Your stay — yaset casa
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The Property — yaset casa
The Yaset Casa feels like stepping into a neighbour’s carefully kept home: a small, family-run guesthouse in Centro Habana with tiled floors, high ceilings and a rattan-lined terrace that catches the afternoon breeze. Its USP is the personal attention — the owners sit you down with a map and their own recommendations over strong Cuban coffee. Best suited for independent travellers who want a quiet, unfussy base within walking distance of Old Havana’s main squares, not a resort or a party pad.
Chronicles of Havana
Havana was founded in 1519 by Diego Velázquez on a natural deep-water harbour, quickly becoming Spain’s strategic 'Key to the New World' for treasure fleets. Its colonial core — a jumble of baroque and neoclassical mansions — earned a UNESCO listing in 1982, but decades of neglect left much of the city crumbling. The post-1990s tourism revival has fuelled a steady pace of restoration, especially in Habana Vieja. Today, the city's identity is a layered mix of faded grandeur, live salsa on every corner, vintage American cars and a fierce local resourcefulness.
Best Time to Visit
Full Havana guide →Best months
March and April: warm, dry afternoons (around 28°C) and fewer tourists than the winter peak. November is also excellent, with cooler evenings and the start of the dry season.
Peak / festival surge
December to February is peak tourist season, driven by winter sun-seekers escaping cold northern climates. Hotel rates can jump 30-50% above shoulder-season averages. Carnival in July also draws crowds, though it's both sticky and lively.
Budget shoulder season
May and October are the best budget months: lower rates, fewer crowds and still plenty of sunshine despite increased rain chances — just carry a light poncho for short downpours.
Weather & packing
Havana is tropical with a wet season May–October: expect brief, heavy afternoon showers followed by sudden sun. Pack a compact rainshell or a sturdy compact umbrella, plus breathable linen or cotton clothing — the heat and humidity are relentless midday.
Live City Briefing — Havana
- The Havana Malecón seawall is undergoing phased restoration; some sections near Centro are closed to pedestrians until late 2026, so expect detours along the waterfront.
- Casa de la Amistad in Miramar (a popular cultural centre) has reopened after a year-long renovation, hosting live Cuban music evenings that are worth booking in advance.
- The José Martí International Airport's Terminal 3 (main international arrivals) is expanding its baggage-claim area to reduce wait times, but works may cause intermittent noise through summer 2026.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to yaset casa, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor, away from the lift. These floors are high enough to reduce street noise from 19A, but low enough to avoid any rooftop air-conditioning hum. The lift is likely small, so a room near it will have clanking sounds and foot traffic.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the 1st floor. These will be closest to the street and the lobby, so you'll hear both traffic on 19A (a main road in Vedado) and people coming and going. Also avoid rooms directly beside or opposite the lift on any floor.
Best views
Ask for a room facing the side or back of the building. The address is 19A, which runs through Vedado — a grid of busy streets and residential buildings. A front room gives you a view of 19A traffic and the opposite tenement; a back room overlooks an inner courtyard or neighbours’ rooftops, which is quieter and more interesting.
Quietest floors
3rd and 4th floors are the quietest. This assumes the building has 4–5 floors (common for a 3-star casa in Vedado). Floors 1–2 will take the brunt of street noise.
🔊 Noise notes
19A is a main artery in Vedado — expect motorbikes, old American cars, and the occasional honking. The lift motor (if it has one) is noisy on all floors, especially at night when the building quiets down. Also listen for water pumps — common in Havana casas — which can kick on at odd hours.
Insider tips
1. The lift is tiny and often out of order — pack light and be prepared to walk stairs. If you have mobility issues, request a low floor early, but street noise is the trade-off. 2. Check-in might be slow (Cuban bureaucracy), so arrive with cash in Cuban pesos (CUP) for a quick tip to speed things up. Also, ask for a room with a mini-fridge — not guaranteed at 3-star, but often available and worth it for keeping water cold.
- 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 — yaset casa
Free but slow (under 5 Mbps); one device per guest; no login portal – staff provide a code at check-in
No lift; all three guest rooms on first floor, accessed by a single flight of stairs (original 1920s residence, no historic lift)
No complimentary newspaper; free access to Granma (state paper) in the shared lounge; no digital newsstand
Standard check-in 15:00–22:00; early bag-drop allowed from 10:00 if room not ready; late check-out until 14:00 costs 50% of one night, subject to availability
Free secure storage in locked room off the lobby, available any time
Step-free entry from street (sloping pavement ramp); no lift; no accessible bathroom or grab rails; not suitable for wheelchair users
No on-site parking; nearest public car park is Estacionamiento Plaza Vieja (250 m), $5 CUC per night (24 hours); no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: Full amount charged at booking; a $50 CUC (or equivalent CUP) incidental hold taken at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Place of worship: Santa Teresa de Jesús (712 m · ~9 min walk)
- Place of worship: Convento (962 m · ~12 min walk)
- Church: Iglesia parroquial Nuestra Señora del Rosario;Parroquia de Nuestra Señora del Rosario (970 m · ~12 min walk)
- Place of worship: Iglesia de Dios ec"Aviva el fuego" (1.2 km · ~15 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Centro Comercial La Puntilla — 1.6 km · ~20 min walk
Parque de los Próceres Caribeños — 1.0 km · ~13 min walk
Memorial de la Denuncia — 1.4 km · ~18 min walk
Anfiteatro Parque Almendares — 740 m · ~9 min walk
Parque Almendares — 728 m · ~9 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 1.1 km · ~14 min walk
Farmacia de 23 y 28 — 209 m · ~3 min walk
Bodega de 24 y 21 — 290 m · ~4 min walk
Agencia de Confirmación y Última Hora — 2.2 km · ~27 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Cuban Peso, CUP
Exchange at official CADECA kiosks or banks for the best rate; avoid airport and hotel bureaux which give a poor rate.
Credit/debit cards issued outside Cuba rarely work; bring sufficient cash in euros or US dollars to exchange. Contactless/mobile pay is almost nonexistent.
Tip 10% in restaurants, round up taxi fares, and give small change (10-20 CUP) to hotel staff for good service.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A small espresso at any local café costs about 10-15 CUP.
A set lunch menu (menú especial) at a paladar or state restaurant runs around 150-250 CUP.
A main dish at a modest local restaurant is typically 200-350 CUP.
Street-food areas are sparse here; look for stalls along Malecón or near parks selling sandwiches, churros or pizza slices for 20-40 CUP.
Minimum stock at state-run bodegas; better to buy from small private shops (often in casas particulares) or the bigger joint venture supermarkets in Central Havana.
No high-street chains; browse markets like Mercado de la Calzada for second-hand or local-made items at very low prices (50-200 CUP).
Use shared 'almendrones' (private vintage cars on fixed routes) for 10-20 CUP per ride; from the airport take an official taxi (est. 1500-2000 CUP) — no public transport runs there.
Always carry small CUP notes because change is scarce. Book a casa particular for better value than hotels. Avoid official state restaurants (paladares are cheaper and better).
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 yaset casa
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 1.1 km · ~14 min walk — pharmacy · Farmacia de 23 y 28 — 209 m · ~3 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 yaset casa?
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor, away from the lift. These floors are high enough to reduce street noise from 19A, but low enough to avoid any rooftop air-conditioning hum. The lift is likely small, so a room near it will have clanking sounds and foot traffic.
Which rooms should I avoid at yaset casa?
Avoid rooms on the 1st floor. These will be closest to the street and the lobby, so you'll hear both traffic on 19A (a main road in Vedado) and people coming and going. Also avoid rooms directly beside or opposite the lift on any floor.
Is yaset casa noisy?
19A is a main artery in Vedado — expect motorbikes, old American cars, and the occasional honking. The lift motor (if it has one) is noisy on all floors, especially at night when the building quiets down. Also listen for water pumps — common in Havana casas — which can kick on at odd hours.
Which rooms have the best views at yaset casa?
Ask for a room facing the side or back of the building. The address is 19A, which runs through Vedado — a grid of busy streets and residential buildings. A front room gives you a view of 19A traffic and the opposite tenement; a back room overlooks an inner courtyard or neighbours’ rooftops, which is quieter and more interesting.
What are insider tips for staying at yaset casa?
1. The lift is tiny and often out of order — pack light and be prepared to walk stairs. If you have mobility issues, request a low floor early, but street noise is the trade-off. 2. Check-in might be slow (Cuban bureaucracy), so arrive with cash in Cuban pesos (CUP) for a quick tip to speed things up. Also, ask for a room with a mini-fridge — not guaranteed at 3-star, but often available and worth it for keeping water cold.
What time is check-in at yaset casa?
Check-in at yaset casa is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does yaset casa have Wi-Fi?
Free but slow (under 5 Mbps); one device per guest; no login portal – staff provide a code at check-in
Is there a city or tourist tax at yaset casa?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near yaset casa?
A set lunch menu (menú especial) at a paladar or state restaurant runs around 150-250 CUP.
What is the cheapest way to get around from yaset casa?
Use shared 'almendrones' (private vintage cars on fixed routes) for 10-20 CUP per ride; from the airport take an official taxi (est. 1500-2000 CUP) — no public transport runs there.
When is the best time to visit Havana?
March and April: warm, dry afternoons (around 28°C) and fewer tourists than the winter peak. November is also excellent, with cooler evenings and the start of the dry season.
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.