Hotel E Velasco

Stayed there for 8 days. For the first 3, there was no water, but they were accommodating and let me shower at their parent hotel across the road. Matanzas has a power issue (like most of cuba) but the hotel had power all the time. The location is good, as it is walking distance from the main places. Importantly, staff were friendly and very helpful. Would happily stay there again.

I visited the Velasco Hotel last October, and it was truly wonderful. I wanted to travel to clear my mind a bit and learn more about Cuban culture and the city of Matanzas. Without a doubt, it’s the best place in the city to stay. The rooms are comfortable, the food is great, and above all, the staff are very attentive and friendly. I had an amazing few days there, and I also had the chance to take part in an activity the hotel hosts on Fridays, where they play Cuban music and serve traditional Cuban food. I will definitely go back.

We turned up at the Velasco without a reservation, and were welcomed by the very professional staff. We viewed and then booked a suite as it was the same price as a regular room, and it gave us the space to leave our cases open. The reception area is open to the street and the main dining room is just behind it, in a covered courtyard. This meant eating in a rather hot space, but the waiter kindly invited us into a smaller air-conditioned room when he saw me using my electric fan! The service was excellent and the evening meal was good and professionally prepared; the breakfast was the usual bread, thin slices of cheese and a one-egg omelette, plus juice and coffee. This is a beautiful hotel, and was a real treat after having spent the previous night in a casa in Pinar del Río which charged for rooms by the hour! We also walked past the Louvre (across the square), which looked very pleasant, too; in fact, our waiter had gone over there just to get me a soft drink for my dinner, which was very kind. I would happily stay at this hotel again.