Nacional Cuba

Map of Cuba    [PHOTO_ . Havana International Airport [PHOT . . . . . . . . . Nacional Hotel sign   . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     We stayed at the Nacional Hotel this time.  It has a history with mafia, movie stars, and ...

... at one time or another; and then you pass the rocky headland of the Morro...." ** We get a lift back to the Hotel Nacional in a beat-up 51 Buick. For every gleaming gem from this era, there are a lot more of these smoggy machines with unattached ...

... the aroma and taste. Alex and I had a smoke on our balcony after our visit to Nacional Hotel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Much is made of Ernest Hemingway’s predilection for staying at the Hotel Ambos ...

... out pesos but was more than happy to complete the transactions. Outside of the government-regulated casas particulares, which wouldn't accept moneda nacional, those 20 or so dollars I traded for pesos would last me the rest of my eight days in Cuba. I ...

... in some cases, in desperate conditions, in these old buildings that are now mere shells of their former selves. The Hotel Nacional itself is a famous landmark - a beautiful grand old colonial building presiding over the landscape by the sea. It has been ...

... money changing outlet) to get some currency. Most people changed only to convertible pesos, but I changed some also into Moneda Nacional, or national money, the currency that Cubans get paid in. I have seen several blogs saying that foreigners cannot get ...

... were missing from the area: cheap food, public transportation, and cheap lodging. Even the chance to use my moneda nacional evaporated in this haven of package tourism. All my sources said not to come to Varadero expecting budget accommodation ...

... internet.  Turns out only the really fancy government run hotels have the net.  We caught a "coco taxi" to Hotel Nacional de Cuba.  Waterfront, airconditioned and full of foreigners - we hadn´t seen any until then.  No no, we had, we ...

... happens next makes me feel a lot better about life – I check in to the joining hotel (wait for it) the Hotel…Nacional. Now this is special. (history) Oh but there’s a mistake when I open the door to my luxurious apartment with views over ...

... in Western countries let alone in developing ones.    In case you didn't know, Cuba has 2 currencies, the local, non-exchangeable, and weaker moneda nacional (also known as Cuban pesos) and the exchangeable CUC (also known as convertible and ...