Hotels in Havana, Cuba
In the 1950s before the Communist revolution, Havana (or La Habana) was one of the vacation hot-spots of the Caribbean, and since Cuba reopened to tourism in the 1990s, it has become a popular destination once again.
Old Havana appears on UNESCO's World Heritage List due to its well-preserved examples of 17th-century Spanish colonial architecture, slowly being restored to their former glory. One of the Caribbean most vibrant cities, Havana retains an old-fashioned mystique and charm.
Over eight and a half miles (14 kilometers) of excellent beaches lie to the east of the Cuban capital, which is symbolized by the Giraldilla. To the south, a green belt contributes to a healthful atmosphere. The city itself is a cultural center with a solid infrastructure of hotels and is prepared to host all kinds of conferences and congresses. Alejo Carpentier, one of Cuba's most famous authors, called it "the city of columns" and focused attention on its streets, which he considered a perennially rich show of life, humanity and contrasts that was bound to entertain any observer.
Havana, by far the leading cultural centre of the island of Cuba, offers a wide variety of features that range from museums, palaces, public squares, avenues, churches, fortresses (including the largest fortified complex in the Americas dating from the 16th through 18th centuries), ballet and from art and musical festivals to exhibitions of technology.
As a tourist, the most convenient way of getting around Havana is by taxi. Some of the taxis are old American Chevys from the 1950's, others are (somewhat) newer Russian Ladas, whilst most tourist taxis are modern Peugeots, Skodas and even Mercedes.
It is illegal for tourists to ride in anything other than the official government taxis. However, its is often easier to wave down one of the old Chevys or Ladas. When riding in an illegal taxi, negotiate the fare ahead of time. The fare in illegal taxis will be no cheaper than the official taxi fare.
Havana is quite safe for a large city. Being a totalitarian police state, the first thing you will notice is that there are police on (almost literally) every corner. Popular tourist places (Habana Vieja, El Malecón etc.) are watched even more closely by policemen, so you don't have to be afraid of being attacked in the daytime. At night, however, there have been muggings in the dark streets of Centro Habana. While Centro Habana is perfectly safe to explore in the daytime and can safely be crossed while going to Habana Vieja or Vedado, its best not to cut through there at night.
Be wary of hustlers (jinteros/as) offering to show you a place to eat or offering a tour of the city as you'll be stuck paying hefty prices to cover their commission. Ask for menus or prices before ordering anything. There can be special 'tourist price menus' that get pulled out after you have consumed food or drink.
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Hotels in Havana, Cuba |
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Meliá Cohiba |
Meliá Cohiba Luxury 5 Star Hotel in Havana, Cuba, Caribbean |
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Type: Hotel
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Meliá Habana |
Meliá Habana, 5 Star Hotel in Central Havana, Cuba, Caribbean |
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Type: Hotel The Meliá Habana hotel is located in the heart of Miramar, the new business centre of Havana. Right next to the Fifth Avenue, 10 minutes from the historic city centre, 15 minutes from the José Martí International Airport and 5 minutes from the Congress and Convention Centre. Read More.... |
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Superclubs Breezes Jibacoa |
All Inclusive 4 Star Adult Only Resort in North Eastern Cuba |
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Type: Hotel
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Tryp Habana Libre |
Tryp Habana Libre, Luxury 5* Hotel situated in Habana, Cuba, Caribbean |
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Type: Hotel The Tryp Habana Libre hotel is located in Havana downtown, right on the famous corner of 23rd and L, where the "La Rampa" district begins. The district is home to the most important ministries and the University of La Habana, and well-known for the animated nightlife. The City Mole is just 500 m away, and the historical city center, declared a world cultural heritage site in 1982, is close by. Read More.... |
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