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Selectum Family Resort Varadero

Varadero, Cuba

3.6(411 reviews)

Family

Selectum Family Resort Varadero is one of Cuba's newest all-inclusive openings, and its freshness is its most immediate selling point — modern rooms, pristine facilities, and an activity program that treats the Kids Club, Teens Club, and adult entertainment track as genuinely co-equal priorities rather than afterthoughts. The resort sits in Varadero, Cuba's largest and most developed beach resort zone, with Havana day trips, Bay of Pigs excursions, and Trinidad tours all bookable through the hotel's activities desk. The 20-minute airport transfer and enthusiastic, warm staff make arrival and first impressions reliably positive.

Things to Know

International management withdrawn - operating under Cuban state management with reduced services

Before you book in Cuba

73% of Cuba's hotels are closed, every international chain but one has pulled out, and no card from any country has worked there since June 2026.Read what actually changed →

Traveler Insights

Pros

+Brand-new construction means everything smells and looks fresh — no worn carpets, outdated fixtures, or tired common areas that plague older Cuban properties
+Dedicated Kids Club and Teens Club with separate pools for different age groups — one of the more thoroughly thought-out family program setups in Varadero
+Daily activity schedule is genuinely energetic — morning aqua fitness, dance lessons, and DJ-led pool sessions are praised by guests across age groups
+Evening entertainment receives strong marks, with shows designed to engage both adults and families rather than padding time with perfunctory dance routines
+Only 20 minutes from Varadero International Airport — minimal transfer time means more resort time, especially welcome when traveling with children
+Rooms are spacious and modern by Cuban all-inclusive standards, with contemporary furnishings that match the resort's new construction quality
+Staff friendliness gets consistently high marks, with multiple guests noting the team's genuine warmth and attentiveness to families with young children
+Located in Varadero means access to Cuba's most developed beach resort corridor, with organized excursions to Havana, the Bay of Pigs, and Trinidad available through the hotel

Cons

−The beach entry is dominated by rocks — swimming without water shoes is painful and impractical, with some guests reporting the ocean entry is essentially un-swimmable for children without protection
−Being a new property, operational processes are still being worked out — some guests note staff are enthusiastic but occasionally disorganized in execution compared to well-established Cuban resorts
−Buffet lines can get very long during peak meal periods — the dining infrastructure appears to still be calibrating for the resort's guest volume
−Food quality gets mixed reviews, with some guests satisfied and others feeling the price-to-quality ratio doesn't hold up compared to other Varadero competitors
−Air conditioning reliability has been flagged in some rooms — not universal, but enough of a pattern to be worth requesting a room check at check-in
−Limited specialty dining variety beyond the main buffet — the dining program is still developing and hasn't reached the depth of longer-established Varadero resorts
−As with all Cuban resorts, Wi-Fi is limited and sold by the hour rather than freely included — guests expecting seamless connectivity for the family will be disappointed
−The property is large enough that wayfinding can be confusing initially, and some guests report difficulty locating specific facilities during their first day

The practical realities of a Cuban all-inclusive apply here, and the beach situation is particularly worth flagging: rocky ocean entry is a consistent complaint, with guests noting that water shoes are effectively mandatory for both adults and children who want to actually enter the water. The buffet lines run long at peak times, food opinions are divided, and Wi-Fi operates on a paid hourly basis rather than freely. These are partly Cuba-wide infrastructure factors and partly growing pains of a new property still calibrating its operations. Air conditioning inconsistency has been flagged in a subset of rooms.

This resort makes strong sense for families with children of varied ages who want the structure of a well-programmed activity schedule in a fresh, modern facility — particularly parents who've done older Varadero properties and found them worn or tired. It's not the right call for beach-swimmers or travelers prioritizing food diversity and dining sophistication. Compared to established Varadero competitors like Melia Las Americas or Iberostar Selection Varadero, Selectum trades depth of culinary program for newness of facilities — a trade-off that makes sense for families over gourmands.

Common Questions

Are the beaches swimmable, or do I need water shoes?

Water shoes are strongly recommended and effectively essential for entering the ocean at this resort. The beach entry is rocky, with 10–15 feet of rock before reaching swimmable depth. The resort's pools are the primary swimming option for most guests, and the kids' pools are specifically cited as a workaround for families who want swimming time without the rocky ocean challenge.

What age groups does the Kids and Teens Club serve, and is the programming worth it?

The resort operates a mini-club for younger children and a separate Teens Club for older kids, each with dedicated pools and age-appropriate programming. Daily activities include dance lessons, aqua sessions, DJ-led events, and organized sports. Guest reviews for the family programming are generally positive, with parents noting the activity volume keeps kids genuinely engaged rather than bored.

How does Selectum compare to other Varadero family resorts like Iberostar or Melia?

Selectum's primary advantage is its newness — facilities are fresh and modern in ways that older Varadero properties can't match. Iberostar and Melia properties in Varadero tend to have more developed dining programs and more refined operational processes built over years. Guests who prioritize room quality and activity energy often prefer Selectum; guests who prioritize food variety and beach access often favor the longer-established properties.

Is the resort good for very young children, including toddlers?

The resort is generally praised for family accessibility, including for young children. The property is noted as wheelchair and stroller-accessible, and the Kids Club programming starts at the younger end of the age spectrum. The rocky beach is the primary safety consideration for toddlers — water access is best managed via the dedicated children's pool areas rather than the ocean entry.

Can I take a day trip to Havana from Varadero?

Yes — Havana is approximately 140 km from Varadero, typically a 2–2.5 hour drive. The resort can arrange organized day-trip excursions to Havana that include transportation and guided tours. This is one of Varadero's strongest assets as a base location: it's close enough to Havana for a meaningful day trip while still offering the infrastructure of Cuba's largest beach resort corridor.

How is the Wi-Fi situation, and should I plan to stay connected?

Wi-Fi at Cuban resorts including Selectum is sold by the hour or day rather than freely included in the all-inclusive rate — this is a Cuba-wide norm rather than a resort-specific policy. Connectivity is adequate for messaging and light browsing when purchased, but streaming and video calls are unreliable. Families traveling with teenagers who are used to constant connectivity should prepare them for a significantly different experience.

What's nearby

Varadero Beach
20 min drive · 8.9 mi
Matanzas
35 min drive · 21 mi
Cárdenas
25 min drive · 11 mi
Mansión Xanadú
15 min drive · 7.5 mi
Cueva de Saturno
20 min drive · 10 mi
Cueva de Ambrosio
25 min drive · 12 mi

More things to do (24)

Catamaran trip to Cayo Blanco · excursion20 min drive · 10 mi
Varadero West Beach · beach10 min walk · 0.5 mi
Marina Dársena de Varadero · marina4 min drive · 1.1 mi
Varadero Skydiving Centre · adventure park6 min drive · 1.6 mi
Museo de Varadero · museum11 min drive · 4.8 mi
Parque Josone · nature11 min drive · 4.7 mi
Playa Coral · beach20 min drive · 10 mi
Marina Chapelín · marina20 min drive · 10 mi
Varadero Golf Club · golf20 min drive · 7.9 mi
Varahicacos Ecological Reserve · nature20 min drive · 12 mi
Museo Oscar María de Rojas, Cárdenas · museum25 min drive · 11 mi
Museo Batalla de Ideas, Cárdenas · museum25 min drive · 11 mi
Museo Memorial El Morrillo · historic site25 min drive · 16 mi
Marina Gaviota Varadero · marina25 min drive · 14 mi
Museo Central Azucarero José Smith Comas · museum30 min drive · 18 mi
Teatro Sauto · historic site35 min drive · 20 mi
Museo Farmacéutico, Matanzas · museum35 min drive · 21 mi
Cuevas de Bellamar · nature35 min drive · 19 mi
Ermita de Monserrate · viewpoint40 min drive · 22 mi
Yumurí Valley viewpoint · viewpoint40 min drive · 22 mi
Castillo de San Severino (Slave Route Museum) · historic site40 min drive · 22 mi
Yumurí Valley viewpoint · viewpoint45 min drive · 25 mi
Bacunayagua Bridge viewpoint · viewpoint50 min drive · 33 mi
Base Náutica de Puerto Escondido · marina60 min drive · 36 mi

Amenities

Kids Club

Nightly Entertainment

Beach

Seaweed & sargassum

Varadero gets sargassum, typically worst May through August, in heavy bloom years.See the month-by-month guide →

Every all-inclusive in Varadero →

Google Reviews★ 3.6 · 411 reviews

Santiago

4 weeks ago

“Excellent New Year's Experience Our stay for New Year's was wonderful.The service was exceptional, with friendly and attentive staff. The cleanliness throughout the resort was impeccable and constant. The activities organized for the celebration were...”

Gabriel S.

a month ago

“Fantastic resort!! Very nice staff, rooms, i just loved the food, entertainment, im not gonna say it has the best section of Varadero Beach but it is good as well, the water is cristal clear... i love sports so enjoyed working out at the nice GYM the...”

Lauren S.

3 months ago

“I recently got back from a 7-day stay. We had a great stay at the resort overall! The food was ok, just very repetitive, however we liked the à la carte restaurants. One thing to note is that you’re only allowed to order one appetizer, entrée, and de...”