Royalton Hicacos Varadero Resort & Spa

We have been to Varadero, Cuba 5 times before and we found this resort to be our favourite of the ones we have stayed at. We were a group of 12 and we all agreed that we would come back here. There was a good variety of food to choose from in the buffet. We had a couple of “picky eaters” in our group and they were able to find enough food to keep them satisfied. We looked forward to having David and Alberto greet us in the mornings with warm smiles and hot coffee! We found the a la Carte Restaurants hard to get into with a large group since it was a first come first served basis, but our butlers Betty and Leo were able to help us. The rooms were nice enough and spacious, but we couldn't wait to get home to our bed. I liked that the toilet area was closed off, so you were still able to get ready if your partner was "doing business". Water pressure was good and there was plenty of hot water. There were a lot of activities available… beach volleyball, 3 pickleball and 2 tennis courts. Carlos helped us get hold of cornhole boards and even joined us in a game! The beach was beautiful and we never had an issue getting chairs even with a large group. We never spent a full day at the pool, but it was very pretty with rock waterfalls and several different areas to sit... also a swim up bar. We enjoyed the lobby bar and seemed to have claimed the covered shelter close to the bar, but not too close that we were disruptive to those wanting a quiet area to relax. Loved the shows at night especially the Rock Show!! "Michael Jackson" was amazing!! The grounds were beautifully kept and the gardens were lush! We will definitely come back once flights from Canada resume.

Had a wonderful stay at this resort, the staff is so kind, friendly, and go over the top to provide you with the best experience possible! The location is great, close to plaza Americana and other touristy location. The rooms were clean, always quiet, and had regular servicing, the buffet had lots of variety, but there were also a few restaurants you could go to, as well as a bistro open 24 hours if you didn’t want the buffet food. There were cute shops with various products, including handmade items from local artists, classic souvenirs, etc. The beach is beautiful, there are multiple pools, which are also very nice, and a few different bars with lots of nice neat seating. They also had shows going on almost every evening, always something different, and always something incredible! The resort itself was lovely, but the employees are what really made an impression on me. I was lucky enough to have Brenda & Eileen taking care of us during our stay and they made it feel like home. They kept in contact to make sure we had everything we needed, and more. Liosbel (usually at the buffet) also provided us with an incredible experience, amazing service and always friendly and loving greetings! I truly looked forward to seeing him every day, he could cheer you up and make you feel good no matter what! I would usually prefer to see what other resorts have to offer, but because of the incredible staff with their above-and-beyond dedication, I would love to come back to this resort, and I hope to see them all again! Overall, you just can’t beat that kind of value! I miss you all very much and appreciate everything more than I can express! Hope to see you all again soon. (:

This was our 4th time staying at the Royalton, last visit was around 2011 when it was Sandals, but it was the first visit for our friends. We shared 2 butlers Roberto and Randy and none of us could fault the service, friendliness and passion they both had to make everything perfect for us - nothing was too much, even trying to find us a specific Cadillac for a personal tour. Each day they would make a point of saying hello and asking whether we needed anything etc.. Thank you to both of you for making our stay fabulous. Can’t fault any other of the staff, all friendly, willing to help out anytime, without the expectation of a tip (but that always goes a long way as Cubans generally don’t have a lot!). It was great to catch up with some old faces even from 2011, including Ranhel (Rangel) who was working in the Caribe restaurant but used to work the pool bar many years back. But still at the pool bar was Maria who continued to be the life & soul along with all the other staff with her - they made our afternoons fun with a few drinks - warming us up as the pool is not heated in the winter - so bit of a shock when you first get in! The only thing that let the hotel down on occasion was the fact that the 24/7 bar would regularly run out of certain drinks and this happened a few times by 10pm! I believe it is all down to the government and how they control the hotels & pricing, but we often ran out of red wine, so not only could you not drink that, you couldn’t have Sangria. Also ran out of Pina Colada mix and even Vodka. Never ran out of Rum (I would hope not in one the main producing countries), but it was overall a disappointment given we paid a lot for all inclusive! Other thing we noted is on previous visits the bar pool used to hand make fresh cocktails with fresh fruit, but now it is all pre mixed up. Other things that was very limited was butter - only available at breakfast, sauce was hard to come by and more shockingly you could not get a fresh banana anywhere in the hotels even though Cuba is a main producer! Again I think linked to the government and how much they sell back to the hotels, but not a major deal breaker. Everything else we couldn’t knock - amazing staff, beautiful accommodation and surrounds and everyone just so happy. Thank you for making our stay special.

Second visit to this resort. The first time we went was in 2023 and there wasn't much difference this visit. The rooms were clean and quiet. The main difference was that they would run out of things from one day to the next. This was not a problem, just inconvenient. It also wasn't as busy as the first time we visited, which suited us just fine. By the time we left West Jet was flying down empty to pick us up and bring us back to Toronto. They then rerouted us to our final destination. If and when it's possible to visit we will return.

I spent February 14 at this hotel and honestly it was a spectacular experience. From the moment we arrived, the service was warm, professional and very attentive to every detail. The room was spotless, spacious and super comfortable. The romantic Valentine's Day decoration made the stay feel even more special. The cleaning was constant and the minibar was always well stocked. The beach... just awesome. White sand, crystal clear water and a perfect tranquility to disconnect. Spending the day there was one of the most beautiful moments of the trip. Something that really makes the difference is the adults-only environment: it feels relaxed, elegant and perfect for couples. Ideal to celebrate a special date like February 14. I would definitely come back. It was a romantic experience, quiet and very well cared for in every detail. I totally recommend it for those who want to celebrate something special or simply enjoy Varadero in an exclusive environment.