I am not a moany old git but here are the facts.
The foyer is fantastic with old style gated lifts which give the building a great nostalgic feel.
However you don't of course sleep in the foyer.
We were brought by the bellboy(tip expected of course)to a damp smelling floor and room on the 5th floor.The room was pokey and smelled worse.
We didn't unpack and returned to reception who in fairness gave us a much better room on the 7th floor.
Try and insist on a room with a view of the Malecon (Sea).
The main problem which is also what others found in our group is that the air conditioning was faulty.You think's it's because you don't know how to operate it since it only works with the hotel key card inserted.My unit kept dripping throughout the night on to the floor.This is why there's a damp smell on the floors we visited since clearly the build up of water creates a musty smell.They definitely need to upgrade the system.However the chambermaid couldn't work it either so you can imagine how hot and stuffy it becomes.
The shower unit was crap and the hot water was sporadic.
Another member of our group called out someone in the night and had to wait over 3 hours.
The other gripe is why rip us off by charging $2.50 for a small bottle of water when in the shops a large bottle would cost 50c.So don't buy any water in the Hotel bring a full bottle and plonk it in the mini bar.
They're paranoid about the mini bar which we didn't use but they maide sure their maid waited for us untilwe departed at 5.50 pm inspected the same.It's about $50 more to stay on till 6.00pm if you have an evening flight.
Use the bank on the first floor which gives a good rate but if you change back to Sterling before you depart they will only pay dollars which I found confusing since I thought dollars were banned.Does Fidel know and approve!
This meant I would incur a double currency charge in order to change the dollars to Sterling in the UK.
Don't walk too far you'll end up sweating etc.Best part of Havana is the Old Town so get a taxi there everyday which unlike the hotel is near to the main sites.

The Nacional is an amazing building but the rooms themselves although immaculate and cleaned daily are a disappointment. I stayed there for a week at the end of July while in Cuba shooting an advert with work. The hotel was booked for us because it was convenient for the shoot but if I was going back I'd look into it a bit more. Perhaps everywhere in Havana would be much the same since so many of the business (including the Nacional) are still government run.

My main issue with the hotel was that during the 40 degree heat of the day I would really look forward to going back into my hotel room (with it's Air Conditioning) to cool down but unfortunately that just didn't happen. I had the Air Con on full blast day and night for the whole week we were there and I still had to keep the curtains in the room shut most of the time as the sunshine streaming in warmed up the room so much. The Air Con just didn't really work that well, felt more like the way a room feels when you only have a fan.

Before we went I heard lots of scary things about the hotel incl security risks, the Air Con stinking of raw sewage, etc etc. I just made sure my suitcase and anything valuable was always locked up if I was out for any length of time.

DON'T order the room service or eat any of the other food in the hotel - it all stinks! Really, really poor quality - makes McDonald's seem quite tasty. There are some amazing restaurants in Cuba including the fabulous La Guardia, where Fresa Y Chocolate was filmed. Also try La Cocina de Lilliam.

See my photos for pics of the hotel, i will upload separately.

I stayed 3 nights at the Nacional with my boyfriend in early May and we both loved it! It is further from central Havana than some of the other Hotels (about 1km), but this is more than made-up for by the atmosphere of the hotel itself. We popped into the NH Parc to enjoy some air-conditioning after walking around the city and although it is very nice, its the same as any other 5 star hotel and could be anywhere. There's a lot more history with the Nacional and a lot of famous people have stayed there in the past (plus the band Audio Slave were staying there at the same time as us - my boyfriends a big fan).

The rooms are fairly basic, but ours was perfectly clean and I found the staff very helpful and polite. The outside bar is a wonderful spot to get over the jet-lag in very comfortable sofas over a few mohitos.

I wouldn't recommend tackling the walk into town without water (in the heat it feels a lot further than it actually is!) - but it's a great excuse to try out all the different types of transport - old convertible cadillac, horse and cart & coco-taxi - all wonderful! and none too expensive as long as you haggle a little first.

Theres a restaurant about 2 blocks away from the hotel (I can't remember the name) on something like the 18th floor which has incredible views of the entire city and also the Nacional - highly recommend a romantic sunset dinner.

I would definately stay here if I return to Havana!

Hello,

I thought maybe I had lost 100 euros from the saving box in the way from Nacional Cuba to varadero, but thinking a lot of it, reviewing carefully al our movements an reminds, the result is tha between 100 and 150 euros were stolen from our saving box, and if you see the reviews, I am not the only one (curiously, never CUCs, only foreign money?). Room 554.

And my wife, during a walk from our room to the lift, saw a maid tnat should be making the room, looking inside a private suitcase. ¿Is this normal?