PHeymont

I'd appreciate any advice on where to stay in Santiago de Cuba. We're looking for a casa particular (any specific recommendations?) and have no clue on best neighborhood to look for. We'd like to be not too far from the center, but would like a neighborhood that's both reasonably quiet and has stores, food, etc.

Thanks for any help...

annhig

Hi pheymont,

Because of fodors' largely US demographic, I suspect that very few of the people here who have been to Cuba [and there's not many of those] have ever been to Santiago - you will probably have more luck on the forum section of TA, which is where I have gone for some advice about our upcoming trip to Cuba in January.

When are you going? how are you getting to Santiago? we had thought of going there, but the logistics don't seem easy to work out, unless you're prepared to spend hours on the Viazul bus.

Most guide books have some recommendations for casas particulares in the main centres or there are quite a lot of on-line resources - which ones have you tried?

annhig

oh for goodness sake SaylerT give it up.

what you've posted bears no relation to my post to the OP, and is just rubbish.

no idea why you hate brits so much, but it's not appropriate here.

annhig

BTW, my point is made by the fact that there have been no sensible responses to the OP other then mine.

where are these americans who have been to Santiago and can advise the OP?

Where is YOUR advice on the subject?

annhig

you still haven't posted anything that is of any use whatever to the OP.

just rant away - it reflects on you, not me.

Jeff_Costa_Rica

I'm acquainted with only the hotels in Santiago, and not any specific casas particulares. There appeared to many casas, though. I didn't investigate them.

Santiago is a fun place with a lot of things to see and do. Enjoy!

PHeymont

Annhig, and Jeff_Costa_Rica...

Thanks for your replies, and apologies for having taken so long to get back here!

In answer to Annhig's question, we're going in January, flying from Havana. I'll take a look on the TA forum, as you suggest.

Jeff_Costa_Rica, while my first preference would be a casa particular, I'd also be interested in any suggestions or information you have on modest-priced hotels (not looking for beach resorts!)

Thanks...

annhig

Hi Pheymont,

interesting that you are flying to Santiago - that's something that we considered too, with the idea of then working our way back to Havana in time to fly home about 2 ½ weeks later,

what are your plans after Santiago? would you mind sharing how you booked your flight?

Eddwarm

Try http://www.Cuba_Junky.com. This site is wonderful although I have not personally used what's provided here. Casa particulars are listed, many have been reviewed, etc. Hope this helps!

Eddwarm

The website to which I alluded is: http://Cuba-Junky.com instead of the _. Sorry for the error.

PHeymont

annhig, sorry to not have gotten back again...thought I had!

Your advice to try the TripAdvisor site was excellent...helped us find Villa Roma, a casa particular in the heart of the old city, which turned out to be wonderful. It's also on the recommended list of Clare Boobbyer, who wrote the new Frommer EasyGuide for Cuba.

We flew from Havana to Santiago mostly for time; the Viazul bus would have cost us a day each way, and rail is not a viable option right now, it seems.

The Santiago airport is less than 4 miles from center, so that was easy, and on the way back, we were able to schedule a morning flight from Santiago that got us into Havana in time for a flight to Cancun (with enough time for us to not even be nervous about transferring between two distant terminals in Havana).

Hope that helps, and again, thanks!

PHeymont

annhig...sorry I didn't answer the other part of your question!

I booked the Cubana flights (RT Cancun-Havana and RT Havana-Santiago) through the incredibly clunky Cubana website. Payment was processed through an agency (TPV de Travels and Discovery) that is domiciled in Madrid, and was therefore able to handle U.S. cards.

annhig

Pheymont - glad it worked out so well. with the exception of the first one in Havana we didn't book our casas in advance which in retrospect was a mistake as we seemed to be in Cuba at the same time as the rest of the world and his/her partner/mother/child/granny. We met people of 20+ countries, besides Cubans of course.

Hope you enjoyed your trip - we certainly had an interesting time!