Best hotels/resorts in Havana and Cuba?
Jan 19, 2005, 9:01 am
#4
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: NYC
Programs: AA PLat
Posts: 212
hotels
you will find negatives in socialism , when it comes to hotels and restaurants
4, 5 * are really 2/3 * with the formers prices
havana Nacionale , has history and feeling , and decent grounds but as of 02 spring , nothing was really worth price . so I hope you have reasonable expectations , and dont be afraid to get casa particular and see real cuba
Verdero beach has many all inclusive resorts , but food was major dissapointment
exploring small towns like Trinidad was where I was most satisfied with food and lodging , ask wheres good and go .
cuba is a must see , but quality for travelers is lacking
I mostly stayed in Casa Particulars where you could have visitors along with a good meals , its usually an mother in law type apt attached to house where owner feeds you , you wont find them listed in guidebooks , but found by word of mouth .
4, 5 * are really 2/3 * with the formers prices
havana Nacionale , has history and feeling , and decent grounds but as of 02 spring , nothing was really worth price . so I hope you have reasonable expectations , and dont be afraid to get casa particular and see real cuba
Verdero beach has many all inclusive resorts , but food was major dissapointment
exploring small towns like Trinidad was where I was most satisfied with food and lodging , ask wheres good and go .
cuba is a must see , but quality for travelers is lacking
I mostly stayed in Casa Particulars where you could have visitors along with a good meals , its usually an mother in law type apt attached to house where owner feeds you , you wont find them listed in guidebooks , but found by word of mouth .
Last edited by maspablo; Jan 19, 2005 at 9:10 am Reason: left info
Jan 22, 2005, 5:39 am
#5
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Paris
Programs: HH Diamond, FB Plat
Posts: 309
I only know Havana, where I stayed two places:
i) the Hotel Inglaterra : excellent location in old town, delightful at about $90/nt
ii) a Casa Particular : as Maspablo said, found by word of mouth, a fraction of the hotel price, mine was incredibly charming.
i) the Hotel Inglaterra : excellent location in old town, delightful at about $90/nt
ii) a Casa Particular : as Maspablo said, found by word of mouth, a fraction of the hotel price, mine was incredibly charming.
Feb 3, 2005, 5:24 am
#7
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Ireland
Programs: AA PLT 2MM, IHG Plat
Posts: 3,566
Here's my take on hotels in Havana (info is from 1999-2000 so may be a bit dated)
Midtown
Hotel Melia Cohiba : The most expensive hotel and only worth it if you can get a flight/hotel package. Otherwise expect to pay $150-200 per night.
Hotel Riviera : Cheaper but more than adequate hotel across from Cohiba. Official rate is US$140 per night but should be much cheaper in a package.
Downtown :
Hotel Santa Clara : Small, but smart hotel in a good location on Market Square downtown. I've never stayed in it but I think its $100+ per night. Given its small size I don't know about its availability or ease of booking.
Hotel Libre : Large rooms In between Cohiba and Riviera in quality but should be as cheap as the Riviera. Busy around it at night as there is a nightclub on the top floor. Probably your best option.
Avoid Hotel Inglaterra, Hotel Capri, Hotel Nacional as these were once top hotels i.e 1950s are now run-down but still command premium rates. They may have been renovated since I was there. Also, Hotel Marina Hemingway is nice but too far out of town.
I'd go for the Libre for convenience or Santa Clara for intimacy if staying a hotel. However I think as Maspablo said Casa Particulars offer much better value for money. Finding a good one is hit and miss but I can recommend ones I stayed in Havana and Cienfuegos.
Around Cuba
It took me about 8 days to go Havana-Pinar del Rio-Cienfuegos-Trinidad-Bay of Pigs-Havana. I already had been to Havana many times so only spent a couple of days there on my last trip. In general signposting is appalling so expect to get lost.
Trinidad is a worth a day visit and is an easy drive from Cienfuegos. I would stay in Cienfuegos which is a pleasant city rather than Trinidad where I got the impression many people were on the make from the tourists.
Midtown
Hotel Melia Cohiba : The most expensive hotel and only worth it if you can get a flight/hotel package. Otherwise expect to pay $150-200 per night.
Hotel Riviera : Cheaper but more than adequate hotel across from Cohiba. Official rate is US$140 per night but should be much cheaper in a package.
Downtown :
Hotel Santa Clara : Small, but smart hotel in a good location on Market Square downtown. I've never stayed in it but I think its $100+ per night. Given its small size I don't know about its availability or ease of booking.
Hotel Libre : Large rooms In between Cohiba and Riviera in quality but should be as cheap as the Riviera. Busy around it at night as there is a nightclub on the top floor. Probably your best option.
Avoid Hotel Inglaterra, Hotel Capri, Hotel Nacional as these were once top hotels i.e 1950s are now run-down but still command premium rates. They may have been renovated since I was there. Also, Hotel Marina Hemingway is nice but too far out of town.
I'd go for the Libre for convenience or Santa Clara for intimacy if staying a hotel. However I think as Maspablo said Casa Particulars offer much better value for money. Finding a good one is hit and miss but I can recommend ones I stayed in Havana and Cienfuegos.
Around Cuba
It took me about 8 days to go Havana-Pinar del Rio-Cienfuegos-Trinidad-Bay of Pigs-Havana. I already had been to Havana many times so only spent a couple of days there on my last trip. In general signposting is appalling so expect to get lost.
Trinidad is a worth a day visit and is an easy drive from Cienfuegos. I would stay in Cienfuegos which is a pleasant city rather than Trinidad where I got the impression many people were on the make from the tourists.
Sep 19, 2005, 12:03 pm
#8
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Up North
Programs: Platinum Amex, BAEC Blue, BA PP Amex, Club SLH, Avis Wizard
Posts: 325
I have only stayed in two hotels in Havana
Hotel Ambos Mundos :-: :-: :-: This hotel looks good when you arrive as it has a nice spacious entrance lobby with a pleasant bar. I am afraid it goes downhill from there though. The bathroom had a cracked sink and a bathtub where the enamel was coming off.
The room was clean, but the worst item of all was the AC. It did absolutely nothing to cool the room on any setting. There is also quite a lot of traffic which makes it noisy in the mornings.
Food is served on the roof and though I didn't eat dinner at the hotel the breakfast was not so good. They had fresh fruit, yoghurt, and cooked eggs fresh.
So all in all a
for the Ambos Mundos
Hotel Florida :-: :-: :-: Though the same star rating as Ambos Mundos it is a world apart. The hotel was a wealthy Cubans home and was converted in '99 to a hotel. It has a nicely decorated restaurant and the rooms are a good size with working AC! Very close to the Ambos Mundos so can be noisy depending on the rooms.
The best rooms are the ones they added recently on the top floor as they are in better condition with better AC too.
I also stopped to look in
Hotel San Miguel :-: :-: :-: :-: I looked in a room and i have to say that it was massive and cold too. The lounge downstairs was nice and the terrace up top is lovely with a great view of the Castle Morra over the inlet. A good location to get places from and definetly somewhere i would like to try, maybe this Winter when i take my wife for her first trip.
Hotel Santa Isabel :-: :-: :-: :-: :-: I didn't get to look in a room as it was full but this is supposed to be the best hotel. As with many others it has a roof terrace and some of the rooms get their own terraces overlooking a fantastic treed square. teh communal space is well kept and quiet. The only problem is the price. Whenever i look it is well over £100.
So there you go. If you've lots of $$$ go for the Santa Isabel, If not either the San Miguel or Florida. if anyone else has any reviews please post here as I would be interested to read them.
Hotel Ambos Mundos :-: :-: :-: This hotel looks good when you arrive as it has a nice spacious entrance lobby with a pleasant bar. I am afraid it goes downhill from there though. The bathroom had a cracked sink and a bathtub where the enamel was coming off.
The room was clean, but the worst item of all was the AC. It did absolutely nothing to cool the room on any setting. There is also quite a lot of traffic which makes it noisy in the mornings.
Food is served on the roof and though I didn't eat dinner at the hotel the breakfast was not so good. They had fresh fruit, yoghurt, and cooked eggs fresh.
So all in all a
for the Ambos MundosHotel Florida :-: :-: :-: Though the same star rating as Ambos Mundos it is a world apart. The hotel was a wealthy Cubans home and was converted in '99 to a hotel. It has a nicely decorated restaurant and the rooms are a good size with working AC! Very close to the Ambos Mundos so can be noisy depending on the rooms.
The best rooms are the ones they added recently on the top floor as they are in better condition with better AC too.
I also stopped to look in
Hotel San Miguel :-: :-: :-: :-: I looked in a room and i have to say that it was massive and cold too. The lounge downstairs was nice and the terrace up top is lovely with a great view of the Castle Morra over the inlet. A good location to get places from and definetly somewhere i would like to try, maybe this Winter when i take my wife for her first trip.
Hotel Santa Isabel :-: :-: :-: :-: :-: I didn't get to look in a room as it was full but this is supposed to be the best hotel. As with many others it has a roof terrace and some of the rooms get their own terraces overlooking a fantastic treed square. teh communal space is well kept and quiet. The only problem is the price. Whenever i look it is well over £100.
So there you go. If you've lots of $$$ go for the Santa Isabel, If not either the San Miguel or Florida. if anyone else has any reviews please post here as I would be interested to read them.