Cayo Libertad Hotel
Autopista Sur Final, Punta Hicacos, Varadero 42200 Cuba
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About
#3 of 6 resorts in Varadero
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Value
Cleanliness
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This stunning 5-star hotel on the tip of the Varadero peninsula, Cuba's most famous tourist destination, is set on a small and exclusive island surrounded by the most beautiful and seductive fine white sandy beach and crystal-clear waters, offering guests luxury, privacy and rest. Barcelo Cayo Libertad Club Premium***** offers a total of 85 stunning Junior Suites and Suites in buildings over 2 floors noted for their incredible sea views and possibility of enjoying a personalised service. This romantic hotel set in beautiful gardens offers its guests a gourmet restaurant, cigar bar with piano during the evenings and an exclusive swimming pool, the edges of which seem to melt into the Caribbean. Guests can also enjoy the services and facilities as well as the "Barcelo All-Inclusive" program of the hotel Barcelo Marina Palace, for which they will have preference. Welcome to the Barcelo Cayo Libertad Club Premium*****, a new concept in personalised and exclusive service for Adults Only ideal for couples, weddings, honeymoons, anniversary celebrations, conferences, groups and incentive and business trips. Enjoy this stunning setting of the Barcelo Cayo Libertad Club Premium*****, the perfect choice for your holiday in this Caribbean paradise.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Paid internet
Fitness Centre with Gym / Workout Room
Pool
Free breakfast
Beach
Fishing
Business Centre with Internet Access
Internet
Hot bath
Infinity pool
Adult pool
Outdoor pool
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Breakfast buffet
Swimup bar
Poolside bar
Conference facilities
Spa
Adults only
Concierge
Non-smoking hotel
Dry cleaning
Laundry service
Room features
Air conditioning
Private balcony
Room service
Safe
Minibar
Room types
Ocean view
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Smoking rooms available
Good to know
HOTEL STYLE
Harbour View
Marina View
Location
Autopista Sur Final, Punta Hicacos, Varadero 42200 Cuba
Getting there
Juan Gualberto Gomez Airport
36.3 km•
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17 Restaurants
within 10 kilometers
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Detailed Reviews
We just returned from the Blau Privilege Cayo Libertad Hotel where we thoroughly enjoyed our week! The highlights for us were the friendly and attentive service, the delicious food and the quiet relaxing resort.
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Date of stay: February 2013Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cayo Libertad is a small private island connected to the end of the Varadero strip, and that is why the "Blau Privilege Cayo Libertad" is the small luxury "hotel within a hotel" of the next door, bigger, cheaper "Blau Marina Varadero". A quick search on Google map illustrate very well the situation.
Both the main hotel and the small Cayo Libertad were former Barcelo hotels and have likely been sold when they were outdated and did not fit the Barcelo standards anymore.
The good and the bad about Blau Cayo Libertad:
- it's on a private island (!!) but it's at the complete end of the strip, 22km from the village
- it's small and private... but offer very limited amenities (1 restaurant, 1 pool bar), so you have to end up going and spending to the less enjoyable Blau Marina (animation, sport, fitness, buffet, spa, etc....), meaning you spend quite some time in a resort below what you paid for.
- it was 5*... but it was in the 80s. The amenities have been (almostly) maintained but not upgraded or replaced. In our room alone, 2 chairs were broken, the shower was broken, the ventilation system was dead and would send us all the cigarette smoke from our neighbours' terrace. In the restaurant the espresso machine is broken so they ave a cheap office-style machine or take 10mn to get it from else where... You can see it was great 30 years ago: it is still big, and there is a certain style. But it's mainly old and uncomfortable now. Most of the shower along the beach have stopped working somewhere in 90s. Most beach bars throughout the resort are abandoned to cut operating costs. King bed are equipped with double sized sheets. etc, etc...
- the two small beaches on the island are gorgeous. but they've been (recently they say) completely infested with sand flies. The perfect sunset spot, in front of the "presidential villa" is also the worst for flies, we couldn't stay for more than 5mn because of the rhythm of the bites. Once again, you'll have to walk 10mn to the Blau Marina to have beaches without the nuisance.
- the food menu is incredibly limited. Most of the menu is not available (they haven't seen Serrano Ham in almost a year despite still being announced on the menu) and your "dedicated luxury a la carte" restaurant is disappointing at best. only alternative, ending up in the (bad) 4* Blau marina buffet (yet again, was 4* in the 80s...)
Conclusion: it is a cheap 5* option in Varadero, and you'll get what you paid for: a somewhat secluded, private, quiet area with outdated, old, broken service and amenities. Read about Blau Marina, because you'll end up spending some of your time there too...
Both the main hotel and the small Cayo Libertad were former Barcelo hotels and have likely been sold when they were outdated and did not fit the Barcelo standards anymore.
The good and the bad about Blau Cayo Libertad:
- it's on a private island (!!) but it's at the complete end of the strip, 22km from the village
- it's small and private... but offer very limited amenities (1 restaurant, 1 pool bar), so you have to end up going and spending to the less enjoyable Blau Marina (animation, sport, fitness, buffet, spa, etc....), meaning you spend quite some time in a resort below what you paid for.
- it was 5*... but it was in the 80s. The amenities have been (almostly) maintained but not upgraded or replaced. In our room alone, 2 chairs were broken, the shower was broken, the ventilation system was dead and would send us all the cigarette smoke from our neighbours' terrace. In the restaurant the espresso machine is broken so they ave a cheap office-style machine or take 10mn to get it from else where... You can see it was great 30 years ago: it is still big, and there is a certain style. But it's mainly old and uncomfortable now. Most of the shower along the beach have stopped working somewhere in 90s. Most beach bars throughout the resort are abandoned to cut operating costs. King bed are equipped with double sized sheets. etc, etc...
- the two small beaches on the island are gorgeous. but they've been (recently they say) completely infested with sand flies. The perfect sunset spot, in front of the "presidential villa" is also the worst for flies, we couldn't stay for more than 5mn because of the rhythm of the bites. Once again, you'll have to walk 10mn to the Blau Marina to have beaches without the nuisance.
- the food menu is incredibly limited. Most of the menu is not available (they haven't seen Serrano Ham in almost a year despite still being announced on the menu) and your "dedicated luxury a la carte" restaurant is disappointing at best. only alternative, ending up in the (bad) 4* Blau marina buffet (yet again, was 4* in the 80s...)
Conclusion: it is a cheap 5* option in Varadero, and you'll get what you paid for: a somewhat secluded, private, quiet area with outdated, old, broken service and amenities. Read about Blau Marina, because you'll end up spending some of your time there too...
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Date of stay: November 2015Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: For the best view, try to the rooms on the second floor of the bungalows on the south side of the...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My partner and I have just spent 11 days at the Cayo Libertad. It was 'off- season' and quiet but we had a wonderful stay.
Raul the manager was very helpful, always on hand and nothing was too much trouble. He is rightly proud of his hotel and is very conscious that you are there to have a good holiday. There are always certain shortages in Cuba and sometimes basic commodities which we as Europeans take for granted are simply unavailable, even to the hotels. There was for example a problem with flies in the restaurant and the management was aware of this but were unable for the moment to get hold of the insect spray (or 'zapper' machine) which would have solved the problem immediately. It must be very frustrating but as I've said 'that is Cuba'. Keep this in mind and 'go with the flow'; if you make a few allowances you cannot fail to be impressed by both the hotel generally and the overall effort that the staff put in to making guests welcome and comfortable.
Our room was very well equipped and spacious. The balcony/terrace was huge and a good place to sit and enjoy the view. The fridge was kept supplied with water, soft drinks, and beer. Blocks 46 - 48 are the best situated with good views and are conveniently placed with regard to the pool and restaurant. An upstairs room (two storey blocks) is the best option since the ground floor rooms have a view restricted by dense vegetation on the shoreline.
The food is delicious. The chefs appear to be 'rotated' which means that the same dish can change in both appearance and taste from one day to the next - not actually a bad thing since the menu does not change and if you are staying for any length of time the choice of food could easily become a little repetitive. We also enjoyed the complimentary room service which can be a change from the restaurant, you can order light snacks if you are not particularly hungry.
The hotel gardens are lovely, the gardeners do a wonderful job and ask for no recognition. The pool setting is amazing, very restful with beautiful views of the sea, the palm trees, and the fisherman. You can order your lunch and it will be served at the pool. Nothing seems to be too much trouble.
The beach and the sea were stunning. Given that there appeared to be plenty of staff on hand it would have been good to have had seen the beach hut utilised to serve drinks which would allow guests to spend time at the beach without having to trek back to the hotel room for cold water. The sea was a little shallow but completely safe. We were keen to snorkel but were unable to find any spots at the Cayo for this activity.
As a resident at the Cayo Libertad you are entitled to visit and use the facilities at the adjoining Blau Marina Valadero Resort. We did visit one evening; we went to the self-service restaurant and watched one of the nightly shows. Only once! The difference between the two hotels was enormous. The BMVR was huge and not a little grim, the food was of poor quality and tepid, the drinks watery. Yes there is quite a big difference in price between the two hotels but they simply do not compare in quality. Frankly I do not believe that we would have enjoyed ourselves at the BMVR whereas the BPCL experience was little short of wonderful.
The only time we were made to feel uncomfortable was by the heavy handed yet cleverly subtle solicitation of tips particularly towards the end of our stay. This took the form of loaded compliments (don't you smell nice, that is a really nice dress/wrap), or sad statements that 'we in Cuba cannot get/afford such things', repeated 'goodbyes', and even notes. It is of course understandable given the undeniable hardships faced by ordinary working Cubans but as I have said it did make me feel uncomfortable. The management would do well to try to curb this activity if it is able. That said the service was undeniably excellent. We DID tip but made sure that it was directed at those staff who gave us the best service and who did not try the forceful tactics.
Special mention and thanks goes to the waiting team led by Maitai, the pool bar staff particularly Yudier and Merlin, and of course Raul the manager.
Varadero is reached by a hop-on, hop-off shuttle bus. It is an uninteresting ride past a succession of hotels to a frankly drab and uninteresting town. Watch out for 'scams' with the horse drawn carriages. The drivers are going to charge you whatever they can get away with. Agree a fare before you get into the carriage, make sure it's not 'per person', not time dependent, and that there will be no extras. Really there is very little to do in the town itself which makes your choice of hotel very important.
I would recommend the Cayo Libertad in an instant for a peaceful, care-free and re-vitalising holiday.
Raul the manager was very helpful, always on hand and nothing was too much trouble. He is rightly proud of his hotel and is very conscious that you are there to have a good holiday. There are always certain shortages in Cuba and sometimes basic commodities which we as Europeans take for granted are simply unavailable, even to the hotels. There was for example a problem with flies in the restaurant and the management was aware of this but were unable for the moment to get hold of the insect spray (or 'zapper' machine) which would have solved the problem immediately. It must be very frustrating but as I've said 'that is Cuba'. Keep this in mind and 'go with the flow'; if you make a few allowances you cannot fail to be impressed by both the hotel generally and the overall effort that the staff put in to making guests welcome and comfortable.
Our room was very well equipped and spacious. The balcony/terrace was huge and a good place to sit and enjoy the view. The fridge was kept supplied with water, soft drinks, and beer. Blocks 46 - 48 are the best situated with good views and are conveniently placed with regard to the pool and restaurant. An upstairs room (two storey blocks) is the best option since the ground floor rooms have a view restricted by dense vegetation on the shoreline.
The food is delicious. The chefs appear to be 'rotated' which means that the same dish can change in both appearance and taste from one day to the next - not actually a bad thing since the menu does not change and if you are staying for any length of time the choice of food could easily become a little repetitive. We also enjoyed the complimentary room service which can be a change from the restaurant, you can order light snacks if you are not particularly hungry.
The hotel gardens are lovely, the gardeners do a wonderful job and ask for no recognition. The pool setting is amazing, very restful with beautiful views of the sea, the palm trees, and the fisherman. You can order your lunch and it will be served at the pool. Nothing seems to be too much trouble.
The beach and the sea were stunning. Given that there appeared to be plenty of staff on hand it would have been good to have had seen the beach hut utilised to serve drinks which would allow guests to spend time at the beach without having to trek back to the hotel room for cold water. The sea was a little shallow but completely safe. We were keen to snorkel but were unable to find any spots at the Cayo for this activity.
As a resident at the Cayo Libertad you are entitled to visit and use the facilities at the adjoining Blau Marina Valadero Resort. We did visit one evening; we went to the self-service restaurant and watched one of the nightly shows. Only once! The difference between the two hotels was enormous. The BMVR was huge and not a little grim, the food was of poor quality and tepid, the drinks watery. Yes there is quite a big difference in price between the two hotels but they simply do not compare in quality. Frankly I do not believe that we would have enjoyed ourselves at the BMVR whereas the BPCL experience was little short of wonderful.
The only time we were made to feel uncomfortable was by the heavy handed yet cleverly subtle solicitation of tips particularly towards the end of our stay. This took the form of loaded compliments (don't you smell nice, that is a really nice dress/wrap), or sad statements that 'we in Cuba cannot get/afford such things', repeated 'goodbyes', and even notes. It is of course understandable given the undeniable hardships faced by ordinary working Cubans but as I have said it did make me feel uncomfortable. The management would do well to try to curb this activity if it is able. That said the service was undeniably excellent. We DID tip but made sure that it was directed at those staff who gave us the best service and who did not try the forceful tactics.
Special mention and thanks goes to the waiting team led by Maitai, the pool bar staff particularly Yudier and Merlin, and of course Raul the manager.
Varadero is reached by a hop-on, hop-off shuttle bus. It is an uninteresting ride past a succession of hotels to a frankly drab and uninteresting town. Watch out for 'scams' with the horse drawn carriages. The drivers are going to charge you whatever they can get away with. Agree a fare before you get into the carriage, make sure it's not 'per person', not time dependent, and that there will be no extras. Really there is very little to do in the town itself which makes your choice of hotel very important.
I would recommend the Cayo Libertad in an instant for a peaceful, care-free and re-vitalising holiday.
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Date of stay: September 2013Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip: Any 2nd floor
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We booked our stay for end of January through Air Transat and after reading reviews few weeks before our trip we raised our concern about amenities being closed and half of the resort not operating with the travel agency ( Air Transat Wal Mart location in Brampton by HWY 10 and Bovaird) and were straight up lied to. They told us not to believe the reviews and that everything is opened is that resort. We paid more for privilage part of the resort and when we arrived there they told us that privalage area will close 3 days later and we were moved to suites in regulat Blau Resort. Only one restaurant was open at a time and disco is closed. Barely any people were there and food was absolutely awful. The staff was trying really hard to make up for the lack of resources ( food , toilet papers in public washrooms, etc) that this resort had. Most of their long term staff has left and moved to a different resort. Before you go here please do your research, if you are returning visitor and have contact with someone from Cuba, ask them before you make a decision to visit this resort. DO NOT BELIEVE YOUR TRAVEL AGENT, ESPECIALLY FROM AIR TRANSAT, THEY ARE NO DOING ENOUGH RESEARCH TO CHECK IF THIS RESORT IS ACTUALLY FULLY OPERATING. THEY JUST CARE ABOUT MAKING THE SALE
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Date of stay: January 2018Trip type: Travelled with friends
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The good: Beaches are nice (though the 'private beach' for this part of hotel is much worse than the main hotel beach) and pool in this area is good, though 'infinity' pool is somewhat exaggerated... Room was a good size and air conditioning worked.
The bad: Where to begin?! I am not normally a complainer and have never left a negative review before but this place drove me to it with their lack of acknowledgment or care for their service.
The worst episode involved my girlfriend ordering a plate of pasta in the 'private restaurant' (which by the way is to be avoided at all meals at all costs...less atmosphere than the moon, rude staff, chef has clearly never even learnt to use a microwave, run out of basic items for 5 days in a row e.g. potatoes, pesto, mint despite the main restaurant having them; music ranging from nothing to dreadful depressing 80s songs to an awkward string quartet one evening!) which came with a clear smear of fresh blood on the side of the plate...disgusted we showed the staff who shrugged and acknowledged it was blood and took the plate away with no apology or anything simply bringing out a new plate a few mins later (which we didn't want anymore) and still no comment on the blood.
The food across the board was near enough inedible...will upload some pictures of a variety of slop on offer at the buffet when I get a chance but we ended up dreading every mealtime at buffet or a la carte where even the most plain dishes such as pasta and cheese would still be horrendously over-cooked or the 'seasonal vegetables' that were tinned carrots and green beans was another good one! Don't get me wrong, at an all inclusive in Cuba you expect fairly poor food so we weren't after gourmet experience but it should be possible to serve something simple that is edible at least and not be picking through a buffet dreaming of the air-france plane meal on the way home!!!
The gym is the oldest most run-down affair you can imagine, I didn't feel safe using any of the rickety old equipment.
The whole experience was more one of lots of little things that in themselves wouldn't be a big deal but when strung together got tiresome. For instance they were out of mint for all 6 days we were there...in the land of the mojito! Staff were desperately disinterested (with the exception of the pool boys and a couple of the bar staff who were nice), I guess this could be due to working in Socialist state or in a hotel with no tipping as we had similar (lack of) service attitude in hotels in Havana but you were left with the feeling that you were putting them out by eating in their restaurant. When we eventually had a word with 'Freddy', the acting manager, about the blood incident and other things he was very apologetic and said he'd pass it up to management who would be in touch with an apology but predictably that was the last we heard of it.
So all in all, we enjoyed the stay overall by virtue of the weather, the pool, the sea but it was severely tempered by continuous gripes of service, food, run down areas of the hotel. The hotel is advertised as a 5*, I don't know who awards such ratings (I presume the government who must own the hotel) but no independent agency would be able to give it more than 2* for either hygiene or quality.
Stay anywhere else would be my advice and probably avoid Varadero altogether as the other hotels we drove past looked pretty sketchy too, but at least they were probably cheaper. Shame as the beaches are paradise-esque in the area but as are beaches on all the other Caribbean islands too so head elsewhere would be my advice.
The bad: Where to begin?! I am not normally a complainer and have never left a negative review before but this place drove me to it with their lack of acknowledgment or care for their service.
The worst episode involved my girlfriend ordering a plate of pasta in the 'private restaurant' (which by the way is to be avoided at all meals at all costs...less atmosphere than the moon, rude staff, chef has clearly never even learnt to use a microwave, run out of basic items for 5 days in a row e.g. potatoes, pesto, mint despite the main restaurant having them; music ranging from nothing to dreadful depressing 80s songs to an awkward string quartet one evening!) which came with a clear smear of fresh blood on the side of the plate...disgusted we showed the staff who shrugged and acknowledged it was blood and took the plate away with no apology or anything simply bringing out a new plate a few mins later (which we didn't want anymore) and still no comment on the blood.
The food across the board was near enough inedible...will upload some pictures of a variety of slop on offer at the buffet when I get a chance but we ended up dreading every mealtime at buffet or a la carte where even the most plain dishes such as pasta and cheese would still be horrendously over-cooked or the 'seasonal vegetables' that were tinned carrots and green beans was another good one! Don't get me wrong, at an all inclusive in Cuba you expect fairly poor food so we weren't after gourmet experience but it should be possible to serve something simple that is edible at least and not be picking through a buffet dreaming of the air-france plane meal on the way home!!!
The gym is the oldest most run-down affair you can imagine, I didn't feel safe using any of the rickety old equipment.
The whole experience was more one of lots of little things that in themselves wouldn't be a big deal but when strung together got tiresome. For instance they were out of mint for all 6 days we were there...in the land of the mojito! Staff were desperately disinterested (with the exception of the pool boys and a couple of the bar staff who were nice), I guess this could be due to working in Socialist state or in a hotel with no tipping as we had similar (lack of) service attitude in hotels in Havana but you were left with the feeling that you were putting them out by eating in their restaurant. When we eventually had a word with 'Freddy', the acting manager, about the blood incident and other things he was very apologetic and said he'd pass it up to management who would be in touch with an apology but predictably that was the last we heard of it.
So all in all, we enjoyed the stay overall by virtue of the weather, the pool, the sea but it was severely tempered by continuous gripes of service, food, run down areas of the hotel. The hotel is advertised as a 5*, I don't know who awards such ratings (I presume the government who must own the hotel) but no independent agency would be able to give it more than 2* for either hygiene or quality.
Stay anywhere else would be my advice and probably avoid Varadero altogether as the other hotels we drove past looked pretty sketchy too, but at least they were probably cheaper. Shame as the beaches are paradise-esque in the area but as are beaches on all the other Caribbean islands too so head elsewhere would be my advice.
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Date of stay: July 2016Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
It really is hard to describe how much fun is available at this resort.
If you are looking for a nice quiet place to get away to where all of your demands, no matter how trivial, are taken with the highest priority of the staff.
Realistically, you won't have many things to ask for since the resort has anything and everything you could ask for in a Cuban facility. Keep in mind it is a Cuban resort, so some things are unavailable but it is more than made up for.
The rooms are kept in an immaculate state by the cleaning staff, and the towel art is something that will always surprise you when you enter your room. I accidentally left alot of money on the bed, which is where you leave them a tip apparently. They alerted me that it must be a mistake and handed me the money. We made sure to tip them well the rest of the week since they did an incredible job and that kind of honesty is hard to find.
The bar staff are worth their weight in gold. In particular Merlin, who can make magic happen behind the bar. To make the drinks even better, she is one of the nicest people to talk to and her stories are second to none. Yudier also tends the bar there and he does an excellent job as well.
The food was far better than I expected. Cooked perfectly, and always in a large portions. The buffet is always fully stocked and fresh. We ordered the seafood meal a few times and it was different each time. Thats not to say it was bad, it was delicious, but those are the kinds of things you can expect in Cuba in general.
The grounds crew do such an incredible job as well. The beach is always cleaned every morning, and the gardens and paths are cleaned every day as well. All of the hardwork the staff puts in to their jobs makes the facilities seem even better. The pools and spas are spotless, the concierge and gift shops and managed by more than capable individuals.
It had been 6 months since I have been hom but part of me is still there. I can not get this place out of my mind. I also can not recommend this resort highly enough.
If you are looking for a nice quiet place to get away to where all of your demands, no matter how trivial, are taken with the highest priority of the staff.
Realistically, you won't have many things to ask for since the resort has anything and everything you could ask for in a Cuban facility. Keep in mind it is a Cuban resort, so some things are unavailable but it is more than made up for.
The rooms are kept in an immaculate state by the cleaning staff, and the towel art is something that will always surprise you when you enter your room. I accidentally left alot of money on the bed, which is where you leave them a tip apparently. They alerted me that it must be a mistake and handed me the money. We made sure to tip them well the rest of the week since they did an incredible job and that kind of honesty is hard to find.
The bar staff are worth their weight in gold. In particular Merlin, who can make magic happen behind the bar. To make the drinks even better, she is one of the nicest people to talk to and her stories are second to none. Yudier also tends the bar there and he does an excellent job as well.
The food was far better than I expected. Cooked perfectly, and always in a large portions. The buffet is always fully stocked and fresh. We ordered the seafood meal a few times and it was different each time. Thats not to say it was bad, it was delicious, but those are the kinds of things you can expect in Cuba in general.
The grounds crew do such an incredible job as well. The beach is always cleaned every morning, and the gardens and paths are cleaned every day as well. All of the hardwork the staff puts in to their jobs makes the facilities seem even better. The pools and spas are spotless, the concierge and gift shops and managed by more than capable individuals.
It had been 6 months since I have been hom but part of me is still there. I can not get this place out of my mind. I also can not recommend this resort highly enough.
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Date of stay: April 2014Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Paula G, Director General at Cayo Libertad Hotel
Responded Nov 15, 2014
Dear Guest, Nothing makes us happier to know that your experience at Blau Cayo Libertad was as your post tittle says, the best week of your life. We really appreciate your words about the staff that is our greatest value, we are very sad these days because we have suffered a big loss as Merlin died two weeks ago in a terrible accident. Your memories encourages us to keep improving and are the best tribute to her, rest in peace. We look forward to see you again. Best Regards, Paula Gili General Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We've just returned from a Christmas break at the Cayo Libertad and we've loved every minute of it. The staff are amazing and couldn't have been nicer. In fact, they were a big part of why we enjoyed our trip so much. They remembered what we drank and brought us drinks around the pool, just as we felt we'd like one :) Brilliant! Raul, the manager, also deserves a nod. He came in when we were checking in, welcomed us to the hotel and greeted us every time he saw us (and recognised us) after that. That's a nice personal touch which made us feel welcome.
The hotel itself is lovely. It was very quiet when we were there, which made it extra special. We don't like big resorts usually and the fact that the Cayo was relatively small was a big part of the reason we chose it. We loved the fact that it was adult only (don't know if we would have gone if it hadn't been) and although being able to use the facilities at the Blau Marina Varadero was nice, we were always glad to return to our slice of (quiet) paradise.
The room (2908) was big, bright and very welcoming. We had a view of the sea, which was great. We'd been allocated a different room, but I asked at check in if there was any chance of a sea view. The girl at reception had a look and moved us. *Very* much appreciated!
The bed was a little hard and the pillows are thin (we had to use two to make it comfortable) but in the grand scheme of things, this wasn't a big deal. The beach towels were a pleasant surprise! Big, fluffy and very new! What a difference to a resort we stayed in a few weeks ago!
The food was a little so-so for me as a vegetarian but the pasta was good and I never went hungry.
Summary:
Favourite things: The people (I honestly think that the staff at this hotel has been some of the nicest I have ever come across), the resort itself (rooms, pool etc) and the way they make the drinks! They make them strong!
Not so favourite things: Bed was a little hard and the lack of wifi (This is a Cuban thing, I think, so the hotel is not to blame. They do have computers with internet but it's slow and not all pages will open)
I would return without any hesitation and I cannot recommend this place enough!
The hotel itself is lovely. It was very quiet when we were there, which made it extra special. We don't like big resorts usually and the fact that the Cayo was relatively small was a big part of the reason we chose it. We loved the fact that it was adult only (don't know if we would have gone if it hadn't been) and although being able to use the facilities at the Blau Marina Varadero was nice, we were always glad to return to our slice of (quiet) paradise.
The room (2908) was big, bright and very welcoming. We had a view of the sea, which was great. We'd been allocated a different room, but I asked at check in if there was any chance of a sea view. The girl at reception had a look and moved us. *Very* much appreciated!
The bed was a little hard and the pillows are thin (we had to use two to make it comfortable) but in the grand scheme of things, this wasn't a big deal. The beach towels were a pleasant surprise! Big, fluffy and very new! What a difference to a resort we stayed in a few weeks ago!
The food was a little so-so for me as a vegetarian but the pasta was good and I never went hungry.
Summary:
Favourite things: The people (I honestly think that the staff at this hotel has been some of the nicest I have ever come across), the resort itself (rooms, pool etc) and the way they make the drinks! They make them strong!
Not so favourite things: Bed was a little hard and the lack of wifi (This is a Cuban thing, I think, so the hotel is not to blame. They do have computers with internet but it's slow and not all pages will open)
I would return without any hesitation and I cannot recommend this place enough!
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Date of stay: December 2012Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Juan Miguel M, Director General at Cayo Libertad Hotel
Responded Dec 31, 2012
Dear guest, Thank you for taking your time to write a review about our hotel on Trip Advisor. I am glad that you found your experience at our hotel “excellent” and were happy with the services provided to you by our staff. We strive to make each guests’ experience unique and of top quality, of what is expected of a 5 star hotel. I do hope that we will have the pleasure of hosting you again at BPCL for another great holiday. Thank you very much again for sharing your experience at BLAU PRIVILEGE CAYO LIBERTAD with us. We will be waiting for you in your next holidays, Kind Regards, Juan Miguel Marí General Manager BLAU PRIVILEGE CAYO LIBERTAD BLAU MARINA VARADERO
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I would not be recommending this resort to anyone.. especially the privileged side.
There is nothing privileged about it!
I have had better hospitality at a lower star rating hotel than here! - SAVE YOUR $! better off going to Bahamas, Jamaica, Punta Cana!
Being on the privileged side you need to be shuttled to and from the main lobby to your room as the walk is 20 minutes. (Plus you have to wait for them to come to pick you up - waiting at least 30 mins!)
We ate at a little restaurant beside the pool in the privelage section - again no selection. I asked for oatmeal 4 days in a row and they never had it! - lunch they ran out of ketchup! And didn't replenish til the next day.
Snack bar & disco is never open.
The main buffet had one row of food! - absolutely zero selection. The servers after asked several times for cutlery & water the response was always one moment please.
We got so fed up and left the food on the table and walked out.
The main lobby bar - fly floating in the frothed milk and when we asked the bartender to throw it out and make a new one they gave us a dirty look!
We had to leave the resort to eat (between taxi rides & eating we've spent over $550 CDN!) (you can highly recommend NONNA TINAS - they have great food!)
Privilege beach was poorly maintained only 4 beach chairs - can't even walk on the sand without cutting your feet on broken sea shells!
later we found out the resort use to have a chef from Spain here - hence the reviews on the food - however he left and locals now cook it. The resort has fallen apart.
Privelage buffet (never open - probably because there was only 5 people on that side)
Hotel is very grimy & dated.
1.) one room has a hole in the ceiling. (A lizard came into the room)
2.) I found a frog on my bathroom sink toiletries.
Bathroom fans didn't work
Water pressure & shower kept turning off & smelt of sewage
We were left with 2 towels (no hand towels)
one side of the bed was lower than the other
TV in the bedrooms don't work.
Ceiling fan sounded like it was going to come off the ceiling!
Bugs Laid eggs in my backpack - i had to leave the backpack in Cuba! absolutely disgusting
This resort is atrocious! Definelty not a 5 star & I would definitely not be coming back here!
There is nothing privileged about it!
I have had better hospitality at a lower star rating hotel than here! - SAVE YOUR $! better off going to Bahamas, Jamaica, Punta Cana!
Being on the privileged side you need to be shuttled to and from the main lobby to your room as the walk is 20 minutes. (Plus you have to wait for them to come to pick you up - waiting at least 30 mins!)
We ate at a little restaurant beside the pool in the privelage section - again no selection. I asked for oatmeal 4 days in a row and they never had it! - lunch they ran out of ketchup! And didn't replenish til the next day.
Snack bar & disco is never open.
The main buffet had one row of food! - absolutely zero selection. The servers after asked several times for cutlery & water the response was always one moment please.
We got so fed up and left the food on the table and walked out.
The main lobby bar - fly floating in the frothed milk and when we asked the bartender to throw it out and make a new one they gave us a dirty look!
We had to leave the resort to eat (between taxi rides & eating we've spent over $550 CDN!) (you can highly recommend NONNA TINAS - they have great food!)
Privilege beach was poorly maintained only 4 beach chairs - can't even walk on the sand without cutting your feet on broken sea shells!
later we found out the resort use to have a chef from Spain here - hence the reviews on the food - however he left and locals now cook it. The resort has fallen apart.
Privelage buffet (never open - probably because there was only 5 people on that side)
Hotel is very grimy & dated.
1.) one room has a hole in the ceiling. (A lizard came into the room)
2.) I found a frog on my bathroom sink toiletries.
Bathroom fans didn't work
Water pressure & shower kept turning off & smelt of sewage
We were left with 2 towels (no hand towels)
one side of the bed was lower than the other
TV in the bedrooms don't work.
Ceiling fan sounded like it was going to come off the ceiling!
Bugs Laid eggs in my backpack - i had to leave the backpack in Cuba! absolutely disgusting
This resort is atrocious! Definelty not a 5 star & I would definitely not be coming back here!
Read more
Date of stay: August 2017Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Overall? Good value for the money if you're looking for warm weather, quiet, nice pool and an okay beach. The rooms were lovely and the grounds were beautiful. It was very quiet which I appreciated however if you're looking for some nightlife this isn't the resort for you.
Here were the negatives of the resort:
1. The food. Yes, I know it's Cuba. That's no excuse. I'm not a picky eater, I just don't like horrible food. You can make cabbage taste good, or you can make cabbage taste bad. It was consistently horrible food.
2. The mosquitos were thick. Bring a good quality deet repellant. Some of our fellow tourists were covered in bites. Bring long pants for the evenings and one's that you don't mind spraying with repellant.
3. The customer service was horrific. Utterly horrific. We walked into the Cayo Libertad reception one afternoon and both desk attendants were actually sprawled out on the desks asleep. It is a long walk to the main resort and the hotel has carts that shuttle guests. It was more common for them to pass you by than for them to pick you up. Then you would see them talking to other staff. The whole vibe from most (and to be fair - 65%?) was that we were an inconvenience. The customer service really dampened our experience at Blau.
4. The beach. The beach on the Libertad enclosure was poor. The beach at the main resort was nice, but just nice. If you want the beautiful beaches that Varadero is known for - head to a resort closer to Varadero proper. Quite frankly - the resorts are probably cheaper and have better customer service with the same poor food.
5. The location is a LONG way from Varadero. It's a 50 CUC cab into town so heading out for an evening meal outside of the resort is pricey. You are the last drop off and the first ones picked up on the shuttle. If time is valuable to you, it's something to consider.
I've been to Cuba 3 times and each time I say it's the last yet I keep returning. Cuba as a county is fantastic, Havana is spectacular. Blau really needs to pull up their proverbial socks and get a reign on their service and food.
Here were the negatives of the resort:
1. The food. Yes, I know it's Cuba. That's no excuse. I'm not a picky eater, I just don't like horrible food. You can make cabbage taste good, or you can make cabbage taste bad. It was consistently horrible food.
2. The mosquitos were thick. Bring a good quality deet repellant. Some of our fellow tourists were covered in bites. Bring long pants for the evenings and one's that you don't mind spraying with repellant.
3. The customer service was horrific. Utterly horrific. We walked into the Cayo Libertad reception one afternoon and both desk attendants were actually sprawled out on the desks asleep. It is a long walk to the main resort and the hotel has carts that shuttle guests. It was more common for them to pass you by than for them to pick you up. Then you would see them talking to other staff. The whole vibe from most (and to be fair - 65%?) was that we were an inconvenience. The customer service really dampened our experience at Blau.
4. The beach. The beach on the Libertad enclosure was poor. The beach at the main resort was nice, but just nice. If you want the beautiful beaches that Varadero is known for - head to a resort closer to Varadero proper. Quite frankly - the resorts are probably cheaper and have better customer service with the same poor food.
5. The location is a LONG way from Varadero. It's a 50 CUC cab into town so heading out for an evening meal outside of the resort is pricey. You are the last drop off and the first ones picked up on the shuttle. If time is valuable to you, it's something to consider.
I've been to Cuba 3 times and each time I say it's the last yet I keep returning. Cuba as a county is fantastic, Havana is spectacular. Blau really needs to pull up their proverbial socks and get a reign on their service and food.
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Date of stay: May 2017Trip type: Travelled with friends
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Our first impression was "wauw. What a nice resort". The infrastructure is truly beautiful.
We arrived at +/- 15.00h and were very hungry. Our first stop was to go to the restaurant at the cayo Libertad for a snack. We entered the restaurant, were stared at by the staff so we left. We went to the pool bar asking where we could eat and they sent us back to the restaurant. When we re-entered we asked if we could eat something and were offered either a ham & cheese sandwich either a burger.
(it was a truly delicious sandwich tho).
After dinner we wanted to take a shower. There was NO RUNNING WATER in our room. I called the reception, they annoyedly told me to wait untill 6pm.
At 6h30, there was still no running water. I called back, they said "wait till 8pm".
We went to dinner at the restaurant, wanted to order a starter (which was listed on the menu) but we could only choose main dishes. Desert and starter were from a very sad buffet.
After dinner, the reception rang us to tell us that the cayo Libertad pool would close tomorrow due to maintenance.
At 8pm i called back because there was still no running water. They said "wait till 9pm". I took a shower by 10pm.
For my breakfast i wanted to order soft boiled eggs off the menu. I specifically asked if the eggs were soft boiled. I recieved hard boiled eggs. I also ordered bacon with hashbrowns and recieved bacon with mashed potatoes. The coffee however was the best I've ever had.
There were birds eating from the bread-buffet. Really unsanitary.
You cannot drink a coctail at the restaurant.
I wanted to order a coctail during the daytime at a poolbar and i sat on a seat for 15 minutes by the bar. A Spanish friend of the bartender mentioned that there was a "clienta" twice and still he ignored me COMPLETELY. I went to the reception to ask if the bar was open and they said "yes yes its definitely opened".
We went to dinner at their Italian restaurant. The food was just awefull.
The English of all the staff is substandard for such a resort.
Customer service is beyond bad and the place is filled with disgusting drunk tourist who enjoy the all you can drink bar.
Pro's :
+ nice pina coladas (if you can get your hands on one)
+ great coffee
+ nice, big pools (if they're open)
+ bellboy service to drive you around the property
Con's:
- bad customer service
- uninteresting staff with bad English
- bad food(not just not good, it was actually bad)
- mouldy smell in the rooms
We arrived at +/- 15.00h and were very hungry. Our first stop was to go to the restaurant at the cayo Libertad for a snack. We entered the restaurant, were stared at by the staff so we left. We went to the pool bar asking where we could eat and they sent us back to the restaurant. When we re-entered we asked if we could eat something and were offered either a ham & cheese sandwich either a burger.
(it was a truly delicious sandwich tho).
After dinner we wanted to take a shower. There was NO RUNNING WATER in our room. I called the reception, they annoyedly told me to wait untill 6pm.
At 6h30, there was still no running water. I called back, they said "wait till 8pm".
We went to dinner at the restaurant, wanted to order a starter (which was listed on the menu) but we could only choose main dishes. Desert and starter were from a very sad buffet.
After dinner, the reception rang us to tell us that the cayo Libertad pool would close tomorrow due to maintenance.
At 8pm i called back because there was still no running water. They said "wait till 9pm". I took a shower by 10pm.
For my breakfast i wanted to order soft boiled eggs off the menu. I specifically asked if the eggs were soft boiled. I recieved hard boiled eggs. I also ordered bacon with hashbrowns and recieved bacon with mashed potatoes. The coffee however was the best I've ever had.
There were birds eating from the bread-buffet. Really unsanitary.
You cannot drink a coctail at the restaurant.
I wanted to order a coctail during the daytime at a poolbar and i sat on a seat for 15 minutes by the bar. A Spanish friend of the bartender mentioned that there was a "clienta" twice and still he ignored me COMPLETELY. I went to the reception to ask if the bar was open and they said "yes yes its definitely opened".
We went to dinner at their Italian restaurant. The food was just awefull.
The English of all the staff is substandard for such a resort.
Customer service is beyond bad and the place is filled with disgusting drunk tourist who enjoy the all you can drink bar.
Pro's :
+ nice pina coladas (if you can get your hands on one)
+ great coffee
+ nice, big pools (if they're open)
+ bellboy service to drive you around the property
Con's:
- bad customer service
- uninteresting staff with bad English
- bad food(not just not good, it was actually bad)
- mouldy smell in the rooms
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Date of stay: September 2016Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from DirectorRe, Director Residente at Cayo Libertad Hotel
Responded Dec 12, 2016
Estimado Dymphna R Queremos agradecerle que haya elegido nuestra Privolege Cayo Libertad para sus vacaciones en Cuba. Lamnetamos que su estancia no haya sido tan agradable como usted y nostros hubiesemos deseado y agradecemos sus criticas asi como tambien las valoraciones positivas que hace sobre nustro hotel. Ciertamente tuvimos un tiempo cerrados el cual aprovechamos positivamente en realizar importantes renovaciones en piscina , habitaciones , restaurantes y areas sociales. Del mismo modo hemos hecho cambios importantes en nuestro staff de cocina y mantenemos un constante entremaniento del personal de servicio a fin de optimizarlo cada dia mas. Le invitamos a que pueda visitarnos una vez mas y apreciar estos cambios positivos y nueva vez nos disculpamos por los errores que hayamos cometido. Cordialmente. Abel Valera Director Residente.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We flew into the Varadero airport with a charter company that arranged everything.
Their phone is +53 45 669 966
Yes, there are coffee makers in each room. The staff make even better great coffee. The bus stops right in front of the resort.
No 24 hours snack. Not worth the investments there are better properties you can go with better food and service
Yes, but check it is still standing, the hotel is on a key of Cuba, will be one of the most effected by the Hurricane Irma
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"All rooms are built on the edge of the Libertad island, but the ones on second floor have better view."Read full review
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FORMERLY KNOWN AS
Blau Cayo Libertad Hotel
LOCATION
CaribbeanCubaMatanzas ProvinceVaradero
NUMBER OF ROOMS
86
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Cayo Libertad Hotel
Which popular attractions are close to Cayo Libertad Hotel?
Nearby attractions include Playa Varadero (5.8 km), Cueva de Ambrosio (4.2 km), and Delfinario (5.6 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Cayo Libertad Hotel?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include a swimup bar, free breakfast, and a pool.
What food & drink options are available at Cayo Libertad Hotel?
Guests can enjoy a swimup bar, free breakfast, and an on-site restaurant during their stay.
What are some restaurants close to Cayo Libertad Hotel?
Conveniently located restaurants include Paradisus Varadero Resort & Spa - Royal Service, Kike-Kcho, and La Laguna.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Cayo Libertad Hotel?
Yes, guests have access to a pool and a fitness centre during their stay.
Are any cleaning services offered at Cayo Libertad Hotel?
Yes, dry cleaning and laundry service are offered to guests.
Does Cayo Libertad Hotel offer any business services?
Yes, guests have access to a business centre and conference facilities during their stay.
Are there any historical sites close to Cayo Libertad Hotel?
Many travellers enjoy visiting Cueva de Ambrosio (4.2 km).
Does Cayo Libertad Hotel have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the harbour view available here.
Is Cayo Libertad Hotel accessible?
Yes, it offers wheelchair access and reduced mobility rooms. For specific enquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.