Hostal Suite Glamour

The room at Hostal Paradiso was nice and clean, and the small balcony gave us an extra bit of view. Breakfast overlooking the water was excellent. Iván offered to pick us up when we arrived, and that was just the beginning of how helpful he was. He suggested activities we found really interesting and helped with little things too, like phone calls. His whole family was kind and helpful. If I come back to Santiago, this is where I'll stay.

The terrace looking out over Santiago’s bay was such a lovely part of Ivan’s brand-new, beautiful apartment. My boyfriend and I also made good use of the kitchen, and the neighborhood made it easy to get around and spend time where santiagueros live. Ivan and his family are downstairs, which gave us our own space while still making it easy to have company and help when I needed it. I’d hurt my leg, and they looked after me like family. Honestly, I’ll especially miss Ivan’s sweet little daughter, and I was lucky enough to be there when his third baby was born. Sharing that moment with him, his wife, and the rest of the family meant a lot. I stayed for two weeks and loved it. One of my favorite hostals in Cuba. Five stars, and I hope I can return.

If I make it back to Cuba, Hostal Paradiso would be my first pick in Santiago. It’s conveniently placed near Parque Cespedes and Malecon, and the morning breakfast was a delicious, healthy start to the day. I spent a week there, and it was the most modern place I stayed in Cuba. The house feels modern, and it seems the host puts money back into the property. My room had comfortable beds, a lovely private balcony, and a kitchen. The air conditioning worked well, and it was quiet, which is still not common in Cuba.

Breakfast feels special with that gorgeous view. The rooms are spacious, spotless, and really nice, and there’s a lovely balcony on the third floor overlooking all of Santiago. The house is in a perfect spot, and the service is wonderful.