Your stay — Casa Aba
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The Property — Casa Aba
Casa Aba is a no-frills three-star in Havana's Vedado district, offering clean, air-conditioned rooms in a converted mid-century apartment building. The lobby feels like a faded 1950s waiting room: terrazzo floors, a single ceiling fan, and a receptionist who might offer you coffee from a thermos. It suits budget-conscious travellers who want a safe, central base without any pretence — you're here for the city, not the hotel.
Chronicles of Havana
Havana was founded in 1519 by Spanish colonists on a natural harbour, becoming a key stop for treasure fleets. Its architecture spans baroque cathedrals, art deco cinemas, and grand neoclassical mansions, with Centro Habana's tenements and Malecón seawall defining its gritty charm. After the 1959 revolution, the city froze in time, and today's Havana is a layered mix of crumbling grandeur, vintage cars, and a resurgent private restaurant scene. The cultural identity is fiercely musical, with son, salsa, and rumba pulsing through every corner.
Best Time to Visit
Full Havana guide →Best months
February to April offer clear skies, low humidity, and day temperatures around 26°C; the city is lively but not swamped with cruise crowds.
Peak / festival surge
July is high season for domestic tourism (summer holidays) and the July 26th Carnaval de La Habana, a week of parades, music, and street parties. Hotel prices in Vedado can double. Book Casa Aba months ahead.
Budget shoulder season
May and October are quiet, with afternoon showers and hotel rates 30–40% lower. You'll find empty museums and shorter queues at tourist sites like the Capitolio.
Weather & packing
Havana's July heat is humid and sticky, with occasional afternoon downpours that clear fast. Pack one versatile rain jacket, breathable cotton clothes, and sturdy walking shoes that can handle puddled streets.
Live City Briefing — Havana
- Havana's classic car fleet now faces a ban on 'carros y carretas' (horse-drawn carts) from central tourist zones, easing congestion but limiting those photo ops on Calle Obispo.
- The Palacio de la Rumba club on Calle San Miguel reopened in March 2026 after years of renovation, offering live timba music most nights.
- Casa Aba is a 15-minute walk from the Malecón, but July's heat makes daytime strolls punishing; use the Viazul hop-on-hop-off bus (route T2) for air-conditioned sightseeing.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Casa Aba, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the second or third floor facing the inner courtyard — these floors are above street-level hum but below the roof (which may host a drying area or water tank), and the courtyard side cuts out road noise from Calle 318.
Rooms to avoid
Skip any room facing the street on the first floor — Calle 318 can get bus service and car traffic at all hours, and ground-floor windows in Havana often have less insulation and security.
Best views
A front-facing room on the second floor gives you a clear view of the street life — old American cars, locals — without being too close to the pavement. But for sleep, the courtyard view is the better bet, even if it's just washing lines and tiles.
Quietest floors
Second and third floors (above street-level noise, below possible roof activity).
🔊 Noise notes
Calle 318 is a small residential-converted-commercial street in Havana's Vedado district. Motorised rickshaws (coco taxis) and lada taxis run past, plus street vendors calling out. The building has no lift — so expect footfall on the stairs past your room at check-in/out times. Internal plumbing can be audible (cast-iron pipes in Cuba) especially if your room's near a shared bathroom stack.
Insider tips
1) Check-in can be slow — ask for a room that's been ready since noon, as housekeeping often runs late. 2) If your room overlooks 318, take earplugs — the hotel's old casement windows don't seal wholly. 3) No lift, so pack light or ask for ground-floor if you have mobility issues, but that will be noisier.
- 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 — Casa Aba
Free Wi-Fi in lobby and common areas only; no in-room Wi-Fi. Speed is adequate for email and browsing (approx. 5 Mbps download). Login via a single-use code from reception.
No passenger lift; the property is a converted colonial house with stairs only. All 8 rooms are on the first and second floors.
No complimentary newspapers; no digital newsstand. The building is a 1920s townhouse with original mosaic tile floors and a central courtyard.
Check-in from 15:00; early bag drop available from 10:00 at no charge. Late check-out (after 12:00) incurs 50% of the nightly rate. Check-out by 12:00.
Free luggage storage available at reception after checkout until 18:00.
No step-free access; entrance via two steps from the street. No wheelchair-accessible rooms. Not suitable for guests with mobility issues.
No on-site parking. Nearest public car park is 'Estacionamiento El Cristo' at Calle Obispo 300, 1.2 km away, charging 10 CUP per hour (approx. $0.40). No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None (Cuba does not levy a city or tourist tax on hotel stays as of 2025)
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking; a cash deposit of 100 CUP (approx. $4 USD) is taken at check-in for incidentals and refunded at checkout
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Parque Valle Grande — 278 m · ~3 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Bodega Valle Grande — 184 m · ~2 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Cuban Peso, CUP
Exchange at CADECA exchange houses for best rates; avoid the airport and tourist bureaux which give poor rates.
Cards are not widely accepted outside large hotels and some tourist restaurants; bring enough cash in euros or pounds.
Tip 10% in restaurants if no service charge; give small change to taxi drivers and 1-2 CUP per bag to hotel staff.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A small espresso from a street kiosk costs about 5-10 CUP.
A meal of rice, beans, and meat at a paladar (private restaurant) runs 100-200 CUP.
A main dish at a mid-range paladar is typically 200-400 CUP.
Look for street carts selling pizza slices, churros, or ham croquettes near main squares like Parque Central.
State-run bodegas and a few private minimarkets stock basics; expect limited choice.
No major high-street chains; buy from small private shops or the open stalls on Calle Obispo.
Use shared colectivo taxis (10 CUP per ride); from the airport, take a shared taxi to Havana Vieja for about 100-200 CUP.
Get a local SIM card for internet access; eat at paladares over state-run restaurants; bring your own toiletries and medicine.
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 Casa Aba
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🚐 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 Casa Aba?
Request a room on the second or third floor facing the inner courtyard — these floors are above street-level hum but below the roof (which may host a drying area or water tank), and the courtyard side cuts out road noise from Calle 318.
Which rooms should I avoid at Casa Aba?
Skip any room facing the street on the first floor — Calle 318 can get bus service and car traffic at all hours, and ground-floor windows in Havana often have less insulation and security.
Is Casa Aba noisy?
Calle 318 is a small residential-converted-commercial street in Havana's Vedado district. Motorised rickshaws (coco taxis) and lada taxis run past, plus street vendors calling out. The building has no lift — so expect footfall on the stairs past your room at check-in/out times. Internal plumbing can be audible (cast-iron pipes in Cuba) especially if your room's near a shared bathroom stack.
Which rooms have the best views at Casa Aba?
A front-facing room on the second floor gives you a clear view of the street life — old American cars, locals — without being too close to the pavement. But for sleep, the courtyard view is the better bet, even if it's just washing lines and tiles.
What are insider tips for staying at Casa Aba?
1) Check-in can be slow — ask for a room that's been ready since noon, as housekeeping often runs late. 2) If your room overlooks 318, take earplugs — the hotel's old casement windows don't seal wholly. 3) No lift, so pack light or ask for ground-floor if you have mobility issues, but that will be noisier.
What time is check-in at Casa Aba?
Check-in at Casa Aba is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Casa Aba have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi in lobby and common areas only; no in-room Wi-Fi. Speed is adequate for email and browsing (approx. 5 Mbps download). Login via a single-use code from reception.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Casa Aba?
None (Cuba does not levy a city or tourist tax on hotel stays as of 2025)
Where can I eat cheaply near Casa Aba?
A meal of rice, beans, and meat at a paladar (private restaurant) runs 100-200 CUP.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Casa Aba?
Use shared colectivo taxis (10 CUP per ride); from the airport, take a shared taxi to Havana Vieja for about 100-200 CUP.
When is the best time to visit Havana?
February to April offer clear skies, low humidity, and day temperatures around 26°C; the city is lively but not swamped with cruise crowds.
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.