Hotels

Cuban tourist hotels are managed by a variety of enterprises. Visitors can determine the standard of the hotel from the name of the enterprise that handles it. For instance, hotels managed by Islazul and Horizontes are most likely to be two-star or three-star, whereas those run by Gran Caribe are often four-star. There are many hotels run by foreign companies also, such as Tuxpán and Meliá (both from Spain).

Campsites are operated by Campismo Popular in every region, and may charge as little as US $ 0.23 per person per night.

The high-end hotels are located in Havana, Trinidad and Cayo Coco and at Varadero Beach. If you plan your trip to Cuba as a part of a package holiday, it is better to select and book a hotel in advance.

A. Recommended Hotels

Meila Cohiba Hotel Hanava Cuba

Address

Ave. Paseo E/ 1Ra y 3Era Vedado La Habana Cuba

This hotel is situated in central Havana, near the Malecón. It is 6 kms from the heart of Old Havana, 2 kms from the Plaza de la Revolución, 15 kms from Expocuba and 16 kms from José Martí international airport. This hotel has 342 double rooms, 61 Suites, 39 Junior Suites and 20 Senior Suites with a Jacuzzi. There is an ‘El Cedrano' buffet restaurant that is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner where they serve international specialties. ‘El Abanico' a gourmet restaurant, specializes in rice dishes and Spanish cuisine. They also host a number of theme nights and play live music. This hotel also has a restaurant with a baseball theme called "La Piazza".

Arenas Doradas

Address

Autopista Varadero km12, Varadero, Matanzas

(53 45) 66-8150

This hotel is a 25-minute drive down the peninsula from Varadero's international airport and only 10 minutes from the town centre. This is a beautiful beachfront resort backed by the ‘Marina Chapelin'. This hotel is believed to be one of the best in Cuba and is perfectly positioned amidst colorful gardens, which open out onto the beach known as ‘Playa Los Tainos'.

The rates range from US $125 to US $ 200.

Parque Central

Address

Street Neptune and Prado and Zulueta,

Old Habana,

Cuba.

Tel: 537 8606627 Fax:. 537 8606630

Email: reservations@nh-hoteles.cu

This 5-star hotel is situated in the very heart of Old Colonial Havana. Most of the major tourist attractions are close by such as the beautiful Gran Teatro de la Habana, The Capitol and The National Museum of Fine Arts. This hotel has 277 rooms and suites offering that offer a view of Parque Central, the Prado Avenue and the overwhelming rococo and baroque buildings that surround it. It has 12 junior suites, 6 master suites and 1 presidential suite.

The rates for the rooms vary from U S $201 to US $ 324.

Tryp Peninsula Hotel Varadero Cuba

Address

Punta Hicacos,

Varadero,

Matanzas

This hotel is about 14km away from central Varadero, about 45 km from the International Airport and the capital Havana is about 145 km from this hotel. This hotel has a total of 591 rooms and an architectural design that blends with the surrounding atmosphere. It also has a restaurant called ‘Palma Real' that serves international as well as local cuisine. There are three more restaurants that specialize in Italian and Cuban cuisine. These are Pazma Real serving buffet cuisine, Tocororo serving international cuisine and La Gondola serving Italian cuisine.

A standard room costs around US $ 96.

Hotel Nacional de Cuba Hotel

Address

Calle 21 y O, Vedado, Plaza,

Ciudad de la Habana,

Cuba

The Nacional de Cuba Hotel, a traditional establishment, has a unique setting from where you can enjoy a beautiful view of the Bay of Havana, the Malecón (Seaside Promenade) and El Vedado region. The hotel, which is at a distance of 20 kilometers from Havana's international airport, ranks amongst the world's ten Palace Hotels and was the only five-star hotel in the Caribbean area from the 1930s to the 1950s. The rates for a single room vary from US $ 5.40 to US $ 6.75. The royal suite costs around US $ 27 and the presidential suite around US $ 45.

VII. Nightlife

Havana is a city that does not sleep at night and people can enjoy a lot at the Varadero beaches and in the tourist resorts. Salsa is one of the most well known Cuban dance forms and you can take tutorials in Cuba itself. You can take classes from a Cuban dance teacher or simply go to one of the many clubs such as Tropicana and the Varadero Mambo and learn it there on the spot.

The theatre, opera and ballet in Havana are also very active in Cuba. Free concerts are occasionally held in the local city or town's 'Plaza de la Revolution'. A majority of the cities have a 'Casa de la Trova' or 'Casa de la Musica' where live concerts may be enjoyed.

Looking for some original drink? You can visit many great bars around Havana that feature some of Cuba's typical cocktails and famous rum.

Live jazz music and salsa is played at the Hotel Riviera midnight onwards. It is closed on Wednesdays. You can visit discos in the main town square. Almost all tourist hotel areas have great bars and restaurants. You can look forward to interesting nightlife at the resort hotels, ranging from live bands, dance shows and fashion shows to cabaret shows.

You will find groups of musicians performing at all possible venues right from airports to restaurants. You are most likely to come across a street party with a live band in the streets of Havana.

A. Favorite Spots

Tropicana

Address:

72 street No. 4504 and 43 street,

Marianao.

Phones: 20-5144, 20-4215.

The Tropicana Cabaret is one of Cuba's most renowned cabarets. Tropicana opened in 1931 and it is known as the "Paradise under the Stars". It is surrounded by lush vegetation and you can enjoy a splendid performance featuring over 200 singers, dancers, musicians and vocalists. The cost of a show includes a cocktail and will cost you around US $ 65. A show, cocktail and preferential table costs US $ 75. A show along with a cocktail, preferential table and picture costs US $ 85. Dinner costs 10 US $.

Bar Chico O' Farrill

Address

Cuba #102-108 esquina a Chacón.

La Habana Vieja

Tel: (7) 8605080

This bar, opened in November 2002 and is situated on the premises of Hotel O' Farrill. This bar honors one of the most significant figures of Latin Jazz, Arturo "Chico" O´Farrill. You can listen to music while enjoying a tasty Rhum Collins. An enormous photo gallery is a part of the decoration and the neighboring inner yard offers a refreshing ambience.

Chang Disco

Address

Calle San Nicolás #517,

entre Dragones y Zanja,

Centro Habana

This is a privately owned club is located in the center of Barrio Chino (Chinatown). Chang disco is well liked by local Cubans as well as tourists. A lot of clubbers start here and then move towards the Los Tres Chinitos, which is in close proximity to Chang's Disco and stays open until dawn. This place is open from 10:30pm to 3am, Friday to Sunday.

Centro Pablo de la Torriente Brau

Address

Calle Muralla Nº 63 entre Oficios e Inquisidor.

La Habana Vieja.

Tel: (7) 666585

This place is home to a number of cultural activities and musical events, including concertos such as "A guitarra limpia" (only guitar and voice concerts), dedicated to "Novísima Trova". Several renowned artists have performed here such as Santiago Feliú, Heidi Igualada, Frank Delgado, Gerardo Alfonso, Rita del Prado and Pedro Luis Ferrer.

Casa de la Música

Address

Avenida 35 esq. a 20, Miramar, Playa.

Phone: 8624165

This is a nightclub for dance lovers who can enjoy doing the salsa and timba. The best time to visit this nightclub is Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. There is another place on the 2nd Floor, called Diablo Tun Tun.

La Zorra y El Cuervo

Address

Calle 23, entre N y O,

Next to Cafeteria Sophia.

This small downstairs nightclub has great jazz music each night of the week. Regular entry rates are $10. However, the rates are likely to be high and may go up to $20 when there is a live music playing or famous musician such as Chucho Valdes performing.

Hotel Casa Grande

Address

Lacret Y Heredia, Santiago De Cuba

Phone: +53 (0) 226 893 639

An excellent place to listen to great Cuban songs, or jazz in the outdoor veranda at the Hotel Casa Grande located opposite Parque Cespedes in Santiago de Cuba.