Cuban content creator Octavio Castillo Quesada (@o.castilloquesada) shared on social media the frustrating experience he faced with his partner while trying to enjoy a weekend getaway in Varadero.
Initially, the couple had booked a trip to the keys. However, the plan was canceled due to the fuel shortage affecting the country. The alternative was to change the reservation to Varadero, where the transportation service from Havana was operational.
Reservation in Varadero filled with setbacks
“Upon arriving at the hotel we had booked, it was closed,” explained the young man. They were supposed to be transferred to another resort, but upon arrival, they faced a new problem: their name did not appear in the system.
Finally, they were sent to the Hotel Arenas Doradas, and there the process wasn't straightforward either. Castillo stated that he had to wait several hours to complete the check-in and was surprised again.
They told me I didn't have a room. I had to stay calm. After a while, they attended to us, and I managed to get a room at a hotel I never knew I was going to,” he recounted. The images show that he visited the Hotel Internacional de Varadero.
He was straightforward about the stay: "The service and organization leave a lot to be desired. I wouldn't recommend anyone go to Varadero these days."
Is it the agency's fault, the fuel crisis, or poor work at Mintur?
After the video was published, some users pointed out that the problem might not lie with the travel agency. One comment highlighted that many hotels have recently closed, even with prior reservations, suggesting that the situation is beyond the control of the agencies.
Castillo responded by clarifying his position: "I never said that the problem lies with the agency. The issue is poor organization when it comes to resolving those issues. If hotels are closing, at the very least they should allow me to choose a second option."
The lack of clear information and alternatives for customers worsens the experience, especially when changes occur at the last minute with no option to decide. The Ministry of Tourism (Mintur) places customers wherever it sees fit, forgetting about the high price they paid for those reservations in foreign currency.
Fuel scarcity and tourism crisis in Cuba
The fuel crisis in Cuba continues to directly impact tourism, causing cancellations, temporary hotel closures, and improvised relocations of travelers.
Just a few weeks ago, an Argentine tourist reported that upon arriving at her hotel in Cayo Santa María, she was informed that the resort was closing and she would be transferred to another facility of the Meliá chain.
In a context where the State reorganizes operations and resources based on energy availability, many travelers find themselves with little choice. If the assigned hotel or the room does not meet expectations, the alternatives are often limited.
While the government insists on the recovery of tourism as one of the economic pillars, experiences like the one recounted by Castillo highlight the structural difficulties faced by the sector amid the energy crisis in the country.
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