How we chose our casa - Casa Antigua

There were several factors we considered while deciding where to stay. What do we want to be close to? What do we not want to be close to? What features were we looking for, i.e. number of rooms, cleanliness, view, balcony or patio, single storey vs. multi storey? Price did not seem to be a factor, as the going price for rooms seemed to be in the $25-35CUC range for anything we'd be interested in.

With four guys, we'd need a place with two rooms, two beds per room, and our own bathroom. Of course, clean and well-kept was preferred. We had visions of sipping rum and smoking cigars in the humid tropical air while enjoying the view, so a balcony or patio was important. I generally avoid apartment buildings if I can, despite the potential for view - just don't like the impersonal feel, weird smells, and the awkward confinement of elevators. Having never been to Havana and with none of us speaking any Spanish, hosts with a reasonable command of English and a willingness to provide advice would be a bonus.

OK, so, we now have a pretty good idea of what we want - time to figure out what district makes sense. There are four main Havana tourist districts : Habana Vieja, Habana Centro, El Vedado, and Miramar. Miramar is out - too far away from the action, and too posh - we were looking for a more "authentic" experience. Vieja seems like the main tourist centre, with the Malecon, tons of clubs and restaurants, and many historic tourist attractions. Great place to eat and party, but it's old and crumbly with mostly apartment buildings from what I can tell. Centro is similar to Vieja, except older and poorer, with not as many attractions, and more potential for crime.

Vedado looks like the place - a great compromise between the history, sights, and action in Vieja, and the upscale, more modern, and safe Miramar. Vedado was the pre-revolution upper middle class section of Havana, centrally located, and largely developed by Russians and Americans between 1930 and 1960. There's still plenty to see and do, particularly in the La Rampa section.

We began checking various casa listings on-line and found some promising apartments, but it wasn't until I stumbled across a fantastic article written by Al Dieste that we knew we'd found our casa: Casa Antigua. His favourable review was echoed by others on websites like Trip Advisor, so after checking with the guys, we decided to book it. I sent an email to Horacio and Marta, and held my breath while waiting for them to advise on availability. A day later, we got the good news that the rooms were ours. $30CUC per room per day, plus another $3CUC per person for breakfast if you want it. If you've read my previous posts, you may remember that we also have 2 hotel rooms at the Montehabana hotel - we don't plan to use them except for the first night, but they'll be there for backup.

For more information on Havana's districts, click here: Where to Stay in Havana - Districts
For more information on finding a casa, click here: Accommodations - Casas Particulares

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