Sunwing| RIU FAM to Varadero Cuba

19-22 SEPT 2014

Hosted by:Valerie Ward, RIU Business Development ManagerToronto & West Canada 416-302-1287vward@riuontario.ca

In destination:Gorica Petkoska, Directora ComercialClubHotel Riu Varadero/Riu Playa TurquesaSales Office Varadero / ++53 45 66 79 66director.comercial@riuvaradero.co.cu

Cuba | Currency Tips:

- Recommend clients change currency upon arrival at the airport, as the rate will likely be better than at the hotel. I exchanged for a rate of 1.1415 so $100 CAD = 87.60 CUC

- For tipping: USD is so expensive to exchange there so it helps the staff if you can tip in CUC; if the airport doesn’t give you small enough denominations then you can have the exchange at the hotel make smaller bills for you. CUC comes as low as 5/3/1 notes and coins including 1 CUC

- Keep smaller coins on you for visiting toilets off the resort (not mandatory to pay but usually is a lady there taking coins in exchange for toilet paper) – on that note just bring your own toilet paper/kleenex as it’s pretty terrible everywhere, even the 5 star hotels

Itinerary:

DAY 1: RIU site inspection, welcome dinner @ Italian Restaurant, Michael Jackson show – awesome!DAY 2: Site inspections (7), poolside dinner with Aqua Show in deluxe section – not so awesomeDAY 3: Havana day tour, dinner @ Gourmet RestaurantDAY 4: RIU specialist training, afternoon at leisure (I got a massage at the spa & swam at the beach), farewell dinner & evening departure to VRA airport

DAY 1: RIU Varadero:

Situated between the Memories Varadero and the Iberostar Laguna Azul, the RIU was our host hotel for the three nights. Note: at this end of the peninsula there is a small mangrove (vegetation area) that separates the resorts from the beach. Only takes a couple minutes to walk to beach but no ’beachfront access‘ for any room categories. Upon arrival we were taken to the Adults-Only ‘deluxe section‘ exclusive lobby for check in and shown to our rooms (deluxe suites – bedroom, living room + 2 bathrooms!). This section‘s rooms are situated in a circle of 3-level villas surrounding the adult pool. There is also the exclusive restaurant located poolside + a snack/bar area. This section is closest to the beach.

During the low season, the standard room section of the resort (located farthest from beach) is closed. So anyone booking into standard at this time of year would be upgraded into superior, and the few guests that I spoke to in the Deluxe-section pool had been upgraded into adults-only from superior.

Overall, the hotel is rated as 5 stars but I found the difference between other 5 star properties such as the Paradisus Princesa and Royal Hicacos to be great. I would consider the Riu a very solid 4 star or perhaps 4.5. It does look like a Classic RIU, with nice grounds, decor and common areas, fantastic staff/service and entertainment.

Note: Sunwing/Signature guests recieve 1 hr/day free wifi access (all room categories). Other guests have to pay for wifi. Only accessible from lobbies and the cigar lounge.

- Adult only section comes with extended 2pm check out, can request pillow top mattress cover- Shampoo looked and smelled like dish soap so I can’t recommend the amenities- Room was spacious but musty, smell of cigarette smoke from other room or outside was coming in through my

AC (but the AC worked well & fan over the bed was very nice)- Overall cleanliness but needed a deep cleaning when looking closely, esp small bathroom at entrance to room- NO clocks in the rooms or on any TV channel – this is a RIU-wide concept but I dont like it, I want to know what

time it is! Hair dryer outlet in room had adapter built in so you can plug in devices- Resort is walkable but they have carts circulating too: staff very friendly everywhere- I tried the snack bar & the lobby bar (that’s where I found the best cappucino) and had prompt service during

busy times – they were working really fast- I was treated to a spa massage which itself was nice but there was no accompanying ‘spa experience‘ – it was

just in and out of the massage room, spa seemed pretty empty in general

DAY 2: Site Inspections

I’ll just make a few points about each property that you may not already know.

Memories Varadero:

Sales Manager Yudeisys Maury

I had preconceived this property (formerly Sirenis La Salinas) to be a little run-down but it seems recently freshened-up. Nothing extraordinary popped out at me but it seems a solid 4 star family property with a bright, airy entrance and buffet area with diamond club subsection.

The large grounds & walkways are very well maintained and the property is laid out like a figure ‘8‘ with a pool in the center of each half (one quieter, one more for family with waterslide). There is a main square in the center with theatre and a la cartes.

Dinner reservations for Sunwing guests can be made for the whole week at the Sunwing desk (open 9-5pm).

Paradisus Princesa del Mar:

Sales Manager Falcon | jefe.ventas.ppm@meliacuba.com

Paradisus is the top tier of the Melia brand, and this 18+ resort is surely a 5 star property. It is quiet, with no daytime animation team but some great evening entertainment and daily activities such as wine tastings. There is also a central ‘square‘ with the air conditioned main buffet, shops, cigar bar etc. There is an outside eating area available to reserve for private functions as well.

Our ‘guide‘ of the property – Falcon – was so funny. He would ‘ohhh and ahhh‘ as he entered each room or say ‘wow‘! when showing the restaurants etc. All but 150 rooms have King size beds (twin avail. upon request).

Note: guests with accessibility needs can be catered to here – mostly flat grounds with a lift for the only section of stairs entering the lobby area. Rooms have either a shower-only OR a shower/bath combination and can be requested for either preference.

Certified PADI divers get 1 dive/day included.

I was impressed with the Royal Service section, they have concierge service, swim-up rooms, beautiful pool, exclusive poolside bar/snack area and Miramar Restaurant (buffet breakfast/lunch with mini-portions then it rotates different themes for a la carte dinners)... you would never have to leave this section. Private airport transfers and Wifi is included for Royal service guests and they have the true premium brands of liquor (chivas, royale, etc). The Hilltop Restaurant also available to Royal Service guests and special guests such as honeymooners, returning guests, anniversaries etc.

Mercure Cuatro Palmas:

- Was nearly at full occupancy at this time of year- 3 stars, but great beachfront location, 3 levels (stairs only)- Younger overall guest average age: lots appeared in their 20s/30s- Lobby bar is 24 hours- 160 standard rooms, 120 in the Las Palmas section across the street (def not recommended)- Pool & seaview is nice but the rooms themselves are small, basic and stuffy – in midst of refurbishment, can

accommodate for some with physical disability (ground floor rooms)

Mercure Playa de Oro:

- I’m going to go ahead and just tell you not to book this resort. Just No.- Restaurant/theatre facility was smelly and BAD- Buffet ’El Dorado‘ was okay but not much better- There is pizza & snacks by pool and the Cuban ’Ranchon‘ beach grill- The whole place needs cleaning and painting... a stale water lagoon kind of smell outside as well- Property seemed nearly deserted – all guests were hiding on the beach- 5 levels with elevator, 4 accessible rooms

- The saving grace was that the rooms are all renovated and the inside of the room was actually pretty nice considering the rest of the resort

Melia Las Antillas:

- Exclusive to Sunwing- At full occupancy, I was impressed with the look of this resort, the photos don’t do it justice- Walking into this property after the Mercure, the cleanliness was noticeable (could even smell the bleach),

indoor/outdoor buffet area was nice, they hold a lobster night 1/week for all guests- 44 connecting rooms can be requested- Italian Restaurant, disco til 2am, nightly shows alternate on a 2-week schedule for longer stay guests, 24 hr

lobby bar- They concentrate all the activities at the beach in the morning and at the pool in the afternoon, which I think is a

great idea so guests have the option to enjoy each at quiet times too- Nice pool/entertainment stage/pool bar and grill area as well

Royal Hicacos:

Sales Manager Berta Martin Cabañas | ventas@royalhicacos.cu

The former ‘Sandals‘ Royal Hicacos is currently under the ‘Blue Diamond‘ brand and in the process of converting to a Royalton (will be called Royalton Hicacos Varadero this winter). Even though there are, in my opinion, no updates neccessary, they are making upgrade changes to improve even more. Overall I was very impressed with this property, mostly because the photos in the brochure & online don’t do it justice.

All junior suites, with 2 steps down from the sitting room into the bed area. There will no longer be a ‘concierge‘ category as ALL rooms will have a butler service (that’s what they are calling it but I’m sure it’s more of a concierge than a butler). This resort is very similar in amentities, pricing, and value to the Paradisus Princesa, however the difference is that there’s more activity going on at the Hicacos (also maybe a younger overall average guest age).

I really like the Modern Colonial Plantation style of this resort; the common areas are connected by a raised boardwalk and the ‘Calle del Medio‘ boulevard is lovely, featuring shops, the coolest cigar lounge, beauty parlour, French creperie & Le Bonheur 24-hour snack bar with chaming patio. We were treated to a white-glove service lunch at Caribe Restaurant, which also features a ‘wine cellar‘ room where they serve VIP dinners for special honeymoon/anniversary clients. Everyone was pleased with the quality of food and service.

The spa still holds the Sandals standard ‘Red Lane‘ service/products and the spa has a sauna/steam bath available for all guests to use for free. There is also squash facilities here which I believe to be the only available in Cuba.

The updates for the Royalton changeover include a gym facility renovation and soft cosmetic updates in the rooms; ie. painting from colourful Caribbean interior to a crisp white/blue theme, addition of the Royalton ‘dream beds‘ which are produced here in Vaughan ON and shipped over.

Note: The Candlelight VIP Dinner in the Wine Cellar has a cost of 150 CUC; the menu is as follows: Choose 1 appetizer, 1 soup, 1

salad, 1 entrée, 1 dessert

APPETIZERS: Medallion of lobster with mango saffron dressing / Jumbo shrimp

with cocktail sauce / Tuna slices

SOUPS:Cherry tomato soup with Pesto / Crab bisque with aged Cuba rum

Black bean soup with cumin / Rock fish soup with herbs

SALADS:Palm heart salad with smoked salmon / Mixed salad with

balsamic cream

ENTRÉES:Grilled Beef tenderloin topped with Duck liver / Chicken breast

stuffed with cheeseGrilled Seafood medley (lobster, salmon, tiger prawn, mahi mahi)

Spinach burrito with veggies and tomato sauce (Vegetarian)

DESSERTS: Tiramisu / Chocolate delight / Cheesecake

Iberostar Tainos:

- Appropriate for all ages/families- Main hotel houses the standard rooms and all of the 2-story villas are the ‘bungalow’ category which doesn’t

make sense to me because there is nothing about them that makes them a bungalow in my opinion – rooms aren’t great overall, a little bit jail-cell-ish

- Safe available for 2 CUC/day- Minibar is restocked every 2 days- Overall the common areas were impressive, beach, pool area, lobby bar, restaurants all look fine

DAY 3: Havana Day Tour

I immensely enjoyed the full day tour of Havana. I’d recommend it to anyone; it’s worth the 2 hr drive. We had a local tour guide, Libby, who was extremely knowledgeable and I’m just so happy we got to do it.

We came back to the resort and ate at the Gourmet Restaurant. Although the décor, the service and the presentation of the food in the a la carte restaurants is great, the food itself was unfortunately just not very good. I found the red meat to be consistently overcooked but chicken and fish was a bit better.

Skyline of Havana

Jesus Christ of Havana One of the ‘cigar ladies’

DAY 4: RIU Specialist training is worth the effort, great incentives for logged bookings.

http://www.riupartnerclub.com/en/rpc/index.jsp

We had an afternoon at leisure to enjoy and the beach was lovely… did not want to leave!

Our flight experience with Sunwing was great.

Check out my other reviews: http://www.tripadvisor.ca/members-reviews/sunshower82

Haley Whitelaw | haley@robertq.com | 519-672-9020