A Spanish citizen who traveled to Cuba between May 7 and May 11, 2025, to celebrate his honeymoon reported a disappointing experience at the Jardines del Rey hotel, located in Cayo Coco, Ciego de Ávila, and managed by the Spanish chain Meliá.
According to a report by elTOQUE via WhatsApp, the tourist encountered low-quality and unappealing food at the hotel restaurant, including slices of dry and unattractive ham, dehydrated cheeses, and chewy candies that were difficult to identify.
He also complained about soft drinks made from instant mix packets and the limited entertainment options, which consisted only of karaoke and music played from a mobile phone.
The images shared by the media show the served dishes, including poorly baked pastries and pieces of meat in bad condition. In the video, the visitor expresses their outrage: “This is an embarrassment! This isn't food, it's a mockery.”
But the problems didn't end there. The complainant also rented a car from the state company Havanautos and found the vehicle in deplorable condition: with dents, worn paint, old stained seats, a strong smell of gasoline, and oil leakage.
In one of the recorded clips, the tourist shows how he had to fill the engine with three liters of oil and displays a tire so worn out that he describes it as “a danger at the first pothole.”
The case, shared as part of the "Citizen Report" section of elTOQUE, once again calls into question the quality of service in tourist facilities on the island, especially those marketed in foreign currencies.
The tourist concluded his complaint by stating that he paid high prices for a package that promised a luxury stay, but it ended up being "a honeymoon to forget."
Recent complaints from tourists in Cuba
In recent months, there has been a notable increase in reports from foreign tourists highlighting poor conditions in Cuban hotels. Three recent cases showcase different aspects of the crisis:
1. A "five-star" hotel in ruins and treatment "like pigs."
A Russian tourist staying at a five-star resort publicly complained about the disgraceful condition of the complex.
Among her complaints, published recently by the Russian media ABN 24 News, were "leaking faucets," non-working bathroom dryers, dirty common areas, and an infestation of insects.
Additionally, he criticized the food, pointing out that fresh dishes were mixed with those from the previous day: “They treat tourists like pigs.” The shortage extended even to drinking water, which was only offered in limited quantities and at an extra cost.
2. Lack of water and products at Gran Hotel Casa Granda, Santiago
In December 2024, the Spanish Antonio Mora Ayora reported deficiencies at the Gran Hotel Casa Granda, a four-star hotel in Santiago de Cuba.
According to his account, the establishment was lacking even water and lemons to make lemonade, despite featuring them on the menu. He criticized on social media the inconsistency between the advertised menu and the actual availability.
3. Canadian tourist drugged and assaulted at a resort in Varadero
One of the most serious cases occurred recently at a resort in Varadero: the Canadian Breanna Peebles reported that she was drugged and woke up with signs of sexual assault and violence.
His testimony revealed security deficiencies in the hotel and an inadequate institutional response, leading the government of Canada to advise against travel to the island.
These episodes reveal that the tourism crisis in Cuba ranges from basic deficiencies in infrastructure and services to serious risks to the safety of visitors.
The recurring complaints about spoiled food, lack of hygiene, limited water supply, and failures in medical or security care represent a pattern that, rather than being isolated, reflects a deteriorating tourism system.
This context provides a necessary framework to understand why the complaint from the Spanish tourist in Cayo Coco—regarding poor quality food, a rental vehicle in terrible condition, and a lack of professional entertainment—fits into a recurring and concerning trend.
Decline of Tourism in Cuba: A Sector in Deep Crisis
Recent cases of tourists reporting inadequate accommodations and a sense of vulnerability in hotel facilities are not isolated incidents; rather, they are symptoms of a structural crisis that is reflected in the sustained decline of tourism in Cuba.
According to official figures from the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI), between January and March 2025, only 571,772 international visitors arrived, which represents a sharp decline of 29.7% compared to the same period in 2024.
For its part, the resulting hotel occupancy was only around 24.1% of the available rooms, the lowest recorded for a traditionally strong quarter.
These negative indicators not only reflect a decline in the number of visitors but also in overnight stays, which decreased from 5,040,451 to 3,601,870, and a year-on-year reduction in sector revenues of 5%. Key markets such as Canada, Russia, Spain, and Italy have cut their tourism figures by between 25% and 50%, according to preliminary data.
This decline can be attributed to multiple factors: the energy crisis with frequent blackouts, deficiencies in the quality of services, the lack of basic products in hotels, the deterioration of infrastructure, and limited air connectivity.
Experts like economist José Luis Perelló warn that the recovery of the sector will be slow, estimating that pre-pandemic levels will not be reached until at least 2030.
In 2023, the government itself acknowledged issues in service quality, including a lack of supplies and delayed payments to Cuban providers, as well as a shortage of trained personnel.
Despite investments and speeches promoting tourism as an economic driver, the disconnect between that vision and the reality of the service is becoming increasingly evident.
This situation clarifies why reports such as that of the Spanish tourist in Cayo Coco — complaining of low-quality food, makeshift entertainment, poorly maintained cars, and exorbitant prices — not only affect the traveler but also reflect the widespread deterioration of the Cuban tourism model.
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