A new hotel run by Barceló, the world-class Spanish chain, and owned by Cuban company Gaviota S.A. will soon be set to please tourists in Cuba's Varadero, the island nation's top sun-and-sand travel destination. The five-star all-inclusive Barceló Marina Palace, whose overall outlay and decoration make guests feel like being in some sort of nautical club or sailing cruise, has been designed to start operating in three different stages in an effort to guarantee the conveniences and privileges this Spanish company always delivers.

Overlooking the sea and hedged by water on the four corners -it's perched on the northernmost tip of the Hicacos Peninsula- the Barceló Marina Palace features a 1.6-mile-long strip of beach that provides each and every room with a piece of sea and sand of its own. It's lying across from the Gaviota Marina, a major nautical spot on the island nation. All of the above and the fact that it's near the Varadero Ecological Park give this new resort additional allures for environmental buffs, nature enthusiasts and lovers of nautical activities.

Based on an out-of-the-way building style that tells Barceló hotels apart, this lodging facility will get cracking with 300 junior suites to begin with. All rooms are exquisitely furnished and decorated in the purest marine style, resembling ancient vessels. However, they're all outfitted with accessories and details only found in top-class hotels. When all stages are finally phased in, the new hotel will have 636 rooms, with 88 deluxe suites in the exclusive area of Cayo Libertad (Liberty Key), a small islet close to the hotel.

Predominantly designed for family travelers, this hotel has what it takes to make both adults and kids enjoy their vacations at full throttle in a paradise-like, intimate ambience that matches the lavish environment and the many conveniences it has to offer. There's no doubt the Barceló Marina Palace is destined to be a one-of-a-kind establishment teeming with great comfort, superb ambience and professional tailor-made services, let alone a staff that will bend over backwards to meet the wildest expectations of the most demanding guests.

SERVICES & CONVENIENCES

- 300 rooms in the first stage. As early as May, the hotel will have 120 additional accommodations, bringing the final tally up to 636 rooms in late 2005. 88 deluxe suites in the exclusive area of Liberty Key, featuring a small private wharf and the services provided by the Gaviota Marina. - An international-cuisine smorgasbord and three a-la-carte restaurants, serving Spanish and Italian food, as well as shellfish. A Cuba-style grill outlet for lunch and snacks. - An assortment of bars deployed around the hotel, including a lobby bar (open 24 hours a day), a poolside bar and another one in the facility's theater. - Children's playground with customized assistance, a baby club and a mini club. - A magnificent 750-seat theater. - A Convention Center seating up to 300 people and partition-ready to be transformed into two halls of 150 seats each. - In the near future, the hotel will sport a lovely swimming pool with a poolside bar, a Jacuzzi-equipped spa and a gym for men and women. - Other services: boutique; hair salon; business center; car, bike and bicycle rental, and lots of the conveniences that Barceló hotels boast around the world.