XXIII FESTIVAL DEL HABANO Starting 20th Feb - 28th Feb 2021

[simwells]

Personally I wouldn’t avoid casa’s and have found them far more helpful than hotels ever are, though I wouldn’t book one far out of one of the major areas. But it does really help to have at least basic Spanish.

From my last visit I don’t think I’d choose to stay at a hotel in Cuba again (and definitely not the Nacional).

But you definitely do need to work on the assumption that it won’t be easy to find food or drink just from a shop. Every casa I’ve stayed in has had a stocked fridge that they charge for on leaving though for drinks and sometimes snacks.

I just like exploring anywhere and rarely see a need for taxis within Havana, so this may say more about how I like to holiday than anything else


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[Simon Bolivar]

Great info, much appreciate it, hoping we'll get to use it - one day soon.

[Give the man a cigar]

Best of luck with your plans. Let me know if you have any other questions. I have a trip booked in November, but that very much depends on vaccines and the state of international travel etc. I do plan on going next February too.

I said earlier that I would recommend a hotel for a first trip. It's more expensive but easier for a first time. A hotel will always have food, drink and help available, plus taxis outside to get anywhere you need to go. Also, all taxi drivers will know the way back to your hotel from wherever you end up at night. Cuban addresses can be confusing and can be hard to communicate to a driver.
I don't recommend hiring a car in Cuba.

If you want to go cheaper, there are good bed and breakfast style places with a live-in landlord/lady. These are fine and the owners are generally very helpful with recommendations, transport, directions etc. They will do breakfast for you and can usually do other meals if you want that.

Then there are apartments you can rent. That's what I do now but I've been to Cuba 20 times and know the lay of the land now. I have a Cuban phone, plenty of contacts for drivers, enough Spanish to get by and I know my way around.
An apartment can be a very lonely place once the taxi driver drops you from the airport. Streets can be very dark at night, you probably won't find a shop or restaurant by walking out on the street. And nobody to help you if you need anything. Any of the neighbours would be very willing to help, Cubans generally are very nice, friendly people, but they probably won't have any English. You could walk for blocks and blocks without seeing a taxi, depending on where you end up staying.

It's not like other countries where you can walk out and find a shop that has bottled water, bread and and some kind of sandwich filling on just about any street corner. Those places do exist in Havana but few and not easy to find.

Great advice Ryan and I shall follow your advice by booking a hotel for my trip. Fortunately I can speak Spanish so that could prove advantageous.

[Stevieboy]

Great info Andy especially the copy of that email you sent to your friend!
In all seriousness, have you ever thought of producing you own guide to Havana?

[Ryan]

Great info Andy especially the copy of that email you sent to your friend!
In all seriousness, have you ever thought of producing you own guide to Havana?

I hadn't really. Maybe not a bad idea, if I had the time. The thing is, as I said, bars, restaurants, nightclubs, venues, change all the time. Nearly every time I go, there's a new "in place" to go to, while last year's "in place" has closed or is now empty. Thank you for the compliment though!

[ha_banos]

I hadn't really. Maybe not a bad idea, if I had the time. The thing is, as I said, bars, restaurants, nightclubs, venues, change all the time. Nearly every time I go, there's a new "in place" to go to, while last year's "in place" has closed or is now empty. Thank you for the compliment though!

This is 2021! A guide can be online, up to date, and make some monies!

[jerryr]

Wow, some travelogue and guide to Havana. I’ve been twice although last time was 6 years ago. Both trips were great, but with these tips it would have been even better.


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[Vitola]

Just reading the travel guide - makes me want to go to Cuba even more now - an excellent ToR for all budding officianados - nice one Andy

[Monty Cristo]

I can add my two penneth here, and tell you Andy knows his stuff Some wonderful memories just reading his list. Andy, good to see you're alive and well, Sir!

[Ryan]

I can add my two penneth here, and tell you Andy knows his stuff Some wonderful memories just reading his list. Andy, good to see you're alive and well, Sir!

Very kind of you Nick. We had some fun there alright!
Busy these days.
It reminds me, I sometimes stay with the Foxes at houses I usually find for them.
If enough people are going at the same time, a house can be the way to go. More expensive than a B&B usually but can be very comfortable with great staff. You can get the best of both worlds, hotel-style staff and service but the privacy of a rental and cheaper prices than a hotel.
Prices go from USD $200 - $500 per night for a three bed/three bath.
Up to $1,200 per night for a 6/7 bed place. Price depends on quality and location of the place.

At the higher end places, you will get private pool, sometimes wifi, a housekeeper. Better food, bedding and bathrooms than most hotels, certainly better breakfasts. They can organise transport for you too. USD $500 for three rooms for 3 individuals/couples is a better deal than any hotel in Cuba.

There are cheaper hotels in Cuba, starting at $50 per night. But don't stay there. That'll get you exposed concrete walls, insects sharing your room and showers that go from not-working to life-threatening with very little in between.

Here is a site I've used for houses in Cuba. Good service and they get higher quality houses. There is a much better selection on AirBnB but Havaning has better quality.

https://www.havaning.com/villas-y-chales-en-la-habana/

[Give the man a cigar]

Very kind of you Nick. We had some fun there alright!
Busy these days.
It reminds me, I sometimes stay with the Foxes at houses I usually find for them.
If enough people are going at the same time, a house can be the way to go. More expensive than a B&B usually but can be very comfortable with great staff. You can get the best of both worlds, hotel-style staff and service but the privacy of a rental and cheaper prices than a hotel.
Prices go from USD $200 - $500 per night for a three bed/three bath.
Up to $1,200 per night for a 6/7 bed place. Price depends on quality and location of the place.

At the higher end places, you will get private pool, sometimes wifi, a housekeeper. Better food, bedding and bathrooms than most hotels, certainly better breakfasts. They can organise transport for you too. USD $500 for three rooms for 3 individuals/couples is a better deal than any hotel in Cuba.

There are cheaper hotels in Cuba, starting at $50 per night. But don't stay there. That'll get you exposed concrete walls, insects sharing your room and showers that go from not-working to life-threatening with very little in between.

Here is a site I've used for houses in Cuba. Good service and they get higher quality houses. There is a much better selection on AirBnB but Havaning has better quality.

https://www.havaning.com/villas-y-chales-en-la-habana/

Great link Andy, loads to explore on this site. Thank you again for your time and sharing.

[Monty Cristo]

Very kind of you Nick. We had some fun there alright!
Busy these days.
It reminds me, I sometimes stay with the Foxes at houses I usually find for them.
If enough people are going at the same time, a house can be the way to go. More expensive than a B&B usually but can be very comfortable with great staff. You can get the best of both worlds, hotel-style staff and service but the privacy of a rental and cheaper prices than a hotel.
Prices go from USD $200 - $500 per night for a three bed/three bath.
Up to $1,200 per night for a 6/7 bed place. Price depends on quality and location of the place.

At the higher end places, you will get private pool, sometimes wifi, a housekeeper. Better food, bedding and bathrooms than most hotels, certainly better breakfasts. They can organise transport for you too. USD $500 for three rooms for 3 individuals/couples is a better deal than any hotel in Cuba.

There are cheaper hotels in Cuba, starting at $50 per night. But don't stay there. That'll get you exposed concrete walls, insects sharing your room and showers that go from not-working to life-threatening with very little in between.

Here is a site I've used for houses in Cuba. Good service and they get higher quality houses. There is a much better selection on AirBnB but Havaning has better quality.

https://www.havaning.com/villas-y-chales-en-la-habana/

Good to hear from you and great advice as always. Do me a favour and drop me a mail or text when you get a mo, Andy, if you still have my number (you can get my mail through the website, www.nick-hammond.com) It would be sensible to keep in touch for a myriad of reasons! Thanks.

[Ryan]

Good to hear from you and great advice as always. Do me a favour and drop me a mail or text when you get a mo, Andy, if you still have my number (you can get my mail through the website, www.nick-hammond.com) It would be sensible to keep in touch for a myriad of reasons! Thanks.

That's done Nick, you have my email and number now.