I’m back with my first blog post for 2025! Can you believe it’s already February? Where did January go? I’m happy to report that I’ve already made one trip this year. We decided to take a quick getaway to Varadero, Cuba to spend New Year’s Eve in a tropical destination.
We spent a lot of time researching where to go, and with another big trip coming up this year (more on that later), Varadero seemed the best value for money. We chose the all-inclusive adult-only option and stayed at Paradisus Princesa Del Mar, a Melia Hotels Property.
The hotel offers different classes of rooms. Initially, we were in a regular more traditional style room but we learned about the Royal Service upgrades while at the resort. The next day we purchased the Royal Service package and upgraded our room to a more modern one. The Royal Service package has its own check-in area and lobby, exclusive restaurants and bar options and butler service. We found our new room to be more comfortable and in line with what we would expect at a hotel in Canada.
Amenities
The resort offers three large pools: the main pool, the royal service pool and the hilltop pool located at various areas around the property. The hilltop and royal service pools are exclusive to royal service guests who also get their own designated beach area.
There are many restaurants located throughout the property. We really enjoyed the 24-hour snack bar, Rock House. There’s also an international buffet, Marseille for French cuisine, Firenze for Italian food and Sakura for a teppanyaki experience. Royal service guests also have their own breakfast and lunch buffet called Miramar and a fine dining restaurant called The Hill Top.
We were celebrating our first civil wedding anniversary and the hotel prepared a special dinner for us at the Hill Top.
The hotel also features a spa with beauty and wellness treatments. We opted for a massage and enjoyed the experience. Make sure you book your appointment early as space at the spa is limited.
Entertainment
As with any all-inclusive resort, there are nightly shows and daily activities. We enjoyed the Cuban Day theme which featured various food and a rum tasting. We also enjoyed the theme nights, there’s even a Canadian night at this resort.
Our favourite spot to visit in the evenings was the piano bar. The bartender Yusmila makes the best drinks at the resort and is a social media celebrity, thanks to the many guests who post about her on Facebook. The atmosphere at the piano bar is amazing and it’s a must-do at this resort.
Excursions
We didn’t do many excursions on this trip as it was our second time in Varadero. We opted for the one-day Havana tour. While we enjoyed visiting certain sites in Havana like Old Havana, and Hotel Ambos Mundos (where Ernest Hemmingway stayed) and spending some time wandering around, the experience as a whole wasn’t great. If you’re looking to do a tour, always opt for a private tour. The bus driver was slow and we had to wait at many hotels to pick up passengers.
We did meet some other Canadians on the tour and that was the highlight for us.
We also did our own excursion into Varadero. You can take a bus or take a taxi. We met a couple waiting for the bus and we grabbed a taxi with them into Varadero town. The city centre is busy with lots of souvenir shops. There’s not much to see there but it’s worth exploring for a morning or afternoon.
The Verdict
Cuba was a great escape from the winter weather for us. It’s economical and just a 4-hour direct flight away. We enjoyed our time there but we knew what to expect. We would definitely return. If it’s your first time in Cuba make sure you do your research and take some time to understand the country’s history and culture before you go. There’s a lot to see and enjoy!
Pro-Tip – You can purchase a pass to the VIP lounge from the Sunwing representative at your hotel. I highly recommend it as it allows you to skip the line to check-in, offers a bit of a fast track through security and you get to relax in a lounge with food and drinks before your flight. The main terminal at Varadero Airport can get quite crowded and the lounge provides a more tranquil environment.