El Comendador Hotel, Havana City Cuba. 4 stars,

“Take a trip back in time!”
We had five nights at the wonderfully atmospheric El Comendador. The hotel itself consists of three floors of rooms around a pretty courtyard filled with hanging plants and vegetation. Narrow staircases and balconies overlooking the courtyard lead to the rooms. Watch your head if you're over six feet tall though due to low ceilings! Rooms are basic but clean and tidy. Try and ensure you get one with a modern wall mounted aircon unit which are fine. The older units struggle to cool the rooms. The hotel is in an excellent location for exploring old Havana & central Havana and is located close to some beautiful old plazas. Havana itself was a wonderful experience. So much beautiful architecture and history about the place. The people were friendly too and even in the tourist market not pushy or aggressive - a refreshing change from other Caribbean islands we've visited. Take along all those small shampoos, soaps and conditioners you've collected from big hotels over the years. People are really grateful for them and genuine in their thanks. Pencils & pens go down well too. One thing to watch out for is the departure tax at the airport. Make sure you've got cahs or you won't get out!

“A classic place to lay your head ”
I agree with previous reviewers who say this place has real character. I love the winding maze of floors and courtyards and common rooms, topped up by loads of plants growing everywhere, giving it an organic feel. My one criticism (and it is a big one!) is that I paid (in advance) for a junior suite, and was given a regular double room. I didn't figure this out until the night before my week long stay ended when I peered into an enormous room. I put this down to Cuban service standards, which are unfortunately not very high. When I checked out I complained and heard the magic words "we are really sorry." For this they lose a star. In the end I wasn't that fussed because I loved the room. It was charming with wood beam ceilings and an old bathtub and sink, nevertheless it had Sat TV and frigid AC which was great after a hard day out in Havana heat and humidity. The service isn't great, one porter was friendly but (like many touts) tried to sell me cigars and (worse) asked if I wanted "las chicas." I suppose this happens everywhere though. Breakfast was pretty uneventful. Having read previous reviews I brought my own coffee cup and sure enough ended up using it one morning. Food isn't that high up on the priority list in Cuba, and when so many people live on rations it's hard to complain too much about a substandard brekkie.

“lovely old building in old havana. ”
the comendador is part of the hostal valencia..and at times it can be a bit tricky to find your way through the kitchen, (especially after a few mojitos), as they never seem to have the huge main doors open. however once inside you are in a fabulous old cuban building with a central atrium, and blue shuttered rooms all round. the rooms all have window shutters onto the street too, which you can leave open all the time..and ours overlooked the princess diana garden..woopee! there are claw foot baths and tiled floors...but as with many of these old buildings, if you dont get up early enough because of too many cuba libres the night before, you may find the water runs out just as you have put the shampoo on your hair...not to return for many hours. and i dont just mean hot water..i mean any water at all! still you can always raid the mini bar to rinse off! and we had problems with opening our door..as the lock stuck..in typical cuban fashion 5 men came to help at the drop of a hat...and they got it open..but, naturally, this being cuba and all, they didnt fix it...so it happened every time. these things cant bother you if you are in cuba...its part of the experience..if you want faceless hotels where nothing goes wrong with things go to the havana libre or the nacional..but this place has real character, and its right in old havana..just a stumble away from obispo. and the staff were great..even being so grateful when we returned the key, which i found in my pocket 2 days after we moved to a different hotel. bless em!

“Good atmosphere! ”
Loved this hostal. As most places in Cuba, things doesn't allways work as it was supposed to. But without access to spare parts.. -who can blame them? The hostal is located right in the center of Habana Vieja. The atmosphere is great! Live music, dancing. The food is really good. Try the local paella at Hostal Valencia ;) By the way, this Hostal is connected to the Valencia. Only the rooms are a little different. (but still very nice!)

“What more could you want ? ”
There is little that could be said to fault this hotel, it is more or less a part of the hotel valencia next door and after bad reviews read about Cuban hotels in general I was not expecting much. However, There really is not much to be said bad about this hotel , in fact , other than the breakfast which gets the same review apparently everywhere in Cuba there is nothing bad to say. Even at that if one got up early enough in the morning there was a selection of breads, cakes, and croissants to eat other than the mixed vegetable, breakfast being served 8-10. It was a lovely hotel which typified the colonial spanish architecture throughout that area of old havana,. The rooms were cleaned daily, towels were changed daily, the hotel staff were very nice, the night porter staff were very nice also, we arrived home very late some nights after 4.30 and they never once were in anyway put out, very polite and friendly. The hotel had evening and afternoon music sessions in the main area of the hotel valencia with dancers one evening. I guess the only thing that I would warn was that if you were particularly tall it might be a bit uncomfortable as the ceilings seemed lower than normal, anyone over 6'4" might have difficulty, other than that book it and stay there.

“Beautiful cuban colonal style hotel”
I have been in Cuba serveral times, and my favorite place among all the beautiful places in Cuba, is Havana Viaja(Old Havana) with is romantic colonial buildings. El Comendador is one of these buildings. It´s tasteful decorated and is placed in a quiet sidewalk to the more busy, but beautiful Calle Obrapia. There is no noise from the street. The rooms is very romantic decorated with new but colonial style furnitures. The doors is blue, which make you feel that you are in a greek island - in a positive way. The service is execellent- they will do everything for you and they treat you as you are part of their family. It is one of these places I would prefer if I should be on a honymoon. You are in the middle of Havana, but you feel you are on a island on your own - quiet and peaceful. At Hotel Valencia where the breakfast is served, you can also get tapas and other Spanish crusines. The breakfast is not worth mention, and that is a general observation I have made on all hotels around Cuba - spartanious and dull. But I can strongly recommend this hotel for it´s quietness and beautiful decorated rooms and friendly service and good value for money!

“Characterful hotel! ”
Very old hotel, perfect location for sightseeing in Havana. We loved it! They only have 3 bowls in the restaurant - my husband was told he would have to wait until a lady had finished with hers before he could use it! It's things like this that remain in your memory. We had three nights here before moving to Varadero Beach, definately recommended.

“Beautiful Hotel! ”
Having read many poor reviews on the hotel accommodation in Havana we were not expecting much but we where pleasantly surprised! The hotel itself is in an great central location close to all the sights! The rooms are basic but clean and beautifully decorated! The service was excellent and all the staff where really helpful and happy! We will definitely stay again next time we are in Havana!!!

good sevices
It is located in Havana's historic heart. Exceptional for its intimacy and silence provided by the atmosphere of its inner halls, "El Comendador" is an excellent hotel for retreat and meditation. Its sober furniture includes very simple Renaissance-style elements and some original pieces from Cuba's patrimony, which are combined to meet the needs for modern comfort from the most demanding guests. The hotel, which has a strong Mudejar influence, with its main entrance in one of the corners of the building, is very close to one of the most significant plazas in Old Havana, the Square of Saint Francis of Assisi. Guests can enjoy the sea breeze coming from the Havana Harbor, which can be seen from the balconies of the magnificent rooms of the hotel. The building, which belonged to the family of Don Pedro Regalado Pedroso y Zayas, "Commander of the Order of Elizabeth the Catholic", during the 19th century, was built in the 18th and 19th centuries and underwent many changes until 1864, when the mezzanine was added and it looked as it is today. Havana's "José Martí" International Airport, 12.4 miles.