Good,bad food in Varadero European-ownedresorts?
Jan 21st, 2005, 12:40 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Good,bad food in Varadero European-ownedresorts?
We are utterly confused about pos and neg reviews of varadero resosrts on tripadvisor.com.
I've been to Havana and was violently ill after the trip.
Which hotel food is very good? which ones to avoid?
Which chains importtheir food/oils from abroad?It's the pork lard that makes the food inedible in virtually all restaurants.
Even if ownership is European , that doesn't garantee that the food is taken seriously.
I know even spanish chains are half owned by Cuban tourism consortium.
Cuban owned chains: Gran Caribe, cubacana etc
German: Blau and superclub Breezes????
Jamaican
andals and Beaches(also cuban partnership)
Spanishol/Melias/TRYP/paridissus are all the same co. RUi has bad press from its Dominica Republic Bachata in puerto Plata where many got ill.
French:Accor vacances
Utalian:tuxpan changed hands in dec 2004
Please correct my assumptions or any changes in ownership. which ones are good? bad? food-wise. food is subjective...so that no lard atste i am asking about...bland ,anything that makes you VIOLENTLY ill type of experience.Rice and beans are ok if it's lardtasting-free
What did 1990s Paradiso turn into ? that was awful...
Thus far:
Oasis horizontes, Villa Cuba and Club Magia- cuban ownership have been reviewed by frds as very terible food.
I've been to Havana and was violently ill after the trip.
Which hotel food is very good? which ones to avoid?
Which chains importtheir food/oils from abroad?It's the pork lard that makes the food inedible in virtually all restaurants.
Even if ownership is European , that doesn't garantee that the food is taken seriously.
I know even spanish chains are half owned by Cuban tourism consortium.
Cuban owned chains: Gran Caribe, cubacana etc
German: Blau and superclub Breezes????
Jamaican
andals and Beaches(also cuban partnership)Spanish
ol/Melias/TRYP/paridissus are all the same co. RUi has bad press from its Dominica Republic Bachata in puerto Plata where many got ill.French:Accor vacances
Utalian:tuxpan changed hands in dec 2004
Please correct my assumptions or any changes in ownership. which ones are good? bad? food-wise. food is subjective...so that no lard atste i am asking about...bland ,anything that makes you VIOLENTLY ill type of experience.Rice and beans are ok if it's lardtasting-free
What did 1990s Paradiso turn into ? that was awful...
Thus far:
Oasis horizontes, Villa Cuba and Club Magia- cuban ownership have been reviewed by frds as very terible food.
Jan 22nd, 2005, 04:20 AM
#2
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There is outstanding food at the higher end
resorts
Paradisus Varadero and Sandals
At the end of the day - you get what you pay for
Most complaints on food are nonsensical and are people expecting a quality of food they simply did not pay for (but had a choice to)
resorts
Paradisus Varadero and Sandals
At the end of the day - you get what you pay for
Most complaints on food are nonsensical and are people expecting a quality of food they simply did not pay for (but had a choice to)
Jan 22nd, 2005, 06:05 PM
#3
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 407
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Wow, I just returned from 17 days in Havana and Trinidad (central Cuba) and enjoyed wonderful food the whole trip.
Of course I didn't eat in a hotel a single time. I travel independently and can honestly say that there is simply no comparison to "resort food" and real Cuban cuisine.
The resort crowd wants the cheapest AI vacation and then wonders why they don't get the best food. Duh ! ! !
That said, I have previously stayed at some Melia hotels in Cuba (Melia Sol Club Cayo Largo) and enjoyed very good food. At the breakfast buffet, you could watch the chef cook your omlette and only a tiny drop of oil was used. No pork lard at all.
As another comment, in 7 years of travel to Cuba, I've never been ill at all. Only absolute rule I follow is to drink ONLY bottled water.
Steve
Of course I didn't eat in a hotel a single time. I travel independently and can honestly say that there is simply no comparison to "resort food" and real Cuban cuisine.
The resort crowd wants the cheapest AI vacation and then wonders why they don't get the best food. Duh ! ! !
That said, I have previously stayed at some Melia hotels in Cuba (Melia Sol Club Cayo Largo) and enjoyed very good food. At the breakfast buffet, you could watch the chef cook your omlette and only a tiny drop of oil was used. No pork lard at all.
As another comment, in 7 years of travel to Cuba, I've never been ill at all. Only absolute rule I follow is to drink ONLY bottled water.
Steve
Jan 28th, 2005, 07:07 PM
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
hi all,
I loathe resort travelling so thus, I know nothing about it.
I already did the independent travelling in Havana and had bad luck with the offciial restaurants...only the apaldares was teh best food i had...probably only meal considered food.i ate at coppelia for lunch.....
Anyway, this time ...I plan to visit beautiful Unesco-protectorate Trinidad ...though the books says it takes 6 hrs by bus from varadero or russian helicopter which i am reluctant to do.....though, you don't know organized travelling but official Wawas on highway.......i am willing to sacrifice a night's sleep or even a morning.....won't be partying in culturally-challenged Vardero...maybe a tacky Cabaret Revue....
Thamks for your help. Going to the ex-Club Med afterall...Fingers crossed.
Any tips on Trindad will do Steve!
Fellow canuck
I loathe resort travelling so thus, I know nothing about it.
I already did the independent travelling in Havana and had bad luck with the offciial restaurants...only the apaldares was teh best food i had...probably only meal considered food.i ate at coppelia for lunch.....
Anyway, this time ...I plan to visit beautiful Unesco-protectorate Trinidad ...though the books says it takes 6 hrs by bus from varadero or russian helicopter which i am reluctant to do.....though, you don't know organized travelling but official Wawas on highway.......i am willing to sacrifice a night's sleep or even a morning.....won't be partying in culturally-challenged Vardero...maybe a tacky Cabaret Revue....
Thamks for your help. Going to the ex-Club Med afterall...Fingers crossed.
Any tips on Trindad will do Steve!
Fellow canuck
Feb 22nd, 2005, 06:19 AM
#6
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 407
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hola Peter:
I'm a happy Canadian and will stay such, but as a preferred vacation destination, Cuba can't be beat.
It offers me a unique destination and culture without some of the less desireable aspects of other consumer orientated vacation spots.
While for sure I don't agree with the present political system, the warmth and genuine good feelings that I have while visiting my many Cuban friends makes this a very relaxing and rewarding trip.
And of course, you won't find a McD's
I much prefer authentic cuisine to cheap fast food franchises.
Steve
I'm a happy Canadian and will stay such, but as a preferred vacation destination, Cuba can't be beat.
It offers me a unique destination and culture without some of the less desireable aspects of other consumer orientated vacation spots.
While for sure I don't agree with the present political system, the warmth and genuine good feelings that I have while visiting my many Cuban friends makes this a very relaxing and rewarding trip.
And of course, you won't find a McD's
I much prefer authentic cuisine to cheap fast food franchises.
Steve
Feb 22nd, 2005, 02:46 PM
#7
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 437
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi,we wnt to Cuba Christmas 2003. Stayed at Melia Varadero. Food is a non- issue. The selection in the numerous a' la carte and the buffet had more than enough choices. Prior to going to Cuba we also were concerned about the food especially since we were travelling with our 2 kids 9 and 14 at the time. I would not hesitate to go back. Cuba was awesome. I do have review on the hotel on tripadvisor.
Feb 25th, 2005, 09:43 PM
#8
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I was advised to inquire about the Chef. I was told that the best food was in the Canadian affilliated hotels with a Canadian or trained in Canada chef. Try Brisas, El Senador etc. We also had great food at Melia, not so good at Cayo Coco Trypp (boiled in oil, served swimming in oil) Canned vegetables served cold = salad, served hot = hot veg side dish. I think they were still using old Russian rations.
Another thing to watch out for is the "Fresh Grill" section of the buffet. Here you chose you meat and fish, put it on a plate and pass it to the grill chef. He cooks it to your liking and flips the cooked meat back onto the plate which just had raw meat or fish on it. WATCH OUT FOR THAT CROSS-CONTAMINATION!!! When I pointed it out to the restaurant manager, changes were made immediately and the chef had a pile of freshly washed plates to serve on - but make sure he doesn't grab one from the wrong pile!
Another thing to watch out for is the "Fresh Grill" section of the buffet. Here you chose you meat and fish, put it on a plate and pass it to the grill chef. He cooks it to your liking and flips the cooked meat back onto the plate which just had raw meat or fish on it. WATCH OUT FOR THAT CROSS-CONTAMINATION!!! When I pointed it out to the restaurant manager, changes were made immediately and the chef had a pile of freshly washed plates to serve on - but make sure he doesn't grab one from the wrong pile!
