May 21, 2015
Airbnb listings boom in Cuba 1
There have been many articles about the growth of Airbnb since it started working the Cuban Market, however, nothing is really mentioned about the existing businesses that were already dealing with private rentals. Read here about one of this articles and we hope you draw your own conclusions.
One US business is booming under the Obama Administration???s new ties to Cuba and earning bipartisan support in the meantime. Airbnb, the online marketplace for home vacation rentals, expanded to Cuba in April under new US policies that opened business in a country that had been blackballed for more than 50 years.
Since then, Cubans have made available 1,000 home listings for rental for US visitors ??? a number that impressed Airbnb executives since it took three years to reach that same number in large markets like San Francisco and Berlin.
???Since we launched in Cuba little over a month ago, listings have doubled,??? Kay Kuehne, Regional Director for Airbnb in Latin America, said in statement to The Post. ???That???s a testament to the exciting and unprecedented growth we???ve seen in our host community in Cuba. It also speaks to the island???s long-standing tradition of hosting, given their existing network of ???casas particulares.??????
Read more at http://nypost.com/2015/05/20/airbnb-listings-boom-in-communist-cuba/
Check out some cool listings here:
Old Havana, Best Location – HAV151 in Habana
Apartment in Habana, Cuba. If you come to Havana, near Havana Vieja is where it should be. Our apartment is located on a quiet street, just three blocks from El Capitolio of Havana. We offer two very cozy rooms. Your arrival in our apartment begins with a welcome drink. We…
Hostal Florida Center – Santa Clara in Santa Clara
House in Santa Clara, Cuba. You will enjoy a friendly atmosphere at Hostal Santa Clara , our casa particular in Santa Clara, Cuba. We offer one air-conditioned bedroom with colonial style furniture and hot/cold water bathroom in our colonial house.
November 13, 2015 @ 3:17 am
Don’t know your price range but assume you’re tnlaikg about Spring Break. Most of the hotels in Havana only include breakfast. Hotel prices range from moderate to expensive. The Inglaterra in Old Havana goes for about $40 per person per night for a triple. Plaza Hotel in Old Havana is slightly more upscale and similar in price. Both are nice hotels but neither have swimming pools. Hotel Capri and Riviera are similarly priced and on the Malecon Promenade. Both a bit tired. The Nacional is the elegant old classic overlooking the Malecon that re-opened about ten years ago. About $65 pp a night for a triple. Terrific surroundings and close to the restaurants and bars. Havana Libre is in the same area, slightly more tired. Melia Cohiba is on the Rampa, close to the Nacional, like a Hyatt Regency, very upscale with bars and restaurants. They host a lot of conventions. Very elegant. Nice place to hang out. They have a showroom and disco. Showroom has a seaplane hanging from the ceiling and a couple of classic cars in the bar. Triple runs about $70 a night pp. Don’t stay at the Kholy Bosque. It’s one of the cheapest but you get what you pay for.There are plenty of inexpensive restaurants in Old Havana in the streets off the Cathedral Square. El Patio is always busy as it is a good place to people-watch. Food is okay but nothing exceptional. Nice place to have a drink. Chinatown is pretty good too and not expensive but you’ll never find it on foot. You’ll have to take a taxi. A lot of small restaurants that won’t break the budget. The restaurants that I go to with my Cuban friends? El Aljibe in Miramar, holds about 200 people, always packed, a flat fee of $12 for chicken, rice, beans and salad. Novelty is that once you finish you can order the same meal again and it’s all included in the original $12. If you take a Cuban girl there she’ll bring a plastic bag with her to take the second meal home to her mother. Flor de Loto (Lotus Flower) is a great Chinese restaurant that serves the most wonderful seafood for under $10. Always packed and you will have to make a reservation but the food is worth it. La Mina in Old Havana has wonderful surroundings with tables in the plaza, two indoor rooms and a courtyard inside with strolling peacocks. I’ve hosted seven people there for $130 and the food was very good. They also have a small band. El Bodequita del Medio is a tourist trap. Okay for a drink if you’re a sardine. Food is nothing out of the ordinary. Floridita used to be Hemingway’s old hangout but it’s all mirrors and red tuxedoes now and looks like an upscale gay bar. Food is dreadful. If you’re planning on flying to Cuba through Nassau, which is the best way to go, return fare is around $240. Package deals can be purchased from Havanatur (Tel: 242-393-5282.) Be aware of US restrictions on travel to Cuba. Cuban visas are supplied in Nassau and nothing is stamped in your passport. Have you thought about going to Varedero instead of Havana? It has the beaches, the bars and is much more tourist oriented. Also a lot more expensive I must add. About three hours from Havana.