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Expatriate Forums in Cuba
The Cuba Expats Online Community Resources & Forums
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Cuba Info
Joined: 15 Nov 2006
Posts: 15
Home Country: cuba
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 Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 10:34 am Post subject: HOUSING IN CUBA / CUBA HOUSING GUIDE |
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HOUSING IN CUBA
General
In Cuba, there are two categories of private homes. The licensed ones and the unlicensed ones.
The licensed homes are legal; the home owner has to pay monthly to the cuban government and in this manner the owner can rent the home without any problem. The only inconvenience is that the owner must pay even while it is not rented out. The unlicensed homes are illegal in Cuba. The owner is renting the home with risk as he/she doesn't pay for any license. The inconvenience is if a government inspector discovered that, the owner will have to pay 1500 CUC of penality and, in addition of that, he/she risks to lose his/her home. When this occur, the tenant must leave the house immediately and he/she will be forced to go to a hotel (much more expensive than private homes).
The unlicensed homes are less expensive than the licensed ones but much more dangerous and absolutely illegal. For this reason, it is not recommended. Furthermore, the difference in the price is not so big. In licensed homes, you have more comfort and more security against thefts. The owners are there to protect you and your personal goods (they must do that) and at the same time, you have all the privacy that you expect. You can invite native girls and friends in the home (you cannot do that in a hotel). So, definitively it is better to rent a licensed home.
Sure, private homes in Cuba, are not as luxurious and comfortable as a hotel. But private homes in Cuba costs half or even less of the price of a hotel. There, you have more opportunities to discover the "real" and "true" Cuba and to live an unexpected and more adventurous lifestyle. The Cuban people are very friendly and you will never feel alone in Cuba.
Properties in Havana
In Havana there are several zones where is best to rent a private home. Any choice depends entirely on your taste. If you are looking for the beach, the best places are Guanabo and Santa Maria del Mar. Guanabo is a little town with a lot of people, disco clubs, many shops, restaurants, beach, pizzerias, resto-bars, bars-cafes, car rental and moto rental. There is also a gas distributor and in general, Guanabo is quite eventful.
For its parts, Santa Maria del Mar is a touristic zone. There are six hotels on this zone; the Megano Hotel, the Tropicoco Hotel, the Las Terrazas Residence / Hotel, the Atlantico Hotel, the Itabo Hotel and the Brisas del Mar Hotel (at the top of the Santa Maria hill, with an excellent view and swimming pool, but very poor cooking). This zone is special for all kinds of sports (including water sports), beaches (obviously), goods restaurants (close to the hotels), especially grills, massage, health services, car rental, disco clubs and shops.
In Santa Maria del Mar, there are also some private houses for rent, distributed along the beach to the hill. Some of these are very nice and some other are rented by the government.
The Habana del Este (East Havana) is between the beaches of Guanabo and Santa Maria and the true Havana City. Being in the middle, this zone is near to both places and have as well some other important sites, like the Via Panamericana (very special for its sporting environment, its services and big shopping centres). Habana del Este includes also the Alamar Residential Zone, a very ugly pile of popular buildings, but having two interesting beaches. Also, near to the same zone, there is the huge Guanabacoa municipality, a real town in its own, even if a little isolated. This "town" is very unique and interesting, also because of its santeria reputation (a sorte of afro-cuban religion). Here there are also some houses which are less expensive than the others, but you might perhaps rent a car.
The Old Havana zone is the very beginning of the true Havana City and it's perhaps the more visited by the tourists. Recently, some zones of Old Havana were renewed and there are many beautiful and unforgetable sites. In Old Havana there are many restaurants, bars, cafes, shops, museums, churches, expositions, theatres, hotels, monuments and other nice buildings. The most important avenue of Old Havana is the Prado Avenue. Also there is the famous castle of Morro in the middle of the sea and the legendary Malecon coastline (it extends until the Miramar residential and commercial zone and beyond). The Morro castle zone has also a lots of restaurants, museums, shops, shows and even houses. But the most important event is without a doubt is the cañonazo : each night at 9pm, the big canon in the Morro will be fired... the event is visited by hundred of tourist each day. Logically, in Old Havana, private homes are very plentiful.
The Vedado area, reachable after crossing the Old Havana and the Central Havana to the west, is the modern centre of Havana and its true downtown. It is especially recommended for those who like eventful vacations. Some of the more important hotels of Havana are there : the Melia Cohiba Hotel, the Tryp Habana Libre Hotel, the National Hotel of Cuba and others. There is also lots of disco-clubs, cabarets, cinemas and theatre. In short, the fun is everywhere in the Vedado zone. Among the important places, there is the Coppelia dairy (in front of Habana Libre Hotel but unfortunately has been left neglected over the years), the Rampa, the Parisien Cabaret (close to National Hotel of Cuba), and the 23th street.
In this zone there are many private homes waiting to be rented out, where you'll find all the comforts.
And finally, the Miramar area, situated next to Vedado and also close to the Malecon coastline. As mentioned, this is a residential and commercial zone and it's the more prestigious area of Cuba even if less centralised than Vedado and more peaceful. Most embassies, offices, shops, hotels and businesses are here.
In Miramar, without a doubt, the largest number of private houses available and the best. This zone is more expensive than others but it is worth it. |
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PHILIP DAVIES
Gender: 
Age: 49
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Joined: 24 Jul 2007
Posts: 1
Home Country: NULL
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| Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2007 5:35 pm Post subject: Re: HOUSING IN CUBA / CUBA HOUSING GUIDE |
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Hello,
Have you any inform on how much I would pay for say 80 square metres of accomodation in Cuba? in an area not to far from city life but not in the middle? I am cnsidering moving there, or have you any Real Estate companies over there?
Regards.
| Cuba Info wrote: | HOUSING IN CUBA
General
In Cuba, there are two categories of private homes. The licensed ones and the unlicensed ones.
The licensed homes are legal; the home owner has to pay monthly to the cuban government and in this manner the owner can rent the home without any problem. The only inconvenience is that the owner must pay even while it is not rented out. The unlicensed homes are illegal in Cuba. The owner is renting the home with risk as he/she doesn't pay for any license. The inconvenience is if a government inspector discovered that, the owner will have to pay 1500 CUC of penality and, in addition of that, he/she risks to lose his/her home. When this occur, the tenant must leave the house immediately and he/she will be forced to go to a hotel (much more expensive than private homes).
The unlicensed homes are less expensive than the licensed ones but much more dangerous and absolutely illegal. For this reason, it is not recommended. Furthermore, the difference in the price is not so big. In licensed homes, you have more comfort and more security against thefts. The owners are there to protect you and your personal goods (they must do that) and at the same time, you have all the privacy that you expect. You can invite native girls and friends in the home (you cannot do that in a hotel). So, definitively it is better to rent a licensed home.
Sure, private homes in Cuba, are not as luxurious and comfortable as a hotel. But private homes in Cuba costs half or even less of the price of a hotel. There, you have more opportunities to discover the "real" and "true" Cuba and to live an unexpected and more adventurous lifestyle. The Cuban people are very friendly and you will never feel alone in Cuba.
Properties in Havana
In Havana there are several zones where is best to rent a private home. Any choice depends entirely on your taste. If you are looking for the beach, the best places are Guanabo and Santa Maria del Mar. Guanabo is a little town with a lot of people, disco clubs, many shops, restaurants, beach, pizzerias, resto-bars, bars-cafes, car rental and moto rental. There is also a gas distributor and in general, Guanabo is quite eventful.
For its parts, Santa Maria del Mar is a touristic zone. There are six hotels on this zone; the Megano Hotel, the Tropicoco Hotel, the Las Terrazas Residence / Hotel, the Atlantico Hotel, the Itabo Hotel and the Brisas del Mar Hotel (at the top of the Santa Maria hill, with an excellent view and swimming pool, but very poor cooking). This zone is special for all kinds of sports (including water sports), beaches (obviously), goods restaurants (close to the hotels), especially grills, massage, health services, car rental, disco clubs and shops.
In Santa Maria del Mar, there are also some private houses for rent, distributed along the beach to the hill. Some of these are very nice and some other are rented by the government.
The Habana del Este (East Havana) is between the beaches of Guanabo and Santa Maria and the true Havana City. Being in the middle, this zone is near to both places and have as well some other important sites, like the Via Panamericana (very special for its sporting environment, its services and big shopping centres). Habana del Este includes also the Alamar Residential Zone, a very ugly pile of popular buildings, but having two interesting beaches. Also, near to the same zone, there is the huge Guanabacoa municipality, a real town in its own, even if a little isolated. This "town" is very unique and interesting, also because of its santeria reputation (a sorte of afro-cuban religion). Here there are also some houses which are less expensive than the others, but you might perhaps rent a car.
The Old Havana zone is the very beginning of the true Havana City and it's perhaps the more visited by the tourists. Recently, some zones of Old Havana were renewed and there are many beautiful and unforgetable sites. In Old Havana there are many restaurants, bars, cafes, shops, museums, churches, expositions, theatres, hotels, monuments and other nice buildings. The most important avenue of Old Havana is the Prado Avenue. Also there is the famous castle of Morro in the middle of the sea and the legendary Malecon coastline (it extends until the Miramar residential and commercial zone and beyond). The Morro castle zone has also a lots of restaurants, museums, shops, shows and even houses. But the most important event is without a doubt is the cañonazo : each night at 9pm, the big canon in the Morro will be fired... the event is visited by hundred of tourist each day. Logically, in Old Havana, private homes are very plentiful.
The Vedado area, reachable after crossing the Old Havana and the Central Havana to the west, is the modern centre of Havana and its true downtown. It is especially recommended for those who like eventful vacations. Some of the more important hotels of Havana are there : the Melia Cohiba Hotel, the Tryp Habana Libre Hotel, the National Hotel of Cuba and others. There is also lots of disco-clubs, cabarets, cinemas and theatre. In short, the fun is everywhere in the Vedado zone. Among the important places, there is the Coppelia dairy (in front of Habana Libre Hotel but unfortunately has been left neglected over the years), the Rampa, the Parisien Cabaret (close to National Hotel of Cuba), and the 23th street.
In this zone there are many private homes waiting to be rented out, where you'll find all the comforts.
And finally, the Miramar area, situated next to Vedado and also close to the Malecon coastline. As mentioned, this is a residential and commercial zone and it's the more prestigious area of Cuba even if less centralised than Vedado and more peaceful. Most embassies, offices, shops, hotels and businesses are here.
In Miramar, without a doubt, the largest number of private houses available and the best. This zone is more expensive than others but it is worth it. |
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