| SUNNY1234, for your information, the exchange office at the Melia is not IN the hotel but rather next to the entrance. If you’re inside the lobby and walk out front, the office is directly off to your left off the entrance. Tiny office, usually open 9 to 9.
Have a great trip! We were there in 2007 and have great memories, will most certainly return! 8-). It’s a wonderful place to chill and get much needed West and Wewaxation! Should you come across our charming and nurturing buffet waitress, Marile Cruz, please say hi from Clara from Québec (she may not remember me, although I have sent her gifts from time to time since our trip)–I sure remember her! ;D |
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I went to the Melia Spa when last there in Jan 2008 and loved it. It was around 70 CDN for a 90-min massage. Most of the staff were bilingual –even one who spoke French, but the smiling young lady I got spoke only Spanish, ahhh, but her hands spoke nothing but DE-TENTE! ;D |
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Hollah to youz guyz ![]("http://images.proboards.com/v5/smiley/grin.png") (Monctonian here)I’m jealous of all of you going before us!! ![]("http://images.proboards.com/v5/smiley/tongue.png") We usually go to Cuba end of January, so I’m curious as to how it will be weather-wise, winds, bugs, et al.I’m told that the food will be better in March; dunno about that and anyhoo, we usually have little or no expectations when it concerns the food, so no surprises, and in any case, it’s
DA BEACH that interests us the most (oh yeah, that and DA RUM) ;D Looking forward to hearing your comments and btw, just curious how did you all come to pick the Playa Alameda? Travel agent? Friends? the Internet? |
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Hmmm, the waitress at the International Resto at the Melia CGuillermo burst out laughing when I ordered camarones… and promptly corrected me… go figure! ![]("http://images.proboards.com/v5/smiley/huh.png")
Anyhoo, this will not deter me from trying out some new words from my extensive Spanish vocabulary (not), in the hopes of some day being able to shine and not stutter! ;D |
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| hey, jemik, fellow Maritimer! You’ll be going before us, so hopefully you’ll post your comments here when u get back? ![]("http://images.proboards.com/v5/smiley/kiss.png") We’re set for March 19-26, first time so late in winter.
Cross your fingers and so will I! |
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| Hi y’all, so glad to meet you! ;DOn our first trip to the Varadero area, we’ve chosen the Iberostar Playa Alameda hotel on the end of the strip.
Is anyone going or has anyone been to this hotel? Your comments are appreciated, muchas gracias! |
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Hey martian, how does one get INTO the VIP area at the Varadero airport? (I’m not a non-smoker, I’m a 30-yr EX-smoker, which is worse ![]("http://images.proboards.com/v5/smiley/wink.png") ) |
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| You’re correct, AnneM, my bad! My HowtolearnSpanish cdroms have alot of differences with Cuban Spanish. I checked with a friend who is fluent and she was appalled at some of the things, telling me that most words/terms are NOT used over here but rather in Spain (like, for instance, here we say gambas=shrimp, whereas in Spain they use the word camarones). No wonder I keep getting those puzzled looks from Cuban hotel staff!! |
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sunnyone, just to point out that building #11 is RIGHT behind the Ranch restaurant which opens for lunch… with lots of cats and who know what else around… their garbage is out back… close to… you guessed it: building 11… ![]("http://images.proboards.com/v5/smiley/eyesroll.png")
We were in building 22, which looks far from everything, but honestly, we were not even one minute away from the boardwalk leading to the beach… very quiet and clean. |
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#4 could also be: Tienes un regalo para usted (here is a gift for you) |
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lol cucquinn! Just put it all in a nice reusable gift bag (our eco-friendly grocery bags are greatly appreciated). Other things are useful, such as nylons (the staff must wear them and they cost a mint), gardening gloves and tools for the groundskeepers, coloring books and hair accessories for girls and baseball gloves and balls for boys (Cubans love baseball), not to mention soap, nail polish, sandals/shoes, fishing accessories, pocket dictionaries and bibles… |
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| we were last there in January 2008. The Italian resto is the best of the three. The BBQ resto near the pool was open but very ‘open air’, which was a bit chilly for us on the night we went. The Ranchero-style grill resto is nearest to the beach and is great at noontime: fresh fish and roasted chicken, tons of salads and ice cream. Reservations, as mentioned, are off the lobby, and you must stand in line early to get a decent time (we usually went around 7-ish). Bon voyage! ![]("http://images.proboards.com/v5/smiley/smiley.png") |
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