In 1997, the Cuban Government opened up and allowed private residents the ability to rent out spare rooms in their homes. These budget accommodation in Cuba became known as Casa Particulares. Since then, how to book a Casa Particular can be a little confusing for first-time travelers to Cuba. You can discover the best places to visit in this full travel itinerary for Cuba!
Don’t worry- you’re in the right place to learn all about how to book Casa Particulares. On top of that, I’ve done the research (before, during and after visiting Cuba) on how to make the most of your stay and just what to expect from staying in a Casa Particular through Cuba.
Before we jump into the best ways to book a Casa Particular in Cuba, you might be asking “wait, what is a Casa Particular exactly?”
Well, what exactly is a Casa Particular?!
Casa Particulares are a thing of their own. They are unique to Cuba and while they share similarities with other forms of accommodation around the world, none are the same.
The closest anything comes to a Casa Particular is a B&B. For the most part, you have your own room and amenities (more on the differences in Casa Particulars below). Most Casa Particulares, you will stay in the same house as the owners.
Staying under the same roof as your Casa Particular owners have it’s benefits – especially if you’re not fluent in Spanish. Most owners are fine with helping you book a wide range of things, from tours, your next Casa Particular, transport to your next destination in Cuba. One man even tried to help me book a flight in Cuba.
Owners are so eager to help their guests because of two reasons:
- They are generally friendly, welcoming and genuine people.
- They get a commission. This might be the main motive for most owners I met in Cuba. Anything you book through your Casa Particular gets the owners a cut. In all honesty, I have no problem with, on top of that, the price never went up through them compared to booking it myself.
How to book a casa particular in Cuba
Booking a Casa Particular in Cuba is generally very easy to do and you have multiple options. In this post, I’ll lay out the best 6 ways you can book a Casa Particular in Cuba.
Before I start, it’s worth noting, booking a Casa Particular in high season compared to low season in Cuba is much different. Things go up in price and book out much faster in high season (December to March).
A few of these methods of booking a casa in Cuba are offline, but if you’re trying to book your next accommodation inside the country, you might need to learn how getting online in Cuba works.
1 – Just turn up and see which one appeals to you
This is only recommended in low season and even then, popular Casa Particulares can be still booked out. You may have to door knock a few times. But if do strikeout, every Casa Particular owner knows each other and always have a close recommendation.
Turning up is a great way to see a room in a Casa Particular before paying anything at all. You can also be assured that your money is going directly to the local owner and not a cut given to a multi-national corporation.
If aimlessly wandering around the streets of a new city isn’t really for you, there is a great way to get a solid recommendation on the fly without any obligation to stay there if you don’t like the room.
2 – Go with Lonely Planet’s recommended Casa Particulars
Pretty much the same idea as the first point, with a little twist.
Lonely Planet’s guide to Cuba is super handy! Each major destination is listed with recommended Casa Particulars, along with a little run down and cost.
If you’re taking collectivo taxis (shared taxi) you will be asked to provide an address so they can drop you right at the door of your next accommodation. You can use the listed address to easily communicate where you would like to be dropped off. This cuts so much time wandering aimlessly with heavy packs.
3 – Use Booking.com for a wide range of accommodations in Cuba
Booking.com is safe and immensely popular site to book your next place to stay – this includes Cuba.
There are plenty of places to stay in Cuba listed on Booking.com – from Casa Particulares to hotels to villas. While I loved my time hopping from one Casa Particular to the next, you may find things book out quickly, especially in high season, so it’s always good to have something to fall back on.
4 – Hostelworld is another option to book places to stay in Cuba
Booking Casa Particulares in Cuba is a little different than most other travel accommodation and vary from private to dorm room Casa Particulares
Hostelworld is another popular place to book places to stay around the globe. It’s mostly used to book hostel beds in dorms, but can be used to book Casa Particulares in Cuba.
There is a bit more information below on what to expect when booking a Casa Particular, but the classification of a Casa Particular and hostel can be confusing.
When you’re booking a Casa Particular on Hostelworld, make not of what the price is for what you’re booking. If it says “Private from”, then you can expect a room to yourself, but “dorm from” is going to be a bed in a hostel room.
5 – AirBnB is now allowed to book Casa Particulares in Cuba
AirBnB made its first appearance in Cuba in 2015 but still have major restrictions. To the point of it being almost useless at times around the island. Not all the time, but it definitely had its limitations.
However, in March 2016, President Obama eased relations between Cuba and the United States, and AirBnB was able to transfer funds to pay the Casa Particular owners.
Using an AirBnB to book your Cuba Casa Particulares has its ups and downs.
The upsides of using AirBnB in Cuba:
- You can view pictures and reviews of the rooms in Casa Particulares before booking.
- You can book outside Cuba and plan your trip
- AirBnB often has sales and discounts for places
- You can talk to the owner before you even arrive
The downsides of using AirBnB in Cuba:
- Less of your money goes to actual Cubans, as AirBnB takes a cut and stays in an American corporation
- Some features don’t work well, or at all, while inside the country. The only host I booked through AirBnB while in Cuba said how it isn’t possible for her to accept invitations through AirBnB itself. We were still able to communicate through messages and ended up staying there.
If you’re looking to plan your trip through Cuba before you even set foot in the country, then using both Hostelworld and AirBnB has its positives.
You can search through all the Casa Particulares throughout Cuba here!!!
6 – Cuba Junky App
I’ve never personally used the Cuba Junky app myself, but it is another handy option to have if you’re in a bind.
This app on Apple and Android online stores currently have a 3.1/5 rating at the time of writing. It does cost $5.99, but it might be worthwhile having, especially as a backup or a good way to find alternative places.
Many reviews note that you get phone numbers and email addresses for plenty of Casa Particulares around Cuba, but no reviews, so it’s helpful to pair this app with a review service such as TripAdvisor to see what other travelers are saying. Always take reviews with a large grain of salt, but they can be helpful none the less.
FAQ about staying in a Cuban casa particular?
Staying in Casa Particulares is a great way to interact more with local Cubans. They might be the more well-off Cuban people, seeing as they own their own home and make money renting it out, but it’s much more authentic than any hotel.
While Casa Particulares share similar features to B&B’s, hostels and hotels, they are unique to Cuba. So there are always going to be questions that won’t be answered by staying in any other type of accommodation.
If you have questions that aren’t answered below, please leave me a comment below!
How do I know what a casa particular is just by walking around?
Cuba has two distinctive styles of Casa Particulares. One for tourists and one for Cubans. If you see one of the “blue anchors”, this is a tourist Casa Particular. While a “red anchor “ will be for Cubans only.
I’m not too sure if calling them anchors is the best description, that’s why I added a picture of them both above. What would you call them?
As you walk around Cuba, you will begin to see these more and more. Usually, tourist Casa Particulares will greatly outnumber local Cuban establishments. This is due to the massive price difference that tourists pay verses Cubans.
Are casa particulares in Cuba safe
Casa Particulares are no less safe than any other style of accommodation. If you’re staying in a private Casa Particular, it’s the same as a hotel. If you leave your door unlocked, you risk people just walking on in.
If you’re staying in a hostel-style Casa Particular, and leave your things spread all over the room, then just like a regular hostel, things might get stolen.
Here’s a massive travel tips post to help beginner travelers starting their travels.
Sleeping in Cuban casa particulares
Sleeping in a Cuban casa Particular once again depends on the style you’ve booked. If you paid just for a dorm bed, then you will likely have other travelers in your room. A much more budget-friendly option for traveling Cuba, but there may be inconsiderate guests turning lights on at 3am.
If you’ve paid for a private room in a Casa Particular, then you will pay a bit more but have a much better chance of a peaceful and uninterrupted night’s sleep.
Not all Casa Particulares offer private and dormitory-style rooms – make sure you read what you’re booking.
What to expect in a casa particular
You will most likely be under the same roof as the owners of the Casa Particular. This means if there is a problem with your room, you have questions or want to book a tour, help is usually just outside your room door.
If you book a Casa Particular through AirBnB, this may be a little different. I stayed in 2 properties through the online booking service and both these properties the owner was separate to my room. There wasn’t much interaction other than checking in/out.
Casa Particular breakfasts are a perfect option. Early morning meals can be difficult throughout Cuba, but for 5 CUC you can determine a time with your host and they will provide a platter of delicious foods.
What is the process of staying in casa particulares in Cuba?
Staying in a Casa Particular is very similar to many other accommodations around the world.
For example, if you just walk around and turn up to a Casa Particular, you can ask to see the room beforehand. If you’ve booked ahead of time, this is less of an option for you.
The host will ask for your passport and write down your information and ask you to sign her government guestbook.
And that’s it! The whole process doesn’t take any longer than checking in to a hotel.
Are there different types of Casa particulares throughout Cuba?
There are a couple of differences between Casa Particulares around Cuba. As mentioned, blue “anchors” are for tourists, while red “anchors” are for locals.
Casa Particulares rent out rooms to travelers. Usually, this will be a bedroom in a house that the host owns. It’s private with its own bathrooms. However, if you pay for a bed in a Casa Particular, this will be more of a backpacker or hostel set up. With a dormitory feel, bunk beds, and shared facilities.
What is the end verdict on Cuban Casa Particulares?
To me, there’s no other way to stay in Cuba. They are just that great.
You get great information and help, and the owners get a small cut out of things you book through them (at rarely any extra cost, you can always shop around if you wish). It’s a win-win situation in my eyes.
If you have an early start, a 5 CUC Casa Particular breakfast is a perfect way to start the day. Lunch and dinner are also possible through most Casa Particulares if you want to go that way. You can organize all that with your casa host as you check-in.
In the end, I rate Casa Particulares 10/10 If you’re tossing up what accommodation to choose while in Cuba.
You’ll meet some of the friendliest people and it’s always nice to help support a local community.
Give them a shot while in Cuba!
If you found this post on everything you need to know about staying in Casa Particulares in Cuba, why not give it a share to social media?
Want more tips and tricks on being a great traveler? Sign up for Horizon Unknowns Newsletter!
Thanks for reading!
Happy and safe travels,
Ben – Horizon Unknown
