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Bahia Principe Varadero 10/21/2003
Reviewers Rating:  Excellent
Just got back from 2 weeks at Bahia Principe Varadero. My husband and I have been to Cuba 4 times. This resort is the old Club Med. It has been renovated but the bungalows are not done yet. The resort has it's own strech of beach that is very private as at both ends there is a small cliff, you can walk over the cliff but to get back a man ask to see your wrist band. So very few beach venders. The lobby is lovely. The rooms are built around a atrium that is open to the sky. Don't worry it rained when we were there and you don't get wet. The rooms are a good size with a mini bar and a safe. You pay for the safe but the mini bar is stocked each day with 2 beer 2 pop and 2 water. There is a seperate tolit, large vanity and a deep tub. There is a balcony with 2 chairs. The air conditioner works very well. (on a side note I came in one day and I had no power, so I called the front desk and a man was there is 5 mins. Turns out the maid bumped the little card that turns the power on and off.) The beds are comfortable and over all I had no complaints. There is no iron or coffee maker.
The pool is large and clean with steps leading down. There is no swim up bar. The loungers are very nice as they are a dark wood with thick pads. Always something going on at the pool.
The beach is great and there are so many huts for shade, and about 500 longers. We NEVER had a problem finding a seat in the shade. The resort was about 35% full, but unless they were full you have nothing to worry about. Lots going on at the beach, volly ball, soccer, games. On Thursday they host a little party by were you get the hobbycats, they bring down drinks and dance. Real nice.
Bars, well there are lots. Cohibas is in the lobby it opens later in the day and closes at 11 p.m. A girl will play piano, and the drinks are top shelf. There is a beach bar, lots of seats sun or shade. This bar is busy. There is a beach bar, dixie cups and not fully stocked. There is also el mohitos. Love this place, it's in the little plazea they have and it's open at night. A 2 piece band players there as well. You can get wine and beer with lunch and dinner in the buffets. And when they have the band play on stage they do table service. That's a star right there for me.
Entertainment: somethings is always going on, but you are never pushed to play if you don't want to. They have a show every night at 10 p.m. there good, not great, but good. The one thing I really like about BPV is that after the show is over 11ish, you walk over to this other stage and a band starts playing there till about 12:30. This area is open air, but if it rains there is cover close by.
Food: this is a personal thing. There are 3 al a carte rest. Palma Real which has steak, surf and turf, chicken. And the italian which breaded chicken and pasta, and the sea food. For us the seafood was just plain weird. Smelt funny and looked bad. But that's just my opinion. All 3 rest. have a anti pasto help yourself station. With cold cut, and sometimes smoke salmon. This I just loved.
The buffet. O.K. breakfast, eggs bacon muffins pancakes fruit yogurt. All the normal AI food.
Lunch, lot's of great breads, cold cuts, cheese, salad goodies, and the every changing rice and veggies combos. Meat and fish always both. And there is a pasta station made to order. I liked there pasta, many people say in Cuba the sauses taste funny, but for me I thought they were very good.
At dinner they always have a carving station. Could be a turkey or fish or a pork roast. Something different everyday. This is one area were they fall a little short. Things are not always as hot as they should be. But I did notice a man come around and check the tempeture of the food. I assume this if for health standards, but maybe there will work on getting hot things HOT.
Some nice touches for me was that every bathroom be it by the pool or beach or lobby has a staff of cleaning ladys. Never a wet floor, or no paper. This is another star in my book.
And fresh flowers everywhere, this place looks nice.
When we went most of the guest were not from Canada. They are from Italy, spain and other parts of europe. This could change as the resorts gets busier. It does not matter to me, but some might find it a challenge to meet people just to talk to in english.
Oh, I forgot there is a disco, the DJ seems to have everything, and will play something if you ask. It's busy somenights and not others. Again this all depends on who is there.
In the main buffet rest, there is often some form of entertainment. A magican or a band or some dancers going through.
All in all, I had a very good 2 weeks, and I recomend this resort. If you have any other questions, please post and I will do my best to answer you in a timely manner. H
halina
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