Which do you prefer: hotels or private homes? This is one of the first questions a travel assistant will ask you when preparing your itinerary to Cuba. What kind of vacation can be called a “vacation” without adequate accommodations where you can spend a few good days away from home? Choosing where to stay can make the difference between a dream vacation and not, so if your destination is Cuba you have come to the right place, because here we will explain everything you need to know to book an accommodation that meets your travel expectations.
Hotels and private homes
Cuba is a growing tourist destination, so there is no shortage of lodging options. In each and every one of the provinces of the country (including in the special municipality of Isla de la Juventud), different options of hotels and private houses are available that you can book either upon arrival or in advance of your trip, although the second option is almost always more advisable due to availability and price. Directly at the hotel the prices are usually higher and even more if the date of accommodation is very close.
However, depending on your plans and, obviously, your budget, you will be able to choose between two main options: a) hotels or b) private homes. Here are the details.
Hotels
Hotels in Cuba, as in any other part of the world, are establishments that provide temporary lodging services. This service is usually accompanied by other amenities and range from the most basic (a room and a bathroom) to the most luxurious.
1.1 Categories and types of hotels
Of course, when booking a hotel, it is extremely important to check the hotel’s category, as this will give you clues as to the quality and comfort of the facility. In Cuba, the category of a hotel is defined using the star symbol: the more stars it has, the better and more varied its services will be. The maximum category of a hotel on the island is 5 stars, and you will find hotels in this category in both beach areas and cities.
Note: This does not mean that a 5-star hotel in Cuba has the same quality standards as a 5-star hotel in another country, but rather this classification helps you in the comparison only of hotels within Cuba.
Here is another important issue: in Cuba there are hotels of different kinds, but the most popular are: urban (or city), beach and nature hotels. Depending on the objectives of your trip, you can choose between one or the other, here are some details to make your choice easier.
Urban (or city) hotels: This kind of hotels are usually located in central, crowded and preferential areas and are excellent options to get into the everyday life of the island and get to know it in all its splendor. Usually, city hotels do not offer All Inclusive reservations; instead, they usually offer the Continental Plan (Breakfast Included) and with a supplementary price, you can hire lodging and breakfast plus lunch or dinner or both included. In those cities that preserve their historic center, such as Havana, Trinidad or Cienfuegos, it is very common for them to be located in old mansions, so they are also an excellent option for those who enjoy “inhabiting” the island’s colonial past for a short period of time.
Beach hotels: This kind of hotels is the best option if you wish to enjoy a few days of beach and rest under the Caribbean sun. Varadero, Los Cayos, Santa Lucía (Camagüey) and Holguín are some of the most visited “sun and beach” destinations by tourists. Here you will find hotels with very high quality standards (3, 4 and 5 stars), which will allow you to enjoy some incredible days. Although there are other booking modalities, beach hotels in Cuba almost always manage the All Inclusive option, which will surely be a unique opportunity to pamper and relax while you take your vacations.
Nature hotels: This type of hotels has become very popular in recent times and are an excellent way to get in touch with nature and get away from the hustle and bustle of the cities. They may be somewhat inaccessible compared to other types of hotels, but it is just a matter of taking this detail into account when booking to avoid unforeseen events. These types of hotels are usually located near parks, natural reserves and protected areas. In the province of Pinar del Río, for example, there are excellent lodging options of this kind, as well as in the Escambray Mountains, which cross the provinces of Sancti Spíritus, Villa Clara and Cienfuegos.
Within all these modalities some hotels stand out for their innovation and approach to accessibility and inclusion, providing travel for all with the necessary features and infrastructure for travelers with disabilities. In turn we can find more specialized hotels for LGBT travelers, or for MICE events or if you want a luxury trip or for an event or special occasion such as your honeymoon.
1.2 Most popular hotel chains
In Cuba, there are several hotel chains whose quality standards can vary widely. However, Iberostar and Meliá are the chains with the largest presence on the island, followed by Roc and Barceló, and almost all their hotels offer 4- and 5-star services. Most of them are located in beach areas (Varadero, Cayo Santa María, Cayo Guillermo, Cayo Largo, Holguín, etc.), but also in heritage cities such as Havana and Trinidad.
1.3 Other data
Hotels usually list their prices per person per night and according to the type of room. The most usual is that they offer single, double and triple rooms, although there are many hotels (especially beach hotels) that can offer quadruple rooms, family rooms, bungalows, communicating rooms, etc. Single rooms usually have a price supplement, while triple rooms have a discount for the third passenger, although this varies depending on the conditions of each hotel.
Children under 2 years old (under 2 years old) are considered infants and generally do not pay, although it is always appropriate to clarify this, as there are hotels that have stipulated another age limit. From 2 to 12 years of age (under 12 years of age) are considered children and in many hotels you can find free of charge discounts of 50% for them.
Check-in time is usually from 4:00 pm and check-out time is at 12:00 noon. Most 4 and 5 star hotels have wifi included in some common areas such as the lobby. Beach hotels mostly have access to swimming pools, beach classes and attractions such as water bikes, kayaking, surfboarding, sailing or catamaran, being excellent ways to explore the natural beauty of the place.
Private homes
Homestays, as a lodging option in Cuba, have become extremely popular among tourists visiting the island. It is a great alternative to share the trip with local people, traveling in a more responsible way, boosting the country’s economy and getting to know its people and their way of life in greater depth. They are easily identifiable by using a colored symbol (like the one in the image) on the side of the entrance door, like a sign.
Important! Any reservation you make in a private house you must take care of this small detail, because only then you can guarantee that the house is registered and that the lodging service provided is completely legal and safe.
Although a casa particular probably does not offer all the services that a hotel can offer, as we mentioned before, staying in a casa particular can be an excellent way to support the local economy and also to get to know first-hand the daily life of the island’s residents. In turn, choosing this type of lodging in any of the destinations on your itinerary can have a positive impact on your economy. There are several ways in which you can rent a private home:
Shared room and bathroom: This variant is the most economical of all and is usually chosen by those travelers commonly called “backpackers”. They are usually rooms equipped with bunk beds to share between 5 and 10 visitors.
Room without private bathroom: This modality consists of living with the inhabitants of the house during your stay, having a room at your disposal and sharing the rest of the areas of the house (kitchen, living room, dining room, etc.), including the bathroom, since in many Cuban houses there is usually only one bathroom. This option is usually quite economical as well.
Room with private bathroom: In this variant the owners would also share the house with you, but you would have a little more privacy while still having access to the common areas.
Separate house / room: In this case you would have a complete space for you alone, possibly even with private entrance. For sure you will have a private bathroom and your own key to access, in Cuba this modality is also known as “hostels”.
Luxury home: If you are looking for exclusivity, privacy and a dream vacation, this type of private home can be an incredible option. Luxury homes can range from colonial mansions or palatial mansions nestled in central areas of the city, to beach houses that include a jacuzzi and private pool.
The owners of the private houses have conditioned these spaces to make them as comfortable as possible. That is, in your accommodation you will find air conditioning, bed linen, towels, hot and cold water, amenities (soap/shampoo) or even a mini-bar where you can refrigerate your food and drinks. And if it is a luxury accommodation, you will find many other free services such as internet access, safe, etc.
Breakfast is also included in the reservation (some offer continental breakfast or buffet table). There are those who combine the tourist rental business with the restaurant/paladar business, so you can even have lunch and dinner service.
Cubans are sociable by nature, so choosing the variant of a private house, where you have to share some common areas, can be an incredible opportunity to get closer to our culture or to find some recommendations of what to do or what to see during your stay in the island. In some cases, the owners of these houses even offer the service of a guide, and from their hand you could get to know the city where you are.
Booking a private home also has the enormous advantage that many of the details of the reservation can be negotiated directly with the owners. For example: arrival and departure times, breakfast/lunch/lunch schedules, etc., or even if you have any special needs. In short, you will be in direct contact with the owners, whose goal is to provide you with an unforgettable stay.
The Cuban regions where this type of lodging has been most successfully promoted are Vedado, Miramar, Habana Vieja and Centro Habana (Havana); Viñales (Pinar del Río); Cienfuegos city; Remedios (Villa Clara); Trinidad (Sancti Spíritus). In short, those regions that offer more cultural or nature trips, since in sun and beach destinations travelers usually prefer all-inclusive hotels. In this way, by mixing both types of accommodations, you can get to know a little more about the customs of ordinary Cubans, while enjoying the relaxation that comes with staying in an all-inclusive, carefree place.
Reservation forms
Booking accommodation in Cuba is much easier than many people imagine. In recent years, thanks to the opening of the Internet on the island, many owners of private houses have been able to advertise their properties through different platforms where you can also see the reviews of other visitors.
Obviously our recommendation is that you prepare your itinerary (including your accommodation) with a travel assistant and if he/she is specialized in the destination, even better. This way you will have many guarantees that your accommodation is as you booked it and if you have any mishap they have the tools to move you and advise you at all times.
It is important and highly recommended that you make your reservation before leaving on your trip, since on-site reservations (at the reception desk) usually have very high costs and, depending on the season and/or the hotel’s capacity, there may not even be rooms available. In the case of private homes we extend the same recommendation, because, although there are a large number of private homes, these should be conditioned in anticipation of the arrival of new guests.
If you are staying in a private home, check-in and check-out times will be check-in (or even check-out) may be much more flexible than in the case of hotels. You may even be allowed to check in earlier if there are no guests to say goodbye to. However, it is advisable to confirm your possible arrival time in advance, as in some cases there may be a reception desk or someone to greet you after a certain time.
Lodging time
Any reservation you make will be counted based on the number of nights, and you can rent for 1 night or several months. However, there are accommodations (both hotels and private homes) that require a minimum number of nights of reservations: in these cases, if you do not comply with it, you will not be able to rent in them.
Prices
It is very difficult to establish an average of the costs of booking a private house or a hotel in Cuba. Prices vary greatly depending on the location, comfort, services included, amenities, etc. of the place you choose.
In Havana, for example, a private house can cost an average of 40€ per night (including breakfast), although as mentioned above this can be much more (if it is a luxury house, for example) or somewhat less depending on what is offered and the location of the property.
On the other hand, hotels have higher or lower costs depending on the hotel chain, the category of the hotel, the services included (if it is all-inclusive or not, for example), the season, etc.
High/Low Season
The seasonal issue mainly affects hotels rather than private homes, although the rates of the latter may also be set according to the season in question (depending on the policies established by the owner).
Approximately between the months of July and August, and from mid-December to mid-March, is considered the high season in Cuba. This implies that the cost of hotel facilities is much higher and that there is also a higher demand. Low season would be the remaining months.
Recommendations:
- Always make your reservation before setting foot on the island.
- Renting a private house will be an excellent option to get to know Cuba and the Cubans. This form of reservation offers many other advantages that will surely be very profitable if the objective is to soak up the daily life and the Cuban culture, besides your pocket will thank you for it.
The best option to enjoy the beaches is to stay at an All Inclusive Beach Hotel, you won’t have to worry about anything!
