A young Cuban woman has sparked a wave of reactions on TikTok after sharing her personal experience during her first—and only—stay at a hotel in Varadero, where she claims to have encountered a true culinary "disaster." In a video on her account @zol.arias, she humorously recounts how things went downhill after being offered a welcome cocktail upon arrival at the hotel.
“When it was time for lunch, I helped myself to a plate of rice and beans because I didn’t know what else to take,” she confessed. Due to a lack of guidance and a clear variety at the buffet, she spent most of her stay dining on desserts. The most amusing—and revealing—part of her story was when she mistook a dish of eggplants in sauce for meat. “I thought it was some meat in sauce... I filled my plate with eggplant. Well, it was a disaster,” she narrated. Only on the final day did she find the breakfast she desired: yogurt with cereal and some “arepitas” reminiscent of pancakes.
Even though she doesn't have other hotels to compare with, her verdict was straightforward: “I didn’t find it very good because there wasn’t much variety... I left with the wrong idea.” Her anecdote has sparked numerous comments, from those who laughed along with her to others who shared similar experiences. “Haha, I thought I was the only one this happened to,” commented a follower. Another user jokingly stated, “They bring out the best on the last day. It happened to me too.”
“I want more story times, love it,” wrote a follower, asking for more tales of this kind. Even @zol.arias herself responded with laughter: “What a total disaster I was at that hotel.”
The young woman's testimony is part of a growing wave of complaints about the conditions of Cuban hotels, even in well-known areas like Varadero. Recently, another influencer shared her experience staying at Hotel Palma Real, considered one of the most affordable three-star hotels in the resort. She paid 16,500 Cuban pesos (about $43) for one night, thanks to a gift from her followers. While she described the room as functional, she acknowledged that the experience was not exactly unforgettable.
Back in May, another TikToker revealed the lack of cleanliness and basic services at Iberostar Bella Costa. User comments pointed to the hotel's decline, outdated decor, and a lack of hygiene in key areas like bathrooms and towels.
Days earlier, a Russian tourist publicly complained about her experience at a five-star hotel in Cuba: deteriorated facilities, food recycled from previous days, and even the presence of insects. “They treat tourists like pigs,” she asserted.
These accounts align with recent data from the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI), which show hotel occupancy rates below 25% so far this year and a 27% drop in tourist arrivals compared to the same period last year.
Meanwhile, the average monthly salary in Cuba is around 6,506 pesos (about $17 at the informal exchange rate), making even the most “affordable” hotels out of reach for most Cubans. Stories like @zol.arias's, besides bringing smiles, reflect a deeper issue: the disconnect between the promotional discourse of tourism in Cuba and the reality experienced by both national and foreign visitors.
Understanding Tourist Experiences in Cuba
What were the main issues faced by the Cuban woman in Varadero?
The main issues included a lack of variety and guidance in the buffet, leading her to eat mostly desserts and mistakenly serving herself eggplant instead of meat.
How are Cuban hotels currently perceived by tourists?
Cuban hotels are increasingly criticized for poor conditions, including outdated decor, lack of cleanliness, and insufficient services, reflecting a gap between promotional claims and actual experiences.
What is the significance of the average Cuban salary in relation to tourism?
With an average monthly salary of approximately $17 at the informal exchange rate, even the most economical hotel stays are unaffordable for most Cubans, highlighting economic disparities.