Melia Internacional

Beachfront bliss in a modern Varadero hotel on one of the Caribbean’s finest stretches of sand. Varadero is famed for its 12-mile silky swathe of sugar-white sands and jewelled waters – one of the best stretches in the Caribbean and a sliver of this is given over to Meliá Internacional’s beach, which wraps enticingly around the resort. A new face on the beach resort scene, this contemporary hotel is sleek and stylish – the monochrome lobby dotted with modernist sculptures; a gallery-white restaurant brought to life by oversized floor plants; whitewashed rooms accented with flashes of teal or purple.  It’s all about laid-back tropical living here: wake to breakfasts of pastries and fresh fruits before taking to the water with a spot of diving or windsurfing. After a refreshing dip in the outdoor pool and an al fresco lunch, flake out on those powdery soft sands before hitting the spa for a massage to replenish sun-drenched skin. Later in the day, nab a seat on one of the low sofas dotted across the lovely outdoor terrace and linger over a glass of wine – the best spot to watch the sun go down in a fiery blaze. The food and drink scene are as varied as it is tempting, with plenty of restaurants taking in everything from Italian and Mexican classics to Cuban and Caribbean flavours. There are also 15 bars including toes-in-the-sand haunts, swim-up counters and lofty spots perfect for sundowner cocktails.