Old Havana Ambos Mundos - Both Worlds

Nice hotel in the heart of Old Havana. Almost 100 years old, with live piano music in the lobby every day, the hotel itself is a tourist attraction. Hemingway's room at level 5 can be visited for 2CUC. The roof top restaurant was the best place to have breakfast. The room was small, old fashioned with a modern twist, but the bathroom was a bit worn out. With the renovation going on in June 2015 for levels 2,3 and 4, probably the next year will be a good time to stay in this hotel, although, I gu [... read more]ess, on these floors the original character of the hotel was not preserved entirely. Exchange office and ATMs (closed 2AM-5AM) are very close to the hotel on Obispo street. There is a pastry shop next to the hotel where they sell pastries, soft drinks and bottled water and alcoholic drinks upstairs. Obispo street was under renovation as well, like many places in Old Havana. Many restaurants on Obispo street have live music, there is salsa dance every night at Florida hotel (5CUC, one mojito included). Hop-on Hop off bus(T1) and the bus(T3) for the Santa Maria beach - which is not great - can be taken from Parque Central every 30 minutes - 15 minutes walk from the hotel on Obispo street. Also, shared taxi can be taken from the same place (the fare is 1CUC/person) to Vedado where Hotel Nacional and Habana Libre can be visited - they both have history. La Roca is a nice and inexpensive restaurant in Vedado. In Old Havana El Chanchullero - at 459 Brasil in Cristo Square - is a small restaurant (it doesn't have a sign) with very good and inexpensive food - fish was excellent. Good coffee can be bought from Café el Escorial in Plaza Vieja at 13 CUC/kg. To enrich your experience you can volunteer to carry medical supplies to Cuba. If you are in Toronto you can go to http://www.njttoronto.com. There is a medical clinic - Tomas Romay - at 5 minutes walk from the hotel and it is open until 7pm. If you choose to donate school supplies there are a few primary schools on Obispo street. I would also suggest reading this before you go: http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Travel-g147270-c129786/Cuba:Caribbean:Think.Before.You.Gift.html