Hotel Iberostar Varadero

Transfer super quick, about 30 minutes. The hotel was located directly at the super great long beach. It was just recently piled up to its complete width because the hurricane carried away a lot. Super finde sand and very clean. Also the ocean was cristal clear. Enough umbrellas available.
The next town was Varadero. You should visit it between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. though because the markets were only open then. We went there with the taxi (about 10 CUC) around 7 p.m. Sadly not a lot was going on anymore then. It was still great to watch life there. Beyond there were a few discos. The activity staff gladly took you along to dance salsa if you wanted.
Excursion possibilities described in the tips.

The staff were always friendly and very helpful. Always a smile on their lipps. At the pool and at the beach drinks were also served. At reception they also spoke German. Also for questions about Cuba very helpful. Suitcases were brought and also collected again. The activity staff were super nice and not pushy. You had a lot of fun with them. A lot of them spoke German. English always worked. At the different bars everyone was very nice and mixed very good cocktails. The room maids were just the best. At the beach the beach chairs were also set up especially for everyone and the towels placed on them. Security was very watchful and always in the mood for a chat.

Pictures/Videos to hotel review (Click picture to enlarge!)

There was a big main restaurants with a big choice of dishes every day. Vegetarian, fish, chicken, steak, noudles, seafood, apetizers, desserts, ice cream and super tasty cheese. The bakery was just a dream. The food was always freshly prepared by the chefs and you could tell them your own requests. As the dishes were located in warmth containers it could happen that they weren't always hot. But it was all very clean and was always refilled immediately. It could also happen that there weren't any onions or something else. Not tragic. You always found something tasty. The kitchen style was German and Cuban. The staff were always very friendly and always quick on their feet. At the pool there was also a smaller restaurant - late breakfast and lunch in smaller manner. In the evening you could eat Cuban there. Wasn't really our sort of thing. At the beach there was a small snack bar with burgers, fruit and salads. In the lobby coffee and cake. Additionaly also a Japanese and a very tasty fish restaurant. Everything was very clean and hygienic. A very nice bar in the lobby. There it could happen that a magician looked by. Desperately get a spell put on you. You were completely astounden. He was glad for compliments with CUC. Beach bar was available twice. The staff was always glad of a few CUC. The food was really always very good and varied.

There was a fitness center with very good machines. Tennis, football, archery, waterpolo, waterball, and a lot more. Activity staff were very nice but not annoying. At the pool games we also had a lot to laugh about.

Our room was in the Bungalow 18 on the 2nd floor. The rooms were very big. Because we were 3 people we also had 3 big beds available. Safe was free of charge. Ice container always filled. Coffee machine, TV, telephone. An umbrella, iron with ironing board stood in the closet. Balcony was very big. The was was always maintained very cleanly and lovely. Nice letters and towel animals we found nearly every day on our bed. Great big bathroom. Bath tub and shower with very good water pressure and very hot. Magnifying mirror available. The hair dryer was more meant for short hair - so take your own one. You could only plug it in in the room though because there was only one plug in the bathroom for the shaver. That was much too weak for it. The best air conditioning. The beds were super. With multiple people you could book rooms with a connecting door.

To the excursions: We had booked Havanna with taxi and our own travel guide. Cost a bit more but you drove alone and had enough time to look at everything. With the bus a bit stressful. Havana was nice to look at from the building style and old timers. You could also go alone without a problem.
Then we flew to Trinidad in a helicopter. With a lorry drove into the great mountain landscape - walked and swam. A great experience.
In the end also flew to Cayo Largo. Further with a Catamaran and snorkeled. The greatest experience were the big iguanas. The beach was undescribable. Pure Caribbean. While booking excursions you should see to it that you payed with credit card as it was cheaper on the end bill. It was calculated in dollars and there the exchange rate was better. The travel guides were all very nice and nearly all spoke German. The groups were always very small and were always put together country wise. If you didn't understand anything a tourist always translated. If you want to book excursions reckon with more money and take comfortable shoes. Careful: Cell phones could get expensive. But the travel agent advised us about everything very well. All in all it was a great and relaxing holiday.