A Cuban tourist recently shared her "worst experience in Varadero" after staying at the Sol y Mar Hotel, a venue she claims provided subpar food, lacked cleanliness, and left guests stranded without electricity or water during power outages.
Jitana Melanie voiced her grievances on the Facebook group "Hotels in Varadero Cuba," expressing that her stay did not meet expectations. "I do not recommend the Sol y Mar Hotel. It was undoubtedly my worst experience in Varadero. I felt like I wasted my money," she stated.
Poor Quality and Power Outages
According to Melanie, the quality of services was lacking from the beginning. "The food was terrible, the facilities were dirty, and beer would often run out," she mentioned. The situation worsened with the frequent power cuts that plagued Varadero.
"Rooms were left without light and water," she reported. Melanie concluded her review by advising against the hotel, saying, "In my experience, this hotel falls short and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone."
Frustration with Varadero's Decline
In the comments section, Melanie noted that after leaving the Sol y Mar, she moved to another hotel, which she found even worse. "They advertise it as four stars, but it doesn't even reach two. It wasn't cheap, and rooms had no light or water. Guests, including children, slept in the lobby and on the floor. Breakfast didn't include eggs; it was just cold cuts and ground meat. Not even chicken was available," she shared.
Her post sparked numerous reactions from other travelers, many of whom recounted similar experiences. One visitor, who traveled with a group of 42, described encountering leaking bathrooms, stale bread, shredded chicken, and sugarless desserts due to product shortages.
The sentiment was echoed by another guest who summed up their stay with, "I went yesterday, and that hotel is terrible."
Broader Issues in Cuban Tourism
Participants in the discussion highlighted that the problem isn't confined to Sol y Mar alone. "All hotels are the same now: awful food, drinks, and sodas; beer runs out, and if the national electricity system fails, you lose water and power," commented a user.
Another lamented the decline of Varadero, once Cuba's premier tourist destination. "The hotels in Varadero are nothing like they once were, just as Cuba isn't the same as it used to be."
An ex-employee defended the hotel's reputation, but others argued that its standards had deteriorated years ago, describing it as "practically a campground." Some commenters claimed hotel staff admitted that with the drop in international tourism, Cuban locals receive lower quality service. These claims have not been verified by hotel management.
The Tourism Industry in Crisis
These complaints arise during a severe crisis in Cuban tourism. On July 30, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz acknowledged that 73% of the country's hotel facilities remain closed, with approximately 25,000 workers on standby.
Between January and April 2026, Cuba welcomed 328,608 international tourists, a 55.8% decrease compared to the same period the previous year, while national hotel occupancy plummeted to 21.5%.
Compounding the issue is the energy crisis. Since early this year, several hotels in Varadero and the cays have halted operations due to insufficient fuel for their generators.
In July, another Cuban tourist reported that the room she booked for $150 a night lost electricity and water following a collapse of the National Power System, as the hotel's generator couldn't meet demand.
Understanding the Challenges Facing Cuban Hotels
What are the main issues reported at Sol y Mar Hotel in Varadero?
Guests have reported poor food quality, unclean facilities, frequent power outages, and lack of water, leading to a negative overall experience.
How has the energy crisis affected hotels in Varadero?
The energy crisis has led to power outages, as hotels struggle to fuel generators, resulting in disrupted services such as electricity and water supply.
What impact has the tourism crisis had on Cuba's hotel industry?
The tourism industry faces significant challenges, with a substantial decrease in international visitors and many hotels remaining closed, affecting both employment and services.