Havana Travel Forum

i heard casa particular offers good lodging at a lower cost compared to hotels in Havana. Can someone give us more info about casa particular?

Are there reasonably-priced day-tours ($50 to $100 per person in Havana?

Depending upon your taste and desires, Casa particulares can be a good introduction, albeit a false one, to the Cuban everyday life, since owners of Casa particulares do in no way lead an ordinary life. For me, I always prefer a hotel, for obvious reasons, i dont need to stay at casa particulares.
Havana is a great city and staying close to the old part of Havana or in Vedado which is quieter but elegant, less historic.
There are many day tours from Havana. they are about 50 dollars per person. you can also rent a car and do the exploring yourself since for the same price you can get a car and pay for your meals. Driving is very easy in Cuba because of less traffic.
Enjoy Havana and Cuba.
You can also do overnight trips to Vinales and Trinidad. The beaches on keys are a long days trip but doable, and the eco lodge is within comfortable disttance and day tours are offerd. day tours are also offered to Soroa.

>>Can someone give us more info about casa particular?
**A casa particular is a place where you stay in a Cuban home. Under special license Cubans can officially rent out 2 rooms for, in each room, 2 guests. For Havana the prices are about 30 CUC (Convertible pesos) for a good legal casa particular. But there are some good budget hotels too in Havana like Hotel Lido, Carabbean, Colina and even in Habana Vieja the lovely Hostal Valencia. The last one has to be booked early since it only has 9 rooms.

As for tours, all hotels in Havana have a tourist desk where you can book several day trips and even overnight trips like Cochinjew suggests.
At Calle Obispo there is a store called Cubatur which also has lots of information and maps

Have fun in Cuba

Friend, I'm Cuban and I live in Havana.
I can give you good information for asnwer your question. The "casas particulares" they are much cheaper than hotels. One night in a room of the house costs between 25 and 35 CUC ("pesos convertibles"), depending on location.
If you want I can give my help and find a good accommodation here for you !!!

Sorry by my english ... Ariel !!!

Friend, I'm Cuban and I live in Havana.
I can give you good information for asnwer your question. The "casas particulares" they are much cheaper than hotels. One night in a room of the house costs between 25 and 35 CUC ("pesos convertibles"), depending on location.
If you want I can give my help and find a good accommodation here for you !!!

Sorry by my english ... Ariel !!!

I mainly stay in Casas and really enjoy the atmosphere and the food. If you book on line or have a guideor taxi take you to one it will cost you a extra $5cuc a day.I can give you the names and addresses of some excellent one depending on how many in your group.If you want tours go to any major hotels and they will have a desk handling the tours. If you get a cab make sure it has a working meter or the $$ will jump. Same thing get your cabs at major hotels. Pick up a Knopf Map Guide of Havana from Chapters, excellent guide to the city street by street, section by section.
Go see the Club Parisiene show at the Hotel National, smaller more intimate version of the Tropicana $35 vs $110cuc and stay for the dance band after.
The Cuban coffee, hot choclate and juices are exceptional, if you are into rum the Anjeo Especial or 7 year rums are good solo. Cigars, go to the Riveria or Cohiba Meila and have them rolled and sample them in their Smoking rooms or in the Riveria at the Bar over looking the Malecon and ocean.
Have a drink or light lunch on the terrace of the Inglaterra Hotel, listen the band and people watch, go for a walk along the Prado under the trees. Head for the action on La Rampa day or night!
Walk the Malecon in the evening, go to El Jibe restuarnant in Miramar for their famous chicken dishes (reasonable $) and around the corner to Dos Gardinas piano bar for the show around 10:00 pm.
Check out www.Cuba-Junky.com for alot of helpful info.

My family (hubby and son and self) stayed in a casa particular and had a blast. It was in Vedado on the top floor of a set of flats. The apartment faced the "John Lennon" Park. Our hosts were lovely and we paid 35CUC for a spacious room with mini fridge and private bathroom. It was well worth it to stay with Cubans as we got a taste of Cuban life and I got my little tips on Cuban cooking. I even came home with some seeds from a plant on their balcony which is doing very well here on my verandah.

Yes Vedado is very nice if you looking for a safe place to stay. I stayed with the same people for many years and i enjoy my walk into havana from there.The people speak english also and can organize anything you want for you.check out my havana pages if you like for more info..enjoy your trip:)

Casas particulares are the only way to make your experience of Cuba 100% enriching. Contact the people at la Casa de Ana www.anahavana.com who provide 25dollar/night accommodation (sleeping 2 people): they are in Vedado which is the nicest area of Havana, extremely safe. The house is amazingly clean and the people more than welcoming. We toured Cuba with a friend of theirs who was taking us around the city and Cuba for about $50-80/day (sharing in 3 people). Do not hesitate to contact me for any question

Feel free to come and look at my trip story here
http://belogg.com/Gallery/TripView.aspx?albumId=493
Just click on each day to read the story and pictures of our tours; if you need further information please contact me

Ciao

Stefano