Page 129 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

Practical Information ❮❮ 127

Shopping a tremedous increase Very few hotels have
in the number of casas facilities for the disabled,
Rum and cigars are readily particulares, including although recently built or
available, but should be many relatively deluxe renovated hotels usually
bought only in state-run homes, some of which have at least one room
Casa del Habano outlets, can be rented in their that is equipped for dis-
some of which are entirety and may have abled travelers. Cuban
attached to Havana’s as many as five or more society is very caring
factories that make cigars bedrooms. Home-cooked towards disabled people,
for export. Do not buy meals are often available and hotel managers will
cigars from jineteros for a little extra. Most try to make their stay as
(touts) on the street; their casas particulares will comfortable as possible.
wares will almost certainly accept unmarried couples. Tipping is customary
be fakes or flawed. Licensed room rentals for hotel staff, although it
Cuban music CDs can be are identified by an official is at your own discretion.
bought at ARTex stores, blue marker resembling Tip porters CUC$1 per
often to be found in hotel an inverted anchor. bag carried to your room.
lobbies, but touts also sell In Havana, rentals range If you leave CUC$1 daily
bootleg copies of variable from CUC$25–60 per in your room you are
quality on the street. room per night, depending less likely to experience
Opening hours for on quality. Homes rented theft of personal items
state-run tiendas (stores) in their entirety typically by housekeepers.
are typically 9am–5pm, range from CUC$100–400 Most large tourist hotels
although some stay open nightly. In the provinces have adequate parking
longer. On Sundays, shops such rentals are consid er- facilities for rental cars.
close at 1pm. ably cheaper, with some However, smaller inner-
budget properties for as city hotels and casas
Accommodation low as CUC$15 per room particulares rarely do. In
per night. such cases, enquire about
Quality varies markedly at Almost every hotel and a secure parking lot that
all-inclusive hotels, but in casa particular offers air is well guarded, to ensure
general you get what you conditioning. Large tourist the safety of your vehicle.
pay for. The buffet may hotels have a back-up
get monotonous, and generator, but smaller DIRECTORY
alcohol is limited to hotels will often suffer
national brands of rum blackouts. Some hotels SHOPPING
and beer, with watered- also have ceiling fans, and ARTex
down wine for dinner. casa particular owners will ∑ artexsa.com/tiendas
In theory, everything is usually provide a standing Casa del Habano
included in your room fan if you request one. ∑ lacasadel
rate, but check in advance Most hotels can be habano.com
to see what extra charges booked online through
may apply. In general, the state-run hotel chain ACCOMMODATION
those managed by foreign websites, although it is Airbnb
companies are of a higher usually more reliable ∑ airbnb.com
standard than the locally to use the websites of Iberostar
managed all-inclusives. foreign hotel chains, such ∑ iberostar.com
Renting a room in a as Iberostar and Meliá, Meliá
private home (see p133) which manage the hotels. ∑ meliacuba.com
is rewarding for visitors Many casas particulares MyCasaParticular
who want to experience have their own websites, ∑ mycasa
everyday Cuban family and/or are represented by particular.com
life. Conditions at casas websites such as Airbnb
particulares can be fairly and MyCasaParticular.
simple, but the cost is Since 2015, licensed US
less than hotels, and the travelers may now legally
experience is authentic. use such websites to
Recent years have seen make reservations.

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