Royalton Hicacos Varadero Resort & Spa

I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at Royalton Hicacos and I hope this review is insightful for future travellers! I was there for 7 days early February 2026 with one friend. We did not do Diamond Club, but we still loved everything the resort offered and had a blast. Perhaps the Diamond Club might be worth it in the summer when it’s a lot busier or if you want a lot of extra options. Room: the room was great with a comfortable bed, a little sitting area inside and on the balcony, and a huge tub in the bathroom. They have a medium sized body wash and shampoo, a hair dryer, beach towels, a safe, umbrella, iron and board- pretty much all you need in a hotel room. I found everything to be very clean but maybe a little worn down (not an issue for us as we weren’t spending a lot of time in the room). For some rooms you’ll need an outlet converter/adapter for your chargers, curling irons, anything else! In our room it was the European 2 prong round outlets (220v). Food: the main thing we heard before travelling to Cuba was that the food was meh (bland) & not enough. I did not find this to be completely true at Royalton Hicacos. While some of the foods are on the blander side, there is a good amount that is seasoned well- you just have to find what you enjoy best (the pasta bar was my favourite!). If you want a little spice, then pack a little bottle of hot sauce with you to add to meals :) They had a decent amount of options at the buffet and if they ran out of a certain food there, I definitely didn’t notice it. For the à la carte restaurants, I highly suggest the Cuban one and the Mexican one- wish we had a chance to go there more than once! The Bistro will also do grilled cheese and fries which makes for a great beach snack! Keep in mind, this was during winter / shoulder season so it might very well be different during summer when there’s 10x more people to feed. Bar/Drinks: We found the bartenders were very generous with free pours and most drinks were quite strong! They offer a wide range of different cocktails and wines, though they may run out of certain ingredients during the day (ex. mint for mojitos, mango juice, etc.). We didn’t really see this as a negative as they have so many other options (and mojitos without mint are surprisingly more delicious than with!). They have servers come around and ask what drinks they can grab for you and bring back to where you’re sitting, whether you’re on the beach or lounging by the pool. Staff: the staff at the resort is awesome!! Including the Sunwing reps & tour guides for the excursions. Everyone is so friendly, kind, and fun! Dayana from the cleaning crew is fantastic and very helpful & the whole butler service is great for quick, reliable service. The whole staff from butlers to bartenders to wait staff to the entertainment team makes the trip even better and we appreciated them so much! They remember your face, your drink order, etc. This is something I haven’t experienced at the Mexican resorts I’ve been to and made such a difference to me! Beach/Weather: THIS is the reason you should go to Varadero! Beaches are second to none, with pristine, soft sand & teal, warm oceans. The beach at this resort is very well kept and a quick walk from any of the rooms. It’s a smaller beach for sure, but in Feb it was never super crowded- not sure what it’s like in the summer. We did not notice a ton of mosquitoes, though we did get a few bites so bug spray was still needed- but we heard that it does get bad in the summer. They do have water activities & paragliding, but we didn’t have a chance to try it since the water was quite rough with the wind! If you’re travelling in winter I recommend bringing an extra pair of pants & a sweater for chilly/windy nights. Grounds: the pool and surrounding area is really nice; not huge but they do have a swim up bar, games area, volleyball & tennis court, and spa. The bistro is a good snack option as well as the ice cream. There are stores where you can purchase sunscreen, souvenirs, bathing suits, medicine, wine, rum, cigars etc. and there’s also a cigar club. Internet: Wi-fi is strongest at the lobby bar/reception and the bistro, it’s spotty elsewhere but workable. I used my data roaming from Fido, which worked great everywhere. I was even able to access a lot of apps that apparently don’t work in Cuba (Tiktok, WestJet App, etc), so this is definitely worth the cost of a travel pass from Fido/Rogers if network connection is important to you on vacation (esim is also a good option & works just as well). Cash: I would suggest bringing both CAD and USD (no coins, bills only) for sure. Cuban Pesos is not necessary but would be helpful for paying for things like small souvenirs outside of the resort, BUT this would not be much help anywhere else as CAD & USD is king and is accepted/preferred everywhere, due to the dollarization of Cuba. You cannot go to a bank and take out CAD or USD!! You can only take out CUP, so plan accordingly how much cash to bring and pay with credit card where possible! Excursions: can be booked through the Sunwing desk at the resort. They have a lot of great options and good prices (can pay for this with credit card), though I’m sure there are other options. We even had to change the date of the tour we signed up for, and they were very accommodating and it was an easy switch. We did the Havana tour, which was fun and we learned a lot about the culture, country, and people. Being in Havana could be a culture shock if you have never been anywhere like it before- lots of people coming up asking for money, asking to book their tours, or buy something from them etc. It can be incessant so just beware! Generally still safe though and I wouldn’t stress about pick pockets, but keep everything safe and secure as you would in any major city. We also heard the Jeep Safari tour is awesome, but didn’t get a chance to do it. If anyone is reading this wondering if you should book at Royalton, I say yes! The economic situation is Cuba is ever-changing and certainly tumultuous for Cuban people so of course this may affect the food served, the quantity of things, and others stuff. But there are A LOT of returning guests at this resort and there’s a reason why. The best tip I have to future travellers to Cuba (regardless of resort) is to go with the flow and enjoy the sun and beach and drinks and friendly faces on your vacation. I can assure you from my experience that everything is done for you with care and kindness and wanting you to have a fun time, to the best of their ability! I will be back to Cuba when time allows & would 100% come back to Royalton. Can’t wait for that!!

Everything was great! The best staff, territory of the resort and beach were amazing! Special thanks to Carlos and David, our supervisors!

Had a fantastic vacation with friends at the Royalton Hicacos in Varadero Cuba. The resort was very nice, food was good and received excellent service from our butler Bryan. Our friends butlers Betty and Brenda were also excellent. Even though a cold spell hit while we were there, we hade the best of it and really enjoyed ourselves. Also want to give a shout out to David and Alberto who always had a table ready for the six of us and provided excellent service. Highly recommend the resort, once flights start up again.

​I stayed for a week in February 2026. Thanks to the Diamond Club privileges, check-in was seamless and fast. The room was spacious, clean, and all electronics worked perfectly. ​The resort grounds are beautiful and well-kept. The beach is stunning with white sand and clear water. Seaweed washed up occasionally, but the staff cleaned it up promptly. A huge plus: there were always free sunbeds, and the staff even helped lay out towels. ​The food is good: tasty breakfasts (great omelets) and 5 a-la-carte restaurants for dinner. Not everything was perfect, but there's plenty of delicious food and nice live music. The 24/7 lobby bar makes decent cocktails, though they definitely don't hold back on the rum! ​The staff is incredibly friendly, and the butler service was excellent. Wi-Fi is slow but steady everywhere. The evening shows were also quite enjoyable. Highly recommended for a comfortable stay in Cuba!

We spent a week at this beautiful resort. The resort is very clean and well kept, and our room was maintained everyday with clean towels ( work of art they way it was folded). The hotel has butler service. So from the moment we arrived to our room Yainin and Bryan attended to all our needs. They were just a phone call away, present, responsive, and caring. I mentioned to Bryan that we want to celebrate my husband's birthday, and was wondering if he can do a small gesture. He surprised him by arrangement that our room be decorated by balloons and made a special reservation in one of the restaurant at the hotel. We were speechless that despite shortages Cuba is facing, everything was above our expectations. We had the best time at Royalton. The shows were very entertaining every night. Fabulous artists, singers and dancers. The staff, especially the servers at all the restaurants were kind, pleasant and super attentive. When in Cuba there are always availability of fish so we indulge on seafood, and fish for food options. Overall an amazing time in Varadero, Cuba, at Royalton Hicacos. Thank you Yainin and Bryan for 7 days of ongoing service and assistance you provided to make our vacation memorable and beautiful. We surely return soon.