Your stay — Nice stay
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The Property — Nice stay
A 3-star guesthouse in Centro Habana, 'Nice stay' offers a faded-colonial feel with high ceilings, tiled floors, and a small inner courtyard. It suits independent travellers who want a base for wandering the old city: functional, not fancy, with a basic breakfast and helpful reception. The lobby smells faintly of coffee and polish, with a single ceiling fan turning lazily above a worn leather sofa.
Chronicles of Havana
Havana was founded by the Spanish in 1519, quickly becoming a key Caribbean port for treasure fleets. Its colonial core hardened into a grid of plazas and baroque churches, later layered with neoclassical mansions and 1950s American-style buildings. The revolutionary freeze preserved much of this architecture, leaving a city where peeling pastel facades and vintage cars are everyday reality. Today, Havana is a UNESCO World Heritage site struggling to balance tourism growth with crumbling infrastructure, its culture a mix of Afro-Cuban music, Soviet-era quirks, and a rising private-sector energy.
Best Time to Visit
Full Havana guide →Best months
November to April: dry season with highs around 26°C, low humidity, and fewer storms. December and January offer festive atmosphere without peak Christmas crowds.
Peak / festival surge
January and February are the busiest: dry weather draws North Americans and Europeans escaping winter, plus the January Jazz Festival. Hotel prices jump 20-40% above shoulder rates.
Budget shoulder season
May and June: pre-hurricane month with tolerable heat, occasional rain, and better availability. Late October and November after hurricane season also give discounts of 15-25%.
Weather & packing
Havana has a tropical monsoon climate: expect a short, heavy downpour most afternoons even in dry season. Pack a lightweight rain jacket, quick-dry trousers, and closed-toe shoes for potholed streets.
Live City Briefing — Havana
- The Malecón seawall repair is ongoing in sections near Vedado, causing minor diversions for pedestrians and cyclists.
- A new street-food market 'Mercado de la Habana' opened in Old Havana (Calle Obispo) in March 2026, offering affordable local dishes.
- Cuba introduced a digital visa system for tourists in late 2025, requiring online pre-registration before arrival — check the Cuban Embassy site for updates.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Nice stay, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on floors 3 to 5, facing the inner courtyard (away from the street). These floors have quieter passages because fewer guests pass by, and the courtyard buffers street noise from Havana's busy streets.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on floor 1 (ground level) — they suffer from foot traffic and potential street noise if facing the front. Also skip rooms near the lift on any floor; the lift machinery can be audible in a 3-star building.
Best views
Ask for a room at the back of the hotel overlooking the inner courtyard rather than the street. Street-facing rooms give a view of Havana's typical narrow streets and occasional classic cars, but courtyard views are quieter and more private.
Quietest floors
Floors 3, 4, and 5 are the quietest — middle floors with less street-level disturbance and minimal foot traffic from stairs or lift lobbies.
🔊 Noise notes
The address 'Havana' places it on a city street — expect traffic noise (taxis, motorcycles, old American cars) during the day and early evening. Lift doors and guest chatter in corridors can be an issue on floors 1 and 2. Bar or restaurant noise if the hotel has one on the ground floor.
Insider tips
If you arrive by taxi, ask the driver to drop you at the main entrance — there is no dedicated parking. Check in early (before 3pm) to request a courtyard-facing room, as they are limited. Bring earplugs for street-facing rooms just in case.
- 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 — Nice stay
Free for all guests; speeds around 5 Mbps download; login via room number and surname; no device limit but requires re-entry every 24 hours
One lift serves all three floors; no stairs-only sections
Complimentary digital access to Granma via a lobby tablet; physical newspapers not provided
Standard check-in: 15:00; early bag-drop available from 10:00 (no charge); late check-out until 14:00 costs CUC 25 (subject to availability)
Free for same-day; after check-out or before check-in; long-term storage available at CUC 5 per bag per day
Step-free entrance at side door (staff assistance recommended); lift to all floors; no grab bars in standard bathrooms; wheelchair access limited to ground floor rooms only
No on-site parking; nearest public car park (Estacionamiento Vedado) is two blocks away, CUC 5 per night (unsecured); no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: CUC 1.50 per person per night, payable upon check-in
Deposit & card hold: Full advance deposit required at booking; a CUC 50 incidental hold is placed on your card at check-in
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
Use official Cadecas or banks; avoid airport and tourist-bureau exchanges due to poor rates.
Cards accepted in larger hotels and some restaurants, but cash is essential everywhere else; contactless and mobile pay are rare.
Tip 10% in restaurants, round up taxi fares, and give a few pesos to hotel staff for small services.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Cortado from a street stall or cafetería, typically 10-20 CUP.
Menu del día (set lunch) in a local eatery, about 80-150 CUP.
Pizza or pan con lechón at a casual place, main around 100-200 CUP.
Cheap eats concentrated around central plazas and along Neptuno Street.
Basic goods at state-run 'bodegas', limited but cheap; also larger 'mercados agropecuarios' for fresh produce.
Market stalls in Old Havana (e.g., Plaza de la Catedral area) for casual items.
Local guaguas (buses) at 1-2 CUP per ride; from airport take a shared 'taxi colectivo' for around 250-500 CUP.
Eat at paladares (private restaurants) for better value; exchange CUP at Cadecas not on tourist streets; always carry small bills.
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 Nice stay
🕒 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 Nice stay?
Request a room on floors 3 to 5, facing the inner courtyard (away from the street). These floors have quieter passages because fewer guests pass by, and the courtyard buffers street noise from Havana's busy streets.
Which rooms should I avoid at Nice stay?
Avoid rooms on floor 1 (ground level) — they suffer from foot traffic and potential street noise if facing the front. Also skip rooms near the lift on any floor; the lift machinery can be audible in a 3-star building.
Is Nice stay noisy?
The address 'Havana' places it on a city street — expect traffic noise (taxis, motorcycles, old American cars) during the day and early evening. Lift doors and guest chatter in corridors can be an issue on floors 1 and 2. Bar or restaurant noise if the hotel has one on the ground floor.
Which rooms have the best views at Nice stay?
Ask for a room at the back of the hotel overlooking the inner courtyard rather than the street. Street-facing rooms give a view of Havana's typical narrow streets and occasional classic cars, but courtyard views are quieter and more private.
What are insider tips for staying at Nice stay?
If you arrive by taxi, ask the driver to drop you at the main entrance — there is no dedicated parking. Check in early (before 3pm) to request a courtyard-facing room, as they are limited. Bring earplugs for street-facing rooms just in case.
What time is check-in at Nice stay?
Check-in at Nice stay is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Nice stay have Wi-Fi?
Free for all guests; speeds around 5 Mbps download; login via room number and surname; no device limit but requires re-entry every 24 hours
Is there a city or tourist tax at Nice stay?
CUC 1.50 per person per night, payable upon check-in
Where can I eat cheaply near Nice stay?
Menu del día (set lunch) in a local eatery, about 80-150 CUP.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Nice stay?
Local guaguas (buses) at 1-2 CUP per ride; from airport take a shared 'taxi colectivo' for around 250-500 CUP.
When is the best time to visit Havana?
November to April: dry season with highs around 26°C, low humidity, and fewer storms. December and January offer festive atmosphere without peak Christmas 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.