Blau Varadero — Attraction in Cárdenas

This was our first vacation south over the Christmas holidays. We have been to Cuba before, but this was our first visit to the Blau.|Having Christmas away from home was a new experience for us, so we weren't sure of what to expect. The Blau far exceeded all of our expectations!|We arrived to find the resort had Christmas lights wrapped around palm trees, and a huge Christmas tree and decorations in the main areas, even an inflatable Frosty dancing in the breeze in the open air patio!|We stayed from the 22nd to the 29th. All week there were more activities planned than we could take in! The Animacion (Entertainment) Team worked tirelessly to ensure we were always entertained! Even on the beach there were exercise classes, dance classes and games for all, both on the sand and in the water!|The staff at the buffets were very friendly and attentive. Most all staff understood and spoke enough English that there was never an issue communicating.|The food quality and quantity was amazing! I had heard of all of the food shortages in Cuba, but I learned that the country really relies on the tourists in Varadero to help their economy. At the Blau there was never a power outage that we noticed. We were also told that the resort has generators large enough to run the resort, even the elevators, so even if the country cut power we would be unaffected.|The food available isn't typical Canadian cuisine. If you're looking for bacon and fresh eggs every morning you'll be disappointed, but there were plenty of options. There were a lot of meats, cheeses, omelettes, pancakes and fresh fruits every day.|The lunch and supper buffets were similar. There was always a selection of freshly fried fish and chicken, not to mention pasta dishes made to order and too many dishes of pickled and fresh produce to try them all!|The beach was amazing! It is raked sometime overnight, so there is no buildup of seaweed! My last visit to Cuba introduced me to the roaming peddler's. They were selling cigars, cigarettes and bottles of booze on the beach. At the Blau they had to stay below the line that was raked in the sand! Even if you called to them, you had to go to them, they were not allowed to come up to you!||We went to the beach at various times during the day and never, ever had an issue finding chairs and a shelter. Absolutely no need to go out at stupid o'clock to 'save' a seat!|Things to keep in mind, this resort is around 20 years old. The closest Hardware Stores is probably Florida, so don't expect everything to be in tip-top shape. However, the Cuban people are as industrious as they are friendly! They do an amazing job repairing what they can with what they have.|We stayed on the 6th floor. Water pressure was fantastic and there was always an ample supply of hot water. The A/C kept our room at a perfect temperature!|There are a few points that I wouldn't call 'cons', but maybe things to be aware of.|1) There were a number of Life Guards on site, but I rarely saw them close to water. They were more interested in selling you cigars or bottles of booze.|2) American money is widely accepted as tips. |3) Some areas are in need of repair. As a spoiled Canadian used to floors being smooth and even, I stubbed my toes a couple of times before I learned to watch where I was going and lift my feet!|4) Don't trust the quality of the cigars, cigarettes and liquor from the beach walkers. The cigars very well be banana leaves in cigar packaging. The liquor in the bottles may have been replaced with something nasty. Pay a couple bucks and buy the products in the resort stores. They can be trusted. There were a couple of people selling fresh avocado's and banana's that were fine to buy from. |A huge shout-out to those that helped make our visit so special!! |Agdiel - Our server extraordinaire! He worked the buffets and has impeccable English! And he’s one of the nicest people I’ve ever met! Also a special mention to Yenny and Isabela!! Beautiful ladies and so good at their jobs! |Carlos - our Food & Beverage Manager! Top notch attention to his job!|Daya - she gave Spanish Lesson every day and although we only took one, she helped us a lot! |Lazaro - A student on the Animacion Team. Truly a genuine and humble individual. One of the nicest, kindest people we have ever met. If you’re there, find him! He loves to talk music, books and basically anything! He will help you with your Spanish while you help him learn English! He is very appreciative of any gift you choose to...

We just returned from our trip two days ago, having stayed from December 25th to January 1st. Let me start with Day 2, December 26th, which was my birthday. My wife had meticulously planned a surprise months in advance, coordinating with our travel agent and hotel staff to ensure everything was perfect, including a special reservation. While the reservation was honored, the surprise balloons and cake that were promised were nowhere to be found. Although my wife had already informed me of the issue, I still asked the musicians—who were fantastic—to play "Happy Birthday." Unfortunately, they didn’t seem to catch on. I didn’t make a fuss, but I couldn't help but feel disappointed for my wife, who had put in so much effort for such a simple, thoughtful gesture—just balloons and a cake. They did attempt to make it up to us on the 27th, though by then, it was no longer my birthday. We appreciated the gesture, but the timing couldn’t undo the disappointment.||Throughout our stay, we were disturbed by several issues related to service, particularly concerning racial bias. One server, who worked at the 24-hour bar by the beach and occasionally at Playa Bar, was blatantly dismissive toward us. It was impossible to ignore the stark contrast in his treatment of us versus the white guests. He would serve everyone before me, with little enthusiasm, and when I greeted him with a smile, he barely acknowledged me. I tipped him, but his response was still cold and dismissive. Moments later, he greeted a white guest with warmth and genuine interest. It wasn’t just my experience—several members of my group, including my siblings and friends, noticed the same troubling pattern. It left us wondering: Was this poor service due to our Asian descent? We weren’t asking for anything extraordinary, just basic human decency and fairness.||Another incident that left us frustrated was with Alberto, the concierge. On Sunday, December 29th, after 9 PM, we inquired about how to get to downtown Varadero. He casually mentioned that we could take a bus or a taxi but was vague about the taxi fare. When I asked if the hotel could call a taxi for us, he responded sarcastically, “Well, if you have the number of a taxi, go ahead and call. If not, we can call one for you.” His tone was dismissive and unprofessional, and frankly, I was taken aback. As someone with a background in customer service, I can tell you this kind of attitude is unacceptable. If you're unhappy with your job, perhaps it's time to make a change. I responded sharply, “That’s why I’m asking you, Alberto. Thanks.”||This was my second time in Cuba, but my first visit to Varadero. This experience has left me questioning whether I’ll return. It’s clear that a 4-star hotel doesn’t always live up to expectations—there’s a reason it didn’t make it to 5 stars.||On a brighter note, I want to acknowledge the few shining stars among the staff who truly went above and beyond to make our stay memorable:||Yesmila from the buffet—You were a breath of fresh air! Your kindness and dedication to your job made our days brighter, especially when we felt let down by others.|Jennifer at the buffet—Thank you for your outstanding service and for always making us feel welcome.|Ernesto from the coffee corner—Your coffee was not only exceptional, but you served us with a warmth that made every morning better.|Lazaro and Yasser from the Animation team—You two were fantastic and kept the energy high with your enthusiasm.|Hector and Kimya from the lobby bar—Thank you for taking care of us, especially when we may have had a little too much to drink!|Sarah from customer service—Thank you for doing your best to make the birthday surprise happen, even after the initial disappointment.|Señor Marcelino and the other staff member who cleaned our beach chairs daily—Your friendly smiles and hard work didn’t go unnoticed.|These individuals made a lasting impression on us, and I truly hope the hotel management recognizes and rewards their exceptional service. They were the real highlights...

Review of Blau Varadero – SELECT Experience via Sunwing/WestJet

Overall Impression: Blau Varadero offers good value for the price, especially if you opt for the SELECT package, which includes access to the exclusive Chill Out Bar with premium drinks, late checkout (2 PM), and three à la carte dinners instead of two. While there are standout staff and some positive experiences, there are notable service gaps and food limitations to be aware of.

Arrival & Check-In Night check-in: Friendly and welcoming staff, but no food available upon arrival and no welcome drink provided.

SELECT check-in is slightly elevated, but more detailed explanations would’ve been helpful.

Lobby is clean and functional, but the elevators are extremely slow, often forcing us to use the stairs from the 7th floor. One elevator was none working and stuck on top floor for 6/7 days. Everyone was frustrated.

Room & Housekeeping -Rooms are clean but tad dated, showing their age. -Oceanview was nice, though not directly on the beach.

Housekeeping staff were consistently excellent, warm, and attentive throughout the stay.

Room Coffee/tea service was inconsistent — one room didn’t receive coffee until day 3, and the percolator for hot water wasn’t ideal.

Food & Dining -Buffet & Snack Bar

Breakfast: Basic selection. Pancake station had long lines, while the egg station ran smoothly. Hamburger guy by the pool had his good and bad days, the snack bar near beach was ok but could be better for food service. Never saw any hot dogs any time in 7 days and burgers were eatable but that's about it, never had onions the whole trip.

Coffee was mediocre (4/10) and service slow, even in the SELECT dining area — 10+ minutes just to get a napkin or coffee, however the coffee station was always good.

Wait staff at the buffet mostly focused on clearing tables rather than helping guests.

No good bacon available during our stay, clumpy and fatty, not sliced properly, and not at all tasty.

Lunch: On day 4, pasta ran out completely by 2 PM, leaving guests waiting over an hour for food by the pool.

Snack bar at night: The biggest frustration — it’s not a real snack bar, just a basic sandwich station with bread, cheese, and occasionally a little chicken. Closes around 9:30 PM, leaving no food available after dinner, despite being advertised as open late. By midnight, the attendant was gone entirely.

À La Carte Restaurants Italian Restaurant: -Disappointing experience — 2 of 4 dishes were unavailable the night we went. -Food was bland, and mosquitos were overwhelming despite spraying efforts. -We left after soup and one bite of chicken to eat at the buffet instead.

Skip this Italian Ala Carte restaurant.

International Restaurant:

Outstanding experience — especially the “Gordon Bleu” dish.

Requires proper attire (pants for men provided if needed).

Highly recommend booking early, as spots fill up quickly.

Service & Staff

Standouts: Chill Out Bar staff were fantastic — warm, professional, and efficient, creating a premium feel for SELECT guests.

Most servers were polite and hardworking, but a few were unresponsive or apathetic, which was noticeable.

Some buffet waiters avoided assisting guests, focusing only on cleaning duties.

Bars:

Main first-floor bar was understaffed, with only one bartender before lunch, leading to long waits.

Cleanliness & Maintenance

Cockroaches were spotted multiple times near the 1st-floor elevators, close to employee access areas (possibly garbage or delivery zones). My friends room 7th floor in the washroom i was on same floor but didn't notice in my room. Bring mosquito spray for sure.

Public spaces were generally tidy, but pest control could be improved.

Additional Notes

Sunwing/WestJet reps were professional and helpful, even though we missed the orientation meeting.

Late checkout through SELECT was smooth, but note that there’s only one late checkout room per floor.

Airport check-in lacked electronic systems, but that seems...