I’ve done two all-inclusive stays in Cuba. One in Varadero at Iberostar Selection Varadero. The other in Cayo Santa María at Royalton Cayo Santa María (adults only). Both were beach breaks. Both were real life. Sunny, messy, fun, and sometimes a little odd.
If you're looking for an even deeper dive, I also put together an honest, first-person breakdown of the all-inclusive scene in Cuba that pairs well with what you’re reading now.
Here’s the thing. I had a good time. But it wasn’t a “no notes” trip. You know what? That kind of made it feel real.
Why I booked
I wanted easy. Beach. Sun. No thinking about dinner plans or tabs. I’m a planner at work, but on vacation, I like simple. An all-inclusive felt like a clean handoff.
Scrolling through travel blogs, I stumbled on LovelyCuba, a site packed with local tips that convinced me an all-inclusive would check every lazy-vacation box.
Arrival and check-in (fast on one trip, slow on the other)
Varadero check-in took about 40 minutes. We got our wristbands, towel cards, and a paper map that felt like a treasure hunt. In Cayo Santa María, it was 10 minutes flat. Cold towel. A small glass of guava juice. Quick smiles. I was in the pool before my bag made it to the room.
Small note: both places used 220V plugs. I brought a simple adapter. It saved me from babying my phone at 5% all day.
My room: clean, not fancy
- Varadero: Big room. Firm bed. Cold A/C. The mini-fridge had beer, cola, and water most days. One day, no water showed up. I asked. Housekeeping brought two 1.5L bottles in five minutes. The shower had strong water, but the handle had some wobble. Cute towel swans appeared twice. I’m a sucker for those.
- Cayo Santa María: Smaller room, newer feel. The balcony looked over palm trees and a slice of blue sea. Pillows were thin, so I used two. A quick blackout hit one night (maybe 15–20 minutes). The lights came back. No drama.
For a zoom-in on beds, buffets, and beach vibes across several properties, check out my full hotel-by-hotel review of Varadero stays.
Food and drinks: hits, misses, and lots of rice and beans
Breakfast was the star. Omelet station. Fresh fruit. Good bread. Coffee that could wake a bear. The juice tasted a bit watery sometimes, but the papaya was sweet.
Lunch and dinner were buffet style most days:
- Grilled fish on a flat top. That was my go-to.
- Pork, rice, and beans. Often. Like, very often.
- A pasta station. Handy when I needed a break.
- Salads were simple. Tomatoes, cucumber, vinaigrette.
- Desserts looked fancy, tasted light and nice—more airy than rich.
A la carte restaurants were better for dinner. In Varadero, the “gourmet” spot had a lobster tail that was small but tasty. In Cayo Santa María, the Cuban restaurant gave me yuca fries that stole the show.
Drinks? Mojitos were crisp. Rum was strong. The piña colada mix ran out twice in one week, which made the bartender shrug and laugh. We went back to mojitos. No harm done.
Real talk: food can repeat. Some items run out. Butter one day, only margarine the next. It’s fine if you keep your expectations in the “simple vacation” lane.
The beach and pools: the reason you go
Varadero’s sand felt like flour. No stones. Just soft, white sand. The water was clear and calm three days in a row, then got windy with red flags on day four. Lifeguards waved us back with a grin. In Cayo Santa María, the water had that “postcard” blue. We took long walks and found shells. I wore reef-safe sunscreen and a hat. The sun is no joke.
Pools were warm by mid-day. The swim-up bar in Varadero had a bit of a line at 2 p.m. but cleared by 3. Chairs were easy to find if we went out by 9 a.m. Towels? You swap your card for one, then trade back later. Simple system, if you don’t lose the card (I almost did).
Wi-Fi and money: bring patience and cash
Wi-Fi worked for texts and photos. Not great for video calls. Back when Periscope was big, travelers loved to livestream beach life from Cuba, but patchy hotel connections made that tricky; if you’re curious to see the kind of unfiltered footage people still share, peek at Periscope nudes where curated replays capture the raw, behind-the-scenes vibe you might miss on a slow Wi-Fi day and give you a sense of just how spontaneous beach streaming can get. I had to log back in a few times a day, like the network needed a nudge.
Money was the bigger thing. I brought euros in cash. My U.S. bank card didn’t work at the ATM. Staff accepted tips in small bills. One bartender loved crispy 1s. I also packed travel-size toiletries and some pens. People smiled big when I shared a few. It felt right.
Day trips that were worth it
- Varadero to Havana: We did a classic car tour for half a day. Old streets, music in the air, and a stop for coffee that tasted like chocolate. I skipped the dolphin show. Not my thing. We did see a cigar roller at the hotel lobby one evening. I bought one for my uncle, who swears he’ll never smoke it because it’s “too pretty.”
- Catamaran ride: From Varadero, we took a catamaran to a small key. Snorkeled for 30 minutes. Fish everywhere. Lunch was lobster with rice. Simple and good. Bring sea bands if you get queasy.
Havana is just one stop on the island; if you’re mapping out more urban side-trips, you might like this first-hand walk-through of several Cuban cities I’ve tried.
Service and vibe
The staff worked hard. Yanet at the lobby bar in Varadero learned my name by day two. Luis in Cayo Santa María kept a straight face, then told the best jokes when the music started. If you tip a little and smile, the service feels warm and fast. If you frown and snap, it slows. That’s true anywhere, right?
Still, not every traveler wants their evenings to end with a quiet nightcap; a few folks I met were routing home through the Milwaukee area and joked about trading mojitos for Midwestern microbrews—and maybe some stateside nightlife. If your itinerary ever drops you near Wisconsin and you’re curious about professional companionship that can turn a ho-hum layover into something memorable, check out Cudahy escorts where you can browse vetted profiles, confirm availability, and arrange a discreet meet-up that keeps the vacation vibe rolling until your next flight.
What I loved
- The beaches. Pure joy.
- The quiet nights. No blaring club noise by my room.
- The live music. A trio with a bongo made dinner feel like a movie.
- Coffee. Strong. Smooth. I brought some home.
What bugged me (but didn’t ruin my trip)
- Food repetition. You’ll see the same dishes a lot.
- Shortages. Ice ran low twice. Butter once. Piña colada mix too.
- Mosquitoes at dusk. Bring spray. I used it like perfume.
- Wi-Fi hiccups. Log in, log out, log in again.
- A short power cut one night.
Who this is for (and who should skip it)
- Good for: beach lovers, chill couples, friends who want sun and simple days, anyone who likes live music and long walks.
- Maybe skip: foodies who want new tastes each night; people who need fast Wi-Fi; folks who get cranky when plans change.
Quick tips from my suitcase
- Pack an adapter, bug spray, reef-safe sunscreen, and a big insulated cup for water.
- Bring cash in small bills. Euros or Canadian dollars worked great for me.
- Book a la carte dinners early. Ask at check-in.
- Eat the grilled fish. Trust me.
- Go to the beach early. The light is soft, and the water is glass.
Final take
Was it perfect? No. Did I feel relaxed, sun-warmed, and cared for? Yes. Twice.
If you want a