Off to Cuba...

[ACMCC]

I'm planning on going to Cuba at the end of January for a couple of weeks, was thinking of a week in Havana and a week outside on a sunny beach at the moment I'm struggling to find good hotels as most of the top ones are already fully booked, does anyone have any that they could recommend! perhaps in that location halfway between Varadero and Havana, I know I read a post on that a while back but can't find it!

In Havana the nh parc central is full, What else would BOTL reccomend?

Any help is much appreciated

[nicwing]

PM sent

[ACMCC]

Thanks Nic, some recommendations on the beach front would be good also...

Cheers

[PoohBore]

Breezes at Jibacoa is half way between the 2. Nothing around it but very popular with our Canadian friends. Has a small cigar shop and it did have a roller in most days.

[Seriesteve]

In Havana

http://www.hotelcondedevillanueva.com/

This is a great place to stay a fine Hotel when we were there, it has it's own Casa to smoke and drink, and enjoy, right in the Heart of Old Havana
Ss

P.S.
Just dont tell the horses, I recomended it

[bigbarneyhotdog]

watch out Steve, it's behind you!

[bambini]

I'm planning on going to Cuba at the end of January for a couple of weeks, was thinking of a week in Havana and a week outside on a sunny beach at the moment I'm struggling to find good hotels as most of the top ones are already fully booked, does anyone have any that they could recommend! perhaps in that location halfway between Varadero and Havana, I know I read a post on that a while back but can't find it!

In Havana the nh parc central is full, What else would BOTL reccomend?

Any help is much appreciated

I guess it all depends on your circumstances. If it's just you going to Havana then I'd recommend a night at any old hotel to get your bearings, and then spending the rest of the week in a casa particulare. Not so good if you've got a family in tow though - casas particulares are cheap and give you a real flavour of life in Havana, but they're people's houses, and as you might expect given the GDP in Cuba, they ain't always pretty. If you want to know more, you're very welcome to PM me

Incidentally, there are great tourist coach links between Havana and Varadero, and it's only a couple of hours by coach for about ?15-20 each. These can be easily booked by popping into any tourist information (there's one on Obispo, in Habana Vieja, for example), and they will pick you up from a designated spot and trundle you off to Varadero. Much less intimidating than the thought of facing the Cuban bus/queuing system! Again, PM me if you are interested.

The bus links mean that you could always use Varadero as a base and then pop to and from Havana with relative ease.

I stayed at the Palma Real in Varadero, but I wouldn't particularly recommend it - it says 4* but it's nearer 3. Still, it's functional, all-inclusive and has a nice strip of beach allocated to it. Oh, and it's 10m from a cigar shop

[ACMCC]

Thanks pooh, that was the area I was thinking, shall have a look.

Thanks for the help guys.


Unfortunately Bambini I can't go that route this time as I have the misses, so it has to be at the top end or I'll have an ear ache,

I'd love to do a home stay, but I think for my first couple of trips I'll take the good hotel route. My first and second choice in Havana are full so I think I'll do the National, still thinking about the beach half.

Spotted a new 5* just opening the week before further south than Varadero, looks great, but I'm wondering about the building works being finished, It isn?t cheap either at ?250 a night! can't believe the price's I'm getting back for some, availability is thin though.


Top music, food and cocktail recommendations in Havana are also welcome

[Seriesteve]

Melia Cohiba ...Very nice,

[ACMCC]

Cheers Steve, shall have a good look at your two suggestions this evening

[PoohBore]

Melia Havana has a great cigar shop. taxis cost about 90cuc for the day

[snooky]

Earlier this year i stopped at the Nacional which i loved and then at the Blau on Varadero all inc nice rooms fairly new hotel superb beach, im sure your missus would approve.

[ACMCC]

Thanks snooky, I think I will end up at the National, waiting for a few emails to be returned before I decide, still looking at the beach side, will look at the Blau, cheers.