This was my first trip to the caribbean, and pretty much my first all inclusive trip at all. I went there with my girlfriend, and we are both in our early 20's.

We flew with Cubana and the service was great. The check in (at 1:00 am) was fast enough and we got a room with a kind sized bed.We were on the Sirenas Side and our room was clean, simple and with 110 volt plugs. We had no problem with bugs (or bed bugs). Our maid did a good job (but don't expect her to change the towels if you do not point out clearly that they are dirty. The resort is huge! But, when we went, there was big renovations on the Coral side, so the buffet and other cafe/bars were closed.

Food: The buffet (Sirenas Side) was good. Not a lot of variety for breakfast but we are not picky eater. We tried the Italian and Asian a la carte. The first one was good, and the second one was really good! Some nights, for dinner, they had thematics (like a creole barbecue) wich added a nice variety to the food. The 24h snack bar was ok. Slow service sometimes and little variety during the night (be prepared for ham sandwich).

Pools and beach: The pool on the sirenas side is ok, but the pool on the Coral side is prettier! Both have swim-in bars. There is also another pool on the Coral side, but its not really inviting. The beach is awesome, I don't really see how it could be better than this. Probably one of the best of the strip. We never had problem getting chairs or anything.

Activities: There is a lot of things to do on this resort, its yours to explore. The animation team was friendly and willing to help. The evening shows were average, but nicely executed. The Habana Cafe is a nice disco, but it was always empty (except for one night). Its very well situated in the middle of the pennisula, so you have access to everything quite easily.

The less good: Front desk people were kinda rude, but its cuba and I guess you have to get used to it. Also, even if I never felt any pressure to tip (I still did most of the time) the service at the bars could be really slow (the Sirenas lobby bar and the 24 hour cafe).

With that been said, I would go back to this resort if I had to go back to Varadero. Me and my gf had a great time, with only minor problems, so I recommend trying this place.

Comments on Sol Sirenas Coral
Travelling is an adventure. You are in the Caribbean so if you expect to find the same things then at home, I suggest you stay home, otherwise enjoy what you have. I read the different comments on this hotel and don’t understand how they came to such a negative comment. Either you where mad at the someone at the hotel or simply your expectations was sold as a 5*. I am an expert on hotels in Cuba and I can confirm that the Coral is a good 3.5 star and the Sirenas almost a 4* and will all the renovations will soon become a good 4*.
Let’s start with the beach. This hotel has the best beach in Varadero. From Cuatro Palmas to Sol Sirenas Coral. It is very wide and shallow water. Gorgeous blue water and no algae. Many areas with palapas for shade. Nice breeze and relaxing area. Their are even areas with quiet separate gazebos not far from the beach grill/bar on the Sirenas side for relaxing families with sleepy babies or children or even just couples to get away, relax and read. Beautiful land, grass and very mature palm trees, you really feel your in the tropics. You have good animation, Volleyball, dancing, Spanish lessons, Games and other things, beautiful tennis courts. This use to be 4 hotels, then became 2, then under the same chain, Sol Melia is one of the best in the world and also one of the best in Cuba. You have access to both hotels. 2 buffet, 4 a la carte restaurants that you can try all during your stay. I can confirm the Asian and Italian was excellent, the grill was very good. Did not get a chance to try the Medeteranian because all the a la carte restaurants where fully booked 48hrs in advance but the comments are very good. You have the choice of 2 buffets. I am a very difficult person when it comes to food and to my surprise it was good. You had pasta, pizza, salads, cold cuts, a big piece of different meat every day, (beef, pork, turkey, fish. I don’t mix different kinds of food and stuff myself crazy. I do as if I was home, change my menu every day but with one choice. Some chicken with rice and vegetables, another day will be beef with potatoes. Don’t change your habits; if you eat everything then you will be fed up by the end of the week. There is not an enormous variety of foods and one evening there was not much, but that is Cuba and this is normal no matter what kind of hotel you are in. I managed to eat something I enjoyed but most importantly is was good and tasty. So people, you cannot be pickier then me.
For lunch you have good sandwiches, pizza, hamburgers, salads and all kind of good stuff. For breakfast, I don’t eat eggs and not crazy about cold cuts or vegetables in the morning, so I have some croissants, pastries, juice, yogurt with cereal, coffee and that’s all I need.
The rooms are very standard, comfortable, clean, good space, nice view, clean shower, one bottle of water that you can fill up at the bar (this is a new thing in cuba, saving waste of plastic bottles.) So take your legs and walk a little, what else have you to do, you’re on vacations anyways. The pools are nice, clean , spacious, relaxing and lots of shade because there are so many palm trees. The service is good, you have to ask things once in a while but that’s no different from home. The animation night shows are very good, some are different then other hotels and others the same thing. What else do you want to do after diner? You are about 15 minutes walk from downtown, there is a disco at the Sirenas decorated in the 50’s. You can also go dancing at the Internacional cabaret from 11pm. It packs up quickly and only 10 minutes walk away.
So people, why are you commenting on what other people said? who cares what other people say, write what you saw. Who cares if the wall plug is a little sticking out or a lamp shade is dirty or the bathtub is chipped on the side, will this really disturb your vacation? Come on !!! It’s probably worst at your own neighbour’s house.
What you want is to relax, have a nice drink on the beach or pool, good food, good animation and dancing, clean room with working air conditioning and hot water.

Things to remember. The water in Cuba is consumable but not for tourist. Don’t drink the faucet water, not because its bad, but because your intestines are not use to it. Take one caplet of Pepto Bismol everyday 1 week before departure. You can brush your teeth with the faucet water, no problem. Go easy on alcohol and coffee, if you have stomach cramps, eat a lot of rice.
In all my years going to Cuba, I never got sick. The people are great, proud, respectful Just be polite. You tip just like home, after a service provided not to encourage before a service to expect a better.
Finally, this hotel has evolved and improved over the years, don’t let the past comments or judgement influence you. Unfortunately, people exaggerate for stupid reasons. You have to take some and leave some of those comments has true or false. You can tell when people exaggerate. Cuban standard are different from other countries, so don’t compare with other countries.

I just got back from staying at the Coral side of the resort this morning with my boyfriend and friend. We originally booked the lowest priced "standard" room for a great deal of almost $900 including taxes and insurance. When we arrived at check in we asked the receptionist to upgrade us to the best ocean view/balcony room which only cost an extra $35 a person. I recommend doing that to save money and to get a nice room. There is no singles supplement which is also really good. My room had three beds, a great air conditioner, fridge, balcony, hair dryer, huge bath tub, etc. The pool is beautiful and so is the beach. The food is awful but that is expected out of Cuba. We ended up eating out everyday. I recommend El Rancho Restaurant downtown Varadero. You get a huge lobster tail with sides for only 15CUC.

There are so many bars Coffee bars, swim up pool bars, beach bars, lobby bar (party bar), etc. Domestic/international drinks. Every night after the entertainment the staff will take you out to all the local clubs. They all cost 10CUC to get in. This is def a place for young singles. The beach was full of young (and old) topless ladies. The staff is all really nice.

Be very careful about getting scammed in Varadero. We got scammed so many times. We thought that we were so smart and so careful. Its horrible to say but don't trust anyone there. There are so excellent con artists.

We have just returned from a week at the At the Sol Sirenas-Coral. We stayed on the Sirenas side of the resort. I will break our vacation down...
Sirenas Hotel: Well the hotel itself was a little dated, bit of plumbing problems so the smell at times was little over whelming but I heard this was a problem pretty much everywhere. The elevators were broken so being on the 4th floor of the hotel was a drag especially after sunning and drinking all day lol.but was good for excercise.
The workers at the hotel are very friendly...Shout out to Leo our swim up bar bartender he was hillarious and Ari the pool guy was quite funny.
Our room wasn't the best but we didn't pay for for the looks of the hotel room, our maid was very good and she kept it very clean and left us swans and hearts made up with our towels each day so that was quite nice to come back to. The grounds on the resort are amazing very well kept and clean...was beautiful. Lots of lizards running around so was quite interesting to see.
The Beach: WOW WOW WOW beautiful white sand and amazing blue water. Need I say more.
The Food: Well its cuba and most of the reviews on the food are quite correct. They have lots of variety but repeated daily after the first couple days was hard to find new things to try.
Entertainment: Well not much goes on the Sirenas side very quiet, the disco is on the sirenas side so about 10:30 at nite all the kids come from the coral side so tends to get bit noisy. We are around 40 so if you looking for more of a relaxing quiet time the sirenas side is for you...The coral side we found to have a lot of 18-21 year olds there so was quite loud and one night couple fights broke out but staff was quick to put end to it. Bu if you looking for a party crowd then Coral side is for you.
Tours: Well the catamarans is a definite must $85 pesos and worth every cent. Its an all day adventure snorkeling, lunch (chicken or lobster) on an island called cayo blanco and then the best was swimming with the dolphins. Was so much fun a day you will never forget!!
We did venture into varadero city and hit the markets lots of really good soveniers but just a warning GO TO THE BATHROOM BEFORE YA LEAVE!!! they do have a bathroom facility there but its not very pleasant... $0.50 for toilet paper so bring your own if you must and also they have no toilet seat and just overal pretty nasty.
Overall we had an amazing trip the people were so friendly and the weather couldn't have been better. This resort is was great for what we spent for an all inclusive trip for a week..Would I come back to this resort? No but definitly will come back to cuba and try one of the 5 star resorts so many beautiful resorts going up.

Tips: Bring your own mug for they only give you little cups. I brought my coffee thermos cup and work amazing kept my drinks colder longer.
-If you can bring $1 store items toothbrushes, soaps, shampoo, pens, pencils candy for the kids they will appeciate it very much as they don't get alot of these items in cuba
-clothes that you might like to get rid of especially childrens clothing they would just lov... for clothes are very exspensive for them and they don't make alot of money...what they do make they work long hard hours for. Most work over 12 hour days and most days you will see them there with no days off.

I hope this helps and Hope your vacation is a great and memorable one :)