JBB Travel Guide: Havana

Because I own a swimwear company, and therefore spend as much time as possible near the beach (research and development, obviously) I thought it would be nice to share a series of travel guides. I'm also dying to relive some warm weather trips as I impatiently wait for spring here in Chicago. I am going to start with Havana, Cuba, because it was one of my all time favorite trips I've ever taken. I know a lot of people that have been to Havana and not enjoyed it as much, which I personally cannot fathom, so I want to share a handful of the things Kyle and I did that we absolutely loved.

1. Explore: Old Havana

We walked so much while we were in Cuba, and we spent a lot of time exploring Old Havana, where we stayed, by foot. I'm not sure if that's just the New Yorker in us, but we really love to explore new cities by walking around. Old Havana has the most incredible original architecture I've ever seen, and there is so much rich history on every block. Many small businesses are run out of people's homes (feel free to look up the politics of this if you're so inclined), and the people are so friendly that you end up walking into an art gallery that is basically in someone's living room with all of their original art.

We really enjoyed getting to know the city this way and I highly recommend skipping the tours and putting on a comfy pair of shoes instead. This also allowed us to discover some of our favorite restaurants, bars, and shops that we never would have found otherwise. Also, everywhere also felt super safe, so that was never a concern.

2. Stay: Hostal Chez Nous

We stayed at Hostal Chez Nous which is a casa particular right in the middle of Old Havana. When I was planning our trip, I found a Vogue article titled 'The 8 Most Charming Places to Stay on Your Cuban Vacation.' While I can say that I've heard less desirable things about a handful of places on the list, I must say we really found a gem and loved our casa particular. To top it all off, the rooms were only $35/night- which is easily the best deal I've ever gotten from a Vogue referral!

Our neighbor next door prepared a lovely and delicious 4 course breakfast for us every morning, which was also only $5, and our room had a vintage balcony that looked out over Old Havana. The room was nice, recently renovated, and super clean (the cleaning staff came 2-3 times a day!). To top it all off, there was a music school around the corner and they were constantly playing music at sunset while we got ready for dinner.

3. Play: The F.A.C. (Fabrica de arte Cubano)

This is one of the coolest places I've ever been to in my entire life. It was a mix between an art museum, a nightclub, a live performance space, a bar, and multiple restaurants. It's really hard to explain it in words, but I will say that this is a place that you absolutely cannot miss- it is so unique and fun, and you won't find anything like it elsewhere.

4. Eat: Paladar Vistamar

This was actually the only paladar we ended up eating at while we were in Cuba. We walked into a few of the other well known ones and ended up walking out and eating at other local places we found. When I say local, I don't mean "hole in the wall" or "run down" at all, I mean great restaurants that just were not on the tourist websites or lists. This place, however, was absolutely stunning.

We had the most amazing lobster and swordfish dinner as sun set and the waves crashed over into the pool next to us. Everything was delicious, though that wasn't shocking because everything everywhere was delicious, and we had a really fantastic time. Definitely make a reservation for a nice/fancier night out (though it is still really inexpensive).

5. Drink: Hotel Nacional de Cuba

You have to check the Hotel Nacional off your Cuba list to say you did it. I've heard less than desirable things about staying there, and it's a car ride from Old Havana, which, in my opinion, is the best place to stay, but you should 100% stop by for a drink. We had rum cocktails and listened to a cuban jazz band while reveling in the history and nostalgia of visitors past. Not to mention, we took some pretty great photos! Especially this bad ass one of Kyle with a cocktail and a cigar.

6. Relax: Playa Santa Maria Del Mar

This place is such a hidden gem. I know a lot of people that have been told (incorrectly) that you have to go over an hour outside of Havana to get to a beach. This is not true. We took a luxury bus from Old Havana ($5 round trip) 15 minutes to this amazing beach and had table side resort style service with cocktails and food all day long. You have to bring your own towels, but other than that, there are beach chairs and table setups waiting for you. We had such a relaxing day laying out and swimming and eating and drinking at this beach. I wish I had more pictures but I was too busy enjoying it that I didn't even take out my camera.I should probably do another post with all of my recommendations in a list, but these are my top suggestions for now. Has anyone else been to Cuba? Any other suggestions you would add to this list? Let me know in the comments below!

Cheers,

Jessie

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