Veradero Cuba September 2012

Veradero

Veradero is the12 mile peninsula located in the province of Matanzas. It is about 2/3 hour drive from Havana. You can get a coach by using some of Cuba's tour companies e.g. Havana Tour and Cubatur.

Havana Tour offers transport to Veradero by coach from your hotel for 50CUC/$50/£31 per person or an inclusive package of a buffet lunch and a drink for 71CUC/$71/£44. Cubatur also offers a coach service for 50CUC/$50/£31. Local bus service Viazul also offers a standard bus service from the Havana bus station to Veradero and other destinations, from Havana to Veradero it's about 15CUC/$15/£9. 

Playa Veradero

When we went to Veradero we were only supposed to be going for the day and a friend was driving us there and back. On the way there the car broke down in Matanzas about 18 miles from Veradeo so we got a taxi from there to the beginning of the strip for15CUC/$15/£9. 

Hotel Tortuga
We spontaneously decided that we wanted to spend the night in Veradero so went to Cubatur and enquired about a hotel and coach trip back the next day to Havana. Hotel Tortuga was recommended to us, it was 41CUC/$41/£25 per person per night which was all inclusive of beach, pool, drinks, snacks, breakfast, lunch, dinner, water sports  spanish lessons, salsa lessons, bingo and nightly entertainment. The coach back was 25CUC/$25/£15 as it was one way. 

Hotel Tortuga Pool
The reception staff were very slow, inattentive and there were not enough staff on hand. All reception staff members were relatively ungraceful on arrival  checking in and out and also quite slow.
Breakfast
When we arrived at the hotel it was quite impressive for a 3 star resort. The lobby was large and open plan. We arrived too early to check in but just in time for lunch. After we passed the large pool, stage and several bars we found the restaurant and were again surprised by the plethora of choices, from spare ribs, salad, chicken, rice, pasta, fish, omelettes  beans etc to coconut ice cream and cakes. 
Playa Veradero
Just merely a few steps away is the beautiful beach offering a myriad of views. We relaxed in the Sun until check in time came.

There is also a bar on the beach where I got a local rum punch which I would highly recommend to all.
Playa Veradero
After we checked in we found our room, it had 2 double beds and was quite spacious, small fridge, table and chairs, balcony also with table and chairs, wardrobe, bathroom, cable TV with English channels in addition to German, French, Chinese and Italian.

Dinner was from 7-9:30pm, I preferred the selection on offer at lunch but dinner was also good. Dinner consisted of unseasoned chicken, salad, pork, calamares, rice, rabbit, pasta, potatoes, pineapple, melon and guava. For dessert there was a vast selection of cakes albeit very sweet and a selection of chocolate, vanilla and coconut ice cream.
Hotel Tortuga
There was an evening show but we missed it as we were so tired. Breakfast is from 7-9:30am and was delightful. Breakfast included bread, French toast, chorizo, boiled eggs, tortilla, poached eggs, bacon, sausage, omelettes made while you wait, salad, cheese, ham, juice, pineapple, guava, papaya, yogurt and smoothies. 

After breakfast we went to the beach until check out at 12pm. Then chilled by the pool and ventured outside the hotel to see what we could find. About 2 blocks away there was a market selling souvenirs and clothes. There is also a Veradero bus tour, we didn't get a chance to go on it but its 5CUC/$5/£3 like the one in Havana.
Veradero Bus Tour
When we came back to the hotel we had lunch, even though I was still full from breakfast. The selection included bread, soft drinks, pumpkin, rice, sweet potato, chicken, fish, salad, fruit and cheese. After lunch we relaxed in the hotel lobby filling up on our free drinks before our bus back to Havana arrived. It was about a 2 hour drive back. 







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