Known for it’s cigars, rum, vintage cars, and communist dictatorship, this island country has a rich history and some fantastic beaches! It’s also one of the more affordable destinations in the Caribbean, with something for everyone. Whether it’s relaxing on a beach, enjoying nature, taking a tour of a rum or cigar factory, or exploring the historical city of Havanna – Cuba has you covered. Just keep in mind that it isn’t a wealthy country and its resources are limited, so you should temper your expectations somewhat and maybe subtract a star from the resort’s rating, to get a more accurate idea of the luxury or quality you should expect (i.e. a 5 star resort is probably closer to a 4 star). Of course, this is also a country where you can use gently-used clothing, gum, and cologne/perfume samples as currency, to tip your maids and mini bar attendants (as well as other hotel staff), so it’s a really good destination for those on a fixed or limited budget! 🙂
Getting there and around:
Cuba has several international airports, scattered throughout the island, so the commute to your hotel or resort shouldn’t take very long. I’ve been to Cuba twice – flying into Santiago de Cuba decades ago (prior to my accident), when it was still used by the military, and Veradero Airport (VRA), more recently. There are a few bridge connections at the Veradero Airport, so you may not have to worry about negotiating stairs down to the tarmac, if your plane is one of the lucky ones, or arrives at an off-peak time.
As it is in most of the Caribbean, your main way of getting around is by vehicle. Of course, Cuba is quite unique, when it comes to taxis, as most of the cars are older, American models from the 1950’s (prior to the trade embargo with the U.S.)! If you’re an automobile enthusiast, definitely take a ride in one of these classics, but don’t expect metered service – you’ll have to discuss how much your ride is BEFORE you get into the vehicle! Haggling or bartering isn’t a problem, so it shouldn’t cost you too much to get around.
If you’re travelling by coach/bus, most of the ones that I’ve seen don’t have a lift. So, please heed my advice from the ‘Resorts & Cruises’ page and let your travel company or tour provider know well in advance, if you’re unable to climb the stairs!
Where I stayed (year):
Riu Veradero – now Grand Memories Veradero (2011) – I guess you can take this review with a grain of salt, as I haven’t been back to the property since it changed ownership. But judging by the photos, it really hasn’t changed much, so I’ll continue with my original review (and will try to keep it brief ;).
It’s about a 30-45 minute drive from Veradero Airport, on the north side of the island. The resort is a decent size, but there’s no need for trams or golf carts to get around, even though the beach is a little ways from the main lobby. There wasn’t any access to the beach for my ‘chair, so I spent the majority of my time by the enormous pool – which actually had a walk-in, sloped section that I could have used, but didn’t (the idea of sitting on a soggy seat cushion and/or pushing a squeaky, rusting chair didn’t appeal ;). But as I always suggest, if you’re looking to explore the entire property and have trouble walking for an extended period, you should probably bring or rent a mobility device.
The resort has several restaurants & bars, a spa, gym, sauna, children’s section, nightly stage show/entertainment, disco (which was over-run with young teens, when I went), shops, and a 24 hr snack bar. Booking a meal at the a la carte restaurants was a bit of a pain and quite archaic, as you had to get up early and look for the woman at the desk, by the lobby, and hope she still had space in her reservations binder, by the time you showed up (it would fill up fast). Hopefully, the new owners have changed that, as well as the food in general, as it wasn’t anything to write home about (which has been the case both times I’ve been to Cuba). But then, one only needs to notice the emaciated cows that are standing by the roadsides, when you’re travelling outside of the resort, to understand why it sometimes takes you 5-10 mins to chew the roast beef. Accessibility at the buffet and around the grounds was actually pretty good, as it’s all one level, and the property is relatively flat.
Overall, the accommodations and resort itself are decent. Rooms vary in size and quality of amenities. I stayed in a regular room on the ground floor with some friends, so it was a bit tight, but I was able to get around alright. The door would make a loud screeching noise, when it opened, as it seemed to be scraping against the ground or door jamb (this was the case for quite a few of the ground floor rooms in our block). So, needless to say, there was no quietly sneaking in or out of the room and it wasn’t ideal for a light sleeper like me. As for the bathroom, I can’t recall whether it had much in the way of grab bars, or any other accessible features. I DO remember that I brought my own shower bench along and that the toilet seat actually fell off of the toilet, when I was transferring onto it one time (it was only held on by two open-ended hooks)! But I’m thinking there had to have been a grab bar or something for me to hold onto, since I didn’t slide away too. Rating: 3/5*
(* based on the previous property ownership)