| Just back from this hotel, Nov 30-Dec 8 (SWG out of Qc City, direct late flight)Look for my review which will be up in a couple of days.Loved it! Feel free to ask any questions.
La tià loca |
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Welcome back Zendudette, did you do any self tours or go on any organized tours ? Did you spend much time in Varadero ? Thanks. |
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Hey flygt, went into Varadero once to meet up with my Cuban sobrinas. Each time I’m downtown, it’s like another market has sprung up on a new corner, so I’m guessing business is good. Dropped into one market around 5-ish, lots of people, even if early December. Even the Beatles café was busy ![]("http://images.proboards.com/v5/smiley/wink.png")
We partook in no excursions whilst at the hotel (my friend has hip problems so did not venture far). The weather was good overall, but high winds prevented us from the catamarans all week. From my talks with other patrons (Brits, Canadians, Croatians, Spaniards), the Havana half-day trip was popular, as was Trinidad. I gathered that many Europeans came into Cuba through Havana and chose to stay a few days there before doing their scheduled AI, which is great, Havana being such an interesting city to visit. |
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| Nice to hear that Varadero is booming, hotels must be fairly full early this year.
I like staying at the Melia chain resorts, food is always great. |
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I agree, I was pleasantly surprised with the food at this resort, altho…………….. wait for it, once again my eyes roll at the overcooked fish and meat, sigh… Had to keep using my string bikini for dental floss (just kidding!) |
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Hmmm, getting antsy here. I sent in my review last Friday and it’s not up yet… |
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| I have been informed that certain bugs (the electronic kind) are hindering the efforts of Debbie’s programmer to add my review in the review section so Zee suggested that I put it here for now and as soon as the problem is resolved, my review will be moved to the appropriate spot. Better late than never! MELIA MARINA VARADERO, NOV 30-DEC 8 2014: Good 5 stars overall!First time here. Notwithstanding the food (see below), we really liked this hotel. Very impressed with the decor and layout, something totally new to Varadero, very international with a nautical theme throughout. Beautiful site, vegetation not yet fully mature but well designed. Nice pool layout, fountains, kiddies’ club, swim up bar. This hotel complex has a fully operational Pueblo for hotel clients and soon-to-open condos (including grocery store, souvenir and high-end clothing shops, coffee bar, disco, cigar bar, several ice cream outlets, and of course the marina, with a long promenade). Golf cart service is available to and from the beach, a few minutes by foot but don’t worry, there are bathrooms and a bar at the beach lol. I applaud the designers, there are several nice water-related touches here and there (water wall in lobby, ultra modern weather-resistant wicker furniture outside, to name a few. And the views are to die for, from the lobby deck, to the buffet terrace and the Level restaurant on the top floor.Muchas gracias to: Alberto at the Reception and bellboy Adriel, to Sonia our room lady, to Kissnaidy at the Alacarte reservation desk, to Yovanny and Neidy at the morning Buffet, to Cyndia, Yodiana and Jamil at the Lobby bar, to Yeney at the beach restaurant, to Alexander W of the animation team, to Jefe Carlos of the Bana restaurant and the many smiling staff. Kudos to manager Mr. Renaux: mission accomplice!Room 1219, East block on same floor as lobby, east wing, large quiet room facing pool, as requested. Two beds, glorious Italian shower, quiet A/C, although mostly used ceiling fan and HELLO, AT LAST screened patio door, wonderful! Clean room, no bugs or ants, lots of hot water, nice bathroom, free safe in closet, nice balcony overlooking large site, pool, and sea beyond. Our room lady was Sonia.Note: As our return flight was late evening, we paid the 8CUC/hour to keep our room until one hour before checkout, which was no problem as the hotel was not full. Complementary rooms are available for late checkout showers and changing.Arrival: Late check-in, 11 p.m., smooth as silk, smiling receptionist Alberto, spoke French and English, as did bellboy Adriel. Warm welcome.Restaurants and Bars Buffet El PILAR: Same fare each day, with some exceptions (smoked salmon, shrimp, spinach salad, roast pork, fresh figs). Food could have been hotter… Excellent service by smiling Yovanny each morning, and Welcome lady Neidy at the Buffet door.The A la Cartes are located under the lobby, ground floor, facing the marina. Reservations start at 9 a.m., the counter is located same area, under lobby.BANA: Oriental restaurant, our favourite alacarte. Chef Carlos offered a tasting menu including tempura shrimp, sushi, tender pork and beef nibbles, flambeed bananas/pineapple. Delightful and delicious!DON ERNESTO: Latino restaurant, beautiful decor, Hemmingway memorabilia. Although the fish ceviche cocktail was delicious, the pork, lamb & beef were tough. Why do they cook their meat to death?CASA BURGUETE: French cuisine, langoust and shrimp were good but overcooked.There is a GRILL open every other day next to the playa bar (no mojitos) and a Ranchon restaurant overlooking the playa, with salad/dessert bar and fish (if you’re lucky)SNACK BAR Habana: burgers, fries, pretty good chicken quesadillas, etc. shaded patio over pool, sweet!The LEVEL: penthouse restaurant, if you can get in…Lobby Bar: good service, good Cava, no Coco locos or tasty Sangria. Other drinks good.Beach/Pools/Grounds Glorious playa!!! I’d give it a 9.5/10. A couple of Km long, clean, no coral or rocks, beach chairs WITH cushions if you please, gents to set up chairs, no lack of chairs or palapas all week. Golf cart service to and from if need be. Pool is lovely, the site being new there is not much mature vegetation, but getting there! Lots of chairs, cushions, new blue chairs, music, nice wading area around one side for children (and adults), pool beds.
Activities on and off the Resort/Hotel: Not much animation at the playa… All of the evening shows are outdoors on cement deck facing the marina (an interesting concept and sublime if weather permits, or presented in the lobby. Evening shows were just ok, too much “solicitation to dance” with the dancers to my liking. Too bad the latino music does not continue after the evening show; they could continue the music for a bit so clients can dance together without being dragged up by the dancers DURING the show. Just sayin’… The White Parade in the lobby was awesome, as were the Magic statues. Only a small troupe of dancers. Michael Jackson did show up Thursday nite with his posse Live music every nite in the lobby; some fantastic, some very loud, overall good.Note: the piano needs some serious tuning (trust me).Excursions: We partook in no excursions during our week but did meet with some Cuban friends in town. Many patrons did the half-day Havana excursion and loved it.Strong points: screened patio doors and ceiling fans, Italian shower, cushions for both pool and playa chairs, glorious beach, no beach vendors, excellent service with a smile, friendly employees, many of whom spoke French, beautiful resortThings to improve: Er, um, how to cook their meat/fish?Improve their beach PR and animation on the beach (intentional?) We saw no aquagym, workout or yoga. They could really learn from neighbouring hotels who manage to gather well over a dozen each time (ex. Ibero Playa Alameda and Laguna Azul). Connecting with people is muy importante…REAL sangrias and coco locos at the lobby bar would be sweet!Spa amenities/services could be more visible outside the Spa entrance with price list. The Spa counter in lobby was often without staff.Food could definitely be hotter in the Buffet warmers.There it is! Feel free to ask questions. |
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| Wondering if you knew or talked to anyone who was staying there, but had chosen the Euro package?!
Seems like some people have booked that and been disapointed with the additional costs as well as restrictions as to what/where they have access to?! |
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To answer both your questions, we saw/heard no Americans while there. There were several large commercial catamarans and some fishing boats in the maria which is still under construction in some areas. We were told that the pueblo was "open", so we went to check it out; mostly open, grocery store stocked (it must have been -10C in there!) but several empty shops and what looked eateries/bars. I did notice a well-dressed lady walking her two dogs along the marina’s promenade, so am assuming she lived somewhere on site. |
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I am guessing its the same as what you call self catering in the UK?! It means no meals or drinks included. SO your on your own to buy and prepare your own drinks and meals…or you can purchase them by the each, or you can pay each day for an AI package…around $42 CUC from what I have heard now. |
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Monctonguy,firstly sorry for miss print of your username,I think you would also call it room only,we call it self catering here in the UK.ie there would be a mini kitchen and fridge and a living area and bedroom and bathroom,sometimes have a washing machine but not always.thanks |
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Spunky, I have got the wrong meaning. This is nothing like self catering,seems you have to go out for food restaurants etc. looks like in the European plan no where to cook anything. Only my opinion this could be expensive at the Melia Marina if per say you paid for meals at said hotel could not see that being cheap,and if you go to nearest eatery or into Varadero at a cost of 20.00 cuc round trip or hop on and off bus at 5 cuc per person could soon make your money go quickly. You would not save much money on going European instead of AI.Only trouble is you would also be tied too the hotel to get your monies worth. |
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| The latest on-line reviews agree. Varadero hasn’t got a grocery store infrastructure to support the kitchenette units and the EP clients are buying AI bracelets.The idea behind the business model; that one might moor one’s yacht whilst enjoying a mid cruise break in a luxury suite, requires more than a handful of boats to maintain. We look at the prices as barely disguised "Bait and Switch" schemes and rely on members like Zen to flesh out the details.
And, sorry for not saying sooner, Welcome to Debbie’s, ghostwriter14. |
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ghostwriter14 welcome to Debbie’s forum. You will not be able to cook and you will not have drinks and meals .. They do not have apartment stile kitchens like you might find in Greece, Croatia, Spain etc you will be on your own to eat in restaurants, paladares etc |
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| There are units with kitchenettes.From Sunwing:Marinaview 1 Bedroom Apartment – European PlanMaximum Number of Adults 3Maximum Number of Children 3Maximum Occupancy 5Air-conditionedKing size bedMicrowaveUmbrellaFull kitchen220 volt outletFridgeChaise ChairSatellite LCD TVMinimum Occupancy 2Washing machineCeiling fanHair dryerIn-room safeIron & Ironing boardScaleFull bathroomVanity mirror
Telephone |
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| Long way to town from there to the restaurants other than the Kikikiho
Johnny C |
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Nahhh, 20 min tops into town on the Doubledecker tourist bus |
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Has anyone eaten at the restaurant in the marina, not Melia Marina? |
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![]("http://s29438.storage.proboards.com/2099438/a/Ny8ILFy9XyOdSoEk8mSx.png") Nahhh, 20 min tops into town on the Doubledecker tourist bus Really? Do they have an express bus?..hahaI don’t think its 20 mins. I am saying its usually closer to 45 mins depending on how many stops it makes along the way back to town.My guess is it would closer to about a 3hr experience for each meal. By the time you leave your room, walk to the busstop pick up area, get the bus into town, sit down,order and eat, then wait for the bus back to the resort it would be close to 3 hrs, 2hr minimum at the very least.Can’t imagine doing that 2-3 times a day, every day!
That being said, I have seem some good deals recently on the EURO plan, that even when you add the $42/day CUC charge for the AI, its cheaper than the average 3-4star resort! |
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I kid u not, 21 min top chrono from the MM (next to last hotel) to calle 55 where we met up with our Cuban friends. On a Saturday, no less! |
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