Havana.- Varadero Beach Resort, main beach destination in the biggest of The Antilles, will be benefited with a recovery programme devoted to improve the quality of its sandy beaches.

According to the specialists, this programme will improve the area and rocky zones, fruit of the erosive action of the ocean, will be covered with sand dragged from the sea.

The project in motion, which does not interrupt the massive winter arrival of the international tourism, has been arranged between the Cuban Ministry of Tourism and that of Science, Technology and Environment.

The ambitious project aims at the benefit of an area close to the seven thousand square meters of coastline.

Last summer in Varadero, 600 thousand cubic meters of sand were shed to improve the end of the peninsula. Up to now, two million cubic meters of sand have been introduced in the area.

We stayed in Sirenis La Salina from the 05 Jan to the 12 Jan 2009. We were a bit doubtful about our choice of hotel after we read some reviews on trip advisor especially from Canadian tourists. According to them the hotel wasn’t very good but since the hotel had an excellent price we decided to give it a go despite the bad reviews.

Our first surprise was the excellent and friendly welcome we received from the hotel staff including the management of the hotel.

The only bad thing is the food based on what Canadians like to eat. If you are from Spain you will understand what I mean (we have the best food in the world)

The hotel is huge but there are golf cars circulating all around the hotel and you can hop on/off any where you want.

The rooms are large and very clean. Bear in mind this is a new hotel and our room was impeccable.

The beach of the Hotel Sirenis La Salina is a bit wild sinse there are only a couple of hotels being built in the distance.

In general we spent a great time and we will recommend this hotel to our own family.

We stayed 14 nights in Iberostar Varadero Hotel. It is one of the best 5 star hotels in Varadero and anyone that have stayed here before would agree that it is a good hotel. Although I have stayed before in another 5 star  Iberostar hotel in Mexico (Beach Paraiso) and Iberostar Varadero is well under the 5 star standard of the one in Mexico.

 To begin the hotel is very pretty and the swimming pools are a dream. I did find the buffet restaurant a bit too small for such a big hotel. There are other options though but you have to book in advance for any of the 3 a la carte restaurants that they have and of course there is the fast food and snacks that you can have in the bars. After trying everything we decided to stick to the buffet restaurant it was very good for Cuban standards.

There are few sun beds available and there are certain times in the day in which I would not suggest to go to the beach cause they have few shady places available.   The best from the hotel was the pool bar and the waiters who made our days.

by Ventura de Jesús

VARADERO. — Cuba’s top beach resort has received more than 700,000 tourists to date and the conditions exist for the year to end with a total of one million visitors for the first time in the history of tourism in that province.

“Varadero has been strengthening its position as a destination,” emphasized Amado Acosta Hernández, Ministry of Tourism delegate in Matanzas province. “We have maintained progressive growth since the second semester of 2007 and, specifically this year, we are seeing the best results in overall indicators, although we know we can be still more efficient.”

Varadero has a total of 17,300 hotel rooms, and according to experts, it is highly likely that in February and March, the peak of the high season, the daily rate of tourists will exceed 30,000, a record set last season.

Acosta Hernández explained to Granma that damages from the recent hurricanes are insignificant; they were localized in the structures of several hotels, above all windows and roofs, along with landscaping and gardens. “We are now completely back to normal and preparing for the high season,” he said.

Leading up to the winter period, some of the most important actions include beefing up beaches with sand, with a current accumulation of 35,000 cubic meters.

The process of restoring facilities is particularly comprehensive at the Breezes Varadero, Tuxpan and Las Morlas hotels.

Acosta Hernández added that work is underway to improve roads, street signs and lighting. Because of the competition in this industry, a greater emphasis should be placed on service quality, he commented.

Translated by Granma International