La Union Hotel, Cienfuegos Ciudad Cuba. 4 stars,

“I tried hard to like it ”
Let's start by saying the building is beautiful! I think that made it even harder to see it so poorly run. The hotel's elevator did not work and there was no effort to get it working. My room was on the third floor and there was no one to even help with the bags. That would not have been a big ordeal except that it was very hot and very humid and no air conditioning. The rooms required you leave a card in a slot for the electricity to work so when you leave your room the air conditioning turns off. After much effort I got the front desk to give me a second card so the a.c. would run but then the maid or someone went into the room and the turn the a.c. off. It was actually cooler outside that in my room. I spoke with the front desk endless times but it wasn't until I contact Havanatur and ask them to move me to another hotel that they were the least bit concern. It is such a shame because it has so much potential to be a grand hotel. It is a wonderful location if you want to be in the center of town and it has so much going for it. aybe with a new staff it would be better..

“Apart from it's looks - disappointing ”
The hotel looks good and thats all. When we arrived the lift wasn't working. We were moved to another room because the security safe wasn't working. In the new room there was water coming up through the floor of the bathroom. Although this was mentioned to the receptionist, nothing was done, The Staff were not interested.

“Good location, very noisy, needs work, no working elevator”
This was a cute hotel with major drawbacks....it is in a very good location, but it is also very noisy, the room was okay, the bathroom adequate. The major drawback was the lack of a working elevator....breakfast was good but limited, stale bread...

“Find somewhere else in Cienfuegos ”
This hotel brings you back to the realization that this is a developing country. Very ordinary is probably the best one could say about this hotel, where the lift didn't work, the lighting is totally inadequate, the bedding ancient, and the noise echoing from the bar area made sleep (if one could sleep given the bedding) very challenging. Very tired, disgusting pillows, very ordinary. If there is a better hotel in Cienfuegos, take it. Final insult, the credit card machine wasn't working so had to use cash again.

“Nice Boutique Hotel in the center of Cienfuegos ”
The Classical tour of Cuba continues into this pleasant hotel in the center of Cienfuegas. The hotel is just around the corner from the main drag A Daiquiri was served as the welcome drink and boy was it welcome!! Lovely reception area and friendly staff. Lift not working but used the service lift around the corner. Rooms clean with all facilities and a comfortable bed. However we had a thunderstorm that evening and rain poured in through the windows which did not fit very well Dinner was probably the best on tour as was the breakfast. Just a pity we were only there one night as it looked an interesting town.

“Beautiful hotel but lacked character ”
On the outside it looked good as did the inside but lacked character. In other hotels there was always music in the bar areas etc but not here. It in a good position to see the beautiful square. If you have a room at the front of the hotel you can hear the noise from a bar on the other side of the road until the early hours! We were very disappointed

“We had the Presidential Suite, oh dear! ”
Looked lovely from the outside and we were surprised to see we had this suite but the rooms were dark and very tired. The lift was still out of action and no sign of being repaired, The sheets were very old and thin and the air-con struggled to keep the room cool as the windows and shutters were of such a random fit the hot air,noise and dust just blew in. I didn't eat in this hotel as I was ill with D & V so cant comment,

“Good place to stay ”
We spent two nights here in Feb. 2014. It is quite a decent hotel with large rooms and a pleasant pool area which is a quiet retreat from the busy city centre. Reception staff were pleasant and helpful. Beware, at about 3.00 a.m. anyone with a room overlooking the street will be wakened by the very noisy crowd leaving the nightclub around the corner. This happens Thursdays to Sundays. Lots of yelling, taxis, horns honking and police keeping an eye on the crowd. Elevator was not working but the bell boy handled the stress of that.

“Good Refurbishment of Hotel built in 1869 ”
This Hotel had a refurbishment a while ago. The rooms are quite dark and although, there was a big bath. There were no bath plugs. The shower had a big shower.head and the toilets flushed. The beds were uncomfortable. We needed to carry our bags upstairs as the lift wasn't working. Breakfast consisted of fruit, toast and fruit juice. There was a big pool and Bar as well as a Gift Shop and Pharmacy. This Hotel is well positioned to visit historic sites of Cienfuegos.

“Beautiful Architecture but Noisy ”
Arriving in Cienfuegos from Miami late in the afternoon, our small group was taken to the Hotel La Uníon. Check in was quick and effective. We were given a room on the first floor facing the main street in front. As the elevator was not working the suitcases had to be carried by hand to each floor. As ours were bigger than others in our group we were on 1st floor, others were in the upper floors. We turned on the A/C and the room began to cool. We wanted to see the city so we went to Reception and they were helpful, answered all of our questions, offered welcomed suggestions, smiling the whole time. This was the case for our stay at the hotel - they worked hard to help us. When I reported that the A/C was not working (8:30 PM) they sent someone to the roof and it was fixed quickly. When we went to bed we noticed that the beds were single mattress - very thin with no padding. The pillows were long but thin or long and very thick. As we traveled through Cuba these two problems were evident everywhere we stayed - except at the Melia in Havana. What was the most frustrating was the noise from the restaurants and bars on the street next to the hotel - till after 2 AM. Breakfast was well done with a good variety of food and nice layout. As to the hotel being a 4 Star - not really - probably 3 at best.

“Faded grandeur but very charming ”
This is a perfect one night stop-over hotel. We had two rooms - one upgraded to a junior suite, the other to a full suite. The rooms were charming, airy and spacious although amenities like towels and toiletries were basic; furniture was a little tired but everything was clean and well maintained. A mediocre breakfast did not detract from the warm, friendly service and great value - it is a beautiful building, in a central location.

“Reasonable place. ”
We stayed here two nights in a junior suite looking onto the street. It was very noisy due to the bar opposite but the reception staff very kindly gave us a different room for the second night. Lovely pool and nice bar with very friendly bar staff. Beautiful building with lots of character in an excellent location.

“Great location. ”
La Union is a block from the square. The rooms are huge -- high ceilings, doors to the balcony were at east 14 feet high. The pool is beautiful. This is supposed to be the best hotel in Cienfuegos. That said, service was only ok, the elevator didn't work, and the rooms were is need of updating. The bedding is old, the lights dim, the a/c incapable of being controlled so you had the option of too cold and noisy or too warm. The breakfast buffet was adequate, not as good as the Parque Central in Havana.

“Looks good but ”
Only stayed here one night and it does look a lovely hotel with a beautiful inner courtyard and pool. We had a snack on the bar terrace with (lots of) rum. They gave us a corner suite (see earlier reviews) in which you could have held a conference! The bedroom was massive to use a yoof phrase and quite comfortable. The position on the front meant little sleep as has been mentioned, the streets are very very noisy with folk turning out to meet & great, cars playing music until 0330 . . . and then the noise starts around 0600. So, if you want a sleep - ask for a quiet room - maybe inward facing. The breakfast was pretty awful. The coffee was undrinkable - how can a country that actually produces coffee turn out this rubbish? I had to pay for an cortado. There must be plenty of casa particulares around for better accommodation & food.

“Hotel with character but something?s to be aware of. ”
Stayed here from 22nd to 27th November. A few problems to note but hey this is Cuba. Firstly the lift was out of order when I arrived and was still out of action when I checked out. No problem to me but if you were on the third floor could have been inconvenient. The internet access in the hotel was not working all the time I was at the hotel but there is an internet shop directly over the road from the hotel that charges 4.5 CUC per hour. Another thing that I found strange was no plug in the room for the bath or wash basin. There is a safe in the room but if you want to lock the safe you have to rent the key from reception at 2 CUC per day. If you are a light sleeper you may have a few problems with the noise at night. This hotel is situated in the town centre, the Cuban people are very friendly and sociable. As you would expect there is no double glazing so noise is heard from off the streets. I was first floor in room 126, I woke most mornings between 2 to 2.30am with what can only be described as sounding like a night club turning out, loud talking, singing and cars racing away then it goes quiet and peaceful. I can't comment on the food in the hotel at night as we ate out every night, there are some good eating places, most have the menu's in Spanish and English, I was paying about 14 CUC for starter, main and 2 beers. It was safe to walk out at night and we walked all over the main areas of Cienfuegos at night looking at the different eating places. The breakfast in the hotel is edible but not great. The best thing is the freshly made omelette but sometimes you have to wait because the person making the omelettes liked to wander back into the kitchen. The hotel is clean and tidy, not up to the standard of Havana or city hotels but for a provincial hotel it is pretty good. The rooms are clean, I had no problem sleeping except for the noise as mentioned. The shower in the bathroom had a large shower head with plenty of power and hot water. There is a mini bar in the room, this is useful for keeping your bottled water cold. No coffee making facility in room. The air con was efficient but too noisy for me to keep on at night even on low setting. Good pool and bar/café near the pool. There is a nice roof top bar on the 4th floor, I used this the first night I was there but it was not open again during my stay. Maybe this was because the lift was out of action. Pool was good. Summary - Ok hotel as long as you remember this is a provincial hotel in a town centre in Cuba. No problems staying here the staff are helpful and I would have no concerns about staying here.

“One of the better Cuban Hotels outside Havana / Varadero ”
We stayed in this hotel for 2 nights, while visiting Cienfuegos and Trinidad. It is one of the better state run hotels. It is located in the center, they have a guarded car park and you can visit the center of the town on foot. Several restaurants and bars are close by. The rooms are spacious, the bathroom is clean and everything is functioning. The elevator is not functioning. The pool is clean (to Cuban standards), although there is loud music and it can be crowded. The rooms are situated round 2 courtyards. The bar is in one of the courtyards and the cocktails are great. Our travel book (Michelin) advised us not to go anywhere near the restaurant, but we did have breakfast and is was good.

“Good hotel ”
Only stayed here for 1 night.. This is the best hotel in Cienfuegos. It is right in the center of town. Everything is a few minutes walking distance. Rooms and breakfast were good quality. The swimming pool is one of the main tourist sites in Cienfuegos for some reason, not to sure why.

“Nice hotel in a charming city ”
The hotel is beautiful and better maintained than many hotels in Cuba. There was also a nice poolarea which was a perfect place to relax during the hot hours of the day when it is to warm to explore. There were large groups of chartertourists visiting which took away some of the expected exclusive atmosphere, but the hotel was well maintained and had a good breakfast. We were really positively surpriced by the other restaurants and the atmosphere in this city. The hotel is very close to a square full of galleries with some of the most interesting art we saw on Cuba and bars where there are concerts in the nights, and there were some really charming reastaurants along the Prado and in the Punta area.

“Good Value and Great Location”
We travelled with friends in Cuba and spent two nights at La Union. We had rooms on the cobblestone street on the side with the front enterance of this hotel. Our rooms were quite spacious and air conditioned. The doors to the small balcony open so you can take in the street scene, which we enjoyed but for many the noise would be a problem. The bar/disco further up the street closes down between 1.a.m. and 2 a.m. and following the closing everyone hits the streets and lingers to continue partying. There were car alarms, people honking car horns, shouting and singing in the street below. So consider if this will ruin your sleep or if you can handle being awoken in the middle of the night. An inside room might be a better choice for some. The pool area is lovely and well maintained. It's a great place to relax and have a drink, even if you don't use the pool. The roof top terrace is the only place open later in the evening if you want to have a drink. On the night we went we were the only people there and it was clear we were disturbing the staff who were watching a soceer game. The front desk staff were excellent. One of our party could not use the stairs and they arranged for her to use the service elevator which was greatly appreciated. They also gave us restaurant suggestions and directions to some of the local attractions. The breakfast is passable but not as good as other hotels we stayed in. We had a car and appreciated the free secure parking offered by the hotel. Both the interior of the hotel and our room needed some attention to minor repairs and cleaning, especially the stairwell, which everyone uses and which gives guests a first impression. But overall, especially for Cuba we felt it was good value and a lovely historic hotel.

“Attractive Hotel ”
This hotel is a very attractive building in the heart of the city very close to the main square. The pool and the inner courtyards are excellent and the breakfast was also very good. We found the staff and the service to be friendly and very helpful. The lift does not work still, and judging by the pieces I could see, it will not be working for a while, but the staff are very good and quickly move your luggage. The warnings on noise from local bars are accurate, either go and join in or try and get an internal room!

“Great colonial hotel, with pool.”
It's Cuba so standards here are not the same as home. But this is a great colonial hotel in the heart of the city. Only worth visiting for a night or two. Pool area is very nice. great little bar over the road.

“Beautifully restored building in central Cienfuegos ”
On reading the other reviews I notice that the lift has been out of working order for quite some time, also Febuary 2014 when we stayed there. But this is my only negative comment about the hotel. Of all the hotels we stayed in Cuba, this was our favourite. The plusses include: excellent location, tastefully restored hotel, good breakfast buffet, lovely swimming pool, lovely shaded patios, yes, there are several to choose from. Our room was nice, with good beds and one of my favourite highlights is that they served excellent cappuccino!. Our car was parked in a secure parking accross the street at no extra charge. A real bonus!

“Good choice in Cienfuegos ”
This rating must be viewed in the context of the properties available in Cuba. However, we would stay here again. The pluses are that the rooms are super clean, the hot water and water pressure plentiful, the building is beautiful and perfectly located, and it has an excellent bar (with friendly and capable bartenders and some food service if you need a snack or informal dinner). Another big plus is the rooftop terrace which provides a wonderful view of the city, both day and night. Purchase a couple cans of beer from the bar and head up top for a relaxing and beautiful Cienfuegos experience. The downsides are uncomfortable mattresses and loud street side rooms. Bring earplugs and a noise machine, or request a quiet interior room. The breakfast buffet is rather dire, except for the made to order omelets and fresh fruit which we found to be the best options.

“An authentic colonial hotel ”
Obviously, the hotel does not match modern standards and it's easy to list its drawbacks. However, those are overweighted by its uniquely authentic atmosphere that has been accumulated there since mid XIX century. This experience is totally worth a stay (one night is enough though).

“lovely colonial style hotel ”
We spent two nights here as part of our touring holiday of Cuba, it is a lovely, colonial style hotel with a really nice pool area, good bar and is beautifully and spaciously laid out. The rooms were stylish, clean and comfortable and the service friendly and polite if a little formal, though I guess this is in keeping with the surroundings. We didn't eat here apart from breakfast which was underwhelming, buts drinks and the bar service was good and inexpensive considering the setting. It is very conveniently placed for the town centre and the boulevard for shops and the arts and crafts market. All in all a very pleasant stay and recommended.

“Exudes charm and beauty”
A lovely, restored, boutique hotel, only a block from the Parque Jose Marti. Rooms were large and bathrooms modern. Very clean. Beds a little hard, but that seemed to be true all over Cuba. Lovely pool and bar area. A true colonial experience.

“Worth a visit for the building ”
Beautiful old colonial style building in good condition , unusual for Cuba ! Rooms large and clean. Bathrooms clean. Air con. Pool, bar etc. Excellent location. Breakfast poor - little choice and bread stale.

“Great Old Style Hotel ”
The rooms are large and clean. The maids were very responsive to our requests for additional items. Food in the restaurant was OK. Go upstairs to the terrace for a cerveza and a great view. we were here on a Grand Circle Foundation Trip.

“Lovely hotel ”
What a lovely old-style hotel. I came here for a night with my mum as part of a tour of Cuba and we both really enjoyed it. The food was lovely and it was so relaxing to be able to lie by the large outdoor pool. The fountain in the middle of the indoor courtyard was a lovely old-fashioned touch with everything being painted in bright, cool colours. We had a lovely stay,

“Colonial charm and grace in French Cuba”
This was a really good hotel, although like everything Cuban odd bits didn't work - in our visit the lift was down although the porters managed to find a service elevator for the baggage. Our room was actually a suite, a corner room on floor two. Impressive entry, lounge and huge bedroom with a bigger than king bed. Bathroom was also copious. There were full length windows opening to the streets, although even the good glazing didn't prevent the intrusion of the local nightlife which didn't finish until after 3 am. Great pool was put to good use by our party as was the bar. Restaurant was excellent. They had some tour parties in when we visited so a buffet was in progress. The girls reckon it was the best meal we'd had in Cuba so far! And the solved my allergy by cooking a special dish. And the wine was nice too. Breakfast was a bit ho hum, and the coffee only instant mixed in a large pot, but adequate to get us through the day.

“Cuba Classic Tour ”
Stayed for one night here as part of a tour, excellent position, the colonial style was fantastic. Just what you'd expect and want to experience Cuba fully. A welcome sight it what is a diverse and interesting city in walking distance to the main square with the Thomas Terry Theatre there.

“Quick Visit - Great Location ”
I just dropped in to take a look at the property and to have a drink. The colonial style hotel is centrally located in Cienfuegos within walking distance of many points of interest, restaurants and bars. The entrance and common areas were bright, attractive and clean. The pool and adjacent bar area was lovely and service was excellent. I wished I had a booked a couple of nights and stayed!

“Cienfuegos Great Location ”
Located in the heart of this clean and well designed City, a great place for walking tours of the Square, Terry Theater, Galleries and more. Parking is located across the street with 24 hour guard. What a relief from Havana or Camaguey.

“Great position”
This is a lovely hotel right in the centre of town. Great swimming pool with pool service. Room was lovely, but on the front and very noisy. There is a great roof top bar and terrace. Breakfasts are good.

“Amazing sunset at dinner at the rooftop bar ”
We didn't stay at the hotel but went to visit the roof top bar for the views. We had timed it just right for a spectacular sunset over the square and on looking at the menu decided to have dinner there too. We both had good steak, wine and ice cream for desert, plus cocktails, at a reasonable price in a very relaxed setting. I assume the food was prepared in the al a carte restaurant downstairs but for us the bar was a preferable venue. Only disappointments wre that the lifts don't work and the toilets could be better maintained (but then agin, this is Cuba!).

“Better than we expected ”
The best thing about our 2 days in Cienfuegos was staying at the hotel Union. It's a beautiful building very well kept inside and outside, and right by the main square, facing a charming little shopping street. We loved the colonial feel to it with its pretty courtyard and great pool. We felt it had lots of character. Our room was very spacious, clean with a good size bathroom and air co that worked well. We had a fridge which was handy for cooling the water. On the slightly down side our room which was facing the shopping street was noisy in the morning, so ask for a room on the pool side to avoid noise disturbance. The pool area with the bar and pool restaurant were great after a hot day sightseeing, the staff was friendly and efficient, and the food served by the pool was good. You can get pool towels for 1cuc per towel by asking at the bar. We ate at the hotel restaurant the 1st evening, the food is more expensive than other restaurant and good quality but to us it wasn't that special, it's a reliable choice if all other options run out. The breakfast buffet served in the same room was good. There are 2 PCs for internet in the lobby but don't waste your money it is the slowest things ever and couldn't even send a simple email.. To be fair the lovely blond lady at reception did warn me when I purchased the internet card but I did not believe it could be that slow, So yes I confirm, it is ! There is a free guarded parking across the hotel if you come by car and that was handy. The lift is indeed out of order for good, but the staff use the service lift to bring up and down the bags, or to bring people who cannot walk up the stairs. That leads me to disappointing part of the hotel : the roof terrace on the 4th floor. The view is amazing at night with the sunset, it would be the best place to be however there is no atmosphere at all because there is no live music. Of all places we went in Cuba this was one of the only one without music in the evening, bitterly disappointing for us. And I can understand that going up 4 set of stairs without lift is not for every body so it was very quiet up there. In the hotel there is also a small shop that sells drinks and souvenirs and a small pharmacy. We had a great time at the hotel and I can only warmly recommend it, despite the lack of live music on the terrace ( there are plenty of bars around the square that do have live music to compensate...)

“Room overlooking the pool ”
We had a lovely quiet room overlooking the pool with window but no balcony. Nice furnishings and very comfortable beds. OK, the lift isn't working but very able staff carried our bags up to the room. Very good breakfast and wonderful views from the roof top bar. Lovely "Colonial" feel with cool internal courtyards. Well recommended

“Lovely hotel. ”
What a fantastic hotel great location with a good parking service. This hotel is a gem in Cuba. Lovely spacious room, Italian style pool. Great bar with good service and a good breakfast. Would love to stay here again. Because of the elevator and ramps it is easy with strollers. If your staying in cienfuegos stay here.

“Yep - the lift still isn't working! ”
But that's the only thing not wonderful about the hotel. They carried our bags up for us; it's wasn't a hard wallk anyway. The pool was beautifully clean and well-cared for and a perfect place to unwind at the end of a hot day of touring. We enjoyed Cienfuegos immensely - we found the art community welcoming (there are lots of galleries and workshops to browse through) and the restored buidlings were a visual pleasure. Everyone at the hotel was helpful and it has a great central location.

“Good place to visit ”
We didn't stay here but a useful tip is to pay 10cuc to use the pool and get 7cuc back in bar credit. A great idea after a day's sightseeing in the heat if you are staying in a Casa Particular, as we were. Also, a good place to exchange money. The rate isn't as good as the Casas de Cambio but you avoid the queues and don't need to show a passport.

“lovely traditional hotel ”
We arrived by bus from Havana and the hotel was full as it is the only hotel in the centre of Cienfuegos and is used by groups.. The friendly receptionist found us a room in a private house opposite Mariselma's (25CUC plus lovely breakfast for 5CUC more) and we stayed there 1 night before moving into La Union. The hotel is lovely, with bedrooms looking over central shady courtyards, complete with tinkling fountains. The main dining room is given over to the groups with a set meal but you can eat in the courtyard for a reasonable price and a good breakfast is included in the hotel price (145CUC per night). The use of a computer was 6CUC for an hour but nothing was achieved within that time as the connection was so slow. There is a communications office opposite the hotel and it was the same price but a bit quicker. You just have to face it, in Cuba there is no wifi and very limited computer connection. It is better to book everything before you go. PS the lift still wasn't working but there was a service lift you could use if you asked! Also the credit card machine so we had to pay cash again( we were rarely able to use our credit card although we did manage to get m oney from ATMS, paying a surcharge to update to dollars to then convert to sterling.)

“A great hotel off the beaten path in Cuba ”
Cienfuegos is not high on the list of tourist attractions in Cuba. It is a sleepy, dusty town, on the water, with a concentration on fishing. However, it is very scenic, and supports a lively arts community. Worth a visit by the adventurous traveller. This hotel is top notch, centrally located near the main plaza, with great views from the rooftop bar. You look right on the rooftop homes and gardens of local residents. A satisfying place to spend a warm tropical evening, with some cool drinks, watching the quiet drift of life in this slow-paced town.

the best in Cienfuegos
Right in the heart of the city of Cienfuegos, the lovely boutique hotel La Union offers all the services of a modern hotel along with the appeal of colonial surroundings. Its business center has been designed to meet the requirements of the most demanding guests.

La Union Hotel
This hotel was a great base for our few days in Cienfuegos. It’s very centrally located, just a stone’s throw from the Plaza de Armas, and rather grand looking, although it’s a faded grandeur in places rather than five-star-luxury grandeur – but all the more charming for that. Our room was a good size and comfortable enough as far as I can remember, but it was the public rooms that left more of an impression on me. We enjoyed having a pool to cool off in after a day’s sight-seeing (complete with slightly incongruous “Roman” statuary!) Another plus is the rooftop bar, with great views over the city skyline and excellent cocktails, although the opening hours were irregular and hard to fathom. But there’s also a bar in the central courtyard on the ground floor, and we enjoyed a good live jazz quartet there one evening.