Santa Isabel - Havana, Cuba     

During my stay in Havana, I stayed in 3 hotels. And Hotel Santa Isabel was one of them (Others; Hotel Telegrafo and Beltran de Santa Cruz). I was transferred to Santa Isabel from Hotel Telegrafo for one night. Santa Isabel is one of the best hotels in Old Havana with a colonial style. My room was nicely decorated and clean. It was a spacious room with balcony. The huge bed, rocking chairs, old style writing desk, the furniture and the wooden shutters on the balcony door bring a touch of late colonial style. The bathroom, linens and towels were clean. The amenities of the room were good. The hotel staff was a bit distant but kind. Their English was better than the ones in the hotels I stayed later. When I went to restaurant of the hotel it was deserted, not even a waiter was around so I walked out and ate my dinner in a nearby restaurant. The breakfast was a la carte and basic. The hotel is located in Plaza de Armas. It is one of the plazas I liked most with a beautiful park, book stands, restaurants and museums. It is a good starting point for walking in Old Havana. The harbor and castles can also be seen from rooftop. I stayed there just one night and I was contended. Since I was sent from Hotel Telegrafo, I didn’t make any extra payment but Santa Isabel is relatively more expensive than other Old Havana hotels. It’s a good stay if you can afford it.

the santa isabel is not exactly cheap, especially by cuban standards, but the location is superb, the rooms are fantastic, and the staff are really helpful. our room had 2 balconies, 2 tvs, tiled floor, really big, comfortable beds, 4 huge shuttered doors onto the balconies, and best of all, that cuban instution..rocking chairs! ok, we were staying at the lincoln before this, so it seemed like heaven by comparison..but it really is a lovely hotel..with a 24 hour atrium bar, and the internet..just be careful where you sit when it rains! and it has hot water..all day..every day! now that is luxury. if you have never stayed in a cheap cuban hotel you will just not appreciate how unusual this is! there is no traffic pumping out fumes into your bedroom..you can just sit on the rocker on your balcony and watch the world go by, and all the kids playing. its really lovely here...i suggest you stay if you can afford it.