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Nestled on the white-sand shores of Varadero, Royalton Hicacos Resort & Spa offers discerning travelers an unforgettable all-inclusive experience in Cuba. Combining the island's charming culture with exceptional service and incredible attention to detail, Royalton Hicacos is a cut above the rest with its all-inclusive resort facilities designed to create the perfect ambience for relaxation. ADULTS-ONLY LUXURY Valuable information: -The hotel is 220V type C (round 2 prong) connection so we recommend bringing a travel adapter. -A la cart restaurant system is first come, first serve.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
First time going to an all inclusive, and I wasn't sure what to expect. Long story short, this was an absolutely amazing experience and I would recommend every Canadian to try this resort at least once if you're looking to escape the harsh winter.
All the staff members are very helpful and friendly and each room is assigned a butler or 2 who will go out of their way to make sure you have what you need. I would recommend downloading WhatsApp as this is the easiest way to communicate with them. The WiFi is not great and you may need to connect/sign in many times through the day, although this is not something we cared too much about.
I had booked this trip with the idea of proposing to my girlfriend on the beach (she said yes!) and had contacted the resort 1-2 months before we were to be there. They were more than happy to arrange decorations at the beach, a private dinner at the beach grill, champagne back at the room and more. A special thank you to Lisdiel and Marian who put so much effort into this and for making this such a memorable trip. Lisdiel even recorded the video on his phone while taking pictures from mine.
What most Canadians say about the food in Cuba is not to expect much, but we were blown away with the quality and variety of options. It was all fresh, and even though there are several options, my 2 favourites were the pearl and the buffet. I had enough steak, chicken, fish, salads, pastries, etc to point where I could have gone 3 days without eating after coming back to burn it all off.
No shortage on liquor, they were stacked with all of our favourites, and were very generous when pouring them as well. The service is exceptional.
The pools and beaches were amazing as well, no complaints at all or shortage of seating.
The hotel room was clean, spacious and seemed recently renovated. No shortage of hot water, drinking water was restocked every day, the cleaning staff also came by everyday to mop the floors and clean up and they did a great job.
I would recommend taking a good amount of USD in singles to tip waiters at the restaurants and bars, maybe some $5 bills, and a small amount of $10 or $20 bills for taxis. Do not exchange for pesos anywhere, at this point I believe even the good people of Cuba don't want them. If you must, don't take anything less than 300 pesos for $1usd. Don't be afraid to haggle if buying souvenirs outside the resort, or cigars at the beach. Everyone in and outside the resort is very friendly, and we quite literally have 0 complaints. I would also recommend to donate extra clothing, shampoos, soaps as this is not easy to obtain for Cubans.
Will definitely be coming back!
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Date of stay: December 2024
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Great hotel! Very attentive staff. Attached to each room is a butler who is available to solve any questions and help in any situation. We had David, an intelligent middle-aged man who spoke five languages. Russian taught himself and understands everything, loves Russia. All issues (there was no ashtray, one glass missing, specify the location of anything) were solved instantly. All the workers are smiling, say hello, ready to prompt and help. Cleaning the room every day. The only thing that mosquito and midge remedies must be taken with you. There's no chemistry at all. But that's the upside - it's all natural. Very delicious ice cream, natural juices, fresh, just plucked fruit... Lots of food is peculiar, but be sure to choose for yourself. I have an allergic son eating outside with gorgeous views. Three meats, potatoes, pizza, spaghetti - always full. Special attention - great animation! Cuban students speak (albeit poorly) English. From morning to evening, there are plenty of unobtrusive activities - from yoga in the morning, aqua aerobics in the ocean, beach volleyball, to incendiary dance shows after dinner. I want to mention Marie - the girl in animation did both yoga and recharge and taught local dance. Very talkative and attentive. There's a nightclub - bar and music. It's indoors at night so you don't disturb the others. The main bar next to the reception is very delicious cocktails, caring waiters and an evening programme with live music, songs and dances. Of course everyone is happy to tip, because there's huge inflation and minimum wages. But no one asks for or serves a view. It's up to you to smile all the time and worry about your vacation. Highly recommended!
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Date of stay: June 2024
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Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Обязательно берите с собой медикаменты и средства от комаров, мошек. Рекомендую взять маленькие...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I chose this resort because it aligned perfectly with my priorities: a stunning beach, lush gardens, good coffee, free Wi-Fi, great entertainment, and a restaurant by the sea. This resort exceeded my expectations in every way. the tranquility, beauty, and unique charm of this place made it feel like a true paradise.
Initially, I hesitated to visit Cuba due to concerns about shortages and power outages, but we experienced none of that at the resort. I’m so glad I came—it was a dream vacation, offering less travel time and lower costs than other sun destinations. Plus, it’s not plagued by the sargassum affecting much of the Caribbean.
I stayed in a regular suite (#1810) and loved it. The cozy space, with its beautiful furniture and terracotta tile flooring, was perfect. The beach was breathtaking—immaculately maintained and ideal for long walks. The surrounding resorts are also highly rated, making the entire stretch of beach safe, clean, and perfect for exploring. The resort’s gardens are captivating, filled with a variety of unique plants that any gardening enthusiast would admire. A delightful bonus to my stay was the presence of adorable cats roaming the resort. They added a charming touch to the already serene environment.
I thoroughly enjoyed the homemade fresh real fruit juices and ice creams featuring exotic fruits like guava, papaya and soursop—an absolute treat for the taste buds.
The entertainment was outstanding—so varied and well-organized and included fun activities like dance lessons on the beach, foam parties, water ballet, opera night and the live music at the lobby bar ,to name a few. I also immensely enjoyed the music selections played daily by the pool and beach areas.
Wi-Fi worked well in the lobby and lobby bar, and I often got a connection in my room too. The food and entertainment on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were simply unforgettable. I can’t imagine the effort it took for the management and staff to arrange such an incredible experience.
The entire staff—from reception to cleaning, maintenance, entertainment, and food service—were hardworking and accommodating. A special thanks to Diosdado George the butler, Rosa, Lina, Ana, Ramoncito, Yenisay, Leonis, and everyone else whose names I didn’t catch but who made my stay so enjoyable with their warm smiles and dedication. ¡Muchas gracias por todo y hasta pronto!
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Date of stay: December 2024
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Trip type: Travelled solo
Room Tip:I was very comfortable in suit 1810.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Was here mid-Dec. Place gets the 5 Star rating as the setup is really nice (rooms, beach, overall upkeep) Food gets a 2 star rating as it really has not changed much since I was last in Cuba 20yrs ago! Not sure why they cannot hire a head chef to come up with a better menu of items?? Never had a Fish Taco with veg's in it before (and it was not on a vegetarian menu) There are lots this (so called 5 Star resort) could do to make a guests stay much better, but they don't (or cannot due to embargo's, etc) Tip, take toilet paper with you if using a resort public washroom, as everyone I needed to use did not have any! The staff are nice and accommodating, but sometimes look confused when you ask them something basic.. Showers in the rooms need to be better engineered as they are in the large tub but hard to get under due to the tub walls slopping outwards making it hard to shower properly.. The Beach if fantastic and cleaned daily. The sand is super soft which is great. We did not upgrade to the Diamond Club option as it is $1k more, and not sure if it is worth it, as besides having a little different seating location, I could not see the real benefits to this.. In a regular Caribbean island this place would be a overall 3 Star resort. But do to little competition in Cuba with better Resort names (Hilton or Sheraton, etc) these resorts can call themselves 5 Star resorts.. It's the little things that make a resort a 5 Star location .. and it would not take a lot to change this place, but they cannot seem to move past these little things..
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Date of stay: December 2024
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Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:A little work could have made this place that much better..
You will need approx $400~$500 US...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We went as a group of 5 people, check in was smooth, since we got there past 9pm we had to eat at the bistro that is open all night sandwiches, always had juice available and coffee. We had an issue with one of the rooms where the AC was not working and it was very hot and humid, when going to the front desk they did make it a bit difficult for us to get another room, they wanted us to stay in the room until the morning but the room was for an 80yr old so we couldn’t wait and finally they changed their room. That is why I’m giving it a 4 star, other than that everything else was amazing. We had an amazing butler David he made our stay very comfortable, made sure the mini fridge was always stocked and he arranged for us 2 meals a lunch paella and a surf and turf dinner which were excellent, the paella a bit on the salty side but flavour was incredible. Thank you to the chefs Miguel Mestre and Angel Sanchez. The grounds are well maintained the gardeners really do an amazing job at making it all look beautiful. The rooms are outdated but they are always clean. The maid had left us a note just letting us know who was cleaning the room which makes it personalized and this way we were able to reach out to get anything else that we may need. The lobby bar is great they make excellent pina coladas and the cappuccinos are delicious, a bit busy at night as everyone goes there but the bartenders and servers are great and attentive. The beach is incredible white sand and blue waters, calm and very warm when we went, Alexis and his companions were good at getting us the 5 chairs that we needed and added us 2 and sometimes 3 umbrellas. They always had chairs and umbrellas available. The mini bar on the beach was good to have, limited on what they serve and there was one of the 2 bartenders that almost gave a bad look if you didn’t tip which shouldn’t be like that at all. The resort has free kayaks and mini catamarans that they take you on a ride and they also have snorkels that you can use as well for free. The food at the buffet was the same all week, lots of pork, no beef or chicken and they had fish, but overall it was decent compared to other places that I’ve been to in Cuba. We had an amazing server Reglita, very attentive, she was always so sweet and always wanting to give you a hug when you arrive. She’s there for breakfast and lunch at the buffet. Always came around to refill our water and asking if we needed more coffee or juice. Majority of the staff were really nice and good. The ice cream shop is a perfect addition, the ice cream flavours like the guava and banana were such rich flavours very good. During the night they do have lots of mosquitos which is a downfall so do bring lots of bug spray. The shows at night were good nothing too crazy but at least something to watch. Overall we enjoyed our stay will probably be back again soon
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Date of stay: October 2024
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Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Jaime Capo, Director General at Royalton Hicacos Varadero Resort & Spa
Responded 21 Nov 2024
Dear CArinar It sounds like you had a wonderful trip overall, despite some minor hiccups! It’s great to hear that check-in was smooth, especially arriving late at night. Having access to the bistro for late-night sandwiches and drinks must have been a nice touch after a long day of travel. It's unfortunate that you encountered issues with the AC in one of the rooms, but I'm glad to hear that the staff eventually accommodated your needs, especially considering the comfort of your elderly friend. It sounds like David, your butler, really made a positive impact on your stay by ensuring everything was taken care of and arranging those special meals. The surf and turf dinner and paella sound delicious, even if the latter was a bit salty! The beautiful grounds and well-maintained gardens must have added to the overall relaxing atmosphere. It's also nice that the maid service left a personal note, which is a thoughtful touch that can make guests feel more at home. It’s great to hear about the attentive service at the lobby bar and the beach. The white sand and calm blue waters sound idyllic, and it’s good to know that you had no trouble finding chairs and umbrellas. The availability of free water sports is always a plus for an active vacation, although it’s unfortunate to hear about the bartender’s attitude regarding tips; that can definitely put a damper on things. Your comments about the buffet food are helpful for future travelers. While it seems like there were some limitations in variety, it's good to know that you found it decent overall. Reglita sounds like a gem—having such attentive and friendly servers can really enhance the dining experience. The ice cream shop sounds like a delightful addition, especially with unique flavors like guava and banana! And while mosquitoes can be pesky, it seems like you were well-prepared for that aspect. Overall, it seems like you had a fantastic time and would consider returning, which speaks volumes about your experience. Thank you for sharing such detailed feedback; it will surely help others looking to visit! Do you have any specific plans for your next trip back?
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We are the first time with my husband in Cuba, the hotel I as always chose very carefully and stayed at Royalton , Of course it is very great that only for an adult, since the flight is 15 hours and you didn't want to hear crying nearby! To start with the cons, there are not many in my opinion, namely one is Very under tired room stock, repairs are of course very requested, for example we lived 2 days in Havana in the eponymous Royalton Habana and there of course not so.... We arrived for darkness, but even in this light all the shortcomings were on the face: the room on the ground floor is very uncomfortable , the old TV with non-switching channels, the air conditioning barely breathed, the flush on the toilet is torn off, naturally I immediately came to the reception and said that I will not live in such a room, not ruble I paid for the tour, but to give credit to the staff replaced the room instantly, without questions and without extra charges, given in another building on the 3rd floor in a very quiet impassable place, we were satisfied! Now it's just the upside! The beach is just magical, very well maintained and clean , every morning a tractor drives to remove garbage and seaweed, the water is unrealistically clean and turquoise! There are enough sunbeds and umbrellas for everyone, because the beach is very big! The food to be honest with the amateur, but as I realized, especially after being in Havana, that for a country with this standard of living it is simply chic, there is a lot of food, definitely not going to stay hungry and and I personally liked it more in the usual buffet than in the ala carte restaurants, But it was striking that every day for lunch and dinner 4 kinds of ice cream and several kinds of toppings in unlimited quantity, very cool!!! Now alcohol, but it's undeniable Cuba has few competitors, all drinks are chic, beer class, wine super, champagne excellent, and rum beyond praise, cocktails in the main bar make super, but no pipes bring yours. About service, I don't know who went to Cuba to get the service wrong address, Cuba is not about service, it's about atmosphere! As someone wrote about being rude to the Russians, I don't know, my husband and I are not greedy, swapping euros for small dollars in a bar and helping the friendly people of Cuba! All they collected was smiles! Served us quickly and with quality! Very nice guys and girls!!! Thank them for that!!! Before leaving I asked if the hotel had scales, weighed luggage, believe me, the room was brought floors, change , but very nice! In general hotel I highly recommend, especially couples without children, my husband and I have been together for almost 20 years, but have enjoyed a great deal of wonderful live music and incendiary dancing, just as if we had recently met, the setting is very romantic!!! Come to Hicacos and don't look for the downside, but just relax and enjoy! Viva Cuba!
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Date of stay: December 2024
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I have been to the Royalton in Cayo Santa Maria several times and highly recommend it so we decided to try the Royalton Hicacos in Varadero this time , and it did not disappoint! There are so many positives, I will try to list most of them here. I know many people are hesitant to travel to Cuba due to the food/shortages but we did not experience them here. The food was plentiful, varied and delicious. Some many a la carte restaurants that we didn't even get to try them all. The buffet was loaded with many options from pasta, seafood and meat grilling stations to a ton of cheeses, desserts and breads. The Italian restaurant was amazing. We had no issues with always having toilet paper, towels, etc. Wifi was available in many parts of the resort. The staff are quite lovely, friendly and spoke excellent english (which can sometimes be an issue at other resorts). Lots to do, if you wish, but also many 'quiet' areas if you are just there to chill. The beach is as beautiful as it appears in the pictures, no photoshopping here! The other Royalton we have been to does not have bracelets which is definitely a plus but the tiny chip you wear on a soft string we actually preferred because you barely felt it and it opened your door and safe which was very convenient. We went with the Diamond Club option and for a few hundred dollars more it was worth every penny. Separate area on the beach (smoking or non available), able to make reservations in the a la carte restaurants and the concierge service are just a few of the pluses. Our concierge Bryan absolutely made our trip. He was always available, even on his day off, attending to every request we had. Making taxi and restaurant reservations in Varadero, delivering specific beverage requests to our room and so many more. He was always available on WhatsApp and responded quickly every time. Hope we didn't bother you too much Bryan!! We look forward to returning next year!
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Date of stay: January 2025
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Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We were there in November 2024. Pros: Friendly staff. The beach location is great. Right next to the hotel. Cons: It is not recommended to stay longer than 3 days at this resort. It's always the same food and there's not much choice. The quality of the food is not so good. The plates are not washed clean. Sometimes the glasses stunk. The rooms were big. However, the bathroom is in need of renovation. Therefore, I would recommend the renovated (upgraded) room. This costs $20 more per person per night. We were able to change rooms because the bathroom smelled in our room. The bathroom was not properly cleaned upon our arrival. The cleaning staff only cleaned the room properly for tips, otherwise they only roughly did something and left. There are 4 restaurant with a la carte. The food in the Italian restaurant was terrible. The Caribbian restaurant was good. The restaurant la perla was almost always either full or closed. The restaurant tex mex is good. The milk in the buffet restaurant is not good. They mix very little milk powder with very much water. At first glance, the hotel seems to have a lot to offer. However, it is not worth 5 stars. But for a short stay in a renovated room completely ok.
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Date of stay: November 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
All-inclusive hotel on a magnificent beach. Copious buffet which contrasts with the real situation of Cubans who have ration tickets and are in survival mode. A big congratulations to our butler Daniel for his French and his attention to customers, we wish him full development in this new job. This hotel, like in my opinion all the hotels in Varadero, is in “dollard-talk” mode, which is a shame but a lot of tourists hand out tips all day long. As long as we are not VIP Diamond club, we cannot make reservations at the different restaurants and the only possibility to try to get a place is to queue from 6:15 p.m. in front of the restaurant, which we did not do, it is the best time for the beach, it is much cooler. We went to the buffet which is very good for a few days of stay. We had problems with one of our bracelets to open the door, it took countless resets of the badge for the issue to be resolved after 3 days. The maintenance/cleanliness of the swimming pools seems to leave something to be desired… but we mainly come for the beach and the softness of the sand. Like all hotels in Cuba, you have to pay for extras by credit card, cash whatever the currency is not accepted. No need to change euros into pesos, you can pay everything in foreign currency. For Cubans 1 € = 1$, if you have $ it's better given the €/$ exchange rate at the moment.
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Date of stay: May 2024
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Where do I even begin? This was my fourth trip to Cuba, so I knew not to expect much when it came to food. We chose Cuba for one main reason: affordability. We were on a budget, and Cuba offered the most reasonable prices.
Upon arrival, we opted to upgrade to the Diamond Club (that came to 700$US for the both of us), which promised perks like more à la carte dining options, better drinks, superior service, upgraded rooms, reserved seating at the beach and pool, included activities, and an overall enhanced experience. Unfortunately, we quickly realized this was a massive lie and an outright rip-off.
Our room was not one of the newly renovated ones. The à la carte restaurants were so disappointing that most people with reservations left mid-meal to search for better options at the buffet. The bars frequently ran out of essentials like sugar, mint, vodka, and more. Adding to the frustration, the website photos showed the resort surrounded by water features, but when we arrived, they were empty. A few days later, they began filling them, but the water reeked of sulfur, making the entire resort smell like rotten eggs for the rest of our stay.
To make matters worse, the resort was undergoing renovations—a fact not disclosed when we booked. While renovations might not seem like a big deal, they completely ruined the relaxing atmosphere we paid for. Instead of tranquility, we endured constant drilling and construction noise. Resorts typically warn guests about ongoing renovations and offer discounted rates, but that wasn’t the case here.
The beach was off-limits for the first few days due to strong waves, leaving us with only the pool. However, even there, Diamond Club members had no reserved section as promised. When we raised our concerns with the manager and requested a refund for the Diamond Club upgrade, he smiled, claimed he would look into it, and then avoided us for the rest of our stay.
For context, I’ve previously stayed at a 3.5-star resort in Varadero that was better than this one in every way. To make matters worse, we booked this trip before the hurricane and power outages. Our travel company refused to cancel or refund us, meaning if we chose not to go, we would have lost all our money. Looking back, I wish I had stayed home and forfeited the $1,500 rather than endure such a miserable experience.
Lesson learned: I will never return to Cuba.
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Date of stay: December 2024
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Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
There are more places to choose from in the Varadero area.
ALSO KNOWN AS
sandals royal hicacos varadero, sandals cuba, sandals royal hicacos resort spa, royal hicacos
LOCATION
CaribbeanCubaMatanzas ProvinceVaradero
NUMBER OF ROOMS
404
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