Casa Particular / Homestay

Casa Particulares in Cuba

Since 1997 the Cuban government allows residents to rent 2 rooms in their houses to tourists, they are called Casas Particulares.

The owners of the Casas help to promote their homes by distributing business cards, and by advertising on websites such as www.Cuba-Junky.com. You often will get these cards while traveling around Cuba.

Cubans with a special license can rent up to two rooms in their homes to foreigners. You can recognize them from the street by seeing the blue signs (see picture), Casas owners must post this sign on their front doors. The signs will read: 'Arrendador Divisa.

If you choose to stay in a Casa Particular, you'll pay average 20 cuc a night; meals are extra. E.g. Breakfast is 3 cuc, and dinner is about 7 cuc, however, prices will vary between cities and towns.
The owners of the blue or green triangle (see the sign above) Casas pay the government 50 cuc per month for the sign, and in addition, pay between 100-250 cuc as a tax to the government, depending on its location.

Average prices of casa particulares in CUC (convertible pesos) per room lodging only

- Havana 25-35	- Baracoa 15 -20
- Trinidad 20-25	- Holguin 15-25
- Vinales 15-20	- Santiago 20-30
- Santa Clara 20	- Cardenas 25
- Cienfuegos 20-30	- Varadero … no legal Casas Particulares !

Remind, its all about value, the better the casa the more you will pay of course. Could be the casa has a shared bathroom with others, or a private bathroom. Just 1 room or a whole private appartement with livingroom and kitchen. A better area of the city or a very nice view ... All depends ...
Cuba-Junky strives to offer the better casas, with airconditioning and private bathroom

Commission

And yes, Cubans get commission, just like in any other business, nobody works for nothing, we all have to eat right? ;)
In any case a Cuban is involved in the "renting-deal" of your casa particular the Cuban gets commission, even a taxi driver and even if it is your friend, family or husband! Even if you think there wasn't a Cuban involved ... there IS ... maybe the Cuban guy at the restaurant last night who recommended the casa to you, or the casa owner of the casa you stayed in the other city ... whatever, 99% of the times the casa owner pays commission for you to another Cuban involved, and thats fine and normal!

How to make a reservation?

Easy ...

Our Man in Havana ... Pototo:
Check out Pototo's clip, he is your host in Havana
Pototo is Cuba-Junky's help for everything in Cuba. Remind, Pototo is a self supporting person who is pleased to figure all things out for you. It would be nice when you tip him for his work ... On location or here by PayPal at info@cuba-junky.com

- Pototo's Home Page >>
- Pototo's Testimonials >>

One more thing about reservations ...
Casa owners really want to have their rooms full everyday if possible of course
It happens when you enter the casa you reserved and it seems occupied by other people who showed up earlier that day or wanted to stay some extra nights ....

I agree, it is not a proffesional way to do business but please do not blame the casa owner, but understand such things happen because:

The casa owner have to pay a huge monthly tax to rent out rooms, some 300 cuc per month, they have to pay this tax even if they have guests or not!
Many tourists make a reservation but do not show up since you do not have to pay in advance

When such a thing happens the casa owner will ALWAYS have an alternative for you which has at least the same conditions you are looking for and sometimes even better. Don't worry you will get a great place to stay.

Be smart and call 1 day before or the same day early in the morning to confirm your stay.

We, Cuba-Junky, strive to do "business" with the more proffesional casa particulares ... but still ... this is Cuba, bienvenido ;)

How to find a Casa Particular by yourself?

You can just browse our casa particular pages and write down the ones you like.

In fact you do not have to search for a casa ... they wll find YOU :)
You will mention, by entering each city, people will ask you if you need a casa. Mostly these are the so-called jineteros, they get a commission for bringing you to a Casa, some people don't like this kind of promotion, but it can be handy to use this kind of service. Besides, also a Cuban has to get some fulas (Cuban slang for money) to eat right?

After a long day of walking, sightseeing or a trip to the beach, it's good to come 'home'. Cubans are extremely friendly at the Casas, we have found. If they are full up, they'll call around for you in the neighbourhood to get you an accommodation.

But ... we have made it easier for you and cheaper too.
We selected over 500 casa particulares all over Cuba and made an address book of it, an easy wire-o binding "take it with ya" book with 100 plus pages full with addresses and some pages left to write down your own comments.

You can buy this Casa Particular directory from our Cafepress shop for only $ 14.95

Order it in time because the shipping time depends on where you live in this world and can take 10 days

- Buy your casa particular directory online >>

Illegal Casa Particulares

In lots of cities in Cuba you also can stay in illegal casas. Remind that you can get kicked out in the middle of the night when they get a visit from official people who check the casas from time to time. Besides this, the owner risks his house because this is one of the fines in Cuba when managing an illegal casa particular ... Cuba-Junky personally, when staying in a casa particular in Cuba, does not want to be responsible for such thing happening ...

Cities like Varadero do not have legal casa particulares because the Cuban Government does not give permission in this area to start one, so all casas you will get offered are illegal.
In Varadero you better stay in a hotel or the most nearby legal casas are in Matanzas and Cardenas

Do you think our info is useful for your trip to Cuba? Please feel free to send us just a 5 euro donation to keep up the good work:

Contact