Meliá Peninsula Varadero

“Lights and Shadows”

We Booked this hotel online to celebrate our honeymoon. And even though it had it's high moments, it wasn't what we were expecting for a 5 stars Meliã Resort. Will start with the positive: We arrived at 11.30 am as there was a complimentary early check-in with the reservation. Arleny from reception… more

We Booked this hotel online to celebrate our honeymoon. And even though it had it's high moments, it wasn't what we were expecting for a 5 stars Meliã Resort. Will start with the positive: We arrived at 11.30 am as there was a complimentary early check-in with the reservation. Arleny from reception welcomed us warmly and was prompt and very kind to explain all the services and works of the hotel, including the also free late checkout that was available to us. Also Hany from Reception, thanks for all your help in our first night there. It took less than 20 minutes to arrive to our room 2243!! That was another high point! A second floor with a beautiful view of the main pool from our balcony. Our maid Yadialis, went the extra mile to surprise us each day with some well thought detail for us. She is a 5 star person!!!! Will never forget her!!! Also a big heartfel thank you and all our love to some of the bartenders staff, Isamarys and Yoyo from the snack bar, you are the best of the best!! Belkis and Andrè from lobby bar. And last but no least Maylevis, Milagros and Yanet the Staff Manager at the buffet! You went all the way to make us feel at home!! Thanks to you all. Now the negative. We Booked A la Carte for Friday Night, at the Italian Restaurant with an International menue. Wich was a big disappointment. The menue itself was poor and lacked coordination, we ordered a seafood bruscheta, and receive a single piece with only Calamari or Octopus, couldn't discern! For main we had only two options, chicken rolls or pork , we opted for the pork. The dish was little, even for gourmet. A ridiculous small amount of white rice, and a 7cms piece of pork, with a twirl of cucumber, we never stayed for dessert. And cancelled for Sunday for the Cuban menu. On both Friday and Saturday the main buffet menu on the hot plates were stone cold, no matter at what time we arrived. And the grill only offered beef. Pastas wasn't better. Thankfully by Sunday and Monday things improved by a huge lot. The whole buffet menu lacks imagination, the salads station was like a mechanic cut/paste/repeat. My point of view is that they should go creative to compensate the lack of variety that must unfortunately is going around at the moment. Definitely not a 5 star in the food department. Animation was almost non existent, except for Chocolate, and The Lyric Singers, and Sharon and the band! Nonetheless we enjoyed our honeymoon, the staff, the beautiful architecture,the drinks made up for the not so good things. But again, you have a some pretty awesome staff that should be acknowledged and congratulated!!

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“Broken Hearted in Varadero 💔🇨🇺”

Prefacing by saying been all over Cuba for past 30 years (during covid too!) and it has been amazing each time until now. The people, the culture, the beaches, etc.. Currently at Melia Peninsula (chosen for the usual standards of Melia chain) and the resort itself is lovely and well maintained on t… more

Prefacing by saying been all over Cuba for past 30 years (during covid too!) and it has been amazing each time until now. The people, the culture, the beaches, etc.. Currently at Melia Peninsula (chosen for the usual standards of Melia chain) and the resort itself is lovely and well maintained on the “outside” (clean, freshly painted) and no issues with electricity but beware, the rooms are NOT and falling apart (2.5 star at best) . The safes don’t work and the beds are broken. Good news is there is hot water with good pressure. Insofar as the staff, as always, just phenomenal, friendly and accomodating. Now to the really bad news: I know what to expect where food is concerned in Cuba and am very low maintenance since I am here for the sun and ocean and with all sincerity, and shockingly, there is very little food. I have never seen such scarcity. Talked to guests at neighbouring resorts who indicated they had no lack of food so I don’t understand what is going on at this hotel but, there is zero red meat, zero pop, zero eggs, and the only food at the 24 hour snack bar are dinner rolls with cheese and hotdogs (if you’re lucky)!!! The 1 alacarte that is functional is slightly better. So if you’re good with bread and thinly sliced pork slices daily 3x a day you will be fine. Just heartbreaking. PS: no bar or service or entertainment (aquafit, etc) on the beach if you expect that. Lastly, if you want to help out in a small way bring solar powered lights, candles, and batteries for the locals. The gardeners are the worst off so consider that.

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