Lido - Havana, Cuba 

The Lido is cheap...you can see much nicer hotels from your room, but for the money it can't be beat. I paid about $39.00CDN (online booking) but could have done better if I had called the Hotel and booked. The staff are friendly and helpful, english is basic; much better than my Spanish. Basic breakfast is included...the coffee is good; avoid the milk, unless you like canned. the toast is stone cold and the restaurant can be very breazy in the morning. There are lots of people just staying one or two nights, so the breakfast crowd is always changing. The location is one block off the Prada, and the street is very noisy; The girl across the street still practices her sax at night; a real bonus. The rooms facing the street are decent, not big, the AC is noisy; but not required in Jan/Feb; THE HOT WATER: comes from the roof, if it was sunny yesterday, and your up early..lots of hot water The hotel is centrally located, everything is within walking distance. The street is a real adventure, Cubans are curious, but harmless; and display basic humanity that has gone missing from Norh American Culture. There is a cop on every second corner, and they make sure nobody bothers the touristas. Don't discuss politics unless you want to meet cops...Old Havana is being rebuilt..go now while its cheap, Central Havana is broken... Miramar is fine but expensive. Enjoy Cuba now, Fidel is old, and change is inevitable.