Royalton Hicacos reviews
11181 TripAdvisor reviews
Royalton Hicacos Cuba Dec '24
Pjamies (Toronto, Canada) on Dec 26, 2024
Was here mid-Dec. Place gets the 5 Star rating as the setup is really nice (rooms, beach, overall upkeep) Food gets a 2 star rating as it really has not changed much since I was last in Cuba 20yrs ago! Not... sure why they cannot hire a head chef to come up with a better menu of items?? Never had a Fish Taco with veg's in it before (and it was not on a vegetarian menu) There are lots this (so called 5 Star resort) could do to make a guests stay much better, but they don't (or cannot due to embargo's, etc) Tip, take toilet paper with you if using a resort public washroom, as everyone I needed to use did not have any! The staff are nice and accommodating, but sometimes look confused when you ask them something basic.. Showers in the rooms need to be better engineered as they are in the large tub but hard to get under due to the tub walls slopping outwards making it hard to shower properly.. The Beach if fantastic and cleaned daily. The sand is super soft which is great. We did not upgrade to the Diamond Club option as it is $1k more, and not sure if it is worth it, as besides having a little different seating location, I could not see the real benefits to this.. In a regular Caribbean island this place would be a overall 3 Star resort. But do to little competition in Cuba with better Resort names (Hilton or Sheraton, etc) these resorts can call themselves 5 Star resorts.. It's the little things that make a resort a 5 Star location .. and it would not take a lot to change this place, but they cannot seem to move past these little things..
Diamond club experience!
378mariap (Calgary, Canada) on Dec 25, 2024
Diamond club was all that and more, so worth it and I wouldn't do it any other way for this hotel in the future!!! Four butlers always there for you, the best service from Laura, Bryan, Betty and Leo, than...k you so very much for all your hard work to make our vacation perfect!!! They make reservations for special restaurants, have farewell dinners, diamond club dinners with Alex spearheading it wonderfully, decorate your room and having recognition throughout the resort activities for your special occasion. It was included golf or an island tour with food and snorkeling. Excellent food and top alcohol choices, in the club and room abundance of food, water, beer, towels. Spacious rooms perfectly located. The best part to seat at the buffet and the best huge beach location. The whole resort has so many options for having access to pool, beach, seating, dining, drinking, even ice cream, 24/7 snack bar, lobby bar and room service. There's an ease and relaxation unmatched. Great facilities like an awesome gym and always quiet. We've been in many countries and resorts and this is the best time we've had. I read all the reviews prior to going and was concerned, because of the state of the country but it's all worth it. The expectations of some guests are unreasonable sometimes, because it's 5 star resort, doesn't have unlimited resources 24/7 and similar to everyone's country's staples, and was not built yesterday. You're in Cuba, enjoy the differences and appreciate the people. Special thanks also go to Aldo, Carla with Nexus tours and their girls at the resort. Bartender Elenexy and Elieser, girls at the pool service, Joe at diamond club beach, Anya in the morning bar lobby, Lasaro every morning at omelette station. The night entertainment with the Opera singers. Thank you for everything can't wait to come back ??????
Amazing time and resort
472shelleyg (Toronto, Canada) on Dec 25, 2024
Returned late last night. The weather was wonderful, had one cool night that needed long sleeve shirt but otherwise we were in our bathing suits and shorts/dresses the rest of the time. We upgraded to Dia...mond Club and HIGHLY recommend. The value was so worth it and provided so many wonderful extras including reception party and farewell dinner. The entire Diamond Club team is amazing and can't say enough how welcoming and helpful all 4 were to us. The Club also offers top shelf alcohol, including beer and treats at all times. The washroom within the facility is also so convenient! The beach is amazing and the staff keep so clean! Ocean was amazing and so fun to play in the waves. Restuarants: the cafe on ground floor had wonderful coffee and snacks at all times. Buffet: amazing for all meals - daily small changes. No shortage of anything. So many choices including eggs, pancakes, beef, chicken, italian dishes, cheese (so many!) fruit and pastries. A la cart: Only ate at 2 of them by choice, Pearl and LeCaribe- Beautifully prepared and quiet. Desserts - everywhere and available 24/7. Pool - so well kept and clean at all times. A bit cool but once in especially at pool bar warms up. Spa - enjoyed a wonderful couples massage - worth the money! Room - very comfortable king size bed, lovely balcony and maid service was exceptional. Entertainment - the lobby evening entertainment is wonderful. We did not make it to any shows, very disappointing for us, but they start at 9:30 pm and after a start of the day by 7 am - it makes for too long of a day. Pool side entertainment is fun and lively - wish it happened twice daily since it was so fun to participate or simply enjoy from the cabana. Staff: beautiful smiles and kindness from all. Quick with service and no expectations of constant tipping. While it is greatly appreciated, especially in Canadian or American dollars. Such beautiful people and happy. The uniforms were always so clean, pressed and the staff all seemed to enjoy working at this resort. They, we believe, are well treated by the resort and it showed! Recommendations: do not transfer money to pecso's. Staff and all local stores, services rather Canadian or American dollars. The staff will also change the larger dollars to smaller for tips but recommend taking small bills (no coins). Excursions: there is an amazing marina within walking distance. Rented a speed boat (25hp - lol) and jet skies - had a blast and so reasonable - highly recommend and such great value. Did the Jeep day trip - recommend paying the extra to have your own jeep. Not at all represented as stated by Sunwing but still worth the experience of the cave, private boat tour, jeep tour, snokling, local farm and the tour guide was so interesting, spoke excellent english and had a great day - another recommendation - prepare for the drive into the farm - so many children run up to jeep asking for money or candy. Made for a disappointing point of the trip as you want to be able to give to them all. Wish we were better informed of this portion and the fact that at each stop, there would be something to purchase (special lobster lunch or specialty drinks). Each stop was extra $$$, if you chose. Wish we were better informed of this part. Money - do not convert your dollars over - they love Canadian money. Limited places take credit card in town so do not even bother to take it. Take the local hop on hop off bus into town, take the horse drawn buggy ride through the streets and eat in a real cuban rest. Take a vintage private car back to the resort - so reasonable - $20-40 CDN $. Diamond Club day trip - no words can express how amazing that day was and all included . Do take some Cdn. dollars for tips/extras and the option lobster lunch right on the boat with freshly caught lobster right in the middle of the ocean. Bank - the hotel bank is very limited in how much you can take out daily and the money they give (only cuba dollars and often small bills only). Lady that works is not overly helpful but male staff was very nice! Overall - absolutely no shortages of anything, with exception to hot water at the busy times of the day, lovely resort, well maintained by mtce. staff that are constantly painting, repairing or servicing. On a final note, there is a new resident manager (since November) and he was so helpful and exceptional. He went out of his way to be helpful to us specifically on an occasion that we needed an options and he provided. BTW: this is my third time to Cuba and my partners 10+, both of us felt this resort was the best of all previous. He and I had smiles on our days from the moment we woke til the end of the evening. Couple from Toronto - middle aged.
Best cuba vacation ever
Cruiser35114101469 on Dec 25, 2024
We where there Dec 17 to 24th 2024. The place is amazing the diamond club is worth the extra price. Our butler Brian is something special always big smile makes us feel so welcome. Top shelf alchol in diam...ond club. Moosehead in cuba. Absolute for her. The resort has great pools beautiful beach. The buffet has many options no shortage of anything we ate more there than we do at home the french toast cuban style is so good. The diamond club managed to get us clamato a real ceasar so nice. The a la cartes especially the pearl was very good nice steak cooked perfect. The cleanliness of the resort is also 5 star. The diamond club offered a free trip on a big boat to cayo blanco with lunch and drinks. We have never seen a beach so beautiful this was a real treat. And again they gave us lobster lunch on the most beautiful little island off the coast. We met the resident manager we where just talking about how great Brian is and he walks to front desk and gives us the room on last day to 3pm we never asked he just did. Overall this resort is the only resort to go to in veradero in my opinion. One last word lots of gas no power problems lots of food. We landed 3am dec 25th 2024 it was the best trip to cuba and ive been going for 30 years.
Best relaxing stay in Varadero
???µp??a G on Dec 24, 2024
Very good hotel, kind staff, good food, many choices and a relaxing experience with lots of activities, music and drinks. Elaine showed us around and was very kind and helpful, attending to our needs. We h...ad a wonderful time! Thank you very much for everything!