Melia Cohiba Havana

This hotel was a lot nicer than I expected - actually nicer than I wanted but was booked on a package. This is a really top class hotel. Buffet breakfast was included and food was very good. There are 5 restuarants here to chose from but eating in town is more interesting and generally less expensive. The staff are friendly and helpful but some are not very well trained but they try hard to make your stay pleasant. The two pools and deck area are great. If you go there swimming in the morning it's tempting to lounge around the pool the whole day.

This hotel was nearly an hours walk to Old Havana (Habana Vieja) so I'd estimate about 6kms. Taxis to Old Havana run about $4-5 US depending where you pick it up from (at the hotel door or on the street next to the hotel).

Don't stay at the Melia Habana in Miramar if you want to be close to Central Havana or Old Havana. The brochures say it is close to the City but it must be some city other than Havana they are refering to. That would be about a 3 hour walk and certain meltdown or a $10-$15 US taxi ride each way. I took a scenic walk for 2 hours of it one day from the West end of Miramar where the Melia Habana is towards Central Havana before flagging down a taxi.

I was in Cohiba last week in september 2004. No complains. Staff worries about you. Air-condition works properly, food was good (swedish table). Old Havana is 5-6 km far and taxi-fare costs 5 - 7 $. I was really satisfied with hotel. So, if I will go back to Havana, Melia Cohiba is my choice.

The Hotel is ok but have the following problems:

1. The air conditionning is inefficient, old and have terrible sounds.

2. The windows are dirty

3. Is far away from old Havana where the action is, and taxis are expensive.

4. The hotel disco is nice but the show stinks. Donīt waste your time going there.

5. I was robbed with the long distance calls. I tried several times to make a call from my room and I didnīt even get the ring back tone. I ask the operator to put the call for me and she tried 3 times without success. The next day I dialled from the room and finally I was able to go through. When I saw my bill the hotel charge me for all those call attempts including the ones made by the operator. I complained and even called the manager but they say I have to paid. Since I gave my credit card as a garantee there was nothing I could. Every call attempt they charge you a minute and is US$ 3.55 per minute

This was my 3rd. time to Havana. My second time I stayed at the Melia Cohiba which was good for downtown action and activity as the Havaba Club is next door. However, for honeymooners and a little more class, the Melia Habana is the best. A beautiful hotel with a very large pool in a quiet neighbourhood. Very secure also.

If you are staying at the Melia Cohiba, be forewarned of a few things.

Americans on prepaid packages may have some problems. When I checked in, the hotel worker demanded either a credit card or a very large cash deposit. Through lengthy negotiations (the way everything works in Cuba), they changed their mind in exchange for not having the phone turned on. The staff is not well trained in basic service - e.g., language skills are limited, knowledge of local tourist spots is poor, generally a negative, slow attitude toward guests. This is a bit of a culture shock for Americans & Canadians who are used to hotel workers jumping to assist you. Skip the hotel bars. They are very pricey & nothing special.

As for redeeming qualities, it's always easy to hail a cab at the Cohiba; it's right on the Malecon (overlooking the Gulf); the rooms are beautiful; no energy or water shortages; & it's an easy cab ride to the more scenic parts of town yet far enough away from seedier areas. The breakfasts are pretty good, lots of fresh fruit. Avoid the restaurants for lunch or dinner.

I liked the Cohiba, but it didn't have the flavor I was looking for in Havana. I could have been in the Cohiba in NYC. With that being said, everything was very nice. I got butchered by the hair salon in the hotel. I preferred the Riviera which is around the corner from the Cohiba. That had a 1950's feel of old school Havana.

stay for 2 hour and check out, the room was like a oven at least 98 f,the air is no up to this hotel, i decide to change rooms and the same happens again and you can not open the windows, the sun beats on the windows really hard (air to maximum) and the hotel have a european electric set up(220v)another pain...

We stayed at Melia Cohiba on January, 2003 and I must say this international first class hotel really exceeded our expectations. A quick ride from Old Havana, I was very much impressed with the cleanliness and quality service we pamper ourselves with. From famed Havana Cafe, with its vintage cars and excellent traditional music to its acclaimed cigar lounge, not forgetting the friendly and professional staff, the hotel is definitely a must-stay for any international traveller. I want to thank friend Bob for wisely reccommending this venue and I will certainly share this experience with other friends visiting Havana.

The Melia Cohiba is lovey but large, and it's location is almost perfect, just across the street from the seawall (the Malecon) and well situated in Vedado between lovely Miramar and hot Habana Centro.

The rooms are fabulous with glass enclosed bathtubs overlooking the sea and the Malecon--you can bath on high as you watch couples kissing at the seawall. The beds are big and the rooms well appointed with couches and TVs and lots of sexy mirrors too. So what's wrong.

First of all, the hotel is expensive and very clearly pitched toward corporate business, but it's seldom full. To fill it they book lots of cheap k-mart style European tour groups that invade on a daily basis. This sort of dissonance wouldn't have been so bad, if it hadn't been for the fact that my son came to meet me for a poolside breakfast wearing shorts and a tank top and was denied entrance into the lobby and the pool area as he was not "properly dressed."

It took me hours to locate him after that and the manager, very apologetic, told me that Cuba was like that. This may be true, but the Melia Corp. clearly has no control over the place and it letting Cuban security get away with arrogant misconduct.

To top it all off, the little food we are there was awful.

We stayed at the Melia Cohiba in Havana in Dec. 2002. We had a great time while there. The hotel is big, and sometimes it can look a bit impersonal, but the staff was extremely friendly and helpful. Rooms are big, comfortable, with lots of closet/storage space, in room safe, a big bathroom with combined tub/shower, great amenities, including a bidet.

The location in Havana is great, in Vedado, relatively close to Old Havana (10 min. taxi ride). Lots to see and do in Havana. I would definitely reccommnet staying there. Not exactly cheap, but probably the best place to stay in Havana.