Sol Sirenas-Coral Resort

Anónimo, CA, 2005-04-05
We went to Sol Serinas Coral Resort in Veradaro from March 20-27/05. It was the worst trip we've ever taken. There is no way I can list all of the problems. The resort was in rough shape. The concerete walkways are in great need of repair. The pools were dirty. The staff unfriendly. The worst part - the ladies washrooms didn't have toilet seats on them - the men's washrooms had a sign not to flush toilet paper but to put it in the garbage. The washroom at the beach was unbearable - dirty and smelly. The food was horrible - we were all hungry for a week. There was no variety, the same thing every day. The only a-la-carte that was edible was the Italian - there you can get a small piece of steak with 3 slices of potatoes. The only good thing about the resort - the beach was beautiful. This resort can't be a 4 star! Everyone we talked to was disappointed. I could go on and on but I'll leave it at this - Stay Away!

Anónimo, CA, 2005-04-04
My best friend and I (who are 18) just returned from Sol Sirenas Coral yesterday (Satruday April 3, 2005) and I must admit when we got to Cuba, we thought it was going to be the trip from hell. We waited at the airport on the bus for over an hour for people who were kept at immigration. They has booked us in the Sirenas section instead of the Coral like we asked. We decided not to put up a fight and took the room in the Sirenas side. In our room the air conditioner leaked and the toilet didn't flush, but the friendliness and helpfulness of the staff made up for it all. They came up and mopped it up promising to have someone fix it. Both were done by the time we came back from the beach the next evening. Our room luckly had a fridge, but some people we met didn't have one. Beware, the fridges aren't cold. They're only good for keeping water cool. Some rooms had bottled water, others didn't. We were told we had to buy it and that it didn't come in the rooms, but many rooms came with two bottles. Unless you pile your towels on the floor in the morning, you won't get new ones. All rooms have two plugs that are suitable for the 110volt appliances that we have here in Canada. All TVs have satillite and are able to get between 15 to 25 channels. Quite a few are in english. The staff were amazing. I have never met friendlier people in my life. Most spoke english or at least tried too. There were activities at every hour of the day. Vollyball, salsa lessons, tours to Havana, soccer, snorkling, & sailing just to name a few. The buffet food was a little bland, but I haven't heard the best things about the food in Cuba no matter what resort. The food at the four restaurants was amazing though. Oriental being the favourite. Both pools were clean and beautiful. Exchanging money was easy. You can only do it on the Coral side of the resort which can be a bit of a hike, but fine for us youngin's:p They have internet use. $3(Cuban) for 1/2 hour, $6(Cuban) for a full hour. Telephones to call overseas are available at the front desk. The phone lines in Cuba, for lack of a better word, suck, so oftentimes calling overseas can be difficult. It's not the resort's fault. The 24 snack bar is a bit misleading. By snack bar they mean that ham and cheese sandwiches are available after 7pm. They're kept in a fridge at the outdoor bar. There's a grill there to do it yourself, but they're no ketchup, mustard or butter. I would suggest taking little packetts of ketchup with you (from McDonalds or where ever) because they don't always have it and it tastes very different then what we're used to. The 24 hour bar was great. It's outdoors near the pool. If the bartender isn't behind the bar, he's close by cleaning up in the kitchen or around the pool. Every night when we got back from one of the nightclubs we'd head there. There's a disco called Habana Club. There's a mix of Cuban and North American music played. When the staff are finished work for the night, they come and join the tourists in dancing. Oftentimes you'll get free dance lessons from the staff. The pathways to the beach are gorgeous. There's hamocks to relax in and a jaccuzi close to the beach. There are little huts down near the beach. They almost look like tiki huts. They have couches in them so you can relax and look at the beautiful ocean. There's a romantic little dinner hut near the beach also that you can reserve for yourself and your other half. The beach is kept extremely clean. Gorgeous white sand. The ocean is beauitful and warm. The groundskeepers are extremely nice. Offering to get you a coconut, performing a little show for you and letting you drink the coconut water. They give you little flowers for your hair when they see you walking to the beach in the morning. Always smiling and saying hello. There are two stores at the resort with the neccessary items. Fun things to take back home, cigars, alcohol, some clothing items, bathing suits, toliettries, alcohol, makeup, candy and chips. There are a few snack bars all over the resort that you can go to if you miss the buffet for lunch. They're open until 7pm and you can get hamburgers, fries, hot dogs, special sanwiches. They are great. Icecream bars are available all day too. There are two beach bars. The resort is packed with mostly Canadians. A lot of them being French Canadians. Some German, Dutch and English. Security is great. There are guards at the front gate and at every enterance onto the beach ensuring that no one not staying at that resort is there (everyone that stays at Sol Sirenas Coral wears a red arm band). Nightlife is great. There is nightly entertainment at the theatre on the Coal side. Every night is a different show with a different theme. The whole resort seems to shut down around midnight when the loby bar closes. After that, there's not much to do around the resort but go to the outdoor bar. My friends and I prefered to go nightclubing down the road at La Rumba, an amazing nightclub where again they play a mix of Cuban and North American music. Friday nights there is a lineup out the door. By 1am the techno had taken over, the place was packed and everyone was dancing and drinking. There are many other clubs on the same road. We weren't able to get to all of them, but the ones we did were undiscribable. You have to see for yourself! If you want to get your hair braided, they have a beauty parlor, but it can be extremely expensive. If you ask your chamber maid, she'll do it herself or have someone else that works at the resort do it. They charge $25(Cuban) and it looks awsome. Checkout is at 12pm, but they offer 1/2 hour courtesy rooms that you can go into and use the showers, watch tv and get ready to go home in. We made tons of friends and enjoyed our one week stay. I'm sure I'll think of more to add to this later, but this is the basics. Overall we had an amazing time and would go back to this resort in a flash. You must remember, Cuba does not have the same luxuries as Canada, Germany, or England so you can't expect the same as what you have at home. For what they have, they did a great job. We're planning to return again next year!

Anónimo, CA, 2005-03-30
After reading the bad reviews on this property I was begining to panic, it turned out that the reviews are pretty much correct. We stayed there March 12th - 26th 2005. Let me start with good! The pool and grounds are beautiful they have a 24 hour tea/coffee/rum & beer corner that can be a lot of fun once the main looby bar shuts down for the nite around 1 a.m. the beach is one of the niceist I have seen however there is miles of this beach & most hotels are located on it. The hotel is very close to Varadero 30 minute walk if you can take the heat. Now the bad! the rooms are the worst! furniture is very worn beds are old & very uncomfotable mattress are ready for the garbage as I'm sure they contain alot of unsitely stuff as the sheets are only washed twice a week most balcony views are terrrible unless you luck out with a view of the pool. The first 4 days we were there they had put us in a room over looking nothing but the tops of palm trees that had birds that squated 24 seven. When asked to be move the tryed to tell us we were in one of the better rooms. After some investgating I found a better location over looking the pool they agreed to move us but were not happy. The staff at the lobby bar will basicly ignore you untill you start to tip, They keep a tip glass right out on the bar The food was ok as far as that goes how ever I did come down with food poisin after 5 or 6 days & when I complianed about it they tryed to tell me to much sun & beer. my friened got sick 2 days later we did't bother to tell the managment which you never seen anyway because I don't think that they gave a heck. Towels are also a issue don't ask for extras becuse they won't give with out a fight. The maid was lazy the floor was not washed once & swept with her eyes closed they were ants in the corners & nothing was wiped down but the bathroom which we were lucky to have done by 3:00. You must keep the lid on the toliet down at all times or you smell pissy pipes. The lighting is very poor in your room. I did't do my research before booking this hotel I will never stay they agian unless it is a sell off for dirt cheap because this is all it is worth the tour compines sould be ashamed of themselfs rating this property a 4 plus star and ripping off the tourist. This property is only at 3 star & I do not recommed you go there unless you are getting it for under a 1000 per week taxes included. I showed the PR lady a couple of pages of reviews even let her keep it & I was shown no interast from the mangement regarding the reviews or the fact that I got sick don't go to this resort maybe if they start to lose buisness they will put some money into those shabby rooms or ajust there rates. Most people I talked to said they would not return there. If yoou have any questions you can email me.

Anónimo, CA, 2005-03-20
What a great time we had - and I was afraid given some of the reviews! The room was fine, there was always hot water and clean towels. The hotel staff were courteous, the buffet was great (newer and more selection on the Sirenas side), the bar was always hopping! We stayed on the Coral side and the grounds are lovely - lush and clean. You can exchange your Canadian money at the hotel so not to worry about that. It is a quick trip into town in a Coco - that was fun! I will definitely return and quite likely to the Coral! My only problem was with some of the tourists - they complain, they are rude, they leave their garbage on the beach! We even were subjected to one young man vomitting into the stream that runs through the lobby - egged on by friends who took pictures of the whole thing - how disgusting and shameful. Have people no respect? Cuba is lovely, the people are friendly, the ocean is beautiful - and part of the charm of any holiday is to experience another culture - so don't complain when it isn't "just like home" - it isn't meant to be! Go and have fun and don't worry about staying at the Sol Sirenas Coral.