Casa particular vs. hotel accommodation in Cuba
Replies: 24 - Last Post: Dec 1, 2012 6:07 AM Last Post By: enram
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Casa particular vs. hotel accommodation in Cuba
Many seem to tend to think that private casas are better than hotel accommodation. I myself think the opposite, although I agree that it is a more flexible option for getting somewhere to stay.During the years I have stayed in nearly 30 casas and 10 hotels in Cuba, alone or with my only one Cuban girlfriend. In only one hotel I had complaints, while I was annoyed or terribly annoyed in 26 of the private casas.
A private casa charges 25 to 50 cuc a night in Havana, depending on location, in the provinces 15 to 25, some places 10 for long term stay, often with an extra for coffee in the morning.Middle standard hotels in the provinces charge 15 to 25 cuc, a little more maybe in Santiago and Havana, usually with full course breakfast included, coffee, bread, fruit and refresco, usually served with a friendly smile.
Las Americas in Santiago is the only hotel where I was dissatisfied. On two different occasions the staff attempted to rip open my suitcase, and therefore ruining the lock, after cleverly manipulating me away to have undetected access to my suitcase.
In 25 of the 30 private casas I know the offences varied from
- ripping open my suitcase
- introducing black market products, prostitutes or taxies I did not ask for, wanted or needed
- sexual stalking of me or my girlfriend
- unwarranted intrusion into my room at night or while I was away
- gossiping with or fraternizing with my girlfriend to the extent of direct interrogation into her private life
- hushing me or my girlfriend away because the tax inspector was due to arrive and would otherwise discover that the owner had more guests than he was allowed to
- the coffee, breakfast or meals offered stopped because the owner could not get it
- obligatory coffee, breakfast or meals were so overwhelming that I could just as well pay for it in the Hotel Nacional
- unknown creditor arrived and retrieved from the casa the furniture that I was offered
- hot water systems that are so complicated to operate that one fears for one’s life or need to call for help in the middle of the showering
- chased me away because the dengue that I had caught would jeopardize the casa reputation
People tend to look for private casas because it is nice to see and live with real Cubans. If a tourist does not speak the language, the benefit is soon exhausted. The registration is complicated, and if you bring a Cuban guest, they are also subject to full registration - and by and by the normal curiosity or full interrogation. In a hotel the interrogation is voluntary.
1
Which hotels have you stayed in ?I have stayed in both casas and the Islazul hotels in Guantanamo and Morón, the Hotel Pernik in Holguin, casas in Manzanillo, Baracoa, Las Tunas. I would say in all those, I found the casas better.
I have never seen a hotel as cheap as you mention - though the prices have dropped.
The Hotel Guantanamo had the advantage that we could sneak an extra person in, so there were six of us in two rooms. (The Cubans were happy to be four in one room.)
3
And where were the hotels as cheap as CUC 25 ? (Per room ?)I think my worst casa was in Las Tunas, which was one I let a middle-man take me to. Most were found by friends or family in the places.
How did you find your casas ?
6
Enram, you had issues with 25 out of 30 casas yet you still kept coming back?!?! Wow, you're a sucker for punishment... LOLCasas aren't for everyone, same as Bed & Breakfasts, Hostels, Campgrounds, etc.... Everyone (thank God) has a different style of travel.
Stick with hotels, buddy!
Cheers,
Terry
7
I tend to agree with you but Las Americas is one of my "best value" hotels in Cuba. Stayed there many times without issue.The Pernik is $17 for a single and the Las Americas is $25 more or less as well as the Sierra Maestra, Colon, Isla de Cuba, Principe, Lido, and others I just cannot think of right now.
8
I guess these personal differences are what keeps both hotels and casas in businesses. We should be thankful we have choices to meet our personal wants and desires.Personally, if what I wanted was a comfortable bed, great A/C, huge hot shower, TV with hundreds of channels, high speed internet, refrigerator full of cold beer of my choice, stocked liquor cabinet, then I would simply stay at home.
9
Personally, if what I wanted was a comfortable bed, great A/C, hot water shower, TV with hundreds of channels, low speed internet, refrigerator full of cold Cuban beer, stocked liquor cabinet, then I would simply go to my Havana casa... ;-)Cheers,
Terry
10
I've had much better luck with casas outside of Havana in terms of amenities, cleanliness, and friendliness of the casa owners. It's still their business, but it seems less like a business and more homey in places like Vinales and Cienfuegos.In addition I like a hotel in Havana because there will always be a taxi right outside the door without you having to ask the casa owner to phone for one. Two of the casas I have stayed in in Havana the owners didn't seem to be around when we were leaving and so, how to get a cab? It's a small thing, but it matters to me.
11
#7+Enram, you had issues with 25 out of 30 casas yet you still kept coming back?!?! Wow, you're a sucker for punishment... LOL+Casas aren't for everyone, same as Bed & Breakfasts, Hostels, Campgrounds, etc.... Everyone (thank God) has a different style of travel.
Stick with hotels, buddy!
This is also my point really, that tourists should also look for reasonable hotels.
The owner would say, Welcome to my private home. It is also my castle. If you don't like my attitude, or the hot water system that I have spent months on inventing, or the a/c that sounds like a tractor, or you don't appreciate the rose nylon drapery, or my curiosity about your girlfriends family or political interests, get out of here. There is no coffee or bread this morning, because our economy is bad and we suffer from the embargo.
My point is that running a bed & breakfast is a business, and needs some sort of personal professionalism. The intimacy in cuban casas can be interesting, but also overwhelming and suffocating.
