10 Best Hotels in Western Cuba, Cuba

If an active beach vacation is what you're looking for, this centrally located, really big, all-inclusive resort combines two properties that share a plethora of pools, restaurants, and activities. The Arenas Blancas side has a striking interior courtyard adorned with hanging plants that fall for the length of the four-story construction, along with newer, more contemporary rooms than the older Solymar side. This is a busy complex, attracting families with kids of all ages, as well as younger crowds who mass at the property's main bar every night. Close to the center of town, it's also the ideal location if you want to get away from the crowd and explore on your own.

This towering, sloping structure has the boldest architecture in Varadero and an excellent reputation as a family-oriented resort. Inside the peninsula's highest building there's an impressive, 100-foot high atrium, draped with ivy that cascades down to a contemporary lobby. Sports facilities are abundant, with a huge quatrefoil-shape pool, tennis and basketball courts, and water-sports facilities. A walkway passes through a narrow band of trees to the wide beach. The brightly colored, contemporary rooms have two twins or a king-size bed. Suites have a separate living room and two terraces. The first child, age 2 to 12, stays free. Be sure to book a room facing the ocean rather than the road.

One of the best values in Varadero, this cheerfully retro property is right in the center of town, though it nevertheless has a great beachfront. The round pool is small but well designed, reminiscent of Cuba's glamorous, 1940s heyday. Rooms are simple but decorated in a riot of tropical colors. Along with the usual resort activities, this friendly place offers dancing and Spanish-language lessons.

This top-of-the-line, rather grandiose resort has an impressive pool with dramatically eclectic design elements, including domed temples on islets, connected by Venetian bridges. Thatched palapas provide private shade on one of the smoothest stretches of beach, and there are calm waters on the peninsula. Other sophisticated features in this columned pleasure palace include Japanese and Mediterranean options among the five restaurants, an ultra-luxe spa, a nightclub, and sports ranging from archery to tennis. The elegant, spacious rooms and even larger junior suites are spread over 11 thatch-roofed, low buildings. Decorated in shades of peach, these rooms are among the most luxurious in Varadero. The large bathrooms are notable for their high-quality fixtures,walk-in showers, and decorative tile work. There are organized activities for kids 4 to 12, but this is mostly an upscale, adult environment.

Built by the duPont family, this grand, three-story 1920s mansion is Varadero's only true boutique hotel; with only a half-dozen rooms, it often sells out. Dark-wood paneling, a grand staircase, and heavy furniture give the place a slightly somber air. A little worn around the edges, it's more shabby genteel these days, but the historical ambience is intact. Winston Churchill—and more recently Vladimir Putin and members of the Kennedy family—are just some notable guests who have stayed here. It's also a bargain when you consider the room rate includes breakfast, dinner, and 18 holes of golf at the Varadero Golf Club. The upstairs restaurant ($$–$$$, reservations essential) is one of the peninsula's prettiest places to dine, even if the food is overpriced and below par. If you just want to lap up the ambience for an evening, head to the third-floor bar at sunset to enjoy the views and the experience of living it up like a duPont. Sunday is often quieter, and there's less chance of sharing the mansion with noisy tour groups.

Strictly a resort for grown-ups, Las Americas overlooks the Varadero golf course with its small lakes on one side, and a postcard-perfect beach on the other. Built in 1994, its "modern" architecture is already a little dated, but the rooms are spacious and impeccably maintained, decorated in flattering shades of peach. Rooms on the third and fourth floors have the best views. The bungalows have recently been redone and offer separate living rooms with large flat-screen TVs. If stairs are a problem, choose a ground-floor bungalow instead of a second-story one. The hotel's air-conditioned, marble-floor lobby has lots of comfortable, plush seating. Outside, you can cool off in two large and two smaller pools, or head to the 250-meter-wide beach, which is simply gorgeous and serene, minus any children under 18. Guests can dine at four à la carte restaurants—Japanese, Caribbean, International, and Italian—once each during a week-long stay. The golf course is one of the biggest attractions here, with special, all-inclusive rates for guests and free golf clinics by visiting pros.

This upscale, family-focused resort has a village-like feel, with avenues of palm trees leading to white-clapboard, Key West-style buildings. The open-design entryway is pleasing, with classical columns, contemporary furniture, and naturally lighted interior gardens that offer a pleasant welcome. Classic rooms occupy the two- and three-story buildings; Grande Suites are close to the beach and have two bathrooms. Premium rooms are in an adults-only area, while the 10 family-friendly junior suites are close to the kids' pool and have two bedrooms, one with a single bed plus a bunk bed. All rooms, decorated in a peach-and-watermelon "Caribbean" style have walk-in closets. On the waterside, there are picturesque lagoons and three pools—two of them for kids—plus a baby paddling pool. The 400-meter-wide beach edges calm, shallow water. There are nine restaurants and snack bars to choose from, plus nightly entertainment and programs for both kids and teenagers.

Varadero's first luxury hotel remains in the top tier of area resorts with six wings that fan out like flower petals from a lush circular atrium; the quality of the rooms and five à la carte restaurants don't disappoint. Paella is the lunch specialty at the casual, beachfront Ranchón restaurant. There are two pools and the requisite white beach. Although there is no kids' club, there are lots of child-focused, programmed activities. Rooms are sleek and modern and each has a balcony, with garden, pool, or ocean views (extra). Level Two rooms are close to the beach and have concierge service; premium ocean-view rooms have corner terraces with double the view. For golfers, there is a free shuttle service to the nearby Varadero Golf Club plus discounted rates.

One of the best of Varadero's all-inclusives, this resort stands out as an all-suites, adults-only luxury property with five lagoon pools swirling around lush gardens and handsome, three-story buildings with Spanish-colonial architectural flourishes. The impressive main lobby feels more like the entry hall to a European chateau, but painted in Caribbean colors. All activities and facilities are found just off the Plaza Viaja, with its Old Havana-inspired architecture. Rooms are spotless and furnished with Edwardian-style, dark-hardwood antique reproductions. Sea-view rooms are on the upper two floors and there are 12 ground-level suites for landlubbers. Bungalows A, C, and D have ocean views. With eight restaurants—two of them exclusively for ultra-luxe Royal Service guests—you won't have a chance to get bored with the buffet. One of the most enticing features here is that you can swim your way from some suites directly into the largest pool. It's at the farthest end of the peninsula, away from town, but close to the new marina and Las Morlas shopping center.

Varadero's reigning luxury resort for adults creates an aura of castaway-island seclusion, amid swaying Royal palms, tropical gardens and an unequaled beachfront that's dotted with thatch-roofed shelters. Sparkling-blue waterways wind throughout the property and guests travel shaded, flower-edged paths to spacious, sophisticated, two-level rooms that have sitting areas overlooking bedrooms. Brand-new, contemporary bathrooms have separate tub, vanity, and toilet areas, and each room has a private, white-railed veranda with either a sunrise or sunset view. The modern, all-white, main lobby, with a 24-hour bar, is where guests meet their private concierge, who will look after all their needs throughout their stay. Along with excellent à la carte restaurants, the hotel features a mini-village of cafés, featuring French crepes, homemade ice cream and Italian coffee, which is all included. There's also an impressive, air-conditioned cigar emporium. Two night clubs—one a disco, the other, live jazz—complement the nightly entertainment on an outdoor stage beside the largest of the resort's two pools. Tennis courts and a serene spa offer other diversions. Many of the mostly Canadian, British, and German guests are repeat visitors, seduced by the service and attention to detail here, orchestrated by a Canadian-based management team.