Recently stayed for a week at the O'Farrill in Old Havana.
Overall a decent hotel with very pleasant common areas.
PRO'S:
-Free breakfast every day (which I didn't know about until I figured it out by accident) although somewhat mediocre food that kept looking very familiar each day. Great coffee and juice. They'll make you eggs/toast/etc if you ask.
-Lobby is dramatic and pleasant, see other reviews
-In-room sat TV with some English channels was helpful and a welcome break after struggling to understand Spanish all day
-Great A/C in the rooms
-Wondeful maid service
CON'S:
-At first I was placed in a dark, dank room with no windows and a leaky bathroom and mildewy smelling ventilation. MAKE SURE they will accomodate you with a window room if this is important to you, it took me a day to get transferred out into a much nicer alternative.
-This is an intense urban experience. There are peoples homes just outside your window, and there is some significant volume in the evenings (dogs, music, yelling). (see photo from hotel window). The security felt adequate, but for this is not the typical experience for a hotel stay.
OVERALL:
-Havana was not my favorite destination, but this was a work trip
-Beware the food and water-- I enjoyed a serious case of food poisoning that made me wish I would die for about 12 hours... Consider bringing the standard therapies (Pepto, Immodium, ?Cipro)
-Enjoy the Malecon which is the seaside walk, right outside the hotel door (OK, one block away...). Just beautiful.
-I would not stay again, but not for any one particular reason, I just felt there were other choices that suit my tastes better
-There is no wireless internet in Havana, don't bother looking
-Hotel has $6 US/hr internet, but it's slow


(12 votes)





