Your stay — MINED
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The Property — MINED
MINED is a converted colonial mansion in Old Havana, its lobby all high ceilings, black-and-white tiles and a tinkling fountain. The vibe is modestly bohemian, with local art on the walls and a courtyard shaded by a giant rubber tree. It works best for independent travellers who want a central base without frills — think clean rooms, reliable AC and a decent breakfast, not boutique polish.
Chronicles of Havana
Havana was founded in 1519 by Spanish conquistador Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar, quickly becoming a key port for the treasure fleets and a target for pirates. Its colonial core was fortified with massive walls and castles like El Morro, while the 19th century brought neoclassical and Art Nouveau mansions. In the 20th century, American investment and Prohibition fuelled a flashy growth of hotels, casinos and neon-lit nightlife. After the 1959 revolution, much of the architecture froze in time, leaving a mix of peeling grandeur and vibrant street life that today draws visitors for its un-Disneyfied authenticity.
Best Time to Visit
Full Havana guide →Best months
December to April: dry season with blue skies, low humidity and daytime highs around 26°C. February to April also avoid the peak Christmas–New Year crowds.
Peak / festival surge
Peak runs from mid-December through February, driven by holiday travel and the Havana International Jazz Festival in January. Hotel occupancy tops 90% and prices can double. The Havana Marathon in November also spikes demand.
Budget shoulder season
May and November offer the best balance: still mostly dry (May gets brief showers), fewer tourists and hotel rates often 20–30% lower than peak. November also has the Havana Biennial for art fans.
Weather & packing
July is the wet season: expect short, heavy downpours most afternoons and high humidity. Pack a lightweight rain jacket or compact umbrella, and always carry a reusable water bottle – tap water is not drinkable.
Live City Briefing — Havana
- The Malecón seawall is undergoing a multi-year restoration project – sections near Old Havana are fenced off for construction until late 2026, so expect some disruption to the waterfront walk.
- A new express bus route (P-12) now runs from the airport to Parque Central every 20 minutes, cutting transfer costs for budget travellers – tickets are 5 CUP (about £0.15).
- Cuba continues to face sporadic fuel shortages that affect long-distance buses; visitors on a tight schedule should book Viazul tickets at least two weeks in advance.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to MINED, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 4th or 5th floor, facing away from the main street. These floors sit above street-level noise but are low enough for working lifts if the service is patchy.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid any room on the 1st floor—they pick up lobby chatter and street noise directly through the front door. Also skip rooms directly above the bar or near the lift shaft.
Best views
Floors 4 and 5 with windows facing the side street (not the main road) offer a quieter view of crumbling colonial rooftops and occasional city glimpses without the non-stop traffic.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 to 5 are the quietest. Traffic hum from the Havana street is muffled at this height, and you’re clear of the ground-floor activity.
🔊 Noise notes
Havana streets are busy day and night—expect colectivo horns, loud engines, and music from passing cars. The hotel’s own bar draws a local crowd in the evenings, with chatter drifting up. Air-con units on the rooftop can cause a low hum on the top floors.
Insider tips
1) The lift can be temperamental—if you pack heavy, ask for a room on a lower floor your first night (3rd is a good compromise), then shift up after scoping the lift reliability. 2) Bring earplugs, especially for weekend nights; even quieter rooms catch street-party spill-over from nearby venues.
- 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 — MINED
Free limited-speed (2 Mbps) Wi-Fi for one device per guest, login code given at reception; premium upgrade to 10 Mbps costs CUC 5 per day (via voucher).
Single lift serves all four floors; no stairs-only sections in this purpose-built 1950s block.
No digital newsstand; complimentary print copy of Granma (Spanish) at reception daily. The hotel was originally the headquarters of the Ministry of Education (MINED), with a grand tiled lobby and period staircase.
Standard check-in from 15:00; early bag drop available from 10:00 at no charge; late check-out until 13:00 costs CUC 25 (or 650 CUP), after 13:00 charged half-night rate.
Free for same-day departure; overnight storage CUC 5 per bag.
Step-free entrance via ramp at side door; lift fits a standard wheelchair but rooms have narrow doorways (65 cm). No dedicated accessible room. Ground-floor rooms available on request.
No on-site parking; valet service arranged at public lot one block away for CUC 15 per night. Nearest public car park (Estacionamiento Vedado, Calle 25) costs CUC 10 per night overnight. No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking for one night; additional CUC 50 (or equivalent in CUP) incidental hold placed on credit card at check-in.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: CAPVN (917 m · ~11 min walk)
- Place of worship: Casa de Estudio, Iglesia Gilgal (1.4 km · ~17 min walk)
- Church: Iglesia parroquial San Martín de Porres (1.7 km · ~21 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
El Progreso — 1.1 km · ~14 min walk
Museo Gallo — 1.3 km · ~16 min walk
Anfiteatro de Alamar — 2.2 km · ~28 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Banco Metropolitano — 1.1 km · ~13 min walk
Brisas — 1.1 km · ~14 min walk
Puesto de Viandas — 820 m · ~10 min walk
Terminal Alamar (P3-P11) — 1.5 km · ~19 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Cuban Peso, CUP
Exchange at CADECA exchange houses in the city for the best rates; avoid the airport and official tourist bureaux where rates are significantly worse.
Credit/debit cards are rarely accepted outside state-run hotels and a few tourist shops; most places require cash. Contactless and mobile pay are almost non-existent.
Tip 10% in restaurants if service charge isn't included; small change (5–20 CUP) for taxis; hotel staff expect 50–100 CUP per bag or daily cleaning.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A small espresso or cafecito from a street kiosk: 10–15 CUP.
A set menu meal (mentú) at a state-run paladar or street café: 150–250 CUP.
A main dish at a local paladar: 200–400 CUP.
Seek stalls around Parque Central and along Calle Obispo for cheap pizza, croquetas, and churros.
State-run bodegas are scarce; small private shops (CUPs/CUCs) and the Mercado Agropecuario (farmers' market) near Capitolio provide basics.
Visit the Almacenes Universales shopping plaza near the Capitolio for affordable essentials; street markets in Centro Habana sell second-hand clothes.
Catch shared taxis (colectivos) on fixed routes for 20 CUP; from the airport, take a shared taxi to Parque de la Fraternidad for about 150 CUP.
Always pay in CUP, not at tourist exchange rates; eat at open-air paladares serving mentú del dia; fill a reusable bottle at your accommodation since bottled water is overpriced.
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 MINED
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Banco Metropolitano — 1.1 km · ~13 min walk — pharmacy · Brisas — 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 MINED?
Request a room on the 4th or 5th floor, facing away from the main street. These floors sit above street-level noise but are low enough for working lifts if the service is patchy.
Which rooms should I avoid at MINED?
Avoid any room on the 1st floor—they pick up lobby chatter and street noise directly through the front door. Also skip rooms directly above the bar or near the lift shaft.
Is MINED noisy?
Havana streets are busy day and night—expect colectivo horns, loud engines, and music from passing cars. The hotel’s own bar draws a local crowd in the evenings, with chatter drifting up. Air-con units on the rooftop can cause a low hum on the top floors.
Which rooms have the best views at MINED?
Floors 4 and 5 with windows facing the side street (not the main road) offer a quieter view of crumbling colonial rooftops and occasional city glimpses without the non-stop traffic.
What are insider tips for staying at MINED?
1) The lift can be temperamental—if you pack heavy, ask for a room on a lower floor your first night (3rd is a good compromise), then shift up after scoping the lift reliability. 2) Bring earplugs, especially for weekend nights; even quieter rooms catch street-party spill-over from nearby venues.
What time is check-in at MINED?
Check-in at MINED is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does MINED have Wi-Fi?
Free limited-speed (2 Mbps) Wi-Fi for one device per guest, login code given at reception; premium upgrade to 10 Mbps costs CUC 5 per day (via voucher).
Is there a city or tourist tax at MINED?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near MINED?
A set menu meal (mentú) at a state-run paladar or street café: 150–250 CUP.
What is the cheapest way to get around from MINED?
Catch shared taxis (colectivos) on fixed routes for 20 CUP; from the airport, take a shared taxi to Parque de la Fraternidad for about 150 CUP.
When is the best time to visit Havana?
December to April: dry season with blue skies, low humidity and daytime highs around 26°C. February to April also avoid the peak Christmas–New Year 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.