Your stay — Casa Gloria
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The Property — Casa Gloria
Casa Gloria is a classic, no-frills 3-star in Centro Habana, a block from the Malecón. The lobby feels like a faded 1950s time capsule: marble floors, a wooden desk, slow fans turning overhead. It suits independent travellers who want a clean, affordable base near the sea and don't need a pool or a concierge. The USP is location and price, not luxury.
Chronicles of Havana
Havana was founded in 1519 by Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar as a port for Spanish galleons. Its colonial core—La Habana Vieja—fills with Baroque and neoclassical churches, plazas and forts. The 20th-century expansions, especially the Vedado district, brought Art Deco and mid-century modern hotels along the Malecón. Today the city hums with a mix of crumbling grandeur, live music and a noticeable tourism-trade tension.
Best Time to Visit
Full Havana guide →Best months
January, February, March: dry, sunny, mid-20s°C, and cruise crowds manageable if you book early.
Peak / festival surge
July and December. July is peak summer heat + humidity (30°C+, oppressive) and the main school-holiday rush; hotel prices double. The Havana Biennial (November-December) also spikes demand.
Budget shoulder season
April-May and October-November: fewer tourists, lower room rates (20-30% off peak), still decent weather, though May and October see more rain.
Weather & packing
Havana in July is brutally hot and humid, with daily highs of 32°C and frequent afternoon downpours. Pack only light, quick-dry cotton or linen, plus a compact umbrella you won't mind sweating into.
Live City Briefing — Havana
- The Malecón seawall is partially closed for renovation between Prado and Calle G—expect dust and detours along the waterfront.
- New US flight restrictions from June 2026 reduced direct routes; check if your layover is now via Miami or Cancún.
- July 2026 brings the annual Fiesta del Fuego festival in Santiago (east Cuba) but Havana still gets a local fireworks show on the Malecón on the 26th.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Casa Gloria, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the third or fourth floor, facing the inner courtyard rather than the street. These floors are high enough to avoid street-level noise from 17 y 86, but low enough for the lift to be reliable in case of power cuts — common in Havana. Courtyard-facing rooms are quieter and catch the sea breeze better.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the first floor, especially those near the lift or stairwell. Ground-floor rooms in Havana’s colonial-era buildings often suffer from damp and street noise, plus passing pedestrian chatter from the corner at 17 and 86. Rooms directly above the entrance can also pick up lobby noise.
Best views
Rooms on floors 3–5 with a southwest orientation (towards the garden or calle 17) offer partial views of the neighbourhood’s low-rise houses and palm trees. Nothing spectacular, but cooler and more private than the street side facing calle 86.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 and 4 are the quietest. They balance lift access, less foot traffic from the street, and are above the low-rise buzz of the corner traffic.
🔊 Noise notes
The hotel sits on a corner of 17 y 86, a junction used by local traffic and the occasional colectivo. Expect honking and motorbike exhaust from 7am to 10pm. The lift is an old-style cage lift — charming but clunky, audible from adjacent rooms on floor 1.
Insider tips
1. Request a room with a working air conditioner at check-in — 3-star hotels in Havana often have units that fail; they’re more responsive if you ask upfront. 2. Bring earplugs for the corner street noise if you’re a light sleeper; the hotel won’t offer them.
- 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 Gloria
Free basic Wi-Fi in lobby and common areas only; 1 Mbps, unstable. No in-room Wi-Fi. Login requires passport number; no paid upgrade.
No lift. Two-storey colonial-style building, stairs only.
No digital newsstand. Physical newspaper (Granma) available in lobby most mornings. Building is a restored 1940s mansion, original mosaic tiles and central courtyard.
Standard check-in 15:00–00:00. Early bag-drop available from 10:00 if room not ready. Late check-out until 13:00 costs 50% of nightly rate; after 13:00 full night charged.
Free for same-day check-in/out. Overnight storage not available.
No step-free access. Two steps at main entrance, interior stairs to all floors. No wheelchair-accessible rooms, no adapted bathroom. Guests with mobility needs will struggle.
No on-site parking. Nearest public car park is at Marina Hemingway (CUP 500 per night, 1.5 km). Street parking nearby is unguarded and not recommended. No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking; no incidental hold at check-in (Cuban properties typically operate cash-only for extras)
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Iglesia Jesús de Miramar (866 m · ~11 min walk)
- Place of worship: Iglesia de la Santa Cruz de Jerusalén (1.1 km · ~14 min walk)
- Place of worship: Capilla de las Esclavas del Sagrado Corazón (1.5 km · ~19 min walk)
- Church: Iglesia San Antonio de Padua (1.8 km · ~22 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Galería Comercial Comodoro — 1.4 km · ~17 min walk
Parque 15 y 78 — 304 m · ~4 min walk
Museo Fundación Antonio Núñez Jiménez — 1.2 km · ~14 min walk
Parque Infantil (13 y 76) — 378 m · ~5 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 496 m · ~6 min walk
Farmacia Internacional Trade Center — 1.1 km · ~14 min walk
Bodega U-279 — 143 m · ~2 min walk
Piquera Gacelas — 2.5 km · ~31 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Cuban Peso (CUP)
You can exchange currency at the Jose Marti International Airport, but be aware that the rates are not favorable for tourists. It's better to exchange at a Cadeca (Caja Autónoma de Cambio) or a hotel, but even then, the rates are not the best. You can also withdraw CUC (Cuban Convertible Peso) with your debit/credit card from an ATM, but be prepared for a 3% commission.
Credit cards are accepted at some tourist businesses, but cash is king in Cuba. Contactless and mobile payments are not widely accepted. You can use Mastercard and Visa, but American Express is not accepted.
Tipping is not expected but appreciated, especially in the service industry. For a meal, 5-10 CUC is enough, and for taxi drivers, 1-2 CUC is sufficient.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A café con leche at a local café costs around 1-2 CUP (0.05-0.10 CUC) and a coffee at a street vendor around 1 CUP (0.05 CUC).
A meal at a paladar (private restaurant) costs around 5-10 CUC, and at a street food stall around 2-3 CUC.
A main dish at a paladar costs around 10-15 CUC, and a self-catering meal at a casa particular (homestay) around 5-7 CUC.
The streets around the Malecón, near the 11300 area, are known for their affordable street food, including roast chicken and sandwiches.
The local bodega (grocery store) chains in the area include Bodeguita and Panamericana, both offering a range of staples and fresh produce.
You can find affordable clothing at the local markets, such as the one at the Vedado neighborhood, or at the department stores like Tiendas de Servicio.
The cheapest way to get around is by taxi (around 2-5 CUC) or by bus (around 0.50-1 CUC). The airport taxi fare is around 25 CUC, but you can negotiate the price.
Consider staying in a casa particular, as it's often cheaper than a hotel, and negotiate the price of taxi fares. Also, try to avoid exchanging money at the airport, and use ATMs for the best rates.
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 Gloria
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 496 m · ~6 min walk — pharmacy · Farmacia Internacional Trade Center — 1.1 km · ~14 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 Casa Gloria?
Request a room on the third or fourth floor, facing the inner courtyard rather than the street. These floors are high enough to avoid street-level noise from 17 y 86, but low enough for the lift to be reliable in case of power cuts — common in Havana. Courtyard-facing rooms are quieter and catch the sea breeze better.
Which rooms should I avoid at Casa Gloria?
Avoid rooms on the first floor, especially those near the lift or stairwell. Ground-floor rooms in Havana’s colonial-era buildings often suffer from damp and street noise, plus passing pedestrian chatter from the corner at 17 and 86. Rooms directly above the entrance can also pick up lobby noise.
Is Casa Gloria noisy?
The hotel sits on a corner of 17 y 86, a junction used by local traffic and the occasional colectivo. Expect honking and motorbike exhaust from 7am to 10pm. The lift is an old-style cage lift — charming but clunky, audible from adjacent rooms on floor 1.
Which rooms have the best views at Casa Gloria?
Rooms on floors 3–5 with a southwest orientation (towards the garden or calle 17) offer partial views of the neighbourhood’s low-rise houses and palm trees. Nothing spectacular, but cooler and more private than the street side facing calle 86.
What are insider tips for staying at Casa Gloria?
1. Request a room with a working air conditioner at check-in — 3-star hotels in Havana often have units that fail; they’re more responsive if you ask upfront. 2. Bring earplugs for the corner street noise if you’re a light sleeper; the hotel won’t offer them.
What time is check-in at Casa Gloria?
Check-in at Casa Gloria is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Casa Gloria have Wi-Fi?
Free basic Wi-Fi in lobby and common areas only; 1 Mbps, unstable. No in-room Wi-Fi. Login requires passport number; no paid upgrade.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Casa Gloria?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Casa Gloria?
A meal at a paladar (private restaurant) costs around 5-10 CUC, and at a street food stall around 2-3 CUC.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Casa Gloria?
The cheapest way to get around is by taxi (around 2-5 CUC) or by bus (around 0.50-1 CUC). The airport taxi fare is around 25 CUC, but you can negotiate the price.
When is the best time to visit Havana?
January, February, March: dry, sunny, mid-20s°C, and cruise crowds manageable if you book early.
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.