I wish this Casa was replicated in every city in the world. This is a long review and it deserves it. It was the best place I have ever stayed. It has been described as "the most straight friendly gay Casa in Havana." I describe it as a friendly Casa which is also gay friendly and run by a gay man. Sexual orientation is just not an issue here. I was in Havana for two weeks for the International Ballet Festival with a party of 30 most of whom stayed at the Parque Central Hotel. On the first morning they were complaining about the queues for breakfast. At the Casa my breakfast was freshly prepared at whatever time I wanted it - 6.30am on the first morning, 7am on most days and whenever I woke up on three days. Staying in the red suite I could play music as loud as I liked whenever I liked on the bluetooth hifi speaker I bought with me. The Casa is not easy to find for the first time. It is very discretely hidden with no street sign - see photos. I had planned via email that I would phone Aleido when I arrived at the Inglaterra Hotel, just a short 1 1/2 blocks away, and someone would meet me and help me with my luggage. Alas, my UK SIM card which should have worked in Havana didn't. I ended up dragging too...I wish this Casa was replicated in every city in the world. This is a long review and it deserves it. It was the best place I have ever stayed. It has been described as "the most straight friendly gay Casa in Havana." I describe it as a friendly Casa which is also gay friendly and run by a gay man. Sexual orientation is just not an issue here. I was in Havana for two weeks for the International Ballet Festival with a party of 30 most of whom stayed at the Parque Central Hotel. On the first morning they were complaining about the queues for breakfast. At the Casa my breakfast was freshly prepared at whatever time I wanted it - 6.30am on the first morning, 7am on most days and whenever I woke up on three days. Staying in the red suite I could play music as loud as I liked whenever I liked on the bluetooth hifi speaker I bought with me. The Casa is not easy to find for the first time. It is very discretely hidden with no street sign - see photos. I had planned via email that I would phone Aleido when I arrived at the Inglaterra Hotel, just a short 1 1/2 blocks away, and someone would meet me and help me with my luggage. Alas, my UK SIM card which should have worked in Havana didn't. I ended up dragging too many cases up San Rafael asking "Donde esta la Casa Aleido?" - almost the only Spanish I knew. In the end I found some willing helpers who needed to be suitably over-rewarded. When I arrived I was greeted warmly by Aleido who was with a friend who spoke English. The room was re-assuringly cold from the air-con. In practice, in November, the air con was seldom needed and the variable speed fan on low power and the open balcony doors were sufficient. Although Aleido speaks no English, he does have Google translate on his computer and I had a wonderful off-line translation programme, IdiomaX, on my Kindle Fire (I couldn't find anything comparable for my iPad). The Casa is extremely secure with a double lock gate entrance which I believe is subject to discrete tv monitoring 24 hours a day. One day when I returned very tired and failed to lock the gate immediately, Aleido appeared right away to remind me how important it was to do so.The public area floors of the Casa are washed daily. One many days I didn't see the other guests. Aleido did arrange to introduce me to an international flautist and a Broadway choreographer who also staying. The location is perfect - close to Parque Square and the excellent and cheap Pasteleria Francesa and the Parque Central Hotel where you can get Wifi at 8 CUC an hour.
The Room. The red suite was enormous. You enter through your own dining area where dinner was served to me on one evening. The main room has two rocking chairs, two sofas, a generous arm chair, table, writing desk and more power points than anyone could need - and I need a lot.
There is a shower, lavatory and wash basin and, while you have to wait a little, hot water always arrives in the shower. You cannot dispose of paper down the lavatory but with the close proximity to the shower, I didn't find this to be a problem. Bring your own soap. The room is cleaned and the sheets are changed every other day.
The Food. Breakfast, 5 CUC, if you want can be cooked eggs and ham plus cheese, toast, butter, fresh juice, lots of good coffee and a plate of freshly prepared fruits - and served whenever you want. At 2pm one day I said I would like a dinner of vegetables at 6pm - it was served in my dining area and included a beautifully prepared and presented salad and a bean stew with rice - perfect. Dinner is 10 CUC and others told me the food is excellent with generous portions of whatever you want.
Other. Laundry is available and sometimes on the same day. There is no charge - whatever you choose to pay. I wasn't able to get a Cubacel SIM card at the airport and Aleido was able to help get a SIM for my stay and could have arranged to get a phone as well. I wanted an air conditioned taxi to take me to the airport and Aleido booked one for me at the designated time which came the the nearest corner to the Casa. Aleido's staff took my cases from the taxi to the Casa.
I think it is wrong to tempt staff by leaving valuables out. I travel with a lot of camera equipment. Sometimes I got lazy and left odd piece out and one day I left some (for me) small change out as well. Nothing went missing and I believe the staff are wholly trustworthy.More
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