Best way to book a casa particular?

clearly Bob has his system and works great for him...for us average tourists I can assure you that many of the casas owners are very much into internet reservations ..............

turaj: I certainly am not the norm. I just refuse to be bound any more by plans and schedules. I spent a long working career living by a calendar book of scheduled meetings, places I had to go and things I had to do on a fixed date. And I realized my free time had become as regimented as work time. Now I relish being able to sit down each night with my wife / significant other and decide if we want to move on the next day or spend another where we are. Besides, she is Cuban and just would revolt if I told her that we had to leave a place we were having a great time because we had already paid for the next night's lodging someplace else.

But everyone has their own way. If the comfort of being locked into a schedule is comforting to some, they should travel that way.

i get it Bob...you have clearly settled into a great lifestyle that works well for you....I have looked at many of your photos and you clearly understand the people and their culture and capture it so well. I like to be pre-planned with hotels or casas anywhere I go but always make sure I book things that are changeable and don't hesitate to do so ...sometimes a place is not at all what you expected....then move on...and as you mention sometimes staying longer at a great spot. I hate prepaying anything...

Thanks for the great advice everyone, a wealth of options given, now I guess I need to choose one!

Does anyone have experience with the original website I mentioned, www.cubacasa.co.uk ?

No reviews.
High prices. (They state they tak a fee.)
Pretty casas.
No personal experience, though.

turaj: I am happy whenever a poster realizes there are options and makes an informed decisions, whatever that decision may be. It is a personal choice.

I do worry that some get mislead by responses from new visitors, especially those from the recent influx from the US, and never realize the options. Please note that comments was not related to any specific person. Also, that the TA website is much worse than here.

This topic is a great example where DuncanShearer asked the best way to book a casa and all responses were websites to use. Now he probably thinks the best way is to do it on the internet. That may be best for his needs, maybe not. But is is not the common way, just the way most new internet folks do it.

bob, when you arrive in Cuba, you are coming home.
When most of us newer travelers (many who don't speak the local language) arrive, we are thinking about where to lay our heads down that night, with the least hassle, until we can get our bearings.

Also, you may have noticed from posts that many people have only a few days in Cuba and therefore a tight schedule. Flexibility is not as realistic with just a few days/nights in country.

E-mail actually works great to talk to casa owners, and the majority answer promptly. The casa owners seem to have leapt into entrepreneurship and all it involves, including even Trip Advisor reviews. LOL So maybe the times they are a- changin'.

And you do realize that the posters on TA are many of the same regulars here?

FAQ #20 gives you the options of using an agency or provides lists with contact details of individual casas as well pointing out the general ease of booking ahead a day or so before you arrive at next town. Of course that latter bit of advice is more for people who are actually travelling around Cuba rather than the current flood who are desirous of cramming in 2-3 locations in just a few days or even just staying in Havana.

Not to book. I had a few email conversations with Matthew about two years ago, with regard to including my m-i-l's house. They didn't, as they said they had sufficient properties in Santiago - something I've encountered with a couple of other agencies. He did say they were hoping to be in the Lonely Planet 2015 edition, but no idea if that materialised.
The site then went offline for quite a while and appears to be back, new and improved. From browsing through the photos, they seem to be going for mainly colonial houses.
Matthew seemed sensible enough and was very responsive. However, I can't attest to how efficient they may be.

Also, you may have noticed from posts that many people have only a few days in Cuba and therefore a tight schedule. Flexibility is not as realistic with just a few days/nights in country.

I have written before about my belief that the "tight schedule, no flexibility" approach easily changes what should have been a great experience into the "been there, done that, it was OK but no desire to return". I talk to many tourists in Cuban airports as we wait for our flights home and see that too often.

E-mail actually works great to talk to casa owners, and the majority answer promptly. The casa owners seem to have leapt into entrepreneurship and all it involves, including even Trip Advisor reviews. LOL So maybe the times they are a- changin'.

True, but it does limit the options available to travelers to a small section of what is available as you still find many more casas that have no internet presence than those who do. It does give rise to the online belief that it is difficult to find accommodations when actually in Cuba one finds many available places.

Personally, I ignore TA reviews as I have read too many reviews of places I know from actual experience and find the reviewer had no real basis for comparison. And far too much emphasis on specifics that were uniquely important to the reviewer but not the majority.

And you do realize that the posters on TA are many of the same regulars here?

And many of us know each other personally, communicating privately, and sometimes getting together for a beer.

TA does have an over abundance of the "OMG, I have actually been to Cuba (once). Can you believe it? Now I must tell the world what Cuba is all about." kind of posters.They have difficulty accepting that Cuba is not Area 51 and they are not unique. Also those whose Cuba experience is narrow and do not understand that others may desire something than they do.

In summary, I just see large differences in the Cuban travel and Cuban culture discussed on the internet and the real world that exists with your feet on Cuban dirt.

Once again, everyone should do what they want. We are all different.

Bob...I now your travel is pretty much focused on round trip to Cuba these days but have you never taken trips to places to just go and visit for the first time? And have you taken your vacation time and spent a fair amount of money to go somewhere that interests you from a historical and culture standpoint...flown many hours etc.? I think it very reasonable for most people to plan their time and accommodations to maximize their visit. It does not have to detract from the experience and hopefully enhance it with proper planning. In all honestly I find the paragraph describing the OMG traveler very demeaning to most travelers.And finally if someone does not end up liking Cuba it may be the result of many things but does not necessarily mean they had too strict of an agenda or pre booked or did anything wrong...simply put Cuba is not for everyone. And on the casa situation you reference "no real basis for comparison"...so what...when I travel I do research find a place that I feel will work for me and book it. Frankly if I enjoy my place why do I need to be concerned with comparisons? There is a not so subtle tone here and on TA that all first timers are pretty much not savvy travelers....idiots...over extended etc...don't get good prices and on and on. Gets old after awhile. . No many of us are not part of the "club" but the constant comments get old. Therefore long way of saying I agree with Renata. And for first timers reading this...go ahead and plan and do research...booking ahead works for most of us and enjoy your trip.