Villa Santo Domingo

A small place to stay with lovely owners who'll help with whatever you need. It's close to the walk of the comandantia.

This is a quiet, safe villa, with a river just behind it. It's a two-star place, so don't come expecting five-star luxury. The rooms have good air conditioning, hot and cold water, spacious bathrooms, and well-made beds. The staff do their best and provide excellent service. The food is traditional Cuban, well prepared and flavorful, but don't expect international or gourmet dishes. It's meant to give you a taste of Cuba. The villa works well as a peaceful base for visiting places like Turquino Peak and the historical sites of the La Plata Command Post. I've seen some inaccurate reviews. I'm not a politician, I don't write reviews for payment, and my work has nothing to do with that. I'm not interested in political comments.

The forest is wonderfully peaceful, with loungers for relaxing, hiking nearby, and a charming village where you can meet friendly, welcoming locals. They have little, yet seem happy. There's no beach or pool, but you can swim in the river about 500 meters from the hotel. The secluded setting in the Sierra Maestra mountains, amid the Cuban rainforest, makes it a lovely place to unwind and connect with local people. Our room was comfortable and clean, with a balcony, good space, a small bathroom, and comfortable furnishings. Most rooms are in small multi-story houses with three rooms each. The staff were incredibly friendly and took care of all our requests. For Cuban standards, the food was perfectly adequate. We ordered ahead and had a delicious meal after hiking. The drinks were cold, the cocktails were good, and they also have better-quality rum. Value for money was very good. The surroundings are full of history. From the hotel, you can drive farther into the national park, then follow a narrow forest path from the end of the road to Fidel Castro's former first command post during the 1959 revolution. It takes about 45 minutes that way. Walking from the hotel takes at least two hours longer because of Cuba's highest and steepest road.

Absolutely terrible: despite our reservation and prepayment, the hotel was overbooked and had no room for us. At first, they wouldn't cooperate. Only after the booking agency pushed did we manage to find somewhere else to stay for one night. Completely unacceptable. The only hotel in Santo Domingo is right beside the Rebel Camp National Park, making it a perfect base for a trip to the Sierra Maestra mountains. The bungalow grounds are pleasant, though they could use improvement. The rooms are basic but generally clean and air-conditioned, although some smell a little musty. The food is okay, not especially good, and sometimes arrives cold. Service is rather slow, and it's better to get your drink at the bar than order it at the table. In my opinion, the price-performance ratio isn't right.