Meet Rayna
Friendly, Responsible, Adaptable
We are doing our best to preserve the unique style of our colonial house and at the same time to combine it with contemporary Cuban art.
On a typical day...
I have a very open house. My house is your house.
When I host guests...
I can answer questions but let my guests do their own thing.
Family Hobbies
Cycling, Running, Swimming, Gymnastics, Chess
Hosting guests since
2015
About the Homestay
- Welcomes
- Males
- Females
- Couples
- Families
- Students
THE HOUSE
Casa Havana Senses was build last century and has all elements of an authentic 100 years old Spanish colonial house in Havana-marble stairs leading to a spacious dining and living room with well conserved beams of wood of the 5 meters high ceilings, columns with arches, high doors with stained glasses, colorful mosaics on the floor /with it’s marks from the time/, long balcony overlooking the street and a big roof terrace with a view to the city. Capitolio, Bacardi building and the dome of the Presidency could be seen from here.
We offer you 3 rooms with air-conditioners and private bathrooms /only the room upstairs is shared with the owners when they need to come to maintain the house!/, decorated with antique, colonial furniture, double beds, equipped kitchen on your disposal, as well as spacious dining and living room and a roof terrace.
We are a Cuban-Bulgarian couple. While we enjoy the beautifullnature of Bulgaria, Teresa-our mom, who will take care of you is living in one of the rooms. Ulises, our best friend ho speaks English will meet you and help you with anything you might need to know in Havana.
Amenities:
Air conditioning
Private bathroom
110/220 Voltage
Hot and cold water
Cooking facilities
Fridge
Coffee maker
Phone available
Free linens
Free towels
FREE SERVICES:
Havana guide/map
In order to facilitate your independent walks in Havana we have prepared for you a map with the best city walking trips that you can make starting from the house. Just follow the lines in different colors and the explanations on our map and you will be able to discover by your self the best parts of Havana.
Print from our web site.
Cuban Art
As our mission is to promote contemporary Cuban art, we will regularly exhibit selected artworks of Cuban painters, photographers and other artists in Casa Habana Senses. So you will live surrounded by history and Cuban art and if you like something you can buy it too.
Cleaning services, change of sheets, towels
Information on cultural events
Ask us
Ask us anything: places, events, food, transport, beaches and we will try to find the best information and let you know all the local people would know.
ADDITIONAL SERVICES:
Breakfast
Available by request /5 CUC/
Fresh fruits, fresh natural juice, eggs, bread, cheese, ham, butter, milk, coffee/tea
Laundry
Available by request /4 CUC/
Fruit basket
We want to give you the opportunity to taste the fresh, exotic seasonal fruits of Cuba. You know Mango, Avocado, Papaya, Guava, Pineapple, Bananas, but you never tried the best of these you can find in the Caribbean. Have you heard of Mamey, Nispero, Chirimoya? Well, if you are in the right season you will have a chance to try them too. Just order our Fruit Basket and next day we will bring to your room the best fruits available on the market.
House Facilities
- Laundry
Bedrooms available for booking
About the Area
Casa Havana Senses is located in the vibrant neighborhood of Havana Center, which is the part of Havana that you usually see in photos and which can give you the most authentic Cuban experience. Here you can observe the daily life of Cubans and be part of the Havana buzz. The women here hang their laundry on the balcony, the bread delivery guy is salsa singing his promotion and men play Domino on the street at anytime. The low key life you have daydreamed Cuba to be. You wont miss your cell pnone and internet!
The location of the house is within a walking distance to all main landmarks of Havana and is perfect spot from which to discover the city on foot: two blocks from Malecon-the emblematic eight kilometers long coastal aveneu and sea wall where all Habaneros hang out in the evenings, four blocks from Prado-the main walking street dividing Havana Center and Old Havana-which as a Unesco world heritage is totally renovated, preserving its 16th century uniqueness. Here you can enjoy exquisite architecture, lots of museums, art galleries and the beautifull squares of Havana Vieja like Plaza de Armas, Plaza San Francisco de Asis, Plaza de la Catedral and Plaza Vieja
Prado, the beautiful central pedestrian, which was build itself in the 18th century stretches from Malecon to the Capitolio-the equivalent and a replica of the Capitol in Washington. Some of the most beautiful buildings in Vienniese, Parisien and Madrid styles, old hotels and cultural centers are on Prado. Here is the incredible Gran Theatre too.
The house is two blocks from Avenue Italia or Galiano-this street used to be one of the main shopping streets before the Revolution, with the amazing Mall El Encanto where all new products were being presented and sold, sometimes even before selling them in USA and many Yankees’s celebrities were shopping here- Galiano is close to Casa de la Musica known for best live music and salsa.
Good hotels where you can always use internet, swimming pools, or exchange your money-Hotel Deauville, Parque Central and others are really close.
Colon-the street on which the house is situated gives the name of the whole neighborhood-Colon /Columbus/. Before 1959 Colon was famous as the neighborhood of the intellectuals. Colon ends between the Presidential Palace, now turned into the Museum of the Revolution and the National Museum of Fine Arts. The closest corner is with Aguila-the longest street in Havana Center, which starts and ends in the sea.
From our location you can start daily trips, which cover the most important parts of Old Havana and Havana Center.
On the corner of the next street-San Lazaro, you can catch the Almendrones-Cuban old vintage cars from the 50’s serving as shared taxies with established routes, picking up passengers on the street for 10 Cuban pesos /0.50 USD/ to Vedado, or for 1 CUC to Miramar, Playa, Siboney, Marina Hemingway. Coming back they will conveniently leave you just in front of your house.
If you wish to go to one of the beaches on the East part of Havana /20km. from Havana/, you can catch a taxi on Malecon, San Lazaro or your street and it will cost you around 12 CUC /one way/, or you can go to Central Park and catch an air conditioned bus for 5 CUC both directions.
The international airport Jose Marti is situated 15 km. /about 25 minutes/ southwest from Havana. You can take a taxi, which normally costs 25 CUC.
Local Area Facilities
- Park
- Museum
- Restaurant
- Bus Stop
- Hospital
Meals
Hosts can offer a complimentary light breakfast at their discretion. All other meals, including a full breakfast, might incur an additional cost, if offered. Meals and any additional payment should be arranged directly with your host.
Included in the stay
- Complimentary Light Breakfast
- Use of Kitchen
Available on request at an extra cost
- Full Breakfast
House Rules
Smoking Rules
Your host is a non-smoker.
Smoking is not allowed.
15 Reviews
November 2019
The host cancelled the booking 36 days before the arrival date.
March 2018
Nice house but to expensive you can get much cheaper accommodation in heart of old town because trust me that's where you always end up going...No windows in the rooms
April 2017
Optimal position to visit Old and Centre Havana. Ulises is a very nice guy and provided us with useful suggestion for our visit. When we got back to Havana, he didn't have any available room but helped us in finding an accomodation. Good breakfast. Minor point: the room where we were staying has not been renewed yet.
January 2017
Ulises was a wonderful host. He helped me find and explore great places throughout Havana. Very comfortable stay.
December 2016
Perfectly located between Vedado and Old Havana, just a street away from Malecon this casa has it all, athmosphere, great breakfast and most enchanting host - Ulysses! Just ask him! We had the room on the top floor and loved the view from the veranda. Tha Capitolio and the Baccardi buildings are visable from the balcony. We loved witnessing the street waking up! The colours and noises are fascinating! The pizza around the corner is the best fast food place in the neighbourhood! Open till late it sells beer too!
We walked to the National Hotel and to the port, hotel around the corner offers bus tickets, show tkt, and a roof top swimming pool. One can change money there if one does not want to queue at the banks, the nearest one is 8 min walk on the Prado boulevard!
Thank you for the great adventure! We shall return for more...Host reply
Thank you for your great review Albena!
You are always welcome back for more discoveries!
Warmest regards from all of us and have a great New Year!December 2016
Les hôtes étaient au rendez vous, chambre correcte ... par contre pas de rendu de monnaie et dernier petit déjeuner non fourni dommage.
June 2016
That was pure pleasure! Room was very nice, with all convenience, the whole house was very beautifull, it was pleasure to be there. Hosts were very friendly, make delicious breakfast:)
Just few meters from house there is all beautifull roads to walk, and next to this place - very cheap and good pizza;) Very clos to everything, thank you veeery much, that was really great stay!May 2016
This was my second time at this casa and I made sure I can come back after my trip to Vinales here, because I already felt at home.
This time Ulises brought me to Fabrica del Arte Cubano-an incredible art and party center in Havana-don't miss it! Again, thank you for the cares in your lovely colonial house! I am planning to come for a longer time, when your roof cafe is ready for hang out:)May 2016
I had a wonderful stay here and immediately felt like home. The first thing I received was a welcoming Cuba libre and while I was refreshing myself Ulises explained to me all needed to know about the area and most importantly he told me about all interesting events in the city. Without his advices I would have missed great places! The room was nice and clean. The breakfast was also so good to have in the colonial dining room and hope they will finish painting the roof top with the great view to the city, so future guest can have a breakfast also there! Recommend!
May 2016
I loved this casa! It is a beautiful colonial house maintained with so much love by Teresa, Ulises and Camillo, who are wonderful hosts and who took care of me all the time. The house is very central-close to Malecon and Prado, so easy to get to Havana Vieja and Vedado! I loved especially the mix of the colonial style with the flavor of the contemporary art they are exhibiting in the hall. I met some of the artists in the house-young and talented Cubans. The room was cozy, clean, with private bathroom and air-condition. The breakfast was delicious, my favorite fresh fruits and the Cuban coffee…Thank you, hope to be back soon!
How do I book?
Contact the host to check their availability and ask them any questions you have about staying with them. Once the host confirms they’re available for your dates, you can complete your booking.
When do I pay?
Once a host confirms they're available, you can go ahead and pay the 15% booking fee (maximum of 250 $£€ for longer term bookings) using a choice of payment methods: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Maestro, Laser, JCB & PayPal (not available in certain countries). You then pay your host on arrival or as stated by your host on their profile and agreed by you on booking. Please be cautious if a host requests advance payment if its not included on their profile. Our hosts have been advised that if they wish to request advance payment they must make this explicit in their profile. We do not recommend the use of Money gram or Western Union.
When can I share my contact details?
Host and Guest email address, phone number and home address will be exchanged in a confirmation email sent to both immediately after a booking is completed. It's against our policy for Guests and Hosts to exchange direct contact details via our messaging system.