My Husband and I stayed here for 1 night in May, the hotel is magnificent, the parisien show is also worth a visit. The breakfast was terrible the service in the buffet was dreadful, the waitresses could not be bothered to clear the tables, and it was a problem when you wanted a clean knife and fork. Overall the staff at the hotel were the least friendly we have ever come across and we have been to Cuba four times. Also we had some basic bits stolen from our room, which we know was the maid. We hired a safe, luckily enough for our valuables but did not expect to have childrens sweets that we had taken for the children in Havana to be stolen.

A lovely hotel and superb grounds with alot of Cuban culture but unfortunately let down by the staff and service.

We stayed at the Hotel Nacional de Cuba in Havana for three nights in early April, in one double and one single room.

The main reason for writing this review is to allay any fears people may have concerning the standard and upkeep of the hotel. Having read a number of critical reviews, we were pleasantly surprised to find it well-kept, with gorgeous grounds and very friendly staff.

It is of course a 'national monument' and many of the original features have been preserved since the hotel opened in 1930. This includes the floor, so understandably it is not in pristine condition! Nor, however, is it falling apart and it was a real privilege to take a step back in time and experience a piece of Cuba's history, from the opulent reception area to the original lifts!

The rooms are very large and clean, with even the single room containing a double bed. They're well furnished, with writing desk, lamps etc. in a classic, 'old fashioned' style.

For a further taste of '30s Havana, we can highly recommend the hotel's 'Parisienne' show, which was spectacular and rivalled that at the Club Tropicana (which we can also recommend!). Another 'must-do' is the hotel's guided tour, which is free apart from tips and provides a good opportunity to learn more about the hotel and its famous past guests.

We did find the main restaurant to be a little expensive, so ate instead in the cafe, which had a good selection of food and an interesting 'film star' backdrop!

The staff are very professional and helpful, and the grounds truly beautiful, with exotic flowers and fantastic views. Perfect for relaxing with an evening Daiquiri! There are two swimming pools, which are decently sized and a lovely way to cool off in the hot Cuban sun.

In short, if you are looking for a modern hotel in the centre of Havana, then the Nacional probably isn't for you. It is, however, only a short taxi ride into the centre (taxis wait just outside the hotel - make sure you take one with a blue numberplate) and if you'd like a first-hand experience of some 1930s Havana then it's highly unlikely you'll regret staying here.

We loved the Nacional and you should have seen the jealous looks we got from people just visiting the hotel on excursions! The staff are very friendly and helpful, contrary to what some people on here say (you must have been rude to the staff for them to be anything but friendly!). The hotel is elegant and beautiful, it's like being transported back in time. The rooms are a little dated, but they are very clean and comfy so no complaints at all and certainly no thefts. The amazing garden bar makes the best pina coladas we tasted on holiday and the bar staff were great. The breakfasts are good, with the best fresh fruit selection in Cuba I'd say and my boyfriend highly recommends the salt beef in the garden restaurant.

The gym is also good for a holiday hotel, despite the lack of air-con.

I would go back to the Nacional time and time again. It was also great value as the price we paid through our operator was only about a third of the normal cost per room.

Please ignore some of the negative reviews on this site - I really don't know what people expect from Cuba, but you must realise that a 5 star hotel there is perhaps not a 5 star here, but the Nacional really is lovely. Who would want to stay in a character-less modern eyesore when you can stay somewhere that is the real thing.

Stayed at the nacional in May 2009 and despite knowing that havana would be different to many other similar starred hotels elsewhere was very disappointed. The room smelled of damp, the air con stank as well. Food was awful and over priced for what it was. Staff were surly and unhelpful except when holding their hands out for tips.

The terrace bar is great, especially with the regular live music, really enjoyed that and not much more. From there moved on to Varadero where, despite the lower expectations of Cuban hotels was very pleased with the hotel.

Would definately recommend that you look elsewhere, Not been looked after at all, this place needs a major refurb, then it might be ok