кубинский опыт Cuban experience

After returning from a trip to Cuba, I share my impressions. The flight by Aeroflot took place as usual - there were no delays, food, alcohol on board has now been canceled, monitors do not work for everyone, the seats recline by a maximum of 5 cm, however, the distance between the rows is slightly wider than usual. Draw your own conclusion, in my opinion, the overpriced flight at Aeroflot did not justify itself. After 12 o'clock in the summer, we loaded onto the bus and into the hotel (thanks to the occasion there were not many tourists, they were not transported for very long). When checking in, the chocolate "Alenka" decided the issue with the choice of a room in our favor (after presenting a sweet present, the manager crossed out the already marked number and gave us another one). Later, we were able to appreciate this gesture, since part of the buildings is located near the "industrial zone" of the hotel and the aromas are such that people could not open the balcony. Leaving things in the room, we went to the restaurant to eat. Dinner in the restaurant ends at 22:00. We arrived at 21.30 - there was practically nothing to eat, the tables were not served after cleaning the dirty dishes. We didn’t have the strength to swear, we went to bed. In the morning we were able to see the whole hotel, which I chose for so long. I always choose hotels for my vacation very carefully, so as not to overshadow my vacation with disappointment. I love a comfortable stay and, knowing full well that it is naive to count on it in budget hotels, I choose high-level hotels. Sandals did not live up to my expectations. I'll try in order:
- good large rooms, there is a safe, air conditioning, ceiling fan, coffee maker, umbrella, bathrobes, plasma TV (no Russian channels), refrigerator (empty), large bath.
- The territory of the hotel is very large, clean, though without much design.

- a large beach with white fine sand (there is no shower with fresh water, so all the sand is brought to the room)
- in bars they don’t spare alcohol and don’t breed, although they don’t know how to do the same or don’t want to do the same (the real pinot calada was tried only in Havana and on an excursion to the aboriginal village)
-in the main restaurant there is an opportunity to take ready-made dishes, as well as order them to be cooked on the grill, there are a lot of products, there is enough for everyone (if you don’t come to close), but the food is not tasty. Very tired breakfasts, which consisted of different types of eggs, sausages, cheese, fruits, pastries. With nostalgia, I recalled pastries in Turkey, Egypt, Greece - there is no such thing in Cuba.
The Cubans are quite poor and not pretentious people, which is manifested in everything, and the same in the service. They are easy to communicate, all big optimists, they drink rum and live one day at a time.
I didn’t like that in the restaurant drinks are served by waiters who come to the table when you have already taken your food, then leave with an order and return when everything is either eaten or cold. By the end of the second week of rest, tips did their job, they began to meet us at the door of the restaurant and immediately bring alcohol, but this took time and money.
I did not like that the bar on the beach opens at 11 o'clock, at this time it is already hot, and for elemental water you need to run to the lobby bar, which is quite far away.
My husband went to the gym - the attendants were only 1 time in 2 weeks of stay. There are no towels, most of the simulators are not working.
In the room, the toilet flush system was assembled on a paper clip, which popped off after 2-3 flushes. An appeal to the reception led to the fact that a locksmith came, who attached the same paper clip, which we ourselves did regularly before leaving the hotel (and this is the level of a 5 star hotel).

Impressions of Havana and Cubans are a topic for a separate discussion, but the hotel, which is declared one of the best (respectively, one of the most expensive) does not match its price and quality.