Rating:
"Our visit at Arenas Doradas was FANTASTIC! The resort is clean and the staff friendly. It's close to the beach and there are lots of amenities. The buffet was..a buffet. The food was of good quality and the earlier you get there the better. The beef is not very good in Cuba because, as one of our tour guides told us, the cows are basically used for milk and then fattened up for beef when they are no longer good for dairy, so there aren't reallly any beef cattle around. When in doubt, have the pork - Cubans love pork - or the chicken.

As a resort catering to an international market, the buffet tries to cater to all tastes and sometimes the interpretation of dishes is a bit odd. I ordered a Monte Cristo sandwich at the snack bar by the pool and it was served as a grilled ham and cheese sandwich with a fried egg on top. I wasn't disappointed, however, as it was an interesting interpretation.

The snack bar by the pool converts to an a la carte restaurant in the evening which serves cuisine with a more authentic Cuban flavour. I got into a couple of conversations with the staff about preparation and one server told us, "This is the type of food we eat in Cuba". The food has very subtle flavours using garlic, lemon juice, garlic and onions. The rice and black beans are always there and prepared differently at different times - sometimes seperatly, sometimes mixed together. I had the pork one time and the lamb stew another, both were great! Our server was quite pleased that we showed an interest in their preparation. Make sure you book your a la carte meals early as the restaurants fill up quickly.

The bar by the beach also serves meals with a Cuban flavour during the day and often serve Grilled shrimp. The shrimp are grilled whole, head on and in their shells, so you have to work for your meal if you have the shrimp.

AND...the ice cream is TO DIE FOR!! Cubans love ice cream and are good at it.

So, make an effort to check out (search out) the real cuisine, ask the staff questions, and you won't be disappointed."
Reviewer: reviewer9801
Date: Feb. 22, 2012

Rating:
"We stayed at Arenas Dorados in Varadero, Cuba at the end of January 2011. I enjoyed my stay very much. I travel around the globe and this was my first time to Cuba. I liked the room that we had and my only complaint would be the centipede living in the bathtub drain. I think it goes with the territory and it was rather funny when he only came out as I was taking my shower and not my roommate. The staff were hard to find on the resort....they were busy doin there chores and not too friendly or helpful. There were a few exceptions though and out waiter at dinner was very nice and the pasta chef was the friendliest guy Ive ever met. There were a couple bartenders who were glad to suggest drinks also. I spent very little time at the pool but the beach was a great place to relax. We did meet some people from Canada who complained about everything and changed there room twice but I think you get that wherever you go. The disco played our kind of music and not what we expected (carribean). A lot of the dancers went off the resort to a local disco which was better. I enjoyed my stay in Cuba...the weather was great. I didnt mind the food so much and was full after every meal.. All the reviews I read before we went made me worried...but I think it is what you make it and I had a great time."
Reviewer: Barbie212
Date: Feb. 14, 2011

Rating:
"-no oceanfront units ... bushes/shrubs between units and ocean
-grounds kept clean and well groomed
-food was OK .... we didn't starve .. always something we liked .. and the bread/buns were to die for
-desserts were very minimal and the same each night
-not much fresh fruit .. only one night they offered watermelon
-only had a change of beach towels once in the week .. excuse was .. no clean towels, cleaning service didn't return clean towels .. so needless to say, our towels were pretty rank by Day 5.
-staff were friendly and courteous except for one receptionist who hung up on me when i asked for 2 large bath towels for our room, because our maid didn't leave us any
-an expensive piece of my lingerie went missing from my suitcase .. i guess the maid thought it would look good on her
-our sunwing rep. knew NOTHING ABOUT the day trip to Havanna, with 5 hours of free time included, that was to happen once during our week ... it's advertised in the all inclusive package .. we were VERY DISAPPOINTED that we did experience this trip
-our fridge was only stocked with one large bottle of water, for the whole week ... we were under the impression that it was to be stocked with water, beer and soft drinks ... but only got ONE BOTTLE OF WATER FOR THE WHOLE WEEK
-lots of beach chairs and pool chairs, and shade
-this vacation was to just relax, and i did just that.
"
Reviewer: reviewer6099
Date: May. 01, 2010

Rating:
"Hi we went to Arenas Doradas on our Honeymoon and we had a bad experience ever. The food in the ressort was very nasty their was fly near the food on the buffet the food was not fresh at all my husband was sick after eating some eggs in sauce. The other restaurant in the ressort not better. Other travellers had bugbed and the legs of the lady was red with all the bite from the bugbed. But yes the staff was very pleasant but for the rest of it I was very disapointed because I taught it was a 4+***"
Reviewer: manou80
Date: Feb. 13, 2010

Rating:
"My husband & I visited Arenas Doradas Jan. 7-2010..for 2 weeks, then we had family join us the second week. We arrived at night & when we walked into the Lobby we thought we were at a French speaking Frat Party..really disapointing. This resort was filled with kids under 25..plus we hit the cold week. The rooms were all clean & simple, and th resort was also kept very clean ( after the kids left}..The pool & beach were wonderful, once the weather warmed up. If we had just booked a week, we would never have gone back there, but after the first week, it got very warm & the kids went home, so we really got to experience this resort. The food was very good, always a great selection ( the beach grill at lunch is one of the best ). There was never a problem getting loungers at the pool or beach..plenty. The staff was great..always there to help out & it's true after a few days they got to know you, your drinks were right there. All in all we would go back to this resort, it's a great value for the money & very casual."
Reviewer: reviewer630
Date: Jan. 27, 2010

Rating:
"Four us went to A.D. April 24 for 2 weeks. Let me start by mentioning a few positives. The staff for the most part were very good (With the exception of the hotel manager Juan). The food although very limited was quite good by Cuban Standards. The musicians at this resort are very good as well.
Our main issue with A.D. was the rooms and the managment and the children. This was our 13th trip to Varadero so we know exactly what to expect from a 3 (not 4) star resort but unfotunatly we extremely dissapointed by the accomodations and the lack of effort on the part of the hotel manager to the rectify the problems. The air conditioning was substandard and the beds were very very hard. The refridgerator did not work and is not stocked any way at this hotel. For 2 of the first 3 days, we found it impossible to get seats at the swim up bar because they were being occupied by the kids!
Day 4, after both couples had changed rooms ( our first change in 13 years) we decided enough was enough...and I contacted our rep in Halifax and Sunwing moved us to Breezes Varadero...a real 4 star.
Avoid this property at ALL COST! "
Reviewer: Hola Man
Date: May. 09, 2009

Rating:
"A wonderful experience! Large, very clean rooms and I didn't need a universal adapter to plug in my curling iron or charge my camera batteries! Beautifully landscaped property with a walkway to the white sandy beach where there were plenty of lounge chairs, and miles of beach to walk on. The 24 hour lobby bar was excellent with comfy chairs inside and tables and chairs outside and the bar tenders would mix any kind of drink you would like. The staff was terrific! Stop in and see Daniel at the pool bar and try one of his Daniel Specials and get my friend Marlen to show you how to dance the Salsa by the pool or play volleyball at the beach. Plenty of food and lots of places to eat. Cuban potatoes are the best and the snack bar by the pool has the best hamburgers and fries. This was my first time at this hotel and I will definitely go back! "
Reviewer: Anonymous [via Escapes.ca]
Date: Dec. 15, 2008

Rating:
"The Hotel was kept very clean each day. The grounds were beautiful manicured. The food was alright. Not a great selection but we never left hungry. However, that may be due to crops being damaged in recent hurricanes. Beautiful beach. Plenty of lounge chairs. Lots of room. The Entertainment staff are all a lot of fun, especially Marlene. She is always trying to get people involved. Daniel at the pool bar can mix any drink. Lots of mint..mojitos were excellent. Try the Daniel special...great. We had a great time."
Reviewer: Anonymous [via Escapes.ca]
Date: Dec. 03, 2008