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Arenas Doradas 01/19/2006
Reviewers Rating:  Great
Hotel: Arenas Doradas
Where: Varadero, Cuba
When: Jan 8 to Jan 15 2006
How we bought the trip: www.selloffvacations.com
Responsable travel agency: TMR (good service, interesting information meeting at the beginning, but they'll try to sell you group activities and won't mention the free ride to Habana)
Price: $2055 all tx included for 2
Rating: it's considered a 4* but we thought it was a great 3*
Flight: Air Canada Mtl-Varadero (it was fine)
Beach 10/10
Food 5/10
Room 8/10
Room cleaning 10/10
Lobby 10/10
Service 9/10
Pool 10/10
Bars 10/10
Entertainment staff 10/10
Night shows 9/10
Buildings in general 7/10
Arenas Doradas is a nice hotel. The lobby is a great place to hang out. There is a great piano girl there every night. You've got lots of choices regarding where to eat: the buffet 3 times a day, the restaurant called Natura, the Pizza Place (24 hrs), the Pool Grill and the Beach Grill. Many people seemed to enjoy the food, we had doubts according to their food preservation habits. We never had milk or yogurt because it was strange.
Food tips: the pizza is good, the croissants are great in the morning and you can get your eggs done by a lady in front of you and the freshly made orange juice is amazing! (you can always have it at the bar in the lobby). They usually cook a piece of meat for supper (the pork is very good) and they slice it in front of you. The fruits are good, but you won't have a great choice. The pinapple is white, but good (not a gold type). Hamburgers are good at the beach grill at lunch. The restaurant à la carte Natura is nice. The salmon was great there, the filet mignon sucked. The wine was fine. Make sure you make a reservation at the beginning of you trip. They often serve pastas at night at the buffet. They're pretty good.
Rooms are well cleaned, but the buildings are old and would need a paint touch up.
Safe: you have one in the room. It will cost you 10 convertible pesos for the week.
Beach towels: you'll have to give a 10 convertible pesos for each towel. You'll get it back at the end.
If you lose your room card: very easy solution: you pay 10 convertible pesos
The hotel's best shot: There is a free shuttle a few times a day that brings you to Varadero's market. It's great at the end of the afternoon, when it's a little cooler, before having supper. It's a 15 minutes ride and it's the best place to purchase souvenirs. Even better: every Wednesday, there is a free bus ride to Habana! 2 hours bus ride. Great city. Great opportunity to see Cuban reality. Cubans in Habana will often try to talk to you or help you to have a tip, but they'll leave you alone if you say no and pass by them.
Devise: convertible pesos. No more US dollars in Cuba. You change your money at the Cuban airport.
Cigars: the best place in Varadero is at Plaza America Mall. The shuttle that brings you to Varadero stops there first. It's a great place, legal, better prices than the hotel or the airport. Huge variety.
Cubans really appreciate tips. They are paid in local pesos which can only pay telephone and electricity bills. They usually find ways to make convertible pesos for buying food etc.
Club: the hotel club isn't the best place ever. We didn't try Varadero's clubs, but many seemed to enjoy them. The Rumba is a known place.
Great pool bar.
Very nice and clean pool.
No gym.
The hotel isn't in the middle of no-where, it's interesting for those who want to get out a bit.
The cleaning ladies appreciated the little treats we left on the pillow every day (perfume samples, soap etc.). They would make fancy towel set ups!
Great trip!
Great weather!
Myra
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