The hotel is very, very expensive compared to others, because it is the most recognized name in Havana, and Cuba makes most of it's money off tourists. If you want to stay in THE big luxury hotel in Havana, and have money to burn, this is it.

The Hotel Nacional has a gorgeous exterior and grounds, though the peacocks roaming the grounds are loud and obnoxious. The lobby is opulent, the halls are wide but plain, and the rooms are decent-sized and reasonably luxurious. But it is still Cuba, which means that the buffet breakfast is lackluster at best and inedible at worst; often I ate hard boiled eggs and guava paste wrapped in croissant dough, and that's all. There was a problem with the key card for one room out of the 15 or so in our group, which is pretty standard, but the hotel staff was utterly unable to remedy the situation for nearly an hour, which is ridiculous.

There is a safe in each room, a desk that makes change in the lobby (bring hundreds, leave most of them in the safe during the day, and each AM change your money for the day into tens and fives), and I am told there are 2 pools, though I never got to either of them. The staff in the lobby speak English.

We stayed here for 4 nights and loved our time here. The colonial style of the hotel was amazing and we found it very relaxing - during the day by the pool, or outside on an evening drinking Mojito's!

On one night we sampled the lobster in the restaurant which was beauitful and we were waited on hand and foot. We didn't have breakfast included but on the first morning we paid for it which was quite expensive for breakfast. We realised that the Cinema restaurant on the way to the swimming pool was cheaper for a full breakfast and the waiters were very friendly.

Although this hotel isn't in the old town, it's not expensive to get a taxi to and from - an excuse to get in an old American car or Coco taxi! We visited the NH Parque Central for lunch, and after we were pleased that we chose to stay at the Nacional instead, as the hotel feel was better, and the pool/sum lounge area was bigger.

During our stay we paid for the trip to The Tropicana Show out of town, which we though the dancers and acrobats were amazing and highly recomended. Although the Tropicana is the famous show, the hotel has a similar show, which after to speaking to other guests is apparantly equally as good.

We stayed here for 3 nights before going to Varadero. It is definately worth a stay here for the history alone. It was obviously the most fantastic hotel in its day but like most of Cuba its now faded and could do with a refurb. The rooms are quite basic but comfortable and we did catch one of the shows in the hotel club - which is worth doing. We didnt get to use the main restuarant as it was fully booked but the suckling pig in the smaller restaurant at the back of the hotel is very good and a lot cheaper.

One thing we did enjoy is the evening drinks out on the huge patio and out the back of the hotel a man takes you on a tour of the underground passages under the hotel, used during the revolution and hostilities with the US. We also did the day trips to old Havana and the cigar factories, which are very enjoyable but be warned you will be swamped by the locals for cash as soon as you leave the coach.

Overall - worth a stay and would probably stay again (wouldnt bother with Varadero though!!)

The Nacional is Havana at its best and worst. The wonderful historic hotel oozes charm and grace, but the staff need a more customer-service training. The facilities are beautiful and the many restaurants quite enticing. The BBQ kitchen on the lawn under a grass roof did a superb job with chickens. Under the lawn is an amazing bunker museum commemorating the expected invasion during the 1962 missile crisis. We chose a corner suite on the executive floor, so avoided having to wait in the lobby behind hordes of tourists for the slow check-in process. Instead, we went straight to the sixth floor, signed the register, and were shown directly to our room. Everything in the room worked correctly. The concierge was able to get us tickets to that night's performance in the Parisian club, so we caught the show for my birthday. Tickets are cheaper for guests of the hotel, and the performance is in my opinion better than the Tropicana's. The hotel is an easy walk to sites in the Vedado area, and a short ride from Old Havana. The view over the ocean is spectacular. In the basement is a cigar cellar where a former Partagas employee makes cigars just for the hotel. The hotel also sponsors many cultural events, and we had a chance to meet some fo the greats of Cuban music on our second night. The pool facilities recall the 1950s era, but are up-to-date and quite appealling.