Thinking of Cuba . Any all inclusive to stay at or avoid . Have never been so need some advice . Heard food isn’t the best so is it better at an all inclusive to stay? Looking for a 4 or 5 star . Hope I’m not asking for too much .

For your trip to Cuba, I would suggest considering well-known all-inclusive resorts such as Melia Varadero or Iberostar Playa Alameda, which are highly rated for their amenities and food offerings. Some resorts offer themed restaurants that can improve your dining experience, but it’s always a good idea to check recent guest reviews to get an idea of the food quality.

There must be hundreds of resorts in Cuba. For your first time look into resorts in

*Guardalavaca
*Cayo Coco
*Varadero
or
*Cayo Santa Maria

If you plan on staying at the resort for your entire vacation, then the area of Cuba doesn't really matter. For off resort experiences, Varadero is a good choice. It gives you a taste of day to day life in Cuba and is also close to Havana. Where are you flying from? Toronto and Montreal will give you lots of options. From other Canadian airports, your choices will be limited. Read recent reviews of the higher rated hotels. Melia and other Spanish managed resorts are generally better than the Cuban ones.

You will less likely have problems at an AI resort than staying in a city. Do not hesitate to experience Cuba these days! The positives much outweigh the negatives.

Are 5 star hotels in Cuba really 5 stars?

Some Cuban 5* hotels can really be 5* at times. With the shortages and constant power outages (even with a generator in your resort, you won't have a/c) top resorts may still have difficulty living up to their high star rating. And this can vary week to week. Even day to day. My aunt and uncle went to a 5 star resort in Varadero in December and they absolutely loved it. They returned again in March and were shocked to not have eggs, milk or cream, wine or any kind of mix for rum.

We have decided not to go to Cuba at this time with all the uncertainty with hydro blackouts.

I'm currently at my first Cuban resort since 2017. Might start a new thread with more details soon.

Our Cuba trips have always been to a resort with a city trip on the side. We have been to Varadero a few times and stayed in Havana for a couple of nights too. Let us know what is going on in Varadero.
ps….we have never been there in the summer.

Haven't seen many tourists walking around Varadero. Lots of locals partying at the strip of small bars along the road closest to the beach. Most restaurants and shops are open. Have had a few wild thunderstorms. Lost power for the first time last night for about an hour.