Iberostar Laguna Azul
Autopista Sur Km 17 Punta Hicacos, Varadero 42200 Cuba
Enter dates to see prices
Full view
View all photos (11,420)11,420
Pool & Beach (2227)
Room & Suite (1903)
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
View prices for your travel dates
Contact accommodation for availability.
There are similar hotels available.
View allAbout
#33 of 99 hotels in Varadero
Location
4.3
Cleanliness
3.8
Service
3.8
Value
3.7
Travelers' Choice
A 5-star establishment with an all inclusive accommodation package, spa area, luxury rooms and suites, wedding planning service, 15 bars and restaurants... This resort is perfect for families with children, couples and groups of friends. Its location on the beach in Varadero makes it easy to experience a few dream-like days in the best atmosphere and with a whole host of facilities available for entertainment, relaxation and for having a good time. Kids are important guests too at this Iberostar hotel and offers Star Camp activities for children while parents can enjoy some rest and relaxation in the spa area and outdoor pools. This country with lots of history awaits, and it offers you a unique holiday!
Read more
Suggest edits to improve what we show.Improve this listing
Property amenities
Free parking
Public wifi
Pool
Fitness Center with Gym / Workout Room
Free breakfast
Beach
Tennis court
Babysitting
Parking
Paid internet
Pool / beach towels
Outdoor pool
Sauna
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Breakfast buffet
Complimentary welcome drink
Snack bar
Swimup bar
Poolside bar
Aerobics
Billiards
Bowling offsite
Entertainment staff
Evening entertainment
Table tennis
Nightclub / DJ
Indoor play area for children
Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly)
Kids club
Kids pool
Airport transportation
Shuttle bus service
Business Center with Internet Access
Conference facilities
Banquet room
Meeting rooms
Spa
Full body massage
Head massage
Massage
Salon
24-hour security
Concierge
Currency exchange
Gift shop
Shops
Sun loungers / beach chairs
Sun umbrellas
Infirmary
24-hour front desk
Dry cleaning
Laundry service
Show more
Room features
Air conditioning
Private beach
Housekeeping
Private balcony
Minibar
Flatscreen TV
Bath / shower
Hair dryer
Safe
Sofa
Telephone
Wardrobe / closet
Bottled water
Iron
Show more
Room types
Ocean view
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Family rooms
Smoking rooms available
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
HOTEL STYLE
Family
Languages Spoken
English, Spanish
Location
Autopista Sur Km 17 Punta Hicacos, Varadero 42200 Cuba
Getting there
Rental CarsSee all Varadero rental cars
11488Reviews1043Q+A100Room tips
Reviews
Traveler rating
- 4,714
- 2,899
- 1,918
- 1,019
- 939
Time of year
Traveler type
Language
More
Selected filters
- Filter
- English
Popular mentions
Sort by:
Most Recent
This place was super fun and relaxing and the staff was amazing, they made it extra fun. They were informative, friendly and encouraged us to have fun and dance which is something I didn’t expect to do but surprisingly really enjoyed!! The Japanese restaurant was amazing, was my favorite. The beach are so nice, I love the cappuccino. We want to come back soon.
Read more
Date of stay: May 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.
Helpful
Response from Bibiana Carbonell Castelo, Other at Iberostar Laguna Azul
Responded 2 days ago
Dear Regan, We are glad to read that our hotel has lived up to your expectations. We look forward to serving you again to repeat or even surpass this experience. Kind Regards, Quality Manager Iberostar Laguna Azul
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Thanks for everyone at this hotel for extremely pleasant stay again (my 10th time there and never disappointed) Definitely feel there as my second home Sure all people have to know coming there about shortage of supplies and they serve what can get. If you expect 5 star hotel then you would pay triple money or more. And I was month before going to that resort in Hilton 5 star all inclusive hotel in Mexico and food was not that great for money paid. And also any better drinks I had to pay extra. Like regular Jameson. So overall very happy being there and will be definitely again and again. Cheers everyone
Read more
Date of stay: May 2023Trip 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.
Helpful
Response from Bibiana Carbonell Castelo, Other at Iberostar Laguna Azul
Responded 3 days ago
Dear guest, Thank you for choosing us to enjoy your holidays in Varadero. It will be an honour for our colleagues to welcome you back in the near future. Kind Regards, Quality Manager Iberostar Laguna Azul
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
had the best time in my life. These is an amazing place if you want to have fun and enjoy your life. I got here with my friends and we party everyday. Please make sure you don’t miss the beach party, that’s the best activity in the night. I’ll come back
Read more
Date of stay: May 2023Trip type: Traveled with friends
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.
Helpful
Response from Bibiana Carbonell Castelo, Other at Iberostar Laguna Azul
Responded 3 days ago
Dear Shantavia, As part of the Iberostra family we work to ensure that our clients enjoy a memorable experience. We are proud to have achieved it in your case. Thank you for trusting us. Kind Regards, Quality Manager Iberostar Laguna Azul
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
My first time in Cuba and it was amazinng! Will definitely be coming back very soon. The staff here are very sweet and caring. The food was very decent better than expected! Beach was so beautiful. Even going to the city was so fun!!!!
Read more
Date of stay: May 2023Trip type: Traveled with friends
Value
Location
Service
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.
Helpful
Response from Bibiana Carbonell Castelo, Other at Iberostar Laguna Azul
Responded 3 days ago
Dear Amira, Thank you for trusting us to enjoy your first experience on this beautiful island. We look forward to welcoming you back in the near future. Kind Regards, Quality Manager Iberostar Laguna Azul
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
My family of four (two young adults, plus my husband and I) just returned from our 1-week vacation at the Iberostar Laguna Azul. While this was our first time staying at this resort, this trip marked our 2nd trip to Varadero and our 4th trip overall to Cuba (our first trip post-pandemic too!). We were all super excited to come back to Cuba because of the positive experiences we've had before on past vacations, but we would be lying if we said we didn't leave disappointed by the end of our trip. Admittedly, yes, the pandemic has caused an economic crisis in Cuba and life has gotten a lot harder for the locals there. This has also caused many food and supply shortages throughout the country, which affects the resorts as well. All of these factors are understandable and they’re out of the locals' hands. But at the same time, the purpose of a vacation is to relax and not worry about anything. If you want a vacation that's hassle-free with an ACTUAL 5-star resort that lives up to its expectations, don't stay at this resort and travel to other countries instead. 1. BEACH/POOLS: The beach is perhaps the only upside to this resort, unfortunately. It is very beautiful (think soft white sands and turquoise waters) and the water isn't rocky in the least. There's also a coral reef a bit further out, which is really interesting to explore! Watch out for sand fleas though; as long as you wash them off with soap and water, you should be golden. We didn't really go into the pools at all because there are some broken tiles that remain unfixed (lots of reviews online were commenting about this) and it could be a safety hazard. 2. FOOD: Yes, one doesn't go to Cuba for delicious food. However, my family have never been picky eaters and we've still thoroughly enjoyed our vacations to Cuba, regardless of the food. Despite this, the food at this resort was absolutely unbearable; always bland, undercooked, SALTY and/or oily. It was always the worst at the buffets because they would keep putting out the leftover meals from the day before (most likely due to the food shortage), which lead to a lot of food going bad that we would try to avoid. The a-la-cartes were a LOT better and our family enjoyed them (the romantic restaurant is the best, followed by the japanese one and then the italian). Those restaurants were also SO much cleaner in comparison to the buffet/snack bar, which always had flies swarming on your plates, cups, cutlery, napkins, etc, plus on the actual food at the buffet. Not to mention that there are always birds that sneak in and eat the food at the buffet selection and empty tables. The staff don't seem to really clean off the tables or chairs at the buffet/snack bar too, so we're not completely sure how sanitary the resort is. Staff also don't use any hairnets or gloves whenever they cook food, which was an interesting observation. The resort also doesn't provide bottled water and the only option is "purified water", which is served at restaurants, bars and in your rooms through reusable bottles. My entire family started getting stomach aches towards the end of our vacation and are still recovering right now back home here in Canada. We're not sure if this is due to food/water poisoning or the difference in the Cuban vs Canadian water system/food preparation process, but we would definitely say that this resort is not the most sanitary. There also isn’t much selection with regards to food wherever you go, whether that’s at the buffet or a-la-cartes. The 24 hour snack bar only serves basic sandwiches and half-baked pizzas most of the time, topped with a side of cockroaches (which you will find all-throughout the resort. I know it’s a tropical country, but not sure how sanitary it is to have insects in the kitchen and on countertops, which we saw). 3. ROOMS: Their rooms are pretty decent, but from what we heard from other guests, your room experience will be very hit or miss. Unfortunately, our family fell on the 'miss' side and we had a lot of problems with our adjoining rooms (same building as the main buffet and on the same floor as the lobby) right off the bat: - the toilet in one of the rooms wasn't working at all (couldn’t flush) - the lock for the balcony in one of the rooms completely dislodged from the door-frame, which is a safety concern - neither of the telephones work in both rooms - the sinks were semi-clogged - no soap/shampoo/body gel in any of the washrooms - both of the rooms were VERY dirty and we had to request for deep-cleaning We brought up these problems with customer service and to be honest, it took quite awhile for them to be resolved. They eventually called in a technician to fix the toilet/balcony and a maid to do deep cleaning, but they couldn't give us new rooms because this resort has limited adjoining rooms for families (families, take note of this!). You also have to kick to open one of the washroom doors because it was broken, which is hilarious. 4. SERVICE: This was between poor and fair (2-3 stars). There was a TripAdvisor review that I had previously read saying that the “spirit of the Cubans had changed”, which is an accurate way to describe it. Cuban people are usually known to be extremely hospitable and friendly individuals, but there seems to have been a shift after the pandemic due to their current economic crisis. While this is understandable, don’t expect to get outstanding service without giving a tip first. They will still tell you that tipping is optional, but most of the staff won’t acknowledge you or serve you efficiently or effectively without a tip first. It’s 100% not the same hospitable atmosphere that Cuba was known for. 5. LOCATION: The location is another upside, but just a minor one. The resort is pretty safe as a whole and it’s located about 2.5 hours away from Havana, which could be a really great excursion outside of the hotel (please note that you will absolutely be aggressively swarmed by locals trying to sell you services, products and excursions while in Havana. Don’t buy anything in the streets and stick to inside shops!! Don’t openly display that you bought anything too or else this will put a huge target on your back and you will be swarmed). 6. VALUE: This is most definitely NOT a 5-star resort and it fails to meet the expectations that are in place for hotels of this caliber. Our family was left feeling disappointed not even halfway through the vacation, despite trying to make the best of it. Their entertainment and nightly shows are sub-par as well, plus the disco is always DEAD (might be due to off-season, but the DJ didn’t really play great songs either). We read many reviews of this resort and saw quite a few bad ones, but we didn’t really believe them until we started experiencing it ourselves. Not quite sure how there are so many 5-star reviews of this resort online as of recent when we’ve talked to so many fellow guests during our vacation who also agree with us! "Don't sweat the small stuff," some reviews have said, but a lot of these factors WILL drastically impact your vacation! This has been a real disappointment and a wake-up call that Cuba is not the same travel destination as it once was. While this is of no fault to the Cuban people, this will 100% affect your vacation… and not in a good way.…
Read more
Date of stay: May 2023
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: Read my entire review. Save your time and money. Don't bother with this resort and maybe skip out...
See more room tips
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.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from Bibiana Carbonell Castelo, Other at Iberostar Laguna Azul
Responded yesterday
Dear guest, On behalf of the entire Team we would like to thank you for sharing this exhaustive description of your stay at our hotel. We work daily to meet our guests' expectations. In this sense we will make all the necessary investigations and actions to seek improvements to the aspects of our services and personalized attention that were not to your satisfaction. We offer you our sincere apologies for any possible inconvenience and we assure you that we will do our best to conquer you with a much better experience in your next trip to this beautiful island. Kind Regards, Quality manager Iberostar Laguna Azul
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Please do Not advertise the hotel as 5*!!! I would only give 2*. Unfortunately we spent 2 weeks in the hotel and it was a disaster, specially flying from Europe. After the 2nd day we wanted to leave but we couldn’t get our money back. The holiday was a survival holiday. The hotel didnt have milk for 4 days, no butter, no decent soft drinks,fresh juices, desserts, and only white bread….Just an advice please do not mix the fresh juices and yoghurts with water for the quantity as they do not have any taste,they were not enjoyable! The food was a disaster in every level… No variety in protein, no sea food ( apart from Lobster from the Ale Carte restaurant when it was not overcooked )etc….My 6 years old had had to eat rice and chicken for 2 weeks for lunch and dinner. The 24 hours snack bar was also a disaster, there was nothing enjoyable there… Another advise to the kitchen, cook the pasta 5 minutes longer, the pasta was not even al dente, they were hard rock every time i wanted to try. Also do not mix water with the tomato sauce as there are no flavours in the sauce…. Makes the pizza unpleasant. You can’t compare the Cuban resorts to any other resorts in the Caribbean as the standard in Cuba is not acceptable. If you wanna enjoy yourself you can’t unfortunately. Mini bar was empty…. The beach and pool bars have the lowest quality of alcohol and no fresh juices nor soft drinks only the local still soft drinks… The beach was a huge disappointment, dirty and not nice( except the sea). Please clean the beach from the stones, massive rocks and rusty barrels, its very dangerous! Please also change the music because for 2 weeks we had to listen the same tunes in the beach and at the pool and it was extremely boring. The resort staff are very hard working and most of them were very friendly and tried to accommodate us but it didnt work.:( I am very sorry😢but we won’t come back not just to the resort but in Cuba. I won’t recommend either. …
Read more
Date of stay: April 2023
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.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from Bibiana Carbonell Castelo, Other at Iberostar Laguna Azul
Responded 3 days ago
Dear Krisztina, On behalf of the entire Team we would like to thank you for taking the time to share this review of your experience. We regret that we were unable to exceed your expectations on this occasion. The hotel management and the responsible departments are working on the basis of your feedback to do all the research and improvements within our reach to prevent similar situations from reoccurring. We hope you change your mind and give us the opportunity to welcome you in this or any of our hotels in Cuba to conquer you with the service quality and personalized attention that has allowed us to gain our clients' trust. Kind Regards, Quality Manager Iberostar Laguna Azul
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Best entertainment team in the world, they made sure we had an amazing time every single day. Thanks to them and their efforts we definitely had a memorable trip that I’ll never forget. Definitely going to come back asap and recommend the resort to all people whether you come with family, friends, or you significant other.
Read more
Date of stay: May 2023
Value
Location
Service
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.
Helpful
Response from Bibiana Carbonell Castelo, Other at Iberostar Laguna Azul
Responded 1 week ago
Dear Idris, We are happy to know that you returned home with such fond memories of your experience in our hospitality. We look forward to welcoming you back in the near future. Kind Regards, Quality Manager Iberostar Laguna Azul
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The entertainment staff were amazing, very friendly, amazing friends to have. The beach was beautiful, clean water, Shows were very entertaining, food was amazing. The staff overall were very nice, i recommend the resort to everyone.
Read more
Date of stay: May 2023
Value
Location
Service
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.
Helpful
Response from Bibiana Carbonell Castelo, Other at Iberostar Laguna Azul
Responded 1 week ago
Dear guest, Thank you for choosing us to enjoy your holidays in Varadero. We look forward to welcoming you back in the near future. Kind Regards, Quality Manager Iberostar Laguna Azul
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Amazing group of workers. Really appreciated the time spent there with the company.. really family like. Definitely recommend it if your looking for a good time! Beach is really nice,alotof activities
Read more
Date of stay: May 2023
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.
Helpful
Response from Bibiana Carbonell Castelo, Other at Iberostar Laguna Azul
Responded 1 week ago
Dear guest, We appreciate the time you have taken to write this feedback. We hope to welcome you back to delight you with our vocation to service. Kind Regards, Quality Manager Iberostar Laguna Azul
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
5 out of 5, great experience and great hospitality. Everyone has been more than generous and very respectful. Can’t wait to return and have the same service. 10 out of 10 If you’re looking for a great resort with great people. Look no further than Laguna Azul
Read more
Date of stay: May 2023Trip type: Traveled with friends
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.
Helpful
Response from Bibiana Carbonell Castelo, Other at Iberostar Laguna Azul
Responded 1 week ago
Dear Aaron, We are happy to hear that you had such a pleasant stay in our hospitality. It will be a privilege if you include us in your next holiday arrangements. Kind Regards, Quality Manager Iberostar Laguna Azul
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
ALSO KNOWN AS
iberostar laguna azul hotel varadero
LOCATION
CaribbeanCubaMatanzas ProvinceVaradero
NUMBER OF ROOMS
814
Is This Your Tripadvisor Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim Your ListingIBEROSTAR LAGUNA AZUL - Updated 2023 Hotel Reviews (Varadero, Cuba)
Frequently Asked Questions about Iberostar Laguna Azul
Which popular attractions are close to Iberostar Laguna Azul?
Nearby attractions include Varadero Beach (2.5 miles), Cueva de Ambrosio (1.5 miles), and Plaza Las Morlas (1.1 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at Iberostar Laguna Azul?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include a swimup bar, free breakfast, and a pool.
Which room amenities are available at Iberostar Laguna Azul?
Top room amenities include a minibar, air conditioning, and a flat screen TV.
What food & drink options are available at Iberostar Laguna Azul?
Guests can enjoy a swimup bar, free breakfast, and an on-site restaurant during their stay.
Is parking available at Iberostar Laguna Azul?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Iberostar Laguna Azul?
Conveniently located restaurants include Restaurant La Arcada, La Panchita, and Pizza Piazza Restaurant.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Iberostar Laguna Azul?
Yes, guests have access to a pool, a fitness center, and a sauna during their stay.
Does Iberostar Laguna Azul have an airport shuttle?
Yes, Iberostar Laguna Azul offers an airport shuttle for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Does Iberostar Laguna Azul have airport transportation?
Yes, Iberostar Laguna Azul offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Are any cleaning services offered at Iberostar Laguna Azul?
Yes, dry cleaning and laundry service are offered to guests.
Does Iberostar Laguna Azul offer any business services?
Yes, it conveniently offers a business center, meeting rooms, and a banquet room.