Cuba Hotels
in
Caribbean
(21 others)
Cuba is an intriguing destination and a complete contrast to other Caribbean islands. It is an irresistible cocktail of colonial cities, wonderful beaches and scenery along with beautiful music, all stirred together with a dash of rum. Opinions are divided on the effect of Fidel Castro’s reign amid 40 years of US blockade and the collapse of the Soviet Union, however the country has begun a transformation since it opened its doors to global tourism in the 1990s. The country's heritage is in safe hands with the historic cities of Havana and Trinidad, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites, undergoing painstaking restoration and preservation. Walking around them is like a trip back in time. Away from the cities, Cuba’s golden beaches and stunning scenery have been enticing visitors since Columbus visited in 1492.
2 Hip Hotels in Cuba
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Vieja Habana is popular with visitors, and for good reason. Havana is authentic, even if the odd building could do with a lick of paint. For fans of colonial Cuba, the place to stay is the Hotel Santa Isabel.
Located in the Plaza de Armas, there is a bar with live music on every corner of the surrounding streets, and not just one guy with a guitar, but bands that number on average eight. It makes you realise what people used to do before they invented television. And these are trained jazz musicians able to play many instruments. To wander from bar to bar and take in the music is a treat and privilege, a privilege unique to Old Havana. The overwhelming impression is that people in Cuba focus on having fun.
In this hotel it is easy to imagine life in the city when its plantations supplied the world with sugar, tobacco and mahogany.
Photos of Santa Isabel
Prices from:
£799 pp
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The Saratoga “certainly has, without a doubt, the best view”. From the rooftop restaurant and pool you have a 200 and something degree view of the city, with the impressive Capitolio and Teatro Nacional just across the street.
At its zenith in the Thirties an all-girl swing band called Anacaona made the hotel one of Havana’s hotspots: today, Saratoga brings a certain style from that era to its contemporary interior. The restaurant is red and Moroccan, the atrium bar looks like it could still host the band. It’s a surprisingly stylish hotel, none of which is obvious from the exterior. Apart from the pool on the roof, which is a very sophisticated and welcome touch, they also must have one of the best located restaurants in the city with Old Havana stretching out below.
Contemporary interiors with a certain style from the Thirties and a superb location in Old Havana.
Photos of Saratoga
Prices from:
£899 pp
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