevators. However, this is normal for this type of resort with wide open doors.
The rooms, on the other hand, are spotless. (read more below) The cleaning staff is efficient and everything is in order when we return to our room. Finally, the site's surroundings, the restrooms and the beach are cleaned regularly and are free of garbage.
Safety: 9.5/10
Cuba is one of the safest places in the world to visit. The people are welcoming, helpful and highly educated. They are very appreciative of tourists. You'll be treated to genuine smiles. We walked along the beach late at night and felt very safe. During the day, locals stroll along the beach selling various items, but no one is pushy. The resort offers 24-hour security both on the beach and in the building. A lifeguard is on duty every day at the beach and pool. We had a safe in our room for our valuables. We remove a 0.5 because there are some places on the site where the path becomes uneven and could potentially create a fall hazard. Signage is present, but less visible in the evening or after a few drinks.
Noise level: 9/10
On the beach, there are two sections: a quieter one to the left of the Hobie Cats (small catamarans) where we spent most of our time, and a more active one to the right with lively music and some organized games. I don't know if this is the case all year round, but when we were there, the sound of the music was perfect. Not loud at all, but just enough to feel the festive atmosphere. I've already had the experience of going to a resort where the entertainers shout at the top of their voices non-stop for hours on end into a broken microphone day after day. There's nothing like that at Blau.
All in all, the rooms are well soundproofed. However, I'd take 1 point off, because, on our last evening, we could hear 'suspicious noises' coming from the room next door. There seemed to be an earthquake in their bed or something. Next to our room was a piano lounge. Some artists or even tourists played between 5 pm-9 pm and we could hear them from our room. However, we didn't mind, as the music was smooth. No Metallica here!
The weather: 10/10
As you can imagine, it's practically summer without end in Cuba. We were treated to hot, humid weather all week. On the other hand, it's cooler in the mornings and a refreshing breeze regularly blows near the beach. The evenings remained warm, but a gentle breeze refreshed us once again. The crystal-clear sea water was at a perfect temperature. As far as the resort is concerned, the air-conditioning was very efficient in our room and the restaurant areas. In short, we had a hot week, but many refreshing elements helped us to have a dream vacation.
Accessibility, Hotel Layout and Amenities: 8.5/10
Our arrival at the airport went smoothly. The Cubans who work there are welcoming and smiling. Transportation buses are a short walk away. Air-conditioned transport to our resort took 45-60 mins, including a few stops to drop off other tourists. When we arrived late in the evening, we waited in line for about 10-15 mins before getting our room card. Near the entrance to the building's lobby is a small bank where you can convert your money into American money or Cuban pesos.
We deduct 1 point for the elevators at the resort. There are four of them. Two of these elevators are placed side by side on the left of the resort, and the other two on the right. During our stay, one of the elevators was not working. There are 13 floors at the Blau and our room was on the 8th. So we had to wait a while for our elevator to arrive and then wait even longer, as it stopped on many floors. There's also the option of taking the stairs. It's great for going downstairs, and a little less so for going up when it's hot and humid. Just keep this in mind on your departure day and give yourself a buffer of extra time when leaving. There can be many people crammed in, some with luggage and it's a scorcher. However, these glass elevators are amazing and add style to the environment. The view is splendid. Keep in mind that you're on vacation and not in a hurry. It's easy to get around the resort. There are lovely little paths around the pool and a pleasant wooden bridge leads down to the beach. Again, we're deducting 0.5 points because in two places we've noticed that the stone path is becoming uneven, which could cause a fall hazard. There is a sign on the ground, but it becomes much less visible in the evening or after a few drinks.
Restrooms are strategically located throughout the site. There are natural and artificial shade areas everywhere. Once off the elevator, travel time between the building and the beach is about 3-5 mins. There's a small bar in the center of the beach and a canteen bar just a 1-minute walk from our spot. As you can see, besides the elevator situation, everything has been well thought out to make it easy to get around.
Shows: 7/10
When we arrived late in the evening, there was a beach party with a great atmosphere and good Latin music. On our second evening, we were treated to a magic show. You'll be disappointed if you're expecting a David Blaine experience in Las Vegas! I enjoyed it, but my girlfriend didn't like it at all. On the 3rd evening, there was a delightful Cuban dance show near the hotel lobby bar. We enjoyed the good Cuban music. On the 4th evening, we saw an acrobatic dance show in the pool. I think it was interesting, but my girlfriend more or less enjoyed the show. We also saw a rock show in the distance called the Biker Evening. It was pretty ordinary in my opinion. On the other nights, we went walking on the beach to watch one of the best spectacles of the week: heat lightning right above us. That was magical!
Activities and Facilities: 10/10
The resort offers a wide range of activities and facilities. At the beach, Hobie cats (small catamarans) are popular, as are pedal boats. There's also a nice beach volleyball area. There's an aquafitness session in the sea every day around 11 am and a yoga session by the pool. Various games are organized daily on the beach and near the pool. Some even offer prizes like bottles of rum! Other activities such as Latin dance classes are offered daily. There's also an archery and rifle shooting area (reservations required). We found this last activity somewhat curious, but everything is safely organized. For those wondering, we didn't hear any gunshots during our entire stay. Exiting into the resort's rear courtyard and to the right, you can see tennis and basketball courts. As far as activities are concerned, our only regret is that we didn't take the time to work out at the resort's gym.
Near the beach, on the wooden deck, there's a place to book scuba-diving excursions. In the hotel lobby, we booked a catamaran excursion with snorkelling and lunch on the paradise island of Cayo Blanco. This excursion was a highlight of our trip. It's a must! The staff on the boat were very talented at engaging tourists. We didn't visit the village of Varadero, but Hop-on Hop-off buses show up every 15-20 mins or so and will take you there. You can also reserve an old American vintage car and go for a ride. Other activities are also offered via our friendly Sunwing representative, who was present every morning from 10 am to noon.
There's a small store on the first floor where you can buy hats, clothes, souvenirs, beer and bottled water. There's also a spa (for a fee) on-site, but we didn't try it. Finally, a pharmacy (for a fee) is nearby if you need medical help.
In short, it seems impossible to get bored there and the resort offers everything you need for a great week out.
Resort staff: 10/10
The hotel staff are excellent. People are helpful, smiling, efficient and accommodating. We had excellent service in the lobby, buffet, bars and restaurants.
Food quality: 8.5/10
Food quality can sometimes be an issue in Cuba. People often ask how it was. We've had nothing but good things to say about the food at Blau. Breakfasts offer a nice variety of options, including omelettes, a bread bar, and cheese and meat options. There's a pastry section with doughnuts, croissants (very fresh), French toast, crêpes and more. One person remarked that the chocolate puddings were out of date. It's important to remember that we're in Cuba, not Bora Bora. We had lunch on the lovely terrace right next to the pool and right next to the Smoothie bar with its fresh fruit. The carambolas were excellent. Beware of the birds that may do their business on the chairs or the sometimes voracious mosquitoes in the morning. I enjoyed the coffee, but my girlfriend did a little less so.
For dinner, we mainly ate at the canteen close to the beach. We enjoyed the simple but decent menu such as hamburgers, grilled chicken, grilled meat, salads, soup and fruit. Although we liked the soup, we found hairy bits of meat in it. We had to remember that we were in Cuba, not in a prime steakhouse.
The buffet section offers a multitude of choices. There's a pasta and pizza section. Next to it, there's a meat grill with delicious steaks, chicken and grilled fish. The steaks and grilled fish were my favourite part of the menu. Next, the buffet offers different kinds of rice, sweet potatoes, plantains, seafood (surprisingly good) and several types of cheese. There's also a bread and soup bar. The Cuban beer (Crystal) is always excellent. We liked the wine offered and the temperature was just right. Finally, the dessert section offers a wide selection of pastries, cookies and ice cream. Once again, if your expectations are realistic, you'll appreciate what the Blau offers.
Restaurants à la carte and Bars: 9/10
Following on from the previous section, we enjoyed the à la carte restaurant. We were entitled to two reservations during our stay. We therefore chose the Italian evening twice. The restaurant changes to offer a Mediterranean menu on other days. The decor was enchanting and the hosts were calm and welcoming. The penne and spaghetti with bolognese sauce were delicious. The cooking was perfect. Otherwise, our chicken parmigiana was crispy and tasty. Other choices included fish or a marinated chicken leg. Dessert, a tiramisu, was tasty.
We enjoyed ending our evenings close to the hotel's main bar. The atmosphere was relaxed and we particularly enjoyed the pinas coladas. Although this place was relatively quiet, it should be noted that it can be quite busy. We had to wait a while for our drinks at times. Then again, we're on vacation so there's no rush.
Our room: 9/10
The rooms were spacious and bright, with a large bay window overlooking the front of the building. We had a large balcony with a beautiful view of the sea. Inside, we had two chairs with a small table where we played cards. We had a large chest of drawers for our clothes and a small refrigerator. There was a large mirror on the wall. The bathroom was spacious and clean. The lighting was just right. A safe was present to leave our valuables in. As mentioned earlier, the air-conditioning worked well and kept us cool throughout our stay. All in all, we enjoyed our room with all the space and plenty of places to put our clothes.
Beach layout: 10/10
In Varadero, it's hard to ask for a better beach and white sand. You can take many steps into the water before you're chest-deep. During our stay, there were few waves and the water temperature was relatively warm, but perfect. As mentioned earlier, the beach is divided into two parts. A quieter part, with fewer palapas, and a busier part near a beach volleyball court. There are beds for those wishing to stretch out for a small fee (although I'm not 100% sure, I think the application of these fees is random). There's also a place where you can get a massage for a small fee. A popular beach bar lies between the two sections. In the middle are Hobie Cats (small catamarans), pedalos and paddleboards. These are available on request from the nearby worker for a small fee. The atmosphere is great, and the music is good. You can hear it in the distance and it never bothers. Again, the Blau section is a paradise offering a multitude of options. Whether you're looking for fun, activities, sports (water sports and others) or just a little more relaxation, there's something for everyone.
Final Score: 9/10
In short, the place is paradisiacal, calm and safe. It's easy to find your way around. The people who work there are friendly and helpful. We highly recommend this resort and look forward to returning within the next few years. We hope you enjoyed this review.
Thank you for your time. We wish you a safe journey!
Voyage KM
www.voyagekm.com