Palacio O'farrill Boutique

The people were nice, but the standard was so poor and the price wasn’t justified. Breakfast was extremely limited, with stale bread and pastries. The rooms smelled of sewage, and although the sheets had been washed, they were stained with all sorts of things. Outside the bedroom window was a horrendous slum, and there was no glass, just a shutter. Music blared until the early hours. We had no water for most of the day, and when it came on, it was only a trickle, so we couldn’t shower or wash properly. I ended up sleeping in the hallway for four nights. If you’re a seasoned traveler and don’t mind the surroundings, both inside and out, you might be fine here. I’d never stay again or recommend it. It wasn’t worth the money.

The location is great, which is why I gave it two stars. This is another government hotel, and the first room we were given had mold. Breakfast was dry, very old bread with no vegetables. Don’t follow the bellboy’s lead to a restaurant, it was awful. We went to a casa particular next door instead, which was great and a quarter of the price.

We came across this place by chance, and it was quite a treat. We didn’t stay at the hotel, but had a Cuban lunch at Restaurant Don Ricardo in its courtyard. The place is stunning, full of history. It was originally owned by an Irish sugar baron, and the beautiful architecture and stained glass from the 17th and 18th centuries made us feel like we’d traveled back in time. Domestic cervezas went perfectly with this hidden gem.

We had a beautiful, charming room, though the view wasn’t very nice. The staff could be quite hostile, and one of the doormen tricked us into taking a cab to the airport that wasn’t recommended. Breakfast was okay, but please don’t serve it without putting any care into it.