Grand Aston Habana

The beaches were gorgeous, and it was easy to find a place in either shade or sun. The pools were well managed, with plenty of space to set up. Our room on the third floor was fine apart from the toilet, which had flushing problems. Both elevators were out of service for the entire week we stayed, and the bathrooms need more facilities or the broken ones fixed. The buffet had long lines, not enough alternatives during the day, and was a better choice than the horrible à la carte restaurants. Entertainment for kids ran until 9:30 pm or later, which is great for families but brutal if you don't have children and want evening events without kids running everywhere. There were tons of mosquitoes, so bring plenty of bug spray. I got stomach flu on the last day, too. I wouldn't return. Maybe it works for a young family, but it wasn't for me.

We were disturbed to find a cockroach on the breakfast buffet on our last day. Breakfast was poor to begin with: just one kind of cheese, and the only jar of Nutella was empty by 9 a.m. There was no refill. Service was just as bad. We asked five times for coffee, while staff acted as if they couldn't see us. One egg cook was clearly sick and coughing over the food without a mask. Another picked his ear, then touched the salt with bare hands. Everyone looked unhappy, and the atmosphere ruined our stay. Housekeeping was another problem. The floor was dirty when we entered, and it wasn't cleaned until I complained two days later. We stayed six nights, but the sheets were never changed, and our room was entered on only three of those days. The pillows were very uncomfortable, and there was mold in the shower. The staff's attitude was the main issue overall. It felt like nobody wanted to work there, and nobody smiled or offered help. The hotel is new, but that was about the only positive thing. With Cuba in a serious energy crisis, we noticed many rooms in the second building left lit all night for no reason. That showed a disappointing lack of awareness and responsibility. The hotel is very far from the city center. A warning for future guests: avoid the taxi drivers waiting outside. They charge $15 for a five-minute ride. The La Nave app offers the same route for $2-$4. A very disappointing stay, and one we wouldn't recommend.

The views are beautiful, and it's a very comfortable hotel. I really liked staying here. The service was friendly and professional. Come on, friends, let's go on vacation to Cuba!

There are lots of breakfast choices, though the food quality could be a bit better. The hotel has a pretty cool gym with recent equipment, and a Cadeca office where you can buy Cuban pesos with a credit card. It's a great hotel in a nice, quiet part of Cuba, with several good restaurants nearby. The hotel was recently renovated, and the rooms are spacious, clean, and well maintained.