Where to stay in Trinidad, Cuba?

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This was published 9 years ago

Where to stay in Trinidad, Cuba?

Could you suggest a good three or four-star hotel in the centre of Trinidad?

Central: The Iberostar Grand Hotel, Trinidad, Cuba.

Central: The Iberostar Grand Hotel, Trinidad, Cuba.Credit: Alamy

MY PARTNER AND I ARE PLANNING TO VISIT CUBA AND MEXICO CITY IN JANUARY. COULD YOU SUGGEST A GOOD THREE OR FOUR-STAR HOTEL IN THE CENTRE OF TRINIDAD? OUR TRAVEL AGENT HAS SUGGESTED HOTEL BRISAS, ANCON HOTEL AND IBEROSTAR GRAND HOTEL BUT THEY SEEM TO BE SOME DISTANCE FROM THE CENTRE.

HOW EASY IS IT TO GET AROUND FROM THESE HOTELS AND CAN WE TRUST THE CABBIES? IT LOOKS LIKE OUR AGENT IS CHARGING US WAY ABOVE THE INTERNET RATES SO IS IT POSSIBLE TO DEAL DIRECTLY WITH THE HOTEL? IN HAVANA WE'LL BE STAYING AT THE HOTEL NACIONAL DE CUBA. WOULD YOU SUGGEST HIRING A CAR AND DRIVER TO GET AROUND, AND WHAT WOULD THE DAILY CHARGE BE? COULD YOU ALSO ADVISE WHAT CURRENCY IS BEST TO TAKE TO CUBA?

Y. LATIF, REVESBY

Of the three hotels you mention, Iberostar Grand Hotel would be my pick in Trinidad, the other two get only lukewarm reviews on Tripadvisor (tripadvisor.com.au). The hotel is about 200 metres from the central Plaza Mayor, and the city is not large so there should be no need for taxis.

If you aren't happy with the quoted hotel rate you need to discuss this with your travel agent, bearing in mind that currency transactions with Cuba are not always straightforward.

Hotel Nacional de Cuba is on the waterfront and most visitors rely on taxis to tour the city. Car rental operators in Cuba can supply a hire car with a driver. This will add about CUC100 ($119) aday to the car-hire fee. You could do this more cheaply if you were to simply work out where you want to go and for how long and negotiate the fee with a taxi driver. You could also ask the concierge at your hotel.

Cuba maintains a dual-currency system and as a tourist you'll be dealing in convertible pesos (CUC). The Australian dollar is not accepted for exchange. US dollars are, but the government hits US dollar transactions with a whopping 10 per cent fee. You're much better off taking cash in the form of euros. Hotels and official restaurants and shops take MasterCard and Visa provided they are not issued by a US bank or financial institution. You should be OK if your cards are issued by an Australian bank. Cuba does have some ATM machines but don't use them, the government imposes a staggering fee on ATM withdrawals. Do not change money in the street.

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