Meliá Marina Varadero

Varadero


No, that's not a beached cruise liner, but a five-star Meliá! Part of the plushly redeveloped Marina Gaviota, this has several key advantages over its competitors up at this eastern end of the peninsula: gleaming marina views, plus access to a host of restaurants and shops within the marina complex that makes the stay that little bit more varied than at the other all-inclusives.

The caveat? There's no beach here (a walkway over the road connects you to one, however) and reports on the rooms vary, but if you can't make it to Miami, this is as close as you'll get in Cuba. The hotel also offers some non-all-inclusive apartments.