Playa Alameda Varadero Hotel

well we just got back from the LTI Beach resort. We went with 2 other couples for new years. The staff were great, always taking care of your needs. The waiter and waitresses in the buffet were great, ask for Julio , tell him the Cohiba man sent you ( rick & Rita ) The animation staff were great as well, look for Taymi and tell her she is #1......she'll laugh, also lok for Yuonndi he's a great guy too. The food was good, the bar service was the only thing lacking here, mind you we were there at the busy time of year. In The fruit drinks they use a fruit mix, not real fruit, but for those who drink bannana drinks just take a few from the buffet, thats what i did, and they were ok about blending them into your drinks. Take the catameran boat ride, it's great !! also ask Taymi if she can set you up with Juan Carlos, for a trip to Havana, he'll be your private guide at half the cost of the bus tour. Anyways my rating for this hotel would be 4 - 5 stars. It's worth the cost.

Well, my wife and I just got back from the LTI VARADERO "4.5 star" Beach Resort...Sorry, Try 3.5, why?...let me count the ways... Firstly,the reception staff were rude, moody, and wouldn't even acknowledge guests standing right in front of them,everything was on their time. The same ambivalent attitude was throughout the resort. Secondly, watch out in the telephone room in the lobby, 3 times a staff member "miscalculated" the costs, use your watch -don't trust them.Thirdly, our maid had sticky fingers, the hotel provides a sheet in your room to request what you would like refilled in the mini-bar and then you sign it, that evening it's there. Nice of them, except when we had left, the maid helped herself to the beer, and added that to the sheet so no one would know.We caught her because we came back right after she left, before they picked up the papers. As well the staff in the gift shop seem to have the same disease, by trying to rip off the hotel by charging us 12.50 but only ringing in 8.50. Get a receipt, keep them honest. Not to be outdone by the other staff, the cigar shop cashier, was extremely rude. Her "Miss Congeniality" ways were the talk of the resort. Buy your cigars in Havana and your gifts in the town of Varadero. (You'll save money too).Last but not the least... the food... the pasta sauce was Campbell's soup from a can, the Italian restaurant did'nt even have pasta on the menu...rubbery lobster, uncooked meat, overcooked vegetables, all around the most tasteless buffet we've ever experienced, and unfortunately we had to experience it every day for the last seven days,3 times a day no less.Don't expect much of a reprive from the ala carte restaurants, because the food is just recycled from the buffet, (on fancier china). The bread and icecream were good, and Alberto is a star waiter.Also in the positive vein, the rooms are great,very clean very large, quiet and pretty well brand new. The beach and pool are very accesible,pleasent & clean. The layout of the resort is very good and the hotel is at the end of "Varadero" hotel row, so you have more privacy. Our time in Havana was awesome,there is lot's to do and see, bring a camera and cash.The Signature tour guides were great, very informative and friendly. DO NOT FLY WITH SKYSERVICE AIRLINES- it's a long story. Next time we will stay at a different hotel in a different area,fly on a different airline, and who knows maybe next time we'll get lucky with the food...CUBA - si!

The food is great, the people are so friendly, the rooms are beautiful and clean, the beach is lovely! Its a prefect place for families with young children or tennagers alike. There are always activities during the day but for those who want to simply relax its no problem since the resort is so big. It is truly a beautiful resort.

I was at LTI in early September with 2 friends, it is a lovely resort but what makes it even better are the staff. They are wonderful people; get to know them. And remember that they are people, not your servants! Anyone going to LTI from the "Golden Horseshoe" region of Ontario, please contact me at the e-mail address above. Thanks, have a great time!

We were in the LTI. In August 2003. We loved it,is was the most perfect holiday in our life! Thank you all...

We went on our honeymoon in Sep 2003, We were given a honeymoon upgrade, the room was very nice with an excellent sea view. Our maid Daisy was absolutley brilliant and she maid hearts out of the towels most days. The Hotel on a whole is excellent, however the food in the buffet can get very boring as its the same most days, they change the meats but everything else is the same everyday. If like my Wife you are Vegetarian you will not enjoy the buffet. The beach is stunning, white sand and a crystal clear turquoise sea. There is also a security guard and a worker named Rigo who can't do enough for you. If you go to Cuba and stay at the LTi you must go on an excursion and see the real Cuba otherwise you might as well go anywhere, the real Cuba is the most fascinating place I ever been to. I recommend it highly but only for one week I couldn't do two. Lee

We have just got back (25/09/03) from the LTI Varadero and I must say its the best holiday I have ever had. From day one there is nothing I could complain about. The rooms were so big I would call them an apartments. The staff were very friendly and hardworking, they couldnt do enough for you. The beach was amazing, the best I have seen. The waters were warm and calm. The pool was great although I lot hotter around there so didnt stay too long. The food was great, the snacks are literally snacks so dont be afraid of ordering 2, the buffett had loads of choice for breakfast and dinner. The A la Carte restaurants were nice with great service but limited choice of meals. We went on a couple of trips, Havana must be seen and the Mambo club with the reps is a laugh. We upgraded our flight to Premium which was worth the money. However you are not guaranteed to be sat together. On the return flight my husband was sat behind me. We also had to go via Cayococo to collect people. I would advise you ask your travel agents about the flights so you know what to expect. It was a long day coming home but it didnt bring me down at all. I would totally recommend this hotel, its very cheap for a 5 star hotel which it truly is. Hi to Cyril & Janet missing you and Cuba. Jayne & Andrew

we went to the LTI after 6 days in Havana, so my views are somewhat coloured by that fact -as whilst Havana (with all its faults!) is either loved or hated, Varadero in general, and the LTI in particular can't be disliked. But I was a trifle disappointed....because it could be any better hotel on the Costa Brava or usual tourist spot in Spain/Portugals British people now go. It was new and clean and well thought out, from the pools and location of your rooming area, to the little artificial lakes and walkweays between them. In a way that's what put me off the place. It was too new and too well thought out. A like someone's idea of what a "fun" place in the future should be. As the little trolley bus (yes! one was needed as sleeping sites are scattered around the grounds of teh hotel) I heard very hearty shouts of a woman exhorting people by the pool to do aerobics....all to the squaling delight of pubescent girls and beery chortles from beer-fed blokes. my heart sank and awaful memories of Spain returned. But I warmed to t he place after that. Some usueful points: (1) Both the buffet restaurants serve awaful food, so if you miss either, don't worry. The Cuban is better - just. But I couldnn't get my head around what it was I was eating. The Italian was typically Italian with a surly man waiter, but two delightful young ladiers who helped him. The food, though! Yuck! Fish soup that had a rank odour of sluice water from rusting barge and a shrip main course that ended up looking like four monsters from "Alien" in repose. But I diasagree with most people as we felt that the buffet could not be faulted. Fresh bread alll day - and of all kinds! - salads beyond imagination, sweets to meet all tatstes for cakes and ice cream, beef, chicken, and fish grilled by a chef to your taste, varied and various cooked dishes -Cuban and International! - a pasta bar....a acarvery! And all of that three times a day. We thought it was really the best. Only the very unimaginative, or people who only want what they always have, would find fault. (2) if you want to be under the shade on teh beach, you'll need to rise about 7.30 -8.00 to put your towel on chairs! Yes! Here, too! The sea is fine...very warm and clear, but when we were there (until 29/8/03) very narrow: 10-20 feet. Loads of things to do, though - rides and what have you, which are inclusive. A spectacular hang-glide ide costs $30 for 10mins. (3)the pool consist of one deep area where they play vollyball and do aerobics and a shallow end (about 0.8m), so was very disapopointing overall (4) the shows in the thatre are great (most nights) and couldn't be faulted. Have a drink after dinner and then check it out each night from 9.45pm. (5) an open-topped bus stops outside the hotel each day on the hour every hour. Ask exactly where. Cost $2 per person, but this allows you to get on and off all day. (6) the need to tip is overstated. I only tipped Alien in the restaurant because we liked him. All the other staff were equally as friendly and helpful, without receiving any tip. And we left stuff and a tip for the maid. a Cuban band played a lively set practically every night we were there. I liked what they did so gave them $10 when leaving. They didn't seem to have expected this. (7) all the staff are excellent, and work very hard with a smile. they were great people and made the holiday work. overall, we had a good time, but you need to be a beach person to love this place. If you like non-stop drinking, lods of good food, sun, sea,sand, music and being around happy people, this one is for you. My only criticism is that I feel you could equally get all this in Menorca, Spain or elsewhere.

Recently I just got back from an awesome vacation at the LTI resort. This was my second and my (now) finesse's first vacation ever. I can easily say that we were treated like a King and a Queen the whole time there. The rooms were very large with lots of space. The bathroom was very large with a separate shower. The whole resort was so clean. The pool was amazing. It was clean and plenty of room to relax or play games. We were allowed to go to the pool any time we wanted unlike some other resorts. The service at the LTI is five star all the way. The were so nice and kind. Specially "John" the bartender. He was one of the best persons that I have ever met. He was so good, he was able to make anything I want happen. Because of John I was able to romance my fiancée to the fullest. George is the Manager of LTI. He was really nice to us. He set up the whole scene for giving my fiancée the engagement ring. Thank you George! Anna at the front desk made us feel so welcome at the hotel. She introduced us to all the important people at the hotel. Santiago at the front desk was nice enough to give us a ocean view room at no additional cost. We made a lot of friends at the resort including tourists and service attendants. Because of this we did not even have to make any reservations to eat at the two restaurants there. The night club at the hotel is not all that, but if you and your friends can make the place alive you can always have a good time. We did. The beach is in the process of building. When we were there the beach was a little narrow, but in a few months it will be a long beach. They started adding sand to the beach as we were leaving. The water is very clean and has a turquoise green color. The only bad thing about the resort that I can name is the food. The food I thought was terrible at both restaurants and the buffet. We did not really eat much while our stay. We mostly ate buggers and fries at the snack bar. Remember the snack bar is only open till 6 PM. So you can not get anything to eat at night if you are hungry. The drinks at the hotel were amazing. The best one that I had was a "Paradise". Over all this resort was by far the best that I have ever been to and I would love to go there again. Make sure you take health insurance when you go any of these resorts, because we met a lady that go bit by a poisonous fish and she had to pay $200 US to get treated. I recommend this place mostly for couples but if you are single and you go with a lot of friends, I am 100% sure you can have a great time. I found that there are lot of single people as well as couples here and they are very friendly. Few tips: 1. Make sure you take your own music CDs there so you can play them at the disco at night. 2. Take hot sauce. 3. Take your own snacks. 4. Take a lot of toothpaste, shampoo, etc to give away. 5. Mosquito spray for the beach at night. 6. Remember to talk to "John" the bartender at the lobby bar, he can get you almost anything and make almost anything happen. Ask him that Mange asked if he has seen any good Guitars lately!!!!!

We found that this property was beautiful, the beach was clean and went on for miles. You could walk the beach to the left about 30 minutes and get a mud cleanse for USD$10 at the ecological park.Safe overall feeling compared to other Caribbean destinations.Internet was painfully slow. Lots of older European topless women which was NOT easy on the eyes but I guess that is par everywhere. The food was as expected...no grand displays but certainly enough to choose from and neatly presented. Entertainment was local and fun.I highly recommend the Havana tour including the Tropicana night show...it is a must see. The hotelworkers were friendly. I recommend bringing a second bag of new or gently used ball caps tshirts,kids clothes etc. diapers or maternity clothes, pens,makeup samples to give to the staff. They are most appreciative of any kindness shown and you will be sorry you didn't if you don't as they really do not have much besides thier uniforms and jobs with extended family living in extreme poverty. Some people on the plane said their maids etc. asked for things but I didn't experience that. I left USD$1. plus one of the above each day and was treated like a princess.