We prefer the Holguin area...
To be honest just about any resort in Holguin interests us more then any resort in Varadero...
Varadero is a hotel strip, I am talking hotel after hotel sharing the same white beach albeit a beautiful beach. Now the benefit to Varadero is that you do have access to restaurants, bars, shops and places to go outside of the resort (keeping in mind this is still Cuba). Most importantly though the BEST thing about Varadero is its proximity to Havana!
Holguin is more Country...
Lush tropical countryside coupled with small white sandy beaches. Most of the resorts here are relatively isolated and situated one of the following beaches: Guardalavaca, Playa Esmerelda, Playa Pesquero or Playa Yuraguanal, our personal favorite being Esmeralda.
Besides a small tourist market and a few souvenir shops in Guardalavaca there really is no shopping, nightlife and/or entertainment off the resort (there is organized excursions).
For us Playa Esmeralda is quintessentially the most "tropical" Caribbean vacation spot we have visited. Lush foliage, swaying palm trees, white sand beach, horseback riding (not on the actual beach) amazing snorkeling and diving...
Two resorts situated on Playa Esmeralda; Paradisus Rio De Oro and the Sol Luna Y Mares.
The Cayo’s:
All the Cayo’s are beach retreats…
I only recommend the Cayo’s for people who really are beach aficionados. Think isolated sand dune in the middle of the ocean and that would be what the Cayos are like. No Cubans live here the only locals you’ll meet are the ones working at your hotel. No restaurants or nightlife, but most probably the best Caribbean virgin beaches you will find!
So I break it out like this:
Beach holiday = Cayo Coco, Cayo Santa Maria, Cayo Guillarmo
Beach holiday/Culture = Varadero/Havana
Beach holiday/Cuban Countryside = Holguin
There are other areas of Cuba, but I believe for a first timer out of the UK, these are the best options…
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