Hotel Aguas Azules ex Club Amigo (Varadero, Cuba)

If anything, it’s the beach that makes this place so magnificent and most everyone would agree! It’s an azure blue and the ocean surface reflects the sun like a mirror. What’s more, there is plenty of cool shade and it’s kind of private. No boats disturbing your relaxation and no loud music from tourists as the resort is a bit far from other resorts and it never gets overcrowded. If you want to hang around the resort and have aquatic fun, the pools are immaculate too.

The staff members are pleasant, even humble. Your needs are their primary goal and requests are taken care of quickly. This type of hospitality is characteristic of everyone from the bus driver to the housekeeping staff, and the manager always tries to make sure he is available.

You won’t go hungry and there’s plenty of food choices. The Italian restaurant is one of the favourites. There is also a Cuban restaurant, but you have to reserve a table early to take advantage of the seafood restaurant. The buffet is delicious as well.

There are a ton of mosquitoes so make sure you bring some mosquito repellent. Then there are the flies that you may find cooked in your food or constantly landing on your food flies in the humid weather.

There seems to always be issues at this place with the bathrooms. Whether it’s the water pressure, too small/big toilet seat, mould, the bidet not functioning properly, or a number of other things.

Air conditioning is mainly in the room. Everywhere else you have to sweat it out.