Nov 8 2012
Name: Janet Nestler
Country: United States
I stayed here at: 09/29/2012
Casa Melba y Alberto
My review: This was our second stay with Melba y Alberto and they are extraordinary hosts. We were welcomed like returning family, the food is fabulous, rooms and bathrooms comfortable, the front room having a balcony with a view of the city and the ocean. A/C in rooms is great but if weather permits the ocean breezes are delightful from the 8th floor.
Great location in el centro, easy access to everything.
They can help you with any needs.
Casa specifics: English speking, Quiet, Fantastic hosts, Comfortable, Safe
Amenities: Airconditioning, Private bathroom, Laundry service, Balcony, Breakfast service, Dinner service, Bathroom with shower
How was your room?: Room was good size, comfortable, bright, views, beds comfortable.
How was the food they offer?: Fantastic, too much.
Other services they offer: finding transportation, guides, making calls to the next casa on our itinerary, recommending restaurants etc.
Other comments: Wonderful family.
May 18 2012
Name: Ahoo
Country: Canada
I stayed here at: 5/5/2012
Casa Alberto y Melba
My review: This is the place to go if you are planning to stay in a casa in Havana. My fiancé and I spent a week in the master bedroom that has a huge balcony and a fantastic view to the city, Malecon and the ocean. Alberto and his family will do everything to make you feel like home. Their son (Samuel) speaks good English and on the first night of our arrival, he briefed us about what to dos and what not to dos in Cuba. Melba also helped us to book our accommodation in Trinidad and called up the taxi for us when needed. The food is amazing. Dinners always come with a soup and a dessert. Try the shredded beef. It was my favorite. Breakfast table is always filled with fruits, fresh juices, eggs and toasts. The only down point was the look of the entrance door of the building and specially the e! levator which is very old but it works. We ended up walking down the stairs every time and only use the elevator to go up. I also recommend “La casa de Yaneisy” if you are planning to stay in Trinidad.
Casa specifics: Quiet, Fantastic hosts, Roomy, Safe, Patio
Amenities: Airconditioning, Private bathroom, Balcony, Ceiling fan, Breakfast service, Dinner service, Bathroom with shower
How was your room?: Roomy and bright
How was the food they offer?: Fantastic
Other services they offer: Alberto and his family will do whatever they can to help you enjoy your trip.
Pictures
May 17 2012
Name: Sue Summers
Country: England
I stayed here at: 4/25/2012
Melba y Alberto
My review: Although the entrance to the building doesn't look particularly appealing, when you go into the appartment it is welcoming, cosy and comfortable. It is on the 8th floor and has fantastic views across Havana. Dinner on the balcony looking out at the Malecon or watching the sunset across the city is pretty perfect really.
Alberto and Melba are the perfect hosts and are a great team. Definitely recommended.
Casa specifics: Quiet, Fantastic hosts, Comfortable
Amenities: Airconditioning, Private bathroom, Balcony, Breakfast service, Dinner service, Bathroom with shower
How was your room?: Clean and comfortable with a ceiling fan and air conditioning and adjoining bathroom. There was also a fridge in the room.
How was the food they offer?: Melba is an excellent cook and the food is delicious. Dinner is usually a homemade soup to start followed by chicken or fish or lobster or beef, cooked as you wish and then a dessert and coffee. Breakfast is equally good with plenty to eat and, even though she had never made them before, Melba cooked poached eggs for me....which were perfect! Highly recommended.
Other services they offer: Alberto and Melba couldn't be more helpful. They will give help and advice for anything ranging from making telephone bookings to recommending a good barber!
February 15 2012
Name: Thomas
Country: Austria
I stayed here at: 12/28/2011
Casa Alberto y Melba
My review: We absolutely loved that house. Right in the middle of all the hustle and bustle of Havana centro but still living at the top of a high-riser with a great view of the city and the sea. The breakfast on the terrace was delicious and Melba & Alberto made us really feel at home. The bathroom is big and very clean! We sure want to come back to Havana again, even if it is just to stay with those great hosts again! Highly recommendable!
Casa specifics: Quiet, Fantastic hosts, Elegant, Roomy, Safe, Patio
Amenities: Private bathroom, Balcony, Ceiling fan
How was your room?: Big and very clean!
How was the food they offer?: Breakfast was just great!
February 15 2012
Name: Enrique Blanco-Steger
Country: Canada
I stayed here at: 1/27/2012
Casa Alberto y Melba
My review: The best way to sink you into the culture and life of Havana and Cuba is to stay away
from the all-inclusive resorts. My wife and I stayed at the Casa of Alberto and Melba in
Havana Centro. I contacted Potato from Cuba-junky.com in order to book a Casa. He recommended Casa Alberto y Melba based on my needs. The communication was rapid, precise and without any complications. I highly recommend his services. The decision to stay here was based on location and the reviews I had read here and on other sites.
On arrival we were warmly greeted at the door on the street by a neighbor who promptly showed us the elevator to the 8th floor. The warm reception we received from Alberto when we walked into their Casa was an indication of things to come. We stayed for 8 nights that were filled with some of the most memorable days I have ever had on a vacation. Melba and Alberto are fine hosts and innkeepers. They are generous with their time, and provide good advice, and tips. We felt like we were staying at my favorite uncle's home. The room was spacious, clean, had air-conditioning and a large private bathroom. Their casa is well maintained. The view of Havana from the balcony is breathtaking. We ate breakfast there most mornings. Fresh fruit and juices, eggs any style, with ham and cheese on the side, generous slices of tomatoes and cucumbers and very important, bottomless cups of fine Cuban coffee. We did sample one supper as we were on the go all the time and the food was wonderful,! BBQ'd chicken and vegetables served with an entre of a superb bean soup and a fresh fruit cocktail for dessert.
Now to speak about the location, you are within a 10 minute walk from the Central park and the Capitolio, where you can take the hop-on hop-off bus to travel around the city or to start your walking tour of Havana vieja. Walking the side streets in this Casa's neighborhood is an experience that places one right in the middle of life in Havana. The streets are safe and one sense's the warmth and the joie de vie of the Cuban people with music being heard everywhere. Be ready for the culture shock. What we take for granted is absent here.
Two blocks north of the casa is the Hotel Deauville, where you can book tours for inside or outside Havana and there is a money exchange booth on the second floor, an amenity we found to be very convenient and time saving. Also the Malecon is right across the street from the hotel for an enjoyable walk. As a home base for day trips to the Cuban countryside, Casa Alberto & Melba is the perfect launch pad for any excursions. The buses pick you up and drop you off at the Hotel Deauville.
Casa Alberto y Melba will be my home whenever I return to Havana. I thank them graciously for opening their hearts and home to us. Viva Cuba.
Casa specifics: Quiet, Fantastic hosts, Elegant, Comfortable, Charming, Beautiful, Safe, Patio
Amenities: TV, Private entrance, Airconditioning, Private bathroom, Balcony, Breakfast service, Dinner service, Queensize bed, Extra bed available, Bathroom with shower
How was your room?: Room was fine and spacious with a great view. Very clean.
How was the food they offer?: The food offered was excellent.
Other services they offer: They hosts offered many tips and suggestion for side trips restaurants ect.. Also showed concern for your safety and well being.
January 3 2012
Name: Kirsten Edelvang-Young
Country: Canada
I stayed here at: 11/22/2011
Casa Alberto y Melba - Centro Habana
My review: Alberto and Melba made us feel very at home. This was the first casa we stayed in during our 3 week trip of Cuba. They were very friendly, and very knowledgeable. I wish we had spoken better Spanish so that we could have conversed with them more. The casa location was good, the room was spacious and very clean, as was the bathroom. We fully enjoyed the use of their patio with a great view of Havana. The food was great, and there was plenty of it! The made us feel very safe, secure & happy! Staying with them was a treat!
Casa specifics: Quiet, Fantastic hosts, Comfortable, Roomy, Safe, Patio
Amenities: Parking service, Airconditioning, Private bathroom, Balcony, Ceiling fan, Breakfast service, Dinner service, Queensize bed, Extra bed available, Bathroom with shower
How was your room?: The room was quite spacious, with A/C and a huge window. There was an attached private bathroom with a shower, sink & toilet. There was a queen size bed and a twin for our use.
How was the food they offer?: The food was great. And there was lots of it. From breakfast on the patio, to a BBQ dinner... the food was fabulous. They also provided filtered water for us to drink, and fill our water bottle with when we went out. |
