I travelled all round Cuba in August 2003 and spent the last night of my holiday in this hotel.

My first impressions were of an impressive American style 1930's hotel and walking into the reception you are greeted by a long hall with chandeliers running the length of it.

Things took a turn for the worse with our room, however because it was poorly decorated and the bathroom was in need of serious attention.

Also the air conditioning doesn't work very well and my camcorder had condensation on it after leaving it in the room which hadn't happened anywhere else in Cuba.

We kept our room for the next day (and paid through the nose for the priviledge) because our flight wasn't until 11pm.

There are two swimming pools at the hotel but neither of them are great because they're not very clean.

In short I wouldn't consider using this hotel again if I was back in Havana. The hotel Sevilla is much nicer and also cheaper.

The only thing that did pique my interest was that two members of the Buena Vista Social Club were playing there on the Saturday night. Sadly this was the night we were due to leave Cuba so we couldn't see them.

I just got the impression that the hotel was only famous because of it's past, not it's present.

Just returned from 2 weeks in Cuba and spent the first 4 nights in the Nacional. We just loved it. All the public areas are stunning and brimming over with historical significance. Get talking to the staff and learn a bit about the place. The guy who staffs the museum in the grounds told us loads and loads. We even got to hear on of the Buena Vista Social Club sing there! We saw the Cabaret Parisien which was good but not exceptional. The buffet breakfast was good but the buffet dinner was average. Great burgers by the pool though! To be honest the room we stayed in on the 3rd floor did not live up to the grandeur of the rest of the hotel. Spectacular view over the hotel garden and out to sea and old Havana. The room was comfortable but looked as if it had seen better days! We visited other hotels, some had more luxurious rooms but none was as beautiful as ours nor as full of history. I can now say I have stayed in the same hotel as the likes of Churchill, Sinatra, Errol Flynn, The duke and duchess of Windsor, Nat King Cole, John Wayne, need I go on!!!!!

The only reason this hotel doesnt get 5 stars are the rooms which are actually fine but coulldnt be called fivestar. Staying here was possibly the best part of my holiday, people come from all over the island to visit and take pictures, the hotel is by all accounts the most famous in Havana. The a la carte restaurant is undoubtedly the best thing about this hotel, forget Floriditas which is ok but overpriced, our party spent the same money in this restaurant and had better food and more drinks. The surroundings are also much more impressive. If I was to go back to Cuba I would undoubtedly stay at this hotel again.