My brother flies into Cuba all the time. He said Varadero is very nice, beautiful beaches, top notch resorts. It is full of Canadians and Europeans and they love that Americans are not there. He said there is a lot of money being poured into there, mostly from Europe.
Except you can’t buy a beer or any kind of food on the beach - no vending, no private enterprise. The $ has all been poured in - more than 20 years ago Spain bought up most of that property. Ask your brother hoe he likes being at the bars and hotels on the beach that Cuban citizens can’t ho into.