I am a middle-aged woman, non Spanish speaker, traveling alone in Cuba. I arranged some accommodation through Pototo at Cuba Junky - a great way to do it, however, we had our wires crossed regarding Havana accommodation. When I arrived at the Viazul bus station in Havana, all I knew about my accommodation was that someone called Pepe was going to meet me. Even though I'd had no direct contact with Pepe and Ana, there he was, waiting for me! The angel!
I stayed two nights with Pepe and Ana, and agree with everything other tourists have said. Their home is very comfortable, attractive, spacious, airy, and secure (even an overnight security guard, though unnecessary, I thought. I felt no qualms at all about walking around the neighbourhood on my own). Havana is a noisy place, but the casa is on a cul-de-sac, so it's quiet. There is a market only four blocks away, a cadeca for changing money, a lovely church, and a chance to see a real Cuban neighbourhood. The casa is spotless and the meals delicious - great coffee and freshly squeezed orange juice with breakfast. Mmmmm! As an added bonus, because the casa has two large self-contained rooms for guests, I met very interesting people who were staying in the other room.
Both Pepe and Ana are lots of fun, speak pretty good English, and you honestly couldn't ask for more helpful and knowledgable hosts. Pepe let me accompany him to the market twice, arranged for a driver to take me downtown, and took me to the bus station himself when I left. I know he was going to wait the whole hour until he saw me safely off on the bus, except I told him I was okay.
Some of the interesting sights of Havana are within easy walkable distance of the casa.(the huge cemetery, Museo de Artes Decorativas, a cigar factory, John Lennon park) I walked right down 17th to the Malecon one day, visiting two sights on the same road, and ending up near the famed Hotel Nacional where you just have to have a mojito in the gardens out back overlooking the ocean. The trip back from downtown is 5-6 CUCs by taxi or coco taxi. Take a coco taxi at night. Going along the Malecon in the open air past Old Havana is fabulously romantic.
Anyway, I don't see where to rate individual aspects of my experience, but I'd give everything a 5, except location is a 4 since it's a bit far to be able to easily walk to Old and Central Havana. However, if you don't love staying with Pepe and Ana, I will be shocked! I'd go back in a flash!




