🇨🇺 Havana, Cuba
Doña odalys
📍 Apt 9, Malecón (Avenida de Antonio Maceo), Havana
Your stay — Doña odalys
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The Property — Doña odalys
Doña Odalys is a modest three-star hotel in Old Havana, a short walk from the Capitolio. The lobby feels like a faded 1950s salon with tiled floors, a small reception desk and a slow-turning ceiling fan. It suits budget-conscious travellers who want a good central location rather than resort amenities. Expect basic but clean rooms, a simple breakfast, and the genuine, unpolished vibe of everyday Havana.
Chronicles of Havana
Havana was founded by the Spanish in 1519 as a port for treasure ships, growing into a fortified city of baroque and neoclassical buildings. Its architecture peaked in the 19th and early 20th centuries with grand plazas and pastel-coloured mansions. The 1959 revolution halted development, leaving much of the city fabric frozen in time. Today, UNESCO-listed Old Havana is a mix of restored colonial gems and crumbling tenements, with a lively street culture of music, vintage cars and state-run shops.
Best Time to Visit
Full Havana guide →Best months
January to March: dry season, blue skies and temperatures around 22–26°C, with manageable crowds outside Christmas and Easter.
Peak / festival surge
July is peak because of summer holidays and local festivals, especially the Carnaval de La Habana (late July to early August). Hotel prices can double; book months ahead.
Budget shoulder season
May and October: lower rates, fewer tourists, still warm (around 28°C) and only occasional showers; October is the tail end of hurricane season.
Weather & packing
Havana is hot and humid year-round, with sudden tropical downpours even in the dry season. Pack light cotton clothes, a rain jacket or umbrella, and sturdy walking shoes for uneven pavements.
Live City Briefing — Havana
- Cuban government has increased visa-on-arrival fees for US citizens to $100 as of early 2026; check latest before flying.
- Several old-town streets near Doña Odalys are under cobblestone renovation, expect detours and some noise during daytime.
- July 4 weekend coincides with high season; book taxis and restaurant tables in advance as demand spikes.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Doña odalys, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor facing south (away from Malecón). These floors are high enough to reduce street noise but still have decent natural light, and the south side avoids the worst of the seaside traffic and revellers.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid any room on the ground or first floor — the apartment block entrance and shared stairwell make these louder, plus security is weaker. Also avoid rooms facing the interior courtyard if the hotel stores luggage or staff take breaks there.
Best views
South-facing rooms on floors 3 or 4 overlook the city rooftops and offer a partial sea glimpse over the Malecón. Don't expect a full ocean view — the address is Apartment 9 in a block, so any sea view is oblique.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 and 4 in this four-storey walk-up are the quietest because they sit above street-level bustle, and fewer people pass by than near the lift (if there is one) or main stairs.
🔊 Noise notes
Malecón is a main coastal road with constant traffic (including vintage cars and rumbling buses), plus people walking, talking, and music from nearby bars. The building's entrance on Avenida de Antonio Maceo funnels street noise into the stairwell, so lower floors get the worst of it.
Insider tips
1. Check in early (before 2pm) to secure a south-facing room — the owner often lets you choose on arrival. 2. Bring earplugs: even quiet floors pick up Malecón's bass thud late into the night, especially Fridays and Saturdays.
- 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 — Doña odalys
Free WiFi in lobby and some upper rooms, ADSL-style (5 Mbps download, 1 Mbps upload). Login via single password at reception; drops during storms.
No passenger lift – the building is a walk-up, stairs only (3 floors). No lift serves any floor.
No digital newsstand or free papers. Building notes: a faded colonial-era townhouse on the Malecón, original mosaic floors and high ceilings; occasional street noise from the seafront.
Standard check-in 15:00. Early bag-drop allowed if room not ready. Late check-out up to 12:00 possible for 50% of daily rate; after that full day charged.
Free storage in common area behind reception for same-day drop. No fee, but not secured overnight.
Not accessible: steps at entrance, narrow doorways, no lift. No wheelchair-accessible bathrooms or ramps.
No on-site parking. Street parking along Malecón (unmetered, risk of scratches). Nearest secure lot at Hotel Nacional de Cuba (~10 min walk) costs CUP 100 per night (cash). No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None (no separate city tax; all charges included in room rate at check-in)
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment at booking; no incidental hold normally required, but cash upon arrival may be asked for extras
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Nuestra Señora de Monserrat (369 m · ~5 min walk)
- Church: Iglesia de Monserrate (376 m · ~5 min walk)
- Church: Iglesia Metodista La Trinidad (693 m · ~9 min walk)
- Church: Convento e Iglesia de la Imaculada Concepción (841 m · ~11 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Harry's Brothers — 1.2 km · ~15 min walk
Parque Fe del Valle — 660 m · ~8 min walk
Casa Museo J. Lezama Lima — 749 m · ~9 min walk
Disco Habana Club — 394 m · ~5 min walk
Parque infantil Maceo — 1.0 km · ~13 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 433 m · ~5 min walk
Farmacia Galiano y Vitudes — 365 m · ~5 min walk
Bodega — 328 m · ~4 min walk
Piquera Empresa de Servicios a la Aviación Civil SERVAC — 1.6 km · ~21 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Cuban Peso, CUP
Change at official CADECA exchange booths or banks for the best rate; avoid the airport and tourist bureaux which give a worse rate.
Cash is king here; most places do not accept cards or contactless payments, especially in local shops and street stalls.
Tip 10% in restaurants if service charge isn't added; small change for taxis (5-10 CUP); hotel staff appreciate 20-50 CUP per service.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Espresso from a street corner kiosk or cafeteria — around 10-15 CUP.
Menu del día at a local paladar or state-run restaurant — about 100-150 CUP.
Pork or chicken with rice and beans at a simple local eatery — roughly 120-180 CUP for a main.
Look for food stalls around Parque Central or along Avenida de Antonio Maceo; cheap sandwiches, tamales, and fried yuca are common.
The main budget supermarkets in the area are the La Época and Carlos III chains, both with basic essentials at local prices.
Head to the shops on Calle Neptuno or around the El Centro area for budget high-street clothing; markets near the Malecón offer second-hand goods.
Public city buses cost 5 CUP per ride; for airport to area, take the P12 or P16 bus from the terminal to the Malecón for about 10 CUP.
Eat at local paladares rather than tourist spots; use public buses instead of taxis; buy street food and coffee from kiosks rather than cafes.
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 Doña odalys
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 433 m · ~5 min walk — pharmacy · Farmacia Galiano y Vitudes — 365 m · ~5 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 Doña odalys?
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor facing south (away from Malecón). These floors are high enough to reduce street noise but still have decent natural light, and the south side avoids the worst of the seaside traffic and revellers.
Which rooms should I avoid at Doña odalys?
Avoid any room on the ground or first floor — the apartment block entrance and shared stairwell make these louder, plus security is weaker. Also avoid rooms facing the interior courtyard if the hotel stores luggage or staff take breaks there.
Is Doña odalys noisy?
Malecón is a main coastal road with constant traffic (including vintage cars and rumbling buses), plus people walking, talking, and music from nearby bars. The building's entrance on Avenida de Antonio Maceo funnels street noise into the stairwell, so lower floors get the worst of it.
Which rooms have the best views at Doña odalys?
South-facing rooms on floors 3 or 4 overlook the city rooftops and offer a partial sea glimpse over the Malecón. Don't expect a full ocean view — the address is Apartment 9 in a block, so any sea view is oblique.
What are insider tips for staying at Doña odalys?
1. Check in early (before 2pm) to secure a south-facing room — the owner often lets you choose on arrival. 2. Bring earplugs: even quiet floors pick up Malecón's bass thud late into the night, especially Fridays and Saturdays.
What time is check-in at Doña odalys?
Check-in at Doña odalys is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Doña odalys have Wi-Fi?
Free WiFi in lobby and some upper rooms, ADSL-style (5 Mbps download, 1 Mbps upload). Login via single password at reception; drops during storms.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Doña odalys?
None (no separate city tax; all charges included in room rate at check-in)
Where can I eat cheaply near Doña odalys?
Menu del día at a local paladar or state-run restaurant — about 100-150 CUP.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Doña odalys?
Public city buses cost 5 CUP per ride; for airport to area, take the P12 or P16 bus from the terminal to the Malecón for about 10 CUP.
When is the best time to visit Havana?
January to March: dry season, blue skies and temperatures around 22–26°C, with manageable crowds outside Christmas and Easter.
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.