we loved this boutique hotel contrast with the city was amazing
enjoy wonderfull sunsets at the roof pool looking the capitol
modern trendy lobby and good rooms
not expensive and small size definitely our kind of property
walking distance to everything in downtown havana
stayed 4 days before one week in iberostar varadero really enjoy the trip and kids too

Ok, I've been to Cuba and Havana many many many times, so here is some preamble before you read the hotel review, especially for first time Havana visitors....

You will be going to a third world, very poor, very dirty city with a tropical climate. If you go mental if there is a fly in the buffet, or if they run out of eggs in the buffet and dont replace them instantly, or if there is a spec of dirty on your cutlery, or a chip on the coffee cup, or the table clothe has a stain, or the streets are dirty and full of pot holes, or if its hot and humid, or if well meaning kind locals chat you up and ask you if you want to buy some cigars, or the taxi doesnt have air conditioning, or the weather is unpredictable and you get a surprise 1 hour rain shower - or anything like that - then I suggest either you stay home in your fuzzy slippers on your well worn lazy boy watching Corrie or you choose a destination like Paris, London, New York, Montreal, etc - where I have encountered all the above anyway ! LOL

Now the people - I've walked every side street of Havana late at night with expensive camera equipment, watch, glasses etc and have never been bothered. There are LOTS of police everywhere, but the crime rate is lower in Havana than any international city of the same size. Doesnt mean you should temp fate though - be smart - but enjoy. You WILL have local people draw your picture, sing, play music etc for you and kindly ask for some small tip. Yes it could get annoying if its frequent - get over it (see fuzzy slipper comment above). Give them 1-3 pesos and you'll make their day. If you spend 50 CUC in a week as such, get over it.

If you fly in to Havana airport, there are 2 money change areas just where you exit for the taxi. Line up, change more than you think you'll need (especially if you come back) and make sure you get LOTS of small 1, 3, 5 CUC bills for tips etc. Taxis are well organized, 25 CUC flat rate to the city, give taxi 28, dont be cheap.

They will try to sell you cigars. Dont bother, just say you dont smoke etc. Prices are controlled so buy cigars at one of the cigar factories (partagas in front of your hotel) that sell all brands, or just get at duty free at airport on way home - duty free has all the brands and rum etc.

Just because they are poor and dont speak perfect English (many do) does not mean they are stupid. They have one of the highest literacy rates in the world and the highest number of (good) doctors per capita. Treat them as such, you'll enjoy talking to them, dont be afraid!

Hotel was close to Barrio Chino (Chinatown) food ok but go somewhere for Cuban food - lots of prostitutes chatting you up at dinner there. They are polite, low pressure, but resist the temptation!

You can walk to the water (Malecon), Plaza Veija, Plaza Armas, etc from your hotel or take a taxi. Taxies are cheap - if metered, if not, establish price up from, give a tip. Try a coco & bike taxis !

You need to take a taxi - but go to Plaza de la Revolution and go up the tower. From there, take taxi to Cemeterie Cristobal Colon - you can spend a few hours there, bring camera - its amazing!

Along the water you can see El Morro fort/lighthouse and at 9pm they fire the canons once. You can go over by way of taxi thru the tunnel - you can walk around and there is a restaurant.

-- HOTEL etc --
I prepaid for room from Canadian travel agent, breakfast included, garden view. I paid CAD$771 incl taxes, feees, charges, etc for everything for 4 nights.

The breakfast is ok, might as well get it, its clean, fairly well stocked with meats, eggs, salmon, breads etc etc. Good Cuban coffee, juice etc.

The reception was fast and efficient. Bring printoutS of you confirmation as they'd like to take one for their records. Room was GREAT - large, clean, big bed, good tv, mini-bar, good closets, GREAT safe that I could store lots of camera equipment, washroom had great shower, lots of hot water, separate bath, toilet, bidet, large really nice new sink. I have no complaints about room or maid service. They do occasionally knock or even come in even if the do not disturb sign is on, but oh well, get over it. The vew wasof a glass dome over a restaurant so not so great but you can open the drapes or doors to let light in. Air cond was good. Was not noisy at night like some have said.

I didnt not eat in the restaurant other than breakfast but the restaurants seems good, the bars as well. I ate on the street, more fun.

Pool is GREAT. Clean, fresh, sufficient chairs, good bar, great views, watched the sun set ! Towels are good, soft, clean and free.

I know Havana very well and this hotel local was great. right by Capitol Building as a map/visual reference point. You can walk everywhere from here. Hotel Nacional is fancier and more upscale glamour, but its FAR from centreal/old Havana. From a local point of view - Seville, Ingleterre, Parc Central where all close by and seemed ok too.

Check out was very easy, just paid for the min-bar items with cash, they checked to room to make sure i didnt steal towels etc and i was good to go in taxi back to airport, easy! 25 cuc flat rate back to airport, 20 cuc departure tax, AFTER you check in. Lots of duty free shops at airport after security around the gates. Restaurants too. And you can smoke in the airport, how cool is that! You can smoke anywhere in Cuba by the way.

I was entirely happy with the Saratoga and would clearly stay there again without hesitation.

Enjoy, questions, ask !

I tend to agree with the previous review ("really good for Cuban standards") but disagree with the other one ("best choice for Havana"). I stayed at the NH, the Saratoga and the Hotel Nacional. Concerning the price/benefit relation, the Saratoga disapointed me the most (at USD 400 plus a night for a double without breakfast, it was very overpriced for what I got). It is really cute: interesting and modern design, charming bar on the second floor and decent (yet overpriced) restaurant on lobby level. It lacks infrastructure for a hotel that claims to be a 5 star. The lobby is minimal and unimpressive (reception is 3 desks in one end of the very small lobby). Check in tends to be claustrophobic when there is more than a couple of guests checking in or out or exchanging money. It claims to be centrally located and, although next door to the Capitolium, it is located in the seedy part of that (NH has a better location).
Bedroom looks exactly like the pictures (even the size of it: I got a Jr. Suite and my room was smaller than the standard room at the Hotel Nacional and about the sime size as the standard room at the NH). Still, it is VERY new. Bathroom was -at least visually- what impressed me the most: beautiful - yet not functional: overflooding in the first shower my husband took.
Unless you get a great rate, it is not worth spending the money they ask for it.

All Cuban hotels need to be reviewed in the context of other Cuban hotels rather than their counterparts elsewhere in the world. With this in mind, Hotel Saratoga is great and I would stay here again if coming to Havana.

We were upgraded to the Jnr Suite (room 704) on the 7th floor. The room was big, clean and had a comfortable bed with stylish interiors. The shower was good but you needed a few attempts to flush the toilet. There were windows overlooking the street below and you could watch Havana life go by. It was a little noisy with the traffic (windows were not double glazed) but I am a very light sleeper and managed to sleep through without earplugs.

I did return for 1 night and was in a room on the interior of the second floor which overlooks the mezzanine bar. You can hear the music as if you were in the bar and the band plays until 11pm. When I asked to change rooms I was told the only room available was on the second floor and it was exactly the same. I went to speak to the manager and low and behold a room on the 5th floor was free - great as I had to get up at 4am for an early flight. I would definately ask for a room on the 4th floor or above to avoid the noise from the lobby if you will be having early nights.

The rooftop pool area was great for a pre dinner drink and they make the best Dacquiris we had in Cuba, and we had quite a few. I agree with previous reviews that the service isn't great up here - it's quicker just to go to the bar and order yourself.

Breakfast was diverse but service & food not great; there seem to be loads of staff meandering around but you need to set yourself on fire to get their attention. We found this the case in most places we ate in Cuba so I think this is the norm. We ordered eggs benedict one morning that were bought without the hollandaise sauce. When we asked where is was the kitchen told us they didn't have any.

We had dinner there on the first night and it was pretty average. You would do much better at El Templete and it is definately worth making a booking at La Guarida.

Reception staff were fine but not overly friendly. Bellboys and doormen were great & really nice.

Overall, a good hotel by Cuban standards and worth paying the extra money.