9 Best Hotels in Central Cuba, Cuba

This centrally located hotel was (believe it or not) newly constructed in 2006, and was built in colonial style directly on Plaza Carrillo at the end of Parque Cespedes—a popular spot in this truly colonial city. The interior lobby is tastefully designed, with plants and a host of contemporary Cuban artworks. Unique tables and chairs are decorated with found objects including old pipes, opera glasses, and bijoux. Guest rooms are exceptionally tastefully appointed with dark-wood furniture and bright tropical colors.

One of the most attractive all-inclusive resorts in Cuba has a vibrant atmosphere and beautiful environs. The grounds are as pleasing as you'll find anywhere in the country, with numerous ponds, water fountains, gazebos, and sitting areas. The sprawling resort has 46 two-story room blocks. Its many bars and restaurants give you enough choices to be happy, and the staff at the restaurants and bars are particularly courteous. Rooms are beautifully appointed, and second-floor accommodations offer a great view of the ocean. The elegant and tastefully designed rooms have dark-wood furnishings, including solid bed boards and two comfortable cushioned chairs, an armoire with a stocked minibar, desk, mirror, and even an iron and ironing board, as well as a 22-inch TV; decorative white drapes are an added touch. Balconies are furnished with a table and chairs.

The colonial era is also ever-present at this resort, with pastel-color colonial-style buildings and walkways. The central lobby is in a lush tropical enclosure filled with plants and a central water fountain. Rooms are decorated with dark-wood furniture and lots of wrought iron. The hotel has three à la carte restaurants, including a main buffet and an Italian and a criollo restaurant. There are sports facilities galore here, as well as activities from pool games and entertainment to aerobics and nonmotorized water sports like windsurfing, snorkeling, volleyball, and sailing.

Set in an ecological park, this scenic resort—host to fauna and flora and adjacent to a spectacular coral reef—has numerous one-story villas, standard rooms in three-story blocks, as well as nice rooms that overlook the lagoon itself. It manages to have wide appeal, attracting families, couples, and seniors. The property includes five dining areas, a mix of à la carte and the one buffet restaurant (La Pergola) included in your rate. Two of the restaurants overlook the waters of the lagoon. For night owls, the disco is open until 2 am.

Second only to its white beach, which extends into blue-green shallows, is this hotel's airy lobby, which stretches beneath a soaring wooden roof and is adorned with shiny marble floors, painted columns, tinted glass, and a small bar surrounded by tropical greenery. Restaurants and three-story buildings with guest quarters surround the circular pool, which has a sunken bar beneath a thatched roof. Rooms have beige-tile floors, wood furniture, original art, and small balconies; about half have ocean views.

This property has a beautiful layout and is dotted with ponds with lily pads and numerous palm-tree lined colonnades. Accommodations stretch from the main building to three other room complexes and six one-story bungalows. The setting is romantic although the beaches are not as pristine as those of the nearby Cayo Coco. The property attracts families with young children and groups. The pool is long and winding, with a separate children's pool area. Sports are plentiful here, and for an extra fee you can even take scuba-diving lessons. Rooms are plush but not as large as those in other competing hotels in the area.

This resort on Cayo Santa María, set among lush vegetation, offers a bit more privacy and exclusivity than other properties here in the Cayos. The main reception is an open-air construction built of wood and featuring classical columns, interior murals, and ornamental designs. A large tree trunk stands tall in the center. This adults-only property is pleasantly lit, and features a series of walkways and oceanfront terraces. Rooms include comfortable wrought-iron beds, lounge chairs, coffee tables, and antique-reproduction furniture. Only the second-floor rooms offer ocean views, but all rooms have balconies or terraces. The hotel shares its luxuriant spa with neighboring Meliá hotels.

Cayo Coco's original resort, the Tryp is a miniature city, with several pools, more than 20 bars and restaurants, and nearly a thousand rooms spread along a mile of pale beach. The hotel consists of two compounds, each with its own reception: the original complex, to the west, has more charm, with large rooms in Spanish-style structures surrounded by gardens; the newer wing has a modern, open-air lobby that overlooks a vast pool area with sculptures, fountains, and a sunken bar. Rooms throughout are done in earth tones and have tile floors, balconies, and large baths with tubs.