This hotel really is beautiful and the rooms fabulous, which like other reviews say is welcome after trudging the streets, but unfortunately thats were it ends. It was spoilt for us by how unfriendly and unorganised the staff and service were.

We stayed here for three night on the end of our trip, we booked through the holiday place and had been put on a honeymoon package - if this had been our honeymoon I would have been very disappointed. We arrived late due to flight delays and sat for about five minutes before anyone even spoke to us.

Breakfast the next morning was like a rugby scrum as there was not enough on offer to accomodate the guest staying and there was not nearly enough places to sit. We didnt get asked if we wanted any coffee/tea and it was a very strange mix of food.

As part of our package we had a special dinner - I wish we hadnt bothered. When we arrived they had no idea we had booked this meal and they gave us the wrong menus so had to retake our orders, the starter was nice to be fair but they got our main wrong and gave us fish, we send it back and after ages our pork arrived which was so bland it could have been cardboard except the taste of fish it had! Clearly reused our other plates!

We found the front desk staff rather brisk and looked at us like we were mad if we asked a question! We were given champagne in the room but had to ask for glasses.

We also had a special breakfast with our package with never arrived when we ordered it for, I had to ring and remind them.

I know these things are pretty trivia but at the same time this is ment to be a 5* hotel and they are charging over £100 a night for rooms, therefore I think the little things do count. None of these ruined our stay but compared to the 4* hotel we had been staying at the service had a lot to live up too.

Spent five nights here as part of our honeymoon from March 25th and overrall we really enjoyed our stay at The Saratoga. Just remember a five-star hotel in Havana isn't five star anywhere else, although this is no reflection on the hotel or its staff!

The hotel has been lovingly restored - one taxi driver told us they spent three years on the project - and it is a beacon among the other crumbling beauty's on the edge of Habana Centro.

Sure there were a couple of minor faults if you really wanted to be picky, but it's hardly enough to ruin your stay.

The concierge Raul is a major drawcard here... he's only a young lad but always had great recommendations and loves a chat. In fact he was very surprised when I told him about how many people rave about him on the internet! Just remember to give him a nice little tip - he's off to London in June on his first overseas trip - and he was the only one in a week who tried to refuse one even though he earned it more than anyone else.

However he doesn't work Sundays (and took a Monday off when we were there) - take note because the other staff are pretty hopeless when it comes to recommendations. In fact on a couple of ocassions we were a little surprised at the impassiveness and disinterest we had from one of the check-in staff in particular ... although again all other staff were great.

The location is very good but just out of Old Havana, maybe just a five minute walk, but the rooftop views are superb and make for some great photos.

And yes breakfast isn't great - we even skipped it on one ocassion - although dinner and the tapas bar were more than adequate. But it's far better to go to a Paladar recommended by Raul and enjoy a better meal and a uniquely Cuban experience!

We just returned from a week in Havana, spending half of it at the Saratoga. After wandering around old Havana (and Vedado) we checked out all the hotels and decided hands down that the Saratoga was the best choice. If you want luxury (bathrobes, big comfy king size beds, amazing bathrooms with a double rain shower & deep bathtub etc.) this is the place for you. It's perfectly perched on the edge of Old Havana, close to everything and has all the amenities you would need. If you're looking for modern luxruy after spending the day in the heat/dirt/noise of Havana, this is the place to go.

We stayed here for the last 2 nights of our trip to Cuba. The hotel is beautifully restored, has a facinating history and is in a great location. Staff were friendly and helpful and the whole place has a very relaxed atmosphere. The room was lovely and the bed the most comfortable we slept in during our trip. The bathroom was amazing! The swimming pool bar on the roof (great pizza's) provides fantastic views, especially at sun rise and set. The food in the bars was good, but we found the restaurant downstairs overpriced and the food disappointing. Despite being a 5 star hotel, drinks etc. were reasonably priced. We stayed in other, more basic hotels throughout the trip, which were great, but if you want a little luxury- it's worth having a couple of nights here. This hotel is a haven in what can be a very busy and tiring city.