Review: Holidays At Hotel Memories Havana Resort and Spa (2024)
Hotel Memories Miramar Havana Resort and Spa is one of the few resort-type hotels in Havana. It has a large garden and pool area, as well as a lot of amenities, and is only a short drive from the vibrant city center of the Cuban capital.
I spent a weekend here as part of my quest to test the variety of hotels in Havana.
The Memories Miramar is in a part of the west-end of Havana, called Miramar and Playa, west of Havana center. It is located only five minutes from the beach and about a 15-minute taxi drive from Old Havana.
Lavish Weekend At Memories Miramar Havana
The Hotel Memories Havana is situated on the east side of the capital of Cuba, in the Miramar area, a high-end and luxurious residential area of the city.
The bustling ambiance and beautiful sights of Havana that you will want to enjoy are only a short taxi drive away, while your residence is calm and quiet.
Arriving At Hotel Memories Miramar
When arriving at the Memories Miramar Havana reception area, the staff is super welcoming and helpful.
The garden and pools look gorgeously blue and delicate at first sight through the glass doors behind the lobby bar.
Memories Miramar offers stays with bed and breakfast or half-board but does not have an all-inclusive option. Most hotels in the Havana area do not offer all-inclusive, as most guests in the capital do not want to stay in to eat when there is a buzzing city outside.
I booked a two-night half-board stay, which includes two breakfasts and two dinners. The room is also deluxe and equipped with a large bathtub, which I am seriously looking forward to enjoying.
Included in the booking is a two-hour wifi pass for each booked day.
For first-time travelers to Cuba, you should be aware that the internet and Wi-Fi are not readily available everywhere, although they are becoming more available in the big hotels and some casa particulares.
It is also often slow, time-restricted, sometimes totally absent, and always restricted by international sanctions.
So, here is some quick advice for you: Get a VPN before you arrive. With a really good VPN, you will be able to enter close to all the websites and services you might need while in Cuba.
Miramar Havana Deluxe Room With Ocean View
The room is spacious and bright, although it shows that it is not one of the most modern hotels in Havana.
It has a separate lounge area, a large bathroom, and a gorgeous view of the sea in the distance. The bathroom also provided the jacuzzi-style hot tub that I love.
The hotel offers rooms ranging from standard rooms to senior suite quality, with prices ranging from $160 to $237 per night for half-board.
Also read: Best Five star hotels in Havana Cuba From An Expert
Pool Bar And 24-hour Service
The hotel has a pool bar outside as well, in addition to a 24-hour serviced bar inside. The bartenders were able to provide me with a chilled glass of white wine that fit perfectly on the table beside my sun lounging bed.
In general, the hotel crew was very accommodating throughout the stay. Everyone made an effort to make up for the fact that many things were not available in Cuba at the moment of my stay there.
The kitchen staff was still able to provide delicious sandwiches of the day, containing whatever was available at that moment.
Also, I discovered that the hotel has a clever garden outside, providing fresh salads for the hotel guests.
One thing that you need to know is that the bar here does not accept cash as payment, which is unusual in a country where more than 90% of the transactions are done in “effectivos” or cash.
Although probably not a huge problem, lots of little transactions might make your purchases more expensive than planned depending on your credit card costs – so be aware.
Cuban Hotel Breakfast
Lurking into the breakfast restaurant fifteen minutes to ten in the morning after a long evening on the patio the night before, it is a pleasure to see that tasty warm toast is still on the table.
The Memories Miramar Hotel is able to serve a large and delicious traditional Cuban breakfast to your table (covid-rules at the time).
Eggs, ham, cheese, toast, and fruits, along with my morning drug – steaming hot black Cuban coffee. After breakfast, you can take the rest of your coffee outside to enjoy in the airy shade before you start your day.
Miramar Beach is located an easy five-minute walk from the hotel, which makes the hotel an excellent starting point for a beach day minutes away in your slippers.
Mind you, the beaches here in the west end are not the best in Havana. In the area called Habana del Este, you also find Playas del Este, which is where the stunning white sands are.
Memories Miramar Hotel Gym
The Memories Miramar Hotel has a well-equipped gym and a spa for guests to enjoy.
There are also several tennis courts, and the hotel can provide an instructor if you are new to tennis and need some guidance.
There is a shopping zone in the hotel lobby where you can find a selection of clothes, sporting and water outfits, hygiene and beauty articles, and tourist items.
Miramar Havana Hotel Restaurants
Restaurant El Patio serves a buffet lunch in the daytime and a la carte dinner in the evening.
Ending the day in the hotel restaurant with a three-course meal was also convenient and tasty. Memories Miramar has a sports bar called Route 66, open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., serving drinks and light meals.
During my stay, the included evening meal did not offer a la carte options or choices, which may be an inconvenience for some people.
On both nights, I was served a set three-course meal, and I was happy with the variety and quality of the meals.
If you have any allergies, be sure to tell the front desk beforehand.
After dinner, you can step out onto the patio and stay for as long as you like into the night in the outside bar zone next to the pool. This area is open 24/7 (and it is ok to bring your own music, too – like most Cubans do with their portable bocinas).
Wrap-Up Hotel Review Of Memories Miramar 2021
- Service:
Under the COVID circumstances, the service provided was very good.
Staff did their best to make the stay pleasant within the current pandemic rules and shortages. The bar, which was open 24/7, was also very convenient. - Price:
I paid $169 per night for a Deluxe Double Room half-board in May 2021, which I think was a good overall value despite the circumstances. - Convenience:
It was not possible to purchase drinks or meals to your room number and pay at the end of your stay. Each purchase needed to be paid separately in the bar with your credit card.
Also, wifi is limited to two hours per day per guest. It is not possible to buy extra wifi time at the hotel, and it is not possible to use normal wifi cards purchased from the Cuban provider Etecsa. (Some Cuban hotels include Wi-Fi or limitless access to buy Wi-Fi cards). - Ambiance: Resort-like hotel in Havana.
The hotel lobby area, restaurant & bar, and the outside space are very inviting. I would love to spend poolside time here when things are as normal! - Conclusion:
The hotel is nice, although not new and modern, and my overall conclusion is that I enjoyed my stay here. Note that certain amenities were closed due to COVID restrictions at the time of my visit, so I was not able to test them.
Extra credits for 24-hour service and helpful and service-minded staff!
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