While travel to Cuba can be a bit challenging and confusing for Americans these days thanks to changes made by the current administration, individuals can still visit, but they must qualify under other categories of U.S.-permitted travel such as traveling for humanitarian or religious purposes, journalistic reasons or family visits.
While the ins and outs are somewhat complicated, it may be worth the effort to get through the red tape for a chance to visit this nation while the opportunity is still there to experience a more authentic way of life, before places like Walmart or McDonald’s move it. And, for Canadians and other non-American citizens, you can still enjoy traveling there just as you always have. When you do, consider a stay at one of the country’s best all-inclusive resorts.
Melia Cayo Coco
Melia Cayo Coco is a luxurious, adults-only resort located near Las Coloradas Beach, Ciego de Avila and the Jardines del Rey archipelago. It offers cozy colorful bungalows built on stilts over the saltwater lagoon, linked to the mainland by a causeway over the sea. Each one includes a flat-screen TV, minibar, private balcony or terrace, and a rainfall shower in the bathroom. It’s a great place to base your stay for enjoying a variety of water sports, scuba diving and fishing, or just relaxing on the sand or around the pool. There are five specialty restaurants onsite and five bars, serving traditional Cuban and international cocktail options, and you’ll also find a fitness center to help you work all those calories off.
Royalton Hicacos Resort & Spa
Royalton Hicacos Resort & Spa is a former Sandals resort that continues to keep guests coming back. An adult-only property, it’s all about highly attentive service here, including a butler for every guest. It sits on what may be the biggest and best beach in Varadero, and its all-inclusive package is the best value around. Just about everything is included in the room rates, not only the butler service, but access to the spa and even scuba diving lessons and the first dive. Guests can also take advantage of daybeds to lounge around one of several pools, non-motorized water sports and dining on lobster at the seafood restaurant without paying extra. The resort also offers an impressive entertainment program that includes weekly foam parties at the pool.
Paradisus Princesa del Mar Resort and Spa
Paradisus Princesa del Mar is one of the rare true luxury, all-inclusive resorts in Varadero. Also adult-only, its rooms offer elegant furnishings, all with a terrace or balcony and either a pool or ocean view. By booking one of the Royal Service rooms you’ll get some extra-lavish perks like butler service and jetted tubs, or even direct pool access. Guests here tend to enjoy hanging at one of the three swimming pools, two that include swim-up bars, or on the beach. The resort hosts seven restaurants and a cigar bar along with a host of activities day and night. Enjoy the usual, like snorkeling as well as dance classes, arts and crafts and cooking demos as well as Spanish, cocktail and percussion lessons, nautical festivals, aerobics, tai chi, aqua gymnastics, painting and wine tasting. Live music and shows are offered as well.
Fiesta Americana Costa Verde Plus Beach Resort
The Blau Costa Verde Plus Beach Resort is surrounded by crystal clear turquoise waters, lush tropical vegetation and tranquil gardens. Located in eastern Cuba about 35 miles from Holguín’s city center, it’s a family-friendly property with an all-inclusive package that includes all meals, separate pools for the adults and kids, in-room minibars and equipment for water sports, including sailing, windsurfing, canoeing and kayaking. It also hosts a Cuban souvenir shop, gym, wellness area and massage services. Guests can rent bicycles, motorbikes or cars.
Melia Jardines Del Rey
Melia Jardines Del Rey is a huge family-friendly resort with 1,176 rooms. While you’re unlikely to find much in the way of peace and quiet, there is practically an endless list of activities to enjoy. It hosts pristine white sandy beach that edges the aquamarine sea, two massive pool zones with swim-up bars – one designed for fun and the other for relaxation, a wide range of water sports, leisure activities like tennis and archery, quality nighttime entertainment and a decadent spa with a pool and treatments made with Cuban ingredients. When it comes to dining, you’ll have your pick of nine all-inclusive eateries, some with a la carte menus, plus six bars.
Be Live Los Cactus Hotel
The Hotel Los Cactus offers a good value in Varadero, with its main attractions a beautiful white sandy beach and a lively pool. Rooms all include a balcony or terrace for enjoying views of the Caribbean, but you’ll probably want to spend most of your time outside of those four walls. The property hosts a water sports center offering access to outstanding diving and snorkeling, along with four tennis courts, a gym, craft shop and a disco. The beautiful grounds are filled with local flora, and the staff serves up spit-roasted pig and fresh coconut water in the shell.
Sol Palmeras
The Sol Palmeras is a massive resort that’s especially popular with families as it offers a ton of things to do for the kids, though adults will find plenty too. The all-inclusive rates include free water-sport rentals, a game room with PlayStation2 and Wii and all the usual fun in the sun, including a spectacular beach and two swimming pools. There are over 400 rooms and 200 bungalows that make an especially comfortable stay for families and groups of friends, with dining spaces, mini-kitchens and multiple bedrooms.
Hotel Colonial Cayo Coco
The Hotel Colonial is a mid-range beachfront resort with the enticing appearance of a charming Spanish village. There are 458 rooms in vibrantly colored colonial buildings set across palm tree-dotted grounds with two beautiful pools. While the rooms are basic, all come with a furnished balcony and either a pool, garden or sea view. The hotel has three à la carte restaurants, a main buffet, Italian and a criollo restaurant. Guests will find lots to do with everything from water sports like sailing, snorkeling and windsurfing to pool games and aerobics.
