After reviewing what the other Veradera hotels had to offer we decided to return to the Internacional. It is older, it is still in need of repairs BUT the excellent beach location and the friendly atmosphere makes up for it 100%. When we travel we are looking for a great beach, a safe country, clean beds and a friendly staff. The International supplid this. We paid $1005.00 tax in for two weeks, all inclusive, you can't beat that!
They are starting to renevate the hotel and floors four and five are now in good shape. We always had hot water, unlike comments from reviews placed with mine in 2011. The staff is very helpful and always have an "hola" and if you treat them with respect they will do anything for you. Even if you for some reason look down your North American nose, you will still get good service. They love Canadians in Cuba and most of us live up to our good reputation. one that is known world wide.
The Internacional also has a Tropicana type show that all guests can attend free, once per visit. I have been to the one in Havana, which is spectacular but the one in Veradera is also way up there in quality.
The weather was fabulous with only two humid days, that were cloudy with a little rain. We're now ready to face the remainder of our Canadian winter.

I stayed here last week as part of my package booked through The Holiday Place.
This hotel is no where near a 4 star hotel, i'd say its 1.5 star.

As you enter the big drive into the hotel..you think you've been transported to a hotel in Miami but as soon as you get to your room...brace yourself..for you don't know what you'll find!

Room 317:
*Upon entering the bedroom lights weren't working and had to wait over an hour before the repair man came to fix the lights
*The alarm clock wasn't plugged in
*The little cupboard/storage area as you enter the room where the safe is (there's a hole in the ceiling and you can see the insulation)
*Bathroom door looks like it has been broken into (broken frame around the door handle)
*Bathroom taps are dirty with limescale
* The main door - made of glass and wood frame, it looks like the doors been patched together and there is a bit of the little panel missing in the door, so if someone looks through they can see into your room...as a solo traveller I didn't want to attract the attention of peeping toms!
*Double glazed patio door - the chain lock is broken and hanging off

I checked into this room on Saturday 28th January 2012, on Sunday 29th at 11.30pm it had been a long day and I wanted to go to sleep. I got to room 317, and my room key wouldn't work. I had to go to reception 3 times to get a new key, the receptionist thought I had broken the lock and wasn't very helpful. Then at 12:00 midnight a repair man came and he tried the room key and fiddled with the lock. At 00:30 the repair man changed the whole lock unit...after that I went to sleep.

Food at Varadero Internacional

There seems to be a distinct lack of spoons and teaspoons in circulation. For the 2 days that I had to endure at this hotel you could not find any spoons and had to hunt the spoon every time be it at breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Being vegetarian, the food options are extremly limited at lunch and evening dinner. There is also a shortage of serving spoons in the buffet and with the mixing of serving spoons - I was restricted to what I ate...for you could see the the salad/pasta options for example had been tainted with meat.

I had the opportunity to book an "International Dinner" (formal dining), I was able to have soup, bread rolls and desert but no main. There was no vegetarian option on the menu and when I requested a vegetarian option the catering staff did not oblige or even suggest an alternative.

Vegetarian sandwich at the cafe consisted of: 2 slices of toasted bread, a sliced tomato and cabbage. There was no butter or cheese. When I asked for cheese the chef looked like he was in a strop! The cafe menu suggested fries would be available between midday - 5.30pm...everyday...there were no vegetarian options available on the Saturday.


Beach
The beach is beautiful white sand, however at the Varadero Internacional no one seems bothered enough to actually sweep the sand at the hotel so that you don't stab or hurt your feet on the tree seeds that have fallen. For a hotel of such a size, I only found one tap to wash your feet after coming back from the sea and even then..it was only a drip flow..so you could be standing there a while.

Lobby Restrooms
Oh my days...the ladies was shabby! There was no soap and no toilet roll, also there was a very not so fragrant air around the restrooms and with there being so many tourists here this really wasn't good.

Luckily after the 2 days at Varadero Internacional, I complained to my rep and I was moved to Villa Cuba, which is a much much better all inclusive hotel in all respects, actually felt like a 3* and I felt more safe and secure there as a solo traveller.

If your going to go to Varadero Internacional..good luck!

this hotel booked via by internet was good value for money. The rooms, ensuite facilities with breathtaking views of the ocean and surrounding area of varadero. having stayed in varadero before, this hotel gave exceptional value re all inclusive meals and drinks, the entertainment and above all a private section of a pristene beach for residents only. The views breathtaking, a short walk from the hotel direct on to the beach. lazing about. Visited in july and also december 2011. Both visits wonderful, the service , hospitality excellent, Not over crowded and not in the main hub of the rest of the all inclusive hotels although only a short distance away

Falling apart, moldy, old, bad A/C that pumps in sickness. We are sure the HVAC gave us a lung infection. I think the owners are waiting for it to get condemed and then they are knocking it down. There was no toilet paper and soap in the lobby bathrooms the whole time even after I said something. The food was horrible. The bed was like a steel rack from the 60's and so were the sheets. What a nightmare. This is. 1 star hotel. And the 1 star goes to the nice people who work there and try to offer the best service they can given their bad situation at the Hotel International. Yikes!