Entering through the doors to the lobby of Melia Internacional Varadero beach resort after a two-and-a-half-hour taxi drive from the Cuban capital, Havana, feels like a breath of fresh air.
I am spending the weekend here as a solo traveling all-inclusive guest. As I normally stay in Old Havana, which is a very vibrant, loud, and active part of the capital of Cuba, I really look forward to a weekend of tranquility and pampering in Varadero.
The lobby is huge but quiet, and the interior is cool, elegant, and delicate. It is not an adults-only resort, but it has zones where you can go to relax in peace and other family-friendly areas. From the first impression, it looks promising.
Here is my complete review of the Melia Internacional Hotel in Varadero, Cuba.
From the lairy lobby of Melia International, you can see straight out to the beach (and one of the pool areas) through large wall-covering windows.
The resort itself is huge, and there are several pool areas. Some are small and secluded with a calm atmosphere, while others are large and noisy with activities going on, music, and children playing.
During the daytime, you need to enjoy loud music and a festive vibe in some of the pool zones, but there are more secluded pool areas, too, that are a better fit for an adult solo traveler.
Like most resorts along the Varadero peninsula, you have direct access to the beach within minutes from anywhere at the Melia International.
There are also several pool areas, of which some are calm and tranquil, while others have a more festive atmosphere with swim-up bars, music, and activities during the day.
There IS a shopping area (mostly expensive tourist stuff or summer stuff, in case you have forgotten a bikini or something), lots of food and drink venues, and spacious indoor and outdoor airy lounges.
If you are up for a little pampering, visit Yhi Spa, where you can get a variety of treatments and enjoy the stunning views from an infinity pool over the hotel grounds and the beach.
The spa premises are light, delicate, and airy, a wonderful place to relax and rejuvenate.
With your bracelet, you will have access to more than ten different restaurants and cuisines, although some were outside the all-inclusive deal.
There is a buffet restaurant, various à la carte restaurants, and a variety of snack bars, food stands, and sandwich places to choose from.
The only slightly negative thing is that the good restaurants close at 9 pm, which for me seems a little early. Some of the snack bars in the central and pool areas are open 24/7, so regardless, you don’t have to go to sleep hungry.
Or there is always room service!
📍 EpicNomadLife Tip: Are you a Certified PADI Open Water Scuba Diver?
Join a top-rated scuba diving tour to Playa Coral outside Varadero!
My room at the Melia is probably the best room I have had anywhere in Cuba so far. It was bright and light and airy, with a spacious balcony overlooking the pool area and the eternity horizon out across the sea.
And the bathroom! It was gorgeous. There was a huge bathtub, and windows facing the room allowed you to see straight through to the sea.
You can also play with the lights to fit your mood for the day (or night), like the blue one I chose above.
On the lowest price end, a classic room like this for two people, all-inclusive, starts at $170 per night at the Melia, including free wifi.
If you are looking for (even more) little extra (which I was not at the time), the Melia has something called The Level and The Level Adults Only floor.
On the high-end side of the Melia offer, you find the Level Grand Suite with a sea view, starting at $453 per night. Here, of course, you do not lack anything, anytime.
Conclusion
After spending a weekend at Melia International, I concluded that this is a really good all-inclusive resort option in Varadero.
The service was friendly and helpful, and the hotel grounds, rooms, and amenities were super. As always, the beaches in Varadero are amazing, and the variety of pool areas with different ambiance were perfect to suit the daily mood.
With a variety of dining options, activities, and the wonderful spa, this is a resort I believe you will be happy – as long as you are not looking for vibrant nightlife and parties into the small hours.
Suppose you think the all-inclusive options are a bit pricey and prefer to spend your holiday budget on things other than accommodation. In that case, there are many great budget options in Varadero.
These are mainly casa particulares in Varadero town, which is not your luxury hotel get-away. But then again, you get other perks in a casa, like an authentic Cuban experience!
Casa Carelia in Varadero town scores “fabulous” from former guests! The Casa offers an apartment with a dining area, bathroom, TV, and laundry services, and there is Wi-Fi in public areas.
There is also free parking, a garden, a 24-hour front desk, spa services, and tour/ticket assistance if you need a bit of help.
The Casa is close to Las 8000 Taquillas Park and the shopping mall, Josone Park, and the Artisan Market, and only a minute’s stroll from the beach.
Also located in Varadero Town is Casa Elena y Leslie, which is at the top of the review list for casa particulares.
Casa Elena Y Leslie has a huge garden and patio, delicate rooms, and bathrooms, and is minutes away from several restaurants, including the famous Beatles Bar!
Of course, you can also walk to Varadero Beach in no time at all.
The casa offers free parking, there is air conditioning, a flat-screen TV, laundry services, a safe for your valuables, and a minibar for bad planning!
The Varadero peninsula`s sole purpose is tourism, and there are plenty of things to do, tours, andexcursions in Varadero outside your resort.
You can go fishing, take a land or sea excursion or a boat trip to the sea, or just relax on the Varadero beaches.
There are more than 30 dive sites around the peninsula. Parque Marino Cayo Piedras del Norte, where divers can view a sunken military vessel and even a Soviet military AN-24 aircraft.
Various diving, snorkeling, and water sports companies will take you on a day trip.
📍 EpicNomadLife Tip: Get yourself a water bottle with a filter before your Cuba holiday, and you can drink water from anywhere when you are exploring the island!
Ojo de Mégano, a dive site with an underwater cave east of Varadero, is popular among scuba enthusiasts due to its rich marine life, including barracuda, red grouper, snapper, and lobster!
Various Varadero hotels offer catamaran cruiseswith snorkeling and a visit to the dolphin center.
The dolphin center is a dolphinarium, a coral-rimmed lagoon located 400 meters east of Marina Chapelín. Swimming and interacting with the dolphins, along with dolphin shows, are available here.
Most hotels will be able to also supply kayaks or small boats for their guests.
Fishing charts are available at Marlin Náutica y Marinas at Marina Chapelin, where there also are sailboards and kiteboards.
Every year, there are a lot of events and festivals going on in Varadero, Cuba.
A five-day biker event is held every February in Varadero. It originates from the motorcyclists from Harlistas Cubanas, which are Harley-Davidson bikes.
For foodies, the Varadero Gourmet Festival is held every year sometime between April and June.
In June, Varadero hosts the World Music Festival. Artists come to perform from different parts of Latin America. Concerts and open-air shows are taking place in various places in Varadero.
Do you love to play or watch golf? Varadero hosts the Melia Golf Club Cup event, held annually in the third week of October. It is followed by the Los Cactus Varadero Golf Tournament, a two-day tournament held at Hotel Los Cactus at Varadero Golf Club.
EpicNomadLife Tip: Get an elegant travel duffle bag that has room for your bikini, clothes, and the necessities for a day trip. I love this one from Bagsmart!
If you are not sure of the geography, Varadero, also known as Playa Azul, covers Cuba’s tiny Hicacos Peninsula in Matanza Province.
It is a super-popular beach resort area just a couple of hours’ drive east of Havana, and it is, in fact, the largest resort area in the Caribbean.
A lot of international guests come here for a week or three of sand-and-sun vaycay, in 2017 a whopping 1.7 million foreign tourists visited the resorts here!
Hicacos Peninsula pretty much consists of just beaches, palms, and hotels. Along its 20 km of Atlantic Ocean coastline are a series of all-inclusive hotel and spa complexes.
And there is a golf course if you are into handicaps!
FYI, Varadero Beach was actually rated one of the world’s best beaches inTripAdvisor‘sTraveler’s Choice Awards of 2019, ranking all the way up there at second place.
Wrap-Up Melia International Resort Varadero
Overall, the Melia International Resort Varadero is a good all-inclusive option for your Varadero holiday that will suit a variety of travelers.
You can choose between different levels of service and luxury, and there are a number of restaurants, cafes, and bars to visit.
Depending on the mood of the day, you can also choose between different pool areas. Some have a festive ambiance, while others have a calm and tranquil atmosphere.
Or leave the resort behind for the day and get out and about and explore a bit of Cuba; it will all be there to take care of you when you get back!
If you are open to other options than the all-inclusive world, check out the budget-friendly (and a bit more authentic Cuban) options as well.
Hege Jacobsen is a solo female traveler and the founder of Epic Nomad Life. She is also a former military officer, veteran and Master of Political Science. She has traveled solo all her life, the last four years as a full time digital nomad. A life long solo and slow traveler, Hege also did a TEDx talk in 2023 about how to communicate better with A Traveler's Mindset!
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