Cuba is without a doubt a wonderful mix of culture, history and music, with a warm and welcoming people. Its 5,746 kilometer coastline is the longest in the Antilles, offering sun worshipers 300 singular natural beaches; distinguished by the variety, tone and transparency of their turquoise waters, the majority with fine white sand and always available for those wishing to rediscover them.
Since 1999, at the end of Varadero beach in a area renowned for its natural beauty, stands the four star, all inclusive Meliá Las Antillas hotel offering 350 rooms (348 junior suites and two grand suites), equipped to provide maximum comfort, attractive gastronomic and recreational options in addition to excellent services. The facility also provides nautical activities year round with offers for individual tourists, couples and families with children over the age of 16.
The hotel is renowned for its tropical gardens, numerous water features and lush vegetation - allowing guests to immerse themselves in an array of sensory delights - but also for its first-class services and highly professional staff.
Affiliated with the Cuban hotel chain Cubanacán S.A and operated by Meliá Hotels International, Meliá Las Antillas was one of five Cuban hotels to receive the 2014 Zoover Prize, thanks to positive ratings by its clients. Every year this distinction, awarded by Europe’s largest independent vacation website, recognizes the best accommodation offers across 60 countries.
The hotel’s Director General, Mexican José Antonio Ramírez Aranda, noted to Granma international that the facility is situated in an idyllic location on the beach known as Playa Azul and holds great potential given its proximity to the Gaviota Varadero Marina, affiliated with the Gaviota S.A. Tourism Group, responsible for the zone’s Dolphin Center and providing nautical and recreational fishing activities.
“We know that one of our clients’ main objectives, apart from learning about our culture and exchanging with the Cuban people, is to enjoy our magnificent beaches, a detail in which we excel in comparison to the rest of the hotels located here.
”What is more, our staff focuses on the details, since the client takes with them a piece of Cuba, of Varadero, of its people,” adds Ramírez who among other strengths mentioned the establishment’s high quality services and attractive prices.
“We have the duty to make our clients feel as though they are in a Meliá,” he commented.
Raúl Marcel Testar, head of sales, explains that guests enjoy their stay so much that approximately 5% return. “During the winter season we organize dinners for repeat visitors which can see up to 50 clients in just one week. We offer them special and personalized service,” he states.
Marcel notes that some 40% of visitors to Meliá Las Antillas are Canadian; followed by those from Germany, and then Cuba.
He notes that during the summer period national tourists constitute the second largest group of vacationers. “The hotel has gained great prestige among national visitors, which we consider very important to our efforts. Other key markets are Belgium, Finland and Russia.
Meliá Las Antillas is constructed in the form of a semicircle, which includes a central building and six blocks of bungalows all located close to the beach and pool.
The hotel also has a gym, cinema, beauty salon, various stores, a Nautical Center, Internet services, car-hire, medical services, money exchange, and four restaurants to please diners including; the tastefully designed Los Taínos which offers a wide variety of options spread across an extensive buffet; Don Peperone, provides mouth watering Italian dishes; El Romántico, offers delicious international cuisine; and El Conuco, a snack-bar, where guests having just arrived from the beach or pool can quench their thirst or enjoy one of the many popular light food or tasty Creole dishes.
WHAT TOURISTS THINK
Chantal Girard and Realveas Gingras, a Canadian couple married for eight years, are famous at the Meliá Las Antillas given their record number of visits; no less than 21 times since 2009.
Ms. Chantal, notes among their reasons for returning “The excellent beach and hotel staff.” She highlights that the staff are very pleasant and make her feel at home. “Here they treat me with genuine affection, which isn’t easily forgotten,” she emphasizes.
Mr. Gingras also expresses his satisfaction with the services and magnificent natural environment which surrounds the hotel. “Here we are very popular and dearly loved. All the staff members know us.”
Granma International also noted opinions from Cuban tourists left on the hotel’s website, including that of Pablo Alberto Sosa Vidal, who states,
“I must admit that it’s a great hotel, fantastic people, excellent and varied buffet, well designed rooms, lobby bars, pool and night-time entertainment teams. I don’t think there’s any other hotel that offers two evening variety shows. The water ballet show was truly spectacular, the lunches held in the singular, welcoming Cuban countryside restaurant, were fantastic. All the foreign tourists I talked to agreed. Well done to everyone, from the cleaners to the most senior staff member, thank you.”
Rosa Elisa Dios Cruz, who stayed at the hotel with her husband, also left her opinion, “The facilities are fantastic, the staff, from the cleaners to the most senior representative, is excellent. The hotel has various beach and pool entertainment options and two variety shows in the evenings…I have enjoyed one of my best vacations. I hope to have the opportunity to visit you again, even if for just a day, thank you all for the excellent attention we received.”
The Director General of Meliá Las Antillas expresses his pride, noting: “Our hotel offers healthy fun, an excellent holiday experience. We are distinguished by our tranquil setting and first-rate service, which leaves a lasting impression on clients. They leave, wanting to return again soon, believe me.”
