|
Paradisus Varadero 07/29/02
Reviewers Rating:  Excellent
We lodged at the Sol Melia Paradisus Varadero from July 8th to July 15th. This was our first visit to Cuba. We're hooked. My wife and I had a thoroughly enjoyable vacation, and plan on returning next April. The Paradisus is an all-inclusive, first-class, impressive, welcoming resort. Clearly, much thought went into its design and layout. Done in pleasing colours of yellows and oranges, 28 two-story villas housing about 400 rooms are situated along one of the most pristine beaches you've ever seen. The grounds are landscaped with a wonderful variety of tropical flowers, bushes and palms, with "cobblestone" pathways winding throughout the resort. Numerous bamboo arbors are positioned adjacent to the pathways, offering a shady respite from the sun. The beach area features about 80 palapas, with hundreds of beach loungers available. Smooth, powdery white sand extends at least 200 yards out into the ocean before any rocks appear. At one end of the beach there is a grill that serves barbecued fish, pork, chicken, burgers and hot dogs, cooked to your liking. In addition, a large assortment of salads, fruits and desserts are available. Open from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm, you can eat your lunch or snacks right on the beach at a grouping of tables, while you listen to the palm leaves swaying in the refreshing breeze. The lobby at the Paradisus is like a scene from Graham Greene's 1957 novel "Our Man in Havana". Marble floors and columns, oversized chairs and couches made of tropical hardwoods and woven rattan, soft gurgling fountains and lazily rotating ceiling fans, a relaxing environment that during the week we were there was populated by well-dressed Europeans and a few Canadians. Toward the front of the lobby is a half-circle bar, open 24 hours, where you can get sandwiches, in addition to any drink you can imagine. Be sure to try the Cuban coffee, and a freshly made mojito or daiquiri. About 20 feet away from the bar is a grand piano, and a talented musician plays beautiful songs from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm each evening. Just off this huge lobby is a small store offering a collection of Cuban handicrafts, t-shirts, books, postcards, CDs, snacks, and a large walk-in humidor with a good selection of cigars. For true cigar aficionados, buying and smoking Cuban cigars in Cuba is a transcendental experience. I bought a box of 25 Montecristo No. 2s for $126.75 usd. These cigars sell for $24 each in Canada, if you can find them. The price of cigars seems to be consistent throughout Cuba. They were no cheaper at the stores or factories I visited in Havana than they were at the stores in Varadero or the shop at the Paradisus. I had some concerns about the food available at Cuban resorts, based on what I have read on this forum. I need not have worried. Breakfast, lunch and dinner at the buffet were truly delicious. Fruits, salads, vegetables, breads, meats and desserts - all categories were represented with enormous selections, all well prepared. On three evenings, even lobster was available! In the past we've stayed at several 5 star all-inclusives in Mexico (including the Barcelo Maya Beach Resort and the Xpu-Ha Palace). The food at the Paradisus was equally as good, if not a bit better, than any of those. And if you like your food really spicy, there was Tabasco sauce and freshly made salsa available for all meals. In addition to the buffet, there are three a la carte restaurants at the Paradisus. Make your reservations for these as soon as you arrive. Our suppers at these three restaurants were simply wonderful. All meals were well prepared and seasoned just right. An acceptable offering of wines, both reds and whites, was available. In addition, at the Romantico restaurant, we enjoyed listening to the quintet as they played chamber music by Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert and others. The rooms (junior suites actually)at the Paradisus were exactly as per the pictures in the brochures (Air Transat or Sunquest). Comfortable and well appointed, with air-conditioning, full bathroom, satellite tv, mini-bar, in room safe, living area and a terrace or balcony. Just what one would expect in a 5 star resort. And, everything worked. The Paradisus has two beautiful pools (one is impressively large), several bars located conveniently around the grounds, a big open-air theatre with nightly performances beginning at 9:30, non-motorized watersports including kayaking, windsurfing, sailing, pedal boats and snorkelling. Scuba diving is available daily at a small island about 6 kilometers offshore. Two suken ships are nearby, and are also available for scuba diving exploration. In spite of July and August being the rainy season, we experienced light showers on only two evenings during our one week stay, although it did cloud up every afternoon beginning around 4:00 (you'll find an umbrella in your closet at the Paradisus. It's not a bad idea to take it with you when you go to supper, just in case). And, again in spite of it being the rainy season, we did not need to use our bug spray on even one occassion. There's a tour desk in the front lobby where you can book from an extensive array of day trips. My wife and I chose a walking tour of Old Havana, with a visit to the Corona cigar factory included in the price of $63 usd per person. What an interesting and captivating day we had. But that's another story. Service was top notch at the Paradisus. Our room was cleaned each day while we were out, the mini-bar was restocked as needed, fresh towels were supplied as requested, and a warm smile from the staff was the norm. The Paradisus was at about 70% capacity while we were there, with most guests from France, Germany, Italy and Spain, with just a sprinkling of Canadians. There were no loud parties and music and heavy drinking apparent. My impression is that the Paradisus attracts an older, somewhat more refined clientele, due in large part to the cost and it's somewhat isolated location toward the eastern tip of the Varadero peninsula. It creates feelings of relaxation, meditation and romance amidst an environment that is true to its namesake - paradise.
Keith Sliger
|
