Hotel Aguas Azules

Great Beach Location But Nasty Rude Receptionist

This hotel now names Agua Azules is situated on one of the lovliest beaches in Varadero, powder white sane framed by palm trees. However it is spoilt bu having one of the nastiest receptionist you will ever have the misfortune to enounter.

The location of the hotel is perfect.

What a shame then that the hotel allows their receptionist to antagonize their guests to such a level that they never want to return to Aguas Azules.

One in particular - Irera, has to be the nastiest woman you will ever encounter at a hotel reception. Middle aged fierce and unfriendly she went out of her way to be unhelpful. She would speak to us in Spanish and never provide helpful information. Her colleague Daisy, was equally snappy rude and unhelpful.

We did not understand why these women had no desire to be pleasant or helpful. One guest felt it could be to do that the hotel is State owned - Cubanacan and therefore there was no incentive for these women to be polite as they were paid the same basic state wage and were not likely to lose their job ever.

If we complained to either of them they hurled abuse at us.

How this woman can remain in the job amazes us. On our first morning we asked her where we could book dinner at the Al A Carte restaurant. 'Upstairs' she barked in Spanish. She seemed to take delight it having us wander around the massive upstairs lobby asking staff who assured us that the man who takes reservations could be found in a small office next to reception.

Our mother who suffers from Arthritis asked her about booking a massage. 'No Massage Available' she was told.

Mom then asked at the small hut market massage and was assured that she it was available and had to be booked at reception. She had to make the long trek back to the reception where the surly woman asked her who had told her this, what was his name. In the end mom gave up in frustration. Finally the massuer made the booking for us and spoke to the receptionist.

The only time we saw this vile woman smile was when she was chasing guests who were about to depart, asking them about 'regalos' clothing, toiletries, etc. Other than this she had a permanent scowl on her face.

Worst of all was the night she propositioned an elderly Canadian man who had no interest whatsoever in paying the requested 50 CUC and was stunned that she was trying this on in an otherwise reputable family hotel. Is management of the Aquas Azules that their receptionist is propositioning their male guests?.

We did eventually manage to book an AlACarte meal and it was far from gourmet. Italy was the theme of the night and consisted of doorsteps of mushy Cuban bread more bread, pizza and tasteless pasta. I have to say we returned out plates full of this tasteless pile of carbohydrate and opted for a sandwich instead in the lobby bar.

The lobby bar which is open all night attracts a very rowdy crowd of mainly Canadians who want to get drunk and shout into the early hours. None more so than a group of young women from Ottowa who became who drunk that a cat fight broke out and we were awoken at 7am to find them engaged in a drunken brawl outside of our room. Screaming obsenities and tearing the hair out of some poor girl who returned home half bald that night. Security eventually arrived but nothing seemed to happen other than a gentle reprimand. Any other hotel would have called the police and the women charged with violent assault.

The fact that an all inclusive one week package to the Aguas Azules can be found in Canada for as little as $350 results in the hotel attracting the bargain bucket chain smoking lout in search of as much cheap alcohol they can consume all week long.

Of the entertainment we really enjoyed the dance group Salsa Continental who's talent far exceeded our expectation. This brilliant young dance group are wasted performing n front of a mob of drunken tourists at a 3 star hotel and should be performing at the Ballet Nacional in Havana or ballets around the world.

We were frankly disgusted at the use of puppies as entertainment. Five sweet very thin dogs were made to perform trick one night while a cruel looking man cracked a large whip as the animals flinched. One tiny one ran for cover shaking with fear as she hid behind a larger dog while their oafish trainer visciously cracked a large whip. This abuse of animals should be prohibited in Cuba.

Equally as explotative was the abuse of young women guests for the 'entertainment' of fellow guests. They were hauled up on stage while some arrogant bully boy called 'animacion director' proceed to hurl abuse and ridicule at them. they were encourages to perform sexually explicit dancing and walk over a man who lay prostrate on the ground peering up their skirts.

The vile 'animacion' man then encouraged the audience to jeer and clap as he ridiculed the women even more. They were making these ladies the laughing stock and figures of ridicule for the entertainment of drunken guests and we did not find this funny. Instead we felt those ladies were being exploited as much as the puppies were and the Drector of Animacion should be fired.

The food in the buffet was bland which was to be expected in Cuba and for the price we paid - $500 Canadian for the week.

Would we return to the Aguas Azules? no, not as parents of children who were bored with the lack of facilties laid on for young people. Also the fact that they allow a middle aged receptionst to solicit male guests is not where we would ever want to take out children to.

For a $100 more we could stay at the Tryp which has a fantastic children's programme and far nicer reception staff who do not intimidate, solicit or harrass the hotel guests.

Unique Quality: Great beach and pleasant staff in pool bar and buffet restaurant who were lovely and did their best.