Where to stay in Cuba? If Novela Cuba strongly recommends the casas particulares for a real slice of local life, some travelers will want to live the Cuban hotel experience. We help you make the right choice.
Exploring Cuba means discovering tropical forests, beaches with crystal clear waters, steep canyons; strolling through bustling colonial cities or villages languishing under coconut trees, etc. All this mosaic of sensations, colors, and atmospheres is savored thanks to stops in hotels chosen by our care. Each stop becomes a key stage and will give the tone of your trip. Here are our instructions.
Hotels in Cuba
The hotel industry in Cuba is different from that of other tourist destinations in the world or in Latin America, as there are no so-called independent hotels. In fact, 100% of the hotels in Cuba belong to Cuban hotel chains, which are either state-owned or state-run, like Horizontes and Gaviota.
However, there are also several so-called “mixed” chains. By mixed, we mean that they belong to Cuban groups but are operated under Cuban and foreign co-management. Iberostar and Melia are two examples.
Categories
All-inclusive hotels in Cuba
The majority of beach hotels offer an all-inclusive formula. This is an all-inclusive package that includes accommodation, meals (often full board) and some activities. This is the case of the hotels that you will find on the coast in Varadero, Cayo Santa Maria, Cayo Coco. They are mostly big resorts, therefore they have large capacities.
The small structures
Smaller hotels with a more intimate or personalized approach, with a medium or low capacity, are few and very rare. Some establishments in this category can be found in Cayo Levisa, Cayo Saetia, Villa Las Brujas, Villa Maguana.
Luxury hotels
In Cuba, a luxury hotel is a hotel with historical architecture or a patrimonial character. These hotels often carry a certain prestige. They are home to legends, and stories, and preserve within their walls the nostalgia of a bygone era.
They may be centrally located (in the city) or on the coast, with a view of the sea, but the service is not of a luxurious nature as one would expect from a palace in Europe. One would choose this type of accommodation precisely to taste this faded or even decaying side.
Among these hotels we find:
- Kempinski Hotels in Havana and Cayo Guillermo
- Hotel Prado y Malecon
- Hotel Iberostar Grand Packard
- Melia Royal Service
