Stayed at Parque Central as a three day prelude to a beach holiday. Through business and leisure I have stayed at some wonderful hotels, this is up there with the best. In view of the rest of the city and ir's culture probably ranks as the best. It has all been said before but a couple of pointers to asist travellers.
Ask for a high floor seven or above the views are spectacular. The food in the hotel(both restaraunt and bar meals) are far superior to the so called best restaraunts in the city. If you have opportunity take an hour out and relax by the pool. Compared to the touristy places no more expensive for drinks. Avoid the taxis carts and offers of tours stroll everywhere city is safe and friendly by day and evening. Try the nearby local bars in the streets called O'Rielly and Obispo that have local bands, they're cheap friendly and great fun. Bring your own currency there is a 11 per cent surcharge on travellers cheques and credit cards even if not connected to USA. Exchange cash at the banks better rate than Hotels, enough banks as you stroll around.

My daughter and I stayed at the Parque Central January 2 to January 6. We were delighted with our rooms: large, clean, nicely furnished, and the hotel compared favourably in all respects with any we have stayed at in the U.S. and Canada.

The location was perfect for walking around the Old City. Minutes from the Capitolio and the National Theatre, where we lucked into tickets for the world-renowned Ballet Nacional. Around the corner to the Prado where, on a Saturday afternoon, we looked at dozens of outdoor art exhibits on our way to the Malecon, the market and the Cathedral Square. Across the park to Obispo, where we did the 'Hemingway thing' at La Floridita. (A 6 peso daquiri, but worth the visit to say we were there and get one's photo taken with an arm around Ernie's bronze shoulders). What you can't see by walking around the area you can see on a City bus tour, which picks up at the hotel.

The only advice I would provide to others is to change some money at the airport when you arrive. You can change money at the hotel but it seems that a flood of people arrives early afternoon, many of them without any CUCs, which can mean long waits at the exchange office, which isn't open continuously through the day (or wasn't when we went there).

All in all, the Parque Central was the right choice for us. We would recommend it to others.

Having stayed at the Saratoga, the Hotel Nacional and the NH, I have positives and negatives concerning each of those hotels. The NH is quite central (not IN Habana Vieja, but CLOSE to). Location is better than the Saratoga (altough both of them claim to be next door to the Capitolium, they are in opposite ends of the monument - being the NH in the nicer end). The NH is older than the Saratoga (and you can see that clearly in the rooms: lack of painting, older furniture and bathroom). Mattress is VERY hard compared to the other 2 hotels. Still, pricewise (especially if you do some research - I ended up paying about USD 150 per night for a double room with breakfast) it is much more reasonable than the Saratoga. For that price they gave us a standard room on a high floor with a beautiful view and arranged breakfast the next morning for an extremely early flight. Nice hotel but did not impress me that much to be rated number 1 in Cuba.

Location, location, location and a great roof top pool. If only the staff could smile....