Your stay — Casa Ismenia
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Hotel Facilities — Casa Ismenia
free, 2 Mbps, no login constraints
serves all floors, historic building with some stairs-only areas
complimentary digital newsstand (PressReader) on multiple devices
14:00-00:00, early bag-drop available from 08:00, late check-out until 13:00 for CUC 20
available 24/7, CUC 5 per bag per day
step-free access, wheelchair-accessible entrance, some rooms adapted for people with disabilities
valet parking available, CUC 10 per night; public car park 5 minutes' walk, CUC 3 per hour
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: CUC 1 per night per person
Deposit & card hold: CUC 20 advance deposit, CUC 50 incidental card hold at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Caridad (304 m · ~4 min walk)
- Church: Iglesia Presbiteriana (426 m · ~5 min walk)
- Church: San Judas (434 m · ~5 min walk)
- Church: Iglesia (499 m · ~6 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Yumurí — 766 m · ~10 min walk
Jardín Aldama — 314 m · ~4 min walk
Museo de las Telecomunicaciones — 362 m · ~5 min walk
Teatro Campoamor — 760 m · ~10 min walk
Barbeparque — 1.8 km · ~22 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Banco Metropolitano — 124 m · ~2 min walk
Farmacia Galiano y Vitudes — 1.0 km · ~13 min walk
Casa de Siumey — 411 m · ~5 min walk
La Habana — 1.2 km · ~16 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Cuban Peso (CUP)
Cuban currency can be exchanged at banks and Cadeca exchange offices, but rates are often poor at the airport and tourist bureaux. It's recommended to exchange some money at the airport, but not all of it.
Credit and debit cards are not widely accepted, but you can use them at some hotels and tourist shops. Mobile payments are not common.
Tipping is not expected but appreciated, especially in restaurants and for good service. 5-10 CUP is sufficient for taxi drivers and hotel staff.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →You can find a cup of coffee for around 5-10 CUP at a local café.
A typical lunch option is a sandwich or a plate of rice and beans at a local eatery for around 20-30 CUP.
A affordable dinner option is a meal at a paladar (private restaurant) for around 50-70 CUP for a main course.
Street food is common in the Vedado and Habana Vieja areas, where you can find vendors selling traditional Cuban dishes like roast pork and ropa vieja.
You can find budget supermarkets like Mercadito and Almacenes Universales in the area.
You can find affordable high-street shopping at local markets like the Rastro Market or in the streets of Habana Vieja.
The cheapest way to get around is by taking a taxi (35-50 CUP) or a colectivo (5-10 CUP), but be prepared for crowded and potentially unreliable services. A day pass for the local bus system costs 10 CUP.
Try to avoid exchanging money at the airport, use local currency for small purchases, and consider buying a local sim card for affordable data and phone calls.
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 Ismenia
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Banco Metropolitano — 124 m · ~2 min walk — pharmacy · Farmacia Galiano y Vitudes — 1.0 km · ~13 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 time is check-in at Casa Ismenia?
Check-in at Casa Ismenia is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Casa Ismenia have Wi-Fi?
free, 2 Mbps, no login constraints
Is there a city or tourist tax at Casa Ismenia?
CUC 1 per night per person
Where can I eat cheaply near Casa Ismenia?
A typical lunch option is a sandwich or a plate of rice and beans at a local eatery for around 20-30 CUP.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Casa Ismenia?
The cheapest way to get around is by taking a taxi (35-50 CUP) or a colectivo (5-10 CUP), but be prepared for crowded and potentially unreliable services. A day pass for the local bus system costs 10 CUP.
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.