More Traveller Reviews of Hotel Hotetur Palma Real
Beautiful Beach
from A TripAdvisor Member
Myself with my wife and two kids were there at the beginning of January/04. The beach was one heck of a beautiful beach, with a long way to walk the beach either East or West. Every body on the beach was friendly when you walked the beachfrom the locals fishing to the tourists from other countries, all acknowledged you. The pedlars were very nice and not pesistant likeMexico ( do not make eye contact with a pedlar in Mexico), if you said you were not interested theynever came back so if you saw something buy it then or wait until the next day.The only thing about the beach was their never seemed to be enough chairs for the number of people at the beach. The bartenders were very good and always remembered what you had previously. (P.S. leave them a tip) I've had them remember me, when I would walk up and they would see me coming they would nave my drinksready. My kids were treated equally as well with-out the bartenders knowing who they belonged to.The buffets at the hotel dining room were very good and the pizza place was also very good.If you go and have the house wine either at the buffet or the pizza place, could you ask them for the name of the wine. We think it is a Spanishimport called Benturo or Venturo but we can't findit and would love to get some. We were unable to see a bottle but if you can see it and get the correctspelling or product code we would greatly appreciate it.Thanx
Good hotel, great value
from A TripAdvisor Member
We stayed at the Palma Real from Feb 2nd-Feb 9th, 2004. Wait to purchase your tickets last minute (at earliest, one week before) - the average price online was $900 before tax for one week, from Edmonton. The hotel is 2 blocks from the beach and located at calle 64. There are about 69 "calles" or small "streets" on the main Varadero strip, and they number down to calle 1 at the other end of town. To walk from calle 64 to calle 1 takes about 2 hours. The hotel rooms were small, but clean, odorless and bug free. The elevator seldom works, so ask for the main floor if you are have difficulty with stairs. The food is very good for Cuban food, better than several restaurants in the area, but is not as fresh or tasty as a four star in Mexico. They can only work with what's available in Cuba, which is pork, slim chickens, cabbage and rice. Our favorite items were their omelettes, soft bread, freshly squeezed orange juice and the icecream (which I ate daily, yet still managed to stay the same size - hmmm.) There are four restaurants, all with their good and bad points, and although you can only eat at the "Chinoise" once per stay, once is plenty. There are two large pools, clean and cool, with ample lounges. The beach is absolutely beautiful, but busy on a windless day. There is a Palma Real snack bar at the beach which serves drinks and a limited menu of grilled sandwiches, "hamburgers", and hotdogs. There are very few vendors to pester you and lots of topless women if, like my husband, this is a selling point for you. Mind you, the breasts are of several varieties, and some, more sack-ish than melon-ish. Entertainment is mostly of the musical kind. There is a "variety show" nightly at the hotel with singing and dancing, even a pretty good magic show on one night. Nearby, on calle 62 there is a live music bar appropriately named "Calle 62". You should go at least once. It's fabulous and the drinks are still pretty cheap ($1 for beer, $2 for rum and coke). You have already read that Havana is a must see. How you get there can be quite varied, so shop around. A private "taxi" is cheap and more comfortable, personal and adventurous than a bus full of fellow white pasties. We brought lots of stuff to give away (children's clothes, soap, toothpaste), but the American dollar all you really need. Have fun. The Palma Real is a reasonable hotel for a good price.
"IT WAS ALRIGHT"
from A TripAdvisor Member
I went to Hotel Palma Real on August 23rd 2003 for a week. I booked this vacation a bit late so the hotel that I wanted to really go to full and I decided to go to Hotel Palma Real since it was the only hotel that had 6 more spots and was pretty cheap and I was only going to go for a week. I was having second thoughts about the hotel after I booked my vacation and payed for everything. But I checked it out some more on the internet and it didn't look that bad. Just like every other hotel in Varadero, they have buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner, snack bars, pools, etc... Even though the hotel room was pretty small I didn't mind because it wasn't like I was going to spend all day in my hotel room. I spent most of my time at the beach so what I hated was the fact that the hotel wasn't directly on the beach. You had to walk about 5 minutes to get to the beach. The food was pretty good and the entertainment was alright. Compared to the other hotel that I went to in the past, Melia Varadero Beach Resort, Sol Sirenas Coral Resort and Melia Las Americas. Hotel Palma Real really sucked. But if your young and just looking for a hotel to visit that won't cost you alot I recommend Hotel Palma Real. It's right in the city so you don't have to spend all your time in the resort. Go out and party in the city and if you know how to have a great time I know that you'll love it. By the way any hotel is good enough if your going to Varadero, the beach is GREAT!!!!! and the city is nice too.
Great time in Cuba
from JuanitaCalgary
Just returned from a 1 week stay at Palma Real, Jan 04. This is a great resort, good food and great location to the centre of downtown. Although not directly on the beach the walk was about 5 min. no big deal. I would recommend this resort to all, although is you are fussy and stuck on a 5 star go else where.
Excellent holiday at Palma Real
from A TripAdvisor Member
Just spent two weeks at the Palma Real in Varedaro Cuba Jan. 19 to Feb. 2. Had a wonderful hectic time. The beach is excellent and the ocean was beautiful and exciting to swim in. We found the hotel comfortable, even if we had cold water occasionally for showering. The food was plentiful and good, but missed coffee at lunch and dinner at the restaurants. The staff is very friendly and willing to help in any way but should learn to speak english better. There was lots to do such as shopping at all the markets, going on tours, seeing the farms, visiting Havana and going down into a stallictite cave , only 158 steps down. The bugy & horse taxis are neat , the double deck bus ride , the train ride , the yellow bug car & the older model cares are all neat ways to travel with. Would love to go back again !
Loved it great fun
from A TripAdvisor Member
Returned from this great place 16th January after a 14 day stay.We had a brilliant holiday hotel was clean and food was very good the staff and locals were really nice and helpul we felt very safe walking out at night and had some good drinking sessions in varadero.I had an 11 yr old and a 16 yr old with me they loved it to they wont to go back again.It is a really interesting place to visit with lots to do the dolphin swim was a great and lovely experiance.I read some horrible reviews about this place but i found it totally opposite i will have some lovely memories of my trip for many yaers to come. And you will to if you go.
Great Vacation !!!
from A TripAdvisor Member
We just arrived back from a week at the Palma Real. It was great! The staff was friendly and efficient. Check in was quick and easy. The room was small but very nice  king-size bed, large bathroom. The Palma Real is quite a large complex, consisting of 4 hotel buildings. There are 3 restaurants besides the buffet and we found the food to be good. Some meals were better than others at the buffet, but overall no complaints. Service was wonderful at the restaurants and the bars. There are about 5 bars, including a swim-up bar at one of the pools. The chambermaids did a great job, even making designs like swans and hearts with our towels on the bed every day. Probably the only thing that would keep this hotel from being a 4-star is the fact that it is not right on the beach. It is about a 3 minute walk across the street and down a small road to get to the beach, but the beach is beautiful and the hotel has its own bar down by the beach where you could also get food for a few hours in the afternoon. There is a great entertainment team at the resort. They put on different shows every night as well as dance lessons, Spanish classes and other activities during the day for those who are interested. There are 2 large pool areas with easy access to drinks and food at any time. About the only complaint we had is that hot water seemed to be in short supply. Some days you could get a  warm shower, other days it was just cold. Maybe we were just in the wrong building ;-). The hotel was close enough to the downtown area of Varadero to walk and enjoy some of the local markets and restaurants. Anyway, we thoroughly enjoyed our time and if we were ever to go back to Varadero, we would return to the Palma Real. We highly recommend it to anyone looking for a class resort at an economical price.
Great Hotel!!! Great Staff!!! Should be classed a 4 star!!!
from A TripAdvisor Member
Loved the hotel!! Should be a four star!!! The people were great starting with the bartender, tip well here and you'll be looked after. The food is an experience, Cubans really do not have thier own cuisine so to speak, food is in short supply as the Americans don't trade with the Cubans. What you didn't eat for beakfast sometimes come back at lunch, only with tomato sauce on it. But that's the case everywhere so you can't complain food they don't have a lot of and the 18,000 tourist a week get the best they have to offer. They don't have clamato juice so bring you own for Ceasars You'll be a big hit in lobby lounge if you share a little with the bartender. You might want to take your own soap too not to much of that around. Toilet paper is another thing. There isn't any. Ladies you should carry some with you at all times most bathrooms have no seats, soap or toilet paper. Most bathrooms are attended you need to carry change to tip for bathrooms.. they still don't have soap. The working people are very very friendly and happy. "Maybe because there are not a lot of nasty complaining aggressive Americans around" Lots to enjoy a great vacation. You got to check-out the 62 street Cafe on the main strip, turns into a great club at nine at night a great show with a thirteen piece band and a must see. All and all the staff was excellent the stay was great would come again.
Palma Photos
from A TripAdvisor Member
Hey Came back from Varadero on December 12 - 2003. Had great time and the food was surprisingly good! We're both in our 30's and we liked it so much We've decided to make a web page with some info and photos........ check it out at: ...it's still under construction, soon more photos!
One of my best vacations!!!
from A TripAdvisor Member
A friend and I, (both in our 60's) have just come back from 2 delightful weeks at the Hotelur Palma Real. If possible, I would go again tomorrow...my tan is fading!! Our room overlooked the ocean and pools and was always clean with fresh towels on the bed, designed as animals or birds. The buffet food was better than at a 5 star hotel we stayed at in Havana. The Palma has lots of salads, veggies, fish, pork, beef and breads. The Chinese Restaurant in a real "experience." The Cuban people are delightful, friendly and the waiters loveable and helpful. We took the double decker bus to the ritzier hotels, but they are so far out of town, and as one gentleman said, who had stayed there, the food at the Palma Real was better. The hotel lobby was an evening meeting place with a wonderful mixture of people from all over the world. Because of the hotel location, you can easily walk into town and meet the locals, who are delighted to have you talk to them. One fellow stopped to ask if we were from Canada, then proceeded to show us a t-shirt he was wearing,with a big CANADA across the front. If you have room in your luggage, they appreciate soap, shampoo, toothpaste and tooth bruches and any old prescription glasses you may have.
I didnt pay to go to the Hilton, I didnt go to the Hilton, I went to the Fantastic Palma Real, Ignore the bits of peeling paint and the wardrobe door that dosnt quite close properly......... Who gives a hoot about that, instead look at the spotlessly clean rooms and the... more