Palacio Cueto

The hotel is in the old city of Habava and is government owned, but the quality is very good. Our bedroom and bathroom were both very large, and everything was clean and quiet. The staff were polite, spoke English fluently and were happy to help. It’s close to restaurants and a very beautiful square. Given the general condition of Cuba, the price seems reasonable and this is a good choice. If I get the chance to visit Havana again, I’ll absolutely stay here.

The patio has a beautiful view and the hotel looks stylish, so I was excited to have a drink at the rooftop bar after it was recommended to me. The service let it down. The older man behind the bar was grumpy and forgot my order, and when the drink finally came it was only mediocre. Then the sweet young waitress kept my change as a tip without asking. I won't be back.

The bedroom was spacious and the building looks beautiful, but the basics were a mess. Breakfast was atrocious, the worst we had in our two weeks traveling around Cuba. The dining room was freezing, and while the tables were dressed up with wine glasses and fish knives, something was always missing, like a cup, fork or spoon. The waiters seemed lost, wandering around without knowing what they were doing. On our last morning we went to a neighboring restaurant and had a delicious breakfast instead. For a four-star hotel, they should try harder. The bathroom drain smelled so bad that we covered it with a towel, and it made sleeping unpleasant. Reception also seemed incompetent. We asked about late checkout and were told it was fine, but got two different prices, 10 cuc an hour from one person and 20 cuc from another. There was a price list at reception that we hadn't noticed. After paying, our key was blocked when we tried to get back in, even though it should have been extended. We told our travel agents and wouldn't recommend the place. There seemed to be no management, and staff just hung around.

I stayed five nights in March 2020, and for a five-star hotel this was hugely disappointing. The floors were dirty, the shower had mold and mildew, and we had no towels or toilet paper. It took two days to get them. Staff said they had to go to the store to buy them, though I don't know why that took so long. They have five sister hotels, too. The internet was another frustration. Staff picked and chose who they sold access to, while the AirBnB next door had free service. The shower wouldn't drain. First they blamed shampoo suds, then, after it overflowed, said five hairs were blocking it. The rooftop bar has a very nice view, but don't order a cocktail. The drinks were weak and the bartender struggled to make a good one. I asked for a margarita and politely requested some lime. He said they only had lime juice, then dumped in what he could when I asked for a little more, ruining the drink. Not recommended.