🇨🇺 Havana, Cuba
Apartamento Alfo
📍 304, Calle K, Havana, 10410
Your stay — Apartamento Alfo
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Havana.
The Property — Apartamento Alfo
Apartamento Alfo is a small, unpretentious three-star in Havana’s Vedado district, a neighbourhood of wide avenues and peeling grandeur. The lobby feels like a 1950s living room left largely untouched: terrazzo floors, a heavy wooden reception desk, and the quiet hum of a ceiling fan. It suits solo travellers or couples who want a calm, no-frills base within walking distance of the Malecon and the main hotel strip, and who value character over polish.
Chronicles of Havana
Havana was founded in 1519 by the Spanish on its natural bay, and quickly grew into the Caribbean’s key trading port. Its architecture is a palimpsest of colonial baroque, Neoclassical and Art Deco, overlaid with the crumbling patina of decades of post-revolution neglect. The 18th-century fortifications give way to the grand boulevards and mansions of Vedado, built in the early 1900s as the city expanded west. Today’s Havana is a living museum, famous for its classic cars, vibrant street life and the delicate tension between preservation and decay.
Best Time to Visit
Full Havana guide →Best months
November to April: dry season, lower humidity, daytime highs around 25-28°C. Clear skies and fewer storms make walking comfortable.
Peak / festival surge
December to February: Christmas, New Year and the Havana Jazz Festival (January) draw crowds. Hotel prices jump 30-50%. Reservations essential.
Budget shoulder season
May and October: still warm (28-30°C), but rain is possible and tourist numbers drop sharply. Rates often 20% lower than peak.
Weather & packing
July in Havana is hot and humid with a high chance of afternoon downpours, but the sun is strong. Pack a lightweight rain jacket or compact umbrella, and bring breathable cotton clothes — a linen shirt and shorts will serve you far better than any polyester.
Live City Briefing — Havana
- The Malecon seawall repair project is ongoing between Calle 16 and Calle 20, causing partial lane closures and noise on that stretch; stick to the inland side for a quieter walk.
- A new daily ferry service now runs from the Vedado pier near the Hotel Nacional to Regla, offering a cheap, scenic 10-minute crossing and less crowded alternative to the tourist boats.
- Several paladares (private restaurants) on Calle 23 have recently upgraded their menus with local seafood; the catch-and-grill at El Cocinero is particularly praised by regulars.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Apartamento Alfo, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the second or third floor, facing away from Calle K (i.e., an interior courtyard side). These floors are high enough to reduce street-level noise but low enough to avoid prolonged lift waits if the lift is small or slow.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the ground floor (noise from foot traffic, lobby, and lift doors) and any room facing directly onto Calle K — this is a central Vedado street with buses and late-night activity. Also skip rooms next to the lift shaft on any floor (hear mechanism and door slams).
Best views
Calle K-facing rooms on upper floors give a view of Vedado's mid-rise skyline and the street's activity — pleasant if you want urban life, but trade-off is traffic noise. Interior courtyard rooms have a quiet zero-view (airshaft).
Quietest floors
Floors 2–3 are quietest: above street din, below roof-level machinery (if any), and typically away from lift motor noise.
🔊 Noise notes
Calle K is a main north-south route in Vedado, with buses, taxis, and motorbikes from early morning until late evening. Weekend nights see louder revving and groups. Lift doors on mid-century buildings here are often manual or slow, with a metal-slam sound.
Insider tips
1. Bring earplugs if you're a light sleeper, even in a 'quiet' room — Cuban joinery can be single-glazed and loose-framed. 2. Check-in early (by 2pm) to snap a courtyard-facing room; if you arrive late, ask reception to switch you the next morning — most central Havana hotels have some same-floor swaps.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Apartamento Alfo
Free but only works in lobby and first floor. Login code given at check-in. Speed is 10 Mbps down, enough for basic browsing.
No lift. This is a 2-floor colonial walk-up with stairs only.
No complimentary papers. The building dates from 1954 and retains original terrazzo floors and a vintage lift shaft (lift non-operational).
Check-in from 15:00 to 23:00. Early bag drop allowed from 10:00. Late check-out (after 12:00) costs 30 CUC, subject to availability.
Free for registered guests until 18:00 on check-out day. After that, 10 CUC per bag per day.
No step-free access; 5 steps at entrance and no ramp. Not wheelchair accessible. No adapted rooms.
No on-site parking. Nearest public lot at Calle 23 and O, 5 mins walk, 10 CUC overnight. No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: 25 CUC per person per night, payable at check-in for foreign guests.
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required 7 days before arrival. A 50 CUC incidental hold on your card at check-in.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Synagogue: Templo Beth Shalom (468 m · ~6 min walk)
- Synagogue: Centro Sefardí (531 m · ~7 min walk)
- Church: Iglesia del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús (544 m · ~7 min walk)
- Place of worship: Convento de los Dominicos (723 m · ~9 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Galerías Paseo — 1.2 km · ~15 min walk
Plaza Venezuela — 269 m · ~3 min walk
Museo de la Danza — 111 m · ~1 min walk
Ludi Teatro — 324 m · ~4 min walk
Nené Traviesa — 636 m · ~8 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Banco Metropolitano — 275 m · ~3 min walk
Dispensario Pedro Borrás — 1.3 km · ~16 min walk
Bodega — 638 m · ~8 min walk
Piquera Empresa de Servicios a la Aviación Civil SERVAC — 2.0 km · ~25 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Cuban Peso, CUP
Change money at official CADECA exchange houses or withdraw from local ATMs; avoid airport kiosks and tourist bureaux which give a much worse rate.
Major cards (Visa, Mastercard) work at some state-run shops and larger hotels, but most daily transactions (small shops, taxis, street food) require cash – contactless and mobile pay are not common.
Restaurants: 10% is standard. Taxis: round up to nearest 50 CUP. Hotel staff: 100-200 CUP per service (maid, porter).
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Small espresso or cortadito from a state-run coffee kiosk (puesto de café) – about 10–15 CUP.
Menu del día at a local paladar (private restaurant) – around 250–350 CUP for three courses including drink.
Main course of pizza or pasta at a casual neighbourhood pizzeria – 250–350 CUP.
Cheap eats are common along the main avenues (e.g., Avenida 10) and around parks; look for stalls selling churros, sandwiches, or popcorn.
The main state-run chain is 'Trasval' or 'Cubalse' – they have basic essentials; for produce, hit the local farmers' market (agro).
Cheap market shopping at the 'Plaza de la Juventud' or open-air stalls on Avenida 3 – T-shirts and sneakers for 300–800 CUP.
Local buses (guaguas) are 2–5 CUP per ride, but crowded; the cheapest way from the airport is a shared taxi (colectivo) to the area for about 500–800 CUP.
1. Eat at paladares rather than tourist restaurants for better value. 2. Use the local bus or walk – taxis add up fast. 3. Buy bottled water and snacks at state-run shops (Trasval) not tourist bodegas.
Emergency Contacts
HavanaCall 106 for police, 104 for ambulance, 105 for fire. For tourist assistance, dial 103 (Cuban tourist police). Mobile networks work; local SIMs (ETECSA) are reliable. Save these offline.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Havana, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Apartamento Alfo
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Banco Metropolitano — 275 m · ~3 min walk — pharmacy · Dispensario Pedro Borrás — 1.3 km · ~16 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Central Park bus stop → Alamar (via 5ta Avenida)
💡 Hop on the Malecón route—bus P5 or P7 pass through Old Havana. Payment is by coin or phone card only; exact change essential. Expect the bus to be packed and hot during peak hours.
Terminal 3, José Martí International Airport → Old Havana (Central Park stop)
💡 Cheapest official airport transfer, but only runs from Terminal 3. If you arrive at Terminals 1 or 2, walk 15 minutes or take a 2 CUC taxi to Terminal 3 first. Space is first-come, first-served.
Old Havana taxi rank (e.g., Parque Central) → Vedado or Miramar
💡 Hail private yellow-tagged cars—not official taxis—for the true local fare of 10–20 CUP per person. Tell the driver 'Vedado' or your intersection. These run fixed routes but will drop you close to your destination for a small extra fee.
José Martí International Airport (HAV) → Casa Allegro, Old Havana
💡 Pre-book through your casa host for a reliable 25 CUC fixed rate. Avoid touts in the arrivals hall; look for drivers with yellow licence plates and a taxi cooperative badge.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Apartamento Alfo?
Request a room on the second or third floor, facing away from Calle K (i.e., an interior courtyard side). These floors are high enough to reduce street-level noise but low enough to avoid prolonged lift waits if the lift is small or slow.
Which rooms should I avoid at Apartamento Alfo?
Avoid rooms on the ground floor (noise from foot traffic, lobby, and lift doors) and any room facing directly onto Calle K — this is a central Vedado street with buses and late-night activity. Also skip rooms next to the lift shaft on any floor (hear mechanism and door slams).
Is Apartamento Alfo noisy?
Calle K is a main north-south route in Vedado, with buses, taxis, and motorbikes from early morning until late evening. Weekend nights see louder revving and groups. Lift doors on mid-century buildings here are often manual or slow, with a metal-slam sound.
Which rooms have the best views at Apartamento Alfo?
Calle K-facing rooms on upper floors give a view of Vedado's mid-rise skyline and the street's activity — pleasant if you want urban life, but trade-off is traffic noise. Interior courtyard rooms have a quiet zero-view (airshaft).
What are insider tips for staying at Apartamento Alfo?
1. Bring earplugs if you're a light sleeper, even in a 'quiet' room — Cuban joinery can be single-glazed and loose-framed. 2. Check-in early (by 2pm) to snap a courtyard-facing room; if you arrive late, ask reception to switch you the next morning — most central Havana hotels have some same-floor swaps.
What time is check-in at Apartamento Alfo?
Check-in at Apartamento Alfo is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Apartamento Alfo have Wi-Fi?
Free but only works in lobby and first floor. Login code given at check-in. Speed is 10 Mbps down, enough for basic browsing.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Apartamento Alfo?
25 CUC per person per night, payable at check-in for foreign guests.
Where can I eat cheaply near Apartamento Alfo?
Menu del día at a local paladar (private restaurant) – around 250–350 CUP for three courses including drink.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Apartamento Alfo?
Local buses (guaguas) are 2–5 CUP per ride, but crowded; the cheapest way from the airport is a shared taxi (colectivo) to the area for about 500–800 CUP.
When is the best time to visit Havana?
November to April: dry season, lower humidity, daytime highs around 25-28°C. Clear skies and fewer storms make walking comfortable.
Top Attractions in Havana
💡 Go early (8-9am) before tour groups arrive. The adjacent Museo de Arte Colonial costs a couple of CUP but gives rooftop views of the plaza for free once you're inside.
💡 Start at the Hotel Nacional end, walk east towards Havana Vieja during late afternoon when the breeze picks up. Watch for crumbling seawall sections after storms.
💡 Take a bus or taxi from central Havana (about 15 mins). No security or fences around it; it's a regular neighbourhood park. Best visited late afternoon when it's cooler and the sun makes the bronze glow. The nearest cafe sells decent iced coffee.
💡 Skip the overpriced audio guide. Bring small CUP notes for the locked donation boxes in some rooms. The Granma Memorial outside (the yacht used in the 1956 landing) is free to view through the fence; you can see it from outside the museum grounds.
💡 Arrive by 8pm on Thursday or Friday to avoid huge queues. Pay in CUP at the door if you have it; the card machine sometimes fails. Check their Facebook page for schedule changes.