I spend a few months in Florida every winter, and every winter it occurs to me that I ought to take the short flight to Havana. But I never follow through.

If I decide to go this winter, I have a few basic questions:

I'd like a hotel with a long swimming pool.

Stay in the center, or in Vedado?

I took a quick look at the Iberostar Parque Central, which I had marked years ago. It still gets decent reviews. For 5 nights, with breakfast, the price seems to be about 700 USD.
(I know that casa particulares are a lot cheaper, but I do like staying in a hotel with a good pool.). Does that rate seem about fair for a luxury property? Would booking direct with the hotel be a good idea? (Not sure what other options there are for US citizens.)

Anything else I need to know?
***Any products I ought to bring with me for personal use?

Is it straightforward to just buy an air ticket, check "support for the Cuban people" on whatever forms I need to fill out, and just go???

I am female and would travel alone.
I'm fluent in Spanish.

Interested in Cuban music but not much nightlife, if any.

How do I find decent places to eat dinner???

Will I be pestered half to death by street vendors or people asking for money?
I've traveled in India, Haiti, etc, so am used to this happening, but is this something that is really going to mar my wandering around?

Thanks!

I'm posting this again..does no one here have any advice for me as far as a trip to Havana this winter? Or is this a terrible time to visit the city?

ekscrunchy, I have asked for your post to be moved to the Cuba forum so that more people see it.
When posting regarding Cuba , you should tag it with Cuba.

Your are experienced in India and Haiti? You are fluent in Spanish?
As a solo female traveller, you seem experienced enough to handle Havana.

The Vedado neighbourhood is quieter than Old Havana and Centro but that is not quite where the action is. Old Havana has a lot of music and closes up early. That may be the neighbourhood for you.

Obviously bring all medications and any other products that you can not go without just in case.

ekscrunchy, I can't help you with the logistics specific to accommodations in la Habana, but I can advise you on the general rules of thumb for Cuba anywhere. I'll start at the bottom of your list of questions and work upwards.

You mentioned that you're an experienced traveler and used to the locals pestering you for this, that, and everything else. Havana should be a piece of cake for you. Just don't make eye contact, and don't respond. A quick flick of your open hand beside your head - as if you're shooing away a fly from your ear - is all that is needed to let the Cuban jineteros know that you're not interested and to move on.

You said that you would prefer to stay in a hotel instead of a casa particular... but staying in casas particulares comes with multiple advantages, the largest being that you immediately would have the benefit of the casa host's knowledge and recommendations for everything within the city - including advice for the best paladares and/or restaurantes available in whatever specific barrio of la Habana you decide to stay in. In essence, your casa hosts would be your go-to persons for a plethora of things while staying there, at no extra charge. And you can also find casas particulares that have sizeable swimming pools available on their properties too.

"Is it straightforward to just buy an air ticket, check "support for the Cuban people" on whatever forms I need to fill out, and just go???" YES!! And, as you'd be flying to Cuba from the USA, your Cuban Asistar Medical Health Insurance coverage is including within your airfare too should you need medical attention while in Cuba - just keep your boarding pass and other related booking info handy should you need to show it later.

"Anything else I need to know? ***Any products I ought to bring with me for personal use?" Bring plenty of CASH with you - I can't stress that enough. Your US bank credit and debit cards won't work in Cuba. Bring USD in varying denominations for either informal street exchanges to CUP (something else that your casa hosts could help you with privately), and/or for paying USD directly for taxis, food and drink in specific restaurantes, etc., and for your casa particular too, should you decide to stay in one. Whatever you feel you absolutely need to have when you're in Cuba - bring it with you. Everything from your personal hygiene products, to pain relievers, to snacks, to any other MUST-HAVE things. And as a single woman being there, if out and about during the daylight hours on foot, you'll be fine no matter where you wander in Havana - put away your bling though. But if out at night, it would be best that you always return to your accommodations via taxi, just to be safer.

I make my home away from home in Camaguey city 2/3's the way down the island to the east, but from what I know of la Habana, as I have friends who regularly visit there, one of them being a single American woman too (she's actually there now as a matter of fact), the Vedado barrio would be your better choice as a home base - again, in a casa particular preferably - always my good amiga's better choice as well.

ekscrunchy, I hope you find all of my suggestions helpful to you. Buena suerte con todo. Terry

Mil gracias, Terry..I think you've given me plenty of good information--

But I just read (I forget where but in a reputable newspaper) that Habana Vieja is desolate now due to the current situation, and maybe not a good time to go this year (??). I will try to find the article I read and link it here, so you all can let me know if you think it's accurate.

ekscruchy, ANYTIME is a GOOD TIME to go to CUBA! jaja Bueno, to be honest, for me that used to be the case when visiting with my Cuban wife out there in the sticks of Camaguey city. But now, with no electricidad for up to 15 to 21 hours per day - every day - I've resigned myself to the fact that for at least myself personally, Camaguey is now only a 1 season destination - WINTER! At least it will be a lot cooler there at that time. I used to travel to Camaguey up to 6 times per year, but no more.

But for you wanting to visit Havana, it's a completely different situation as Havana has electricity for almost 24 hours per day. Everything is also much more accessible for foreigners when visiting Havana as well. ekscruchy, do yourself a favor... forget about what you might have read in some newspaper - especially in US rags. They will always report a grossly negative spin and exaggeration of any situation about Cuba and/or about Havana, because let's face it, bad news sells. Especially in the US wherever it involves poor little Cuba. Your best information will come from here. None of us here have any alterative motives to distort the truth. Terry

Havana is open for business and it will get more-so as the winter season approaches. Yeah, you won’t get many positive vibes from an American affiliated rag of any sort.

Terry, I am fairly sure that the OP is European and merely spending winters in Florida.

As far as casas and hotels go, I am of the hotel kind as well. There are many many great casas in Havana and great casa hosts as well. But remember that you are staying in someone’s home and have to abide by their rules. Not good if your host is a screwball either.

I feel more free in a hotel and have a front desk and doorman at my disposal. A restaurant, bar and nice pool might also be available in a hotel. The Parque Central hotel as you mentioned is central alright and right beside the Old Havana district which is where you will find all types of restaurants and music. For a first time visitor, that is probably where you want to be.

Great advice from the others. For hotels, check out the Melia Cuba website or even the site of the Hotel Nacional. Both often have deals available. Many casas have a pool and you will pay a fraction of a hotel stay. Look at airbnb for options or CUBACASAS.NET | SINCE 1997, some of the Best Casas - Not for profit for a list of casas you can contact on your own. It's also a great source of general information. Like Terry mentioned, another benefit of staying in a casa is that your host will be a wealth of information. I'm also considering a Havana trip from January until early April. Lmk if you decide to go.

Whoops, I re-read the opening post and see that the OP is a U.S. citizen after-all.

The hotel that I usually stay at in Havana does not have a pool but I/we have been known to get a day pass at another hotel for a lounge and dip.

El Roc Presidenté, the Sevilla, the National, Parque Central are just a few off the top of me head that have pools. Man, I enjoyed the Saratoga rooftop too back in the day before it blowed up.

We have stayed in both hotels and casas in Old Havana for short visits. There are some really nice casas in Old Havana but we prefer a hotel. Hotels are always much more expensive though but sometimes you can get a good deal when pre-booking. We have never come across a casa with a pool ever in Cuba. I agree that you should stay in or nearby Old Havana for a first time visit.

"We have never come across a casa with a pool ever in Cuba"

Wessislander, there are absolutely scores of casas particulares located throughout Cuba that have swimming pools - the extremely large Laguna Azul casa particular in the Eden barrio of Camaguey city a mere 100 metres from our casa is just one of them. There you can find a large in-ground concrete swimming pool that even has a shaded and shallow upper level where the water cascades into the lower level as waterfalls. Quite beautiful really. I know of 7 other individual casas particulares within the city of Camaguey alone - in Havana, there also as common the nose on your face. If you look online, you'll notice that there's plenty to be had there in Havana. Terry .

Terry, I wrote that we have never personally come across a pool in Havana. That would be nice. I am not denying that there aren’t any! Have you actually ever been to Havana?

ekscrunchy, Check the menu prices and take a photo of your menu if possible. Watch out for the double menu scam. If prices seem high at one place, just go to another. Havana can be expensive if you allow it to be especially in the tourist areas.

Wessislander, no, I've never actually been to Havana. But I know ALL of Cuba better than I know Canada, and I haven't been everywhere in Canada either.

I have many friends who visit Havana on a regular basis each year - they help to keep me well informed about everything there. As well as that, I read everything about Havana online too. As an example, back before the pandemic, I spent literally 6 months researching everyday for a trip to Havana involving me, my Cuban wife, and for 3 other couples joining us to stay in Havana to tour everything. Trust me! I think I've looked online at every single casa particular that exists in Havana. Then the pandemic hit, and all of that hard work was for nothing. But at that time, and after a lot of consideration and jumping back and forth between staying in a ground level casa particular - with a pool too no less - and staying in a penthouse apartment with 4 bedrooms in a high-rise building right along side the Malecon - with a pool on the roof too - we decided that the penthouse was just more our style. Alas, it was not to be though. Damned pandemic!! Terry

I wonder what ekscrunchy decided regarding a quick trip to Havana?

I have been looking at casas in Havana and indeed some have pools though some can be quite pricey as well. Good hotels in Havana are not cheap either. We are leaning towards another Varadero/Havana trip and might try to do “last minute” this year because of our schedule. Fingers crossed.

When are you thinking about travelling Wess?

I've not decided. This will be a last-minute trip, from my Florida winter base.

YES! As Simon asked... Wessislander, when are you going to throw your hat into the ring as well for another visit to Cuba? You're teasing us! jaja So far we have myself, CubanWaters, and Simon onboard. Come join the club! It's a shame that we couldn't ALL meet up together when down there too, but the distances are a bit much. Especially for me. I think it's about 12 hours or more by guagua (bus) to get me and Yudith to la Habana from Camaguey city. Terry

We are looking to go in December before Christmas. It’s a big MAYBE for now. I was looking at flight-only and Christmas day is a very cheap day to fly back home on. Not surprising. We are looking into Varadero and Holguin areas most likely with a package deal. I would like to visit Havana again. Let’s see what happens.

Wess, well flying BACK from Cuba on Christmas day might be a heck of a lot better than flying TO CUBA on that day! I remember 2 or 3 years ago flying out of Toronto Pearson on Christmas Eve - what a fiasco that was! There were so many baggage handlers at YYZ who had taken vacation days or called in sick at that time that the airport baggage operations came to an absolute screeching halt, and with everyone's suitcases piling up all over the airport near the ticket counters because there was nobody down below to process them - mine included! Least it be said - and you guessed it! My 2 suitcases didn't arrive in Holguin when I did. I had to wait a week for my 2 suitcases to be delivered to Camaguey city all the way from the Holguin airport 4 hours away via government yellow taxi. Thank God my best amigo there still had razors, shave cream, antiperspirant, cologne, toothpaste and a toothbrush that I had gifted to him before and for me to use until everything showed up. I had left a lot of my clothes in our casa with my wife the trip before, so thank God, at least I had something to wear and a pair of chancletas for my feet too.

I don't know, Wess... perhaps avoid flying back on Christmas day. Only God knows where your suitcases might end up. I'll never do that again myself - been there, done that, bought the t-shirt, and will never do that again! Terry