MarAzul Hotel

I’m forced to give this Cubanacan hotel one star only because zero isn’t an option. My stay was an absolute disappointment on every level. **Food:** The "dining experience" was laughable. Breakfast was a sad spread of stale pastries, rubbery eggs, and lukewarm coffee that tasted like dishwater. Dinner was worse—flavorless slop that resembled airplane food from the 1980s. The buffet was a breeding ground for disappointment. **Maintenance:** The hotel is falling apart. Telephones aren't working and are from the 70's, peeling wallpaper, and flickering hallway lights made it feel like a haunted house. The pool? Greenish water—no thanks. **Service:** The staff clearly didn’t care that much. They seems to be used to the general malfunction of the hotel. They are clearly not motivated at all. Bedsheets & towels were clean. The aqua sports "allegedly included" were not available. Save yourself the misery. This place isn’t worth a penny—or even a single star. Avoid unless you enjoy vacations that feel like punishment.

I stayed at Marazul Hotel in Cuba in October 2023 and it was an extremely disappointing experience. The hotel is old and dilapidated, with rooms that are in desperate need of renovation. The service was terrible; the food was awful, and the person at the reception was rude and indifferent to our concerns. To make matters worse, my room flooded with about 3 inches of water during a downpour. ||On a positive note, the bar attendants were friendly and the cleaning staff did a great job. However, these small positives couldn't compensate for the numerous issues we encountered. I would not recommend this hotel.

I have been staying in a lot of hotels ,but this was the worst stay in my life.|Check in at night to room on 6th floor. Wake up in to 2in of water in room, the phones in room do not work!!!, i went down and ask for help. After 7h wait. we were given key to new room on second floor, but the no power, no help with language, no elevator, so with all bags two old +63,my hubby+69 we went down to 2nd floor. |In the lobby there was at all time 3+4 young men, I guess KGB watching over every one us but NOT FOR HELP.|On Friday power in ALL Cuba went down, we were told to be at 7pm down with our bags, NO HELP again.|Bus arrived , but we were left outside, by buss, waiting for over1.5h2h. |I trace the driver, Him and all hotel staff were sitting out side smoking, socializing , chatting, the manager was not to be found. |We can understand the situation, but we were treat like nuisance by staff.|I worked in Hospitality in Canada for over 30 years ,i went up from Night auditor to General Manager, and what happened To Us, was the highest ignorance and disrespect of patrons.|Finally we were moved to different hotel and what a change all services were provide,|with smile ,an d grace, so it can be done.|For you own good DO NOT STAY IN THIS HOTEL, aha only one employee speak English|Bogusha

Very close to a beautiful beach.. just about 200 feet from the hotel. Beach chairs reserved free for the hotel guests. Rooms are reasonable, done with ocean views. We had occasional power problems with AC. Food was included in the package, but was mostly repetitive. There are many challenges in Cuba for the general population with shortages and low salary. The staff were helpful, but seemed overworked. The currency exchange in the hotel was at a much lower rate than outside where you can get about three times higher rates than three official rates. Not knowing Spanish could be a challenge.

Very happy. Workers always smiling. Clean rooms. Love the swimming pool.|For a 2.6 stars, I'm very surprised. Very good return for the investment. Will go back for sure. Nice beach. Nothing to complain about, and I travel a lot. Love the 5th floor.

UPDATE 2023: Just visited for my 3rd time in January (1st time since the pandemic)! I echo one of the other reviewers by saying this truly is "a traveller's hotel—not a tourist resort—full of curious adventurers." I normally visit MarAzul with family but due to flight delays, I ended up going there alone this time. I reconnected with my friends Osmany & Laura (two wonderful hotel employees) and got to meet some cool, new people—both locals & tourists.||||Long story short, I ended up taking an incredible adventure to Havana, on foot, with another crazy "Canuck" who I had met just hours earlier. We challenged each other to walk/hike, and met in the hotel lobby the next morning at 6 am. Setting out before sunrise, we made the 21 km (5 hr) journey through picturesque farms, villages, ravines, gardens, and historic Havana suburbs few tourists ever get to see, before taking a ferry across the harbour from Regla to Old Havana. 10/10 recommend!||_||||Wow. MarAzul (formerly Tropicoco)! An amazing experience if you get the chance to go.||||This resort is considered by many to be 2-to-3-star. However, reviews are obviously subjective and do depend on the individual person's experience. The building itself, I would say (IMHO) maybe 2-3 stars; food, maybe 3-4 stars; but the staff, people, and character that make this place what it is, definitely 5 stars!!||||Tropicoco (as I will affectionately refer to the hotel and the experience built up around it) is simply amazing. Even if the elevators didn't work perfectly all the time, even if friendly cats roamed the entire premises, and even if my room had a little bit of water in it due to the rains of a minor tropical depression...those very moments are what gives Tropicoco its character and originality. Think Exotic Marigold Hotel. :)||||The all-inclusive package is also super cheap for folks coming from Winnipeg, Manitoba with Sunwing! And, although all-inclusive, Tropicoco is not the high-strung, lavish, Americanized resort style, typical of Varadero (luxury is not for me). Rather, Tropicoco is down-to-earth, simple, imperfect, warm, inviting, filled with personality, and very connected to the local people and culture. It's very open and free-spirited there.||||In fact, the Playas del Este/Santa Maria community is where locals from Havana and surrounding areas come for their beach getaways. Spontaneous jam sessions, dances, and visits with locals on the street or on the beach are a highlight of this place! Even fellow visitors from Canada and other countries are so friendly and fun to hang out with.||||And, one of the best parts of staying there, Tropicoco is right across the street from white-sand beaches, palm trees, and turquoise waters (which can be seen from the north windows of the hotel)! Long beach walks (with stray beach dogs) to Guanabo are recommended. Beautiful surroundings will delight, and free daily shuttle service to Havana (for the historical experience) is a bonus!||||Also, pretty decent, all-you-can-eat food (great for flexi-vegans like myself - just accept Cuban food for what it is and enjoy the flavours without comparing them to the overly saturated and spicy/salty cuisine of most Western countries). Plus, stellar entertainment almost every night, like dancing, singing, and live music, which the audiences are often welcome to take part in.||||Oh, don't forget the deep massages that cost only 25 CUC! Just don't lose your beach towel (if you rent one from the front desk), because that is another 25 CUC to replace, as I found out the hard way. No sweat, because you have to remember what the Cuban people have to go through to replace something as simple as a towel. For instance, supplies and services are valued in Cuba way more than here, likely because lots of Canadians and Europeans are affluent and Cubans are just plain grateful despite economic and societal limitations. Cubans are some of the happiest, most content people I have ever met. Simplicity is key. Arrogant expectations and demands are not.||||Enjoy the Tropicoco experience! I found my paradise, and will surely be back again.

First time at marazul, fourth at Tropicoco,.|My smallest room ever,the bed was a single, very small,pillows horrible. Fridge in room good. Safe is free, no key needed. Staff is very good. A.C. is very cool,unable to adjust it,I just turned it off/on when sleeping. Between that and the bed, lack of sleep happens. Beachbar is on their own hours,hopefully open at 10 am,,closed at about 12 till atheist 1 is. No Cola most of the week, and the even opened without ice some days.|How are these people trained?.|Food is mediocre, hit or miss. The food stalls across the road are a fair substitute. |A main gripe I have is they set up the beach chairs at 10am, and tell you to get off them at 5pm.|Because of theft,or what ever, this is unacceptable. |They are locked up. |Also there is little policing on non hotel members taking the chairs during the afternoons. I paid $550 cad for this trip, I would be disappointed if I paid too much more

It's just a 1 star hotel. The staff is helpful. The hallways are dirty and old. It looks like an old abandoned hospital. The elevator door has to be pushed open by your hand since it doesn't open automatically all the way. Not many, if any tourists at this resort in September 2022. Spend a few bucks more and go to a better resort. Also, expect to lose power 🔋 for couple hours during the day at the resort. The buffet food choices are so so terrible. Other than beer, don't expect other alcoholic drinks from their one mini bar. The beach is terrible and dirty.