Havana is blessed with accommodations of every stripe. Although budget options are fairly priced, most Havana hotels cost two or three times what they are worth. Some are outrageously overpriced! Even the most upscale hotels suffer from indifferent staffing, unresponsive management, and lousy food. Scams by staff are endemic. And many of the priciest hotels scream for total refurbishment. For these reasons we strongly recommend casas particulares, found throughout the city, with the broadest selection in Vedado.

Which District?

Location is important in choosing your hotel.

Habana Vieja puts you in the heart of the old city, within walking distance of Havana’s main touristic sights. Many colonial-era mansions administered by Habaguanex have recently opened after splendid makeovers. Especially noteworthy are exquisite colonial palaces-turned-hotels.

Centro Habana, although offering few sites of interest, has three budget-oriented hotels that lie close to the Prado and Habana Vieja; Cuba’s state tour agencies push the Hotel Deauville, used by many budget package-tour companies, but this gloomy cement tower is terrible and everyone who stays here has a complaint. This predominantly run-down residential district also has a large number of reasonably priced casas particulares, but safety on the ill-lit, rubble-strewn streets is a concern.

Vedado offer mid-20th-century accommodations well situated for sightseeing and including several first-class, albeit overpriced, modernist hotels with modest decor. Vedado also has some of the best casas particulares.

Playa has a number of moderate hotels popular with tour groups, as well as modern deluxe hotels aimed at business travelers. All are far away from the main tourist sights and you’ll need wheels to get around. Otherwise be prepared to spend your money on taxi rides to and fro. One hotel to avoid is the Hotel Neptuno/Triton, dreary siblings that face consistent plumbing and other infrastructural problems.