Royalton Hicacos Varadero Resort & Spa

Visited Royalton Hicacos the third week of December. Weather was generally excellent and we enjoyed our stay. We have been to The Royalton in Cayo Santa Maria many times and that place will always be our favourite, I suppose, and comparisons between the two resorts are unavoidable. A one day sale and easy local departure took us to the Varadero Royalton for the first time, though we have been many times to other Varadero resorts before discovering the incredible beaches of Cayo Santa Maria. Our experience was positive. We upgraded to diamond club here (though we do not in CSM) and it seemed to be worth it here. The butlers (David and Carlos) were helpful and attentive and the front desk was available to deal with any issues. Our room was at the very end of the very large complex and it was a bit of a hike to the beach/lobby etc, but you soon get the hang of the layout. The room itself was fine, everything worked and the room was clean and comfortable. The beach is good and that is the main attraction. Strangely, though, the non diamond club area was packed immediately to the right of the main access path but was empty if you walked to the left a little. The beach grill and the diamond club beach bar provided great service, great views and good food options. We enjoyed the food overall. The buffet was fine for breakfast with lots of options, including omelette stations and wonderful crepes. Lunch was at the diamond club bbq (love paella!) or at the main beach grill. Dinner options we would rank the Pearl as best, followed be Caribe (great setting), then Tex Mex then the beach grill (which really is a wonderful setting). The two dinners in the garden were different and enjoyable. There were plenty of options everywhere and service was uniformly excellent. The musical entertainment was plentiful and enjoyable. The main evening shows were a good watch and the music in the restaurants etc was a pleasant surprise. The Cuban people are so talented and we enjoyed the Cuban bands, the guitarists, the pianists, the sax player, etc. Wonderful. We enjoyed the lobby bar but did find it was very loud and a bit chaotic as it got very busy each evening. The lobby bar music was terrific but again, it all got very loud. A hidden gem was the jazz bar which was generally very quiet, despite the excellent musicians performing each evening. Cristal beer was on tap throughout the resort and cans of Moosehead were in the room fridges and cans of Portugese Superbock were at several bars. No complaints there. Decent Chilean wine was on offer at all the bars and restaurants. If there was a complaint, it was with the quality of the mixed drinks. We felt they were just too rushed (it was very busy) and the mixed drinks were generally poor quality. The exception was in the jazz bar: proper drinks, properly made. The canchancharas were a real highlight there. The resort itself was quite lovely with endless, beautiful gardens and there were many, many workers maintaining and improving the resort everywhere you looked. Overall, we were very happy with it. It had lots to offer and options for everyone. As always, the Cuban people were absolutely lovely: hard-working, respectful and genuine at all times. They were highly appreciative of tips and any gifts they were offered. We always return inspired by their friendliness and resourcefulness in the face of such hardship at home. We will return to the beaches of CSM but would have no hesitation in recommending Royalton Hicacos in Varadero.

Having read so many glowing reviews about this hotel prior to our stay, I’m shocked that people actually enjoy this resort. We arrived early and were greeted by our dedicated butler, and were advised she would meet us again at 4pm to check us into our room; we didnt see her again the entire trip and had to ask multiple times where our room was as no one was available to ‘take our bags’ after waiting 35 minutes to get to our room, even though there were multiple bell boys stood at the entrance. Reception staff Brayan reluctantly called the same bell boys over (again, who were initially unavailable to help despite them hanging around at the entrance doing nothing) to take our bags and were rude to us. We were moved rooms multiple times as the ones given to us were dirty and unsuitable for use, but the reception staff were initially reluctant to move us. This really started the holiday off on a sour note, as no one should have to complain so much about the cleanliness of their room for a ‘luxury’ resort. The fuse for the lights in our room also blew at the end of our stay and we had to ask twice for this to be fixed - the light that tripped the fuse was ‘fixed’ but maintenance left this hanging from the ceiling with live wires exposed. The food is bleak to say the least, the buffet food is edible but bland and the a la carte restaurants are also bad - the Mexican restaurant HAS to be avoided as the food is barely edible. The pool was always dirty and I never saw anyone cleaning it; this alongside all of the stagnant water likely contributed to the lingering smell of sewage all around the hotel. The staff in the various restaurants and bars are pleasant which is the only good thing about this hotel - i wish i could say the same for its reception staff as the majority of them are rude and uninterested. Its clear the hotel is extremely dated and is in dire need of a revamp, which some rooms are currently undergoing, but I would avoid the resort in general unless you enjoy wasting your money.

We just wrapped up our 7th trip to the Royalton Hicacos in the last 4 years, and from the moment we arrived, the warmth and friendliness of the staff made us feel truly special—like part of the family. While the resort is a bit dated and could use some upgrades, the rooms are spotless thanks to Anis and the cleaning team. The gardeners keep the grounds looking beautiful, and every staff member—from the gardeners to the cleaning crew, bar, restaurant staff, and butler team—made our stay even more enjoyable. Anna from the Butler’s office went above and beyond to ensure everything was perfect. The nicest stretch of beach and the beautiful resort make the Royalton our favorite hot holiday destination.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ An unforgettable stay at Royalton Varadero Our stay at the Royalton Varadero was absolutely wonderful from beginning to end. This trip was extra special for us because we surprised my parents to thank them for all the help they’ve given us over the years, and we were also celebrating my father’s 70th birthday. The Royalton made this celebration truly unforgettable. From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed with warm smiles and a refreshing sangria in hand. Check-in was smooth and efficient, and our luggage was quickly delivered to our room with great care and service. The resort itself is immaculate. Everything is extremely clean and well maintained, from the beautiful gardens to the stunning lobby and common areas. The rooms were gorgeous, spacious, and spotless, with large water bottles always available, which we really appreciated. The food exceeded our expectations. The à la carte restaurants were delicious, and the buffet offered a great variety with plenty of fresh and tasty options every day. There was something for everyone. The lobby bar and beach bar were both fantastic, and a special thank you to Ana at the beach bar — she was an absolute sweetheart and always made us feel welcome. What truly sets this resort apart is the staff. Every single employee was friendly, smiling, and genuinely eager to help at all times. The level of service was exceptional. A very special thank you goes to our butlers, Brenda and Eileen. They were incredibly kind, attentive, and always ready to help with anything we needed. They went above and beyond by helping me organize a beautiful little surprise party for my father in the cigar lounge. I brought some decorations, and they took care of everything — decorating the area perfectly and arranging a small, absolutely delicious cake for the celebration. It meant the world to us and to my parents. Thank you, Royalton Varadero, for the outstanding service, the warm hospitality, and the unforgettable memories. We truly felt pampered and can’t wait to return. Highly recommended! 🌴✨

Clean resort good service. Buffet is good with many varieties al la cart is not bad the sea food is good one. We had a butler her name is Eileen she was exceptional