Almost every visitor to Cuba
stays in Havana. At least the
Cuban tourism board thinks so – the frequency of
hotels in Havana Cuba as compared to many other destinations
in the country is extremely incongruous. That's not to
say there aren't plenty of places to stay elsewhere –
but if you want to stay in comfort and style, Cuban hotels
rarely approach the heights found in the capital city.
For those searching for a bargain, there are plenty
of those, too. The Hotel Lido is one of the cheapest hotels
in Havana Cuba, and while it may not be located in
the greatest of neighborhoods, the actual hotel is well
above average, as are the helpful staff members and talented
chefs. For those who want to really mix with the locals
the Hotel Lincoln is nearby all the major sights of the
city and the guests are almost invariably Cubans, each
who will make you feel as welcome as humanly possible.
The Hotel Caribbean is a nice combination of value and
comfort, as is the Hotel St. John's, located in the city's
bustling Vedado district. One
reason this is one of the most popular hotels in Havana
Cuba is the nightclub found on the 14th floor
- Pico Blanco - visited on a regular basis by both locals
and enthusiastic tourists.
In the center of the downtown area, the Hotel Sevilla, a colonial hotel erected in 1908 that provides some of the best views of the city. The Hotel Nacional has all the excitement and atmosphere of the 1950s, even if the rooms themselves are nothing special. But they would good enough to house a laundry list of icons from the 20th century, such as Winston Churchill and Frank Sinatra. Even if this is yet another of the many hotels in Cuba trading on the glories of the past, it is still a fixture and should be considered for those who can afford it.
The city of Trinidad is another of the country's tourist centers, as it is the foremost beach area on the island's Caribbean side. Since competition for the tourist dollar is fierce most anywhere outside of Havana, the prices here are amazingly cheap, and the accommodations nice. There's not a lot of Cuban hotels here; almost all the places to stay are private rooms. But the Motel La Ronda is still one of the more pleasant hotels in Cuba.
Varadero is probably the most visited area of the country,
miles east of Havana. Particularly popular with visiting
Europeans, here you will find Cuba resorts clustered along
the white sands of the Straits of Florida. Known as the
Blue Beach, due to the translucent and shimmering water
along its shores, Varadero
also has many fine Cuban hotels to go along with the resorts.
The Villas Punta Blanca is a bargain for most travelers,
and are marketed as “pre-revolutionary holiday homes.”
The nearby Hotel Pullman, though, is one of the best cheap
hotels in Cuba, and you should check it out if there is
room. Inviting rooms mark this Spanish pension-styled
hotel, which is relatively unknown to most tourists. And
the beach is right outside your door, waiting as always.
