Grand Memories Varadero
Traveler (10035)
beautiful beach
Pool & Beach (1500)
Dining (691)

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About

#10 of 29 all-inclusives in Varadero
Location
4.3
Rooms
3.6
Value
4.0
Cleanliness
3.8
Service
3.9
Sleep Quality
3.8
Enjoy Cuba's blissful year-round climate, stunning white sand beaches, and crystal clear waters with a stay at the luxurious Grand Memories Varadero. Elegant and spacious guestrooms are available in a variety of room categories in our child-friendly and Adults-Only (Sanctuary at Grand Memories) sections. Lounge by the dazzling pools, get active with a variety of land and water sports, work out at the fitness centre, or pamper yourself at the luxurious spa. Children will have a great time at our Kids Club, which features a children's play area with supervised games and activities. Guests of the Adults-Only area will enjoy extra luxuries such as complimentary 24-hour room service, club house, cigar room, butler service and more.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Internet
Fitness Center with Gym / Workout Room
Pool
Free breakfast
Beach
Entertainment staff
Babysitting
Secured parking
Pool / beach towels
Adult pool
Outdoor pool
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Breakfast buffet
Snack bar
Swimup bar
Poolside bar
Evening entertainment
Table tennis
Nightclub / DJ
Children's playground
Indoor play area for children
Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly)
Kids club
Kids pool
Highchairs available
Car hire
Taxi service
Meeting rooms
Spa
Head massage
Massage
Salon
24-hour security
Baggage storage
Currency exchange
Shops
Sun loungers / beach chairs
Sun umbrellas
24-hour check-in
24-hour front desk
Laundry service
Ironing service
Room features
Housekeeping
Private balcony
Safe
Iron
Room types
Pool view
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
4.5 of 5 stars
HOTEL STYLE
Family Resort
Mid-range
Languages Spoken
English, French, Spanish
4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles9,343 reviews
Reviews summary
This summary was created by AI, based on recent reviews.
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Grand Memories Varadero seems to struggle with maintaining high standards in cleanliness and amenities, with numerous guests reporting issues with room upkeep and insufficient beach chairs. While the hotel's location earns high marks for its scenic beach and convenience for exploration, many travelers are left disappointed with the outdated atmosphere and lackluster entertainment. The service receives mixed reviews, fluctuating between commendable personal attention and sluggish, unprofessional responses. Travelers also note that the value for money, especially for those opting for Diamond Club upgrades, falls short of expectations.
Location
Convenient
Atmosphere
Outdated
Rooms
Neglected
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Mixed
Service
Inconsistent
Amenities
Underwhelming

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Detailed Reviews
jjj wrote a review Feb 3
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Grand Memories Varadero holds a special place for us as it was our very first all-inclusive experience in Cuba. Since it was our first trip to Cuba, we did our research and watched plenty of vlogs before deciding to book this resort for a 7-day vacation.

The location is very convenient, with a bus stop right outside the resort that takes you to downtown Varadero. The bus ride is about half an hour, and for only $5 per person round trip, you can explore the city. Downtown Varadero is quiet and peaceful, and we had a great time walking around, checking out the souvenirs, which were super affordable! We also booked a day tour to Havana for $75 per person. The ride was over 2 hours one way, but the tour included a guide, lunch, and free time to explore on your own. We loved seeing the city’s unique architecture and beautiful vintage cars, although we didn’t feel quite as safe there as we did in downtown Varadero.

The beach at the resort was beautiful - turquoise, clear, and clean. We spent most of our time swimming there instead of at the pool. The main pool area wasn’t huge, but it did have a pool bar, which was nice. Unfortunately, there weren’t many pool parties happening during our stay, and the other pool was closed for the entire week.

The rooms are a bit outdated, and the pillows and bed weren’t the most comfortable, but the air conditioning worked well, which made it easier to get a good night’s sleep. As for the food, it wasn’t the best, but there was always something to enjoy, and you definitely won’t go hungry. The buffet was decent, but I recommend booking dinner at one of the specialty restaurants. We enjoyed the alcoholic drinks at the bar and also loved their coffee bar!

The resort itself was clean, and we liked that they had mini stores inside where you could pick up souvenirs. If you're planning a family trip to Varadero, we definitely recommend considering this resort!
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Date of stay: December 2024
4.0 of 5 bubblesValue
3.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
5.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
5.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
5.0 of 5 bubblesService
4.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Director General, Atención al cliente/recepción at Grand Memories Varadero
Responded 1 week ago
Dear Josh, Thank you very much for your kind review. I am very proud to know that you consider Grand Memories Varadero an amazing place to visit and we are all grateful for your high recommendations. I will be more than glad to share with our team your kind comments, where you express how much you enjoyed the hotel I am also glad to know that your butlers were at all times attentive to you needs. We truly hope to welcome you in a very near future. Sincerely, General Manager
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Angele C wrote a review Jan 2025
Sudbury, Canada
+1
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Ok so firstly, I am NOT a newbie traveler. This was my 5th time to Cuba, first time at this resort... we traveled Dec 30th to Jan 6th.

Pros:
1) The beach is lovely, not alot of seaweed. Depending on occupancy, you should get there early enough before lunch to secure a chair. No bathrooms nearby, so scout out the surroundings to plan for that. Beach bar is kinda tucked away behind the volleyball net.
2) Pools are plentiful, there's a quiet pool at the back of the property by buildings 10 to 12. The bar isn't always open there so plan your drinks accordingly.
3) Grounds are well manicured, but this resort is huge so if you have mobility issues, plan for that.

Cons:
1) The food is a guessing game. They try with pictures above the food (not always), but no descriptions. It's plentiful at times, but by day 4 it was repetitive. We brought condiments, but even still, be prepared to get 1 glass of water and 1 drink at the buffet, then you'll never see your server again. Also, concerns with cross contamination as there are barely any serving utensils and what's there is used to pick up anything and everything!! Utensils were caked with all konds of food. Cleanliness in the buffet is definitely a miss!!!!
2) Service: hit and miss. We are convinced they refilled water bottles in the buffet. Most servers do the bare minimum, and aren't very fast or seem uninterested to be honest.
3) Housekeeping: SUCKS!!!!! Day 2 we got NO Housekeeping. You'll be lucky to get 2 fresh towels and 2 SMALL bottles of water in your room daily. They do NOT sweep the floors or change your sheets ALL WEEK! Didn't even wash our sink or toilet!!!!!!! Housekeeper had to use a translation app to communicate.
4) Building 12: rooms are spacious, but super dated!! A/C barely worked, toilet barely flushed, no phone, no TV, stained curtains, no coffee maker, bare minimum at all times.

We did a day tour in a classic car to Havana with Authentic Cuban Tours, you can reach them on Facebook, that was great.

Weather was good, a couple windy days, and we came home with a nasty cold from God knows where.... go with low expectations and you'll be fine. But this resort in my opinion is no more than a 2.5 star at best.
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Date of stay: January 2025Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Director General, Atención al cliente/recepción at Grand Memories Varadero
Responded Jan 9, 2025
Dear Angele, First, allow me to thank you for choosing us as your destination for your recent holidays. Thanks to reviews like yours, which are very important and constructive, we are able to improve and provide better service. Our priority is to provide you with a quality service and to exceed your expectations all the time, making you feel relaxed and comfortable. I hope to welcome you in a very near future to create more memorable experiences. Best Regards, General Manager
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tritri76 wrote a review Nov 2023
Le Havre, France
+1
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Hotel as large as ever, the gardens are very well maintained and the common areas are clean as well as the swimming pools. The rooms (10229 & 10230) are renovated rooms, block 10 is located opposite the small swimming pool. The food is OK (for a country with supply problems), the bar is well stocked but certain products may be missing (soda, mint, beer, etc.). No need to take the Diamond club, no welcome cocktail, 1 bottle in the room instead of 4, no beer or soda in the rooms every day, in short not much of what is indicated on the brochure while the option is quite expensive. The beach is still beautiful and the Diamond Club bar opens at 10:00. The staff is nice, friendly and works well. In short, a good time spent despite the safe breaking down on the first day (like every year and repaired during the day).
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Google
Date of stay: November 2023
5.0 of 5 bubblesValue
4.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
4.0 of 5 bubblesService
Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip: Le bloc 10 coté piscine est un endroit calme.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Alberto D. wrote a review Jul 2024
Montreal, Canada
2.0 of 5 bubbles
1 week stay.

Let me begin by telling you this resort is promoted by Sunwing as a 4 1/2 all inclusive. As an all inclusive I expect 24/7 Wi-Fi that actually works. Forget trying to FaceTime or WhatsApp as it simply impossible, Wi-Fi drops every minute. It was a nightmare for a family of four with two teenagers.

If you are expecting daily towels or beach towels you can forget it. We needed to constantly ask to get new towels and it only occurred once during our stay that we got new ones. Toilette paper is counted and don’t expect more than one roll at a time. God pray you don’t run out when in need like we did. Went to customer service at 10pm for toilette paper only received it when the maid came to clean the room the following day at 2pm.

I can say the rooms were clean and outdated. If you are in the building furthest from the beach it will be a 1km walk (15-20minutes).

Regarding the food you will not starve but selection is limited.
Expect a heavy dosage of pork and tilapia fish. I guess this is the Cuban diet.
What you will find at the buffet is what is severed at the a la carte restaurants 😂. We did two restaurants “ The Gourmet” & the oriental restaurant where everyone seems to leave before the dessert. It is embarrassing when your choices at the oriental resto are Cuban soup or fried tilapia (buffet it’s grilled) for an entree and one chicken fried drum stick or grilled pork and no Asian seasoning or flavourings at all. FYI you can find spring rolls in the buffet & don’t expect a fortune cookie.

Now the buffet is disorganized as the items are not labelled. What was mistaken as salad dressing turned out to be BBQ sauce. If you want Ice cream you’re limited to whatever flavour they are serving even though they have other flavours in their storage.

Regarding bottled water you receive 1 L bottle daily and once finished they will replace it at the bar.

Entertainment was a hit or miss. They had an exceptional piano player and singer which had everyone’s attention in the lobby. The beach entertainment was excellent, however the entertainment in the auditorium had very poor sound making it unbearable.

In conclusion this is a 3 star resort at best.
I will not be returning.
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Date of stay: July 2024
1.0 of 5 bubblesValue
2.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
3.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
3.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
3.0 of 5 bubblesService
1.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip: Bring toilette paper and do not change cad or USD dollars to pesos.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Director General, Atención al cliente/recepción at Grand Memories Varadero
Responded Jul 29, 2024
Dear Adeciccio, Thank you for taking the time to write your opinion about your experience with us. We are glad to know you enjoyed our beach, one of the most beautiful in the world. However, we are disappointed to know we did not reach your expectations. We would like to apologize for any inconvenience that you might had during your stay. We always work hard to give our guests the best experience and your suggestions are the clue to improve everyday. We take note of your comments and we will work on a solution. We hope you will give us another chance in the future. Best regards, General Manager
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Kassidy wrote a review Nov 2024
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Grand Memories Varadero lives by its name because of the incredible staff! Onay provided us with excellent service to and from our rooms, he was kind and put a smile on our faces! Carlos also provided great service.

There was a good amount of entertainment throughout the day and night. From the beach party on night one, to Hansell and Onez providing great daily entertainment by the pool with water aerobics and volleyball games. They also had entertainment in the evenings and great music mostly live or sometimes a DJ.

Booking excursions was very simple and straight forward. Juliette was very helpful for the fine details and making sure we were comfortable with everything. I recommend going to Havana if you want to see the culture of Cuba.

The rooms were cleaned each day and provided the essentials of what you needed (bottles of water, shampoo, and body wash). Although food wasn't immensely flavourful it tasted good, there was never a shortage. The snack bar had limited options but was open 24/7.
Heads up the main bathrooms on the resort often had no toilet paper, so I recommend bringing some from your rooms which was always stocked.

Overall, a great experience because of the amazing staff and we would be happy to return.
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Date of stay: October 2024
5.0 of 5 bubblesValue
4.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
4.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
4.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
5.0 of 5 bubblesService
4.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Director General, Atención al cliente/recepción at Grand Memories Varadero
Responded Nov 8, 2024
Dear Kassidy, Thank you very much for your kind review. I am very proud to know that you consider Grand Memories Varadero an amazing place to visit and we are all grateful for your high recommendations. I will be more than glad to share with our team your kind comments, where you express how much you enjoyed the hotel I am also glad to know that your butlers were at all times attentive to you needs. We truly hope to welcome you in a very near future. Sincerely, General Manager
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Mike B wrote a review Jan 2024
Leduc, Canada
+1
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Do not travel to this resort. Our trip to Varadero Cuba was our Christmas present to each other but we spent more time trying to solve room issues and just getting the basics to enjoy our vacation. When we arrived at the resort it took about 1hr to get checked in and get to our room which was unacceptable water was pouring from the ceiling air conditioning. We were taken back to the front desk and it took another 2 5 hrs to get a room. While we were in the customer service office with the manager trying to get another room another guest burst into the office yelling and screaming profanities my wife put her hands up in fear and he hit at them. The hotel staff did nothing at the moment security was called but did nothing. We got to our next room which was slightly better but had 2 twin beds not a king bed there was nobottled water or bath towels or toilet paper in the room. There was black mold in th corners of the bathroom walls and no hot water. The bathroom sink the plug was jammed so the sink did not drain. After finally getting a bottle of water and half a roll of toilet paper we went for supper. Food was of very low quality and not labelled. Toilets in the common areas were shut down quite a few times. We went back to our room and went to bed. The bed my wife slept on was a bix spring with an extra sheet on top. The bed i slept in had a broken leg and tipped. On our second day we again asked for things that we paid extra for as diamond club and we also spokd with the Sunwing rep who was our best resource and finally helped us get to our third room by 4pm on our 2nd night there. We finally ended up with a room with a King bed 2 bottles of water and 2 cans of beer and a full roll of toilet paper and 2 bath towels. We later discovered that our patio door did not lock not too bad as we were on the second floor. On Thurs our second morning after going for breakfast we got locked out of our room of course it started to rain it took about 4hrs to get back into our room but it was only a temporary fix . While i waited by the room for the maintenance person. She encountered the Sunwing rep again and said we would be moved to another resort at 4 pm that day along with another 30 guests. Other issues the 24 hr snack bar ran out of food items by 3pm. Two drains in the pool did not covers so you had to be aware of that. For a resort that had approx 2200 guests there was about 100 deck chairs around the pool and about the same at the beach. The grounds were well manicured and the beach was sheltered and sandy. The front desk staff were friendly but everything was beyond their control to fix all the problems at the resort.
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Date of stay: December 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip: Book at another resort. This was rated 4 stars by the Cuban government not an international standard
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Director General, Atención al cliente/recepción at Grand Memories Varadero
Responded Jan 5, 2024
Thank you for staying at Grand Memories Varadero, We are disappointed of know that on this opportunity we haven't exceeded your expectations and you did not like your experience. Receive our apology for all the drawbacks of your stay, it wasn't our intention make the experience uncomfortable and unpleasant. Cuba is a country that offer a lot of beauty and in our hotel we always try to guarantee to our guests top notch services and accommodation, this is the main reason why we are very disconcerted with your experience. We must follow strict procedures that help us to provide the food and drinks under the proper treatment. Once again, thanks for bringing your disappointment, the hotel management team will check what happened with the departments concerned. Regards, General Manager
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Ronda H wrote a review Dec 2023
1.0 of 5 bubbles
We are currently staying at this resort. It is our 6th time to Cuba so I know what to expect in Cuba. It actually hurts to write a review like this but people need to be warned. DO NOT waste your money on this place. The staff are not friendly and helpful like I am used to at all other resorts I have stayed at here.
The food is beyond lacking be prepared to not eat much and repeat it the same at breakfast lunch and supper. The food at the buffet is always cold our first night we were right at the doors when they opened the buffet and all the food was cold. Basically only eating pancakes, fruit and cereal for breakfast unless you want mashed potatoes and hotdogs for breakfast.
Our room I requested twice to look at our leaking toilet that was leaving a little lake from the bathroom into the entranceway never got dealt with I had to sit and wait a half hour at customer service just to get towels so I could keep it cleaned up. We tied our shower head up with the phone cord.
They advertise they have two buffets they DON’T the second has chairs you can see but all tables removed and hasn’t been open even though if you go to the buffet about a half hour after it opens many people are wondering around ready to jump on the first table available because of the lack of seating. The don’t have an arcade room like they advertise it’s full of toilets etc no disco bar thing they also advertise about. Neither of those affected us but if you say you have it you should have it or take it off your advertisement.

I was excited as friends who had come years ago to this resort liked it. Not sure if it has just went down hill after covid but I can guarantee we won’t be coming back to this resort ever again.
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Date of stay: December 2023
1.0 of 5 bubblesValue
1.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
1.0 of 5 bubblesService
Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip: Don’t travel to this hotel it’s a waste of money.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Director General, Atención al cliente/recepción at Grand Memories Varadero
Responded Dec 15, 2023
Dear Ronda, Thank you for staying at Grand Memories Varadero We are disappointed of know that on this opportunity we haven't exceeded your expectations and you did not like your experience. Receive our apology for all the drawbacks of your stay, it wasn't our intention make the experience uncomfortable and unpleasant. Cuba is a country that offer a lot of beauty and in our hotel we always try to guarantee to our guests top notch services and accommodation, this is the main reason why we are very disconcerted with your experience. We must follow strict procedures that help us to provide the food and drinks under the proper treatment. Once again, thanks for bringing your disappointment, the hotel management team will check what happened with the departments concerned. Regards, General Manager
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Adventure25677086167 wrote a review Sep 2023
4.0 of 5 bubbles
I traveled last August to Cuba, this paradise full of charm, flavor, color, sun and joy that always surprises you. The place chosen to meet with the rest of the family was the Gran Memories Varadero hotel. From our arrival we were impressed by the welcome there. I want to thank Yamaisy, one of the hotel coordinators, who solved all the incidents we had. They emerged when they arrived at the rooms. Be careful if you go with elderly people who have reduced mobility, request rooms on the ground floor in advance, I had not done so and they had put us on the 3rd floor (there are no elevators), but this was the first thing they helped us and relocated us in other rooms.

On a general level, our entire group was very pleased, it also coincided with the birthday of one of my nephews and when we announced it, Yamaisy, together with the person in charge of the Ranchón that is next to the beach, had the detail of making a small decoration and preparing us a great table, a delicious cake and even the conga with the entertainment guys who came to sing to him, it coincided with Cuban day, the food was very delicious, typical Cuban with roast pig and everything, 100% recommended. Ask for the waiter, he is a super nice and very efficient guy.

Things that could be improved about the hotel: some details of the care in the rooms and the change of towels, since it just happened that they had a problem with the laundry as they had informed us and they did not change them daily. Also the cleaning of the disk had a quite strong and unpleasant smell.

The place is beautiful, the pools very clean, the gardens beautiful, the fauna and the beach spectacular. Also in the beach area you can enjoy a free trip on the kayak and the typical scooter, the children loved it. On the other hand, the guy who does the aquajym on the beach is super nice and professional.
Before dinner, they organized different activities with tasting, wine, accompanied by live music and aquatic ballet in the pools, very nice. Also at night, they put on some very nice shows, recommendable is the Michael Jackson show and the beach party.

Remember to bring plenty of sunscreen, an open and flexible mind to adapt to the times of the Caribbean and let yourself be carried away by the dance, the environment and the experience.

Thank you to the Gran Memories hotel team for doing everything possible to make your clients feel good and pleased.

We hope to return soon because we are left wanting more.
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Google
Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Makenna M wrote a review Dec 2023
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Although I did not have high expectations coming here. We definitely will never be coming back to this resort. Stayed from Dec12-19th. Food is bad - mostly hotdogs and rice dishes at the buffet for breakfast, lunch and supper. A lot of bread. No eggs. Breakfast sausages if you’re lucky. Pasta was cold. The entire resort is very unclean, the room smelt like mold and the sheets smelt like sweat. Proper sanitization/cleanliness does not exist here. Bathrooms are disgusting. No toilet paper, toilet seat, or soap. Had to walk halfway across the resort to our room to use the washroom. The sink in our room was leaking. We were limited to 2 bottles of water per day in our room, sometimes we did not even get any. Practically had to beg or wave $5 around to get proper service. As evidenced by the beach service and lady going around to specific people that would tip. Took 45 mins to get a hotdog at the snack bar. Beach bar was not open one day stated “too late” it was 1 in the afternoon. Absolutely no hot water in our room. Extremely hard to get clean towels, the one day we finally got clean towels and they took them the next day. So I had to go on a hunt for more clean towels. The housekeeping staff will make the bed , it was clear they did not wash or sweep the floors as I could feel the dirt underneath my feet after they had “cleaned” the room. Donot expect any slushy drinks, they didn’t exist majority of the time. A lot of the time they did not have what you would ask for so I would drink the “fruit punch” which I realized AFTER THE FACT that it was made with TAP WATER as I watched the bartender fill 3 pitchers. One day I watched a physical fight go down for 5 minutes not a single worker intervening. The entire time we were there there was one day where there was entertainment at the beach with music.
Writing this review as I do not understand how the rating remains at 4 stars and when looking online it appears like a good resort but it is not.
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Date of stay: December 2023Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Director General, Atención al cliente/recepción at Grand Memories Varadero
Responded Dec 25, 2023
Dear Makenna, On behalf of the entire Grand Memories Varadero team, I would like to express that we regret not having met your expectations. Your opinion is very important to us and we will take the necessary actions to improve our service Grand Memories Varadero. We hope to have the opportunity to show you our improvements in all the mentioned services and that you can enjoy an unforgettable vacation. A cordial greeting from Varadero, Managing Director
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Joanne L wrote a review Jan 2024
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Our room was dirty upon arrival, however hotel was overbooked so we were advised there was nothing they could do about it. There was 4 of us in the room and we only had 2 towels given to us. There was no face cloths or hand towels available for the full week we were there. Linens and towels were not changed at all for the full week, and the bed was not made, only the top cover laid neatly over an unmade bed. The bed did not have a fitted sheet, only a flat sheet that barely covered the mattress, continually exposing the mattress "cover" that had black spots all over it. The mini bar was restocked a few times only with water, all other items were not available. We received a bottle of rum and 2 beer on our first day and nothing after that for restocking. The closet in our room was broken therefore we could not hang anything up. The second last day we spotted cock roaches in our room. In addition the vent for the ac system was black in which I could only imagine to be black mold. My whole family have been sick for the past week upon our return, I'm assuming from the poor air quality we had in our room for the week. The buffet on the resort served the same items every day, nothing in which was appealing. There was very little selection of fresh vegetables and fruit. The dishes were never cleaned properly and near the end didn't even seem like they were being washed with soap. The 24 hours snack bar had a minimal menu and ran out of food frequently. The food options were very basic and didn't have snack type of items that you would usually see at other resorts. The bars only served juice, no soft drinks available on the resort, to mix drinks with. The juice was made from juice crystals in used water bottles with what I"m assuming was tap water. All the juices were extremely watered down and were not enjoyable. Only certain drinks were available at certain bars and they continually ran out of items. All the washrooms throughout the resort were disgusting. Usually missing all of the toilet seat covers, doors wouldn't lock, and most were always out of soap and paper towel. Hotel has been run down over the years, everything was short staffed, and basic amenities were not available. It was a very disappointing experience and did not feel that it was worth the money. We upgraded to the Diamond Club and did not receive some of the offerings listed on the website such as Personalized check in, VIP welcome cocktail, waiter beach service, Premium amenities in room, daily restocked mini bar, and there is no dinner show at this resort so not sure how Diamond club gets one of these included. We would not recommend this holiday to anyone who would ask, especially this resort. Had we not been meeting family at this resort I would have requested to be transferred to a different resort or even cut the vacation short.
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Date of stay: December 2023
1.0 of 5 bubblesValue
4.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
3.0 of 5 bubblesService
Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Director General, Atención al cliente/recepción at Grand Memories Varadero
Responded Jan 15, 2024
Dear Joanne, It is my deepest regret to read that you went through so many inconveniences during your stay; I assure you that the circumstances you described are not typical with the high standards that we strive to provide. We take pride in creating memorable experiences for our guests and in order to do so we focus on following the highest standards of quality and service. We extend our sincere apologies for the inconveniences that you have had with the service; we continuously train our Staff in order to give an excellent service to our visitors. We are sincerely looking forward to have the pleasure of welcoming you again in our and assure you that you will enjoy even superior services and facilities on your next visit. Kind regards, General Manager.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Steve J asked a question Yesterday
1 contribution3 helpful votes
Does anyone know if the shop sells cigars?
Answer from Justin Anthony
33 contributions
Hi, There are rooms on the ground floor. The buffet and restaurants are on the ground floor and without any impediments.
Varadero, Cuba3 helpful votes
If you must pay by credit card to pay for the extension of your stay at the hotel
Joey C wrote a tip Feb 12
13 contributions1 helpful vote
5.0 of 5 bubbles
"Bring us dollars for tipping "
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Eva K wrote a tip Feb 11
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
"Any travelers that would like to tip for service should bring bills and not coins as it is difficult for them to exchange"
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Rinaldo A wrote a tip Feb 11
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
"ok"
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Randa A wrote a tip Feb 10
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
"Ok"
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Flyer34638841475 wrote a tip Feb 3
1 contribution
2.0 of 5 bubbles
"Go to Mexico. Our money is worth more. The food will give you the runs. Maybe it was the Rum and beer."
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Not the right property for you?
There are more places to choose from in the Varadero area.
FORMERLY KNOWN AS
Hotel Riu Varadero
LOCATION
CaribbeanCubaMatanzas ProvinceVaradero
NUMBER OF ROOMS
1,110
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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GRAND MEMORIES VARADERO - Updated 2025

Frequently Asked Questions about Grand Memories Varadero
Which popular attractions are close to Grand Memories Varadero?
Nearby attractions include Playa Varadero (2.5 miles), Cueva de Ambrosio (1.4 miles), and Delfinario (2.5 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at Grand Memories Varadero?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include a swimup bar, free breakfast, and a pool.
What food & drink options are available at Grand Memories Varadero?
Guests can enjoy a swimup bar, free breakfast, and an on-site restaurant during their stay.
Is parking available at Grand Memories Varadero?
Yes, free parking and secured parking are available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Grand Memories Varadero?
Conveniently located restaurants include Restaurant La Arcada, La Panchita, and Pizza Piazza Restaurant.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Grand Memories Varadero?
Yes, guests have access to a pool and a fitness center during their stay.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Grand Memories Varadero?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English, Spanish, and French.
Are there any historical sites close to Grand Memories Varadero?
Many travelers enjoy visiting Cueva de Ambrosio (1.4 miles).
Is Grand Memories Varadero accessible?
Yes, it offers wheelchair access and facilities for disabled guests. For specific inquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.
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