50 Cents a Day Service

50 Cents a Day Service

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

Traveler rating:
Varadero Beach: Melia Varadero: "Worst hotel we have ever stayed in"
World_Hopper23, London UK Feb 27, 2007

My experience with this property took place in:
February, 2007

Would I recommend this hotel to my best friend? no way!

My ratings for this hotel are:
Value 1
Rooms 2
Location 3
Cleanliness 2
Check in / front desk 1
Service 1
Business service

I recommend this hotel for:
I do not recommend this hotel for: Young singles, An amazing honeymoon, A romantic getaway, Girlfriend getaway, People with disabilities, Tourists

I selected this hotel because ... Beach / Sun
My age: 25-34
Traveling group: Spouse / significant other

My visit was for: Romantic getaway
London, UK

The staff made us feel very unwelcome from the minute we arrived. We had to always try get the attention of any staff member when we needed service which would usually be ignored or rudely approached and asked what we wanted. There was a 50/50 chance you would get what you asked for depending if they could be bothered at the time. We tried all sorts of techniques (being friendly, tipping, complaining) to try improve the level of service but nothing seemed to work. I was told off by the barman for not calling a vodka and orange by its correct name and then still gave me the incorrect drink which I asked for.Overall it seem like they couldn't be bothered with us and their job. Definitely will not be going back EVER!


This TripAdvisor Member:
Liked: Warm weather
Disliked: Hotel staff members.

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.


(Next Unhappy Tourist)
Traveler rating: 3
Varadero Beach: Melia Varadero:
"Satisfactory, but not good enough for a return visit"
kr_perry Feb 19, 2007




My experience with this property took place in:
February, 2007

Would I recommend this hotel to my best friend? probably not

My ratings for this hotel are:
Value 3
Rooms 3
Location 4
Cleanliness 3
Check in / front desk 2
Service 3

I selected this hotel because ... Beach / Sun, Golf
My age: 65+

Traveling group: Family (extended)

My visit was for: Quality time with family

Indifferent service at the front desk. Too much conversation amongst desk staff and not enough attention paid to clientele waiting to be served. Couldn't get reservations at some a la carte restaurants yet found them to be half empty. Maid service good and room was kept clean. Need some self-serve coffee urns in the buffet. Pool shack not open for towels until 9:00 when pool opens earlier. Unecessary confusion at the front desk regarding free golf included in trip price. These details were either not available to the staff or not correct. With the exception of the front desk, service staff were pleasant and helpful and our overall experience was satisfactory - but not good enough that we would return.


(Next Tourist Victim)
Varadero Beach: Melia Varadero: "Horrible Service, bad food"
MirianSt.John's, St.John's Feb 5, 2007

My experience with this property took place in:
February, 2007

Would I recommend this hotel to my best friend? no way!

My ratings for this hotel are:
Value 1
Rooms 2
Location 1
Cleanliness 2
Check in / front desk 1
Service 2
Business service 2

I recommend this hotel for:
I do not recommend this hotel for: Young singles, An amazing honeymoon, A romantic getaway, Girlfriend getaway, People with disabilities, Older travelers, Great pool scene, Pet owners, Families with young children, Families with teenagers, Tourists

I selected this hotel because ... Beach / Sun, Great food / Wine, Other
My age: 35-49
Traveling group: Spouse / significant other

My visit was for: Romantic getaway
We stayed at Melia Varadero in Jan/07 and we had many problems with this hotel as follows:

1- We booked for Ocean view room and when we get there they gave us a garden view. When we returned to the front desk and we asked for a room with Ocean View (since we had paid) the staff laugh saying that it was an Ocean View and didn’t want to give us another room. After some arguments they switch us to another room. We’ve told afterwards that there was 400 Guests down in the Hotel. The Hotel was empty.

2- We went to the Buffet Restaurant at 1:00 (the time the restaurant is supposed to open) the door was opened, we came in and a man rudely said that the restaurant was closed walking through us forcing us to get out and then he shouted the door down. We were shocked.

3- In the Restaurant we asked to the Cook some lamb chops, the Cook chose the worst pieces. When we asked for better pieces the Cook just looked at us angry and ignored us and we had an argument with him. After this the whole staff ignored us and didn’t serve us anymore. And the other times we went there they were controlling what we were eating like counting how much we are eating, giving us the worse pieces and ignoring us.

4- They say in the website that there are 4 Bars, but we saw only 2. There was one day that started raining. The Bar in the swimming closed down and the other Bar inside didn’t open. We simply didn’t have any Bar available.

5- The Bars didn’t have good brands of any drinks only cheap brands.

6- When we paid with Credit Card nobody advise us that there was 11% overcharge.

7- Many of the staff didn’t give us good service. Sometimes very rude.

8- We found people too corrupt. If we want a good service we need to tip for every single service.

9- We went to use the Internet and there was anywhere saying that it is a paid service. We used the internet for 5 minutes and we were charged for 1 CUC.

10- We downgraded this hotel for 3 stars and too overprice.
11- The food is much less than we expected. Very bad and few variety. By some days we were fed up with the food.


http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g147275-d268765-
r6846940-Melia_Varadero-Varadero_Beach_Cuba.html


(Next Victim)

Traveler rating:
Varadero Beach: Islazul Oasis Hotel: "Oasis Worst Hotel Ever"

RobinOttawa, Ottawa, Canada Jan 29, 2007

My experience with this property took place in:
January, 2007

Would I recommend this hotel to my best friend? no way!

My ratings for this hotel are:
Value 1
Location 3
Check in / front desk 3
Service 3
Business service 3

I recommend this hotel for:
I do not recommend this hotel for: Young singles, An amazing honeymoon, A romantic getaway, Girlfriend getaway, People with disabilities, Older travelers, Great pool scene, Pet owners, Families with young children, Families with teenagers, Tourists

I selected this hotel because ... Beach / Sun

My age: 50-64

Traveling group: Spouse / significant other

My visit was for: Romantic getaway
We booked this hotel based on these reviews, but this place was horrible. The rooms stunk of mold, rooms were dirty, paint peeling off the walls, no hot water, and the food was disgusting. We had to change rooms twice, the first room had a huge puddle on the floor and the curtains were falling down. The second room was dirty and stunk.

We were booked for a week but left after one day. The Sunwing rep moved us into a great hotel down the street.
True this hotel is on the beach, but the pool closes at 6:30PM and the “all inclusive drinks and food” stops at 9:30PM. Then you pay full price.

My wife and I are not fussy and don’t expect North American standards when we travel to poor countries. We have been to many cheap resorts, twice to Cuba, this is the worst hotel ever.

This TripAdvisor Member:
Liked: Close to beach
Disliked: Dirty, Dirty, Dirty

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g147275-d151647-r6712390-Islazul_Oasis_Hotel-Varadero_Beach_Cuba.html




_____________________________________
Very Sorry tourists but 50 cents a day is all the hotel workers earn in salary. Would you work very hard for 50 cents per day? Why not just blame bad service on the embargo like you have for all the other problems caused by your pal Raul?

Tomas Estrada-Palma