Recomendations for Hotels in Cuba?

I'm toying with the idea of going to Cuba with VH next spring.
Anybody got any recomendations from the current VH hotel offerings for Cuba.

Thanks in advance.

Hi Simon,

I stayed at Tryp Peninsula in Varadero a couple of years back. It has excellent rooms, good facilities and it's own stretch of beach which is easily accessable. It's only let down by the standard of food served in it's buffet. This seems to be the case in Cuba as a whole, they don't have the levels of culinary service that you would expect in the rest of the Caribbean.

The only other hotel I would recommend in the area is the Paradisus Varadero, from the brief look we got, it looked to be well setup.

Make sure you allow for time in Havana, it's a fascinating place and seems to grip most people with it's culture - It's well worth visiting while the Mr Castro is still alive......

I don't understand why folk go all the way to Cuba, and then stay in Valadero.. a beach resort. Admittedly it's s nice beach, and usually quite hot, but you can go to the med for that. Havana - and the rest of the island - are amazing places, with extraordinary culture and history.

I had a hotel in Havana, and used that as a base to explore the island. And I would do the same again.

Have a look at the Hotel Nacionale.. the Sofitel.. the Tryp Habana Libre (where I stayed)

Not sure its in the VH offering, but I'm going out on Saturday to the Paradisus Rio de Oro, Guardalavaca. PM me if you're interested and I'll reply when I'm back. Almost universally excellent reviews on Trip Advisor, although a bit pricier. To answer McCoys point, I'm going for the weather (27-30 ish or mid - high 80's in old money) and the relaxation - and it wouldn't be anywhere near warm enough in the Med in December otherwise I'd save my money and not fly 10 hours to get there. [:0]

PS - you could combine it with a stay in Havana, flying Virgin that's where you'll land anyway. Thoroughly recommend it, although for me 4/5 nights is about the maximum I'd want to spend there.

Regards

Pat

I stayed 4 nights in Havana and then off to Varadero for 10 nights back in Nov 04.

I can only echo the recommendations for Havana. It's not to be missed if culture and history are your thing. This was one of the best holidays I've had.[y] I really wish we had stayed longer in Havana as we had to rush to cram everything in with only 4 nights. Varadero was a welcome relaxation after the hectic few days.

Once in Varadero you could be on almost any Caribbean beach. Locals are mostly kept away unless they work in the resorts so you don't really experience the real Cuba once you are there.

We were in the Parque Central in Havana & the Paradisus in Varadero and both come highly recommended.

Cheers,
Brian.

Thanks for your replies people, I knew this was the place to ask!
It's always difficult making a random choice from a brochure.

I'm hearing what you say regarding beach or Havana. We want a bit of both. MrsPVG want to lay on a beach and do nothing, I want some water sports, and we both want some cultural experience.

my reasons for Cuba are: Yes the Med can be unbelievably cold "off season", visas for MrsPVG seem a piece of cake to get in London (good communist comrades and all that!), it seems to be a place stuck in a timewarp, and I would love to see it before the inevitable change that is probably coming.

I have booked the Breezea Jibacoa for July next year. It has received great reviews and is only 45-60 mins from Havana for the best of both worlds. Great price also!

Indeed.. if you want to see Cuba, go before Fidel dies... when he's gone, the US will have a MacD's on every corner before you blink, and it'll be an American playground. *sigh*