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Paradisus Princesa del Mar Hotel Cuba
- Destination: Varadero Beach
- Address: Autopista Sur, Carretera las Morlas, Km 19 1/2, 42200, Varadero CUBA
- Phone: Tel: (53 ) 45 667200 - Fax: (53 ) 45 667201
- Accept child:Yes
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4 stars based on 43 reviews
- $ No pricePer person
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Description: Paradisus Princesa del Mar Hotel Cuba
This Five-star Ultra, all Inclusive, only adults resort is located in one of the best areas on Varadero Beach, conceived for adults aged 18 years and over. Elegant, three- story constructions housing 434 modern rooms tastefully decorated in contemporary western style and with a touch of Cuban colonial. a remarkable place of enchanted surroundings and romantic ambiences. The resort offers uppermost comfort in its private Royal Service for an incomparable experience. Highly recommended for weddings, honeymoons and wellness/spa retreats. Location:Paradisus Princesa del Mar is located beachfront in a privileged areas of the most famous beach in Cuba; 34 Km. from the Varadero International Airport and 139 km from Havana; 1 km from the Plaza America Convention Center, Varadero Golf Club, dolphin park and Marina Gaviota; 8 km from the Varadero resort center and Parque Josone; 32 km from Matanzas City and 110 km from Zapata Peninsula National Park.
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Paradisus Princesa del Mar Hotel
- Interesting recommended places
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Mambo Club -
Josone Park -
Blanco Key Varadero -
Swimming with Dolphins in Varadero
- Where to eat recommended
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- Room facilities
110 volt power220 volt powerair conditioningbalcony or terracecoffeemakerhairdryerhandicap facilitieshot and cold running waterminibarprivate bathsafety deposit boxSatellite TVtelephone
- Facilities
24 hrs. emergency medical service, art Gallery, babysitting, beauty salon, bell boy, bikes, board games, buffet, business centre, car parking, car rental, conference rooms, cyber cafe, disabled facilities, discotheque, grill, gym, hotel shop, laundry & dry cleaning service 24 hrs., luggage storage, massage, money exchange, motorized water sports, multi-language staff, no smoking rooms, Piano bar, post office, Reception 24 hrs., room services 24 hrs., safety deposit box in room, satellite tv, sauna, scuba diving center, Solarium, spa service, swimming pool, taxis, tennis courts, theme Restaurants, tourism bureau, wi-fi wireless,
- Food Facilities
The following, is just as an example of the choice of foods offered. Gran Terraza, buffet restaurant. Port Royal Beach Grill for salads and barbecued meats. Firenze restaurant for Italian and Mediterranean cuisine. Marseille restaurant specialized in French dishes. Sakura for japanese teppanyaki style and Bamboo for Chinese. Exotic meals Rock House and the exclusive Caribbean restaurant Hill Top Hideaway, (only for Royal Service customers).
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Gran Terraza
Buffet restaurant with show cooking. Outdoor restaurant located very close to the swimming… Port Royal
á la carte restaurant specializing in tasty Caribbean cuisine. Outdoor restaurant with seating… Firenze
á la carte Italian restaurant, with air-conditioning and seating capacity for 58 persons.… Marseille
á la carte restaurant specializing in French cuisine, with airconditioning and seating capacity… Sakura
Japanese Restaurant -
Lobby Bar
(07:00 – 02:00). Seating capacity for 70 persons. Piano Bar
(18:00 – 02:00). Air-conditioning and seating capacity for 66 persons. Capitán Morgan
(21:00 – 02:00). Disco with capacity for 200 persons. La Corona
(15:00 – 02:00). Air-conditioned Cigar Bar, with seating capacity for 30 persons. Racket Club
(24 hrs). Bar/ cafeteria with seating capacity for 30 persons. - Your first-hand experiences really help other travelers. Thanks!
Excellent Very good Average Poor Awfull 
HJG111 about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Resort & SpaReview about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Hotel
Awfull “Unreliable safes in room ”
We stayed at this hotel for our honeymoon and everything was perfect apart from when we had money stolen from us that was 'safely' tucked away in our safe in the room. This ruined our honeymoon and the staff were not very helpful at all. They were convinced that no one apart from us would have had access to the safe. Well, the safe can be opened by using a master code via a portable machine. We strongly believe this practice is common at the resort whereby the person in charge of the master code gains access to the rooms and help themselves to whatever they can without arousing suspicion. They probably tend to do it just before you leave so that by the time the police can attend to the scene, it is too late as 'they would take too long and you would have to leave before the matter was dealt with' If you must stay at this resort, DO NOT LEAVE YOUR VALUABLES IN THE SAFE!!! They are everything but safe. The matter would only be dealt with if the propeitors of this resort decide to investigate. This has probably happened to unsuspecting guests before and had probably been attributed to having too much to drink. Be vigilant and be wary of those who can gain access to your room!!!-
Budz66 about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Resort & SpaReview about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Hotel
Average “Day 1 of vacation ”
I will post an entire review at the end of the vacation but some initial observations: - A few people we've spoken to have had had room issues, is included. They switched us to a new room and problem solved - apparently there are 6 hot tubs on the property but ZERO are working! Further to that they say they will not be repaired...NOT ACCEPTABLE! - so far buffet is fine and overall resort is good and staff friendly and helpful. We need this hot tub issue fixed because it's not super warm out?in fact it's fairly cool. I'll post another day -
poutika26 about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Resort & SpaReview about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Hotel
Average “Mixed feelings ”
HOTEL - Very nice and neat gardens and alleys, gardeners are doing a great job - Nice pool side and bar - Very friendly and helpful staff even if sometimes disorganized. We had to wait long minutes to get new towels... Quite frustrating for a simple request. - Live shows and concerts were entertaining - With international standard, the resort corresponds more to a 3* superior and certainly not 5* (with 'normal' service) ROOM - Lots of noises from the corridor, as we had a room at the end of a building (from both hotel guests and staff). We could hear our neighbors above... - Our door did not close properly and we had to call several times to fix it. - Poorly equipped bathroom: no power plug, no toilet paper hanger, no carpet for the first 2 days, and towels very small towards the end of the trip, old shower - No water bottle on the first day - Construction & paintings details are approximative - Our AC barely worked SNACK BAR - TV noise was annoying, of course we came to an international resort, but if i would want to watch TV we could have stayed home. We would have preferred a better atmosphere with cuban music - Understaffed at all times of the day and night, slow service, forgot orders, did not have half of the menu. - Old menus, hardly readable BUFFET The buffet room is huge and noisy, large choice but come after the first minutes of opening and its already filthy. It put us off on most days. Hotel could put more effort on hygiene, guests as well though. We felt like it was a messy food fight with people being nervous. RESTAURANTS Apart from the japanese and hill top, all restaurants serve things from the buffet. Avoid Italian. BEACH Large beach, maybe one of the nicest from Varadero. Water color is great too. Regarding activities, Not enough sun shade. Surprisingly, at 7 am most of them already reserved, it adds up a stress to find a cosy place for the day. -
Danielle R about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Resort & SpaReview about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Hotel
Average “Know before you go! ”
After visiting several other Caribbean islands, we finally decided to try Cuba. We read all the reviews, talked to family and friends who love Cuba and got some great info from our travel agent. Needless to say, we were not prepared for Cuba. If you are looking for a cheaper destination with beautiful beaches for a fun time with friends, Cuba is the place to be. However, if you are looking for comfort, relaxation and anything close to luxury....look somewhere else. The Pros & Cons: : The beach! Princesa Del Mar has a beautiful white sand beach with warm, usually calm, crystal clear water. We walked down the beach to other resorts, and their beach was definitely not as nice as ours. There are plenty of tiki huts that are well spaced so you didn't feel like sardines baking in the sand. The beach bar was hit and miss. I recommend looking for Victor and making friends with him fast! He made the best drinks and was always volunteering to bring them to our lounge chairs. He made several rounds throughout the day and always kept us refreshed. WE LOVED VICTOR! The only down side was the little fish in the water that made it unbearable to swim for more than 10 mins. They did not bite, but they constantly poked at you which was incredibly annoying. We often saw families with small children walking along our beach which was odd. It didn't bother us, but knowing this was an adult only resort, it may have angered a few people. Staff: In general, the staff were usually pretty polite and tried their best to help you out. I'm not sure if it was a language issue but by the end of the week, we knew who would help us and who to avoid. The staff at the buffet were always at your table filling up water and offering other drinks. Plates were removed quickly. Although I have to say, on our last day, we went down for lunch but stopped at the washrooms first. Our server who had been serving us all week was in the washroom with me. When all was said and done, she did not wash her hands. We were shocked and followed her to the buffet where she picked up a bottle of water and proceeded to pour drinks for several tables. I was not impressed. We only saw our housekeeping staff once and our room was never cleaned before 4pm. We brought gifts from Canada and left many tips, but the service did not seem to match our expectations. Victor and Yelani? (Greeter at the buffet) were the two staff members that made our trip. Always happy, genuine and made you feel welcome without the pressure of expecting a tip. We absolutely loved them. Tipping was a big frustration. We were constantly told tipping and gifting were not expected and are ONLY to show that you truly enjoyed the service. Well, every time we ate, asked for a drink or had help in anyway, the staff would linger a bit and wait for a tip. I felt very guilty when we didn't leave a little something. By the end of the week, we had tipped over $100. Food: Probably not a surprise, but the food wasn't very good. Understandably, they lack many spices and sauces that we are used to at home, but some of the food was outright inedible. We ate at the buffet for most lunches...once we found a bird eating off the cheese plate and once my husband had to swat a beetle off the sushi tray. From then on, we only ate from the cooking stations. You could always find something to eat, but it usually wasn't great. We survived on eggs, rice and bread. The restaurants were very disappointing. We tried each one and not once were we finished our meals in less than 2 hours. The wait was very long and we often got cold, dried out food. The Japanese was the only place we got hot food simply because it was cooked right in front of you. The Rock Bar was horrible. We ate there our first night and never again. The drinks were hit and miss. If you ordered a Ron Collins at the pool bar..it was great. If you order one from the lobby bar, you got a rum and coke. However, the Pina Coladas were great in the lobby, but very watery and weak at the beach bar. So once you find a good bartender, tip them well and stick with them. Resort: The hotel was very nice for Cuban standards. We didn't quite appreciate the facility until we went to the other resorts. After a full day out, we were happy to come home. The rooms are clean and a good size. Our first room was supposed to be a king bed, but had 2 twins pushed together. The "ocean view" was very deceptive. We could see a very small triangle of water through the trees. Our a/c broke on the 2nd day and we had to wait until dinner time on the 3rd day to get a new room. The resort was very dead....so there were definitely rooms available but we were told to wait it out and see if the a/c was fixed by the afternoon. Our next room was on the 3rd floor and was more updated. However, the bedside lamp was broken, the mini fridge wasn't turned on and smelled musty, the cupboards didn't close and our patio door was very sticky and squeaked every time we opened it. The beds are hard and the walls are thin. We overheard a couple fighting for 3 days every night. Although we enjoyed our week of solitude on the beach, we will certainly look at other islands before returning to Cuba. -
Try69 about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Resort & SpaReview about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Hotel
Average “Quality of food got us bad”
Twelve of us just returned from this resort. Four of us were felled by some food item ... The resort itself is Beautiful.. The employees Awesome.. Rooms are simply adequate... Most of the food at the Rock House was OK. This was the 24 hour place to go...The Buffet was hit and miss.. One day good. One day Atrocious.. The A la Carte restaurants were barely acceptable .... Beach was Awesome... Pool area was pretty decent... The employees were second to none ... The Sincerity of the employees and Genuine work ethic to make you happy are Second to none ... The Lobby Bar Ladies were by far the most Special... The Bell Boys will go out of there way to accommodate your every desire ... These areas of the resort I would give a 5+ star... As for the Royal Service which was an extra 1100$ a week ..We were told by many that it wasn't worth the money... They preferred to spent time on the regular side and eat on their side... Guess you get better food ....Anyways .... From the people I was with who have been to Cuba many times and were even recommended this resort... Go to Melia las Americas or Royal Hicacos... They said the food was far superior.... I haven't reviewed in some time as I'm trying to keep the Awesome places I've been to by myself ... And for that,I somewhat apologize ...I will personally spend another hundred dollars per person and visit islands with very good food and Accommodation's... Good luck with whatever decision you make.. If you do chose Cuba and Varadero.. Go to the Beatles bar for the Band and the Break dancing trio... Simply Unbelievable -
LynneR10 about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Resort & SpaReview about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Hotel
Average “not a 5 star resort ”
We just got back from Paradisus Princesa del Mar Resort... would not go back. This is rated as a 5-star resort, in my opinion (and that of others I spoke to at the resort) it realistically should be about a 3. We arrived about 10:30pm with a tepid welcome. After we were checked in we were told to wait and a bellhop would take us to our room. After waiting about 20 minutes we headed out on our own. We were hungry and tired and had a long bus ride from the airport. We dragged our suitcases down the stairs and around the pool to the building we stayed in. Once there we looked for an elevator but there isn't one. We then dragged our luggage up to the third floor. The room was disappointing and shabby looking. Definitely in need of sprucing up. There is a 24 hour restaurant on site and easy to find. Food was satisfactory. We were also told when we checked in that there was a 'coupon' to get a room upgrade but there were no upgraded rooms available. In my opinion if you are advertising your resort as a 5-star the entire resort should reflect that. Also, the bus ride from airport was long and tedious, stopping at many resorts to drop off other passengers. This resort was the last one on the route. Our flight arrived on time about 7:30 and we did not get to the resort until after 10:30 so not the 45 minute trip as listed in brochure. The mini bar was stocked was soda, if you want beer in the mini bar you have to call guest services. Our best meal at the resort was in the Japanese restaurant, the French restaurant was ok however the air conditioning did not seem to be working the night we were there. When we asked about it we were told it was on, just low. Also, while you are out and about the resort it is advisable to carry tissue with you as the rest rooms in the public areas were often out. We made the best of our vacation and still enjoyed ourselves. -
David S about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Resort & SpaReview about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Hotel
Very good “November Vacation ”
Our second visit and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The service is fabulous. The food is good but not great but we knew that before we made the decision to go. The beaches are gorgeous, and the grounds of the resort are very well maintained. The nightly lobby entertainment is very enjoyable but beware of mosquitoes and sand flies. Take your bug spray and make sure you take after-bite too. We will definitely be going back -
Screwball about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Resort & SpaReview about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Hotel
Very good “Made the right choice! ”
This story begins when four ladies had a thought; let's go on a Caribbean vacation! First question: where? First answer; Cuba, (Nov 8 -15/14)! And so, based on wonderful Tripadvisor Reviews, we made a choice: Paradisus Princessa Del Mar! We did not find a need for Royal Service at this ADULT ONLY Resort and were very satisfied with our decision. In short, here are the highlights (and some issues that can easily be resolved): -Very friendly and hard working staff in all areas of the resort -Beautiful and aesthetically pleasing pool, (however, didn't understand the multi depths of the pool which went from wading level to approximately 5 feet in spots) -no problem getting a covered sunbed or lounging chair - however, on our last day of vacation, a large amount of tourists arrived and the "chair games began" -beach is clean, water is crystal clear and you can walk barefoot comfortably for about 45 minutes either way from the resort -did manage to get some bug bites the first day on the beach but using repellent the rest of the week worked well enough -You will find two beach/pool towels in your room upon arrival. They are plush and in great condition. You can exchange your towels for clean ones at the pool towel hut. A more organized system would be appreciated as many guests, including myself, found themselves making the decision to stand and just wait the 15, 20, 25 minutes for clean towels. Seems as soon as the clean towels arrived, they were gone. -We were allotted rooms 2307 and 2309 which were considered "ocean view" . In my opinion, the beach is a distance from the "villas" so there really isn't a true "ocean view" room to be had although, through the trees we could see the ocean. Building 2, which we were in, is between the pool and the beach which was convenient. The rooms are clean, the bedding is standard and the toiletries like shampoo, body lotion, shower cap and soaps were supplied. There is also a hairdryer in the bathroom along with a makeup mirror. I would highly recommend bringing along boxes of kleenex. In all the 4, 4.5 and 5 star resorts I have been in Cuba, kleenex has never been supplied. -mini fridge with stocked beer, water and soft drinks -coffee maker and coffee in the room -Isabella, our maid, was very good at straightening up our room and supplying fresh new towels daily -Our a la carte reservations were made prior to arrival by contacting the resort. We chose to eat at the "Sakura", (Japanese) which we thoroughly enjoyed and the Italian "Firenze" which was excellent. -The buffet served a good selection of meats, vegetables,cheeses,breads and pastries. The main complaint many guests had was the very very very slow manner in which the dishes were replenished. The size of the serving dishes were the same as I serve at home! I would hate to dine in the buffet when the resort is at full capacity! The pizza station ran out of pizza as soon as they were put out. The pancakes at breakfast were made to order! First time I have ever seen this anywhere! The line ups at the omlette and egg stations were long and moved slowly.It would be a great idea to either add another toaster at the Wall of Bread or speed up the toaster that is presently there. I realize we are on Cuban time however the joke amongst the guests waiting for their toast was that by the time their bread was toasted they would have to board their plane for home! -coffee was delicious and the cappuccinos even better -internet system was a pain. 4.50 CUC for one hour. You have to be careful because if you don't sign out, your time will run out before you actually use it. Make sure you closely follow the instructions to sign off because you are instructed very quickly by the staff who is always very busy. -there is really no difference between exchanging your Canadian to CUC at the bank as opposed to the resort. The exchange rate was .185 and .190 respectively. -the weather was nice and sunny (low 80's) with a couple of overcast days with some rain. (If there was a breeze in the evening it could be slightly cool) -we prebooked a tour to Havana with Cuban Trip Compass (Alejandro) prior to arrival. It was a wonderful experience that I would certainly recommend! (See my review - Cuban trip Compass Tripadvisor) -a bus to Varadero is 5 CUC return. The trip is about 40 min from the resort one way. In conclusion, we had a wonderful time at the Paradisus Del Mar and would highly recommend this resort. Yes, there are a few issues but nothing that would cause us not to return. -
Hotel-Sachsen-Anhalt about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Resort & SpaReview about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Hotel
Very good “Great staff, good resort ”
I stayed at the Princesa del Mar middle of November after a Cuba roundtrip with a group of 5 friends. The first positive experience was that we received an upgrade to the royal service sector due to our airtours booking where we were offered a premium all inclusive service. Our Junior Suite (#7115) in one of the villas was in a well maintained and clean condition. The villa was only a few meters away from the Royal Service Main buliding which inhabits the seperate reception as well as the restaurant Miraflor and the Energy bar besides the pool. The Royal Service sector was finished two years ago therefore it is still in great condition with a modern design. At the Miraflor breakfast, lunch and dinner was served in an excellent quality. The only other restaurant we tried out was the japanese style restaurant "Sakura" which was a great experience too as dinner is getting prepared on your table in an eventful and fun manner. We also had exeptional lunches at the Grill Bar close to the pool. Since I have worked in all departments of leading hotels in the world for 15 years I have noticed one thing - the absence of management. Neither at the reception nor in the service area. Nevertheless their staff is doing a great and friendly job the presence of a manager would help in avoiding small mistakes and assisting their staff in guest relation matters. I would like to especially highlight the services of Mila, Nacho, Kassandra and the team of the beach bar. It is hard to find employees with such natural charme and dedication to their job. Also the team of the Energy Bar in the evening worked highly professional in a very friendly way. Belkis a young waitress at the pool bar was also a delight. Hanoi of the service brigade aligns with the rest of the mentioned employees. I can highly recommend the Princesa del Mar Royal Service also after seeing that many hotels in the neighbourhood aren't in such good condition. Respect to the staff and bear in mind that a generous tip for exceeded expectations always keeps an hotel employee running! -
LittleSound about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Resort & SpaReview about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Hotel
Very good “Definitely worth a visit! ”
Paradisus Princesa del Mar was my first all-inclusive experience and it will be hard to beat! Here's what I thought about each of these things: BEACH - POSTIVE: Long stretch of white sand with aqua clear water, great thatched beach umbrellas (except all of them should have the attached table for a place to put drinks and more umbrellas are needed to accomodate the guests), the lack of motor-sports (made for a much more peaceful time at the beach and was also safer for swimmers, the catamerans and pedal boats free to borrow were a great alternative!), Victor, the very friendly and efficient beach hut bartender who treated everyone like a friend and made the beach bar a lively and entertaining place to hang out. NEGATIVE: 1. sand fleas- they didn't bother me, but ate my husband alive (not sure what can be done about that) 2. the lack of variety in the music selection blaring at the beach most days. POOL- POSITIVE: Lovely pool, great design with lots of coves for hanging out in. The poolside beds were cool, the swim up bar was a nice touch and all the landscaping and lighting around the pool made it look beautiful day and night. NEGATIVE: the pool bar didn't have much variety in drinks and almost no non-alcoholic options. More variety in the type of music playing would have been nice as well. ROOMS: We booked the junior deluxe room. I loved the open-air hallways and the patios each room had. The bathroom and bedroom were clean, but nothing to write home about. The thing I disliked the most was the fact that the bed was actually two beds with about an inch between them. Each bed wasn't quite big enough for 2 people to share, yet it was uncomfortable to push them together to make a king-sized bed. The beds were rather hard and a little lumpy as well. SERVICE: Overall, the service in Cuba regardless of where you go, is SLOW. I've been to several island countries in the sub-tropics and tropics before and Cuba was among the slowest. Most were somewhat friendly, none were outright rude, but some were indifferent or simply ignored you while chatting happily with coworkers instead of attending to customers upon their arrival. (The Rock restaurant at this resort was known by all as the SLOWEST service. The food and drinks were pretty good but regardless of what you ordered or the number of customers at the restaurant, it always took at least 30 if not 45 minutes to get your drink or meal.) Check-in at 4am was really slow as well. If a flight is coming in, the resort needs to book a few workers to ensure we get to our rooms and rested in a reasonable amount of time. FOOD: My favorite restaurants at the resort were Port Royal, a barbecue restaurant near the beach that once I discovered it, I ate at for all my lunches, and the Raquet Club which served nice breakfasts and fruit milk-shakes in the morning. I ended up going there most mornings, partly for the milk-shakes and breakfast, partly because I really liked the main bartender/server there. I never caught his name, but I appreciated his classy, gentle manner, the way he seemed to take pride in his work and the fact that he remember my orders and would still serve me a milk-shake even if breakfast hours were over. Hill Top restaurant was fancy and also had great food and service. The rest of the restaurants had great decor, decent service (slow, but polite), a little entertainment during the meal and great desserts. However, the actual meals were okay, but not particularly memorable. DRINKS: The plastic cups they served drinks in were WAY too small. Many seasoned all inclusive resorters brought their own travel mugs which was a must! The selection of alcoholic beverages was rather limited (and no menus most places to let you know what they had) and the non-alcoholic beverages consisted of lemonade, orange juice and pop. Fruit smoothies, some blended coffee or chocolate drinks, iced tea would have made this experience truly 5 star. DAYTIME ENTERTAINMENT: I liked the variety of classes and activities they offered. My favorite was the morning yoga and afternoon aerobics class taught by Mayte. She was warm, encouraging, had a great sense of humour and took her job as a fitness instructor seriously in a way that made everyone, no matter their physical abilities or challenges feel encourage, supported and challenged. She took pride in her work, took care of her students and pushed us to achieve more than we thought ourselves capable of. If she were teaching in my town, I would sign up for her classes in a heartbeat. I took several fitness classes with several instructors at the resort and she was by far my favorite! EVENING ENTERTAINMENT: The shows were better than I had expected. The aqua ballet was impressive, the magic show very entertaining and the two violinist, 1 guitar playing band were delightful. I would have appreciated a greater variety of music and dance, however, throughout the day as well as during shows. I'm not a huge fan of salsa and Cuban music, it was fun to see and hear few times, but not every day all the time. All in all, I had a great experience and would definitely consider returning to Princesa del Mar! -
globetrotters003 about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Resort & SpaReview about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Hotel
Very good “Royal service the best ”
we arrived after a long 5 hour coach journey from 3 nights in Havana to spend 7 nights here. On arrival at the main reception apron seeing we had booked royal service, we were rushed on a buggy down to the far end of the complex with its on reception for RS customers. A butler then showed us quickly to our great first floor room, offered to unpack our cases, we declined but thanked him and showed us our room. Great bed and separate lounge area along with shower and separate whirl pool bath. RS guests get their own restaurant which I have to say was never really busy and the food was very good. You can have lobster or steaks cooked there and then for lunch with Al la menu in the evenings. You also get your own large pool with no towels being put down at 6 am! Pool has a great Little bar plus lunch eatery with great freshly cooked pizzas and burgers although about 2 pm be prepared to wait 45 minutes for it but what else have you to do and they refill your drinks no problem. Beach ok with again RS guests having their own part of the beach, although non RS customers clearly were sneaking in (they had different colour towels to RS guests!) RS guests get first booking on the other 6 min themed restaurants as I heard non RS guests unable to get into some of them for the term of their holiday. Having booked at very short notice, 2 weeks before we flew out, we were told we got the butler RS service cheaper and to be honest I'm not to sure if I would have enjoyed this hotel as much if I had not stayed in the RS area as the food was better, less crowded and staff couldn't do enough for you. The hotel is nearly the last one so if you come on coach from Havana be prepared to stop at least 6 or 7 other hotels first before getting to this one. RS guests are given a ticket to claim a taxi back to Havana at end of holiday so that helped. Nothing much to walk to but there is an open top red tour bus which stops right outside the hotel and for 5 cuc each you can hop on and of all day. Would throughly recommend the RS part for that bit extra service by all the staff, the room, the eating area and the pool. -
BrianfromVanc-Island about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Resort & SpaReview about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Hotel
Very good “Nice resort ”
We have been to 14 all inclusive resorts in Cuba, Punta Cana, Cabo San Lucas, Cancun and the Mayan Riviera. Those who go to All inclusive'is frequently will know that the all inclusive format for every resort are basically the same, just in a different country, the difference is the beach, weather, how the property is taken care of and how well the staff take care of you. Paradisus Princesa Del Mar is a nice resort, well taken care of, staff treat you well, pools are clean and the beach is nice. The ala carte restaurants for us were way better than the buffet, the buffet had a lot of selection but for me wasn't my kind of food, what i mean by that is at lunch, the selection was more like dinner choices rather than lunch choices, this is a personal choice, I don't like eating cooked peas, corn, carrots, mashed potatoes at lunch time. I ended up eating a lot of rice, French fries when available and pizza for lunch. Breakfast was fine, the usual choices. Dinner at the buffet was the same for me, not to much to choose from that I cared for but again this was a personal choice. For us, The ala cartes were much better although I heard people saying that they werent happy with the ala cartes, I sensed that these people were very picky. Pools There is only one pool, 2/3 of the water level of the pool was only up to your hips, the other 1/3 was up to your chest, if your a swimmer that likes to do laps, it's not big enough, and for us it was very cool walking in, we weren't the only ones that felt that way, once your in and you get used to the water it was ok, when you got out, you were a little chilly until you dried off, again, our personal preference is a pool that was a little warmer and bigger. Beach Having never been to Veradero before, I had heard so many things about the pristine beaches, my definition of pristene beaches is sand that is totally free of coral and shells that could cut your feet, the beach in front of this resort had a lot of shells and some coral that has washed up on the beach, you really had to watch where you walked otherwise you could cut your feet, we have been to Cayo Santa Maria and Punta Cana in the last year, both those beaches are pristine, not a shell or coral in site to step on while walking or swimming. Still a nice beach though, just be aware of the shells and coral. Rooms We were in room 5310, pretty central to everything Very nice room, very clean, maids did a good job cleaning daily. We had a minor problem getting the water bottles restocked for a couple of days but got it straightened out, the bed was quite hard and the pillows not great, once again, personal preference to what we are used to at home. Grounds and staff The staff seemed to be always working hard at whatever they did, friendly, and happy. All in all, the NON picky people will like this resort, if your the type of person that you just can't please, pick a 5 star in a different country, 5 stars in Cuba are different and you can't go to Cuba with high expectations. We really liked this resort but some of our personal preferences that we have acquired from other resorts and countries got in the way. You have to try this resort for yourself and form your own opinion. -
timran about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Resort & SpaReview about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Hotel
Very good “Beautiful people, beautiful destination. ”
A very pleasant experience. The staff are so kind and helpful. Although we always tipped, we never felt pressured to do so (as we did in other destinations). It's Cuba..so a 5 star is not going to be a Canadian 5 star, but our room was very comfortable. I agree with another reviewer though, to not pay the extra for an ocean view, because the greenery has blocked off most of the ocean. I would call it a 'peek a boo view'. (2nd floor in building 6). We loved the uncrowded beach. I can't say anything negative about our stay. Maybe the facecloths were not kept up..or there were flies and sand fleas..but SO WHAT. The beautiful people of Cuba far outweigh any petty little complaints. I would love to go back and stay at this resort. WE LOVED CUBA!!!! -
Raghad88 about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Resort & SpaReview about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Hotel
Very good “highly recommended ”
Fancy hotel, great beach, friendly staff, beautiful and big rooms, no ocean view (trees hide the ocean) so do not pay extra money for ocean view room.. pool view is better... Royal service is recommended. -
MikeDiane1985 about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Resort & SpaReview about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Hotel
Very good “A little disappointed”
It was my mom's 75th birthday and my 3 sisters, my sister-in-law and mom stayed at the Paradisus Princesa del Mar at my recommendation. We went in the second week of July because it was the week of my mom's birthday. Upon arrival we were greeted by staff, seated, given a cool drink and a cool cloth which were all very nice. Unfortunately it went downhill from there. It was well over three hours before we got our rooms. My sister and I stayed with the luggage and passports trying to sort out the reason why something so simple should be so difficult. I was disappointed to find out that not all restaurants were available throughout our stay. What was more frustrating was that at the start of our stay they did not have the list of restaurants that were available for us to book. For the first three days I was frustrated and anxious because the only day my mom requested a restaurant was for her birthday. As it turned out the French restaurant was not opened for her birthday and we were unable to go to it throughout our stay. Now in all fairness knowing how persistent, anxious and disappointed I was about my mom not getting to eat at the French restaurant, the staff made a reservation for us in the premium section and they treated her very well. Our meal was top notch and the service was excellent. Unfortunately I did not relax and enjoy my vacation until plans were arranged. When we ate at the Italian restaurant the music was not working and a few days later I went in to hear whether or not it was attended to and it still was not. The japanese restaurant was disappointing this time as well as our chef did not put on a great show. He did not engage with his audience yet was waiting around expecting a tip. I was not impressed with the selection of fruit at this time of year. It was very plain and the same fruit was served throughout the whole week with no change at all. There were no berries or watermelon. The pineapple had no taste. I was disappointed once again and felt badly because I had raved about the food. The staff for the most part was pleasant. I got a different sense from the staff this time than I did a few years ago. Their expectation was to receive tips automatically whether their service was great or not. I did not appreciate that attitude and noticed a difference from a few years ago. The entertainment was not as good this time either. Every night's entertainment seemed to be same just with different costumes. I was not impressed. I probably would not return again. I would give another resort my business as I feel that the facilities are getting old and they are not putting money back into the resort. The attitude of some of the staff was bordering on rude with a sense of entitlement. I certainly did appreciate their effort to at least make my mom's birthday a memorable evening. The first time I went to Cuba I was warned that the food was not the best. I am a fussy eater and I quite enjoyed the food, the presentation and the portion size, on this visit I was not impressed with the fool, presentation, portion size, ambiance or service in all restaurants. For our next trip we were considering a Paradisius and after my recent experience I am not so sure that they are the best resorts anymore. -
Triple54 about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Resort & SpaReview about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Hotel
Very good “wonderful trip ”
I recently returned with my husband from a week stay at Paradisus Princesa del Mar in Varadero Cuba. We travelled with another couple (it was their first time here.) This was our second trip to this hotel and many of our favourite staff were still around. We stayed in building 6, which was new and it was clean, bright and spacious. Diane and Miriela at the pool bar do a wonderful job. Also Angel, the towel man, always had a clean towel ready for us at the end of the day. We were impressed with the beautiful grounds, Riwol, Franche, and Estupinan kept them well manicured and they were happy to cut down a coconut for us whenever we wanted it. The lobby bar had wonderful entertainment before dinner and our lobby waitresses, Sandy and Yeni, offered attentive service with a smile. Every morning we were taken care of at the breakfast buffet by Adianes, she was great. We enjoyed all the a la carte restaurants, but our favourite was the French and it was there we met the chef Barbe who always came into the restaurant to greet guests and ask if everything was alright. I had the pleasure of having Ariel make my pasta at the lunch buffet, he was superb, he inquired if I wanted, garlic and oregano added to my sauce and this made all the difference. When I returned the next day, Ariel was not working, and the pasta was not the same, the extra spices were not offered and the pasta was not as good (it was also not hot). Ariel should teach all how to cook at the pasta bar. I would certainly return, I love the people, they are warm and gracious. Regards from Laura & Keith -
MarcCarrier about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Resort & SpaReview about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Hotel
Very good “Enjoyed our stay ”
Three of us stayed there and we enjoyed the stay. The staff was very helpful and courteous. The food was fine and occasion more then fine the buffet had many choices of which you just have to resourceful and ask the cook manning the grill to reheat some items to have a hot meal. My only issue is not even of the resort. It was the sand fleas on the beach. Ouch on our return. Definitely would return for sure. -
yellowsunsun about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Resort & SpaReview about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Hotel
Very good “Amazing! ”
I know this is late :) But great hotel, AMAZING service Would definitely recommend. Food was better then we imagined. The piano girls, you are awesome!!!!!! We miss u like crazy! Was quiet season, but still great! Would go back in a heart beat! Entertainment was fantastic! Thx again! Tina and Bill -
Kim J about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Resort & SpaReview about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Hotel
Very good “All inclusive ”
This resort is nice and small. Loved the fact that it was an adult only resort. They spoke great english and the staff were very friendly. The only thing is the disco wasnt good and you had to go into town. The food was good. Had lots of umbrellas by the pool and lots of huts at the beach. Wonderful trip. Would go back! -
Travelnick about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Resort & SpaReview about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Hotel
Very good “Cuba Surprise ”
After four days exploring fascinating Havana, we enjoyed a three hour coach trip to Varadero along with an interesting on-board history lecture. Havana had proved to be well above expectations and our arrival at the resort presented us with a good looking property in a fine location. We'd booked the Royal Service package, but our arrival at the Royal Service reception was somewhat cold and bureaucratic with no refreshing drinks of towels offered after the long trip. However, the separate adults only Royal Service complex, just one year old, was immediately impressive as we were taken to our spacious and modern sea-view suite. Sea view is something of a misnomer, as you can barely see any sea from the rear balcony that faces it. There is a thick and tall barrier of trees in the way, but of course that is an essential wind and wave break from the beach beyond it when tropical storms are at hand. Some trimming to allow a degree of sea view would be useful, but the otherwise green grass and tree environment was still a pleasant one. The resort has wi-fi internet connectivity for guests 'free' for RS guests or 8CUC for others. Connection can be tricky / intermittent away from wifi access points and the system operates with a rather tiresome card system of one hour units. The resort could improve available connectivity with more and more powerful access units and less user contention, but they are dependent on the local telecom provider and one must make allowances for where one is. The RS complex is a series of well designed modern units spread widely around a very large pool area, which meanders river-like throughout the centre. It has its own restaurant offering a wide choice of excellent breafast fare along with pleasant staff. The international food dining selection was always good and well prepared, but the restaurant lacks atmosphere. It has the clinical look and feel of a modern hotel lobby, so we mostly dined at the other restaurants around the main, non-RS, parts of the resort. The food was good to excellent in all restaurants, although a little short on salad and green vegetable choices. We never did see a lettuce there, so meat, fish and carbohydrates predominate. Our days were spent partly at the pool, where there is a good pool bar and light lunch area with a pizza oven and partly on the amazing wide white beach jusy a few steps away through the trees. Again, the staff were lovely if sometimes amusingly eccentric and we were well looked after by Ladyana and her colleagues, while from time to time the learned Raydel was at hand to discuss Cuba and what he knows of the world in his excellent English. He'd make a first class Mein Host in any establishment. The sea was colourful, clean and quite warm and one notices there is virtually no boating to see (no doubt they vanish all too easily to Florida just 90 miles away!), but there are cays seen as small islands on the horizon and we saw some large flocks of birds migrating toward Africa at impressive speed when the wind was blowing from the North West. The non-RS large main resort is a very pleasant place, with well kept tropical gardens and some Spanish Colonial architectural influences, along with a 'town square' which reminded me of The Alamo. This is where the various restaurants are, being Italian, French and Japanese as well as a main buffet which we never got around to trying during our 10 day stay. Altogether this is a very good resort complex, with pleasant staff, good eating, good surroundings and a fine beach. What's not to like? Thank you to all at the resort who made our stay so enjoyable and full marks to our ever-helpful butler, William, a fully qualified psychologist who sadly can earn more as a butler than as a professional in this interesting land. Cuba was a surprise, well above our cautious expectations. It's a different kind of society brimming with bright people who 'don't know what it is that they don't know'. I recommend you visit before it changes too much, as changes are gradually on the way already. We wish the lovely people of Cuba well in times to come. -
Julie T about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Resort & SpaReview about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Hotel
Excellent “Honeymoon to Heaven!!! ???”
We stayed in one of the normal Suites and luved it! No complaints!!! Maid service was always there and ready to help. The restaurants were fabulous! You can change your money in the lobby. Different entertainment every night! Live music in most of the restaurants! No problems with towels, drinks, lounge chairs....everythings perfect. Hurry up, dont wait any longer.....just go!!! -
Ali Sina S about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Resort & SpaReview about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Hotel
Excellent “Faultless ”
I stayed at royal service. It was simply great. The only thing I might complain was that on windy days they allow kiteboarding and its really dangeorous to swim. They should be allowed far from beach not 15mts awa . -
johnwendywoo about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Resort & SpaReview about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Hotel
Excellent “Sheer luxury!! ”
We stayed part of our week in a basic suite, which was in one of the refurbished blocks across the way from the superior 'Royal Service' part of the resort. This was a lovely clean and well appointed suite. However when we moved half way though our stay (pre-planned) to a suite in 'Royal Service' we really felt we had landed in a different resort - amazing service, food, drinks - there was NOTHING we could fault, the best holiday ever (and yes I am used to 5*+ service...) Hope to visit again!! -
Lorraine S about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Resort & SpaReview about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Hotel
Excellent “Fantastic Place”
Have just got back from 10 days at this resort. From the private transfer that we got from Havana and then being upgraded to the Royal Service as we were celebrating our 25th Wedding Anninversary. We were met at the Royal Service by Norma the manager then introdused to Hector out Butler who took us to our room and offered to unpack our cases, did decline this as didnt want anyone looking at my dirty undies,. He showed us round our room which had a huge bed and a seperate lounge and the biggest spa bath that i have ever seen then showed us our shower which was outside but un overlooked. All the staff here were so so nice and very helpful and to have the private beach and the private pool was just amazing. The restuarants on the main complex were all very good especially the Japannesse one which was amazing, you must all go to that one more than once....... Don't really know what else to say except that for us English all I would say that although this is a 5* Resort its a Cuban 5* Resort so there are little things that are not 5* but nothing that would stop me going back again. Fantastic time and would fully recommend a vist. -
VarietyOntario about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Resort & SpaReview about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Hotel
Excellent “PARADISE ”
This was our 16th stay in Varadero and the 14th stay at PPDM. We wouldn't stay anywhere else but here! Love the Royal Service and the swim- up rooms, but have to say the suites on "The Hill" are still our #1 choice for size and comfort. Thank you to all the staff for making us feel like "family" once again. We'll be back soon. -
globemex about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Resort & SpaReview about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Hotel
Excellent “Loved it! ”
Great vacation, relaxing, comfortable with a great vibe. Kiteboarding out front, although the wind was not there but one day. From the very start, ALAIN took our bags in a cart to our room and he made us feel at home and very welcomed. His friendly hospitality did not end there as he made us feel like part of the paradisus family every time we walked into that lobby bar (which was often- best service and latte and pina coloda on site). MAYTE is someone you must must meet, her energy and GENUINE enthusiasm make you feel at home and welcomed. You can find her teaching spanish lessons - which i surprisingly learned a lot in a week, or running the aerobics classes- zumba and yoga OR smashing volleyballs on the beach- she's an all around SUPER asset to this resort!!! Just ask around the pool, she'll be there somewhere....Donde esta MAYTE! The beach is beautiful, we walked both directions and this section of beach was perfect (better for launching than some places we saw). All the staff we met were super engaging especially if you are engaging too. I tried my spanish with many people (Elysia in the buffet, Javiar, Felix by the pool and all the wonderful staff at the lobby bar, Adonis and Oleste in Sakura- great japanese restaurant) and they were all very great people!! The food at the ala cartes was great, the entertainment was great and the buffet was ok if you are patient (stand in line for the hot stuff). I have to say that my only poor rating would have to be the stocking of the mini bar- not a big deal but everyday there was something missing- water being the most disappointing as it is a long way to go to get some and it is necessary. Cervezas were not there everyday either (and we did tip) and draft beer is not my thing so a bit sad. Overall, due to the great people we met and Alain and Mayte, I would definitely come back to this resort! Muchos Gracias Paradisus del Mar! -
AndyMcKenna about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Resort & SpaReview about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Hotel
Excellent “Well kept great resort ”
Stayed for two weeks Oct.26 to Nov 9 2014 and enjoyed the surroundings,beach,pools and gardens. Service was great lots to eat and drink c/w entertainment in the evening in the lobby and Plaza.Food was good but not great.Check in is at 400 pm and checkout is at 1200.Rooms were clean and comfortable with a 27 " flat screen TV c/w sat tv stations.The only problem we had was the cleaning lady would come late everyday at 400 pm when we wanted to take a nap and get out of the sun.( we requested an early clean up time and no problem Done) Rented a scooter a view days at the car rental on the property and went to the downtown area and market for a day its about a half hour into town. Al la carts were good for a change from the dining room but you have to book them early like as soon as you get there.Catamarans are fun to sail and they also have a few small lasers ,Kayaks and paddle boats.They have a guided tour to a small reef for snorkel diving they will take you to tons of fish and sea life to see c/w under water pictures.All in all had a good time and enjoyed the R&R.(get your lounge chairs and umbrellas early as they go fast) I would recommend this resort to anyone thinking of going as this was our second time here.we stayed in building #6 room 6336 third floor and had a beautiful view of the beach and the Ocean. Go and Enjoy.... -
Gary M about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Resort & SpaReview about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Hotel
Excellent “Great vacation”
Loved this Resort. The staff is great. The cigar bar and piano bar are very nice and entertaining. The food was good the room was clean and comfortable. The beach is beautiful. Yea we waited a bit for our room, but hey your in Cuba. We changed in the washroom and explored the resort while we waited. I loved the two 24 hour cafés and the beach bar BBQ mmmmm good. If you can't have a great vacation here, then you won't be happy anywhere. -
TriviaDave about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Resort & SpaReview about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Hotel
Excellent “Nothing but the BEST! ”
We just returned from an amazing week at Paradisus Princesa Del Mar and have nothing but great things to write... What a great resort. We were the last ones to be dropped off after all other passengers. On arrival at the resort, we were greeted with a cold drink in the main lobby and within a couple of minutes we were advised of getting upgraded to the ?Royal Service?. A buggy took our luggage to the Royal Service area of the resort where we were welcomed with cool towels and a glass of champagne, while we waited for our room to be ready. Accommodation: We were in a garden view room with the pool right at the foot of the sun-bed. The room was very spacious, clean and well stocked. The shower outdoors was certainly unique. Food: My husband and I are vegetarians and we had ample choices. The buffet as well as the a-la-carte restaurants were great. Our favourites were Sakura (Japanese) and the Hill Top. Service we received was top notch, food was freshly prepared. The grill in the Royal Service pool area is also worth checking out. Entertainment: We enjoyed the music in the courtyard between 9 to 10 followed by the show of the day. Waiters are available to take your orders for the drinks. Gym: Excellent equipment, ellipticals, treadmills and weight stations. The trainer was always on-site for assistance. We also went to the yoga classes at 9.30 everyday, Mayte the Yoga teacher was very motivating and had a great sense of humour. Spa: We enjoyed a couples massage and our masseurs Ana and Naomi did a great job and we felt totally relaxed. The facilities are wonderful. Try to go slightly early to enjoy the ambiance. Hairdresser: I cannot remember her name but she was great, I got a haircut that I was looking for. So happy I went there and did not wait till I got home. Service: We could not have asked for better service. We had a few butlers during our one week stay and they were all great! (Pedro, Hector, Miquel, Ernesto and Yaniel). Their manager; Norma also was always very easy to find, however we only chit chatted with her mostly. Beach: Alex and Mila at the beach bar were truly great. The service was exceptional. The sun beds were always available and positioned exactly the way we wanted them. Mila made sure we were well hydrated. We also encountered several other exceptional people at the resort; Yaine and Belkis (two servers at the pool bar and grill); Belkis and Toneil at the Miramar Restaurant; Danny (the gardener, who arranged for fresh coconuts daily); the two entertainers; Marisol (the spanish teacher) and Yosney who gave us an amazing foot massage. We really enjoyed this resort. The staff took pride in their jobs and called this their resort, their home. They truly went out of their way to make sure we, the visitors were comfortable and looked after. We will definitely go back, and maybe even pay upfront for the Royal Service. -
Dan W about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Resort & SpaReview about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Hotel
Excellent “Very relaxfull resort with very friendly staff. ”
My wife and our two goods friends enjoyed a ten day holiday at this resort. All be it the food in the main restaurant is not always hot, there are cooks right there to cook it fresh for you. Canadians are used to eating beef Cuba has a shortage however they have other food that works just as good. The staff were are very friendly and go out of their way to ensure you have a lovely holiday. You don't need a lot of cash outside of top money unless you pay for your day trips in cash. I would revme -
lina d about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Resort & SpaReview about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Hotel
Excellent “beautiful stay..we had such a wonderful time ”
our stay was a wonderful week..the beach .was impeccable.. wonderful service.....18 and over ..resort...so peaceful.. thank you ...and would recommend this place and the management to commend for their great attitude, knowledge..their smiles...service. Yoel Torriente Dianelys Vergare Liuba Diaz Gonzalez Abel Manuel Aguillo -
LovedCuba20 about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Resort & SpaReview about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Hotel
Excellent “Wonderful vacation in paradise ”
We were in this hotel for a week in October. It was fantastic. We had no issues. Great food, great room, wonderful staff and the beach was so beautiful. The staff is very friendly. Everyone says hello to you including the maintenance staff. We were very pleased. We especially enjoyed the beach bar and our specialty drinks from Victor. The bartenders were so fun and great to talk to:) There are 4 a la carte restaurants. We really enjoyed the Japanese and French cuisine. But when we ate at the buffet we were also pleasantly surprised. We hope to go back one day. We definitely recommend this hotel. Thanks Paradisus Princesa del mar! -
Lolcia46 about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Resort & SpaReview about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Hotel
Excellent “Awesome! ”
Absolutely loved it. Beautiful beach, shallow and gradually getting deeper water. When you finally get back on sand there is Victor and Richard waiting with your drinks. Very clean and looked after property.Try a fish from a grill or a chicken from the charcoal pit. We got an invite to Royal section for a dinner, Wow. A la carte dinner every night. Japanese for an entertainment. French; lobster, wine ..and waiter Fernando. Italian, excellent service all around. Can't wait to go back and do it all over again. -
Luca B about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Resort & SpaReview about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Hotel
Excellent “Better than I expected ”
Resort was clean, food and alcohol 24/7. Food is not great but I did not go hungry, there always something to eat and a la cart restaurants. Rooms were very clean, pools were clean, beach was beautiful. It's further down the road so we drove past many hotels on the bus to the airport and to Varadero. Our resort looked much nicer in comparison to most and many people had complaints about their hotels. The Paradisus was better than I expected for a Cuban Resort. We went last week of October, not many guests, so it was pretty quiet. Weather was perfect. Staff was very friendly and decent nightly entertainment. From the lobby you walk straight out the pool and continue straight towards the beach. I would recommend bringing some bug spray because the mosquitoes can be bad at night or early morning. -
Eufemia L about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Resort & SpaReview about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Hotel
Excellent “Paradise exists ”
Perfect location, delicious food, bar in the pool, superb beach, music and activities, relaxing atmosphere, very nice staff...the right place for a real break and an unforgettable experience. I will definitely recommend it! -
longtimetravelling about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Resort & SpaReview about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Hotel
Excellent “Wonderful first trip to Cuba ”
My wife & I married in 1982 and never really had a proper honeymoon and then came careers and family so last year we decided to finally have a second honeymoon on our anniversary in 2014. We looked at the Caribbean but of the main resorts most were out of our budget and then a friend suggested Cuba. We looked at several companies and Jessica at Holidays Please gave the best information and advice and we selected Paradisus Princesa del Mar Resort & Spa flying with Virgin Airlines to Havana then transferring to the hotel. It is nearly a 3 hr drive as the coach stops at every hotel along the tourist peninsular so if you can afford a private transfer we would advise taking it. On arrival we were amazed to find that we had been upgraded to the Royal service Suites (room 7170), due to our anniversary celebration. As we arrived after 11pm we didn't meet our butler Ari until the Wednesday afternoon and when off her colleague Kenia took over, they could not have been kinder and more helpful and genuinely wanted us to have a great time and this is true of all of the hotel staff we met during our stay, the gardeners keep the grounds spotless and make the most wonderful origami style animals from the palm fronds, the maids a pool/restaurant and bar staff ask you about your day, plans etc and we never once felt we were being pressured to give tips, we did so where we felt it was right and proper to do so. We ate in all of the restaurants and had a great night with some German guests at the Sakura, all food was well presented and of good quality and if you engaged with the chefs and waiting staff you could have it cooked to your liking. As staying in the Royal service area we could have breakfast at the Miramar we chose. However, to have it mostly at the main buffet restaurant as the atmosphere was less formal and we had a great rapport with two members of staff in particular Elidis and Javir, they were funny, efficient friendly and happy to help me with my rather poor attempts at Spanish and to pass on their local knowledge of Varadero. We were invited to a honeymooners evening at the piano bar and were given the lovely surprise of a free massage session at the spa (which was wonderful - thank you Anna), Evening entertainment was good, if a bit dated (the magic show for example), and the dance groups and bands were full of energy, the pool water ballet was something I have not seen anywhere else. The virgin rep was at the hotel every evening except Sunday and again was very helpful and knowledgeable about the best excursions etc. The beach was beautiful and weather still warm for the time of year, although very windy during the second week, beach bar staff again very friendly and helpful. The only very small problems we had during our stay was one day without hot water and one evening meal at the Miramar had to be returned as it was completely raw in the centre, but all sorted out without fuss. the pool areas can get busy when lots of guests arrive especially in the Royal Service area but we always found the beach area almost empty on most days. All in all we had a fantastic time and the friendliness of the staff and local people are enough for us to want to save up and return let alone the great facilities the hotel offers, one last thing if you book a tour of Havana and are lucky enough to get Ellie as your guide you are in for a great trip. -
Steve M about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Resort & SpaReview about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Hotel
Excellent “A taste of the high life.”
We spent 5 nights at this adults only resort towards the end of October this year. We arrived after a difficult few days in the South of Cuba and were worried about what we might find. On arrival we thought we'd died and gone to heaven. My wife almost cried. We got out of the transport at the main hotel reception and were approached by a porter who informed us that we were to be considered Royal Service Guests. "Are you sure?" I asked. "We didn't book that." "Si Senor - Please to check the list here." Sure enough, there we were. Don't know how we got the upgrade, but NEVER dentally examine a horse you receive for free! Thank you Paradisus! The porters loaded our luggage onto golf carts. "But we haven't checked in," I said. "No Senor. Royal Service check in this way...." After a brief ride through beautiful gardens and past the biggest pool I have ever seen, we drove through the Royal Service "arch" and then it got interesting! We arrived at the dedicated reception area- 5* written all over it. Attentive staff keen to allow us a fast check in and minimum of fuss. We were introduced to our butler. (Although he's actually more of a concierge by Euro standards.) But helpful and kind nevertheless. Golf cart to the apartment. The Royal Service accommodation is brand new. Two storey blocks set around a superb pool, each room with either garden or generous balcony. Absolutely perfect. The rooms are spacious with good air con. The mini bar etc are all included, so no nasty checkout bills. Top tip #1 - Ask your butler to customise the mini bar with your favourite tipple. He'll be happy to do that for you, The bathroom has it all. Huge whirlpool bath - Big enough for two(!) Woooo! Walk in shower with tropical rain shower head or high pressure power shower. Separate WC with a phone!. Really good quality toiletries are included. Ladies will love it, Pamper paradise. Top tip #2 - spend 10 Pesos and treat the lady to a butler prepared herbal essence bath complete with candles before dinner. See how the other half live! Plenty of soft clean towels renewed daily. Many have commented on toilet roll being rationed. This is not so. There is no shortage. Guests are encouraged to take it easy to save on the pollution. (I asked.) Huge beds. I mean huge, Comfortable and clean. TV has US news and an English movie channel. You'll love the "pillow menu." Internet is chargeable and expensive to standard guests. Royal Service Guests can have as much as they wish free from RS reception. Access comes via 1hr scratch cards with pass numbers. Signal is just about available in the rooms, but really the reception areas are the only sure bet. Even if you want to escape this for the week it's useful for flight check in on the way back which means you can choose your seats in advance. Food is great. Royal Service guests have the private "Miramar" restaurant for breakfast and lunch. Really good standard with very professional staff. You can eat there a la carte for dinner, but the menu stays the same every night. Has a nice 24/7 bar attached. Do it as a special and book seats at the other restaurants up at the main hotel plaza well in advance. Italian, French, Oriental and Japanese (I got to try being a Teppanyaki chef. Didn't end well, but I got some laughs!) All are very good and included, but not open every night. Once again, speak to the butler. He'll see you right. Please try the main buffet. It's the best I ever had, The choice is mind boggling. (Royal Service folks can eat anywhere.) RS area has a nice pool snack/lunch bar and the "Rock House" is a short walk away for similar (but this is open 24/7.) Pizzas, fries, sandwiches etc.They will serve beer and cocktails till dawn if you wish. Speaking of booze. Havana Club rum all round. Super stuff. Any cocktail you can name and a few you can't. The local beer is good too. No scrimping or short measures. The staff kept us well catered for. There is a beach bar where they bring it to your sunbed for you. Premium brands are free for RS guests I believe. The Piano Bar in the Main Plaza is really nice for a quiet intimate drink. Loved the "cigar bar." Does what it says on the tin. Ah. The beach. Clean white sand, plenty of sunbeds, warm turquoise water and safe. Loads of canoes, kayaks and sail boats to play with free. Here's a thing - SCUBA diving is effectively free! I'm an instructor and have never seen this before anywhere. Professional crews, fast boats and one dive a day free. Second is a nominal fee. All (well maintained) equipment is included. The diving is excellent quality for seasoned reef/wreck heads. Beginners are taught free.The hotel beach is cleaned every night, The staff place your towels on the sunbed and adjust the position for maximum comfort. Less than 2 mins from the rooms. Splendid. I've mentioned them quietly throughout this review, so you may not have noticed them. The staff. That is how they are. Quietly efficient, friendly and unobtrusive. Their commitment to customer service was beyond the call of duty. More than anything, they stole our hearts. The genuine kindness and generosity of Cubans throughout the holiday all over the Island impressed us. But at this resort they had all that plus the professional training and good will to make our holiday above all expectations. You feel it the day you leave. I miss them. Overall, was this really a 5* break? In most areas yes. But it would not be fair (or believable) if I did not add some balance. Sometimes it was hard to get hold of the butler. I think they deal with perhaps too many clients each to be always available. The restaurant booking system can be unpredictable. We were told certain restaurants were fully booked when they clearly weren't -But when we made an issue of this we were accommodated. On the last day we were being picked up at 1pm for the long airport run. We left a little disappointed and a lot hungry as it proved impossible to get a meal before we left. All the restaurants told us they did not open for lunch till 1pm. Ok, but even the supposedly open 24/7 outlets told us we could not get anything till then which was strange. We reported this to reception and they apologised, promising something would be brought to our room. Sadly it never arrived. We had been treated like kings till that point, so this took the shine off just a little. Welcome the coming, speed the parting guest? So If the directors read this, it is the one criticism I would raise. So. Overall, if you are looking for an intimate holiday with excellent service and high standards - this is for you. Book with confidence. I do accept that this review effectively concentrates on Royal Service, but that's the experience we had (for some reason.) I don't know too much about the standard accommodation, but the Royal Service would be worth the extra money in my view. Great vacation. Muchas Gracias y Viva Cuba!!! -
beccab82 about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Resort & SpaReview about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Hotel
Excellent “Amazing place to stay! ”
My husband and I did a dual centre honeymoon in Cuba and stayed at the Princess Del Mar in Varadero for our beach part of the holiday. From start to finish, we could not fault the hotel or the staff. We were upgraded immediately to royal service and taken over to that reception by golf buggy, met with cool towels and champagne and taken to our room. The room was beautiful and exceptionally clean. Our butlers for our stay couldn't so enough for us, and all of the staff were very friendly and helpful (especially at the royal service pool bar!). The food was delicious and we would highly recommend Sakura and the hilltop. We also had a couples massage in the spa which was very relaxing. If you are looking for your own little piece of paradise where nothing is to much too much trouble than look no further than the Princess Del Mar. I certainly hope we make it back for a return visit. -
windswept361 about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Resort & SpaReview about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Hotel
Excellent “Fantastic resort - returning this year for our 8th visit. ”
Paradisus Princesa Del Mar The fact that we have returned to stay at Princesa del Mar 7 times is a clear indication of of how much we enjoy this hotel. We have stayed at and toured other locations in Varadero and from our perspective, this is the best resort in the area. We can honestly say that we have had fantastic vacations with every visit to Paradisus Princesa Del Mar. Restaurants One of the best features of Paradisus Princesa del Mar is the number of a-la-carte restaurants (7) and the quality of food. Most of the restaurants and located along the perimeter of the plaza which helps to create a village atmosphere as the evening entertainment is usually in the plaza as well. All are very good to excellent. In the plaza area are Marseille (French), Firenze (Italian), Sakura (Japanese), Bamboo (Oriental). Sakura is always fun with Teppanyaki style cooking and especially with Chef Evilio. The Port Royal is terrific for lunch and has a great variety of wood fire BBQ options. Last year the Racquet Club was closed for maintenance and the Rock House (were we normally enjoyed traditional Cuban fare) was turned into the 24-hour snack bar/restaurant - a great place for breakfast and lunch where Dayli, Yisel and Daimi are so pleasant and make terrific cappuccinos. In the Royal Service section, Miramar is modern decor yet welcoming, the Hill-Top is classic and elegant. The Gran Terraza buffet was recently remodelled and is now fully air-conditioned. It is a large buffet with very good selection. The new out-door patio section is a nice lunch location. Rooms We have always had clean, comfortable rooms at this resort. The standard Junior Suite rooms are large with bed and sitting area. Mini bar in the room was stocked with water, soft-drinks, and beer each day. The Royal Service suites are very spacious with large balconies and great views. Have not yet stayed in the new Royal Service section, but the new suites with swim up pool look very nice. Bars Too may to list, but have to say that favourites are Piano Bar, Lobby Bar and Beach Bars. The staff at the Piano Bar, Yusmila, Yaimi and Yuniel (the bartender) always provide service with a big friendly smile and usually a few hugs. They also provide wait service in the plaza during the evening entertainment and we are amazed with how many beverages they can manage on their trays. At the Lobby Bar, Yenni , Sandi and the others always provide terrific service. Be prepared for friendly service and a few laughs at the beach bar with Victor and Milagro (we missed Mila at the beach last year as she was working at the spa). Service The staff are typically well trained, courteous and professional at Princesa del Mar. Upon arriving at the resort we are welcome by the bellmen who take care of the luggage. Bellman, Carlos, always makes extra effort to make guest?s experience a little more special. Beach The beach is wide and has a large number of lounge chairs and several palapas should you prefer some shade. The beach is very clean at Paradisus Princesa del Mar. There is more of a mix of sea shells in the sand than you would find in the beach area nearer downtime Varadero. The beach runs a long way beyond the hotel frontage in both directions so long walks or morning jogs are easily accommodated. Pools The main pool is actually several pools joined together in the centre of the resort. There are many lounge chairs but they could use a few more. There are usually activities going on around the pool to keep you entertained. The Hilltop pool in an infinity pool and has great views. The new Royal Service section pool runs long the villas providing swim up room access. Royal Service pool has under-water lighting that constantly changes colours in the evenings. Animation (activity) staff There are several activities arranged each day for this who like to keep busy. Felix will keep you in shape with aqua-aerobics, while Maiti will keep you flexible with yoga. Raydel will lead you through wine-tasting. These are just a few of the staff and activities to keep you entertained. The evening entertainment from bands, to dance productions, to magic shows are the best that we have seen in Cuba, Dominican or Mexico. -
Bill K about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Resort & SpaReview about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Hotel
Excellent “Our Cuban Home ”
We just returned from the Paradisus Princesa. We upgraded to the ?Royal Service,? thanks to Glenda and her co-worker. Who both, displayed a high grade of professionalism and warmth and friendliness. The ?Royal Service? was beyond our expectations. Never,on all our travels, have we experienced such an excellent treatment! We felt like family members of ALL of the staff. They were all striving for perfection. In this time of the season, (Low) there is no problem to find a lounge chair around the pool or beach. We like to thank the following staff in the regular part of the Paradisus (Not the Royal): Yarian, the lobby bar waiter, who gave it his very best to please us and make us feel at home. Yeni and Ketty, who both would give us a hug when we entered their working area. Then there was Yeli, the door attendant at the buffet, who would always greet us with a beautiful smile and a hearty welcome. Sheyla and Marlenys, who would serve us at no end. One note to the manager: The washrooms at the pool and next to the Chinese restaurant, are always without sanitary paper and paper towels or electric hand dryer. This is a part which should not be neglected. Otherwise, the pool area is in excellent condition, for which I would like to give praise to all the hard working staff! Royal Service: Excellent, excellent, excellent!Our butlers, Kenia and Ari; Thank you so much for making this vacation the best we had ever! This resort is a big property. But one has only to call the bell boy, and he will pick you up in a golf cart, to take you where ever you like to go in the resort. Tipping is not expected at all, and will have no effect on the service. But when you see the effort, displayed by the staff, to please you, who will not show his/her appreciation? Then, there were the pool attendants: Alfredo, Vladimir, and Yosney. As soon as we would enter the pool area, they would literally run to set up your lounger and parasol in a way that you like it. Belkis, at the pool bar What a sweetheart! We love her. Always remembered what our favorite drinks were. At last but not least, there was Raydel (TuTu) who gave us the Spanish lessons and the rum tasting demonstration. What a warm and all around intelligent friend! I called him ?my son.? When we left on our homeward journey, all of them hugged us and kissed us like we were family members, and not too many eyes were dry! We will definitely return to this place which we call now our Cuban home! -
MagditaB about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Resort & SpaReview about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Hotel
Excellent “Excellent vacations ”
We were in October 2014 on our honeymoon. It was a great hotel and service. All people really nice and helpful. The hotel is for adults only, we found that great for our relax and rest. There were many activities every day to take part in. The food was diverse, but even tough they have 4 different restaurants a la carte, it was hard to find gourmet meals. Aside from that the food was good in general. -
Brian-Cathy about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Resort & SpaReview about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Hotel
Excellent “Paradise @ Paradisus ”
If you are looking for a top notch all inclusive adult only resort ? look no further! This was our first trip to Varadero and it won?t be our last. This resort surpassed all our expectations. We arrived early evening from Toronto. We had taken advantage of Sunwings upgrade with priority luggage/seating, etc and our bags were first on the carousel at the airport. Instead of waiting for all the other passengers to get through customs and board the shuttle bus to the resort, we opted to spend the $50 and take a taxi directly to the property. This saved us at least an hour since the taxi ride was a 30 minute direct trip vs the hour & half it took other passengers since there were 6 drop off hotels prior to arriving at Paradisus if we had taken the bus. Upon arriving at the property, the service was excellent. Our check in was courteous & fast. Had a welcome champagne and then the porters loaded our bags onto the golf cart shuttle and took us to our rooms. We did not book the Royal Service at the hotel, we stayed in the regular side of the resort, in building 5 which we found ideally situated to everything in the resort. Rooms ? very spacious with a king bed, sitting area, large closet (with lot?s of hangers), lot?s of drawer space, large balcony overlooking the gardens and partial ocean view, large bathroom. Our only complaint of the entire property was we found the beds very hard (we would take a mattress pad on our next trip back) and my wife found the lighting poor in the bathrooms. But exceptionally clean and nice rooms. Grounds ? meticulously groomed & clean. Many flowers, shrubs, palms, etc. There are gardeners everywhere working hard to ensure of the upkeep & beauty of the resort. Beach ? beautiful white sand. Very deep beach, loads of sea shells. Lot?s of beach chairs and palapas. Beautiful blue, shallow water. There is a beach bar at the entrance to the beach. Victor & Yarian are the best. We never had to move from our beach chairs, they were always there with fast, courteous service and always a smile. They really go out of their way for you. It was my birthday on the 13th and they surprised us with a bottle of champagne & birthday cake on the beach! That special extra touch! Felix and his entertainment staff were also great. Always something to do at the beach ? water aerobics, volleyball, dancing. Had music playing from around 10 until 2. We wish they had kept the music playing later in the day however. Pool ? beautiful pool area with plenty of loungers and day beds (usually taken early). Swim up bar with great service. We are beach people so only hit the pool around 5pm after the day at the ocean for drinks at the swim up bar. Restaurants ? This resort has the best buffet restaurant we have seen in Cuba. Food was awesome. An enormous selection of anything you could want. We ate here everyday for lunch and a couple dinners. Maday was excellent ? she always had our table reserved and remembered we liked to have mimosa?s in the morning and always had a bottle of champagne for us at lunch. Excellent service and great food. Japanese ? this was our favorite at the resort. We had sat at the teppanyaki table and the food was delicious. Had a lot of fun meeting others at the table. French ? Food was good, but the wine was excellent. Better than what is served elsewhere, but overall the wine at the resort is very good (we are wine drinkers). Italian ? Food was good, service a bit on the slow side. Our least favorite restaurant. Asian ? Was good, nothing over the top. Rock House - Very good pizza and papa frites (french fries) at this 24 hr snack bar. It is located beside building 5 and was perfect to grab a coffee/tea in the morning to take back and enjoy on our balcony. Nightly Entertainment ? There were nightly shows in the outdoor courtyard. They work hard to put on great entertainment and we enjoyed the shows. Gym ? we like to continue our workouts when we travel and this property had a very good fitness center. Stationary bikes, treadmills and large weight room area. They were just missing elliptical machines. Excursions ? We chartered a private boat for us and another couple we were traveling with. We were picked up around 9, a quick 5 minute drive to the marina and set sail for a reef in the middle of the ocean. Snorkeled a bit, then had a private lunch on the boat at a secluded island and more boating in the beautiful ocean. Returned to port around 4:30. It was a fun day at sea with the 4 of us. Coco & Lesaro were a great captain and first mate. Well worth the $ to have the boat to the 4 of us. Overall ? fantastic resort, extremely friendly & courteous staff, great food. We will definitely return! Thanks to the staff & management for making it a great holiday for us. -
VeronikaReview about Paradisus Princesa del Mar Hotel
Excellent luxurious
Princesa del Mar hotel was created to be the most luxurious Super-Inclusive 5-star resort in Cuba. Located on one of world’s finest beaches - Varadero Beach - combining an atmosphere of elegance, harmony with nature and relaxation. Only couples over 18 years of age are allowed.
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