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Santiago de Cuba has a few extraordinary lodgings, from the historic, well-situated Hotel Casa Granda to the postmodern Hotel Meliá Santiago de Cuba. Hidden in the decaying elegance of Vista Alegre are some fine casas particulares, as well as more conventional lodgings. Other cities in the region have only one or two acceptable hotels each.
Top-notch resorts line this sector of the coast. Most of them charge flat, all-inclusive rates. The prices are economical, and the quality of the service and the food is better than average. To the north, Guardalavaca is becoming a haven for Europeans and Canadians. It has a handful of mostly all-inclusive resorts and a few free-standing restaurants and discos. This area offers the perfect beach vacation, and it's a convenient place from which to explore Santiago and Baracoa.
On a coastal cliff a few minutes' walk from Castillo del Morro, this hotel has spectacular views. Grab one of the cliff-side cabaña rooms for the best vistas; they're not much more than the standard room rates. No matter which room you get, all guest quarters have satellite TV; some have minibars. You'll need a car to reach Santiago, but the drive is splendid.
Baracoa's Seboruco Castle was renovated and transformed into this charming hotel with views of the town—from its quaint Historic Center to its Malecón—El Yunque, and the sea. Even the pool and its terrace offer panoramic vistas, though a 3rd-floor bar provides some of the best perspectives. Rooms mix comfortable, classic antiques with modern conveniences, and the attentive staff provides top-notch service.
On a bluff overlooking the bay, this modest, Soviet-era hotel offers the best accommodations, amenities (including satellite TV), and food you're likely to find in the area. All rooms have bay views and small balconies. Decor is plain with bright floral-print drapes and spreads and blue walls.
Partially paid for by the Bulgarian government (it's named for a town in Bulgaria), this Soviet-inspired hotel has more than 200 rooms and plenty of amenities, and, quite frankly, looks better from the inside than outside. Rooms are bright and sparkly, but plainly decorated. For a lively atmosphere, head to the pool. For better-than-average Cuban specialties and frequent live-music performances, make a beeline for the main restaurant, Sofia—named after the Bulgarian capital, of course.
The setting is bucolic: you're at the foot of San Juan Hill and surrounded by trees and fields. Rooms here are styled like small villas. All are decorated in blue and have balcony and satellite TV. You can spend time by the rectangular pool, in the gym, on the pleasant terrace, or in the bar, which is open 24 hours and has live music in the evening.
Although it looks unkempt and institutional from the outside, this hotel is well maintained inside . The lobby is a little noisy (music blasts from speakers), but the rooms are bright and comfortable, decorated in anything from bland tans to stark chartreuses. All have satellite TV. The restaurant serves meals that are filling, if uninspired.
This 1950s-style complex in the town of Providencia rents rooms in 10 brightly colored cabins. Rooms are basic, but so are the rates here. The real attraction is the get-away-from-it-all atmosphere, and the fresh, cool air. You'll also find a bar, restaurant, and pool here.
This attractive complex gives you some peace and quiet outside the city on the road to Manzanillo. Rooms are brightly colored but incessantly plain, with beds, end tables, a mirror and little else. The rates can't be beat, though. The restaurant, El Tamarindo ($), is known for its roast pork. The property also has a bar, pool, and a discotheque.
If you like the idea of sitting in the shade on a rocking chair steps from a secluded, palm-lined beach, this guest house is perfect. The sands here are white, and the waters are protected by a cove. The house is simple, offering such basic comforts as a common TV lounge. As there are only a few rooms, you must make reservations well in advance through the nearby Hotel Castillo or any Gaviota office.
At this countryside inn on the outskirts of the city, you can stay in one of the hillside cabins or in the gracious Casa del Pancho, whose rooms have balconies. Accommodations here are plain but comfortable. Cabins or main buildings, you'll have a good view of the Holguín Valley from any room in this hotel. The on-site bar-restaurant, Taberna Pancho ($), serves decent fare.
At the edge of the Vista Alegre neighborhood are these accommodations in 12 one-storey houses, all former residences built in the 1940s and 1950s. A stay here is similar to a stay in a casa particular, except the houses are run by the state-owned Gaviota tour operator. Three to six rooms are available in each house; all are comfortable, bright, and well maintained. Rooms vary widely in size, so ask to see one before pouncing. The service is reliable.
Its rooms may be on the musty side with furnishings that have seen better days, but this is the starting point for trips into the Sierra Maestra. The modest cabins are along the bank of the Río Yara, and the friendly ambience and cool, fresh mountain air make for a pleasant stay. The basic bar-restaurant serves hearty meals: breakfast is likely to be fried eggs served with rice and beans, dinner may well be barbecued chicken—again, with rice and beans. You can hire guides here for trips to the Parque Nacional Turquino or go for a horseback ride along the river and on mountain trails.
