My review is: It was Okay. Not for picky people.

- It was our first time in Cuba, booked my trip with sunwing.ca for $865 CDN for 1 week all inclusive.

- Arriving at the airport of Varadero, a comfortable air conditionned bus was waiting for us. The ride to La Havana ( Santa Maria Del Mar ) was approx. 1h45 minutes.

- Our room number at Blau Arenal was 230. Although It was well located, near all the services, you could feel the springs of the mattress and the pillows were as thin as a sheet of paper. We were also bitten by mosquitos every night. Pack bug spray.

- I spent at least $100 in tips. All cubans expects tips. Plan an extra 25 CUC per person for departure taxes at the airport.

- Ladies, pack toilet paper + hand sanitizer when outside the hotel. Soap and paper were rare in La Havana.

- I suggest exchanging money at the airport. ATMs denied my mastercard.

- Shuttle service To Havana was reliable. 2 per day. If you take a taxi instead, dont pay more than 20 CUC for the ride.

- Animation staff were friendly. funny shows + dance shows every night.

- Beach was beautiful and private. Catamaran + pedalo + Kayak was available. A 30 minute walk on the beach will take you to a small town called Guanabo where you can buy rhum, cigars and coffee.

- Other than the essentials, locals enjoy when we give them pens.

- Tap water is not drinkable. Our room was well supplied with bottled water. There was no bath, only a shower.

- Internet is available next to the front desk. 3 CUC for 15 minutes or 30 minutes. Im not sure anymore.

- I guess the problem is everything looked run down. www.blau-hoteles.com advertizes the hotel as a 4 star, sunwing.ca gives it 3 stars, I give it 2.

Arrived with very low expectations and had an absolutely wonderful week. Safe waves, exceptionally warm and clear Gulf Stream water was an amazing treat. Ignore all negative comments in previous posts. Pool, Activation staff, beech etc are in terrific shape. Anything cosmetic will be addressed during the massive renovation scheduled starting May 2008. So enjoy the mangrove reserve setting, beech and proximity to Havana while it remains affordable.
Food was good on 3 of 7 nights. Don’t be afraid to step off the resort. On the other side of the abandoned car bridge is a world to be discovered. Drop net crab fishing from the bridge, first building serves pizza by day and an excellent lobster ($14) by night. Well stocked mini-grocery and spirits store about 5 blocks further, then things get really interesting. Car/bike/moped rental, bars, then further along see how the locals live and the Havana crowds rental cottages.
Wonderful thing about the beech is that it is not subject to tourist apartheid –locals make use of the beech on weekends and particularly during the summer. Shortage of garbage cans makes for a bit of a mess towards the end of the day, but is cleaned up daily.
Bring pillows, bug spray, universal bath plug, and contents of your medical cabinet. Anyone who brought benedryl cream our week would have been the resort hero 3 times over.
Cubans are starved for goods we take for granted. Bring coloured pencils, pens, paper for children. Old gamboys, computers, watches, pocket knives were also greatly appreciated. Dollar store reading glasses, fancy pantyhose and high end hair products???
If buying rum/cigars at the airport, buy prior to going through customs. As everywhere, prices go through the roof once in the waiting area.
Enjoy an authentic Cuban experience.

Been there before and read the negative reviews and wonder where these people have stayed in Cuba, The last one talking about old men picking up dancers? Get a life. They couldn't bring them to a room at any hotel in Cuba so all they could get would be the pleasure of their company. I am trying to imagine what a nothing day I would have to have to be going to a 10:00 p.m. Amateur "gong show" instead of bed.

The tips for Cuba

1) Exchange whatever money you plan to spend at the airport on landing.

2) Schedule 30 minutes to open and read email and send two replies. Yahoo is beyond slow. There must be some bare bones email account for developing countries

3) Take whatever you might need with you. Getting anything there is a production number allowing selection has come a long way over the past 20 years it has a long way to go

Great value for money. The pool was emptied cleaned and painted with a 10 day period of my stay in October / November so weeks on end would be a push.

Booked online through a big Canadian online firm. Everythign was perfect. Less than $800 all inclusive from Montreal ...... Like reality check time. I have read negative reviews and am thinking these peopel shoud stay at the Four Seasons in Ottawa in mid May at $399 a night ......... and pay for food and booze as they go .......

Like it was clean

The beds were clean

The food was decent and varied

The staff was warm and friendly without being overbearing

The pool was great

The beach was great

Secutiry was obvious witghout being obtrusive

Like a trip without issues.

Havana was a 10 minute free bus ride away twice a day ...

and I am thinking value for money, this is like Brazil without the crime 20 years ago