The most frightening part of a stay at this hotel wasn't the dodgy blood-like stains all over the bedding, cold food, the over-crowded, dirty restaurant, the triffid-like mould in the bathroom in the room, the broken and dirty toilet seat that meant you had to hover as far away as possible, the unfriendly staff or the mouldy, cat pee smell that pervaded all of the communal areas – it was the lifts. An appalling overnight stay as part of a trip booked through our First Choice reps aptly ended with us being stuck in one (thanks to three pushy Canadians who obviously got fed up of waiting for a lift and so over-loaded ours). The emergency button didn't seem to work and when we used the phone to alert staff to the problem, we were put on hold – complete with music! I know that there was a problem with language but we did know the Spanish word for lift and how many other reasons can there be for calling from inside one - we hardly wanted to comment on the decor, did we? In fairness, the lift did manage to find a floor and open its doors after only about ten minutes but it was scary nonetheless and we never did find out if hotel staff had a hand in getting us out or not.
As for the rest of the problems, we told our First Choice reps about them (as did another couple on the trip) and we were given a ten per cent refund. Thanks Yadelis and Tanya!
One more thing – yes, the view from our room was great - with the balcony doors open. Closed, we couldn't see a thing when the sun shone because of the dirt!

We stayed here as part of our Havana overnight trip from Varadero. The trouble is, many of the other Havana trips stay here too and all arrive at the same time so there is a big queue for check in and the lifts are a joke! There are 6 but only 3 worked while we were there. They fit about 7 in each and the hotel is 25 storeys high. You can imagine trying to get to your room with 100 other people who have just checked in - it took ages!

Coming down for breakfast and dinner was just as bad - I would allow at least 15 minutes for the lift to come, then stop at every other floor on the way up, then stop at every floor on the way down, including the one you came from!!

Food is okay, but everything is self service, even coffee at breakfast, which at our hotel in Varadero was served to your table. There was a lack of meat at breakfast, and eggs weren't replenished, so we just ended up with croissants as some of the other stuff was more evening meal food than breakfast!

I wouldn't stay at this hotel again. The lobby is all very spacious and showy, and the rooms are good, but when it takes you 15 minutes in a boiling hot lift to get to them, it's not worth it!

I went to Havana with Kuoni and, after reading reviews of the hotel, I was expecting the worse. I had a very large room with glass outside wall on 21st floor. Fantastic views over city and voltures fly a few metres away. I am very fussy about cleanliness and food, but I had no complaints at the Libre. The room was clean, the food was good too. It costs 1peso per day for the safe and 3 pesos to Old Havana by taxi, but you can walk in abt 30 minutes. Only problem, the lifts are slow particularly at breakfast. If I went back to Havana, I would return to same hotel.

Great location. Can be expensive, they even charge you 2 cuban convertible pesos per night to use the safe in your room, not average, cost nothing in Varadero, staff all friendly and helpful though.
Tropicana trip well worth paying for.
Havana is poor and third world so be prepared!
The pool is great, the restaurant is not good, but the bar food is fine and so is the breakfast buffet.
Great views from the hotel rooms.