Hostal Boutique DRobles

The area is safe and within walking distance of the university, about 30 minutes away, and Old Havana. Watch out for strangers who approach offering help for change, or simply ask you for money. Don't believe the cigar sales pitch about a special deal that's only available today. Pricilla was a wonderful host, and the women on the second floor, where the hostal is, were sweet and kept the rooms very clean.

I moved to another hostel when I came back from a tour of another city, and it was much better. In my opinion, this one is living off a reputation it no longer deserves. During my three-day stay, the water, toilet paper, clean towel, and power all ran out. I thought maybe it was just a Cuba thing, but people I met from another hostel paid 10 cuc and hadn't had that happen. The manager seemed to charge extra for everything: 40 cuc for a colectivo bus to Trinidad when the driver charged 35, and 10 cuc for a taxi to the bus station when I could get one on the street for 5. There were four other people staying there while I was, and they all felt the same way. It's not a party hostel, but the rooftop was dirty, the manager seemed to listen in on every word in the living room, and the TV, cleaning lady, and her friend occupied the second living room around the clock. The cleaning lady was sleeping in the living room and talking loudly with her friend at 8 AM, waking me on the first morning. Dogs barked from 7 to 10 AM on the second morning, and construction in one of the rooms woke me at 8:30 AM on the third. The shower wouldn't drain, and the tap only dripped. By 5 PM, the bathroom had run out of toilet paper, and the cleaning lady said there wouldn't be more until morning. The neighborhood gets dark at night because there are no streetlights, which made it hard to find the hostel. I don't understand the good reviews it gets online. You can find a much better hostel for 10 cuc with cold water, which you have to buy every day because the tap water isn't drinkable, breakfast, and a location closer to Old Havana. Maybe this hostel was good in the past, but I really don't recommend it now.

The neighborhood was amazing, and breakfast was good. It made my time in Havana even more special.

The prices are good, the interior is nice, and breakfast is nice too, for $5. The dorm beds are short and narrow, though, and the no-key setup is odd. People sometimes have to stay up waiting to let you in.