Domina Marina Varadero — Hotel in Cárdenas

4.5/5 [visited April 2017] Melia Marina is an exquisite hotel in Varadero. We completely enjoyed our time there!

Room We had a nice location overlooking the pool. It was very spacious room. There were no issues with cleanliness. The shower was nice and roomy, and we had a wonderful bathtub that could look directly across the room and outside, it was a nice touch that we enjoyed.

Location The location of the Hotel is one of the things many consider a minor drawback. While driving to the hotel we drove by other hotels (like Melia Americas) which were directly on the beach. This was not the case with Melia Marina, it was about a 7 minute walk. We enjoyed the opportunity to get some extra steps walking off all the food we ate! However, there was also an option to get a ride to the beach cutting the time down to about 1-2 minutes, there were little vehicles going back and fort driven by the staff (sort of like golf carts).

Dining This was our first time in Cuba and we heard a lot about the dining in Cuba. We were a bit apprehensive and really hoped for the best. However, I must say, we had no complaints about the food! It was standard fare, but sometimes there were some hidden gems. We enjoyed getting our meats off the grill, having the freshly made pizza, omelettes and pancakes! The food was really good, and NO we did not get sick at all. If we had to point out a negative, it would be that some of the guests were not sanitary when dealing with food, but you cannot blame the hotel for that. People just need to be more observant, especially parents in allowing their kids to run around the dining area. A nice touch with the food is that, with your 7 day reservation at the hotel you get the opportunity to dine at 3 of 5 specialty restaurants. We choose Latin American (Don Ernesto), Asian (Bana) and Don Pepperoni (Italian). There was also a French option (Casa Burgette). Our favourite was Bana. Although none of these restaurants were amazing (3/5 range), it was still nice having these three as dinner options as it mixed things up and kept the all-inclusive dinner from getting repetitive.

Entertainment This was a pleasant surprise as we did not expect much by way of entertainment. However, there was at least two forms of entertainment every night. There was always music, live performers near the lounge area (we listened to an AMAZING violinist, jazz musician, and live singers), as well as other dancers and performers in the entertainment area of the Hotel. The beach was always filled with dance lessons, aerobic classes and live music. Everyone seemed to be dancing and having a good time. We also made use of the water sports which is part of the all-inclusive package (kayaking, sailing with a guide etc) it was a lot of fun.

Service Every request we had was answered promptly. We developed a great relationship with our cleaning lady who was always there to provide whatever we needed. We had a minor issue with our door but she took care of it before we even asked. She always left us nice notes and fresh flowers in our room. We would stop to talk to her whenever we saw her and she would always greet us with a warm smile and seemed delighted to chat with us, despite the language barrier. These extra touches really made the hotel memorable and really made us enjoy our time in Cuba.

Overall Overall I would highly recommend this hotel. We did not have any problems with the resort and we were pleased with the service and the room we had. The food was repetitive by the end of the week, but there was always something delicious to eat and lots of options provided. The real issue with had during our vacation was with the negative attitudes some of the other guests had, and the harsh comments made towards the locals. We decided not to be like that - after all we were in Cuba! - an island filled with beautiful people, rich culture and gorgeous scenery - don't waste your vacation complaining, rather enjoy every moment. Make it your priority to enjoy yourself, relax...

Melia Marina apartments just ok formula !

I was looking for a short trip vacation with my girlfriend, first time in Cuba for us, I booked us via a popular leisure airline company,flight + hotel (non all inclusive) for 7 days for 1 679,68$CAD . Once, we landed at Varadero airport, a guide from Tours Mont-Royal was waiting for us and direct us to a bus. After 30/45 minutes drive, we got dropped off in front of the hotel. We were told at the front desk that, this building was for ''all inclusive'' guests and that someone was coming to pick us up with a golf cart to go to another building for the ''non all inclusive'' guests. Finally, after 2 minutes ride from the main building, we arrived at the Melia Marina apartments building which is surrounded by a big Marina. For your information, the walk back to the main building is about 10 minutes. Speaking spanish helps a lot, I was able to get all the informations needed. Got into the room. First thoughts, nice modern room apart. It's less than a year old. Since, it's non all inclusive, you got a kitchennette/fridge/electric stove + all what you need to prepare a little meal. The dilemma starts now, either you go to one of their restaurants on the resort (mexican/argentinian/coffee shop or tapas) to eat everyday or you go to their supermarket where it’s very limited. Good luck. TV has many international channels (CNN/TV5/CCTV/Deutsche Welle/…). The king size bed was great. Good view on the balcony on the Marina. The swimming pool at the apartments building was nice. We didn’t see too much people into the apartments building, I believe it’s either a new option or just because people love all inclusive formula. The reason why, we booked non all inclusive was because, we left for 4 days to visit the capital of Cuba, La Havana, so why pay 400$ each more for our stay for all inclusive if we were not even staying here for that period of time. We managed with difficulty to prepared 1 time food from the supermarket and the other time, we went to try their mexican restaurant. The mexican food was bad. The last day, we paid 42 CUC each to try their all inclusive formula benefits, food + drinks. The food was really bad, from breakfast, to the lunch and to the dinner at the buffet. No taste and no consistency at all, unless you don’t mind. So, the legend was true, we don't eat well in Cuba, even on a 5 stars hotel resorts. Service was ok from the waiters. The only good thing was their coffee. The beach was ok and it’s about 15 minutes walk from the apartments building. We saw many tourists from Russia, Germany, Canada and Latin America staying at the hotel. There is a bowling bar + a nightclub on the resort, most of the time, it was empty. By the way, if you want to log in on the internet, you have to buy a card for 4.50 CUC at the front desk from the main building, it’s good for 1h use. This hotel resort is one of the last on the Peninsula of Varadero. You will need a good 15/20 minutes drive to reach the town of Varadero, where you have many local restaurants, bakeries and bars, it’s around 20 CUC one way with a taxi or just get the public bus for 5 CUC one way.

Overall, my girlfriend and I were kind of disappointed by the destination itself and the food served at the hotel buffet, maybe because it was our first time on a resort in Cuba... Are we too difficult ? I'm a big traveller Worldwide but this was ok, maybe because it's Cuba and since we are big travellers and never travelled there before, we were expecting much more but I’m sure, it’s good for people who never travelled before and want to relax on the beach and eat average food for the all inclusive formula. Next time, we will go to a more exotic destination. *By the way, just saying, my girlfriend was bitten by insects on the beach or the room, I don’t know, she was covered by little bits all over her body. Bring your products, just in case.

Enjoy your vacations 3/5 Visited...

I recently had the pleasure of staying at Meliá Marina Varadero, and overall, I would give this resort a 5-star rating. The standout feature of my experience was the exceptional chef, Elisio Reis, and the dedicated staff members who were always friendly and helpful despite their limitations. Their service truly elevated my stay.

One of the highlights of the resort is the spacious rooms with a bathtub and a stunning view of the pool. I thoroughly enjoyed the comfort and luxury provided in the accommodations. Additionally, the swimming pool was absolutely fantastic, offering a great place to relax and unwind. It's worth noting that the pool closes at 6:30 PM, so plan accordingly.

The resort's proximity to the beach was another major plus. Although it's about a 10-minute walk away, the stunning beauty of the beach makes it well worth the effort. The pristine shoreline and crystal-clear waters were truly mesmerizing, and it provided a perfect spot to soak up the sun and enjoy the natural beauty of the surroundings.

However, there were a few aspects of my stay that I didn't particularly like. One major downside was the prevalence of mosquitoes after 6 PM. It made it difficult to sit anywhere in the lobby without being bothered by these pesky insects. I would recommend bringing mosquito repellent and taking precautions to avoid getting bitten.

Another issue I encountered was the lack of Wi-Fi availability in the rooms. To access the internet, you have to sit in the lobby, and even then, you have to renew the Wi-Fi every five hours. This can be inconvenient, especially if you need constant connectivity during your stay.

Furthermore, I found the food at the resort to be below expectations. While there were options for vegetarians, it seemed limited to pizza and pasta, which can get monotonous after a few days. However, I would like to highlight that chef Elisio Reis was willing to accommodate vegetarian requests and created some delicious and flavorful dishes upon request. So, if you're a vegetarian, be sure to seek him out for a more satisfying dining experience.

In terms of activities and attractions, I highly recommend going on the catamaran tour with dolphins, which was an incredible experience. It costs approximately 101 USD per person but is definitely worth it. Another affordable option is a private tour of Havana, which costs around 180 USD for four people. Personally, my favorite part of the resort was the YHI Spa, which offered a serene and relaxing atmosphere to indulge in various treatments and rejuvenate.

As for suggestions, I recommend bringing essential medications, mosquito repellent, ketchup if you enjoy it, and extra toiletpaper. Buying cigars at the airport is also a good idea since they tend to be cheaper. Additionally, it might be helpful to pack ready-to-eat food and a waterproof phone pouch for added convenience and peace of mind.

Overall, Meliá Marina Varadero is a wonderful resort with spacious rooms, a beautiful pool, and a stunning beach. While there were some drawbacks such as the mosquito issue, limited Wi-Fi, and average food, the exceptional staff, including Chef Elisio Reis, made up for it with their attentive service and willingness to accommodate guests' needs. With proper preparations and expectations, this resort can provide a memorable and enjoyable stay in...